Broadcasting Time: 2006-09-02



Hello and welcome to this edition of CRI Roundup. I'm Wenjie in Beijing.

Today is Saturday, September 2nd, 2006.

Let's take a look back on some of the major events from the past week in China and around the world.

China and Iran agree that a diplomatic solution is the best answer to the international confrontation over Tehran's nuclear program.

China is willing to work with other parties to try to revive the Doha Round of global trade negotiations.
UN chief Kofi Annan calls on Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon as soon as possible and end its air and sea blockade of the country.

China and Iran agree that a diplomatic solution is the best answer to the international confrontation over Tehran's nuclear program.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earliy this week in Beijing.

Both sides exchanged views on developments in the issue and stressed it should be resolved through negotiations.
On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency - or IAEA - said in a report that Iran is still enriching uranium, and that it started work on a new batch on August 24.

Shortly after the report's release, US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said Iran has left no doubt it desires nuclear weapons, and that the council must now be ready to impose sanctions on Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reiterated Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Ahmadinejad said Iran would not back down an "inch" in the face of "intimidation."

China is willing to work with other parties to try to revive the Doha Round of global trade negotiations. Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai made the remarks during a meeting with US Trade Representative Susan Schwab in Beijing early this week.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce reiterated minister Bo Xilai's remark and called for developed countries to make the first move.

"Minister Bo Xilai says that reviving the talks, which aim to build fair and just multilateral trade systems, is in the interest of the majority of WTO members. As the Doha talks focus on the development of global trade, developed countries should make substantial contributions first with the aim to revive the talks."

The Doha Round of talks collapsed last month when five years of lengthy talks failed to resolve disputes over farm tariffs and subsidies among key participants, namely the US, EU, Japan, Australia, India and Brazil.

Susan Schwab says the United States is willing to rekindle the Doha talks.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called on Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon as soon as possible and to end its air and sea blockade of the country. He also appeals for the quick release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas.

Annan made the remarks at a press conference Wednesday after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"… We need to resolve the issue of the abducted soldiers very quickly, and obviously there is the issue of the prisoners that will have to be dealt with. And we need to be dealing with the lifting of the embargo - sea, land and air - which for the Lebanese is a humiliation."

Israel has said it will only lift the blockade once it is assured that forces deployed to Lebanon's borders can prevent Hezbollah from importing new weapons to rearm itself for another round of fighting.
Annan also says the UN hopes to double the current 2,500 UN troops in the near future so that Israel can withdraw from southern Lebanon.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has spoken highly of the ongoing Sino-Russian Friendship Tour being carried out by the Chinese media.

In an interview with Chinese journalists in Moscow, he says the cross-border media coverage activity has tremendously contributed to the growing friendship between the two countries.

He says bilateral relations between the two countries are in their best period ever. And prospects for strategic partnerships are promising.

"Bilateral relations are developing at an unprecedented pace. Besides that, we're also carrying out constructive dialogues and cooperation on the international stage. The relationship between our two countries is unique. We are neighboring countries and both of us cherish our long history of civilization. We respect each other and pursue dialogue or other peaceful methods to resolve problems."

Sergey Lavrov believes the Sino-Russian Friendship Tour will help deepen mutual understanding between China and Russia.

And with that, we conclude this edition of CRI Roundup. Remember, if you have any comments or suggestions, or if you want to listen to our programs online, you can log on to our website - www.crienglish.com.

I'm Wenjie in Beijing. Thanks for listening. Stay tuned for more on China Radio International.


Click here for more editions before Mar 11st 2006.