 |
 |
|
SCHWEIZER
BOTSCHAFT IN BEIJING
EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND IN BEIJING
AMBASSADE DE SUISSE EN CHINE |
Der wöchentliche
Presserückblick der Schweizer Botschaft in der VR China
The Weekly Press Review of the Swiss Embassy in the People's Republic
of China
La revue de presse hebdomadaire de l'Ambassade de Suisse en RP
de Chine |
 |
|
|
|
| Table of
contents |
|
DPRK and South
Korea
Mongolia
^ top ^
|
| Foreign
Policy |
|
Cancun climate talks send "positive" signals: Chinese delegation
(Xinhua)
2010-12-13
The outcome of the UN climate change conference in Cancun sent
"positive" signals to the international community, the Chinese
delegation said Saturday. Conference delegates finally reached a deal to
fight global warming early Saturday after an all-night session,
overruling an objection from Bolivia. "As for the outcome of this
conference, first of all, it adheres to the (UN) Convention (on climate
change), the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap, as well as the
principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, which ensures
that next year's negotiation will continue along the two tracks decided
by the Bali Roadmap," the Chinese delegation said in a statement
"Second, progress has been made at different levels in the areas where
developing countries have concerns, such as adaptation, technology
transfer, finance and capacity building, and the negotiation process
will move on, which sends positive signals to the international
community," the delegation said. It said the conference failed to
conclude the negotiation of the Bali Roadmap and this indicated next
year's negotiation task would be "extremely difficult." [...] China
would continue to make positive efforts towards this end, the delegation
said. The delegation reaffirmed that the Chinese government would hold a
highly responsible attitude toward the Chinese people and people in the
world, and remain committed to promoting green, low-carbon and
sustainable development as its contribution to combating climate change.
The Chinese delegation also hailed the efforts of the Mexican government
and its people during the negotiations and their hospitality. It also
appreciated the positive role of the Secretariat of the U.N. Framework
Convention on Climate Change. The two-week long talks in Cancun to set
new targets and find new ways to combat climate change attracted 25,000
government officials, businessmen and researchers from over 190
countries. ^ top ^
No-show bid to save 5 on death row (SCMP)
2010-12-13
President Benigno Aquino said the Philippines did not send a
representative to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for human rights
activist Liu Xiaobo in an effort to have Filipinos on death row in China
spared. Aquino said in an interview in the Philippine Sunday Inquirer
his envoy's absence at the ceremony in Norway on Friday did not mean his
government did not champion democracy and human rights. "Our interest
[is] to advance our citizens' needs first," he told the newspaper in his
first comments since human rights activists criticised the Philippines'
decision to boycott Friday's ceremony along with China and 16 other
countries. Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao has said his government did
not pressure or influence the Philippines. Philippine Foreign Secretary
Alberto Romulo has also said Manila's move should not be interpreted as
"taking sides with China". He told reporters on Thursday that his
government remained "clear and consistent to its fight for human
rights", citing its campaign in the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations for the release of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi,
Myanmar's pro-democracy leader. The military junta there released her
from a lengthy detention last month. Aquino said he had sent a letter to
the Chinese government seeking clemency for five Filipinos sentenced to
death for drug trafficking. The Foreign Affairs Department in Beijing
said the death sentences were under review by China's highest court. If
clemency is granted, they could be commuted to life imprisonment. Aquino
also said the Philippines was seeking "closure" with China over the
killings of eight Hong Kong tourists during the hostage crisis in Manila
in August. The police response to the hostage-taking was widely
criticised as inept, and it damaged the countries' diplomatic relations.
Aquino said Vice-President Jejomar Binay was expected to meet with
Chinese officials next week to discuss the results of the investigation
into the hostage deaths. ^ top ^
India visit to help smooth trade ties (China Daily)
2010-12-14
Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India this week will yield a slew of
commercial deals, which will help smooth trade relations between the two
emerging economies, senior officials said on Monday. Beijing will send a
large accompanying delegation to India, comprised of more than 100
senior business leaders, Liang Wentao, deputy director of the Department
of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, told a news conference in
Beijing. In New Delhi, Peng Gang, commercial counselor of the Chinese
embassy in India, told China Daily that the two sides are expected to
sign more than 30 deals focusing mainly on iron ore, biochemical
products and fabrics. [...] No other country has initiated more
anti-dumping complaints with the World Trade Organization against China
than India, according to Reuters. Liang said Beijing never sought a
surplus against India, and the trade imbalance was due to structural
flaws. Beijing's Ambassador in New Delhi Zhang Yan suggested on Monday
that the two countries "work together as a world factory". [...]
Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue said at the news conference that
Wen will meet Indian President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and India's ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during the
visit. "No issues are off the table," he said, adding that the two
countries have cooperated in multilateral frameworks like the G20 and
BRIC (the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China).
