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Chinese President delivers New Year’s speech

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Chinese President delivers New Year’s speech
   2016-12-31 19:00:00    CRIENGLISH.com      Web Editor: Zhang Peng

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year speech at 7:00 o’clock Beijing time on December 31, 2016.[Photo: Xinhua/Lan Hongguang]

 

Comrades, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

The year of 2016 is coming to an end, and the bell of the New Year is going to ring. At this happy moment of ringing out the old year and ringing in the new, I would like to extend my New Year wishes to people from all ethnic groups across China, to our compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, to our compatriots from Taiwan region and overseas, and to friends from all countries and regions across the world.

For the Chinese people, the year of 2016 is not only outstanding but also unforgettable. We made a good start of the 13th 5-year National Development Period which spans from 2016 to 2020. We actively carried out the new development concept, accelerated the process of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, maintained our economic growth ranking the first in the world. We vigorously pushed forward the comprehensive deepening of reform, made important steps in terms of supply-side structural reform, achieved remarkable breakthroughs in the reform of national defense and the military, and the main frame of reform in all fields with “multiple pillars” has been established. We actively promoted the building of a law-based governance of the country, deepened the reform on the judicial system, enhanced judicial justice in an all-round way, and maintained social fairness and justice. We vigorously pushed forward the exercise of our Party’s strict governance in every respect, unswervingly cracked down on both “tigers” and “flies”, in a bid to purify our political ecosystem, and continue to improve our Party and our government’s working style, as well as our social conduct.

In the year of 2016, the Chinese “sky-eye” single-aperture spherical telescope came into use officially, the “WuKong” dark matter detection satellite was under operation in the orbit for a year, the “Mozi” quantum satellite was launched into space, the Shenzhou-11 manned spaceship and the Tiangong-2 space lab traveled through the Galaxy, the Chinese Olympians made outstanding achievements, including the Chinese Women’s Volleyball team’s becoming the Olympic champion again, which is 12 years after they won the title. Furthermore, our reform measures have made it a little easier for rural migrant workers to settle down in urban areas, and the condition for many children from impoverished areas to receive education has also improved, people don’t need to shuttle back and forth between different places when they apply for an identity card in non-native places, some people without permanent household residence for a long time can finally get access to social welfare, many people even have got their own family doctors, and “river chiefs” will be appointed across China for better protection of water resources against pollution in the country. All those efforts make us feel a sense of achievement.

In the year of 2016, near the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou city, we held the 11th G20 Leaders’ Summit, we shared our thoughts with world leaders and proposed our ideas, and also presented to the world the magnificent, impressive and elegant image of China. The projects under “One Belt and One Road” Initiative was also pushed forward, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank officially started operation. We have adhered to the peaceful development while resolutely safeguarding the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of China. We will never tolerate any act that undermines our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

In the year of 2016, natural disasters and industrial accidents took place in many places across China, bringing severe losses on people’s life and property, as well as production. We deeply regret those mishaps. On the international front, a few comrades from China’s peacekeeping troops have sacrificed their lives while serving their duty to safeguard world peace, we mourn the loss of these soldiers and will repay high tribute to them by taking a good care of their loved ones.

In the year of 2016, we held grand ceremonies to mark a series of important anniversaries including the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, and the 80th anniversary of the triumph of the Long March by the Red Army of Chinese workers and peasants. We will always cherish the memory of the forefathers who have made great contributions to the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. We will remain committed to our mission, and continue to forge ahead.

Comrades, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

An ancient saying goes, “the world moves on in a never-ending process of the new replacing the old.” In the upcoming year of 2017, the Communist Party of China will convene its 19th national congress, an occasion to renew our commitment to the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, to the comprehensive deepening of reforms, to the comprehensive advancement of rule of law, and to the comprehensive exercising of self-governance of the party. No fruit will be reaped without hard work. We will be rewarded with achievements only after tireless endeavors.

