For Your Blog
How should the US view China’s developing relations with her neighbors? Should the US modify its foreign policy toward these same nations in light of their changing relations with China?
The United States should view and modify its foreign policy toward the neighbors of China, by respecting historical perspective. China continues to utilize the Sino-centric bilateral relations with its neighbors. Sino-centric relations historically were based on tribute paid to China’s emperor. Even though, the Sino-centric viewpoint is shared to some degree by Asian countries, the Philippines for example does not formally refer to China as family by the use of language. These differences stem from historical divisions as well as, earned independence such as Vietnam. However, with Russia and America strategically strengthening ties to Asia for trade goods China must compete. Even though, China and the US are in completion they are dependent on each other globally for export and import trade affecting both economies. Our trade dependant economies should inspire a diplomatic effort on non-subversive, non-military trade treaties for domestic well-being in the face of globalization. It is globalization and dependence on Asian production lines that has determined a lack of counter balance for health of the US economy. Maintaining US economic stability will require establishing market regulating trade treaties for health and welfare of both the US and China.
For Your Blog
Choose a marginalized community in modern Chinese society from China Off Center,
Reflect on the survival strategies employed by this community in the face of state hegemonic power. How has this community continued to exist on the margins of Chinese society? What challenges does this community face for future survival?
The Falun Gong faces challenges to their existence and survival because of marginalization in China. They have utilized these survival strategies when facing the PRC on the margins of Chinese society with peaceful protest, daily practice without organization, and establishing a fundamental morality of qi. In China, religion is considered much the same as mysticism, a superstition not a process, science that is reason based. A reason based movement can be controlled by the PRC. It is for this reason that the Falun Gong is banned. The banning occurred when the Falun Gong gathered outside of PRC headquarters in large numbers, non-violently protesting the right to exist. The number of protestor was seen as a threat to the PRC and the people. Therefore the Falun Gong was singled out of the Qigong branches as being more of a threat. The Falun Gong mixed fundamental moralistic standards for qi and qigong practitioners in their version of qigong. This did establish better practitioners and masters but, made the PRC leery of them due to the communist discounting of religion.
In order to survive, the Qigong and Falun Gong must realize for the PRC, there needs to be a wide birth between fundamental moral principles and the market place. The PRC has forgone market regulation to the extent of not protecting its own people to maintain increases in growing markets. The Qigong during the 90’s and beyond was to a large extent, was a social gathering for the under and unemployed who had endured the Cultural Revolution. These revolutionists struggled by the use of fundamental beliefs to maintain some stability in the markets, using consumer education, Falun Gong, Qigong and traditional cultures to cope with the changing PRC economies. In spite of the resistance, some transition had to take place for the PRC and China to progress. If the Qigong and the PRC are to coexist they will have to come to an understanding that one offsets the others mistakes, and provides for a scientific traditional Chinese medicine to help ease the stress of transition into a healthy environmental socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Globalization and Uyghur ethnic group in China
How are China’s Uyghur’s faring in that China’s rapidly globalizing economy and society? What space is made for traditional, non-Han cultural practices in modern China?
How are China’s Uyghur’s faring in rapidly globalizing economy and society?
China’s Uyghur’s are faring less well than expected in the global economy and society. The New York Times article I selected is from the time period of the Beijing Olympics. With the Olympics fast approaching and Beijing officials rushing to make deals to maintain a stable environment, many were protesting. The main Uyghur protest is about the banning of head scarves and traditional clothing. “Human rights groups say that Chinese Uyghur [ethnic group], like Tibetans, have fought for greater freedom to practice their religion as well as more autonomy from Beijing.” (French, 2008) However, the protests and autonomous nature of protests have concerned Han officials, this has increased party rhetoric. “The official [rhetoric] said the [Uyghur] protest was staged by Islamic separatist groups seeking to foment a broader uprising in Xinjiang. China often blames any ethnic disturbances on what it calls splittists and terrorists.”(French, 2008) Beijing in an effort to maintain social stability between groups, “has sought to pacify with economic development programs and suppress with heavy police presence, appearing to be using the upcoming Olympic Games, to be held in Beijing.” (French, 2008) Uyghur grievances regarding Han Chinese moving into Xinjiang and limiting cultural events and practices, are dramatically affecting how the Uyghur’s are progressing in the Han Chinese economy. The Han Chinese economy is the Uyghur’s direct path to globalization.
What space is made for traditional, non-Han cultural practices in modern China?
Space is limited for non-Han cultural practices in Xinjiang for Uyghur’s. “Han-run local governments insert themselves deeper into schools and religious practices to weed out cultural practices that officials fear might reinforce a separate ethnic or religious identity. (French, 2008) Uyghur traditions are neglected by the majority of Han Chinese. For example, in the months prior to the Beijing Olympics, protests in Xinjiang occurred over freedom to practice Uyghur religion and maintain Uyghur autonomy. China, in effort to cover the ethnic disturbance, “blames any ethnic disturbances on what it calls splittists and terrorists.”(French, 2008) The official rhetoric was “the protest was staged by Islamic separatist groups seeking to form a broader uprising in Xinjiang.”(French, 2008) However, the general lack of trust and understanding of different cultures or acceptance of religions in general has limited the space for the Uyghur minority. There are however, a few Han who are not biased. For example, Mr. Chen, a local bank clerk, stated that people were cautious in the months leading up to the article, and his opinion was he did not agree with restrictions on Muslim headgear. “It is their national custom and we should respect it.” (French, 2008) Local Uyghur leaders provide much support and space for cultural and religious practices; however, Han Chinese lead Beijing does not provide space for non conformity
French, W. Howard, “Protest in Muslim Province in China.” New York Times 2 Apr. 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/world/asia/03china.html?scp=1&sq=Protest%20in%20muslim%20province%20in%20china,%20french&st=cse
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Lack of Employment regulations at the coal mine
The material covered thus far in the course has reshaped how I view the work conditions in China. The Chinese economic growth is directly affected by coal over half of China’s energy needs come from coal. Coal is building the future of China, passing laws for coal minor safety and coal mines will be one of the first major successes for Chinese workers. Miners should not be endangered in their work. However, in the rush to supply these needs the Chinese government and the coal industry has not regulated safety and provided adequate training to its workers. Instead, it is more accepted “under China’s authoritarian system, that superiors reward subordinates for strict compliance with targets set from above, like reducing mine disasters. Should one occur the incentive to hide it is often stronger than the reward for handling it well. A disaster on a bureaucrat’s watch is almost surely a blot on his career.” (LaFraniere)
In the case of the illegal mine in Zhonglou, 35 people died, it took three months before the information reached the news. Typically, the officials bury problems, rather than correcting the problems, because of not wanting a blot on their career. Local officials pretended to investigate [Zhonglou], then issued a false report. Journalists were bribed to stay silent.” (LaFraniere) Because of “the lack of a free press, independent trade unions, citizen watchdog groups and other checks on official power this makes cover-ups more possible, even though the internet now makes it harder to suppress information completely.” (LaFraniere) China in its rush to succeed and make goals has forgotten the worker. China’s death rate within the mines is 40 times higher that of the United States. (LaFraniere) Widows and those who lost relatives do not believe that the system provides justice for their dead relatives. And as long, as officials can find ways to hide tragedies they will. The system rewards compliance, but does not consider environmental concerns, adequate safety training of coal workers and mine owners, standardized wages, and long-term health of coal workers.
Chinese markets deregulated by the socialist market economy, provided the governments with quick growth potential but, little focus or direction. This lack of direction permeates throughout society as the market economy grows, without the state providing this regulation the Chinese people are left to suffer through difficult work conditions. If China was planning ahead, work conditions, and structured growth would be in place to insure a stable amount of growth within the economy. The health of the Chinese society and its environment would be increase because coal is an unrenewable source of energy.
