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Briefings - 1205. page

Hu Jintao Speak on Fundamental Tests to the Party

On February 18, China’s chief of Communist Party Hu Jintao gave a speech at a workshop attended by delegates from the Party’s Organization Department in Beijing. He stressed that the Party are under "fundamental tests on whether it could lead the people, whether it could maintain a close ties with the people, and whether it could become the core leadership of China’s socialistic course." The meeting was presided by Xi Jinping, a new member of the Standing Committee of the Polibureau. The meeting was also attended by He Guoqiang, another new member of the nine-member Committee.

Source: Xinhua, February 20, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-02/20/content_7633734.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua on Bush’s African Trip

International Herald Leader, a newspaper under China’s official Xinhua new agency, published an article on February 19, 2008, commenting US president Bush’s recent trip to Africa. The article said that Bush’s mission “anti-terrorism and humanitarian assistance” did not resonate in Africa. Instead African media believe the deeper reason behind Bush’s trip was to strengthen US’s military presence in the continent and protect the transport of oil. The article found two features in Bush’s African itinerary: 1) Except for Rwanda, the other four countries visited by Bush are all coastal countries to Atlantic; 2) The visited countries are either of strategic importance or under frequent wars. The conclusion is Bush’s trip is to gradually pave the way for US to militarily intervene African affairs by firstly making friends with coastal countries and countries under war.

Source: International Herald Leader, February 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2008-02/19/content_7630017.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Mongolia’s Arkhangai Expects Chinese Language Courses

J. Khurelsukh, governor of Mongolia’s Arkhangai Province, told Chinese Ambassador Yu Hongyao on February 19 that there is a need for Chinese language courses in middle and elementary schools in the province. Khurelsukh regarded it necessary for Mongolians to study Chinese language to facilitate the exchanges and cooperation with China. Recently Chinese language has gained popularity in Mongolia with courses launched in more than 40 schools.

Source: Xinhua, February 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-02/19/content_7632857.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China Central TV Station Lands in Cuba

A celebrating ceremony was held on February 18, 2008, in Cuba’s capital Havana for the landing of China Central TV (CCTV)’s three international channels in Cuba. Up to 2007, CCTV’s Chinese international channel CCTV-4 had landed 66 programs covering 68 countries and regions; English international channel CCTV-9 landed 98 programs covering 90 countries and regions; French international channel CCTV-F landed 9 programs covering 30 and Spanish international channel CCTV-E landed 7 programs covering 7 countries and regions, respectively.

Source: VOA, February 18, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2008-02-18-voa20.cfm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing Expresses Deep Concern over Kosovo Independence

China’s foreign ministry issued a statement on February 18 that expressed "deep concern" over Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. "The unilateral approach by Kosovo may cause a series of consequences and lead to severe negative influences on the peace and stability of the Balkan region," and “China always believes that reaching an agreement acceptable to both sides through negotiation is the best avenue to solve the problem,” said the statement.

Source: Xinhuanet, February 18, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-02/18/content_7621802.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

ChinaNews on Spy Accusation

The accusation that China has been actively spying in US is "a pure fabrication with an ultimate motive", claimed by the front page article who cited the rebuttal statement from the spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs in response to the arrest of four "Chinese Spies" by US. The media fanfare on the arrest is consistent with the continued touting of the so-called "Chinese Espionage" and "China Threat" that has become an inharmonic note accompanying the China’s fast rising economy and the continued improvement of Sino-US relationship. The article states that US has the world’s most sophisticated and complete espionage agencies and 1/3 of internet hacking actives occurred in US. It calls for the US to let go the Cold War mentality and stop groundless accusation toward China.

Source: China News, February 17, 2008 http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/jdtx/news/2008/02-17/1164651.shtml

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

XinhuaNet: Bush’s Olympic Announcement Stamps Approval of China’s Foreign Policy

A commentary article on the front page of XinhuaNet on February 17 appraised the US President Bush’s announcement to attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic. The author, Tan Haojun, who routinely writes for XinhuaNet, claimed that Bush’s announcement was not only a proactive gesture from Washington but also a positive signal for the upcoming Sino-US relationship. The article appraised the announcement as an indication that the China’s foreign policy is on the right direction. It touted it as a proof of China’s rising status in the world ranking. It also showed that "politicizing" of Olympic is extremely unpopular.

Source: Xinhua, February 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2008-02/17/content_7614553.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Massive Construction of Submarine Cable in Hainan

China’s first submarine power cable will be laid through the Qiongzhou Straits this year, connecting the provincial grids of Guangdong and the southernmost Hainan Island. A 34.7-kilometer benthal cable and a 144-kilometer trolley wire will be constructed to link the Gangcheng transformer substation in Guangdong’s Zhanjiang City and the Fushan transformer substation in Hainan’s Chengmai County with a 500-kilovolt alternating current grid. The project will cost 2.1 billion yuan ($280 million).

When completed in the first half of 2009, the submarine power cable is expected to be the longest of its kind in the world.

Source: www.chinaequip.gov.cn, February 13, 2008
http://chinaneast.xinhuanet.com/jszb/2008-02/13/content_12434553.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources