The Fifth China Forum on Civic Virtues was concluded here on Sunday with an agreement reached by the participants to promote the anti-earthquake spirit as a major task for developing civic virtues.
To promote and popularize the great spirit showed by the Chinese people in dealing with the catastrophic May 12 Earthquake is a major task for developing civic virtues and will be significant for China to agglomerate nation's strength and overcome difficulties, according to the participants.
The two-day forum, held in this provincial capital of Sichuan Province, ended up with a manifesto demanding the whole people to promote and popularize the great anti-earthquake spirit while studying a speech made by President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Hu Jintao at the recent national ceremony to award people for their heroic behaviors in fighting the disaster.
The great anti-earthquake spirit is a very valuable spiritual treasure for the Party and the people and has added a new gem to the spiritual home of the nation, according to the forum.
Over 200 people including some officials from central and local publicity departments and anti-earthquake heroes attended the forum.
On May 12, a 8-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan and some of its neighboring provinces, leaving over 80,000 deaths, over 370,000 injured, millions of people homeless.
Over 100,000 service people and hundreds of thousands of civilian volunteers participated in earthquake relief over the past months.
Source: Xinhua
Monday, October 20, 2008
First navy ship from Africa creates waves
The first warship from Africa to visit China has impressed many a Chinese.
South Africa's Spioenkop, one of the most modern warships in the world, reached Shanghai on Thursday, and will leave today morning to continue its journey to Asia.
"African naval forces have developed fast in the past few years, and the Spioenkop represents their highest level. I've read about the frigate in military magazines several times, and longed to see it in reality," Feng Liang, a 25-year-old military fan said yesterday, when the ship was open to the public.
A navy officer managing the "open day" said about 3,000 people visited the ship yesterday, much more than the usual number that visits foreign warships.
"I think the modern infra-red stealth design is the key attraction," he said. "Besides, its attraction as the first African warship to visit China also drew the public," he said.
But what impressed naval soldier Li Yi the most was the South African crew's culture. "The two navies played a football match on Saturday. While the Chinese players waited quietly, the South African team entered the field, singing and dancing. It's so different the tropical culture its festive style attracts us very much."
For the South African guests, the four-day visit has been an unforgettable experience, too. Dineo Maleka, a post communications clerk, said she loved the location where the ship was anchored - in the most prosperous part of Huangpu River against the North Bund, full of beautiful old buildings. Across the river is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the symbol of modern Shanghai.
"I appreciate the Chinese government's considerate arrangement. It's lovely to see the modern part of Shanghai, and at the same time feel its history," she said.
Christopher Manig, captain of the Spioenkop, surveyed the Chinese frigate he visited along with the crew very minutely. "I was impressed that the ship was built in China, and that most of the system equipment on board were also made in China. The Chinese people must be proud of it," he said. The Spioenkop was built in Germany.
Yao Yunzhu, a senior expert in foreign military studies with the Academy of Military Sciences, said Spioenkop's is doubly important - ending 600 years of one-way visits between China and Africa and taking a tangible step in military communication.
The Spioenkop stopped in Singapore before visiting Shanghai. And from China, it will visit Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Mauritius.
Source: China Daily
South Africa's Spioenkop, one of the most modern warships in the world, reached Shanghai on Thursday, and will leave today morning to continue its journey to Asia.
"African naval forces have developed fast in the past few years, and the Spioenkop represents their highest level. I've read about the frigate in military magazines several times, and longed to see it in reality," Feng Liang, a 25-year-old military fan said yesterday, when the ship was open to the public.
A navy officer managing the "open day" said about 3,000 people visited the ship yesterday, much more than the usual number that visits foreign warships.
"I think the modern infra-red stealth design is the key attraction," he said. "Besides, its attraction as the first African warship to visit China also drew the public," he said.
But what impressed naval soldier Li Yi the most was the South African crew's culture. "The two navies played a football match on Saturday. While the Chinese players waited quietly, the South African team entered the field, singing and dancing. It's so different the tropical culture its festive style attracts us very much."
For the South African guests, the four-day visit has been an unforgettable experience, too. Dineo Maleka, a post communications clerk, said she loved the location where the ship was anchored - in the most prosperous part of Huangpu River against the North Bund, full of beautiful old buildings. Across the river is the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the symbol of modern Shanghai.
