The Sichuan-Tibet highway in southwest China re-opened to traffic at 11:10 a.m. on Wednesday after 94hours of repairs.
Small vehicles could travel easily on the highway, but large vehicles had to wait until the road dried, said Li Xiping, a traffic police officer in charge of the project.
Rain lashed Nyingchi Prefecture over the past two weeks, which caused a mud flow to block a river near the road linking Tibet with the neighboring Sichuan Province on Saturday.
The rising water eroded the roadbed, resulting in the collapse of a 30-meter section of the road and halting traffic.
More than 120 soldiers worked to create a new road on Tuesday, with about 50 m of the planned 100 m emergency road completed.
The rain stopped at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
August is a particularly wet month in Tibet. Rain in the mountainous region was up 30 percent in the first half of 2008 compared with normal levels, creating risks for road use and maintenance.
Source: Xinhua
Friday, September 5, 2008
Race against winter in quake zone
The country is racing against time to rebuild homes and set up temporary shelters for many of the 1.2 million people displaced by the Panzhihua earthquake.
A senior civil affairs official yesterday said reconstruction could begin only in the middle of this month, giving little time before winter sets in.
Pang Chenmin, deputy director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' disaster relief department, said: "We face a tight schedule to beat the winter cold."
The 6.1-magnitude quake rocked the mountainous Sichuan-Yunnan border region on August 30, killing 38 people and injuring 982. The epicenter of the quake was near Panzhihua city, about 550 km south of the May 12 Wenchuan quake's epicenter.
The area is mountainous, making transport a time-consuming affair. Hence, reaching construction material there poses a challenge, too.
But the quake-hit Sichuan-Yunnan border area is not short of food or clothes, Pang told a press conference, organized by the State Council Information Office. Instead, providing proper shelter before winter is "the problem".
About 532,000 houses, made mostly of wood and mud, were destroyed or damaged in the quake, leaving about 1.2 million people in urgent need of shelter, the ministry said.
The central and local governments have sent more than 42,000 tents and 33,000 quilts to the area. But, Pang conceded, they were not enough for winter.
"People there are facing two big problems: a proper shelter and enough quilts." He said the government was "making efforts" to help every family in the area build a permanent house.
Governments at all levels have announced preferential land policies and financial support, and people have offered donations to help them do so.
Pang advised some people to shift to relatives' houses elsewhere if they can. Those who cannot shift have to stay in community public houses.
And "in areas where rebuilding permanent houses immediately is difficult, people will have to spend the winter in cotton-padded tents, provided by the governments".
Premier Wen Jiabao has warned of a difficult winter for people in the quake-hit areas. On his fourth inspection tour of Dujiangyan and Qingchuan, which were hit by the devastating May 12 quake, Wen urged the entire society to donate winter clothes and bedding for the quake victims.
Source: China Daily
A senior civil affairs official yesterday said reconstruction could begin only in the middle of this month, giving little time before winter sets in.
Pang Chenmin, deputy director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' disaster relief department, said: "We face a tight schedule to beat the winter cold."
The 6.1-magnitude quake rocked the mountainous Sichuan-Yunnan border region on August 30, killing 38 people and injuring 982. The epicenter of the quake was near Panzhihua city, about 550 km south of the May 12 Wenchuan quake's epicenter.
The area is mountainous, making transport a time-consuming affair. Hence, reaching construction material there poses a challenge, too.
But the quake-hit Sichuan-Yunnan border area is not short of food or clothes, Pang told a press conference, organized by the State Council Information Office. Instead, providing proper shelter before winter is "the problem".
About 532,000 houses, made mostly of wood and mud, were destroyed or damaged in the quake, leaving about 1.2 million people in urgent need of shelter, the ministry said.
The central and local governments have sent more than 42,000 tents and 33,000 quilts to the area. But, Pang conceded, they were not enough for winter.
"People there are facing two big problems: a proper shelter and enough quilts." He said the government was "making efforts" to help every family in the area build a permanent house.
Governments at all levels have announced preferential land policies and financial support, and people have offered donations to help them do so.
Pang advised some people to shift to relatives' houses elsewhere if they can. Those who cannot shift have to stay in community public houses.
And "in areas where rebuilding permanent houses immediately is difficult, people will have to spend the winter in cotton-padded tents, provided by the governments".
Premier Wen Jiabao has warned of a difficult winter for people in the quake-hit areas. On his fourth inspection tour of Dujiangyan and Qingchuan, which were hit by the devastating May 12 quake, Wen urged the entire society to donate winter clothes and bedding for the quake victims.
Source: China Daily
Advisors call for measures to raise migrants' salaries
Political advisors yesterday called on the government to make greater efforts to raise migrant workers' salaries and ensure they have a better standard of living.
With more than 200 million such workers in cities across China, how to better protect their rights and interests has become a crucial issue, members of the country's top political advisory body said yesterday in Beijing at a meeting on achieving more balanced development between urban and rural areas.
They also called for substantial measures to be taken to provide these workers with insurance for workplace injuries, better educational opportunities for their children and more affordable housing.
Li Zhuobin, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , said migrant workers still face employment discrimination and poor access to public services.
Citing the construction industry as an example, he said migrant workers' salaries could be two-thirds or half that of their urban counterparts.
In other cases, employers refuse to hire workers without urban permanent residence permits.
"Many employers do not pay them on time," said Li.
"In sectors that hire a large number of migrant workers, such as construction, catering and entertainment, the government should be strict on implementing the salary deposit rule," he said.
The rule, introduced in May 2004 by the former Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, requires construction companies to deposit a certain amount of money in a labor department bank account. The money is used to pay migrant workers who fail to receive their due salaries.
In addition, the training of rural workers fails to fully meet employers' requirements and the public employment service's efforts to help migrant workers find jobs are inadequate, he added.
Li suggested that preferential policies to promote employment should cover both urban and rural residents.
Source: China Daily
With more than 200 million such workers in cities across China, how to better protect their rights and interests has become a crucial issue, members of the country's top political advisory body said yesterday in Beijing at a meeting on achieving more balanced development between urban and rural areas.
They also called for substantial measures to be taken to provide these workers with insurance for workplace injuries, better educational opportunities for their children and more affordable housing.
Li Zhuobin, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , said migrant workers still face employment discrimination and poor access to public services.
Citing the construction industry as an example, he said migrant workers' salaries could be two-thirds or half that of their urban counterparts.
In other cases, employers refuse to hire workers without urban permanent residence permits.
"Many employers do not pay them on time," said Li.
"In sectors that hire a large number of migrant workers, such as construction, catering and entertainment, the government should be strict on implementing the salary deposit rule," he said.
The rule, introduced in May 2004 by the former Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, requires construction companies to deposit a certain amount of money in a labor department bank account. The money is used to pay migrant workers who fail to receive their due salaries.
In addition, the training of rural workers fails to fully meet employers' requirements and the public employment service's efforts to help migrant workers find jobs are inadequate, he added.
Li suggested that preferential policies to promote employment should cover both urban and rural residents.
Source: China Daily
Man accidentally hands himself in
Zhang Tianping, whose name is on the police's most wanted list for providing technical support to an infamous software hacker, was arrested here last month, local media said yesterday.
Zhang, the boss of an IT company, went to the Chengdu police bureau accompanied by his lawyer to enquire about the penalties for intellectual property infringement, the West China Metropolis Daily reported.
"Zhang Tianping's arrest was accidental," Li Dang, a police officer said.
According to the report, Zhang and his lawyer visited the bureau on the morning of Aug 22 to ask whether or not pirating technology for a non-profitable purpose was considered a copyright infringement, Li said.
His questions brought to mind the 2003 case involving Tomatolei.com that caused ructions in the IT sector, Li said.
That year, university graduate Hong Lei launched the site that offered free downloads of Microsoft's Windows XP software, which had been modified without the firm's authorization.
Jiangsu police arrested Hong on Aug 15 after Microsoft accused him of copyright violation. Zhang's name was placed on the wanted list for providing the website with servers and other support.
Zhang was alarmed at Hong's arrest, even though his Chengdu Hongguo Science and Technology Company had not profited from the illicit downloads.
Wary of becoming involved in the case, he closed the company and disappeared.
By providing a platform for free downloads, however, Zhang's company generated hits on Tomatolei that raised its income, thus breaking the law, police said.
The website is reported to have earned more than 100,000 yuan a month from advertising.
Officers Li and Xie became suspicious when Zhang looked nervous at the mention of Tomatolei. They checked the computer and found Zhang's name on the wanted list.
Li called Jiangsu police, who were coincidentally in Chengdu searching for Zhang. The two officers then kept Zhang talking for the one hour it took Jiangsu police to arrive and arrest him.
Most computers sold on the street, and around 10 million nationwide, are installed with the modified version of Windows from Tomatolei, Su Lei, a local computer dealer said.
Source: China Daily
Zhang, the boss of an IT company, went to the Chengdu police bureau accompanied by his lawyer to enquire about the penalties for intellectual property infringement, the West China Metropolis Daily reported.
"Zhang Tianping's arrest was accidental," Li Dang, a police officer said.
According to the report, Zhang and his lawyer visited the bureau on the morning of Aug 22 to ask whether or not pirating technology for a non-profitable purpose was considered a copyright infringement, Li said.
His questions brought to mind the 2003 case involving Tomatolei.com that caused ructions in the IT sector, Li said.
That year, university graduate Hong Lei launched the site that offered free downloads of Microsoft's Windows XP software, which had been modified without the firm's authorization.
Jiangsu police arrested Hong on Aug 15 after Microsoft accused him of copyright violation. Zhang's name was placed on the wanted list for providing the website with servers and other support.
Zhang was alarmed at Hong's arrest, even though his Chengdu Hongguo Science and Technology Company had not profited from the illicit downloads.
Wary of becoming involved in the case, he closed the company and disappeared.
By providing a platform for free downloads, however, Zhang's company generated hits on Tomatolei that raised its income, thus breaking the law, police said.
The website is reported to have earned more than 100,000 yuan a month from advertising.
Officers Li and Xie became suspicious when Zhang looked nervous at the mention of Tomatolei. They checked the computer and found Zhang's name on the wanted list.
Li called Jiangsu police, who were coincidentally in Chengdu searching for Zhang. The two officers then kept Zhang talking for the one hour it took Jiangsu police to arrive and arrest him.
Most computers sold on the street, and around 10 million nationwide, are installed with the modified version of Windows from Tomatolei, Su Lei, a local computer dealer said.
Source: China Daily
Community centers offer fresh hope
In 2003, Zheng Yu suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed in the right side of her body.
A year later, her father died; and the teenager was left feeling desperate and alone.
"When dad died, I thought God had taken everything away from me," Zheng, now 23, told China Daily yesterday.
"But things are so much better now," she said.
One of the reasons for her more positive outlook is that for the past year she has been a regular visitor at her local "Sweet Home" center in Beijing's Auhui community.
"I get so much love here and people are concerned about me," Zheng said.
Before she was told about the center, she rarely left her home, she said.
"I can communicate without worrying about people discriminating against me."
"It's just like being surrounded by members of my family members," she said.
The Auhui Sweet Home is just one of more than 1,400 such centers across Beijing, Zhao Chunluan, head of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation, told a press conference in Beijing yesterday.
Launched by Deng Pufang, Chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Sweet Home program offers extensive services to help the disabled people in rehabilitation and employment and brings cultural and physical education to needed communities to create an atmosphere of help and assistance.
About 45,000 disabled people from 18 districts and counties throughout the city have benefited from the program, which is wholly funded by the Beijing government, he said.
"By 2010, there will be a Sweet Home center in every sub-district and community," Zhao said.
As well as organizing regular social activities, such as day trips, each Sweet Home center provides its patrons with a rehabilitation program, tailored to their specific requirements, he said.
Zheng's doctor is Jiang Xiaomeng, who said she devised a special program of exercises to help the young woman regain movement in her right hand and also start her walking again.
A year in, and Zheng is delighted with the results.
"I really believe I will be able to walk and write again in the future," she said.
"She is doing a great job, we're all really proud of her," Jiang said.
Another regular at the Auhui center is 52-year-old Cui Zixin, who has suffered from polio since he was a toddler and can walk only with the aid of crutches.
Zheng is so much happier than he was a year ago, she said. "She talks more with other people now and laughs a lot," Cui said.
Zheng said that after the Paralympic Games she will try to get a job as a typist, as she can now type really fast, even if it is only with hand.
"I believe I can live like any other person and feed myself."
Source: China Daily
A year later, her father died; and the teenager was left feeling desperate and alone.
"When dad died, I thought God had taken everything away from me," Zheng, now 23, told China Daily yesterday.
"But things are so much better now," she said.
One of the reasons for her more positive outlook is that for the past year she has been a regular visitor at her local "Sweet Home" center in Beijing's Auhui community.
"I get so much love here and people are concerned about me," Zheng said.
Before she was told about the center, she rarely left her home, she said.
"I can communicate without worrying about people discriminating against me."
"It's just like being surrounded by members of my family members," she said.
The Auhui Sweet Home is just one of more than 1,400 such centers across Beijing, Zhao Chunluan, head of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation, told a press conference in Beijing yesterday.
Launched by Deng Pufang, Chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Sweet Home program offers extensive services to help the disabled people in rehabilitation and employment and brings cultural and physical education to needed communities to create an atmosphere of help and assistance.
About 45,000 disabled people from 18 districts and counties throughout the city have benefited from the program, which is wholly funded by the Beijing government, he said.
"By 2010, there will be a Sweet Home center in every sub-district and community," Zhao said.
As well as organizing regular social activities, such as day trips, each Sweet Home center provides its patrons with a rehabilitation program, tailored to their specific requirements, he said.
Zheng's doctor is Jiang Xiaomeng, who said she devised a special program of exercises to help the young woman regain movement in her right hand and also start her walking again.
A year in, and Zheng is delighted with the results.
"I really believe I will be able to walk and write again in the future," she said.
"She is doing a great job, we're all really proud of her," Jiang said.
Another regular at the Auhui center is 52-year-old Cui Zixin, who has suffered from polio since he was a toddler and can walk only with the aid of crutches.
Zheng is so much happier than he was a year ago, she said. "She talks more with other people now and laughs a lot," Cui said.
Zheng said that after the Paralympic Games she will try to get a job as a typist, as she can now type really fast, even if it is only with hand.
"I believe I can live like any other person and feed myself."
Source: China Daily
New Beijing court caters for physically-challenged
Disabled local Beijing resident Qi Baolin became on Tuesday the very first to experience the barrier-free facilities at the a court near the Paralympic village, which is said to be the city's first disable-friendly court.
A stroke left Qi, 59, paralyzed in his left arm and leg. He was in court to testify in the case against his former employer, Beijng Dachao Commercial Hotel, which neglected to make payments into his social security fund when he worked there from Dec 2004 to April l, 2005.
The hotel, later renamed the Beihu No.9 Commercial Hotel, claimed there was no tangible record of Qi having worked at the hotel during that period.
As both parties required further proof, the court ruled that there would be a second hearing at a later date.
The barrier-free facilities in the courtroom of the commissary court of Chaoyang District People's Court during the 40-minute hearing were a great help, Qi said.
"The facilities enabled me to concentrate entirely on the hearing," he said
The court has seats equipped with metal supports, disabled toilets and ramps.
Disable people's needs were taken into account in the court's design, Qian Yixin, head judge at the court, said. "The first- floor layout of the courtroom includes accessible barrier-free departments, such as for file registration," Qian said.
The court also provides sign language services for the deaf, and a visiting case registration service for people with limited mobility.
So far 10 deaf people have made use of the sign language services to register their cases, the official said.
Its Foreign-Interests-Related Courtroom has a 27-seat gallery installed with a three-track simultaneous interpretation system.
Almost 70 percent of Olympics-related cases, such as personal injury, property damage and labor disputes, were heard in the courtroom last month, Qian said.
Source: China Daily
A stroke left Qi, 59, paralyzed in his left arm and leg. He was in court to testify in the case against his former employer, Beijng Dachao Commercial Hotel, which neglected to make payments into his social security fund when he worked there from Dec 2004 to April l, 2005.
The hotel, later renamed the Beihu No.9 Commercial Hotel, claimed there was no tangible record of Qi having worked at the hotel during that period.
As both parties required further proof, the court ruled that there would be a second hearing at a later date.
The barrier-free facilities in the courtroom of the commissary court of Chaoyang District People's Court during the 40-minute hearing were a great help, Qi said.
"The facilities enabled me to concentrate entirely on the hearing," he said
The court has seats equipped with metal supports, disabled toilets and ramps.
Disable people's needs were taken into account in the court's design, Qian Yixin, head judge at the court, said. "The first- floor layout of the courtroom includes accessible barrier-free departments, such as for file registration," Qian said.
The court also provides sign language services for the deaf, and a visiting case registration service for people with limited mobility.
So far 10 deaf people have made use of the sign language services to register their cases, the official said.
Its Foreign-Interests-Related Courtroom has a 27-seat gallery installed with a three-track simultaneous interpretation system.
Almost 70 percent of Olympics-related cases, such as personal injury, property damage and labor disputes, were heard in the courtroom last month, Qian said.
Source: China Daily
Portuguese pair score a first
Portuguese athletes Carlos Manuel Lopes and Firmino Baptisia have already scored a first.
When the two visited the Silk Market on Friday, a popular shopping center for Chinese silk, artifacts, clothes, and electronics, their Labrador guide dogs were the first to be allowed into the premises.
"It was the first time I had seen such big dogs, but they were cute," Zhu Jing, a shop assistant who had attended to the visitors, said on Tuesday.
