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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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H1N1 flu
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| Foreign
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UK, Swiss officials to assist in project tackling climate change (SCMP)
2009-09-25
China has launched with Britain and Switzerland a project aimed at finding ways to tackle climate change and mitigate its effects. The Adapting to Climate Change in China project will run from this year to 2012, the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planning agency, said on its website. British and Swiss departmental counterparts will provide financial support and technical assistance for the project, the commission said. Xinhua said US$6.75 million would be invested in pilot programmes, which will be rolled out in Ningxia Hui region and Inner Mongolia in the north, and Guangdong in the south. The projects will look at the impact of climate change on agriculture, water resources, grassland livestock, natural disasters and human health, and measures to tackle the problems, it said. ^ top ^
China, Japan, ROK summit slated for Oct. (People's Daily online)
2009-09-25
A tripartite summit between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will be held in Beijing on October 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said in Beijing Thursday. China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Japan and the ROK, to give impetus for new achievements in the upcoming summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao told his ROK counterpart Lee Myung-bak on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings in New York Wednesday morning. The first tripartite summit of China, Japan and the ROK was held in Fukuoka, Japan on December 13 of 2008. ^ top ^
China, Brazil vow to boost judicial cooperation (People's Daily online)
2009-09-25
China and Brazil on Thursday agreed to step up cooperation between their judiciaries as the two emerging economies join together to tackle the global economic downturn. The two countries are expected to "enhance cooperation on judiciary reform, court management and judges' training in a bid to facilitate bilateral friendly cooperation," said Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau. In a meeting with the chief justice of the Brazil Supreme Federal Tribunal Gilmar Mendes, Zhou said China and Brazil, two developing countries, were facing similar problems in the process of development such as expansion of judicial democracy and promotion of justice. Mendes is visiting China as guest of the President of the Supreme People's Court of China, Wang Shengjun. Judiciary organs in China, Brazil, Russia and India and the BRIC countries, have just signed a cooperative agreement, which Zhou said he hoped would keep achieving pragmatic results. […]. ^ top ^
China's chief justice visits Ukraine to boost judicial cooperation (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
Visiting chief justice of China's highest court said judicial cooperation between China and Ukraine is an important component of the bilateral ties. Wang Shengjun, chief justice of the Supreme People's Court of China, made the remarks during a four-day visit to Ukraine that was intended to boost judicial exchanges and cooperation. […]. ^ top ^
China calls for early resumption of talks on Iran's nuclear program (People's Daily online)
2009-09-24
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Wednesday called on parties concerned with Iran's nuclear issue to step up diplomatic efforts to achieve an early resumption of talks on the issue. Foreign ministers from China, the United States, Russia, Britain, France and Germany convened a meeting on Iran's nuclear issue at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, exchanging views on the current situation of the issue and the following steps to be taken. A joint statement issued after the meeting said the six countries were committed to solving Iran's nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation, hoping for an early resumption of the talks. Addressing the ministerial meeting, Yang said it conformed to the common interests of the international community to solve Iran's nuclear issue through peaceful negotiation. The parties concerned should seize the favorable opportunity at the moment, step up diplomatic efforts and push for a positive outcome from the upcoming meeting between the six powers, European Union and Iran, Yang said, adding that countries should seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution to the issue. Yang said China will contribute to the negotiation process and work with international community in a constructive way. ^ top ^
Chinese president arrives for G20 summit in Pittsburgh (People's Daily online)
2009-09-25
Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Pittsburgh on Thursday to attend the Group of 20 summit which focuses on how to nurture recovery from the global economic and financial recession. President Hu is expected to outline in Pittsburgh China's stance on how to promote the world economic recovery, how to reform the international financial system, and how to achieve a balanced and sustainable growth, according to Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. The Pittsburgh G20 will be the third such summit held since the onset of the global economic recession caused by a financial crisis. China expects the Pittsburgh summit, apart from reviewing the progress already made since the Washington and London summits, to achieve positive results in macro-economic policy coordination, reform of international financial organizations, development and measures against protectionism, the Chinese vice foreign minister said. […]. ^ top ^
