Chinascope – Page 697

China News: Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone to be Established

China News recently reported that the end of the preparation work for the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone is approaching. Operations for the new Free Trade Zone will soon start. The Fuzhou Region Administration Committee has also been established. In December 2014, the Chinese State Council decided to establish this new Free Trade Zone. The National People’s Congress Standing Committee approved the plan and the Zone will consist of the Fuzhou Region, the Xiamen Region, and the Pingtan Region. Fuzhou Customs has already deployed its working group in the Zone and started foundational operations. The Fujian Province government preparation group has skipped the Chinese New Year holidays in order to plan the tax rules for the new Zone. Fujian Province is a large trading province in Southern China. Taiwan is across the sea from it. Current Chinese President Xi Jinping used to be the head of Fujian Province. The new trade zone is the second after the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone.

Source: China News, February 24, 2015

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2015/02-24/7075905.shtml

Briefings | | March 3, 2015 | Economy/Resources

Global Times: China, Russian, North Korea Prepare Joint Tourism Zone

Global Times recently reported that China, Russia, and North Korea reached an agreement to establish a “borderless” tourism development zone at the delta area downstream on the Tumen River, where the three countries have shared borders. The core region of the new tourism zone is located in Hun-chun City, Jilin Province, China. North Korea’s Duman River Cave and Russia’s Hasan Township both contributed 10 square kilometers of land. Tourists with valid identification documents will be allowed in without a visa. According to Chinese government officials, China first proposed the concept of this tourism zone in 2014. Russia and North Korea were both very interested in the plan. A feasibility study has already started and development planning will start in 2015. After that, the actual development will follow the “dual-nation first, multi-nation next” order.

Source: Global Times, February 13, 2015

http://world.huanqiu.com/article/2015-02/5671291.html

Briefings | | March 3, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Qiushi: Chinese Overseas Culture Centers Face Challenges

According to Qiushi, since 1988, China has established 16 Chinese Culture Centers overseas which organize culture activities, provide training on Chinese language and culture, and distribute information about socialist achievements and the socialist value system. They now face some challenges.

First, the lack of funding is a bottleneck. Government funding is limited. An effective channel to attract private funds has yet to be established. Second, these centers are not adequately staffed. It is common for each staff member to wear multiple hats. Infrastructure such as libraries leaves a lot of room for improvement. Third, the centers do not function effectively due to a lack of understanding on the part of the host country. When organizing culture activities, the centers tend to follow the Mainland way of thinking under the Communist Party and can hardly satisfy the needs of the local people. Fourth, the centers are not ideally located. Currently most of the centers are establishments in developing countries.

Source: Qiushi, February 25, 2015

http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/hqwg/2015-02/25/c_1114432853.htm

Briefings | | February 27, 2015 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping’s Strategic Blueprint for the Four Comprehensives

On February 24, 2015, People’s Daily published a front-page editorial discussing Xi Jinping’s new political theory in great detail. It is a "strategic blueprint for China" represented by four slogans known as the "four comprehensives."

These are: “Comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society; comprehensively deepen reform; comprehensively rule the nation according to the law; and comprehensively use the strict governance of the Party.”

“The ‘four comprehensives’ have both goals and initiatives; they have both focus and an overall picture; every ‘comprehensive’ carries great strategic significance. Development is the theme of the times and the common pursuit of countries in the world; reform is the driving force and the trend of social progress; the rule of law is an important protection of national governance systems and governance modernization; and governing the Party strictly is a necessary requirement for the ruling party to strengthen itself. The four do not simply have a parallel relationship; they are connected organically, in a top-level design. Building a moderately prosperous society, full of the spirit of reform, strengthening the rule of law, and implementing the tightening of Party discipline – the main theme of ‘the four comprehensives’ – draws the blueprint for the future of socialism in China."

Source: People’s Daily reprinted by Xinhua, February 24, 2015

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-02/24/c_1114423235.htm

Briefings | | February 27, 2015 | Government/Politics

Chinese Students in US High Schools Up Sixtyfold over a Decade

The Chinese Social Science Academic Press and Center for China and Globalization (CCG) recently published a report on Chinese students studying in the U.S. According to the report, the number of Chinese students studying in U.S. high schools in 2013 exceeded 30,000. This number had increased sixtyfold over the past decade.

