BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China voiced its strong dissatisfaction and stern opposition to an award from the European Union (EU) to a Chinese criminal. "We express strong dissatisfaction and stern opposition (to the award)," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a written statement in response to the award on Thursday evening. The European Parliament (EP), a supervisory and consultative organ of the EU, announced on Thursday it would select Hu for the Sakharov Prize. On April 3, Hu was sentenced by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court to 3.5 years imprisonment, with one year's deprivation of political rights. The verdict said Hu, an unemployed father aged 34 and the holder of a college degree, libeled the Chinese political and social systems, and instigated subversion of the state, which is a crime under Chinese law. "Hu is a convicted criminal who is now in jail for subverting the state", Qin said, noting the award to Hu, in disguise of "protecting the human rights," is fabricating facts and confusing truth and has fully exposed its political attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs and infringe upon the country's judicial sovereignty. "The fact has already proved and will continue to prove that such an act can neither change the fact of China's social development, nor deceive the European people," Qin said.
DESTROYER WUHAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval fleet sailed into the Strait of Malacca on Monday after its departure from China's southernmost island province of Hainan on an escort mission against piracy off Somalia Friday afternoon. The fleet sailed into Singapore Strait Monday morning after over 20 hours' voyage from the South China Sea and arrived at the Strait of Malacca. It is expected to reach the Indian Ocean Tuesday. The convoy, which includes two of China's most sophisticated naval destroyers, DDG-169 Wuhan and DDG-171 Haikou, and a supply ship Weishanhu, is heading for the Gulf of Aden to join a multinational patrol in one of the world's busiest sea lanes where surging piracy endangers international shipping. A helicopter of the Chinese naval fleet attends a landing exercise at night on Dec. 28, 2008, while the Chinese naval fleet heads for the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese naval fleet including two destroyers and a supply ship set off on Dec. 26 for waters off Somalia for an escort mission against piracy. The fleet carries about 800 crew members, including 70 soldiers from the Navy's special force, and is equipped with missiles, cannons and light weapons. The recent pirate attack on a Chinese fishing vessel has raised great concern of the Chinese government and people. Statistics showed that some 1,265 Chinese commercial vessels had passed through the gulf so far this year and seven had been attacked. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions calling on all countries and regions to help patrol the gulf and waters off Somalia since June. The latest resolution authorized countries to take all necessary measures in Somalia, including in its airspace to stop the pirates. A helicopter of the Chinese naval fleet attends a landing exercise at night on Dec. 28, 2008, while the Chinese naval fleet heads for the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese naval fleet including two destroyers and a supply ship set off on Dec. 26 for waters off Somalia for an escort mission against piracy.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday called on the international community to continue to strengthen multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation within the UN framework. China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui made the appeal at the thematic debate of the UN Security Council on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorists. "Recently, a series of alarming acts of terror occurred in such places as Mumbai, resulting in heavy casualties of innocent people. The Chinese delegation expresses its deep condolences to the victims," Zhang told the council. "These cruel realities remind us once again that terrorism still remains a potent threat to peace and security of international community," he said. The Security Council, as the core of the international collective security machinery, should play an important role in international fight against terrorism, he said. "Terrorism is the common threat facing the international community and it is imperative to continue to step up the multilateral counter terrorism cooperation within the UN framework," he said. China believes that all UN bodies should pay attention to both stepping up counter-terrorism measures and removing the root causes that give rise to terrorism, he said. "The member states are the real owners in the implementation of all UN counter-terrorism resolutions," the Chinese envoy said. "Their will and capacity in counter-terrorism determines the implementation of those resolutions." "However, limited resources and inadequate counter-terrorism capacities have led to the inability of many countries, especially the developing countries to honor fully their counter-terrorism obligations, and thus limited seriously the international community's achievements in the struggle against terrorism," he stressed. China hopes that the international community will pay greater attention to the capacity-building in counter-terrorism and invest more resources to help the developing countries with counter-terrorism assistance that meets their actual needs and help them improve expeditiously capabilities so that the effective implementation of all UN counter-terrorism resolutions will have a firm basis, he added.
