Canada and China sign strategic partnership, discuss human rights

Posted by CBC News
September 9, 2005

In Ottawa Friday, China's President and Canada's Prime Minister announced a formal "strategic partnership" between the two countries, while officials signed a number of bilateral agreements on air and rail transport, food inspection, health research and nuclear R&D.

The two leaders pledged to double trade between Canada and China within 5 years, it's now around $30 billion a year. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, after the United States.

With reference to China's human rights record, Prime Minister Paul Martin said that he and President Hu Jintao had "open and frank" discussions about Tibet, Falun Gong and 10 human rights cases.

With several hundred followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement meditating and exercising outside the news conference on Parliament Hill, Hu -- in one of his more diplomatic responses -- said: "Given the different national conditions of China and Canada and given our different history and cultural traditions, it is quite normal for our two countries to have different views about human rights."

The 62-year old Chinese President said the issue of Tibet independence is a non-starter and -- speaking through an interpreter -- added: "We hope that the Dalai Lama will come to the right judgment of the situation, reverse his position (on independence) and really do something useful and beneficial for the country and for his ethnic group in his lifetime."

Taiwan, which has existed for decades in a diplomatic grey zone, is permanently wedded to China, said Hu. He said there are "discordant noises" coming from Canada on the matter, apparently a reference to a Conservative MP's private member's bill that would establish some government-to-government links with Taiwan. Hu warned: "We hope that this question can be appropriately addressed so as not to undermine the political foundation of China-Canada relations."

Canada spends about $50 million annually on foreign development in China, much of it fostering rights research and legal development there. Conservative MPs asked this week why such Canadian aid is necessary in a country that holds $750 billion in foreign currency reserves.

As for some well-documented cases of Chinese industrial spying in Canada, Hu at first ignored the question altogether, before a mischievous prime minister reminded him. "Let me address this question in a very brief way," said Hu. "Actually this is a non-existent question."

Hu was making his first visit to North America since taking office nearly three years ago and is only the third Chinese president to visit Canada.

The more than 1 million ethnic Chinese in Canada are the largest minority of Canada's 33 million people. With the fastest-growing economy in the world and the rapid urbanization of their homeland, the Chinese are hungry for more oil and natural resources, which Canada can provide.

Hu was to visit Toronto and Niagara Falls this weekend, before travelling to Mexico City and the United Nations in New York next week. He then goes to Vancouver before returning to Beijing on Sept. 17.

President Bush cancelled a meeting with Hu this week, citing Hurricane Katrina. They are expected to meet on the sidelines of the U.N. summit next week in New York.

Afghanistan signs 1951 Refugee Convention

Posted by UNHCR
September 4, 2005

GENEVA, Sept 2 (UNHCR) – Afghanistan has signed the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, a significant sign of recovery for a country that used to be one of the world's largest producers of refugees and asylum seekers.

In a press statement today, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres welcomed Afghanistan's accession to the Convention and Protocol, which takes effect this week after several months of close collaboration between UNHCR and Afghan authorities.

"It is possible at times to forget the true meaning of the refugee Convention, but if anyone can understand its significance, it is the people of Afghanistan," said Guterres. "During the long, dark years of fighting and extremism, millions of Afghans had to flee their homeland to seek refuge elsewhere. It is testimony to the remarkable progress Afghanistan has made on the road to recovery that it is now able to join the Convention."

With the accession, Afghanistan enshrines in international law its long-standing tradition of asylum. Despite being embroiled in decades of war and civil conflict, Afghanistan kept its doors open to refugees – notably those from Central Asia, like the tens of thousands who fled Tajikistan's civil war in the early 1990s.

Since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, more than 3.5 million Afghans have repatriated from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan in one of the largest refugee repatriation operations in UNHCR's 54-year history. The UN refugee agency has also been working in Afghanistan to support the authorities' efforts to reintegrate the millions of newly-returned people.

"The accession to the international refugee Convention and Protocol is a very significant step for Afghanistan," the Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Dr. Azam Dadfar, said in Kabul. "So many Afghans have experienced exile and know how important it is to be treated with respect and dignity as refugees. We are, therefore, particularly pleased to be joining the community of signatory states, to strengthen our cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to add our voice to those committed to provide protection to refugees. Afghanistan will be proud to respect its obligations under these important international instruments."

Afghanistan is the 146th country to ratify either the 1951 Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Iran – which has hosted millions of Afghan refugees over the years – has also signed the Convention. UNHCR hopes that Pakistan, which has also generously hosted millions of Afghans, will soon join as well.

There are now just under 1 million Afghan refugees in Iran. A recent census showed that more than 3 million Afghans live in Pakistan, though not all of them are "of concern" to UNHCR. A significant number are expected to choose to repatriate, but it is also likely that some Afghans will want to remain in their countries of asylum, where some have been living for decades as well-integrated, productive members of society.

Recognising a return to more normal conditions in the region, consultations have been underway between Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and the international community on the development of a broader management framework that would provide not only for refugees, but also for other forms of population movement. In this context, Afghanistan's accession to the Convention marks yet another step towards greater regional stability and cooperation.

Back again

So, I've been home for almost two months now...wow..can't really believe it myself. We've had a beautiful summer here in Vancouver with only about 3 days of rain since my arrival. Unbelievable for this city. I've been keeping pretty busy with fundraising and private tutoring.

As most of you know, I went skydiving last weekend. It was incredible. Adrian, Chie and I jumped from a small plane at 10,000 feet over Abbotsford. We had a 1 minute free fall and then about 6 minutes additional falling to the ground. I am absolutely addicted and can't wait to get up there again. The fundraiser was a huge success pulling in an additional 950 dollars towards Uganda. You can check out the pictures HERE.