Big dogs are normally forbidden in public places especially shops and restaurants in Beijing because they could cause fear in people.
The presence of the dogs at the marketplace represents a major change as shops learn how to welcome and cater to disabled customers.
The Beijing Daily said yesterday 235 shops in the city had taken measures to provide a better shopping environment for people suffering from disabilities.
The move includes building ramps, lowering cashier counters and allowing guide dogs.
At the Silk Market, there is a special path leading to its entrance for disabled people, and 16 reserved parking spaces.
Han Yongguang, general manager of Mansion Guiyou Co Ltd, a premium department store in Beijing's embassy and business district, said all four of its outlets have been renovated, including the leveling of pavements, and training shop assistants on how to serve disabled customers.
However, he said some customers may have difficulty with the washrooms because they were built in the 1980s and would require major reconstruction.
"However, it is a good lesson. We need to change our mindset and really think about how to serve all customers, be their foreigners or Chinese," he said.
Yesterday was also the first day souvenirs of the Paralympic Games went on sale.
Gongmei Mansion on Wangfujing Street decorated its store with posters of the Paralympic Games, and focused on sale of the souvenirs.
One of its four cashier counters was specially reserved for disabled customers.
The Silk Market's Zhu said he had seen about a dozen disabled customers since Friday.
Beijing's bureau of commerce said that during the Olympic Games, Aug 8 to 24, the total average sales of 193 retailers was 190 million yuan per day, 17 percent higher than for the same period last year.
However, in spite of all the preparations, the shopping spree has yet to begin.
A security guard surnamed Zhou, stationed at Gongmei, said he only observed one customer in a wheelchair on Tuesday morning.
In the past month, the daily average number of visitors to Gongmei has been 80,000.
Source: China Daily
When the two visited the Silk Market on Friday, a popular shopping center for Chinese silk, artifacts, clothes, and electronics, their Labrador guide dogs were the first to be allowed into the premises.
"It was the first time I had seen such big dogs, but they were cute," Zhu Jing, a shop assistant who had attended to the visitors, said on Tuesday.
Big dogs are normally forbidden in public places especially shops and restaurants in Beijing because they could cause fear in people.
The presence of the dogs at the marketplace represents a major change as shops learn how to welcome and cater to disabled customers.
The Beijing Daily said yesterday 235 shops in the city had taken measures to provide a better shopping environment for people suffering from disabilities.
The move includes building ramps, lowering cashier counters and allowing guide dogs.
At the Silk Market, there is a special path leading to its entrance for disabled people, and 16 reserved parking spaces.
Han Yongguang, general manager of Mansion Guiyou Co Ltd, a premium department store in Beijing's embassy and business district, said all four of its outlets have been renovated, including the leveling of pavements, and training shop assistants on how to serve disabled customers.
However, he said some customers may have difficulty with the washrooms because they were built in the 1980s and would require major reconstruction.
"However, it is a good lesson. We need to change our mindset and really think about how to serve all customers, be their foreigners or Chinese," he said.
Yesterday was also the first day souvenirs of the Paralympic Games went on sale.
Gongmei Mansion on Wangfujing Street decorated its store with posters of the Paralympic Games, and focused on sale of the souvenirs.
One of its four cashier counters was specially reserved for disabled customers.
The Silk Market's Zhu said he had seen about a dozen disabled customers since Friday.
Beijing's bureau of commerce said that during the Olympic Games, Aug 8 to 24, the total average sales of 193 retailers was 190 million yuan per day, 17 percent higher than for the same period last year.
However, in spite of all the preparations, the shopping spree has yet to begin.
A security guard surnamed Zhou, stationed at Gongmei, said he only observed one customer in a wheelchair on Tuesday morning.
In the past month, the daily average number of visitors to Gongmei has been 80,000.
Source: China Daily
Airport facilities pass muster
After spending more than 12 million yuan on improving its facilities for the disabled, Beijing's Capital International Airport now meets international standards, its general manager Dong Zhiyi said yesterday.
As of Tuesday, the airport had welcomed more than 6,400 Paralympic Family members, including 1,324 in wheelchairs,
"The airport's barrier-free facilities have been fully tested," Dong said at a press conference.
"The airport now meets international standards," he said.
About 10,000 Paralympic Family members from 148 countries and regions, including 1,800 people in wheelchairs and 800 with visual handicaps will pass through the airport over the course of the Paralympics, which starts on Saturday, he said.
A raft of improvements has been made to help disabled travelers, Dong said.
For example, handrails and emergency alarms have been added throughout the airport, and all bathrooms now have a wheelchair-friendly cubicle, he said.
There are also 110 gender-free bathrooms for use by wheelchair-bound people whose carers are of the opposite sex, he said.
Also, at each of the airport's 153 boarding gates, a new system of flashing lights has been installed to indicate to deaf passengers when their flights are ready to board, Dong said.
Many of the changes made at the airport will remain in place after the Paralympic Games is finished later this month, Dong said.
Also, similar facilities for the disabled are likely to be introduced at airports across the country, Li Xiaomei, the spokeswoman for the Beijing Capital International Airport, told China Daily yesterday.
"We are now working on revisions to China's industry standards, and some of our measures and experiences are likely to be included within them," she said.
If the new standards are adopted, installing barrier-free facilities could become compulsory at all airports across the country, she said.
At present, such extensive facilities for the disabled are offered only at airports in Olympic and Paralympic host cities, she said.
Source: China Daily
As of Tuesday, the airport had welcomed more than 6,400 Paralympic Family members, including 1,324 in wheelchairs,
"The airport's barrier-free facilities have been fully tested," Dong said at a press conference.
"The airport now meets international standards," he said.
About 10,000 Paralympic Family members from 148 countries and regions, including 1,800 people in wheelchairs and 800 with visual handicaps will pass through the airport over the course of the Paralympics, which starts on Saturday, he said.
A raft of improvements has been made to help disabled travelers, Dong said.
For example, handrails and emergency alarms have been added throughout the airport, and all bathrooms now have a wheelchair-friendly cubicle, he said.
There are also 110 gender-free bathrooms for use by wheelchair-bound people whose carers are of the opposite sex, he said.
Also, at each of the airport's 153 boarding gates, a new system of flashing lights has been installed to indicate to deaf passengers when their flights are ready to board, Dong said.
Many of the changes made at the airport will remain in place after the Paralympic Games is finished later this month, Dong said.
Also, similar facilities for the disabled are likely to be introduced at airports across the country, Li Xiaomei, the spokeswoman for the Beijing Capital International Airport, told China Daily yesterday.
"We are now working on revisions to China's industry standards, and some of our measures and experiences are likely to be included within them," she said.
If the new standards are adopted, installing barrier-free facilities could become compulsory at all airports across the country, she said.
At present, such extensive facilities for the disabled are offered only at airports in Olympic and Paralympic host cities, she said.
Source: China Daily
10 killed in traffic accident in east China
At least ten people were killed and 36 others injured after their vehicle crashed into a tunnel in Zhejiang Province Thursday morning, according to the local traffic authority.
A 44-sleeper shuttle bus carrying 46 people hit the tunnel head-on in Lishui City at 0:18 a.m., killing 10 on the spot.
The 36 injured, including a 5-year-old boy, had been rushed to local hospitals and none were in critical conditions, according to the municipal government.
The bus, belonged to a transport company based in Fujian Province, was en route to Yiwu city, Zhejiang, when the accident occurred.
Zhejiang's highway traffic administration was investigating the tragedy.
Source: Xinhua
A 44-sleeper shuttle bus carrying 46 people hit the tunnel head-on in Lishui City at 0:18 a.m., killing 10 on the spot.
The 36 injured, including a 5-year-old boy, had been rushed to local hospitals and none were in critical conditions, according to the municipal government.
The bus, belonged to a transport company based in Fujian Province, was en route to Yiwu city, Zhejiang, when the accident occurred.
Zhejiang's highway traffic administration was investigating the tragedy.
Source: Xinhua
May 12 earthquake causes 845 bln yuan of direct economic losses
Direct economic losses for the May12 Sichuan earthquake centered in Wenchuan County hit 845.1 billion yuan , an expert said hereon Thursday.
The southwestern province of Sichuan suffered the worst, accounting for 91.3 percent of the total direct economic losses, according to Shi Peijun with the Wenchuan earthquake expert panel.
Its neighboring provinces Gansu and Shaanxi accounted for 5.8 and 2.9 percent of the total losses, respectively.
Source: Xinhua
The southwestern province of Sichuan suffered the worst, accounting for 91.3 percent of the total direct economic losses, according to Shi Peijun with the Wenchuan earthquake expert panel.
Its neighboring provinces Gansu and Shaanxi accounted for 5.8 and 2.9 percent of the total losses, respectively.
Source: Xinhua
Official admits "possible quality problems" of school buildings damaged in Sichuan earthquake
There might be "quality problems" with some school buildings which were damaged during the catastrophic earthquakes in southwest China's Sichuan Province in May 12, an official acknowledged on Thursday.
Ma Zongjin, director of the National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee, said this could happen due to a rush of construction of school buildings in recent years.
Source: Xinhua
Ma Zongjin, director of the National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee, said this could happen due to a rush of construction of school buildings in recent years.
Source: Xinhua
Strong aftershocks of May 12 quake may continue, over M-6.5 quake not possible
Strong aftershocks of the May 12 quake in southwest China's Sichuan Province may continue, but possibility of over 6.5 magnitude quake is slim, said the National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee here on Thursday at a press conference.
The May 12 quake has caused 12,000 quake-related geological disasters, and there are still 8,700 sites where geological disasters might occur. And more than 30 quake lakes are in danger, according to the committee.
Source: Xinhua
The May 12 quake has caused 12,000 quake-related geological disasters, and there are still 8,700 sites where geological disasters might occur. And more than 30 quake lakes are in danger, according to the committee.
Source: Xinhua
Over 87,000 feared dead in May 12 earthquake, economic losses hit 845 bln yuan
It is feared the death toll in the8.0-magnitude earthquake centered in Wenchuan County on May 12 in the southwestern Province of Sichuan will top 87,000, an expert said here on Thursday.
"The death toll for the quake had topped 69,000 by mid July, with another 18,000 missing," Shi Peijun with the National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee told a press conference Thursday morning.
"Given that it has been three months since the deadly earthquake struck, the hope of survival for those missing is very slim," Shi said.
More than 87,000 are feared dead combining the two figures together, he said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also said on Tuesday that the death toll for the deadly quake had topped 80,000 at a press conference held in Yingxiu, one of the worst-hit township at the epicenter Wenchuan County.
In addition, direct economic losses for the May 12 earthquake hit 845.1 billion yuan .
The southwestern province of Sichuan where the quake was centered suffered the most, accounting for 91.3 percent of the total direct economic losses, Shi said.
Its neighboring provinces Gansu and Shaanxi accounted for 5.8 and 2.9 percent of the losses, respectively.
More than 70 percent of the losses came from damaged dwelling buildings, school and hospital facilities and infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
Another press conference would be held on Thursday afternoon to provide more specific figures, according to the Information Office of the State Council.
Source: Xinhua
"The death toll for the quake had topped 69,000 by mid July, with another 18,000 missing," Shi Peijun with the National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee told a press conference Thursday morning.
"Given that it has been three months since the deadly earthquake struck, the hope of survival for those missing is very slim," Shi said.
More than 87,000 are feared dead combining the two figures together, he said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also said on Tuesday that the death toll for the deadly quake had topped 80,000 at a press conference held in Yingxiu, one of the worst-hit township at the epicenter Wenchuan County.
In addition, direct economic losses for the May 12 earthquake hit 845.1 billion yuan .
The southwestern province of Sichuan where the quake was centered suffered the most, accounting for 91.3 percent of the total direct economic losses, Shi said.
Its neighboring provinces Gansu and Shaanxi accounted for 5.8 and 2.9 percent of the losses, respectively.
More than 70 percent of the losses came from damaged dwelling buildings, school and hospital facilities and infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
Another press conference would be held on Thursday afternoon to provide more specific figures, according to the Information Office of the State Council.
Source: Xinhua
World Petroleum Finance Conference to be held in Beijing
The " World Petroleum Finance Conference" jointly sponsored by the China Finance Net, the Asian Finance Reseach Institute, the China Finance Reseach Institute and other well-known institutions will be held in Beijing from 1st to 5th Nov. in 2008.
By then, more than 1,000 people including government leaders from all over the world, transnational oil groups, financial experts will gather in Beijing, to discuss a new proposition of "Global Petroleum Market Tendency And Financial Cooperation".
He Shihong, chairman of the World Petroleum Finance Conference said that the concern point of a new national energy security is increasingly becoming an important part of every counties' energy security strategy, today, the crude oil futures prices in the international financial market, determine the spot price to a great extent, and this futures market is controlled by a small number of overseas magnates, this brings the challenges to China's energy security.
By People's Daily Online
By then, more than 1,000 people including government leaders from all over the world, transnational oil groups, financial experts will gather in Beijing, to discuss a new proposition of "Global Petroleum Market Tendency And Financial Cooperation".
He Shihong, chairman of the World Petroleum Finance Conference said that the concern point of a new national energy security is increasingly becoming an important part of every counties' energy security strategy, today, the crude oil futures prices in the international financial market, determine the spot price to a great extent, and this futures market is controlled by a small number of overseas magnates, this brings the challenges to China's energy security.
By People's Daily Online
China, Japan and S Korea to build large-scale space observation networks
China, Japan and S Korea have decided to build transnational Very Long Baseline Interferometry network. The network consists of 20 radio telescopes that form a 6,000 km diameter network for a more sophisticated observation of black holes and galaxies.
According to Japan's "Asahi Shimbun" website, 13 radio telescopes of the National Observatory of Japan, Hokkaido University and other institutions will join this observation network; three new telescopes in Korea Astronomical Research Institute in Seoul, Ulsan and Cheju Island are to be completed soon; four telescopes in Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi and Kunming are also scheduled to participate in the observation network.
VLBI network is the technology to use more than one telescope at the same time to observe the same celestial bodies. To connect telescopes in different locations is like to form a large aperture telescope. Telescopes in the network collect the data and send them to the data processing center; putting the data from different locations together we can get details of celestial bodies. The more telescopes in network, the greater the distance between each other, the clear will the images of celestial bodies be.
This VLBI Network by China, Japan and South Korea has two main observation missions: draw accurate star map of stars in the galaxy and study black holes. The United States has built a 8,000 km diameter VLBI network; in Europe, the diameter of similar network is about 3,000 km. This new VLBI network by China, Japan and South Korea has more telescopes and greater sensitivity, accuracy of observation will be promoted to a new level.
By People's Daily Online
According to Japan's "Asahi Shimbun" website, 13 radio telescopes of the National Observatory of Japan, Hokkaido University and other institutions will join this observation network; three new telescopes in Korea Astronomical Research Institute in Seoul, Ulsan and Cheju Island are to be completed soon; four telescopes in Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi and Kunming are also scheduled to participate in the observation network.
VLBI network is the technology to use more than one telescope at the same time to observe the same celestial bodies. To connect telescopes in different locations is like to form a large aperture telescope. Telescopes in the network collect the data and send them to the data processing center; putting the data from different locations together we can get details of celestial bodies. The more telescopes in network, the greater the distance between each other, the clear will the images of celestial bodies be.
This VLBI Network by China, Japan and South Korea has two main observation missions: draw accurate star map of stars in the galaxy and study black holes. The United States has built a 8,000 km diameter VLBI network; in Europe, the diameter of similar network is about 3,000 km. This new VLBI network by China, Japan and South Korea has more telescopes and greater sensitivity, accuracy of observation will be promoted to a new level.
By People's Daily Online
China-made regional aircraft ARJ21 to take maiden flight
Recently, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. held a handover ceremony of ARJ21-700101 airplane in the assembly plant of Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory. This means that regional aircraft with independent intellectual property rights has entered the final stage of its maiden flight preparation. Experts predict that in one or two months, ARJ21 will be able to complete the first flight.
There are five ARJ21-700 aircraft, among which three to be used for test flight, one for net force test, and one for fatigue test before the test flight.
ARJ21-700 has 78 to 90 seats, and the design flying range is 1,200 to 2,000 sea miles. It is able to provide direct flight services for more than 98% of the domestic lines and meet requirements of complex terrain and the plateau environment of China's western areas.
In fact, last December, ARJ21-700 aircraft has announced it's off the assembly line. According to the original plan ARJ21 aircraft can take maiden flight in March this year, but because key system providers failed to provide test conditions by then, the maiden flight has been delayed. In the previous plan, in September 2009 the first ARJ21 aircraft will be delivered to the first user Shandong Airlines, and in 2009 after been officially approved, ARJ21 will enter mass production stage. But now, it seems Shandong Airlines will have to wait for another six months to use the first ARJ21 aircraft.
Picture shows China's first regional aircraft with independent intellectual property rights ARJ21-700.
By People's Daily Online
There are five ARJ21-700 aircraft, among which three to be used for test flight, one for net force test, and one for fatigue test before the test flight.
ARJ21-700 has 78 to 90 seats, and the design flying range is 1,200 to 2,000 sea miles. It is able to provide direct flight services for more than 98% of the domestic lines and meet requirements of complex terrain and the plateau environment of China's western areas.
