寻觅刘邦的出生地沛郡丰邑中阳里

大学生思想政治教育工作的作用

BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's lenders have been urged to be flexible and innovative concerning loan repayment from smaller firms.     The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said Friday it is trying to help small firms facing financing difficulties by extending the loan period.     According to a notice sent to various lenders, banks and small firms could stipulate such terms in loan contracts which would allow the borrower to file a new request for a credit checkup before the loan is due.     If no problem is found, the borrower could directly extend the loan period without starting all over again by signing a new contract.     Extra conditions that come along with the extended loan period could be worked out by both sides through negotiations, the commission said.     However, the commission did not define which small firms would be entitled to such favorable policies.

BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has called for beefing up efforts to further push forward peaceful development of relations between the mainland and Taiwan.     A meeting on Taiwan work, held from Friday through Saturday, pointed out that major breakthrough had been made in development of relations across the Taiwan Straits in 2008.     The meeting urged doing solid job to further push forward development of cross-Straits relations and the process of cross-Straits consultations, continuing the progressive method of easy things first, difficult things later; and economic affairs first, political affairs later.     It urged consolidating the political bases that the two sides both oppose "Taiwan independence" and adhere to the "1992 Consensus", to maintain the momentum of the improving cross-Straits relations.     It urged vigorously beefing up economic exchanges and cooperation, fully realizing direct transport, postal and trade links, striving for normalization of economic relations and working for institutionalizing economic cooperation.     It orders taking effective measures to help Taiwan businesses on the mainland to overcome difficulties, implementing a series of policies that benefit Taiwan compatriots, beefing up cooperation in dealing with the international financial crisis.     It also urged vigorously pushing forward all-round exchanges, with emphasis on promoting cultural and educational exchanges and involving more Taiwan people in cross-Straits exchanges.     Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and made a speech. Jia, who is also Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged following the guidelines put forward by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao on Taiwan work.     The meeting was presided over by State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee director Wang Yi delivered a work report at the meeting.

LONDON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's mining giant Aluminium Corporation of China (Chinalco) announced here on Thursday it will inject 19.5 billion U.S. dollars in cash into Rio Tinto.     The cash injection is regarded as "firepower" for Rio Tinto, against the global economic downturn, Tom Albanese, chief executive of Rio Tinto, said. Xiao Yaqing, president of Chinalco, said following the signing of an agreement on investment that the investment is a show of confidence in both China and the world, adding that "the strategic partnership with Rio Tinto will prove to be valuable and successful." Xiao Yaqing (L), general manager of Aluminum Corp. of China (Chinalco), shakes hands with Rio Tinto Group chairman Paul Skinner at the signing ceremony in London, Britain, Feb. 12, 2009. Chinalco announced Thursday it would invest 19.5 billion U.S. dollars in mining giant Rio Tinto Group, bailing out the latter while securing for the state-owned Chinese company access to more resources    As the leading Chinese diversified resources company, Chinalco's investment puts more emphasis on potential future values than on short-term returns, Xiao said.     The transaction will forge a pioneering strategic partnership through the creation of joint ventures in aluminium, copper, and iron ore as well as the issue of convertible bonds to Chinalco, which would, if converted, allow Chinalco to increase its existing shareholding in Rio Tinto to about 18 percent.     The transaction is still to be approved by shareholders of Rio Tinto, governments and other regulators.     Albanese said the transaction will position Rio Tinto to lead the resources industry into the next decade and beyond by ensuring the continuity of its strategy.     The new partnership with the Chinese company "will benefit from Chinalco's strong relationships within China, which Rio Tinto believes will continue to be the main driver of growth in commodity markets over the longer term," Albanese said.     He said the Chinalco relationship will also help Rio Tinto to seek project funding from Chinese financial institutions.