"I appreciate the Chinese government's considerate arrangement. It's lovely to see the modern part of Shanghai, and at the same time feel its history," she said.
Christopher Manig, captain of the Spioenkop, surveyed the Chinese frigate he visited along with the crew very minutely. "I was impressed that the ship was built in China, and that most of the system equipment on board were also made in China. The Chinese people must be proud of it," he said. The Spioenkop was built in Germany.
Yao Yunzhu, a senior expert in foreign military studies with the Academy of Military Sciences, said Spioenkop's is doubly important - ending 600 years of one-way visits between China and Africa and taking a tangible step in military communication.
The Spioenkop stopped in Singapore before visiting Shanghai. And from China, it will visit Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Mauritius.
Source: China Daily
Reporting made easier for foreign media
China's new rules on foreign media will make reporting from the country more convenient, Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, has said.
The new rules, which replace the temporary ones for more than 30,000 foreign journalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games, say overseas correspondents no longer need the government's permission to travel within China or to interview its citizens.
The rules reflect the country's determination to carry forward its opening-up policy, said Wang, whose office co-wrote the 23-point rules.
"This is a very important move drawn on the experience of providing services and managerial help for foreign journalists during the Olympics. They underline the government's determination to further open up, and reflect the idea of maintaining an orderly opening-up policy and effective management."
Wang's comments came at an event to set up the "Israel Epstein Research Center" at Tsinghua University in Beijing. A Jewish journalist, Epstein became a naturalized Chinese citizen and is best known for his writings on China's revolution and Tibet.
Wang said the rules "answer the question about whether the Olympics' reporting arrangement would be made permanent".
The change in the new rules is that overseas correspondents no longer need to get the Foreign Ministry's permission and register with police to travel in the country is important, Wang said.
Such permission, however, is still needed to report from Tibet and other off-limit areas like military facilities.
The new rules also do away with a resident foreign reporter's need to renew his/her press card ever year.
"The government welcomes the foreign media and reporters. We hope more reports on the country are published across and broadcast to the world. We will spare no effort to provide help and service to them," Wang said.
"We hope, too, that the foreign journalists abide by Chinese laws and professional ethics and file unbiased and just reports and promote understanding and cooperation between China and the rest of the world," he said
Seymour Topping, a well-known American journalist, sees the lifting of the restrictions as an important step for China.
"The more restrictions on foreign correspondents' work are lifted, the better chance there is for the world to become fully aware of China's accomplishments and what it is attempting to achieve," the former Pulitzer Prize administrator said.
"China used to be too wary of foreign journalists, but now the rules allow them to decide who to talk to," Huang Youyi, editor-in-chief of China International Publishing Group, said.
"More channels for them to travel and report means there will be more stories and opinions ," he said.
Xinhua contributed to the story
Source: China Daily
The new rules, which replace the temporary ones for more than 30,000 foreign journalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games, say overseas correspondents no longer need the government's permission to travel within China or to interview its citizens.
The rules reflect the country's determination to carry forward its opening-up policy, said Wang, whose office co-wrote the 23-point rules.
"This is a very important move drawn on the experience of providing services and managerial help for foreign journalists during the Olympics. They underline the government's determination to further open up, and reflect the idea of maintaining an orderly opening-up policy and effective management."
Wang's comments came at an event to set up the "Israel Epstein Research Center" at Tsinghua University in Beijing. A Jewish journalist, Epstein became a naturalized Chinese citizen and is best known for his writings on China's revolution and Tibet.
Wang said the rules "answer the question about whether the Olympics' reporting arrangement would be made permanent".
The change in the new rules is that overseas correspondents no longer need to get the Foreign Ministry's permission and register with police to travel in the country is important, Wang said.
Such permission, however, is still needed to report from Tibet and other off-limit areas like military facilities.
The new rules also do away with a resident foreign reporter's need to renew his/her press card ever year.
"The government welcomes the foreign media and reporters. We hope more reports on the country are published across and broadcast to the world. We will spare no effort to provide help and service to them," Wang said.
"We hope, too, that the foreign journalists abide by Chinese laws and professional ethics and file unbiased and just reports and promote understanding and cooperation between China and the rest of the world," he said
Seymour Topping, a well-known American journalist, sees the lifting of the restrictions as an important step for China.
