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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
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| Table of
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Mongolia
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| Foreign
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Wen: China to actively attend G20 summit on financial crisis (Xinhua)
2008-10-25
Beijing - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Saturday that China would actively attend the G20 summit on financial crisis slated for Nov. 15 in Washington. We will discuss with world leaders on measures to cope with the financial crisis in a pragmatic and cooperative manner," Wen told a press conference at the end of a two-day summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting. […] The stability of financial market is key to stabilizing the whole economy. "The first important message that the two-day summit has conveyed is firm confidence, and I think confidence is the source of power to overcome difficulties," Wen said. ^ top ^
7th Asia-Europe meeting concluded with consensus on global financial crisis (Xinhua)
2008-10-26
Beijing - The two-day 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was concluded here Saturday with participants reaching consensus on global financial crisis and other issues. The meeting, attended by leaders and representatives from 45 Asian and European nations and organizations, realized its expected goal and was a great success, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in a closing speech. As one of the most fruitful achievements, a statement of the 7th ASEM on the international financial situation was adopted at the meeting. […] The international community should continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation and take effective and available economic and financial measures in a comprehensive way to restore market confidence, stabilize global financial markets and promote global economic growth, it said. […]. ^ top ^
A price to pay in climate fight (Xinhua)
2008-10-29
China wants rich countries to commit 1 per cent of their economic worth to help poor nations fight global warming and will press for a new international mechanism to spread "green" technology worldwide. […] "Developing countries should take action, but a prerequisite for this action is that developed countries provide funds and transfer technology," Mr Gao said. "Developed countries' funding to support developing countries' response to climate change should reach 1 per cent of the developed countries' [gross domestic product]." […] China will detail its proposal at a conference next week that will assemble representatives from the United States, Europe and many rich and poor countries, he said. Mr Gao is chief of the climate change office for the National Development and Reform Commission, the steering committee for economic policy. His call may signal that China wants a more active role in climate change talks, in which it has usually preferred to stay low-key. […]. ^ top ^
China's top legislator to visit 5 African countries (Xinhua)
2008-10-29
Beijing - China's top legislator Wu Bangguo will pay official goodwill visits to Algeria, Gabon, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Seychelles on Nov. 3-15. […] Wu will also pay a visit to African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa during his visit to the country. ^ top ^
Wen ends Russian visit, prepares for summit (SCMP)
2008-10-30
Premier Wen Jiabao concluded his visit to Russia yesterday and moved on to Astana, Kazakhstan, primarily for a regional summit with central Asian leaders. Mr Wen, who met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev when he was in Moscow, will attend the prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation - a regional group pioneered by China more than a decade ago - this week. Xinhua said yesterday that during his visit to Kazakhstan, Mr Wen would sign several agreements on agriculture, finance, customs, electricity and trade. In Moscow, he signed an agreement on an oil pipeline from Siberia to China's northeast that raised expectations that the long-delayed project would finally go ahead. Details of the deal were not disclosed, but Russian media said Moscow's agreement to move ahead on the long-delayed project was likely to have been won with pledges of financial support from Beijing. […]. ^ top ^
China-Arab Friendship Conference ends with action plan to promote exchanges (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Damascus - The second China-Arab Friendship Conference concluded here Wednesday with the signing of an action plan which calls for further boosting bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields. According to the 2008-2010 China-Arab Non-governmental Action Plan, both sides decided to keep the regular exchanges of visits with an aim to maintain friendly relations and cooperation. China will invite 20 or so delegations from Arab countries to visit China and will send two or three goodwill delegations to Arab countries in the next two years. […] The third China-Arab Friendship conference will be inaugurated in Libya in 2010, according to the action plan. ^ top ^
Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone to visit China (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Beijing - Zainab Hawa Bangura, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, will pay an official visit to China from Nov.4 to 9 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, announced Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu on Thursday at a regular press conference. ^ top ^
Chinese environmentalist awarded gold medal in Paris (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Paris - Chinese environmentalist Liu Xiangdong was awarded a gold medal here Wednesday at an award ceremony by Global League of Public Welfare Charity. Liu, chief of Environmental Protection Agency of China's northern Shanxi province, was awarded the gold medal, the highest award of the league, for his contribution to improving local environment. In the award citation, the league acclaimed Liu as "pioneer of China's environmental protection," saying "his environmental awareness and efficiency have won the unconditional support from the government and ensured that the national policy of environmental protection can be implemented in real earnest." […] Global League of Public Welfare Charity, a non-governmental organization with a long history, regularly grants awards to outstanding figures in the fields of "humanism, knowledge and science.". ^ top ^
Chinese premier meets with Iranian vice president (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Astana - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Thursday that China will maintain contact with Iran and conduct mutually beneficial cooperation with the country. The Chinese premier made the remark at a meeting with Parviz Davoodi, first vice president of Iran, on the sidelines of the 7thprime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Iran is an observer of the SCO. […] Wen said China believes Iran, a contracting state of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. Meanwhile, China calls for the maintenance of the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and thinks Iran's nuclear issue should be solved peacefully through dialogue and negotiation, Wen said. […]. ^ top ^
China donates $1 mln to Pakistan quake victims (People's Daily)
2008-10-30
Islamabad - China on Thursday donated one million U.S. dollars to Pakistan's earthquake victims, which has amounted to more than 200 in northern part of southwestern Balochistan province. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui presented a check of one million dollars to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential house. China is the first country to present donation to Pakistan over the quake disaster. […]. ^ top ^
Venezuela blasts into space age as Chinese rocket carries satellite (SCMP)
2008-10-31
China launched a communications satellite for Venezuela on Wednesday, strengthening political ties with its oil-rich, socialist, Latin American ally. Venezuela's first satellite will orbit at an attitude of 36,500km, transmitting television and telecommunication signals over most of Latin America and parts of the Caribbean for at least 15 years. […] China has jointly built satellites with Brazil, launched a commercial satellite for Nigeria, and signed a satellite-building and launching pact with Pakistan this month. […] Wang Xudong, satellite designer and adviser to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said China was just helping friendly nations and had no intention of competing with the US in the global market. […] "We launched satellites for Nigeria and Venezuela because they both have oil and we need it," he said. ^ top ^
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China convicts 4,525 civil servants above county level in five years (People's Daily)
2008-10-27
Chinese courts at all levels had convicted 4,525 civil servants above the level of county head in the recent five years, Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People's Court, said on Sunday. In a report on maintaining judicatory fairness delivered by the supreme court to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Wang said that the number of convicted civil servants above the level of county head from 2003 to June 2008 had increased by 77.52 percent compared with those in the previous five years. […]. ^ top ^
Nestle unaffected by milk scandal (People's Daily)
2008-10-28
Nestle (China) Chairman and CEO Patrice Bula said that the firm's sales revenue this year will be unaffected by the recent tainted milk crisis, with the world's biggest food firm even considering an expansion in the country. Bula added that sales of some of the firm's products, such as full-cream powdered milk, had even registered a slight increase since the outbreak of the crisis. "Dairy products are only part of our business in China, we have many other products like coffee, chocolate and water," he said. Nestle is expected to see double-digit growth in its China sales this year. "We plan to expand the production of our Inner Mongolia and Qingdao factories next year. New products will also be released," Bula said. […]. ^ top ^
Labour-intensive firms win more support from Beijing (SCMP)
2008-10-28
The mainland will step up support of labour-intensive enterprises, small and medium-sized business and private business in an attempt to keep the unemployment rate stable in the face of the international financial meltdown. […] The impact is mainly seen in the operational difficulties in some export-oriented companies and job losses." Mr Yin said Beijing had already reacted by introducing credit support to export companies and raised rebates for export tax. […] Ministry figures show the unemployment rate in the first three quarters has remained steady at 4 per cent - with 8.3 million people in urban areas registered as unemployed - the same as the end of last year. […]. ^ top ^
China's employment outlook optimistic (People's Daily)
2008-10-28
With the impact of the international financial crisis on substantial economy, the employment outlook in China is still optimistic, said the bulletin on national social security situation of the third quarter issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. From January to September, 9.36 million new entrants entered the labor force in towns and cities, while 4.09 million laid-off workers were re-employed. […] The number of registered unemployed people in towns and cities was 8.3 million, 50,000 less than last year. The registered unemployment rate in towns and cities was 4%, which was roughly the same as the end of last year. […]. ^ top ^
Scandalized milk powder supplier said to resume production (Xinhua)
2008-10-29
Beijing - Sanlu Group, which is at the heart of the tainted-milk scandal, is ready to resume production, according to a senior official of the city where the dairy conglomerate is based. Li Jinlu, executive vice-mayor of Shijiazhuang, was quoted by Wednesday's China Daily as saying that a factory wholly owned by Sanlu Group had completed procedures for restarting production. Seven of its affiliate factories in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, have resumed production after changing their names, Li said. They include those producing milk under the Wahaha and Feihebrands. […] Of the seven other dairy firms in Shijiazhuang, three have also restarted operations, he added. […]. ^ top ^
Significant progress made on women's rights, congress told (SCMP)
2008-10-29
China has made significant progress in safeguarding the rights of women and children over the past five years by establishing more than 27,000 watchdogs to protect their interests, a report delivered to the 10th National Women's Congress said yesterday. But organisations that do the work say the demand still outstrips the amount of support available. At the five-day congress, which started in Beijing yesterday morning, All-China Women's Federation deputy chairwoman Huang Qingyi said the watchdogs had helped law enforcement agencies crack down on the infringement of women's and children's rights. […] The federation had also raised 1.22 billion yuan (HK$1.38 billion) for national projects that had helped women and children in poverty. […] Since its establishment 13 years ago, her centre had handled more than 60,000 consultations or complaints but had resolved only about 2,000 because of limited staffing and resources, Ms Li said. […]. ^ top ^
Nation issues post-Kyoto plans (China Daily)
2008-10-30
The clean development mechanism (CDM) should continue to be implemented even after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires, says a white paper on China's policies on climate change. […] "China will continue to play an active and constructive role at UN conferences to negotiate a post-Kyoto Protocol agreement" to fight climate change, Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said while releasing the white paper. […] By conserving and using renewable energy, China reduced 835 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent in 2006 and 2007, the white paper says. The reduction is almost equal to the combined GHG emission volume of the UK and Belgium in 2005, according to the latest figures of the UNFCCC. […] The country's blueprint to save energy, which aims to cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent by 2010 from 2006 levels, has helped cut GHG emissions to a large extent. […] Xie denied reports in the foreign media that said China had overtaken the US as the world's largest GHG emitter. China's total emission is about the same as the US', and its per capita emission is only about one-fifth that of the US. ^ top ^
Test finds Japanese food products tainted with chemicals (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Beijing - China's quality watchdog said on Thursday it found toxic chemicals in food products imported from Japan. Tests conducted by Guangdong Entry-Exit inspection and quarantine institution found Japan-produced soy sauce and mustard sauce were contaminated by toluene and acetic ester, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) said on its website. The food products were produced by three Japanese factories. But GAQSIQ didn't reveal the names of the producers. Maximal toluene content was 0.0053 mg per kg, while acetic ester content was 0.537 mg per kg. This would risk people's health, said experts. Toluence and acetic ester are chemicals that can be used as dyeware, paint and solvent. […] The GAQSIQ has ordered Chinese importers to inspect and test products of the same kind and remove them from shelves, in a bid to ensure consumer safety. ^ top ^