According to Hu, the border issue is also on the agenda during the
visit. China and India share a 2,000-km border that has never been
formally settled. [...] Wen's visit will be the first to India by a
Chinese premier in four years and comes a month after US President
Barack Obama's trip. [...]. Sun Shihai, a senior scholar at the Center
for South Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,
said Beijing's efforts for stronger ties with New Delhi are based on
bilateral interests. The convergence of interests of India and China
will transcend rhetoric, and manifest itself in substantial cooperation
and interaction, Indian Ambassador to China Dr S. Jaishankar said in
Beijing on Monday. [...] During Wen's visit to Pakistan, China will
announce it has extended cooperation in 36 development projects in
Pakistan, its only "all-weather" partner, and will sign agreements in
energy, infrastructure and other sectors, Pakistan's Foreign Office
spokesman Abdul Basit has said. Wen will meet Pakistan's president and
prime minister, and address parliament. Pakistan's Ambassador to China,
Masood Khan, has said the two governments would launch an energy
cooperation mechanism, as well as new efforts to support Pakistan's
post-disaster reconstruction. [...] "From the corridors of government to
the streets, people are so excited and keen to receive the premier of
China," Khan said. ^ top ^
China resumes military exchanges with US (Global Times)
2010-12-14
China and the US resumed military exchanges Friday as senior defense
officials from both sides held what the Pentagon called "productive"
talks in Washington and agreed that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates
would pay a visit to China next month. The talks were co-chaired by Ma
Xiaotian, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army (PLA), and Michele Flournoy, US under-secretary of
defense. The two sides also agreed that Chen Bingde, chief of the
general staff of the PLA, would visit the US at a mutually convenient
date in 2011, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense. Guan Youfei,
deputy director of the ministry's Foreign Affairs Office, told reporters
that the Chinese side attaches importance to Gates' visit from January
10 to 14 and hopes it will deepen mutual understanding between the two
armed forces, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Ma told Flournoy that
the main hurdles in the two countries' military ties are US arms sales
to China's Taiwan Province, Congress' restrictions on military exchanges
and US military surveillance operations in China's exclusive economic
zones, Xinhua reported. [...] The military talks came amid rising
tensions on the Korean Peninsula, resulting from an exchange of
artillery fire last month between the two Koreas. [...] "The resumption
of the military exchanges between China and the US was necessary, and it
came in time," said Li Daguang, a military expert at the PLA National
Defense University, noting that Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected
to pay a visit to the US next month. "Gates' visit to Beijing could pave
the way for Hu's trip to the US. Military contacts between the two sides
will contribute to both the sound development of bilateral ties and
regional peace and stability," Li added. ^ top ^
China urges Japans to consider its Asian neighbors on military matters
(People's Daily Online)
2010-12-15
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in Beijing Tuesday
that Japan should consider the sentiments of its Asian neighbors when it
comes to military matters. She made these remarks at a regular Tuesday
press briefing when commenting on Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's
recent remark about sending his country's Self-Defense Forces to the
Korean Peninsula in case of an emergency. "China has noticed such
reports as well as the responses in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Because
of historical reasons, Japan needs to consider its Asian neighbors'
feelings and concerns more, and act prudently regarding military
matters," she said. A senior official at the ROK foreign ministry said
his nation was "rather surprised" by Kan's words. Japanese government
spokesman Yoshito Sengoku denied that Japan had any plan of sending its
forces to the Korea Peninsula. ^ top ^
Chinese vice premier meets U.S. treasury secretary on economic
cooperation (Xinhua)
2010-12-16
Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan met with U.S. Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithner here Tuesday to discuss the global economic
situation and boost bilateral economic cooperation. The two sides agreed
that maintaining healthy and stable China-U.S. economic relations is in
the fundamental interest of both countries. They also said that in
today's complex economic situation, the two countries should continue to
strengthen cooperation in economy and trade, investment and finance.
This will promote a strong, sustainable and balanced growth for the two
economies and the global economy, they said. The Chinese vice premier
arrived in Washington Monday with a delegation of nearly 100 officials
for the 21st meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade. ^ top ^
China backs UN resolutions on lifting sanctions on Iraq (Xinhua)
2010-12-16
China on Wednesday voiced its support for the new UN resolutions on
lifting major sanctions against Iraq, and called on all parties in the
country to foster national reconciliation through political dialogue and
consultation. The statement came as Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent
representative to the United Nations, was speaking at an open Security
Council meeting on Iraq, which adopted three resolutions to terminate
major sanctions against Iraq, lift the restrictions on the Iraqi
civilian nuclear program and end the oil-for-food program. "China
welcomes the adoption by the Security Council of resolutions which lift
the sanctions imposed according to Chapter 7 of the Charter regarding
the mass destructive weapons, missiles and civilian nuclear activities,
which conclude the oil-for-food program and provide for appropriate
arrangements relating to the development fund for Iraq," Li said. The
ambassador expressed hope that Iraq will seize the opportunity to speed
up peaceful reconstruction process, and become an active force in
maintaining regional peace and stability. He also commended the efforts
made by the Iraqi government and people in stabilizing the overall
situation in the country. China "supports the Iraqi people in
determining the future of their country autonomously," he stressed.
"Iraq is still confronted with a complex security situation. China
condemns the terrorists attacks that have occurred recently in the
country. We support the government and people of Iraq in their effort to
preserve national security," said Li. Li also encouraged Iraq to enhance
dialogue and cooperation with regional neighbors, find an appropriate
solution to outstanding issues in a common effort to preserve regional
peace and stability. "We understand and support Iraq's aspiration for
complete reintegration into the international community," said the
ambassador. ^ top ^
Chinese premier, Indian PM reach consensus on bilateral, international
issues (Xinhua)
2010-12-17
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on
Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to promote bilateral relations. In
their talks, Wen said the relationship between China and India has
experienced an unusual course of development over the past 60 years.
However, friendly cooperation has always been the main stream, which is
not only in the interest of both countries and peoples, but also helpful
for peace and development of the region and the world at large. [...]
The two countries should grasp the historical opportunity to boost
political and strategic mutual trust and move forward the China-India
relations along the track of lasting friendship, mutually beneficial
cooperation and common development, Wen added. "I hope my current visit
is the one to carry on the past and open a way for future, which will
further enhance our win-win cooperation," Wen said. [...]
