BEIJING, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the ruling United Russia Party met Tuesday to exchange views on the international financial crisis. "This is the first official and high-level dialogue between the Chinese and Russian ruling parties," said Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee of his meeting with United Russia Party's council presidium secretary Vyacheslav Volodin. Wang and Volodin signed an agreement on party-to-party cooperation on later Tuesday. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping attended the signing ceremony. Xi hailed the Sino-Russian relationship when meeting with Volodin before the ceremony, saying that China would work with Russia to promote stable and healthy growth of the ties, in a bid to benefit the two nations and peoples. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Vyacheslav Volodin, vice chairman of the Russian State Duma, in Beijing, capital of China, June 2, 2009 Volodin, and vice-chairman of the Russian State Duma, said his party valued the cooperation with the CPC. Volodin and his delegation were here on a visit from May 31 to June 3 at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's central government has allocated 270 billion yuan (about 39.7 billion U.S. dollars) for infrastructure investment so far this year, a National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) official told legislators Tuesday. That amount is part of a planned total of 367.6 billion yuan in the 2009 central budget. Adding another 30 billion yuan from last year's budget meant that the country had already allocated 300 billion yuan to infrastructure investment since the fourth quarter of last year, NDRC vice director Mu Hong told legislators. The NDRC is China's top economic planning body. Mu made his comments during a session on major public investment projects held by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature. The money is also part of the 4-trillion-yuan, two-year stimulus plan announced late last year as the economic downturn deepened.
BEIJING, June 2 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States are ratcheting up efforts to prepare for strategic and economic talks this summer as U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner continues his visit to Beijing. "China-U.S. relations show a good momentum of development as both sides have kept close contacts since the new U.S. administration took office," President Hu Jintao told Geithner at the start of their meeting Tuesday afternoon. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R FRONT) meets with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (L FRONT) in Beijing, capital of China, June 2, 2009Hu reviewed his first meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in London in April when both agreed on building a "positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century" and launching China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue. "As both sides agreed to hold the first round of dialogue in Washington D.C. in July, I hope both will work closely, step up preparation so as to make the dialogue a success," Hu said in a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Hu characterized the dialogue mechanism as "an important platform for both nations to deepen understanding, mutual trust and cooperation." The strategic track of the dialogue will be chaired by Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while the economic track will be chaired by Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Geithner. "As influential nations in the world, China and the United States share extensive common interests and shoulder important responsibilities in tackling global economic challenges and resolving the world hot-button issues," Hu said. He said China would like to work with the United States to strengthen dialogues at all levels, expand exchanges and cooperation for fresh progress in bilateral relations in the new era. Geithner, on first visit to China as Treasury chief, said his visit was "a good start" of building bilateral ties and "looked forward to holding the dialogue in Washington D.C." He hailed bilateral "capacity to work together in global stage" and said he saw "early signs of stabilization of the economies." Earlier afternoon, Premier Wen Jiabao also met with Geithner in Zhongnanhai, the central leadership's compound near the Forbidden City in Beijing. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in Beijing, capital of China, June 2, 2009"The foremost task for both countries is to work more closely to address the global economic downturn, oppose protectionism in trade and investment, promote reform in international financial system, tighten oversight of international reserve currency so as to ensure the stability and growth of China, the United States andthe world," Wen said. During his three-day visit, Geithner had a flurry of meetings with China's top economic team, including Vice Premier Wang Qishanand chiefs of commerce, finance, banking and securities, among others. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (1st R) meets with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (1st L) in Beijing, capital of China, June 2, 2009In an hour-long meeting with Geithner Monday, Wang said, "The major task of our economic dialogue is to address the global economic slowdown. "We will send a message that China and the United States are cooperating substantively to get over the difficult times, which will help boost confidence, promote global financial stability and economic recovery," Wang said. Geithner told Wang, "The world is going through an exceptionally challenging period now and I think the world has a huge stake in our two countries working closely together to lay a foundation for recovery." On Monday in a speech to students at China's Peking University, Geithner said that China's investments in the United States "are very safe. ... We have the deepest, most liquid financial markets in the world." Geithner also struck a positive note on the global economy, citing the initial signs of improvement. Visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (2nd R) meets with representatives of eight U.S. clean energy companies with branches in China, at Beijing's Capital Museum, June 2, 2009Earlier Tuesday, Geithner visited Beijing's Capital Museum, which is partly powered by solar energy, generated by panels manufactured by Michigan-based Uni-Solar Company. Geithner also met with representatives of eight U.S. clean energy companies with branches in China at the museum, pledging to learn from China and other countries to improve energy efficiency. "The core part of the U.S.-China cooperation will be on the energy part. We expected it to be the central part of the new strategic and economic dialogue we just put in place," Geithner said. "The world is gonna be watching what we do together as countries in this area, as they are watching us cooperate to help resolve the global recession of financial crisis," he said. Visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (2nd R) meets with representatives of eight U.S. clean energy companies with branches in China, at Beijing's Capital Museum, June 2, 2009.At the end of Geithner's visit, Clinton and Geithner issued a joint statement on the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, saying the first meeting of the dialogue will be held in Washington D.C. "during the last week of July 2009." They said, "The dialogue will focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities that both countries face on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global areas of immediate and long-term strategic interest." Geithner left Beijing on Tuesday evening.
BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's retail sales climbed 9 percent from a year ago to about 12 billion yuan (1.76 billion U.S. dollars) during the three-day May Day holiday, the Ministry of Commerce said Sunday. The estimate was based on sales from May 1 to May 3 at 1,000 major domestic retailers monitored by the ministry. The ministry said robust sales were reported for gold, jewelry, home appliances and autos, as retailers launched promotion campaigns. Sales of gold and other jewelry rose 19.6 percent, the ministry said, without giving specific figures. However, it said the Beijing Caishikou Department Store, a major gold retailer in the capital, saw its sales nearly double to 14.3 million yuan on May 1 alone. Sales of appliances, such as LCD TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators and lap-tops, increased 11.4 percent, while those of automobiles grew 9.2 percent.
BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of China (BOC), China's largest foreign exchange bank, will transact the first cross-border yuan trade settlement deal Monday, a source with the bank said Sunday night. The BOC Shanghai branch would receive the first cross-border yuan trade settlement deal from the BOC (Hong Kong) Monday, the unidentified source said. The payee would be Shanghai Electric International Economic and Trading Co., Ltd. under Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd. and the remitter would be the company's business partner in Hong Kong. China last week issued detailed measures to regulate the pilot program for cross-border trade settled in yuan. The rules specified how to make transactions using Renminbi (RMB) to settle trade with Hong Kong and Macao and regional trade partners. "The service has drawn much attention and many overseas enterprises had been asking us about it months ago. Why? Because cross-border yuan trade settlement could help enterprises avoid exchange rates risks, lock up financial costs and reckon enterprise anticipated profits," the source said. "In comparison to convertible currency settlement, it could streamline links and reduce trade cost. It could help enterprises without foreign exchange revenues cut losses from converting foreign exchanges. It could reduce derivative fees in selecting RMB financial products," said the source. The BOC Shanghai branch has reached tentative agreements with 11 overseas agent banks on yuan trade settlement deals. Now the agent banks in tentative agreements with the BOC mostly are large banks in Asia and they anticipate remarkable demand on yuan settlement, according to the sources. "We are in talks with banks in the United States and Europe and get very positive feedbacks. Despite some obstacles in cross-border yuan settlement, the trend is good," the source said.
重庆市不孕不育专业医院
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland confirmed 22 new A/H1N1 flu cases Saturday, bringing the total to 165, with no reports of deaths. Four new cases each were confirmed in Guangdong and Fujian provinces, three each were confirmed in Shanghai and provinces of Sichuan and Hubei, and two each in Zhejiang and Hainan provinces, the Ministry of Health said in the latest report. A worker tests a temperature monitor in the Xingang dock in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, June 13, 2009. Hainan confirmed its first A/H1N1 flu case, a female college student, on Friday night The other case was reported in Beijing, the ministry said. According to local health authorities, 38 confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases have been reported in Beijing, 37 in Guangdong, 25 in Fujian,17 in Shanghai, 15 in Sichuan, nine in Hubei, six in Zhejiang, four in Tianjin, three each in Shandong and Hainan, two in Hunan, and one each in Shanxi, Henan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Jiangsu and Liaoning.
