Posted on 02/05/2004 10:30:30 AM PST by knighthawk
Beijing, 5 February: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue reiterated that China has decided to forgive debts from Iraq here Thursday [5 February] at the regular press conference.
The size of the debts to be forgiven is now being calculated and studied, Zhang added.
As a developing country, China fully understands difficulties of the reconstruction and the humanitarian situation in Iraq, she explained, expressing her hope that the Iraqi people can quickly step on the road of stable and peaceful development.
She stressed China attaches importance to the reconstruction in Iraq and expected the international community to strengthen cooperation in this regard.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China considers reducing the debts owed to it by Iraq out of humanitarian concern during his meeting with James Baker, special envoy to the US president last December.
Priceless. The speculation on how Baker has gotten such amazing results is that he offers these countries a choice: A) Renounce the debt and look like wonderful humanitarians or, B) Have the new Iraq government declare them "odious" and therefore invalid.
He's hit a lot of triples and home runs in his travels. Could be new SecState if Colin Powell leaves.
Indeed. He'd be a welcome asset there in my book.
How so?
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China considers reducing the debts owed to it by Iraq out of humanitarian concern during his meeting with James Baker, special envoy to the US president last December.
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Ping.
LOL. I don't think he has to say much. It seems wheneever he shows up on the scene, stuff happens. The guy is smart and hard and cold as steel. Perfect guy for this job
The same thing everyone wants - oil, american reconstruction dollars, influence, a COSCO store in Bahgdad...
Then this is definitely not a foreign policy victory.
Access to reconstruction contracts, access to Iraqi markets for their consumer goods, good PR and some gratitude from the Bush administration/US government, AND something that many people overlook: China has had problems in its western provinces with the various indigenous Islamic ethnic groups. Cooperation in Iraq helps China if turmoil in the Middle East is lessened, terrorist organizations are diminished so they can no longer pump arms and money into those provinces, and China is also probably entering into intelligence-sharing agreements with the US and others regarding terrorists.
Access to reconstruction contracts, access to Iraqi markets for their consumer goods, good PR and some gratitude from the Bush administration/US government, AND something that many people overlook: China has had problems in its western provinces with the various indigenous Islamic ethnic groups. Cooperation in Iraq helps China if turmoil in the Middle East is lessened, terrorist organizations are diminished so they can no longer pump arms and money into those provinces, and China is also probably entering into intelligence-sharing agreements with the US and others regarding terrorists.
Huh? Perhaps not as stunning a foreign policy victory as buying off N. Korea or installing a new dictator in Haiti but hey - there are many tools used in foreign policy.
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