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BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday said it would work with Mongolia to advance the relationship between the two countries. "This would benefit the two peoples," Chinese Vice President XiJinping told visiting Mongolian Prime Minister Sanj Bayar.     Hailing the 60-year diplomatic ties between China and Mongolia, Xi said the two neighboring countries enjoyed three precious experiences during the development process of bilateral relations. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Mongolian Prime Minister Sanj Bayar in Beijing, China, April 15, 2009    Firstly, Xi said to respect each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity was the important base for the growth of China-Mongolia ties.     Secondly, he said both sides' commitments to enhancing bilateral relations were the source of flourishing development of China-Mongolia ties.     Lastly, he pointed out that both sides treated each other's development as important opportunities and made great efforts to increase cooperation. This was the driving force for the stable growth of bilateral relations.     Bayar said his country valued the relations with China, and was satisfied with the bilateral ties in recent years.     The Prime Minister applauded China's assistance and support to his country.     The whole world was deeply impressed by China's efforts to cope with the international financial crisis, Bayar said, noting that this also strengthened Mongolia's confidence in surviving difficulties.     Mongolia would increase cooperation with China to jointly respond to challenges and push forward the bilateral relations, he noted.     Bayar was here on a five-day working visit starting from Tuesday, and will also attend the Bo'ao Forum for Asia annual meeting, scheduled for April 17-19.

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday called for all efforts to rescue the miners trapped or injured in the coal mine blast in north China's Shanxi Province.     As of 6 p.m., 74 people were confirmed dead from the accident which occurred early Sunday morning at the Tunlan Coal Mine of Shanxi Coking Coal Group.     The president and premier urged rescuers to spare no efforts to save the trapped miners and ensure the safety of rescuers, and prevent secondary accidents.     Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang headed for the site Sunday evening to direct the rescue operation and console the injured miners and families of the victims. Zhang also declared to set up an investigation team to probe into the cause of the accident.     Leaders from the State Administration of Work Safety and Shanxi provincial officials have also arrived at the scene. Luo Lin (1st L, rear), head of the State Administration of Work Safety, Zhao Tiechui (R, rear), head of the State Bureau of Coal Industry, and Zhang Baoshun (C, rear), the Provincial Communist Party Committee chief, talk with a miner injured during the accident at a hospital Gujiao City, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 22, 2009. 

BERLIN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A business delegation of about 200 Chinese entrepreneurs arrived here Tuesday night, starting their four-state procurement tour in Europe.     The delegation, led by Commerce Minister Chen Deming and composed of state-owned, joint venture and private companies from various industries, are expected to sign deals of purchasing automobiles, machinery, aircraft engines, railway equipment and components with companies from Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Britain.     The trip is a follow-up action for the agreements Premier Wen Jiabao reached with his counterparts during his visit to the four European countries early this month.     "We come here in according with the agreements Premier Wen and the leaders from the four countries had made," Chen told Xinhua atthe Tegel Airport after he landed in Berlin.     Germany is the first leg for the Chinese delegation, and the Chinese trade officials and business leaders are to hold negotiations with their German counterparts on Wednesday.     "I believe we will have our pockets fully packed this time, and I also believe our procurements would help inject some energy into the slump economy of Europe," Chen said.     "I hope we can achieve a lot, I also hope we can get good technology standards and reasonable prices for our procurement," he said.     European Union (EU) is the biggest trading partner of China and China is the EU's second biggest trading partner. Germany is the biggest trading partner of China within the EU. According to official data released by the German side, the trade volume from January to November 2008, the trade volume between Germany and China hit 85.637 billion euros (about 109.52 billion U.S. dollars),up 10.8 percent.

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SANYA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Friday with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev and discussed the measures to withstand the impact of the global financial crisis.     The two leaders, who were in the city of Sanya for the 2009 meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in south China's Hainan Province, expressed willingness to make concerted efforts to cope with the crisis. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 17, 2009. Nazarbayev arrived here to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2009 which would be held in Boao, Hainan from April 17 to 19Wen spoke highly of the rapid development of the China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership.     Wen put forward a four-point proposal on enhancing Sino-Kazakh cooperation to tide over the difficulties. He said the two countries should:     -- take effective measures to maintain the growth of bilateral trade;     -- fulfill previous agreements and give priority to the cooperation in the energy and resources sectors;     -- reinforce financial and investment cooperation to ensure smooth implementation of major cooperation projects;     -- promote cooperation in the non-resources field, such as infrastructures, so as to forge a more dynamic bilateral trade relation.     Nazarbayev said the two countries had signed a series of cooperative documents during his visit, which fully reflected the common will of the two nations to jointly resist the financial crisis and China's strong support to Kazakhstan.     He believed that China would certainly be able to cope with the challenges, which was crucial for strengthening the international effort in combating the crisis.     Kazakhstan agreed with China's tentative plan on enhancing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and was ready to work with China to boost cooperation in such sectors as oil and gas, agriculture, technology innovation, finance and transportation, he said.     The BFA, established in 2001, is a high-level forum where governments, businesses and scholars promote regional economic integration and bring Asian countries closer to their development goals.     Under the theme "Asia: Managing Beyond Crisis," more than 1,600participants will discuss how to cope with the international financial crisis.

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.

WUHAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here Friday evening, kicking off his second China visit at the invitation of the Chinese government.     During his stay at this capital city of central China's Hubei Province, Zardari was expected to pursue Sino-Pakistani cooperation in agriculture and water conservancy. He will also meet with the local governor.     On behalf of the Chinese government, State Councilor Dai Bingguo will meet with Zardari here.     Zardari will visit the Three Gorges Project in Yichang city to study its management and technology.     Zardari was scheduled to leave Hubei for Shanghai, China's financial hub, on Sunday to continue his China tour. He was particularly interested in finance, banking, large-scale construction and Shanghai's urban development, according to the Ambassador of Pakistan to China.     China believed the visit would consolidate the two countries' all-weather friendship and deepen all-round cooperation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said earlier.     Zardari paid his first state visit to China as guest of President Hu Jintao in October last year.