At present, the two countries are at a crucial stage of development,
Singh said. He said the enhancement of communications and cooperation
was not only conducive to the development of India and China, but also
will push forward the rejuvenation of Asia and promote world peace and
development. "I believe the visit of Premier Wen will give a new impetus
to bilateral relations," Singh said. [...] The two sides should work
jointly to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas before the
issues are fully resolved, the leaders agreed. Both sides, meanwhile,
decided to establish a strategic economic dialogue mechanism and a
China-India CEO's forum, and to set a new bilateral trade target of 100
billion U.S. dollars by 2015. [...] After their talks, both leaders
witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements by both
sides in the fields of economy, culture, environmental protection and
media. The two sides also issued a joint communique. [...] India is the
first leg of Wen's two-nation tour. He is also to pay an official visit
to Pakistan beginning Friday. ^ top ^
China backs peaceful, comprehensive settlement of Darfur issue (Xinhua)
2010-12-17
China on Thursday voiced its support for a peaceful and comprehensive
settlement of the Darfur issue, saying that efforts should be made to
remove the root causes that resulted in such an issue. The statement
came as Yang Tao, the counselor of the Chinese Permanent Mission to the
United Nations, was taking the floor at an open Security Council meeting
on Sudan. "Currently, it is very important to maintain security and
stability in Darfur," Yang said. "It is hoped that all parties to the
Darfur conflict can solve their differences in a peaceful manner through
political dialogue, and reconciliation should be achieved and violence
avoided." [...] "Without a robust political process, there would be no
peace and stability in Darfur, neither would there be the protection of
civilians, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery and
reconstruction," he said. [...] As a mediator of the Darfur peace
process, Doha has brokered several rounds of talks between Khartoum and
rebel groups over the past years. The Chinese government has decided to
make an additional donation of 500,000 U.S. dollars to the UN Trust Fund
for the political process in Darfur, he said. "We will continue to work
with the international community to contribute to the peace, stability
and development in Sudan.". ^ top ^
Cambodia welcomes more Chinese investment: PM (Xinhua)
2010-12-17
Cambodia welcomes more investment from east China's Jiangsu Province,
Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday. Hun Sen, who is paying a five-day
visit in China, made the remarks when meeting with Luo Zhijun, secretary
of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China
(CPC), in Nanjing, provincial capital of Jiangsu. As an economic power
of China, Jiangsu Province has made great contribution in getting China
out of the global financial crisis. Cambodia has benefited from the fast
development of Chinese economy including that of Jiangsu Province, Hun
Sen said. [...] Hun Sen hoped that he hoped both parties could work
together to develop the industrial park. Luo, for his part, appreciated
the great efforts and contribution Hun Sen has made in promoting the
friendly communication, bilateral exchanges and cooperation between
China and Cambodia. Luo said he believed that the prime minister's visit
would enhance the mutual understanding, promote pragmatic cooperation
and establish a win-win relationship between the two countries. [...] We
are willing to enhance the communication and cooperation with Cambodia
in a variety of areas, Luo said. [...] Hun Sen arrived in Beijing on
Monday to start his official visit to China, during which he also
visited north China's coastal municipality of Tianjin. ^ top ^
News from China will be more open, official vows (China Daily)
2010-12-17
The government will be more open and transparent in delivering
information and news about China to the outside world, a top official in
charge of media affairs vowed on Thursday. Wang Chen, minister of the
State Council Information Office, made the remarks at a New Year
reception attended by nearly 400 guests, including representatives of
major news organizations, spokesmen from government agencies and
diplomats stationed in Beijing. "In the coming year, the office will
constantly enhance communication with the media both at home and abroad
to make China's voice heard in an accurate, objective and comprehensive
manner," he said. [...] "Now foreign media pay more attention to China
and report more objectively on the country's changes and developments
from varied perspectives," he said. They are playing an important role
in promoting understanding between China and the international
community, he said. Ian Williams, senior China correspondent at the
Beijing office of the National Broadcasting Company, said he found it a
lot easier now to report from the Chinese mainland. [...] "I've seen
great progress during my eight-year stay here by the Chinese government
to enhance the free flow of information," Levent Ulucer, Beijing bureau
chief of Turkey's One News Agency, said. He also said that foreign media
should respect the laws and regulations of the country while reporting
here. ^ top ^
Chinese state councilor meets senior U.S. diplomat (Xinhua)
2010-12-17
Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State James Steinberg here Thursday afternoon. "I am glad to meet you
here in Beijing," Dai said, noting he believed Steinberg had conducted
candid talks with senior Chinese diplomats on bilateral ties and the
Korean Peninsula issue. Earlier Thursday, Steinberg met with Chinese
Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and Wu Dawei, Chinese special
representative for Korean Peninsula affairs. After his arrival on
Wednesday, Steinberg also met with Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai.
