The International Atomic Energy Agency flag flys in front of IAEA headquarters in Vienna. A second team of UN nuclear inspectors left Thursday evening for North Korea where they were to continue monitoring Pyongyang's steps to shut down its nuclear weapons programme.(AFP/File/Joe Klamar)
A second team of UN nuclear experts left Thursday for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to monitor the shutdown and sealing of the country's sole plutonium-producing reactor.
The six-member team is expected to arrive in Pyongyang Saturday after a stop-over in Beijing. The experts are replacing an initial team that went to the DPRK two weeks ago to supervise the shutdown of the Yongbyon reactor. The experts are expected to stay for two weeks.
Officials says the team will put agency seals on parts of the complex that have been closed and supervise the installation of surveillance cameras.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Second team of IAEA inspectors leaves for North Korea
Taliban sets new deadline for hostage exchange
In Afghanistan, The Taliban has said again that its jailed militants be freed in exchange for a group of South Koreans. They've also set another deadline for midday Friday. Meanwhile, South Korea says it's trying its best to obtain a quick and safe return of their hostages.
The latest of several Taliban deadlines for the lives of the South Koreans was announced Thursday. It comes a day after one hostage, a 42-year-old pastor, was shot dead.
The South Korean government has expressed outrage at the slaying, and says those responsible will be held accountable.
But Seoul says it opposes any military operation to try to free the hostages.
Song Min-Soon, South Korean FM, said, "We're making efforts to clear all the concerns, but there are many restrictions. We're trying to maintain our contacts efficiently. We are aware of the general situation, but I can't secure anything because the situation is very fluid. We'll do our best."
The governor of Ghazni province has stressed he's also trying to come up with a peaceful resolution.
Marajudin Pathan, governor of Ghazni province, said, "We will continue to the last moment to (help) release the hostages through peaceful channels, through negotiations. If all channels fail then we will make the decision, we will make the appropriate, the best decision."
South Korea has sent its chief national security advisor to Afghanistan to work closely with the Afghan government to secure the release of the 22 Korean hostages.
He's expected to arrive in Afghanistan Friday which could mean the Taliban may wait until at least then to see what offer, if any, he brings to negotiations.
Meanwhile, at a candle-lit vigil in Seoul, anti-war protesters called for South Korea to withdraw its troops.
Chinese gov´t puts food safety network as top priority
In Beijing, the State Council has issued a series of new measures to improve food safety. Premier Wen Jiabao chaired an executive meeting on the issue on Wednesday.
Strengthening food safety was identified at the meeting as a key task of the government and six measures were listed to achieve the goal.
A comprehensive food safety supervision network is to be created, covering food production, packaging, transportation and sales. The food safety code will be further standardized to meet international levels. The inspection and quarantine of imported and exported food will be strengthened, and the retrieval and recall system improved.
China steps up measures to ensure farm produce safety
The Ministry of Agriculture is also focusing on food safety. Official stress that Chinese farm produce is generally safe for consumption. But they also say they're looking at more measures to target specific food safety problems.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture say stepped-up measures will focus on fishing produce and livestock.
Specifically, they will crack down on hard on practices such as making and selling banned pesticides as well as animal medicines. They will also set up punitive measures for firms or individuals found breaking the law.
Zhang Yuxiang, Dept. director Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, said, "We will also carry out measures to crack down on activities such as illegally producing and selling farming materials. We will enhance supervision of the production of green food and organic food. Inspections on agricultural production environments and farming produce market access procedures will also be reinforced."
Inspections carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture in April show that the proportion of farm produce able to meet quality standards has gone up slowly but steadily over the last few years. More than 97 percent of fishing and livestock produce have met stringent safety standards for the last three years.
According to China's Quality Inspection Administration, 99.1 percent of the food that China exports to the US in the first half of the year also met requisite standards. And for food exported to Europe and Japan, the figure was as high as 99.8 percent.
Japan carried out an inspection on all food imported into the country in 2006. 99.4 percent of the food from China was up to grade, higher than average quality levels, and also higher than those of food from the US and Europe.
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Chinese gov´t to increase budget for assistance to poor students
The Chinese government is to increase its budget for assistance to poor students. The Ministry of Education says that a new plan has been worked out to aid more poor students to finish their study.
The Ministry of Education says it has increased the number of beneficiaries of the state charity for disadvantaged students, from 533,000 or three percent of the total, to some 3.5 million, or 20 percent.
Rising tuition and living costs have become a heavy burden for some Chinese families, especially from impoverished rural areas. Students from less fortunate families account for 20 percent of the total on average though it varies in different regions and colleges.
The government will provide 20 billion yuan, or more than 2.5 billion US dollars, to assist these students next year.
For those students already enrolled by universities and colleges, the ministry promises that no students will loose the study opportunity due to poverty.
Wang Xuming, spokesman Ministry of Education, said, "The Ministry of Education sincerely promises to the whole society that we will not let even one student from a poor family be unable to go to school because of poverty."
A direct "green channel" will be provided for qualified students to seek loans to finish their studies.
Including student loans and donations from local governments and universities,the student assistance fund totals 50 billion yuan, or 6.5 billion US dollars annually from 2008. It covers about four million university students and 16 million in vocational schools.
The ministry has also promised to cut the tuition for underprivileged students and provide more work-study programs.
British report: HK continues to be a success story
HONG KONG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Thursday published its latest Six-monthly Report to Parliament, saying that 10 years after returning to the motherland, Hong Kong continues to be a success story.
"At the end of the six month reporting period covered by the report, we conclude that the 'One country, Two systems' principle has generally worked well in practice," said the report, noting that the rights and freedom guaranteed in the Sino-British joint declaration have been respected.
The report covered developments from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2007. To mark the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Report reviewed the past 10 years.
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a vibrant, dynamic, open and liberal society founded on an independent judiciary, a free press and the rule of the law," the report noted.
In the foreword to the report, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said, "Hong Kong's situation now, 10 years on from 1997, is a real testament both to the arrangements which Britain and China negotiated before the handover, and to the people of Hong Kong who have worked to make a reality of'One Country, Two Systems'. "
"It is also a reflection of the strength of Hong Kong's underlying systems - an independent judiciary, an impartial and meritocratic civil service and a free and open society," he said.
"These attributes have allowed Hong Kong's entrepreneurial spirit to flourish and underpinned Hong Kong's position as the region's pre-eminent financial and business center," he added.
This is the 21st in a series of reports submitted by the British government to Parliament on Hong Kong, which started before 1997.
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2007 Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum opens
The first vice president of Asia Development Bank, Lawrence Greenwood, said the emerging region of east Asia is one of the world's most dynamic. The region grew at 8.7 per cent last year, and the figure is expected to reach eight per cent this year.
Greenwood says the bank plans to provide more support in infrastructure and financial services to the Pan Beibu area.
At the closing ceremony of the two-day meeting, the latest report on regional cooperation will be released.
Cooperation Forum opens
Jiang Zhenghua, vice chairman NPC Standing Committee, said, "The trade volume between China and the other six countries in 2006 reached 130 billion US dollars -- up 22.6 percent."
Development among corporation members has also attracted the attention of many Asian financial institutes. The Asia Development Bank is one of them.
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2007 Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum opens
Officials from China and ASEAN countries and leaders of Asian financial agencies are gathering in China's Nanning city. As the 2007 Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum opens, economic and trade cooperation in the region are high on the agenda.
The 2007 Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum opened in Nanning, capital city of China's Southwest Guangxi Zhang Autonomous Region on Thursday.
The Pan Beibu Gulf rim cooperation forum includes China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.
Initiated by China last year, the cooperation has achieved good results over the past year.
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EU consumer chief inspects Chinese toy factory
The European Union's consumer chief says it's important for China and the EU to maintain trade confidence and trust. Meglena Kuneva was speaking during an inspection of a toy factory in eastern China.
European Union Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva visited a toy factory in Jiangsu Province and examined the factory's quality inspection laboratory.
The visit follows the EU allegation on the rise of dangerous consumer products.
Kuneva says she has seen positive commitments by the Chinese governments at all levels.
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Tribal elder: Some S Korean hostages might be released Friday
KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Some South Korean hostages might be released by the Taliban before 12 p.m. (0730 GMT) on Friday, an Afghan tribal elder engaged in negotiations told Xinhua.
"I am hopeful that at least some South Korean hostages would be freed before Friday noon after some deals are made," Wahidullah Mujadadi said.
Meanwhile, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said the Taliban has given a new deadline for 22 South Korean hostages until 12 p.m. (0730 GMT) on Friday.
The Taliban would decide what to do next if its demands are not met, he added.
However, Ahmadi still stuck to the exchange of eight Taliban prisoners for eight hostages.
The Taliban killed one South Korean hostage on Wednesday and the dead body has been found by the police.
Ahmadi said the hostage was killed as Afghan authorities did not show enough sincerity in the talks and the Taliban also wanted to press the South Korean government to accept their demands.
The 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in the central Ghazni province on July 19.
Afghan and the U.S.-led coalition forces have cordoned off suspected Taliban hideouts in Qarabagh district of Ghazni to secure the release of the hostages.
Meanwhile, the Taliban spokesman, Ahmadi, said militants would execute all hostages if the troops recklessly carried out a storm.
The Taliban also demanded the withdrawal of 200 South Korean troops from this country. The South Korean government said the soldiers would be pulled out at the end of 2007 as scheduled.
Taliban militants have carried out kidnappings in this country over the past two years frequently, and some hostages were killed by the Taliban brutally.
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Tribal elder: Some S Korean hostages might be released Friday
KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Some South Korean hostages might be released by the Taliban before 12 p.m. (0730 GMT) on Friday, an Afghan tribal elder engaged in negotiations told Xinhua.
"I am hopeful that at least some South Korean hostages would be freed before Friday noon after some deals are made," Wahidullah Mujadadi said.
