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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

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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

Propaganda Department Campaigns against False Reporting

The CCP Secretary of China’s Reporters Association, Zhai Huisheng, recently led the Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Department in launching a campaign to “eliminate false reporting.”

Zhai said that Beijing’s "most fundamental news media policy is not to allow individuals to run any media." However, with the rapid development of new media, anyone can become a "journalist." He added, "If someone does not have a clear grasp of the big picture and is not politically steadfast," there will be "false reporting." “These false reports” are “expanding to the political, economic, social, cultural, and other fields. They involve major issues that affect people’s livelihoods and macroeconomic policy." They pose a challenge to the "Party and the government’s capacity to govern.” 
Ten teams composed of officials from leading positions in the CCP’s Propaganda Department, International Communication office, People’s Daily, Xinhua, and other agencies are to be sent to 14 provinces to “supervise and inspect” the news media there.
Source: Radio France International, January 27, 2011
http://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20110127-%E4%B8%AD%E5%AE%A3%E9%83%A8%E6%8E%A8%E5%8A
%A8%E6%96%B0%E4%B8%80%E8%BD%AE%E6%96%B0%E9
%97%BB%E7%AE%A1%E5%88%B6%E8%BF%90%E5%8A%A8
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

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

International Herald Leader: China to Diversify Its Foreign Exchange Reserves

The International Herald Leader, a Xinhua publication, reported that, according to a January 11, 2011, release from the Bank of China, China’s foreign exchange reserves had reached US$2.8473 trillion by the end of 2010, an increase of about US$448.1 billion, or 18%, over the previous year. Reports from September 2010 indicate that about 65% of China’s reserves are in US dollars. In 2010, China was active in acquiring government debts in countries such as Japan, Spain, and South Korea, in anticipation of the depreciation of the U.S. dollar. “If investment in government bonds issued by South Korea and Japan demonstrates China’s short-term investment strategy, the purchase of European government bonds indicates China’s long term strategy.”

Source: International Herald Leader, January 17, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/17/c_13694069.htmchina’s      

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China and Russia Held Talks on Global Security

China and Russia held their fifth round of strategic security talks in Moscow on January 24, 2011. Led by State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, the parties discussed  the global security situation and their bilateral relationship in depth. The two sides acknowledged that the bilateral relationship has achieved unprecedented progress and has firmly supported each country’s core interests. The parties affirmed that the bilateral consultation mechanism is an important channel to communicate and coordinate on major strategic global issues. The next round of consultation will take place in China in 2011.

Source: Xinhua, January 25, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/25/c_121019062.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China Signed MOU with Zambia on Press and Publications

On January 25, 2011, Xinhua reported that China signed a memorandum of understanding with Zambia in which the two countries agreed to promote cooperation between their respective media industries. Liu Binjie, Director of the General Administration of Press and Publications, told Zambia Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Ronnie Shikapwasha, “Zambia can learn from China’s experience of rapid development in traditional media and new media, and can, through cooperation, accelerate the construction of digital media platforms to achieve a quantum leap in development.”

Source: Xinhua, January 25, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/25/c_121019115.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

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