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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, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Venezuela agreed here Wednesday to step up cooperation in fields such as energy, agriculture, and high technology and take joint actions in the face of the global financial crisis.     The agreement was reached in a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his visiting Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern and reached an important consensus.     Hu highlighted the robust growth of bilateral relations during the meeting, saying that China was satisfied with the positive outcomes from bilateral economic and technological cooperation, progress made on some key projects and close coordination on international and regional issues. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on April 8, 2009    Hu also suggested the two nations should work closer and boost the various pragmatic cooperation, which would not only help resolve the impact from the international financial crisis, but also be conducive to laying a solid foundation for the long-term development of Sino-Venezuelan relations.     China highly values its ties with Venezuela and will join hands with the Venezuelan side to make efforts to push forward the bilateral strategic partnership to a higher level, Hu said.     Echoing Hu's views on bilateral relations, Chavez also applauded the progress made on bilateral cooperation in energy, agriculture, industry and technology.     He especially mentioned the successful launch and delivery of Venezuela's first telecommunication satellite thanks to cooperation with China.     Chavez noted that the world order is undergoing a profound change and China already played a significant and positive role in an effort to address the challenges posed by the international economic turmoil.     Venezuela is willing to cement its cooperation with China in such a new international context, the Venezuelan president added.     As Hu's guest, Chavez arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a three-day working visit.     He will also meet Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during the visit, which is his sixth to China.

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BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese antique collector who bid at a Christie's auction for two looted bronze animal heads, Tuesday told why he has refused to pay his winning bid.     The two looted pieces were not allowed to enter China according to a regulation issued a day after the auction by China's cultural relics administration, and as a result, the payment should not be made, Cai Mingchao said in a statement released by the National Treasure Funds of China (NTFC).     China has repeatedly demanded the return of the sculptures -- heads of a rat and a rabbit -- looted when the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) was burned down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.     "The auction negated the history that the cultural relics were looted, defied the ethics of international society, and breached the rules of commercial auctions," Cai said in the statement, which was e-mailed to Xinhua.     Cai said that the sculptures would disappear forever and auctioning looted antiques could become a commercial practice had he not been the final bidder at the auction in Paris on Feb. 25.     "I got the chance and I was capable of buying the bronzes at the time of the auction. As a Chinese collector and art advisor, I'm willing to rescue looted artworks," Cai, NTFC's collection advisor, emphasized.     Cai won the auction by bidding 31.49 million euros (39.63 million U.S. dollars) by telephone, but he told a press conference Monday that no payment would be made.     So far, five of the 12 bronze animal heads have been returned, while the whereabouts of five others are unknown.     An online survey conducted by sina.com.cn showed more than 70 percent of the netizens support Cai's patriotic action for he had safeguarded China's interests. However, others said China's reputation would be affected and Christie's is still able to hold new auctions.     An attempt to contact Cai failed and employees of his company in Xiamen, Fujian Province, said they had lost contact with their boss since Monday.     The company was established in 2003 with a registered capital of 1.16 million yuan (nearly 170,000 U.S. dollars) and more than 10 employees. Cai owns 95 percent of the company's shares.     Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang reiterated on Tuesday that the looted sculptures were originally owned by China and China opposed any auction of these cultural relics and demanded their return. Qin said he learned the bidder was Chinese on Monday after the news conference.     Christie's has not made any official comment over the issue so far.     NTFC was established in 2002 under the administration of China Foundation for the Development of Social Culture registered under the name of the Ministry of Culture for the purpose of repatriating looted Chinese artifacts.

BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have ordered all-out efforts to combat the severe drought in the country's vast wheat-growing area to ensure a good summer harvest, a State Council meeting was told Thursday. The central government on Thursday decided to earmark another 300 million yuan (44 million U.S. dollars) as drought relief fund in additional to 100 million yuan already allocated. The fund will be used to buy agricultural machinery and other production materials.     Lack of rainfall has led to severe drought in northern China, leaving about 141 million mu (9.3 million hectares) wheat or 43 percent of the country's total affected, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). People irrigate the wheat field at Xiaolu Village in Yuzhou, a city in central China's Henan Province, on Feb. 4, 2009. Henan, China's major grain producer, issued a red alert for drought on Jan. 29. The provincial meteorological bureau said the drought is the worst since 1951. The drought has affected 63 percent of the province's 5.26 million hectares of wheat.    About 145 million mu crops have been affected by the drought nationwide, or 40 million mu more than the same period last winter.     Government at all levels should give anti-drought work a priority in an effort to stabilize grain production, increase farmers' income and ensure agricultural production, the State Council said.     Relevant departments in local regions were asked to enhance farmland management, mobilize human resources, ensure technology service and enlarge irrigation areas.     Efforts should also go to build emergency water resources projects and carry out artificial precipitation to alleviate water shortage and ensure drinking water for both people and livestock. The Ministry of Water Resources also said it would enhance supervision and launch emergency plan when necessary.     Relevant departments should allocate special funds to aid poverty-stricken people in rural areas.     The Cabinet said it will send working teams to eight drought-hit provinces to discuss anti-drought procedures. The MOA has already sent 12 working teams of experts to the drought-hit provinces, to instruct farmers on drought relief work.     Plant diseases and pest prevention were discussed and local governments were advised to supervise and prevent the spread of severe animal diseases.     Efforts should also be made to monitor or combat forestry fire, upgrade anti-disaster ability and avoid casualty, the State Council said.