Astana: Underlining dialogue and
negotiation as the only solution to nuclear issue, Presidents
of Iran and China have discussed regional and international
developments and ways of expanding bilateral ties.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is in Kazakhstan to
attend the Tenth Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
summit, in a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao here
on Tuesday afternoon, called ties between the two countries
`strategic` and `sustainable` and underlined necessity of
increasing and consolidating bilateral, regional and
international cooperation between Tehran and Beijing.
Referring to importance of coordination between the
two countries concerning regional issues and north Africa,
Ahmadinejad said that Iran believes nations of the region are
able to solve their own problems and interference of alien
countries in the regional issues, not only does not help solve
the problem, but makes them more complicated.
Ahmadinejad, by referring to Iran`s nuclear issue,
appreciated China`s transparent stance in this concern and
added that Iran has always been eager for interaction,
dialogue and logic and today we are ready again for
constructive and positive dialogue and we believe if both
sides take the path of dialogue and interaction instead of
confrontation, it will be beneficial for both sides.
Referring to historical and cultural commonalities
between Iran and China, Ahmadinejad stated that mutual
relations in recent years have had a noticeable growth and
Iran, considering its existing capacities, has proposed clear
offers for promoting ties and cooperation.
Govt says 9 North Koreans defected by boat in Yellow Sea
Seoul, Jun 15 (Yonhap) A group of nine North Koreans
crossed the tense western sea border into South Korea last
week, officials said today, the latest in a string of
defections that could further complicate inter-Korean
relations.
The defectors waved their hands aboard an engineless
boat and expressed their wish to defect last Saturday when
spotted by South Korea`s military, the officials said on the
condition of anonymity.
The nine North Koreans include three adult men, two
adult women and four children, suggesting that they may be
family members.
The North Koreans are being questioned by South Korean
officials about their motives and their defection route, the
officials said.
The development comes amid lingering tensions over the
North`s two deadly attacks on the South last year that killed
a total of 50 South Koreans, mostly soldiers.
"The defection could have negative influences on
inter-Korean relations," said Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea
expert at Dongguk University in Seoul. He also said it could
illustrate the severity of chronic food shortages and economic
difficulties in the North.
The impoverished North has vowed to build a prosperous
and powerful nation next year, the centennial of the birth of
the country`s late founder, Kim Il-sung, but it has made a
series of appeals for food assistance from the international
community.
PTI