Chinese president attends Security Council meeting on nuclear disarmament (People's Daily online)
2009-09-25
Chinese President Hu Jintao and leaders of other U.N. Security Council members met at the U.N. headquarters in New York Thursday to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues. At the special session of the U.N. Security Council on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, President Hu will deliver a speech and elaborate China's ideas of realizing common security through a win-win approach to mutual benefits, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told a press briefing on Sept. 15. ^ top ^
Chinese president addresses UN General Assembly, meets Russian, S Korean presidents (People's Daily online)
2009-09-24
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday addressed the UN General Assembly during its general debate to elaborate on China's position on major world and regional issues and met presidents of Russia and South Korea on the sidelines of the UN meetings. During his speech at the general debate of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, President Hu put forward a four-point proposal on building a harmonious world, calling on the international community to work together for world peace and development. Hu said the trend toward peace, development and cooperation has grown stronger than ever in the world. Meanwhile, he noted that the instability and uncertainties in the international landscape pose "severe challenges" to world peace and development. In the face of unprecedented opportunities and challenges, members of the international community should continue the joint endeavor "to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity and contribute to the noble cause of peace and development of mankind," he said. The Chinese president put forward his four-point view with regard to world peace and development. First, the international community should view security in a broader perspective and safeguard world peace and stability. Hu said countries should embrace a new security thinking of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination. Second, the international community should take a more holistic approach to development and promote common prosperity. Without the development and equal participation of developing countries, there cannot be common prosperity in the world, nor a more just and equitable international economic order, he added. Responsible measures should be taken to counter the international financial crisis, firmly oppose protectionism and actively work for an early, comprehensive and balanced outcome of the Doha round negotiations, said Hu. Third, members of the international community should pursue cooperation with a more open mind and work for mutual benefit and common progress. Hu said climate change, food security, energy and resource security and public health security are all global challenges and no country is immune from them. "The only way for us to meet these challenges and ensure harmony and peace is to engage in closer international cooperation," said Hu. Fourth, the international community should be more tolerant to one another and live together in harmony. Countries should acknowledge differences in cultural tradition, social system and values and respect the right of all countries to independently choose their development paths, added Hu. President Hu also pledged to further assist the development of other developing countries when addressing the UN General Assembly. "As a responsible and major developing country, China has always made common development an important aspect of its foreign policy," Hu said in his speech. […]. ^ top ^
Tibet and Taiwan top concerns for Beijing in ties with US, experts say (SCMP)
2009-09-24
Tyres may be the latest bone of contention, but Tibet and Taiwan remain Beijing's top concerns in its relationship with the United States, mainland experts said after analysing the Hu-Obama meeting in New York on Tuesday. […] At the beginning of the meeting, Hu reaffirmed China's intention to strengthen the bilateral relationship. However, he also urged Obama to handle "sensitive issues" with care. […] China News Service said that apart from seeking a reassurance at the meeting of America's commitment to free trade, Hu also raised the issues of Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang and stressed that Beijing and Washington should respect and take care of each other's interests and concerns. Mainland international relations experts said that territorial integrity and sovereignty remained the most sensitive issues to China. […] "The leaders are facing growing internal pressure for them to take a hard stance - pressure that did not exist a decade ago" Professor Jin Canrong of Renmin University said. […]. ^ top ^
China regrets 'assault' on journalists from Japanese agency (Global Times)
2009-09-25