Meanwhile, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said the Taliban has given a new deadline for 22 South Korean hostages until 12 p.m. (0730 GMT) on Friday.
The Taliban would decide what to do next if its demands are not met, he added.
However, Ahmadi still stuck to the exchange of eight Taliban prisoners for eight hostages.
The Taliban killed one South Korean hostage on Wednesday and the dead body has been found by the police.
Ahmadi said the hostage was killed as Afghan authorities did not show enough sincerity in the talks and the Taliban also wanted to press the South Korean government to accept their demands.
The 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in the central Ghazni province on July 19.
Afghan and the U.S.-led coalition forces have cordoned off suspected Taliban hideouts in Qarabagh district of Ghazni to secure the release of the hostages.
Meanwhile, the Taliban spokesman, Ahmadi, said militants would execute all hostages if the troops recklessly carried out a storm.
The Taliban also demanded the withdrawal of 200 South Korean troops from this country. The South Korean government said the soldiers would be pulled out at the end of 2007 as scheduled.
Taliban militants have carried out kidnappings in this country over the past two years frequently, and some hostages were killed by the Taliban brutally.
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"Flying panda" celebrates ANA´s 20th anniversary of China flight
"Fly!Panda" aircraft arrives at Capital International Airport of Beijing, capital of China, July 25, 2007. The special airplane, designed and operated by All Nippon Airways Co., was made to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and China and the company's 20th anniversary of airline service between Japan and China, is scheduled to commence its service from July 25.(Xinhua Photo)
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Children pose for photos with a panda-designed All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 767-300ER at the Narita International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, July 24, 2007. ANA will start using the panda-designed aircraft named "Fly! Panda" from July 25 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its China flight. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)Former Shanghai party chief expelled from Party, government
BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from all government posts on Thursday, said a press release issued by the CPC Central Committee.
His case has been handed over to the prosecutors, said the statement.
The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting Thursday reviewing the investigation report on Chen's case handed by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
"The punishment was imposed on Chen according to the CPC Constitution and Regulation of the CPC on Disciplinary and Law on Civil Servants," the press release said.
Chen was also removed Tuesday from his position as deputy to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), according to the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.
Four months ago, nine officials involved in the scandal were expelled from the Party and lost their government posts, including Zhu Junyi, director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Labour and Social Security, and Qin Yu, deputy secretary of the Shanghai's Baoshan District CPC Committee.
In mid-June, Wang Guoxiong, former general manager of Shanghai Industrial Investment Group and one of the nine, was the first to be tried in connection with the scandal.
The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection started an investigation into Chen's case in September last year.
Earlier reports said more than 100 investigators from Beijing had gone to Shanghai to probe the corruption case in which money was siphoned off from Shanghai's social security system, which manages more than 10 billion yuan (1.25 billion dollars) in funds.
Chen, born in 1946, was the secretary of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee when the corruption scandal broke out.
According to the investigation, Chen had misused his power to support the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Labor and Social Security to grant huge amount of loans from the Shanghai social security fund to private companies illegally.
He also lent a hand to help private companies purchase shares of state-owned enterprises causing great damage to the public assets, according to the release.
Chen abused his power to seek illegal profits in project examination and approval, fund allocation, investment attraction, land planning and promoting inferior officials.
Both Chen and his family received bribes worth "a huge amount of money," the press release said.
Chen also offered help to his family members who were seeking "huge sums of illegal profits" from businesses, it said.
He was "morally decadent," the statement said, adding that he took advantage of his post to "philander" and traded the power with sexual favors.
He also shielded officials close to him who violated laws or Party disciplines, it said.
Chen seriously violated Party discipline, caused great losses to the interests of the people and the nation, tarnished the image of the CPC and his actions had "an extremely bad social influence," the statement said.
"The battle against corruption has a direct bearing on the public feeling, the CPC's survival, and the country's long-term social stability," said the statement.
The CPC Central Committee said Chen's punishment "further demonstrates the CPC's resolution to fight corruption."
CPC organizations at various levels must have a deep understanding of the protracted, complex and hard nature of the battle against corruption, the statement said.
"Setting Chen's case as a negative example as well as a warning, they should find problems, close loopholes and make great efforts to build a clean Party and fight against corruption," it said.
The party organs are required to further anti-corruption education among officials, build a system that can effectively supervise officials and root out corruption.
The statement also urged heavier penalty on corrupt officials.
"As long as one violated disciplines or laws, he would be severely punished no matter what post he holds," the statement said.
The country has taken several senior officials to the court for corruption, including Zheng Xiaoyu, former director of China's State Food and Drug Administration, who was executed on July 10.
Govnt promotes card settlement for transparency
An undated photo shows the application form for the official business purchase card proposed by the government as part of its efforts to improve the transparency of official consumption.
July 27 - China plans to promote the use of official business purchase cards in public service institutions that operate on the central budget in a bid to increase transparency of government expenses.
Working expenditure on trips, conferences, guest entertaining, and other trivial deals less than 50,000 yuan, or 6,614 U.S. dollars, should be paid via these cards, the China News Service reported on Thursday.
