Chinese leaders launch blitz on the Middle East

NICOSIA — A diplomatic initiative from Beijing involving three separate delegations is simultaneously targeting seven key nations in the Middle East.

Beijing has sent a host of senior officials throughout the region for talks in Iran, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Jordan to expand both economic and political cooperation.

On Friday, Chinese Vice President Hu Jin Tao visited Teheran in the first leg of a Middle East tour, Middle East Newsline reported. Hu will also visit Cyprus, Jordan and Syria.

The visit comes at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Hassan Habibi. Hu's tour will last two weeks.

The Hu visit will focus on Middle East developments and an improvement of trade relations and cooperation. Iranian officials said the volume of trade between Beijing and Teheran reached $1.34 billion in 1999.

Western diplomatic sources monitoring the visit said China seeks to renew defense relations with Teheran, a move halted by U.S. pressure in the late 1990s. The sources said Beijing wants to sell conventional weapons to Teheran.

Earlier, a Chinese trade delegation held talks in Cairo over the prospect of increasing the export of agricultural goods to Beijing.

On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan arrives in Ankara for a four-day visit that will include the signing of a cooperation accord in the spheres of culture, diplomacy and economy.

"Turkey attributes utmost importance to the development of bilateral ties with the People's Republic of China in every realm," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

In Athens, Chinese Chief of Staff Gen. Fu Quanyou met with Greek military commanders in an effort to improve defense cooperation. No details were released.