In the case of the illegal mine in Zhonglou, 35 people died, it took three months before the information reached the news. Typically, the officials bury problems, rather than correcting the problems, because of not wanting a blot on their career. Local officials pretended to investigate [Zhonglou], then issued a false report. Journalists were bribed to stay silent.” (LaFraniere) Because of “the lack of a free press, independent trade unions, citizen watchdog groups and other checks on official power this makes cover-ups more possible, even though the internet now makes it harder to suppress information completely.” (LaFraniere) China in its rush to succeed and make goals has forgotten the worker. China’s death rate within the mines is 40 times higher that of the United States. (LaFraniere) Widows and those who lost relatives do not believe that the system provides justice for their dead relatives. And as long, as officials can find ways to hide tragedies they will. The system rewards compliance, but does not consider environmental concerns, adequate safety training of coal workers and mine owners, standardized wages, and long-term health of coal workers.
Chinese markets deregulated by the socialist market economy, provided the governments with quick growth potential but, little focus or direction. This lack of direction permeates throughout society as the market economy grows, without the state providing this regulation the Chinese people are left to suffer through difficult work conditions. If China was planning ahead, work conditions, and structured growth would be in place to insure a stable amount of growth within the economy. The health of the Chinese society and its environment would be increase because coal is an unrenewable source of energy.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
China's younger generation and its job creativity- graffiti
What general points might you conclude about China’s younger generation from the two sources you have examined?
In the video interview with, Alex he describes a successful Chinese life helping others and having a quality life with meaningful work to better himself and his family. However, he does bring up concerns regarding Chinese youth’s competition in the job market due to increased capacity in the Chinese Universities. Chinese Family insistence on more education and dedication to this succeed seems to transcend generations. In comparison I chose an article from Frontline, regarding Chinese graffiti artists. The article explains about a young 21 year old living the edge of Chinese life while painting illegal graffiti. She does this because she needs freedom from the constraints of society. Graffiti art has even become branded by Nike. Nike paid graffiti crews to paint their trademark on public basketball courts. I concluded that in the absence of a standard job and lack of freedoms in China the youth will be successful even if they make their own job.
Graffiti Art China's urban nomads target graffiti canvas, the Wall ( 2003-12-23 09:49) (cityweekend.com) Frontline
In the video interview with, Alex he describes a successful Chinese life helping others and having a quality life with meaningful work to better himself and his family. However, he does bring up concerns regarding Chinese youth’s competition in the job market due to increased capacity in the Chinese Universities. Chinese Family insistence on more education and dedication to this succeed seems to transcend generations. In comparison I chose an article from Frontline, regarding Chinese graffiti artists. The article explains about a young 21 year old living the edge of Chinese life while painting illegal graffiti. She does this because she needs freedom from the constraints of society. Graffiti art has even become branded by Nike. Nike paid graffiti crews to paint their trademark on public basketball courts. I concluded that in the absence of a standard job and lack of freedoms in China the youth will be successful even if they make their own job.
Graffiti Art China's urban nomads target graffiti canvas, the Wall ( 2003-12-23 09:49) (cityweekend.com) Frontline
Sunday, March 29, 2009
China's internal problems and its status as a world power
For your Blog
With all that you have learned from these recent reports about China’s current internal problems, do you think that its world power status should be reconsidered? Can China successfully overcome these difficulties to achieve such status on the world stage? Create a blog entry and post a comment to at least one fellow member student’s blog entry.
China’s current internal problems, will affect its overall stability as a world power. If China can overcome its lack of innovation, private property laws, work for unskilled labor and economic hurdles it may limit social unrest. Stresses on the environment due to building growth, limited imports, income gaps, and corruption economically, create barriers to China maintaining its status as a world power. Without true political reform, corruption in local government will continue to cause income gaps for rural workers and increase social inequalities. It is social unrest, and unchecked power that provides for lack of income and under performing economics. Private sector and semi private sector is struggling to offset the state run businesses to boost the economy. Without regulations 9% growth has been achievable, but at the cost of rural poor and urban unemployed. In my opinion, without structured regulations in wage, employment, environment, health care, and business sustainability social unrest will unravel the Chinese growth. China can overcome these difficulties by enacting regulations in phases, therefore offsetting the costs to market economy business and bring stable growth to China. With stable growth, and the ability to allow for more imports from foreign companies, China would then fulfill its full potential as a world power.
With all that you have learned from these recent reports about China’s current internal problems, do you think that its world power status should be reconsidered? Can China successfully overcome these difficulties to achieve such status on the world stage? Create a blog entry and post a comment to at least one fellow member student’s blog entry.
China’s current internal problems, will affect its overall stability as a world power. If China can overcome its lack of innovation, private property laws, work for unskilled labor and economic hurdles it may limit social unrest. Stresses on the environment due to building growth, limited imports, income gaps, and corruption economically, create barriers to China maintaining its status as a world power. Without true political reform, corruption in local government will continue to cause income gaps for rural workers and increase social inequalities. It is social unrest, and unchecked power that provides for lack of income and under performing economics. Private sector and semi private sector is struggling to offset the state run businesses to boost the economy. Without regulations 9% growth has been achievable, but at the cost of rural poor and urban unemployed. In my opinion, without structured regulations in wage, employment, environment, health care, and business sustainability social unrest will unravel the Chinese growth. China can overcome these difficulties by enacting regulations in phases, therefore offsetting the costs to market economy business and bring stable growth to China. With stable growth, and the ability to allow for more imports from foreign companies, China would then fulfill its full potential as a world power.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Elluminate 1
Rochelle and Gayla's comments regarding To Live expressed the details of differences in the events and representation of events. Gayla pointed out the specific areas of poetry and culture. And Rochelle, addressed the realism in both To Live and Life and Death are Wearing me Out.
Art transcending was expressed regarding details within both the book and play. Dictacticism was my main point with regard to details. Jenson and Weston had great deal of influence on my opinions. However, both Mo Yan and Zhang Yimou expressed other aspects that Jenson and Weston did not address that were accurate to the larger political shifts of the 20th century.
Thanks for a great session.
Art transcending was expressed regarding details within both the book and play. Dictacticism was my main point with regard to details. Jenson and Weston had great deal of influence on my opinions. However, both Mo Yan and Zhang Yimou expressed other aspects that Jenson and Weston did not address that were accurate to the larger political shifts of the 20th century.
Thanks for a great session.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Environmental Food Safety
China’s food environmental sector is suffering “with high risk and contradictions” the Ministry of Health said following implementing new food-safety laws. (The Straits Times) New Food-Safety laws were put into place following melamine poisoning of milk in China. China’s slow regulatory practices have been blamed for recurring problems in China’s food environment.
The most common health problem from melamine poisoning is kidney stones; this industrial compound killed at least six. The lack of market regulations in China’s food environmental sector to address this matter is shocking considering China’s globalization. The World Health Organization stated that “China’s food safety system was disjointed and said poor communications between ministries and agencies may have prolonged the melamine poisonings.” (The Straits Times)
The lack of market regulations that were second to economic reform affected the governing laws that were in place. The Chinese economy has outgrown its laws and ability to enforce them regularly so much so that the balance of nature is set off course with the poisonings. China as an immediate response sentenced three to death and three to reduced sentences.
The Chinese government approach to regulating the food environmental sector after the problem is not protecting Chinese or the global markets. The Chinese government has tried to regulate, but needs to streamline and increase agricultural agents in the field for monitoring. The key to reducing problems is establishing high costs for violation, early prevention, and informing farms of dangers early. China did react vehemently by sentencing three people to death for selling tainted milk. This was an effort to take serious action quickly that would abruptly end the poisoning. Considering the disjointed enforcement effort, China’s neglect of nature and man, in its rush to be economically reformed, has caused China’s basic needs to suffer.
China's Food Security Grim - The Straits Times
BEIJING - CHINA said on Monday food security remains 'grim' after a series of health scandals, the most recent being last year's tainted milk formula which killed at least six toddlers and made almost 300,000 sick.
A new food-safety law, approved on Saturday in an accelerated process since the milk scandal came to light in September, attempts to fix a fragmentary regulatory system which officials blame for recurring problems.
'At present, China's food-security situation remains grim with high risks and contradictions,' the Ministry of Health said in documents handed to reporters on Monday.
The food-safety law, which takes effect on June 1, sets quality and safety standards for products and lays out a regulatory system as well as a risk-monitoring system.
China approved in principle a new food-safety law in October 2007 following scandals involving unsafe toothpaste, seafood and pet food, among other products.
Nonetheless, the children developed kidney stones after melamine, an industrial compound used in making plastics and fertilizer, was added to milk and other
products to cheat protein tests, prompting Chinese-made products to be stripped from shelves worldwide.
A month later, the World Health Organization’s food safety chief, Jorgen Schlundt, called China's food-safety system 'disjointed' and said poor communications between ministries and agencies may have prolonged the melamine poisonings.
China sentenced two people to death in January for producing or selling milk adulterated with melamine, and jailed the chairwoman of now bankrupt dairy producer Sanlu Group for life, but the fall-out from the scandal continues.
A group of 54 people who say their children developed kidney stones and other illnesses after drinking melamine-adulterated milk are suing Qingdao Shengyuan Dairy Co Ltd for 8 million yuan (S$1.8 million) in damages, Li Jinglin, their lawyer, told Reuters on Monday.
It was unclear whether the court in the eastern city of Qingdao would accept the case. Calls placed to the court could not be connected. -- REUTERS
The most common health problem from melamine poisoning is kidney stones; this industrial compound killed at least six. The lack of market regulations in China’s food environmental sector to address this matter is shocking considering China’s globalization. The World Health Organization stated that “China’s food safety system was disjointed and said poor communications between ministries and agencies may have prolonged the melamine poisonings.” (The Straits Times)
The lack of market regulations that were second to economic reform affected the governing laws that were in place. The Chinese economy has outgrown its laws and ability to enforce them regularly so much so that the balance of nature is set off course with the poisonings. China as an immediate response sentenced three to death and three to reduced sentences.
The Chinese government approach to regulating the food environmental sector after the problem is not protecting Chinese or the global markets. The Chinese government has tried to regulate, but needs to streamline and increase agricultural agents in the field for monitoring. The key to reducing problems is establishing high costs for violation, early prevention, and informing farms of dangers early. China did react vehemently by sentencing three people to death for selling tainted milk. This was an effort to take serious action quickly that would abruptly end the poisoning. Considering the disjointed enforcement effort, China’s neglect of nature and man, in its rush to be economically reformed, has caused China’s basic needs to suffer.
China's Food Security Grim - The Straits Times
BEIJING - CHINA said on Monday food security remains 'grim' after a series of health scandals, the most recent being last year's tainted milk formula which killed at least six toddlers and made almost 300,000 sick.
A new food-safety law, approved on Saturday in an accelerated process since the milk scandal came to light in September, attempts to fix a fragmentary regulatory system which officials blame for recurring problems.
'At present, China's food-security situation remains grim with high risks and contradictions,' the Ministry of Health said in documents handed to reporters on Monday.
The food-safety law, which takes effect on June 1, sets quality and safety standards for products and lays out a regulatory system as well as a risk-monitoring system.
China approved in principle a new food-safety law in October 2007 following scandals involving unsafe toothpaste, seafood and pet food, among other products.
Nonetheless, the children developed kidney stones after melamine, an industrial compound used in making plastics and fertilizer, was added to milk and other
products to cheat protein tests, prompting Chinese-made products to be stripped from shelves worldwide.
A month later, the World Health Organization’s food safety chief, Jorgen Schlundt, called China's food-safety system 'disjointed' and said poor communications between ministries and agencies may have prolonged the melamine poisonings.
China sentenced two people to death in January for producing or selling milk adulterated with melamine, and jailed the chairwoman of now bankrupt dairy producer Sanlu Group for life, but the fall-out from the scandal continues.
A group of 54 people who say their children developed kidney stones and other illnesses after drinking melamine-adulterated milk are suing Qingdao Shengyuan Dairy Co Ltd for 8 million yuan (S$1.8 million) in damages, Li Jinglin, their lawyer, told Reuters on Monday.
It was unclear whether the court in the eastern city of Qingdao would accept the case. Calls placed to the court could not be connected. -- REUTERS
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Blog Lesson 6- International Herald Tribune China/US Global considerations
In an effort to fight climate change, China is brought globally to the table. U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton established the issue in Beijing recently, inviting China to curb greenhouse gases with the United States.
Historically, much of China's electricity was supplied by coal. Coal does not burn clean and has left China with a history of outputting greenhouse gases. In addition, the changing climate can provide much needed open dialogue for other historical issues between United States and China. "It is simply the unforgiving math of accumulating emissions" both historical and present day that provided this platform for China's international and global change. (Landler)
Today the United States is sending the Secretary of State and her "special envoy for climate change" to reduce emissions. (Landler) In addition, the issue of changing climates provides, an "issue in which the two countries can lean into a problem together."(Landler)
Article Listed Below-- SinoLinx
International Herald Tribune
Clinton urges China to fight climate change
By Mark Landler
Sunday, February 22, 2009
BEIJING: Declaring that "we hope you won't make the same mistakes we made," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton invited China to join the United States in an ambitious effort to curb greenhouse gases.
"When we were industrializing and growing, we didn't know any better; neither did Europe," Clinton said as she toured an energy-efficient power plant in Beijing on Saturday. "Now we're smart enough to figure out how to have the right kind of growth."
The gas-fired power plant, which uses sophisticated turbines made by General Electric, is nearly twice as efficient as the coal-fired plants that supply much of China's electricity and that helped vault China past the United States as the world's leading emitter of carbon dioxide.
The Obama administration hopes to make climate change the centerpiece of a broader, more vigorous engagement with China. For Clinton, the two-day stop in Beijing at the end of a weeklong Asian tour represented an effort to put her own stamp on a relationship that was dominated by the Treasury Department in the latter years of the Bush administration.
"The opportunities for us to work together are unmatched anywhere in the world," Clinton declared, on a hectic day filled with meetings with President Hu Jintao and other top Chinese officials.
Human rights groups have criticized Clinton for soft-pedaling on Tibet and other issues during her first visit as secretary of state. She said she did not want these disputes to interfere with critical challenges like climate change, the global economic crisis and security concerns.
It was a stark contrast to 1995, when Clinton, then first lady, gave a speech in Beijing at a UN conference in which she catalogued abuses against women and concluded by saying that "human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights."
Speaking after a meeting with the foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, Clinton said she had raised the Tibet issue and other concerns. But she argued that the work of advocacy groups and people in civil society in this area was "at least as important" as that of government officials.
Yang repeated China's customary statement that Beijing was ready to discuss human rights with Washington on the basis of "equality and noninterference in each other's affairs." The "smiling faces" on Chinese people, he said, attested to the country's respect for human rights.
A local rights group, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, said the Beijing police put a number of dissidents and activists under surveillance during Clinton's visit, confining some in their homes.
On the global economic crisis, the two governments said they would work together to chart a recovery. Clinton said she expected to see changes in the economic relationship between China, with its high savings rate, and the United States, with its heavy borrowing.
During their meeting, she said, Yang told her that Chinese people were spending more on home appliances. "It would also be fair to say that many Americans have now come to terms with the fact that saving might be a good habit to acquire," Clinton said.
She thanked Yang for China's "continuing confidence" in the United States, as the largest foreign buyer of Treasury securities. He offered a noncommittal statement that China would decide where to invest its foreign exchange reserves on the basis of safety, value and liquidity.
In an interview Sunday that was broadcast on Dragon Television, Clinton pressed her case for why China should continue to buy U.S. Treasury bonds.
"It's a good investment; it's a safe investment," she told Yang Lan, the host of the show.
The Chinese government, Clinton said, had an even more compelling incentive to keep buying: It needs the United States to recover as a market for Chinese goods. To jolt the economy back to life, she said, the United States needs to be able to take on more debt.
"We are truly going to rise or fall together," she said. "We are in the same boat, and, thankfully, we are rowing in the same direction."
