Lang Lang denied that he was aware of the song’s background. China’s state media also said not to read too much into the song, but to many Chinese, this is a great diplomatic victory over the United States, especially right after the U.S. demonstrated superior military power in the face of China. The following are some comments by Chinese netizens.]
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
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.”
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
International Herald Leader: China to Diversify Its Foreign Exchange Reserves
Source: International Herald Leader, January 17, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/17/c_13694069.htmchina’s
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
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
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