At present, certain institutions are used to withdrawing and spending large sum of cash from the government budget, a practice which may lead to irregularities and even corruption, the report said.
Now with this public purchase card, all payments will be traceable. The Ministry of Finance said the cards will be used to monitor the daily business expenses and reimbursement of expenses incurred.
Moreover, the cards reduce cash payments, thus improving control of government money, the ministry said.
Starting on a trial basis, the cards will first be used this year by the Central Discipline Inspection Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, the report said.
The cards will then be expanded to all institutes that use central budgetary funds by the end of next year and to local institutes by 2010.
China rejects arms trade accusation
(Source: Xinhua)
July 27 - China on Thursday voiced its opposition to US claims that it is involved in illegal arms trade.
"For a certain period of time, some countries have connected China's normal arms trade links with other countries to military smuggling and even destabilization of some areas," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement.
Liu's comments came in response to a question regarding a US claim that the US military found Chinese-made missiles in Iraq that were smuggled from Iran.
"This has misled public opinion and has ulterior motives. We are strongly dissatisfied and are firmly opposed to such statements being made," Liu said.
China always takes a prudent and responsible attitude towards arms exports and imposes rigid self-control in terms of arms exports according to China's international obligations and domestic laws, said Liu.
"China adheres to three principles when selling armaments: it should help enhance the self-defense capability of importing countries, should not impair regional and global peace, security and stability and should not be used to interfere with the internal affairs of countries," he said.
The spokesman emphasized that China only exports arms to sovereign states and no arms can be transferred to third countries without the Chinese government's permission. China has also set up a system to clarify the identity of end users of its exported arms, he said.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, clearly understands its responsibilities in maintaining regional and international peace and security, Liu said.
The country has always seriously fulfilled relevant UN resolutions and has never sold embargoed arms to countries or regions with a UN Security Council arms embargo, the spokesman said.
China has carried out normal arms trade with many countries in line with these principles, Liu said, adding the trade complies with Chinese policies and regulations on the arms trade as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The spokesman stressed China has always actively participated in the reconstruction of Iraq, and has made concerted efforts for the region's peace and stability.
"Irresponsible rebukes cannot help to resolve problems," the spokesman said, calling on parties concerned to enhance cooperation and make joint efforts to safeguard international and regional peace.
China is ready to work closely with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting peace, stability and economic development of Iraq, he said.
With particular concern over exports of small arms and conventional weapons, China promulgated the Law on Control of Guns in July 1996, issued regulations on the Administration of Arms Export in October 1997 and started amending the regulations from October 2002.
According to the regulations, only licensed enterprises are allowed to be engaged in the arms trade, and their export items and contracts must go through checkup by related official departments. Weapon producers should offer valid certificates from import countries, including those of end users.
Beijing checks Olympic stadiums &gyms
Chinanews, Beijing, July 27 - On July 25, Beijing police launched a campaign to check Olympic stadiums, gyms and other buildings for hidden security crises.
Liu Honggang, an anti-riot policeman of Beijing Special Police Squad, was responsible of checking all the central heating systems in the National Conference Center, located to the north of the Water Cube natatorium. The fencing and 5-m pistol shooting events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be held here.
The police took various detectors with them, ranging from explosive detectors to speculums for checking the interior of walls.
"There will be a similar check shortly before the opening of the ]Games," said Ma Hui, the leader of the anti-riot squad.
The check will last till the construction of all the stadiums and gyms is completed. The project can be divided into three phases. The first phase will come to an end before September, and it will be the most important of the three, as the rest two designed only to check some trivial things.
Special Olympic torch flashes in Washington
The Flame of Hope for the Shanghai 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games lit the torch, which was carried to pass through a string of landmark sites in Washington, on Thursday, July 26, at the White House hosted by U.S. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush. More than 200 Special Olympic athletes and law enforcement officials from the United States and China attended the torch run covering about 12.4 kilometers. The torch stopped at the Chinese Embassy to the United States, where held a special welcoming ceremony.Red Cross China initiates special fund to help deaf kids
Chinanews, Beijing, July 27 - Nowadays, there are 800 thousand deaf kids in China, with 30,000 newborns joining the group every year. Thus the Red Cross Society of China initiated a special fund called the “Echo of Angels”, to help deaf kids, particularly those from poor families.
At the initiation ceremony, six organizations donated 2.3 million yuan to the fund. Several artists also joined in the ceremony as volunteers.
The fund will help 30 deaf kids from poor families. It will take 1.1 million yuan to pay for their treatment. Wang Rupeng, the secretary-general of Red Cross China, calls for more enterprises to make donations to this charitable cause, to enable the fund to cover more kids.
Qinhuangdao to host fireworks festival
Chinanews, Shijiazhuang, July 27 - From September 8 to 13, the first Shanhaiguan Pass Fireworks Festival will be celebrated in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province.
During the festival, 6 fireworks teams from Germany, Australia, Portugal, Chinese mainland and Hong Kong SAR will compete in a fireworks contest, to entertain the people with a brilliant visual feast.