In fact, last December, ARJ21-700 aircraft has announced it's off the assembly line. According to the original plan ARJ21 aircraft can take maiden flight in March this year, but because key system providers failed to provide test conditions by then, the maiden flight has been delayed. In the previous plan, in September 2009 the first ARJ21 aircraft will be delivered to the first user Shandong Airlines, and in 2009 after been officially approved, ARJ21 will enter mass production stage. But now, it seems Shandong Airlines will have to wait for another six months to use the first ARJ21 aircraft.
Picture shows China's first regional aircraft with independent intellectual property rights ARJ21-700.
By People's Daily Online
Coke offer for Huiyuan triggers widespread worry for famous domestic brand in China
The public was reminded of the sore memories of lost domestic brands when Coca-Cola announced its offer to take over China Huiyuan Juice Group Limited, a Hong Kong-listed company that owns the Huiyuan juice business throughout China.
While Coca-Cola and Huiyuan both seem satisfied with the deal, many ordinary Chinese think otherwise.
In an online poll posted by major portal Sina.com, more than 80 percent of the over 76,000 interviewees voted against the acquisition of the leading domestic juice maker. A similar proportion held the opinion that the acquisition, if successful, would verge on a foreign capital's attempt to wipe out domestic pillar brands.
Established in 1992 in east China's Shandong Province, Huiyuan spent years developing its nationwide network and had raised its annual output capacity to 2.2 million tonnes.
Having just been listed among the top 25 domestic brands last year by China Brand Union Association, Huiyuan had the largest share in the Chinese juice market and was the pride of many Chinese as an example of a domestic brand that competes successfully among its international rivals.
"Huiyuan would become a brand under Coca-Cola, which has achieved a major strategic triumph. It will get not only the top brand in China, but also the market. It would take Coca-Cola back to the top of the Chinese beverage market," said brand marketing expert Li Guangdou.
"But it would mean a heavy loss to Chinese domestic brands, which are under severe crisis now," said Li.
Though the global beverage maker said it would keep the Huiyuan brand after the acquisition, analysts doubted whether it would give support equivalent to its original juice brand Minute Maid.
Their worries are not without reason -- seven years after being sold to multi-national giant Procter and Gamble, the annual production of formerly major domestic brand Panda washing powder was reduced from 60,000 tonnes to 4,000 tonnes, as its new owner set the brand aside and showed more interest in promoting its own labels.
Three major shareholders of Huiyuan are said to have accepted the offer. They held approximately 66 percent of the Huiyuan shares. But the 2.4 billion-U.S. dollar deal still waits government approval.
The application has been sent to the Ministry of Commerce for approval, but the detailed timetable or result has not been disclosed.
According to DLA Piper UK LLP lawyer Liu Cheng, whether the deal would get approval is closely related to its influence in the industry after the acquisition, and whether the Chinese anti-trust law would include the juice market under its regulation.
If the market share of Huiyuan and Minute Maid together exceeds50 percent, it might pose difficulty in winning approval, said Liu.
Source:Xinhua
While Coca-Cola and Huiyuan both seem satisfied with the deal, many ordinary Chinese think otherwise.
In an online poll posted by major portal Sina.com, more than 80 percent of the over 76,000 interviewees voted against the acquisition of the leading domestic juice maker. A similar proportion held the opinion that the acquisition, if successful, would verge on a foreign capital's attempt to wipe out domestic pillar brands.
Established in 1992 in east China's Shandong Province, Huiyuan spent years developing its nationwide network and had raised its annual output capacity to 2.2 million tonnes.
Having just been listed among the top 25 domestic brands last year by China Brand Union Association, Huiyuan had the largest share in the Chinese juice market and was the pride of many Chinese as an example of a domestic brand that competes successfully among its international rivals.
"Huiyuan would become a brand under Coca-Cola, which has achieved a major strategic triumph. It will get not only the top brand in China, but also the market. It would take Coca-Cola back to the top of the Chinese beverage market," said brand marketing expert Li Guangdou.
"But it would mean a heavy loss to Chinese domestic brands, which are under severe crisis now," said Li.
Though the global beverage maker said it would keep the Huiyuan brand after the acquisition, analysts doubted whether it would give support equivalent to its original juice brand Minute Maid.
Their worries are not without reason -- seven years after being sold to multi-national giant Procter and Gamble, the annual production of formerly major domestic brand Panda washing powder was reduced from 60,000 tonnes to 4,000 tonnes, as its new owner set the brand aside and showed more interest in promoting its own labels.
Three major shareholders of Huiyuan are said to have accepted the offer. They held approximately 66 percent of the Huiyuan shares. But the 2.4 billion-U.S. dollar deal still waits government approval.
The application has been sent to the Ministry of Commerce for approval, but the detailed timetable or result has not been disclosed.
According to DLA Piper UK LLP lawyer Liu Cheng, whether the deal would get approval is closely related to its influence in the industry after the acquisition, and whether the Chinese anti-trust law would include the juice market under its regulation.
If the market share of Huiyuan and Minute Maid together exceeds50 percent, it might pose difficulty in winning approval, said Liu.
Source:Xinhua
Shenhua exempt in China stoppage of coal-to-oil projects
China has halted all coal liquefaction projects nationwide, except two involving the Shenhua Group, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Thursday.
Of the two exceptions, one was the under-construction coal-to-fuel project of Shenhua Group; the other was the Ningdong indirect coal liquefaction project jointly planned by the Shenhua Ningxia Coal Group and the South Africa-based Sasol Ltd.
The latter cannot start operation before receiving official approval.
"The move aims to control the business risk of the country's coal-to-oil industry, which is still in an experimental stage," the NDRC said.
The commission also called on local governments not to approve any new coal-to-oil projects.
Coal provides up to 70 percent of the country's energy needs, mostly for the power sector and steel industry. As the price of oil continues to rise, some local governments and enterprises have started coal-to-oil projects, mostly in coal-rich areas in the northern regions.
In response, the NDRC said: "Coal liquefaction is a technology-,talent- and capital-intensive project, but most domestic enterprises lack advanced technologies, management experience and equipment."
In 2006, the NDRC issued a circular urging for the "healthy development" of industries turning coal into oil or oil substitutes such as methanol and alkene.
It then raised the threshold for coal liquefaction projects to a minimum annual output capacity of 3 million tonnes for fear of excessive production.
Shenhua, China's biggest coal company, is expected to produce the country's first barrel of liquid fuel from coal this month using a self-developed technology known as direct coal liquefaction.
Source:Xinhua
Of the two exceptions, one was the under-construction coal-to-fuel project of Shenhua Group; the other was the Ningdong indirect coal liquefaction project jointly planned by the Shenhua Ningxia Coal Group and the South Africa-based Sasol Ltd.
The latter cannot start operation before receiving official approval.
"The move aims to control the business risk of the country's coal-to-oil industry, which is still in an experimental stage," the NDRC said.
The commission also called on local governments not to approve any new coal-to-oil projects.
Coal provides up to 70 percent of the country's energy needs, mostly for the power sector and steel industry. As the price of oil continues to rise, some local governments and enterprises have started coal-to-oil projects, mostly in coal-rich areas in the northern regions.
In response, the NDRC said: "Coal liquefaction is a technology-,talent- and capital-intensive project, but most domestic enterprises lack advanced technologies, management experience and equipment."
In 2006, the NDRC issued a circular urging for the "healthy development" of industries turning coal into oil or oil substitutes such as methanol and alkene.
It then raised the threshold for coal liquefaction projects to a minimum annual output capacity of 3 million tonnes for fear of excessive production.
Shenhua, China's biggest coal company, is expected to produce the country's first barrel of liquid fuel from coal this month using a self-developed technology known as direct coal liquefaction.
Source:Xinhua
Indonesian president praises China's success in Olympic
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday expressed his appreciation on the great success of the Chinese government in conducting Olympic games in Beijing last month, Indonesian state spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.
The president made the statement during his meeting with Wang Yang, a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China at the State Palace here.
"President delivered appreciation on the success of China in conducting Olympic games recently and the achievements of the country in the games," Dino told a press conference after the meeting.
Indonesia sent 24 athletes to the Beijing Olympics, who have won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Its gold medal came from men's badminton double event.
Source:Xinhua
The president made the statement during his meeting with Wang Yang, a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China at the State Palace here.
"President delivered appreciation on the success of China in conducting Olympic games recently and the achievements of the country in the games," Dino told a press conference after the meeting.
Indonesia sent 24 athletes to the Beijing Olympics, who have won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Its gold medal came from men's badminton double event.
Source:Xinhua
China submits 2007 military expenditure report to UN
China has reported its 2007 military expenditures to the United Nations , the second time it has done so since it started participating in the UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism last year.
The report provides more information than the previous submission, including basic data of the country's military spend for the latest fiscal year. It also explained the main purpose of the expenditures, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here at a regular news briefing.
This demonstrated again that the Chinese government attached great importance to the issue of military transparency, and actively improved mutual trust with other countries in the military field, she added.
Since last year, China has participated in the UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism and returned to the Conventional Weapons Registration System, two major mechanism of the UN concerning military transparency.
The UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism came into being in 1980 when the UN General Assembly approved resolution 35/142 entitled "Reduction of Military Budgets." It introduced the UN system for standardized reporting of military expenditure.
Currently, more than 110 nations have joined the system.
Source:Xinhua
The report provides more information than the previous submission, including basic data of the country's military spend for the latest fiscal year. It also explained the main purpose of the expenditures, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here at a regular news briefing.
This demonstrated again that the Chinese government attached great importance to the issue of military transparency, and actively improved mutual trust with other countries in the military field, she added.
Since last year, China has participated in the UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism and returned to the Conventional Weapons Registration System, two major mechanism of the UN concerning military transparency.
The UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism came into being in 1980 when the UN General Assembly approved resolution 35/142 entitled "Reduction of Military Budgets." It introduced the UN system for standardized reporting of military expenditure.
Currently, more than 110 nations have joined the system.
Source:Xinhua
China calls for joint efforts for resolving Korean Peninsula nuclear issue
China on Thursday urged all parties concerned to make joint efforts to resolve the current problem facing the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
"For the current problem, China believes that all parties concerned should strengthen contacts and show flexibility to jointly devote to the early resolving of the problem," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu at a regular press conference.
Jiang confirmed that U.S. top nuclear talks negotiator Christopher Hill is going to visit Beijing, but saying Hill's route and agenda in Beijing is yet to be fixed.
Jiang said that the goals set in the September 19 joint statement was the consensus of all the six parties, which were in the common interests of all parties concerned.
She added that China, as the chair of the six-party talks, has been keeping close contacts and coordination with other parties on related issues.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said on Aug. 26 that it had stopped disabling its nuclear facilities and considered restoring the Yongbyon nuclear reactor that can make material for atomic bombs, accusing the United States of violating a disarmament deal.
Source:Xinhua
"For the current problem, China believes that all parties concerned should strengthen contacts and show flexibility to jointly devote to the early resolving of the problem," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu at a regular press conference.
Jiang confirmed that U.S. top nuclear talks negotiator Christopher Hill is going to visit Beijing, but saying Hill's route and agenda in Beijing is yet to be fixed.
Jiang said that the goals set in the September 19 joint statement was the consensus of all the six parties, which were in the common interests of all parties concerned.
She added that China, as the chair of the six-party talks, has been keeping close contacts and coordination with other parties on related issues.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said on Aug. 26 that it had stopped disabling its nuclear facilities and considered restoring the Yongbyon nuclear reactor that can make material for atomic bombs, accusing the United States of violating a disarmament deal.
Source:Xinhua
China donates meteorological equipment to DPRK
The Meteorological Bureau of China handed over some meteorological equipment to the Meteorological and Hydrological Bureau of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Thursday.
The equipment, provided under an emergency disaster cooperation program and another cooperation program of the World Meteorological Organization, included pluviometers and fluviographs.
The donation will be helpful to boosting the level of weather forecasting of the DPRK, said Kao Il Hun, director of the DPRK Meteorological and Hydrological Bureau.
The cooperation between the meteorological bureaus of the two countries will bring real benefits to the two peoples, said Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Xiaoming.
He hoped the equipment would help raise the weather forecasting and anti-disaster capabilities of the DPRK.
Source:Xinhua
The equipment, provided under an emergency disaster cooperation program and another cooperation program of the World Meteorological Organization, included pluviometers and fluviographs.
The donation will be helpful to boosting the level of weather forecasting of the DPRK, said Kao Il Hun, director of the DPRK Meteorological and Hydrological Bureau.
The cooperation between the meteorological bureaus of the two countries will bring real benefits to the two peoples, said Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Xiaoming.
He hoped the equipment would help raise the weather forecasting and anti-disaster capabilities of the DPRK.
Source:Xinhua
Death toll from northeast China mine explosion rises to 27
The death toll from a gas explosion at a coal mine in northeast China rose to 27 with the bodies of three missing miners being recovered, local authorities said on Thursday.
The explosion took place at 9 a.m. Thursday when 41 miners were working in the mine in Fuxin, Liaoning Province, among whom 14 returned to the ground on their own, sources said.
Six of the 14 survivors were injured and hospitalized.
The mine began operation in 1999 with an annual capacity of 40,000 tonnes.
Deputy director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Fu Jianhua and Liaoning Vice Governor Li Jia have rushed to the mine to guide rescue efforts.
Investigation into the cause is underway.
Source:Xinhua
The explosion took place at 9 a.m. Thursday when 41 miners were working in the mine in Fuxin, Liaoning Province, among whom 14 returned to the ground on their own, sources said.
Six of the 14 survivors were injured and hospitalized.
The mine began operation in 1999 with an annual capacity of 40,000 tonnes.
Deputy director of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Fu Jianhua and Liaoning Vice Governor Li Jia have rushed to the mine to guide rescue efforts.
Investigation into the cause is underway.
Source:Xinhua
China, Singapore pledge to further cement economic cooperation
China and Singapore on Thursday agreed to further cement economic cooperation for mutual benefit.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and visiting Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng co-chaired the 10th meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Steering Council for Suzhou Industrial Park and the fifth meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation in Tianjin.
The two nations have maintained a healthy development in bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990. They have also cooperated in high-tech fields and the China's "going-beyond-the-border" program, which encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and develop businesses abroad. The two sides also deepened their cooperation in China's regional development and human resources development, among others, Wang said.
"The successful completion of negotiations with Singapore on a free trade area , which is of great importance to bilateral relations, will promote the economic cooperation of the two countries," Wang said.
"China takes Singapore as a key partner, and would like to worktogether to continuously promote bilateral ties."
Hailing the completion of the China-Singapore FTA negotiation, Wong said Singapore was satisfied with the development of the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin eco-city. Singapore would work with China to push the bilateral relation forward.
The two sides also agreed the industrial park has become an important model for Sino-Singaporean cooperation in a new era.
In 2006, the park produced 68 billion yuan of gross domestic product. Its total imports and exports reached 50billion U.S. dollars.
On Wednesday, Wang and Wong co-chaired the first meeting of China-Singapore Joint Steering Committee for Tianjin Eco-city.
The construction of the eco-city, the second joint project by the two governments following the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern Jiangsu Province, began in July and is to be completed in 10 to 15 years.
The development, 40 km from downtown Tianjin and 150 km from Beijing, will be guided by Singapore's use of solar and wind power and rainwater recycling experience. Other areas of expertise include wastewater treatment and sea water desalination.
Wong is paying an official visit to China from Sept. 2 to 6.
Source:Xinhua
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and visiting Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng co-chaired the 10th meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Steering Council for Suzhou Industrial Park and the fifth meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation in Tianjin.
The two nations have maintained a healthy development in bilateral relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990. They have also cooperated in high-tech fields and the China's "going-beyond-the-border" program, which encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and develop businesses abroad. The two sides also deepened their cooperation in China's regional development and human resources development, among others, Wang said.
"The successful completion of negotiations with Singapore on a free trade area , which is of great importance to bilateral relations, will promote the economic cooperation of the two countries," Wang said.
"China takes Singapore as a key partner, and would like to worktogether to continuously promote bilateral ties."
Hailing the completion of the China-Singapore FTA negotiation, Wong said Singapore was satisfied with the development of the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin eco-city. Singapore would work with China to push the bilateral relation forward.
The two sides also agreed the industrial park has become an important model for Sino-Singaporean cooperation in a new era.
In 2006, the park produced 68 billion yuan of gross domestic product. Its total imports and exports reached 50billion U.S. dollars.
On Wednesday, Wang and Wong co-chaired the first meeting of China-Singapore Joint Steering Committee for Tianjin Eco-city.
The construction of the eco-city, the second joint project by the two governments following the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern Jiangsu Province, began in July and is to be completed in 10 to 15 years.
The development, 40 km from downtown Tianjin and 150 km from Beijing, will be guided by Singapore's use of solar and wind power and rainwater recycling experience. Other areas of expertise include wastewater treatment and sea water desalination.
Wong is paying an official visit to China from Sept. 2 to 6.
Source:Xinhua
Chinese woman stabbed to death in Auckland, New Zealand
The Chinese Consulate-general in Auckland confirmed on Thursday that a Chinese national woman was stabbed to death in an apartment in New Zealand's largest city Auckland.
The body of the 30-year-old Chinese woman surnamed Ren was discovered with several stab wounds in the Auckland inner city apartment on Tuesday.
Her next of kin had been told and some were traveling from China to Auckland over the next few days.
A man was interviewed by New Zealand police on Thursday over the death of the Chinese woman.
The 23-year-old man at the center of the homicide investigation, who suffered a severe knife wound to a hand, was discharged from a hospital in South Auckland on Thursday afternoon.
A post-mortem examination on Ren was completed on Thursday and a preliminary report showed she had suffered stab wounds.
