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Briefings - 1099. page

2009’s Major National Science and Technology Projects Underway

On November 23 and 24, Liu Yandong, a member of the Politburo and the State Council, presided over a meeting to implement the 2009 Major National Science and Technology Projects. Liu emphasized carrying out the “latest requirements” of the Party and State Council in the fields of science and technology, with a focus on assuring national security, leading the world with a roadmap of R&D, expediting innovations in key areas, and fostering new strategic industries. 

Liu said the Major Projects are based on forward-looking strategic decision made by the Party and the State Council. Comprehensive implementation is underway. 

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2009 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/25/content_12539105.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Xinhua: USCC Interferes in China’s Internal Affairs

Qin Gang, Foreign Ministry spokesman of P.R. China, said on November 23, 2009, that China would like to advise the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) not to interfere in China’s internal affairs and damage Sino-US relations again. Qin made the speech when answering a reporter’s question on the Commission’s 2009 annual report, [1] according to Xinhua on November 23, 2009.

Qin Gang said, “This report ignores the facts, contains a lot of prejudice, and displays ulterior motives. We advise this so-called Commission not always to view China with tinted glasses, and not to interfere in China’s internal affairs and undermine China-US relations.”

Source: Xinhua, November 23, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-11/23/content_12525881.htm

[1] The 2009 Annual Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission http://www.uscc.gov/annual_report/2009/09_annual_report.php

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: Naked Officials” Forbidden to Hold Chief Positions within the Party and Government

In order to monitor “top leaders,” on November 25, 2009, the Shenzhen City CCP Committee and Municipal Government promulgated “The Provisional Regulations on Supervision of the CCP and Government Chiefs,” which forbids “Naked Officials,” those whose spouses and children have moved out of China, from holding chief positions within the Party and the government or acting as members of important departments’ leadership teams.

[Ed: The problem of “naked officials” is known to have existed in China for many years. “Naked officials” abuse their power to get money illegally and then transfer it to their family members overseas. If they are investigated, they can easily manage to escape from China, since they are just by themselves.]

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/25/content_12539184.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: Guangdong Will Employ Journalists as Information Collectors for Any Unexpected Crises

Xinhua reported on November 25, 2009, that Guangdong Province submitted the “Guangdong Province Implementation Plan (Draft) on ‘The P.R. China’s Strategies in Response to Unexpected Crises’” on November 24, 2009, proposing that any governments at the county level or above should employ news journalists as grass-roots information collectors for unexpected crises. The Draft also proposes that all the cities in the Pearl River Delta area must report any unexpected crises to their relevant municipal governments within one hour.

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2009
http://forum.home.news.cn/detailsearch.jsp?id=71931521&ui=l88x66

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Huanqiu: To Improve Chinese Military Development

Chinese military power would be trapped in a shallow basin if its development could not adjust to the quantum leap of new weapons and equipment as in other countries, says state media Huanqiu Magazine. For example, increasing pressure comes from neighbors such as Russia (about 1,500 billion rubles in arms purchases in 2009) and India (150 billion US dollars to modernize military forces over the next 5 years). “The U.S.’ frequent moves in the Western Pacific region have posed a serious threat to China’s military security. This threat comes from its force in the air as well as from the sea, and even from its power from sea to land.”

Source: Xinhua, November 4, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/globe/2009-11/04/content_12385845.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Party to Expand Its Presence in CPA Firms in 2010

The State’s China Institute of Certified Public Accountants announced its goal for 2010 at a Party training workshop: to establish Party branches in every accounting firm in China. There are over 7,500 accounting firms in China with close to 90,000 practicing certified public accountants and close to 300,000 employees. However, only 14% of the accounting firms have Party branches and 11% of the employees are Party members. On October 18, 2009, a Party Commission was established for China’s CPA industry. Deputy Ministers of Finance have urged diligence and online courses in establishing a Party presence in the CPA firms.

Source: Huanqiu, November 23, 2009
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-11/640412.html
See also:
http://www.cicpa.org.cn/news/200911/t20091125_20032.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/25/content_12538678.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-11/26/content_12544990.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

270 Million Have No Access to Safe Drinking Water

A Ministry of Water Resources official released that there are about 270 million farmers with no access to safe drinking water. Besides pollution, excessive fluoride arsenic, manganese, brackishness and other issues are found in drinking water in some of China’s rural areas. “According to the tests conducted by the Ministry of Health last year and this year, roughly only 48% of the water projects that have been completed meet government standards. When people look at the water, it appears very clear but the bacteria exceeds the standard,” said the official.

Source: China Economy Net, November 23, 2009
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/200911/23/t20091123_20480090.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Chinese “Culture Deficits” Do not Match China’s World Position

Wang Chen, Chief of the Information Office of the State Council, recently suggested that China has a very large “culture deficit” in its international exchange and distribution of culture. Chinese culture’s international power of influence is significantly behind China’s current world position and level of economic development. He delivered a speech at the Sixth Members Conference of the Translators Association of China. Wang believes translators have the “glorious” mission to deliver on the Party’s call for the enhancement of China’s “soft power” and the improvement of China’s international influence.

Source: Xinhua, November 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/15/content_12458166.htm 

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics