BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will mainly redress production overcapacity in six sectors, said Chen Bin, director of the Department of Industry of the NDRC, Thursday. The six sectors include steel, cement, plate glass, coal-chemical industry, polycrystalline silicon and windpower equipment. The NDRC also warns of obvious production overcapacity in sectors like electrolytic aluminum, ship manufacturing and soybean oil extraction, said Chen during an on-line interview on www.gov.cn., the website of China's central government. He said China would fight serious overcapacity in sectors like steel industry and offer guidance for new-born industries like windpower equipment to avoid low level repetitive construction. China has achieved preliminary progresses in fighting the global economic downturn, but the foundation for economic recovery is not stable yet and overcapacity might lead to bankruptcy, unemployment and bad bank loans if it was not checked in time, he said.
NANJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's chief justice Sunday urged the people's courts all over the country to attach great importance to the trial of major and serious criminal cases and timely handle them in strict accordance with the law. Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People's Court, made the remark while attending a national workshop on hearing major and serious criminal cases held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. Wang urged courts at various levels to be fully prepared for handling major and serious criminal cases, which is a heavy task at present and will be so in a certain period of time in the future. Courts at all levels shall timely investigate and conclude major and serious criminal cases in accordance with the law to serve goals of safeguarding national security and social stability, Wang said.
BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mainland authorities have promised ethnic minority groups in Taiwan preferential assistance in trade, tourism and other sectors to promote the island's economic and social development after the devastating Typhoon Morakot. Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said in meeting a Taiwan delegation led by politician Kao Chin Su-mei on Thursday that the ministry would lead mainland entrepreneurs to visit the island's areas inhabited by ethnic minorities to purchase local products. The ministry would also encourage mainland commercial distributors to buy more agricultural products from Taiwan and help the Taiwan minorities participate in trade fairs on the mainland, Chen said. Shao Qiwei, director of China's National Tourism Administration, told the Taiwan delegation that his administration would extend existing travel routes to areas where Taiwan's ethnic minorities live. Shao suggested that the reconstruction work in the typhoon-hit minority area should also be combined with tourism development. He Junke, chief of the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), said the non-profit organization has started fund-raising for Taiwan's victims of the disaster and would like to mobilize more mainland youth to help dropout students on the island.China's Commerce Minister Chen Deming (2nd R) meets with Kao Chin Su-mei (2nd L) who heads a delegation of ethnic minorities from Taiwan province, in Beijing, Aug. 20, 2009.Kao Chin Su-mei said that she hoped the mainland authorities could increase the purchase of processed agricultural products from Taiwan, especially from the island's mountainous regions. Currently, about 500,000 ethnic people live in Taiwan, 80 percent of whom make a living by growing and processing agricultural products. In another meeting with the Taiwan delegation, Yang Jianqiang, Vice-Minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, said his commission would encourage mainland people to visit the island and welcome Taiwan's minority students to study on the mainland.
TAIPEI, Aug.15 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Morakot has killed at least 124 people and left 56 missing in Taiwan as of 10 p.m. Saturday, according to local disaster response authorities. Another 45 people were injured after the typhoon, the worst on the island in nearly five decades, wreaked havoc across central and southern regions. Sixty-six people died in Kaohsiung, 25 in Tainan, 16 in Pingdong, six in Chiayi, seven in Nantou, three in Changhua and one in Yunlin. Nearly 23,700 people have been evacuated, and almost 5,000 are taking refuge in 170 sheltering camps. Morakot has caused more than 12 billion New Taiwan Dollars (365million U.S. dollars) in damages to agriculture and forestry. Among the worst-hit regions are Pingdong, Kaohsiung and Tainan. People from a wide range of social sectors in Taiwan have donated cash and materials worth millions of New Taiwan Dollars to support the disaster-relief work. Photo taken on Aug. 14, 2009 shows a house buried by debris flow in Kaohsiung, southeast China's Taiwan Province.Charities and enterprises on the mainland also offered relief-assistance to the island. On Saturday, an official with the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the mainland will provide any necessary relief materials needed by Taiwan compatriots affected by the typhoon. The office has requested factories to manufacture portable shelters day and night, and the first batch is expected to arrive in Taiwan Monday at the soonest. Villagers search for lost belongings in a damaged village in Kaohsiung, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Aug. 14, 2009
PINGYAO, Shanxi, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition exclusively dedicated to Canadian surgeon Henry Norman Bethune opened Saturday at the Pingyao International Photography Festival in north China's Shanxi Province. Bethune is a household name in China, a country where he saved numerous lives and sacrificed his own in 1939 during China's War of Resistance Against Japanese aggression. "He is noble-minded and pure, a man of moral integrity and above vulgar interests, a man who is of value to the people," Chairman Mao wrote in his article In Memory of Norman Bethune. The exhibition consists of 41 photos of Dr. Bethune living and working in China, some of which had never been shown before. "As Canadians, we are all proud to be associated with this visionary adventurer and deeply touched by the respect and recognition shown to him here in China," said Canadian Ambassador to China, David Mulroney. Most of the pictures were provided by Wang Yan, daughter of ShaFei, who was a forefather of China's news photography and a close friend of Bethune. "I remember that I was touched when I first read about Bethune in my school days and now it feels like looking at the pictures of an old friend who has just passed away," said visitor Wu Jun. "Many people love Bethune for they have learnt his deeds and spirit in Chairman Mao's article while my affection for him comes from his friendship with my father," Wang said. "Bethune was my father's mentor as he exemplified the essence of communism." Upon his death Bethune left his Kodak Retina camera to Sha Fei. Bethune also healed Japanese soldiers, took pictures of them, which were sent back to Japan. "He wished the Japanese people would protest against the war when they saw how their sons were suffering on battlefield. He was a true humanist," Wang said. Just before he died, Bethune wrote in a letter, saying that the last two years (those he spent in China) have been the most significant, the most meaningful years of his life.