It was up to the coroner to determine her cause of death, police said.
Source:Xinhua
The body of the 30-year-old Chinese woman surnamed Ren was discovered with several stab wounds in the Auckland inner city apartment on Tuesday.
Her next of kin had been told and some were traveling from China to Auckland over the next few days.
A man was interviewed by New Zealand police on Thursday over the death of the Chinese woman.
The 23-year-old man at the center of the homicide investigation, who suffered a severe knife wound to a hand, was discharged from a hospital in South Auckland on Thursday afternoon.
A post-mortem examination on Ren was completed on Thursday and a preliminary report showed she had suffered stab wounds.
It was up to the coroner to determine her cause of death, police said.
Source:Xinhua
Gas explosion injures 10 in NW China
Ten people were injured when a gas bottle exploded on a truck in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, on Thursday afternoon.
The gas bottle sitting on the rear of the truck exploded at 3:20 p.m. when the vehicle was waiting for a red light at an intersection in downtown Lanzhou, police said.
The injured were sent to hospital.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Source:Xinhua
The gas bottle sitting on the rear of the truck exploded at 3:20 p.m. when the vehicle was waiting for a red light at an intersection in downtown Lanzhou, police said.
The injured were sent to hospital.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Source:Xinhua
Nearly 2.37 mln Chinese receive legal aid in past five years
Chinese attorneys have given legal aid services to nearly 2.37 million litigants in 1.35 million cases since the country promulgated the Regulation on Legal Aid in2003, Justice Minister Wu Aiying said on Thursday.
The number of legal aid cases reached 420,000 in 2007, triple the 2002 figure, and lawyers offered consultations to 4.07 million people last year, 3.3 times the figure in 2002, she told a legal aid symposium.
The ministry was trying to make legal aid service networks more efficient, convenient and affordable for the needy, she said.
Legal-aid spending at various government levels rose 30 percent year-on-year over the past five years and hit 520 million yuan in 2007, the ministry's figures showed.
China had 12,285 full-time legal aid personnel including 5,927 lawyers and 76,890 registered volunteers working in 3,259 legal aid organizations by the end of last year.
Legal aid organizations in China can't operate on a for-profit basis. Most of their clients are migrants, the disabled, women and minors.
The organizations' funding comes mainly from government appropriations, private donations and the free services provided by lawyers.
Source:Xinhua
The number of legal aid cases reached 420,000 in 2007, triple the 2002 figure, and lawyers offered consultations to 4.07 million people last year, 3.3 times the figure in 2002, she told a legal aid symposium.
The ministry was trying to make legal aid service networks more efficient, convenient and affordable for the needy, she said.
Legal-aid spending at various government levels rose 30 percent year-on-year over the past five years and hit 520 million yuan in 2007, the ministry's figures showed.
China had 12,285 full-time legal aid personnel including 5,927 lawyers and 76,890 registered volunteers working in 3,259 legal aid organizations by the end of last year.
Legal aid organizations in China can't operate on a for-profit basis. Most of their clients are migrants, the disabled, women and minors.
The organizations' funding comes mainly from government appropriations, private donations and the free services provided by lawyers.
Source:Xinhua
Danish products, services to be showcased in Macao
A Catalogue Show of Danish Products and Services will be held in Macao from Sept. 8 to 19, the Trade and Investment Promotion Institute of the Maocao Special Administration Region announced on Thursday.
The theme of the show, jointly organized by the Royal Danish Consulate General - Invest in Denmark and the IPIM, will be focused on investment opportunities and prospects of Denmark.
Over 40 types of Catalogues will be on display, which include travel and tourism, investment, information and communication technology, renewable energy and med-bio technology and Creative Denmark etc, according to the IPIM.
In 2007, local imports from Denmark reached 100 million patacas, including wrist watches, food and meat products, electrical appliances and smoking tobacco. Comparedwith import value of 60.6 million patacas in 2006, a 66.2 percent year-on-year increase was achieved last year. Till June 2008, total import value already reached 52.5 million patacas .
There are altogether 24 types of investment guides to various industries of Denmark, and 10 Danish companies in the areas of medical equipment and instruments, furniture, decorative lightings and pastries, are looking for product agents and distributors in Macao.
Source:Xinhua
The theme of the show, jointly organized by the Royal Danish Consulate General - Invest in Denmark and the IPIM, will be focused on investment opportunities and prospects of Denmark.
Over 40 types of Catalogues will be on display, which include travel and tourism, investment, information and communication technology, renewable energy and med-bio technology and Creative Denmark etc, according to the IPIM.
In 2007, local imports from Denmark reached 100 million patacas, including wrist watches, food and meat products, electrical appliances and smoking tobacco. Comparedwith import value of 60.6 million patacas in 2006, a 66.2 percent year-on-year increase was achieved last year. Till June 2008, total import value already reached 52.5 million patacas .
There are altogether 24 types of investment guides to various industries of Denmark, and 10 Danish companies in the areas of medical equipment and instruments, furniture, decorative lightings and pastries, are looking for product agents and distributors in Macao.
Source:Xinhua
China's central bank helps money-laundering crackdown
China's central bank said on Thursday it helped police uncover 89 money-laundering cases involving 28.8 billion yuan last year.
Nearly half of the cases were related to underground private banks, with an aggregate value of 11.4 billion yuan, said the People's Bank of China in its China Anti-Money-Laundering Report 2007.
A third of the cases were in the southern economic powerhouse of Guangdong Province. About 10 percent involved drug-related crimes, it said.
Altogether 328 cases involving 53.7 billion yuan were investigated with the help of the PBOC.
"China has established a relatively integrated system against money-laundering in the past five years," the report said, adding that the system's efficiency would be improved over the next five years.
The PBOC imposed fines totaling 26.5 million yuan on 350 institutions that didn't follow the rules about identifying customers or suspicious transactions or had problems with internal controls.
China set up an anti-money-laundering bureau in the central bank in 2003 and passed its first anti-money-laundering law in 2006. It has signed and approved all the international treaties against money laundering and funding of terrorist activities adopted by the United Nations.
Source:Xinhua
Nearly half of the cases were related to underground private banks, with an aggregate value of 11.4 billion yuan, said the People's Bank of China in its China Anti-Money-Laundering Report 2007.
A third of the cases were in the southern economic powerhouse of Guangdong Province. About 10 percent involved drug-related crimes, it said.
Altogether 328 cases involving 53.7 billion yuan were investigated with the help of the PBOC.
"China has established a relatively integrated system against money-laundering in the past five years," the report said, adding that the system's efficiency would be improved over the next five years.
The PBOC imposed fines totaling 26.5 million yuan on 350 institutions that didn't follow the rules about identifying customers or suspicious transactions or had problems with internal controls.
China set up an anti-money-laundering bureau in the central bank in 2003 and passed its first anti-money-laundering law in 2006. It has signed and approved all the international treaties against money laundering and funding of terrorist activities adopted by the United Nations.
Source:Xinhua
Beijing official apologizes to public for bad odors from dump
An official in eastern Beijing apologized to the public on Thursday for a bad-smelling garbage dump that's annoying nearby residents and promised to mitigate the odor in 20 days.
"On behalf of the government, I apologize to the residents living close to the garbage dump for the smell," Yin Xiufeng, headof the utility committee of the Beijing Chaoyang District, told a press briefing.
The Gao'antun Refuse Dump, a major facility in the eastern partof the capital, opened in 2002. It covers 40 hectares and handles 3,400 to 3,700 tons of garbage a day.
Volatile marsh gas and wet garbage contributed to the stench, Yin said.
The government will spray the refuse dump. It has installed equipment that will extract and burn the bad-smelling gas. The dump will also use waste-to-energy technology to generate electricity, he said.
As another part of the clean-up, the Chaoyang District Government will spend 91 million yuan to cover the garbage with film. The district hopes to improve the air quality within 20 days.
Over the longer term, the government will increase green space to absorb the odors. All the garbage will be processed before theyare dumped by 2012, said Yin.
Source:Xinhua
"On behalf of the government, I apologize to the residents living close to the garbage dump for the smell," Yin Xiufeng, headof the utility committee of the Beijing Chaoyang District, told a press briefing.
The Gao'antun Refuse Dump, a major facility in the eastern partof the capital, opened in 2002. It covers 40 hectares and handles 3,400 to 3,700 tons of garbage a day.
Volatile marsh gas and wet garbage contributed to the stench, Yin said.
The government will spray the refuse dump. It has installed equipment that will extract and burn the bad-smelling gas. The dump will also use waste-to-energy technology to generate electricity, he said.
As another part of the clean-up, the Chaoyang District Government will spend 91 million yuan to cover the garbage with film. The district hopes to improve the air quality within 20 days.
Over the longer term, the government will increase green space to absorb the odors. All the garbage will be processed before theyare dumped by 2012, said Yin.
Source:Xinhua
China highlights disabled people's welfare as Paralympics draws near
Chinese awareness of the welfare of its 83 million disabled population is rising as its capital prepares to host the Paralympics, which starts in two days.
During its seven years of preparation for the Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing took account of the needs of disabled people when updating public facilities.
Each of the city's 123 subway stations now has at least one entrance equipped with a wheelchair lift, according to the subwaycompany.
Beijingers are seeing more public buses with lowered doors, toilets with assistive devices and warning systems on the streets.
Parks, tourist sites, including some heritage sites like the Forbidden City, and museums have modified their facilities to be accessible for the disabled. All Chinese airports have adopted accessible designs.
Banks and post offices in some cities also provide service in sign language.
"We plan to help all households with disabled members in Beijing modify their residences before the end of 2010," said DingXiangyang, the city's vice mayor. So far, the city has extending funding for about 5,000 such households to install assistive facilities.
"I am very happy to see many disabled but smart students are now able to get a higher education," said Li Caimao, recalling his struggle to go to college 18 years ago.
Li, now an official of the Beijing government department for disabled people's affairs, had to take the annual college entry exam three times before he found a school willing to enroll him.
"At that time, many departments in colleges refused disabled students. Now it is different. Once you pass the exam, you are in," he said.
For those receiving compulsory pre-college education, the country has waived tuition and incidental expenses and given them free textbooks.
"Through these steps, many disabled children have been able to go to school and their families bore fewer financial burdens," said Ma Wanyu, a hearing disabled teacher in Jixi, a city in northeastern Heilongjiang Province.
Better education and preferential policies helped many disabledpeople find jobs and develop careers.
Radio host Yang Qingfeng, suffering from low vision, set up a radio program studio. Most of his colleagues are also vision disabled. They produce audio programs to help the blind in daily life, such as how to cook and travel.
"Being vision-disabled ourselves, we know what our audiences want to hear. For instance, we will tell them how to go somewhere at a very detailed level, such as pressing which button in the elevator," he said.
In the Paralympics, China will send its largest delegation since 1984, with 547 members including 332 athletes.
Many disabled people will serve as volunteers. In the Olympic core area, 12 wheelchair users will guide tourists and audience members. In the Paralympic Village, 10 blind massage specialists will serve athletes from across the world. At the opening and closing ceremonies, disabled artists will give the global audience wonderful performances.
Source:Xinhua
During its seven years of preparation for the Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing took account of the needs of disabled people when updating public facilities.
Each of the city's 123 subway stations now has at least one entrance equipped with a wheelchair lift, according to the subwaycompany.
Beijingers are seeing more public buses with lowered doors, toilets with assistive devices and warning systems on the streets.
Parks, tourist sites, including some heritage sites like the Forbidden City, and museums have modified their facilities to be accessible for the disabled. All Chinese airports have adopted accessible designs.
Banks and post offices in some cities also provide service in sign language.
"We plan to help all households with disabled members in Beijing modify their residences before the end of 2010," said DingXiangyang, the city's vice mayor. So far, the city has extending funding for about 5,000 such households to install assistive facilities.
"I am very happy to see many disabled but smart students are now able to get a higher education," said Li Caimao, recalling his struggle to go to college 18 years ago.
Li, now an official of the Beijing government department for disabled people's affairs, had to take the annual college entry exam three times before he found a school willing to enroll him.
"At that time, many departments in colleges refused disabled students. Now it is different. Once you pass the exam, you are in," he said.
For those receiving compulsory pre-college education, the country has waived tuition and incidental expenses and given them free textbooks.
"Through these steps, many disabled children have been able to go to school and their families bore fewer financial burdens," said Ma Wanyu, a hearing disabled teacher in Jixi, a city in northeastern Heilongjiang Province.
Better education and preferential policies helped many disabledpeople find jobs and develop careers.
Radio host Yang Qingfeng, suffering from low vision, set up a radio program studio. Most of his colleagues are also vision disabled. They produce audio programs to help the blind in daily life, such as how to cook and travel.
"Being vision-disabled ourselves, we know what our audiences want to hear. For instance, we will tell them how to go somewhere at a very detailed level, such as pressing which button in the elevator," he said.
In the Paralympics, China will send its largest delegation since 1984, with 547 members including 332 athletes.
Many disabled people will serve as volunteers. In the Olympic core area, 12 wheelchair users will guide tourists and audience members. In the Paralympic Village, 10 blind massage specialists will serve athletes from across the world. At the opening and closing ceremonies, disabled artists will give the global audience wonderful performances.
Source:Xinhua
Four NE Asian countries to start trial operations of joint sea route next month
China, Russia, the Republic of Korea and Japan signed an agreement in Changchun on Thursday establishing a joint venture that will operate a joint sea route.
The agreement was signed during the 4th Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo here in the capital of Jilin Province, northeast China.
The service, which is expected to start trial operations next month, will run 800 nautical miles from Huichun, a key port in Jilin, to Niigata in Japan via the Russian port of Zarubino and the ROK's Sokcho port. The sailing time will be about 36 hours, or one-eighth the current time.
The ROK-based joint venture has registered capital of 3 million U.S. dollars. The ROK will have a 51 percent stake, with China, Japan and Russia holding 16 percent, 16 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
The four parties have been preparing to launch the transportation "artery" since a framework agreement was reached in September 2006.
Experts said the route would strengthen economic ties among the four countries and promote economic development in northeast Asia.
Source:Xinhua
The agreement was signed during the 4th Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo here in the capital of Jilin Province, northeast China.
The service, which is expected to start trial operations next month, will run 800 nautical miles from Huichun, a key port in Jilin, to Niigata in Japan via the Russian port of Zarubino and the ROK's Sokcho port. The sailing time will be about 36 hours, or one-eighth the current time.
The ROK-based joint venture has registered capital of 3 million U.S. dollars. The ROK will have a 51 percent stake, with China, Japan and Russia holding 16 percent, 16 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
The four parties have been preparing to launch the transportation "artery" since a framework agreement was reached in September 2006.
Experts said the route would strengthen economic ties among the four countries and promote economic development in northeast Asia.
Source:Xinhua
UNFCCC chief encourages China to help Africa lay groundwork for CDM
China could be of tremendous assistance if it works with African countries wishing to lay necessary groundwork for the Clean Development Mechanism , UNFCCC executive secretary Yvo de Boer told Xinhua during the first Africa Carbon Forum in Dakar.
"China has been very successful in encouraging private sector participation in CDM. A good part of that success is due to the government's decision to pursue CDM, and its success in laying the policy and procedural groundwork for CDM," said de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change .
The CDM is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol, allowing 40industrialized countries with greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emission in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.
According to de Boer, Africa is the continent hit the hardest by climate change. There are to date more than 1,150 CDM projects in 49 countries, but just 27 of these are in Africa.
"Outside Africa, the CDM has been a great success. It has provided an important source of investment and financial flows for clean development, it has stimulated technology transfer and two percent of credits issued under the CDM are going toward adaptation to climate change," de Boer said at the opening ceremony of the Africa Carbon Forum in Dakar which is held on September 3-5.
The three-day forum, being held under the umbrella of the Nairobi Framework initiative to expand the reach of the CDM, will combine a carbon investment Trade Fair, a conference and a policy forum as well as targeted capacity building on the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol for climate change officials and carbon market participants in Africa.
The international carbon market and initiatives like the Kyoto Protocol's CDM are important tools for stimulating that investment.
There are many challenges for Africa to attract investment to pursue a green path to development, as well as the resources to adapt to inevitable effects of climate change.
De Boer said African countries have enormous potential in CDM projects, so if they could establish a clear policy to inspire private sector investors' confidence, "we are seeing an increase in the CDM projects on the continent."
The executive secretary also told Xinhua that China is acutely aware of the threat posed by climate change and is already taking steps to reduce emission.
The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol will end in 2012. The countries of the world have pledged to negotiate a follow-on agreement. These negotiations are going on now, and exactly what shape the agreement will take will not be known until December 2009, in Copenhagen, Demark.
Source:Xinhua
"China has been very successful in encouraging private sector participation in CDM. A good part of that success is due to the government's decision to pursue CDM, and its success in laying the policy and procedural groundwork for CDM," said de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change .
The CDM is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol, allowing 40industrialized countries with greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emission in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.
According to de Boer, Africa is the continent hit the hardest by climate change. There are to date more than 1,150 CDM projects in 49 countries, but just 27 of these are in Africa.
"Outside Africa, the CDM has been a great success. It has provided an important source of investment and financial flows for clean development, it has stimulated technology transfer and two percent of credits issued under the CDM are going toward adaptation to climate change," de Boer said at the opening ceremony of the Africa Carbon Forum in Dakar which is held on September 3-5.
The three-day forum, being held under the umbrella of the Nairobi Framework initiative to expand the reach of the CDM, will combine a carbon investment Trade Fair, a conference and a policy forum as well as targeted capacity building on the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol for climate change officials and carbon market participants in Africa.