Clinton's visit to the Taiyanggong Thermal Power Plant allowed her to steer the focus back to climate change. She introduced her special envoy for climate change, Todd Stern, who noted that the United States and China accounted for 40 percent of the world's emissions.
"This not a matter of politics or morality or right or wrong," he said. "It is simply the unforgiving math of accumulating emissions."
So far, the United States and China are mainly collaborating on research projects and ventures like the power plant. The harder work, analysts said, would come if the United States presses China to accept mandatory caps on its emissions - something Beijing has so far rejected.
Still, some China specialists say they believe that climate change could give relations between the countries fresh energy. The White House has paid close attention to a report by the Asia Society and the Pew Center for Global Climate Change, which offers a road map for cooperation.
"If you look at U.S.-China relations, there are a lot of issues that can go either way," said Orville Schell, a China scholar at the Asia Society who was involved in producing the report. "What's missing is an issue in which the two countries can lean into a problem together."
Correction:
Notes:
International Herald Tribune Copyright © 2009 The International Herald Tribune | www.iht.com
Historically, much of China's electricity was supplied by coal. Coal does not burn clean and has left China with a history of outputting greenhouse gases. In addition, the changing climate can provide much needed open dialogue for other historical issues between United States and China. "It is simply the unforgiving math of accumulating emissions" both historical and present day that provided this platform for China's international and global change. (Landler)
Today the United States is sending the Secretary of State and her "special envoy for climate change" to reduce emissions. (Landler) In addition, the issue of changing climates provides, an "issue in which the two countries can lean into a problem together."(Landler)
Article Listed Below-- SinoLinx
International Herald Tribune
Clinton urges China to fight climate change
By Mark Landler
Sunday, February 22, 2009
BEIJING: Declaring that "we hope you won't make the same mistakes we made," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton invited China to join the United States in an ambitious effort to curb greenhouse gases.
"When we were industrializing and growing, we didn't know any better; neither did Europe," Clinton said as she toured an energy-efficient power plant in Beijing on Saturday. "Now we're smart enough to figure out how to have the right kind of growth."
The gas-fired power plant, which uses sophisticated turbines made by General Electric, is nearly twice as efficient as the coal-fired plants that supply much of China's electricity and that helped vault China past the United States as the world's leading emitter of carbon dioxide.
The Obama administration hopes to make climate change the centerpiece of a broader, more vigorous engagement with China. For Clinton, the two-day stop in Beijing at the end of a weeklong Asian tour represented an effort to put her own stamp on a relationship that was dominated by the Treasury Department in the latter years of the Bush administration.
"The opportunities for us to work together are unmatched anywhere in the world," Clinton declared, on a hectic day filled with meetings with President Hu Jintao and other top Chinese officials.
Human rights groups have criticized Clinton for soft-pedaling on Tibet and other issues during her first visit as secretary of state. She said she did not want these disputes to interfere with critical challenges like climate change, the global economic crisis and security concerns.
It was a stark contrast to 1995, when Clinton, then first lady, gave a speech in Beijing at a UN conference in which she catalogued abuses against women and concluded by saying that "human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights."
Speaking after a meeting with the foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, Clinton said she had raised the Tibet issue and other concerns. But she argued that the work of advocacy groups and people in civil society in this area was "at least as important" as that of government officials.
Yang repeated China's customary statement that Beijing was ready to discuss human rights with Washington on the basis of "equality and noninterference in each other's affairs." The "smiling faces" on Chinese people, he said, attested to the country's respect for human rights.
A local rights group, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, said the Beijing police put a number of dissidents and activists under surveillance during Clinton's visit, confining some in their homes.
On the global economic crisis, the two governments said they would work together to chart a recovery. Clinton said she expected to see changes in the economic relationship between China, with its high savings rate, and the United States, with its heavy borrowing.
During their meeting, she said, Yang told her that Chinese people were spending more on home appliances. "It would also be fair to say that many Americans have now come to terms with the fact that saving might be a good habit to acquire," Clinton said.
She thanked Yang for China's "continuing confidence" in the United States, as the largest foreign buyer of Treasury securities. He offered a noncommittal statement that China would decide where to invest its foreign exchange reserves on the basis of safety, value and liquidity.
In an interview Sunday that was broadcast on Dragon Television, Clinton pressed her case for why China should continue to buy U.S. Treasury bonds.
"It's a good investment; it's a safe investment," she told Yang Lan, the host of the show.
The Chinese government, Clinton said, had an even more compelling incentive to keep buying: It needs the United States to recover as a market for Chinese goods. To jolt the economy back to life, she said, the United States needs to be able to take on more debt.
"We are truly going to rise or fall together," she said. "We are in the same boat, and, thankfully, we are rowing in the same direction."
Clinton's visit to the Taiyanggong Thermal Power Plant allowed her to steer the focus back to climate change. She introduced her special envoy for climate change, Todd Stern, who noted that the United States and China accounted for 40 percent of the world's emissions.
"This not a matter of politics or morality or right or wrong," he said. "It is simply the unforgiving math of accumulating emissions."
So far, the United States and China are mainly collaborating on research projects and ventures like the power plant. The harder work, analysts said, would come if the United States presses China to accept mandatory caps on its emissions - something Beijing has so far rejected.
Still, some China specialists say they believe that climate change could give relations between the countries fresh energy. The White House has paid close attention to a report by the Asia Society and the Pew Center for Global Climate Change, which offers a road map for cooperation.
"If you look at U.S.-China relations, there are a lot of issues that can go either way," said Orville Schell, a China scholar at the Asia Society who was involved in producing the report. "What's missing is an issue in which the two countries can lean into a problem together."
Correction:
Notes:
International Herald Tribune Copyright © 2009 The International Herald Tribune | www.iht.com
Monday, February 9, 2009
India to Pass China as Fastest-Growing Major Economy
India to Pass China as Fastest-Growing Major Economy
The Indian government hopes to woo foreign capital by outpacing China's weakening GDP growth
By Shantanu Sharma
Related Items
* GDP Growth in India Falls to 7.1%
All it the brighter side of the current downturn. India may pip export-dependent China in the last quarter of FY09 and emerge as the Fastest growing nation among all large economies.
As China's GDP growth rate dropped to 6.8% during the October-December quarter and is expected to go down further, the Indian government has become hyper-active to achieve at least a 6.5% growth in Q4 to register a win over China.
If India achieves a better growth rate than China even for one quarter, the message will go across to the world and help India in wooing foreign capital, waiting to chase growth stories. Already, government officials in India have been highlighting reports of a few investment analysts who doubted China's official GDP numbers and claimed that it could just be in the positive territory in the last quarter.
A secretary in the government of India confirmed to SundayET that India has a brighter chance of overtaking China in the last quarter of FY09, or Q1 in case of China which follows the calendar year.
"China is heavily dependent on exports and the way things are unfolding China's GDP for January-March quarter would be quite low. We have so far achieved 7.9% and 7.6% growth in the first two quarters, according to the provisional numbers. Though our Q3 number, to be announced by month end, is expected to be less than the comparable number in China (6.8% in Oct-Dec, 08), the softening of interest rates will stimulate demand and ensure a faster growth rate than China in Q4," he said.
Though the Chinese economy grew at 9% during 2008, down from the revised 13% growth rate in 2007, the last quarter number (6.8%) has made the Indian authorities hopeful that India might be able to pip China in GDP growth. As China's export constitutes 37% of its economy against 13% in the case of India, the recession in the developed world will make China suffer the most.
PM's economic advisory council (EAC) member Satish C Jha said he won't be surprised if India grew faster than China. "The situation in China is worse than us. Exports are drastically coming down and China is hit hard. Our economy is driven more by domestic demand and our rural economy is much more resilient than that of China. If our stimulus packages are implemented properly, I won't be surprised if India pips China in GDP growth," Mr. Jha said.
Copyright © 2008 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
The Indian government hopes to woo foreign capital by outpacing China's weakening GDP growth
By Shantanu Sharma
Related Items
* GDP Growth in India Falls to 7.1%
All it the brighter side of the current downturn. India may pip export-dependent China in the last quarter of FY09 and emerge as the Fastest growing nation among all large economies.
