Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday met with his counterpart from the Republic of Korea , Han Seung Soo, to discuss the Beijing Paralympic Games and bilateral ties.
Wen welcomed Han, who attended the opening ceremony of the Paralympics on Saturday, and thanked the ROK for its support of both the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
"ROK President Lee Myung-bak's presence at the Beijing Olympics and your attendance at the Paralympics showcased your country's support for Beijing's hosting of the two games," Wen said.
The two met in the central government compound known as Zhongnanhai in downtown Beijing.
"I hope the staging of the Paralympics will draw more attention to the situation of the disabled, spread love and promote friendship," Wen said.
Han said China managed to put on a successful Olympics in the wake of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated China's western province of Sichuan on May 12. The quake claimed nearly 70,000 lives, left 17,923 others missing and destroyed the homes of more than 10 million people.
Han attributed the success of the Olympics to China's excellent leadership and great people and wished a complete success for the Beijing Paralympics.
On the subject of bilateral ties, Wen said China-ROK high-level visits enhanced mutual trust and cemented the political foundation for a long-term, stable relationship.
Han echoed Wen's view, saying the ROK would like to work more closely with China to carry out any consensus reached by leaders of both nations.
On the economic front, Wen said China would like to step up cooperation on the environment, telecommunications, finance, logistics and energy with the ROK. Wen also pledged to accelerate the process of establishing a China-ROK Free Trade Area and share experience on industrial restructuring.
In response, Han said the ROK will expand comprehensive cooperation with China. He also hailed China's important role in promoting the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
Source: Xinhua
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Sino-Egyptian friendship school inaugurated in Egypt
A Sino-Egyptian friendship school set up with Chinese grants was inaugurated on Sunday in the Egyptian governorate of the 6th of October.
Visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying and Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Mohamed Abu Naga attended the inauguration ceremony, said a press release of the Chinese embassy in Egypt.
The model school, which was established with a grant of four million U.S. dollars provided by the Chinese government, has the plan to teach Chinese language and history.
The establishment of the school came as part of China's efforts to boost cooperation with developing countries including Egypt.
Earlier in the day, Fu held talks with Abu Naga on means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields.
During the meeting, the two sides signed several agreements on economic technology cooperation and China's financial support to establish schools in Egypt's rural areas.
Source: Xinhua
Visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying and Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Mohamed Abu Naga attended the inauguration ceremony, said a press release of the Chinese embassy in Egypt.
The model school, which was established with a grant of four million U.S. dollars provided by the Chinese government, has the plan to teach Chinese language and history.
The establishment of the school came as part of China's efforts to boost cooperation with developing countries including Egypt.
Earlier in the day, Fu held talks with Abu Naga on means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields.
During the meeting, the two sides signed several agreements on economic technology cooperation and China's financial support to establish schools in Egypt's rural areas.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese Vice Premier starts German tour
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang arrived here on Sunday, starting his official visit to Germany.
Zhang made the German tour at the invitation of the German government.
In his written speech at the airport, Zhang said the China-German relations are facing favorable opportunities, noting both sides had conducted the effective cooperation and exchange in areas like economic cooperation, science and technology, education and culture.
The Vice Premier said he hoped his visit would promote the relations between China and Germany, and push forward the practical cooperation in a wide range of fields between the two countries.
During his five-day stay in Germany, Zhang is to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Economic Minister Michael Glos.
Zhang will also attend the third meeting of the China-Europe Forum in Hamburg and visit several big companies.
Source: Xinhua
Zhang made the German tour at the invitation of the German government.
In his written speech at the airport, Zhang said the China-German relations are facing favorable opportunities, noting both sides had conducted the effective cooperation and exchange in areas like economic cooperation, science and technology, education and culture.
The Vice Premier said he hoped his visit would promote the relations between China and Germany, and push forward the practical cooperation in a wide range of fields between the two countries.
During his five-day stay in Germany, Zhang is to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Economic Minister Michael Glos.
Zhang will also attend the third meeting of the China-Europe Forum in Hamburg and visit several big companies.
Source: Xinhua
Six saved from central China coal mine flood; 18 still trapped
Six miners were pulled out of a flooded coal mine in central China's Henan Province on Sunday, but 18 others remain trapped underground, rescuers said.
Rescuers said 62 miners were doing maintenance work when the flood happened at about 5:45 a.m. at the Renhe Coal Mine in Changzhuang Township, Yuzhou City, and 38 managed to escape.
"The six who were rescued were not seriously injured. They were sent to a local hospital for observation," a spokesman with the rescue headquarters said.
More than 40 rescuers were sent to the scene and six pumps have been dispatched to pump out water and clear away the silt. A fan is also being used to provide ventilation for the trapped workers.
About 300 cubic meters of water swamped the pit when the workers were digging in the mine's waste area, rescuers said.
The Renhe Coal Mine was formerly a private business known as Fushun Coal Mine with an annual capacity of 150,000 tons. In 2005,it was incorporated into the stated-owned Hebi Coal Industry Co. Ltd. based in Henan's Hebi City.
The mine has been undergoing a technological upgrade.
Source: Xinhua
Rescuers said 62 miners were doing maintenance work when the flood happened at about 5:45 a.m. at the Renhe Coal Mine in Changzhuang Township, Yuzhou City, and 38 managed to escape.
"The six who were rescued were not seriously injured. They were sent to a local hospital for observation," a spokesman with the rescue headquarters said.
