5th October 2010
The Lion Awakes
Daily News, Culture & Current Affairs about China
Graeme has been using ChinesePod since 2007
"I highly recommend ChinesePod, I haven't found any Online teaching programmes that come close."
China Daily
My National Day holiday photos
China Daily wesbite invites you to share your photos and fun with our worldwide audience. Full
Send in the photos along with your contact information to China Daily editors at photos@chinadaily.com.cn.
This page will be updated continuoulsy during the 7-day National Day holiday as we receive photos.
Kaixin OpEd - A must, must see ...
UN climate change talks open in Tianjin
TIANJIN - Negotiators at a new round of UN climate talks, opening in North China's Tianjin municipality on Monday, are expected to pave the way for "concrete outcomes" at the year-end Cancun summit in Mexico, though no legally binding agreement is expected.
"A concrete outcome in Cancun is urgently needed," said Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), at a press conference after the opening session.
"If you want a tangible outcome in December, now is the time to clarify what could constitute an achievable and politically balanced package for Cancun."
China eyes agreements of Mexico climate talks
TIANJIN - China said on Monday that although nations still have significant differences over how to respond to global climate change, some agreements are achievable on financing and technology transfers, giving hope that the year-end summit in Cancun, Mexico would bring more concrete results if they are not legally-binding.
The Cancun meeting is expected to produce a more balanced and comprehensive result. On issues of fast and long-term financing, technology transfer mechanisms and forest protection, agreements are still attainable, Xie Zhenhua, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference on the sidelines of a United Nations Climate Change meeting held in Tianjin, a port city in northern China.
China 'constructive' in climate change talks
Tianjin – China will continue to play a "constructive role" in advancing the process of international negotiations on climate change.
Xie Zhenhua, deputy chief of the National Development and Reform Commission and China's top climate official, made the remarks during a press conference on the sideline of the United Nations climate meeting in Tianjin.
China has made suggestions or recommendations on all issues relating to the climate change, ranging from adaptation to financing mechanism, Xie said.
China is working actively with developing countries and has also established smooth dialogue cannels with major developed countries.
"Both US and China are major promoting forces in accelerating the international negotiations on climate change,” Xie said.
“However, neither of the two countries are decisive factors of the whole process because this is a matter of all countries across the world under the international framework," Xie said.
All countries should share one thought and join hands to promote the whole progress, he added.
China urges balanced way to tackle climate change
TIANJIN - China on Monday said developing countries' right to development must be guaranteed in order to achieve a positive progress in tackling with climate change problems.
As a developing country which is experiencing rapid growth, China will continue to fulfill its due responsibilities in reducing greenhouse gases emissions, said Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo.
While addressing a new round of UN climate talks which opened Monday in North China's Tianjin municipality, Dai said the principle of sustainable development must be followed.
"Economic development, poverty alleviation and climate protection should be considered in a coordinated way in order to achieve a win-win result between achieving development and dealing with climate change," Dai said.
China backing euro, says Premier Wen
ATHENS - Premier Wen Jiabao said on Sunday that China will work closely with the European Union (EU) as well as directly with Greece to tide over the once-in-a-century financial crisis.
China's commitment to advancing China-EU relations "is not an expediency, but a long-term strategic policy", the premier said during a speech at the Greek parliament.
Wen also stated in clear terms that China will not reduce its holdings of euro bonds and said it supports a stable euro.
"We sent trade and investment promotion missions to Europe and signed a series of important trade and investment contracts," he said, noting that the initiatives were specific examples of China's efforts to help Europe overcome its financial difficulties.
When talking about the bilateral Sino-Greek relationship, Wen drew upon many famous names and old sayings, from both China and Greece, to illustrate how the two great ancient civilizations had experienced trials and tribulations throughout their history but had never been deterred nor defeated.
China water diversion investment to top 140b yuan
BEIJING - China will have invested a total of 140.5 billion yuan ($21 billion) in its ambitious South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) project from 2006 to 2010, the country's water diversion authority said Monday.
Chinese firms up the stakes in Europe
BEIJING - Chinese companies are increasingly looking toward Europe to extend their business operations.
In recent months there have been a number of high-profile deals. In August, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co completed its takeover of Swedish carmaker Volvo Car Corporation.
And late last month Shanghai-based Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd emerged as the frontrunner to acquire United Biscuits, the UK biscuit maker currently owned by private equity firms.
Other recent deals include Shanghai industrial conglomerate Fosun International Ltd acquiring a 7.1 percent stake in French holiday resort operator Club Mditerrane, commonly known as Club Med, in June.
'Good news for the world' as Asian economies regain place
BRUSSELS - The rising economic strength of China, India and other emerging economies is not a threat but "good news" for the world, a senior French diplomat has said.
'Good news for the world' as Asian economies regain place
"People familiar with Asia and Asian history never doubted that China, India and other countries would regain their place in the world economy It is good news for the world," said Dominique Girard, executive director of the Singapore-based Asia-Europe Foundation.
Girard said that Asia and Europe should deepen political and people-to-people dialogues to gain a better understanding of the global power shift. Girard was the French ambassador to Indonesia (1992-1995), Australia (1995-2000) and India (2002-2007).
However, during an interview with China Daily, Girard said the pace of this change is fast and "quick evolutions need to be handled with care" if they are not to be perceived as unsettling.
