BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The amendment to the Electoral Law adopted by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, marked an important step to improve the people's congress system and advance socialist democracy, the People's Daily said in an editorial to be published Monday.The NPC concluded its annual session here Sunday after adopting an amendment to the Electoral Law, which grants equal representation in legislative bodies to rural and urban people.The amendment could better demonstrate equality among people, regions and ethnic groups, and promote social harmony, the editorial said.The editorial also spoke highly of the NPC session as an important meeting in the crucial era for China to deal with the global financial crisis, maintain steady and relatively fast economic development, and accelerate transformation of the economic growth mode.The NPC endorsed the government work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao, which highlights scientific development, transformation of the economic growth mode, innovation and improvement of people's livelihood, the editorial said.The editorial hailed the achievements of the NPC Standing Committee in 2009 and called for the NPC to make intensified efforts in legislation and supervision work and keep in closer contact with the people in 2010, the last year for the implementation of the country's 11th five-year plan (2006-2010).
BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has seen progress in the development of the law profession as it strives to build a country based on the rule of law.According to the Ministry of Justice, the country had more than 15,000 law firms, more than 166,000 lawyers, and more than 220,000 people working in the sector at the end of 2009.By Oct. 2009, foreign law firms from 21 countries had set up 224 representatives offices in China, while law firms from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had set up 65 offices on the mainland, the ministry said.Sixteen lawyers are deputies in the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and 22 lawyers are members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body.Last year, the country's lawyers handled nearly 2 million lawsuits, and dealt with more than 534,000 non-litigious legal matters, plus more than 184,000 cases of legal aid.Statistics show in 2008, lawyers billed their clients 30.9 billion yuan (4.54 billion U.S. dollars) and paid more than 4 billion yuan in taxes.No corresponding figures for the year of 2009 are available.
BERN, Switzerland, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met Swiss President Doris Leuthard here on Tuesday and both sides voiced their opposition against trade protectionism amid the ongoing global financial crisis.Li, who arrived in Switzerland on Monday for a four-day visit, said the creation of a free trade area between the two countries is under discussion and serves as a concrete action for both sides to combat trade protectionism."Both sides should push the feasibility study on a free trade area forward, and be well prepared to start negotiations in 2010," Li said.Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang(4th L) attends the joint press conference with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard(4th R) in Bern, capital of Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2010. Li Keqiang arrived in Zurich on Monday, kicking off his formal visit to SwitzerlandThe creation of the free trade area is of great significance to bilateral ties and will be conducive to further promotion of bilateral trade and investment cooperation, the Chinese leader said.He noted that the year 2010 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, saying Switzerland was one of the earliest West European countries that recognized the People's Republic of China.Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang(R) shakes hands with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard before their meeting in Bern, capital of Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2010. Bilateral ties have been developing in an all-round way since the two sides established diplomatic relations 60 years ago, Li said.He said China attaches great importance to its ties with Switzerland and is ready to join hands with the European country to seek a long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral ties."We should stick to the principle of sincerity, mutual trust and friendly consultation, and seek common ground while reserving differences, in order to cement the political basis of bilateral ties," Li said.For her part, Leuthard said Switzerland opposes any form of trade protectionism and expects more Chinese companies to invest in the country, as well as more cooperation between the two countries in such fields as technology and finance.Switzerland treats the Switzerland-China ties from a long-term perspective and highly values its cooperation with China, she said.She hoped that both sides could step up efforts on the feasibility study on a free trade area so as to draw a good result to open a new chapter of bilateral economic and trade ties.Leuthard said she will visit China this year and attend the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.The Swiss leader also reaffirmed that her country will firmly stick to the one-China policy.During his stay, Li will also address the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday and hold talks with WEF President Klaus Shwab.
BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday invited more talented foreigners to work in China, saying the country will improve services for them. Wen made the remarks at a meeting with more than 20 representatives of foreign experts, who have helped in China's social progress.Wen said China pays equal attention to attracting both investment and talented personnel, while utilizing science and technology to achieve sustainable development. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with a foreign expert at a meeting with more than 20 representatives of foreign experts, who have helped in China's social progress, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2010This calls for an active flow of talented foreigners to China to help with the nation's modernization drive, the premier said.He urged related organs to improve policy and service level for all the foreign experts coming to work in China. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with more than 20 representatives of foreign experts, who have helped in China's social progress, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2010Isabel Crook, a 95-year-old Canadian expert in English teaching, gave her views on the key role that can be played by strong, vibrant rural communities.She suggested the government reevaluate the current practice of closing primary schools in small villages and concentrating them in larger villages.Other representatives of talented foreigners working in China, including Daniel Jospeh Dudek, a U.S. expert in environmental protection area, and Jean Dorey, a French expert in the education sector, offered suggestions to the Chinese government for tackling environmental challenges and boosting cooperation in the education sector.Wen listened attentively to their remarks and exchanged views.Wen also extended festival greetings to all foreign experts and international friends working in China, as well as to their families. He expressed gratitude for their contributions to China's development.
BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The producer price index (PPI), a major measure of inflation at the wholesale level, rose 4.3 percent in January from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced Thursday.It quickened from 1.7 percent in December 2009 when the figure ended 12 months of decline.Analysts said the domestic price reform of major resource products and rising international commodity prices accelerated the PPI growth.In breakdown, the price of crude oil surged 70 percent, and that of raw coal was up 5.3 percent.Non-ferrous metal price rose by a quarter.
BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government's insight and the adjustment of the economic pattern were the two major factors helping China ride out the global economic downturn, scholars said here Sunday.Zhuang Fuling, professor of Renmin University, said the Chinese government made a correct analysis of China's economic situation and took quick and resolute action.At the end of 2007, the central government called for vigilance against possible scenarios of various sorts. Moreover, in the Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2008, China drew up guidelines to cope with the global economic downturn through domestic consumption expansion, development pattern transformation, key sectors reforms, and continued effort to open up and improve people's livelihood.Ye Duchu, professor of Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), attributed the success to China's systemic advantages."We could employ the country's fullest strength to reduce or offset the negative implications of the crisis," Ye said.The National Bureau of Statistics revealed on Jan. 21 that China maintained a GDP growth rate of 8.7 percent in 2009 despite the global recession.The global financial crisis, by nature a challenge to China's development mode, prompted the country to quicken its drive to transform its economic pattern in a bid to realize sustainable development for the future, scholars say.Lu Zhongyuan, deputy director of Development Research Center under the State Council, said China should seize the opportunity to optimize the economic structure and promote the system and technological innovation.Jin Bei, president of Institute of Economy under Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, considered the crisis a good chance for competitive enterprises to carry out strategic adjustment.On Feb. 3, Chinese President Hu Jintao called for the whole nation's efforts to accelerate the adjustment of China's economic development pattern to promote sound and fast economic and social development.Wu Zongxin, counselor of Counselors' Office of the State Council, highlighted the building of the CPC in pulling through the global economic downturn."China's good performance during crisis is attributed to its staunch and capable leadership," said Wu.The Fourth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee urged all Party members to be prepared for dangers in times of peace and push forward Party building work to ensure the Party's "backbone" position in people's minds when coping with various domestic and overseas challenges.Zhuang said the rapid and sustained economic growth called for strengthening and improving the Party building under the new circumstances.The cadres of the Party at county levels have been trained at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee since 2008 in a bid to better cope with the global financial crisis."This is an endeavor rarely seen in the world, thus guaranteeing China's effective response in fight against the crisis," said Ye.