China on Tuesday expressed regret over the alleged assault in Beijing of three journalists from a Japanese news agency covering a National Day rehearsal, but said they had ignored media rules. "No matter what reason there was, we regret that such an unhappy event happened," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters in response to a question on the incident involving three employees from Kyodo News Agency. The three journalists were covering a rehearsal Friday for a parade to mark China's 60th National Day on October 1, when authorities stormed into their hotel room and assaulted them, Kyodo reported. "We have told foreign media groups not to film or report on any rehearsal. Unfortunately, these three reporters didn't follow our advice," Jiang said. "As far as I know, they broke into a balcony facing the rehearsal site in Beijing Hotel and filmed the event. The balcony was sealed with alarming signs saying 'no filming of the rehearsal.". ^ top ^
China's eighth peacekeeping squad leaves for Sudan (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China's eighth peacekeeping squad, an 11-strong team, left Beijing Sunday to take part in the United Nations mission in Sudan. The team has been selected from police forces in Beijing and the provinces of Heilongjiang, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Yunnan, Guangdong and Hainan, the Ministry of Public Security said Monday. […] China first sent peacekeepers to join UN peacekeeping efforts in the war-torn region of southern Sudan in May 2006. Since January 2000, China has sent 1,554 police on UN peacekeeping missions to East Timor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Haiti and Sudan. ^ top ^
New Zealand minister to visit China on defense, science cooperation (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
Wayne Mapp, New Zealand Minister of Defense and of Research, Science and Technology, left for Beijing on Monday for a visit to China on defense and science issues. […] While in Beijing, Mapp will have talks with Chinese Minister of Defense Liang Guanglie and Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Cao Jianlin. […]. ^ top ^
Chinese delegation outlines China's human rights progress to French (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
A Chinese delegation of human rights researchers on Friday had a detailed exchange of views on human rights issues with its French hosts during a four-day visit. The delegation, led by Luo Haocai, vice chairman of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, […] expounded China's views and positions on human rights, and expressed its willingness to further promote exchanges and cooperation on human rights between the two countries. […] After the visit to France, the Chinese delegation will visit Belgium, the EU headquarters and Iceland. ^ top ^
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Mystery, little substance, in plenum's wake (SCMP)
2009-09-25
In the coming days and weeks, the mainland's massive propaganda machine looks set to launch a nationwide campaign to exhort the 70 million Communist Party members to study a document, passed at last week's annual meeting of the party's Central Committee, on how to strengthen the party's control. The People's Daily has already hailed it as the party's guiding document in the foreseeable future, even though its details are being kept under wraps. But the communique issued at the end of the fourth plenum of the 17th Central Committee appears to suggest that the document contains lofty ideals on boosting intra-party democracy and fighting corruption, and not substance. For the overseas media and analysts, the results of the plenum contain a mixture of surprises and disappointments. The biggest surprise is that Vice-President Xi Jinping apparently failed to secure elevation to the post of deputy chairman of the party's Central Military Commission, which would have confirmed his status as the heir apparent to President Hu Jintao. As Xi's promotion was widely speculated before the meeting, the lack of an announcement took observers and analysts by surprise. Analysts had generally expected the party leadership to follow the precedent and promote Xi, mainly because Hu was made deputy chairman of CMC at the fourth plenum of the 15th Central Committee, cementing his position to become party chief at the 16th congress and later president and the chairman of the CMC. This had understandably led to intense speculation over whether Xi's position as heir apparent is weakened or whether there is strong resistance to his promotion within the military because of his lack of military experience. Given the utmost secrecy surrounding the leadership succession issue, it is difficult to fathom what really happened. But the simplest explanation could well be that the party failed to reach a consensus and Xi's appointment will be discussed at next year's plenum. The speculation that Xi's star has dimmed is premature. He became heir apparent at the 17th party congress when he was voted onto the nine-member Politburo Standing Committee in 2007 and became vice-president early last year. He is considered the person most acceptable to the party's main factions, including Hu's Communist Youth League, former president Jiang Zemin's Shanghai faction and the emerging faction led by the former vice-president Zeng Qinghong. This last group includes Xi and many other princelings - or the children of party elders. Xi's lack of strong military experience can hardly be a reason to deny his promotion because neither Hu nor Jiang had any military experience before they were voted onto the Central Military Commission […]. ^ top ^
