51.   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Thursday on five-day official visit to China, hoping to boost economic and trade ties between the two countries.

52.   Progress toward normal trade ties has been slow.

53.   Rafidah has called recently for a concerted effort by both Australia and Malaysia to improve trade ties between the two countries.

54.   A committee made up of industry representatives from both countries was formed Wednesday to examine ways to improve trade ties between France and its former colony.

55.   A high-ranking Israeli met the Omani foreign minister Tuesday, pushing the Gulf country to grant Israeli airliners rights to Omani airspace and encouraging trade ties.

56.   A group of Jordanian businessmen left for Iraq on Thursday seeking to consolidate trade ties amid hopes for a resumption of partial Iraqi oil exports.

57.   Albright is expected to sign a copyright agreement that should clear the way for improved trade ties.

58.   Also Friday, the official Tehran television questioned whether Iran should maintain trade ties with Germany.

59.   Although South Africa has been trying to improve trade ties with Indonesia, Mandela denied it was acting out of self-interest.

60.   Also on Thursday, the Russian Far East and North Korea agreed to set up a joint commission to develop trade ties.