We will make sure that no one is left behind on our way to prosperity. Over the past year, 10 million more people across the country have been lifted out of poverty. I would like to pay high tribute and express appreciation to the comrades who have worked tremendously in grass root units in fighting poverty. As we greet the New Year, there is one thing that remains most dearly attached to my heart. That is those fellow citizens who still live in hardship. I’m seriously concerned and wonder how their food supply and accommodation are being maintained, how they are celebrating the New Year and the Spring Festival. I’m aware that some folks are faced with difficulties in employment, children’s education, medical care and housing. To ceaselessly solve those problems remain an unshirkable responsibility for the party and the government. The whole party and the whole society should show continued care and offer help to those fellow citizens living in poverty. We will enable more people to enjoy the fruit of our reforms, and ultimately let all the people in this country live in happiness.

As one saying goes, “success comes to those who share in one purpose”. So long as the 1.3 billion people pull together in forging ahead, the party stands identified with the people, and the nation remains mobilized for brand new endeavors, we will surely accomplish the Long March of our generation.

Comrades, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

The Chinese people have always believed that the world is a commonwealth. We Chinese not only aspire for good living for ourselves, but also hope people in other parts of the world lead a descent life. At present, people in certain countries and regions are still troubled in wars and turbulence; many are suffering from diseases and disasters. We sincerely hope the international community will make concerted effort, work in the belief that mankind shares the same fate as a community, and build our planet into a more peaceful and prosperous place to live in.

May the chime of the New Year consolidate our confidence and re-ignite our aspiration for an even better tomorrow!

Thank you.
Business, China, Chinese circle, Energy, Environment, Exchange, Green-tech, Indepth, News, Opinion, World News

China has confidence, resolve to fulfill climate commitments: Xi

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PARIS, Nov. 30 (Greenpost) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday that his country has confidence and resolve to fulfill its climate change commitments.

Xi made the remarks when delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of a United Nations climate change conference, officially called the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

As a developing country, China has taken bold actions to reduce carbon emissions while setting ambitious climate goals.

In his speech, Xi reiterated China’s pledge made in June to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, and increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 percent and peak its carbon emissions by the same date.

These pledges represent a big step further from the world’s second largest economy’s previous emission control targets.

“This requires strenuous efforts but we have confidence and resolve to fulfill our commitments,” Xi said.

China has been actively engaged in the global campaign on climate change, now topping the world in terms of energy conservation, and utilization of new and renewable energies, Xi said.

China’s Five-Year Plan from 2016 to 2020, aiming at a more sustainable and balanced way of development, seeks to promote clean industrial production, low-carbon development and energy conservation to ensure sustainable growth in the next five years.

On the basis of technological and institutional innovation, China will adopt new policy measures to improve industrial mix, build low-carbon system, develop green building and low-carbon transportation and establish a nationwide carbon-emission trading market, the president said.

To act on climate change is not only driven by China’s domestic needs for sustainable development in ensuring its economic, energy and food security, but also driven by its sense of responsibility to fully engage in global governance and to forge a community of shared destiny for humankind, according to an action plan China submitted to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on climate change late June.

The highly-anticipated Paris climate conference, opened by leaders from over 150 countries, aims to yield a new international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases beyond 2020 when the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expires.

Such an accord is seen as crucial for keeping the rise in global temperatures within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, a goal scientists say should be met to avoid risky changes in the climate.  Enditem

 Source Xinhua 

 

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China Headlines: Stock market to play bigger role in China’s economy

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BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Greenpost) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s latest remarks on the stock market have charted a course for future reforms and signaled a bigger role for the market in supporting the economy, analysts said.

During a meeting of top economic officials on Tuesday, Xi urged the development of a stock market with sound financing functions, regulation and investor rights protection.
By giving priority to the financing role of the stock market, the president’s call was a response to some deep-seated problems plaguing the market, such as excessive controls on initial public offerings (IPOs) and rampant insider trading, many economists observed.
“Xi’s remarks set the future direction for stock market development,” said Xu Gao, chief economist of Everbright Securities. “The market has not performed well as a financing vehicle, which should actually be its fundamental role.”
Unlike in more mature economies like the United States, the stock market only contributes a small part to corporate financing in China.
Direct financing, including stocks and bonds, took up less than a fifth of the country’s total social financing, according to official data for the first eight months of 2015.
While the government tries to expand the share of stock financing, the public often sees the market as a tool for money grabbing by listed firms instead of a platform for value investment.
To let the stock market play a better role in financing, the government needs to improve its rules in various ways, including overhauling the current approval system for IPOs and reducing interventions in their pricing, said Li Xunlei, chief economist with Haitong Securities.
Investors should also be allowed to use more effective legal means, such as class action lawsuits, to protect their legitimate interests and increase compensation costs for listed firms who cook the books, according to Lin Caiyi, chief economist of Guotai Junan Securities.
China’s stock market has seen rapid development, but listing and trading is still distorted by administrative forces and imperfect regulation rather than based on corporate performance.
For example, IPOs are limited in number and require authorities’ approval, while the supply of funds is unrestricted as millions of individual investors seek returns that are better than bank interest rates.
As a result, the prices of newly listed shares are usually pushed high, providing hefty profits for original shareholders of the listed companies.
Meanwhile, lack of truthful information disclosure and frequent insider trading often lead to market volatility, causing losses for retail investors.
The problems became more evident during a market rout in summer. Regulators suspended IPOs in July after the main market index plunged 30 percent from its June 12 peak.
Last week, authorities announced a resumption of IPOs and introduced significant changes to IPO procedures, allowing investors to subscribe without paying into escrow accounts in advance, giving more priority to information disclosure instead of pre-IPO approvals, and simplifying procedures for smaller IPOs.
The moves were viewed as preludes to a change of the current approval-based IPO system to a registration-based one, giving a bigger say to the market while improving regulation.
The reforms were in line with Xi’s vision to develop a stock market with “sound financing functions,” which will help reduce the funding costs for Chinese companies and prevent economic risks, Li said.
Chinese firms have seen their debt burden soar since the global financial crisis, as an industrial glut and weak trade hurt their profits and slowed the economy.
The ratio of debt owed by non-financial firms to the country’s GDP reached 317 percent in 2014, compared with 195 percent in 2007.
A healthier stock market will also boost China’s innovation drive, which is at the core of economic upgrades and demands more financing with an appetite for risk, said Lu Qiang, a researcher at Genial Flow Asset Management.
“A lot of innovation-based companies will be formed and then disappear. Their financing cannot rely on banks, which favor big firms with mature operations and steady cash flow,” Lu said.
He expects faster reforms of the stock market, including the introduction of a registration-based IPO system and new boards that cater to the financing needs of tech firms and smaller companies.  Enditem

 

China’s satellite expo opens
BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) — A satellite exposition opened on Thursday in Beijing, displaying more than 6,000 new products and academic achievements.
The three-day exposition, Satellite Application China 2015, will attract nearly a hundred specialists, scholars and entrepreneurs from the aerospace and satellite application industry.
Products to be exhibited include a test communication satellite co-designed by private companies and universities, personal outdoor terminals supported by BeiDou navigation and a new domestic-made satellite communication system.
Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, said BeiDou navigation has already been applied in the regional network.
BeiDou services are expected to cover most countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by 2018, and offer global coverage by 2020, Ran added.
The exposition is held by the China Users Association for Satellite Communications, Broadcasting and Television and the Electronics and Information Industry Sub-Council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.  Enditem

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China, Vietnam agree on feasibility study of railway project

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HANOI, Nov. 6 (Greenpost) — China and Vietnam reached an agreement on studying the feasibility of a railway program during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the country.

The two countries signed a document on studying the feasibility of the railway project connecting Hanoi-Lao Cai-Hai Phong in northern Vietnam, according to a joint communique issued on Friday.