Flights grounded at Beijing airport during parade (China Daily)
2009-09-25
The Beijing capital airport will shut down for three hours starting from 9:30 am on Oct 1 for the National Day parade, affecting some 180 flights and thousands of passengers. The capital airport is the busiest airport in the country, with at least 1,000 flights taking off or landing per day, or at least one flight every minute. A spokesman for the Beijing Capital International Airport said yesterday that it will close its three runways starting from 9 am, and restart runway lights and navigations systems at noon. An Air China spokeswoman said that all its domestic flights to and from Beijing during the three hours have been cancelled, but all its international flights will be rescheduled to other times in the day. "We will rearrange planes to guarantee enough transport capacity and reduce troubles for passengers as much as we can," she said. She declined to disclose how many Air China flights will be affected. Air China is based at the capital airport, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the operations in the airport's largest terminal building. China Southern, another major airline based in Guangzhou, said at least 40 of their flights will be affected. "But only very few passengers will be affected, as tickets for affected flights stopped sales quite early," a China Southern spokesman said. ^ top ^
Thousands arrested in Beijing crackdown: Security incidents in capital unnerve authorities ahead of National Day celebrations (SCMP)
2009-09-25
Beijing police have arrested more than 6,500 crime suspects since August in a crackdown ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on October 1. In a sign of just how nervous the central government is in the run-up to the celebrations, the figure - an average of almost 1,000 a week - is far higher than the 4,144 fugitives arrested nationwide during the three-month security sweep ahead of the Beijing Olympics last year. […] The police always launch "strike hard" campaigns ahead of major political events, but this time the scale is unusually large. The figures were released last night against the backdrop of a recent series of security incidents that have rattled the central government's nerves as it tries to pull off a flawless and trouble-free grand parade to mark the anniversary. The capital witnessed the third serious incident in four days yesterday when a bus caught fire downtown, blocking a main thoroughfare for two hours during the morning rush hour. Although no one was injured and a preliminary investigation found a gas leak was the likely cause of the fire, it came at a time when tensions in Beijing are high. The fire followed two knife attacks on Beijing's streets, on Thursday and Saturday, which left two people dead and more than a dozen injured. The attacks - the first of which involved three attackers stabbing passers-by, apparently at random - prompted a ban in the capital on sales of knives and other sharp objects until after National Day. […] City authorities had mobilised nearly 30,000 police and other security personnel to step up patrols in public places, the Beijing Times said, adding that 100,000 civilian volunteers would carry out street patrols. […]. ^ top ^
PLA to show off six new weapons systems at National Day parade (SCMP)
2009-09-23
Six weapons systems will make their debut among the 52 types of ordnance in the military parade that forms a key part of the National Day celebrations on October 1. The People's Liberation Army would show its new generation Jian-10 fighter jets, ZTZ99 main battle tanks, JL-2 Julang CSS-N-4 intercontinental missiles, KJ series early-warning aircraft, Zhi-10 armed helicopters and QBZ-95 variant assault rifles during the parade, China News Service said yesterday. It said as many as 15 J-10s and a team of the helicopters would fly over Tiananmen Square, and other new weapons would be among the 56 parade teams on the ground. The report came as Defence Minister Liang Guanglie said that many of China's sophisticated weapons systems now matched, or were close to matching, the capabilities of those in the West. […]. ^ top ^
Guangdong crime sweep targets gangs - Raids focus on mafia, not police and officials (SCMP)
2009-09-25
Guangdong quietly announced the first results of its annual sweep on organised crime yesterday, and the contrast with the high-profile crackdown in Chongqing could not have been stronger. Provincial security authorities said the operation targeted gang members rather than the "protective umbrella" of police and officials that made the Chongqing operation so explosive. Li Xiaoqing, director of the organised crime office of the Guangdong Public Security Department, said more than 1,300 gangs had been wiped out and 8,000 suspects arrested between August 21 and September 21. Police provided half a dozen sample cases of organised crime, telephone and internet fraud, and the manufacturing and selling of drugs and guns. The suspects held included people from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, but no officials or police. Huang Jian, a senior provincial police officer, admitted the crackdown was not in the same league as that in Chongqing. "The purpose of our operation is totally different from that in Chongqing... the key point there was to punish the protective umbrella within the government," he was quoted by the Guangzhou-based newspaper Times Weekly as saying. Organised crime has been a hot topic on the mainland in the past three months since the campaign initiated by Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai began. More than 2,000 people have been arrested, including hundreds of police, dozens of officials and wealthy businesspeople and gang bosses. A former deputy police chief was found dead during detention, while another senior police officer reportedly tried to kill himself in detention by ramming his head against a wall. More than 7,000 police officers have been mobilised in the crackdown, almost a quarter of the municipality's force. The mafia crackdown in Chongqing was interpreted by many commentators as a meticulously planned move by Bo to boost his political profile. A security analyst who is familiar with the crackdown in Guangdong said the operation there had been routine, while the one in Chongqing had a political motive. "I think that only a few places on the mainland can follow Chongqing," the analyst, who did not want his name used, said. Only people such as Bo, a princeling politician with strong support from the central government, would be capable of launching such a large-scale operation, he said. […]. ^ top ^
Home best place to view the People's Parade (SCMP)
2009-09-25
It's the People's Parade, but you'd better stay home to watch it unless you are one of the lucky few with a ticket to the festivities at Tiananmen Square next Thursday. With 180,000 participants, 60 floats, a 5,000-strong choir, and 80,000 primary and middle school pupils forming 49 patterns in two hours, the People's Parade this year would not be the grandest, but it would nonetheless be "orderly, grandiose and dazzling", Beijing authorities said yesterday. However, only those in Tiananmen Square will be able to see the grand performance in person, and they will all be special guests provided with tickets in advance. […] Hotels said rooms facing Changan Avenue were not available for booking next Wednesday, and residents living along the boulevard were also told by property management not to invite guests into their flats from 4pm on Wednesday to noon on Thursday, October 1. In addition, from 7am to noon on Thursday, residents will not be permitted to open their windows or step out on to their balconies. The list of flying objects banned within a 200-kilometre radius of Tiananmen Square during the period is also exhaustive: from model planes to balloons, kites and homing pigeons. Those who let their pet birds out of their cages before October 8 will be penalised, according to Hong Kong media reports. Ji said the control of airwaves on the day would not interfere with mobile-phone use. He further denied reports of police monitoring conversations in taxis through the compulsory installation of bugging devices. "I do not believe this exists," Ji said when asked whether security measures would be ramped up further on October 1, including the bugging of taxis. ^ top ^
11 charged over brawl that sparked riots (SCMP)
2009-09-24
Prosecutors have indicted 11 people in a factory brawl that led to deadly rioting in the Muslim far west days later. The June 26 fight at the Xuri Toy Factory in Shaoguan, Guangdong, pitted workers from the Uygur minority against the Han Chinese majority. Two Uygurs died. Ten days later, Uygur youths protested in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi and demanded a full investigation, leading to a police assault and rioting that left almost 200 people dead. That was followed by a wave of mysterious needle attacks in Urumqi. Suspects in the factory clash were indicted on charges of either causing intentional injury or group brawling, Xinhua said. Only two of the suspects, both Han, were identified by name. The fight was said to have started after a young Han woman reportedly entered a factory dormitory and was raped. The woman has denied the rumour. ^ top ^
China publishes white paper on Xinjiang (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
The Chinese government Monday published a white paper (Development and Progress in Xinjiang) on the development and progress in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, stressing national unification, ethnic unity, social stability are the "lifeblood" for the region's development and progress. The paper, released by the State Council Information Office, reviewed the profound changes that have taken place in the past 60 years in Xinjiang, which accounts for about one sixth of the country's land territory. It also slammed the "East Turkistan" forces for seriously disrupting Xinjiang's development and progress by trumpeting separatism and plotting and organizing a number of bloody incidents of terror and violence. The 52-page document is divided into seven sections: Swift Economic Development; Remarkable Improvement in People's Lives; Steady Development of Social Programs; Preservation of Ethnic Cultures; Upholding Ethnic Equality and Unity; Protecting Citizens' Rights of Freedom of Religious Belief; and Safeguarding National Unity and Social Stability. […]. ^ top ^
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| Shanghai |
Shanghai World Expo to host forum on urban innovation, sustainable development (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
