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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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DPRK
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U.S. government labels Vietnam, Switzerland currency manipulators (Xinhua)
2020-12-16
The U.S. government on Wednesday labeled Vietnam and Switzerland as currency manipulators, a move that is likely to increase trade tensions with the countries. It was the first time that the U.S. Treasury Department has accused either country of improperly intervening in the foreign exchange markets. In its Semiannual Report on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies to the U.S. Congress, the department concluded that both Vietnam and Switzerland met all three criteria under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 during the four quarters ending June 2020. The report said that it seeks to identify any major U.S. trading partner that has a significant bilateral trade surplus with the United States, a material current account surplus, and engaged in persistent one-sided intervention in the foreign exchange market. ^ top ^
Federer in 'race against time' to play Down Under (China Daily)
2020-12-16
Roger Federer said he is in a "race against time" to be fit for the Australian Open as his recovery from two rounds of knee surgery takes longer than expected. The 39-year-old Swiss great has been out of action since February, when he underwent keyhole surgery on his right knee. In June, Federer revealed a follow-up operation and called off his 2020 season. But despite months of rehabilitation, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he was still not "100 percent" for the Australian Open, which looks likely to be delayed from January to February over coronavirus restrictions. ^ top ^
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EU agrees 'in principle' to an investment agreement with China (SCMP)
2020-12-18
The European Union has agreed "in principle" to an investment agreement with China, a high-level diplomatic source in Brussels told the South China Morning Post on Thursday, in what would be a big win for Beijing in the face of tattered relations with the US. The EU's two most influential leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, are understood to be in agreement for the deal to go ahead, a second source briefed on the negotiation said. Germany, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, announced that the investment agreement with China would be discussed among the 27 countries' representatives to the bloc on Friday. The politically symbolic move between China and the EU comes just a month before Joe Biden will become the US president, dealing a blow to his hope of reviving the transatlantic partnership in a bid to take on China's growing assertiveness. The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU that is in charge of trade talks, has secured breakthroughs as China agrees to open up its market in multiple sectors for EU businesses, the sources said. China is understood to have made concessions on sectors like financial services, manufacturing and real estate. In return, China secured the EU's agreement to open up the renewable energy sector for Chinese investment, a clause that has drawn opposition from Eastern European member states including Poland and Lithuania, which rely on US support to deter the threat from Russia, the source said. "It is also debated whether it is the right moment to sign a deal with China, given the incoming Joe Biden presidency that will likely focus on a transatlantic alliance to counter the rise of China," the source said. "But overall, it is agreed that the EU negotiators have achieved what the EU has been calling on China to do for seven years. China did make major concessions," the source added. "That's why the European Commission made the political decision in principle to conclude the talks of the agreement with China." Earlier on Thursday, the Chinese ambassador to the EU, Zhang Ming, told the Financial Times that the talks "are now in the final stage". Referring to President Xi Jinping, he said: "It's quite unusual for a Chinese head of state to give such … attention to an agreement under negotiation." A spokesman for the European Commission said: "The EU-China investment talks are intensive. Progress has been achieved in a number of areas. There are still some important outstanding matters and talks are continuing this week. "The EU remains committed to the end of year deadline for conclusion of the negotiations, provided we have a deal worth having. We will not put speed over substance." Reinhard Bütikofer, who chairs the European Parliament's China delegation, said of the possibility of an EU-China deal on Twitter: "It would be an interesting development, if EU would ignore concerns about forced labour in China and rush to conclude with China just before the Biden transition opens opportunities for better and stronger transatlantic cooperation on China." The diplomatic source, however, said that the deal with China would not affect the EU's intention to build up a closer partnership with the US. There are also suggestions that the EU-China investment agreement can be "fast-tracked" and will not need to be approved individually by the national parliaments of the member states, as is the practice for trade deals. ^ top ^
China, France to enhance parliamentary exchange (Xinhua)
2020-12-16
China's top legislator Li Zhanshu Wednesday attended via video link the opening ceremony of the 11th meeting of the parliamentary exchange mechanism between legislative bodies of China and France. Both sides agreed to enhance parliamentary exchanges to contribute to the development of relations between the two countries. Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, addressed the opening ceremony and called on both sides to uphold the spirit of "independence, mutual understanding, great foresight, and win-win cooperation" to create a brighter future for bilateral relations. Noting that China and France are comprehensive strategic partners with broad common interests, Li said that the legislative bodies of both countries have played a unique role in pushing forward bilateral ties. China's NPC and the French National Assembly have maintained steady and regular exchanges through the mechanism since it was established in 2009. Li said the NPC stands ready to work with the French National Assembly, under the guidance of the strategic consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, to safeguard China-France political mutual trust, strengthen dialogues at all levels and deepen legislative exchanges in fields including economy and trade, investment, finance, environment, health and social security. Li called for giving full play to the functions and advantages of legislatures to promote the alignment of development strategies of the two countries, strive to provide legal guarantees for the implementation of bilateral agreements and large project cooperation, and create a broad platform for bilateral friendly cooperation. The two legislatures should enrich and expand exchanges and cooperation between their friendship groups, promote dialogue and exchanges between NPC deputies and parliamentarians of the French National Assembly in specialized fields such as science and technology, education, culture, health, youth, and women, and tell well the story of bilateral friendship, according to Li. The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination, and jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core, the international order based on international law, and the multilateral trading system with the rules of the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone, said Li. Richard Ferrand, president of the French National Assembly, said that France-China relations are of crucial importance. The French National Assembly is willing to play a positive role, strengthen cooperation under the exchanges mechanism, and contribute to the long-term, stable and healthy development of France-China relations. Chen Zhu, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, also attended the opening ceremony. ^ top ^
China-Australia relations: Canberra 'very concerned' over reports of 'discriminatory' coal ban (SCMP)
2020-12-16
Canberra is seeking clarification from Beijing over reports that it has blocked Australian coal imports, in what could be a "breach" of China's commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). China's top economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), approved 10 major power generators over the weekend to import coal to address a domestic supply shortage, except from Australia, state-owned tabloid Global Times reported. The NDRC and the national coal industry body, China Coal Transportation & Distribution (CCTD), have not yet made an announcement about a ban, but the foreign ministry said on Tuesday afternoon any export restrictions were being handled by relevant government departments in line with Chinese rules and regulations. Australian trade minister Simon Birmingham said on Tuesday the government was "very, very concerned" about the reports, adding that type of boycott could "constitute a breach of China's commitments" as a WTO member nation. "These actions, if true, would potentially constitute discriminatory action against Australian producers, potentially constitute a breach of the type of undertakings that China has made to Australia and to the world in relation to their trade practices, and potentially harm China's ability to meet the other types of commitments it's given to the world in relation to its emissions profile," he said during a press conference in Sydney. Under the WTO rules, countries cannot discriminate between trading partners, except in certain circumstances – for example, if a product were contaminated or could pose a threat to human health. Anti-dumping provisions are also available to trading countries to protect their domestic market. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the media in Tasmania that the government was waiting for clarification from Beijing. Though diplomatic lines remained open, he admitted there was no timetable for direct ministerial or leader-level discussions. Birmingham said it was unacceptable the government and Australian businesses had to find out about these decisions via Chinese media outlets. The reported ban is the latest escalation in a series of trade actions from China that began in April, when Australia called for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus without consulting Beijing. Since then, China has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on barley and wine, and curbed a host of Australian imports including logs, lobsters, sugar and cotton. Beijing has cited contamination, pests and shipment errors for the restrictions. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm the coal ban when asked about it on Tuesday. However, it refuted allegations China had breached trade commitments and questioned if Australia had gone against its own promises to allow open investment and trade, after denying myriad Chinese deals in the past two years, including blocking Huawei Technologies Co. from the country's 5G network. "Australia regards itself as a victim and accuses China, which confuses the audience," foreign affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said. "China does not accept it. Australia has politicised relations, violated market principles and discriminated against Chinese companies." "Interfering in the momentum of China-Australia relations is causing damage to Australia's reputation … the violation of basic practice of international relations; this is the real thing we need to worry about." Morrison said the deteriorating relationship could be salvaged if both countries made an effort, but denied he had "mismanaged" the relationship. "What our government has done has stood up for Australia's sovereign interests" he said. Coal traders in China and around Asia said they had not heard about an official ban or any changes to the unofficial restrictions placed on Australian coking and thermal coal imports in October, when Chinese coal import quotas for the year had been exhausted. More than 50 vessels laden with Australian coal have been stranded outside Chinese ports since June, waiting to offload orders that were placed before the verbal ban, data by Bloomberg and data intelligence firm Kpler showed. This is not the first time Australia has been overlooked for coal imports since the October restrictions. Late last month, China increased its coal import quota for thermal coal, which is used for power generation, by 20 million tonnes until the end of the year, again excluding Australia. Commodities analysts at S&P Global Platts said at the time Russia and Indonesia would likely be the suppliers. At the same time, China signed a three-year US$1.46 billion deal with Indonesia for more thermal coal starting next year. Russia, Indonesia and Australia are the biggest exporters of thermal coal to China, while Mongolia, Russia and Australia dominate exports of coking coal, which is used to make steel. China's decision to curb Australian coal and tighten domestic coal production to lower carbon emissions has caused coal prices to shoot up on the. On Monday, the Chinese National Energy Administration said in November electricity consumption rose 9.4 per cent compared with the same period last year. While Australia waits for confirmation of the coal ban, Birmingham said the government was close to finalising its case for a WTO complaint against China's anti-dumping duties on Australian barley. ^ top ^