More than 40 rescuers were sent to the scene and six pumps have been dispatched to pump out water and clear away the silt. A fan is also being used to provide ventilation for the trapped workers.
About 300 cubic meters of water swamped the pit when the workers were digging in the mine's waste area, rescuers said.
The Renhe Coal Mine was formerly a private business known as Fushun Coal Mine with an annual capacity of 150,000 tons. In 2005,it was incorporated into the stated-owned Hebi Coal Industry Co. Ltd. based in Henan's Hebi City.
The mine has been undergoing a technological upgrade.
Source: Xinhua
Germany agrees to boost ties
Chinese leaders had a busy weekend balancing their time between the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games and playing host to visiting foreign leaders and officials.
President Hu Jintao met with his German counterpart Horst Kohler yesterday, a day after he held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Hu agreed with Kohler to further promote relations between China and Germany. He said: "Sino-German ties have developed soundly thanks to the concerted efforts of the two sides."
Kohler said he hoped the two sides will share their experiences and strengthen their dialogue.
High-level bilateral exchanges are getting back on track in recent weeks after ties were soured last year because of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's controversial meeting with the Dalai Lama and the anti-China chorus that followed in the German media .
At his meeting with Ahmadinejad Saturday, Hu called for flexibility in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. "There is the rare opportunity for the resumption of talks, and we hope all the parties will seize the chance and show flexibility and push for a peaceful settlement," Hu said.
As always, China wants the issue to be settled peacefully through talks, he added.
In response, Ahmadinejad said Iran is willing to maintain communications with China on the nuclear issue.
Addressing Iranian athletes in the Paralympic Village, Ahmadinejad said Iran's paralympians are "messengers of peace, friendship, and brotherhood among all nations".
Altogether, 16 government heads and royalty and more than 80 ministers have come to Beijing for the Paralympics.
Source: China Daily
President Hu Jintao met with his German counterpart Horst Kohler yesterday, a day after he held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Hu agreed with Kohler to further promote relations between China and Germany. He said: "Sino-German ties have developed soundly thanks to the concerted efforts of the two sides."
Kohler said he hoped the two sides will share their experiences and strengthen their dialogue.
High-level bilateral exchanges are getting back on track in recent weeks after ties were soured last year because of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's controversial meeting with the Dalai Lama and the anti-China chorus that followed in the German media .
At his meeting with Ahmadinejad Saturday, Hu called for flexibility in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. "There is the rare opportunity for the resumption of talks, and we hope all the parties will seize the chance and show flexibility and push for a peaceful settlement," Hu said.
As always, China wants the issue to be settled peacefully through talks, he added.
In response, Ahmadinejad said Iran is willing to maintain communications with China on the nuclear issue.
Addressing Iranian athletes in the Paralympic Village, Ahmadinejad said Iran's paralympians are "messengers of peace, friendship, and brotherhood among all nations".
Altogether, 16 government heads and royalty and more than 80 ministers have come to Beijing for the Paralympics.
Source: China Daily
Central China province clamps down on illegal fund-raising
Local authorities in central China's Hunan Province on Sunday started probing into 12 companies involved in illegal fund-raising cases after a dispute led to lenders' demonstration on Wednesday and Thursday, blocking roads and railways.
The government of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture issued a notice on TV, radio and newspapers on Sunday, telling the public that working teams had been sent to the enterprises on suspicion of illegal fund-raising and a probe into their assets had began.
The notice said the executives of the suspected enterprises and relevant financial information would be put under control.
The prefectural capital of Jishou city ordered all underground fund-raising activities to stop and suspected enterprises to suspend paying interest before the probe ended.
On Wednesday the lenders involved in a fund-raising dispute with a real estate company gathered at the prefecture government in Jishou, asking for authorities' intervention after the company failed to pay them back as promised.
Some of them and lookers-on swarmed to the railway station of Jishou City at 10 p.m., but were talked away by officials, including provincial law and public security chief Li Jiang, to leave about an hour later.
The lenders, however, gathered again Thursday morning in streets and at the railway station, blocking traffic and delaying trains.
The traffic returned to normal and the railway station resumed operation by Thursday evening.
Underground fund-raising has existed for long in Xiangxi. Some companies have been in payback crisis since August, causing panic among lenders.
Source: Xinhua
The government of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture issued a notice on TV, radio and newspapers on Sunday, telling the public that working teams had been sent to the enterprises on suspicion of illegal fund-raising and a probe into their assets had began.
The notice said the executives of the suspected enterprises and relevant financial information would be put under control.
The prefectural capital of Jishou city ordered all underground fund-raising activities to stop and suspected enterprises to suspend paying interest before the probe ended.
On Wednesday the lenders involved in a fund-raising dispute with a real estate company gathered at the prefecture government in Jishou, asking for authorities' intervention after the company failed to pay them back as promised.
Some of them and lookers-on swarmed to the railway station of Jishou City at 10 p.m., but were talked away by officials, including provincial law and public security chief Li Jiang, to leave about an hour later.
The lenders, however, gathered again Thursday morning in streets and at the railway station, blocking traffic and delaying trains.
The traffic returned to normal and the railway station resumed operation by Thursday evening.
Underground fund-raising has existed for long in Xiangxi. Some companies have been in payback crisis since August, causing panic among lenders.
Source: Xinhua
Quake-hit Sichuan faces large financial gap for reconstruction
China's southwestern province of Sichuan needs 1.67 trillion yuan for reconstruction after the devastating earthquake on May 12, Huang Xiaoxiang, the province's vice governor, said on Sunday.
