Mexico

China, Mexico Foreign Ministers Open Second Bilateral Meeting
19 May 2006

PEOPLE’S DAILY ONLINE (BEIJING)--The foreign ministers of China and Mexico opened on 18 May 2006, the second meeting of the China- Mexico Permanent Bi-national Commission, a two day meeting analyzing the two nations' progress in diplomacy and trade over the last five years. Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said that the meeting would examine "the great progress made in the last five years" and how to press forward in new challenges and opportunities. Derbez welcomed the Chinese delegation to the event, which runs until 19 May 2006 in Mexico's Foreign Ministry, then spoke of the importance of collaboration between the two nations, and called for continued fruitful dialog. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said that the two nations had become "great trading partners" and added that the Chinese government had always given relations with Mexico great priority. Source: http://english.people.com.cn/200605/19/eng20060519_266922.html (Reliability: 7)

Chile

Chile Making Progress With Produce Exports To China
18 May 2006

FRESHPLAZA (THOLEN)--The director of the Chilean phytosanitary authority for the agricultural sector (SAG), Francisco Bahamonde Medina, was head of a delegation that visited China, together with board members of the export promotion organization (ASOEX). How the handles its control of fruit fly infestations remained an important subject of discussion, as the policy of the Chilean phytosanitary authority SAG to keep an effective quarantine area of 7.2 km around a fruit fly infested area had to be defended in face of the suggestions of Chinese counterpart AQSIQ to close of an entire regions when discovering an infestation. Yet good progress is made in deciding the export protocols and in September – before the harvest of the new cherry crop – the signing of a protocol for citrus and cherries is anticipated. According to ASOEX president Ronald Bown the collaboration and the Chinese market both offer potential for the enhancement of the Chilean produce export market. Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/2006/18may/1-2_cl_china.htm (Reliability: 8)

Latin America

Latin American Journalists Take Up Close Look At China
18 May 2006

XINHUANET (BEIJING)--People in Latin America are eager to find out about the rapid changes happening in China, President Guido Rodriguez of the American Panama newspaper of Panama said. Rodriguez is among a high-profile delegation of Latin America media, which has arrived in Beijing for a two-week visit to China. The delegation consists of senior members of newspapers, TV channels and press groups from Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela. Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/18/content_4567830.htm (Reliability: 7)

Mexico

Mexico To Promote Cooperation With China
17 May 2006

XINHUANET (MEXICO CITY)--Mexico would continue to maintain the friendly relations with China and be ready to work with Beijing to expand the cooperation in various sectors, Mexican President Vicente Fox said on 17 May 2006. Fox said Mexico and China were not competitors but important partners. Both of the economies were in good shape and had developed rapidly. To strengthen bilateral cooperation would help the two countries achieve common development and better deal with various challenges, he added. The president believed the second meeting of the China-Mexico Permanent Bi-national Commission on 18 May 2006 and 19 May 2006 would further improve the existing good relations between the two nations. Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-05/18/content_4565888.htm (Reliability: 7)

Argentina

Argentina Ups Mineral Exports To China
17 May 2006

PRENSA LATINA (BUENOS AIRES)--Salta Province in northern Argentina increased mineral exports to China threefold in the first four months of the year, compared to 2005. The Salta Mining and Energy Resources secretary said exports to China between January and April were 5,942 tons, for a 246 percent increase over the 2005 period. Salta, which shares a border with Bolivia, reports the volume almost matches that for the entire 2005 exports to China, 6,110 tons. Provincial director Ricardo Alonso said the main exports consisted of boric acid, lithium chloride, and colemanite (hydrated calcium borate hydroxide), plus sodium octoborate (Na2B8O13) used to fight insects in lumber. Source: http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BA91F5703-1B73-43E8-A6B1
-3981605A9C47%7D)&language=EN (Reliability: 8)