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XI'AN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang urged local governments Tuesday to accelerate industrial restructuring and development in western regions and boost domestic consumption to offset the impact of the global downturn.     Li made the remarks during an inspection tour of the country's northwestern Shaanxi Province, which ran from Sunday to Tuesday. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) talks with a salesman about the process of bringing home appliances to the countryside in a market of Yan'an, a city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on March 17, 2009. Li Keqiang made an inspection of Shaanxi Province recentlyHe urged local authorities to take measures to achieve smooth, relatively rapid economic growth this year. He urged the Chinese people to be confident in coping with uncertain times.     "Equipment manufacturing is a sector of strategic importance. Local governments should do more to implement industry stimulus plans, promote innovation and build up large domestic companies," he said. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R, Front) shakes hands with a veteran in a beadhouse in Yan'an, a city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on March 17, 2009. Li urged companies to develop new technology, new products and foster new industries to become more competitive.     He also called on local governments to sincerely apply policies aimed at helping farmers buy household appliances to stimulate consumption, as potential demand in western and rural areas was huge.     As of Feb. 1, China's more than 900 million farmers became eligible for subsidies equal to 13 percent of the price of designated home appliances. The subsidy was originally offered in a pilot program in three provinces in 2007. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (2nd, R) inspects in a workshop of AVIC Xi'An Aircraft Industry (Group) Company in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on March 17, 2009

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday hit back at a United States report on its human rights with its own report on the U.S. human rights record.     "The U.S. practice of throwing stones at others while living in a glass house is a testimony to the double standards and hypocrisy of the United States in dealing with human rights issues and has undermined its international image," the Information Office of the State Council said in its report on the U.S. human rights record.     The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2008 was in retaliation to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2008 issued by the U.S. Department of State on Feb. 25.     For years, the United States had positioned itself over other countries and released the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices annually to criticize human rights conditions in other countries, using it as a tool to interfere with and demonize other nations, the report said. The U.S. has turned a blind eye to its own violations of human rights.     "As in previous years, the reports are full of accusations of the human rights situation in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but mention nothing of the widespread human rights abuses on its own territory," China said in its report.     "The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2008 is prepared to help people around the world understand the real situation of human rights in the United States, and as a reminder for the United States to reflect upon its own issues," China said.     The report reviewed the U.S. human rights record from six perspectives: life and personal security; civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; racial discrimination; rights of women and children; and the United States' violation of human rights in other countries.     The report warned the United States that widespread violent crime posed serious threats to its people's lives and security.     According to a report published in September 2008 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the country reported 1.4 million violent crimes, including 17,000 murders and 9.8 million property crimes in 2007.     More frequent gun killings were a serious threat to the lives of U.S. citizens, the report said.     It quoted the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention assaying that 1.35 million high school students in 2007 were either threatened or injured with a weapon at least once on school property.     The report said an increasing number of restrictions had been imposed on civil rights in the United States.     It cited government surveillance of online activities, new legislation on government wiretapping last July, more cases of police abuse of force and neglect of basic rights of 2.3 million prisoners in the United States.     The United States was facing a number of social problems, including a wide wealth gap, increasing number of homeless, needy people and those suffering hunger, the report said.     It quoted the U.S. Census Bureau as saying in August 2008 that 12.5 percent of Americans, or 37.3 million people, were living in poverty in 2007, up from 36.5 million in 2006.     