"Sichuan is still in need of a large amount of fund despite the efforts of the central government, local governments and other social sectors," Huang told a conference held in Xiamen City, in eastern Fujian Province.
The total funds, including those the central and other provincial governments raised, overseas donations, and lottery earnings, accounted for less than 25 percent of what the reconstruction work demanded.
Quake-sufferers carry the re-found living necessities from the shattered houses at the quake-hit area of Huili County, southwest China's Sichuan Province Sept. 3, 2008.
Huang said the province would rebuild 4.5 million urban and rural homes, 51,000 km of highways, 5,500 km of railways, 11,700 schools and 9,700 medical institutions.
Apart from that, 2,000 reservoirs, 810 power stations and more than 100,000 hectares of farmland needed to be restored.
The reconstruction work was expected to consume 37 million tonnes of steel, 370 million tonnes of cement, 210 billion bricks and 20 million cubic meters of timer.
Source: Xinhua
"Sichuan is still in need of a large amount of fund despite the efforts of the central government, local governments and other social sectors," Huang told a conference held in Xiamen City, in eastern Fujian Province.
The total funds, including those the central and other provincial governments raised, overseas donations, and lottery earnings, accounted for less than 25 percent of what the reconstruction work demanded.
Quake-sufferers carry the re-found living necessities from the shattered houses at the quake-hit area of Huili County, southwest China's Sichuan Province Sept. 3, 2008.
Huang said the province would rebuild 4.5 million urban and rural homes, 51,000 km of highways, 5,500 km of railways, 11,700 schools and 9,700 medical institutions.
Apart from that, 2,000 reservoirs, 810 power stations and more than 100,000 hectares of farmland needed to be restored.
The reconstruction work was expected to consume 37 million tonnes of steel, 370 million tonnes of cement, 210 billion bricks and 20 million cubic meters of timer.
Source: Xinhua
Trade with Pacific islands to reach $2b
Trade between China and Pacific island countries is expected to reach $2 billion by the end of this year, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said yesterday.
The two sides aim to increase trade to $3 billion by 2010, Chen told the ministerial conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.
"The economies of China and Pacific island countries are complementary, and there is great potential for future cooperation, " he told the senior officials of 11 Pacific island countries at the forum.
Trade between the two sides has developed rapidly after an economic development and cooperation framework was set up in 2006.
Customs data show that last year trade between China and 13 Pacific island countries reached $1.53 billion, up 24.4 percent over 2006.
China imported $660 million worth of goods from these countries, up 26.9 percent, and its exports reached $870 million, an increase of 22.5 percent.
China mainly imported seafood and wood, and its principal exports were electro-mechanical goods, and light industrial and textile products.
After Premier Wen Jiabao announced two years ago that China would help the Pacific island countries' economic development, Beijing has provided more than 1.2 billion yuan in favorable loans to them. It has made 278 products of the least developed countries, such as Samoa and Vanuatu, tariff-free too.
These steps have been effective, Chen said, with China's imports from these countries reaching $400 million in the first five months of this year, up by 21 percent year-on-year. And its exports fell 2 percent to $410 million, reflecting the effectiveness of measures.
The total imports from the region are expected to increase further for the entire year, Chen said, and the country will soon expand the list of duty free items.
Chinese investment in the region, however, has been increasing.
Ministry of Commerce figures show China has invested $310 million, mainly in resources development, fisheries, and aviation and construction services.
Source: China Daily
The two sides aim to increase trade to $3 billion by 2010, Chen told the ministerial conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.
"The economies of China and Pacific island countries are complementary, and there is great potential for future cooperation, " he told the senior officials of 11 Pacific island countries at the forum.
Trade between the two sides has developed rapidly after an economic development and cooperation framework was set up in 2006.
Customs data show that last year trade between China and 13 Pacific island countries reached $1.53 billion, up 24.4 percent over 2006.
China imported $660 million worth of goods from these countries, up 26.9 percent, and its exports reached $870 million, an increase of 22.5 percent.
China mainly imported seafood and wood, and its principal exports were electro-mechanical goods, and light industrial and textile products.
After Premier Wen Jiabao announced two years ago that China would help the Pacific island countries' economic development, Beijing has provided more than 1.2 billion yuan in favorable loans to them. It has made 278 products of the least developed countries, such as Samoa and Vanuatu, tariff-free too.
These steps have been effective, Chen said, with China's imports from these countries reaching $400 million in the first five months of this year, up by 21 percent year-on-year. And its exports fell 2 percent to $410 million, reflecting the effectiveness of measures.
The total imports from the region are expected to increase further for the entire year, Chen said, and the country will soon expand the list of duty free items.
Chinese investment in the region, however, has been increasing.
Ministry of Commerce figures show China has invested $310 million, mainly in resources development, fisheries, and aviation and construction services.
Source: China Daily
One quake orphan finds new home
Four months after the disastrous Sichuan earthquake, only one of 88 orphaned children eligible for adoption has found a new home, Sichuan officials announced.
Zhang Anyun, a 10-year-old pupil with the Hanwang Central Primary School in Mianzhu, was adopted by an unnamed couple from the provincial capital of Chengdu last Friday, according to Li Boshan, an official with the Mianzhu municipal bureau of civil affairs.
The Sichuan provincial department of civil affairs announced on Aug 23 that qualified mainland families could adopt 88 children orphaned in the May 12 earthquake.