Xi calls for more splendid era of China-Chile ties (Global Times)
2020-12-15
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Chile should carry forward their traditional pioneering spirit and usher in a more splendid era of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his Chilean counterpart, Sebastian Pinera. ^ top ^
West hypes 'leaked' list of CPC members to sow discord in foreign institutions (Global Times)
2020-12-15
Some Western media, using an alleged name list of 1.95 million members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), have launched a new round of witch hunts by accusing the people on the list of working in foreign consulates in China and foreign companies' Chinese branches for intelligence purposes, even though the authenticity of the database has been highly questionable. Observers said that the narrative that connects CPC membership to intelligence work and security risks was "ridiculous and ignorant of Chinese society." CPC members are working in foreign consulates in Shanghai and Chinese branches of major foreign companies, including IKEA, Volkswagen and Pfizer, an Australian media outlet the Australian and the UK's Sunday Mail reported, citing a "leaked document" presented by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a newly established ideologically driven group of some 150 legislators, including US anti-China Senator Marco Rubio. The leaked name list involves 1.95 million people and includes their birth dates, positions, ID numbers and some phone numbers. Ignoring the fact that it constituted a massive privacy breach, Western media hyped the list as evidence of CPC-sponsored intelligence activities, despite failing to prove that any of the 1.95 million is connected to intelligence affairs. The reports described the stealing of CPC members' private information as a brave action to reveal the Party's structure and "infiltration," without mentioning its illegal nature and harm it caused to those alleged Party members who are just ordinary people. The database may also be fabricated, Chen Hong, a professor at East China Normal University, whose name is on the list, told the Global Times on Monday, pointing out that he was never a member of the CPC but was a member of another party in the Chinese political system. "I suspect the database is completely erroneous," Chen said. Volkswagen China told the Global Times that joining any political party is an employee's personal decision and they do not interfere. Volkswagen respects every employee's political affiliation globally and their business will not be affected by that. Volkswagen has not set up a Party branch in China. IKEA, one of the companies said to have CPC members on its payroll, told the Global Times on Monday, "We don't have knowledge of, or an interest in, our co-workers' political party affiliations. We respect each other's different views and strive to be an inclusive workplace for all." Employees of companies included in the database also found the reports of being a "security risk" ridiculous, as companies would not care about their employees' political stance and affiliation. "Will your employer in the US ask whether you are a Republican or a Democrat before recruiting you?" an employee of a multinational firm in Shanghai asked, speaking to the Global Times on condition of anonymity. Some people reached by the Global Times pointed out that speculation of CPC members posing security risks is another example of how little anti-China forces know about Chinese society. "I joined the CPC in university and later worked for a foreign cosmetics firm. My CPC membership has nothing to do with my job," said another anonymous source. Even some Twitter users found the reports absurd, and labeled the demonization of CPC "Western fragility." Another shared his experience of working in Shanghai where his colleagues were proud of their membership and openly told others about it, which is obviously not what an intelligence agent should do. "What exclusive story? … The West paints the Party as a monster. For locals, it's an honor to be a member and they openly share it with everyone." Stigmatizing and demonizing the CPC is not a new trick for the anti-China clique. The US recently announced visa restrictions on CPC members and their families in a move that many say is blatant McCarthyism. But hyping the threat of CPC members to companies and organizations in China is even more sinister, as they are pointing fingers at Chinese nationals working in Chinese territory, Chen said, warning that "such moves aim to sow discord between the CPC and Chinese people." Analysts also pointed out that citing "exclusive sources" and "leaked documents" to hype up a topic and manipulate public opinion in order to press the government into implementing certain types of policies, in this case the persecution of CPC members, is a usual trick for Western political forces. ^ top ^
Xi calls for closer BRI cooperation with Somalia (Xinhua)
2020-12-14
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that he is ready to work with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to enhance bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for the benefit of the people of both countries. Xi made the remarks in an exchange of congratulatory messages with his Somali counterpart celebrating the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Over the past 60 years, Xi noted, China and Somalia have always understood, helped and supported each other no matter how the international situation changes. He recalled that during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in September 2018, he and President Mohamed reached important consensuses on developing bilateral relations, and that since the onset of COVID-19, the two sides have joined hands to fight the pandemic. Stressing that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Somalia relations, Xi called for concerted efforts to take the 60th anniversary as an opportunity to promote the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, and boost bilateral BRI cooperation, so as to bring benefits to the people of both countries. In his message, President Mohamed said that in the past 60 years, Somalia and China have witnessed steady development of their long-term friendly relations and sound cooperation in many fields. The Somali government and its people think highly of the close cooperation and friendship between the two countries, he said, adding that Somalia will forever be China's friend. He said he looks forward to working closely with Xi to further deepen and broaden bilateral friendly cooperation and create more benefits for both countries and their people. ^ top ^
China's mission to EU confirms detention of Bloomberg's Chinese employee suspected of 'jeopardizing national security' (Global Times)
2020-12-13
The mission of China to the EU on Sunday confirmed the detention of a Chinese national for national security reasons in response to a question regarding the actions of a Bloomberg employee. The person surnamed Fan was taken into custody by the Beijing Municipal National Security Bureau for being suspected of involvement in activities jeopardizing China's national security. The case is under investigation in accordance with the law and Fan's rights were guaranteed, the spokesperson of the Chinese mission said. The Chinese authorities' handling of the case is purely China's internal affairs and any other country or organization has no right to interfere, the spokesperson said. Fan's employer on Friday reported that Fan was escorted from her apartment building on December 7. ^ top ^
President Xi voices confirmation in implementing Paris Agreement, improving global climate governance (Xinhua)
2020-12-13
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday urged the international community to pursue a new approach to climate governance that highlights green recovery and pledged China's further commitments for 2030 to tackling the global climate challenge at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit. Hailing the extensive international support to and participation in the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change since its adoption five years ago, Xi said the international landscape is evolving more rapidly, and COVID-19 is triggering deep reflections on the relationship between man and nature. Saying the future of global climate governance is drawing greater attention, Xi made the following three proposals. First, Xi called on all parties to close ranks and make new advances in climate governance that features win-win cooperation. In meeting the climate challenge, no one can be aloof and unilateralism will lead nowhere, Xi said. "Only by upholding multilateralism, unity and cooperation can we deliver shared benefits and win-win results for all nations." "China welcomes all countries' support for the Paris Agreement and their greater contribution to tackling climate change," Xi added. Second, Xi called for raising ambition and fostering a new architecture of climate governance where every party does its part. Following the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, all countries need to maximize actions in light of their respective national circumstances and capabilities, Xi said. He also stressed that developed countries need to scale up support for developing countries in financing, technology and capacity building. Third, Xi urged all parties to boost confidence and pursue a new approach to climate governance that highlights green recovery. "Mountains and rivers green are mountains of silver and gold," Xi said, adding it is important to encourage green, low-carbon ways of life and production, and seek development opportunities and impetus from green development. Noting China's important contributions to adopting the Paris Agreement and active efforts in its implementation, Xi said he announced in September that China would scale up its nationally determined contributions and adopt more vigorous policies and measures. Xi went on to announce China's further commitments for 2030 to tackling the global climate challenge. Xi said China will lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by over 65 percent from the 2005 level, increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 percent, increase the forest stock volume by 6 billion cubic meters from the 2005 level, and bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kilowatts. Noting China always honors its commitments, Xi said China, guided by the new development philosophy, will promote greener economic and social development in all respects while pursuing high-quality development. "We will take solid steps to implement the targets just announced, and contribute even more to tackling the global climate challenge," Xi added. In addition, he called on all parties to build on past achievements, work together to make steady progress in implementing the Paris Agreement, and launch a new journey for global climate actions. The summit, which aims to make new commitments to tackling climate change and delivering on the Paris Agreement, was co-convened by the United Nations, the United Kingdom and France, and in partnership with Chile and Italy. ^ top ^
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COVID penalties get tougher for incoming flights (China Daily)
2020-12-17