Cuba

Cuba, China Further Strengthen Bilateral Relations
17 May 2006

CUBAN NEWS ANGENCY (HAVANA)--Pedro Saez, member of Cuba’s Communist Party Political Bureau held talks on 16 May 2006 with the President of the National Committee of the Political Consultative Conference of the Chinese People Jia Qinglin. The Cuban official is visiting China as part of the exchange between the communist parties of both countries. Jia Qinglin praised the advance of bilateral relations in both political and economical areas as well as the development of cooperation following the signing last year of twinning agreements between Havana and Beijing. Source: http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2006/may17china-relaciones.htm (Reliability: 7)

Latin America

This is a link to a dialgoue between Latin American specialist Carlos Caicedo, from political risk consultancy Exclusive Analysis in London, to Johannesburg's Business Day.

http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=19860

Trinidad And Tobago

TT, China Sign Deal
13 May 2006

NEWSDAY (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)--Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday announced that the National Academies for the Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain and San Fernando will cost USD100 million and construction work on the projects is expected to commence very soon. Through strong bilateral trade relations between the Republics of China and Trinidad and Tobago, three sets of documents were signed. The first was the Framework Agreement signed by Chinese Ambassador Xing Huang and acting Foreign Affairs Minister Danny Montano. The second was the Concession Agreement which was signed by Manning and Ruo Gui Li, president of the Export Import Bank of China and the third was the Commercial Contract where Udecott chairman Calder Hart and Tong Jisheng, president of the Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) International (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited, put their signatures on the document. Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,37372.html (Reliability: 8)

Bolivia

Bolivia Nationalizes Natural Gas Industry
01 May 2006

NEW YORK TIMES (NEW YORK)--Bolivia's President Evo Morales decreed the nationalization of the country's natural gas industry 01 May 2006, following through on an election pledge to increase control over the energy industry. Under the decision, he ordered foreign firms to send production to a state company for sales and industrialization, and said that the state will also recover Bolivian hydrocarbons companies that were privatized in the 1990's, with the state taking over shares that are in the hands of foreign companies and of semi-public Bolivian entities. As president-elect, Mr. Morales met with President Hu Jintao of China in Beijing and called China an "ideological ally," a day after he invited it to develop Bolivia's vast gas reserves. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/world/americas/01cnd-bolivia.
html?hp&ex=1146542400&en
=7011d6fe62928beb&ei=5094&partner=homepage (Reliability: 8)

Cuba

Castro Plans To Let China Drill Off United States Coast
28 April 2006

RED STATE (UNITED STATES)-We thought it was bad enough that Fidel Castro can drill for oil 45 miles off our shores when we can't, but now comes Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), to call attention to the fact that fierce United States (U.S.) competitor China is partnering with Cuba to explore these same oil fields. Lou Dobbs reported on this on Thursday, too -- as did Fox News -- but Lou's reporter Kitty Pilgrim got it a bit wrong saying, “But U.S. companies, because of the U.S. embargo of Cuba and hostile relations with Fidel Castro, are locked out of the game.” She is right that there is an embargo in effect with Cuba. But the big problem isn't that U.S. companies can't tap Cuba's oil. The big problem is that our own government does not allow us to tap U.S. oil! Eighty-five percent of this treasure trove of oil and gas (80 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of gas) are subject to a federal embargo. Source: http://pat-cleary.redstate.com/story/2006/4/27/23439/4539 (Reliability: 4)

Comment: Red State unashamedly admits to reporting with a Republican (or Conservative) bias.

Latin America

China Rules The Wild Side
28 April 2006

STRATEGY PAGE (UNITED STATES)--China is increasingly using arms sales and trade as a diplomatic tool. Nothing unusual there, except that the Chinese are specializing in outcast, and outlaw, nations. This is risky business. For example, Chinese government and business officials are in accord that it's not practical to do any serious business with Venezuela because President Hugo Chavez has "a short attention span" and is likely to make glowing promises about all sorts of possible deals, but then never follow through. Source: http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20060428.aspx (Reliability: 9)

Caribbean

China Hopes To Further Ties With Caribbean Countries
28 April 2006

THE JAMACIA OBSERVER (BEIJING)--Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said earlier this week that China hopes to enhance relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries to achieve common development. “China values relations with the Latin American and Caribbean nations and hopes to deepen political trust, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges to ensure the stable development of bilateral friendly cooperation for mutual benefit and common development,” Zeng said at talks with Executive Secretary José Luis Machinea of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20060427T210000-0500
_103429_OBS_CHINA_HOPES_TO_FURTHER_TIES_WITH_CARIBBEAN_COUNTRIES.asp
(Reliability: 7)

Cuba

China Eyeing Cuba Offshore Oil

27 April 2006

NEWS MAX (UNITED STATES)--China and a host of other oil-hungry nations will be tapping into huge offshore oil deposits a mere 50 miles from the United States (U.S.) while this nation is forced to endure rising gas prices as a result of record high demand for oil fueled by such countries as China and India. According to Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the U.S. energy sector has been "hamstrung" from seeking additional oil resources while at the same time allowing "the likes of China, Canada, Brazil, Spain, France and others to freely seek energy opportunities 50 miles off our coast without competition from state-of-the-art technologies and expertise of our own U.S. gas and oil industries." Source: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/27/224539.shtml (Reliability: 5)

The Caribbean

China’s Caribbean Strategy

26 April 2006

THE TRUMPET (BARBADOS)--What is of special interest to those who are aware of China’s long-term strategy to take over control of the world’s most strategic seaways is that the Chinese have moved, in recent years, to significantly penetrate the sea gateways to the south of the United States within the Caribbean. With Panama, already under Chinese control, in the process of being upgraded to take larger vessels, and Freeport in the Bahamas having been developed in recent years by the Chinese into a massive container terminal, China is now moving to extend its Caribbean sea-gate control. Of particular note is the transition-taking place in Grenada. What the Communists failed to do during the 1970s revolution in Grenada, they are now achieving through Chinese involvement in ongoing reconstruction and development in that island nation. Source: http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?page=article&id=2156 (Reliability: 4)

Comment: This source is exclusively affiliated with The Philadelphia Church of God, which means that its views are obviously skewed toward the conservative.

Latin America

How China Is Winning The Oil Race
26 April 2006

MSN MONEY (UNITED STATES)--In Latin America, China is increasingly becoming the partner of choice for repressive, paranoid or regionally ambitious regimes that want to buy guns and tanks with their oil and ore revenues. According to The Los Angeles Times, the Bush administration held talks with the Chinese to encourage them to curb their role in training and advising forces in the southern hemisphere. This is getting to be a problem, as the region -- fabulously rich in metal, energy and agricultural resources -- is increasingly run by ideologues willing to snub traditional United States interests and seek less meddlesome buyers. China is now Latin America's second-largest trading partner, surpassing Europe. From 2001 to 2006, exports from the region to China rose more than 500 percent. In 2004 alone, Hu signed letters of intent worth USD 100 billion over the next 10 years, according to published reports. Source: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P149330.asp (Reliability: 8)

Latin America

China Sales A Mixed Blessing For Latin America
26 April 2006

ASIA TIMES (NEW YORK)--If Latin America’s economic ties with China do not undergo a structural change, the region will be unable to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an Argentine expert said during the Latin Economic Forum held recently at United Nations headquarters. “The relations between China and Latin America today represent a historic opportunity, given the enormous growth in Chinese demand for commodities and fuel,” professor of statistics Graciela Chichilnisky said. Source: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/HD26Cb05.html (Reliability: 6)

Bolivia

China To Supply Planes To Bolivia
25 April 2006

PRENSA LATINA (LA PAZ)--The People's Republic of China will supply three transport planes to relieve the needs of the Bolivian Air Force, Bolivian Air Force Chief Gen. Luis Trigo said on 25 April 2006. He said, by virtue of an agreement signed with the Chinese government and a Chinese aircraft enterprise, in the next 18 months the Bolivian Air Force will receive two modern Chinese MA-60s, financed by Chinese credit to pay over 20 years. The general added that China would also deliver a Vaye-146-100 passenger jet in the next 90 days, under similar conditions. These units will improve the civilian transport aircraft fleet, which has not been renovated since 1979, when a Dutch Fokker plane was purchased. President Evo Morales said his administration is making efforts for the Bolivian Air Force to have more planes to improve communication with the more isolated populations. Source: http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BFA02FE58-
7C56-4B88-95B1-E9CC674380F0%7D&language=EN (Reliability: 7)

Cuba

China-Cuba Biotechnology Seminar Held In Beijing
24 April 2006

CUBAN NEWS AGENCY (HAVANA)--Cuban and Chinese scientists held a seminar in Beijing on biotechnology and biotech products used in cancer therapy. Biotech Pharmaceutical, a Cuba-China joint venture dedicated to the production of monoclonal antibodies, and the Cuban embassy in China organized the forum. While delivering the opening address, Rigoberto Enoa, the economic counselor of the Cuban embassy, highlighted a memorandum of understanding on biotechnological cooperation, which was signed during the visit to Cuba of Chinese President Hu Jintao in November 2004. Enoa referenced the creation of two jointly run enterprises in China, which will be involved in development of Cuban biotechnological products. Source: http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2006/abr24cuba-china.htm (Reliability: 6)

Latin America

China Doubles Latin FDI

24 April 2006

LATIN BUSINESS CHRONICLE (LATIN AMERICA)--China's direct investments in Latin America have grown dramatically and are expected to continue growing at strong rates over the next few years as well. According to a new report from United States based consultancy Global Insight, cumulative Chinese investment in Latin America reached USD 8.3 billion in 2004, an increase of 79.0 percent from 2003. Latin America's share of Chinese direct investments will grow from 6.4 percent today to 17.0 percent within the next 12 months, according to the report, Going Outside, Round-Tripping and Dollar Diplomacy: An Introduction to Chinese Outward Direct Investment. Latin America will gain its share at the expense of North America and Asia. Over the next two to five years, it will fall somewhat to 11 percent, due to stronger growth in Chinese investments to Asia. Source: http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/reports/reports/
042406/china.htm (Reliability: 8)

Comment: The Latin Business Chronicle appears to be a seminal resource for extremely good and relevant Sino-Latin America economic issues in any industry. A conference at the University of Miami will be held on 5 May 2006 to discuss these affairs.

Brazil

China, Brazil Hold 1st Deputies Dialogue

24 April 2006

CCTV (WASHINGTON)--The first China-Brazil Finance Deputies Dialogue was held in Washington on 23 April 2006 on the sidelines of the spring meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on macro-economic situations. They also had extensive discussion on economic development strategies and financial sector reforms of the two countries. Two sides stressed the importance of the dialogue in strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation in macro-economic and finance areas of the two countries. Chinese Vice Finance Minister Li Yong and Brazilian Vice Finance Minister Luiz Pereira co-chaired the dialogue. High-level officials from Finance Ministries and Central Banks of the two countries also attended the dialogue. Source: http://english.cctv.com/program/bizchina/20060424/100735.shtml (Reliability: 5)

Mexico

China Interested In Seguro Popular

24 April 2006

MIAMI HERALD (MIAMI)--Mexican President Vicente Fox’s healthcare plan for the nation’s poorest attracted the attention of the Chinese, who are sending a high-level delegation of officials this month to consider adopting a similar program. The “Seguro Popular,” or Popular Insurance program, provides complementary funding for low-income citizens who don’t work in the formal economy or get care from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). It covers the costs for certain medical procedures to prevent low-income families from going into debt whenever they are faced with a medical emergency. In a recent interview, Health Secretary Julio Frenk said that the Seguro Popular’s success attracted international attention, and China became interested after Mexico gave a presentation on the program at a World Health Organization (WHO) event. Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/17918.html (Reliability: 7)

Latin America

China Mobile Denies Bidding For Millicom
24 April 2006

CHINA KNOWLEDGE (CHINA)--China Mobile denied it is among the bidders for Millicom International Cellular, a listed mobile phone carrier in NASDAQ, according to State-run Xinhua news agency. Raunie Lei, the corporate communication manager of China Mobile (Hong Kong) Ltd. said, “The Hong-Kong-listed company is not involved in the bidding process, and we have not heard that our mainland parent is involved either.” The Financial Times reported Thursday that China Mobile, the largest mobile operator in China, aims to bid for Millicom International Cellular. Millicom operates mainly in five regions: Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central America, South America and Africa with networks in Cambodia, Vietnam, El Salvador, Guatemala, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Source: http://www.chinaknowledge.com/news-detail.aspx?id=2809 (Reliability: 6)

Latin America

United States Watching China's Growing Influence In Latin America

19 April 2006

VOICE OF AMERICA (BEIJING)--China builds stronger ties with Latin America in part to satisfy its need for raw materials to fuel industrial growth, and in part to strengthen its worldwide diplomatic reach. This draws the attention of the United States, which last week dispatched its top diplomat, Thomas Shannon, the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, to Beijing. He said the Chinese assured him that their intentions remain more economic and less political. Shannon said the Chinese acknowledged that their growing relationship with Latin America has a military component. Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-04-19-voa3.cfm (Reliability: 6)

Comment: The source also has links to an audio address by the author of this article, as well as his complete written report.

Venezuela

Venezuela, China Sign On Broadcaster Training, Program Exchange

19 April 2006

CHINA KNOWLEDGE (CHINA)--Venezuela and China on 19 April 2006 signed an agreement on program exchange and the mutual training of TV and radio broadcasters, reported State-run Xinhua news agency. Tian Jin, deputy head of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) signed the agreement with Venezuelan Communications Minister William Lara at a ceremony in Caracas, capital of Venezuela. According to the agreement, Venezuela will broadcast two channels of Central China Television (CCTV) programs in Venezuela and will also have access to China Radio International's programs in a variety of languages. Tian, who leads the SARFT delegation to Venezuela, said that the cultural and information exchange would boost friendship between the two nations. Source: http://www.chinaknowledge.com/news-detail.aspx?id=2768 (Reliability: 6)

Argentina

MOU To Boost China-Argentina Futures Exchange Cooperation
19 April 2006

TMC NET (DALIAN)--Northeast China's Dalian Commodity Exchanges (DCE) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Argentina's Rosario Futures Exchange (ROFEX) on cooperation in information sharing, new derivative products development and staff training. ROFEX realized that the trade cooperation between China and Argentina, particularly the rising soybean trade between the two counties, provides a win-win cooperation opportunity on futures trade from both parties, according to ROFEX chairperson Luis A. Herrera. Source: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/19/1586957.htm (Reliability: 7)

Colombia

ONGC, Sinopec Plan Joint Bid In Colombia
19 April 2006

SIFY (SINGAPORE)--The overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. (ONGC) teamed up with China's Sinopec Group to bid for a small oil asset in Colombia, people familiar with the plan said on 19 April 2006. The joint acquisition of the asset in the Latin American country marks the second time state oil firms of the oil-starved Asian countries bidding for overseas oil and gas assets aimed at avoiding cut-throat competition. Source: http://sify.com/finance/equity/fullstory.php?id=14187671 (Reliability: 8)

Latin America

China's Appetite For Commodities, A Blessing Or A Curse?
21 April 2006

INTERNATIONAL PRESS SERVICE NEWS (UNITED NATIONS)--“The relations between China and Latin America today represent a historic opportunity, given the enormous growth in Chinese demand for commodities and fuel,” professor of statistics Graciela Chichilnisky at Columbia University's Center for Risk Management told International Press Service (IPS). The Asian giant is already the biggest consumer of copper, tin, zinc, platinum, steel and iron. In 2003, it absorbed nearly 40 percent of the cement produced worldwide, 30 percent of coal and steel, and 25 percent of aluminum and copper. Source: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32976 (Reliability: 7)

Latin America

China’s Overtures In Latin America

18 April 2006

BROWN JOURNAL OF WORLD AFFAIRS (PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND)--Reports of China’s activities in Latin America and the Caribbean have been studded with superlatives. In the decade ending in 2003, Sino-Latin American trade increased 600 percent. The USD 40 billion in bilateral trade in 2004 surpassed that of Japan’s trade with Latin American states. There has been a proliferation in the number of Chinese language classes for Latin American children and adults and an increase in high-level visits from virtually every Latin American country to Beijing. By all accounts, China’s activities in Latin America are accelerating dramatically. Source: http://www.bjwa.org/article.php?id=
jT0no0y16E453c1d32NRl330YS9asc65GFWwhpPi (Reliability: 8)

Argentina And Brazil

China, Brazil And Argentina Seeking Soy Axis

17 April 2006

MERCOPRESS (MONTEVIDEO)--China, Brazil and Argentina are mulling the creation of a multinational market for soybeans as an alternative to the Chicago Board of Trade. The idea is being explored at a five-day seminar that got under way here Monday, organized by the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange and markets based in Rosario, Argentina, and Dalian, China. Under the current arrangement, world soy prices are set by the Chicago exchange, which, Weskamp said, does not always reflect the necessities of “our market.” He did not venture to predict how long it will take for Argentine, Brazilian and Chinese exchanges to establish a parallel soy market, noting that many interests are involved. Weskamp also pointed to questions of market access that remain to be resolved with Beijing. China currently consumes around 15 million tons of soy annually, a level of demand that is expected to double in the next few years. Source: http://www.mercopress.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=7684 (Reliability: 7)

Latin America

United States Watching China's Latin American Moves

15 April 2006

LA TIMES (BEIJING)--The Bush administration held talks this week with Chinese officials on their nation's growing role in training and advising armed forces in Latin America, though the Americans did not issue warnings or call for limits, a United States (U.S.) envoy said on 14 March 2006. “The two-day meetings, which also covered political and economic issues, were the first between the two countries devoted solely to Latin America,” said Thomas A. Shannon, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America. “The discussions reflect China's growing influence as a global power and world-class consumer of oil and other resources,” he added. Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/
la-fg-china15apr15,1,6290633.story?coll=la-headlines-
world&ctrack=1&cset=true (Reliability: 8)

Latin America

China assures United States It Won't Export Political Model To Latin America

14 April 2006

MERCURY NEWS (BEIJING)--Chinese officials assured Washington that Beijing has no plans to seek greater influence in Latin America beyond expanding trade, a senior United States (U.S.) envoy said 14 April 2006. China's trade with Latin America more than doubled to about USD 50 billion a year since 2000, though still a small fraction of U.S. annual trade of about USD 800 billion with the region. But China's trade grows fast. It's said it plans to boost trade with the region to USD 100 billion by 2010. It's also scouring the Western Hemisphere for oil and gas concessions, drawing it closer to Venezuela, a major U.S. supplier that has the greatest global energy reserves outside the Persian Gulf. Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/
world/14345215.htm (Reliability: 7)

Brazil

Brazilian Unit Of China’s Gree To Start Exporting In July

13 April 2006

MACAU HUB (SAO PAULO)--The Brazilian unit of Chinese air conditioner manufacturer, Gree will begin exporting its products to Latin American countries in July, said company officials. The unit, which is located in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state in the north of Brazil, plans to export up to half of its production, namely to Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. The director of the company, Yue Haiping, said that installing the unit in Brazil was part of Gree's strategy to operate in the whole of the Latin American market. The Brazilian unit started in June 2001 and was Gree’s first overseas subsidiary. The company also recently started a factory in Pakistan, as well as having offices in Europe, Asia and Russia. Source: http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/news.php?ID=1138 (Reliability: 7)

