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China Starts Research Project to Study Astronauts Living in Space

Officials from the China Astronauts Research and Training Center reported on January 26, 2011, that China has just established its first national basic manned-space flight research project. The Ministry of Science and Technology approved the project, titled “research on astronauts operating capability, adaptability to change, and mechanisms for long-term space flight.” The project will focus on the impact on astronauts of weightlessness, the rapid shift between day and night, and living in a confined space. The research will be done from 2011 to 2015. The results are critical to China’s space station.

Source: Xinhua, January 26, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/26/c_121026078.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

China News Service: China’s Gold Production Exceeded 340 Tons in 2010

China News Service reported on January 27, 2011, that, according to the China Gold Association, China’s gold production in 2010 set a new world record at 341 tons. This represents an 8.6% increase from 2009. China has thus remained the world’s top gold producer for the fourth year in a row since it overtook South Africa in 2007. More than 500 counties in China produce gold. The gold industry has become the key industry and a major source of income for over 100 counties. The top five gold producing provinces are Shandong, Henan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Fujian. Collectively, they produce 60% of the national output. China’s gold market is also very strong. In 2010, China consumed 510 tons of gold for jewelry production, use in industry, and investment.

Source: China News Service, January 27, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/fortune/2011/01-27/2817180.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China Uses Leaders’ Foreign Visits to Obtain Trade Orders

The China Economy website reported that, “Over the past two months, after China’s leaders visited foreign countries, China signed treaties and contracts worth about US$100 billion.” During Hu Jintao’s visit to the U.S., the Ministry of Commerce sent two delegations, in seven groups, to tour the U.S. China (Ed: which directly or indirectly controls all companies in China) signed 14 bilateral treaties and many commercial contracts. The total amount negotiated in the U.S. amounted to about US$60 billion. Last December, Wen Jiabao brought over 400 businessmen to India and Pakistan, where they signed contracts worth US$20 billion. In early January, Vice Premier Li Keqiang’s visited Spain, Germany, and the U.K., and signed contracts with those countries in the amounts of US$7.5 billion, US$8.7 billion, and US$4.7 billion respectively.


Source: China Economy website, January 24, 2011
http://www.ce.cn/cysc/newmain/yc/jsxw/201101/24/t20110124_20755334.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Executive VP of Bank of China: Advancing the Renminbi on the World Stage

China Review News published an interview with Xie Yonghai, Executive Vice President of the Bank of China and Chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Securities Association. Xie stated that, “The current international monetary system based on the U.S. dollar is biased. China, given its present economic wherewithal needs to become a greater international power.” Xie pointed out that getting regional adoption of the renminbi is the key to internationalizing the renminbi. China has signed treaties with countries on renminbi exchange and free trade. Agreements about the regional adoption of the renminbi are being made with countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, North Asia, and possibly Latin America, where China is working with Brazil and Argentina.

“Hong Kong will play a major role as the off-shore renminbi trading center.” Xie predicts that “within five years, Hong Kong’s renminbi trade volume will reach 8 trillion yuan. By then, the renminbi will become the third most popular currency in the world, after the dollar and the euro, and part of the IMF’s SDR.”


Source: China Review News, January 24, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1015/7/8/1/101578140.html?coluid=10&kindid=253&docid=101578140&mdate=0124002018

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China Youth Online: China Increases Overseas Acquisitions

The “2011 World Economy Analysis and Forecasts” published a report by the World Economy and Politics Center of the China Social Science Academy. The report noted a rapidly increasing trend, which is that Chinese companies are acquiring more assets overseas. State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs), including Petro China, Sinopec, CNOOC, the Baosteel Group, and CHALCO, were the leaders in these acquisitions. The sectors most coveted are those in the extraction industry. Chinese companies acquired 91 companies with a value of US$32 billion between 2005 and mid-2010. Chinese companies made purchases in other industries: Geely (automaker) bought Volvo for US$1.8 billion and Sany Group (a machinery manufacturer) built plants in Germany. Morgan Stanley’s report showed that, by the first half of 2010, China became the second largest overseas acquirer of assets after the U.S.

“However, more than 50% of the overseas acquisitions were not successful after the acquisition, i.e., they didn’t generate more money for the parent company.”

Source: China Youth Online, January 24, 2011
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2011-01/24/nw.D110000zgqnb_20110124_2-10.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Ministry of Public Security Carries out the Big Visit Campaign

The Public Security Bureau throughout China has started a “Big Visit” campaign. According to the Ministry of Public Security, Beijing started the campaign last November. Many provinces and cities, including Tianjin, Shanghai, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hebei, and others, started a full-scale campaign in January 2011. “Police officers visit companies, schools, organizations, entertainment sites, and residential neighborhoods to talk about security and safety issues and address people’s needs.”

Source: The Ministry of the Public Security website, January 19, 2011
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/2672661.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Improving China’s Military Training

Qiushi Journal, a publication of the CCP’s Central Committee, republished an article from PLA Daily stressing the importance of improving the current military training to better suit warfare based information systems. The article advocates joint military exercises that integrate various military units, using the information network platform.

It points out that the PLA’s current training lacks an environment that simulates hardships and a near-war situation. Hence, training is relatively simple with reduced challenges. The new training should provide simulations of the actual war field, multi-dimensional surveillance, complicated electro-magnetic fields, real fighting, political and psychological warfare, network attacks and defense, and a hydrological and meteorological environment.

Source: Qiushi Journal, Jan 6, 2011
http://www.qsjournal.com.cn/gf/gfjsyfz/201101/t20110106_61298.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Li Yuanchao on Training Cadres on a Large Scale

The twelfth National Cadres Training Conference was held in Beijing on January 21, 2011. Li Yuanchao, head of the CCP’s Central Organization Department, made a speech on how best to conduct large scale training for cadres. Li pointed out that the training should continue strengthening the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics and should focus on the goals and tasks of the twelfth five-year plan. Li called on those conducting the training to use the CCP’s 90th anniversary as an opportunity to inculcate cadres in a better understanding of the Party’s nature and to enhance the cadres’ thoughts about Party nature.

Source: Xinhua, January 21, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/21/c_121010761.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics