BRUSSELS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials and scholars from the European Union (EU) and China held a conference here, urging the two sides to enhance cooperation dedicated to seeking a global solution to the financial crisis. "After the financial crisis hit us, we stood closer, supported each other and worked together for an early recovery of our economy and that of the world. We become tightly bound more than ever before," Chinese ambassador to the EU Song Zhe said in a keynote speech at the conference in the European Parliament on Monday. "We have every reason to cooperate," Song said, adding China and the EU have converging interest and share common responsibility. Sino-EU relations has experienced slight derailing last year, as China postponed a summit with the EU due to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet the ** Lama when France held the EU presidency. Relations appeared back on track in the face of the global financial crisis. Early this year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Europe on a Journey of Confidence. Later during the G20 summit in London early this month, President Hu Jintao met a number of European leaders to consolidate mutual trust. In an effort to build a joint front against the financial and economic crisis, a trade and investment delegation from China last month struck multi-billion-U.S.-dollar deals with European companies to boost trade. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan is scheduled to visit Brussels next week for high-level economic dialogues with EU counterparts. The 11th China-EU Summit will be held in Prague in mid-May, as the Czech Republic is holding the current EU presidency. The EU is the biggest organization of developed countries and China is the biggest developing country, Song said, adding bilateral relationship takes on greater global and strategic importance. Antonie Quero-Mussot, deputy head of cabinet of EU Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, noted that cooperation between the EU, China and beyond is a necessary condition for a solution to the global financial crisis. "Without the dialogue not only between the EU and China, but also between all the major economies... there will not be a solution to the crisis," he said. His remark was echoed by Mei Zhaorong, former president of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. "We can not solve the problem alone but have to work together," Mei said at the conference. He also downplayed the possibility of a G2 framework, under which the United States and China are expected to have a joint central role of leading the world out of the crisis. "We are not of the opinion that we alone with the U.S. can solve the problem," Mei said, "I do not think Europe like that opinion either." "I think the current form of G20 are far better. We should look at developing countries and emerging economies," he added.
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for more confidence in the country's stable economic growth and gaining more strength to better people's livelihood. He made the calls during an inspection tour in northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province from June 26 to 28, one of the country's old industrial bases and important granaries. Hu encouraged people in Heilongjiang to seize the opportunity as China moved to revitalize its old industrial bases, to overcome the difficulties and maintain a steady economic growth and ensure people's livelihood. Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) talks with residents at Dongsheng Village in Wuliming Town of Zhaodong City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. President Hu Jintao made an inspection tour in Heilongjiang Province on June 26-28, 2009. During his three-day inspection tour, Hu visited Harbin Measuring and Cutting Tool Group and Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, two of the province's major industrial enterprises, and pointed out that independent innovations are key to high competitiveness and further development. "Crisis creates opportunities, and we shall put more efforts in technological upgrading, and build up technology reserves for the future," he said. Hu also visited rural areas and inspected crop growth. He encouraged farmers to increase grain production and boost agricultural modernization, so as to ensure the country's grain security. More supportive policies for farmers are on the way, he said, hoping that farmers could increase their incomes with improved policies and technologies. Hu also visited an oil field, a military camp, a school for intellectually challenged children, a human resources market, and a residential community which houses people who formerly lived in shanties.
ANSHAN, Liaoning, June 16 (Xinhua) -- An official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Tuesday that the proposed alliance of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton had a "strong monopolistic color" and Chinese firms would watch it closely and find ways to cope with it. Last year, China imported 440 million tonnes of iron ore, half of the world's total, so any slight market changes would affect Chinese steel makers. China's anti-monopoly law should apply in the proposed deal, said Chen Yanhai, head of the raw material department of MIIT at an industry meeting held in the northeastern city of Anshan, Liaoning Province. If the tie-up proved to be monopolistic, "we have to seek new policies and regulations to allow Chinese companies have a bigger say in iron ore pricing," said Chen without elaborating. Rio Tinto scrapped a proposed 19.5-billion-U.S.-dollar investment by Aluminum Corp. of China, or Chinalco, on June 5, and turned to rival BHP Billiton, which would pay Rio Tinto 5.8 billion U.S. dollars to set up a joint venture to run the iron ore resources of both companies in west Australia. On Monday, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce Yao Jian said if the revenue of the joint venture reached "a certain amount," China's anti-monopoly law would apply. That law requires a company to get government approval before consolidation if its global revenue exceeds 10 billion yuan (1.47 billion U.S. dollars) and its revenue in China exceeds 2 billion yuan. An anti-monopoly review is also necessary if two or more parties in the company had more than 400 million yuan of revenue in China in the previous fiscal year. In the year ended 30 June, BHP Billiton's revenue in China was 11.7 billion U.S. dollars, while that for Rio Tinto was 10.8 billion U.S. dollars, according to the companies' websites. It was unclear what actions China would take if the case was determined to be covered by the Chinese anti-monopoly law. At the meeting Tuesday, Chen also said domestic steel makers should beef up technology and innovation to cut energy consumption and raise efficiency. Also, he said, China "should increase exploration of domestic mines to reduce reliance on imports."