China's circuit breaker arrangement for international passenger flights was tightened on Wednesday to contain the spread of COVID-19. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, if there are five passengers on a flight who test positive, the airline's flights will be suspended for two weeks, starting on Wednesday. The earlier regulation －introduced in June －suspended the airline's flights for one week if five passengers on a flight tested positive. The suspension will last for four weeks if 10 passengers test positive, which remains the same as the earlier regulation. Zhang Qihuai, a senior lawyer specializing in civil aviation cases, said the tightened regulation is appropriate amid the recent rebound of COVID-19 overseas. The number of confirmed cases in Western countries, especially in the United States, has surged recently, while China has basically contained the spread of the disease except for some sporadic cases. According to figures from Johns Hopkins University, the number of reported cases in the US has surpassed 16.7 million with over 300,000 related deaths, while China reported 12 imported cases across the mainland on Tuesday and no new locally transmitted cases. There were more than 73 million confirmed cases in the world as of Wednesday, according to the university. The adjustment of the regulation "shows that the CAAC has the capability and experience to handle the emergency cases to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus", he said. Zhang agreed with the need to prioritize disease control over economic development under the current circumstances. On Tuesday, three international airlines －Ethiopian Airlines, Russia's Ikar Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines －were suspended for one week after several passengers tested positive for COVID-19 on recent flights. Also on Tuesday, the administration held a conference to arrange disease control measures to contain imported cases. By Tuesday, the administration carried out 139 suspension orders, canceling 268 international passenger flights from 54 domestic airlines and 85 international airlines. Separately, a Chinese pilot in Chengdu, Sichuan province, was confirmed as an imported COVID-19 case on Monday. The pilot was on a cargo flight from Los Angeles to Chengdu, Sichuan, on Nov 29 and tested negative during quarantine. He flew a round-trip cargo flight from Chengdu to Jinan, Shandong province, on Dec 9 and continued his quarantine until Saturday. On Saturday, he drove to a 300-person wedding banquet in Jiangyou, Sichuan, and sought medical attention on Monday, when he tested positive and was diagnosed as a confirmed case on Monday night. The administration has established an investigation team to carry out epidemiological investigations related to the case, Xiong Jie, director of the CAAC's safety office, said at a news conference on Wednesday. China's civil aviation market continued to normalize its operations last month, according to the administration. Last month, international air cargo increased by 1.9 percent, which was the first monthly growth this year. ^ top ^
Xi congratulates complete success of Chang'e-5 mission (People's Daily)
2020-12-17
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated the complete success of the Chang'e-5 mission that brings back the country's first samples collected from the moon. On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC), Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CMC, extended warm congratulations and sincere greetings to all members who participated in the Chang'e-5 mission in a congratulatory message. As China's most complicated space project, Xi said the Chang'e-5 mission has achieved the extraterrestrial sampling and returning for the first time. It is another major achievement in overcoming difficulties by giving full play to the advantages of the new nationwide system, marking a great step forward in China's space industry. This will contribute to deepening the understanding of the origin of the moon and the evolution history of the solar system, he noted. "Your remarkable feats will always be remembered by our country and people," said Xi. Noting that there is no end for space exploration, Xi expressed the hope that those who have participated in the Chang'e-5 mission will carry forward the lunar exploration spirit of pursuing dreams, daring to explore, cooperating in tackling difficulties and win-win cooperation, so as to start new interplanetary exploration and contribute to building the country into a major power in space, national rejuvenation, the peaceful use of space and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. The congratulatory message was read out by State Councilor Wang Yong at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. Chang'e-5 mission has achieved many major breakthroughs including China's first lunar surface sampling and sealing, first liftoff from the moon, first rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, and first spacecraft carrying samples to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. The success of the Chang'e-5 mission marks a conclusion of China's current lunar exploration project. ^ top ^
Climate Experts Urge China to Hit Its Emissions Target Five Years Early (Caixin)
2020-12-16
Climate experts have called for China's carbon emissions to peak by 2025, five years earlier than planned, in order for the country to be "carbon neutral" by 2060. The experts made the call at the nonprofit Energy Foundation China's online seminar on the country's low carbon development during the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period from 2021 to 2025. The director of Tsinghua University's Institute of Low Carbon Economy, He Jiankun, proposed that China should try to reach peak carbon emissions by 2025. Zou Ji, president of the Beijing-based NGO, Energy Foundation China, agreed. "Because there is a years-long plateau period for reaching peak carbon emissions, we have to reach the peak in advance by 2025, see a rapid drop by 2030 and ultimately a noticeable cut by 2035," He said. He predicted that China' GDP would double by 2035. So, to achieve the peak emissions level by 2025, the carbon dioxide emission per unit of GDP "has to be roughly higher than the GDP growth between 2020 and 2035, and only if this can offset the additional carbon dioxide from economic growth." Thursday's seminar follows President Xi Jinping's pledge in September at the U.N. General Assembly that China will aim to reach peak emissions before 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emissions before 2060. "The 14th FYP is the initial stage of the 40-year period (to 2060) and is crucial to decide whether China can become 'carbon neutral' and how much we will pay for it," Zou said. "And the earlier we are, the easier it will be to meet the commitment, plus less cost." Zou also spelled out the necessary conditions to achieve the prospect of hitting the carbon emissions peak by 2025. "Carbon intensity has to drop by 20% from 2020, namely a reduction of 60% from 2005, during the period of the 14th FYP. And by the end of it, nonfossil fuel should account for up to 20%." This is mostly in line with Xi's plan for the peak emissions target year to be 2030, as announced at the U.N. Climate Action Summit. Zou forecast that general industry could be the first sector to hit the peak emissions target, probably in the next two years. Power generators could get there by the middle of the 14th FYP, but transport won't reach the target until 2030. ^ top ^
China to deepen reform of government functions, raise service capacity for businesses, public (Xinhua)
2020-12-15
China will optimize government service hotlines, improve the efficiency and capacity of government services for businesses and individuals, and implement unified registration for pledge of movable property and rights to facilitate pledge financing for businesses, the State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Monday. Government service hotline is directly oriented to businesses and the public, and serves as an important channel to report problems, make suggestions, facilitate government decision-making and help solve public service issues. It has played a positive role in addressing pressing concerns for enterprises and people in recent years. Attendees at the Monday meeting decided that going forward, regarding the large numbers of government service hotlines and inconvenience in accessing services, service hotlines will be optimized in keeping with the requirements of deepening reform of government functions. Local governments, especially governments at county and city levels, should fulfill due responsibilities for non-emergency hotlines related to enterprises and people, according to the meeting. Service hotlines set up by governments at local levels and those established by relevant departments of the State Council and operated at the local levels shall be merged, wherever possible, into one unified number, to the convenience of the people. This embodies services at a single window. Relevant departments of the State Council shall guide localities in optimizing hotlines, the meeting decided. Optimized hotlines shall be convenient for people to access. Procedures and resource allocation should be refined, and technical support should be strengthened to better align hotline operations with related handling services. A sound mechanism to efficiently deal with complaints, as well as monitoring and accountability mechanisms, shall be established to see that problems and reasonable demands raised by businesses and people are properly handled in a timely manner, and to ensure that government service hotlines can be swiftly accessed, public concerns be more accurately referred to relevant departments and things get done efficiently, it said. "We have been working hard to transform government functions and make it easier for businesses and the people to get things done," Li said. "Regarding hotline operation and case handling, multi-level targeted approaches shall be adopted, and due responsibilities specified, with high attention paid to localities at city and county levels. Guidance from relevant departments shall be stepped up," he said. It was decided at the meeting that unified registration for pledge of movable property and rights will be implemented nationwide starting Jan. 1, 2021, to further improve business environment and facilitate the financial sector to better serve the real economy, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. In recent years, pilot programs of unified registration for pledge of movable property and rights have been carried out in certain provinces and cities, to facilitate enterprises' pledge financing. Privately-owned firms and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises accounted for more than 95 percent of new pledge registration, and their amount of financing took up over 80 percent. Registration responsibility for pledge of production equipment, raw materials, semi-finished products, and product mortgages previously undertaken by the State Administration for Market Regulation, and registration responsibility for pledge of accounts receivables, deposits, financial leases, as well as factoring by the People's Bank of China, will all be assumed by the latter. Internet-based services will be provided 24/7. Those that have already completed registration for pledge of movable property and rights will not be required for re-registration. Relevant departments shall properly handle follow-up work such as data transfer of inventory information. New registrations shall be applied by relevant parties through the unified registration and notification system, and they will be held accountable for the authenticity, completeness and legality of the application. Registration departments will not conduct substantive review of the registration contents. The unified registration system is conducive for financial institutions to get a full picture of movable property and rights information and enhance their readiness to provide pledge financing to enterprises. "Unified registration for pledge of movable property and rights requires the financial system to strengthen and improve management services for the enterprises, and will play a positive role in easing the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises, and in facilitating pledge financing. The financial system must make great efforts to improve services," Li said. The meeting also adopted draft revisions of the Regulation on Business Name Registration and Administration, to refine basic norms and put in place an application system for corporate names where applicants can choose a corporate name that meets the requirements and pledge to bear legal responsibilities for any name infringements. Both deregulation and oversight will be stepped up. Registration departments shall enhance compliance oversight, and refuse to register or correct the corporate names inconsistent with the requirements. Disputes over corporate names may be settled through lawsuits or mediated or decided by registration departments. "Corporate name registration shall facilitate fair competition and independent business operations within the confines of the law," Li said. ^ top ^