"The more restrictions on foreign correspondents' work are lifted, the better chance there is for the world to become fully aware of China's accomplishments and what it is attempting to achieve," the former Pulitzer Prize administrator said.
"China used to be too wary of foreign journalists, but now the rules allow them to decide who to talk to," Huang Youyi, editor-in-chief of China International Publishing Group, said.
"More channels for them to travel and report means there will be more stories and opinions ," he said.
Xinhua contributed to the story
Source: China Daily
Ministry backs property moves
The central government endorses local governments' measures to revitalize property markets, a senior official said on Saturday.
"Local governments should be allowed certain freedom in formulating real estate policies," Qiu Baoxing, vice-minister of housing and urban-rural planning, said at the China Mayors Forum in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
"I believe each city government is capable of adopting sensible measures suited to local conditions."
His comments came after 18 cities, including Shanghai, Xi'an, Xiamen and Hangzhou, announced policies to boost the property market.
They include raising the ceiling on government funding or subsidies for home-buyers, cutting taxes and extending the time limit for property firms to develop land parcels.
Since the fourth quarter of last year, the property market has cooled down nationwide and transactions have fallen significantly.
"We should allow scope for experiments, which is what reform and opening-up means," he said.
Fan Gang, a leading economist, told China Central Television on Friday that China should adjust its financial policies on the real estate market, such as giving preferred policies to home-buyers.
He said preventing bubbles should not be a priority at present, but activating the demands.
Songyuxuanzhu, a famous blogger on the leading news website 163.com, said that when the financial crisis is rampant worldwide, rescuing the property market is not just about whether protecting the interests of property dealers or consumers, it is more about financial and economic stability.
However, Internet users, property owners and academics differ in their response.
According to a survey by Sina, a major website, more than 84 percent of Internet users oppose governments' efforts to revive the market.
They believe such measures will benefit real estate developers and drive up prices gain.
Chen Lin, director of Guangzhou University's Real Estate Institute, said it was too early for government rescue measures.
"House prices in Guangzhou are way beyond the reach of residents; and the policies will not be widely welcomed," she said.
She believed local governments are mounting rescue bids because they have a big stake in that, which is a major source of financial revenue.
Source: China Daily
"Local governments should be allowed certain freedom in formulating real estate policies," Qiu Baoxing, vice-minister of housing and urban-rural planning, said at the China Mayors Forum in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
"I believe each city government is capable of adopting sensible measures suited to local conditions."
His comments came after 18 cities, including Shanghai, Xi'an, Xiamen and Hangzhou, announced policies to boost the property market.
They include raising the ceiling on government funding or subsidies for home-buyers, cutting taxes and extending the time limit for property firms to develop land parcels.
Since the fourth quarter of last year, the property market has cooled down nationwide and transactions have fallen significantly.
"We should allow scope for experiments, which is what reform and opening-up means," he said.
Fan Gang, a leading economist, told China Central Television on Friday that China should adjust its financial policies on the real estate market, such as giving preferred policies to home-buyers.
He said preventing bubbles should not be a priority at present, but activating the demands.
Songyuxuanzhu, a famous blogger on the leading news website 163.com, said that when the financial crisis is rampant worldwide, rescuing the property market is not just about whether protecting the interests of property dealers or consumers, it is more about financial and economic stability.
However, Internet users, property owners and academics differ in their response.
According to a survey by Sina, a major website, more than 84 percent of Internet users oppose governments' efforts to revive the market.
They believe such measures will benefit real estate developers and drive up prices gain.
Chen Lin, director of Guangzhou University's Real Estate Institute, said it was too early for government rescue measures.
"House prices in Guangzhou are way beyond the reach of residents; and the policies will not be widely welcomed," she said.
She believed local governments are mounting rescue bids because they have a big stake in that, which is a major source of financial revenue.
Source: China Daily
Direct financing move to strengthen market
Shareholders of listed companies can issue exchangeable bonds from yesterday to broaden the channels of direct financing, China's securities watchdog said yesterday.
Exchangeable bonds that are somewhat like of corporate bonds can be exchanged for shares, based on set conditions.
A China Securities Regulatory Commission official said that as soon as the draft regulation on bonds was released in September, many shareholders began discussing the possibility of issuing exchangeable bonds. Most of these people hold big companies' shares.
"Compared with simply dumping the shares to raise money, issuing exchangeable bonds can indicate that shareholders have confidence in the firms' future, and the confidence can rub off investors," the official, not named in a CSRC statement, said.