ALGIERS, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in Algiers on Monday afternoon on a three-day official visit to Algeria. During an informal meeting at the airport with Abdelaziz Ziari, Speaker of the Algerian National Assembly, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, highlighted the progress of bilateral relations in recent years, saying he felt especially delighted to visit Algeria at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. "The purpose of my visit is to further promote the friendship between the two peoples, expand the bilateral cooperation with mutual benefit and strengthen our strategic and cooperative ties to a higher level," Wu told Ziari. Abdelaziz Ziari (R), Speaker of Algeria's National Assembly, greets Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, at an airport in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on Nov. 3, 2008. Ziari voiced agreement with Wu's views on the bilateral relations, noting that Algeria has been looking forward to Wu's visit and that he believed the visit would push forward the China-Algeria cooperation. In addition to Ziari, Wu is also expected to meet Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and the President of Algerian Council of the Nation Abdelkader Bensalah. Algeria is the first leg of Wu's five-nation Africa tour which will also take him to Gabon, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Seychelles
RAMALLAH, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese special envoy for the Middle East Sun Bigan called for an immediate halt of military activities in Gaza during his meeting with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah Thursday. The two discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been under intensive Israeli attacks for almost three weeks, causing more than 1,000 Palestinians dead and over 4,600 wounded. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with Sun Bigan, China's special envoy on the Middle East issue, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Jan. 15, 2008. Sun urged all parties to abide by UN Security Council resolution 1860 to avoid additional civilian casualties and ease the humanitarian crisis. He said as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has the duty to uphold justice and safeguard world peace. The warfare in Gaza, since its start, had drawn attentions from the Chinese leadership as well as the Chinese public. Sun said China has been making efforts to bring peace back to the region and to ease the humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza. Sun stressed that China has been long supporting the stance held by the PNA and Abbas that the Palestinian issue should be solved politically. Israeli President Shimon Peres meets with visiting China's special envoy on the Middle East issue Sun Bigan in Jerusalem, Jan. 14, 2009. He expressed his hope that the Palestinian side could continue gaining international support, and the disputes can be solved through negotiations. Sun said that unity remains the basic and most important factor that ensures the Palestinians to regain their legitimate national rights, adding that China appreciates the tireless efforts that Abbas has made to maintain Palestinian national unity. Abbas highly praised the five standpoints on the current Middle East situation issued by China, thanked for China's emergency humanitarian aid, and expressed his willingness to keep exerting efforts to restore stability as soon as possible. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit (R) meets with China's special envoy on the Middle East issue Sun Bigan in Cairo Jan. 12, 2009. The two sides exchanged opinions on the Gaza crisis and vowed to work together to help ease the tension in the Palestinian enclave. Before his visit to Ramallah, Sun also toured Egypt and Israel, where he put forward five standpoints of the Chinese government on the current Middle East situation to Egyptian and Israeli officials. The five standpoints are: 1. China calls on all parties concerned to abide by the UN Security Council Resolution 1860, and cease all military actions immediately to avert more casualties. 2. Measures should be taken to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A stable channel for supply of humanitarian aid including food, medicine and fuel, for Gaza should be open at the earliest time possible, and parties concerned should provide necessary guarantee in this regard. 3. Parties concerned should establish, through negotiation, a ceasefire monitoring mechanism in Gaza and work to create durable security and stability there. 4. The Palestine-Israel peace talks should resume at the earliest time, and efforts should be made to seek solution to issues related to the final status of Palestine on the basis of mutual-trust, so that an independent Palestinian state will be established as early as possible and the "two states" of Palestine and Israel will coexist peacefully. 5. The international community should increase mediating efforts for peace and promote a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of the Middle East issue. China is ready to work with parties concerned and make unremitting efforts in this regard. Amr Moussa (R), secretary-general of the Arab League, meets with China's special envoy on the Middle East issue Sun Bigan at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, capital of Egypt, on Jan. 12, 2009.
