BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said Saturday the U.S. decision to impose special protectionist tariffs on tire imports from China was grave trade protectionism and sent a wrong signal to the world.Chen told Xinhua the U.S. government's decision, which was made Friday night, violated related rules, failed to honor its commitment made on the G-20 financial summit and was not based on the truth. "It was a misuse of the special safeguard measures and sent a wrong signal to the world," Chen said, stressing China resolutely opposes the U.S. decision. The decision came after the U.S. International Trade Commission determined that a surge of Chinese-made tires had disrupted the domestic market and cost thousands of jobs in the U.S. The two sides didn't reach an agreement in spite of rounds of negotiations over the case, Chen said. According to a Los Angeles Times report Saturday, within 15 days, the U.S. would add a duty of 35 percent in the first year, 30 percent in the second and 25 percent in the third on passenger vehicle and light-truck tires from China. Chen said China reserves the right to bring the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO) while continuing to take necessary measures to support the tire industry and deal with the negative impact caused by the case. Fan Rende, president of the China Rubber Industry Association, said the organization has sent a protest letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, calling the decision an "extremely unfair" one as it lacked objective bases. The association also recommended the Chinese government to resort to the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism to handle the case, and appeal to the United States Court of International Trade to protect interests of the related enterprises. Although President Obama's ruling on the tire case was said to be based on law by the U.S. government, it is seen as a resolution under political pressure at home. Yao Jian, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, said the domestic political pressure pressed the U.S. government to not only impose the tariff and also propose other unreasonable demands involving many industries and push China to adjust fiscal and tax policies. The U.S. decision was made regardless of opposition from many U.S. organizations. The U.S. Tire Industry Association, the American Coalition for Free Trade in Tires, the American Automotive Trade Policy Council, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association have all expressed strong opposition after the U.S. International Trade Commission recommended the decision to the U.S. government . NO GOOD TO ANYONE The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on its web site Saturday that the U.S. lacked bases for the case because tire products exported to the U.S. from China actually declined 16 percent in the first half of this year, compared to the same period last year. China's tire exports to U.S. in 2008 only rose 2.2 percent from 2007. It said the business situation of the U.S. tire producers has shown no apparent changes after the entry of Chinese products. There exists no direct competition between China's tire products and the U.S.-made ones as China's tires mainly go for the U.S. maintenance market. Vice Commerce Minister Fu Ziying said in August that the slowdown in the U.S. tire industry is a result of the global downturn, not that of China's increasing tire exports to the U.S. China's tire exports to the U.S. tripled between 2004 and 2007 while, during the same period, U.S. tire manufactures doubled profits. "This means the increase of China's tire exports did not cause any substantial harm to the U.S. tire industry," Fu said. According to Fan, about 40 percent of the tire output in China is exported, and one third of the exports go to the United States. The 35 percent tariff means China would not export tires to the U.S. in the first year, which would affect employment of about 100,000 people and result in a loss of 1 billion U.S. dollars in export, he said. He added the tariff would not solve problems faced by the U.S. tire industry, but would hurt interests of enterprises from both countries and hurt trade relationships. Four U.S. companies have businesses in tire production in China and they account for two thirds of exports to the U.S., and the tariffs will have a direct impact on these companies, the MOC said. The increased tariffs would also raise tire prices for U.S. consumers, which would further weaken the government efforts to revitalize the auto industry. Some consumers may even consider postponing replacing old tires, creating concern for safety, according to the MOC. The move will also produce a chain reaction of trade protectionism and slow the current revival of the world economy, the ministry said in a statement on its website Saturday. Leaders from around the globe have reached consensus to oppose trade protectionism since the outbreak of the financial crisis. But the tire case, lacking factual bases, is an abuse of protectionist measures. It not only hurts the interests of China, but also those of the U.S., the ministry said. The Associated Press (AP) reported Saturday many of the nearly two dozen world leaders Obama is hosting at the upcoming G20 summit in Pittsburgh are critical of countries that protect their key industries. The report said Obama has also spoken out strongly against protectionism and other countries will view his decision on tires as a test of that stance. According to the MOC, China is the second-largest trading partner with the U.S. and vice versa. China believes the Sino-U.S. economic trade cooperation is significant. The country would not like to see damages to bilateral trade relations caused by protectionism. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao slashed protectionism at the opening ceremony of the Summer Davos Forum Thursday in Dalian, northeast China, saying it would only slow world economic recovery and ultimately hurt the interests of the businesses and people of all countries. "We must resist and redress all forms of covert protectionist activities," Wen said, noting as an active participant in economic globalization, China will never engage in trade or investment protectionism.
BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday called for the whole nation to further promote the development of national defense with the help of the nation's economic development. Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during a meeting held by CPC Central Committee Political Bureau ahead of the 82nd founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Aug. 1. Hu said "the country should take both economic and national defense development into consideration and develop the armed forces featuring an integration of the military and the people." To realize the goal, efforts are needed in establishing sound weapon systems and equipment research and manufacturing, military personnel training and logistics that combine military construction with people's support, he said. Emphasis should be made in scientific exchanges between fields of national defense and civilian use. He further stressed it is the responsibility of both the Party and entire nation to build a powerful and solid armed force and national defense power.
PHUKET, Thailand, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told reporters Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting series that about the Korea Peninsula's nuclear issue, the UN Security Council's resolutions should be implemented and all sides should work hard to avoid escalation of tension. "China's stand is very firm. We are working very hard for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and we are totally against nuclear proliferation...This issue, the nuclear issue, should be solved by peaceful means through diplomatic negotiation," Yang said. Yang made the remark before he entered the venue for the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a top security forum in Asia which is held in the Thai southern island of Phuket on Thursday. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2nd L) speaks to the media in Phuket of Thailand, July 23, 2009. Yang Jiechi told reporters Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting series that about the Korea Peninsula's nuclear issue, the UN Security Council's resolutions should be implemented and all sides should work hard to avoid escalation of tension China is working for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asia, he said. Yang arrived in Phuket on Tuesday night to attend the ASEAN and dialogue partners' meeting on Wednesday as well as the ARF. "At the meetings I attended yesterday, many participants stressed the importance of continuing to have the six-party talks. They believe that this is the effective platform on which we can proceed to properly solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula," he said. Yang said a sooner restart of the six-party talks will "do everybody good". "So one should take a long-term and strategic point of view, and work for the earlier resumption of the six-party talks. China stays in close touch with all the parties concerned, because this is a good cause, this is a very important cause," Yang 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.
VANCOUVER, Aug 3 (Xinhua) -- As China advances its national strategy to reduce carbon and other emission from transportation, the collaboration between Canada's Westport Innovations Inc. and various alternative energy companies in China is expected to be even more, Nicholas Sonntag, president of Westport Asia, said recently. Sonntag spoke highly of Westport's ongoing operations in China. "Westport has a very positive impression of our cooperation with partners and government officials in China," he told Xinhua in a written interview. "There have been challenges along the way but we have a full time office in Beijing with Chinese staff that has been critical to our strategic and tactical approach to all initiatives we have undertaken in China." Westport Innovation Inc., a leading global supplier of engine and alternative fuel power technologies that allow large vehicle engines to operate on clean-burning fuels like natural gas or hydrogen, has set up two joint ventures in China. One is BTIC Westport Inc., which produces liquefied natural gas fuel tanks for vehicles, and another is Weichai Westport Inc., which develops advanced alternative fuel engines. Sonntag, who is also the Westport's Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, suggested Westport's operations in China have benefited from the fact that China has attached growing importance to alternative energy solutions and sustainable development. "The rapid growth of the Chinese economy has generated opportunities in a variety of sectors and alternative energy solutions to transport is one that has seen rapid growth due to the dramatically increased levels of air pollution resulting from urban development," he said. "This rapid development has certainly presented huge challenges to the policy makers in China." He noted that despite some setbacks, the overall direction of China's strong growth "has been maintained in a manner that tries to aggressively address the many social, environmental and physical challenges being faced." "The deep respect and commitment to sustainable development is seen at all levels," he added. "And progress is being made with new and creative policies which are being introduced regularly." Sonntag has been active in international engineering and sustainable development for over 35 years, working as a senior executive for organizations -- corporate and non-profit -- in China, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland. He has spent nearly six years in China, first serving at CH2M HILL -- a global full-service engineering, procurement, construction