Probe into Hunan abuse of power (SCMP)
2008-10-30
An official in Hunan province has been put under investigation for allegedly abusing his position by promoting more than 100 colleagues within a short period of time. The promotion frenzy occurred before Long Guohua, former deputy director of the standing committee of Zhuzhou People's Congress, left the position in February last year, Xinhua quoted the provincial commission for discipline inspection as saying. The case followed the central government's publication of a new regulation last week that spelled out harsh punishments for promotion-related corruption. […]. ^ top ^
China says latest-tested baby formula milk and other milk powder safe (Xinhua)
2008-10-31
Beijing - The latest test found that Chinese baby formula milk and other milk powder products met the new temporary restrictions on melamine, the country's top quality control agency said on Thursday. It was the 13th test on the industrial chemical following the tainted baby formula scandal that killed at least three infants and sickened more than 50,000 others, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The latest test covered 60 batches of baby formula milk powder from 14 brands in five major cities nationwide, and 68 batches of other milk powder products from 22 brands in 12 cities, the agency said. At present, 1,336 batches of baby formula from 74 brands and 1,935 batches of other milk powder from 178 brands produced after Sept. 14 were tested and all were in line with the limit, it added. ^ top ^
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| Beijing |
Beijing to co-host high level conference on climate change in November (Xinhua)
2008-10-28
Beijing - Almost 100 countries, international organizations and non-government organizations would attend the high-level conference on climate change next month, said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) here Tuesday. The Beijing High-Level Conference on Climate Change: Technology Development and Technology Transfer would be held Nov. 7-8 to discuss current development of environmentally sound technologies, and the demand of and obstructions in the transfer of such technologies, said Gao Guangsheng, a NDRC senior official at a press conference. The meeting is co-hosted by China and the United Nations. […]. ^ top ^
Beijing to build two more subway lines (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Beijing - Beijing will start building two more subway lines this year in an effort to ease traffic congestion. The municipal urban planning commission said on its website that it approved the two new lines on Wednesday. Construction is expected to start before the end of this year although no completion date has been announced. Line No. 7, will run about 24 kilometers from Beijing West Railway Station to the eastern suburbs. It will connect the city's most congested traffic area, Tiananmen Square, with key business in the east. In all, there will be 23 stops. The other new subway route, Line No. 14, will extend nearly 46 kilometers to become the longest urban rail route in the Chinese capital. It will connect the southwestern suburbs, the city's center and the northeast with a total of 36 stops. […]. ^ top ^
Beijingers' manners 'getting better' (China Daily)
2008-10-31
The Olympics has sharply improved the manners of Beijingers, a survey of more than 13,200 people has revealed. The survey found that a politeness index devised by the Renmin University of China had risen to 82.68, on a scale of 0 to 100, up almost 10 points on an equivalent survey held last year. It was conducted after the Olympics among 12,000 Chinese, 1,200 foreigners living in Beijing for more than two years and drawn from observations at more than 300 public venues. […] The most significant improvement was in the category of spitting. Last year, 2.5 percent of respondents said they spat wherever and whenever they felt the need, but the rate fell to 0.75 percent in this year. When it came to another notorious behavior - queue jumping - the proportion of Beijing residents who said they pushed in ahead of others waiting in line fell from 1.5 percent to 0.67 percent. […]. ^ top ^
Former Beijing judge gets death sentence (SCMP)
2008-10-31
A former Beijing district court president was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve yesterday on bribery and embezzlement charges. The First Intermediate People's Court of Beijing also confiscated all the belongings of Guo Shenggui , ex-president of the Xicheng District People's Court. Guo illicitly amassed a total of 7.97 million yuan (HK$9.05 million) between October 1998 and May last year. He solicited and took bribes from more than 10 people, and in return he helped them win lawsuits or land lucrative construction projects. […] Despite the Communist Party's perennial anti-graft campaign, corruption cases have been on the rise in recent years. […] Early this week, the National People's Congress confirmed the downfall of two senior officials at its Standing Committee meeting. Huang Songyou , a vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, and Zhu Zhigang , deputy head of the finance committee of China's parliament, were put under investigation for alleged abuses of power. […]. ^ top ^
