Chinascope – Page 806

Chinese Foreign Minister: Key Directions for China’s Diplomacy in 2014

According to a December 16, 2013, article in Xinhua, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech in Beijing at a “seminar on China and the world in 2013.” Wang Yi said that in the year 2014, China will fully extend its diplomatic efforts to all areas. China will build "positive" and "healthy" relationships with major powers including the United States, Russia, and Europe, with surrounding countries, and with developing countries including Africa and Latin America.

China will actively participate in the reform of the international economic governance system and continuously improve China’s rule-making authority and the right to speak. As the host country of the CICA Summit 2014 (the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia) and APEC 2014 (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), China will also vividly explain the "China’s Dream," its "peaceful rise," and its "justice ideology" to participants through forums and exhibits so as to increase China’s soft power. China will play its role by making its voice heard on Syria, Iran, and other regional hotspot issues and will strive to restart the six-party talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Source: Xinhua, December 16, 2013
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-12/16/c_118576141.htm

Briefings | | December 18, 2013 | Government/Politics

China’s Central Economic Work Conference: Make Economic Progress and Maintain Social Stability

On December 10 to 13, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) held its Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of the PRC, delivered a speech at the conference. The conference first gave the Chinese Communist Party credit for “continuously improving the living standards of the people” and for an “overall harmonious and stable society.” Then the conference acknowledged problems in the areas of overcapacity, food safety, rise of the macroeconomic debt level, unemployment, the deterioration of the ecological environment, tainted food and drugs, and poor public safety.

The conference emphasized that the core of the economic work, starting in 2014, will be to make progress while maintaining stability, balance economic “reform” and social “stability” and strengthen the Party’s leadership over "the comprehensive deepening reform." “The conference urged the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to unite closely around the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee headed by Xi Jinping, the Party’s General Secretary.”

Source: Xinhua, December 13, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-12/13/c_125857613.htm

Briefings | | December 18, 2013 | Government/Politics

Sina Finance: China’s Economy Is Slowing Down

Well-known Chinese online financial news portal Sina Finance recently reported that, although rapid growth has made China the world’s second largest economy, the Chinese economy is suffering its lowest growth rate in over twenty years. Many key western investors have started cutting jobs in their Chinese operations. Examples are Hewlett-Packard (HP), International Business Machines (IBM), Johnson’s, and software services provider Bsquare Corp. According to the Chinese government’s official numbers, foreign investment grew 4.7 percent, while domestic investment growth reached 19.9 percent, as compated to the same period last year. Based on statistics provided by a large Chinese online job market vendor, overall job offers increased by 30 percent. However, at the same time, offers from western companies declined by 5 percent. Interviews of well-known headhunter companies also confirmed that business from international companies has shown a significant slow-down.

Source: Sina Finance, December 13, 2013

http://finance.sina.com/bg/tech/sinacn/20131213/0344924833.html

Briefings | | December 17, 2013 | Economy/Resources

Global Times: Japan Insisted on Adding Content to ASEAN Summit Announcement

Global Times recently reported that Japan insisted on adding language regarding the newly established Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone to the joint announcement of the Special Summit between Japan and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Japan wanted to mention the importance of “safety and the freedom of flight over the high seas.” Japan firmly insisted on the addition despite the unwillingness of some ASEAN countries. The final draft also included the agreement that the nations involved would coordinate on the Chinese Identification Zone issue under ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China “noticed the related reports” and would like to suggest that countries should not go against a third party when developing relationships.

Source: Global Times, December 13, 2013

http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-12/4660856.html

Briefings | | December 17, 2013 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Central Government Economic Work Conference Held in Beijing

Xinhua reported that China’s Central Government Economic Work Conference was held from December 10 to 13. All members of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party Politburo attended the Conference. President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech summarizing the economic work done in 2013. He explained his overall requirements and goals for 2014. Premier Li Keqiang laid out his macroeconomic policies as well as detailed arrangements of the path to the deliverables. The Conference pointed out six focal tasks for the coming year: (1) Firmly ensuring national food security; (2) Vigorously adjusting industrial structures; (3) Pressing hard on debt risk prevention and control; (4) Actively promoting coordinated development among regions; (5) Protecting and improving the livelihood of the people; and (6) Continuously raising the level in implementing the nation’s “Opening-Up” policy. The Conference called for sustaining “steady growth” while implementing adjustments and reforms. The officials in top leadership from all provinces, key cities, central government ministries, primary state-owned companies, and banks, as well as the military attended the Conference.

Source: Xinhua, December 13, 2013

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-12/13/c_118553239.htm

Briefings | | December 17, 2013 | Economy/Resources

China Domestic Documentary Films Seek to “Step Out” to the International Market

People’s Daily reported that the China International Documentary Film Festival was held in Guangzhou China from December 8 through 12. 2,071 documentary films from 72 countries and regions participated in the festival. Participants reached agreements on documentary film contracts having a total value of150 million yuan (US$24.7 million). This was the highest amount reached in the film festival’s history.

The focus of the film festival centered on how the domestic documentary film industry can collaborate with the international market in order to “let China step outside and let the world understand China.” Reports indicated that a formal channel and procedure has been set up by the General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television to standardize the process of producing and marketing documentary films. There were also discussions on how to make domestic documentary films adapt to the international market and make their contents fit so that overseas audiences can better understand them.

Reports also indicated that the General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television will not only increase its funding on documentary films; it has also requested that 34 television stations air a minimum of 30 minutes of domestically produced documentary films each day.

Source: People’s Daily, December 13, 2013
http://culture.people.com.cn/n/2013/1213/c87423-23830039.html

Briefings | | December 16, 2013 | Government/Politics

State Internet Information Office: Internet Media to Do Better at Bearing Social Responsibilities

On December 13, the China Internet Information Office held a conference on preventing false news reports and improving the credibility of Internet media. The conference addressed the phenomenon that certain media tend to seek news that has an effect, while falsely reporting the news. Ren Xianliang, Vice minister of the State Internet Information Office spoke at the conference. Ren stressed the importance of each Internet site implementing effective measures to standardize Internet news broadcast procedures in order to prevent false news reporting, to improve the credibility of Internet news media, and to gain the public’s trust. Representatives from news media including People’s Daily, Xinhua, China Network Television, China Radio International and commercial websites including sina, sohu, 163, qq and Baidu attended the conference.

Source: Xinhua, December 13, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-12/13/c_118552854.htm

Briefings | | December 16, 2013 | Government/Politics

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.”