"As two most important countries in the world as well as permanent
members of the Security Council, China and the United States
strengthening dialogue and exchanges will benefit both sides, and the
world's peace and stability," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu
at a regular press briefing Thursday afternoon. China is ready to work
with the U.S. side to push bilateral ties developing along the healthy
and stable track, Jiang said. Steinberg is on a three-day visit to
Beijing. This is also his third China visit in this year. ^ top ^
|
| Domestic
Policy |
|
Chinese vice premier meets foreign guests attending Asian Para Games
(Xinhua)
2010-12-13
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday met with foreign leaders and
international sports organization officials who were in Guangzhou to
attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Para Games. Among the foreign
guests Li met were Philip Craven, president of the International
Paralympic Committee, Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin, president of the Asian
Paralympic Committee, and Jejomar Binay, vice president of the
Philippines. Li extended warm welcome to them and spoke highly of their
contribution to the Guangzhou Asian Para Games and the cause for people
with disabilities. He also said the Chinese government would further
support the cause for people with disabilities to create more favorable
conditions for them to integrate into society. Li declared the opening
of the games Sunday evening at the Olympics Stadium of Guangzhou,
capital city of south China's Guangdong Province. The Asian Para Games
will last for a week. ^ top ^
Chinese ambassador slams 2010 Nobel Peace Prize as 'provocation' (Global
Times)
2010-12-13
China's human rights experts said here on Saturday that the decision of
the Norwegian Nobel Committee could not represent the wish of the
majority of the people in the world and Liu Xiaobo does not represent
the Chinese people. The head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee,
Thorbjoern Jagland, insisted during an earlier press conference that
"this is not a prize against China. This is a prize honoring people in
China." Professor Zhang Xiaoling, director of the human rights research
center of the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central
Committee, said, "Liu Xiaobo is an imprisoned Chinese criminal and
Chinese courts handled Liu Xiaobo's case according to the law.
Therefore, how could Liu represent the Chinese people?" If the committee
really wanted to honor people in China, why wouldn't they select China's
workers, farmers and scientists? It is they who make contributions to
China's development, and international society has widely acknowledged
this point of view, she said. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman,
Jiang Yu, said Friday night "We are firmly against attempts by any
country or individual to use the Nobel Peace Prize to interfere in
China's internal affairs and infringe on China's judicial sovereignty."
[...] Further, China's human rights experts said China was pushing
forward its human rights cause in all respects, along with progress in
reform and development while maintaining social stability. In the
future, China would unswervingly stick to a development road that is in
accordance with China's national conditions. China is a vast and
populous country, and its stability has a direct bearing on world order.
Responsible international organizations and institutions should weigh
their actions against the interests of a peaceful world order, rather
than confine themselves to a Cold War mentality, said China's human
rights experts. ^ top ^
Chinese legislature to further discuss amendment to Criminal Law
(Xinhua)
2010-12-14
China's top legislature said Monday in a statement that it will continue
discussing a draft amendment to the Criminal Law, which proposes tougher
punishments for those involved in organized crime and drink-driving.
Members of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will
discuss the draft amendment at an upcoming bi-monthly session scheduled
for Dec. 20-25, according to a statement issued after a meeting of the
chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, presided
over by chairman Wu Bangguo. The legislature conducted the first reading
of the draft amendment in August. NPC Standing Committee members will
also continue to discuss a draft revision of the Law on Water and Soil
Conservation, and to review a law on safeguarding China's intangible
cultural heritage. According to the statement, they will consider a bill
on a draft resolution to convene the fourth annual session of the 11th
NPC. The NPC annual session will examine three reports from the State
Council on boosting economic and social development in ethnic minority
areas, deepening reform of health care system and stepping up the
development of the service sector. ^ top ^
China to further promote green energy (People's Daily Online)
2010-12-15
China will increasingly promote the use of clean energy, since the
country's energy needs are expected to increase by an equivalent of 2
billion tonnes of coal in the next decade, said Dai Yande, an official
of the National Development and Reform Commission Tuesday during the
2010 Asia Energy Forum in Guangzhou City "China will use the lever of
price to increase the demand for new energy," Dai said, "We will
increase the share of non-fossil fuels in energy consumption to 15
percent by 2020." "We will increase the installed capacity of nuclear
power to 80 million kilowatts and hydroelectric power to 400 million
kilowatts by the end of 2020," Dai added. [...] By 2010, the capacity of
nuclear power in Guangdong will reach 24 million kilowatts, and new
energy will account for 30 percent of the total energy consumed, Li
said, an official from the local government of Guangdong. [...] The
first Asia Energy Forum was successfully held in Guangzhou in August
2009, and the forum is to be held annually in Guangzhou. ^ top ^
China upgrades anti-corruption regulation (Xinhua)
2010-12-16
China released an amended anti-corruption regulation on Wednesday in
which it sets out unprecedented penalties that include imposing
punishments for corrupt Party officials, even if they have left their
posts or retired. The amended regulation, the latest move of the
Communist Party of China(CPC) to battle corruption, was jointly
implemented by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's
cabinet. [...] Those newly added articles were mainly dedicated to
detail the supervisory instructions and liabilities by imbedding
provisions from various other regulations in recent years. For example,
previously, to punish a retired official was something that was rarely
heard of in China. One of the notable changes in the past decade was the
popular use of the Internet, which opened up a new channel for the
public to supervise officials, said professor Wang Yukai with the
Chinese Academy of Governance. The public is able to report more
corruption cases through the Internet and by implementing the new
regulation, and corrupt officials will have to spend a lifetime
constantly 'watching their back,' analysts say. [...] In addition,
different punishments were specified for the collective leading
organizations and individual leaders in the amended version. In article
18 of the amended regulation, the public is asked to supervise CPC
officials, despite no specifications being mentioned in how they might
participate. Law enforcement and strengthened supervision from the
public and mediaare the key to fighting corruption, professor Wang
added. ^ top ^
Consumers fear too many antibiotics in meat (China Daily)
2010-12-17
More than 90 percent of Chinese surveyed said they were worried about
health hazards posed by the intake of unwanted antibiotics through meat
consumption and called for mandatory labeling. China Youth Daily's
online survey of 2,528 people aged 20 to 40 followed late November's
media reports that revealed feeding antibiotics to livestock is a common
breeding industry practice. [...] Antibiotics-resistant diseases cause
hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in the country every year and
increase medical costs, experts have said. [...] Nearly 62 percent of
respondents said they will not buy meat contaminated with antibiotics.