The unemployment rate increased from 4.6 percent in 2007 to 5.8percent in 2008, the report said.     People in the United States saw their pension plans shrink, health insurance cut and school tuition increase, while drugs, suicide and other social problems prevailed, according to the report.     The report said racial discrimination prevails in "every aspect of social life" in the United States, ranging from income, employment, education, to judicial system, often with African Americans as major victims.     "Nearly one quarter of black American households live below the poverty line, three times that of white households," it said, citing The State of Black America, issued by the National Urban League in March 2008.     The jobless rate for blacks was 10.6 percent in the third quarter of 2008, twice that of the whites, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.     The report said the African American high school graduation and college entry rates still lingered at the level of whites "two or three decades ago", and African American students in public schools were "more likely to get physical punishment than White children."     "African American youths arrested for murder are at least three times more likely than their white peers to receive life imprisonment without the possibility of parole," the report said, quoting a 2008 report of the New York-based Human Rights Watch.     It also mentioned the infringement of basic rights of indigenous Americans, inhumane treatment received by immigrants, and serious racial hostility and rising hate crime in the United States.     On "worrisome" conditions of women and children, the report said gender-based discrimination in employment, and domestic violence and sexual violence toward women were quite serious.     Also, an increasing number of children were living in poverty and danger of being physically or mentally harmed due to abuse and violence.     "The United States is one of the few countries in the world where minors receive the same criminal punishments as adults," the report said. "It is the only country in the world that sentences children to life in prison without possibility of parole or release."     "The United States has a string of records of trampling on the sovereignty of and violating human rights in other countries," the report said.     It listed the Iraq war, prisoner abuse at Guantanamo, the five-decade embargo against Cuba and arm sales.     The war in Iraq had claimed more than 1 million civilian lives and caused the same number of homeless people, it said.     The United States maintained the embargo against Cuba, though the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging itto end the embargo in last October.     U.S. arm sales reached 32 billion U.S. dollars in 2007 and weapons were sold to more than 174 nations and regions.     The United States was inactive on its international human rights obligations and offered outbound humanitarian aid that was dwarfed by its status as the richest country in the world, the report said.     China in the report advised the U.S. government to "face its own human rights problems with courage, and to stop applying double standards to human rights issues".     This is the 10th consecutive year that the Information Office of China's State Council has issued a report on the human rights record of the United States to answer the U.S. State Department's annual report.     "Respect for and protection of human rights is an important indication of civilization and progress of human society," the report said. "Every government shoulders a common responsibility in committing itself to the improvement of human rights conditions.

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang told former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin Tuesday that efforts should be made to ensure the "healthy" and "stable" development of Sino-French relations.     Li recalled the experiences on the bilateral ties since China and French forged diplomatic relations 45 years ago, noting that sound political relations and trust served the fundamental interests of the two peoples and were vital to boost cooperation.     Li also briefed Raffarin on China's economic situation, adding the measures China adopted to curb the global financial crisis "have been taking some effect."     "We are confident of maintaining China's stable and rapid economic growth and highly value foreign trade cooperation with countries such as France," Li said.     Raffarin, who is in Beijing to attend a Sino-French economic seminar, said expressed his commitment to continuing to promote the bilateral strategic partnership. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin in Beijing, capital of China, on April 7, 2009    China and France issued a press communiqué on Wednesday, just hours before the presidents Hu Jintao and Nicolas Sarkozy met in London ahead of a Group of 20 summit on the global financial crisis.     The communiqué said the two sides "attach great importance to China-France relations" and reiterated their adherence to the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.     In the communiqué, France pledged not to support "Tibet independence" in any form.     Relations between China and France deteriorated in December when Sarkozy met with the ** Lama in Poland.

