Chinascope – Page 1121

Ministry of Civil Affairs: Over 113 Million Chinese Exceed 65 Years Old

According to People’s Daily, on June 10, 2010, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a report with statistics showing that, by the end of 2009, there were 113.09 million Chinese who were 65 years old or older in China. This represented an increase of 3.22% over the previous year. Those 65 and older accounted for 8.5% of the total population, and this represented an increase of 0.2 percentage points over the previous year. The population of 60 years old and over accounted for 12.5% of the total population with a total of 167.14 million aged people in China.

Source: People’s Daily, June 11, 2010
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/11845158.html

Briefings | | June 14, 2010 | Economy/Resources

China’s 2009 Natural Catastrophes

A Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs report shows that, during 2009 in China, in as many as 479 million times, people were victimized by all sorts of natural catastrophes; 1,528 people died or disappeared; 47.2 million hectares (116.7 million acres) of crops were damaged; and 0.84 million buildings collapsed. The direct economic loss amounted to 252.3 billion yuan (US$36.9 billion).

Source: People’s Daily, June 10, 2010

http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1027/11841364.html

Briefings | | June 11, 2010 | Economy/Resources

Party Buildup in Private Organizations, Nanchong City

Expanding the Communist Party branches or subsidiaries to the non-state sector of Chinese society has become one of the focal efforts of the Party ever since the fourth session of 17th National Congress in 2009. One example is the mid-sized Nanchong City in central China’s Sichuan Province.

According to the province’s official paper, Sichuan Daily, a separate Party branch has been established in each of 180 large scale private enterprises and 403 mid-to-small size enterprises and social organizations. In 100 other mid-to-small size enterprises and social organizations, industrial or business ties enabled 11 joint Party branches to be set up. The city’s Party committee dispatched 731 cadres into the non-state companies and organizations to provide guidance and to work as liaisons with the high-up Party superiors.

Source: Sichuan Daily, June 10, 2010

http://www.sichuandaily.com.cn/2010/06/10/20100610657394028338.htm

Briefings | | June 11, 2010 | Government/Politics

Ties Deepen between China and Uzbekistan

In a joint statement on Wednesday, after a two-day visit that Chinese president Hu Jintao made to the member of The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and Uzbekistan agreed to boost their bilateral relationship in security, natural gas, science & technology, agriculture, trade and investment.

Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support of the One-China policy by opposing “Taiwan Independence” and Taiwan’s participation of any international or regional organization of sovereign states. China reciprocated with long-term preferential loan projects. The two countries vowed to strike against "East Turkistan terrorist forces" and “extremist religious forces.”

On Thursday, China’s state company, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), signed a deal with Uzbekneftegaz, the Uzbekistan state gas and oil company, to buy 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year. Both sides will connect Uzbekistan’s natural gas transmission system with the China-Uzbekistan pipeline, which is part of the larger 1,833 km (1,136 mile) long China-Central Asia gas pipeline that opened in December 2009, linking fields in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to northwest China’s Xinjiang.

Source: Xinhua, June 10, 2010

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-06/10/c_12206538.htm

Briefings | | June 11, 2010 | Geo-Strategic Trend

State to Monopoly Bundling of Phone, TV and Internet

The State authorities finally approved a pilot program to provide bundling services of phone, TV and Internet, reported Guangzhou Daily. According to a number of sources, details will be announced within a day or two. The approval grants the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television exclusive right to build and administer the integrated control platform for IPTV multicast, and to engage in bundled services of phone, TV and Internet.

Source: Guangzhou Daily, June 8, 2010
http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2010-06/08/content_989275.htm

Briefings | | June 10, 2010 | Information/Technology

Study Times: The U.S. Pursuit of Hegemony Unchanged

Study Times published some interpretations of major changes in the Obama’s US National Security Strategy Report when compared to that of the previous U.S. administration. The new strategy has clearly abandoned the pre-emptive strike approach of the Bush Administration. Moreover, it gives priority to multilateral relationships over unilateral relationship. It highlights the significance of economy, education, technology, energy, nuclear, Internet and space activities on national security.

“The intent is to expand U.S. power and influence and build an international order that is capable of overcoming the challenges of the 21st century. At the same time one should be aware that although the U.S. national security strategy has changed to some extent, the goal remains the same. The U.S. priority is to be the dominant force of the 21st century, maintain America’s global hegemony, and to strategically adjust itself based on a given period’s needs. Once its power if fortified, the U.S. will continue to harbor hegemonic thinking."

Source: Study Times, June 7, 2010
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2010/06/07/07/07_46.htm

Briefings | | June 10, 2010 | US-China Relations

Top Military Leaders’ Intense Foreign Visits

Xinhua republished an article from Wen Wei Po, stating that four Chinese top military leaders had visited ten countries in the past month. The Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Committee, Guo Boxiong, visited Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. The Minister of Defense, Liang Guanglei, visited Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The PLA Chief of General Staff, Chen Bingde, visited Namibia, Angola, and Tanzania. Director Li Jinai of the PLA General Political Department visited Vietnam. These visits were creative and productive as they focused on countries in Asia, Australia, and Africa at the time when the Sino-U.S. and Sino-E.U. military relationships are at a complicated stage.

The article also stated that Li Jinai’s visit to Vietnam settled some emergent issues, but it didn’t specify the details.

Source: Xinhua, June 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-06/05/content_13623144.htm

Briefings | | June 9, 2010 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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

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

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

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