The CSRC regulation, released yesterday, said that to limit the risks and protect creditors' interest in the issuing of exchangeable bonds, a listed company's net assets has to be at least 300 million yuan .
Some key changes have been made in the final regulation compared with the draft. They include shortening the lockup period of shares, lifting their lower limit prices, clarifying their legal status and covering the proceeds for guarantee.
As for the proportion of bonds in total direct investment, the official said that till September listed companies had raised about 98 billion yuan by issuing bonds, which accounted for half of the amount raised through refinancing.
Among current bonds, those with attached warrant or equity warrant bonds topped the sales with 56 billion yuan, followed by corporate bonds in the first nine months of this year.
From Sept 24, 2007, when China's first corporate bond was issued, to Sept 30, this year, 16 companies had issued such bonds, worth 40 billion yuan.
The pace of share issues has been much lower this year because of the sluggish stock market, but the bond market has been quite hot.
CSRC figures show 21 listed companies raised 74.5 billion yuan in the first half by issuing bonds.
But in the third quarter of this year, only about 23.5 billion yuan worth of bonds were issued, much less than the first two quarters' average of 37 billion yuan.
Source: China Daily
Exchangeable bonds that are somewhat like of corporate bonds can be exchanged for shares, based on set conditions.
A China Securities Regulatory Commission official said that as soon as the draft regulation on bonds was released in September, many shareholders began discussing the possibility of issuing exchangeable bonds. Most of these people hold big companies' shares.
"Compared with simply dumping the shares to raise money, issuing exchangeable bonds can indicate that shareholders have confidence in the firms' future, and the confidence can rub off investors," the official, not named in a CSRC statement, said.
The CSRC regulation, released yesterday, said that to limit the risks and protect creditors' interest in the issuing of exchangeable bonds, a listed company's net assets has to be at least 300 million yuan .
Some key changes have been made in the final regulation compared with the draft. They include shortening the lockup period of shares, lifting their lower limit prices, clarifying their legal status and covering the proceeds for guarantee.
As for the proportion of bonds in total direct investment, the official said that till September listed companies had raised about 98 billion yuan by issuing bonds, which accounted for half of the amount raised through refinancing.
Among current bonds, those with attached warrant or equity warrant bonds topped the sales with 56 billion yuan, followed by corporate bonds in the first nine months of this year.
From Sept 24, 2007, when China's first corporate bond was issued, to Sept 30, this year, 16 companies had issued such bonds, worth 40 billion yuan.
The pace of share issues has been much lower this year because of the sluggish stock market, but the bond market has been quite hot.
CSRC figures show 21 listed companies raised 74.5 billion yuan in the first half by issuing bonds.
But in the third quarter of this year, only about 23.5 billion yuan worth of bonds were issued, much less than the first two quarters' average of 37 billion yuan.
Source: China Daily
China to continue opening-up policy in agricultural sector
The Communist Party of China reiterated on Sunday it would continue opening up the country's agriculture sector.
In a document unveiled by the CPC Central Committee, the Party said it would encourage labor-intensive and technology-intensive exports and allow moderate imports that were in short supply in the domestic market.
The government would intensify its studies and information service on the international market, as well as strengthen supervision over customs quarantine, it said.
To better utilize foreign investment, the Party will encourage more foreign companies to invest in the agriculture sector and complete regulations in line with the World Trade Organization's rules for foreign capital admittance to the market.
It would also create a safety measure for rules pertaining to foreign entities buying domestic agricultural companies, it said.
China will develop international agricultural cooperation under a coordinated plan while cultivate agricultural transnational enterprises, according to the document.
China would actively participate in making trade rules and standards for international agricultural products to promote a fair and rational trade order, the document said.
Source: Xinhua
In a document unveiled by the CPC Central Committee, the Party said it would encourage labor-intensive and technology-intensive exports and allow moderate imports that were in short supply in the domestic market.
The government would intensify its studies and information service on the international market, as well as strengthen supervision over customs quarantine, it said.
To better utilize foreign investment, the Party will encourage more foreign companies to invest in the agriculture sector and complete regulations in line with the World Trade Organization's rules for foreign capital admittance to the market.
It would also create a safety measure for rules pertaining to foreign entities buying domestic agricultural companies, it said.