LUANDA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's eight-measure policy designed to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with Africa has been effectively carried out with remarkable achievements in the past two years, Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said Monday. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Chen said remarkable achievements have been scored in the two-way economic relations and trade cooperation between China and African since Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the eight-measure African policy at the Beijing Summit of the China-African Cooperation Forum in 2006 in Beijing. The policy covers China's assistance to Africa, preferential loans and credits, the building of a conference center for the African Union, the canceling of debts, further opening-up of China's markets to Africa, the establishment of trade and economic cooperation zones in Africa, and the training of African professionals. Since 2007, China has signed bilateral aid accords with 48 African countries and loan agreements with favorable terms with 22African countries, Chen said. The year 2009 will witness a 200-percent increase in aid accords with African countries in value terms as compared to 2006,the minister said. Meanwhile, the Chinese government will exempt 168 debts that should be paid by the end of 2005 by 33 African countries, he noted. To encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Africa, the Chinese government has established the China-Africa Fund with an initial allocation of 1 billion dollars, Chen said. By the end of 2008, the China-Africa Fund had invested about 400 million dollars in 20 projects, which brought the total investment in Africa by Chinese enterprises to about 2 billion dollars. The Chinese side plans to gradually expand the fund to 5 billion dollars, Chen said. In addition, the construction of economic and trade zones or duty free trade zones in Africa is progressing smoothly, including the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, the Guangdong Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Nigeria and the Lekky Duty Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria, the Egypt-Suez Economic and Trade Zone and Ethiopian Orient Industrial Park, the minister said. The Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, as China's first trade cooperation zone in Africa, has been initially completed and put into operation, Chen said. Ten Chinese enterprises with a combined investment of more than700 million dollars have set up plants in the zone located in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, offering some 3,500 jobs for local people, he noted. Zambian President Rupiah Banda spoke highly of the establishment of the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Zone, as well as China's eight-measure economic policy on Africa. Like the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, the Zambian president said, the zone is a key measure symbolizing the Sino-African friendship in a new era. To expand imports from the most underdeveloped African countries, China has exempted import tariffs from 31 African countries on farm products, stone materials, minerals, leather and hide, textiles, clothing, electric appliances and machinery and equipment, Chen said. The African countries have gained a total of 680 million dollars in tariff exemptions during the period from 2006 to October 2008. China has also cooperated in training African scientists and technical personnel in sectors including agriculture, medical care, social development and education. Since 2007, China has offered training programs for 10,916 people from 49 African countries. By the end of 2009 China will send 100 advanced-level agrotechnicians to 35 African countries, Chen said. China plans to establish 14 agricultural technology demonstration centers, all of which will begin construction by the end of this year. Meanwhile, about half of the hospitals that China pledged to help build in Africa have already finished construction bidding, Chen noted. The construction of the African Union Conference Center, also a Chinese aid project, began last December and is scheduled to be completed in 2011, he said. Chen was scheduled to leave Angola for China on Monday, wrapping up a three-nation African trip that also took him to Kenya and Zambia.
密云区做人流究竟要花多少钱
LIMA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met his Peruvian counterpart Alan Garcia Wednesday in Lima for talks on how to deepen comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and the Latin American nation. The meeting took place soon after the Chinese leader's arrival in the Peruvian capital from Havana. In a written statement issued upon his arrival here, the Chinese president said he will exchange views with Garcia and other Peruvian leaders on ways to deepen bilateral ties. Following their talks, the two leaders will attend a signing ceremony of documents on cooperation in trade, customs, quality control and poverty reduction. Peru is one of China's major trading partners in Latin America,with two-way trade totaling 6 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, a 53 percent increase over the previous year. While in Lima, Hu will attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which will focus on the world financial crisis, support for the Doha round oftrade talks, food and energy security, and regional economic integration. The Chinese president will also meet with leaders of several APEC member economies on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday called on the international community to continue to strengthen multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation within the UN framework. China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui made the appeal at the thematic debate of the UN Security Council on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorists. "Recently, a series of alarming acts of terror occurred in such places as Mumbai, resulting in heavy casualties of innocent people. The Chinese delegation expresses its deep condolences to the victims," Zhang told the council. "These cruel realities remind us once again that terrorism still remains a potent threat to peace and security of international community," he said. The Security Council, as the core of the international collective security machinery, should play an important role in international fight against terrorism, he said. "Terrorism is the common threat facing the international community and it is imperative to continue to step up the multilateral counter terrorism cooperation within the UN framework," he said. China believes that all UN bodies should pay attention to both stepping up counter-terrorism measures and removing the root causes that give rise to terrorism, he said. "The member states are the real owners in the implementation of all UN counter-terrorism resolutions," the Chinese envoy said. "Their will and capacity in counter-terrorism determines the implementation of those resolutions." "However, limited resources and inadequate counter-terrorism capacities have led to the inability of many countries, especially the developing countries to honor fully their counter-terrorism obligations, and thus limited seriously the international community's achievements in the struggle against terrorism," he stressed. China hopes that the international community will pay greater attention to the capacity-building in counter-terrorism and invest more resources to help the developing countries with counter-terrorism assistance that meets their actual needs and help them improve expeditiously capabilities so that the effective implementation of all UN counter-terrorism resolutions will have a firm basis, he added.
BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China Saturday expressed "serious concerns" over India's anti-subsidy investigation on sodium nitrite on Jan. 14 and probe into the special safeguard measure of sodium carbonate on Jan. 16. Following bilateral consultations, China has urged domestic businesses to contact their Indian peers and solve trade issues through talks and cooperation, Yao Jian, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, said in a statement. But India didn't respond to Chinese efforts and launched its first anti-subsidy probe over Chinese-made sodium nitrite, Yao said. "China expresses dissatisfaction over it," he noted. China also expressed resolute opposition to India's probe into the special safeguard measure of sodium carbonate, the spokesman stated. The probe not only hurts the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, but has negative impact on the stable bilateral trade relations, Yao said. The current global financial crisis has serious impact on the economies worldwide and all nations need to boost cooperation in fighting the crisis, he said. China hoped that India could show prudence and restraint in using trade remedies, as trade protectionism could only add to the grim world trade situation. He added that China and India should step up consultations and promote cooperation among industries from the two developing nations.
SAN JOSE, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday spoke highly of the rapid development of China-Costa Rica relations and pledged efforts to further expand bilateral cooperation in various fields. During talks with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez on the second day of his state visit to the Central American nation, Hu said mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields has been growing steadily. Noting the fast growth in bilateral ties over the past year, the Chinese president said the two countries have also carried out fruitful cooperation in international and regional affairs. Chinese President Hu Jintao(L) meets with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias(R) in San Jose, Costa Rica, Nov. 17, 2008 "Facts have proven that the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Costa Rica conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries and peoples," Hu said. The two countries set up diplomatic ties in June 2007. "The enhancement of Sino-Latin American mutually beneficial cooperation is conducive for our common development," Hu said, noting that the Chinese government has issued a Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean recently. The two countries should make efforts to push for long-term, sound and stable development of bilateral ties and cooperation, Hu said. "China is ready to work with Costa Rica to open up a bright future for bilateral ties characterized by mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, sincere cooperation and friendship for generations to come," he added. On economic cooperation, Hu said the two countries should strengthen their cooperation mechanisms and expand areas of cooperation. Hu hoped the two sides would reach agreement on a free trade pact at an early date, in the spirit of friendly consultations and mutual understanding and accommodation. The Chinese government will continue to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest in Costa Rica, he said. It will also support pragmatic cooperation between enterprises of the two countries in such key areas as infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications and energy, he added. Arias agreed with Hu's views and stressed the importance of strengthening trade and economic ties with China. Costa Rica hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in port construction, development of high-tech parks as well as Chinese language teaching, he said. Arias said he hoped the two countries would establish a dialogue mechanism at a higher level so as to further promote the development of bilateral ties. The two leaders also exchanged views on the global financial crisis and agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs. After their meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of 11 cooperation agreements on trade, economy, finance, energy, education and technology, and announced the launch of bilateral negotiations on a free trade pact. China is Costa Rica's second biggest trading partner. In 2007, bilateral trade amounted to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars, a 33-percentincrease over the previous year. Also on Monday, Hu met with Francisco Pacheco, president of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly. The Costa Rican legislators come from different political parties, but they have the consensus on maintaining and developing the friendship between the two countries, Hu said. The Chinese president hoped the two countries' legislative bodies would strengthen contacts and make efforts to promote mutual understanding. He also expressed the hope that Costa Rican legislators would play a greater role as a bridge linking up the two countries' business groups, cultural bodies, scientific institutes, news media and local governments in efforts to consolidate and expand the social foundation for the friendship between the two nations, Hu said. Pacheco said the establishment of diplomatic ties has helped promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and also created a favorable environment for strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation. After the establishment of diplomatic ties with China, Costa Rica now has an "important friend and partner" in the world, he said. Speaking at the meeting, many Costa Rican legislators from different political parties agreed that the establishment of diplomatic ties is of strategic significance. They also thanked China for providing support and help for Costa Rica in its economic and social development. The Chinese president, who is on a five-nation tour, flew in on Sunday from Washington, where he attended a Group of 20 summit on the current international financial crisis. This is the fist state visit by a Chinese head of state to Costa Rica and Central America. He will also visit Cuba, Peru and Greece, and attend the Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the Peruvian capital of Lima.