BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has vowed the Chinese people will, as always, work together with the international community to promote healthy development of the human rights cause in the world. Hu made the remarks in a letter to the China Society for Human Rights Studies on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the publication of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He said China will strengthen international cooperation, as it has always done, in the human rights field to make its due contribution to the building of a harmonious world featuring lasting peace and common prosperity. China, however, will base its human rights development on the basic situation of the country while acknowledging the universal value of human rights, Hu said in the letter. The country will prioritize people's rights to existence and development in its socialist modernization drive and ensure, in accordance with law, the equal rights to participation and development of all society members, Hu said, stressing the principle of "people first". Citing the enshrinement of human rights in the Constitution, Hu said the country has recorded a new chapter of human rights development since the founding of New China and especially since the reform and opening-up 30 years ago, which has been witnessed by the whole world.
BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Two TV rivals should have locked horns on Lunar New Year's Eve, but the alternative to the traditional China Central Television (CCTV) New Year gala, the "Shanzhai" show was just not available for most people in China. Lao Meng, a Beijing-based wedding photographer who initiated a homemade gala focusing on performances by ordinary people, made the "Shanzhai" show - an "alternative" pastiche of CCTV's traditional gala. He called it "a real show by and for ordinary people." The "Shanzhai" show which had claimed to be for college students and migrant workers who could not return home for the holiday, turned out to be only available on the Macao Asia Satellite TV (MASTV) and its website. Most families in the country cannot get satellite TV channels, and the MASTV website page could not be opened from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., when the show was on. Lao Meng told Xinhua he did not know why, "maybe too many people were logging on to the website." Lao Meng also said the show on MASTV was actually a recorded broadcast. Unlike all CCTV gala's performers who performed live, Lao Meng and his performers were having a party to celebrate their "Shanzhai" gala in an indoor hall in Beijing on New Year's Eve. Chen Jun, a magazine editor in Shanghai, said he was disappointed to not have access to the "Shanzhai" show. "It was much all mouth and no trousers. I think it has let many people down," Chen said. The "Shanzhai" gala had won wide support on the Internet and much media attention from home and abroad, as it claimed to make a show for common people and to challenge CCTV's gala.
BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has set a frugal tone for its once-for-a-decade dress parade on Oct. 1 amid an economic downturn, promising that the military could strike a balance between morale-boosting spectacle and financial prudence. Colonel Cai Huailie with the headquarters of the general staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed a rumor that the parade showcasing China's latest military achievement will be conducted in an economical way. "Chinese military forces have a tradition of fulfilling large causes by spending less money," Senior Colonel Chen Zhou, an expert with the PLA's Military Science Academy, said in an online communication with netizens on eve of China's Spring Festival. "We could see that the parade on National Day would be solemn and cost-effective," said Chen who has participated in drafting China's national defense white paper six times. A number of netizens also questioned whether China would shrink its defense spending since the financial crisis has already cut the budgets of numerous enterprises and directly impacts the country's export-oriented companies. Colonel Wen Bing, a researcher with the academy, said although China has raised it defense spending thanks to annual growing revenue, it has never gone beyond endurable economy. Wen also revealed that the defense budget has been made according to China's laws and it will be submitted for approval to the annual session of National People's Congress, the top legislature, in March. The third of its kind since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy three decades ago, the dress parade of the Chinese armed forces under the command of President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Hu Jintao will display home-grown on-duty weapon systems of all the services. In the last two parades, in 1984 and 1999, late leader Deng Xiaoping and former President Jiang Zemin reviewed troops representing millions of service people. Such parades were frequent before 1984, with 11 parades in the 11 years after the PRC was founded on Oct. 1, 1949. It was suspended after 1959 until 1984 when Deng decided to resume the pageantry to rouse the nation on the track toward a liberalized economy. The last parade on Oct. 1, 1999 involved more than 11,000 military staff, 400 combat vehicles and 132 aircraft. The servicemen trained for the synchronized marches and hailing slogans for about 10 months. It is reported that the total cost of that parade will be kept at less than 300 million yuan (44.1 million U.S. dollars) and overseas rumors said it could be as many as 16 billion yuan. The PLA's Navy has made impressive progress since its foundation in 1949. It has just sent three warships to the Gulf of Aden for an escort mission against piracy. Although the Defense Ministry has not confirmed whether the dress parade will include a naval performance in China's waters, Colonel Cai said that there will be new weapons and equipment that have not been unveiled to the public since 1999. Before the official announcement of the parade, an online debate on www.huanqiu.com about whether the government should hold a magnificent parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of founding of the People's Republic of China had shown that more than 85 percent of the netizens voted yes. But it has not yet muted voices suggesting the authorities reconsider the parade. "China has many fields that need capital investment after the major earthquake in Wenchuan. The government should use the taxpayers' money in more important and practical undertakings rather than parade," a netizen named "tomato boy" said. "Military parades are an outcome of the cold war. Our weapons are modern and powerful, but we are not in any cold war," a netizen "a common man" said. But those who overwhelmingly support the parade agree that the parade will bring encouragement to overcome difficulties amid economic downturn. Dong Hongda, a senior online poster on www.xinhua.org, has worked out proposals on how to make the parade more cost-effective. First, the government should control the parade in a proper scale by cutting the number of marching soldiers to a number that represents the quality of the PLA's elite. Second, take out the female militia procession, since they are garish and dispensable part for the parade. Third, reduce the duration of the training for the parade, since a large proportion of the parade expense will be spent in selecting the soldiers and training them, Dong said.