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| Shanghai |
Shanghai's foreign trade slows (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Beijing - The weaker external demand and tighter credit control at home have slowed the growth in Shanghai's trade by 3.6 percentage points from a year ago to 20.5 percent in the first three quarters, the Shanghai Statistics Bureau said yesterday. The city's exports expanded 23 percent to 127.9 billion U.S. dollars through last month, a fall of 3 percentage points from a year earlier, while imports rose 17.9 percent to 119.7 billion dollars, down 4.3 percentage points. Shanghai posted a total trade value of 247.6 billion dollars during the period. The global economic slowdown, which led to sagging demand in overseas markets, caused the slight slowdown in export growth while tighter credit control and rising production costs in China also prevented imports from rising," said Hu Jinrong, an analyst with the bureau. […]. ^ top ^
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| Hongkong |
HK finds time for luxury in a crisis (SCMP)
2008-10-27
With the financial crisis beginning to bite last month, Hong Kong splashed out HK$1.43 billion on Swiss watches, making the city the world's biggest market for the exclusive timepieces. Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry figures also show the value of exports to the city was up 22 per cent in August, meaning there were more watches sold in Hong Kong than in the US, Japan, France, Italy or Germany. The federation said sales to the mainland increased by 47.2 per cent to HK$499.95 million. […] Hong Kong even has its own Swiss-watch club, The Art of Time. […]. ^ top ^
Value of total exports in HK up 3.6% (Xinhua)
2008-10-28
September saw the value of total goods exports of Hong Kong rise to 247.2 billion HK dollars (31.92billion U.S. dollars), up 3.6 percent on the same month last year, official figures released here Monday. Within this total, the value of re-exports rose 4.6 percent to 239.4 billion HK dollars, while the value of domestic exports dropped 20 percent to 7.9 billion HK dollars, said the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong. Rises were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular India, Germany, the U.S., Britain, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Falls were seen in the values of total exports to South Korea and the Chinese Mainland. […] The value of goods imports increased 9.1 percent. [..]. ^ top ^
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| Macau |
Macao's unemployment rate exceeds 3% in Q3 (People's Daily)
2008-10-28
Macao's unemployment rate for the third quarter of 2008 stood at 3.1 percent, which remained unchanged over the same period of last year, according to the latest results of the Employment Survey Tuesday released by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). In the third quarter, Macao's total labor force reached 337,400, with labor force participation rate standing at 70.7 percent, up by 0.3 percentage point year-on-year, according to the survey results. […]. ^ top ^
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| Taiwan |
Mainland envoy set for first visit to Taiwan (China Daily)
2008-10-31
Beijing's top envoy on Taiwan affairs, who is scheduled to visit the island next week, said Thursday that he is "standing at the crossroads of history". Chen Yunlin, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), also stressed that he will focus on economic rather than political issues during the visit. […] The top envoy heads a 60-strong delegation to Taiwan from Nov 3 to 7 for talks with his counterpart Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). He will be the first ARATS chief and highest-level mainland envoy to visit Taiwan since 1949. The ARATS and SEF are authorized non-governmental organizations engaged in talks on issues related to cross-Straits exchanges. […] Chen said cross-Straits talks will avoid sensitive political issues and focus on economic cooperation."The mission is clear and well-defined. No political issues pertaining to cross-Straits relations will be involved, nor will Taiwan's internal political affairs.". ^ top ^
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| Tibet |
Dalai Lama's aides in Beijing for talks despite pessimism (SCMP)
2008-10-31
Envoys of the Dalai Lama arrived in Beijing yesterday for talks days after he expressed dismay at Beijing's attitude about Tibet's future, the Tibetan government-in-exile said. The talks, the eighth round since 2002 and the first since Beijing hosted the Olympics in August, come amid growing concern about the Dalai Lama's health and the diminishing possibility of a meaningful settlement. […] "It is very good that the two sides are talking," said Thubten Samphel, the exiled government's spokesman in Dharamsala, India. […] "We wish the dialogue process to move forward so the rights of the people of Tibet can be greatly improved," he said. […] The Dalai Lama nonetheless said "the Chinese leadership has so far not responded positively to our overtures and does not seem interested in addressing the issue in a realistic way", according to the clarification. ^ top ^
