基层工商所信息化建设的思考

深圳市建设工程设计合同

BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Irrigation has covered 52.7 percent of the wheat farmland in drought-hit provinces in China by Saturday, said the Ministry of Agriculture.     A total of 85 million mu (about 5.67 hectares) of wheat land have been irrigated in eight drought-stricken provincial regions, the ministry told a meeting on Sunday.     Minister Sun Zhengcai said it is of importance to fully use machines in the fight against drought. People irrigate a wheat field in Laocheng Township of Changge County, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 3, 2009. Henan, one of China's key wheat producing regions, has suffered from drought since Oct. 24, 2008. Some 2.9 million hectares of farmland in Henan were affected    He asked local governments to increase subsidies for farmers to buy more irrigation-related and water-saving equipments, and make every effort to expand the irrigation coverage and save water.     By Saturday, 152 million mu of wheat farmland, which accounted for 95 percent of the drought-stricken crops in China, was affected in eight provincial regions including Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu.     Rain and snow from Friday to Sunday in the southeastern part of northwest China and the southwestern part of north China has reduced the area of drought-affected farmland by 20 million mu.     China experienced the most severe drought for decades. As of Saturday, 299 million mu of crops, 4.42 million people and 2.2 million heads of livestock were affected.     The crops affected was 110 million mu more than the average level during the same period in past years.     During a visit to central China's drought-hit Henan Province on Saturday and Sunday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged officials in drought-hit areas to place "top priority" on relief work as agricultural stability concerns China's bid to revive its economy.     China has declared the highest level of emergency in response to the drought, employing artificial means to induce rains and allocating 86.7 billion yuan (about 12.69 billion U.S. dollars) as subsidies to farmers.     In addition, the central government has decided to earmark 400 million yuan to local governments for drought relief.