China and Vietnam have been in close contact on infrastructure cooperation projects and the deal can also be regarded as a model for win-win cooperation between the two countries as they have called for an alignment between China’s Belt and Road initiative and Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Circle” plan.

The Belt and Road initiative, namely the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was unveiled by the Chinese President in 2013 with the aim of reviving the ancient trade routes. Enditem

Source   Xinhua

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

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Big power diplomacy: China, Britain enhance trust and trade

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BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) — During what was dubbed as a “super state visit” to Britain, President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of deals worth 40 billion pounds (61.5 billion U.S. dollars).

The most talked-about project will see China holding a one-third stake in Britain’s first new nuclear plant in a generation.

Observers are praising the China-Britain partnership as exemplary in China-Europe cooperation and beyond.

CHINA, BRITAIN’S BIG POWER DIPLOMACY

China’s approach to dealing with major powers was clarified by Xi during his visit to the headquarters of the United Nations; a relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

His state visit to Britain was regarded as many as a test for China’s diplomacy with big powers, and it has proven to be fruitful.

Britain rolled out the red carpet for Xi, the first Chinese head of state to visit the country in a decade. Queen Elizabeth II hosted an informal lunch and formal banquet. While Prime Minister David Cameron took Xi to see that age-old British institution — the pub.

“The Financial Times” said Xi’s visit was the “most important diplomatic visit to Britain in several years,” and would recalibrate the UK’s great-power relations.”

During the visit, China and Britain issued a joint declaration on their “global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century,” which will usher in a lasting, open, win-win “golden era.”

“The new definition of bilateral ties reflects both countries expect to achieve win-win cooperation with each other, but not only at the bilateral level,” said Feng Zhongping, vice president of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

As globally-influential countries, the China-Britain partnership can set an example for China-Europe cooperation and at the global level, Chen Xin with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said.

“Though there are disagreements between China and Britain, both countries can learn to manage them. As long as Britain adheres to the consensus reached with China, the differences won’t affect bilateral cooperation,” said Cui Hongjian, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies.

NUCLEAR DEAL, ECONOMIC TIES

Chinese and French companies signed an agreement to build an 18 billion pound nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C, with the CGN-led Chinese consortium holding a one-third stake.

China’s third-generation nuclear reactor design, known as Hualong One, is expected to be used, following British inspections.

Cameron described the Hinkley Point C deal as “historic” as the project would provide clean electricity to nearly 6 million homes and create over 25,000 jobs.

“Britain […] lacks the funds for the nuclear power plant due to the international financial crisis and the European debt crisis,” said Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University.

For China, the gains from the project go beyond economics. More important is the knock-on affect the project will have for China in the overseas nuclear market.

“Investment into overseas nuclear power plant is usually more substantial than at home. We will get returns from electricity sales and equipment procurement, because a large amount of this will be done in China,” said Zhou Dadi, a researcher with the energy studies center of the National Development and Reform Commission.

“The nuclear power plants in Britain will be benchmark projects for Chinese companies to develop the global market and increase people’s confidence in Hualong One in emerging markets,” CGN chair He Yu said.

Other deals included an agreement for BP to sell Huadian up to 1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year; and Carnival UK and CSSC agreed to build seven new cruise ships over the next 10 years, among others.

During Xi’s visit, China’s central bank issued its first offshore renminbi note worth 5 billion yuan in London, and the two countries agreed to increase currency swaps.

These close economic and trade collaborations show that Britain is confident of China’s economic growth, and its leaders are aware of the opportunities emerging from China as it transitions from an economy driven by export and manufacturing to investment and services.

“By working with China to usher in a ‘golden era’, Britain has made it clear that they are willing to seize all the opportunities from China’s reform and growth,” Wang added.

RICH CULTURAL EXCHANGES

The president often attends cultural activities during his foreign visits, his time in Britain was no different.

Cameron accompanied Xi to a pub and the two enjoyed a plate of fish and chips washed down with a pint of British ale. Xi also watched a performance featuring British and Chinese artists at an creative-industry exhibition.

