Chinese Foreign Policy: A Chronology April - June 2009 - Defence ...

confirmed China’s readiness to work with South Korea to promote bilateral relations.3 April 2009 Beijing - Defence Minister Liang Guanglie met visiting Vice-Chief of theDefence Staff of the British Armed Forces, Timothy John Granville-Chapman. Liang indicatedthat the Chinese armed forces were ready to enhance military exchanges and cooperationwith Britain."China regards Britain as an important partner of cooperation and thinks highly of therole that Britain has played in European and international affairs. China is willing towork with Britain to promote the stable and sound development of China-Britainrelations."3 April 2009 Beijing - Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission(CMC), and Belorussian Minister of Defence Leonid Maltsev agreed to step up militarycooperation. Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie stated that: "China will work withBelarus to promote multi-level and multi-field military cooperation.” Maltsev hailed China asBelarus's good and trusted friend, saying Belarus attached great importance to thedevelopment of the bilateral relationship. He also expressed appreciation of China's firmsupport for Belarus's internal and foreign policy on safeguarding its national sovereignty andindependence as well as improving living standards.3 April 2009 Beijing - Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political ConsultativeConference (CPPCC) National Committee met the visiting Austrian Federal CouncilChairman Harald Reisenberger. Jia said the CPPCC was ready to work closely with theAustrian parliament to promote bilateral ties.3 April 2009 Beijing - Brig. Gen. Subekti, the director of strategic environment analysis, saidthat: "China will help Indonesia develop its military technology." Following the memorandumof understanding signed by Indonesia and China in 2007, the two countries are set to agreea new deal to work more closely in military technology: Indonesia is expecting China to helpits state arms producer, PT Pindad; state-owned ship maker, PT PAL Indonesia; and stateownedaircraft manufacturer, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, to produce upper-medium-classmilitary technology. Subekti attended a China-ASEAN top officers dialogue hosted by theChinese Academy of Military Science from March 30 to April 2.3 April 2009 Chinese ambassador to Australia Zhang Junsai said that Australian firmsshould not be worried about Chinese investment in the country as they only seek mutualbenefits. However, he recognised that: “the anxiety stems from two arguments: that Chineseenterprises are state-owned, and that they will subsequently control Australia's energy andmineral resources." Nevertheless, Chinese companies investing in Australia, state-owned orprivate, he said, do not seek to control Australia's energy or mineral resources. Likecompanies from other countries, they seek a long-term, sound and reliable supply of energyand resources.4 April 2009 Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of theChinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, arrived in Cheju on his goodwill visit tothe Republic of Korea (ROK). Li spoke of the cooperation achieved by China and ROK invarious fields in a written statement delivered at the airport. ROK is the last leg of Li's fournationtour which has already taken him to Australia, Myanmar and Japan.4 April 2009 Li Yuanchao, political bureau member, secretariat member, and organizationdepartment head of the CCP Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the firstSino-Singaporean Forum on Selecting and Cultivating Leaders held at the China ExecutiveLeadership Academy in Shanghai's Pudong. Extending a welcome to Singaporean DeputyPrime Minister Teo Chee Hean and his party, Li Yuanchao said that this forum is animportant landmark in the cooperation history between China and Singapore.4