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Private Chinese Company to Build Helicopters Jointly with European Partner

Sino-European International Group, a privately owned Chinese company based in Wenzhou, China, recently signed a contract to build luxury helicopters in China jointly with Eurocopter. All parts will be imported from Europe, while assembly will be done inside China. The plan for the future is that all parts will be produced in China. An initial investment of half a billion RMB was spent to establish a factory in Changshu. Official release of helicopters for sale is scheduled for next June. The price for each helicopter is planned be in the range of RMB 30 million to 60 million. Eurocopter is the largest helicopter vendor in the world. It belongs to EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V.)

Source: Xinhua, February 11, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/11/c_121066688.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Beijing to Train over 10,000 Hong Kong and Macau Public Officials

Phoenix Weekly, a magazine owned by Phoenix TV, a Hong Kong based pro-Beijing satellite TV network, recently reported that the Chinese central government is planning to enlarge the training program designed for Hong Kong and Macau public officials. The officials included in the program will be drawn from most of the branches of the Hong Kong government, from transportation to the police. Traditionally, when Hong Kong was under British rule, Hong Kong government officials received their training in Britain. After the 1997 handover, the Chinese government realized that the mindset of the Hong Kong government officials did not favor the Chinese government. Due to the fact that Hong Kong passed the political reform bill and the general election countdown has started, the central government decided to adjust the training strategy and speed up the “Return of the Mindset” project.

Source: Phoenix Weekly, February 11, 2011
http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/detail_2011_02/11/4619003_0.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Expert Claims Fake Fossils in Most Chinese Museums

A researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Science, called for “deep consideration” of the fact that over 95% of China’s museums have fake fossils. He suggested that over 80% of the fossils of marine reptiles have been artificially altered to some degree. Even worse, the counterfeiters do not think there is anything wrong with what they are doing. One situation often seen is that different types of fossils are cobbled together to create one “fossil.” The end product represents something that never existed, but all parts are “fossils.” The China Geological Museum refused to comment on this matter.

Source: Xinhua, February 10, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/10/c_121059259.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Ministry of Health Issues Guidelines for the Risk Assessment of Health Related Social Emergencies

In order to implement the State Council’s requirements for increasing control over social stability, the Chinese Ministry of Health recently released a Guideline on assessing the risks of health related social emergencies. The Guideline includes seven features: (1) acknowledging the importance of health related risk assessment; (2) the basic requirements of the assessments; (3) the scope of the Guideline, especially for events triggering large scale social emergencies; (4) key assessment areas such as “controllability;” (5) the organizational and responsibility structures of the assessment system; (6) the fundamental procedures for the assessment process; (7) measuring the quality of the assessment. The Ministry requires all the branches under its administration to move rapidly to implement the Guideline. According to the Guideline, those responsible for triggering large scale group petitions or other group events will be punished.

Source: Ministry of Health, January 5, 2011
http://www.moh.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/mohbgt/s3589/201101/50484.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

66,000 Visited Yonghegong Lamasery on Day One of the Chinese New Year

Beijing News reported that, on February 3, 2011, the first day of the Chinese New Year, around 66,000 Beijing residents visited Yonghegong Lamasery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery temple in inner China. Most of the visitors came to pray for blessings and to make wishes. In order to light the “first stick of incense,” some people started waiting in line outside the lamasery at 10 p.m. the night before, despite very cold weather in Beijing. There were 4.8% more visitors this year than last.

Source: Beijing News, February 4, 2011
http://news.bjnews.com.cn/2011/0204/107514.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: African Union Praises Chinese Company’s Construction of Convention Center

Xinhua reported that the Committee Chairman of the African Union (AU) recently visited the construction site of the AU Convention Center, which China’s African Aid program funded. A Chinese construction company also did the work. The AU appreciated the “gift” from China and was satisfied with the progress made on the project. It is one of the key projects under the African Aid program. The Convention Center is located in Ethiopia. The construction started on June 16, 2009, and is expected to reach completion by the end of the year 2011.

Source: Xinhua, January 21, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/22/c_121011695.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Nationwide Training Planned by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security

Guangming Daily recently reported that China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced a three-year national training plan involving 3000 county-level directors of the Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security. This will implement the requirements set forth by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, which called for massive training plans across all government branches. It is believed that the county-level directors play an important role in solving social problems and maintaining social stability. The content of the training focuses on government policies, international and domestic political studies, social crisis management, fighting corruption, etc.

Source: Guangming Daily, January 28, 2011
http://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2011-01/28/nw.D110000gmrb_20110128_6-10.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s High Speed Railways Form a Network

People’s Daily recently reported that, with the completion of the newly planned 4,715 kilometers of high speed railway for the year 2011, the entire Chinese high speed railway system will cover a total of 13,000 kilometers, forming a national network. In the next five years, half of the planned railways will be high speed railways. The current high speed network covers 18 provinces. It is the world’s largest high speed railway system in terms of total mileage. According to the Ministry of Railways, electronic ticketing will be completed this year. The high speed railway system is expected to be the primary form of railroad transportation. The Ministry also believes that the massive construction project will not cause a “debt crisis” despite the lack of profitability on many of today’s routes.

Source: People’s Daily, January 24, 2011
http://ccnews.people.com.cn/GB/13796228.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources