State Visits to China, [Archives:1998/03/Front Page]

Indonesia and Malaysia President Saleh Heads a 130-Person Delegation on a Far Eastern Offensive
Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal, Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the Preparatory Work Team for President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s visit to China, Indonesia and Malaysia is putting the final touches on the program of the visit. In exactly one month, the President, at the head of a delegation of 130 persons – mostly businessmen as well as five ministers – will pay state visits to these countries. The first leg of the trip takes the Yemeni group to China. Arrival in Peking is scheduled for 15th February where the President will hold talks with Chinese officials, including 2 tete-a-tete meetings with President Jiang Zemin. The President will also meet with Chinese businessmen in a dinner hosted by the China Road and Bridge Group of Companies. In Shanghai, the President will see the Pu-Dong Free Zone area, which was established roughly at the same time as the Aden Free Zone. What has already been achieved in Shanghai could tell the Yemenis about how much they have been missing at Aden. Yemen and China will sign numerous agreements and accords covering many fields including health, education, vocational training, tourism, culture, avoiding double taxation, cooperation between the chambers of commerce, investment promotion, fishing, commercial exchange, and exemption from visas for diplomatic and official passports. From Shanghai, the President travels to Jakarta for a three-day visit (19-21/2/1998). The President’s visit will mark the 50th anniversary of Yemen’s recognition of Indonesia. In 1948, Yemen was one of the first countries to recognize newly-independent Indonesia. This milestone will be duly marked by the two sides. Here again, several agreements covering health, education, technical training, tourism, culture, avoiding double taxation, cooperation between the chambers of commerce, investment promotion and commercial exchange will be signed. From Indonesia, President Saleh will travel to Kuala Lampur on a two day-visit, where he will formally inaugurate the Yemeni embassy. Mr. Mohammed Taha Mustafa, Yemen’s first ambassador to Malaysia, has just left Sanaa to take up his new post. He will present his letters of credentials to the Malaysian monarch on January 23rd. “This trip opens new horizons in our relations with these countries,” Ba-Jammal said.
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