SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday called on the Chinese and U.S. governments to strengthen cooperation in dealing with such global challenges as climate change. "There are very few global challenges that can be solved unless China and the United States agree," he stressed while answering a question at a town hall with Chinese students in Shanghai, the first stop of his four-day China tour. As the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China should assume the responsibility to curb greenhouse gas emissions, he said. "Unless both of our countries are willing to take critical steps in dealing with this issue, we will not be able to resolve it," Obama said. The president called on world leaders to strike a deal at the December Copenhagen conference during which they would make differentiated commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. China should not take the same obligations as the United States since it has a much larger population living in poverty, he said. Climate change is expected to be one of the main topics at the upcoming meeting between Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. President Hu promised at a September UN climate summit in New York that China would cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by "a notable margin" by 2020 from the 2005level. Obama has said he wants to cut U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent further by 2050, but the U.S. Congress was unlikely to complete climate legislation by the time of Copenhagen, due to great political challenges in the midst of a recession with high unemployment and other domestic priorities. According to U.S. top negotiator Jonathan Pershing, it would be difficult for the U.S. to pledge an emissions target without legislation by Congress, therefore a new pact to combat global warming is a forlorn hope for Copenhagen. The Dec. 7-18 Copenhagen meeting, which is expected to bring together leaders from 190 countries, aims to renew greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, due to expire in 2012.
BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Beijing saw smooth flow of traffic Monday, the first workday of 2010, after a snow storm Sunday caused traffic breakdown in the national capital. The city's bus and subway services went smoothly on Monday, with no gridlock and serious traffic accidents reported, according to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau. During the peak hours on Monday morning, the Beijing Subway Operating Company dispatched 20 additional subway trains to ease the passenger flow. The early bus of all routes started off on time in the morning, according to the Beijing Public Transport Holdings. Most of the bus services ran smoothly, while only 19 lines leading suburban mountainous areas were suspended, it said. From 9:00 p.m. Saturday to 8:00 a.m. Monday, more than 20,000 sanitation workers were dispatched to clean the snow in the city's main roads with 15,710 tonnes of snow-dissolving agent, said Zhang Zhiqiang, an official with the Beijing Environmental Sanitation Group Co., Ltd. By 9:00 a.m., all expressways in Beijing reopened to traffic, while some national and municipal highways were shut down due to the slippery road conditions. The vehicle flow in Beijing was reduced Monday after authorities announced on Sunday that classes in primary and middle schools would be suspended on Monday, and urged institutions and companies to stagger their work time. However, transportation in eastern Shandong Province and northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was seriously affected by the heavy snow. By 9:30 a.m. Monday, many expressways in Shangdong were closed and 19 flights cancelled in the Yantai International Airport. In Inner Mongolia, 13 trains were delayed Monday in Hohhot, the regional capital, said the Hohhot railway authorities. The No. 1820 train, carrying more than 800 passengers, started off at 5:10 p.m. after being stranded for 12 hours, they said.
ROME, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi announced Chinese culture year in Italy at a press conference at the Chinese embassy here Friday. The culture year, which follows Italian year in China in 2006, will officially start in September. "The Chinese culture year in Italy is set to be a central obelisk supporting further exchange between the two countries. It is a crucial project on which both governments have long been working," said Sun. The ambassador said nine Chinese central government departments and 22 local authorities would be involved in organizing more than100 events all over Italy, including performances of traditional Chinese musical bands, dances and operas. Chinese Ambassador to Italy Sun Yuxi (R) addresses a press conference about the Chinese cultural year to be held in Italy, in Rome Jan. 8, 2010 Meanwhile, business conferences will offer opportunities for important meetings between Chinese and Italian entrepreneurs and facilitate trade agreements. The Italian government has nominated former culture minister Giuliano Urbani as coordinator of the organizing committee, which is composed of representatives from 13 Italian government ministries. Sun said 2010, which marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, is set to be a crucial year for political and economic ties. China-Italy ties were "in the best period ever in the history of diplomatic relations," the ambassador said. Cooperation at all levels had recently been enhanced and Italy was a crucial partner for China, he added. The press conference was the first of a series preparing the ground for the Chinese culture year in Italy. The ambassador is scheduled to give a press conference at the beginning of each month of this year.
BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday called for continued efforts to further study and practice the Scientific Outlook on Development. Xi made the remarks at a meeting on further studying and practicing the Scientific Outlook on Development, which emphasizes the well-being of people and comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development. The CPC launched an 18-month campaign to study and implement the outlook in September last year. The campaign had so far yielded positive results, Xi said. The Vice President urged relevant authorities to focus on improving social harmony and stability as well as party building at grassroots levels. They should also focus on speeding up the transformation of the country's economic development mode, and should make meticulous plans for next year's work, in order to push forward reforms and development and maintain stability, he said.
