BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese political advisor said here Thursday that it was "groundless" that some foreign media reports alleged China had hidden part of defense budget.Jia Yong, a member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks when commenting on some foreign media reports that part of China's military expenditure might have gone hidden as the country's defense budget growth slowed to 7.5 percent this year.Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing annual session of the CPPCC National Committee, the top political advisory body, Jia called such reports were merely meant to draw more attention.China publishes the national defense white paper every two years, which is more detailed in military expenditure than many other countries, Jia said.The per capita defense budget of China is the lowest among the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and the country has dispatched the most servicemen and police officers for peacekeeping missions, Jia said.The Chinese government revealed last week that the country plans to increase its defense budget by 7.5 percent in 2010, compared with last year's 14.9 percent, to 532.115 billion yuan (about 78 billion U.S. dollars).
URUMUQI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A severe sandstorm hit Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture in northwest China on Friday, reducing visibility to zero in some areas, local meteorological observatory said.The fierce sandstorm swept through the prefecture from west to east in the morning, said a spokesman with Hotan's meteorological observatory.The sandstorm, though reducing in severity, would continue to plague the area till March 16, leading to a temperature drop of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, he added.The sandstorm had affected local traffic and agriculture, according to a statement from the Hotan government.
BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao mainly focused on domestic issues and challenges during his second annual online chat here Saturday with the public, in which he described 2010 as "the most complicated year" for the country.In the two-hour live webcast, Wen answered more than 20 questions, touching on the country's severe employment situation, fledgling economic recovery, soaring housing prices, inflation, corruption, and a cross-Strait economic pact. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) chats on-line with netizens at two state news portals in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 27, 2010. The two major portals, namely www.gov.cn of the central government, and www.xinhuanet.com of Xinhua News Agency, jointly interviewed Premier Wen on Saturday with chosen questions raised by netizensWen did not touch much on major international issues, except trade conflicts with the United States. The Premier vowed the country would keep open to the outside world when mentioning the up-coming Shanghai World Expo.In a white shirt and a dark jacket, Wen answered questions with "frankness and sincerity" as netizens described. Some scrupulous watchers even posted messages, saying that "He dressed exactly the same as in last year's online chat," which was also ahead of the country's annual Parliament session.In his opening remark, Wen said, "I do not feel so nervous this time, but still cherish this opportunity, as such kind of opportunities remain limited." Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao chats on-line with netizens at two state news portals in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 27, 2010. The two major portals, namely www.gov.cn of the central government, and www.xinhuanet.com of Xinhua News Agency, jointly interviewed Premier Wen on Saturday with chosen questions raised by netizens"The problems of public concern often keep me up night after night, searching for solutions," he said.Noticing that both netizens' questions and premier's remarks focused on domestic issues in this high-profile event, observers said the phenomenon may exactly illustrate that China was still a developing country with numerous thorny issues of its own.The chat seems to support the belief of Chinese leaders that the country's most pressing task is to address domestic issues, they said.Wen did not talk too much about the widely concerned international affairs, such as climate change or the relations with neighboring countries.Prof. Zheng Yongnian, director of East Asia Institute of National University of Singapore said, "it is reasonable that China is paying more attention to domestic issues, as China's handling of domestic issues, if properly, is itself a contribution to the international society."The adroit handling of domestic issues is the foundation for China to hold other responsibilities in the international society, " he added.
BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Principled consensus was reached between China, European Union Naval Force, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), China's Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.The consensus, outlining the shipping escort cooperation based on "areas of responsibility" in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), was approved Thursday at the the plenary meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia in New York, said a statement from the ministry.Previously, China had suggested cooperation be based on "areas of responsibility" under the UN Security Council resolutions while EU, NATO and CMF proposed coordination guidelines of the IRTC.China and the three parties conducted rounds of consultations at the contact group meeting, international coordination meeting in Beijing and the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) system meeting in Bahrain.The final principled consensus absorbed components of "areas of responsibility" in escort missions cooperation and the coordination guidelines of IRTC, showcasing concerted effort by all parties.China always takes a positive and open attitude towards international cooperation on shipping escorts, and would like to cooperate with countries and organizations in line with UN Security Council resolutions for peace and stability in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia waters, said the statement.
JINAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese vocational school blamed for staging cyber attacks on Google and other firms said Saturday the allegations are unfounded."Investigation in the staff found no trace the attacks originated from our school," Li Zixiang, Party chief at Lanxiang Vocational School in Shandong Province, told Xinhua.Students of Lanxiang are still in their winter vacation, Li said.He said Lanxiang has no relationship and does not cooperate with the military, adding that school authorities do not have military backing.He also dismissed the suggestion of involvement of a "specific computer science class" taught by a Ukrainian professor."There is no Ukrainian teacher in the school and we have never employed any foreign staff," Li confirmed."The report was unfounded. Please show the evidence," he said.Li's remarks came after the New York Times reported Thursday cyber attacks on Google and other American firms have been traced to Shanghai Jiaotong University and Lanxiang Vocational School, which the report alleged has ties to the Chinese military.The report, citing unidentified investigators, said there is evidence suggesting a link between the attacks and a computer science class at Lanxiang taught by a Ukrainian professor.Lanxiang, founded in 1984, has about 20,000 students learning vocational skills such as cooking, auto repair and hairdressing.The computer science class offers basic courses about Photoshop, 3D drawing and Word -- not software engineering."It was not until 2006 that our graduates began to join the army. So far, 38 students have been recruited by the military for their talent in auto repair, cooking and electric welding," said Zhou Hui, director of the school's general office, who stressed it is natural for someone to join the army at a proper age.No comment was available from Shanghai's Jiaotong University.Google said on Jan. 12 it might pull out of the Chinese market, citing disagreement with government policies and unidentified attacks targeting Google's services in China.
BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Thursday urged for pushing forward mainland-Taiwan relations steadily, saying the two sides are facing a grand opportunity for the development of ties.Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the call when attending a panel discussion of the annual session of the National People's Congress."The relations across the Taiwan Strait saw comprehensive improvement and development over the past year, and we are now facing a grand opportunity to develop the ties," Jia told NPC deputies of the delegation representing Taiwan."It's imperative to do well the work concerning Taiwan in a concrete and effective manner and steadily push forward cross-Strait relations," Jia said."We must stick to the principle that the mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China, consolidate the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and strengthen political trust between the two sides," Jia said.Jia, also Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also urged the two sides to deepen their economic cooperation and establish a long-term mechanism for mutual development and benefit.Cultural and educational exchanges should be vigorously promoted to deepen the sense of national and cultural identity between compatriots across the strait, Jia said.
南京做抽脂隆胸多少钱
BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China and Switzerland held their first study meeting on the feasibility of a Free Trade Area (FTA) in Beijing on Thursday, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement on its website.The meeting will continue until Friday, the department of international trade and economic affairs of the MOC told Xinhua.According to MOC statistics, bilateral trade between China and Switzerland topped 11.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2008.Although the two-way trade volume dropped slightly on account of the global economic downturn in 2009, the decline rate was small.Official figures also show that Switzerland is China's ninth largest European trade partner, while China is Switzerland's fourth largest global trade partner.
BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers from across the country have gathered in Beijing for the upcoming Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC).NPC deputies from central China's Henan Province arrived in Beijing by train at about 6 p.m. Tuesday, becoming the last group to reach the country's capital city for the annual parliament session, which is scheduled to begin Friday.Aside from reviewing the government's work report for last year, voting on the central and local governments' draft budgets for 2010, discussing an amendment to the Electoral Law and mapping out this year's development blueprint, the lawmakers will also take part in three rounds of online dialogues with the public.The three online dialogues would be held on March 5, March 11, and March 12, respectively.The lawmakers would be joined by officials from the Ministry of Health, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate during the online dialogues.The NPC session's press center has begun soliciting questions for the three dialogues on the NPC's website, as well as from a dozen of popular news portals, including Xinhuanet, on Tuesday.
ULAN BATOR, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Aid materials provided by the Chinese government arrived on Monday to help Mongolians cope with the worst snowstorms the country has ever seen in three decades.The aid, worth 10 million yuan (1.46 million U.S. dollars), includes food, portable power generators and quilts.At a handover ceremony at the airport, Enkhbold Miyegombo, deputy prime minister of Mongolia and head of the State Emergency Commission, said the timely support was an embodiment of brotherhood between China and Mongolia.Chinese Ambassador Yu Hongyao said he was confident that Mongolians would overcome the disaster with the leadership of the Mongolian government.The Red Cross Society of China has also announced a donation of 30,000 dollars to Mongolia, Yu said.Snowstorms across Mongolia have left over 1.5 million head of cattle dead, dealing a heavy blow to the country's farming industry.
URUMQI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang has revealed that the government is preparing measures to boost the economic and social development of the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a four-day inspection to the region that ended on Sunday.Zhou mingled with local cadres, teachers and residents when visiting Kashi Prefecture, Urumqi, the regional capital, and Shihezi City. He stressed the issues of housing, education and employment should be appropriately resolved to ensure social harmony. Zhou Yongkang (R Front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chats with residents in Kashi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 25, 2010. Zhou made an inspection tour in Xinjiang on Feb. 25-28.He told two separate symposiums in Kashi and Urumqi that the CPC Central Committee would hold a meeting in the first half of this year, at which major decisions would be made to boost Xinjiang's development and enhance its stability.Zhou said development should benefit people of all ethnic groups in the region.