China to enhance cooperation with the Republic of Congo: FM

www.chinaview.cn 2004-03-26 16:42:00

BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese government is ready to make concerted efforts with the Republic of Congo to enhance political exchanges and expand trade and economic cooperation, said Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing here Friday.

Li made the remarks during talks with Rodolphe Adada, minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and French Affairs of the Republic of Congo.



Adada cited the friendly cooperation between the two countries as a fine example for the country-to-country relations, and said the government and people of the Republic of Congo appreciated China for the help it had provided in varied forms in the past long time.

Adada reiterated that his country will go on adhering to the one-China policy, oppose the so-called "referendum" in Taiwan, andfirmly support China in such issues as human rights.

more
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-03/26/content_1386803.htm

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, March 25 (UPI) -- Suspicious activity at a uranium mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spawned a U.N. investigation, the BBC reported Thursday.

A BBC reporter tipped off the International Atomic Energy Agency that as many as 6,000 miners were working the Shinkolobwe mine in Katanga province, extracting cobalt, copper, platinum and uranium.

While the government says it shut down the mine, the BBC correspondent said the uranium is being sold to nearby furnaces operated mainly by private businessmen from China and India, and exported via neighboring Zambia.

more
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040325-114452-3661r.htm

China is expanding relations with Congo-Brazzaville, whereas your second article concerns Congo-Kinshasa. They are two different countries.

Thanks

Republic of Congo, China celebrate 40th anniversary of diplomaticties

BRAZZAVILLE, Feb. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso said here Sunday that China's selfless aid has played a crucial role in promoting his country's economic development.

At a banquet to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the president said the Republic of Congo expects further cooperation of mutual benefit with China.

Chinese Ambassador Wo Ruidi said at the banquet that the government of the Republic of Congo has firmly supported the one-China policy and the restoration of China's legitimate seat in theUnited Nations. The two governments have reached mutual understanding and respect and carried out close cooperation on keyinternational and regional issues.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has provided the Republic of Congo with more than 100 million US dollars in economic assistance and helped construct a dozen of economic projects, including the parliament building, a stadium and a power station. Last year, trade between the two countries reached 700 million dollars. Enditem

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-02/23/content_1326852.htm



China and Congo(Kinshasa)
2003/10/12


A. Bilateral Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Congo (Kin)
In May 1997, the Mobutu government was toppled by Laurent-Desire Kabila who assumed the head of the state and resumed the name of the country "The Democratic Republic of the Congo". The two countries continued to consolidate and develop the friendly and cooperative relations. In December 1997, President Kabila paid a state visit to China. In April 1999, ???,Congolese minister of petroleum as a special envoy of the president paid a visit to China. In January 2000, Machako Mamba, Congolese minister of health visited China, and in October the same year, Leonard She Okitundu, Minister of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation headed a delegation to attend the Beijing Ministerial Meeting 2000 of the Sino-African Cooperation Forum. In January 2001, Kabila was assassinated and his son Joseph Kabila succeeded him as president. In April 2001, Yang Wenchang, Vice-minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid a visit to the Congoand in December the same year Leonard She Okitundu, Congolese minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation visited China. In March, 2002 President Joseph Kabila paid a state visit to China. In January 2003, Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the Congo

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/fzs/gjlb/2959/t16484.htm

Title: Daily Reports Illegal Arms Shipments to Kinshasa, Rebels

Brussels/Kinshasa -- At the end of September a Greek ship carrying on
board military jeeps and trucks for the government of Congolese President
Laurent-Desire Kabila left Antwerp harbor. In addition the Congolese
rebels have succeeded in diverting 315 tonnes of Chinese arms which were in
reality intended for Kabila.

From the port the Greek ship Angel set course for the Tanzanian
capital Dar es Salaam, De Morgen has learned. On board were military jeeps
and trucks intended for the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Kabila wanted to deploy the military equipment in his fight
against the rebels, who unleashed a rebellion on 2 August of this year. In
the meantime the Angel has already arrived in Dar es Salaam, and since then
left for Mombassa.

http://www.nisat.org/blackmarket/europe/Central_Europe/belgium/98.10.10-Daily%20Reports%20Illegal%20Arms%20Shipments%20to%20Kinshasa-%20Rebels.html

Opening a Sino-U.S. Dialogue on Africa

The volume of China's unregulated transfers may exceed its licensed transfers, however. As Washington urged Ethiopia and Eritrea toward a resolution of their border war, Chinese firms delivered a major portion of $1 billion in arms shipped to both parties between 1998 and 2000. In Congo-Kinshasa, Beijing supplied heavy shipments to an up-and-coming Laurent Kabila in 1997, and again following the outbreak of war in August of 1998, when then-President Kabila began rebuilding the Forces Armées Congolaise. The United States is now helping to prepare seven West African battalions for peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone, where violence was fueled by heavy shipments of Chinese weaponry. Various reports document sizeable, ill-fated transfers to Rwanda and Mozambique, as well. Some of Beijing's arms deals may have violated United Nations sanctions; nearly all have tangibly undermined Africa's hopes for peace.

http://www.csis.org/pubs/prospectus/01fall_chhabra.htm

Thanks again mobuto and just so I don't make that mistake again

"Adada reiterated that his country will go on adhering to the one-China policy, oppose the so-called "referendum" in Taiwan, andfirmly support China in such issues as human rights."

Photo by KATHERINE ARIE A "family" of about 10 children live in Kinshasa's Sayo-Kasavubu cemetery.



Photo by KATHERINE ARIE A group of former street children wait to greet the visitors in the compound of the ORPER school.



Photo by KATHERINE ARIE Chores are a big part of life at schools run by ORPER.



Photo by KATHERINE ARIE Eleven-year-old Suké works as a prostitute.