The international carbon market and initiatives like the Kyoto Protocol's CDM are important tools for stimulating that investment.
There are many challenges for Africa to attract investment to pursue a green path to development, as well as the resources to adapt to inevitable effects of climate change.
De Boer said African countries have enormous potential in CDM projects, so if they could establish a clear policy to inspire private sector investors' confidence, "we are seeing an increase in the CDM projects on the continent."
The executive secretary also told Xinhua that China is acutely aware of the threat posed by climate change and is already taking steps to reduce emission.
The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol will end in 2012. The countries of the world have pledged to negotiate a follow-on agreement. These negotiations are going on now, and exactly what shape the agreement will take will not be known until December 2009, in Copenhagen, Demark.
Source:Xinhua
China economy "slowing but resilient," HSBC report says
China's economy will maintain strong growth thanks to resilient investment and exports and the government's strong fiscal position, an HSBC report said on Wednesday.
Fixed-asset investment will remain resilient despite the sluggish property sector because there is still plenty of room for more investment in infrastructure such as mass transit networks, said the global banking group in "China Economic Spotlight". For example, only 15 of 660 cities in China have or are building subway systems.
Real growth in urban fixed-asset investment has slowed from 22 percent year-on-year in 2007 but was "still over 17 percent year-on-year" in the first seven months of this year, according to the report.
Export growth eased to 22.7 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2008 from 28.7 percent a year earlier.
"China's exports to the United States and European Union are expected to dip further in coming quarters, but exports to other global emerging markets should remain strong, providing a floor to the slowing but still resilient export sector," said the report.
The government, which is still in a good fiscal position, can prevent growth from slowing below 8 percent to 9 percent by boosting spending or cutting taxes, it noted. Government revenues grew 32.4 percent in 2007.
China's economic growth decelerated in the past three quarters, from 11.3 percent in the last quarter of 2007 to 10.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and 10.1 percent in the second quarter.
Source:Xinhua
Fixed-asset investment will remain resilient despite the sluggish property sector because there is still plenty of room for more investment in infrastructure such as mass transit networks, said the global banking group in "China Economic Spotlight". For example, only 15 of 660 cities in China have or are building subway systems.
Real growth in urban fixed-asset investment has slowed from 22 percent year-on-year in 2007 but was "still over 17 percent year-on-year" in the first seven months of this year, according to the report.
Export growth eased to 22.7 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2008 from 28.7 percent a year earlier.
"China's exports to the United States and European Union are expected to dip further in coming quarters, but exports to other global emerging markets should remain strong, providing a floor to the slowing but still resilient export sector," said the report.
The government, which is still in a good fiscal position, can prevent growth from slowing below 8 percent to 9 percent by boosting spending or cutting taxes, it noted. Government revenues grew 32.4 percent in 2007.
China's economic growth decelerated in the past three quarters, from 11.3 percent in the last quarter of 2007 to 10.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and 10.1 percent in the second quarter.
Source:Xinhua
$2.3b bid for Huiyuan
The world's biggest beverage maker Coca-Cola has offered to buy China's Huiyuan Juice for $2.3 billion, 300 percent more than its last closing price.
The Atlanta-based company would acquire Hong Kong-listed Huiyuan for HK$17.9 billion, or 12.20 cents per share - almost triple Huiyuan's Friday closing price of HK$4.14. Huiyuan shares soared 164.3 percent yesterday to close at HK$10.94.
Stock analysts in China said the high offer price reflects the premium on Huiyuan's brand in the Chinese market.
"The offer was not overly generous considering the potential for Coca-Cola as owner of the brand," Huang Dejun, general manager of Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant Co Ltd, said.
Huang said Huiyuan will likely try to catapult onto the global market via Coca-Cola's network.
The global beverage maker said it will use its brand to develop Huiyuan, if the bid is successful.
Brenda Lee, Coca-Cola's public affairs director, said the price was reasonable, based on its own market research.
"Huiyuan is a long-established and successful juice brand in China and is highly complementary to the Coca-Cola China business," Muhtar Kent, president of Coca-Cola Co, said.
Beijing-based Huiyuan is the largest fruit juice company in China, with a share of over 46 percent in the 100 percent pure juice market last year, according to ACNielsen figures.
It posted sales revenue of 2.7 billion yuan in 2007. The company held an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange last year.
"The acquisition will deliver value to our shareholders and provide a unique opportunity to strengthen our business in China, especially since the juice segment is so dynamic and fast-growing in China," Kent said.
China's juice consumption is increasing, but juice beverages still account for less than 10 percent of the overall beverage market, Huang said.
But he expects that figure will reach 40 percent in 10 years, based on the average 50 percent market share in developed countries.
Analysts said Coca-Cola's lackluster performance in North America has spurred its aggressive expansion in the growing Chinese market.
It posted a 9 percent drop in operating income in North America in the second quarter on higher costs at its finished goods businesses.
But its unit case volume in China, by contrast, increased 13 percent in the same period, according to its interim financial report.
Source: China Daily
The Atlanta-based company would acquire Hong Kong-listed Huiyuan for HK$17.9 billion, or 12.20 cents per share - almost triple Huiyuan's Friday closing price of HK$4.14. Huiyuan shares soared 164.3 percent yesterday to close at HK$10.94.
Stock analysts in China said the high offer price reflects the premium on Huiyuan's brand in the Chinese market.
"The offer was not overly generous considering the potential for Coca-Cola as owner of the brand," Huang Dejun, general manager of Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant Co Ltd, said.
Huang said Huiyuan will likely try to catapult onto the global market via Coca-Cola's network.
The global beverage maker said it will use its brand to develop Huiyuan, if the bid is successful.
Brenda Lee, Coca-Cola's public affairs director, said the price was reasonable, based on its own market research.
"Huiyuan is a long-established and successful juice brand in China and is highly complementary to the Coca-Cola China business," Muhtar Kent, president of Coca-Cola Co, said.
Beijing-based Huiyuan is the largest fruit juice company in China, with a share of over 46 percent in the 100 percent pure juice market last year, according to ACNielsen figures.
It posted sales revenue of 2.7 billion yuan in 2007. The company held an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange last year.
"The acquisition will deliver value to our shareholders and provide a unique opportunity to strengthen our business in China, especially since the juice segment is so dynamic and fast-growing in China," Kent said.
China's juice consumption is increasing, but juice beverages still account for less than 10 percent of the overall beverage market, Huang said.
But he expects that figure will reach 40 percent in 10 years, based on the average 50 percent market share in developed countries.
Analysts said Coca-Cola's lackluster performance in North America has spurred its aggressive expansion in the growing Chinese market.
It posted a 9 percent drop in operating income in North America in the second quarter on higher costs at its finished goods businesses.
But its unit case volume in China, by contrast, increased 13 percent in the same period, according to its interim financial report.
Source: China Daily
Soybean output set to increase
The government will ramp up soybean production and guide development of the soybean processing industry to reduce reliance on imports, the National Development and Reform Commission said yesterday.
Last year, China imported 30.82 million tons of soybeans, accounting for 40.9 percent of the world's total soybean trade and pushing up the country's dependence on imports to 78.7 percent, according to a guideline for the soybean processing industry released yesterday by the NDRC.
Analysts said this heavy dependence on imports made the domestic grain market more vulnerable to international pricing volatility and contributed to the country's high CPI this year.
Wei Chaoan, vice-minister of agriculture, said earlier that the government would release preferential policies to spur farmers to boost soybean output.
This year, China's soybean planting area increased 1.06 million hectares from a year ago and will reach 9.65 million hectares. Output is expected to rise to 17.5 million metric tons, up 36.7 percent from 2007, the China National Grain and Oils Information Center said in a monthly forecast last month.
The country's efforts to develop new strains of high-yield soybean seeds and introduce advanced planting technologies are also expected to boost output, according to Han Tianfu, a researcher with the institute of crop science under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Earlier reports said the average yield per unit of land in Heilongjiang province, a major soybean producer, is expected to increase by 25.4 percent from a year ago on good weather and improved technologies.
The government should also reduce soybean oil extraction capacity and upgrade the industrial structure to ensure sound development of the processing industry, the guideline said.
Rapid growth of the soybean extraction industry in the past few years led to excess production capacity of 77 million tons in 2007, but the operation rate across the industry was only 44.2 percent, the NDRC said.
The guideline stipulates soybean extraction capacity should be under 75 million tons a year by 2010, and further reduced to 65 million tons a year until 2012.
The NDRC also urged the soybean processing industry be upgraded through mergers and reform, and major soybean processors be set up in the coastal region.
The guideline also sets out stringent environment protection rules for soybean processors, requiring energy and water consumption be reduced by 15 and 30 percent respectively by 2012.
Source: China Daily
Last year, China imported 30.82 million tons of soybeans, accounting for 40.9 percent of the world's total soybean trade and pushing up the country's dependence on imports to 78.7 percent, according to a guideline for the soybean processing industry released yesterday by the NDRC.
Analysts said this heavy dependence on imports made the domestic grain market more vulnerable to international pricing volatility and contributed to the country's high CPI this year.
Wei Chaoan, vice-minister of agriculture, said earlier that the government would release preferential policies to spur farmers to boost soybean output.
This year, China's soybean planting area increased 1.06 million hectares from a year ago and will reach 9.65 million hectares. Output is expected to rise to 17.5 million metric tons, up 36.7 percent from 2007, the China National Grain and Oils Information Center said in a monthly forecast last month.
The country's efforts to develop new strains of high-yield soybean seeds and introduce advanced planting technologies are also expected to boost output, according to Han Tianfu, a researcher with the institute of crop science under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Earlier reports said the average yield per unit of land in Heilongjiang province, a major soybean producer, is expected to increase by 25.4 percent from a year ago on good weather and improved technologies.
The government should also reduce soybean oil extraction capacity and upgrade the industrial structure to ensure sound development of the processing industry, the guideline said.
Rapid growth of the soybean extraction industry in the past few years led to excess production capacity of 77 million tons in 2007, but the operation rate across the industry was only 44.2 percent, the NDRC said.
The guideline stipulates soybean extraction capacity should be under 75 million tons a year by 2010, and further reduced to 65 million tons a year until 2012.
The NDRC also urged the soybean processing industry be upgraded through mergers and reform, and major soybean processors be set up in the coastal region.
The guideline also sets out stringent environment protection rules for soybean processors, requiring energy and water consumption be reduced by 15 and 30 percent respectively by 2012.
Source: China Daily
Budget airline moves to slash baggage limit
China's only budget carrier Spring Airlines wants to charge passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg.
The airline has applied to the air transport authority to start charging the fee, but did not disclose the amount.
It said earlier this week it hopes the proposed charge will encourage passengers to travel light and help the airline to save fuel, which accounts for about 50 percent of its operating costs.
Spring also said increased fuel prices are hurting revenue. It posted a net profit of 80 million yuan for 2007.
Zhang Lei, a spokesman for Spring Airlines, said the proposed charges would be paid by all passengers with bags that weigh over 5 kg - including check-in luggage.
Major Chinese airlines allow a standard 20-kg baggage allowance in accordance with Civil Aviation Administration of China regulations.
Industry insiders noted that Spring's move is yet to be approved, and other Chinese carriers haven't indicated they will follow suit.
China's private and State-owned airlines are feeling the pinch amid weakening demand and rising costs, despite the recent drop in oil prices.
Carriers are trying to find ways to keep costs down as they brace for an expected downturn in the aviation industry.
"Fewer people are traveling at the moment after the snowstorm and earthquake in the first half, followed by the Olympics," Li Shurong, an analyst from Shenyin Wanguo Securities, said.
Spring has also scrapped its 30-yuan discount on online flight bookings.
"Spring's occupancy rate is now at 95 percent, but we had to lower our fares by 20 percent," Zhang said, adding that the airline's current fares are the lowest since its maiden flight in July 2005.
Last month, China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines posted dismal results for the first half.
Li said China's main carriers are bracing for more of the same in the second half, given lackluster third-quarter demand - usually the peak season for travel.
Source: China Daily
The airline has applied to the air transport authority to start charging the fee, but did not disclose the amount.
It said earlier this week it hopes the proposed charge will encourage passengers to travel light and help the airline to save fuel, which accounts for about 50 percent of its operating costs.
Spring also said increased fuel prices are hurting revenue. It posted a net profit of 80 million yuan for 2007.
Zhang Lei, a spokesman for Spring Airlines, said the proposed charges would be paid by all passengers with bags that weigh over 5 kg - including check-in luggage.
Major Chinese airlines allow a standard 20-kg baggage allowance in accordance with Civil Aviation Administration of China regulations.
Industry insiders noted that Spring's move is yet to be approved, and other Chinese carriers haven't indicated they will follow suit.
China's private and State-owned airlines are feeling the pinch amid weakening demand and rising costs, despite the recent drop in oil prices.
Carriers are trying to find ways to keep costs down as they brace for an expected downturn in the aviation industry.
"Fewer people are traveling at the moment after the snowstorm and earthquake in the first half, followed by the Olympics," Li Shurong, an analyst from Shenyin Wanguo Securities, said.
Spring has also scrapped its 30-yuan discount on online flight bookings.
"Spring's occupancy rate is now at 95 percent, but we had to lower our fares by 20 percent," Zhang said, adding that the airline's current fares are the lowest since its maiden flight in July 2005.
Last month, China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines posted dismal results for the first half.
Li said China's main carriers are bracing for more of the same in the second half, given lackluster third-quarter demand - usually the peak season for travel.
Source: China Daily
Nation's clean energy market brings new investors
US entrepreneur Tom Watson doesn't regret not investing in China over the past three decades. "Time was not on our side then," said Watson, whose company sells air filtration systems.
"But we can catch up now." Watson is in China with a US delegation seeking clean energy and environmental investment opportunities in China and India. US Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Bohigian is leading the delegation of 19 US companies.
Watson's Filter One designs and manufactures industrial air filtration systems for the likes of military bases in the United States, airlines, and aircraft and engine manufacturers such as Boeing and GE. It employs less than 50 people.
"Our experience in the industry over the years will help us find more opportunities in China," Watson said.
But Filter One is a latecomer to China's clean energy and environment sector. Helix Micro, an energy conservation company based in the Silicon Valley, saw the opportunity earlier.
"The market potential in China is so huge and our revenue is expected to soar by 100-fold next year from last year's $1 million," Wu Bing, its president, said.
Helix Micro's business includes energy storage and transmission, but its focus is batteries.
In China, it's targeting laptop and electric bicycle batteries. Wu expects the two sectors to bring the company huge opportunities.
Several domestic laptop producers have shown interest in the company's technology so that they can make their own batteries and reduce manufacturing costs, Wu said.
The technology can also extend the life of electric bicycles, which would make locally produced bikes more competitive on the market, he said.
"We're talking with leading PC maker Lenovo for the use of that technology," Wu said. "We're also negotiating with electric bicycle manufacturers."
Watson will travel with the US delegation from Beijing to Jinan in Shandong province and to Shanghai. From there they will fly to India - another big market for renewable energy.
"The 19 companies participating in this mission represent the cutting edge of US innovation, which can benefit China and India to meet their massive energy demand while improving environment quality," Bohigian said.
Statistics suggest China's clean technology market will increase to $186 billion by 2010 and $555 billion by 2020. China and the US signed a 10-year agreement to cooperate on energy and environmental protection at the strategic economic dialogue held in July.
The two governments agreed to increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution, calling for cooperation on a range of issues - from energy efficiency in power generation, transport and water treatment to reducing air pollution and preserving wetlands and forests.
Han Wenke, president of the energy research institute under the National Development and Reform Commission, said China and the US should cooperate to tackle rising energy costs.
He said it is crucial to make existing or new technologies affordable.
"New technologies can reduce energy consumption and they are especially vital for big energy consumers like China and the US ," Han said.
Covanta Energy Corp is also expanding its business in China, targeting the Bohai Rim, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. A subsidiary of Covanta Holding Corp, it runs large-scale energy-from-waste and renewable energy projects.
"Although we haven't got wholly owned plants in China, we still wish to share our world-leading technologies and innovation abilities with our Chinese partners," Joe O. Neuhof III, director of business development at Covanta Energy, said.
Covanta Energy entered China in April 2007 when it bought a 40 percent stake in Chongqing Sanfeng Environmental Industry Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Chongqing Iron & Steel Ltd.
Source: China Daily
"But we can catch up now." Watson is in China with a US delegation seeking clean energy and environmental investment opportunities in China and India. US Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Bohigian is leading the delegation of 19 US companies.
Watson's Filter One designs and manufactures industrial air filtration systems for the likes of military bases in the United States, airlines, and aircraft and engine manufacturers such as Boeing and GE. It employs less than 50 people.
"Our experience in the industry over the years will help us find more opportunities in China," Watson said.
But Filter One is a latecomer to China's clean energy and environment sector. Helix Micro, an energy conservation company based in the Silicon Valley, saw the opportunity earlier.
"The market potential in China is so huge and our revenue is expected to soar by 100-fold next year from last year's $1 million," Wu Bing, its president, said.
Helix Micro's business includes energy storage and transmission, but its focus is batteries.
In China, it's targeting laptop and electric bicycle batteries. Wu expects the two sectors to bring the company huge opportunities.
Several domestic laptop producers have shown interest in the company's technology so that they can make their own batteries and reduce manufacturing costs, Wu said.
The technology can also extend the life of electric bicycles, which would make locally produced bikes more competitive on the market, he said.