“The 2014 Development Report on Chinese Students Studying Abroad” showed that China has been the biggest source country for students in the U.S. for the fifth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Chinese students studying abroad have become younger. High school students have become the third largest group of overseas students following graduate and undergraduate students.

The Report disclosed that Canada is the most popular destination country for Chinese high school students. Close to one-third or 32 percent of Chinese students chose to study in Canadian high schools. The U.S., Australia and the UK are in the second, third, and fourth places, following (Canada). In the past seven years, the U.S. has been the most popular destination country for male Chinese high school students (33 percent), while the most popular destination for females is Canada (34 percent). The number of Chinese students who hold F-1 student visas in the U.S. public and private middle and high schools has increased over 60 times in the past decade – from 433 in the 2003 to 2004 school year to 26,919 in the 2012 to 2013 school year.

As for the main reasons for studying abroad, most lie in the relatively flexible overseas education and exam system, more diversified evaluation criteria (for students’ performance), more emphasis on social and practical skills, and more involvement in society. A second most important reason is that many overseas high schools are cradles for world famous top colleges and universities. Those high schools that send many of their graduates to the top U.S. colleges are called “Little Ivy League” by the Chinese. Yet another reason, among others, for the Chinese parents to send their kids overseas at a younger age is that it can help sharpen the kids’ foreign language skills and help the them learn independent living faster.

Source: Qianjiang Evening News, February 26, 2015

http://qjwb.zjol.com.cn/html/2015-02/26/content_2975795.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | February 26, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Supreme People’s Court: Judicial Independence Not Allowed in China

China News reported that the Party leadership of China’s Supreme Court held a meeting on February 25 at which it stated that, in China, there shall be no Western style “judicial independence” or “separation of powers.” At the meeting the Party leadership called for confidence in the path, theory, and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. “Firmly uphold the judicial system with Chinese characteristics; draw a clear line; stay away from Western style ‘judicial independence’ or ‘separation of powers’; resolutely resist the influence of erroneous Western thoughts and views; and, on major issues, make sure to be very clear minded, standing firm and with very clear banner to identify your stance.”

Source: China News, February 25, 2015

http://www.chinanews.com/fz/2015/02-25/7079142.shtml

Briefings | | February 26, 2015 | Government/Politics

People’s Daily: People’s Misunderstanding about Social Security Is Worrisome

On January 10, 2015, People’s Daily published an article titled, “Social Security Is Not a Panacea.” On January 23, 2015, People’s Daily republished the article on its website, people.cn. The article told the Chinese people not to rely on the government’s social security and to get prepared for their retirement with funds resulting from their own efforts. According to the article, 40 to over 50 percent of an average Chinese person’s income is contributed to social security. The rate of the contribution is rising every year. Some people decided not to contribute anything to social security because they cannot afford the high payment. To solve the problem of the increasing rate of the social security contribution, the article gave possible solutions, one of which is to require 100 million uninsured workers to participate in social security contributions.

In 2013, the income to China’s social security fund could not cover the expenditures in 19 provinces. The fund had a total of revenue shortfall of 170.2 billion yuan (US$27.19 billion). Many other provinces could maintain a normal income-expenditure fund cycle only with the help of the central government’s financial support. “As prices are so high, the 70 yuan per month basic social security retirement allowance can only be used as pocket money.” “With the year by year price increase, a couple of thousand yuan per month in corporate pension is very tight for a retirement life.” [Editor’s note: Milk costs between 10 and 16 yuan per liter; a 500g Loaf of fresh white bread costs between 7 and 15 yuan.] However, what worries the government even more is the Chinese people’s “misunderstanding,” that “Social Security Is a Panacea.” Giving North America and Europe as examples, the article said that enterprises and individual citizens should take the major responsibility for their own retirement funds.

Source: People’s Daily and people.cn, January 23, 2015
http://society.people.com.cn/n/2015/0123/c1008-26434809.html

Briefings | | February 25, 2015 | Government/Politics

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.