Vice-minister vows to beef up climate work (China Daily)
2020-12-15
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment will make more efforts to promote climate legislation and work with other government bodies for a more coordinated national response to achieve carbon neutrality, a senior official said on Monday. Following President Xi Jinping's announcement in September that China aims to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, on Saturday he set out the nation's further climate commitments as the world celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The new commitments, which provide a clearer path to meeting the targets, have injected strong impetus into global climate efforts, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Environment Zhao Yingmin said at a symposium on climate change on Monday. Speaking via video link to the Climate Ambition Summit on Saturday, Xi said that by 2030, China will lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by more than 65 percent from the 2005 level and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its primary energy consumption to around 25 percent. Joining hands with other government bodies, Zhao said, the ministry, which is the leading government organization on climate change work, will "make intensified efforts and be more resolute to implement the commitments". As one of the priorities in the work, it will endeavor to promote climate legislation, which is "key in China's efforts to peak carbon emissions and realize carbon neutrality". Zhao said efforts will also be made to improve goal-oriented performance evaluation and accountability systems. On the basis of the current national compulsory target on carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP, the ministry will also promote the establishment of a national emissions cap as it promotes climate work in a step by step manner, he said. Wang Yi, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, said there has yet to be a special law in China that could well regulate carbon dioxide emissions. Although the Law on Air Pollution Control rules that the government should align greenhouse gas control with the management of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, this law is still not strong enough on regulating carbon dioxide emissions, he said. "A special law will especially be needed after China sets a cap on emissions," he noted. Aside from legislation, efforts should also be made to ensure a coordinated national response that fully takes into account conditions in different sectors and regions, he said, adding that decarbonization is especially challenging in the transportation sector and areas with rich fossil energy reserves. Su Jie, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Transportation's department of planning, called for the introduction of an interagency coordination system to promote climate work, considering that carbon emission control involves various sectors on both the supply and demand sides and it is highly related to people's livelihoods. The establishment of such a coordination system could help roll out more research on achieving carbon neutrality in the transportation sector, as well as action plans and assignments for different government bodies, Su said. ^ top ^
China Plans New Disease Control Agency in Covid-19 Aftermath (Caixin)
2020-12-14
China is considering setting up a powerful new disease control agency as part of public health reforms in the aftermath of its deadly Covid-19 epidemic, Caixin can reveal. The government body, now known informally as the "big disease-control bureau," will oversee work aimed at preventing future outbreaks and managing emerging ones, according to two government insiders and three high-level public health experts. The new disease control agency may combine the departments of the National Health Commission (NHC) responsible for public health and emergency responses with the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), the country's main protector of public health and safety, Caixin understands. The development follows last month's promotion of 52-year-old Lei Haichao to deputy director of the NHC from heading its municipal counterpart in Beijing. Sources said, without elaborating, that his appointment was related to upcoming reforms of China's disease control system. Public health reform is high on the Chinese government's agenda after Covid-19 exposed shortcomings in the Asian giant's disease control and prevention mechanisms, including weak administrative powers, lacking interagency communication, poorly defined roles and responsibilities, and a shortage of funding in key areas. In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered delegates at the country's annual political meetings in Beijing to seek overall reforms to the health care system while streamlining medical care, improving the structures and mechanisms of disease control and prevention, and strengthening administrative roles and oversight. Officials and scholars have been debating changes to the public health system since at least the summer. Although many agree on the need for significant reforms, they disagree on what form they should take. Lei's appointment could presage a systemic overhaul. The NHC now has five deputy directors — one more than a staffing plan published by the government in 2018 — fueling speculation that one may have been groomed for a leadership position in an unannounced new agency or a newly empowered existing one. Several public health sources told Caixin that the government could announce structural reforms to the China CDC as early as the end of December, though the final plan is still under discussion. China, where the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 was first detected, has brought its outbreak under control. The Chinese mainland confirmed 16 new cases Sunday, two of which were locally transmitted, according to the NHC. The new infections brought the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the mainland to 86,471. The death toll remained unchanged at 4,634. ^ top ^
China holds state commemoration for Nanjing Massacre victims (People's Daily)
2020-12-14
The people of Nanjing observed a minute of silence, and sirens were heard across the city as China held a memorial ceremony on Sunday to mourn the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre. Despite the winter chill, thousands of people clad in dark attire attended the seventh national memorial ceremony for the massacre victims in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, with white flowers pinned to their chests to convey their condolences. Attendees included massacre survivors, local students, and foreign visitors. At exactly 10:01 a.m., sirens began to blare, and drivers across the city stopped their cars and sounded their horns. Pedestrians paused for a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims. More than 80 teenagers read out a declaration of peace and citizen representatives struck the Bell of Peace. White doves, symbolizing hope for peace, were released to fly over the square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. China's national flag flew at half-mast in the square. In the evening, a total of 2,000 candles were lit at the memorial hall in a candlelight vigil attended by survivors of the massacre, students and medical workers. Also on Sunday, the city kicked off an exhibition on the life of John Rabe, a German businessman who helped protect hundreds of thousands of Chinese during the massacre. Dubbed the "Oskar Schindler of China," John Rabe and dozens of foreigners risked their lives to set up an international safety zone in Nanjing and saved more than 200,000 Chinese people. The exhibition held at the memorial hall displayed more than 70 pictures and over 40 other items centering around Rabe's life and his family's friendship with China, including many photos that were made public for the first time. The exhibition will last until April 2021. In 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which took place when Japanese troops captured the city on Dec. 13, 1937. The Japanese invaders brutally killed about 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers during the six-week massacre, making it one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II. Xia Shuqin, 91, was one of the massacre survivors present at Sunday's memorial ceremony. She was only eight when Nanjing fell to the Japanese invaders. She lost seven of her family members in the mass killing and barely managed to live after suffering multiple knife wounds. Touching the names of her families engraved on a memorial wall on Sunday, she said though it has been more than 80 years, the trauma of losing beloved family members still haunts her. "I'm here today to mourn not only for my family but also for all the lost lives in the massacre," she said. Survivors like Xia are living witnesses of the slaughter, yet the number of registered survivors has decreased to 73 so far this year. In a bid to better spread the history, the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders has been recruiting international volunteers since 2008 to explain the history to foreign visitors and translate the memorial hall's historical materials. In October this year, a total of 73 foreign volunteers from countries including the United States, Iran, and the Republic of Korea, went on duty in the memorial hall. "This place serves as a reminder for the future, a lesson that must never be forgotten, no matter how painful or sad it is to remember," said Jonathan Gragert, one of the volunteers from the United States. "It is the responsibility of every man, woman, and child to remember the horror that happened here so that such an event can never happen again," said Gragert, who teaches at a Nanjing university. Zhang Jianjun, the curator of the memorial hall, said the international volunteers are expected to sow the seeds of peace in the hearts of visitors from around the world and become guardians of peace and harmony. In the visitors' book in the memorial hall, "remember the history" and "cherish peace" are among the most common comments. Staff with the hall said more than 20,000 visitors left comments in the book so far this year, with more than half of them expressing hope for world peace. Chinese people have been honoring the legacy of those who fought for peace alongside the Chinese during the most difficult times in World War II. In Nanjing, the most celebrated of these humanitarian heroes is John Rabe. His former residence in Nanjing, now a museum, receives about 20,000 visits each year. Various exhibitions have also been held across the country to cherish the memory of the late hero. Early this year, when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging in Germany, China donated medical supplies to the German city of Heidelberg, in response to a call from Thomas Rabe, John Rabe's grandson, for China's help in the city's battle against the pandemic. The supplies were sent to Heidelberg after Thomas Rabe told the Chinese embassy that his family and the local hospitals were short of medicine and protective gear. "China will never forget to give friends a helping hand," Thomas Rabe said. ^ top ^
Chinese President Xi Jinping urges party to be alert to national security risks (SCMP)
2020-12-13