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BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan has called on the international community to "act together" at the upcoming London summit to get through the global financial crisis, in an article published by the British newspaper The Times on Friday.     In the article entitled "G20 must look beyond the needs of the top 20," with a subtitle "China believes the developing world should have a stronger say in how the international financial system is run," Wang urged all heads of states to be present at the G20 London summit to "act together to get through the time of hardship."     After the financial crisis broke out, China was quick to put in place a decisive plan to boost domestic demand, advance economic restructuring and improve people's well-being, which have started to produce results, said the vice premier.     However, the Chinese economy still faces severe challenges, including to meet the demanding goal of maintaining economic growth by boosting domestic demand, ensuring employment and readjusting the economic structure. China also has to cope with shrinking external demand caused by the global economic downturn and trade and investment protectionism, Wang said.     "China will continue to take forceful measures to maintain steady and fast economic growth and contribute its share to an early recovery of the world economy," Wang pledged in the article.     Since the G20 summit in Washington last year, said Wang, China has provided a lot of assistance and support through a variety of means to a number of countries and regions, and played a part in the creation of significant Asian and global economic and trade initiatives.     The Chinese leader stressed the significance of the international community to enhance coordination and cooperation to overcome the current difficulties.     "Efforts should be made to expand trade and investment cooperation to bolster economic growth, step up cooperation among small and medium-size businesses to ensure employment stability, and strengthen cooperation in energy conservation and emissions' reduction, environmental protection and development of new energy technologies to nurture growth points for the world economy," Wang suggested.     He firmly rejected trade and investment protectionism of all kind. "The international community should recognize that the trend towards economic globalization is irreversible and should take credible steps to reject all forms of trade and investment protectionism," he said.     Wang also called on the international financial system to be reformed, "with the focus on readjusting the governance structure of international financial institutions and increasing the representation and voice of developing countries." He asked the London summit to set a clear goal, timetable and road-map for such reform.     To prevent similar crisis from happening again, Wang, also a Chinese economic expert, suggested prudent regulation of all financial markets and institutions involved to be tightened and regulatory coordination and cooperation at both the regional and international levels to be increased.     On the hot topic of increasing financial resources for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said China supports the increase as far as the fund is safe and reasonable returns can be ensured.     "China is ready to play an active part in exploring ways to raise resources and will contribute to this effort within its ability," Wang said. He asked the IMF to mobilize resources through the "quota-based" system as well as voluntary contributions, striking a balance between the rights and obligations of the contributing countries.     As a return, said the Chinese vice premier, the IMF must enhance capacity-building, reform governance structure and ensure that the resources play a significant role in easing the international financial crisis and countering the global economic downturn. China inclines to see the resources mainly to be used to help developing countries which are seriously hit by the crisis, Wang said.     Leaders of the world's 20 largest economies will meet in London on Thursday to discuss, among other things, a coordinated response to the current global financial crisis

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.

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BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The following is the full text of the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2009 and adopted on March 13, 2009:          REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT     Delivered at the Second Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2009          Wen Jiabao     Premier of the State Council     Fellow Deputies,     On behalf of the State Council, I now present to you my report on the work of the government for your deliberation and approval. I also solicit comments and suggestions on the report from the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).          I. Review of the Work in 2008     The year 2008 was truly eventful. Our country's economic and social development withstood severe challenges and tests that were rarely seen before. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the people of all our ethnic groups faced difficulties squarely, worked with courage and determination, surmounted all difficulties and obstacles, and made new achievements in reform, opening up and socialist modernization.     - The national economy continued to maintain steady and rapid growth. GDP topped 30 trillion yuan, an increase of 9% over the previous year. Overall price rises were held in check. Government revenue was 6.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.5%. Grain output rose for the fifth consecutive year and totaled 528.5 million tons, a record high.     - Reform and opening up were further deepened. New breakthroughs were made in reforms in key areas and crucial links, such as the fiscal, taxation, financial and pricing systems and administration. Imports and exports totaled US$ 2.56 trillion, an increase of 17.8%. Paid-in foreign direct investment reached .4billion.     - Development of social programs was accelerated, and the living standards of the people continued to rise. A total of 11.13million more urban residents entered the workforce. Urban per capita annual disposable income reached 15,781 yuan, an increase of 8.4% in real terms, and rural per capita net income reached 4,761 yuan, up by 8% in real terms.     - Great victories were won in the fight against massive natural disasters. The Beijing Olympics and Paralympics were held successfully, and the Shenzhou VII manned space mission was a complete success.     These achievements signify that we have taken new and solid steps along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They have greatly fortified the courage and strength of the people of all our ethnic groups to surmount difficulties and will definitely encourage us to bravely forge ahead on the new historical course.     Last year, we accomplished the following important work:     1. Making timely and resolute adjustments to macroeconomic policies and doing everything possible to maintain steady and rapid economic development     We maintained the right direction, focus, intensity and pace of macro control, and adopted a series of policies and measures to promote steady and rapid economic development. In a complex and volatile situation, we actively responded to the severe impact of the global financial crisis and worked hard to make our macro control more proactive, targeted and effective. In the middle of the year, when energy and grain prices on the international market were high, world economic growth slowed, and exports from and economic growth in China's coastal regions began to decline, we promptly shifted the priority of macro control to maintaining steady and rapid economic development and controlling price hikes, and adopted relevant fiscal, taxation and financial measures. In September, the international economic situation started to deteriorate sharply and its negative impact became increasingly felt in China. We again resolutely shifted the focus of macro control to preventing economic growth from slowing down too quickly. We implemented a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy. We raised export rebate rates three times, lowered the benchmark interest rates on savings and loans for financial institutions on five occasions, reduced required reserve ratios four times, suspended the individual income tax on interest earnings from savings, reduced securities transaction stamp tax rates, cut taxes and fees on housing transactions, and increased credit support to small and medium-sized enterprises. In accordance with the requirement that we act fast, be forceful, take targeted measures and stress implementation, we promptly introduced ten measures to further boost domestic demand and promote economic growth, and implemented them without delay. We adopted a succession of policies and measures to encourage financial institutions to support economic development, promote sound development of the textile and other light industries and the real estate market, expand consumption by improving distribution, maintain steady growth in foreign trade, and keep the employment situation stable. At the same time, we stepped up efforts to formulate plans for restructuring and revitalizing key industries. Together, these measures have played a crucial role in alleviating serious problems affecting economic performance, enhancing confidence, stabilizing expectations and maintaining steady and rapid economic development.     We continued to strengthen our work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers without any letup. Central government budgetary spending on agriculture, rural areas and farmers was 595.5 billion yuan for the whole year, a year-on-year increase of 163.7 billion yuan or 37.9%. This included 103 billion yuan, twice the figure for the previous year, in direct subsidies to grain producers, general subsidies for agricultural production supplies, and subsidies for superior crop varieties and the purchase of agricultural machinery and tools. We significantly raised minimum grain purchase prices three times, with the total increase exceeding 20%. We implemented a temporary policy for purchasing and stockpiling major agricultural products. We intensified the protection of arable land and the construction of agricultural water conservancy projects, and increased overall agricultural production capacity. We supported the production of hogs, oilseeds and dairy products. These policies and measures played an important role in maintaining and stimulating the enthusiasm of farmers, ensuring the supply of major farm products and increasing rural incomes, and provided strong support for maintaining overall stability in economic and social development.     We unswervingly promoted independent innovation and economic restructuring. We launched 16 major national science and technology projects, and established a number of new national engineering centers, key laboratories and enterprise technology centers in such fields as information technology, biotechnology and environmental protection. We successfully developed a number of key technologies and major equipment in the areas of regional aircraft, automobiles powered by new energy sources and high-speed railways. The central government invested 116.3 billion yuan in science and technology, an increase of 16.4%. Significant steps were taken in reorganization of the telecommunications and civil aviation industries. We continued to eliminate backward production facilities. Last year, we shut down small thermal power plants with a total capacity of 16.69 million kilowatts and closed 1,054 small coalmines. Investment in infrastructure and basic industries was increased, and a number of major projects in energy, transportation and water conservancy were completed or launched. Steady progress was made in implementing the master strategy for regional development, and economic development in different regions became better coordinated.     We steadfastly promoted energy conservation, emissions reduction and ecological and environmental protection. The central government allocated 42.3 billion yuan to support development of ten key energy conservation projects and environmental protection facilities. The daily sewage treatment capacity rose by an additional 11.49 million tons in urban areas, and desulfurization equipment was installed in coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 97.12 million kilowatts. Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 4.59% from the previous year; chemical oxygen demand fell by 4.42%; and sulfur dioxide emissions fell by 5.95%. For the past three years combined, total energy consumption per unit of GDP dropped by 10.08%; chemical oxygen demand dropped by 6.61%; and sulfur dioxide emissions dropped by 8.95%. We built on the achievements in returning farmland to forests and restoring livestock pastures to grasslands, and carried out ecological conservation projects such as protecting virgin forests and developing the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve in Qinghai Province. We implemented the plan to prevent and control water pollution in major river valleys and regions and issued the white paper China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change.     2. Balancing economic and social development and strengthening all aspects of social development with the focus on improving people's lives     Efforts were intensified to increase employment and improve the social safety net. We improved our policy to stimulate and expand employment by encouraging business startups, and enforced the minimum wage system. The coverage of all social security schemes continued to expand, with 17.53 million more urban workers subscribing to basic old-age insurance, 20.28 million more subscribing to basic medical insurance, and the unemployment, workers' compensation and maternity insurance steadily expanding to cover more workers. Pensions of enterprise retirees rose by 110 yuan per month per person. We launched trials to reform the basic old-age insurance system for employees of government-affiliated institutions. We actively explored ways to establish a new system of old-age insurance for rural residents and made steady progress in making social security available to rural migrant workers in urban areas and farmers whose land has been expropriated. We comprehensively improved the system of cost of living allowances for both urban and rural residents, and provided allowances to 66.19 million residents. We raised living allowances for low-income groups and university students in a timely fashion. Preferential treatment enjoyed by key entitled groups was increased substantially. We intensified efforts to develop low-income housing and renovate shantytowns, thus alleviating some of the housing difficulties of the low-income population. An additional of more than 48 million rural people gained access to safe drinking water.     Further progress was made in promoting fair education for all. Free compulsory education became available to all students, urban or rural, throughout the country, and all rural students receiving compulsory education obtained free textbooks. The standards for repairing and renovating school buildings in the central and western regions were raised, and the government allocated 3.25 billion yuan to provide heating to rural primary and secondary schools in the north. Development of vocational education was accelerated. The national financial aid system for students was further improved. The central government spent 22.3 billion yuan and local governments increased funding as well to assist more than 20 million students. Grants of 1,500 yuan per student per annum were given to secondary vocational school students from rural areas or needy urban families, benefiting 90% of the current student population in these vocational schools.     Steady progress was made in reform and development of the pharmaceutical and health care system. A total of 814 million people, accounting for 91.5% of the rural population, now benefit from the new type of rural cooperative medical care system. The number of selected cities participating in trials of the basic medical insurance system for urban residents increased from 88 to 317, and the number of participating individuals increased by 73.59 million to 117 million. Significant progress was made in developing a system of community-based health services in urban areas. We continued to expand the coverage of the reward and assistance system for rural families complying with family planning regulations, and implemented the "lower birthrate equals faster prosperity" program in more places in the countryside.     We accelerated the development of culture and sports. Public cultural infrastructure facilities were improved, the cultural industries developed rapidly, and reform of the cultural management system was constantly deepened. We mobilized all resources and hosted a distinctive and high-level Beijing Olympicsand Paralympics, thus fulfilling the century-old dream of the Chinese nation, and Chinese athletes competed hard and brave and scored excellent achievements in the Games. This greatly aroused the patriotism of all our people and strengthened the cohesiveness of our nation.     We continued to strengthen democracy and the legal system. The system of local-level democracy was further improved. Significant progress was made in enhancing law-based government. Last year, the State Council submitted eight bills, including a draft of the Social Insurance Law and draft amendments to the Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters, to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation. It also formulated or revised 30 administrative laws and regulations. The Regulations on Making Government Information Public was fully implemented. The public security system for crime prevention and control was strengthened. We battled against secessionist and terrorist activities, protected China's national security and maintained social stability. Our work related to ethnic minority, religious and overseas Chinese affairs further improved.     3. Vigorously advancing reform and opening up and injecting fresh vitality and impetus into economic and social development     Institutional restructuring of the State Council was basically completed and that of local governments is progressing steadily. Comprehensive rural reforms continued to deepen, and reform of collective forest rights was instituted throughout the country. SOE reform was deepened. The transformation of the Agricultural Bank of China and China Development Bank into joint stock companies proceeded smoothly. The new Law on Corporate Income Tax went into effect, and real estate taxes were unified for domestic and overseas-funded enterprises and Chinese and foreign individuals. After years of deliberation, reform in pricing, taxes and fees for refined petroleum products was smoothly introduced. Aplan for reform of the pharmaceutical and health care system was devised and referred to the general public for comments. These innovations in systems and mechanisms have laid a solid foundation for our long-term development.     