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| Economy |
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China creates 9 mln jobs in Q3 (Xinhua)
2007-10-27
Beijing - The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) said here Monday that the country created 9.36 million jobs in the first three quarters this year, and helped another 4.09 million laid-off workers re-employed. ^ top ^
China takes 7.7% of world trade volume (People's Daily)
2008-10-27
Beijing - China's trade volume had risen to 7.7 percent of the world total in 2007 from just 0.8 percent in 1978, the first year of reform and opening up, the National Bureau of Statistics reported on Monday. The country was the world's third biggest international trader, after the United States and Germany, compared with 29th in 1978, according to a bureau statement. Trade volume had risen by an average 17.4 percent annually since 1978 when it stood at 20 billion U.S. dollars to exceed 2.17 trillion U.S. dollars last year, when it accounted for 66.8 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 9.7 percent in 1978. […]. ^ top ^
NBS: China accounts for 6% of world's GDP by 2007 (Xinhua)
2008-10-27
Beijing - China's share of the world's combined gross output rose to 6 percent at the end of 2007, compared with just 1.8 percent in 1978 when its reform and opening-up began, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Monday. […] The economic growth rate in the past three decades was also much higher than the world average, and slightly higher than Japan's 9.2 percent and South Korea's 8.5 percent during their economic takeoff periods. […]. ^ top ^
China ranks 2nd with 8.8% of world's exports by 2007 (Xinhua)
2008-10-28
Beijing - China's share in world's exports reached 8.8 percent by 2007, making it the world's second largest exporter, trailing only Germany, said the National Statistics Bureau (NBS) on Tuesday. […] With persistent government efforts to boost foreign trade and encourage investment, China's exports rose from 9.8 billion U.S. dollars to 1,217.8 billion dollars during the period, and imports gained from 10.9 billion dollars to 956 billion dollars, said the statement. […]. ^ top ^
China's service outsourcing face opportunities amid world financial crisis (Xinhua)
2008-10-28
Beijing - The world financial crisis has brought China's service out-sourcing industry new opportunities, said Wang Chao, Ministry of Commerce assistant minister said on Tuesday. Wang said more and more multinational companies were keen to out-source non-core business to other companies to reduce costs and enhance competence amid a world financial crisis. This brought Chinese companies a lot business opportunities. […]. ^ top ^
China's balance of payments maintains "twin surplus" in first half of 2008 (People's Daily)
2008-10-29
China's current account surplus rose 18 percent to 191.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2008, the foreign exchange regulator said on Wednesday. The surplus on the country's capital and financial account was 71.9 billion U.S. dollars, down 20 percent from a year earlier, said the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). Aside from the twin surplus, the balance sheet revealed that the country's foreign exchange reserves was nearly 1.81 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of June. […]. ^ top ^
Rates cut again to spur growth (China Daily)
2008-10-30
The central bank has cut interest rates for a second time in less than three weeks to bolster economic growth in the face of a worsening global financial crisis. The benchmark one-year lending rate dropped to 6.66 percent from 6.93 percent, while the one-year deposit rate was lowered to 3.60 percent from 3.87 percent. […] "The drastic economic slowdown during the past months is clearly crying out for more policy boosts and the move comes as the downside risk looms larger," said Zhang Xiaojing, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. […]. ^ top ^
GDP growth of 10pc for nation unlikely, says top economist (SCMP)
2008-10-30
The mainland's gross domestic product growth rate is unlikely to reach 10 per cent this year, a state economist has predicted. The remarks yesterday by Wang Tongsan, director of the Institute of Quantitative Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, came three weeks after a report by the state think-tank forecast that the country's 2008 GDP would rise by 10.1 per cent. "We formerly hoped China's economic expansion in 2008 could exceed 10 per cent. It would be a world record [since the second world war] for a nation to maintain six consecutive years' growth at higher than 10 per cent. But now the chance is very low," Professor Wang said. […]. ^ top ^
China's jet engines of growth risk stalling (SCMP)
2008-10-31