Political security will be a top priority in the next five years and the Communist Party must proactively maintain the safety of the Chinese political system, President Xi Jinping urged on Saturday. State media reported that Xi told a meeting of the Politburo, the party's top policymaking body: "We must prevent and resolve national security risks, increase the capability to foresee and predict risks, and try to discover and nip in the bud the hidden risks with potential significant security implications. "The importance of national security is defined by our location in the course of history and the current situation our country is facing." For the first time, the party's latest five-year plan for the economy included a chapter on national security, which said it could be improved through and balanced with socioeconomic development. Xi listed 10 requirements for enhancing national security, including the party's "absolute leadership" in connecting political security, people's safety and the national interest. The significance of national security has been "carved in the bones" of the Communist Party since its establishment, he said. "Conventional and unconventional security risks must be dealt with," he said. "We must make good use of the national security policy tool kit." Xi stressed the Chinese people should be mobilised to defend national security, while the national security system itself must be reformed and modernised using new scientific and technological developments. "We must strengthen talent building for national security personnel," he said. "To forge an unbreakable team of cadres." He also said he wanted more international cooperation. The Chinese leadership is worried that the growing rivalry with the United States will create political volatility inside China and is concerned by Washington's attacks on the party. In July US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used Xi's title of "general secretary" of the party rather than describing him as the Chinese president, and said Chinese citizens should be empowered to change the behaviour of the government – which some in Beijing saw as a threat. In recent months, Beijing has expressed increasing concern about what it describes as "independence forces" in Hong Kong and Taiwan, introducing a controversial national security law in the former British colony. China has also repeatedly accused the United States of meddling in China's internal affairs with its interventions over Xinjiang and Tibet. Last month, domestic security chief Guo Shengkun wrote an article published in a book explaining the five-year plan which said China "must defend against and strike hard on sabotage, subversion and splittism by hostile forces" "Against the backdrop of US-China confrontation, China faces increasing uncertainty and instability in its external environment," wrote Guo, who is also a member of the Politburo. ^ top ^
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| Beijing |
Beijing 2022 on track for green, open games (Xinhua)
2020-12-15
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the launch of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG), and the committee remains on track to host a green, open, and transparent Olympic spectacle. From inspiring a whole generation of winter sports enthusiasts, to building an environmentally friendly and sustainable Games, China is delivering on its bid promises despite challenges and obstacles such as the global COVID-19 pandemic. Beijing's Capital Gymnasium, set to host figure skating events at the 2022 Winter Games, last month witnessed the production of ice using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, marking the first time this process has been used in Olympic history. The breakthrough preceded ice-making at the 2022 Games venues in the Beijing competition zone, four of which will use the new technology that has nearly zero carbon emission and is expected to save more than 40 per cent in energy consumption compared to an ice rink without this system. It is just one of the 119 specific measures, under 12 actions, specified in the Sustainability Plan for Beijing 2022. "Our vision is to achieve sustainability for the future. As part of our green initiative, Beijing 2022 has placed top priority on ecological preservation, conserving resources and environmental friendliness," said Liu Xinping, head of the BOCOG's sustainability project. In Yanqing, one of three competition zones for the 2022 Winter Games, a series of environmental protective measures have been implemented in the construction of the new venues. Experts from Beijing Forestry University conducted an ecological study to ensure an effective transplanting plan in the conservation area in order to protect the indigenous flora during the process. "Some 30,000 trees have been transplanted in the mountains, and the survival rate of the transplanted trees is over 90 per cent," said Liu. In a further move in the quest for sustainability, all Beijing 2022 venues will be powered by green electricity. Zhangjiakou is known for its rich resources in renewable energies, and much of the power consumption in the Chongli district, where all the Zhangjiakou venues are located, will be supplied from renewable energy resources by 2021. COVID-19 curtailed last year's ski season, but with the virus well contained in China, ski slopes in Chongli are busier than ever since resuming operation in October. "All ski resorts are packed with people on weekends. Some hotels have been fully booked until after this upcoming Spring Festival," Liang Lifang, an official at the local tourism bureau, told Xinhua on Monday. "The number of visitors is expected to hit a new high during this snow season." Skiing in China was once seen as foreign and unaffordable, but thanks to the country's growing middle class and budding excitement in the leadup to the 2022 Winter Olympics, an ever-increasing number of people are taking to the slopes. "As China has pledged to get 300 million people involved in winter sports, hopefully more and more people will love skiing and skating," said Liang. Today the resorts in Chongli district are filled with both young, and first-time skiers, but the mountain was once home to a tiny farming village. In 2015, 16.8 percent of the 100,000 residents in this town were classed as living below China's national poverty line, with most locals leaving to work in Beijing and other major cities. Yu Lei, a local ski trainer, said the transformation sparked by China's successful Olympic bid, have been dramatic. "Before, Chongli was a small poverty-stricken county," Yu said. "But now I earn more than I used to working in Beijing. Like me, a lot of the people who had left to work in Beijing have returned." In May last year, Chongli was officially lifted out of poverty. Nearly 30,000 of its 126,000 population are employed by ski resorts or related companies and organizations. "The Games represent a formidable asset to accelerate some long-term developments. This is what has been done for Beijing 2022, and we've learned a lot," said Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi. While China has considerable experience of and expertise in infrastructure construction, the country had little prior knowledge of organizing major winter sport events. Before preparations for Beijing 2022 began, China had no Olympic-standard alpine ski pistes, let alone bobsleigh, skeleton, or luge tracks. "The lack of expertise in winter venue operation and technical support has been a challenge," said Tong Lixin, director of the sports department of BOCOG. To combat this lack of experience, China has brought overseas experts on board in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics, just as it did for the 2008 Summer Games. "More than 30 foreign experts from Russia, Finland and other countries have been hired and currently work at 10 departments of the organizing committee," said Yan Cheng, head of BOCOG's human resources department. Laszlo Vajda from Hungary was involved in Beijing's bid for the 2022 Games and currently works at the village planning and operation department. Vajda said he is very happy to contribute to the 2022 Games. "The Olympic Games is a universal celebration. We are one community with a shared future," he said. It clearly resonates, as more than 960,000 volunteer applications from 168 countries and regions have been received, according to the BOCOG. "It represents the common aspiration worldwide for a successful Beijing 2022," said Teng Shengping, director of the BOCOG's volunteer department. Close ties have also been fostered between BOCOG and the organizing committees of PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020, with cooperation in areas such as personnel training, promotions and sustainability. Cost control is an economic precondition for Olympic success. While an audit department was set up from the outset to supervise fundraising, procurements and expenditure in the leadup to the 2022 Games, the organizers are working hard to avoid cost overruns. "Saving cost is an important manifestation of hosting a corruption-free Olympic Games," said Han Zirong, vice-president and secretary-general of Beijing 2022. "We will strive to host an excellent Winter Games in a frugal manner." According to Han, the BOCOG has formulated a plan for streamlining the Games and will learn from Tokyo 2020's practices before drafting a more detailed plan. In fact, it's already a reality. One of Beijing 2022's greatest initiatives is the urban regeneration of the Shougang district, formerly an industrial complex which was relocated out of the city after Beijing 2008. Cooling towers have been transformed into Olympic venues, blast furnaces into training centers, and an iron ore storage tower has even become home to the Organizing Committee. Beijing will also re-use eight venues from the 2008 Olympics for the 2022 Winter Games. Among these, the "Water Cube" will host the curling events, and the National Indoor Stadium will host ice hockey events. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will once again take place at the Bird's Nest. IOC President Thomas Bach has lavished praise on the Beijing 2022 strategies on several occasions. "Beijing is making the best out of this because the organizing committee there is using the great legacy of Beijing 2008 for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022," he said. Another key move to lessen the cost will see the Main Press Center and International Broadcasting Center merged into one entity - the Main Media Center (MMC). "In the past, it (MMC) was more like two separate areas in one building," said Xu Jicheng, head of the BOCOG media operations department. "However, this time, Beijing 2022 will fully integrate the two to redefine the concept. The IOC hopes to take this chance to promote this practice to future Olympic Winter Games or even Olympic Games." ^ top ^
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| Guangdong |
Shenzhen govt jobs reserved for residents of HK, Macao (China Daily)
2020-12-16
Shenzhen held its civil servant enrollment examination over the weekend to fill 1,069 jobs in more than 900 types of government posts, and for the first time, five of those jobs were reserved for residents of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The reserved jobs include one in each of the following areas: administrative management, financial supervision, urban planning, foreign personnel management and medical security. Hong Kong and Macao residents who graduated from college with a bachelor's degree or above were able to apply. The jobs are related to the city forming part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the city's role as a demonstration pilot zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics. A total of 446 qualified applicants from Hong Kong and Macao took part in the competitive exam. "We did not expect the five posts to attract so many applicants. About 90 people are competing for one position on average," said Guo Xusheng, an official overseeing examinations for Shenzhen's organization department. There are more Hong Kong people than Macao people among the 446 applicants. The most popular post is an opening in the Fubao subdistrict office in Futian, a district that borders Hong Kong, which attracted 244 candidates. "The position in Futian is so popular because it is convenient for Hong Kong people to commute," Guo said. Two other posts are in districts that border Hong Kong－in Luohu and Nanshan. One of those jobs is in the municipal financial supervision and administration bureau and the other is in the human resources and social security bureau. The trial plan is to encourage young talent from Hong Kong and Macao to participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Tao Yitao, director of the China Special Economic Zone Research Center at Shenzhen University, said that as a demonstration pilot zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Shenzhen has begun to move from more open policies to more open systems. To win the job contracts in January, candidates need to stand out in a written test, qualification review, physical test and a face-to-face interview. "Their salary will be set according to their post and the salary system, which will be the same with their counterparts on the mainland," Guo said. ^ top ^
First nationwide skills competition nurtures talent (China Daily)
2020-12-15
