Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FaultLine who wrote (78163)	2/27/2003 9:30:07 AM
From: Condor	Respond to of 281500

A glimpse of the Chinese psyche ...bold within This fits with Yiwu's comments C ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ China's Changes Astonish Fidel Castro (AP) By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN 02/27/2003 08:43:52 EST Visiting a China transformed by capitalist-style economic development, Cuban leader Fidel Castro said Thursday he hardly recognized the country that is one of his ailing nation's few remaining communist allies. Castro, the world's longest-serving communist leader, said China's advances left him amazed. "I can't really be sure just now what kind of China I am visiting, because the first time I visited, your country appeared one way and now when I visit it appears another way," Castro said in a meeting with the head of China's legislature, Li Peng. "You can say that every so often your country undergoes great changes," Castro said. Castro met Li in the Great Hall of the People, the hulking seat of China's legislature on the edge of Tiananmen Square. It is one of the few parts of Beijing to remain unchanged in two decades of economic reform and urban renewal. Reforms in China have brought in foreign investment totaling hundreds of billions of dollars and produced a dynamic private sector - concepts still largely unknown in Castro's Cuba. While Castro has adhered closely to Marxist economics since seizing power in the 1959 revolution, China has produced ever-more market-oriented leaders focused on economic growth. That growth has become increasingly important to Cuba's economy, still reeling from the loss of Soviet subsidies more than a decade ago. China has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in economic credits to Cuba, as well as some direct aid. Castro's talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday focused on economic ties and concluded with the signing of an economic cooperation agreement and Chinese aid package for Cuba. Castro, 76, met later with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who praised Castro's leadership and "insistence on Cuba's national sovereignty and people's independence in complicated and ever-changing times." Castro also met with Vice President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. Hu and Wen are expected to take over as China's president and premier, respectively, at the annual legislative session beginning next week. Castro will visit Japan this weekend for the first time in more than seven years, the Japan's Foreign Ministry said Thursday. He will have dinner with business leaders Saturday before meeting former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Sunday. He is due to tour Hiroshima on Monday. siliconinvestor.com