BUDAPEST, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai has expressed optimism in having a better future in ties with China upon the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Bajnai described China as a reliable international partner in a recent interview with Xinhua, saying that Hungary was one of the first to establish diplomatic ties with the fledgling country. Having visited China in November 2008, he said he has been deeply impressed with the country's dynamic development. "The high-standard professional exchange of views with Chinese negotiation partners in the central and local governments and withbusiness leaders have already yielded concrete results in the Hungarian-Chinese economic relations, to the benefit of both countries," said the prime minister. He welcomed the forthcoming visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, saying the visit will offer an opportunity for the two sides to talk about "further significant advances in bilateral economic cooperation." The past decade has witnessed a 17-fold rise in trade between Hungary and China, he said, adding that there had also been extensive growth in their cultural, educational, scientific and tourism cooperation. Noting that China is one of Hungary's most significant Asian trade partners and Hungary one of China's most prominent in central and eastern Europe, Bajnai said further improvement of the relations with China has been a priority of the Hungarian foreign policy. "Mutual investment and technological cooperation are important not only because they are profitable for businesses of both countries, but also because in hard economic times they create jobs, " he said. He noted that China has been doing a splendid job in facing up to the challenges of the world economic depression. Hungary also did everything in its power to alleviate its impact, he said. Both countries should "take full advantage of their cooperation in continuing to combat the crisis," he said. Referring to the 60 years China has gone through, Bajnai said China's development, especially in the past three decades, has set an example for the world. "My personal opinion is that China's greatest achievement has been its huge economic advances, which made it possible to significantly raise the living standards of the 1.3 billion Chinese people," he said.
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BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese legislator said Wednesday that China will promote social exchanges with Myanmar to boost bilateral ties. "We attach importance to and support friendly exchanges and cooperation between social groups and organizations in China and Myanmar, which will contribute to the development of bilateral ties," said Zhou Tienong, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, in a meeting with a delegation from a government-supported organization from Myanmar. Zhou, also president of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, briefed the eight-member delegation on China's political and economic situation, its measures in tackling the global downturn and pledged to boost economic and trade cooperation with the international community, including Myanmar. Zhou Tienong (R), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with a delegation of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) of Myanmar headed by U Than Htay (L), member of the USDA Central Executive Committee and deputy energy minister of Myanmar, in Beijing, China, on Aug. 26, 2009 The delegation from the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), was headed by U Than Htay, a member of the USDA Central Executive Committee and Deputy Energy Minister. China-Myanmar trade hit 2.6 billion U.S. dollars last year, anda Free Trade Area of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expected to be established in 2010.
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- East China is bracing for typhoon Morakot's approach after it slammed into Taiwan Friday night. Weather forecasters said late Saturday Morakot was likely to land on the coast from Cangnan, Zhejiang province, to Xiapu, neighboring Fujian province, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday. Although the typhoon this year is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before it arrives in the Chinese mainland, it was packing winds of 137 kilometers an hour at 7 a.m. Saturday and churning northwestwards at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers an hour. The urban area of Linbian Township in Pingtung County of southeast China's Taiwan, is flooded Aug. 8, 2009, because of heavy rainfall brought by typhoon "Morakot". It has already unleashed torrential rain in Fujian where, at five sites, water levels have been recorded at 0.02 to 0.66 meters above warning levels. A man calls for people to evacuate to avoid typhoon in Cangnan County, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 8, 2009. The province has evacuated around 317,000 people to avoid the approaching Typhoon Morakot so far. The earlier tropical storm Goni has also wreaked havoc in South China Sea, leaving as many as 156 fishermen and crew members from Cambodia, Vietnam and China missing at once. Chinese maritime authorities had rescued 146 by 6 p.m. and the remaining 10 from China were still missing. PREPARATION IN FUJIAN More than 480,000 people in Fujian have been evacuated and its Zherong County received more than 300 mm of precipitation on Saturday afternoon. In Luoyuan county of Fuzhou city, Fujian's capital, people stayed at home during the weekend and roads were almost empty. Fewer sellers appeared in the county's vegetable market. Fishing boats moor at a port to avoid the approaching Typhoon Morakot in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 8, 2009."The fields were flooded," said Li Sailian, a vegetable seller. "Strong winds broke the ropes tying down the horsebeans, and the crown daisies (chrysanthemum greens) were destroyed," she said. Li brought all her available stock to the market, fearing the storm would destroy it completely. In downtown Fuzhou, where several big trees have already been toppled by gale-force winds, people were rushing to supermarkets for necessities before the typhoon arrived. All flights from Saturday noon onwards at the airport in Fuzhou were cancelled, leaving more than 120 passengers stranded. Airport staff were helping with refunds. Seventeen of the 312 flights to and from the airport in coastal Xiamen city were cancelled, most of which were heading to Anhui, Guangdong and Taiwan. In Putian City, also in Fujian, all scenic sites and ports have been closed and school classes suspended. A team of 26,222 people has been formed and equipped with flood-control materials, said Huang Dongzhou, director of the city's flood control office. All of the city's 7,168 fishing ships have returned to harbor, Huang said. The province's Ningde city is strengthening its defences to bear the brunt of Morakot, local meteorological authorities said. People there are also reinforcing reservoirs with bricks and stones. Water in the city's 20 major reservoirs is only at 54 percent of their combined capacity, so officials with the flood control office said they think the rainfall will help with drought relief, as long as proper measures are taken to ensure safety. Residents are also busy reinforcing their own houses. Chen Kongsheng, a 61-year-old man, has attached four large rocks to the girders of his house, so that the typhoon "won't tear off his roof". About 118,000 people in the city have been evacuated, said Chen Rongkai, Communist Party chief of the city. Ningde has readied 103 rescue boats, 15 rafts and 8,300 life jackets to help people affected by the typhoon. EFFORTS AND TROUBLES ELSEWHERE In adjacent Zhejiang Province, rainfall exceeded 50 millimetres on 6.8 percent of the province's land on Friday night. The highest reading was 110 millimetres in Cangnan county bordering Fujian. An expressway from Wenzhou of Zhejiang to Fujian was closed for 12 kilometers, while another from Hangzhou to Anhui Province was cut by landslides. Waves from approaching Typhoon Morakot hit a dike in Cangnan County, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 8, 2009. Power supply to 80 villages was also cut. Nearly 500,000 residents and tourists in danger areas had been evacuated by 9 p.m. and the province has called nearly 30,000 ships back to harbor. More than 50,000 soldiers were prepared for emergencies in Zhejiang, said the local government. Shanghai was put on high alert and the World Expo venue is being protected around the clock. An 80-year-old man is evacuated in Cangnan County, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 8, 2009. The province has evacuated around 317,000 people to avoid the approaching Typhoon Morakot so farMore than 80 foreign ships were delayed or had their voyages cancelled. "We are unlikely to resume if the typhoon moves northwestwards," said the captain of a Japanese cargo ship, which was scheduled to sail for Japan Saturday at noon. In addition, more than 140 flights in Shanghai had been delayed by about 10 p.m.. Anhui issued its first typhoon warning this year, and advised residents to stay indoors. East China's Shandong province has also warned local governments to take measures beforehand to reduce losses from extreme weather. Morakot, which means "emerald" in Thai, is the eighth storm to hit China this year. It landed in Hualien of Taiwan at 11:45 p.m. Friday, and left at least six people dead or missing. A further 12 were injured. Morakot also overturned cars and cut power supplies. WAVE ALERT LEVEL RAISED On Saturday afternoon, the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center upgraded its alert level for both stormy tide and sea wave from "orange" to "red", the highest level. The center said as a result of Typhoon Morakot, the stormy tide along the coast of Zhejiang Province and northern part of Fujian Province would be 0.5 meters to 1.8 meters high until Sunday afternoon. The sea in southern part of the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait will be very rough, with monster waves as high as eight meters, the center warned. Other coastal areas from Shanghai to Guangdong Province will all experience abnormally high waves, from 2.5 meters to six meters high, it said. China adopts a four-grade warning system for stormy tide, tsunami, sea ice and sea wave, which uses four colors (red, orange, yellow and blue) to indicate different levels of emergency.