As China's GDP growth rate dropped to 6.8% during the October-December quarter and is expected to go down further, the Indian government has become hyper-active to achieve at least a 6.5% growth in Q4 to register a win over China.
If India achieves a better growth rate than China even for one quarter, the message will go across to the world and help India in wooing foreign capital, waiting to chase growth stories. Already, government officials in India have been highlighting reports of a few investment analysts who doubted China's official GDP numbers and claimed that it could just be in the positive territory in the last quarter.
A secretary in the government of India confirmed to SundayET that India has a brighter chance of overtaking China in the last quarter of FY09, or Q1 in case of China which follows the calendar year.
"China is heavily dependent on exports and the way things are unfolding China's GDP for January-March quarter would be quite low. We have so far achieved 7.9% and 7.6% growth in the first two quarters, according to the provisional numbers. Though our Q3 number, to be announced by month end, is expected to be less than the comparable number in China (6.8% in Oct-Dec, 08), the softening of interest rates will stimulate demand and ensure a faster growth rate than China in Q4," he said.
Though the Chinese economy grew at 9% during 2008, down from the revised 13% growth rate in 2007, the last quarter number (6.8%) has made the Indian authorities hopeful that India might be able to pip China in GDP growth. As China's export constitutes 37% of its economy against 13% in the case of India, the recession in the developed world will make China suffer the most.
PM's economic advisory council (EAC) member Satish C Jha said he won't be surprised if India grew faster than China. "The situation in China is worse than us. Exports are drastically coming down and China is hit hard. Our economy is driven more by domestic demand and our rural economy is much more resilient than that of China. If our stimulus packages are implemented properly, I won't be surprised if India pips China in GDP growth," Mr. Jha said.
Copyright © 2008 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Blog Post (Lesson 3) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the World Economic Forum
lucy lee - blog www.yw.zj.cn
Translated copy of the Davos World Economic Forum
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the World Economic Forum
annual meeting, in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 28, 2009.
(Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Strengthen Confidence and Work Together for A New Round of World Economic Growth
28 January 2009
Professor Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here and address the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Schwab for his kind invitation and thoughtful arrangements. This annual meeting has a special significance. Amidst a global financial crisis rarely seen in history, it brings together government leaders, business people, experts and scholars of different countries to jointly explore ways to maintain international financial stability, promote world economic growth and better address global issues. Its theme — “Shaping the Post-Crisis World” is highly relevant. It reflects the vision of its organizers. People from across the world are eager to hear words of wisdom from here that will give them strength to tide over the crisis. It is thus our responsibility to send to the world a message of confidence, courage and hope. I look forward to a successful meeting.
The ongoing international financial crisis has landed the world economy in the most difficult situation since last century’s Great Depression. In the face of the crisis, countries and the international community have taken various measures to address it. These measures have played an important role in boosting confidence, reducing the consequences of the crisis, and forestalling a meltdown of the financial system and a deep global recession. This crisis is attributable to a variety of factors and the major ones are: inappropriate macroeconomic policies of some economies and their unsustainable model of development characterized by prolonged low savings and high consumption; excessive expansion of financial institutions in a blind pursuit of profit; lack of self-discipline among financial institutions and rating agencies and the ensuing distortion of risk information and asset pricing; and the failure of financial supervision and regulation to keep up with financial innovations, which allowed the risks of financial derivatives to build and spread. As the saying goes, “A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit,” we must draw lessons from this crisis and address its root causes. In other words, we must strike a balance between savings and consumption, between financial innovation and regulation, and between the financial sector and real economy.
The current crisis has inflicted a rather big impact on China’s economy. We are facing severe challenges, including notably shrinking external demand, overcapacity in some sectors, difficult business conditions for enterprises, rising unemployment in urban areas and greater downward pressure on economic growth.
As a big responsible country, China has acted in an active and responsible way during this crisis. We mainly rely on expanding effective domestic demand, particularly consumer demand, to boost economic growth. [ELAINE: unlike Japan!] We have made timely adjustment to the direction of our macroeconomic policy, swiftly adopted a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy, introduced ten measures to shore up domestic demand and put in place a series of related policies. Together, they make up a systematic and comprehensive package plan aimed at ensuring steady and relatively fast economic growth.
First, substantially increase government spending and implement a structural tax cut. The Chinese Government has rolled out a two-year program involving a total investment of RMB 4 trillion, equivalent to 16 percent of China’s GDP in 2007. The investment will mainly go to government-subsidized housing projects, projects concerning the well-being of rural residents, railway construction and other infrastructural projects, environmental protection projects and post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. Some of them are identified as priority projects in China’s 11th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. The rest are additional ones to meet the needs of the new situation. This two-year stimulus program has gone through scientific feasibility studies and is supported by a detailed financial arrangement. RMB 1.18 trillion will come from central government’s budget, which is expected to generate funds from local governments and other sources. The Chinese Government has also launched a massive tax cut program which features the comprehensive transformation of the value-added tax, the adoption of preferential tax policies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and real estate transactions, and the abolition or suspension of 100 items of administrative fees. It is expected to bring about a total saving of RMB 500 billion for businesses and households each year.
Second, frequently cut interest rates and increase liquidity in the banking system. The central bank has cut deposit and lending rates of financial institutions five times in a row, with the one-year benchmark deposit and lending rates down by 1.89 percentage points and 2.16 percentage points respectively. Thus the financial burden of companies has been greatly reduced. The required reserve ratio has been lowered four times, adding up to a total reduction of 2 percentage points for large financial institutions and 4 percentage points for small and medium-sized ones. This has released around RMB 800 billion of liquidity and substantially increased funds available to commercial banks. A series of policy measures have been adopted in the financial sector to boost economic growth, including increasing lending, optimizing the credit structure, and providing greater financial support to agriculture and the SMEs.
Third, implement the industrial restructuring and rejuvenation program on a large scale. We are seizing the opportunity to push ahead comprehensive industrial restructuring and upgrading. To this end, plans are being drawn up for key industries such as automobile and iron and steel, which not only focus on addressing the immediate difficulties of enterprises but also look toward their long-term development. We have taken strong measures to facilitate the merger and reorganization of enterprises, phase out backward production capacity, promote advanced productive forces, and improve industry concentration and the efficiency of resource allocation. We encourage our enterprises to upgrade technologies and make technological renovation. We support them in making extensive use of new technologies, techniques, equipment and materials to restructure their product mix, develop marketable products and improve their competitiveness. Our financial support policies are being improved, a sound credit guarantee system installed and market access eased for the benefit of SME development.
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
Fourth, actively encourage innovation and upgrading in science and technology. We are speeding up the implementation of the National Program for Medium- and Long-Term Scientific and Technological Development with a special focus on 16 key projects in order to make breakthroughs in core technologies and key generic technologies. This will provide scientific and technological support for China’s sustainable economic development at a higher level. We are developing high-tech industrial clusters and creating new social demand and new economic growth areas. Fifth, substantially raise the level of social security.
We have accelerated the improvement of social safety net. We will continue to increase basic pension for enterprise retirees and upgrade the standard of unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation. We will raise the level of basic cost of living allowances in both urban and rural areas, welfare allowances for those rural residents without family support and the special allowances and assistance to entitled groups. This year, the central budget for social security and employment will increase at a much higher rate than the growth of the overall fiscal revenue.
We are advancing the reform of the medical and health system and working to put in place a nationwide basic medical and health system covering both urban and rural areas within three years and achieve the goal of everyone having access to basic medical and health service. It is estimated that governments at all levels will invest RMB 850 billion for this purpose. We give priority to education and are now working on the Guidelines of the National Program for Medium- and Long-Term Educational Reform and Development.
This year, we will increase public funds for compulsory education in rural areas, offer more financial support to students from poor families and improve the well-being of middle and primary school teachers so as to promote equity in education and optimize the educational structure. We are using every possible means to lessen the impact of the financial crisis on employment.