One of the important purposes of the festival is to give publicity the forthcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. It will also serve as a preview for the grand fireworks show at the opening ceremony of the Games, which, in fact, has become an Olympic tradition.
It is said that the festival will also be the biggest of its kind in China, and Qinghuangdao is confident in making it a new tourism brand of its own.
Former Shanghai party chief expelled from Party, gov't
(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, July 27 - Former Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from all government posts on Thursday, said a press release issued by the CPC Central Committee.
His case has been handed over to the prosecutors, said the statement.
The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting Thursday reviewing the investigation report on Chen's case handed by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
"The punishment was imposed on Chen according to the CPC Constitution and Regulation of the CPC on Disciplinary and Law on Civil Servants," the press release said.
Chen was also removed Tuesday from his position as deputy to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), according to the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.
Four months ago, nine officials involved in the scandal were expelled from the Party and lost their government posts, including Zhu Junyi, director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Labour and Social Security, and Qin Yu, deputy secretary of the Shanghai's Baoshan District CPC Committee.
In mid-June, Wang Guoxiong, former general manager of Shanghai Industrial Investment Group and one of the nine, was the first to be tried in connection with the scandal.
The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection started an investigation into Chen's case in September last year.
Earlier reports said more than 100 investigators from Beijing had gone to Shanghai to probe the corruption case in which money was siphoned off from Shanghai's social security system, which manages more than 10 billion yuan (1.25 billion dollars) in funds.
Chen, born in 1946, was the secretary of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee when the corruption scandal broke out.
According to the investigation, Chen had misused his power to support the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Labor and Social Security to grant huge amount of loans from the Shanghai social security fund to private companies illegally.
He also lent a hand to help private companies purchase shares of state-owned enterprises causing great damage to the public assets, according to the release.
Chen abused his power to seek illegal profits in project examination and approval, fund allocation, investment attraction, land planning and promoting inferior officials.
Both Chen and his family received bribes worth "a huge amount of money," the press release said.
Chen also offered help to his family members who were seeking "huge sums of illegal profits" from businesses, it said.
He was "morally decadent," the statement said, adding that he took advantage of his post to "philander" and traded the power with sexual favors.
He also shielded officials close to him who violated laws or Party disciplines, it said.
Chen seriously violated Party discipline, caused great losses to the interests of the people and the nation, tarnished the image of the CPC and his actions had "an extremely bad social influence," the statement said.
"The battle against corruption has a direct bearing on the public feeling, the CPC's survival, and the country's long-term social stability," said the statement.
The CPC Central Committee said Chen's punishment "further demonstrates the CPC's resolution to fight corruption."
CPC organizations at various levels must have a deep understanding of the protracted, complex and hard nature of the battle against corruption, the statement said.
"Setting Chen's case as a negative example as well as a warning, they should find problems, close loopholes and make great efforts to build a clean Party and fight against corruption," it said.
The party organs are required to further anti-corruption education among officials, build a system that can effectively supervise officials and root out corruption.
The statement also urged heavier penalty on corrupt officials.
"As long as one violated disciplines or laws, he would be severely punished no matter what post he holds," the statement said.
The country has taken several senior officials to the court for corruption, including Zheng Xiaoyu, former director of China's State Food and Drug Administration, who was executed on July 10.
Senior Chinese leaders visit military exhibition
Chinese President Hu Jintao talks with a soldier during his visit to a major exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing, July 26, 2007. [Xinhua]
July 27 - Senior Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao, visited on Thursday night a major exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The exhibition in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution showcases the development of the PLA in its 80 years of history, including the advanced military weaponry and logistic outfits of the army, navy, air force and the PLA's missile troop.
Senior leaders Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng and Luo Gan also visited the exhibition.
Listening carefully to staff interpreters, Hu and other senior leaders occasionally stopped over and inquired about the particular details of some exhibits.
They were especially attracted by the pictures of former leaders Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, who paid much attention to the armed forces and national defense.
Hu showed interest in a group of hero pictures of the army and watched the simulation of the severe the Yangtze River floods in 1998 when PLA soldiers rolled up their sleeves to help victims out.
The leaders inquired about the details of intelligent interactive commanding platform, the simulation system of naval vessels, advanced logistic outfits and new types of missiles and tanks.
The exhibition is "significant and inspiring", Hu said, adding the PLA, led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), is an army of the people and a pillar of the nation.
Eighty years of practice shows that the army has always followed the CPC's command, served the people wholeheartedly and greatly contributed to the happiness of the entire nation, Hu said.
The building of national defense and the armed forces has been the main part of the country's socialist modernization, the president said.
The exhibition runs from July 16 to August 20 and displays a total of 970 pictures and other 1,750 military exhibits on a total area of 6,540 square meters.
August 1 this year marks the PLA's 80th anniversary.