While the government prohibits such practices as feeding animals
antibiotics and growth hormones, "the abuse of antibiotics is still
rampant", said Wang Dingmian, former chairman of the Guangdong
Provincial Dairy Association. Nearly 81 percent of the survey's
respondents blamed poor government supervision. About 58 percent
denounced the lack of detailed antibiotics-use standards. [...] Since
the 1980s, antibiotics and similar drugs have been routinely used to
promote growth, and to compensate for livestock's unsanitary and crowded
conditions in China and other countries, like the United States, he
said. "Given that animals in such conditions are at risk of diseases, a
full ban of antibiotics in fodder would not be feasible," he said. The
European Union leads the banning of antibiotics' use in livestock feed
worldwide. ^ top ^
|
| Beijing |
Beijing's plan to steer clear of traffic jams (People's Daily Online)
2010-12-14
Authorities have released a draft plan to ease the capital's traffic
gridlock - including a cap on government cars. The plan, posted on the
municipal commission of transport's website to gauge public opinion,
could see Beijing take measures to ease population pressure in the
downtown area and speed up construction of traffic infrastructure. It
also advocates boosting public transport and strengthening regulations
concerning car use. One of the plan's major points is that Beijing will
prohibit new government cars for the next five years, Jia Xinguang, an
independent auto analyst, told China Daily. The capital has around
700,000 government vehicles, nearly 15 percent of the city's car
ownership, state broadcaster China Central Television reported. [...]
Controlling the number of government cars is welcome but it is more
effective to limit their use, he suggested. Although the plan does not
explain how to ease population pressure in central Beijing, the city's
12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) suggests that residents should be
encouraged to live close to where they work to ease congestion. [...]
Before the publication of the draft plan, rumors spread that Beijing
will take a leaf out of Shanghai's book and limit the granting of
license plates. One particular rumor suggested that anyone without a
Beijing permanent residence permit would not be allowed to register a
plate.
Shanghai granted 8,500 car license plates in November, with an average
price above 45,200 yuan ($6,800) for each plate, the Financial News
reported. But Beijing charges just 500 yuan for each plate. [...] The
plan suggests repeating, "when necessary", a measure used during the
Olympic Games, when cars were allowed on the road on the basis of
odd-and-even license plates during peak hours. The plan also advocates a
congestion-fee charge "at an appropriate time" and preventing car
ownership from increasing too fast, though it did not give details.
[...] The draft plan was approved by the State Council and it will be
open for public response from Dec 13 to 19. To minimize traffic
bottlenecks, Beijing now prohibits about 20 percent of cars during
weekdays according to the last license plate number. ^ top ^
Beijing plans one million subsidized apartments (China Daily)
2010-12-17
Beijing plans to build one million government-subsidized apartments for
low-income families during the next five-year plan (2011-2015) as the
housing price continues to rise amid government controls, People's Daily
reported Thursday. The plan includes 300,000 public rental apartments
and 400,000 apartments reserved for people to be displaced because of
demolition. About 100,000 families will receive the housing allowance,
according to the plan. [...] Beijing will also change the current
housing support model from a reliance on selling low-priced houses to a
combination of sales and rental, with the rental to take the lead in the
next five years, Xu said. [...] Property prices in 70 major Chinese
cities rose 0.3 percent in November month on month and 7.7 percent year
on year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported. ^ top ^
|
| Tibet |
Tibetan exiles protest as premier begins visit (SCMP)
2010-12-16
Hundreds of Tibetan exiles marched through New Delhi yesterday to
protest against the mainland's rule over Tibet, as Prime Minister Wen
Jiabao began a visit to the Indian capital.
India is home to thousands of Tibetan exiles including the Dalai Lama,
their spiritual leader who has been based in the northern hill town of
Dharamshala since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising. The
Tibetan Youth Congress, which organised the protests in Delhi, said it
wanted to highlight China's "occupation and oppression" of Tibet, a
mountain region that has seen regular violent unrest against the Beijing
authorities. "The conditions of Tibetans in Tibet and the situation of
political prisoners have become extremely critical," the congress said
in a statement. [...] The congress campaigns for complete independence
for Tibet, in contrast to the Dalai Lama who favours autonomy for the
region under Chinese rule. However, Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of
inciting unrest and wanting to split up China by covertly pushing a
pro-independence agenda for Tibet. Decades of on-off talks between
Tibetan exiles and the mainland have made no tangible progress. ^ top ^
|
| Taiwan |
Mainland hopes Taiwan opposition party realizes "Taiwan independence" a
"dead end" (People's Daily Online)
2010-12-16
The Chinese mainland hopes Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
realizes "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, a mainland spokesman said
Wednesday. Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs
Office, made the remark at a regular press conference in response to a
question concerning the DPP's possible adjustment of its hostile
mainland policy. "We hope the DPP understands the argument for 'Taiwan
independence' is not in line with the basic interests of the Taiwanese
people," Yang said. Peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait is the
mainstream, he said. When commenting on recent remarks by Lai Shin-yuan,
Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, on the island's core interests, Yang
said adhering to the1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence"
are the foundation and prerequisites for improving cross-Strait
relations. The fate of Taiwan is based on the peaceful development of
cross-Strait relations, he said. He expressed hope that the two sides
could properly handle disputes and maintain the right direction of
peaceful development in the spirit of building mutual trust, shelving
dispute, seeking common ground while reserving difference, and creating
a mutually beneficial situation. ^ top ^
|
| Economy |
|
China seeks bigger int'l role (Global Times)
2010-12-13
