saying he was looking forward to continuing to work with his US counterpart on building "constructive cooperative relations." But the warm sentiments were overshadowed by a strongly worded commentary published days earlier in the China Daily. Written by former Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, the article criticized the Bush administration's "cocksuredness and arrogance" and attacked the so-called Bush Doctrine, saying it advocated US rule over the world. China's normally tight control over the media seemed to slip on this occasion, foreign ministry officials moving quickly to smooth any ruffled feathers. An official said the China Daily had republished the article, which had previously appeared in a small circulation party weekly, without the consent of Qian or the central government. Sanctioned or not, there are plenty of potential tripwires that lie ahead in Sino-US relations: disputes over US limits on imports of Chinese garments and textiles, continuing pressure on China to revalue or float its currency and US arms sales to Taiwan head the shortlist.
Category: Commodities
Shaanxi mine blast kills 25, traps 144
Some 144 miners were reported trapped Sunday after an early morning explosion killed 25 at the state-owned Chenjiashan coal mine in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province. Of 293 workers first reported underground, 123 had been rescued, according to Xinhua, but communications with those who remained trapped had been cut off. Indications from smoke pouring through air vents suggested the explosion occurred five miles from the mine head. Escaping miners were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Henan province, which has been hit recently with more deadly mine explosions this month and last, holds the record for China's deadliest coal-mine disaster on record, at Daping Mine, where 148 miners died four years ago.
China steel demand halts Nissan production
Nissan Motor said it would suspend production at three of its four Japanese plants for five days because capacity at its main steel suppliers, Nippon Steel and JFE Steel, is taken up with meeting exploding Chinese demand for sheet steel, and keeping up with other Japanese orders. The suspension reduces Nissan production by 5,000 vehicles a day, and cuts into plans to launch two new models in December. France's Renault holds a 44% stake in the automaker
CNMC wins Malaysia mine license
One of China's biggest state-owned mining groups has been granted a license to explore and develop mines in the north Malaysian state of Kelantan. Under the terms of the deal, China Nonferrous Metals International Mining Co Ltd (CNMC) can explore a 120 sq km area. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, although state media quoted an official working for the Kelantan state government as saying CNMC was offered favorable policies and low tax rates. Besides large quantities of iron reserves in the area, officials said it was also known to contain high levels of gold, copper, stannum and other metals. CNMC, which has mines in Australia, Cambodia and Indonesia, specializes in the exploitation of nonferrous metals, such as copper, gold, silver and aluminum.
Hebei mine death toll hits 61
Rescuers said the death toll in last weekend's blaze at a complex of iron mines in Hebei province had reached 61, with four miners still unaccounted for. The fire at the privately-owned mining operation in the city of Shahe was thought to have been caused by an electrical fault. A city official told state media the poor management of the mines made it difficult to get an accurate figure for the number of miners who were working there at the time of the blaze.
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