US, hoping for smoother relations, hosts No. 2 Chinese general

August 20th, 2009 China slams US for violating 'national interests'BEIJING — A top Chinese general criticized the U.S. on Thursday for selling arms to Taiwan and accused Washington of only being cooperative when it needs help with international campaigns.

August 12th, 2009 China accuses US of protectionism in tire caseBEIJING — A Chinese trade official said Wednesday that a U.S. complaint about China's tire exports smacks of protectionism and appealed to Washington to avoid taking steps that might harm relations.

July 16th, 2009 TAIPEI, Taiwan — The 100-strong Chinese delegation boycotted the opening ceremony of the World Games in Taiwan on Thursday, underscoring the limits of the historic breakthrough in relations between Taipei and Beijing. The Chinese gesture is likely to ruffle feathers on this democratic island of 23 million people, which under President Ma Ying-jeou has moved aggressively to improve ties with the mainland, its once-bitter enemy.

June 9th, 2009 China warns honor for Dalai Lama will hurt tiesBEIJING — China expressed its indignation Tuesday at an honor given to the Dalai Lama by the city of Paris, saying it would seriously harm Beijing's relations with France. Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe conferred a certificate of honorary citizenship on the Tibetan spiritual leader at a ceremony Sunday in Paris' gilded City Hall.

May 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari says he hopes to build better relations with India after its parliamentary elections and 'if our American friends can help us, they're welcome to.' 'I know they are busy at the moment. Democracies are always willing to work with democracies,' Zardari told reporters after a meeting Thursday with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee along with his Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

April 19th, 2009 Taiwan receives 3,000 Chinese tourists per dayTAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has reached its goal of hosting 3,000 Chinese tourists a day as ties between the two rivals continue to strengthen, the government said Sunday. Chinese tourist arrivals averaged 3,013 people per day so far this month, compared with the daily average of 580 over the past eight months, the Immigration Agency said on its Web site.

March 26th, 2009 BEIJING - China has expressed strong dissatisfaction over a US Congress resolution to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, saying it is an interference in its internal affairs. 'China is strongly dissatisfied and has lodged a solemn representation over the resolution adopted to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement Wednesday.

March 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - China can drag India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the ban on Chinese toys here, but 'we believe in resolving the issue through talks', a Chinese minister said here Thursday. 'We can go to international agencies over this issue.

March 11th, 2009 NYON - France and Italy will be battling to stage football's European Championships in 2016, UEFA has confirmed. Europe's governing body has also received proposals from Turkey and a joint bid from Sweden and Norway.

February 21st, 2009 BEIJING - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived here Friday evening on her first visit to China since she took office. Clinton was greeted by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi at the airport.

January 20th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government has shot down a proposal for a race relations law after a study revealed that the people do not favour enforcing better racial ties through law, a media report said Wednesday. Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Mohammed Shafie Apdal Tuesday said the decision came after exhaustive discussions within the cabinet and with representatives of all communities.

January 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India will put in a mechanism to ensure a smoother road for businesses for opening letter of credit and receipt of payments through banks and financial institutions, External Affairs Minister of State Anand Sharma here today. In his address at the valedictory session of the India-Africa Business Partnership summit, the minister said Indian missions in Africa had complaints about difficulty in financial transactions, especially in opening letters of credit.

January 16th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Despite the presence of more Indian origin members in the Canadian parliament compared to the Chinese, the Indians hold less clout, feels Punjab-born MP Ujjal Dosanjh. 'Yes, India may have more representation in the house but still the Chinese have bigger clout than Indians in Canadian politics.

January 13th, 2009 KOLKATA - There is a rising demand in India to learn the Chinese language, but New Delhi is hardly issuing visa to teachers from China, says Beijing's top diplomat here. 'There are no native Chinese teachers to teach the language to Indians since April 2008 despite the growing demand to learn the language,' Consul General Mao Siwei said in an interview here.

January 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Saturday conferred the prestigious civilian award Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam on the Chinese envoy here. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari gave the award to Chinese diplomat Luo Zhaohui at a ceremony held at the President's House Saturday.