Xi also addressed the opening ceremony of the annual Confucius Institute meeting, saying the essence of Chinese and British culture had sparked a fantastic “chemical reaction” into the thinking and lifestyles of both nationalities through people-to-people exchanges.

“Britain is the birth place of modern culture and sports. President Xi’s activities reflect this admiration,” said Cui Hongjian, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies.

Xi, a well known soccer fan, visited Manchester City Football Academy with Cameron. Xi called for more exchanges and cooperation between China and Britain on soccer as well as other sports.

For Britain, tourism has been pegged as an area that will generate more revenue. Britain announced that from 2016 the validity of new visitor visas for Chinese tourists will be extended from six months to two years.

For its part, during Xi’s time in Manchester, China announced that a direct flight linking Beijing and Manchester will be opened June 2016.

By strengthening people-to-people exchanges, China-Britain relations will have a more solid social foundation, analysts say. Enditem

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson

China, Exchange, News, World News

A forward-looking of President Xi’s forth-coming visit to UK

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STOCKHOLM, Oct. 18(Greenpost)–Chinese President Xi Jinping will start to pay his first state visit to Britain on Monday.

As the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Britain enters its second decade, the visit is expected to open a new chapter for bilateral ties.

During his five-day visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron. The two leaders will map out the blueprint for the future development of bilateral ties.

Xi will also meet with leaders of opposition parties and top MPs.

The two countries are also expected to make progress on trade and economic cooperation during the Chinese president’s visit. A number of deals on energy, finance, real estate, medical treatment and automobiles are likely to be inked.

Cultural exchange will also be highlighted. This year marks the first “China-UK Cultural Exchange Year”. Both sides have held various activities, providing opportunities for the two peoples to communicate with each other.

Alan MacFarlane, anthropologist and a Professor Emeritus of King’s College of the University of Cambridge, says he expects the upcoming Chinese president’s visit to further boost cultural exchanges.

“There are going to be big culture exchanges between China and Britain. For example, British museum is sending objects to China, so does Victoria Albert museum and other museums. The Shakespear Global Company is going to go to China… This is the year of culture exchange between Britain and China, so much more is beginning to happen.”Professor MacFarlane first visited China in 1996. And since 2002, he’s traveled to China every year.

The professor says huge changes have been taken place in China.

“There is immense progress in every field of China, and most of it, it is what I would think was the right direction, it is a very difficult place to keep together, and no other political system that I know of, for example, western democratic system, which was designed for a few million people on this island of England, and then take it to America else where, it is very difficult how that to know how that could hold together 1.3 billion people in a satisfactory way, So China is doing extremely well.”

Yet China remains a mystery to many in the western world, says the professor, who’s also a historian.

“As a historian, I’ve studied my own civilization, Europe. And our history is a terrible story of empirical attacks on the rest of the world, my own nation of Britain is not the worst, but it has its empire, and there are other empires and missionary efforts, to try to conquer the rest of the world. Either into ask or to take their wealth, and make ourselves wealthy with it. China has a different model, which is gradual expansion of the Han people, into empty or half field area surrounds them. But China does not on the whole try to conquer them, so China is one of the few civilizations on earth which when it is very powerful has not tried to build up a huge overseas expanded empire, so we do not need to fear China.”

 Source Xinhua      Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson
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China Headlines: China initiates new round of reform and opening up

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) — Trying to restart a slowing economic growth, China’s President Xi Jinping has decided to deepen the reform and open up the country wider to the outside world.

“China will stay strongly committed to deepening its reform on all fronts while opening still wider to the outside world,” Xi told the Wall Street Journal in a written interview before he departed for an official state visit to the United States on Tuesday.

This was the second time in a week that the president reassured the market, that the policies which brought wealth and prosperity to China’s people will continue, deeper and wider.

Last week, Xi told a room of former U.S. officials and business leaders that China is fully committed to reform and opening up and he hoped they would actively support it.