A summit meeting on urban innovation and sustainable development would be held on Oct. 31, 2010, the last day of the Shanghai World Expo, organizers said Wednesday. The summit forum will be jointly hosted by the Organizing Committee of the Shanghai World Expo, the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). While addressing the fourth expo exhibitors' meeting Wednesday, Zhu Yonglei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said delegates including heads of state from different countries, leaders of international organizations, mayors of Chinese and foreign cities and entrepreneurs would be invited to attend the forum. Zhu estimated there would be an attendance of 1,500 to 2,000 at the summit. He said a declaration from the Shanghai Expo on sustainable development in cities would be adopted at the summit forum. […]. ^ top ^
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| Taiwan |
Chen returned to jail after judges reject bail request - Court delivers another blow to Taiwan's former leader (SCMP)
2009-09-25
Disgraced former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian's hopes of being released on bail were dashed again yesterday when the Taiwan High Court decided to continue to hold him for three more months. After a hearing lasting more than four hours, a panel of three judges ordered that Chen, who was convicted of corruption by the Taipei District Court, be returned to jail, despite protests by dozens of his supporters. "Defendant Chen has been convicted of six criminal counts and sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court," High Court spokesman Wen Yao-yuan said. Wen cited previous rulings by the High Court, which had denied bail for defendants sentenced to life in prison by the lower courts based on the possibility they would flee because of the sentences. He said the detention was necessary to facilitate further investigation into other alleged corruption cases in which Chen was implicated. It was the first hearing by the High Court on Chen's detention case, held shortly after the court's administration had chosen three judges by lottery to handle his appeal. Shouting "unfair", "freedom" and "release Chen Shui-bian", angry supporters hurled eggs and bottled water at the court building and confronted court police. Chen was hopeful, especially when two of the High Court judges were known to have advocated human rights for defendants. In what Taiwanese media described as a crazy approach to win US attention over his detention, he filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against US President Barack Obama for failing to uphold US jurisdiction over Taiwan and permitting a "government in exile" in Taiwan to illegally issue court rulings on the island. Calling Taiwan a territory still controlled by the US following Japan's surrender in the second world war, he said the US must deal with all legal affairs in Taiwan, and said there was a "mysterious force" from the US since he became president and that he had to execute some orders given by the United States. […]. ^ top ^
Taiwan under pressure to give Kadeer a visa (SCMP)
2009-09-23
Taiwanese authorities may issue a visa to exiled Uygur leader Rebiya Kadeer in yet another politically thorny decision that would further test slowly warming cross-strait relations. Lawmakers from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party demanded yesterday that the island's new premier, Wu Den-yih, reveal whether the government would allow Kadeer entry, as it had done in permitting a visit last month by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. "Would the government issue a visa for Kadeer if the DPP invited her to visit?" Tsai Trong-rong asked when Wu visited the DPP legislative caucus office in Taipei. Tsai said the government had to deal with the issue because two private organisations had already invited Kadeer to make a visit. Wu said the government must first make sure whether any such invitations had been made and whether Kadeer intended to visit Taiwan. "If Kadeer is interested in visiting Taiwan, we will have a discussion on the matter [by Saturday]," he said. His comments came after two pro-independence groups, Guts United, Taiwan and the Taiwan Youth Anti-Communist Corps, said they had invited Kadeer and her husband to visit. "We jointly issued the invitation to Kadeer and her husband on Monday, and they gladly accepted our invitation," said Paul Lin, director general of the Corps. He said Freddy Lin of Guts United had delivered the invitation to the exiled Uygur activist in Washington. […]. ^ top ^
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| Tibet |
Dalai Lama prays at site of rights leader's assassination (SCMP)
2009-09-25
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, bowed his head in prayer at the site of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968. The 74-year-old was in Memphis for the first time to be honoured by the National Civil Rights Museum, which encompasses the Lorraine Motel where King was shot. "Indeed, a very moving tour," he said after placing a white shawl over a wreath that marks the spot where King was assassinated. "At the same time, historical events give us conviction." He said people everywhere struggled against the same injustices and inequalities, but "despite difficulties and obstacles, we can win". The tour kicked off a two-week tour of North America. ^ top ^