CARACAS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at a seminar here Tuesday, elaborating on bilateral ties, cooperation and common development between China and Venezuela.        BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BILATERAL TIES     In his speech at the opening ceremony of a seminar attended by entrepreneurs from both China and Venezuela, Xi said bilateral ties have seen comprehensive and fast growth since the establishment of diplomatic ties 35 years ago, particularly after the two countries built their strategic partnership for common development in 2001. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping makes a speech at a business seminar in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2009. Xi arrived in Caracas Tuesday for an official visit to Venezuela. Both sides have enjoyed close high-level exchanges, strengthened mutual political trust and fruitful cooperation in all areas, he said.     Venezuela has become China's fourth biggest oil provider and fifth largest trade partner in Latin America, with bilateral trade volume reaching a record 9.85 billion U.S. dollars in 2008 -- a year-on-year increase of 68.2 percent, said Xi.     He noted that the strengthening of friendly, mutually beneficial cooperation is in keeping with the fundamental interests of both peoples. It is also conducive to the common development of the two countries as well as to relations between China and Latin America as a whole. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (1st L) talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (1st R) at a business seminar in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2009Xi said he had held "very fruitful talks" with Vice President Ramon Carrizales on Tuesday.     "We both are very enthusiastic and determined to develop friendly cooperation between our two countries."     To that end, Xi proposed that both China and Venezuela focus on the following four aspects:     First, both nations should focus on common development and boost mutual political trust. China and Venezuela should view each other from a strategic perspective and adhere to the principles of mutual trust, mutual assistance, reciprocity and mutual benefits. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at a business seminar in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 17, 2009"We should reinforce political dialogue, broaden strategic common grounds, deepen mutual political trust, constantly enrich the contents of strategic partnership, and promote a long-term stable reciprocal cooperation in an all-around way," the Chinese vice president said.     Secondly, he said the two countries should further improve their cooperative mechanism and upgrade cooperation.     This mechanism, namely the Sino-Venezuelan inter-governmental commission founded eight years ago, "has played an active role in communication and collaboration, under which great progress has been made in cooperation in all areas," said Xi.     He expressed hope that the commission would continue to play its guiding and coordinative role in laying the groundwork of pragmatic cooperation and opening new fields of cooperation.     He also proposed setting up a council for entrepreneurs from both countries.     Thirdly, Xi said China and Venezuela should boost cooperation in energy and finance.     Energy cooperation is a priority and constitutes an important part of bilateral cooperation, he said, expressing hope that the two sides would make a joint effort to push forward an all-around energy partnership.     Xi also said that both nations had agreed to increase their contributions to a joint fund to finance projects in either country.     Finally, Xi said the two countries should explore more fields and channels for cooperation. Apart from energy cooperation, they should better tap the cooperation potential in agriculture, infrastructure and high-tech, as well as promote projects in the housing, railway, telecommunication and electric power sectors.     "We deeply believe that through concerted efforts, China and Venezuela will surely have a bright future of cooperation," Xi said.     BETTER COOPERATION AND COMMON DEVELOPMENT     The Chinese vice president said the scope and pace of cooperation between China and Latin America has reached an "unprecedented" level since the beginning of the new century.     Bilateral trade reached 143.39 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, 39.7 percent up from the previous year and 10 times that of 2000, Xi noted.     Meanwhile, mutual investment has been growing with areas of cooperation being expanded, he said, adding that trade and economic cooperation has shown excellent prospects for all-around development.     China, the largest developing country in the world, is ready to join hands with Latin America, one of the world's major developing regions, to push forward their cooperation and raise it to a still higher level, he said.     China and Latin American nations -- whose combined population makes up a fourth of the world's total -- are all at a crucial stage of socio-economic development, he said.     Under the current circumstances, while standing up to the serious challenges brought about by the global financial crisis, one should not lose sight of the new emerging opportunities for all-around cooperation between the two sides, he said.     The vice president put forward a four-point proposal for strengthening all-around cooperation for common development.     First, he said efforts should be made to promote mutual political trust, bearing in mind the importance of long-term development of friendly cooperation.     China is ready to maintain high-level visits and contact with Latin American nations and favors increased bilateral understanding and support on issues of mutual concern, he said.     Both sides should strive to improve the existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of political consultation and dialogue and coordinate cooperation in various fields from a strategic height and long-term perspective.     In the face of the global financial crisis, China is ready to work with Latin American nations to strengthen coordination and boost confidence so as to contribute to the stable growth of the global economy, Xi said.     Second, mutual cooperation should be deepened, said the Chinese vice president.     China is ready to continue to expand trade and mutual investment with Latin American nations, push forward pragmatic cooperation in such key areas as energy, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and the high-tech industry.     The Chinese government is ready to join hands with Latin American governments to further promote strategic cooperation between companies from both sides and make continued efforts to ensure greater success in hosting the China-Latin America Business Summit and the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, he added.     Third, efforts should be made to boost human and cultural exchanges, with a view to cementing the foundation of the China-Latin American friendship.     China is ready to enhance exchanges with Latin American nations in the fields of culture, education, health, sports and tourism, and carry out practical cooperation in poverty alleviation, social security, environmental protection and disaster relief.     Both sides should also expand exchanges between youth and women's organizations as well as media bodies and academic institutions in efforts to promote understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Latin American peoples, Xi said.     Fourth, both sides should strengthen consultation and cooperation in international affairs.     China is ready to strengthen coordination with Latin American nations, through participating in regional and international organizations or other multilateral mechanisms, and jointly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing nations.     Both sides should work together to push for the establishment of a global economic system for sustainable development, an inclusive international financial system, a fair and equitable international trading system and a fair and efficient global development system.     Both sides should urge developed countries to fulfill their commitments in terms of increasing investments and aid, reducing trade barriers, speeding up technology transfer and reducing and writing off debts, he said.     China is a staunch force for maintaining world peace and the Chinese people are trustworthy friends of the Latin American people, said Xi.     China and Latin America enjoy a profound traditional friendship and share broad common interests. China is ready to work with Latin American nations to write a new chapter in the efforts to establish partnership for all-around cooperation, said the vice president.     Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was present during Xi's address.     Xi arrived Tuesday in Caracas for an official visit to Venezuela, the fourth leg of his six-nation tour, which will also take him to Brazil and Malta. He earlier visited Mexico, Jamaica and Colombia.     In November 2008, China issued its first Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, seeking to build and develop a comprehensive and cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development with the region.

BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese equities closed 1.47 percent up Wednesday to stand at 2,408.02 points, surpassing the 2,400 points mark, echoing the overnight Wall Street rebound.     The Shanghai Composite Index gained 34.81 points, or 1.47 percent to 2,408.02. The Shenzhen Component Index rose 174.06 points, or 1.94 percent to 9,156.01.     Gains outnumbered losses by 675 to 183 in Shanghai and 599 to 140 in Shenzhen.     Combined turnover expanded to 250.67 billion yuan (36.68 billion U.S. dollars) from 200.03 billion yuan on the previous trading day.     Coal shares boosted the index up, as there were reports Monday that the government might consider raising the coal price by 4 percent.     China Shenhua Energy, the country's leading coal producer, gained 5.8 percent to 21.9 yuan, while China Coal jumped 5.65 percent to 9.17 yuan.     The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index continued the upward trend of the previous trading day and touched a 2422.63 points intra-day high Wednesday, exceeding the previous intra-day high of 2402 points on Feb. 17.     Zhang Yunpeng, an analyst with Beijing-based Huarong Securities, said investors should not be overly optimistic about the continuing rebound, as the turnover in recent days was lower than that in mid-February, which suggested that some investors were still cautious.     China's top banking regulator Liu Mingkang said Tuesday the government would require foreign banks taking stakes in domestic commercial banks to hold those stakes for at least five years, rather than three as at present, to reduce risks for local banks.     Zhang said this was a piece of positive news for Chinese bank stocks for the long run, as this move would help stabilize their share prices.     The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China's top lender, rose 0.76 percent to 3.97, while the China Construction Bank, the country's second largest commercial lender, gained 0.47 percent to 4.32 yuan.     Chongqing Iron and Steel Co. rose 1.24 percent to 4.91 yuan, after the steel producer reported a 33.18 percent growth in net profit to 598.3 million yuan last year in its annual report released Wednesday.

seo网站排名优化快速排

SEOUL, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Tuesday called for stronger economic and trade ties between China and South Korea and urged their business communities to work together to help promote the strategic cooperation between the two nations.     Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the call in an address at a welcome luncheon for him hosted by four Korean business groups: the Korea Foreign Trade Association, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of the Korean Industries, and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers a speech during a luncheon with chiefs of four South Korean business lobby groups in Seoul, South Korea, on April 7, 2009. Li praised the development of bilateral ties since China and South Korea established diplomatic ties 17 years ago. During the past 17 years, bilateral relations have witnessed rapid development and cooperation and exchanges expanded in a comprehensive manner, which has benefited the two countries and the region, he said.     The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government attach great importance to the ties with South Korea and are willing to work with South Korea to continue strengthening and deepening the strategic cooperation, he said.     Li spoke about China's stand regarding the current global financial crisis, the measures it has adopted to counter the crisis and its participation in international cooperation.     The London summit of the Group of 20 yielded pragmatic results, he said. At the summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao's speech on strengthening macro-policy coordination, reforming international financial institutions and improving financial regulation, played a constructive role in the outcomes of the meeting, Li said.     He said that Hu and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak, at their meeting in London, agreed to work to deepen the pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two countries and push forward the bilateral relations.     Li suggested both sides make efforts to deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation to ensure the smooth growth of bilateral trade, enhance policy coordination to promote financial cooperation, work out new ways to boost mutual investment and strengthen multilateral cooperation to improve the international trade environment.     He also proposed entrepreneurs of the two countries continue to contribute to the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership, make new efforts to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between China and South Korea, facilitate the exchanges between the younger generation and promote the cultural exchanges between the two nations.     South Korea is the last leg of Li's four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Australia, Myanmar and Japan.

