BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with U.S. special envoy for climate change Todd Stern on Monday, calling for more dialogues and substantial cooperation with the United States on climate change. "China has noticed the change of the U.S. government on climate change as well as the positive measures it has taken," Li told Stern during their meeting in the Great Hall of the People. To strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two countries helps the growth of China-U.S. ties and benefits the international cooperation to fight against climate change, the vice premier said. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (1st R) meets with Todd Stern, U.S. special envoy for climate change, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on June 8, 2009. Stern said his country is ready to enhance dialogue and cooperation in energy, environment and climate change areas and work closely for the success of the Copenhagen Conference at the end of this year. A new protocol was expected to be born in Copenhagen by the end of this year to replace the Kyoto Protocol to prevent global warming and climate change. Li said China approves the fulfillment of the Bali Roadmap as the key mission of the Copenhagen Conference, and also approves promoting the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol in a comprehensive, efficient and consistent way. China would like to maintain the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" among developed and developing countries, actively participate in negotiations and play a constructive role to promote positive results from the conference, Li added. Stern expressed appreciation for China's achievements in recent years in fighting climate change. Li told the guest the Chinese government promotes sustainable development amidst efforts to address climate change, with conserving energy and protecting the environment as its national strategy.
TIANJIN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang urged enterprises to contribute to industrial growth by bringing central government's guidance of boosting domestic demand into full play. Zhang made the remark during his visit to 13 enterprises in the machinery, light industry, petrochemical, textile, auto and other sectors as well as ports, in Tianjin Municipality from May 7 to 8. Zhang said positive signs had been seen in the country's industrial sector, but there were still challenges ahead. He underscored firm implementation of the central government policy to ensure economic growth, boost domestic demand and enhance industrial upgrading. He encouraged enterprises to seek to produce products that would meet market needs and expand both domestic and international markets. Enterprises should improve their management and push forward innovation and structural adjustment, he said.
CHONGQING, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers on Sunday recovered seven bodies from the debris of Friday's landslide site in southwest China, as the search continued to find the 65 people still missing. The seven bodies, including five men and two women, were yet to be identified, according to the rescue headquarters. A brief farewell ceremony was held for the deceased. Rescuers carried out a second explosion at 11 a.m. Sunday to enable the drilling of holes to send food and air to 27 trapped miners who could still be alive after the massive landslide in Chongqing Municipality. Local militia and firemen stand on the alert prior to the second blasting in Wulong County of southwest China's Chongqing, June 7, 2009. The second blasting was carried out at around 1:00 p.m. Sunday to enable the drilling of a hole 40 meters deep to send food and air to 27 trapped miners who could still be alive after Friday's massive landslide.Three drilling machines were working and staff were setting up a fourth, said Ai Yang, spokesman for the Chongqing municipal government. More than 400 experts, technicians and rescuers had joined the search and rescue operation at the headquarters, said Ai. Eighty-five people whose homes were threatened by a barrier lake formed by the landslide would be relocated, said Ai. Those in the affected area downstream of the lake had already been evacuated. The two entrances of the Jiwei Mountain mine were both buried under rocks when the landslide happened at around 3 p.m. Friday. It also buried an iron ore plant and 12 houses in Tiekuang Township, Wulong County, about 170 kilometers southeast of central Chongqing. Eight people -- three of them seriously injured -- were rescued late Friday. But 21 residents, the 27 trapped miners and 18 miners who worked above ground, two telecommunications company workers and four passers-by, went missing. With sniffer dogs and life detectors, hundreds of rescuers found no signs of life on the debris on Saturday, said a spokesman with the rescue headquarters. The 27 miners are about 150 to 200 meters below ground. The air and a small amount of water in the mine could support them for five to seven days. Water is believed to exist in the shafts as Jiwei Mountain mainly comprised limestone, said the spokesman. Early Sunday, rescuers completed a 28-km road to the site for large machinery such as excavators and bulldozers. Previously, there was only a simple village road. "We will do our best and use every second to rescue them," said the spokesman, but the mountain was still quite unstable and the rescue operation was dangerous. On the basis of aerial photos, experts estimated the volume of the landslide debris at about 12 million cubic meters, said Ai Yang. "Under such circumstances, every step forward in rescue will need unimaginable caution, manpower and material resources," he said. "The rock debris just covered the entrance, but there are water channels in the shaft. I believe my husband is still alive," said Chen Yuanmei, a woman at the site. Chen said she was tending her garden in Hongbao Village, when she saw the rocks slide down, throwing up black dust clouds. The dust lingered around 10 minutes and covered her yard, which is 2 km from the mountain. She felt something bad had happened and immediately called the mine authorities, but failed to reach them. The Chongqing Land, Resources and Housing Administration has issued an emergency circular urging districts and counties to organize professional teams to launch a thorough inspection of geological disaster-prone areas. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang inspected the site early Saturday, asking rescuers to try their best while avoiding secondary disasters. Experts have been asked to investigate the cause of the landslide. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has earmarked 6 million yuan (870,000 U.S. dollars) to the county for relief work. The money would be mainly used as benefits for the victims' families and relocation of residents, said Ai. A large helicopter would also join the rescue work to help carry in equipment and personnel early on Monday, he said.
BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese leader has urged local governments to make a greater effort to promote economic development and support social stability during the economic downturn. Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the call during a five-day tour of eastern Anhui Province that ended Friday. Zhou Yongkang (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, talks to a worker at the Anqing Huanxin Group Co., LTD in Anqing, east China's Anhui Province, June 16, 2009Zhou directed local governments to faithfully implement the central authorities' policies and strive to maintain economic growth, improve people's living standards and safeguard social harmony. Improved living standards would provide the basis of a peaceful society, while social stability was a prerequisite for economic development, he said. He called on employers to shoulder their social responsibilities and create more jobs, and asked law enforcement personnel to offer better judicial support for creating social peace.
BEIJING, May 17 -- Shanghai will step up efforts to lure more talent, beef up development of its legal system and improve its credit database as part of efforts to develop a global financial center, Vice Mayor Tu Guangshao said Saturday. The city will also enable financial markets and institutions to play an important role in financial innovation and make the Pudong New Area a pioneer for financial reforms, Tu told the Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai. "To realize our goals, we need a combination of forces," said Tu. "We need guidance and support from the central government in terms of rules' drafting and coordination. We also need financial markets and companies to make contributions." From left: Xu Xiaonian, professor of CEIBS, Hu Zuliu, chairman of Goldman Sachs China, Xie Guozhong, board member of Rosetta Stone Advisors, Ha Jiming, chief economist of China International Capital Corp and Wang Qing, chief economist of Morgan Stanley China discuss issues at the Lujiazui Forum Saturday Shanghai must have "breakthrough and innovation" in its measures to attract financial talents, the most important element in building the city into an international financial hub, Tu said. The city should also have a solid financial legal system and the municipal government is working to improve the arbitrary, hearing and verdict processes of financial cases, according to Tu. He added that local government will cooperate with the People's Bank of China to improve the city's credit environment. One focus will be the establishment of a credit ratings system for small- and medium-sized enterprises to facilitate fundraising, Tu said. Xu Lin, Party Secretary of Pudong New Area, told the forum the district will shore up its preparation for financial innovation, including establishing an over-the-counter equity exchange for start-up technology firms. Pudong will also trial programs to settle cross-border trade using the yuan and to set up consumer finance companies to fund people's purchases of durables such as home appliances and electronics. Xu also noted that Pudong will fast track the development of financial services for the shipping industry as China pursues building Shanghai into an international financial and shipping hub by 2020. "The district will encourage capital from various sources to help innovation and upgrade industry," Xu said. "More credit support will be given to small companies in terms of innovation." Financial experts attending the two-day Lujiazui Forum, which ended Saturday, called on the city to take more measures to retain talent and financial institutions. "The major European and US markets are reshuffling after the crisis and it has created a good opportunity for Shanghai to lay a sound basis and infrastructure for rising as an international financial center," said Laura Cha, deputy chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. "We should learn lessons from them and avoid the mistakes they have made." Shanghai is still lagging behind in terms of financial talent both in quality and quantity, she added. She suggested shoring up the city's financial high education sector and rotating financial talents to develop more overseas experience.
HONG KONG, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China will definitely be able to meet the target of achieving eight percent economic growth in 2009, a senior official of the country's top economic planning body said here Monday. "Judging from the indicators of the first four months, I do believe it is highly possible to achieve an eight percent growth for the full year. In fact, I believe the target will definitely be met," said Xulin, head of the Department of Fiscal and Financial Affairs of the National Development and Reform Commission. Speaking at a briefing in Hong Kong, Xu said the basic assessment was that there has been consolidation in the recovery momentum and that the minor slowdown in April, normal as it has been when considering the past experiences, did not necessarily signal a second bottom in the ongoing economic downturn. Economic planners have been monitoring the economy closely and are prepared to put in place additional measures in the coming months if it is necessary, Xu said. Post-earthquake reconstruction in Sichuan province was being carried out quicker than previously planned. Small and medium enterprises were receiving financing aid from guarantee programs, Xu told local as well as foreign reporters. The National Development and Reform Commission will approve 600 billion yuan (88 billion U.S. dollars) of corporate bonds this year as the IPO market remained cool, compared with 236 billion (35 billion U.S. dollars) for 2008, Xu said. The debt of the Chinese government was about 20 percent of gross domestic product, compared with over 190 percent for Japan, close to 100 percent for the United States and 60 percent on average for the European economies. The Chinese government has planned a budget deficit of 950 billion yuan (139 billion U.S. dollars) for 2009, which represented about 2.8 percent of gross domestic product. Xu said the ample resources could sustain heavy government investment to stimulate the economy for several years although "it was not necessary. "The Chinese government will spend more resources to develop public housing programs and a pension system and to push forward the health reform, so as to increase the contribution of domestic consumption to economic growth," Xu said. "I don't think export can still play the roles as they did in past few years in driving the Chinese economy," Xu said, adding that China, as a responsible player, would like to see a moderately stable yuan.