China's first nationwide vocational skills competition has underscored the country's determination to nurture more skilled workers for the next phase of high-quality development. The competition, which wrapped up on Sunday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, was the largest skills contest since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. It was also a testing field for the WorldSkills competition in Shanghai in 2022, with winners to join a training program for the international competition. Thirty-six teams and a total of 2,557 competitors contested 86 events during the three-day competition. Guangdong topped the gold medal count with 32, followed by Jiangsu province with 12. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said 1,350 competitors won prizes, with teams from provincial-level regions in eastern China such as Jiangsu and Shanghai edging out those from western and central areas. "The qualities of the competitors have a strong connection with their area's economy and skills education, but thankfully we've seen great improvement in their skills," Zhang Lixin, director of the ministry's department of vocational capacity building, told a news conference in Guangzhou on Monday. "We are also pleased that the delegation from the Tibet autonomous region made a breakthrough, winning a bronze medal at the competition. "The competition helped improve the workers' or vocational students' skills, which lays a solid foundation for nurturing a high-quality group of skilled talent for the nation." Zhang said winning medals was not the only reward for competitors. "The top five competitors for each event will be awarded 'national skills master' titles," he said. "Also, the top 10 in individual events and top five in synchronized events will be invited to join the nation's training campaign preparing for the 46th WorldSkills competition scheduled to be held in Shanghai." Skills education has long been an important focus for the government, with labor market demand for high-quality skilled workers rising in the past few years. The State Council released a three-year plan in May last year, instructing governments at all levels to emphasize the enhancement of workers' skills. It plans to have more than 50 million people attend diversified skills training courses from 2019 to 2021 with a view to having high-quality skilled workers account for more than 30 percent of the work force by the end of 2021. Ou Jinlin, a 22-year-old from Sichuan province who won a silver medal in the robot system integration event, said joining the competition made him more determined to become a highly skilled worker. "The medal is a recognition of my efforts, which makes me more clear about my future work," he said. "We young people have great policy support from the government, so why not choose the path of being a skilled worker, especially as it's what I really love." ^ top ^
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| Tibet |
Poverty alleviation through healthcare bears fruit in Tibet, Xinjiang (People's Daily)
2020-12-15
Assistance by professionals from tertiary hospitals across China has helped health institutions in the country's remote regions of Tibet and Xinjiang improve their service capacity and management, contributing to poverty alleviation and improvement in the health of locals, a government official said Tuesday.In each of the last five years, around 900 experts from tertiary hospitals were involved in the campaign to support hospitals in Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, said Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission. Addressing a press conference on the health sector's assistance in poverty alleviation efforts during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), Mi said health institutions that had received support included hospitals based in 106 impoverished counties.China has a three-tier system to grade hospitals, with tertiary hospitals -- which have the largest number of beds and provide comprehensive medical services -- at the top of the list. ^ top ^
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| Xinjiang |
ICC rejects Uygur calls to investigate China for genocide (SCMP)
2020-12-15
International Criminal Court prosecutors have rejected calls by exiled Uygurs to investigate China for alleged genocide and crimes against humanity, the chief prosecutor's office said in a report on Monday. The Uygurs handed a huge dossier of evidence to the court in July accusing China of locking more than 1 million Uygurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in re-education camps and of forcibly sterilising women. But the office of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said it was unable to act because the alleged acts happened on the territory of China, which is not a signatory to The Hague-based ICC. In its annual report, Bensouda's office said "this precondition for the exercise of the court's territorial jurisdiction did not appear to be met with respect to the majority of the crimes alleged". There was also "no basis to proceed at this time" on separate claims of forced deportations of Uygurs back to China from Tajikistan and Cambodia, the ICC report said. The Uygurs had argued that even though the alleged deportations did not happen on Chinese soil, the ICC could act because they happened on Tajik and Cambodian territory, and both of them are ICC members. Lawyers for the Uygurs had now asked the court to reconsider "on the basis of new facts or evidence", the ICC prosecutor's report said. China has called the accusations baseless and says the facilities in the northwestern Xinjiang region are job training centres aimed at steering people away from terrorism. The ICC has no obligation to consider complaints filed to the prosecutor, who can decide independently what cases to submit to judges at the court, set up in 2002 to achieve justice for the world's worst crimes. ^ top ^
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| Hongkong |
Chinese authorities officially prosecute ten of the 12 Hong Kong fugitives (HKFP)
2020-12-17
Chinese authorities have officially prosecuted ten of the 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who have been detained in mainland for over three months. The Shenzhen Yantian District People's Procuratorate announced on Wednesday that Tang Kai-yin and Kiu Ying-yu will face trial for allegedly organising others to cross the border illegally. The eight others – Cheng Tsz-ho, Yim Man-him, Cheung Ming-yu, Cheung Chun-fu, Wong Wai-yin, Li Tsz-yin, Andy Li Yu-hin and Kwok Tsz-lun were prosecuted for crossing the border illegally. The authorities said a non-open trial hearing will be held in due course for two suspects in the case who are under the age of 18. The group was captured by Chinese coastguards on August 23 while trying to flee to Taiwan on a speedboat. Most of them were facing criminal charges in Hong Kong for offences linked to last year's anti-extradition bill protests. Andy Li was was arrested on August 10 on suspicion of breaching the Beijing-imposed national security law by colluding with foreign forces. The sweeping legislation also outlaws secession, subversion and terrorist acts. Family members have urged the Chinese authorities to grant them access to the 12 detainees. They also called on the Hong Kong government to bring back the group, but local officials said they would not interfere with law enforcement operations in another jurisdiction. Last Saturday, some family members claimed they received a letter from one detainee asking them to go to a Hong Kong court and admit to their alleged crimes on their behalf. Some also claimed the Hongkongers in custody did not receive any letters from their families, while another family said they were informed by the Bank of China that their detained family member's account to be cancelled owing to "commercial executive reasons." ^ top ^
Changes to Hong Kong immigration law could re-victimise those fleeing torture and persecution, human rights advocates say (SCMP)
2020-12-16
Local human rights advocates and lawyers are warning against a proposed immigration law they say could result in victims of persecution and torture abroad being denied access to interpreters and – in extreme cases – placed under indefinite detention in Hong Kong. The Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2020, expected to undergo its first and second debate at the Legislative Council on Wednesday, will also grant officers new powers to carry guns and steel batons at a detention centre for immigrants in Tuen Mun. Under the new law, alleged torture victims seeking non-refoulement – Hong Kong's form of quasi-asylum – in the city risk throwing their cases away if they refuse to take part in medical examinations demanded by authorities, as officers would be allowed to disregard any outside medical reports supporting their claims. "This is a very unfair thing," human rights lawyer Patricia Ho Pui-chi said, warning the arrangements could give rise to legal challenges, which would only be more costly and time-consuming for the administration. The new bill is part of the government's ongoing effort to rein in purported abuse of the city's non-refoulement claims system. Under international human rights law, non-refoulement is the principle of not sending someone to a place where they may be persecuted. Hong Kong does not treat people fleeing their home countries as "asylum seekers " or "refugees", but rather as illegal immigrants, as the city is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. However, those arriving on its shores can nonetheless file a non-refoulement claim, after which they will be assessed by a screening mechanism to decide if they should be repatriated or allowed to remain, pending formal refugee claims handled by the UN. But pro-establishment lawmakers have accused some individuals of gaming the system to extend their stay in the city, sapping executive and judicial resources and threatening residents' safety. The Post has contacted the Security Bureau, which is behind the legislation, for comments. A backlog of thousands of unresolved non-refoulement claims has been piling up for years, leaving some applicants stranded in Hong Kong. Following an earlier comprehensive review of the system to speed up processes, the Immigration Department managed to clear 17,618 claims by April this year. Ho, the human rights lawyer, took biggest issue with the department's request to enhance its detention power. The department wanted a clear term under the law that would allow it to detain a rejected claimant awaiting deportation who could not get a passport from his or her country of origin. Ho feared such cases could fall into limbo. "I have clients who have spent a few years in detention because their government did not issue them a passport … because they just don't want them back," she said. Rachel Li, co-convener of the Advocacy Working Group and Refugee Concern Network, voiced concern about a provision under the new bill that would strip claimants of their right to an interpreter who spoke their mother tongue. Authorities have argued that the need to provide an interpreter when claimants could reasonably speak English gave rise to delays. But Li said that while some claimants might know how to conduct basic conversations in English, it was a different matter entirely when they had to attend legal proceedings in a language with which they were not intimately familiar. As for the new provisions granting immigration officers guns and batons, she pointed out that there was no effective complaint system for those who stayed at Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre, a detention facility. "Arming immigration officers only increases the risks of abuse and mistreatment," she said. Ho acknowledged authorities' desire to expedite the claims processes, but said respecting claimants' rights and streamlining the system were not mutually exclusive. "I suggest that they look for ways to do this by improving the administration of the cases through updated technology and an increase of manpower, rather than proposing legislative change which exploits the basic rights of an already vulnerable population," she said. But pro-establishment lawmaker Elizabeth Quat, who has been campaigning for a tougher stance, said the issue had to be considered in a wider context, and that the system had been abused for years, resulting in a waste of resources. She also accused non-refoulement claimants of contributing to the city's street crime. "Affording human rights to them? What about the human rights of the general public of Hong Kong?" she asked. Referring to the need for interpreters, Sina*, a non-refoulement claimant, said she would not have known how to express that she was raped, an emotional experience, in a language she was not familiar with. She also took issue with the accusation that claimants were taking advantage of the system to remain in Hong Kong indefinitely. Stuck in the city for seven years since fleeing her home country in East Africa, the 28-year-old mother of three was only granted her non-refoulement claim in Hong Kong and her refugee status by the UN in the past year or so. "Nobody wants to stay in Hong Kong … We are not enjoying life in Hong Kong because we are stuck," she said. "We want to settle somewhere else." ^ top ^