DAKAR, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Senegal on Feb. 13-14, during which the two countries will sign new agreements on economic and technical cooperation, the Chinese ambassador in the West African country announced here on Thursday.     At the invitation of his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade, President Hu will make the visit to further enhance the friendly ties between the two countries since diplomatic relations were resumed in October 2005, Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye told a press conference.     The visit is part of the Chinese president's five-nation trip on Feb. 10-17, which will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Mali, Tanzania and Mauritius.     The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Hu's visit is aimed at further consolidating China's friendship and cooperation with these countries, strengthening China's cooperation with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and promoting the implementation of the measures announced at the 2006 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam Monday marked the final demarcation of their land border at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.     The completion of the demarcation would be conducive to peace and stability of the border area, promote trade and exchanges, and push forward their comprehensive and strategic partnership of the two countries, said a statement from China's Foreign Ministry.     The 1,300-kilometer border starts at the junction of China, Vietnam and Laos and continues along the Beilun River to the coast. Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are on Chinese side, and Cao Bang, Lang Son, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Guang Ninh are in Vietnam.     In the late 19th Century, China's Qing Dynasty and the French colonial administration in Vietnam concluded a treaty delineating the border. The border negotiations started in the 1970s and were suspended later that decade. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo (L, C) shakes hands with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem after unveiling the No. 1116 boundary marker in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opposite to Lang Son City of Vietnam, Feb. 23, 2009. China and Vietnam Monday marked the final demarcation of their land border at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. More than 400 government officials and about 400 representatives from both countries, including those who attended the land border demarcation, were present at a ceremony after the demarcation. In the early 1990s, China and Vietnam resumed negotiations, and agreed to discuss a new treaty based on that signed in the 19th Century. They finalized the land boundary treaty on Dec. 30, 1999.They started demarcation work in 2001 and finished late last year.     The China-Vietnam joint committee for land border demarcation was established by both governments in November 2001. The committee was in charge of border demarcation and marker planting as well as drafting a protocol on border demarcation and marker planting.     The joint committee comprised 12 joint working teams. These teams were responsible for on-site demarcation work. In December 2001, the first marker on the border was installed at the Mong Cai-Dong Xing border gate.     The two sides reached an agreement on the remaining issues related to the land boundary survey on Dec. 31, 2008. The agreement achieved the goal set by leaders of China and Vietnam to complete the survey and the erection of boundary markers this year. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo (4th R) shakes hands with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem on the ceremony marking the completion of land border demarcation and the erection of boundary markers in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opposite to Lang Son City of Vietnam, Feb. 23, 2009. China and Vietnam Monday marked the final demarcation of their land border at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. More than 400 government officials and about 400 representatives from both countries, including those who attended the land border demarcation, were present at a ceremony after the demarcation. During the eight-year effort, Chinese and Vietnamese officials worked almost one million days on the demarcation work and held 14rounds of meetings between the heads of the two governmental-level delegations, 34 rounds joint committee's meetings and 15 rounds of expert group meetings, which enabled the completion of the demarcation along the entire length of China-Vietnam land border with 2,000 border markers erected.     Advanced technologies were applied in the demarcation work, such as the geography information, global positioning and remote sensing systems, which ensured the accuracy of the demarcation work and a clear borderline.     The outcome was achieved under the direction of leaders of the two countries, said the ministry statement. It was also the result of concerted efforts of government delegations, experts, departments such as ministries of foreign affairs, national defense, public security, finance, survey-cartography and provinces along both sides of the border. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo (L) shakes hands with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem after the ceremony marking the completion of land border demarcation and the erection of boundary markers in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opposite to Lang Son City of Vietnam, Feb. 23, 2009. China and Vietnam Monday marked the final demarcation of their land border at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. More than 400 government officials and about 400 representatives from both countries, including those who attended the land border demarcation, were present at a ceremony after the demarcationWorking staff from the joint survey teams also contributed to the success, working with extraordinary difficulties caused by complicated landscapes and bad weather conditions.     The two sides resolved complicated issues in a frank and friendly manner, said the statement.     By taking into account mutual concerns and trying to mitigate negative impacts on the lives and production of residents along the border, they finally achieved a mutually beneficial result. A ceremony marking the completion of land border demarcation and the erection of boundary markers is held in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, opposite to Lang Son City of Vietnam, Feb. 23, 2009. China and Vietnam Monday marked the final demarcation of their land border at the Youyiguan border gate in Pingxiang City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. More than 400 government officials and about 400 representatives from both countries, including those who attended the land border demarcation, were present at a ceremony after the demarcation.