排名seo优化公司
BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China Tuesday called for new initiatives to boost the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership. The call was made during a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and former French President Jacques Chirac, who is in Beijing at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Former French President Jacques Chirac at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2009. Hu praised Chirac, on his ninth visit to China, as an old friend of the Chinese people for his contribution to the China-France friendship. "The Chinese people will never forget this," Hu was quote as saying by a press release from Chinese Foreign Ministry. Hu said the consolidation of ties, especially in the context of the international financial crisis, would help tackle the crisis and be conducive to promoting long-term peace, stability and prosperity. "I hope the two countries and two peoples can make joint efforts to advance the development of bilateral strategic partnership," Hu said. Chirac highlighted the achievements of China in its development, calling the development "a positive factor" in world prosperity, according to the press release. China ranked as a world power through its own efforts, Chirac said, and its peaceful development was helpful to maintaining stability and prosperity.
BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's Cabinet, has approved a decision to impose harsh criminal and disciplinary penalties on 169 people held responsible for five major work-related accidents over the past two years, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) announced Tuesday. SAWS said cases involving 131 people had been handed over to judicial departments for criminal prosecution. The five accidents included a mine blast in Linfen in north China's Shanxi Province that killed 105 on Dec. 5, 2007, a train collision in east China on April 28 last year that claimed 72 lives, and a landslide at an unlicensed iron ore tailings facility, also in Linfen, that killed 277 people. These five accidents are profiled below. COAL MINE BLAST, HONGTONG COUNTY, SHANXI PROVINCE, 2007 The blast occurred at 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Xinyao Coal Mine, killing 105 miners and injuring 18 others. Losses were estimated at 42.75 million yuan (about 6 million U.S. dollars). Authorities said 78 people bore some responsibility for the accident, and 39 were referred to judicial bodies for criminal prosecution. Wang Donghai, the ultimate owner of the mine, and Wang Hongliang, legal representative, were sentenced to life in prison. Miao Yuanli, former vice mayor of Linfen, received a 14-year sentence. The other 39 received internal disciplinary penalties. Wang Guozheng, director of Shanxi Provincial Construction Department, and Jin Shanzhong, then vice governor of Shanxi Province, were given severe inner party warnings. Li Tiantai, deputy party chief and mayor of Linfen, was given a severe inner party warning and demoted. Ruizhiyuan Coal Mining Co. Ltd., which owned the coal mine, was fined 185.2 million yuan and closed. TRAIN COLLISION, SHANDONG PROVINCE, 2008 A high-speed train from Beijing to the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong Province derailed and struck another train in Zibo's Zhoucun District on April 28, 2008, leaving 72 dead and another 416 injured. It was the worst train accident in a decade. Losses were estimated at 41.92 million yuan. An investigation showed the train was running at 131 kilometers per hour at the time of the accident, while the speed limit of that section was 80 km/hr. Authorities determined that 37 people bore responsibility for the accident. Six people, including Guo Jiguang, vice executive director of the Jinan Railway Bureau, were referred to judicial departments for criminal prosecution. Thirty-one people received inner party disciplinary punishment or administrative punishment. Chen Gong, head of the Jinan Railway Bureau, was dismissed. Chai Tiemin, then the Party chief of the bureau, was dismissed. Hu Yadong, vice minister of the Railway Ministry, had a serious demerit entered on his record. Liu Zhijun, railway minister, had a demerit entered on his record. COAL MINE BLAST, SHANXI PROVINCE, 2008 On June 13, 2008, an explosion occurred in a colliery of the Anxin Coal Mining Co. Ltd. in Xiaoyi City, Shanxin Province, which killed 35 people and injured 12 others. One person has never been found. Losses totaled 12.91 million yuan. Illegal homemade explosives concealed in the colliery tunnel ignited on their own and triggered the blast, according to investigators. Fifty people were held responsible for the accident, and 26, including Tian Yun, head of the mine and legal representative of Anxin company, were referred to judicial departments for criminal prosecution. Twenty-four people, including Zhang Zhongsheng, vice mayor of Luliang City, and Zhang Xuguang, mayor of Xiaoyi City, received inner party disciplinary or administrative punishment. The company was fined 38.46 million yuan and all its illegal gains were confiscated. The company's business license was revoked and it was ordered to close. LANDSLIDE, SHANXI PROVINCE, 2008 The collapse of an unlicensed iron ore tailing pond triggered a massive landslide on Sept. 8, 2008 in Xiangfen