Kaixin OpEd - That is what Kaixin has been saying all along!
Low-income housing key to curb rising home prices
BEIJING - Experts said on Oct 3 that promotion of low-income housing by local governments is key to curbing China's rising home prices.
China's low-income housing system mainly includes affordable housing, price-limited housing, low-cost rental housing and public rental housing aimed at different low-income groups.
Low-income housing, different from commodity housing, should not be regulated by the government's measures enacted recently to crack down on the property market, said Wang Xiaoguang, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Governance.
Since the reform of the housing system in 1998, Chinese families have obtained housing mainly by two means, commercial residential buildings for the middle- and high-income families, and affordable housing for low-income families.
However, skyrocketing housing prices and a shortage of low-income housing blocked Chinese residents' housing dreams, said Wang Li, a United Nation's chief economist stationed in China, who was previously an economist with the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Guangdong to help Xinjiang build cotton base
GUANGZHOU - Guangdong, an economically developed province in south China, has planned to help the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region establish a major cotton manufacturing base.
The base, located in Jiashi county of Xinjiang with an estimated area of 200 hectares, would be the largest in the region's south with abundant cotton resources after it is completed by the end of 2011, said a spokesman with the county government.
Market economy status yet to come
BRUSSELS - China faces an "unpredictable schedule" as to when the European Union (EU) will grant it market economy status, mainly because businesses and some politicians hold different views, said a senior business chamber leader.
"When the EU will grant such a status is difficult to predict, as many, many things happen and they can affect the decision," Bernard Dewit, chairman of Brussels-based Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, told China Daily ahead of the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.
However, he said more and more European companies have invested in China and they want China to be given such a status.
"But there are politics within Europe and some in the economic sectors are lobbying their governments to put a brake on it," said Dewit.
Tian'anmen in Pictures Now & Then - Slide Show
Pictures tell a generation of stories - Slide Show
A Teacher's Last Lesson - Slide Show
Expo gears up for China's National Day - Video
Beijing Blossoms for October 1st - Video
Part Two
Kaixin - A Must See!!
Dialogue - A 30 Minute Current Affairs Programme on CCTV - 9 (In English) where current issues are discussed by experts from China and Internationally:
American Empire and cold peace
CCTV - 9
News for Today
China Business Culture Science & Technology Travel
International News Sources
The Wall Street Journal China RealTime Report
How Important Are Exports For China?
Exports “have been an important driver of China’s growth, but not the dominant one,” the report argues. “Most common wisdom overestimates the role of exports while underestimating the role of domestic consumption for China’s growth.”
Kaixin OpEd - So the bogeyman used by US Congressmen to get re-elected is just a straw man. The big stick they think they are waving to threaten China and force a change in China's Yuan Policy turns out to be a very limp stick indeed, a dangling and a blowin in the wind.
Sotheby’s Big Wine Haul
At Sotheby’s wine auction in Hong Kong this past weekend, the room at the Hong Kong Convention Centre was a sea of raised paddles as the auction house came away with its ninth consecutive 100%-sold wine auction in Asia in 18 months. And apparently, Asian buyers are willing to pay more for wine than Sotheby’s ever considered.
Sinochem Is Exploring Options for Potash Bid
HONG KONG—China's Sinochem Corp. is exploring ways to keep Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. out of the hands of BHP Billiton, including taking a blocking stake in the Canadian company, a person familiar with the matter said.
Among those helping the Chinese state-owned chemical company explore its options is China's largest bank by assets, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., which has also been assigned to help Sinochem raise funds locally for a potential bid, the person said. Deutsche Bank AG and Citigroup Inc. are also advising Sinochem, the person said.
Potash has rejected a US$39 billion takeover bid ...
The New York Times
Japan Uses Electronics for Minerals
KOSAKA, Japan — Recent problems with Chinese supplies of rare earths have sent Japanese traders and companies in search of alternative sources like used computers.
More Countries Adopt China’s Tactics on Currency
WASHINGTON — As the Obama administration escalates its battle with Chinese leaders over the artificially low value of China’s currency, a growing number of countries are retreating from some free-market rules that have guided international trade in recent decades and have started playing by Chinese rules.
China Speaks Out on a Stable Euro
ATHENS (Reuters) — China pledged on Sunday to support a stable euro and not reduce its holdings of European government bonds.
China, trying to deflect criticism of its currency policy ahead of a European-Chinese summit meeting this week, emphasized its willingness to cooperate with the European Union.
The Age
China calls for more Asian clout in global economy
The surging economies of Asia should be granted more power in the traditionally Western-dominated global financial institutions, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Monday at the opening of the Euro-Asian summit.
Premier Wen stressed that Asian leaders expect Europe to relinquish some seats at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the international lender charged with helping nations that get into currency and financial crises.
China GDP set to rise 9.5%: forecasts
China's gross domestic product is forecast to rise 9.5 per cent in 2010, accelerating from 9.1 per cent in 2009, state television reported on Sunday.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Chinese premier pledges path of democratic reform - VIDEO
SHANGHAI: The Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, has promised that China will carry out political reform and acknowledged that the need for democracy and freedom in his country is ''irresistible''.
In a rare interview, aired on CNN, he said: ''I believe I and all the Chinese people have such conviction that China will make continuous progress, and the people's wishes and need for democracy and freedom are irresistible. I hope you will be able to gradually see the continuous progress of China.''
Share Article 