Senior Chinese leaders visit military exhibition
Chinese President Hu Jintao talks with a soldier during his visit to a major exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing, July 26, 2007. [Xinhua]
July 27 - Senior Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao, visited on Thursday night a major exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The exhibition in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution showcases the development of the PLA in its 80 years of history, including the advanced military weaponry and logistic outfits of the army, navy, air force and the PLA's missile troop.
Senior leaders Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng and Luo Gan also visited the exhibition.
Listening carefully to staff interpreters, Hu and other senior leaders occasionally stopped over and inquired about the particular details of some exhibits.
They were especially attracted by the pictures of former leaders Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, who paid much attention to the armed forces and national defense.
Hu showed interest in a group of hero pictures of the army and watched the simulation of the severe the Yangtze River floods in 1998 when PLA soldiers rolled up their sleeves to help victims out.
The leaders inquired about the details of intelligent interactive commanding platform, the simulation system of naval vessels, advanced logistic outfits and new types of missiles and tanks.
The exhibition is "significant and inspiring", Hu said, adding the PLA, led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), is an army of the people and a pillar of the nation.
Eighty years of practice shows that the army has always followed the CPC's command, served the people wholeheartedly and greatly contributed to the happiness of the entire nation, Hu said.
The building of national defense and the armed forces has been the main part of the country's socialist modernization, the president said.
The exhibition runs from July 16 to August 20 and displays a total of 970 pictures and other 1,750 military exhibits on a total area of 6,540 square meters.
August 1 this year marks the PLA's 80th anniversary.
China rejects arms trade accusation
July 27 - China on Thursday voiced its opposition to US claims that it is involved in illegal arms trade.
"For a certain period of time, some countries have connected China's normal arms trade links with other countries to military smuggling and even destabilization of some areas," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement.
Liu's comments came in response to a question regarding a US claim that the US military found Chinese-made missiles in Iraq that were smuggled from Iran.
"This has misled public opinion and has ulterior motives. We are strongly dissatisfied and are firmly opposed to such statements being made," Liu said.
China always takes a prudent and responsible attitude towards arms exports and imposes rigid self-control in terms of arms exports according to China's international obligations and domestic laws, said Liu.
"China adheres to three principles when selling armaments: it should help enhance the self-defense capability of importing countries, should not impair regional and global peace, security and stability and should not be used to interfere with the internal affairs of countries," he said.
The spokesman emphasized that China only exports arms to sovereign states and no arms can be transferred to third countries without the Chinese government's permission. China has also set up a system to clarify the identity of end users of its exported arms, he said.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, clearly understands its responsibilities in maintaining regional and international peace and security, Liu said.
The country has always seriously fulfilled relevant UN resolutions and has never sold embargoed arms to countries or regions with a UN Security Council arms embargo, the spokesman said.
China has carried out normal arms trade with many countries in line with these principles, Liu said, adding the trade complies with Chinese policies and regulations on the arms trade as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The spokesman stressed China has always actively participated in the reconstruction of Iraq, and has made concerted efforts for the region's peace and stability.
"Irresponsible rebukes cannot help to resolve problems," the spokesman said, calling on parties concerned to enhance cooperation and make joint efforts to safeguard international and regional peace.
China is ready to work closely with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting peace, stability and economic development of Iraq, he said.
With particular concern over exports of small arms and conventional weapons, China promulgated the Law on Control of Guns in July 1996, issued regulations on the Administration of Arms Export in October 1997 and started amending the regulations from October 2002.
According to the regulations, only licensed enterprises are allowed to be engaged in the arms trade, and their export items and contracts must go through checkup by related official departments. Weapon producers should offer valid certificates from import countries, including those of end users.
Chinese shares hit record high
July 27 - After more than a month of uncertainty, Chinese share prices rose to a new record high on Thursday following the release of half-year financial reports by listed companies, which showed healthy profits.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.52 percent or 22.49 points to close at 4,346.46 - breaking the previous record of 4,335.96 points set on May 29 - and the Shenzhen Component Index ended on 14,619.74 points, up 1.5 percent.
According to Thursday's China Securities Journal, 89 listed companies that had released their half-year reports by Wednesday witnessed an average increase in net profits from last year of 206 percent.
Although the high figure will not reflect the whole picture of the profits recorded by a total of 1,400-plus listed firms, analysts are upbeat about the combined profit earnings for the whole market this year.
Shares of companies in the property, securities and textile industries performed well. Vanke, China's largest property firm, rose 0.59 percent to 27.41 yuan and CITIC securities leapt 5.12 percent to 66.9 yuan.
Jiangsu Wuzhong, a textile company, rose the 10-percent daily limit to 6.33 yuan and China Garments went up 9.98 percent to 7.16 yuan.
Major banks fell on Thursday, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China down 1.2 percent to 5.77 yuan and the Bank of China down 0.55 percent to 5.46 yuan.
The combined turnover of the two bourses recovered from 196.3 billion yuan on Wednesday to 209.9 billion yuan on Thursday. (One U.S. dollar is equal to 7.56 yuan)
Anti-money laundering screws tightened
July 27 - The central bank has directed insurance and securities institutions to set up an anti-money laundering mechanism this year, and is likely to ask some non-financial sectors to do the same.