At an annual top-level economic conference that concluded Sunday,
Chinese authorities demonstrated their determination for a greater and
more decisive role in the post-crisis international community, while
also pledging to curb excessive government spending. And with national
inflation soaring to a 28-month high in November, the top leadership
also vowed to focus on managing inflation expectations in 2011,
according to a government statement The global economy is likely to
resume growing next year, though many uncertainties will remain, it
said. Participants at the meeting agreed that the country should further
cultivate its growth areas, thereby strengthening its role in the
transformation of the world economic regime. The meeting also stressed
steady growth in fiscal revenue, as well as austerity in
government-level administrative spending, adding that local governments
should strengthen their debt-management efforts. [...] November's
inflation rate of 5.1 percent was fueled mostly by soaring food prices,
according to data released Saturday. The three-day Central Economic Work
Conference, which was presided over by President Hu Jintao and attended
by Premier Wen Jiabao and other top leaders, resulted in the agreement
to give priority to stabilizing prices next year. On Friday, the day
before the inflation data was released, the country's central bank said
it would raise banks' reserve requirement ratio by 0.5 percent,
effective December 20. It will be the sixth such hike this year to ease
inflationary pressure. The meeting also said China will seek to
accelerate its strategic economic restructuring next year in an effort
to shift from an over-dependence on exports and an investment in
industries to boosting private consumption and relying on the domestic
market. China's economy grew 9.6 percent in the third quarter of this
year, slowing from a 10.3 percent increase in the second quarter and an
11.9 percent surge in the first quarter. Wan Jun, an economist from the
Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences (CASS), told the Global Times that China has strived in
recent years to maintain economic growth while restructuring the economy
in an effort to combat the global financial crisis. Now, he said, it is
time for the government to take the soaring inflation into consideration
in its policymaking. [...] The government at this year's Fifth Plenary
Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee did not provide any specific
targets for next year's growth, Wan said. "If we try to maintain a
moderate growth in GDP rather than a rapid one, then main-taining
economic growth does not run contrary to curbing inflation," he said.
China will enhance and improve macro-economic regulation to ensure
stable and healthy economic development next year, said a statement
released Sunday after the annual Central Economic Work Conference. Next
year's macro-regulation should basically be proactive, stable, prudent
and flexible, the statement said. The focus will be better handling the
relationship between stable and relatively fast economic development,
economic restructuring and inflation expectations in an active and
stable way, it said. [...] They also agreed to accelerate the strategic
transformation of the economic development pattern in order to make
economic development more coordinated, sustainable and reliant on the
domestic economy. [...] Similarly, growth in the broad money supply (M2)
- cash in circulation and all deposits - will surpass the government's
full-year target of 17 percent. ^ top ^
ASEAN economic recovery slows down in Q4: OECD (People's Daily Online)
2010-12-14
Except for the Philippines, major southeastern Asian countries are to
register slowing down economic recovery pace in the fourth quarter of
this year mainly due to weak trade, the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Monday. "Overall, the strong
economic recovery seen in ASEAN economies in the first half of 2010 is
gradually losing momentum," the Paris-based OECD said in its regular
ASEAN Economies report. According to OECD's quarterly survey, the
Philippines is leading the regional growth with a continuous solid
recovery driven by strong exports and an improving business sentiment,
but other southeastern Asia members showed slacks momentum. "Activity
appears to be slowing down in Malaysia due to weak trade and also in
Singapore, due to weak production activity and retail sales," the report
said, adding "slight signs of slowing" in Indonesia. For the Thai
economy, its outlook "is relatively stable supported by solid production
activities," the OECD said. As to risks and uncertainties weighing on
the southeastern Asian economy, the advanced-country club suggested the
Asian bloc better cope with negative impact from OECD countries. "Large
capital inflows, mainly from OECD countries, and inflationary pressures"
are major difficulties for southeastern Asian countries, the report
said. ^ top ^
Chinese vice premier urges stable prices (China Daily)
2010-12-15
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for more efforts from local
authorities to stabilize prices and improve people's lives. Li made the
remarks during a two-day inspection tour from Sunday to South China's
Guangdong province, where he opened the first Asian Para Games in the
provincial capital city of Guangzhou Li said more efforts should be made
to stabilize prices and make the country' s macro control policies more
targeted, more flexible and more effective. [...] China's consumer
price index, a measure of inflation, jumped to a 28-month high at 5.1
percent in November, boosted mainly by soaring food prices. The November
CPI figure well exceeded the Chinese government's full-year CPI target
of 3 percent. Local governments should build more public facilities,
offer better public service and create a more comfortable living
environment for the public during the urban construction and municipal
management, Li said. ^ top ^
Growing gripes over inflation, wealth gap (SCMP)
2010-12-16
People on the mainland are becoming more disgruntled as inflation pushes
prices higher and the gap between rich and poor remains wide, an annual
survey shows. The survey, by academics from the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences (CASS), found a decrease from last year in the "overall
satisfaction level" of rural and urban dwellers with their living
conditions. Meanwhile, the People's Bank of China, the central bank,
reported the most widespread dissatisfaction with consumer prices in 11
years, with 73.9 per cent of respondents complaining they were "high and
hard to accept". [...] According to the 2011 Social Blue Book, by the
academy's Institute of Sociology and released yesterday in Beijing,
residents' "satisfaction level" was 3.41 out of a possible 5 in the
cities, 3.37 in small towns and 3.42 in rural communities this year.
