11.   Hong was one of nine vice premiers of the reclusive nation.

12.   Chinese vice premier and foreign minister Qian Qichen opened the inaugural meeting after arriving from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

13.   Ukrainian vice premier in charge of emergencies, Vassili Durdinets, said Friday in Kiev that the cholera bug had been discovered in a tributary near Kharkov.

14.   Vice premier Jiang Chunyun has urged local governments along the Yangtze to prepared for flooding and civilians and soldiers have been mobilized to guard the banks of the river.

15.   Russian first vice premier Oleg Soskovets, who has been in Cuba since last Tuesday, and Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage participated in the signing ceremony.

16.   The Chinese-language newspaper also said that the British side had also been told that Chinese vice premier and foreign minister Qian Qichen plans to attend the ceremony.

17.   The delegation accompanying Li on his trip included his wife, Zhu Lin, vice premier Li Lanqing and other government and business officials.

18.   The decision was announced by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kozo Igarashi ahead of a visit to Japan by Russian vice premier Oleg Soskovets later this month.