CCP’s Political Bureau of the Central Committee held a meeting on May 22 and passed the following three regulations to tackle corruption: “The Accountability System of Party and Political Leaders,” “Conducting Inspection Work by CCP Members,” “Self-discipline of Conduct by Leaders of State Owned Enterprises.”
Hu Jintao hosted the meeting.
Source: Xinhua, May 22, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-05/22/content_11420259_1.htm
To cope with the international financial crisis we must the expand domestic demand, promote consumption, innovation, and foster new economic growth, thereby improving the overall quality of the economy and international competitiveness.
At present, the market continues to be weak in exports; exports are losing steam in leveraging economic growth. The expansion of consumption, especially in rural areas, has become an important focus to maintain China’s steady economic growth. Employment relates to human dignity and social stability, national strategic planning must take into consideration the unemployment problem. In order to balance the social resources, as well as human resources, effective implementation of national development strategy with employment as one of the top priorities must take place.
Source: StudyTimes.com, May 18, 2009.
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=2649&nid=9602&bid=4&page=1
Outlook, a weekly magazine under China’s state media Xinhua News, published an article outlining expert-suggested approaches to promote "China’s Voice" on the international stage.
The article stated that "some Western media reported untruthfully about the serious violence in Lhasa, Tibet that took place in mid-March." To counter Western media’s distorted reporting of China, it is necessary to broaden the platform for China’s voice to be heard in the world. In short, be able to participate in the settings of the international media agenda. First of all, take initiatives in guiding world public opinion, instead of being criticized at will. Second, improve the domestically produced foreign language content with more appropriate expressions and tone so that they are better quoted in Western media. Third, track world affairs and international focal points; participate in media internationalization that helps to build the basis for an effective guiding force of public opinion in the world arena. At the same time, build and refine the image of the state that will produce favorable results.
Source: Xinhua News (Outlook reprint), April 10, 2008.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-04/10/content_7950835_1.htm
Chinese President Hu Jintao talked about building a strong Air Force in a new historic period. On May 22, he delivered a speech at the 11th Air Force’s CCP Representatives Conference. Hu emphasized keeping “politically right thinking,” describing it as the top priority.
Hu also suggested in his speech that today’s Chinese military needs to stand firm on “core values” which he then referred to as strictly and willingly following the Communist Party’s orders. He also mentioned that the Air Force should be prepared to win local wars under information system oriented conditions.
Source: Boxun, May 22, 2009.
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2009/05/200905221858.shtml
Xinhua reported that China will continue its current policy on Maritime Delimitation and island sovereignty. The issue involves China’s May 11, 2009, submission of information on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLSC). China reiterates in the submission that China has sovereignty, but will put aside disputes to seek joint development with other countries. Most of submissions made by other countries to CLCS are for areas over which the submitters have disputes with China, Xinhua observed.
Source: Xinhua, May 18, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-05/18/content_11394144.htm
According to comments in Study Times, the United States is applying its smart power policy to its U.S.-China relationship. The article states that smart power has three major characteristics: it is rational and objective; it is comprehensive and very “pragmatic;” and finally, it has a high operability. “Almost all of those who have proposed and developed the ‘smart power’ policy are politicians who have given full consideration to the needs of front-line diplomatic practices, thus making the policy highly operable.” According to Study Times, the record of Obama’s first 100 days indicates that smart power has been adopted to guide U.S. foreign strategy.
Source: Study Times, May 18, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=2647&nid=9615&bid=2&page=1
With approval from its chairman, Hu Jintao, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Military Commission recently issued “The Order on Further Strengthening the Leadership Behavior for Senior and Mid-Level Military Officers.” The order requires that the senior and mid-level military officers have firm belief in the Communist Party and remain clearheaded politically. It states that the overall requirements are: insisting that the Communist Party manage itself; manage the party strictly; focus on the capability development and advancement of the Party organization in the military; greatly promote the core values of contemporary revolutionary soldiers: "loyalty to the party, love for the people, service to the country and devotion to the mission and upholding honor;” emphasize on improving the leaderships’ party nature (primarily loyal to the party and following party’s direction) and establishing and maintaining fine style of work; and start from strictly executing and maintaining the Party’s discipline and formalizing and executing procedures.
Source: China News, May 17, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/05-17/1695110.shtml
China News published a report that Premier Wen Jiabao would go to Prague, Czech Republic on May 20, 2009 for the eleventh China-EU Summit. It stated that China and the EU are closely embracing each other.
The second China-EU High-level Trade and Economic Dialogue was held in Brussels on May 8, 2009. China sent senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Transportation, General Administration of Customs, and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. The EU representatives were from the fields of business and industry, transportation, internal market, agriculture, consumer protection, customs, environmental protection, information society, and competition. With such a large number of participants, the meeting reached agreements in five areas, including implementation of the general agreement from G-20, anti-protectionism for trade and investment, encouragement for business to participate in each party’s economy development plan, joint support to small to mid-sized business development, and energy development and environmental collaboration.
China is the EU’s second largest trading partner.
Source: China News, May 17
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/05-17/1695184.shtml