and operations firm-- as the President of the company's operations in China and Hong Kong, and then as President of Westport Asia. He moved back from Beijing to Westport's headquarters in Vancouver only a few weeks ago. He has witnessed the changes that China's reform and opening up have brought about. From his perspective, the most notable changes have been "in the areas of legal process in the establishment of new companies and the increased commitment to protect intellectual property." He said the issues relating to intellectual property have long been a big concern for foreign companies hoping to develop business in China. "They have been important to our investments in China since without assurances on the legal and intellectual property elements of our business, our long term strategies would be unsustainable." He said a high value on intellectual property has now been seen in China and Chinese partners have developed the awareness of protecting their own intellectual property, adding "their motivation is in line with our motivation." As for the economic globalization, Sonntag described China's contribution as "immense." He said: "All aspects of our lives are directly or indirectly impacted by China's economic growth. This will undoubtedly continue for many years to come." He said China has only recently fully understood the implications of its growth on the global economy and is now taking responsibility for the importance of that role. "This presents large opportunities for Chinese and international companies who are cooperating in specific sectors. " For Westport, he expected the products that its joint ventures in China have manufactured would not only serve the Chinese market, but also the Asian and global markets. "As such many of the companies we currently think of as Chinese will become global players in the many industries and sectors in which they operate."
BUCHAREST, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here on Sunday to start his official visit to Romania after he concluded a visit to Hungary. In a written statement upon his arrival at the airport, Xi said China and Romania have enjoyed long-term friendship, and they have enhanced political trust, cooperation in various areas, and coordination in dealing with international affairs since they forged diplomatic ties six decades ago. Noting that the Chinese government values relations with Romania, Xi said his visit was to cement traditional friendship and reciprocal cooperation by taking the chance of 60th anniversary of bilateral ties. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (1st R) arrives in Bucharest for an official visit to Romania on Oct. 18, 2009 "I expect to exchange views with the Hungarian leaders on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern," he said. He also voiced his belief that the visit would promote traditional friendship and push forward the comprehensive, friendly and cooperative partnership with Romania. Romania is the last leg of Xi's five-nation European tour. He already visited Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary.
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BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday met with visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, hailing fresh development of bilateral relationship and vowing closer collaboration. "Russia is one of the top agenda on China's diplomacy as we pay much attention to relations with Russia," Hu told Putin in their half an hour meeting in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Hu said this year was significant for China-Russia relations as both countries celebrated their 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Russia was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with China, days after the People's Republic of China was founded on Oct. 1, 1949. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 14, 2009. As an important milestone in deepening relations, both countries established strategic partnership of coordination in 1996. Hu said this partnership had reaped substantive benefits to both peoples and worked for the world peace, stability and prosperity. He underscored the mutual support both countries offered to each other on issues concerning their core interest and close coordination and cooperation on international and regional affairs. "China would like to work more closely with Russia to enhance political trust and strategic coordination," Hu said. Chinese President particularly called for both countries to boost cooperation in energy, high-tech and culture. "Let's work together to take strategic partnership of coordination to a higher level," Hu said. Putin said his China visit was very successful, marking "an important step forward" in bilateral cooperation. He said close exchanges between leaders of both nations contributed a lot to bilateral relations, which witnessed rapid progress in trade, energy and culture. Putin said the "Year of Russian Language" went on well in China and looked forward to the "Year of Chinese language" in Russia next year. During the "Year of Russian Language" in China, the two nations held more than 200 cultural exchange activities in about 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China. Putin said he was satisfied with Russia's ties with China and would like to advance the relations. On Tuesday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for Putin, who is on his first official visit to China since taking office in May 2008. They held closed-door talks and witnessed the signing of 12 agreements, including the agreements on natural gas and oil.
BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday called for efforts to intensify energy conservation, emission reduction and environmental protection to ensure clean, safe and sustainable development. Li made the comment at a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, urging efforts on development of green industry and sustainable economy. He said environmental protection should be strengthened as the environmental problems in China are still severe, such as the water, air and soil pollution. Li said China's economy is still at a critical moment as it begins to recover steadily. It is also a crucial time for its economic structure adjustment, he added. He said the government should maintain sustainable and stable macroeconomic policies
PITTSBURGH, United States, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday called on world leaders to make every effort to promote global economic growth and a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable socioeconomic development. In a speech at the Group of 20 (G-20) economic summit in Pittsburgh, Hu said the world economy has seen positive signs since the two G-20 summits held in Washington in November and in London in April. "The international community's confidence has strengthened, financial markets have moved toward stability and the world economy has seen positive signs," the Chinese president said. Hu warned that the foundation of an economic recovery is not yet solid, and that many uncertainties remain. "A primary task at present," he said, "is to counter the international financial crisis and promote a healthy world economic recovery." Chinese President Hu Jintao (R5 Front) poses for photos with other participants during the Group of 20 (G20) Financial Summit in Pittsburgh of the U.S., Sept. 25, 2009Hu called for more efforts be made in the following three areas: -- First, to stand firm in commitment to stimulating economic growth: "All countries should keep up the intensity of their economic stimulus plans," he said. Both developed and developing countries should take more solid and effective measures and make a greater effort to boost consumption and expand domestic demand, he said. "Major reserve currency issuing countries should take into account and balance the implications of their monetary policies for both their own economies and the world," Hu said. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R Front) talks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L Front) during the Group of 20 (G20) Financial Summit in Pittsburgh of the U.S., Sept. 25, 2009-- Second, to stand firm in commitment to advancing reform of the international financial system: "We should follow through on the timetable and the roadmap agreed upon at the London summit, increase the representation and voice of developing countries and push for substantive progress in the reform," the Chinese president said. He urged world leaders to improve the existing decision-making process and mechanism in international financial institutions, and encourage more extensive and effective participation of all parties. "We should move forward the reform of the international financial supervisory and regulatory regime," Hu said. -- Third, to stand firm in commitment to promoting balanced growth of the global economy: The global economic imbalances include gaps between savings and consumption, and imports and exports in some countries. But more importantly, he said, it manifests itself in the imbalances in global wealth distribution, resource availability and consumption and the international monetary system. "The root cause, however, is the yawning development gap between the North and the South," Hu said. He called on world leaders to build up international institutions that promote balanced development. "We should scale up input in development in diverse forms ... We should value the important role of technological cooperation in promoting balanced development, reduce man-made barriers to technology transfer, and create an enabling environment for developing countries to narrow the development gap," Hu said. The Chinese leader said his country has attached great importance to comprehensive, balanced and sustainable socioeconomic growth, and has mainly relied on expanding domestic demand, in mitigating the impact of the international financial crisis. "In the first half of this year, despite the drastic contraction in overseas demand, China's GDP managed to grow by 7 percent year-on-year," he said. Hu said that China has taken an active role in international development cooperation, and has been actively engaged in international cooperation to tackle the crisis since it broke out. He said China will follow through on its assistance pledges and measures in a responsible manner, and within its capabilities offer more help to developing countries, particularly the least developed nations in Africa. "I am confident that with the concerted efforts of the entire international community, we will prevail over this international financial crisis and usher in a more prosperous future for the world economy," he said. Leaders from the Group of 20 gathered in Pittsburgh on Thursday and Friday to discuss ways to promote a recovery from the world economic and financial crisis.