军休工作总结

村民族团结工作总结

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is imposing further trade sanctions against China, South Korea and Indonesia in a dispute involving glossy paper. The decision, announced Wednesday by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, came a week after US and Chinese officials met for a second round of high-level talks aimed at lowering trade tensions between the two nations. "This administration continues to aggressively and transparently enforce our trade laws to ensure a level playing field for American manufacturers, workers and farmer," Gutierrez said in a statement announcing the decision. In the new ruling, the government determined that imports from the three countries of glossy paper - used in art books, textbooks and high-end magazines - were being sold in the United States at less than fair value, a process known as dumping. The dumping penalties will be collected immediately although they will not become final until this fall after further investigations are conducted. The preliminary dumping penalty for the paper products from China ranged from 23.19 percent to 99.65 percent. The dumping penalty imposed on imports of glossy paper from Indonesia was 10.85 percent while the penalty on South Korean imports ranged as high as 30.86 percent. These dumping penalties will be imposed on top of economic sanctions levied in March after the administration found that paper companies from those three countries were receiving improper government subsidies that allowed them to undercut the price of American producers. The March decision reversed 23 years of US trade policy by treating China, which is classified as a nonmarket economy, in the same way other US trading partners are treated in disputes involving government subsidies. The paper case was brought by NewPage Corp., a Dayton, Ohio-based paper company which contended that its coated paper was facing unfair competition because of the government subsidies and sale of imports at unfairly low prices. The government trade sanctions have received the support of the United Steel Workers union, which represents about 90 percent of the workforce in the US coated paper industry. The glossy paper is produced at 22 paper mills in 13 states. The penalties in the case involving government subsidies are known as countervailing duties. In that case, the trade sanctions ranged as high as 20.35 percent for Chinese glossy paper imports, 1.76 percent for South Korean imports and 21.24 percent for Indonesia. Chinese officials denounced the decision in the government subsidies case saying that it went against the consensus of both countries to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than imposing trade sanctions. The second round of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, which was launched by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in December, was held in Washington last week. Paulson and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi announced a series of modest agreements including the boosting of airline flights between the two nations. But they failed to make progress in one of the biggest rade irritants, the value of China's currency, which American manufacturers contended is being kept artificially low against the dollar to give Chinese companies unfair advantages against US firms.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has called a halt to all TV and radio programs on plastic surgery or sex-change operations.The administration issued a notice on Thursday that forbids programs with such "indecent themes and bloody and explicit scenes".As the decision states, it is forbidden to plan, program or broadcast any programs about plastic surgery or sex-change operations.The decision came as growing numbers of local TV stations decide to broadcast such programs, which have attracted complaints from many viewers.For example, Sun Min, a viewer in South China's Guangdong Province, said she found the scenes of plastic surgery in "New Agreement on Beauty", broadcast by a local TV station, to be "horrifying and sickening"."Ongoing programs of this kind should be stopped immediately," said the notice. "Any party that violates the rule will be punished."The administration has already stopped broadcasts of "New Agreement on Beauty".In response, He Yi, an official with the Guangdong TV Station, said that the program's production team understands the administration's decision and would abide by it.The administration's move came a week after it banned "The First Heartthrob", a local talent show broadcast in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, due to its vulgar content.The program caters to "low-grade interests", with the judges and songs on the program often featuring bad language.The administration said this seriously damages the image of the television industry and has a negative social influence.The director of the program has already been fired by Chongqing TV station.