CHENGDU, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met on Sunday with leaders of Slovenia, Laos and Sri Lanka who are here to attend the Ninth Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, also known as West China Expo. Li said he welcomed the three countries' leaders to attend the expo that will open on Monday in Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Slovenian President Danilo Turk in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 26, 2008. Danilo Turk was here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, scheduled to be held on Oct. 27.He also thanked the governments and people of the three countries for their aid to China after the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake and their support for the Beijing Olympic Games. When meeting Slovenian President Danilo Turk, Li said China would continue to promote the opening-up and development of the western area. Slovenia is welcome to make use of its own advantages and expand cooperation with China's vast western area, he added. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 26, 2008. Bouasone Bouphavanh was here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, scheduled to be held on Oct. 27.The West China Expo is an important platform for China to enhance international economic and trade cooperation, Li said when talking with Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh. It is hoped that the expo would promote the trade between China and Laos, Li said. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 26, 2008. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, scheduled to be held on Oct. 27The premier said he hoped the two sides could deepen the cooperation in such fields as trade, investment and infrastructure when he met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. The three foreign leaders all said they would like to further promote relations with China.
乌鲁木齐黄褐斑治
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao waves to the construction workers during his visit to a water dam construction site in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Dec. 21, 2008. During his trip, Wen visited a number of local factories, communities, villages and worksites. CHONGQING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao has called it a prime job to maintain a stable and relatively fast economic development and take more direct, powerful and effective measures to implement central policies on increasing domestic demands and promoting economic growth in a substantial way. "Next year, it is the important target to stop the declining trend of economic growth and it is a must to focus on increasing domestic demands so as to promote economic growth," said the premier during an inspection tour in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from Dec. 21 to 22. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao waves to college students of Chongqing University in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Dec. 22, 2008. During his trip, Wen visited a number of local factories, communities, villages and worksites. During his trip, Wen visited a number of local factories, communities, villages and worksites, with the company of Chongqing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai and Mayor Wang Hongju. In his talks with local people, Wen discussed ways to get over the current financial difficulties and speed up reform and development in Chongqing. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds a talk with locals in a village of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Dec. 21, 2008 In a visit to the reservoir worksite, Wen was told that Chongqing plans to invest 40 billion yuan (5.88 billion U.S. dollars) in water conservation projects in the coming five years as part of its efforts to increase domestic demand and improve the quality of life. "We must make a good use of every coin of the people," he said. At a workshop of the Chang'an Group, the premier showed great concerns over the negative impacts of the global financial crisis on the city's automobile industry. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sits in a car produced by the Chang'an Group in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Dec. 21, 2008 The company's car sales have been declining since November. It is expected to further decrease in December and the first quarter of next year, said the company's president Xu Liuping. "We must brave the difficulties by ourselves, but we also need government support," Xu said. Wen said that difficulties in the country's automobile industry are temporary as it a promising industry, because "China has a huge market." Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits a factory in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Dec. 21, 2008. Wen urged the company to depend on innovation and reform while improving quality and decreasing the cost. "Company leaders must be bold to shoulder responsibilities and the staff should unite as one, to get over the difficulties together," he said. On Monday morning, the premier paid a visit to a communal social security center to learn about the life of low-income families. "The more financially challenged we are, the greater attention we should pay to those in need," he stressed. At the home of 76-year-old Ren Guoqing, the premier said the government has decided to continue increasing the pension of retirees, as well as the subsidiaries for low-income families and other families who receive government subsidies. During his tour in the city, Wen paid an unplanned visit to Chongqing University, where he met thousands of students and encouraged them to be confident in the difficult times.
LONDON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Airbus and Xi'an Aircraft Industry Company (XAC) signed a cooperation agreement here on Monday to have the A320 Family wing "fully completed and tested" in China. The agreement signed by Brian Fleet, Airbus senior vice president, and Meng Xiangkai, president of XAC, in London, in the presence of the visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his British counterpart Gordon Brown. According to this fourth phase of the agreement, the wing equipping and testing will be done in Tianjin in a facility to be newly built close to the A320 FALC by XAC, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC). The fully equipped and tested wings will be directly delivered to the nearby Final Assembly Line. The wing box structures assembled by XAC in China are now completed at Airbus' Broughton site, before being transported to the Final Assembly Line in China. The wing equipping operations are expected to start at the end of 2009, followed by the first delivery of a fully equipped set of wings in the first quarter of 2010. "With this project, Airbus is fulfilling its support to the cooperation agreement regarding A320 China wing manufacture," said Fleet. He said that having this facility close to the FALC is the most efficient industrial solution which will save transportation costs, reduce lead-time and risks in handling, and ensures quicker response time to our customers. Meng said that "I am confident that we will also be successful with this fourth phase, after successes in the first three phases."
BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government vowed to beef up vocational training for migrant workers, college graduates and laid-off workers, who were badly hit by the global financial crisis, to help them land jobs, according to a joint circular issued by three ministries. Local government should offer the migrant workers necessary training to help them find jobs in the railway and infrastructure construction, power sector and rebuilding of the quake-hit areas, according to the joint circular issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Vocational schools and technical training institutions should enhance training for people who were affected by the crisis, and work out programs to help them find new jobs, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Sunday. China's urban unemployment rate was 4.2 percent at the end of 2008, up 0.2 percentage points year on year, according to official figures.