"We're talking with leading PC maker Lenovo for the use of that technology," Wu said. "We're also negotiating with electric bicycle manufacturers."
Watson will travel with the US delegation from Beijing to Jinan in Shandong province and to Shanghai. From there they will fly to India - another big market for renewable energy.
"The 19 companies participating in this mission represent the cutting edge of US innovation, which can benefit China and India to meet their massive energy demand while improving environment quality," Bohigian said.
Statistics suggest China's clean technology market will increase to $186 billion by 2010 and $555 billion by 2020. China and the US signed a 10-year agreement to cooperate on energy and environmental protection at the strategic economic dialogue held in July.
The two governments agreed to increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution, calling for cooperation on a range of issues - from energy efficiency in power generation, transport and water treatment to reducing air pollution and preserving wetlands and forests.
Han Wenke, president of the energy research institute under the National Development and Reform Commission, said China and the US should cooperate to tackle rising energy costs.
He said it is crucial to make existing or new technologies affordable.
"New technologies can reduce energy consumption and they are especially vital for big energy consumers like China and the US ," Han said.
Covanta Energy Corp is also expanding its business in China, targeting the Bohai Rim, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. A subsidiary of Covanta Holding Corp, it runs large-scale energy-from-waste and renewable energy projects.
"Although we haven't got wholly owned plants in China, we still wish to share our world-leading technologies and innovation abilities with our Chinese partners," Joe O. Neuhof III, director of business development at Covanta Energy, said.
Covanta Energy entered China in April 2007 when it bought a 40 percent stake in Chongqing Sanfeng Environmental Industry Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Chongqing Iron & Steel Ltd.
Source: China Daily
Steel giant unveiled in China after major merger
China has launched a steel-making project in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that will have an annual production capacity of 30 million tons, with the formal establishment of the Guangxi Iron and Steel Group on Wednesday.
The group is a joint venture between Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, China's fourth largest steel maker based in Hubei Province, and the Guangxi regional administration of state-owned assets.
Wuhan Iron and Steel Group is holding a 80 percent stake, in the form of cash input, in the new group.
The Guangxi regional administration of state-owned assets shall hold a 20 percent stake, in the form of all the net assets of its Liuzhou Iron and Steel Group.
The new group expects to begin building its plant in December in Fangchenggang, a major port in Guangxi.
Ma Biao, the Guangxi governor, said he hoped the first production line would be completed in 30 months and fully operational in 50 months.
The coastal plant shall have an initial annual capacity of 10 million tons. Its capacity will be eventually expanded to 30 million tons, at a total cost of about 205 billion yuan .
The two partners will shut 9.1 million tons of obsolete steel-making capacity and 5.41 million tons of obsolete iron-making capacity.
The inauguration of the new group marks another milestone in the reorganizing of China's steel, following similar cases in Guangdong, Shandong and Hebei provinces.
These moves will strengthen the sector's competitiveness, said Xiong Bilin, deputy director of the Industrial Development Department of the State Planning and Development Commission.
The new plant is "the largest iron and steel project in the West China Development Scheme. It reflects the shift of the industry from the inland to the coastal areas," he said.
China's iron and steel companies are shifting to coastal areas, in part to cut transport costs.
Source: Xinhua
The group is a joint venture between Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, China's fourth largest steel maker based in Hubei Province, and the Guangxi regional administration of state-owned assets.
Wuhan Iron and Steel Group is holding a 80 percent stake, in the form of cash input, in the new group.
The Guangxi regional administration of state-owned assets shall hold a 20 percent stake, in the form of all the net assets of its Liuzhou Iron and Steel Group.
The new group expects to begin building its plant in December in Fangchenggang, a major port in Guangxi.
Ma Biao, the Guangxi governor, said he hoped the first production line would be completed in 30 months and fully operational in 50 months.
The coastal plant shall have an initial annual capacity of 10 million tons. Its capacity will be eventually expanded to 30 million tons, at a total cost of about 205 billion yuan .
The two partners will shut 9.1 million tons of obsolete steel-making capacity and 5.41 million tons of obsolete iron-making capacity.
The inauguration of the new group marks another milestone in the reorganizing of China's steel, following similar cases in Guangdong, Shandong and Hebei provinces.
These moves will strengthen the sector's competitiveness, said Xiong Bilin, deputy director of the Industrial Development Department of the State Planning and Development Commission.
The new plant is "the largest iron and steel project in the West China Development Scheme. It reflects the shift of the industry from the inland to the coastal areas," he said.
China's iron and steel companies are shifting to coastal areas, in part to cut transport costs.
Source: Xinhua
China's sole budget carrier scraps plan to slash baggage limit
China's only budget airline Spring Airlines has abandoned a plan to charge passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg, an airline spokesman said on Thursday.
Zhang Lei, spokesman for the Shanghai-based airline, said the company had abandoned its plan to slash its baggage limit from 15 kg to five kg because most passengers would not accept such a limit.
"We had such a plan to charge passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg, and we contacted officials with the air transport authority. But now we have decided to give up the plan since most passengers will not accept it," Zhang said.
Earlier in the day, the English language newspaper China Daily reported Spring Airlines had applied to the air transport authority to start charging passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg.
The airline said such a plan was aimed to help the airline to save fuel, which accounted for about 50 percent of its operating costs, according to the daily.
Major Chinese airlines allow a standard 20-kg baggage allowance in accordance with Civil Aviation Administration of China regulations. Spring Airlines had already cut baggage allowance from 20 kg to 15 kg.
China's private and state-owned airlines are feeling the pinch amid weakening demand and rising costs. Carriers are trying to find ways to keep costs down as they brace for an expected downturn in the aviation industry.
Source: Xinhua
Zhang Lei, spokesman for the Shanghai-based airline, said the company had abandoned its plan to slash its baggage limit from 15 kg to five kg because most passengers would not accept such a limit.
"We had such a plan to charge passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg, and we contacted officials with the air transport authority. But now we have decided to give up the plan since most passengers will not accept it," Zhang said.
Earlier in the day, the English language newspaper China Daily reported Spring Airlines had applied to the air transport authority to start charging passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg.
The airline said such a plan was aimed to help the airline to save fuel, which accounted for about 50 percent of its operating costs, according to the daily.
Major Chinese airlines allow a standard 20-kg baggage allowance in accordance with Civil Aviation Administration of China regulations. Spring Airlines had already cut baggage allowance from 20 kg to 15 kg.
China's private and state-owned airlines are feeling the pinch amid weakening demand and rising costs. Carriers are trying to find ways to keep costs down as they brace for an expected downturn in the aviation industry.
Source: Xinhua
China has world's largest domestic tourism market
In 2007, China's total tourism revenue reached 1,09 trillion yuan, exceeding one trillion yuan for the first time. China now has one of the largest tourism markets in the world, said Wang Zhifa, deputy director of National Tourism Administration.
By the end of 2007, China had 18,000 travel agencies, 13,000 star-rated hotels and over 20,000 Scenic Spots. The number of undergraduate students majoring in tourism reached 730,000; the direct tourism practitioner were more than 10 million and the indirect tourism practitioner were over 49 million.
A large-scaled modern tourism industry with solid-foundation has been preliminarily established.
Moreover, thanks to rising income and improved salaried vacation system, China's total tourist arrivals reached 1,783 million in 2007.
Meanwhile, the tourist flow between January and July in 2008 increased by 2% than the same period of last year.
China has world's largest domestic tourism market. The inbound tourism and the outbound tourism both get a well development. The number of inbound tourists rose from 1,809,000 person-time in 1978 to 132 million person-time in 2007 with the foreign exchange earnings from tourism increasing by 159 times.
In 2015, China will be the largest tour destination as well as the fourth-largest tourist resource country in the world.
By People's Daily Online
By the end of 2007, China had 18,000 travel agencies, 13,000 star-rated hotels and over 20,000 Scenic Spots. The number of undergraduate students majoring in tourism reached 730,000; the direct tourism practitioner were more than 10 million and the indirect tourism practitioner were over 49 million.
A large-scaled modern tourism industry with solid-foundation has been preliminarily established.
Moreover, thanks to rising income and improved salaried vacation system, China's total tourist arrivals reached 1,783 million in 2007.
Meanwhile, the tourist flow between January and July in 2008 increased by 2% than the same period of last year.
China has world's largest domestic tourism market. The inbound tourism and the outbound tourism both get a well development. The number of inbound tourists rose from 1,809,000 person-time in 1978 to 132 million person-time in 2007 with the foreign exchange earnings from tourism increasing by 159 times.
In 2015, China will be the largest tour destination as well as the fourth-largest tourist resource country in the world.
By People's Daily Online
ICBC's overseas assets exceed 43 billion U.S. dollars
By the end of June 2008, the foreign institutional assets of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China had already exceeded 43 billion US dollars, an increase of 22% from the early time this year.
It is learnt that during the first half year, the overseas institutions of ICBC have posted profit of 240 million US Dollars after provisions, a growth of 42% over the same period of last year.
Among which, the net income from service charge and commission remittance amounted to more than 90 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 28%. At the same time, the non-performing loan rate of the overseas institutions was 0.49%, a drop of 0.15 percentage points compare with that at the beginning of this year.
By People's Daily Online
It is learnt that during the first half year, the overseas institutions of ICBC have posted profit of 240 million US Dollars after provisions, a growth of 42% over the same period of last year.
Among which, the net income from service charge and commission remittance amounted to more than 90 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 28%. At the same time, the non-performing loan rate of the overseas institutions was 0.49%, a drop of 0.15 percentage points compare with that at the beginning of this year.
By People's Daily Online
Coca-cola bids $2.3b for Huiyuan
The world's biggest beverage maker Coca-Cola has offered to buy China's Huiyuan Juice for $2.3 billion, 300 percent more than its last closing price.
The Atlanta-based company would acquire Hong Kong-listed Huiyuan for HK$17.9 billion, or 12.20 cents per share - almost triple Huiyuan's Friday closing price of HK$4.14. Huiyuan shares soared 164.3 percent yesterday to close at HK$10.94.
Huiyuan juice and bottles of Coca-cola on sale at a super market in Yichang, Hubei province, on September 3, 2008. The world's biggest beverage maker Coca-Cola has offered to buy China's Huiyuan Juice for $2.3 billion, 300 percent more than its last closing price.
Stock analysts in China said the high offer price reflects the premium on Huiyuan's brand in the Chinese market.
"The offer was not overly generous considering the potential for Coca-Cola as owner of the brand," Huang Dejun, general manager of Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant Co Ltd, said.
Huang said Huiyuan will likely try to catapult onto the global market via Coca-Cola's network.
The global beverage maker said it will use its brand to develop Huiyuan, if the bid is successful.
Brenda Lee, Coca-Cola's public affairs director, said the price was reasonable, based on its own market research.
"Huiyuan is a long-established and successful juice brand in China and is highly complementary to the Coca-Cola China business," Muhtar Kent, president of Coca-Cola Co, said.
Beijing-based Huiyuan is the largest fruit juice company in China, with a share of over 46 percent in the 100 percent pure juice market last year, according to ACNielsen figures.
It posted sales revenue of 2.7 billion yuan in 2007. The company held an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange last year.
"The acquisition will deliver value to our shareholders and provide a unique opportunity to strengthen our business in China, especially since the juice segment is so dynamic and fast-growing in China," Kent said.
China's juice consumption is increasing, but juice beverages still account for less than 10 percent of the overall beverage market, Huang said.
But he expects that figure will reach 40 percent in 10 years, based on the average 50 percent market share in developed countries.
Analysts said Coca-Cola's lackluster performance in North America has spurred its aggressive expansion in the growing Chinese market.
It posted a 9 percent drop in operating income in North America in the second quarter on higher costs at its finished goods businesses.
But its unit case volume in China, by contrast, increased 13 percent in the same period, according to its interim financial report.
Source:Xinhua
The Atlanta-based company would acquire Hong Kong-listed Huiyuan for HK$17.9 billion, or 12.20 cents per share - almost triple Huiyuan's Friday closing price of HK$4.14. Huiyuan shares soared 164.3 percent yesterday to close at HK$10.94.
Huiyuan juice and bottles of Coca-cola on sale at a super market in Yichang, Hubei province, on September 3, 2008. The world's biggest beverage maker Coca-Cola has offered to buy China's Huiyuan Juice for $2.3 billion, 300 percent more than its last closing price.
Stock analysts in China said the high offer price reflects the premium on Huiyuan's brand in the Chinese market.
"The offer was not overly generous considering the potential for Coca-Cola as owner of the brand," Huang Dejun, general manager of Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant Co Ltd, said.
Huang said Huiyuan will likely try to catapult onto the global market via Coca-Cola's network.
The global beverage maker said it will use its brand to develop Huiyuan, if the bid is successful.
Brenda Lee, Coca-Cola's public affairs director, said the price was reasonable, based on its own market research.
"Huiyuan is a long-established and successful juice brand in China and is highly complementary to the Coca-Cola China business," Muhtar Kent, president of Coca-Cola Co, said.
Beijing-based Huiyuan is the largest fruit juice company in China, with a share of over 46 percent in the 100 percent pure juice market last year, according to ACNielsen figures.
It posted sales revenue of 2.7 billion yuan in 2007. The company held an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange last year.
"The acquisition will deliver value to our shareholders and provide a unique opportunity to strengthen our business in China, especially since the juice segment is so dynamic and fast-growing in China," Kent said.
China's juice consumption is increasing, but juice beverages still account for less than 10 percent of the overall beverage market, Huang said.
But he expects that figure will reach 40 percent in 10 years, based on the average 50 percent market share in developed countries.
Analysts said Coca-Cola's lackluster performance in North America has spurred its aggressive expansion in the growing Chinese market.
It posted a 9 percent drop in operating income in North America in the second quarter on higher costs at its finished goods businesses.
But its unit case volume in China, by contrast, increased 13 percent in the same period, according to its interim financial report.
Source:Xinhua
Chinese shares gain first time in four days, driven by metal, agriculture stocks
Chinese equities edged up 0.03 percent on Thursday, rising for the first time in four days, driven up by metal and agriculture shares.
The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.03 percent, or 0.74 points, to 2,277.41. In Shenzhen, the market added 0.81 percent, or 60.05 points, to close at 7,473.6.
Aggregate turnover shrank to 38.99 billion yuan from 49.1 billion yuan on the previous trading. It was slightly higher than a 21-month low of 38.9 billion yuan on Tuesday.
Gains outnumbered losses by 608-236 in Shanghai and 502-197 in Shenzhen.
Source:Xinhua
The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.03 percent, or 0.74 points, to 2,277.41. In Shenzhen, the market added 0.81 percent, or 60.05 points, to close at 7,473.6.
Aggregate turnover shrank to 38.99 billion yuan from 49.1 billion yuan on the previous trading. It was slightly higher than a 21-month low of 38.9 billion yuan on Tuesday.
Gains outnumbered losses by 608-236 in Shanghai and 502-197 in Shenzhen.
Source:Xinhua
Taiwan stocks tumble to new low in 2 years
Taiwan stocks fell sharply Thursday, setting a fresh low in two years, according to local media reports reaching Thursday from Taipei.
The benchmark weighted index opened 50.26 points, or 0.76 percent, lower at 6,534.67 and once bounced 18.17 points, or 0.27 percent, to the day's highest 6,603.1.
Market succumbed to huge selling orders, plunging as much as 200.79 points, or 3.05 percent, to the day's lowest 6,384.14 before trimming losses to 172.3 points, or 2.61 percent, to close at 6,412.63.
Turnover went down slightly to 91.2 billion New Taiwan dollars from Wednesday's 91.7 billion New Taiwan dollars .
All major stock categories fell. Foodstuff issues were the hardest hit sector by diving 5.7 percent. Textile stocks plunged 5. 2 percent. Construction issues tumbled 4.3 percent. Banking and financial shares slumped 4 percent. Cement stocks fell 3.1 percent. Paper and pulp issues lost 2.6 percent. Machinery and electronics shares shed 2.1 percent. Plastics and chemicals shares slid 1.9 percent.
Declining stocks greatly outnumbered advancers 1,681 to 339, with 353 stocks unchanged.
Source:Xinhua
The benchmark weighted index opened 50.26 points, or 0.76 percent, lower at 6,534.67 and once bounced 18.17 points, or 0.27 percent, to the day's highest 6,603.1.
Market succumbed to huge selling orders, plunging as much as 200.79 points, or 3.05 percent, to the day's lowest 6,384.14 before trimming losses to 172.3 points, or 2.61 percent, to close at 6,412.63.
Turnover went down slightly to 91.2 billion New Taiwan dollars from Wednesday's 91.7 billion New Taiwan dollars .
All major stock categories fell. Foodstuff issues were the hardest hit sector by diving 5.7 percent. Textile stocks plunged 5. 2 percent. Construction issues tumbled 4.3 percent. Banking and financial shares slumped 4 percent. Cement stocks fell 3.1 percent. Paper and pulp issues lost 2.6 percent. Machinery and electronics shares shed 2.1 percent. Plastics and chemicals shares slid 1.9 percent.
Declining stocks greatly outnumbered advancers 1,681 to 339, with 353 stocks unchanged.
Source:Xinhua
Chinese shares creep higher, driven by rally in metal shares
Chinese equities edged up on Thursday after three days of losses, but volume shrank as investor confidence remained weak, analysts said.
The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.03 percent, or 0.74 points, to 2,277.41. In Shenzhen, the market added 0.81 percent, or 60.05 points, to close at 7,473.6.
Aggregate turnover fell to 38.99 billion yuan from 49.1 billion yuan on the previous trading day. It was only slightly higher than a 21-month low of 38.9 billion yuan on Tuesday.
Gains outnumbered losses by 608-236 in Shanghai and 502-197 in Shenzhen.
Analysts said there was increasingly a wait-and-see attitude among investors as their confidence was badly hurt by the heavy, prolonged slump.
The rally in metal shares, which were previously oversold, provided a boost to the index and it was a result of a market correction, a Huatai Securities analyst said. The rally was also boosted by an overnight rebound in metal future prices.
Zhongjin Gold Corp. shares rose 2.03 percent to 27.69 yuan and Aluminum Corporation of China gained 1.14 percent to 9.72 yuan.
Agriculture shares gained after the Ministry of Agriculture announced a guideline on Thursday to increase the output of 16 crops. These included soybean, rice, corn and potato, among others,during the 2008-2015 period.
Longping Hi-tech shares added 1.71 percent to 18.39 yuan. Sichuan Hejia Co. rose 1.02 percent to 6.95 yuan, while Shandong Denghai Seed Industry Co. surged 9.42 percent to 19.05 yuan.
Airline shares gained as concerns eased that higher fuel costs would erode earnings.
Crude oil for October delivery edged down 0.3 percent overnight to 109.35 U.S. dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It has dropped 26 percent from its peak of 147.27 U.S. dollars in mid-July.
Air China shares were up 0.71 percent to 5.66 yuan and Shanghai Airlines edged up 0.23 percent to 4.37 yuan. Hainan Airlines added0.79 percent to close at 3.85 yuan.
Source:Xinhua
The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.03 percent, or 0.74 points, to 2,277.41. In Shenzhen, the market added 0.81 percent, or 60.05 points, to close at 7,473.6.
Aggregate turnover fell to 38.99 billion yuan from 49.1 billion yuan on the previous trading day. It was only slightly higher than a 21-month low of 38.9 billion yuan on Tuesday.
Gains outnumbered losses by 608-236 in Shanghai and 502-197 in Shenzhen.
Analysts said there was increasingly a wait-and-see attitude among investors as their confidence was badly hurt by the heavy, prolonged slump.
The rally in metal shares, which were previously oversold, provided a boost to the index and it was a result of a market correction, a Huatai Securities analyst said. The rally was also boosted by an overnight rebound in metal future prices.
Zhongjin Gold Corp. shares rose 2.03 percent to 27.69 yuan and Aluminum Corporation of China gained 1.14 percent to 9.72 yuan.
Agriculture shares gained after the Ministry of Agriculture announced a guideline on Thursday to increase the output of 16 crops. These included soybean, rice, corn and potato, among others,during the 2008-2015 period.
Longping Hi-tech shares added 1.71 percent to 18.39 yuan. Sichuan Hejia Co. rose 1.02 percent to 6.95 yuan, while Shandong Denghai Seed Industry Co. surged 9.42 percent to 19.05 yuan.
Airline shares gained as concerns eased that higher fuel costs would erode earnings.
Crude oil for October delivery edged down 0.3 percent overnight to 109.35 U.S. dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It has dropped 26 percent from its peak of 147.27 U.S. dollars in mid-July.
Air China shares were up 0.71 percent to 5.66 yuan and Shanghai Airlines edged up 0.23 percent to 4.37 yuan. Hainan Airlines added0.79 percent to close at 3.85 yuan.
Source:Xinhua
BOC to issue 3 bln RMB bonds in Hong Kong
Bank of China Limited announced Thursday that it will issue 3 billion RMB-denominated bonds in Hong Kong from Sept. 5 to 16.
This is the second time for BOC to issue RMB bonds in the southern Chinese city.
The 3 billion bonds will be issued in two tranches. Tranche A bonds will have a term of two years and bear an interest rate of 3.25 percent on an annual basis. Tranche B bonds will have a term of three years with an annual interest rate of 3.40 percent.
Both Tranche A and B will be offered to retail and institutional investors. The proceeds raised from the offering will be used for the general corporate purposes of BOC.
The joint lead managers and bookrunners for the bond offering are Bank of China Limited and BOCI Asia Limited. The retail bonds will be distributed through 17 placing banks with branches in Hong Kong.
Early last year, BOC became the first mainland commercial bank to issue RMB bonds in Hong Kong. Since then, more mainland banks have come to issue RMB bonds in the city.
Source:Xinhua
This is the second time for BOC to issue RMB bonds in the southern Chinese city.
The 3 billion bonds will be issued in two tranches. Tranche A bonds will have a term of two years and bear an interest rate of 3.25 percent on an annual basis. Tranche B bonds will have a term of three years with an annual interest rate of 3.40 percent.
Both Tranche A and B will be offered to retail and institutional investors. The proceeds raised from the offering will be used for the general corporate purposes of BOC.
The joint lead managers and bookrunners for the bond offering are Bank of China Limited and BOCI Asia Limited. The retail bonds will be distributed through 17 placing banks with branches in Hong Kong.
Early last year, BOC became the first mainland commercial bank to issue RMB bonds in Hong Kong. Since then, more mainland banks have come to issue RMB bonds in the city.
Source:Xinhua
Hong Kong stocks fall to one year low
Hong Kong stocks fell modestly on Thursday to the lowest level since August 2007 amid worries about the sluggish global economy.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index weakened 39.68 points, or 0.19 percent, to open at 20,545.38 and repeatedly tested new lows between intra-day high 20,621.48 and intra-day low 20,356.51 before dropping 195.58 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 20,389. 48.
Turnover rose to 56.46 billion HK dollars from Wednesday's 56.09 billion HK dollars .
Among 43 components of the Hang Seng Index, declining stocks outnumbered advancers 35 to 6, with two unchanged.
Huiyuan Juice, one of China's leading fruit and vegetable juice producer, softened 7.68 percent to 10.1 HK dollars after its stunning upsurge of 164.25 percent on Wednesday following Coca- Cola's purchasing offer of 17.92 billion HK dollars, or about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Analysts said Coca-Cola's offer may have to face anti-monopoly hearing before the deal is approved by Huiyuan's board and regulating authorities in the Chinese mainland.
Market heavyweight HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, dipped 0.16 percent to 121.4 HK dollars.
China Mobile, the largest stock measured by market capitalization, continued its recent weak performance by further falling 2.78 percent to 84 HK dollars, dragging the index by 62.01points alone.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the market's sole operator, dropped 1.25 percent to 98.5 HK dollars.
China Communications Construction, the country's leading transportation infrastructure builder, dived 13.67 percent to 10. 74 HK dollars due to the downgrade by brokerage.
Oil companies remained weak as global oil prices were steady around 109 U.S. dollars a barrel in Asia. PetroChina, or the country's largest oil producer, skid 0.52 percent to 9.58 HK dollars. Sinopec, Asia's largest oil refiner, appeared to have failed from getting a boost from the falling oil prices, 1.5 percent to 7.24 HK dollars. CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil producer, moved down 0.94 percent to 10.6 HK dollars.
Local property companies in Hong Kong were lower. Cheung Kong, one of Hong Kong largest house developers controlled by tycoon Li Ka-shing, slid 0.62 percent to 111.5 HK dollars. SHK Property, thelargest house developer in Hong Kong, dropped 3.16 percent to 101.3 HK dollars. Henderson Land fell 1.27 percent to 46.65 HK dollars. New World Development shed 0.18 percent to 11.34 HK dollars. Sino Land plunged 4.55 percent to 13 HK dollars. Hang Lung Property was unchanged at 24 HK dollars.
China Enterprise Index, or H-shares composed of companies registered in the Chinese mainland, lost 151.92 points, or 1.37 percent, to 10,924.91.
China's banks and insurance companies were mixed. ICBC, China's largest lender, slid 0.19 percent to 5.18 HK dollars. Bank of China, the country's second largest bank, gained 0.92 percent to 3. 31 HK dollars. China Construction Bank was unchanged at 6.13 HK dollars. Bank of Communications went down 0.35 percent to 8.65 HK dollars. China Merchants Bank softened 1.23 percent to 24.15 HK dollars. China Life, the country's largest insurer, was down 0.35 percent to 28.85 HK dollars. Ping An, the second largest insuranc ecompany, fell 1.9 percent to 54.25 HK dollars.
Source:Xinhua
The benchmark Hang Seng Index weakened 39.68 points, or 0.19 percent, to open at 20,545.38 and repeatedly tested new lows between intra-day high 20,621.48 and intra-day low 20,356.51 before dropping 195.58 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 20,389. 48.
Turnover rose to 56.46 billion HK dollars from Wednesday's 56.09 billion HK dollars .
Among 43 components of the Hang Seng Index, declining stocks outnumbered advancers 35 to 6, with two unchanged.
Huiyuan Juice, one of China's leading fruit and vegetable juice producer, softened 7.68 percent to 10.1 HK dollars after its stunning upsurge of 164.25 percent on Wednesday following Coca- Cola's purchasing offer of 17.92 billion HK dollars, or about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Analysts said Coca-Cola's offer may have to face anti-monopoly hearing before the deal is approved by Huiyuan's board and regulating authorities in the Chinese mainland.
Market heavyweight HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, dipped 0.16 percent to 121.4 HK dollars.
China Mobile, the largest stock measured by market capitalization, continued its recent weak performance by further falling 2.78 percent to 84 HK dollars, dragging the index by 62.01points alone.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the market's sole operator, dropped 1.25 percent to 98.5 HK dollars.
China Communications Construction, the country's leading transportation infrastructure builder, dived 13.67 percent to 10. 74 HK dollars due to the downgrade by brokerage.
Oil companies remained weak as global oil prices were steady around 109 U.S. dollars a barrel in Asia. PetroChina, or the country's largest oil producer, skid 0.52 percent to 9.58 HK dollars. Sinopec, Asia's largest oil refiner, appeared to have failed from getting a boost from the falling oil prices, 1.5 percent to 7.24 HK dollars. CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil producer, moved down 0.94 percent to 10.6 HK dollars.
Local property companies in Hong Kong were lower. Cheung Kong, one of Hong Kong largest house developers controlled by tycoon Li Ka-shing, slid 0.62 percent to 111.5 HK dollars. SHK Property, thelargest house developer in Hong Kong, dropped 3.16 percent to 101.3 HK dollars. Henderson Land fell 1.27 percent to 46.65 HK dollars. New World Development shed 0.18 percent to 11.34 HK dollars. Sino Land plunged 4.55 percent to 13 HK dollars. Hang Lung Property was unchanged at 24 HK dollars.
China Enterprise Index, or H-shares composed of companies registered in the Chinese mainland, lost 151.92 points, or 1.37 percent, to 10,924.91.
China's banks and insurance companies were mixed. ICBC, China's largest lender, slid 0.19 percent to 5.18 HK dollars. Bank of China, the country's second largest bank, gained 0.92 percent to 3. 31 HK dollars. China Construction Bank was unchanged at 6.13 HK dollars. Bank of Communications went down 0.35 percent to 8.65 HK dollars. China Merchants Bank softened 1.23 percent to 24.15 HK dollars. China Life, the country's largest insurer, was down 0.35 percent to 28.85 HK dollars. Ping An, the second largest insuranc ecompany, fell 1.9 percent to 54.25 HK dollars.
Source:Xinhua
A nation's civilization to be seen in honor of the disabled
In the days leading up to the Beijing Paralympic Games, which runs from Sept 6-i7, the athletes with physical disabilities from across the world will be flooding to Beijing, and they will present us with not only their wonderful performance in sports but also the best qualities found in humans, which would be brought out in the competitions by their resolve to fight against the physical barriers. The Paralympics will also provide the ideal opportunity for the Chinese public to improve its awareness and understanding of people with physical disabilities.
According to the U.N statistics, there are 650 million disabled people worldwide, accounting for 10 percent of the world population. China has 83 million disabled people, about 6 percent of the population, and about 1 million live in the capital. Considering the unpredictability of disasters and calamities and the fact that no one can be immune from the mishaps, the number would be probably increasing at any time.
Therefore, paying respect to the needs of the disabled and offering a hand to those in need have long been adopted as a universal value, with human equality as its core. In actuality, the awareness of helping the disabled people and the recognition of their contributions to the society can partially mirror a nation's civilization level. China keeps a fine tradition always paying a tribute to the achievements made by people with physical disabilities.
It is well-documented in history that Sun Tzu, handicapped, wrote Sun Tzu Art of War 2,500 years ago, which is said to be the earliest and most valuable Chinese treatise on military science extant. Zuo Qiuming, blind, and contemporary of Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period, is possibly a contributor to Guoyu, or Records from the States. There was even a famous saying in a historical document Commentary of Zuo : Zuo Qiu being blind, and Guoyu being born.
In modern era, more and more disabled people have proved their eminence by making remarkable achievements in various fields. The disabled athletes, for example, will have to be the Champion scuttling all their own physical barriers before beating rivals and winning medals in the competitions. The spectators would be enthralled by their competitive skills, much like what they could watch at any sporting event, still, they could be more touched by watching the Paralympics.
A recent survey indicated that in the countries with human life expectancy averaged above 70, people will have to spend 11.5 percent of their lifetime suffering bodily disabilities, or averagely each person will have to spend 8 years disabled. The programs designed to show respect and offer help to the disabled are thereby not merely out of altruism, but also a social activity with realistic significance.
On this basis, china has thus far enacted the laws and related regulations aimed to protect the rights and interests of the disabled people. More than 200,000 disabled people from Beijing have been or will be involved in the Olympic and Paralympic-related activities. 63 disabled volunteers will work at Paralympic venues and 680 disabled performers will be involved in the Games' opening and closing ceremonies. It was released by the Beijing municipal government's disabled persons' affairs committee last week that 20,000 disabled people and their families will be invited to watch the Paralympics live, and of the 1.66 million tickets on sale, the best seats at the most popular events have all been reserved for people with disabilities.
The advantages for Beijing to stage the Paralympics can be envisaged in many ways: first of all, it brings the needs of disabled people to the fore, and secondly, as part of the preparation, subways, airports and railway stations have been equipped with special facilities for the disabled. Last but not least, China has been steadily seeking a general social progress to match its rapid economic growth, and hosting the Paralympics will definitely provide China with a golden opportunity to step up the nationwide awareness of a harmonious society, in which all people can enjoy peace and equality. The Paralympics to be held in Beijing will act as the extension and enrichment of China's time-honored civilization.
By People's Daily Online
According to the U.N statistics, there are 650 million disabled people worldwide, accounting for 10 percent of the world population. China has 83 million disabled people, about 6 percent of the population, and about 1 million live in the capital. Considering the unpredictability of disasters and calamities and the fact that no one can be immune from the mishaps, the number would be probably increasing at any time.
Therefore, paying respect to the needs of the disabled and offering a hand to those in need have long been adopted as a universal value, with human equality as its core. In actuality, the awareness of helping the disabled people and the recognition of their contributions to the society can partially mirror a nation's civilization level. China keeps a fine tradition always paying a tribute to the achievements made by people with physical disabilities.
It is well-documented in history that Sun Tzu, handicapped, wrote Sun Tzu Art of War 2,500 years ago, which is said to be the earliest and most valuable Chinese treatise on military science extant. Zuo Qiuming, blind, and contemporary of Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period, is possibly a contributor to Guoyu, or Records from the States. There was even a famous saying in a historical document Commentary of Zuo : Zuo Qiu being blind, and Guoyu being born.
In modern era, more and more disabled people have proved their eminence by making remarkable achievements in various fields. The disabled athletes, for example, will have to be the Champion scuttling all their own physical barriers before beating rivals and winning medals in the competitions. The spectators would be enthralled by their competitive skills, much like what they could watch at any sporting event, still, they could be more touched by watching the Paralympics.
A recent survey indicated that in the countries with human life expectancy averaged above 70, people will have to spend 11.5 percent of their lifetime suffering bodily disabilities, or averagely each person will have to spend 8 years disabled. The programs designed to show respect and offer help to the disabled are thereby not merely out of altruism, but also a social activity with realistic significance.
On this basis, china has thus far enacted the laws and related regulations aimed to protect the rights and interests of the disabled people. More than 200,000 disabled people from Beijing have been or will be involved in the Olympic and Paralympic-related activities. 63 disabled volunteers will work at Paralympic venues and 680 disabled performers will be involved in the Games' opening and closing ceremonies. It was released by the Beijing municipal government's disabled persons' affairs committee last week that 20,000 disabled people and their families will be invited to watch the Paralympics live, and of the 1.66 million tickets on sale, the best seats at the most popular events have all been reserved for people with disabilities.
The advantages for Beijing to stage the Paralympics can be envisaged in many ways: first of all, it brings the needs of disabled people to the fore, and secondly, as part of the preparation, subways, airports and railway stations have been equipped with special facilities for the disabled. Last but not least, China has been steadily seeking a general social progress to match its rapid economic growth, and hosting the Paralympics will definitely provide China with a golden opportunity to step up the nationwide awareness of a harmonious society, in which all people can enjoy peace and equality. The Paralympics to be held in Beijing will act as the extension and enrichment of China's time-honored civilization.
By People's Daily Online
Feature: "Panda Queen" designer dreaming of empire
Stretching her tubby body in a painstaking manner, an obese cartoon panda jumps through a burning Olympic ring-shaped obstacle, a frightened yet excited look on her face.
The scene is from the comic image "Panda Queen, "the creation of young Chinese designer Wang Fang who featured the clumsy yet iconic Chinese symbol on her blog in late July, inspired by the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.