We are following a more active employment policy. In particular, we have introduced various policy measures to help college graduates and migrant workers find jobs and provided more government-funded jobs in public service. These major policy measures as a whole target both symptoms and root causes, and address both immediate and long-term concerns. They represent a holistic approach and are mutually reinforcing. They are designed to address the need to boost domestic demand, readjust and reinvigorate industries, encourage scientific innovation and strengthen social security. They are designed to stimulate consumption through increased investment, overcome the current difficulties with long-term development in mind, and promote economic growth in the interest of people’s livelihood. These measures can mobilize all resources to meet the current crisis.
China’s economy is in good shape on the whole. We managed to maintain steady and relatively fast economic growth in 2008 despite two unexpected massive natural disasters. Our GDP grew by 9 percent. CPI was basically stable. We had a good grain harvest for the fifth consecutive year, with a total output of 528.5 million tons. Eleven million and one hundred and thirty thousand new jobs were created in cities and towns. Household income in both urban and rural areas continued to rise. The financial system functioned well and the banking system kept its liquidity and credit asset quality at a healthy level. When China, a large developing country, runs its affairs well, it can help restore confidence in global economic growth and curb the spread of the international financial crisis. It will also help increase China’s imports and outbound investment, boost world economic growth and create more development and job opportunities for other countries. Steady and fast growth of China’s economy is in itself an important contribution to global financial stability and world economic growth
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
Will China’s economy continue to grow fast and steadily? Some people may have doubts about it. Yet I can give you a definite answer: Yes, it will. We are full of confidence. Where does our confidence come from? It comes from the fact that the fundamentals of China’s economy remain unchanged. Thanks to our right judgment of the situation and prompt and decisive adjustment to our macroeconomic policy, our economy remains on the track of steady and fast development. Our package plan takes into consideration both the need to address current difficulties and that of long-term development. It is beginning to produce results and will be more effective this year. Our confidence comes from the fact that the long-term trend of China’s economic development remains unchanged.
We are in an important period of strategic opportunities and in the process of fast industrialization and urbanization. Infrastructure construction, upgrading of industrial and consumption structures, environmental protection and conservation projects, and various social development programs–all can be translated into huge demand and growth potential and will bolster relatively high-speed growth of our economy for a long time to come. Our confidence also comes from the fact that the advantages contributing to China’s economic growth remain unchanged. With 30 years’ of reform and opening-up, we have laid a good material, technological and institutional foundation.
We have a large well-trained and relatively low-cost labor force. We have a healthy fiscal balance, a sound financial system and adequate funds. Our system enables us to mobilize the necessary resources for big undertakings. There is harmony and stability in our society. What is more important, we follow a scientific approach to development which puts people first and seeks comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development. We are committed to reform, opening-up and win-win progress. We have found the right development path in line with China’s national conditions and the trend of our times. Our people are hard-working, persevering and resilient. It is precisely these fine qualities that endow China, a country with a time-honored history, with greater vitality in the face of adversities.
At the same time, there is no fundamental change in the external environment for China’s economic growth. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation is the irreversible trend in today’s world. The readjustment to the international division of labor offers new opportunities. We have the confidence, conditions and ability to maintain steady and fast economic growth and continue to contribute to world economic growth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The global financial crisis is a challenge for the whole world. Confidence, cooperation and responsibility are key to overcoming the crisis. Confidence is the source of strength. The power of confidence is far greater than what can be imagined. The pressing task for the international community and individual countries is to take further measures to restore market confidence as soon as possible. In times of economic hardships, confidence of all countries in the prospect of global economic development, confidence of leaders and people around the world in their countries, confidence of enterprises in investment and confidence of individuals in consumption are more important than anything else. In tackling the crisis, practical cooperation is the effective way. In a world of economic globalization, countries are tied together in their destinies and can hardly be separated from one another. The financial crisis is a test of the readiness of the international community to enhance cooperation, and a test of our wisdom.
Only with closer cooperation and mutual help, can we successfully manage the crisis. To prevail over the crisis, accepting responsibilities is the prerequisite. When governments fulfill their responsibilities with resolution and courage, they can help maintain a stable financial order and prevent the crisis from causing more serious damage on the real economy. Political leaders must be forward-looking. They should be responsible to the entire international community as well as to their own countries and people. It is imperative that we implement the broad agreement reached since the G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy. We should not only take more forceful and effective steps to tide over the current difficulties, but also push for the establishment of a new world economic order that is just, equitable, sound and stable. To this end, I would like to share with you the following ideas.
First, deepen international economic cooperation and promote a sound multilateral trading regime. Past experience shows that in crisis it is all the more important to stick to a policy of opening-up and cooperation. Trade protectionism serves no purpose as it will only worsen and prolong the crisis. It is therefore necessary to move forward trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. China firmly supports efforts to reach balanced results of the Doha Round negotiations at an early date and the establishment of a fair and open multilateral trading regime. As an important supplement to such a trading regime, regional economic integration should be vigorously promoted.
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
Second, advance the reform of the international financial system and accelerate the establishment of a new international financial order. The current crisis has fully exposed the deficiencies in the existing international financial system and its governance structure. It is important to speed up reform of the governance structures of major international financial institutions, establish a sound global financial rescue mechanism, and enhance capacity in fulfilling responsibilities. Developing countries should have greater say and representation in international financial institutions and their role in maintaining international and regional financial stability should be brought into full play. We should encourage regional monetary and financial cooperation, make good use of regional liquidity assistance mechanisms, and steadily move the international monetary system toward greater diversification.
Third, strengthen international cooperation in financial supervision and regulation and guard against the build-up and spread of financial risks. Financial authorities around the world should step up information sharing and the monitoring of global capital flows to avoid the cross-border transmission of financial risks. We should expand the regulation coverage of the international financial system, with particular emphasis on strengthening the supervision on major reserve currency countries. We should put in place a timely and efficient early warning system against crisis. We should introduce reasonable and effective financial regulatory standards and improve oversight mechanisms in such areas as accounting standards and capital adequacy requirements. We should tighten regulation of financial institutions and intermediaries and enhance transparency of financial markets and products.
Fourth, effectively protect the interests of developing countries and promote economic development of the whole world. The international community, developed countries in particular, should assume due responsibilities and obligations to minimize the damage caused by the international financial crisis on developing countries and help them maintain financial stability and economic growth. International financial institutions should act promptly to assist those developing countries in need through such measures as relaxing lending conditions. We should advance the international poverty reduction process and scale up assistance to the least developed countries and regions in particular with a view to building up their capacity for independent development.
Fifth, jointly tackle global challenges and build a better home for mankind. Issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, diseases, natural disasters, energy, resources and food security as well as the spread of terrorism bear on the very survival and development of mankind. No country can be insulated from these challenges or meet them on its own. The international community should intensify cooperation and respond to these challenges together.
I want to reaffirm here China’s abiding commitment to peaceful, open and cooperative development. China is ready to work with other members of the international community to maintain international financial stability, promote world economic growth, tackle various global risks and challenges, and contribute its share to world harmony and sustainable development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The harsh winter will be gone and spring is around the corner. Let us strengthen confidence and work closely together to bring about a new round of world economic growth.
Thank you.
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
lucy lee - blog
Translated copy of the Davos World Economic Forum
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at the World Economic Forum
annual meeting, in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 28, 2009.
(Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Strengthen Confidence and Work Together for A New Round of World Economic Growth
28 January 2009
Professor Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here and address the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009. Let me begin by thanking Chairman Schwab for his kind invitation and thoughtful arrangements. This annual meeting has a special significance. Amidst a global financial crisis rarely seen in history, it brings together government leaders, business people, experts and scholars of different countries to jointly explore ways to maintain international financial stability, promote world economic growth and better address global issues. Its theme — “Shaping the Post-Crisis World” is highly relevant. It reflects the vision of its organizers. People from across the world are eager to hear words of wisdom from here that will give them strength to tide over the crisis. It is thus our responsibility to send to the world a message of confidence, courage and hope. I look forward to a successful meeting.