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WASHINGTON - US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will visit China's largest lake next week on a trip that will highlight global environmental challenges. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson speaks during an interview with Reuters in Washington July 2, 2007. [AP]Paulson will also hold talks in Beijing with President Hu Jintao that will focus on the Strategic Economic Dialogue, high-level discussions launched last year in an effort to deal with economic tensions between the US and China. "This trip is part of an ongoing process to strengthen our strategic economic relationship - to address long-term issues such as working with China to rebalance its growth and increase the flexibility of its currency and also to address short-term issues as they arise," Paulson said Tuesday in announcing the trip. Paulson will begin the trip with a visit July 30 to Qinghai Lake, the largest lake in the country and an example of some of the environmental challenges facing China as it struggles to deal with pollution. "The only way to make progress on climate change is to engage all the large economies, developed and developing, to work toward embracing cleaner technology and reducing emissions," Paulson said. "What's happening with the environment in the middle of China not only affects the local climate and economy but also the global climate and economy." Paulson will meet on July 31 in Beijing with Hu and Vice Premier Wu Yi, who is leading the Chinese side in the strategic dialogue talks. The administration is coming under pressure from Congress to show results from these discussions, particularly in the area of currency values. American manufacturers contend that the yuan is undervalued by as much as 40 percent, which makes Chinese products cheaper for US consumers but makes it more difficult for US products to be sold in China. The first strategic dialogue session was held in Beijing last December with a follow-up meeting in Washington in May. The two countries have pledged to meet twice a year with the next session to take place in China later this year. An exact date has not yet been announced. The Treasury Department said in a statement announcing the trip that Paulson in his meetings with Chinese leaders would raise issues of concern to Congress as well as follow up on issues that were identified as priority items at the May meeting of the strategic dialogue. US lawmakers have grown increasingly unhappy as America's trade deficit with China has soared, hitting 3 billion last year, the largest ever recorded with a single country and one-third of the US total deficit with the rest of the world. Various bills have been introduced that would require the administration to take a harder line on the currency issue including pursuing economic sanctions if China does not move more quickly to allow its currency to rise in value against the dollar. China has reiterated that it does not manipulate its currency and the currency reforms are moving as quickly as the developing economy and financial system will allow.

The government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) logged 3.962 billion patacas (around 495 million U.S. dollars) in total revenue in January 2008, up 37 percent year-on-year, the government said.     The latest statistics released by the SAR government showed that a major share of the total revenue for January 2008 came from direct gaming taxes, which saw an increase of 30.9 percent year-on-year to 3.09 billion patacas (386 million U.S. dollars).     Thanks to the booming gaming industry in the island city, which has seen the opening of its 28th casino by the end of 2007, Macao's gaming taxes grew by 48 percent over the previous year to 29.3 billion patacas (3.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2007, leading to an overall surplus of 21.8 billion patacas (2.7 billion U.S. dollars) in public finance, according to official statistics.     In its latest research report released Friday, the Bank of China Macao Branch forecast that due to the dynamic development of gaming and tourism industries and ballooning fixed-asset investment in the city, Macao's GDP will keep a growth rate of 13 percent in 2008, which is lower than the 27 percent rate of the previous year.

WASHINGTON -- At high-level economic talks that wrap up Wednesday, China is urging frustrated US officials to be patient as the two powers work to manage a delicate trade relationship. The United States, by contrast, is pushing for quick action. The talks began Tuesday and could yield some results, including increased US airline flights to China and a lowering of barriers to sales of American energy technology products in China. Senior US officials have tamped down expectations of major breakthroughs, however, as they described the meetings as strategic discussions, not negotiating sessions. US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said the twice-a-year talks are "all about the long-term; developing a common understanding of the future." Still, the US side made a point of noting simmering frustration. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Americans are by nature impatient people; Gutierrez described the "need to make progress in all areas as soon as possible." The urgency is reflected in an increasingly restive US Congress, where lawmakers are considering a spate of bills that would impose economic sanctions on China. Many blame America's soaring trade deficits and the loss of one in six manufacturing jobs since 2000 in part on claims of Chinese currency manipulation and copyright piracy. In blunt words, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi cautioned the United States against making accusations. "We should not easily blame the other side for our own domestic problems," Wu said through an interpreter. "Confrontation does no good at all to problem-solving." Wu, known as a tough negotiator, said that both countries should "firmly oppose trade protectionism." She warned that any effort to "politicize" the economic relationship between the two nations would be "absolutely unacceptable." Wu and her delegation were scheduled to meet privately this week with major congressional leaders. The US delegation raised the issue of food safety highlighted by such incidents as the deaths of pets who had eaten pet food made with tainted wheat gluten imported from China. US Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, briefing reporters at the end of the first day of talks, said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns had made a forceful presentation to the Chinese about the concerns Americans have about food safety. In response, she said, Chinese officials sought to assure the Americans that they would fully investigate any problems discovered. Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and four other senators urged the Bush administration in a letter to get Chinese commitments to cooperate in investigations into food safety, saying that the way China currently handles the issue is unacceptable. Paulson created the talks last year as a way to get the countries' top policy makers together twice a year to work toward reduced trade tensions. The first meeting was in Beijing last December.