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BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged China and Japan to strengthen exchange and cooperation Monday to boost mutual understanding and trust.Wen made the remarks while meeting with members of the fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship. The committee, an advisory panel to both nations' governments, convened a meeting in Beijing on Sunday to discuss various aspects of China-Japan relations and to provide suggestions to the two governments."The foundation, as well as the hopes for and future of China-Japan friendship, lies in the peoples of the two countries," Wen said.Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R, front) meets with members attending the first meeting of the fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 8, 2010.Stressing that both sides need to take history as a mirror and face the future, Wen said China and Japan should handle relevant issues with the broad situation of Asia and the world in mind, enhance exchange and cooperation and increase mutual understanding and trust, so that the peoples of the two nations can become closer to each other and further develop bilateral ties.Hailing the committee as the bridge linking the two countries and the two peoples, Wen said he believed the committee would produce fruitful outcomes with the concerted efforts of the two parties.Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) meets with Taizo Nishimuro, Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) president, and chief member of the Japan side of the first meeting of the fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship in Beijing Feb. 8, 2010China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also met with the committee members.The committee met the press during their first meeting earlier Monday. During the meeting, Chinese chair of the panel Tang Jiaxuan dismissed the notion China's development meant acting "tough" towards others."The anxiety over China's being tough is groundless and unnecessary. What's crucial is the actual policies and moves China has taken," Tang said when asked if China will take "tougher" policies vis-a-vis Japan as the two countries' gap in national strength narrows.Tang said China's achievements over the last six decades have been notable and that the country's gap with Japan has narrowed.Still, he noted, China's per capita GDP is only 3,700 U.S. dollars, meaning it is not in the top 100 ranking of countries by the measure while Japan's per capita GDP is well over 40,000 U.S. dollars.China still has 150 million people living in poverty, according to the UN's standard of poverty of living on less than one U.S. dollar a day, Tang noted."That means China will remain a developing country for a long time into the future and needs to focus on its own development.""By tradition, China advocates harmonious relations with neighboring countries. China will stick to a peaceful development path and befriend the peoples of neighboring countries with diplomatic relations and build harmony in Asia and the world at large," Tang said.
PYONGYANG, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Premier Kim Yong Il met China's new ambassador, Liu Hongcai, here Tuesday.During the meeting which was also attended by Vice-Premier Ro Tu Chol at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, the DPRK officials said they highly appreciated the relationship between the DPRK and China.Kim warmly welcomed Liu, saying the DPRK and China held a series of activities last year to mark the two countries' year of friendship and the bilateral relationship had witnessed constant achievements in areas of politics, economy and culture, especially in the commercial sector, from the beginning of this year.Kim expressed thanks for the support of the Chinese party, government and people to the DPRK on socialistic construction, saying the DPRK people would never forget it and it was the unswerving stand of the DPRK's party and government to continue consolidating and developing the DPRK-China friendship.Liu said the activities held by China and the DPRK last year to mark the friendship served as a good opportunity for young people in the two countries to exchange views and develop friendship.He said he would make efforts to boost relations between the two countries and expand areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.Liu, who arrived in Pyongyang on March 5, presented his credentials on March 8 to Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.
BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Foreign-funded enterprises in China exported 494.4 billion U.S. dollars worth of machinery, electrical and electronic products in 2009.A document posted on the website of the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said the figure made up 69.3 percent of the country's total exports of such products in the past year.Exports of machinery, electrical and electronic products by privately-owned enterprises totalled 106.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2009, down 8.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the document.State-owned enterprises only exported 92.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of machinery, electrical and electronic products, accounting for 12.9 percent of the country's total machinery, electrical and electronic products last year.The GAC document also said the majority of the country's exports of machinery, electrical and electronic products fell into the category of processing and assembling trade.China's exports of machinery, electrical and electronic products in the category of processing and assembling trade totalled 466.4 billion U.S. dollars last year, making up 65.4 percent of the country's total exports of such products.The country exported 713.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of machinery, electrical and electronic products last year, down 13.4 percent year-on-year. The exports contributed 59.3 percent to China's total exports in 2009.The European Union (EU), the United States of America and Hong Kong were the three major destinations for the China mainland's exports of machinery, electrical and electronic products last year.China exported 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars worth of products last year, down 16 percent from 2008, replacing Germany as the world's largest exporter.
ZHOUSHAN, Zhejiang Province, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Maritime police authorities in Shanghai and the eastern China provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang launched a joint anti-terror exercise Saturday in the run-up to the Shanghai World Expo.Seven naval vessels joined the maneuver, which was held in the waters off the Zhoushan Islands in Zhejiang Province, said Qian Junmin, a senior officer with the maritime police force in Jiangsu Province.He did not say how many officers joined the exercise, which focused on shooting and other practices.Shanghai, which sits at the mouth of the Yangtze River on the East China Sea, has a coastline of more than 600 km with busy water traffic.For security considerations, the sea off Shanghai will be patrolled by armed boats and motorboats during the Expo, scheduled from May 1 to Oct. 31.