An elliptical face, highlighted by heavy black circles around apair of narrow eyes constitute Panda Queen's classic image. "Clumsy and dull, but internally sensitive and passionate," as Wang describes her creation.
Ever since the animated Hollywood film "Kung Fu Panda" grossed nearly 200 million U.S. dollars at the Chinese box office this summer, it has provoked a nationwide debate of "why can't we make a cartoon as popular" among many so-called cultural critics.
Currently, numerous young talent nationwide are passionately designing cartoon panda images, developing them into creative products in China. Wang is one of them.
Having collected panda-themed items for five years, the Xi'an native who started as a photographer has shifted her focus to marketing and developing her creation which she debuted in 2006. She recently got her merchandise, including brooches, handbags, clothing and paintings, among others, into a handicraft store in the Nanluogu Alley in Beijing. It is the fourth shop to sell the items all bearing images of the Panda Queen.
Wang is representative of thousands of emerging Chinese grassroots designers. "Fengguo Box Shop," in Joy City in the capital's Xidan commercial area, features handicrafts by more than170 young designers. It attracts thousands of customers daily.
Wang said her peers were different from the more established artists. "We can not compare with the artists in the 798 art zone, who have money and reputation. We are more concerned with whether the market can accept our designs and products."
Of her own offerings, including ceramic cups and fashion accessories, such as panda-shaped soft pottery brooches and necklaces, the sailcloth bags are best sellers.
"I dropped into this shop when I was strolling along this hutong," said a Spanish lady who was in Beijing for the Olympics."I love the panda, so special and funny. I'll buy several purses as gifts for my family."
The charmingly-naive panda appears in settings of daily life with different looks and settings, sharing her every subtle happy or sad moment with readers.
She could be an ancient witch who prays for rain in a traditional way with two fans in her hands, the Chinese characters of fengshui, or "wind" and "rain" written on them. In another she is sitting on the stairs of a museum, pondering "to be or not to be? That is the question. When everyone looks blue, melancholy becomes a fashion."
Panda Queen's rich and exquisite feelings towards the dazzling city life evokes her devotee's sympathies, which is also the reason for her popularity.
"It's really cute. I'm quite impressed by the contrast the sentimental mood delivers by her obese body," said customer Guo Ling, a third-year Peking University student. She was referring to a small painting depicting Panda Queen standing on a rainbow, noticeably cheery after a day's rain.
It is the strong affection and reception to her work that continues to drive Wang professionally. "Having been a photographer for a couple of years, I find the most striking photos are those that are black and white. Panda, the black-and-white guy, in my eyes, symbolizes a simple way of life that I've been pursuing all the time."
Wang posts her latest designs onto a blog that also goes by the brand name "Panda Queen." "I didn't expect to achieve any commercial goal. I just feel like sharing my designs and communicating with people who love pandas like me."
At her northwest Beijing studio, the 28-year-old Xi'an Art College graduate works with her six employees developing her creation. In addition to the four shops selling her output, she also has two e-shops online.
It was "I-Mart," commonly known as "creative fair" that initially paved the way for Wang to design. Launched in Britain around 1997, I-Mart is a spontaneous outdoor creative carnival where fledging artists, designers and handicraft amateurs gather to display or sell their works.
Since coming to Guangzhou in 2006, I-Mart has swept across major cities throughout China over the past two years.
Driven by her passion and curiosity, Wang started off with a handful of her D-I-Y panda-shaped sailcloth bags in her first I-Mart trip in 2006 in Beijing. "I didn't expect to earn money in that fair. It was just for fun. But to my surprise, my handicrafts were soon snapped up."
Sensing the potential of the market after finding out about so many other people's passion for pandas, she began to think seriously of designing a distinctive cartoon version and developing it into a brand.
"I tried to create a distinctive cartoon figure. This personalized panda is upright, humorous yet sometimes timid, self-indulgent and cynical," said Wang, a Beijing resident for the past five years. "You can find her characteristics from the scenes and monologue in the images, some of which are my own experience and thoughts towards our city life."
Past images, more than 40 and counting so far, have depicted Panda Queen gorging herself in chocolate, shouting, "don't save me." In another, she is driving a car, stuck in traffic, a familiar scene in the congested streets of Beijing. "Panda Queen is not a flawless cartoon character as the typical Chinese ones. She is more like a common person in real life," an anonymous netizen wrote in Wang's blog.
Several successful experiences at I-Mart encouraged Wang to setup her e-shop, something which has helped her make a living, grow her business and expand the brand. To date, her business achieves monthly gross sales of about 40,000 yuan .
Still, there are problems. The high price of the creative handicrafts affects sales. A sailcloth bag sells for 98 yuan , three times higher than average in the local market. "Nice but too expensive" is the common response of customers who look for a while but finally turn away.
Her main customers are white-collar women, those well-paid witha deep affection for Panda Queen.
"These handicrafts are really costly . I need to invest great energy and time in their design, and the labor takes up a large proportion in the production," Wang said. "On the top of that, the high rent in Beijing's business areas inevitably pushes the price even higher."
While China, and particularly Beijing, has been attaching more importance to creative industries in recent years, independent young designers still need more concrete support from the government.
"I hope the government can launch some specific programs to help grassroots artists," Wang said. "I learnt that in London young talent can start and run their own shops within a special low-rent zone backed by the government."
Indeed, Britain has set a good example in developing creative industries, which accounts for 7.3 percent of its economy. Since 1998, the British government has made its creative industry an economic priority, systematically assisting those creative talents by providing preferential loans and other services, creating a favorable environment for these grassroots artists to develop.
Despite her financial difficulties, she is still optimistic about her business's potential. "Definitely, it'll be better. After all, China's economic roar will promote more people to seek a better life and with it a more promising future."
Source: Xinhua
The scene is from the comic image "Panda Queen, "the creation of young Chinese designer Wang Fang who featured the clumsy yet iconic Chinese symbol on her blog in late July, inspired by the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.
An elliptical face, highlighted by heavy black circles around apair of narrow eyes constitute Panda Queen's classic image. "Clumsy and dull, but internally sensitive and passionate," as Wang describes her creation.
Ever since the animated Hollywood film "Kung Fu Panda" grossed nearly 200 million U.S. dollars at the Chinese box office this summer, it has provoked a nationwide debate of "why can't we make a cartoon as popular" among many so-called cultural critics.
Currently, numerous young talent nationwide are passionately designing cartoon panda images, developing them into creative products in China. Wang is one of them.
Having collected panda-themed items for five years, the Xi'an native who started as a photographer has shifted her focus to marketing and developing her creation which she debuted in 2006. She recently got her merchandise, including brooches, handbags, clothing and paintings, among others, into a handicraft store in the Nanluogu Alley in Beijing. It is the fourth shop to sell the items all bearing images of the Panda Queen.
Wang is representative of thousands of emerging Chinese grassroots designers. "Fengguo Box Shop," in Joy City in the capital's Xidan commercial area, features handicrafts by more than170 young designers. It attracts thousands of customers daily.
Wang said her peers were different from the more established artists. "We can not compare with the artists in the 798 art zone, who have money and reputation. We are more concerned with whether the market can accept our designs and products."
Of her own offerings, including ceramic cups and fashion accessories, such as panda-shaped soft pottery brooches and necklaces, the sailcloth bags are best sellers.
"I dropped into this shop when I was strolling along this hutong," said a Spanish lady who was in Beijing for the Olympics."I love the panda, so special and funny. I'll buy several purses as gifts for my family."
The charmingly-naive panda appears in settings of daily life with different looks and settings, sharing her every subtle happy or sad moment with readers.
She could be an ancient witch who prays for rain in a traditional way with two fans in her hands, the Chinese characters of fengshui, or "wind" and "rain" written on them. In another she is sitting on the stairs of a museum, pondering "to be or not to be? That is the question. When everyone looks blue, melancholy becomes a fashion."
Panda Queen's rich and exquisite feelings towards the dazzling city life evokes her devotee's sympathies, which is also the reason for her popularity.
"It's really cute. I'm quite impressed by the contrast the sentimental mood delivers by her obese body," said customer Guo Ling, a third-year Peking University student. She was referring to a small painting depicting Panda Queen standing on a rainbow, noticeably cheery after a day's rain.
It is the strong affection and reception to her work that continues to drive Wang professionally. "Having been a photographer for a couple of years, I find the most striking photos are those that are black and white. Panda, the black-and-white guy, in my eyes, symbolizes a simple way of life that I've been pursuing all the time."
Wang posts her latest designs onto a blog that also goes by the brand name "Panda Queen." "I didn't expect to achieve any commercial goal. I just feel like sharing my designs and communicating with people who love pandas like me."
At her northwest Beijing studio, the 28-year-old Xi'an Art College graduate works with her six employees developing her creation. In addition to the four shops selling her output, she also has two e-shops online.
It was "I-Mart," commonly known as "creative fair" that initially paved the way for Wang to design. Launched in Britain around 1997, I-Mart is a spontaneous outdoor creative carnival where fledging artists, designers and handicraft amateurs gather to display or sell their works.
Since coming to Guangzhou in 2006, I-Mart has swept across major cities throughout China over the past two years.
Driven by her passion and curiosity, Wang started off with a handful of her D-I-Y panda-shaped sailcloth bags in her first I-Mart trip in 2006 in Beijing. "I didn't expect to earn money in that fair. It was just for fun. But to my surprise, my handicrafts were soon snapped up."
Sensing the potential of the market after finding out about so many other people's passion for pandas, she began to think seriously of designing a distinctive cartoon version and developing it into a brand.
"I tried to create a distinctive cartoon figure. This personalized panda is upright, humorous yet sometimes timid, self-indulgent and cynical," said Wang, a Beijing resident for the past five years. "You can find her characteristics from the scenes and monologue in the images, some of which are my own experience and thoughts towards our city life."
Past images, more than 40 and counting so far, have depicted Panda Queen gorging herself in chocolate, shouting, "don't save me." In another, she is driving a car, stuck in traffic, a familiar scene in the congested streets of Beijing. "Panda Queen is not a flawless cartoon character as the typical Chinese ones. She is more like a common person in real life," an anonymous netizen wrote in Wang's blog.
Several successful experiences at I-Mart encouraged Wang to setup her e-shop, something which has helped her make a living, grow her business and expand the brand. To date, her business achieves monthly gross sales of about 40,000 yuan .
Still, there are problems. The high price of the creative handicrafts affects sales. A sailcloth bag sells for 98 yuan , three times higher than average in the local market. "Nice but too expensive" is the common response of customers who look for a while but finally turn away.
Her main customers are white-collar women, those well-paid witha deep affection for Panda Queen.
"These handicrafts are really costly . I need to invest great energy and time in their design, and the labor takes up a large proportion in the production," Wang said. "On the top of that, the high rent in Beijing's business areas inevitably pushes the price even higher."
While China, and particularly Beijing, has been attaching more importance to creative industries in recent years, independent young designers still need more concrete support from the government.
"I hope the government can launch some specific programs to help grassroots artists," Wang said. "I learnt that in London young talent can start and run their own shops within a special low-rent zone backed by the government."
Indeed, Britain has set a good example in developing creative industries, which accounts for 7.3 percent of its economy. Since 1998, the British government has made its creative industry an economic priority, systematically assisting those creative talents by providing preferential loans and other services, creating a favorable environment for these grassroots artists to develop.
Despite her financial difficulties, she is still optimistic about her business's potential. "Definitely, it'll be better. After all, China's economic roar will promote more people to seek a better life and with it a more promising future."
Source: Xinhua
Guizhou lake charms with blazing color, geologic wonder
Red Maple Lake in Guizhou province just an hour's drive from the capital Guiyang has become increasingly popular for tourists to enjoy its dramatic landscape and rich ethnic cultures.
Not surprisingly, the lake is surrounded by a maple forest that turns red in autumn, providing a blaze of color amid blue sky that is mirrored in the crystal-clear water of the lake.
The largest manmade reservoir in the province, Red Maple - or Hongfeng in Chinese - Lake covers 57.2 sq km, more than six times the size of West Lake in Hangzhou, and has four distinct areas.
The northern part of the lake has a range of islands named for their shapes, including Bird Island, Snake Island and Tortoise Island.
Near its bank are a group of tombs built in Western Han Dynasty and military defense structures built by the Miao ethnic group in Ming Dynasty , testament to the turmoil of ancient times.
Near the south bank of the lake are a great number of karst caves in the surrounding mountains with stalactites inside that create a geologic wonderland.
The lake flows into some of the caves, providing the opportunity for underground boating to view stone formations that resemble flowers, trees, bamboo shoots, animals and curtains hanging above.
The middle part of the lake is famed for surrounding steep cliffs and lofty mountains on either side.
Its rock outcrops, resembling figures like graceful ladies and reclining Buddhas inspire imaginary tales.
Many branching streams also crisscross the scenic area.
Unique customs from Guizhou's 49 ethnic groups add to the charm. Nearly 38 percent of the province's population is composed of minority peoples.
Beginning in the late 1980s villages of the Miao, Dong and Bouyei minorities became tourist attractions along the lake.
Village tours display their customs and cultures, including dances and a cappella harmonies by the Dong people. Tasting local foods has become a perquisite on the itinerary of a trip to Red Maple Lake.
The province's capital Guiyang itself is an eco-friendly city with a green belt of more than 70 km long.
With a year-round temperature averaging 15.3 C - even in the hottest days of July, the average temperature is around 24 C - the city is winning a reputation as summer resort.
Source: China Daily
Not surprisingly, the lake is surrounded by a maple forest that turns red in autumn, providing a blaze of color amid blue sky that is mirrored in the crystal-clear water of the lake.
The largest manmade reservoir in the province, Red Maple - or Hongfeng in Chinese - Lake covers 57.2 sq km, more than six times the size of West Lake in Hangzhou, and has four distinct areas.
The northern part of the lake has a range of islands named for their shapes, including Bird Island, Snake Island and Tortoise Island.
Near its bank are a group of tombs built in Western Han Dynasty and military defense structures built by the Miao ethnic group in Ming Dynasty , testament to the turmoil of ancient times.
Near the south bank of the lake are a great number of karst caves in the surrounding mountains with stalactites inside that create a geologic wonderland.
The lake flows into some of the caves, providing the opportunity for underground boating to view stone formations that resemble flowers, trees, bamboo shoots, animals and curtains hanging above.
The middle part of the lake is famed for surrounding steep cliffs and lofty mountains on either side.
Its rock outcrops, resembling figures like graceful ladies and reclining Buddhas inspire imaginary tales.
Many branching streams also crisscross the scenic area.
Unique customs from Guizhou's 49 ethnic groups add to the charm. Nearly 38 percent of the province's population is composed of minority peoples.
Beginning in the late 1980s villages of the Miao, Dong and Bouyei minorities became tourist attractions along the lake.
Village tours display their customs and cultures, including dances and a cappella harmonies by the Dong people. Tasting local foods has become a perquisite on the itinerary of a trip to Red Maple Lake.
The province's capital Guiyang itself is an eco-friendly city with a green belt of more than 70 km long.
With a year-round temperature averaging 15.3 C - even in the hottest days of July, the average temperature is around 24 C - the city is winning a reputation as summer resort.
Source: China Daily
Beijing ramps up community service for disabled population
Paralympic Games host city Beijing has ramped up community services for its disabled population to improve the quality of their lives, a city official said.
More than 150 community service centers have been built, totaling 45,814 square meters, to benefit more than 45,000 people with impairment in the city, said Zhao Chunluan, Chief Director of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation.
The centers are established to provide services like rehabilitation, education, employment counseling, rights protection and improve their cultural lives.
"The facilities prepare them for independent living and help them to develop careers to support themselves," Zhao said.
"Having the centers in place also help raise awareness in the general population to care for those in special needs," she added.
Athletes have their meals in the dining hall of the Paralympic village in Beijing, China, Aug. 30, 2008. The Paralympic village officially opened to athletes from all over the world on Saturday for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
The centers are mainly funded by the government, with the support of social security funds and other social sources.
Zhao said the 150 homes are only the beginning and more such facilities need to be built for the disabled people.
Athletes have their meals in the dining hall of the Paralympic village in Beijing, China, Aug. 30, 2008. The Paralympic village officially opened to athletes from all over the world on Saturday for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
Beijing has about one million disabled people, about 6.49 percent of its total population. Zhao said the hosting of the Paralympic Games, between Sept. 6 to 17, will also accelerate the improvement of the lives of those with disabilities.
Source: Xinhua
More than 150 community service centers have been built, totaling 45,814 square meters, to benefit more than 45,000 people with impairment in the city, said Zhao Chunluan, Chief Director of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation.
The centers are established to provide services like rehabilitation, education, employment counseling, rights protection and improve their cultural lives.
"The facilities prepare them for independent living and help them to develop careers to support themselves," Zhao said.
"Having the centers in place also help raise awareness in the general population to care for those in special needs," she added.
Athletes have their meals in the dining hall of the Paralympic village in Beijing, China, Aug. 30, 2008. The Paralympic village officially opened to athletes from all over the world on Saturday for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
The centers are mainly funded by the government, with the support of social security funds and other social sources.
Zhao said the 150 homes are only the beginning and more such facilities need to be built for the disabled people.
Athletes have their meals in the dining hall of the Paralympic village in Beijing, China, Aug. 30, 2008. The Paralympic village officially opened to athletes from all over the world on Saturday for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
Beijing has about one million disabled people, about 6.49 percent of its total population. Zhao said the hosting of the Paralympic Games, between Sept. 6 to 17, will also accelerate the improvement of the lives of those with disabilities.
Source: Xinhua
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