Bar on foreigners in Tibet denied (SCMP)
2009-09-25
The tourism administration in Tibet yesterday denied reports that foreigners had been barred from the region amid a security crackdown for National Day on October 1. The denial by a spokesman for the Tibet Autonomous Region Tourism Bureau came two days after staff at the bureau's branch in the capital Lhasa and other tour agents said they were told to stop issuing permits to foreigners. ^ top ^
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China denies imposing restrictions on E.U. pork imports (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China has never placed any restriction on pork imports from the European Union (E.U.), and its demand for health certificate from the E.U. imported pork was needed to prevent the spread of A/H1N1 flu, said Yu Taiwei, head of China's quality watchdog's food safety export and import bureau, on Wednesday. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) launched on Sept. 18 a measure requiring an additional testing on all pork meat from five countries including Denmark, France, Italy and Spain. The E.U.'s health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou was reported Wednesday as having interpreted China's requirement for strengthening inspection on A/H1N1 virus as "being protectionism". "We still allow these countries to export pork to China, but only ask for a more intensified inspection," said Yu. […]. ^ top ^
China appeals WTO ruling on books, audio-visual products (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China lodged an appeal on Tuesday over a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel ruling which said its regulations on the import and distribution of books and audio-visual products are not in compliance with world trade rules. The WTO's seven-member Appellate Body will now have two to three months to reinvestigate the U.S.-China dispute, and it can uphold, modify or reverse the panel ruling, which was issued last month, the Chinese mission to the world trade body said. The United States brought the case to the global trade watchdog in April, 2007, saying that China was not providing enough access for imports of publications and audio-visual products. The case involves publications such as books and newspapers, audio and video products including CDs, DVDs and games, and music downloading services. […]. ^ top ^
Delta 'labour shortages' called wishful thinking (SCMP)
2009-09-23
Reports across the mainland of labour shortages in export-production hubs such as the Pearl and Yangtze river deltas appear to signal the return of overseas orders and a warming up of the economy. But industry insiders say the reports are nothing more than a political tool and merely wishful thinking. […] "Yes, many factories here are hiring workers. But actually it is kind of an after-effect of the mass lay-offs of late last year and early this year," said Chai Kwong-wah, president of the Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises General Association. […] Chai said many factories in Guangdong had been in semi-hibernation until recent orders for the Christmas season. "That's why you see factories now beginning to hire workers again," he said. "But the orders are just seasonal and short-term for Christmas. So is the current labour demand." Dr Liu Zhenjie, of the Henan Academy of Social Sciences, said labour shortages were also the result of wariness among migrant workers and rising costs of living in the deltas. "Most migrant workers from central and western provinces have been slow to return to the coastal region after the factories sacked many of them at the end of last year," he said. […]. ^ top ^
Beijing eyes joint oil projects with rivals in South China Sea (SCMP)
2009-09-23
There was no solution in sight to territorial disputes over potentially oil-rich South China Sea regions, so Beijing had begun to discuss possible joint projects with other claimant countries to avoid confrontations, a Chinese diplomat said yesterday. A joint scientific study by China, the Philippines and Vietnam to determine the prospects of striking oil or gas in a part of the contested Spratlys region was a model that Beijing sought to undertake with other claimants, Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao said. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and the mainland claim all or part of about 100 Spratly islets, reefs and atolls that are believed to be sitting atop vast deposits of oil and natural gas. The largely uninhabited islands and surrounding waters straddle busy sea lanes and are rich fishing grounds. The islands are regarded as a potential flashpoint for conflict. […]. ^ top ^
ADB extends $100 mln to develop small cities, towns in China (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
The People's Republic of China's drive to develop smaller towns and cities in a balanced, environmentally sustainable way is getting support from a 100-million-U.S.-dollars Asian Development Bank loan, the Manila-based bank announced on Tuesday. The funds, approved by ADB's Board of Directors, will be used for infrastructure projects in several areas of China's northeast Liaoning Province. […] The demonstration project will support Liaoning Province's own five-year development plan by funding infrastructure development in about seven cities and towns, including roads, bridges, drainage, water and sanitation services. It will also help build up the project and environmental management capacities of provincial, municipal and county agencies, and provide an example for sustainable development that can be replicated. The Liaoning Project is one of three small cities and towns development projects that ADB is financing (the others are in the north-eastern provinces of Hebei and Shanxi). […]. ^ top ^
