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Kim secretly meets Xi in Beijing, pledges denuclearisation (Second Lead)
By Gaurav Sharma
Beijing, March 28 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un secretly met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and pledged to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, surprising the world.
The surreptitious meet between the leaders came before Kim’s talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump in April and May, respectively.
A special train used by his father and grandfather in the past ferried Kim to Beijing on Sunday, but that was not confirmed by North or China until Wednesday morning when Xinhua put out a story about the reclusive leader having met Xi.
The news outlet described Kim’s visit from Sunday to Wednesday as “unofficial” and said the North Korean leader and Xi discussed the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis.
Kim told Xi that the situation on the Korean Peninsula was “improving” as Pyongyang took the initiative to ease tensions and decided to talk to Seoul and Washington.
The development contradicted a view that China, North’s sole ally, had found itself sitting on the fence when Kim agreed to directly talk to Moon and Trump.
This may give Kim more leverage when holding talks with Trump.
China is North’s sole ally and their ties date back to the Korean War in which Mao Zedong’s elder son died fighting against the South. It is also believed that the North pays heed to what Beijing says.
However, an isolated North has frustrated China in the past one year by firing off ballistic missiles and carrying out nuclear tests. Experts say China sees the North as a buffer state between it and the US ally South Korea.
Kim said that North Korea “was determined to transform the inter-Korean ties into a relationship of reconciliation, cooperation and hold summit between the heads of the two sides”.
Pyongyang was willing to have a dialogue with the US and hold a summit of the two countries, he said.
“The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the US respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace,” said Kim.
Xi said positive changes had taken place on the Korean Peninsula since this year and China appreciated the important efforts made by North Korea.
Xi said China sticks to the goal of denuclearisation of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation.
He also said that China will continue to play a constructive role on the issue and work with all parties, including North Korea, towards a thaw in the situation in the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Washington said China briefed the Trump administration on the visit. “We see this development as further evidence that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Japan, on the other hand, asked China for explanations on the visit. “We want to receive a complete explanation from China,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.
(Gaurav Sharma is the IANS correspondent in Beijing. He can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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