"We need the insurance and securities sectors to set up an (internal) arm and devise rules against money laundering this year," Tang Xu, head of the anti-money laundering department of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank, said during a live Internet conference yesterday.
This is PBOC's latest move to intensify its fight against money laundering. Earlier, it ordered the banking industry to devise a system to monitor and report dubious money flow.
Some specific non-financial institutions such as law and accounting firms and auction houses are the others that could be directed to set up similar mechanisms, Tang said.
"We will study these sectors one by one and map out reporting and inspection regimes for dubious transactions."
Securities and insurance companies will have to send data on dubious deals to the anti-money laundering monitoring center of the central bank from October 1, he said.
China intensified efforts to improve its anti-money laundering regime by passing an anti-money laundering law late last year and issuing rules on checking the possible flow of funds for terrorists last month.
It has joined hands with the Ministry of Public Security to set up a network to check the identity of banks' customers. The system went into force in late June, and all the country's banks have joined it, PBOC deputy governor Su Ning told a press briefing yesterday.
If a bank official wants to check a customer's identity he just needs to click a few times for the computerized image of his ID to pop up on the screen, the PBOC official said.
Inverted pyramid found hidden under the Mausoleum of Qinshihuang
Chinanews, Beijing, July 26 - According to Duan Qingbo, the leader of the Qinshihuang Mausoleum Exploring Team, several piles of slates were found above the earth seal on the entrance to the tomb, which might be the traces of buildings that used to stand there.
The tomb, built 2,227 years ago, is located at Lishan Mountain, 30 kilometers to the east of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.
History says that it took 700 thousand workers 12 years to build the magnificent tomb. When the project was completed, all the workers were slaughtered to keep the secret of the tomb safe.
Archeologists find that there is a huge structure built under the mountain, with the shape of an inverted pyramid. The side of the square bottom of the pyramid is 5 meters, and the top of the pyramid is located 115 m deep underground.
What surprises archeologists is that the ground part of the tomb, which was thought to be a hill, might have been built by workers at that time. If this is true, the ground part of the Qinshihuang Mausoleum will be the biggest pyramid-like building in the world, even bigger than the Great Pyramid of Pharao Khufu.
Cloned pig in Shanghai survives eight days
The cloned pig lives well in Shanghai, July 25, 2007. [Photo: Jiefang Daily]
July 26 - Shanghai scientists have successfully cloned a pig from body cells for the first time, the Jiefang Daily reported on Wednesday.
The cloned swine was born on July 16 at a hoggery in Nanhui, Shanghai. The black and white pig weighed one kilogramme after birth.
Experts said that the cloned swine will be conducive to the research of organ transplants. Meanwhile the research will also provide new means for swine proliferation and breeding.
Chinese more open-minded in sex issue
Chinanews, Beijing, July 26 – In 2006, one-fourth of Chinese adults had sex experience with more than one person, according to Professor Pan Suiming, who was also director of the Institute for Research on Sexuality and Gender under the Renmin University of China. The findings are included in the professor's most recent survey that was released on July 3.
Some people applaud the survey result thinking that China has made great achievement in sex revolution. Other people, however, express their worry about the result, saying that Chinese social morality has deteriorated.
Three days later, on July 6, in an interview given to Life Times, Professor Pan further declared that “the sex revolution has basically proved to be a success in China.” As the professor said, more and more Chinese people now have more than one sex partners, which shows to some extent that Chinese people hold a more liberal view towards the sex issue.
The survey, titled "Chinese People's Sexual Behaviors and Sexual Relations Development in 2000-2006", was conducted by the professor after he and his team had investigated 6,010 people between the age of 18 and 61. The survey covered topics like premarital affairs and homosexuals. The most notable point about the survey is the finding that Chinese people have more than one sex partners.
In 2000, about 16.8% of Chinese had more than one sex partners. By 2006, however, the percentage had risen to 25.3, with an annual growth rate of 7%. During the 1980s, however, the percentage was only 6, according to the findings by Professor Liu Dalin, founder of China's first sex culture museum.
"Zhang Wei" the most popular name
"Zhang Wei" the most popular name
(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)
July 26 - There are 290,607 people called Zhang Wei in China, making it the most popular name in the world's most populous country, a report said.
The Shanghai-based Xinmin website quoted the statistics from a weblog which claims it has expertise in researching Chinese family names.
The Shen Feng Wan, or www.id5.cn, blog listed China's 50 most popular names, saying its conclusion has been based on statistics from the National Citizen Identity Information Centre of the Ministry of Public Security.
Wang Wei ranked the second most popular name in China, shared by 281,568 people.
The Xinmin report said it had confirmed the validity of the data with the centre.
In 2006, the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a similar research, which found that Wang Tao was the most popular name. It was shared by around 100,000 people.
