11.   Chinese officials on Tuesday welcomed a European Union decision to remove China from a list of non-market economies, saying the change will bolster trade ties.

12.   Chinese Deputy Premier Wu Bangguo arrived Thursday in the Vietnamese capital for a two-day visit to bolster economic ties between the two communist countries.

13.   Czech President Vaclav Havel on Monday began a seven-day visit to Brazil aimed at bolstering economic ties between the two countries.

14.   Egypt, which invited Greece, has been bolstering military ties with Athens.

15.   Foreign ministers from both groups stressed the need to bolster mutual ties to secure the Mediterranean area as a stable, peaceful zone.

16.   Foreign ministers from both sides stressed the need to bolster mutual ties to secure the Mediterranean area as a zone of stability and peace.

17.   He arrived in Brazil on Monday for a seven-day visit aimed at bolstering economic ties.

18.   Hungarian President Arpad Goencz on Wednesday began a visit here to bolster trade ties with Turkey.

19.   In the past, Mugabe has tried to bolster ties with Yugoslavia and the non-aligned movement by giving preference to Belgrade in awarding contracts.

20.   Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived in Indonesia Saturday to bolster economic ties with the largest and most crisis-ridden country in Southeast Asia.