One reason for the slow response is that many of the orphans are handicapped, sources from the department said.
Of 532 children who lost their parents in the magnitude 8 quake which killed nearly 70,000 people, 240 are under 14. Most of them have grandparents or other relatives as guardians. Only 88 in the hard hit cities of Deyang, Mianzhu, Mianyang and Guangyuan and the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture have no relatives to care for them, according to deputy department chief Chen Kefu.
Zhang Anyun's parents were both killed when their rented apartment in Hanwang town in Mianzhu collapsed. According to Chen, Sichuan gives priority to the relatives of orphans, but Zhang's grandparents are over 80 and could not afford to support him.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs states that only childless Chinese over 30 can be considered adoptive parents.
Only children under 14 can be adopted.
Children over 10 must give their permission to be adopted.
"Zhang Anyun signed his name agreeing to be adopted after living with the couple for some time in Chengdu," Li of the Mianzhu municipal bureau said.
The status of orphans can only be determined with death certificates of both parents issued by police or hospitals.
Those whose parents are missing must wait for two years for a court to declare their parents dead, according to Jiang Tao, chief of the division in charge of adoption in the Sichuan provincial department of civil affairs.
Most of those intending to adopt quake orphans are hoping for children like Zhang, who are not handicapped.
They would also prefer them to be under six years old.
However, many of the children were handicapped in the quake, which has made adoptive parents hesitate, according to Jiang's division.
Of the 88 eligible children, 28 are between 5 and 10 years old and 54 are between 10 and 14 years-old.
Most of them suffer from physical or other handicaps.
In the meantime, the provincial government has set up temporary foster homes or boarding schools and has provided a monthly allowance of 600 yuan for each orphan.
Source: China Daily
Zhang Anyun, a 10-year-old pupil with the Hanwang Central Primary School in Mianzhu, was adopted by an unnamed couple from the provincial capital of Chengdu last Friday, according to Li Boshan, an official with the Mianzhu municipal bureau of civil affairs.
The Sichuan provincial department of civil affairs announced on Aug 23 that qualified mainland families could adopt 88 children orphaned in the May 12 earthquake.
One reason for the slow response is that many of the orphans are handicapped, sources from the department said.
Of 532 children who lost their parents in the magnitude 8 quake which killed nearly 70,000 people, 240 are under 14. Most of them have grandparents or other relatives as guardians. Only 88 in the hard hit cities of Deyang, Mianzhu, Mianyang and Guangyuan and the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture have no relatives to care for them, according to deputy department chief Chen Kefu.
Zhang Anyun's parents were both killed when their rented apartment in Hanwang town in Mianzhu collapsed. According to Chen, Sichuan gives priority to the relatives of orphans, but Zhang's grandparents are over 80 and could not afford to support him.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs states that only childless Chinese over 30 can be considered adoptive parents.
Only children under 14 can be adopted.
Children over 10 must give their permission to be adopted.
"Zhang Anyun signed his name agreeing to be adopted after living with the couple for some time in Chengdu," Li of the Mianzhu municipal bureau said.
The status of orphans can only be determined with death certificates of both parents issued by police or hospitals.
Those whose parents are missing must wait for two years for a court to declare their parents dead, according to Jiang Tao, chief of the division in charge of adoption in the Sichuan provincial department of civil affairs.
Most of those intending to adopt quake orphans are hoping for children like Zhang, who are not handicapped.
They would also prefer them to be under six years old.
However, many of the children were handicapped in the quake, which has made adoptive parents hesitate, according to Jiang's division.
Of the 88 eligible children, 28 are between 5 and 10 years old and 54 are between 10 and 14 years-old.
Most of them suffer from physical or other handicaps.
In the meantime, the provincial government has set up temporary foster homes or boarding schools and has provided a monthly allowance of 600 yuan for each orphan.
Source: China Daily
Paralympics ignites passion for life for disabled quake survivors in China
When some 4,000 athletes from around the world are competing for gold medals at the Beijing Paralympics, they are also igniting the passion for life for many disabled survivors from the May 12 massive earthquake in southwest China.
"I had never thought they could participate in intense competitions," said 23-year-old Xie Xia in a resettlement site in Anxian County, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province while watching the Games opening ceremony Saturday night.
Xie lost his right calf during the 8.0-magnitude quake, which left more than 87,000 people dead or missing. The quake also left more than 370,000 people injured, but the figure of the disabled is not available.
"I thought 'I'm done, my life is over' when I saw my calf broken at the very beginning. I felt very depressed for a long time," he said.
Xie came from a mountainous village that was destroyed in the quake, but he and his parents survived.
"I received psychological tutoring and many people gave me encouragements," he said.
"With the Paralympics approaching, I read a lot about the Games and athletes, which helped rebuild my confidence."
Xie, who had an educational background of senior high school, had been mainly doing farm work in the past years. He once went to a city as a migrant worker but returned home later.
Now with a prosthetic leg, Xie was not sure whether he would continue to work in the cropland. He had another choice: to join a technical training program offered by local government.
"The disabled can do what others do. That's my understanding of the Paralympic spirit," he said.
To 36-year-old Shi Guangwu, a villager from Huangping Township, Qingchuan County, Paralympics means strong will.
"Never lose heart in life, even though you have disabilities," said 36-year-old Shi who had almost no right hand. His wife had hearing impairment.
The couple had run a small shop before the quake, but the quake destroyed the shop and their home.
They moved into a prefab home with their nine-year-old son and re-opened the shop soon.