[...] Some key indices, such as those showing satisfaction with jobs,
social security and after-hours entertainment, hit five-year lows, the
CASS researchers said. In particular, they found rural residents'
expectation of a rise in living standards, which was already lower than
that of urban residents, had fallen. While urban residents showed
increasing concern about how they would live after retiring, rural
residents worried more about how to raise their current living standards
and job prospects, especially their chance of finding urban and non-farm
work, the report indicated. After the annual top-level central economic
work conference, which ended on Tuesday, Yu Bin, an economist with the
State Council's Development Research Centre, said that growing income
discrepancy reflected a widening gap between urban and rural incomes.
[...] CASS was candid about political implications. Confidence about the
national economic situation and the government's ability to run the
economy had also fallen, they said. They found "a small decline" in
people's assessment of national economic conditions, "an all-round
decline" in their assessment of the government's ability, and "no
progress" in their assessment of China's international standing as
compared with the previous few years. As for the future, 81.7 per cent
of those questioned by the PBOC said they were expecting prices to
continue to rise, and 55.5 per cent said they expected a rise in income. ^ top ^
China targets foreign trade 'balancing' (People's Daily Online)
2010-12-17
Against a backdrop of a high trade surplus and protectionist measures
targeting China strengthening, China is committed to "balancing" foreign
trade through "stabilizing" exports and "boosting" imports over the next
five years, the minister of commerce said. [...] Customs statistics show
China's trade surplus hit $22.9 billion in November, the fifth month it
registered above $20 billion this year, although the surplus fell from a
peak of $28.7 billion in July and also shrank from October's $27.1
billion. The United States has been threatening to punish China for what
some politicians and commentators have called "an undervalued currency".
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry said the
US Congress was growing impatient with China over the currency issue and
may take action next year. Despite claims that the Chinese government
has recently made stating that the trade surplus will gradually narrow,
most economists believe it will still stay above $20 billion in the
foreseeable future. [...] Chen pointed out that China has managed to
stabilize exports by helping manufacturers and exporters shift their
focus to emerging markets where the financial crisis was less severe
than in developed countries. In 2009, China overtook Germany to become
the largest global exporter, according to the World Trade Organization.
China's exports in 2009 came to $1.2 trillion, while Germany exported
$1.12 trillion in goods and services. The US, with exports of $1.06
trillion, was third. [...] Besides "more balanced trade", the ministry
is also "encouraging more qualified and capable" Chinese enterprises to
invest overseas over the next five years. Chen believes this will play a
significant role in "helping China enhance its competitiveness in the
global market". From January to October, China's outbound direct
investment (ODI) in the non-financial sector reached $47.6 billion, 37
percent of which was realized through mergers and acquisitions. Last
year, China's ODI in the non-financial sector rose 6.5 percent
year-on-year to $43.3 billion although foreign direct investment slumped
worldwide in 2009. [...]. ^ top ^
|
| DPRK
and South Korea |
China to make more effort to start six-party emergency consultations
(Xinhua)
2010-12-13
China said it will make greater efforts to start six-party emergency
consultations because tensions on the Korean Peninsula have not eased.
"The six-party talks are a very important way to advance the
denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula and maintain peace and
stability in northeast Asia. We, the concerned parties, should make full
use of the talks," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in an
interview in Beijing Friday. [...] "While the talks have yet to be
resumed, we think it is the proper time for emergency consultations
between the heads of the delegations of the six parties," said the
foreign minister. Tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula after the
DPRK and the ROK exchanged artillery fire on Nov. 23. China proposed
emergency consultations among the chief negotiators in December. Amid
the international community's repeated calls for restraint and calm, the
United States held separate large-scale naval drills with the ROK and
Japan in waters near the peninsula. [...] "Stability on the Korean
Peninsula is good for all. Chaos there is detrimental for all," he
added. During the interview, the foreign minister reiterated China's
policy to be a good neighbor and partner in Asia while continuing to
make contributions to the rise of the region. Yang said China suggests a
new security concept that features "mutual trust, mutual benefit,
equality and coordination," be fostered, adding that countries in the
region should step up cooperation in anti-terrorism and
non-proliferation work. "China welcomes other relevant countries playing
a constructive role in regional cooperation to help shape an open,
inclusive, and win-win cooperative framework in the region," he added. ^ top ^
DPRK will agree to new talks, says Beijing (China Daily)
2010-12-15
Beijing said on Tuesday that it had gained Pyongyang's support for
easing regional tensions and attending emergency Six-Party Talks on
Korean Peninsula's nuclear program. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang
Yu said that State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who visited the capital of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) last week, reached these
important agreements with the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-il. [...]
"Both sides believe the Six-Party Talks process should go forward, and
strive to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Jiang said,
reiterating the importance and urgency of resolving the issue within the
framework of the talks. She said the two sides re-affirmed the need for
all sides to exercise calm and restraint to avoid further escalations.