Beijing published the names of drunk drivers
Chinanews, Beijing, July 26 - According to Beijing Youth Daily, Beijing Municipal Traffic Administration recently published the names of 11,321 drunk drivers, 40% of them being in their 30s. Most of them are males. In fact, there are only 182 female drivers on the list.
Beijing had completed its database of drunk-driving by the end of last April. The data in it can be divided into five categories: the first including the information of those who have committed drunk-driving twice in a year; the second including those who have committed drunk driving only once; the third including those who have a record of driving vehicles after drinking liquor within the year; the fourth including those who have a record of drunk driving within three licence-checking cycles; and the fifth including those who have committed drunk-driving since 2004.
By July 22, 12,987 drunk-driving cases had been handled in Beijing this year, with 1,414 suspects put in detention. Fortunately, thanks to the hard work of traffic police, drunk driving has only caused 10 traffic accidents this year, killling 11, while the figure last year was 40 accidents with a death toll of 45.
Hostage freed in Nanjing
Chinese policemen persuade a suspect to free a female hostage in a car in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, July 25,2007. The suspect Lu Siwen, 42, held a woman hostage after robbing her 300 yuan in a car, demanded 100,000 yuan and threatened to kill her. The woman was lightly hurt in fingers and right arm, local police said.
Chinese policemen carry a freed hostage to an ambulance in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province on Wednesday, July 25,2007. The suspect Lu Siwen, 42, held a woman hostage after robbing her 300 yuan in a car, demanded 100,000 yuan and threatened to kill her. The woman was lightly hurt in fingers and right arm, local police said. [Photo: China Foto Press]Terms set for normal ties with Vatican
July 26 - The Vatican must sever "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and stop interfering in China's internal affairs if it wants to normalize ties with Beijing, a leading Chinese Catholic leader said yesterday.
The Vatican is the only government in Europe to recognize Taiwan and wants Beijing to grant the Pope supreme authority to appoint bishops on the mainland.
China sees the Vatican's stance as interference in the country's internal affairs, Liu Bainian, vice-president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), said.
His remarks were in response to a report in the Italian daily, La Repubblica, on Tuesday that quoted him as saying he "strongly hopes to be able to see the Pope one day in Beijing to celebrate Mass for us Chinese".
The report has been widely cited by international news agencies, but Liu said it had ignored the preconditions he had set.
"What I meant was I hoped the Pope could visit China and celebrate Mass but only after normalization of diplomatic ties," Liu told China Daily.
"If the two issues can be resolved properly, the two sides will have favorable conditions to improve ties."
Liu's remarks came on the sidelines of a Catholic assembly in Beijing yesterday that was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CCPA.
The Chinese Catholic society has vowed to adhere to independent selection and ordination of bishops and management of its churches.
"Without independence, the Chinese Catholic society would not have been reborn," he said.
The Chinese Catholic society is independent from the Vatican only in politics and economic policies. But in religious belief, Chinese Catholicism is the same as Catholicism elsewhere in the world, he said.
China today has about 5 million Catholics compared to 2.7 million in 1958, according to official figures.
More than 200 Catholic representatives, heads of other religions and government officials attended yesterday's meeting.
Ji Jianhong, chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China, said: "Patriotism and religious belief are consistent in the Bible. Independence in religious operation has been a part of national sovereignty and the core of patriotism and religious belief."
Foreign insurance companies develop quickly in China
Chinanews, Beijing, July 26 – With the gradual opening of China's insurance industry to the outside world, foreign insurance companies have made rapid development in expanding their business in China. In particular, their “investment linked insurance” business has gained rapid progress in China.
By the end of June, this year, about 45 foreign insurance companies from 15 countries and regions have set up more than 120 branch offices in China. During the first six months of the year, the original premium income made by foreign insurance companies reached 16.28 billion yuan. Foreign insurance companies now take up 4.38% of the market shares in China.
Chinese and foreign insurance companies have different advantages in domestic insurance market, said Yuan Li, chairman of the Chinese Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) when attending a press conference held by CIRC on Tuesday. Chinese insurance companies focus their business on domestic market. They usually have a large sales network in the country and know more about domestic market. Consequently, they have a better marketing capability than foreign companies. In contrast, foreign insurance companies set strict risk management standards in the companies. Foreign insurance companies usually have a team of professional staff, an advantage that domestic insurance companies do not have. Domestic insurance companies should learn from foreign insurance companies in risk management, company governance, and product development. On the other hand, foreign insurance companies should try to understand Chinese insurance market better and quicken their localization process, Yuan said.
In the second Sino-US strategic economic dialogue, Chinese and US senior officials discussed about the topic of transforming the branch offices of foreign property insurance companies into subsidiary companies. CIRC is now checking the applications presented by foreign insurance companies, including US insurance companies, in transforming their branch offices into subsidiary companies. For those who have met related requirements, their applications will be approved before August 1, Yuan said.
Right now, CIRC hasn't decided whether to allow foreign insurance companies to set up a specific company to deal with the pension business in China, since there are no laws in China that deal with this issue. Once CIRC has made the final decision, it will announce its decision to the public as quickly as possible, Yuan added.