"So long as we have hands, feet and a life, we can overcome any difficulty," Shi posted a banner on the door of his home.
For 11-year-old Guang Guang from Yingxiu Township in the epicenter, Wenchuan County, Paralympics is a chance to learn to be strong. The sixth grader lost half of his right arm in the quake.
"I watch them with admiration. I wish I can get confidence and fortitude from them," he said, while gazing via TV the athletes at the opening ceremony in the National Stadium.
Source: Xinhua
"I had never thought they could participate in intense competitions," said 23-year-old Xie Xia in a resettlement site in Anxian County, Mianyang City, Sichuan Province while watching the Games opening ceremony Saturday night.
Xie lost his right calf during the 8.0-magnitude quake, which left more than 87,000 people dead or missing. The quake also left more than 370,000 people injured, but the figure of the disabled is not available.
"I thought 'I'm done, my life is over' when I saw my calf broken at the very beginning. I felt very depressed for a long time," he said.
Xie came from a mountainous village that was destroyed in the quake, but he and his parents survived.
"I received psychological tutoring and many people gave me encouragements," he said.
"With the Paralympics approaching, I read a lot about the Games and athletes, which helped rebuild my confidence."
Xie, who had an educational background of senior high school, had been mainly doing farm work in the past years. He once went to a city as a migrant worker but returned home later.
Now with a prosthetic leg, Xie was not sure whether he would continue to work in the cropland. He had another choice: to join a technical training program offered by local government.
"The disabled can do what others do. That's my understanding of the Paralympic spirit," he said.
To 36-year-old Shi Guangwu, a villager from Huangping Township, Qingchuan County, Paralympics means strong will.
"Never lose heart in life, even though you have disabilities," said 36-year-old Shi who had almost no right hand. His wife had hearing impairment.
The couple had run a small shop before the quake, but the quake destroyed the shop and their home.
They moved into a prefab home with their nine-year-old son and re-opened the shop soon.
"So long as we have hands, feet and a life, we can overcome any difficulty," Shi posted a banner on the door of his home.
For 11-year-old Guang Guang from Yingxiu Township in the epicenter, Wenchuan County, Paralympics is a chance to learn to be strong. The sixth grader lost half of his right arm in the quake.
"I watch them with admiration. I wish I can get confidence and fortitude from them," he said, while gazing via TV the athletes at the opening ceremony in the National Stadium.
Source: Xinhua
Beijing-Tianjin high-speed railway begin to show social effects
On September 7, Tianjin Snacks Festival closed in Tianjin Food Street. According to statistics from Tianjin Commercial Committee, since its opening on August 27, the snacks festival received 10,000 people everyday, among which visitors from outside Tianjin accounted for 70%, and among this group of tourists more than 80% are from Beijing who took the Beijing-Tianjin inter-city high-speed train to here for sightseeing.
Statistics from Ministry of Railways show that in the month after the Beijing-Tianjin inter-city train was opened, over 1.831 million passengers have been transported, representing a 128.4 percent year-on-year growth. According to the Tianjin Station, the Beijing-Tianjin inter-city lines run 60 trains daily. The attendance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday can reach as high as 100 percent, with average weekly attendance of 80%. The tickets in the morning, evening and weekend are hard to get. Beijing-Tianjin inter-city high-speed railway has begun to show social and economic effects.
During the Olympic Games, many Beijing citizens and many tourists in Beijing took the high-speed railway to Tianjin. Coastal scenery, folk customs and cultural tours, city sightseeing tours became very popular. According to Tianjin tourism department, in August, 5 A-level scenic spot Ancient Culture Street’s sales has 15 percent growth than the period before the opening of inter-city rail.
"The transportation connection between Beijing and Tianjin will greatly ease the traffic tension in the two places, bringing Beijing,Tianjin and Hebei region closer," Tianjin major Huang Guoxing said with confidence.
By People's Daily Online
Statistics from Ministry of Railways show that in the month after the Beijing-Tianjin inter-city train was opened, over 1.831 million passengers have been transported, representing a 128.4 percent year-on-year growth. According to the Tianjin Station, the Beijing-Tianjin inter-city lines run 60 trains daily. The attendance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday can reach as high as 100 percent, with average weekly attendance of 80%. The tickets in the morning, evening and weekend are hard to get. Beijing-Tianjin inter-city high-speed railway has begun to show social and economic effects.
During the Olympic Games, many Beijing citizens and many tourists in Beijing took the high-speed railway to Tianjin. Coastal scenery, folk customs and cultural tours, city sightseeing tours became very popular. According to Tianjin tourism department, in August, 5 A-level scenic spot Ancient Culture Street’s sales has 15 percent growth than the period before the opening of inter-city rail.
"The transportation connection between Beijing and Tianjin will greatly ease the traffic tension in the two places, bringing Beijing,Tianjin and Hebei region closer," Tianjin major Huang Guoxing said with confidence.
By People's Daily Online
94 performances to be staged during the Paralympics
A total of 94 performances will be staged at 18 cultural squares in Beijing from Sept 6 to Sept 16, according to Beijing Bureau of Culture.
Performances, including pantomimes and singing and dancing by disabled art groups will appear before audiences at that time.
To make it convenient for the disabled to participate in the cultural activities, the infrastructures and barrier-free passages at the squares have been updated, and volunteers will be there to help the audience.
By People's Daily Online
Performances, including pantomimes and singing and dancing by disabled art groups will appear before audiences at that time.
To make it convenient for the disabled to participate in the cultural activities, the infrastructures and barrier-free passages at the squares have been updated, and volunteers will be there to help the audience.
By People's Daily Online
Two more rescued from flooded mine, 16 remain trapped
Two more miners were pulled out of a flooded coal mine in central China's Henan Province on Monday, bringing the total number rescued to eight, emergency crews said.
Sixteen miners remain trapped in the Renhe Coal Mine in Changzhuang Township in the city of Yuzhou.
The pit was flooded at 5:45 am on Sunday, when 62 miners were doing maintenance work. Thirty-eight people managed to escape and six were rescued on Sunday.
On Monday, two survivors were pulled out of the pit at 0:15 am and 5:20 am. Rescuers said the miners were being treated at a local hospital.
About 300 cubic meters of water filled the mine when workers were digging in a waste area, rescuers said.
Underground gas and cave-ins slowed the drainage process making it hard for rescuers to reach the remaining 16 miners.
A spokesman with the emergency rescue headquarters said the gas density in the shaft was over 10 percent. A fan was used to provide ventilation for the trapped miners.
More than 60 rescuers, all wearing gas masks, are working at the site to pump out water and clear away silt.
The Renhe Coal Mine was formerly a private business known as Fushun Coal Mine. It had an annual capacity of 150,000 tons. In 2005, the business was incorporated into the stated-owned Hebi Coal Industry Co. Ltd. based in Henan's Hebi City.
Source:Xinhua
Sixteen miners remain trapped in the Renhe Coal Mine in Changzhuang Township in the city of Yuzhou.
The pit was flooded at 5:45 am on Sunday, when 62 miners were doing maintenance work. Thirty-eight people managed to escape and six were rescued on Sunday.
On Monday, two survivors were pulled out of the pit at 0:15 am and 5:20 am. Rescuers said the miners were being treated at a local hospital.
About 300 cubic meters of water filled the mine when workers were digging in a waste area, rescuers said.
Underground gas and cave-ins slowed the drainage process making it hard for rescuers to reach the remaining 16 miners.
A spokesman with the emergency rescue headquarters said the gas density in the shaft was over 10 percent. A fan was used to provide ventilation for the trapped miners.
More than 60 rescuers, all wearing gas masks, are working at the site to pump out water and clear away silt.
The Renhe Coal Mine was formerly a private business known as Fushun Coal Mine. It had an annual capacity of 150,000 tons. In 2005, the business was incorporated into the stated-owned Hebi Coal Industry Co. Ltd. based in Henan's Hebi City.
Source:Xinhua
One killed, others trapped after mud-rock flow collapses warehouse in N China
A rain-triggered mud-rock flow in north China's Shanxi Province caused the collapse of a warehouse holding waste ore dregs on Monday, killing one and trapping others, according to the local government.
The accident occurred around 8 a.m. in a warehouse of the Tashan Mine in Xiangfen County, Linfen City, which has been soaked by torrential rain.
One person was killed at the scene and another was injured.
A Xinhua reporter said more people were trapped underneath the structure but a specific figure was not immediately available.
A rescue team of more than 300 local police and villagers were searching through the rubble.
Source:Xinhua
The accident occurred around 8 a.m. in a warehouse of the Tashan Mine in Xiangfen County, Linfen City, which has been soaked by torrential rain.
One person was killed at the scene and another was injured.
A Xinhua reporter said more people were trapped underneath the structure but a specific figure was not immediately available.
A rescue team of more than 300 local police and villagers were searching through the rubble.
Source:Xinhua
All 60 members returned in Hong Kong's new-term legislature elections
The Electoral Affairs Commission announced in Hong Kong Monday morning that all the 60 members of the fourth term Legislative Council have been returned in the elections, which ended late Sunday night.
It took about 10 hours for polling staff to count more than 1.5million ballots and the Electoral Affairs Commission began publishing the official results from 5:30 a.m. local time Monday.
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Justice Pang Kin-kee, said the commission has received about 2,024 complaints related to the elections, with which the commission was handling according to fixed procedures.
The 60 newly elected councilors, with 30 returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and another 30 by functional constituencies, will form the fourth term Legislative Council and start practicing their duty entrusted by the Basic Law during the coming four years in office from Oct. 1, 2008.
In the elections, a total of 142 candidates ran for 30 seats in five geographical constituencies under the proportional representation formula while another 45 competed for 16 seats in 16 contested functional constituencies. Fourteen candidates in 12 functional constituencies were returned uncontested.
The polls, beginning at 07:30 a.m. local time Sunday, lasted for 15 hours until 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday when most polling stations closed. The polling hours for two polling stations in Quarry Bay and Chai Wan were prolonged for 25 minutes and seven minutes as the elections at these two stations were interrupted for 25 and seven minutes respectively.
Altogether 532 polling stations across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were open for more than 1.52 million voters to cast their ballots in the direct elections for geographical constituencies with a turnout rate of about 45.2 percent, down from 55.64 percent from the previous elections, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission.
Meanwhile, 127,000 voters cast their ballots in the elections of 16 contested functional constituencies, with a turnout rate of 60.3 percent, also down from 70.14 percent of the previous ones.
After visiting a ballot-counting station at Happy Valley late Sunday night, Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said the elections were as always proceeding in fair, open and just means.
"We look forward to working with the new term Legislative Council to face up the economic slowdown for Hong Kong people," he said.
Under the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong is vested with legislative power since its return to China in 1997 and the Legislative Council is the legislature of the HKSAR.
The main functions of the Legislative Council are to enact laws, examine and approve budgets, taxation and public expenditure, and monitor the work of the HKSAR government. In addition, the Legislative Council is also given the power to endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court, as well as the power to impeach the Chief Executive.
The elections of HKSAR's first term Legislative Council were held on May 24, 1998. There were 60 members of the first term Legislative Council from 1998 to 2000, with 30 members returned by functional constituencies, 20 by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and 10 by an election committee of 800 elected representatives of the community.
The elections for the second term Legislative Council of the HKSAR were held on Sept. 10, 2000, in which the second term LegCo was composed of 60 members, with 24 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, six members by an election committee, and 30 members by functional constituencies. The term of office of the second term Legislative Council was four years starting from Oct. 1, 2000.
The third term Legislative Council was elected on Sept. 12, 2004 when 30 members were returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and 30 members returned by functional constituencies.
Before Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, the members of HongKong's Legislative Council were appointed by the British Hong Kong authorities.
Source:Xinhua
It took about 10 hours for polling staff to count more than 1.5million ballots and the Electoral Affairs Commission began publishing the official results from 5:30 a.m. local time Monday.
Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Justice Pang Kin-kee, said the commission has received about 2,024 complaints related to the elections, with which the commission was handling according to fixed procedures.
The 60 newly elected councilors, with 30 returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and another 30 by functional constituencies, will form the fourth term Legislative Council and start practicing their duty entrusted by the Basic Law during the coming four years in office from Oct. 1, 2008.
In the elections, a total of 142 candidates ran for 30 seats in five geographical constituencies under the proportional representation formula while another 45 competed for 16 seats in 16 contested functional constituencies. Fourteen candidates in 12 functional constituencies were returned uncontested.
The polls, beginning at 07:30 a.m. local time Sunday, lasted for 15 hours until 10:30 p.m. local time Sunday when most polling stations closed. The polling hours for two polling stations in Quarry Bay and Chai Wan were prolonged for 25 minutes and seven minutes as the elections at these two stations were interrupted for 25 and seven minutes respectively.
Altogether 532 polling stations across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were open for more than 1.52 million voters to cast their ballots in the direct elections for geographical constituencies with a turnout rate of about 45.2 percent, down from 55.64 percent from the previous elections, according to the Electoral Affairs Commission.
Meanwhile, 127,000 voters cast their ballots in the elections of 16 contested functional constituencies, with a turnout rate of 60.3 percent, also down from 70.14 percent of the previous ones.
After visiting a ballot-counting station at Happy Valley late Sunday night, Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said the elections were as always proceeding in fair, open and just means.
"We look forward to working with the new term Legislative Council to face up the economic slowdown for Hong Kong people," he said.
Under the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong is vested with legislative power since its return to China in 1997 and the Legislative Council is the legislature of the HKSAR.
The main functions of the Legislative Council are to enact laws, examine and approve budgets, taxation and public expenditure, and monitor the work of the HKSAR government. In addition, the Legislative Council is also given the power to endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court, as well as the power to impeach the Chief Executive.
The elections of HKSAR's first term Legislative Council were held on May 24, 1998. There were 60 members of the first term Legislative Council from 1998 to 2000, with 30 members returned by functional constituencies, 20 by geographical constituencies through direct elections, and 10 by an election committee of 800 elected representatives of the community.
The elections for the second term Legislative Council of the HKSAR were held on Sept. 10, 2000, in which the second term LegCo was composed of 60 members, with 24 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, six members by an election committee, and 30 members by functional constituencies. The term of office of the second term Legislative Council was four years starting from Oct. 1, 2000.
The third term Legislative Council was elected on Sept. 12, 2004 when 30 members were returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and 30 members returned by functional constituencies.
Before Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, the members of HongKong's Legislative Council were appointed by the British Hong Kong authorities.
Source:Xinhua
China seeks to enhance defense ties with Switzerland
Senior Chinese military official Guo Boxiong said on Monday that China would like to enhance defense and military cooperation with Switzerland.
Guo, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was speaking in a meeting with Swiss minister of defense, civil protection and sports Samuel Schmid, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics on Sept. 6.
Guo said cooperation between the two nations on economic, cultural and science issues had been fruitful, as had consultation on international affairs.
He said relations between the two armed forces have developed well, with frequent high-level visits and an annual defense dialogue, as well as substantial exchanges on defense mobilization and civil protection.
"We hope the two sides can expand consensus and deepen cooperation so to push forward bilateral ties."
Guo also wished the Swiss athletes success in the Paralympics.
Schmid congratulated China on a successful Beijing Olympics and wished for an equally extraordinary Paralympics.
He said the Swiss armed forces would endeavor to strengthen ties with China, which would benefit both sides and peace and stability.
Source:Xinhua
Guo, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was speaking in a meeting with Swiss minister of defense, civil protection and sports Samuel Schmid, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics on Sept. 6.
Guo said cooperation between the two nations on economic, cultural and science issues had been fruitful, as had consultation on international affairs.
He said relations between the two armed forces have developed well, with frequent high-level visits and an annual defense dialogue, as well as substantial exchanges on defense mobilization and civil protection.
"We hope the two sides can expand consensus and deepen cooperation so to push forward bilateral ties."
Guo also wished the Swiss athletes success in the Paralympics.
Schmid congratulated China on a successful Beijing Olympics and wished for an equally extraordinary Paralympics.