In another development, Republic of Korea (ROK)'s chief nuclear envoy
left for Russia on Tuesday for discussions over tensions on the Korean
Peninsula. Wi Sung-lac is scheduled to meet on Wednesday with his
Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin. He also
plans to brief Russian officials on the outcome of a three-way meeting
that the foreign ministers of the ROK, the United States and Japan held
in Washington last week to discuss how to deal with the situation. The
three countries expressed reservations over the Chinese proposal for an
emergency consultation of the six-way talks. [...] Wi's trip came as
regional powers have been stepping up diplomacy over the growing tension
on the Korean Peninsula. US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg is
to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, leading a high-level US delegation to
coordinate with China on the position on the current tension. US
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Washington's envoy to the
Six-Party Talks Sung Kim are in the delegation. Campbell is scheduled to
travel to Japan and Sung Kim to ROK after the Chinese trip. ^ top ^
|
| Mongolia |
Batbold-Putin talks lead to nine cooperation agreements (News.mn)
2010-12-15
Nine cooperation agreements, including those settling Mongolia's debts
and laying down fundamentals of the Dornod Uranium joint venture, were
signed in Moscow on Tuesday, following negotiations between Mongolian
Prime Minister S. Batbold and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
There is also an intergovernmental agreement on training Mongolian
teenagers at Russian educational establishments, a communique on the
trade and economic cooperation program for 2011-2015, an action plan
aimed to create legal, economic and other conditions for further
intensification of trans-boundary and regional cooperation in 2011-2012,
and a memorandum on transit of Mongolian cargo through Russia. The two
sides signed three memoranda, concerning cooperation in geological
survey and mineral development, energy cooperation, and mutual
understanding between the Russian Business Council for Cooperation with
Mongolia and a similar Mongolian institution. ^ top ^
Debt to Russia settled (News.mn)
2010-12-15
Mongolia's USD180-million debt to Russia was also settled on Tuesday.
Russian Minister of Finance, Aleksei Kudrin, explained that the money
would be transferred and Russia is likely to offer USD125 million as aid
to Mongolia. The countries also adopted a memorandum for cooperation in
energy and approved a program for trade and economic cooperation for
2011-2015. A Mongolian Consulate will come up in Barnaul in Altai, to
help expand trade and regional cooperation in the border could be
developed along the consulate activity. The inter Governments Commission
is supporting areas. At present the Consulates nearest to the Altai
frontier are located in Kyzyl and Irkutsk, which is very inconvenient
for Mongolians who live and work across the border. For example, a woman
had to leaver her newborn son in a Rodino province hospital after giving
birth as her visa had expired, and came back for him after completing
formalities. ^ top ^
Uranium agreements reached in Moscow (News.mn)
2010-12-15
Russia and Mongolia have reached an agreement on the conditions on which
a joint uranium mining company, Dordon Uran, will be established. The
agreement was signed in Moscow on Tuesday following negotiations between
visiting Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold and his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin. An agreement on setting up Dordon Uran was signed last
year by Sergei Kirienko, head of the Russian state corporation Rosatom,
and S. Enkhbat, head of the Nuclear Energy Agency of Mongolia. The
product output of the Russian-Mongolian uranium mining joint venture is
planned at 2,000 tons per year. The JV of Russia and Mongolia will
export all exploited uranium but not to Russia. In another development,
according to RIA Novosti, Russia and Mongolia have agreed to own 21
percent each of the Dornod and Gurvanbulag uranium deposits in Dornod
aimag, with 58% left to Khan Resources of Canada which held the license
before the law limiting foreign investment amount had been passed. ^ top ^
News from Beijing: Matters of Security (Montsame)
2010-12-15
The Minister of the Public Security of the People's Republic of China
(PRC) Meng Jianzhu received Tuesday M.Enkhtuvshin, a head of the Council
for National Security of Mongolia in Beijing, China. At the meeting, the
dignitaries have considered issues on making the bilateral cooperation
between the law enforcing organizations closer, combating against
transnational crimes, and improving the economic development by
protecting the border regions. A protocol of the meeting has been signed
as well. Present at the meeting were Meng Hong Wei, China's vice
minister of public security; and Ts.Sukhbaatar, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the PRC. ^ top ^
"MPRP" to hold special assembly (News.mn)
2010-12-15
Sections of the MPRP which have not accepted the change of the party's
name to MPP and continue to run their party from "the MPRP headquarters"
have announced plans to hold a special assembly, without giving any
date. The manager of the headquarters, B.Tuya, has said they have more
than 10,000 supporters in 311 soums who have been suggesting organizing
an MPRP special assembly ever since the headquarters were set up on
November 17 and the managing officials now feel the time is ripe for
such a conference. A working group has been established to prepare for
it. Tuya said they recently surveyed 1,000 people in Narantuul market on
what they thought of the change of name and found that 80.4% of them
thought there was no need for a change if party reform was the goal.
Also 92.6% of the respondents said they were not satisfied with their
life, and 73.4% were unsure of their children's future. ^ top ^
External Trade Turnover Reache USD 5,421.8 Million (Montsame)
2010-12-15
In the first 11 months of 2010, Mongolia traded with 130 countries from
all over the world and total external trade turnover reached USD 5,421.8
million, of which exports made up MNT 2,550.6 million and import made up
USD 2,871.1 million. External trade balance in this time showed a
deficit of USD 320.5 million, increasing USD 86.8 million or 37.1 per
cent, compared to the same period of the previous year. In the first 11
months of 2010, a total external trade turnover increased by USD 1,831.4
million or 51.0 per cent, of which exports up by USD 872.3 million or
52.0 per cent, and imports up by USD 959.0 million or 50.2 per cent
respectively against the previous year. In the first 11 months of 2010,
mineral products, natural or cultured stones, precious metal, jewelry
and textiles & textile articles accounted for 94.8 per cent of the total
export value amount. ^ top ^
|
|
Gabrielle Tschopp
Embassy of Switzerland
|
The Press review is a random selection
of political and social related news gathered from various media
and news services located in the PRC, edited or translated by
the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing and distributed among Swiss
Government Offices. The Embassy does not accept responsibility
for accuracy of quotes or truthfulness of content. Additionally
the contents of the selected news mustn't correspond to the opinion
of the Embassy.
|
|
|
|
