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Xinhua: China and Iran Increasing Investment and Trade Cooperation

On November 20, 2009, Xinhua reported that China is Iran’s largest trading partner.  In 2008, the direct bilateral trade amounted to 27.6 billion U.S. dollars. The trade volume from January to September this year has already reached 15.4 billion U.S. dollars including 5.5 billion U.S. dollars in exports and 10.0 billion U.S. dollars in imports. 

In November 2008, China and Iran signed an “Understanding Memorandum on Sino-Iranian Investment.” From January to September this year, Iran has invested $67.0 million in China; China has invested $159 million in Iran. Iran is China’s third largest crude oil importer. In 2008, china imported 21.3 million tons of crude oil from Iran, accounting for 12% of China’s imported crude oil.

Source: Xinhua, November 20, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-11/20/content_12512183.htm

People’s Daily: Li Changchun Summarizing “Precious” Experience in Propaganda Work

People’s Daily recently published the full speech that Li Changchun gave at the Tenth Chinese Reporters Festival. Li is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party. He summarized the experience gained over the past 60 years: (1) Sticking to Party principles, always aligning with the Party Central Committee; (2) Always taking the “right public opinion guidance” as top priority; (3) Tightly combining the Party’s policies with the people’s thoughts; (4) Establishing a positive international “public opinion environment” by integrating internal and external propaganda; (5) Keeping up the reform of methods used to “occupy new battlefields” such as the Internet; (6) Enhancing and improving the Party’s control over media and making sure the media leadership is “tightly controlled” by the ones who are loyal to the Party.

Source: People’s Daily, November 9, 2009.
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/10338997.html

Communist Party to Expand in Non-State Sector

The Chinese Communist Party issued a directive calling for all to promote the establishment of grass roots party branches in the non-state sector. Especially, party branches must be established in non-State economic organizations where there are three or more Party members. If there are fewer than three party members, the party branches may be established by affiliating with the State’s chamber of commerce, trade unions, or trade associations. The directive emphasizes the appointment of strong leaders for the Party branches in the non-State economic organizations. “Party branches in the non-State economic organizations are important areas for party building. In recent years, there have been vigorous efforts at party building in non-State economic organizations, but overall this area is still relatively weak, and the coverage of Party branches is not as wide.”

Source: Xinhua, November 16, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/16/content_12470825.htm

US Returning to Asia: Protection of Its Economic Interests

The United States concerns in Asia center around its protecting its economic interests. An International Herald Leader article states that recent moves by the U.S. in Asia, including Obama’s visits, show that the core of U.S. policy in Asia is to protect its significant economic benefits and to maintain a political and economic order conducive to the U.S., “rather than to contain and prevail over China similar to its main goal during the Cold War, which was to contain the Soviet Union.” “Therefore, it is rather radical to equate the United States making friends in Asia with making enemies for China. The aim of US diplomacy in Asia is first to fight for its own interests, and then to guard against China.”

Source: International Herald Leader, November 16, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-11/16/content_12468543.htm

Study Times on Army War Doctrine Change

Study Times, a weekly newspaper published by the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), published an article on how to develop diversified mechanized infantries:

Develop new battle theories based on different battlefields: 1. Battle inside City. The army is shifting its focus from traditional mountain/hilly ground to the city as it believes that cities will be the main battle ground in the future wars. 2. Shore Landing. 3. Airborne. 4. Battle in hilly ground.

Diversify mechanized infantries: 1. Heavy mechanized infantry. 2. Light mechanized infantry. 3. Amphibious mechanized infantry. 4. Airborne mechanized infantry.

Advance equipment: 1. Wheel-based equipment (for battles inside cities). 2. Airborne equipment. 3. Digitalized (IT-based) equipment.

Improve Training: 1. Develop training base for mechanized infantry soldiers (the current training bases are designed for tank crews). 2. Develop multi-purpose training centers. 3. Adopt more simulations.

Source: Study Times, October 26, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=3008&nid=10921&bid=7&page=1

China Showing Limited Dissatisfaction with Lee Kuan Yew’s Comments on China

Lee Kuan Yew, former paramount leader of Singapore, during his recent tour of the U.S., delivered a speech reminding the U.S. to play an important role in Asian affairs in order to balance China’s military and economic power. Chinese state-run media exhibited limited dissatisfaction, stating that the Chinese netizens were furious about Lee’s speech, but then quoting reports from oversees media and interviews with experts with mild criticism of Lee Kuan Yew or even an explanation for Lee from Singapore’s perspective.

Sources:
1. Global Times, November 4, 2009
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-11/622707.html
2. China News Service, November 4, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/hb/news/2009/11-04/1946402.shtml

The CCP Started a New Round of Ideology Campaign Using Role Models

Hu Jintao recently advised posthumously honoring Song Wenbo, Political Instructor of the Dongkou County Firefighting Group, Hunan Province as “Model of Loving People.” At the ceremony, at the Great Hall of the People, Zhou Yongkang stated that “(the party should) vigorously propagate Comrade Song Wenbo’s touching deeds and inspire the public with his heroic noble spirit” and wished that “his relatives turn grief into strength,” and that “his daughter inherit her father’s mandate.”

Zhou also started a campaign in the Political and Law organizations to learn from Luo Dongning and Yang Zhufang. The Ministry of Education started another campaign to learn from 15 Yangtze University students.

(Editor’s Note: Using a “Role Model” was a propaganda method from Mao Zedong’s era whereby a deceased person’s heroic deeds were exaggerated or even made up to create a perfect example for people to follow.)

Source:
1. The website of the Central People’s Government of PRC, November 8, 2009
http://www.gov.cn/ldhd/2009-11/08/content_1459507.htm
2. China News Service, November 10, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/edu/edu-zcdt/news/2009/11-10/1957518.shtml
3. China News Service, November 10, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/edu/edu-zcdt/news/2009/11-10/1957518.shtml

Xinhua: Characteristics of Chinese Language Education in France

The French Chief of Chinese Language Education (Inspecteur General de Chinois), Professor J. Bellassen commented in a recent interview that Chinese, as a foreign language, is spreading rapidly in the French education system. Twenty seven out of thirty education districts are offering classes in Chinese. Chinese is number five on the French foreign language education list. Also, Chinese language education methodology is highly standardized today in France. More and more people – not only the parents but the masters of educational districts and schools – are realizing the importance of learning Chinese.

Source: Xinhua, November 10, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-11/10/content_12427405.htm