Briefings – Page 1357

Emergency Fund Issued To Aid College Student Cafeterias

On December 29, the Ministry of Finance approved a 50 million yuan (US$6.8 million) emergency fund to provide temporary aid to college student cafeterias. It is to ensure that, prior to the upcoming winter break, students’ lives will not be affected by the increased price of raw materials. Earlier this year, the General Office of the State Council issued a notice to various levels of governments to provide financial relief to student cafeterias and those students who are on financial aid. In addition, the National Development And Reform Mission also requested the students’ receive discounts in college utility expenses.

Source: China News, December 30, 2007
http://edu.chinanews.cn/edu/kong/news/2007/12-30/1119587.shtml

Briefings | | December 30, 2007 | Economy/Resources

Former Secretary of The Deceased Vice Premier May Face Death Sentence

Wang Weigong, former secretary of the deceased Huang Ju, Executive Vice Premier of China was arrested for corruption involving Shanghai’s social security funds and may face a death sentence. The scale of corruption was reported to be as high as 45 million yuan (US$6.1 million), which is the largest known amount of corruption. It was reported that Wang has refused to disclose any other names involved in this case including Jiang Mianheng, the son of Jiang Zemin, former President of China.

Source: Powerapple, December 29, 2007
http://news.powerapple.com/article/2007/1229/article_33729.html

Briefings | | December 30, 2007 | Government/Politics

China’s Economy is Not as Robust as We Think

On December 20, 2007, the International Herald Leader under Xinhua published an article calling on western countries to reconsidertheir their strategy in pushing for an adjustment in the RMB exchange rate. The reason: a World Bank study found the Chinese economy is overestimated by about 40 percent.

Briefings | | December 30, 2007 | Economy/Resources

The Website of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention Went Down in One Day Because of Too Man

According to an article in Beijing Youth Daily December 19, 2007, the official PRC website of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention was down just one day after it was launched due to the high volume of visits.

Briefings | | December 30, 2007 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua Pedicted U.S. Would Urge China to be More Responsible

On December 12 and 13, the United States and China held the third Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing. Prior to the meeting, Xinhua’s Outlook Weekly predicted what new moves the United States would make.

Briefings | | December 30, 2007 | US-China Relations

The PLA Calls on the Taiwan Military to Oppose Taiwan Independence

The Director of the Taiwan Military Research Center, PLA Academy of Military Science, called on the Taiwan military to oppose Taiwan independence: "As long as the Taiwan military does not support Taiwan Independence, the Taiwan military is in fact safeguarding and maintaining peace in the Taiwan Straits."

Briefings | | December 30, 2007 | Defense/Military

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