OTTAWA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- It is to the greater benefits of the peoples in both China and Canada should the two governments make concerted efforts to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and further enhance cooperation, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Monday. During his meeting with Noel A. Kinsella, Speaker of Canada's Senate, Yang spoke highly of the two country's past efforts in advancing relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970 and hoped more could be done to further enhance bilateral ties. Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) shakes hands with Noel A. Kinsella, Speaker of Canada's Senate, at parliament hill in Ottawa, capital of Canada, June 22, 2009. Yang arrived in Ottawa on June 21 for a two-day official visit to the country. The successful meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in July 2008 on the sidelines of the outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit added more vigor in the enhancement of Sino-Canadian relations, Yang added. Yang said China and Canada, being important nations of the Asia-Pacific region, share broad interests as well as great potential of bilateral cooperation in every field. Both governments are therefore obliged to devote more efforts to furthering this friendly relationship so as to better tap on this potential for the interests of both peoples. Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2nd L) meets with Noel A. Kinsella (2nd R), Speaker of Canada's Senate, at parliament hill in Ottawa, capital of Canada, June 22, 2009. Yang arrived in Ottawa on June 21 for a two-day official visit to the country. China would work with Canada to handle bilateral relationship from a strategic height and long-term perspective, continuously strengthen bilateral dialogue and communications, respect each other's benefits and concerns and properly handle sensitive bilateral issues so as to guarantee a healthy and smooth development of ties in the future, Yang said. Kinsella agreed with Yang's comments on bilateral relations and shared Yang's calling for stronger ties while reiterating his understanding and support for the "One-China policy." He also pledged to advance the good relations between the legislatures of both countries, while stressing the importance of closer communications between young people of the two countries. The speaker appreciated the constructive role that China has been playing in seeking diplomatic solution of regional conflicts and praised China for deploying navy forces to the waters off the Somali coast to fight the pirates. Yang Jiechi arrived in Ottawa Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Lawrence Cannon.
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.
ROME, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's forthcoming visit to Italy ahead of the G8 summit paves the way for stronger bilateral ties, an Italian expert told Xinhua in an interview. Luca La Bella, a China analyst with Rome's International Studies Center, said that in the past decades, political, economic and cultural relations between Italy and China have improved. "Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Italy will reinforce this strategic collaboration," he said. Hu will attend a meeting between the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) and emerging economies from July 8 to 10 in L'Aquila. Before the G8 summit, he will pay a state visit to Italy from July 5 to 8 at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. After the G8 meeting, the Chinese leader will visit Portugal from July 10 to 11. China-Italy ties have maintained a sound momentum of rapid development, especially since 2004, when the two countries forged the first all-round strategic partnership to boost political and economic cooperation, La Bella said. "The Italian Culture Year in China of 2006 was very successful," La Bella said. "Institutional exchange and business ties have increased. Reciprocal awareness of each other's culture and history is now greater." The Italian firms in China enjoy Chinese government's support, the expert said, "Trade exchanges have increased. Italy imports from China technological goods, and exports Italian fashions and brands to China." The two presidents will surely discuss in their meeting the upcoming Chinese Year of Culture in Italy, scheduled for 2010. It will be China's turn this time to be culturally, economically and politically present in Italy, La Bella said. Numerous events are planned for the Chinese Year in Italy, which marks celebrations of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It will be an opportunity for high level political, economic and cultural exchanges between Chinese and Italian leaders and industry representatives. According to La Bella, fostering bilateral ties with China is of crucial importance to Italy. China and Italy are well-tuned politically as well, he added. "Italy pursues the one-China policy and is a front runner in lifting the arms embargo against China," he said.