While China and the United States are expecting much from Xi’s visit, China-Britain cooperation has born fruit. On Monday, the two countries reached 53 agreements on nuclear energy, high-speed railway, infrastructure among many others at the 7th China-Britain Economic and Financial Dialogue in Beijing.

Notably, China suggested opening up its closely controlled financial market, allowing British institutional investors to trade securities in China, and mulling a mechanism to connect the Shanghai and London exchanges.

Premier Li Keqiang told visiting British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne that China is ready to cooperate in an open and inclusive manner.

These agreements indicated that opening up has reached levels unthinkable decades ago.

Since the incumbent central leadership was formed in late 2012, China has introduced many new measures to foreign investment and trade.

China is actively seeking a bigger say in international affairs, by participating in and increasingly initiating, global cooperation.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road initiative are among China’s efforts to supplement the existing international order and overhaul global governance.

The phrase “opening up” frequently appears in policy statements and headlines at a time when China needs to find new sources of growth.

During a tumultuous summer, Chinese stocks were hit by repeated plunges and most of economic indicators were soft. Worries arose about whether China can sustain medium-to-high speed growth. Reform and opening up is China’s solution. Last week, Xi said opening up and reform will add new impetus and vitality to the economy and provide new room for growth.

“China should be committed to attracting foreign investment and expertise, and improve opening-up policies,” he said, addressing the 16th Meeting of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform.

“The government will not change its policy toward foreign investment, and will protect the lawful interests of foreign-funded companies and provide better services for them,” said a statement released after the meeting.

China promised to make a national “negative list” by 2018, of sectors which are not fully open to all market entities, both domestic and overseas. Border areas will explore new models of cross-border cooperation and new mechanisms for regional growth.

More state-controlled sectors will be opened to private investors and it will be easier for foreigners to apply for permanent residence permits.

China is becoming more interdependent on and interrelated to the world economy, said John Thornton, co-chair of Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution.

Regional and global cooperation and policy coordination can yield results satisfactory to all, he said.

“China has been on a course of reform and opening up for almost 40 years. That trend will continue,” said Thornton. Enditem

 

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China signs deal to buy 300 Boeing aircraft

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SEATTLE, United States, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) — A group of Chinese companies signed here Tuesday a deal with U.S. plane maker Boeing to buy 300 Boeing aircraft.

The deal, signed by China Aviation Supplies Holding Company, ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., and China Development Bank Leasing with Boeing, was reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the United States which was kicked off on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. also signed a cooperative document with Boeing to build a 737 aircraft completion center in China.

Earlier media reports, citing Boeing sources, said this will be the company’s first non-U.S. airliner plant, tasked with the completion and handover of single-aisle 737 jets to customers.

Chinese sources told Xinhua that the project, in the form of a mutually-funded joint venture, signifies that China-U.S. cooperation in aviation has reached a higher level.

It will also upgrade relevant Chinese enterprises as Boeing’s tier-one suppliers, the sources said.

Also on Tuesday, the National Development and Reform Commission of China inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. plane maker on the promotion of comprehensive strategic cooperation in the civil aviation industry.

According to the MOU, in the next five years till 2020, the two sides will enhance industrial cooperation, expand scale of production, jointly develop “green aviation technologies,” and develop world-class air transportation systems together.

In addition, Boeing has agreed to authorize the Aviation Industry Corporation of China to increase its production of Boeing 747-8 plane parts.

With industry experts predicting continued rapid growth through 2020 for China’s air transportation market, Boeing is vying against other major aircraft manufacturers such as the Europe-based Airbus Group for a bigger share of the Chinese orders.