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English graduate Chen Xia has never been short of admirers but the 25-year-old Nanjing native has chosen to tie the knot with a soldier who has neither a college degree nor a fat pay packet. Her mother, who married a soldier more than 30 years ago, well knows what Chen has in store. "Married but alone, you have to handle most domestic affairs yourself, as your husband is mostly away," said Zhang Yufen, Chen's mother. Zhang had several frank discussions with her daughter but the two ended up in agreement. "You can be free of anxiety while marrying army men. They are always reliable and loyal to the family," said Chen. In an era when young people are depicted as calculating and materialistic when choosing spouses, Chen is one of many who are keen on a partner in military uniform. A recent survey found that nearly two in three of 1,500 respondents would like to marry servicemen and women. Personal integrity, marital fidelity, stable jobs and increasing salaries are the top reasons given for the choice, according to the poll conducted by China Youth Daily. "The survey results are perhaps one of the best gifts for the August 1 Army Day," said a 26-year-old soldier surnamed Wu in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province. "It makes me more confident of finding a dream girl." Marrying a soldier was popular before the 1980s, which meant not only a decent job but also glory to the whole family. "Many friends envied me when I married Chen Xia's father. He was a heroic figure in our eyes," said Zhang. But as the country turned more peaceful and prosperous, soldiers now live reclusive lives in camps and campuses. It has also become difficult for them to get a spouse as they are confined to a small social circle and don't enjoy a high pay. "Frankly speaking, I hesitated while Chen Xia planned to get married; afraid that she would suffer the same loneliness and economic pressure than I used to," said Zhang. "But I guess she knows the merits of marrying an army man."

Chinese once associated tattoos with criminals and misfits; today, they are redrawing the lines around how they think about ink. The growth of China's emerging tattoo culture was evident by the more than 2,000 visitors who attended Saturday's opening of the country's largest tattoo gathering, Tattoo Show Convention 2007, which ends today. Attracting more than 100 artists from all over China and the world, the show at the Sanshang Art Beijing Gallery was intended as a platform for interaction among Chinese from around the country, their international counterparts and the public. "We hope to give them a platform so they can learn from each other," said Xiao Long, who founded the non-profit convention in 2001. Tattooed Chinese photographed each other's ink, while artists displayed their works and even tattooed visitors at their booths. German artist Frank Kassebaum, of Bremen, said he was surprised by what he saw. "Before I came here, I thought that China wasn't so far along in its tattoo culture, but from what I see here, I really think that, in 10 years, they'll be better than the United States, Japan and Europe," he said. "The boom in Japan was 10 years ago; now, the boom is here." Co-organizer Chris Wroblewski, of New York City, said one of the major purposes of the show was to educate Chinese to be prudent about getting tattoos. He said that during China's "Tattoo Renaissance", many shops were opening up, offering "mass production stuff" drawn by "artists who learned in two weeks and are just plowing needles into skin". He explained that as tattooing developed in China, there would be a proliferation of both "high art and low art". YZTattoo parlor model Qi Xuan, 26, said she believes the convention showcases the progress made by China's "high-art" tattoo artists. "In recent years, Chinese tattoo artists have become more skillful in design, technique and use of color," the Beijinger said. "Now, you can see more tattoo artists who can make very international designs. Because artists come to this show from every part of the country, we know what they are doing outside of Beijing." Wroblewski said that because Chinese tattooing was "still in its infancy", it often emulates the West. "But the Chinese are beginning to pick up on their roots and will start demanding more of their own culture." Student Wang Hao, of Beijing, said he came to the show because he was considering getting a tattoo and wanted to learn more about them. "I'd like to get a traditional Chinese tattoo, because I love China," the 22-year-old said.