The country opened wider to the outside world. We vigorously implemented the strategy of competing on quality and diversifying export markets. We increased efforts to establish innovation bases to invigorate trade through science and technology and bases for providing services outsourced from other countries. We supported the export of products with Chinese trademarks and intellectual property rights. We improved the policy system for the processing trade. We steadily opened service industries wider to the outside world and provided more guidance to orient foreign investment in China. We integrated existing funds and set up new ones designed to promote external economic and technological cooperation. We promulgated regulations on managing overseas contracted projects and rectified the system of administration of cooperative overseas labor services. We actively promoted energy and resources cooperation overseas, further expanded our assistances to other countries, and the pace of enterprises going global was accelerated. Further progress was made in the development of free trade zones, and in our economic dialogues with major trading partners and mutually beneficial cooperation with other developing countries.          Fellow Deputies,     A massive earthquake that shocked the world struck Wenchuan on May 12. Under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, people of all ethnic groups in China, especially in the quake zone, worked as one and fought in unison against the earthquake disaster. The people's army rushed to the frontlines without thinking of their own safety. We launched an earthquake rescue and relief operation that accomplished its work faster, mobilized more personnel and committed more resources than ever before in China's history. We steadfastly gave top priority to saving people's lives. We pulled 84,000 survivors out of the rubble. We promptly repaired damaged infrastructure, and resolutely unblocked the Mount Tangjia quake lake to avert potential secondary disasters. We did our utmost to prevent an epidemic from occurring and ensured that there was no major outbreak of diseases after the deadly earthquake. The central government allocated 38.4 billion yuan for quake relief and 74 billion yuan for post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. We promptly introduced a host of policies and measures to support the quake zone. We energetically organized one-to-one assistance to designated areas affected by the earthquake. People from all sectors of society in China made generous donations, both in cash and in kind; our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese contributed generously to the disaster relief campaign; and the international community provided us with earthquake rescue and relief assistance. All this combined to forma boundless source of strength for the Chinese people to overcome the disaster. This hard struggle against the earthquake produced uncountable touching and brave exploits and fully demonstrated the great indomitable and unyielding spirit of the Chinese people, thus writing a heroic chapter in the history of the nation.     None of the achievements we made last year came easily. They were the result of overall planning and correct leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, as well as the concerted and strenuous efforts of the whole Party, the entire army and the people of all our ethnic groups. On behalf of the State Council, I hereby express our sincere gratitude to the people of all our ethnic groups and to the democratic parties, mass organizations and people from all sectors of society. I also express our sincere thanks to compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan and to overseas Chinese, as well as to foreign governments, international organizations and friends in other countries that take an interest in and support China's modernization drive.     While acknowledging our achievements, we must be clearly aware that we face unprecedented difficulties and challenges.     First, the global financial crisis continues to spread and get worse. Demand continues to shrink on international markets; the trend toward global deflation is obvious; and trade protectionism is resurging. The external economic environment has become more serious, and uncertainties have increased significantly.     Second, continuous drop in economic growth rate due to the impact of the global financial crisis has become a major problem affecting the overall situation. This has resulted in excess production capacity in some industries, caused some enterprises to experience operating difficulties and exerted severe pressure on employment. Factors leading to decline in government revenues and increase in government expenditures have increased. It has become more difficult to maintain steady agricultural development and keep rural incomes growing.     Third, institutional and structural problems that have long hindered healthy economic development still remain, and some of them are still prominent. Consumption demand is insufficient, and development of tertiary industries is sluggish. Our capacity for independent innovation is weak. Consumption of energy and other resources is high. Environmental pollution is serious. Disparities in development between urban and rural areas and between regions are widening.     Fourth, some problems affecting the vital interests of the people have not been fundamentally alleviated. There are still many problems demanding urgent solution in the areas of social security, education, health care, income distribution and public security.     Fifth, order in the market is not well standardized; market oversight and law enforcement are not fully in place, and the social credit rating system is still in need of improvement. A number of serious and major incidents concerning food and workplace safety have occurred, which have inflicted serious loss of life and property on the people and taught us a sobering lesson.     We need to thoroughly appreciate how serious and complex the international and domestic economic situations are, be more mindful of potential perils and crises, fully exploit favorable conditions and actively respond to all challenges so that we can successfully accomplish all our tasks and prove worthy of the great expectations and trust conferred on us by the people.

