Chinascope – Page 1328

China to Increase Oil and Electricity Price

National Development and Reform Commission issued a notice stating that Oil and Electricity price will increase starting June 20. The notice said that the increase would exclude three provinces (Sichuan, Shanxi, and Gansu) which were affected by the earth quake.

China has been imposing the government controlled oil pricing system with supplemental funding from the government to keep the oil price low. The recent increase was resulted from the pressure of the worldwide oil price surge.

Source: BBC, June 19, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7460000/newsid_7464300/7464311.stm

Briefings | | June 22, 2008 | Economy/Resources

Reservoirs May Flood Yellow River This Year

The Yellow River is likely to flood this year, warned China Meteorological Administration on June 16, 2008. Rainfall is expected to increase by 20 to 50 percent compared with previous years. The last flood in the Yellow River occurred back in 1982. “The flood situation is very severe due to dangerous reservoirs and hidden safety crises,” said China Meteorological Administration. The Yellow River is China’s second largest with 5,464 km in lengths.

Source: Xinhua, June 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-06/16/content_8379394.htm

Briefings | | June 20, 2008 | Economy/Resources

State Imposes Coal Ceiling Price

On June 19, 2008 China State Development and Reform Commission announced temporary price ceiling for coal. Effective December 31, 2008, the June 19 settlement price for coal used for power generation will become the temporary ceiling price. The purpose of this price intervention is claimed to “prevent price hikes of coal and electricity, and to promote coordinated, stable and healthy development of coal and power industry.”

Source: Xinhua, June 20, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/20/content_8403443.htm

Briefings | | June 20, 2008 | Economy/Resources

State Official Claims Human Rights Improved Without Confrontation With State

Chinese citizens achieve human rights without confrontation with the State, claimed Luo Haocai, Vice Chairman of the National Political Consultative Congress and Chairman of the China Human Rights Research Society, during a speech given in an International conference in Tokyo on June 16. Luo claimed that China has made significant progress and achievement in the cause of the human rights by consistently fulfilling the objective and principle based on the UN articles “Charter of the United Nations” and “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” There are still numerous problems and difficulties in the human rights cause in China, Luo admitted.

Source: Chinanews, June 16, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/06-16/1283236.shtml

Briefings | | June 19, 2008 | Government/Politics

China BBS Forum: “Kung Fu Panda” is Unwelcomed in China.

On June 17, three people were protesting outside of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television against the movie “Kung Fu Panda” entering China. The messages on the banner reads: “We will not allow Hollywood to make money in China after we survived the natural disaster”; “Get out! Hollywood”; “Get out! Kung Fu Panda!”

The comments posted along with the pictures noted that according to unverified sources, the reason to call for banning “Kung Fu Panda” is because people were upset with Spielberg’s letter dated in February 2008 withdrawing as an artistic advisor to the Beijing Olympics. Kung Fu Panda is due for release in China on Friday June 20.

Source: Sina, June 16, 2008
http://bbs.sina.com/viewthread.php?tid=43934&extra=page%3D1

Briefings | | June 18, 2008 | US-China Relations

Fear Arises Over Housing Market Downturn Following Stock Market Plunge

China’s housing developers showed great concern over the plunge stock market fearing the further decline in housing market. The statistics showed that the number of sales closed in Beijing for the week of June 9 was 2017, a 25 percent down compared with the same period of 2007 and 50 percent down from 2006.

China’s stock market fell over 10 percent last week, the worst ever in the past twelve years.

Source: Xinhua, June 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-06/16/content_8380076.htm

Briefings | | June 17, 2008 | Economy/Resources

Confucius Institute Opened in West Africa

On June 17, an opening ceremony of the Confucius Institute was held in Lomé, capital of Togo in West Africa. According to the statistics by the office of Chinese Language Council International, as of March 2008, 238 Confucius Institutes have opened in 69 countries and regions. The number has nearly doubled in two years from 2006 when 120 Confucius Institutes were established in 50 countries and regions.

Source:
Xinhua, June 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/17/content_8388476.htm
The office of Chinese Language Council International http://www.hanban.org/cn_hanban/content.php?id=3258

Briefings | | June 17, 2008 | Information/Technology

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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.”