11-14-06

中国印度边界争端胡锦涛访问前升温(China-India Border Dispute Flares Ahead of Hu Jintao's Visit)

在中国国家主席胡锦涛即将访问之际，印度和中国数十年来的边界争端升温。印度外长慕克吉星期二宣称，印度东北部的阿鲁纳恰尔邦为印度领土。他说，那是印度不可分割的一部份。他的话是针对中国驻印度大使孙玉玺星期一的讲话作出的回应。孙玉玺星期一说， 那一地区完全属于中国。

除了有关阿鲁纳恰尔邦的争端之外，印度还说，中国仍然控制着克什米尔内的印度领土。

A decades-old border dispute between India and China has flared up ahead of a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukerjee Tuesday asserted India's claim to the far northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. He called the area an integral part of India. The comments were in response to a statement by China's ambassador to New Delhi, Sun Yuxi, who said Monday that the area belongs entirely to China.

In addition to the dispute about Arunachal Pradesh India says China still controls Indian territory in Kashmir.

美将越南从反宗教自由国名单中删除 (U.S. Removes Vietnam From Blacklist on Religious Freedom)

越南政府欢迎美国把越南从严重违反宗教自由的国家名单上删除的决定。越南外交部发言人说，美国的这一行动反映了越南的现实，也反映了美越关系的改善。

美国国务院把越南从因对宗教团体的态度而需“特别关注的国家”的名单上除名。华盛顿2004年把越南列入这一名单。

美国官员星期一宣布这一消息的时候说， 越南在宗教自由方面取得了显著进展。越南重新开放了数百个多年前被强行关闭的基督教堂。

Government officials in Hanoi are welcoming the United States' decision to remove Vietnam from a list of countries that severely violate religious freedoms. A Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesman (Le Dung) says the U.S. move reflects the reality in Vietnam, as well as improved U.S.-Vietnamese relations.

The U.S. State Department dropped Vietnam from a list of "countries of particular concern" due to their treatment of religious groups. Washington had placed Vietnam on the list in 2004.

In announcing the action Monday, U.S. officials say Vietnam has made significant progress on religious-freedom issues. Vienam has reopened hundreds of Christian churches that were forcibly closed years ago.