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- After a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia beginning Feb. 10, Chinese President Hu Jintao started an Africa tour aimed at enhancing China's friendship with developing countries in the region.     The trip, which took Hu to Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius from Feb. 12 to 17, has given new impetus to the traditional friendship between China and Africa. Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) talks with Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz during their meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 10, 2009The time-honored friendship between China and Africa can be traced back to as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when Chinese navigator Zheng He traveled to the African continent during his seven epic voyages.     In the 1960s, when most African countries launched a wave of independence struggles, late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai had also visited Africa to express his country's staunch support for its African brothers.     The fates of the Chinese and African peoples are closely interrelated as they share a similar history and similar developmental tasks, and the two sides have carried out various forms of cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure in Bamako, Mali, on Feb. 12, 2009"Every time I come, it's like coming back home," Hu said while delivering a key speech in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam on Monday.     So far, China has provided aid to the best of its ability to 53 African countries under the framework of "South-South cooperation," aiming to help the countries achieve independent development and socio-economic progress.     China-Africa relations entered a new stage of comprehensive development at the Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2006, when they established a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges. Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade in Dakar, capital of Senegal, Feb. 13, 2009Hu's latest visit to Africa, his sixth in all and second since the Beijing Summit, opens a new chapter in the China-Africa friendship.     The tour also brings new opportunities to review the results of the China-Africa friendly cooperation.     The Chinese president announced an eight-measure policy designed to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with Africa at the Beijing Summit in November 2006. Several months later, he paid a visit to Africa, during which a series of cooperation agreements were signed with an aim to implement the policy. Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Feb. 15, 2009Now in 2009, the concluding year for implementation of the package, the Chinese president visited Africa again to exchange views with the leaders of African countries on the fulfillment of the commitments made at the Beijing Summit.     During the visit, Hu also discussed with them the preparatory work for the fourth ministerial conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum later this year in an effort to enhance the China-Africa strategic partnership.     The swift and efficient implementation of the eight measures has brought tangible benefits, and the measures have thus been well received by the governments and people of Africa and the international community. Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with Mauritian President Anerood Jugnauth in Port Louis, Mauritius, Feb. 17, 2009Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, Jean Ping, said in late January that China is Africa's key cooperative partner.     The AU chief also spoken highly of China's role in Africa's infrastructure development, saying "China has played a fundamental part in the improvement of infrastructure facilities across African countries."     The World Bank has said China has made major contributions to promoting the development of Africa, and expressed the hope that African countries would combine China's developmental experiences with their own national conditions.     Moreover, President Hu's trip this time brings new commitments for the future development of friendly and cooperative ties between China and Africa.     Countries around the world currently face grave challenges amid the ongoing global financial downturn, with the impact of the crisis spreading to emerging-market countries as well as developing nations.     Under such circumstances, Hu made a solemn pledge during his Africa tour that China will continue to implement its commitments made at the Beijing Summit in a timely and reliable manner, despite all the challenges his country faces in its own economic development.     China will by no means cut assistance to Africa, said Hu. Instead, it will do its best to continue to increase aid to the continent, offer debt relief to African countries, and expand trade and investment with them.     Hu's commitments were warmly applauded by the leaders of the African countries, who pledged to join hands with China in facing the impact of the financial crisis.     A Gabonese newspaper commented that China, which had pledged to honor its earlier commitments and not to reduce aid to Africa despite the economic pressure from the ongoing crisis, had indeed exercised the responsibilities of a big country.