He said the Swiss armed forces would endeavor to strengthen ties with China, which would benefit both sides and peace and stability.
Source:Xinhua
Students in SW China quake-hit city begin school year in tents
More than 35,000 students in a city in southwest China's quake-hit Sichuan Province started the new semester in tents and makeshift classrooms on Monday, about one week after their peers nationwide began the new school year.
Altogether, 12,099 students resumed classes in tents while another 23,584 attended in undamaged or temporary classrooms converted from student sports and entertainment centers in Panzhihua, according to Kong Wei, the local education bureau head. The city was one of the worst hit in the Aug. 30 quake.
The 6.1-magnitude tremor had killed at least 38 people in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces as of Sept. 3.
"The earthquake has caused damages to 183 out of the 598 local schools, leaving above one-fifth of the city's students without safe classrooms before the new school year," Kong said.
The city requested tents after the earthquake and was immediately overwhelmed by the nation's donation enthusiasm.
In addition, China promised to provide more portable houses to ensure all students in the city could move out of tent classes before winter.
"In the seven days when we were left with nowhere to study, I read text books by myself," said Sun Yiwen, a grade nine student. He was among 750 students relocated to a nearby school for members of the Communist Party of China from the Datian Middle School where the quake had devastated almost all the buildings.
"I am confident in myself for the new semester because it is almost as convenient as where I used to study."
However, students in Huili County in neighboring Yunnan weren't as lucky.
The county, which has been plagued by continuous aftershocks, postponed the start of its new semester to the end of October for the lack of prefabricated buildings and tents to build temporary classes and dormitories.
In total, 58 affected schools required 150,000 square meters of prefab buildings and 140 tents, said Hu Kun, the county's Communist Party secretary.
The county initially postponed the openings to Monday after 20 percent of its school buildings were damaged.
The quake affected 153 of the 290 primary and middle schools in Huili, damaging 2,520 school houses and causing 140 million yuan in losses, according to the county education bureau.
Source:Xinhua
Altogether, 12,099 students resumed classes in tents while another 23,584 attended in undamaged or temporary classrooms converted from student sports and entertainment centers in Panzhihua, according to Kong Wei, the local education bureau head. The city was one of the worst hit in the Aug. 30 quake.
The 6.1-magnitude tremor had killed at least 38 people in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces as of Sept. 3.
"The earthquake has caused damages to 183 out of the 598 local schools, leaving above one-fifth of the city's students without safe classrooms before the new school year," Kong said.
The city requested tents after the earthquake and was immediately overwhelmed by the nation's donation enthusiasm.
In addition, China promised to provide more portable houses to ensure all students in the city could move out of tent classes before winter.
"In the seven days when we were left with nowhere to study, I read text books by myself," said Sun Yiwen, a grade nine student. He was among 750 students relocated to a nearby school for members of the Communist Party of China from the Datian Middle School where the quake had devastated almost all the buildings.
"I am confident in myself for the new semester because it is almost as convenient as where I used to study."
However, students in Huili County in neighboring Yunnan weren't as lucky.
The county, which has been plagued by continuous aftershocks, postponed the start of its new semester to the end of October for the lack of prefabricated buildings and tents to build temporary classes and dormitories.
In total, 58 affected schools required 150,000 square meters of prefab buildings and 140 tents, said Hu Kun, the county's Communist Party secretary.
The county initially postponed the openings to Monday after 20 percent of its school buildings were damaged.
The quake affected 153 of the 290 primary and middle schools in Huili, damaging 2,520 school houses and causing 140 million yuan in losses, according to the county education bureau.
Source:Xinhua
China's Vice President meets U.S. presidential delegation to Beijing Paralympics
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Monday met with the U.S. presidential delegation to the Beijing Paralympics, headed by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake.
Xi welcomed Peake, who said his first trip to Beijing was "an amazing experience" and Saturday's opening ceremony was "magnificent."
Xi thanked the U.S. government and people for their support of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, citing President George W. Bush's attendance at the Olympics' opening ceremony and the high-profile presidential delegation to the Paralympics.
Peake said, "It is very wonderful to be here to represent the U.S. President Bush and the United States of America."
Peake said many members of his delegation had attended several Paralympic games and won gold medals.
During their half-hour talks in downtown Beijing's Diaoyutai Guesthouse, Xi also extended condolences to the people affected last week by Hurrican Gustav in the southern United States.
Millions of people on the U.S. Gulf Coast fled before the arrival of Hurricane Gustav, which left many places without working power, water and sewage systems.
"I am convinced that the U.S. people will prevail over the hurricane and rebuild," Xi said.
Source:Xinhua
Xi welcomed Peake, who said his first trip to Beijing was "an amazing experience" and Saturday's opening ceremony was "magnificent."
Xi thanked the U.S. government and people for their support of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, citing President George W. Bush's attendance at the Olympics' opening ceremony and the high-profile presidential delegation to the Paralympics.
Peake said, "It is very wonderful to be here to represent the U.S. President Bush and the United States of America."
Peake said many members of his delegation had attended several Paralympic games and won gold medals.
During their half-hour talks in downtown Beijing's Diaoyutai Guesthouse, Xi also extended condolences to the people affected last week by Hurrican Gustav in the southern United States.
Millions of people on the U.S. Gulf Coast fled before the arrival of Hurricane Gustav, which left many places without working power, water and sewage systems.
"I am convinced that the U.S. people will prevail over the hurricane and rebuild," Xi said.
Source:Xinhua
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)