兰州seo关键词排名优化

TAIYUAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Governor of Shanxi Province Wang Jun on Tuesday made an apology to victims and their families over the gas blast at the Tunlan coal mine that left 74 people dead and 114 others injured.     "The blast caused huge loss of life and property ... We say sorry to the victims and their families," said the senior official.     As he spoke at the investigation team meeting tears choked his eyes several times.     The Shanxi provincial committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC) and the provincial government have made a formal admission of error to the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the State Administration of Work Safety, according to Wang. Governor of Shanxi Province Wang Jun (R) wipes tear as he makes an apology to victims and their families over the gas blast at the Tunlan coal mine that left 74 people dead and 114 others injured, in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province on Feb. 24, 2009. Shanxi will start a one-year campaign on work safety of state-owned and collectively-owned mines as of March 1, he added.     Wang, who had been appointed the head and Party chief of the State Administration of Work Safety in March last year, was elected as the governor of Shanxi Province in January.     Wang served as the acting and deputy governor of the coal-rich province in north China since mid-September last year when Meng Xuenong resigned from the post of governor in the wake of a deadly mud-rock flow that killed at least 277 people.Tears well up as governor of Shanxi Province Wang Jun makes an apology to victims and their families over the gas blast at the Tunlan coal mine that left 74 people dead and 114 others injured, in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province on Feb. 24, 2009.

BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged all officials receiving public grievances to learn from the hard working style of the late Pan Zuoliang (1965-2008).     Pan had worked as director of the Letters and Calls Bureau of Liaozhong County, Liaoning Province, northeast China, until May 9,2008, when he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage on duty. Pan Zuoliang (1965-2008) had worked as director of the Letters and Calls Bureau of Liaozhong County, Liaoning Province, northeast China, until May 9,2008, when he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage on duty."Build the letters and calls departments into a sector that is first-class regarding their work and satisfactory to the people," said Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in an instruction to a meeting of officials at the Great Hall of the People, in central Beijing, Friday.     Prior to the gathering, Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, called Pan a model for grassroots Party members and officials. "Pan had always lived among the people and helped the Party and the people to get over difficulties," he said. People send Pan's coffin off spontaneously. Pan Zuoliang (1965-2008) had worked as director of the Letters and Calls Bureau of Liaozhong County, Liaoning Province, northeast China, until May 9,2008, when he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage on duty.Zhou urged all officials to "prevent and resolve inharmonious, unstable factors" in the country.     After his death, Pan was made an "Excellent Letters and Calls Official Who Help the Party and the People Resolve Difficulties" and a "National-level Excellent Letters and Calls Official" by the Liaoning Provincial Communist Party Committee and the State Bureau for Letters and Calls.