邯郸超过70天人流
BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ruling parties of China and Japan on Thursday pledged to deepen trust and work together for a stronger strategic relationship of mutual benefit between the two countries. The pledge came out of a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Ichiro Ozawa in Beijing on Thursday afternoon. Ozawa is leading a delegation of 600-strong members, including 146 DPJ lawmakers from the upper and lower houses of the Japanese Diet, for a four-day visit in Beijing. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Ichiro Ozawa in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2009. Ozawa led a delegation of 600-strong members for a four-day visit in Beijing The group is the first DPJ-led delegation to China since the DPJ came to power in September. Hu started the meeting by calling Ozawa "an old friend of the Chinese people who visited China many times and made important contribution to bilateral relations." Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with members of a delegation led by Ichiro Ozawa, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2009.This was the third meeting in Beijing between Hu and Ozawa, who visited China in capacity of the DPJ leader in 2006 and 2007. "The Communist Party of China (CPC) attaches great importance to relations with DPJ and would like to work together to improve party-to-party exchange mechanism," said Hu, who is the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Hu called for concerted efforts to make the mechanism an important platform for the two ruling parties to hold dialogues, enhance trust, promote cooperation and seek common development in a bid to boost the sound and in-depth growth of bilateral relationship. Ozawa echoed Hu's views, saying the DPJ was committed to bolstering Japan-China ties and would continue to make best of the party-to-party exchange mechanism for a better strategic relationship of mutual benefit. On the broader China-Japan relations, Hu said the two countries had interacted actively and undergone a smooth transition since the DPJ became Japan's ruling party in September. Hu said he and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama reached important consensus on furthering the strategic relationship of mutual benefit and bringing the bilateral relationship to a new era. Stressing the principle and spirit of four political documents between the two countries, Hu said China would like to work more closely with Japan to properly address the sensitive issues between them and jointly tackle global challenges. Ozawa praised China's economic and social progress and its constructive role in international affairs. Ozawa said profound changes in the international arena offered a broad prospect for Japan and China to work together in all fronts. Prior to the two leaders' meeting, Hu and the Japanese delegation had their group photos taken at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. The delegation was the 16th one under the "Great Hall Program," a people-to-people exchange scheme initiated in 1989. The program has so far sent about 350 Japanese lawmakers and more than 2,000 representatives from various circles to visit China.
BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Friday urged geologists to make full use of the country's rich resources and explore new energy in innovative ways. "Geological work makes the basic and pioneer industry for economic and social development and it affects the country's overall modernization... We should mainly depend on our own power to increase energy supply," said Li at the ceremony for the country's top geological science awards. A total of 14 geologists from the geological exploration, research and education fields received the 11th Li Siguang Geological Science Award. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with winners of the Li Siguang Geological Science Award in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 23, 2009The award is named after China's leading geologist Li Siguang, founder of China's geomechanics. Oct. 26 marks the 120th anniversary of Li Siguang, whose research led to the discovery of China's major natural gas and oilfields. Li Keqiang said geologists, especially those doing fieldwork, shoulder arduous missions and suffer tough outdoor conditions. He urged related organizations to take care of their life and work and create favorable environment for the innovation in geological science and technology.
MALE, Maldives, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday pledged to work closely on climate change and other global issues. Nasheed said his country appreciated the important and active role played by China in the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference held last month. Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed (R) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Male, capital of Maldives, Jan. 5, 2009He said the Maldives is looking forward to strengthening its cooperation with China in dealing with global issues including climate change. Nasheed said his country respects China's sovereignty and core interests, adding that the Maldives will not do anything that might hurt China's core interests and the two countries' relationship. Yang said China will continue to work closely with the Maldives on climate change and other issues, promoting the interests of developing countries including those of Small Island Developing States. Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed (L) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Male, capital of Maldives, Jan. 5, 2009The two leaders said they were satisfied with the good relationship between the two countries and pledged to promote the cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, tourism and fishing. Yang also held talks with Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed in the visit. Yang arrived here Tuesday afternoon on his way of paying official visits to five African nations and Saudi Arabia. He is expected to leave Maldives Wednesday morning to continue his tour.
BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- China should enhance supervision and management of the country's insurance investment, said Li Kemu, vice chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC),on Sunday. "With insurance funds were extended into disparate fields, other than bank deposit, demand for a better supervision and risk control enhanced, said Li at the International Finance Forum held in Beijing. By the end of September, 3.4 trillion yuan (497.8 billion U.S. dollars) of insurance funds were invested in bonds, mutual funds, and stocks markets. Bonds investment alone accounted for 50.6 percent of the total. Jiang Dingzhi, China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) Vice Chairman also highlighted the importance of establishing a "all-coverage" financial supervision system. He suggested the country broaden the financial supervision and management system, which would put the mutual funds, hedge funds, and credit risks appraisal agencies under control. The new system requires financial institutions to share information, and also cooperate to fill the supervision blanks between different financial markets, he said.