China rolls out policy to promote development for SMEs (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China's State Council, the Cabinet, issued Tuesday a document to strengthen support for the development of the country's small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The government will deepen reforms in the country's monopoly industries, lowering the market access threshold for the SMEs and creating a more open and fair competition environment for SMEs, said the document. […] In China, SMEs refer to enterprises where staff numbers are less than 2,000, annual revenues are under 300 million yuan, or with total assets under 400 million yuan. […]. ^ top ^
China's economy to grow by 8.2% in 2009: ADB (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China's economy rebounded stronger than expected and is now forecast to expand by 8.2 percent in 2009,the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report released Tuesday. The Asian Development Outlook 2009 Update forecast that a surge in bank lending and fixed asset investments would push growth 1.2 percentage points higher than ADB's forecast in March. The expected maintenance of the government's fiscal stimulus and a moderate recovery in the international economy in 2010 would lift China's growth rate to 8.9 percent in 2010, the report added. […]. ^ top ^
China to further improve supervision system of capital flow (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China's foreign exchange regulator said Monday at an internal meeting that it will strengthen the management of capital flows, preventing massive capital outflow and influx in a bid to safeguard the country's financial security amid a global economic downturn. State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said it will place priority on facilitating a balance of international payments as there are still uncertainties in international capital flows and international payments. The SAFE vowed to enhance the statistical and supervisory system for cross-border funds, and to continue to optimize the emergency mechanism of international payments. It pledged to promote product innovation in the foreign exchange market, offering more risk-avoiding tools to enterprises. It will also provide more convenience to legal foreign exchange business activities of all kinds of market players, stepping up to improve the cancel-after-verification mechanism in receiving and payments in the country's import and export business. ^ top ^
China's major SOEs report 30% fall in profit last year (Xinhua)
2009-09-25
China's major state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under the supervision of the central government reported a 30-percent fall in net profit last year, the country's state assets supervisor said over the weekend. A total of 141 SOEs under the supervision of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council reported a net profit of 696.18 billion yuan (101.96 billion U.S. dollars) last year, down 30.8 percent from a year ago, the commission said in an online statement. […]. ^ top ^
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Stockpile of vaccine will amount to 26m jabs by end of next month (SCMP)
2009-09-25
The mainland will have a stockpile of 26 million shots of swine flu vaccine by the end of next month, the central government has said, as it ramps up a mass inoculation programme in anticipation of a winter outbreak. The number of vaccines in reserve will surge to 100 million by the end of the year, Health Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua said. "The number is expected to increase to 100 million when the country finishes its second phase of production," Deng said on the ministry's website on Wednesday. The mainland kicked off its mass swine flu vaccination on Monday in Beijing, apparently becoming the first nation to start inoculating against the virus. China has been at the forefront of international efforts to produce a vaccine, with several domestic companies already obtaining government approval for production. Officials, however, have warned demand will exceed supply. The ministry has warned that "tens of millions" of people could contract the virus on the mainland in the coming months. Beijing had confirmed 14,581 cases as of Wednesday, ministry figures show. No deaths have been reported. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation yesterday said manufacturers would be able to produce about three billion doses of swine flu vaccine a year. The estimate is significantly lower than the five billion doses the WHO previously predicted. The global population is 6.8 billion. Of the roughly 39,000 Beijingers inoculated by Tuesday afternoon, 14 had adverse reactions, Xinhua said. Authorities were investigating. ^ top ^
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Gautier Chiarini
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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