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Guangdong and Hong Kong Jointly Building New Economic Region

Xinhua recently republished a report by China Securities Journal on an April 7 event in which the governments of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong signed a framework agreement of cooperation. The agreement focuses on improving Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center. It was made clear that the goal is to enhance Hong Kong’s leading position by integrating resources and services provided by Guangdong Province. The two sides agreed to jointly push the tests of cross-border RMB settlements with needed infrastructure. This is one step in exploring the path of the internationalization of the Chinese currency. Other important elements of the agreement are making the region a center for air travel, shipping, cargo distribution and human talent.

Source: Xinhua, April 8, 2010
http://cs.xinhuanet.com/xwzx/05/201004/t20100408_2387891.htm

Chinese Capital Needd a Better Looking Face

The International Herald Leader, under Xinhua, published an article suggesting that a better looking face is needed for Chinese capital going abroad. The article identified the Chinese economy’s rapid growth as the primary reason for Chinese to invest in the outside world. However, a negative image of Chinese investments is being built in some countries because: (1) the competitors are spreading negative views; (2) Chinese investors are not acting properly; (3) the industries receiving investments are tough; (4) some western countries spread slander.

The author believes Chinese capital must have a better image. It relies on the self-discipline of Chinese investors as well as media reports. Unfortunately western media have a monopoly and they are often the origin of false accusations.

Source: Xinhua, April 15, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-04/15/content_13358462.htm

Xinhua: Websites in Yunnan must log onto Yunnan Police Networking System and be monitored

According to Xinhua on April 16, 2010, the Yunnan Province Public Security Department has made a decision requiring all websites and network units in Yunnan province to log onto the “Yunnan Public Security Office Network Record Management System" (http://www.yn.cyberpolice.cn:81) between April and September 2010 in order to be registered for being monitored constantly. All Internet users are asked to identify the Public Security icon and only use the websites monitored by the cyberpolice.

According to a Xinhua reporter, the number of Internet users in Yunnan province has reached 8.44 million.

Source: Xinhua, April 16, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/internet/2010-04/16/content_13367551.htm

Farmers Daily: Over 300 million Chinese peasants do not have clean water to drink

According to Farmers Daily (www.farmer.com.cn) on April 9, 2010, more than 300 million people in rural areas do not have any clean drinking water. Over 60% of the substandard drinking water is the result of non-natural factors. The cancer mortality rate, which is closely related to environmental pollution, increases year by year in the rural population.

The causes of pollution in rural areas are 1) few waste and water treatment facilities; 2) chemical fertilizers and pesticides everywhere; 3) high pollution and high energy consumption industrial enterprises entering the rural areas.

Source: Farmers Daily, April 9, 2010
http://www.farmer.com.cn/gd/snwp/201004/t20100409_536442.htm

CNTheory: China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever

On April 19, 2009, www.cntheory.com, which is directly under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee Party School, published an article titled, “China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever.”

According to the article, Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said to a visiting Japanese Defense Minister in 2009, "Among the big nations only China does not have an aircraft carrier. China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever."

The article argues that, for international strategic considerations, China must have an aircraft carrier. To maintain domestic prosperity, it must first maintain its strength overseas. Aircraft carriers are needed not only for the protection of territorial waters and coastal resources, but also for the maintenance of overseas interests and dealing with the potential threats from international hostile forces.

Source: www.cntheory.com, April 19, 2010
http://www.cntheory.com/news/XXSBRDGZ/2010/412/1041210346FD5B4169K6AH6KD06F81.html

Preferential Financing for Cultural Industries; Nine Agencies Issue Joint Directive

The Guidance on the Financial Support of Revitalization, Development, and Prosperity of Cultural Industries was issued on March 26 by nine central party and government agencies including the People’s Bank of China, the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture, State Administration of Radio Film and Television, the General Administration of Press and Publications, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission. 

The Guidance is the first ever macroeconomic preferential policy on financing for cultural industries. It requires the financial institutes to actively develop finance products, establish a credit rating system, and provide quality financial services oriented toward cultural industries. It proposes to develop multilevel capital markets for cultural enterprises to directly raise capital, be listed on the stock market, and issue bonds and securities. Venture capital funds, private equity funds, and insurance institutions are also encouraged to invest in or serve the industry. 
Source: Xinhua, April 9, 2010 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2010-04/09/content_13323518.htm

China Scholar: U.S. Is Exporting Inflation to Contain China

In an April 13 article published on China’s official newspaper Global Times, a China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) scholar, Zhang Jiye, considered the U.S. government’s inflationary economic policy to be a measure to contain the rise of China. 

“Firstly, the U.S. can use the export of ‘inflation’ and depreciation of the dollar to massively devalue China’s foreign exchange reserve, empty China’s strategic assets, and delay China’s rise. Secondly, the U.S.’s low interest and low exchange rate policy will amplify the expectation of the yuan’s appreciation, further attracting international hot money into China and exacerbating China’s stock market and housing bubbles. Thirdly, the dollar depreciation could push up commodity prices, deepen China’s inflation introduced by importation, and cause social instability.” Zhang suggested that the government unpeg the yuan from the dollar and diversify China’s foreign asset structure. 
Source: Global Times, April 13, 2010 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-04/775740.html

Global Times: Nuclear Super Powers Will Not Lead China by the Nose

China’s official Global Times published an exclusive military report on April 16, “Nuclear super powers will not lead China by the nose,” countering some media critics on China’s nuclear capacity. 

“As the U.S. and Russia currently possess more than 90% of the world’s nuclear heads, they still have their absolute advantage in nuclear power. Even if they cut their nuclear heads by half, it’s just a natural thing in terms of world peace. Moreover, the U.S. and Russia only signed a treaty and have taken no real action yet. At the same time, hawks in the U.S. are crying for an even stronger nuclear capacity. Through these arguments, we find it very difficult not to develop the worry that some people in the U.S. may only be playing an old card, weakening others’ strength in exchange for its own advantage, and maintaining its own nuclear superiority by pressing other countries for nuclear disarmament.” 
Source: Global Times, April 16, 2010 
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Exclusive/2010-04/779903.html