Beijing - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday met two leading Taiwanese politicians in the latest sign of improving diplomatic ties across the Taiwan Strait.

Hu met separately with Lien Chan, the honorary chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist Party), and People First Party Chairman James Soong, both of whom were scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing later on Friday.

State media gave no details of any talks between Hu and Lien and Soong, and state media portrayed the meetings as "party to party" rather than diplomatic events.

Beijing - China's domestic economy is facing increasing challenges despite rapid growth, the country's President Hu Jintao said Friday, pledging reforms after the Olympic Games.

Uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the global economy were increasing, Hu said in a group interview with foreign journalists.

At the same time, challenges in China were increasing, despite the economy growing by 10.4 per cent in the first quarter, he said. China was to ensure steady and fast growth while at the same time keeping fast-growing inflation in check, Hu said.

Toyako, Japan - Chinese President Hu Jintao called for more aid to address the world's food security Wednesday at the Group of Eight (G8) leaders meeting in Toyako,
Japan.

President Hu also rejected the argument which blames the development of big developing countries for hikes in world food prices, according to Xinhua news agency.

"That does not have to do anything with the facts, also it is not a constructional attitude to solving the problem," said Hu, who added that there are in fact multi-faceted and
complex factors behind the price hikes.

"Developing countries suffer most from rising food prices," he said.

Tokyo (Japan), July 8 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shared common country challenges with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday, who expressed his willingness to work with India in various field

Taipei- Chinese President Hu Jintao, stepping up peace overtures towards Taiwan, will rec