The visiting Chinese president, who has a very tight schedule for his stay in Seattle before heading to Washington D.C., will tour Boeing’s largest factory in Everett on Wednesday. Enditem

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News Analysis: New reforms open China’s borders and business

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BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — China is working to open its economy wider to the world as persistent headwinds threaten to derail growth.
Promoting opening up while pushing forward reforms will add new impetus and vitality, President Xi Jinping said at a meeting of a group tasked with steering reforms on Tuesday.
In an effort to do so, several new guidelines including a negative list regulating market access, easier green card applications for foreigners and allowing border areas to explore new business models were adopted at the 16th Meeting of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform.
China will further expand on its negative list to identify sectors and businesses that are off-limits for investment and gradually improve the list through pilot programs. The list has been piloted in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone since 2013.
To live up to its promise of “letting the market play a decisive role in resource allocation,” the government vowed efforts to delegate powers to the enterprises and let them decide how to run their businesses in sectors that do not appear on the negative list.
The list approach is intended to give freedom for foreign investors as any sectors not banned on the list are open for investment.
It is also a critical part of protracted talks between China and the United States on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT). After rounds of talks since 2008, the two sides began discussing implementation of a negative list since June. An agreement would mean a breakthrough on the BIT deal.
According to Tuesday’s statement, it will be easier for foreigners to apply for permanent residence permits, or green cards, by simplifying requirements and streamlining the application procedure.
China only issued around 5,000 permanent residence permits between 2004, when the green card policy was introduced, and 2012. That compares with about 600,000 total foreigners living in the country, most on medium- or long-term visas.
The statement also said China will allow border areas to explore new models of cross-border economic cooperation and new mechanisms for promoting regional growth.
Compared to coastal areas in eastern China, border areas in the west lag behind in terms of opening up, said Shi Benye, a professor at Jilin University.
To fix that, authorities will increase infrastructure construction in border areas, improve local tourism and ramp up fiscal and taxation support, according to the statement.
Experts believe there is vast potential waiting to be unlocked in China’s border areas.
For example, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region can play a key role in the country’s cooperation with the ASEAN member countries. Yunnan and Xinjiang can leverage their geographical advantages to forge closer business ties with neighboring countries.
China’s northeastern “rust belt” provinces and Inner Mongolia can work to tap northeast Asia.
Guangxi has achieved a 13.3 percent growth in exports in the first eight months, compared to a 1.6 percent drop in China’s total exports during the same period, statistics show.
Guangxi’s fast growth in exports is closely related to its increased efforts to promote border trade, especially with ASEAN countries, according to Wang Dongtang, an official with the Ministry of Commerce.
In the next five years, China will seek to advance the opening up of its border areas under the guidance of state-level development strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt development plan, said Huang Shengqiang, an official of the General Administration of Customs.
“The government will not change its policy toward foreign investment, and will continue to protect the lawful interests of foreign-funded companies and provide better services for them,” said a statement issued after Tuesday’s meeting.
With a cooling domestic property market and falling external demand amid a tepid global recovery, China’s economy has hit a soft patch, growing only 7 percent in the first six months, the slowest pace in nearly a quarter of a century and a far cry from the double-digit expansion in previous decades.
The official growth target for 2015 is around 7 percent.  Enditem
China, News, World News

Xi Jinping says China to reduce the army by 300 thousand

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By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Sept. 3 (Greenpost)–Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that China will reduce its army by 300 thousand.

IMG_0315He made the announcement at the Tiananmen Parade on Thursday.

He said  the aim of our commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is to bear history in mind, honor all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and open up the future.

Ravaging through Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, that war inflicted over 100 million military and civilian casualties. China suffered over 35 million casualties and the Soviet Union lost more than 27 million lives. The best way to honor the heroes who gave their lives to uphold freedom, justice and peace and mourn the loss of innocent lives brutally taken during the war is to make sure that this historical tragedy will never repeat itself.

War is like a mirror. Looking at it helps us better appreciate the value of peace. Today, peace and development have become the prevailing trend, but the world is far from tranquil. War is the sword of Damocles that still hangs over mankind. We must learn the lessons of history and dedicate ourselves to peace.

seventy years ago today, the Chinese people, having fought tenaciously for 14 years, won the great victory of their War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, marking the full victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. On that day, the world was once again blessed by the sunshine of peace.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission, I pay high tribute to all the veterans, comrades, patriots and officers in China who took part in the War of Resistance and all the Chinese at home and abroad who contributed significantly to the victory of the War. I extend heartfelt gratitude to foreign governments and friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people in resisting aggression. I also warmly welcome all the foreign guests and representatives of the armed forces of foreign countries present today.

IMG_0317He recalled the history that Chinese people and army fought against Japanese invaders in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War were a decisive battle between justice and evil, between light and darkness, and between progress and reaction. In that devastating war, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression started the earliest and lasted the longest. In defiance of aggression, the unyielding Chinese people fought gallantly and finally won total victory against the Japanese militarist aggressors, thus preserving China’s 5,000-year-old civilization and upholding the cause of peace of mankind. This remarkable feat made by the Chinese nation was rare in the history of war.

The victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is the first complete victory won by China in its resistance against foreign aggression in modern times. This great triumph crushed the plot of the Japanese militarists to colonize and enslave China and put an end to China’s national humiliation of suffering successive defeats at the hands of foreign aggressors in modern times. This great triumph re-established China as a major country in the world and won the Chinese people respect of all peace-loving people around the world. This great triumph opened up bright prospects for the great renewal of the Chinese nation and set our ancient country on a new journey after gaining rebirth.

During the war, with huge national sacrifice, the Chinese people held ground in the main theater in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War, thus making major contribution to its victory. In their war against Japanese aggression, the Chinese people received extensive support from the international community. The Chinese people will always remember what the people of other countries did for the victory of their War of Resistance.

“In the interest of peace, we need to foster a keen sense of a global community of shared future. Prejudice, discrimination, hatred and war can only cause disaster and suffering, while mutual respect, equality, peaceful development and common prosperity represent the right path to take. All countries should jointly uphold the international order and system underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, build a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and advance the noble cause of global peace and development.” Xi said.

In the interest of peace, China will remain committed to peaceful development. We Chinese love peace. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation. The Chinese people are resolved to pursue friendly relations with all other countries, uphold the outcomes of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and make greater contribution to mankind.

Xi stress that the People’s Liberation Army of China is the people’s army. All its officers, men and women must bear in mind their responsibility of serving the people whole-heartedly, faithfully fulfil the sacred duty of protecting the nation’s security and people’s well-being, and carry out the noble mission of upholding world peace.

“Here, I announce that China will cut the number of its troops by 300,000.”

Xi quoted the first Chinese book of poems, “After making a good start, we should ensure that the cause achieves fruition.” The great renewal of the Chinese nation requires the dedicated efforts of one generation after another. Having created a splendid civilization of over 5,000 years, the Chinese nation will certainly usher in an even brighter future.

“Going forward, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, we, people of all ethnicities across the country, should take Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development as our guide to action. We should follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, pursue the four-pronged comprehensive strategy, promote patriotism and the great spirit of resisting aggression and forge ahead as one to reach our goals.

Let us bear in mind the great truth of history: Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail!”  Xi said.

Source: Xinhua

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China to make Silk Road documentary

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China to make Silk Road documentary

BEIJING, June 3 (Greenpost) — China National Documentary Film Group (CNDF) announced on Wednesday that it will shoot a TV documentary about countries along the Silk Road.

The documentary, named “The Silk Road in a New Century”, will focus on history, culture and the economies of more than 10 countries along the ancient route.

A crew will set out in July to travel about 16,000 kilometers across Asia and reach its final destination of Italy in September.

“Cultures along the Silk Road are colorful, and economic potential in this region is great. I hope Chinese people can understand these countries better through a lens,” said CNDF board chairman Gao Feng.

In history, the Silk Road served as a business and cultural link between Asia and Europe. It has regained attention since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed an economic belt of countries along the route in September 2013. Enditem

Source  Xinhua

Editor  Xuefei Chen Axelsson