CARACAS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at a seminar here Tuesday, elaborating on bilateral ties, cooperation and common development between China and Venezuela. BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BILATERAL TIES In his speech at the opening ceremony of a seminar attended by entrepreneurs from both China and Venezuela, Xi said bilateral ties have seen comprehensive and fast growth since the establishment of diplomatic ties 35 years ago, particularly after the two countries built their strategic partnership for common development in 2001. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping makes a speech at a business seminar in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2009. Xi arrived in Caracas Tuesday for an official visit to Venezuela. Both sides have enjoyed close high-level exchanges, strengthened mutual political trust and fruitful cooperation in all areas, he said. Venezuela has become China's fourth biggest oil provider and fifth largest trade partner in Latin America, with bilateral trade volume reaching a record 9.85 billion U.S. dollars in 2008 -- a year-on-year increase of 68.2 percent, said Xi. He noted that the strengthening of friendly, mutually beneficial cooperation is in keeping with the fundamental interests of both peoples. It is also conducive to the common development of the two countries as well as to relations between China and Latin America as a whole. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (1st L) talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (1st R) at a business seminar in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2009Xi said he had held "very fruitful talks" with Vice President Ramon Carrizales on Tuesday. "We both are very enthusiastic and determined to develop friendly cooperation between our two countries." To that end, Xi proposed that both China and Venezuela focus on the following four aspects: First, both nations should focus on common development and boost mutual political trust. China and Venezuela should view each other from a strategic perspective and adhere to the principles of mutual trust, mutual assistance, reciprocity and mutual benefits. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at a business seminar in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2009"We should reinforce political dialogue, broaden strategic common grounds, deepen mutual political trust, constantly enrich the contents of strategic partnership, and promote a long-term stable reciprocal cooperation in an all-around way," the Chinese vice president said. Secondly, he said the two countries should further improve their cooperative mechanism and upgrade cooperation. This mechanism, namely the Sino-Venezuelan inter-governmental commission founded eight years ago, "has played an active role in communication and collaboration, under which great progress has been made in cooperation in all areas," said Xi. He expressed hope that the commission would continue to play its guiding and coordinative role in laying the groundwork of pragmatic cooperation and opening new fields of cooperation. He also proposed setting up a council for entrepreneurs from both countries. Thirdly, Xi said China and Venezuela should boost cooperation in energy and finance. Energy cooperation is a priority and constitutes an important part of bilateral cooperation, he said, expressing hope that the two sides would make a joint effort to push forward an all-around energy partnership. Xi also said that both nations had agreed to increase their contributions to a joint fund to finance projects in either country. Finally, Xi said the two countries should explore more fields and channels for cooperation. Apart from energy cooperation, they should better tap the cooperation potential in agriculture, infrastructure and high-tech, as well as promote projects in the housing, railway, telecommunication and electric power sectors. "We deeply believe that through concerted efforts, China and Venezuela will surely have a bright future of cooperation," Xi said. BETTER COOPERATION AND COMMON DEVELOPMENT The Chinese vice president said the scope and pace of cooperation between China and Latin America has reached an "unprecedented" level since the beginning of the new century. Bilateral trade reached 143.39 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, 39.7 percent up from the previous year and 10 times that of 2000, Xi noted. Meanwhile, mutual investment has been growing with areas of cooperation being expanded, he said, adding that trade and economic cooperation has shown excellent prospects for all-around development. China, the largest developing country in the world, is ready to join hands with Latin America, one of the world's major developing regions, to push forward their cooperation and raise it to a still higher level, he said. China and Latin American nations -- whose combined population makes up a fourth of the world's total -- are all at a crucial stage of socio-economic development, he said. Under the current circumstances, while standing up to the serious challenges brought about by the global financial crisis, one should not lose sight of the new emerging opportunities for all-around cooperation between the two sides, he said. The vice president put forward a four-point proposal for strengthening all-around cooperation for common development. First, he said efforts should be made to promote mutual political trust, bearing in mind the importance of long-term development of friendly cooperation. China is ready to maintain high-level visits and contact with Latin American nations and favors increased bilateral understanding and support on issues of mutual concern, he said. Both sides should strive to improve the existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of political consultation and dialogue and coordinate cooperation in various fields from a strategic height and long-term perspective. In the face of the global financial crisis, China is ready to work with Latin American nations to strengthen coordination and boost confidence so as to contribute to the stable growth of the global economy, Xi said. Second, mutual cooperation should be deepened, said the Chinese vice president. China is ready to continue to expand trade and mutual investment with Latin American nations, push forward pragmatic cooperation in such key areas as energy, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and the high-tech industry. The Chinese government is ready to join hands with Latin American governments to further promote strategic cooperation between companies from both sides and make continued efforts to ensure greater success in hosting the China-Latin America Business Summit and the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, he added. Third, efforts should be made to boost human and cultural exchanges, with a view to cementing the foundation of the China-Latin American friendship. China is ready to enhance exchanges with Latin American nations in the fields of culture, education, health, sports and tourism, and carry out practical cooperation in poverty alleviation, social security, environmental protection and disaster relief. Both sides should also expand exchanges between youth and women's organizations as well as media bodies and academic institutions in efforts to promote understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Latin American peoples, Xi said. Fourth, both sides should strengthen consultation and cooperation in international affairs. China is ready to strengthen coordination with Latin American nations, through participating in regional and international organizations or other multilateral mechanisms, and jointly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing nations. Both sides should work together to push for the establishment of a global economic system for sustainable development, an inclusive international financial system, a fair and equitable international trading system and a fair and efficient global development system. Both sides should urge developed countries to fulfill their commitments in terms of increasing investments and aid, reducing trade barriers, speeding up technology transfer and reducing and writing off debts, he said. China is a staunch force for maintaining world peace and the Chinese people are trustworthy friends of the Latin American people, said Xi. China and Latin America enjoy a profound traditional friendship and share broad common interests. China is ready to work with Latin American nations to write a new chapter in the efforts to establish partnership for all-around cooperation, said the vice president. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was present during Xi's address. Xi arrived Tuesday in Caracas for an official visit to Venezuela, the fourth leg of his six-nation tour, which will also take him to Brazil and Malta. He earlier visited Mexico, Jamaica and Colombia. In November 2008, China issued its first Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, seeking to build and develop a comprehensive and cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development with the region.
BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A section of the local prosecutor's office that deals with dereliction of duty is involved in the investigation into Monday night's massive fire in downtown Beijing, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said here Thursday. The fire led to one death and seven injuries. The investigation involves two offices, the Supreme Procuratorate said: the Beijing People's Procuratorate and the district procuratorate of Chaoyang, the section of Beijing where the blaze at the China Central Television (CCTV) complex occurred. The Supreme People's Procuratorate declined to elaborate on what the investigations covered. China's procuratorate is the equivalent of a prosecutor's or attorney general's office, handling a range of civilian crimes, but it also has a special division responsible for crimes involving dereliction of official duty, such as bribery and corruption, that the police don't handle. The fire, which engulfed the building that houses some CCTV facilities as well as the unopened Mandarin Oriental Hotel near the futuristic tower that will house the state broadcaster, was caused by a powerful fireworks show put on by CCTV. One firefighter died from breathing toxic fumes and seven people were hospitalized. The huge blaze also caused widespread traffic congestion in eastern Beijing and led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The police have detained 12 people so far, including a man in charge of the new site's construction, three CCTV workers and eight people CCTV hired from a fireworks company in central Hunan Province to stage the show. The fireworks they used were dangerous and needed approval before being allowed in downtown Beijing, a Beijing government spokesman has said. He said that CCTV did not get approval and further alleged that its workers ignored police warnings that night. Monday was the Lantern Festival, which officially ends the Lunar New Year, and it's traditional to light fireworks on that night.
BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Credit extended by China's banks in the first quarter hit 4.58 trillion yuan (670 billion U.S. dollars), the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said Saturday. In March alone, new yuan-denominated loans increased 1.89 trillion yuan. It was the third straight month that new loans exceeded 1 trillion yuan. "It is not beyond market expectations. The increase was boosted by the 4-trillion-yuan stimulus plan and showed the possibility of a faster economic recovery in China compared with other countries," said Zhang Qizuo, vice director of China International Economy Society. Premier Wen Jiabao said on March 5 at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, that new yuan-denominated loans this year were expected to reach 5 trillion yuan. Historical data show the first-quarter bank credit usually accounts for more than 60 percent of the year's total. "There is a time lag between the credit increase and actual use of capital, but the big increase will surely lay a solid foundation for the recovery of the real economy," said Zhang. In the first quarter, the central bank withdrew 47.3 billion yuan from circulation, 78.5 billion yuan more than the same period of last year. "The increase in currency withdrawal from circulation showed the central bank was carefully watching the credit growth," said Yuan Gangming, an economist with Tsinghua University. Zhuang Jian, an economist at the Asian Development Bank, said the regulators should pay attention to the quality of new loans and prevent bad loans. By the end of February, non-performing loans by Chinese banks totaled 1.53 trillion yuan, 17.5 billion yuan less than the start of the year. The structure of credit growth was also improving. The proportion of bill financing fell to about 22 percent in March from 47 percent in February, though still much higher than the average of 5 percent. "The decline in bill financing is a good sign. It means company activities are increasing and the credit's impact on the economy is strengthening," said Zhuang. Through March, the M2 figure -- a broad measure of money supply,which covers cash in circulation and all deposits -- grew 25.5 percent from a year earlier to 53.06 trillion yuan. The narrow measure of money supply, M1 (cash in circulation pluscorporate current deposits), was up 17.04 percent year on year to 17.65 trillion yuan. "The fast rebound of M2 indicates China's liquidity is abundant. This is very important to the economic recovery. The sharp rise of M1 shows companies are increasing spending on investment and management." said Zhang Bin, an economist with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday voiced its strong dissatisfaction over the new report by the U.S. Defense Department on China's military strength. Hu Changming, spokesman of China's Defense Ministry, said the report severely distorted facts, censured China's legitimate and normal national defence development, and disseminated the mainland's "so-called military threat" to Taiwan. "China is strongly dissatisfied with it and resolutely opposes it," said Hu. "China unswervingly sticks to a path of peaceful development and pursues a national defense policy which is purely defensive in nature." Hu noted that China is not in an arms race of any form and constitutes no threat to other countries. Hu said the report, which continued the dissemination of the "Chinese military threat" theory and severely distorted facts, was absolutely groundless. Hu said Sino-U.S. military ties have not yet completely moved out the difficult period as many obstructions still await to be got over. "The report, issued under such circumstance, could only bring negative influence to the resumption and development of bilateral military ties." "We urge the United States to stop issuing such a report on China's military strength and immediately take effective measures to dispel the baneful influence caused by the report so that bilateral military ties will incur no further damages," Hu added. The Pentagon on Wednesday released its annual report about the Chinese military repeating its complaint about "limited transparency." It questioned the "purposes and objectives" of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
BEICHUAN, Sichuan province, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Tears fell down her cheeks, like the rain dropping on her umbrella. "I dreamed of my granddaughter several times," Tan Yunlan said while sobbing. Supported by her daughter, the elderly woman gazed at a pile of rubble which used to be an apartment building in the former Beichuan county seat. Tan's son-in-law arranged several bricks to burn incense, while her daughter took out a folded handkerchief from her bag. She opened it and placed the photo of a four-year-old girl inside, then gently placed it on the ground. Behind the family, people walked slowly in twos and threes, holding candles or white chrysanthemums. Firecrackers would sound sporadically. As Saturday was China's traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, survivors of the quake-leveled county returned to what's left of their homes to mourn loved ones. GRIEF IN QUAKE ZONES More than 80,000 people were confirmed dead or missing after the May 12, 2008 earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan province. One of the worst-hit areas, 15,645 people were killed in Beichuan. Another 4,311 others remain missing. Because of the destruction, the county has been closed-off since May 20 last year. For the first time since then, former residents were allowed to return for four days of mourning starting Wednesday. Life forever changed for Zhu Xiuhua after her husband was buried under the county's vegetable market. "He was considerate and diligent, earning 3,000 yuan a month to support