The ongoing international financial crisis has landed the world economy in the most difficult situation since last century’s Great Depression. In the face of the crisis, countries and the international community have taken various measures to address it. These measures have played an important role in boosting confidence, reducing the consequences of the crisis, and forestalling a meltdown of the financial system and a deep global recession. This crisis is attributable to a variety of factors and the major ones are: inappropriate macroeconomic policies of some economies and their unsustainable model of development characterized by prolonged low savings and high consumption; excessive expansion of financial institutions in a blind pursuit of profit; lack of self-discipline among financial institutions and rating agencies and the ensuing distortion of risk information and asset pricing; and the failure of financial supervision and regulation to keep up with financial innovations, which allowed the risks of financial derivatives to build and spread. As the saying goes, “A fall in the pit, a gain in your wit,” we must draw lessons from this crisis and address its root causes. In other words, we must strike a balance between savings and consumption, between financial innovation and regulation, and between the financial sector and real economy.
The current crisis has inflicted a rather big impact on China’s economy. We are facing severe challenges, including notably shrinking external demand, overcapacity in some sectors, difficult business conditions for enterprises, rising unemployment in urban areas and greater downward pressure on economic growth.
As a big responsible country, China has acted in an active and responsible way during this crisis. We mainly rely on expanding effective domestic demand, particularly consumer demand, to boost economic growth. [ELAINE: unlike Japan!] We have made timely adjustment to the direction of our macroeconomic policy, swiftly adopted a proactive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy, introduced ten measures to shore up domestic demand and put in place a series of related policies. Together, they make up a systematic and comprehensive package plan aimed at ensuring steady and relatively fast economic growth.
First, substantially increase government spending and implement a structural tax cut. The Chinese Government has rolled out a two-year program involving a total investment of RMB 4 trillion, equivalent to 16 percent of China’s GDP in 2007. The investment will mainly go to government-subsidized housing projects, projects concerning the well-being of rural residents, railway construction and other infrastructural projects, environmental protection projects and post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction. Some of them are identified as priority projects in China’s 11th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. The rest are additional ones to meet the needs of the new situation. This two-year stimulus program has gone through scientific feasibility studies and is supported by a detailed financial arrangement. RMB 1.18 trillion will come from central government’s budget, which is expected to generate funds from local governments and other sources. The Chinese Government has also launched a massive tax cut program which features the comprehensive transformation of the value-added tax, the adoption of preferential tax policies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and real estate transactions, and the abolition or suspension of 100 items of administrative fees. It is expected to bring about a total saving of RMB 500 billion for businesses and households each year.
Second, frequently cut interest rates and increase liquidity in the banking system. The central bank has cut deposit and lending rates of financial institutions five times in a row, with the one-year benchmark deposit and lending rates down by 1.89 percentage points and 2.16 percentage points respectively. Thus the financial burden of companies has been greatly reduced. The required reserve ratio has been lowered four times, adding up to a total reduction of 2 percentage points for large financial institutions and 4 percentage points for small and medium-sized ones. This has released around RMB 800 billion of liquidity and substantially increased funds available to commercial banks. A series of policy measures have been adopted in the financial sector to boost economic growth, including increasing lending, optimizing the credit structure, and providing greater financial support to agriculture and the SMEs.
Third, implement the industrial restructuring and rejuvenation program on a large scale. We are seizing the opportunity to push ahead comprehensive industrial restructuring and upgrading. To this end, plans are being drawn up for key industries such as automobile and iron and steel, which not only focus on addressing the immediate difficulties of enterprises but also look toward their long-term development. We have taken strong measures to facilitate the merger and reorganization of enterprises, phase out backward production capacity, promote advanced productive forces, and improve industry concentration and the efficiency of resource allocation. We encourage our enterprises to upgrade technologies and make technological renovation. We support them in making extensive use of new technologies, techniques, equipment and materials to restructure their product mix, develop marketable products and improve their competitiveness. Our financial support policies are being improved, a sound credit guarantee system installed and market access eased for the benefit of SME development.
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
Fourth, actively encourage innovation and upgrading in science and technology. We are speeding up the implementation of the National Program for Medium- and Long-Term Scientific and Technological Development with a special focus on 16 key projects in order to make breakthroughs in core technologies and key generic technologies. This will provide scientific and technological support for China’s sustainable economic development at a higher level. We are developing high-tech industrial clusters and creating new social demand and new economic growth areas. Fifth, substantially raise the level of social security.
We have accelerated the improvement of social safety net. We will continue to increase basic pension for enterprise retirees and upgrade the standard of unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation. We will raise the level of basic cost of living allowances in both urban and rural areas, welfare allowances for those rural residents without family support and the special allowances and assistance to entitled groups. This year, the central budget for social security and employment will increase at a much higher rate than the growth of the overall fiscal revenue.
We are advancing the reform of the medical and health system and working to put in place a nationwide basic medical and health system covering both urban and rural areas within three years and achieve the goal of everyone having access to basic medical and health service. It is estimated that governments at all levels will invest RMB 850 billion for this purpose. We give priority to education and are now working on the Guidelines of the National Program for Medium- and Long-Term Educational Reform and Development.
This year, we will increase public funds for compulsory education in rural areas, offer more financial support to students from poor families and improve the well-being of middle and primary school teachers so as to promote equity in education and optimize the educational structure. We are using every possible means to lessen the impact of the financial crisis on employment.
We are following a more active employment policy. In particular, we have introduced various policy measures to help college graduates and migrant workers find jobs and provided more government-funded jobs in public service. These major policy measures as a whole target both symptoms and root causes, and address both immediate and long-term concerns. They represent a holistic approach and are mutually reinforcing. They are designed to address the need to boost domestic demand, readjust and reinvigorate industries, encourage scientific innovation and strengthen social security. They are designed to stimulate consumption through increased investment, overcome the current difficulties with long-term development in mind, and promote economic growth in the interest of people’s livelihood. These measures can mobilize all resources to meet the current crisis.
China’s economy is in good shape on the whole. We managed to maintain steady and relatively fast economic growth in 2008 despite two unexpected massive natural disasters. Our GDP grew by 9 percent. CPI was basically stable. We had a good grain harvest for the fifth consecutive year, with a total output of 528.5 million tons. Eleven million and one hundred and thirty thousand new jobs were created in cities and towns. Household income in both urban and rural areas continued to rise. The financial system functioned well and the banking system kept its liquidity and credit asset quality at a healthy level. When China, a large developing country, runs its affairs well, it can help restore confidence in global economic growth and curb the spread of the international financial crisis. It will also help increase China’s imports and outbound investment, boost world economic growth and create more development and job opportunities for other countries. Steady and fast growth of China’s economy is in itself an important contribution to global financial stability and world economic growth
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
Will China’s economy continue to grow fast and steadily? Some people may have doubts about it. Yet I can give you a definite answer: Yes, it will. We are full of confidence. Where does our confidence come from? It comes from the fact that the fundamentals of China’s economy remain unchanged. Thanks to our right judgment of the situation and prompt and decisive adjustment to our macroeconomic policy, our economy remains on the track of steady and fast development. Our package plan takes into consideration both the need to address current difficulties and that of long-term development. It is beginning to produce results and will be more effective this year. Our confidence comes from the fact that the long-term trend of China’s economic development remains unchanged.
We are in an important period of strategic opportunities and in the process of fast industrialization and urbanization. Infrastructure construction, upgrading of industrial and consumption structures, environmental protection and conservation projects, and various social development programs–all can be translated into huge demand and growth potential and will bolster relatively high-speed growth of our economy for a long time to come. Our confidence also comes from the fact that the advantages contributing to China’s economic growth remain unchanged. With 30 years’ of reform and opening-up, we have laid a good material, technological and institutional foundation.
We have a large well-trained and relatively low-cost labor force. We have a healthy fiscal balance, a sound financial system and adequate funds. Our system enables us to mobilize the necessary resources for big undertakings. There is harmony and stability in our society. What is more important, we follow a scientific approach to development which puts people first and seeks comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development. We are committed to reform, opening-up and win-win progress. We have found the right development path in line with China’s national conditions and the trend of our times. Our people are hard-working, persevering and resilient. It is precisely these fine qualities that endow China, a country with a time-honored history, with greater vitality in the face of adversities.