county of the coal-rich Shanxi Province. The landslide buried an outdoor market near a village of more than 1,000 residents, killing 277 people and injuring 33. Four people were never found. Losses were put at 96.19 million yuan. Authorities said 113 people had responsibility for the accident. Among those, 51 faced criminal charges and 62 received inner party disciplinary or administrative punishments. Among those facing charges were Zhang Peiliang, board chairman of the Xinta Mining Ltd. Co., or the owner of the mine; Kang Haiyin, Communist Party chief of Xiangfen County; Li Xuejun, head of Xiangfen County; Liu Shuyong, chief engineer of Shanxi Provincial Land and Resources Bureau, and Su Baosheng, deputy head of Shanxi Provincial Work Safety Supervision Administration. Xia Zhengui, secretary of Linfen city's Party committee, was given an inner-party penalty. Liu Zhijie, Linfen's then mayor, and Zhou Jie, then vice mayor of Linfen, were dismissed. Zhang Genhu, head of Shanxi Provincial Work Safety Supervision Administration, had an internal demerit entered in his record. MINE FIRE IN HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE, 2008 The fire on Sept. 20, 2008 at Fuhua Coal Mine in Hegang City killed 31 people and caused losses of 15.65 million yuan. The accident was determined to have been caused by the spontaneous combustion of coal, but 22 people were held responsible for bad management. Nine people, including Wang Qingyun, an investor in Fuhua Mining Co., Ltd., faced criminal charges. Thirteen people received disciplinary penalties. Wang Rui, then vice mayor of Hegang, was included, among others. The company's business license was suspended and it was forced to close.
MOSCOW, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said here Monday that he was satisfied and pleased with the smooth development of strategic partnership of cooperation with China. Medvedev said during his meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi that he was looking forward to the upcoming state visit of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, whom he has held a "successful" meeting with on the sidelines of the G20 London Summit. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Moscow on April 27, 2009.Based on this year's 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Medvedev said the two countries shall review outcomes and look ahead for future development of bilateral relations. Against the backdrop of the ongoing global financial crisis, Russia, together with China, will increase top-level visits, expand cooperation in all aspects such as economy, trades and humanities, and closely collaborate on combating the financial crisis, as well as on international and regional issues, said Medvedev. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (1st L) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (1st R) in Moscow on April 27, 2009The upcoming state visit of President Hu to Russia is of vital importance to further advancement of China-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation under new circumstances, said Yang. Currently an all-round, rapid development of the strategic partnership between the two countries is underway, he said. China will make great efforts along with Russia, to fulfill in all aspects the major consensus reached between the two leaders during the London summit, further enhance strategic cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in all fields, and continuously promote the China-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. Yang, arriving at Moscow on Sunday, also met with Russian Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov on Monday.
SHANGHAI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines on late Sunday announced that it will merge Shanghai Airlines through a shares swap and the two will resume stock trading in Shanghai Monday. Shanghai Airlines will exchange one of its A shares for 1.3 shares of China Eastern after the former's shareholders are given a 25 percent risk premium, the latter said in a statement filed to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Shanghai Airlines Chairman Zhou Chi said on June 30 that the transfer of shares will take about four to five months. Liu Jiangbo, spokesman of the working team overseeing tie-up affairs, said Shanghai Airlines will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Eastern and retain its brand and independent operation. Liu told Xinhua that the merger has entered a concrete stage after the announcement of the detailed merger plan. This is a major step to promote the consolidation of regional airlines and to facilitate building Shanghai into an international air and shipping hub, he said. The merger will give China Eastern, one of China's three state-owned airlines, about 50 percent market share in Shanghai. China Eastern reported a net loss of 13.9 billion yuan in 2008 because of weak travel demand in the economic downturn and wrong-way bets on fuel prices. China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines shares have been suspended from trading since June 8 while waiting for the merger talks. China Eastern last closed at 5.33 yuan and Shanghai Airlines closed at 5.92 yuan. China Eastern is listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai and Shanghai Airlines is listed in Shanghai.