BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Trade union leaders of China and several African countries met here Tuesday afternoon, and the two sides expressed the hope to further advance their cooperation.

    ”The trade unions of China and African countries are trusty good friends and partners. The China visit are believed to further promote an in-depth development of our relations,” said Wang Zhaoguo, chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU).

    Highly appraising the African trade union¡¯s stance of upholding the principles and justice in international workers movement, Wang expressed gratitude for the support of African trade unions to China’s trade union in international labor affairs as well as their sincere condolences for the massive earthquake China suffered this year.

    Leaders from 11 African countries’ national trade unions and industrial trade unions depicted China’s trade union as good comrades and brothers, and thanked for the support and assistance from the Chinese government and trade union for years.

    They said they would work with the Chinese side to bring their friendly cooperation to a new stage.

    Wang also briefed the guests on China’s current political and economic situation and the work of ACFTU.

    The African trade union leaders are here for a seminar jointly held by the ACFTU and Chinese Ministry of Commerce, which has been held for four rounds since 2004.

    Altogether 26 leaders from 11 African countries’ national trade unions and industrial trade unions attended the seminar, which washeld from Oct. 13 to 14 in Beijing. Besides the Chinese capital, the African trade union leaders will also visit Tianjin Municipality in north China, and Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Municipality in east China.

     BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People’s Court of China, on Tuesday met here with his counterpart from Singapore, Chan Sek Keong. They exchanged views on judicial cooperation and issues of common concern.

Chinese soldiers raise a national flag during a ceremony on the Heixiazi Island Oct. 14, 2008. China and Russia held a ceremony on the Heixiazi Island Tuesday to unveil the boundary markers for the eastern section of their border. (Xinhua/Wang Yongji)
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    BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday the country’s agreement with Russia for the eastern section of their boundary had set an example for the international community.

    ”The experience of China and Russia in resolving border disputes left by historical reasons proves that peaceful dialogue and fair and reasonable consultation on an equal basis are an effective way,” ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a routine press conference here.

    He added the resolution set an example for countries to settle “sensitive” and “complicated” issues.

    He said the settlement was based on existing bilateral treaties concerning the issue and complied with international law and international norms.

    ”(The settlement) is a result of years-long negotiations and reflects the high level of China-Russia strategic and coordinative partnership, which is also a concrete step forward to carry out the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty.”

    China and Russia held a ceremony at Heixiazi Island on Tuesday to unveil the boundary markers for the eastern section of the boundary.

    Zhao Xidi, an ambassador-level official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Vladimir Malyshev, the Russian Foreign Ministry First Asian Department deputy director, jointly unveiled the boundary markers.

    Representatives from the two countries’ departments of foreign affairs, national defense, public security and localities also attended.

    The foreign ministry of the two countries also confirmed, through an exchange of notes, the additional protocol between China and Russia on the eastern section of the boundary as well as its appendix have officially taken effect.

    Frontier guards of the two countries have started defense work in accordance with the boundaries surveyed and demarcated by both sides.

Chinese soldiers start defense work on the Heixiazi Island after China and Russia held a ceremony to unveil the boundary markers for the eastern section of their border on Oct. 14, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Yongji)

China, Russia unveil boundary markers for eastern section of boundary 

    FUYUAN, Heilongjiang, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — China and Russia held a ceremony at Heixiazi Island on Tuesday to unveil the boundary markers for eastern section of China-Russia boundary.

    Ambassador with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Xidi and Vladimir Malyshev, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry First Asian Department jointly unveiled the boundary markers. Full story

    ISLAMABAD, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari left for Beijing Tuesday on a four-day state visit to China, the first official bilateral visit abroad since his assuming office in September.

    ”I’m looking forward to visiting China, I haven’t been to China for last 24 years. China has changed since I last was there. I am hoping to remind the leadership of the world how close our relationships are,” Zardari told Xinhua in an interview on Monday.

    Zardari, widower of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, described him as “the first businessman president of Pakistan” focuses more on trade and economic ties with China.

    ”We have a lot of cultural ties, friendly ties, but that is not properly depicted by our economic relationship,” Zadari said.

    The two countries are expected to ink several agreements during Zardari’s visit, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

    During his stay in Beijing, Zardari will also have interactions with heads of Chinese financial institutions and corporate sector.

    PYONGYANG, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Commercial officials of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said to boost cooperation on economy and trade in an annual bilateral meeting held in Pyongyang on Tuesday.

    China will pragmatically push the bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new high on the principle of being guided by the government and with the participation of businesses and market operations, said Wang Chao, Assistant Minister of China’s Commerce Ministry, during the 4th meeting of the China-DPRK Economic, Trade and Scientific and Technological Cooperation Committee.

    Developing and enlarging DPRK-China cooperation on economy and trade has been the persistent stand of the DPRK government, said Gu Ben Tae, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade.

    The DPRK will continue to go along with China to promote bilateral commercial cooperation and contribute to the DPRK-China friendship, he added.

    Commercial officials of the two countries discussed other issues of mutual concern.

Chinese soldiers raise a national flag during a ceremony on the Heixiazi Island Oct. 14, 2008. China and Russia held a ceremony on the Heixiazi Island Tuesday to unveil the boundary markers for the eastern section of their border. (Xinhua/Wang Yongji)

    FUYUAN, Heilongjiang, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — China and Russia held a ceremony at Heixiazi Island on Tuesday to unveil the boundary markers for eastern section of China-Russia boundary.

    Ambassador with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Xidi and Vladimir Malyshev, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry First Asian Department jointly unveiled the boundary markers.

    Representatives from the two countries’ departments of foreign affairs, national defense, public security and localities also attended the ceremony.

    The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday also confirmed, through an exchange of notes, that the additional protocol between China and Russia on the eastern section of the China-Russia Boundary as well as its appendix have officially taken effect.

    The frontier guards of the two countries have started defense work in accordance with the boundaries surveyed and demarcated by both sides.

Ambassador with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Zhao Xidi (L Front) and Vladimir Malyshev (R Front), deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s First Asian Department, attend a ceremony on the Heixiazi Island Oct. 14, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Yongji)