COPENHAGEN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The impressive celebrations on Oct. 1 has testified that China is now a very important country in the world and holds a strong position globally, a European expert on China said. The celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China "were very impressive," Kjeld Erik Broedsgaard, professor and director of the Asia Research Center in Copenhagen Business School, told Xinhua in a recent interview. "I think China now is in a stronger position globally than it was in any times since 1949. The celebrations really testify that this is the case," said Broedsgaard, who has been closely following the development of China for more than 30 years. China's economic, political and cultural influence has been on the rise in recent years, said Broedsgaard, who has written and edited 18 books and monographs on modern China and East Asian affairs. Describing China as being at the "forefront in terms of economic development," the Danish professor said China's role is "critical" in tackling the global financial crisis. On China's political influence, he said China has taken part in "a variety of multilateral for a" in addition to international organizations such as the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. The Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 also showed China's increasing significance, he observed. Culturally, "China is also in a position where soft power is increasing," said Broedsgaard, who is a member of the Advisory Committee of the EU-China Academic Network and the Sino-Danish Joint Committee for Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation. Many people are interested in the Chinese tradition and culture, while more and more people are studying the Chinese language, he said, taking South Korea as an instance. There are more people in South Korea studying Chinese than English, he explained. Confucius institutes have been established in many countries, he said, adding that there is a Confucius Business Institute in Copenhagen. As for the problems that China faces, Broedsgaard said that "there are always problems when a country rises." But he said it is useful to remember history and put things in a historical perspective, adding that it is very important to remember that this is the "re-emergence" of China, which was a strong and important country in the past. To ease the concerns of other countries, China has to relate to its partners and major powers and reassure them that it is a win-win situation in which "I get stronger, but you also get benefit," he said. Broedsgaard also commented on the party building of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was a focus of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee held in Beijing from Sept. 15 to Sept. 18. "The whole issue of party building is important because the quality of leadership is important," he said, adding that the failure of the Soviet Union in the 1990s was part of "a question of the quality of leadership." The CPC has been able to reform, renew and revitalize itself, he said.
BEIJING, Aug. 5 -- Chinese steel mills would prefer to import more iron ore from Brazil rather than Australia after the detention of four Shanghai-based employees of multinational miner Rio Tinto on charges of commercial espionage, according to data specialist ASXMarine. Spot iron ore vessel bookings from Brazil to China surged to a record 39 in July, from 24 in the previous month, Reuters quoted the data from ASXMarine. Vessel bookings from Australia's main iron ore ports to China dropped to 31, down from 40 compared to the previous month and the lowest reading since February after the Rio Tinto scandal. Photo taken on July 9, 2009 shows the Rio Tinto Ltd. Office in Shanghai, east China. Chinese steelmakers have begun to hold their imports from Australian miners and are switching to Brazilian ore instead, domestic ports have witnessed. Zang Dongsheng, deputy general manger of Rizhao Port Group, China's largest iron ore port which accounts for a fifth of the country's iron ore deliveries, said some of his customers have reduced their orders from Australia and turned to Brazil. But the exact figures would be available only in September as shipments from Brazil and Australia would be delayed by one or two months. China's main ports received 56.5 million tons of iron ore in July, up 35 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Transport said yesterday. Iron ore imports rose 29.3 percent year on year, to 297 million tons, in the first half of this year, while traders imported 131 million tons, up 90.4 percent from last year. The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) said last Friday that excess iron ore imports had distorted the demand-supply situation and hampered its position at negotiations with global miners on new long-term benchmark prices. It also said foreign iron ore suppliers promoted massive selling on the cash market, leading to huge stockpiles and urged to limit import licenses. However, the iron ore import figures in July reflected orders in May as it takes more than a month to deliver ore from Australia and Brazil, said Zang from Rizhao port. Chinese steel mills started to reduce orders ever since CISA rejected the 33-percent cut offered by miners in May and held out for more discount, he said. China News Service reported yesterday that CISA halted talks because iron ore spot prices have been "seriously distorted", citing a statement issued by the association. However, no such statement could be found on the association's website, and its official surnamed Wang said the report was not true and talks were ongoing.