the family," she murmured, eyes swollen. After the quake, Zhu became the family provider, taking care of her parents-in-law and two sons. Although the local government gave her some subsidy, she now has to work at construction sites like a man. Facing the debris of the market, she drew a circle on the ground with a stick and wrote the name of her husband. "There were too many people who died in the quake. I am afraid he can't find the money I gave him," she wept. Zhu then lit a candle and placed it alongside the pork she had cooked and set by the debris. Pork, was her husband's favorite food. She then burned ghost money- one sheet after another, as an offering to help the dead in afterlife. "Don't worry about us. We can manage it," she whispered to him. In Qingchuan county, flower seller He Xiantong brought a bunch of chrysanthemums to an earthquake memorial park in Donghekou. "Somewhere in the county, 40 meters underground, lies my wife," he said. "I feel that we are so close." At the same time, their son, He Kaiyuan, who is in Chengdu, less than 300 kilometers away, stands facing Qingchuan. He also bought flowers for his mother and placed them on the ground. "Dad visits mom every day," he said. "Mom, dad is with you. You must be happy in heaven." In front of the tomb of Tan Qianqiu in Deyang city, just north of Chengdu, many strangers stopped to mourn. The teacher, from the Dongqi middle school, sheltered four students with his arms when the quake jolted the building. When rescuers arrived, they discovered Tan had died, but the students all survived. Huang Jing, a girl who was from Hunan province, dedicated a bouquet to Tan. "He is also a native of Hunan," she said. "Although he didn't know me, I brought him greetings from his hometown." MOURNING FROM ELSEWHERE In Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian province- some 2,000 kilometers away from the quake's epicenter- a ceremony was held for people to mourn victims. In front of more than 100 people, two girls tied letters they had written to deceased relatives, to the legs of pigeons, then let them go. "Dear little sister, how are you in heaven?" wrote 16-year-old Dong Yu. "Does it still hurt? How are uncle and aunt?" her letter went on to say. Her cousin was just eight months younger than her. "Mom still weeps sometimes, but there are so many people from Sichuan in heaven, you won't be lonely." Together with 33 other students from Sichuan, Dong was sent to a vocational school in Fuzhou after the disaster. "I am doing well here," she read, smiling, with tears. People also chose to mourn the dead on the Internet. "Chen Jian, I'm Xiaofeng. How are you in heaven?" This message was from Chen's wife Tan Xiaofeng on the website cq.qq.com. After the earthquake, Chen, worried about his pregnant wife. He survived 73 hours under crushed concrete and twisted steel rods. He passed away after he was pulled out of the debris. Netizens on the portal website Sohu, list his story as among the ten most touching from the earthquake. "I miscarried," Tan Xiaofeng wrote. After the earthquake she moved away from her hometown and went to work in eastern Jiangsu Province. "I will be back to sweep tombs for him later this month," she said. The website claims to be the first online platform for visitors to mourn quake victims on Tomb Sweeping day. So far, more than 7,000 messages were left by netizens. Photos showing touching moments during the quake and its aftermath were also posted. On Sina.com, the page for mourning showed candles forming "5.12" and a white chrysanthemum. More than 2,373,000 people had visited the site as of Saturday afternoon. Some posted their own messages for victims: "There is no disaster in heaven," and "Hope the survivors can be strong and live a better life." LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE Outside the barbed wire fence around the collapsed Beichuan middle school, 15-year-old Lu Chunqiao closed her eyes and held burning incense. Four other students nearby burned a letter. In Chinese, there is a superstition that if you burn a letter, you are sending it to the dead. The ninth grade students then knelt down, keeping their foreheads close to the ground. They survived the quake, but more than 1,000 of their classmates were dead or missing. "We want to tell them (the dead) the changes during this past year," Lu said. "Construction of the new school building is to start next month." About one kilometer away from the Beichuan county seat, work rebuilding Qushan township just began. Amid roaring machines, Liu Chunyi, an engineer from eastern Shandong province said, "it is the greatest comfort to the dead tohave those alive live a better life." In Wenxian county of northwestern Gansu province where 114 people succumbed in the quake, Liu Wencheng placed fruit and tea for his dead wife in a graveyard. He told her that their two daughters were doing well at school. Liu had 0.2 hectares of land, where he planted wheat, corn and potatoes. "Life has to go on," he said. After the quake, the local government sent him a quilt, food and electric blankets. Each affected family was also given 20,000 yuan (almost 3,000 U.S. dollars) for reconstruction. It was not enough to build a house which is why Liu still lives in a tent. He is not sure how long he will be there. In Sichuan, however, there is a timetable. The province vowed to rebuild all damaged houses in rural areas by the end of this year and those in cities or townships before next May. More than 90 percent of roads and 98 percent of the power supply system would be restored by Sept. 2010. But it will take longer than that for wounds in people's hearts to heal. Many people suggested Tan Xiaofeng, who is just 26, should re-marry. The idea just makes Tan cry. "I can't accept another man," she said while shaking her head. "Not now."
BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of the Report on the Implementation of the 2008 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2009 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which was submitted on March 5 for review at the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress: REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2008 PLAN FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ON THE 2009 DRAFT PLAN FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress March 5, 2009 National Development and Reform Commission Fellow Deputies, The National Development and Reform Commission has been entrusted by the State Council to report on the implementation of the 2008 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2009 draft plan for national economic and social development for your deliberation and approval at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress (NPC), and also for comments and suggestions from the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). I. Implementation of the 2008 Plan for National Economic and Social Development The year 2008 was an extraordinary and eventful year for China. Our country's economic and social development experienced a variety of severe challenges and tests that were hardly anticipated and rarely seen. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the people of all our ethnic groups thoroughly applied the Scientific Outlook on Development, followed the plan for national economic and social development adopted at the First Session of the Eleventh NPC, surmounted numerous difficulties, and eliminated interference from emergencies of all kinds. Finally, we won great victories in dealing with the devastating snow and ice storms in parts of the south and the massive earthquake that hit Wenchuan, Sichuan Province. We successfully held the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and accomplished the Shenzhou VII manned space flight mission. In particular, we actively responded to the severe impact of the global financial crisis, sustained steady and fairly rapid economic development and maintained social harmony and stability. The Plan for 2008 was, on the whole, implemented well. 1. The economy grew steadily and rapidly. China's GDP topped 30 trillion yuan in 2008, a year-on-year increase of 9.0% and more than five percentage points higher than the average world economic growth rate. The value-added of large industrial enterprises increased by 12.9% over 2007, with that of light and heavy industries rising 12.3% and 13.2% respectively. Retail sales of consumer goods rose 21.6% to 10.85 trillion yuan, up 4.8 percentage points. Fixed asset investment across the country totaled 17.23 trillion yuan, up 25.5%. Domestic demand, particularly consumer demand, played a greater role in boosting economic growth. Economic performance continued to improve. National revenue reached 6.13 trillion yuan in 2008, up 19.5% year on year. Energy consumption per unit of GDP continued to decline in 2008, down 4.59%. Sulfur dioxide emissions and chemical oxygen demand kept falling, down 5.95% and 4.42% respectively, and this trend became more firmly set. Water consumption per 10,000 yuan of value-added by industry dropped by 7.0%. Efforts were intensified to use land more economically and intensively, resulting in continued improvement in land-use efficiency. 2. There was a gradual decline in the rate of price increase. We adopted comprehensive policies and measures to counteract the great pressure that ballooning domestic food prices and the surge in the prices of grain and oilseed on the international market in the first half of 2008 placed on our efforts to stabilize prices. On the one hand, we worked to ensure adequate supplies. We formulated and implemented supporting policies to boost grain, oilseed and egg production and hog and dairy farming. We strengthened the emergency allocation and transport of important farm and sideline products, improved coordination between their production and sale, and alleviated problems concerning the sale and distribution of grain in northeast China and farm products in some areas, especially disaster-stricken areas. We took measures that combined fiscal and tax policy support, export controls, import inducements and manipulation of state reserves to ensure adequate market supplies and steady prices for important commodities such as grain, refined petroleum products and fertilizer. On the other hand, we strengthened market oversight. We instituted temporary measures to hold down the prices of grain, edible vegetable oil and other important commodities. We organized and carried out inspections focused on prices for agricultural supplies, refined petroleum products, medical care and drugs, and charges related to farmers, enterprises and education; actively encouraged business managers to exercise self-discipline in setting prices; and severely cracked down on violations of the law such as hoarding for speculation and colluding to drive up prices. At the same time, we raised the level of the cost of living allowances twice to ensure that the basic living standard of low-income groups would not be significantly affected by price increases. Beginning in the fourth quarter, the inflationary pressure subsided considerably. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 5.9% for the year. The rate of price increase for means of production, including agricultural supplies, also fell rapidly, with producer prices for means of production in December down 1.9% year on year and the inflation rate for agricultural supplies down 12.4 percentage points from its July high.