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| Taiwan |
Forum calls for cross-Strait peace, stability for integrated development (People's Daily)
2020-12-14
Scholars and experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait on Sunday called for efforts to overcome disruptions caused by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority to safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability and deepen integrated development. The seventh cross-Strait think tank academic forum, held in Beijing on Sunday via video link, attracted more than 60 scholars and experts from across the Strait who shared views on the cross-Strait integrated development, management and control of crises in the Taiwan Strait, exchanges between youths and other topics on cross-Strait relations. Despite the deliberate disruptions by the DPP authority in Taiwan and foreign forces, the cross-Strait relations have still seen progress this year, said Gao Xiang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in his address to the forum. Gao called on scholars and experts to be torchbearers in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and to jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the reunification of the motherland. Liu Junchuan, deputy head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said it's in the common interests of compatriots from both sides of the Strait to safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability. It's imperative to adhere to the 1992 Consensus and oppose words and acts seeking "Taiwan independence," added Liu. Kao Yu-jen, chairman of the 21st Century Foundation, a think-tank in Taiwan, said the DPP authority has increased the tensions across the Strait and it's a big question for scholars and experts to study on how to safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability and deepen integrated development. ^ top ^
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| Economy |
What's In Store for China's Economy in 2021 (Caixin)
2020-12-17
After a rollercoaster 2020 that saw the Chinese economy shrink for the first time in decades as the Covid-19 pandemic struck, analysts with overseas investment banks are bullish on the country's prospects for 2021. Most expect a vigorous rebound in economic growth, driven by a continued recovery in domestic consumption, stronger global demand that will boost exports, and a ratcheting down of tensions with the U.S. after Joe Biden takes over as president. They also see the government rolling back some of the easing policies implemented in 2020 to cushion the economy from the impact of the coronavirus, lowering the size of the fiscal deficit as a proportion of GDP, and tightening monetary policy, although the majority of economists say there's unlikely to be a hike in interest rates. "Beijing will continue to tighten on the margin in the coming months as China is on track to a double-digit yoy (year-on-year) growth" in the first quarter, Larry Hu, head of Greater China economics at Macquarie Capital Ltd., wrote in a Dec. 11 report. "Stimulus exit could happen in four areas: credit, liquidity, fiscal and property." China will build on the improvement seen in the second half of 2020 as the country shakes off the brutal impact of the coronavirus. GDP dropped 6.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, the first quarterly contraction since the data series began in 1992. Set against that weak comparison, the January-March period in 2021 will see a surge in growth, with estimates ranging from 15% to 18%, according to forecasts in analysts' reports seen by Caixin. The pace of expansion will then slow as year-earlier comparisons improve, moderating in the second half of the year, with estimates for full-year GDP growth ranging from 8% to 10%. That compares with a consensus forecast of 2% for full year 2020, which would be the weakest official readout since 1976. Helen Qiao, chief Greater China economist at Bank of America Corp., is at the top end of the range of forecasts for first-quarter GDP growth, estimating a jump of 18% year-on-year. She expects the pace to gradually slow to around 6.6% in the second quarter and between 5.5% to 6% in the last two quarters of the year. Domestic consumption and exports will be the main pillars supporting growth in 2021, economists say. Bank of America sees consumption expanding 9.1% in 2021, while Citigroup Inc. sees retail sales surging 16.5%, the most in a decade. "The launch of Covid-19 vaccines, the recovery of the labor market and income growth, and the implementation of policies supporting various sectors will help promote consumption," Liu Li-Gang, chief China economist at Citigroup, told Caixin. "Consumption will be China's main growth engine in 2021." China's exports will increase by 11% to 12% next year as global growth recovers from the pandemic-induced recession, with demand for non-Covid-related products recovering to offset possible declines in exports of medical supplies, according to Wang Tao, chief China economist at UBS Investment Bank. China's exports in the first 11 months of the year rose by 3.7%, recovering from a 13.3% decline in the first quarter. Most economists with foreign banks expect China to gradually tighten monetary and fiscal policy as the economy recovers which will include weaker credit expansion and a decline in the fiscal deficit as a proportion of GDP. "China's growth is reaching its potential level of 5-6%, and conditions appear ripe for policy normalization," Standard Chartered Bank economists led by Ding Shuang, wrote in a Dec. 8 report. "We expect China to embark on fiscal consolidation after implementing a highly expansionary fiscal policy in 2020 … Deleveraging, or stabilizing the macro leverage ratio, is back on the policy agenda after this year's credit surge." The challenge is how to taper post-pandemic stimulus without disrupting economic normalization amid "policy exit mode," they wrote. The budget deficit is likely to be lowered to slightly below 3% of GDP in 2021 from a target of 3.6% in 2020, Ding, chief Greater China economist at Standard Chartered Bank, said in a Tuesday conference call. Growth in total social financing, China's broadest measure of liquidity and credit, will shrink to the pre-pandemic level of 10% to 11%, down from 13.6% as of November, he said. While the majority of economists say they don't expect the People's Bank of China (PBOC) to raise interest rates in 2021, London-based research firm Capital Economics Ltd. is among the minority forecasting an increase. "[W]e think the PBOC will start to hike the rates on its lending facilities," economists Mark Williams and Julian Evans-Pritchard wrote in a Dec. 4 report. "Some argue that low consumer price inflation will keep the PBOC from tightening policy. But the PBOC has already allowed market interbank rates to more than reverse their decline earlier in the year. So modest policy rate hikes would largely just be formalizing a shift in monetary conditions that has already happened." Wang from UBS also sees the possibility of the central bank increasing rates on repurchase agreements and loans to banks through the medium-term lending facility by five basis points in the second half of the year. Economists see more positives in China's relations with the U.S. in 2021. The economy has been under pressure over the past four years from the trade war started by U.S. President Donald Trump after he took office in January 2017. With Democrat Joe Biden set to become the next president in January 2021, most analysts expect some easing of tensions as relations with Beijing are dealt with in a more conventional and predictable manner. Even so, most say the overall stance of the new administration toward China is likely to remain tough. ^ top ^
China's Latest Economic Buzzword: 'Demand-Side Reform' (Caixin)
2020-12-15
Supply-side structural reform has been a top policy objective for China since it was first introduced by President Xi Jinping in late 2015, but a new buzzword has now entered the country's economic lexicon — "demand-side reform" (需求侧改革). The phrase made its public debut on Friday at the latest meeting of China's Politburo, the ruling Communist Party's top decision-making body chaired by the president, where leaders discussed economic policy priorities ahead of the annual Central Economic Work Conference expected to take place later this month. "(We) should stick to supply-side structural reform while at the same time paying attention to demand-side reform to eliminate blockages, address shortcomings and link production, distribution, circulation and consumption to create a higher-level dynamic equilibrium in which demand drives supply and supply creates demand, improving the overall effectiveness of the national economic system," the Politburo agreed, according to the official readout of the meeting issued by the Xinhua news agency. Vice Premier Liu He alluded to the new focus in an article published late November in the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party. He said that the major pain point in China's economy still lies on the supply side, as supply-side factors have not been able to adapt to changes in demand. But while he called for a more "innovation-driven, high-quality supply" that could drive demand, Liu said the country should also attach great importance to "demand side management" and stick to the basic strategy of expanding domestic demand. The greater focus on demand-side reform comes amid concern that the recovery of domestic consumption has lagged behind the rebound in exports and investment, the two other forces that drive GDP growth, after the Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control in China in the first quarter of the year. Government data show that in the first 11 months, retail sales declined by 4.8% and although growth turned positive in nominal terms in August and rose 5% in November from a year earlier, the recovery has lagged the performance of exports. Demand-side economics posits that the economy is driven by demand for goods and services and by the purchasing power of consumers, whereas supply-side economics states that it is the production of goods or services that is of primary importance. The Xinhua report didn't mention any specific initiatives or strategies leaders are considering to push forward demand-side reform, but the government has already been pursuing policies that are considered to be part of demand-side economics because they stimulate demand. They include tax cuts to increase disposable income, higher government spending, and boosting investment, which also generates demand. Some clues came out of the Fifth Plenum of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party, which took place in October and mapped out goals for the Five-Year Plan that will run from 2021 to 2025. The meeting proposed improving income redistribution through taxation, social security and transfer payments. It called for strengthening the role of taxation in redistributing income and gradually increasing the proportion of direct taxation, reasonably adjusting the distribution relationship between urban and rural areas, regions and groups, and developing charity and other public welfare programs. The key to promoting consumption and boosting overall demand is to improve income distribution and put more money in the hands of low-and middle-income groups, analysts said. High-end consumption and sales of luxury goods such as cars and homes have increased significantly and the domestic consumption of luxury goods is expected to reach over 40% of the world in 2020, according to Li Xunlei, chief economist at Zhongtai Securities Co. Ltd. But the problem is with consumption among low-income households and the middle class, who make up the vast majority of the population. In addition to increasing incomes, expanding domestic demand will also involve narrowing the income gap, so that low- and middle-income groups dare to consume, Li said. "The reform of the income distribution system should be the focus of policy in 2021." The core of demand-side reform is to improve people's consumption ability, which is related to income expectations, demographics and the social security system, Qu Qing, chief economist at Jianghai Securities Co. Ltd., wrote in a note on Sunday. It's relatively easy to regulate enterprises from the supply side, but persuading consumers to spend money is more difficult, Qu wrote. He cautioned that unleashing demand and creating an environment to promote consumption cannot happen overnight. The focus of expanding domestic demand needs to shift from investment to consumption, Zhao Wei, chief economist at Kaiyuan Securities Co. Ltd., wrote in a report on Sunday. Continuing to increase investment funded by debt is no longer sustainable, in view of the decline in the efficiency of investment that is now apparent, he said. But other economists say that the role of investment, a key driver of demand in China, cannot be ignored. Rather, the focus needs to shift to spending on the "new economy," a reference to technology- and innovation-driven high-growth industries, rather than traditional infrastructure investment and sunset industries such as steel that are suffering from declining returns on investment and are of less benefit to society. Demand-side reform will drive the authorities to pour more money into new economy sectors such as 5G, Big Data, the Internet of Things and new energy, economists Guotai Junan Securities Co. Ltd. wrote in a Monday note. Continuing to pour money blindly into inefficient infrastructure and other investment projects with lower returns will have little effect on boosting economic growth but will further burden local governments with heavy debts and will lead to bigger financial risks, Li Qilin, chief economist of Hongta Securities Co. Ltd., wrote on Saturday. ^ top ^