China will develop international agricultural cooperation under a coordinated plan while cultivate agricultural transnational enterprises, according to the document.
China would actively participate in making trade rules and standards for international agricultural products to promote a fair and rational trade order, the document said.
Source: Xinhua
Sino-EU co-op boasts broad prospects in addressing common challenges
Cooperation between the European Union and China boasts broad prospects due to challenges facing both sides in at least four spheres, Pierre Caleb, founder of the China-Europe Forum, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Speaking ahead of the Asia-Europe Meeting scheduled for Oct. 24-25 in Beijing, Caleb said China and the EU had singled out four common challenges after two sessions of the China-Europe Forum in 2005 and 2007.
First, he said, both China and Europe will face the transformation of development modes.
In Europe, people are pursuing the goal of "sustainable development," while China is striving for a "harmonious society." Although the two modes are not exactly the same, their essentials are alike: both sides seek new development modes, which will take a long and arduous process of exploration.
Secondly, both sides will encounter a belief crisis or ethics crisis, said Caleb, also chairman of the Paris-based Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind.
It remains a big question as to how to respect the traditional values during the march toward modernization, and how to safeguardtraditional social characteristics while opening up to the outsideworld, he said.
The third challenge is how to run society, said Calame.
Society administration needs a brand-new type of participation by all people, only through which a more comprehensive and more effective solution could be found to complicated issues such as water, energy, health care, education, environmental protection and bio-diversity.
The international status of both sides poses the fourth common challenge to China and the EU, according to Calame.
With the ever increasing power and rising international standing, China and the EU will certainly have more dialogue and cooperation so as to join hands for a new multilateral international system and higher efficiency and democratization in the administration of global affairs.
Calame said the challenges meant new opportunities of cooperation for both sides.
For example, he said, both sides could make feasible proposals on an industrial production chain of sustainable development, which is crucial for sustainable development of the whole society or the building of a harmonious society.
China and the EU can also cooperate in climate change and environmental protection, he added.
Calame said there were great potentials for cooperation in culture and education as well for both sides that could learn from each other when making adjustments to their education systems to meet the needs of the 21st century.
To safeguard world peace provides another great opportunity of cooperation for China and the EU, he said.
Calame said that a partnership of cooperation on equal footing would be the cornerstone of future Sino-EU relations, adding the ties, featured in strategic partnership, is crucial for international order.
Source: Xinhua
Speaking ahead of the Asia-Europe Meeting scheduled for Oct. 24-25 in Beijing, Caleb said China and the EU had singled out four common challenges after two sessions of the China-Europe Forum in 2005 and 2007.
First, he said, both China and Europe will face the transformation of development modes.
In Europe, people are pursuing the goal of "sustainable development," while China is striving for a "harmonious society." Although the two modes are not exactly the same, their essentials are alike: both sides seek new development modes, which will take a long and arduous process of exploration.
Secondly, both sides will encounter a belief crisis or ethics crisis, said Caleb, also chairman of the Paris-based Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind.
It remains a big question as to how to respect the traditional values during the march toward modernization, and how to safeguardtraditional social characteristics while opening up to the outsideworld, he said.
The third challenge is how to run society, said Calame.
Society administration needs a brand-new type of participation by all people, only through which a more comprehensive and more effective solution could be found to complicated issues such as water, energy, health care, education, environmental protection and bio-diversity.
The international status of both sides poses the fourth common challenge to China and the EU, according to Calame.
With the ever increasing power and rising international standing, China and the EU will certainly have more dialogue and cooperation so as to join hands for a new multilateral international system and higher efficiency and democratization in the administration of global affairs.
Calame said the challenges meant new opportunities of cooperation for both sides.
For example, he said, both sides could make feasible proposals on an industrial production chain of sustainable development, which is crucial for sustainable development of the whole society or the building of a harmonious society.
China and the EU can also cooperate in climate change and environmental protection, he added.
Calame said there were great potentials for cooperation in culture and education as well for both sides that could learn from each other when making adjustments to their education systems to meet the needs of the 21st century.
To safeguard world peace provides another great opportunity of cooperation for China and the EU, he said.
Calame said that a partnership of cooperation on equal footing would be the cornerstone of future Sino-EU relations, adding the ties, featured in strategic partnership, is crucial for international order.
Source: Xinhua
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)