青岛排名优化

A regular inspection last month by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that food quality in 37 major cities has improved after a four-month promotional campaign, the ministry said on Friday.The nationwide inspection of vegetables, pork and aquatic products found acceptance rates had risen since August when the campaign was launched.The inspection found that:- 95.3 percent of the country's vegetables were safe in terms of pesticide residues.- 98.4 percent of meat products were up to scratch with regard to residues of clenobuterol hydrochloride, a drug some farmers used to put in pig feed but which is now banned due to the damage it can cause to the human heart.- 99.8 percent of aquatic products were free of chloramphenicol, and 95.7 percent were free from malachite green, both of which are banned fish food supplements.- No pork products in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and 25 other cities were polluted with banned drugs.- Aquatic products in seven cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Guangzhou were also found to be safe from illegal drugs.The ministry, which carries out five regular food safety inspections a year, attributed the achievements to its four-month campaign.It said in a news release that all 676 agricultural wholesale markets in large and medium cities have now been put under surveillance, up from 479 in September.Five kinds of pesticides that the ministry banned for their high toxicity have been seized and destroyed.The ministry also issued six regulations on pesticide registry management to standardize labeling and control product quantities."Thanks to the campaign, public awareness of agricultural product quality and food safety has been strengthened," the news release said.The ministry said it will follow up the campaign by cracking down on fake agricultural supplies and develop a network that gives farmers access to authentic and good-quality agricultural materials.

The newly approved Labor Contract Law will not undermine the investment environment although it will better protect workers' interests and rights, China's top trade union body said yesterday. Liu Jichen, director of the law department at the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, denied that the law - which goes into force from January 1 next year - is biased toward employees. "It not only protects workers' interests and rights, but also equally protects employers'," he told a press conference. The law, passed on Friday by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, had raised concerns that stricter contract requirements could raise business costs and give companies less flexibility to hire and fire employees. Liu, however, said that the law takes into account employers' interests. For example, he said, employers can sign non-competition contracts with workers, with a non-competition period of not more than two years to encourage innovation and ensure fair competition. So an employer can rest assured that an employee does not walk out at the end of the contract period and join a direct competitor. It also softens the terms under which employers can cut staff - if an enterprise switches to other production, adopts a major technological innovation or changes its mode of business. Liu stressed that the law will help create a harmonious labor relationship. "Labor protection is a worldwide trend," he said. "With working conditions improved and rights protected, employees will feel more secure, which leads to a higher productivity." Liu pointed out most labor disputes result from violations of workers' rights. Because of the huge supply of labor force, workers are in a disadvantaged position, he said. Liu said the federation has succeeded in keeping most of the items on protecting workers' rights and interests in the law. For example, the law makes mandatory the use of written contracts and strongly discourages fixed- or short-term contracts. It also stipulates severance be paid if a fixed-term contract expires but is not renewed without an appropriate reason. The law requires all employers to submit proposed workplace rules or changes for discussion to the workers' congress - concerning pay, work allotment, hours, insurance, safety, holidays and training. Employers and trade unions will then jointly decide on workplace agreements. It stipulates trade unions have the right to sign collective contracts with employers on behalf of workers. In a position paper released yesterday, the European Chamber of Commerce in China said it welcomes the law and its aim of improving labor conditions and creating workplace harmony. "A more mature legal environment should be considered as an advantage in attracting foreign investment," the statement said. However, the chamber said the key challenge remains compliance by employers and the enforcement by authorities of the existing laws.