FLORENCE, Italy, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that China highly values its relations with Italy and is willing to broaden consensus and deepen pragmatic cooperation with the country in various fields. Bilateral relations have developed smoothly since China and Italy established diplomatic relations 39 years ago, Hu said at a meeting with senior Italian officials, including Culture Minister Sandro Bondi and Toscana Region's President Claudio Martini. He added that the two countries have further deepened their cooperation in politics, economy, culture and other fields especially since they set up an all-around strategic partnership in 2004. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Giancarlo Galan, president of Italy's Veneto region, in Venice, Italy, on July 7, 2009 On regional cooperation between the two countries, the president said he is convinced that with the joint efforts from both sides, new achievements will be made in cooperation between Toscana Region and relevant regions in China. Bondi and other Italian officials welcomed Hu's visit to Florence, capital of Toscana Region, and said they were inspired by China's development over the past years and would enhance exchanges with China so as to bring the friendly relations at the local level to a new height. Italy will actively participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and strive to ensure the "Chinese Culture Year" next year in Italy a success, the officials added. Hu arrived in Rome on Sunday for a state visit to Italy.
WASHINGTON, June 10 (Xinhua) -- China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the U.S. House of Representatives have wrapped up their 10th meeting under a parliamentary exchange mechanism in Washington after having an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties, inter-parliamentary exchanges, global financial crisis, climate change and international and regional issues of mutual concern. The meeting, held here on Tuesday, was co-chaired by Chairman Li Zhaoxing of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee and Representative Joseph Crowley, chairman of the counterpart exchange mechanism in the House. During the meeting, the Chinese side said that with growing common interests and greater opportunities of cooperation, China and the U.S. should further increase mutual trust and cooperation from strategic and long-term perspectives, respect and take care of each other's core interests, handle differences and sensitive issues with prudence, and ensure a healthy, stable growth of bilateral relationship. The U.S. side reaffirmed the importance it has attached to the U.S.-China relationship and said that the House of Representatives will work to help the two countries tackle issues such as global financial crisis, climate change and energy safety through further exchanges and dialogues with NPC. Both delegations agreed that the existing parliamentary exchange mechanism has become the most direct and effective platform for communications between the two sides and has played a positive role in deepening mutual understanding, building consensus and promoting cooperation. The two sides also discussed the necessity for the two countries to strengthen coordination in macro economic and financial policies and how to cooperate in dealing with the climate change issue. The Chinese side extended an invitation to the U.S. side on a visit to China in fall this year for the 11th meeting under the parliamentary exchange mechanism.
北京关于肥胖的原因
BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with U.S. special envoy for climate change Todd Stern on Monday, calling for more dialogues and substantial cooperation with the United States on climate change. "China has noticed the change of the U.S. government on climate change as well as the positive measures it has taken," Li told Stern during their meeting in the Great Hall of the People. To strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two countries helps the growth of China-U.S. ties and benefits the international cooperation to fight against climate change, the vice premier said. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (1st R) meets with Todd Stern, U.S. special envoy for climate change, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on June 8, 2009. Stern said his country is ready to enhance dialogue and cooperation in energy, environment and climate change areas and work closely for the success of the Copenhagen Conference at the end of this year. A new protocol was expected to be born in Copenhagen by the end of this year to replace the Kyoto Protocol to prevent global warming and climate change. Li said China approves the fulfillment of the Bali Roadmap as the key mission of the Copenhagen Conference, and also approves promoting the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol in a comprehensive, efficient and consistent way. China would like to maintain the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" among developed and developing countries, actively participate in negotiations and play a constructive role to promote positive results from the conference, Li added. Stern expressed appreciation for China's achievements in recent years in fighting climate change. Li told the guest the Chinese government promotes sustainable development amidst efforts to address climate change, with conserving energy and protecting the environment as its national strategy.
TAIYUAN, June 13 (Xinhua) -- "Terrorists" took over part of a police school in Taiyuan, the capital of northern Shanxi Province, late Friday night, and then, they attacked a number of other important and public targets in this north China city. It ushered in a replica of antiterror battle as part of the "Great Wall-6" antiterror exercise in areas around Beijing, the national capital since last week. A spokesman of the exercise headquarters told Xinhua that the drills in Taiyuan were aimed to test the abilities of the government and antiterror forces in dealing with a large-scaled terror attack on several targets, involving many people held hostages by the terrorists.
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A central government official has urged government complaints-receiving offices at all levels to work hard to contribute to China's reform, development and social stability. Ma Kai, state councilor and secretary-general of the State Council, made the call during his recent research tour in Anshan and Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province. A main purpose of this trip is to look into grass-roots efforts to respond to public complaints. During this trip, he paid a visit to the family of Pan Zuoliang, a role model in the complaints-receiving bureau in Liaozhong County, Shenyang. Pan died on duty of cerebral hemorrhage last May. He was praised by the central authorities as a model official in dealing with public complaints. He also visited urban communities, industrial enterprises and complaints-receiving offices. Ma said the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council have always attached great importance to the work of dealing with people's complaints. Since the 16th Party Congress, in 2002, when Hu Jintao took office as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, the Party Central Committee has adopted a series of important resolutions and arrangements to improve the work, the official said. He urged the complaints-receiving officials to safeguard the legal rights and interests of the people and actively solve matters that may cause instability so as to create a sound social environment for the celebrations of the 60th founding anniversary of New China, or the People's Republic of China (PRC).