CANBERRA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd here Saturday, and the two leaders pledged to combat the financial crisis and further develop bilateral ties. After conveying greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Rudd, Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, expressed sympathy to Australia for the recent bushfires and floods. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (1st R) meets with Li Changchun (1st L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, in Canberra, capital of Australia, March 21, 2009On bilateral ties, Li proposed both countries keep high-level exchanges and he welcomed Rudd and other Australian leaders to visit China. He suggested the two countries expand economic cooperation on the basis of mutual benefits. "Proceeding from the fundamental interests of our development, our two countries should promote energy and resources enterprises to forge long-term strategic cooperative relations," he said. He also urged the two sides to steadily advance negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement in line with active, pragmatic, balanced and mutually beneficial principles. Australia is a major destination for Chinese overseas students and tourists. Li pledged to strengthen bilateral cultural links between the two peoples. He welcomed the Australian side to participate in the World Expo due to be held in Shanghai in 2010. Both China and Australia are important countries in the region.Li suggested both countries maintain close consultation on such major matters as combating the financial crisis and coping with climate change. Li Changchun (L Front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visits the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, capital of Australia, March 21, 2009The Group of 20 London Summit will be due in early April. Rudd told Li that he anticipated meeting again with Chinese President Hu Jintao during the summit. The close contacts between the leaders of the two countries have promoted the growth of bilateral ties and the expanding common interests have opened broad prospects for bilateral cooperation in all areas, he said. He also spoke highly of the stimulus measures adopted by China after the financial crisis. He said that the role of G20 should be given full play for accumulating a consensus for addressing the current financial and economic problems. On the reform of the international financial system, emerging countries should increase their say and decision-making rights, he said. Also on Saturday, Li visited the National Portrait Museum and National Museum of Australia. Li arrived in Australia on Friday. Australia is the first-leg of Li's four-nation tour which will also take him to Myanmar, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
TOKYO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), urged Japan to properly view China's development and continuously enhance strategic trust between the two countries here Monday. Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso Monday. Li Changchun (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo, on March 30, 2009. Li Changchun arrived in Tokyo to kick off his official goodwill visit Sunday. Li conveyed greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Aso. Aso said he expected to meet with Hu in the upcoming Group of 20 Financial Summit, due to be held in London on April 2, and asked Li to transfer his greetings to Wen. Li Changchun (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Japanese Prime Minister and chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Taro Aso in Tokyo, Japan, on March 30, 2009.Leaders of China and Japan had six meetings on bilateral and multi-lateral occasions last year, during which the two sides have reached broad agreement on promoting China-Japan strategic relations of mutual benefits in an all-round way, Li said. "Sino-Japanese relations now stands in a new historic point and faces an important opportunity to go further ahead," Li said. To further push forward such good growth momentum, Li called on both sides to maintain the political basis of bilateral ties. "The four political documents guiding the bilateral ties have crystallized the important consensus of leaders in the past decades and should be strictly observed and earnestly cherished," he said. Both should concretely push forward economic cooperation, in particular in energy, energy-saving, environmental protection and finance areas for giving new impetus to the growth of China-Japan ties, he said. He also urged Japan to properly handle the major sensitive issues and accidental events between China and Japan so that these won't interfere in the overall situation of bilateral ties. People-to-people communication, Li said, should also be strengthened to lay solid foundation of mutual friendship. Political parties of China and Japan, ruling parties in particular, should contribute more to the growth of China-Japan relations, he said. Financial crisis and measures to combat its adverse effects was an important topic during the meeting. "The Chinese economy is inter-linked with the global economy. The measures taken by the Chinese government to ensure economic growth also provide new opportunities for other countries, including Japan," Li said. He hoped China and Japan to open a new cooperative era by jointly overcoming the current difficulties and contributing to the recovery of the world economy. The spreading financial crisis has offered new chances for Japan and China to carry out higher-level cooperation, the Japanese Prime Minister said. The active measures adopted by China to stimulate its domestic demand are of significance for the recovery of the world economy, he said, adding that Japan was willing to enhance cooperation with China on the reform of international financial system and other regional and global issues. Aso said the frequent high-level exchanges have quickened the paces for the improvement of bilateral ties and promoted the mutually beneficial cooperation. He also highly spoke of the various events held last year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Li is the highest-ranking official who visits Japan this year. Besides Prime Minister Aso, he also met with leaders of political parties and senior executives of the Japanese business community.
BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Another Chinese delegation of businesses and industry leaders, led by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), left for four European countries Saturday for investment and economic cooperation, the MOC said. The business delegation, following purchases totaled more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in Europe by a Chinese procurement delegation in late February, are heading for the same destinations of Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Britain. The new delegation will explore investment opportunities on areas of automobile, machinery, textile, food, electronics and technologies relating to energy saving and environment protection. An MOC official said "the move would further strengthen cooperation between Chin and Europe and create a win-win result in tackling the global economic downturn." The delegation are composed of more than 20 top Chinese companies, as well as several national trade associations and government officials.
ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The World Water Council (WWC) is ready for China's membership, WWC President Loic Fauchon said here Saturday evening. During his meeting with Chinese Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei on the sideline of the 5th World Water Forum, Fauchon said he welcomes China to "the WWC family," and "we are ready to sign the agreement" which just need a few days to finalize the details of the pact. "We need your experience and your tradition, It will be a nice relation," he added. Chen said China is willing to participate WWC activities and China will shoulder the obligation and responsibility when it becomes a member. Chen invited the president to visit Beijing. Fauchon said he is glad to visit the Chinese capital in May or June, when the both sides are expected to ink the pact. WWC, created by a number of key water institutions in 1996, unites over 300 member organizations from more than 60 countries. It is an international multi-stakeholder platform "to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels."
NANJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Vice Premier Wang Qishan said on Monday that the country should take advantage of the rare opportunity to expand the outsourcing industry. The State Council has identified 20 pilot cities to take part in a program that offers perks to businesses that opt to participate in outsourcing. The program will help ensure economic growth, industry restructuring and the job promotion -- notably for the college graduates, according to Wang in an industry meeting held on Monday in the east city of Nanjing. The government would offer more support in tax breaks, financing, and vocational training, Wang said. The Vice Premier noted it was important to nurture China's outsourcing industry, and local governments should create sound legal conditions to pave the way for the industry expansion. Twenty cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Suzhou and Hangzhou, have been designated for pilot service outsourcing programs. Beginning Jan. 1, these companies are eligible for tax breaks, financial support, subsidies and intellectual property rights protection, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Monday. More multinational companies and financial institutions, hard hit by the global financial crisis outsource their business to less costly regions. This creates an opportunity for Chinese outsourcing companies, said vice minister of MOC Ma Xiuhong. McKinsey, the New York based consultancy, said in a report last month that China posted rapid growth in the business but was lagged behind India, whose market value was nine times that of China. The report said that despite the challenges, China still had potential to become the main outsourcing destination in the future.
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BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping urged efforts from the country's Party leaders to improve their political integrity and competence. Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks Sunday at the opening ceremony of the spring session of the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC. Xi, also president of the school, said the Party and the people were the keys to coping with the impact of the global financial crisis, maintaining steady and relatively fast economic growth and safeguarding social stability and harmony. He asked Party leaders to abide by disciplines and identify themselves with the CPC Central Committee both spiritually, politically and in action. He also urged officials to improve their ability in driving forward the country's scientific development. He called on leaders to be more innovative, enhance their ability to find talent and pool them together in the causes of the Party and the country. Officials were also asked to scientifically forecast and take preparatory measures in the face of possible risks. The officials should improve their ability in safeguarding social stability, and be able to settle disputes and conflicts in a timely and appropriate manner, he said. The officials should also be able to get along with the media, and to effectively channel public opinions, said Xi.
SHENYANG, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A senior Party official on Tuesday called for all-out efforts to safeguard fairness, justice and social stability, through improving the political and legal work and developing the law-enforcement sector. Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks at a workshop on political and legal work and safeguarding stability in northeast China, held in Shenyang, the capital of northeastern Liaoning Province. Zhou, who also heads the Central Political Science and Law Commission (CPSLC) of the CPC, made an inspection tour of the three northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning from Feb. 11-16 and attended the workshop on Wednesday. The senior Party official urged local authorities, political and legal departments in particular, to implement central government's policies and integrate their efforts to safeguard social stability with efforts to achieve economic development. "Social stability relies on economic development," he said. Zhou told local authorities to conduct an assessment on social risks before deciding on a new policy. Officials should visit communities and villages to hear complaints from the people and learn about people's will, so as to resolve contradictions and disputes at the grassroots level, he said. The official urged leading officials and law-enforcers to play a role in protecting the dignity and authority of socialist legal system. "Every citizen must express their will and protect their rights in a reasonable and lawful way, so as to jointly safeguard the general stable situation of reforms and development," he said. Law-enforcement must always give top priority to the Party's cause, the people's rights and interests, and the Constitution and law, Zhou said. He urged law-enforcers to be a guard for the safety of people's life and properties as well as social fairness and justice. The workshop was presided by Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu, who is also a state councilor and deputy secretary of the CPSLC. Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People's Court, also spoke at the workshop.
BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China should speed up reforming its financial system to make the yuan an international currency, said political advisors Saturday. "A significant inspiration to draw from the global financial crisis is that we must play an active role in the reconstruction of the international financial order," said Peter Kwong Ching Woo, chairman of the Hong Kong-based Wharf (Holdings) Limited. The key to financial reform is to make the yuan an international currency, said Woo in a speech to the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body. That means using the Chinese currency to settle international trade payments, allowing the yuan freely convertible on the capital account and making it an international reserve currency, he said. China's yuan, or Renminbi, can be freely convertible on the current account but not on the capital account, preventing it from being a reserve currency or a choice in international trade settlement. China has announced trial programs to settle trade in the yuan, a move analysts say will facilitate foreign trade as Chinese exporters might face losses if they continue to be paid in the U.S. dollar. The dollar's exchange rate has become more volatile since the global financial crisis. Economists say the move will increase the acceptance of the currency in Asia, which will help it become an international currency in the long run. The status of the yuan as an international currency will benefit China by giving it a bigger say in world financial issues and reducing the reliance of its huge foreign reserves on the U.S. dollar, some analysts say. Other analysts argue a fully convertible yuan will hurt China as it would allow massive capital outflow during a financial crisis. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities remain cautious. It's possible that the global financial crisis will facilitate the process of making the yuan internationally accepted, but there's no need to push for that, Yi Gang, vice central bank governor, told Xinhua earlier this month. That process should be conducive to all sides, he said. Xu Shanda, former vice director of the State Administration of Taxation and a CPPCC National Committee member, urged for faster paces in making the yuan an international currency as a way of increasing national wealth. He said the United States and the European Union have obtained hefty royalties from the international use of their currencies while China has become the biggest source of that income. A royalty, or seignior age, results from the difference between the cost of printing currency and the face value of the money. "China's loss due to royalty payment has far exceeded the benefit of not making the yuan an international currency," he said in a speech to the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee, without elaborating. China's State Council, or Cabinet, said last December it would allow the yuan to be used for settlement between the country's two economic powerhouses -- Guangdong Province and the Yangtze River Delta -- and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Meanwhile, exporters in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province will be allowed to use Renminbi to settle trade payments with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members.
BERLIN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese business delegation, led by Commerce Minister Chen Deming, signed here on Wednesday a total of 37 procurement deals worth around 11 billion euros (14 billion U.S. dollars) with German companies. According to Chen, the 37 deals are composed of two parts -- purchasing contracts, and cooperation agreements which need further negotiations. The deals focus on engineering equipment, electronics and auto vehicles like Mercedes and BMW, Chen told a press conference. A draft deal obtained by Xinhua showed that the Chinese side agreed to buy around 37,000 BMW cars and Mini worth 2.2 billion U.S. dollars, as well as 27,000 units of Mercedes cars. Chen revealed that apart from the current 200-member delegation, China would send more entrepreneurs to Germany to discuss further investment in both countries. Germany is one of China's important trading partners within the European Union (EU). In 2008, the Sino-German trade hit 115 billion U.S. dollars. Despite the world economic crisis, China and Germany have vowed to maintain the trade volume unchanged this year. Prior to the deal-signing ceremony, more than 450 Chinese and German business representatives attended a forum on exploring cooperation opportunities. Chen and German Economic Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg condemned trade protectionism that has cropped out amid the global economic crisis. Chen said the procurement deals reflect China's sincere objection to trade protectionism, adding that opening the market is the proper approach to address the global economic recession. Guttenberg lauded China's procurement, and joined Chen to slap trade protectionism. The 37-year-old minister said Germany and China are top two exporters in the world, noting that trade protectionism is a "wrong answer" to the current global financial crisis. Germany and China should join hands to facilitate the Doha round talks, he added. Later on Wednesday, the Chinese delegation, composed of over 200 business representatives, flew to Zurich of Switzerland to continue their procurement tour.