It would be a mistake to overestimate how much China can or will pitch in to the global financial crisis; it has a lot of monstrous problems of its own. […] Right now, China's growing gigantism is driven primarily by the sheer size, magnitude and willpower of its population. That's why its total national domestic economic product places it easily in the world's top economies. But there is another statistic we need to keep in mind: its per capita wealth doesn't even make the top 100 lists of the world. China, in this sense, is both rich and poor.China's political stability is dependent on its continuing economic growth. In recent years that rate of expansion has hit double digits. […] Many experts outside China are convinced that the nation will continue to enjoy a smooth forward-moving flight path. But not Charles Wolf Jnr, an expert in international economic policy at the RAND Corporation, in southern California. […] China's 1.3 billion people are what worries Dr Wolf most. RAND research puts China's actual unemployment rate at something like 23 per cent (Current US unemployment is about 6 per cent, on a base of "only" 300 million people). […] Beijing's capacity to develop better public policy for its own people will also add to world economic stability. The Chinese government needs to erect quickly a new national safety net to avoid political chaos. […]. ^ top ^
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| Mongolia |
If managed correctly, Mongolia can fare well during global economic crisis (UB Post)
2008-10-29
At the end of the Mongolian Economic Policy Conference, organized on October 28-29 by the Government of Mongolia and the World Bank, participants concluded that expanding export conditions and increasing boom-time savings can help Mongolia safeguard its economy, so that the country's rich resource wealth, if properly managed, will benefit current and future generations. The conference with over 800 participants, including leading international economists, Mongolian policy makers, economists and representatives from the private sector and NGOs, was an open discussion about economic policies of the new government. ^ top ^
Proportional election system to be discussed (Montsame)
2008-10-29
It has become obvious that the laws on parliamentary elections, local elections, and on general election organization will be amended. Parliament as well as the MPRP and the DP groups at Parliament have separately set up working groups for drawing up the drafts. The parliamentary working group is led by former parliament Speaker D.Lundeejantsan and consists of Ts.Nyamdorj from MPRP, S.Oyun from the Civil Will Party, and Ch.Saikhanbileg from DP. They are obliged to prepare the draft within December 30 this year. The group has informed 19 parties, registered by the State Supreme Court, of its establishment and requested them to send proposals on the electoral system and on provisions to be revised. ^ top ^
Police seals assets of politicians implicated in July 1 Riot (UB Post)
2008-10-29
On October 23, police sealed properties of B.Jargalsaikhan, J.Batzandan and O.Magnai, all suspected as organizers of the July 1 riot. A police officer, who withheld his name, said the police acted in accordance with the law. “Property damage sustained during the riot is estimated at 11 billion MNT. These people who organized the riot and incited the public to violence have to pay for this damage. Because of this their properties were sealed”. Production facilities of Buyan Cashmere company, owned by B.Jatgalsaikhan, a leader of the Republican Party, were also confiscated. ^ top ^
Top police officer officially charged for negligence during riot (UB Post)
2008-10-29
General Ch. Amarbold, former Acting Chief of the General Police Department, acknowledged that the State Procurator had charged him with improperly discharging his duty during July 1 riot, according Article 272 of Criminal Code. Deputy Procurator Ts.Batbold confirmed Amarbold's statement. ^ top ^
Over 26.000 foreigners permanently reside in Mongolia (Montsame)
2008-10-29
Presently, there are 34,835 foreigners from 109 countries in Mongolia. Most of them--26,896 people--are residing with long term residential permission, the Office of Immigration, Naturalization and Foreign Citizens Chief, Colonel D.Moron said. As of today, 19,582 Chinese have been officially registered in this Office engaging in long term business and employment in Mongolia, Mr. Moron added. About 11,000 of them are working in construction sector and others are believed to be investors. Moreover, there are 1,849 citizens from the Republic of Korea with official business permission. Most of them are investors. In addition, 1,493 people from Russia are officially living with long term residential permission. ^ top ^
Chinese premier says to strengthen cooperation with Mongolia (Xinhua)
2008-10-30
Astana - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Thursday that China will further enhance its cooperation with Mongolia amid dramatically changing international situation and the current global financial crisis. On the sidelines of the 7th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Chinese premier met with Sanj Bayar, prime minister of Mongolia, which is an SCO observer. During the meeting, Wen hailed the continued development of the good- neighborly partnership between the two countries. […] Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Mongolia. The two countries should take this opportunity to further bilateral exchanges and cooperation, Wen said. […]. ^ top ^
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Philipp Orga
Embassy of Switzerland
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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.
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