Shantung mayor cancels visit

SURABAYA: The mayor of China's Shantung city has canceled a visit to the East Java capital of Surabaya due to security concerns, the chairman of the Chinese Community Association, Lim Oei Yen, said on Sunday.

The cancellation was faxed to the Chinese Embassy here following the bombings on the tourist island of Bali on Saturday night, which killed 182 people and injured hundreds more, mostly foreigners.

The Shantung mayor was scheduled to meet the East Java governor on Oct. 27 to discuss further cooperation between the two administrations.

"We have tried to explain that Surabaya is not Bali. But they answer that even Bali, which was thought to be safe, was hit by bombs. So they fear such an incident could take place while they are here," Lim was quoted by Antara as saying on the sidelines of the inauguration of Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque.

The mosque was named after the Chinese marshall who became a Muslim preacher. He spread Muslim teachings to Java island around 1405. --Antara