苏州市个人体检
BERLIN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese business delegation, led by Commerce Minister Chen Deming, signed here on Wednesday a total of 37 procurement deals worth around 11 billion euros (14 billion U.S. dollars) with German companies. According to Chen, the 37 deals are composed of two parts -- purchasing contracts, and cooperation agreements which need further negotiations. The deals focus on engineering equipment, electronics and auto vehicles like Mercedes and BMW, Chen told a press conference. A draft deal obtained by Xinhua showed that the Chinese side agreed to buy around 37,000 BMW cars and Mini worth 2.2 billion U.S. dollars, as well as 27,000 units of Mercedes cars. Chen revealed that apart from the current 200-member delegation, China would send more entrepreneurs to Germany to discuss further investment in both countries. Germany is one of China's important trading partners within the European Union (EU). In 2008, the Sino-German trade hit 115 billion U.S. dollars. Despite the world economic crisis, China and Germany have vowed to maintain the trade volume unchanged this year. Prior to the deal-signing ceremony, more than 450 Chinese and German business representatives attended a forum on exploring cooperation opportunities. Chen and German Economic Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg condemned trade protectionism that has cropped out amid the global economic crisis. Chen said the procurement deals reflect China's sincere objection to trade protectionism, adding that opening the market is the proper approach to address the global economic recession. Guttenberg lauded China's procurement, and joined Chen to slap trade protectionism. The 37-year-old minister said Germany and China are top two exporters in the world, noting that trade protectionism is a "wrong answer" to the current global financial crisis. Germany and China should join hands to facilitate the Doha round talks, he added. Later on Wednesday, the Chinese delegation, composed of over 200 business representatives, flew to Zurich of Switzerland to continue their procurement tour.
NEW YORK, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong gave a speech at the prestigious Yale University on Wednesday, calling for the strengthening of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities. Liu said that to build positive and comprehensive Sino-U.S. relations in the 21st century, the two countries need to deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in humanities. "Humanities exchange is a bridge of friendship, understanding and trust between nations and peoples, which comprises an important part of Sino-U.S. relations along with economic and trade cooperation," she said. Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) receives the Howland Medal from the President of Yale University Richard Levin at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, the United States, April 15, 2009. Liu Yandong gave a speech at the prestigious Yale University on Wednesday, calling for the strengthening of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities Strengthening humanities exchanges, promoting consensus and understanding will help different cultures to learn from each other and develop, and earn benefits for the countries and peoples, Liu said. She said China and the U.S. should attach great importance to and enhance exchanges and cooperation in humanities from a strategic and long-term perspective, explore new ways, and enrich new content into the field. Liu offered China's willingness to promote dialogue and exchanges with the U.S., enhance mutual trust and cooperation, and jointly push the bilateral relations to further development in the new era. Liu arrived in New York on Saturday, at the start of her official visit to the United States.
BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Friday expressed strong indignation and opposition to a European Parliament resolution on Tibet. "We are strongly indignant with and opposed to the act that intervenes in China's internal affairs, damages China-Europe relations and hurts the Chinese people's feelings," the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement. Regardless of China's repeated stern representation, the European Parliament, stirred up by a few of its members, insisted on approving a resolution on Tibet, which distorts the facts and again encourages the ** Lama's separatist practice, in an attempt to internationalize the Tibet-related issues," said the statement. Tibet is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and Tibetan affairs are purely China's domestic affairs, the statement said, adding that any foreign government and organization does not have the right to intervene in China's internal affairs. The Tibet Autonomous Region has achieved economic development, national unity and social harmony and people there have been living and working in peace since the democratic reforms 50 years ago, the statement said. Over the past few years, the Chinese central government has carried out a number of contacts and dialogues with patience and sincerity with the ** Lama's representatives. However, as the ** Lama has not stopped his separatist activities, no substantial progress was made through the dialogues. ** Lama's Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People, under the veil of claiming autonomy, actually seeks political independence for Tibet and runs against China's Constitution. It will be inevitably opposed by all the Chinese people, the statement said. The ** Lama claimed that rather than seeking for "Tibet independence ", he only asked for "high degree of autonomy" and "genuine autonomy" and insisted on "nonviolence". However, ** Lama's so-called "genuine autonomy" aimed to restore his reign in Tibet that integrating religion and state, and establish a supposed "greater Tibet area" which covers nearly a quarter of China's territory. The so-called "greater Tibet area" does not exist in history, nor does it have an actual ground The claim also asked the Chinese central government to withdraw armies and all the non-Tibetans from the "greater Tibet area". The essence of these claims is advocating "Tibet independence " or meant for "gradual or covert Tibet independence," the statement said. The ** Lama claimed that he insisted on "nonviolence", but the violent riots in Lhasa staged by the ** Lama's followers on March 14 last year proved that they have never stopped violent activities. The allegations of the ** Lama were only disguise for his separatist stance and violent criminal activities. They were also packaging to defraud the international society of sympathy and support, the statement said. "Our disputes with the ** Lama is neither the ethnic issue, nor religious issue, or human rights, but a major principled issue concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, " it said. The Chinese central government's policy toward the ** Lama is consistent and clear cut, the statement said, adding the door is always open for contacts and talks with him. The key for positive progresses of contacts and talks rest with whether the ** Lama would give up his wrong stance and separatist behaviors, reexamine his political opinions and make aright choice beneficial to the country, the people, the history and himself. The statement also said, it is in line with the common interest of China and the Europe to enhance mutual beneficial cooperation on an equal footing. "A handful European parliament members, who hold prejudice against China, have very readily and repeatedly proposed groundless resolutions on Tibet-related issues," it said. These resolutions deliberately slandered against China's image, sent wrong signals to the ** Lama's supporters and boost arrogance of the pro-Tibet campaigners. These European parliament members should be warned sternly to get a clear understanding of the situation and respect the facts. Any conspiracies to interfere in China's internal affairs are doomed to fail, it said. The NPC values relations with the European parliament and requests the European parliament to proceed from the overall interest of China-EU relations, discard ideological prejudice, adopt a fair and objective stance and do more things that conducive to the healthy development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, said the statement. Also on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu urged the European Parliament to confirm to the public opinions, immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs using the Tibet-related issue and work with China to maintain the overall situation of China-EU relations.
BUSAN, South Korea, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Experts from China, Japan and South Korea attending a regional forum here on Sunday called for closer cooperation among the three countries in tackling the global financial crisis. The proposal was made at the fourth session of the Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum, a regional platform with political, business and academic experts from the three countries. Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (R), Lee Hong-koo (C), former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Ryoki Sugita (L), head of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japanese Economic News Press), attend the opening ceremony of the Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures, in Pusan, ROK, April 12, 2009. The fourth Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures was opened on Sunday in Pusan. In his speech to the forum, former Chinese vice premier Qian Qichen said that the issues of the financial crisis, energy security, environmental protection and climate change have been interwoven and become global challenges, and no country alone can counter these challenges. China, Japan and South Korea are major forces in maintaining world financial stability and promoting global growth, and the most pressing task is to work together to take every necessary measure to curb the spread of the crisis and mitigate its impact on economic growth and market stability, he said. Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (R) talks with Lee Hong-koo, former prime minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), during the opening ceremony of the Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures, in Pusan, ROK, April 12, 2009. The fourth Forum of Northeast Asian Prominent Figures was opened on Sunday in PusanFormer Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone suggested in his speech that experts from the three countries form a group to search for a solution to the world financial crisis. Former South Korean prime minister Lee Hong-koo said the consensus on building new world orders in politics, economy and other fields needs to be more broadly shared so as to better tackle the crisis that all are faced with. The forum will focus on cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan in dealing with the world financial crisis, which will lay a good foundation for the further development of ties among the three countries, Lee said. The Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum is a yearly event cosponsored by the Xinhua News Agency of China, the Nikkei news group of Japan and leading South Korean daily Joong Ang Ilbo, and gathers prominent figures from all walks of life in the three countries. This year's meeting is set to discuss global financial risks, environment, energy and culture.