Image Courtesy: http://www.cssr.com/deutsch/whoarewe/ourstructures-DT.shtml

Latin America

China Could Be A Very Large Investor In Latin America

12 April 2006

XINHUANET (SANTIAGO)--China, which is the world's third largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), is a potential "very large investor" in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Jose Luis Machinea, executive secretary of the ECLAC, said that although China did not play a prominent role in the investment field at present, the country would invest more to ensure access to the natural resources of the region in the future. "Traditionally, foreign investment in Latin America has come from the United States and Europe," he said, citing the chapter covering China in ECLAC's annual report on the region's FDI in 2005 entitled "Latin America's World Presence." "However, it is essential to diversify capital flows," he added. Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/
2006-04/13/content_4419140.htm (Reliability: 5)

Cuba

Cuba Expands Ophthalmologic Cooperation With China

11 April 2006

CUBAN NEWS AGENCY (HAVANA)--Cuba and China undertook a health cooperation program aimed at improving ophthalmologic care in the western region of China. The agreement, signed in the Chinese province of Qinghai, declares the objective of creating an ophthalmologic medical center with the help of Cuban specialists. Created in March 2005, the Cuban Medical Services group is "an instrument for the Cuban government and revolution's foreign medical policy," and as a vehicle to promote “free and/or subsidized cooperation, the training of national and foreign experts, scientific research, and for the organization of the International Henry Reeve Medical Brigade.” Source: http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2006/abr11cuba-china.htm (Reliability: 6)

Mexico

Emerging Sino-Mexican Strategy

08 April 2006

MONSTERS AND CRITICS (UNITED STATES)--On a three-day visit to Beijing last month, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez addressed growing speculation by some observers that China-Mexico bilateral relations were strained, due in large part to China's existing trade practices and its cautious policy concerning the revaluation of its currency the yuan. “China is Mexico’s strategic ally, not an economic rival,” Derbez said. The foreign minister’s emphatic comment points to a surprising about-face in relations between the two countries that suggests development of a new cooperative “Sino-Mexican” economic and energy arrangement. Source: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southamerica/article
_1153693.php/Emerging_Sino-LatAm_strategy
(Reliability: 7)

Cuba

Cuba, China Groom Health Collaboration

11 April 2006

PRENSA LATINA (BEIJING)--Cuban Public Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer concluded a working visit to China on 11 April 2006 that included meetings with authorities and visits to several provinces. The guest minister also toured the Chinese-Cuban Biotechnical Pharmaceutical joint company and dialogued with experts on the industry’s development. In Beijing, Balaguer met with local Health Minister Gao Qiang, toured the Center for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention and several pharmaceutical entities having commercial ties with the island before departing for Guangdong, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces. Source: http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BEA630BDE-2EE4-45C5-B721-
C90D69F052B7%7D)&language=EN (Reliability: 8)

Colombia

India, China Bid For Colombian Oil Field

11 April 2006

ASIA TIMES (NEW DELHI)--ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the foreign arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), may tie up with Chinese firm Sinopec to make a joint bid for at least 50 percent stake in a Colombian oilfield. Top OVL officials last week held talks with China's national oil company for joint submission of bid for Omimex de Colombia Ltd, industry sources said. The field produces approximately 9,450 barrels per day net of crude oil and 6,965 barrels oil from the Nare and Cocorna Association Contracts. Source: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HD11Df03.html (Reliability: 7)

Latin America

United States, China To Discuss Competing Interests In Latin America

10 April 2006

CYBERCAST NEWS SERVICE (UNITED STATES)--Thomas Shannon, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs for the United States (U.S.), held talks with Chinese officials on the two countries' policies towards Latin America and "China-U.S. cooperation" in the region, according to Beijing foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang. It is the first time the two nations held talks on Latin America. China’s global mission is to secure new sources of energy to fuel its fast-growing economy, and develop close ties with Venezuela, the world's fifth largest petroleum exporter and long a key supplier to the U.S. Source: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus
%5Carchive%5C200604%5CINT20060410a.html
(Reliability: 5)

Comment: The source of this article, Cybercast News Service (CNS) is an affiliate of the Media Research Center (MRC), a self described “Leader in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.”