China's digital currency no threat to global monetary systems, former central bank chief says (SCMP)
2020-12-14
China's new sovereign digital currency could be a boon for cross-border trade while also supporting Beijing's efforts to promote the yuan as an international currency, the former head of the country's central bank said on Sunday. Speaking at the Shanghai Financial Forum, Zhou Xiaochuan, who stepped down as governor of the People's Bank of China in 2018, said that one of the major benefits of using a digital system is that it allowed both payments and currency conversions to happen in real time. "If the currency exchange is realised at the moment of a retail transaction, and there is oversight of that exchange … it brings new possibilities for interconnection," he said. A leading advocate for China's sovereign digital currency plan, Zhou said it was important to note that the Digital Currency Electronic Payment – as it is formally known – was not intended as a replacement for globally accepted fiat currencies like the US dollar and the euro. "If you are willing to use it, the yuan can be used for trade and investment," he said. "But we are not like Libra and we don't have an ambition to replace existing currencies." He was referring to the blockchain-based payment system and cryptocurrency proposed and backed by social media company Facebook. Announced last year, and originally known as Libra, it changed its name to Diem at the beginning of this month. Rather than challenging foreign exchange regulatory frameworks and monetary systems, Beijing wanted to persuade consumers and overseas merchants to gradually accept digital yuan payments, Zhou said. China had learned a lesson from the reaction to the Libra/Diem system – policymakers around the world feared it would disrupt financial systems and erode monetary sovereignty – and was therefore taking a more cautious approach, he said. "Some countries are worried about the internationalisation of yuan," he said. "We can't push them on sensitive issues and we can't impose our will. We must avoid the perception of great power chauvinism." This was the first time Zhou had spoken so openly about China's ambitions for its sovereign digital currency, and he seemed confident in its ability to carve a position alongside established payment systems. Most retail cross-border payments involving Chinese consumers or vendors are already cashless – settled via credit cards or payment services like Alipay and WeChat Pay – but a digital yuan offered additional benefits, Zhou said. While foreign credit cards and China UnionPay debit cards could manage foreign exchange transactions, they were "often not real time or transparent", he said. But with a digital yuan, "the problem of cross-border remittances is easily resolved". ^ top ^
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| DPRK |
DPRK leader visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun on national Memorial Day (Xinhua)
2020-12-17
Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commemorated the anniversary of his father Kim Jong Il's death by visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Thursday, reported the official Korean Central News Agency. The report said Kim Jong Un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of "the greatest national memorial day," on which his father Kim Jong Il died nine years ago. A floral basket in the name of Kim Jong Un was laid before the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, it said, and Kim Jong Un, together with other visitors, paid high tribute to the statues. In the hall where Kim Jong Il lies in state, Kim Jong Un made a deep bow in deep reverence for his father "who dedicated his whole life to the country and people," the report said. ^ top ^
KIM JONG IL: "Let us reunify the country independently and peacefully through the great unity of the entire nation" (Montsame)
2020-12-17
It is not two different nations that stand in confrontation in the north and south of Korea, but it is one nation on the same land that is divided artificially by foreign forces. The Korean nation is a homogeneous nation that has inherited the same blood and lived in same territory speaking the same language for thousands of years. All the Koreans in the north, south and abroad belong to the same nation with the blood and soul of the Korean nation and are linked inseparably with the same national interests and the common national psychology and sentiments. No force can ever split into two forever the single Korean nation that has been formed and developed through a long history, nor can it obliterate our nation and our national traits. The present division of our nation into north and south is a temporary misfortune and a tragedy in the context of 5,000 years of its history. The reunion of our nation that has been divided by foreign forces is an inevitable trend of our nation's history and the law of national development. Great national unity must be based thoroughly on the principle of national independence. National independence is the lifeblood of a nation; safeguarding independence is a fundamental guarantee for a nation's existence and development. Only when we adhere to the principle of national independence can we defend the national rights and interests, shape the nation's destiny independently in keeping with the will and demand of our nation, and fully exercise our sovereignty on the international arena and develop the relations with foreign countries on the principles of complete equality and mutual benefit. National independence is the source of national dignity and honor, pride and self-confidence, as well as the indomitable will and spirit of the nation. If a nation loses its independence and fails to get rid of domination and subjugation by foreign forces, it will be unable to avoid humiliation and insult and being a ruined nation with its rights and interests, its traits and dignity downtrodden. The entire nation must unite under the banner of patriotism, the banner of national reunification. Loving one's country and nation and cherishing one's national traits are the common psychology and sentiment of the members of the nation. Ours is a nation with strong national character, cherishing ardent love for the country and fellow countrymen and treasuring and inheriting the national soul. Our nation's patriotic spirit and inherent traits form a strong ideological and spiritual basis of the great unity of the whole nation. Moreover, to our nation that has suffered all types of misfortune and pains caused by national division, national reunification is a supreme national demand, and the banner of national reunification is the banner of common national struggle, the banner of great unity of the whole nation. The entire nation must achieve great unity for the great common cause of the nation, on the basis of the inherent traits of the Korean nation. The north and south must improve their relations in order to achieve the great unity of our nation. When different ideologies and systems exist in the north and the south, denial of the other side's ideology and system will make it impossible to avoid confrontation. The north and the south, on the basis of recognizing the existence of the different ideologies and systems, must achieve harmony, promote co-existence, co-prosperity and common interests and open the way to national reunification. For the great unity of our nation, we must reject domination and interference of the foreign forces and fight against the traitors to the nation, the anti-reunification forces, who are in collusion with the foreign forces. Domination and interference of the foreign forces is the major obstacle to the unity of our nation and the reunification of the country. Our nation has been divided into north and south by the foreign forces, and the country and nation have not yet been reunified because of their domination and interference. For the great unity of the nation all the Koreans in the north, south and abroad must visit one another, hold contacts, promote dialogue and strengthen solidarity. Promoting wide-ranging visits, contacts, dialogues and solidarity among our compatriots is an important way to achieve the great unity of the nation. Even though there is difference in ideologies, ideals, political views and religious beliefs within our nation, the fellow countrymen can build up mutual understanding and trust and pool their will and efforts for the common objective of the nation if they all freely travel, hold contacts and dialogues and strengthen solidarity. ^ top ^
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| Mongolia |
Brand Council founded in Uvs aimag (Montsame)
2020-12-17
Authorities of Uvs aimag established a Brand Council headed by Governor of the aimag and started its operation. With foundation of the council, they will seek opportunities to increase investment, develop SMEs, create jobs, nurture startup businesses, support products with local feature as national brand as well as to promote them at the global market and enter into new markets. According to a provincial competitiveness survey, Uvs aimag was ranked at 9th with its performance last year. For the aimag, significant change has not been made in its competitiveness indicators in the past four years. Therefore, the newly established Brand Council will work towards changing the situation and attaching special attention on improving aimag's economy, eliminating bureaucracy in business environment and attracting investment. ^ top ^
Ambassador to Russia pays call on Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia (Montsame)
2020-12-17
On December 15, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Vladimirovich Morgulov received Ambassador Extraordinary of Mongolia to Russia D.Davaa to discuss cooperation between the two countries. They underlined that the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Mongolia and the Russian Federation has taken into effect this year and expressed pleasure with the progress in the Russia-China pipeline project, while noting that Mongolian Foreign Minister successfully visited Russia and the countries have taken active efforts to expand their trade and economic cooperation amid the global pandemic. Moreover, the parties agreed to organize reciprocal high-level visits and numerous other joint events on the occasion of the 100thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries that falls in 2021 and put emphasis on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership. ^ top ^
China remains Mongolia's biggest trading partner (Xinhua)
2020-12-15
China remained Mongolia's top export destination in the first 11 months of 2020, taking up 72.3 percent of Mongolia's total exports, the Mongolian National Statistics Office (NSO) said Monday. China also remained the country's top import supplier over the January-November period, accounting for 36.8 percent of Mongolia's total imports, the NSO said in a statement. The world's second largest economy maintained its position as Mongolia's biggest trading partner during the period and took up 57.6 percent of Mongolia's total foreign trade, according to the office. Mongolia traded with a total of nearly 150 economies around the world in the January-November period, during which the country's foreign trade volume reached 11.7 billion U.S. dollars. ^ top ^
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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
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