精准优化排名

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese business delegation inked trade deals worth more than 300 million U.S. dollars with Swiss companies on Thursday, ending the second leg of their four-state procurement tour in Europe.     The agreements covered products ranging from software to electric equipments and metals, which meet China's domestic needs, according to Chinese trade officials.     Among those agreements, Switzerland's ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies, signed a letter of intent for the supply of generator circuit breakers to China Nuclear Power Engineering Company.     Switzerland's Glencore, one of the world's largest suppliers of a wide range of commodities and raw materials to industrial consumers, also signed a deal with Chinalco, the world's second largest alumina producer and the third largest primary aluminum producer.     Holcim, one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates based in Switzerland, deepened its partnership with China's Huaxin Cement Company (HCC). They signed a frame agreement for technical service, technology and new equipment supplies covering the next two years.     Holcim is already the single largest shareholder in HCC, holding a stake of 39.9 percent of the Chinese firm.     "HCC with Holcim's support will continue to strengthen and extend its leading role as a modern cement producer in China," the two companies said in a statement. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming (L) shakes hands with Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard, after signing a memorandum on the intensification of technical cooperation in the field of environmental technology, in Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2009. Chen and Leuthard attended here on Thursday the Sino-Swiss Economic and Trade Forum with the aim of intensifying relations between Swiss and Chinese companiesChinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming, who led the delegation, said that besides this team, there will be more Chinese business delegations coming to Switzerland for trade and investment opportunities.     Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard revealed that a Swiss business group will also go to China within the year.     Both ministers witnessed the deal-signing ceremony and opened an economic and trade forum with the aim of intensifying relations between Swiss and Chinese companies.     Addressing the forum, Chen said that cooperation is the effective way to tackle the international financial crisis which posed great challenge to world economy. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming (L) and Swiss Economy Minister Doris Leuthard attend a press conference in Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2009. Chen and Leuthard attended here on Thursday the Sino-Swiss Economic and Trade Forum with the aim of intensifying relations between Swiss and Chinese companies"Past experience shows that in time of crisis it is all the more important to adhere to a policy of openness and cooperation," he said. "Protectionism will not revive the economy. Rather, it will exacerbate the recession."     "This trade and investment promotion delegation to Europe is a clear indication of China's opposition to protectionism and its readiness to work together with Europe in tiding over the crisis," he added.     Highlighting China and Switzerland are important economic and trade partners to each other, Chen said the two economies are highly complementary.     China is highly competitive in labor-intensive products, such as garments, jewelry, footwear and containers, offering budget choice to Swiss consumers, while Switzerland boasts a distinct competitive edge in watches, medicines, measuring instruments and precision machinery.     In 2008, bilateral trade between China and Switzerland reached 11.25 billion U.S. dollars, increasing 19.2 percent despite the economic downturn. China is now Switzerland's second largest trading partner in Asia.     Leuthard said that the visit by the Chinese delegation sent a strong signal that China and Switzerland remain committed to open markets and against protectionism.     She said the agreements between Swiss and Chinese companies are "good news to our businesses."     "They signed contracts which will safeguard jobs and strengthen the cooperation between Swiss and Chinese companies in different fields in our economy," she said.     Earlier today, Leuthard and Chen signed a memorandum on the intensification of technical cooperation in the field of environmental technology.     "Switzerland and China will cooperate more strongly to ensure that economic growth can be shaped in a more sustainable and environmentally-sound manner," the Swiss government said.     To this end, a joint working group is to be established to examine the potential for cooperation in the areas of technology transfer, energy efficiency, renewable energies and the efficient use of resources. The group will submit proposals on the shape of this cooperation.     Switzerland is the second stop of the Chinese business delegation's European tour. On Wednesday, they signed 37 procurement deals worth about 11 billion euros (14 billion U.S. dollars) with local firms in Germany.     In an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday, Chen expected purchase deals with Switzerland would be modest compared with Germany due to the gap in the two countries' economic scales.     The delegation will arrive in Madrid, Spain later today and then London, the last stop. Chen said the deals to be signed there could be a more than in Switzerland.

RIYADH, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said Wednesday that China will seek an early free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).     "The FTA is in the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides and will help deepen their mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve common development," Hu said during a meeting with GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya in Riyadh, where the council is headquartered.     "China will work actively toward signing the agreement at an early date," Hu said. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, Feb. 11, 2009. Hu is in Saudi Arabia for a state visit    Al-Attiya echoed Hu's views and pledged efforts to complete the FTA talks as soon as possible.     China and the GCC launched FTA negotiations in July 2004, and the first round of the talks took place in April 2005.