At the same time, there is no fundamental change in the external environment for China’s economic growth. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation is the irreversible trend in today’s world. The readjustment to the international division of labor offers new opportunities. We have the confidence, conditions and ability to maintain steady and fast economic growth and continue to contribute to world economic growth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The global financial crisis is a challenge for the whole world. Confidence, cooperation and responsibility are key to overcoming the crisis. Confidence is the source of strength. The power of confidence is far greater than what can be imagined. The pressing task for the international community and individual countries is to take further measures to restore market confidence as soon as possible. In times of economic hardships, confidence of all countries in the prospect of global economic development, confidence of leaders and people around the world in their countries, confidence of enterprises in investment and confidence of individuals in consumption are more important than anything else. In tackling the crisis, practical cooperation is the effective way. In a world of economic globalization, countries are tied together in their destinies and can hardly be separated from one another. The financial crisis is a test of the readiness of the international community to enhance cooperation, and a test of our wisdom.
Only with closer cooperation and mutual help, can we successfully manage the crisis. To prevail over the crisis, accepting responsibilities is the prerequisite. When governments fulfill their responsibilities with resolution and courage, they can help maintain a stable financial order and prevent the crisis from causing more serious damage on the real economy. Political leaders must be forward-looking. They should be responsible to the entire international community as well as to their own countries and people. It is imperative that we implement the broad agreement reached since the G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy. We should not only take more forceful and effective steps to tide over the current difficulties, but also push for the establishment of a new world economic order that is just, equitable, sound and stable. To this end, I would like to share with you the following ideas.
First, deepen international economic cooperation and promote a sound multilateral trading regime. Past experience shows that in crisis it is all the more important to stick to a policy of opening-up and cooperation. Trade protectionism serves no purpose as it will only worsen and prolong the crisis. It is therefore necessary to move forward trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. China firmly supports efforts to reach balanced results of the Doha Round negotiations at an early date and the establishment of a fair and open multilateral trading regime. As an important supplement to such a trading regime, regional economic integration should be vigorously promoted.
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
Second, advance the reform of the international financial system and accelerate the establishment of a new international financial order. The current crisis has fully exposed the deficiencies in the existing international financial system and its governance structure. It is important to speed up reform of the governance structures of major international financial institutions, establish a sound global financial rescue mechanism, and enhance capacity in fulfilling responsibilities. Developing countries should have greater say and representation in international financial institutions and their role in maintaining international and regional financial stability should be brought into full play. We should encourage regional monetary and financial cooperation, make good use of regional liquidity assistance mechanisms, and steadily move the international monetary system toward greater diversification.
Third, strengthen international cooperation in financial supervision and regulation and guard against the build-up and spread of financial risks. Financial authorities around the world should step up information sharing and the monitoring of global capital flows to avoid the cross-border transmission of financial risks. We should expand the regulation coverage of the international financial system, with particular emphasis on strengthening the supervision on major reserve currency countries. We should put in place a timely and efficient early warning system against crisis. We should introduce reasonable and effective financial regulatory standards and improve oversight mechanisms in such areas as accounting standards and capital adequacy requirements. We should tighten regulation of financial institutions and intermediaries and enhance transparency of financial markets and products.
Fourth, effectively protect the interests of developing countries and promote economic development of the whole world. The international community, developed countries in particular, should assume due responsibilities and obligations to minimize the damage caused by the international financial crisis on developing countries and help them maintain financial stability and economic growth. International financial institutions should act promptly to assist those developing countries in need through such measures as relaxing lending conditions. We should advance the international poverty reduction process and scale up assistance to the least developed countries and regions in particular with a view to building up their capacity for independent development.
Fifth, jointly tackle global challenges and build a better home for mankind. Issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, diseases, natural disasters, energy, resources and food security as well as the spread of terrorism bear on the very survival and development of mankind. No country can be insulated from these challenges or meet them on its own. The international community should intensify cooperation and respond to these challenges together.
I want to reaffirm here China’s abiding commitment to peaceful, open and cooperative development. China is ready to work with other members of the international community to maintain international financial stability, promote world economic growth, tackle various global risks and challenges, and contribute its share to world harmony and sustainable development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The harsh winter will be gone and spring is around the corner. Let us strengthen confidence and work closely together to bring about a new round of world economic growth.
Thank you.
__________________
长期征婚，
征到为止。
lucy lee - blog
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Fear and Hope in the Year of the Ox- Cataclysmic event on horizon or not
I do not believe that a cataclysmic event such as the Cultural Revolution will take place. However, as the articles below explain WTO violations as well as job losses have taken a toll on China's economy. Just as China made a step toward capitalism, it would be as feasible for China to return to a more CCP centrally dominated socialist economy because of the downturn.
As the economy has slowed less technology and advancement is in the news, these two articles below struck me as having more relevance toward an widespread shift in China's economy. The WTO has accused China of Dumping Class C fasteners on the open market as overstock. This coincides another article discussing China's lack of work for manual migrant workers. I have several questions concerning this, because with China's need to reduce population just to meet its food concerns as well as basic needs, I cannot understand how migrant labor is without work. It is true that the state owned entities have become capitalist. However, proper regulation of capitalist industries and learning from pass historical mistakes such as the late eighteenth century trade inequalities should help China to heal the Ox from its illness. Reducing possible unrest.
Fear and Hope in the year of the Ox
The global economic slump has hit China’s manufacturing sector, which means many migrant workers have no jobs to go back to.This makes the government nervous. Officials believe unemployed rural people could become restless and lobby for political change.They fear 2009 could be a year of increased social unrest in China - and they are bracing themselves to deal with it. China Digital Times
WT0
China Wednesday blasted an EU decision to slap hefty anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made screws and bolts and said it may take the issue to the World Trade Organisation.“China’s government and industry express strong dissatisfaction over this,” Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website.“The Chinese side will study and evaluate this decision and reserves the right to appeal to the WTO.”In one of the biggest anti-dumping cases against China, the EU made a final decision Monday to slap levies on imports of some Chinese fasteners, according to EU documents. China Digital Times
-- Overlooked this assignment earlier--
As the economy has slowed less technology and advancement is in the news, these two articles below struck me as having more relevance toward an widespread shift in China's economy. The WTO has accused China of Dumping Class C fasteners on the open market as overstock. This coincides another article discussing China's lack of work for manual migrant workers. I have several questions concerning this, because with China's need to reduce population just to meet its food concerns as well as basic needs, I cannot understand how migrant labor is without work. It is true that the state owned entities have become capitalist. However, proper regulation of capitalist industries and learning from pass historical mistakes such as the late eighteenth century trade inequalities should help China to heal the Ox from its illness. Reducing possible unrest.
Fear and Hope in the year of the Ox
The global economic slump has hit China’s manufacturing sector, which means many migrant workers have no jobs to go back to.This makes the government nervous. Officials believe unemployed rural people could become restless and lobby for political change.They fear 2009 could be a year of increased social unrest in China - and they are bracing themselves to deal with it. China Digital Times
WT0
China Wednesday blasted an EU decision to slap hefty anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made screws and bolts and said it may take the issue to the World Trade Organisation.“China’s government and industry express strong dissatisfaction over this,” Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website.“The Chinese side will study and evaluate this decision and reserves the right to appeal to the WTO.”In one of the biggest anti-dumping cases against China, the EU made a final decision Monday to slap levies on imports of some Chinese fasteners, according to EU documents. China Digital Times
-- Overlooked this assignment earlier--
Monday, January 26, 2009
China to Subsidize Green Vehicles -Public Sector
China to subsidize use of energy-efficient vehicles in public sector
www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-26 22:28:15 Print
BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China is to promote the use of energy-efficient and new-energy vehicles in public sector in 13 cities, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said here Monday.
The program will be put into trial in public transport, taxi industry, postal and urban sanitary services in 13 cities including Beijing and Shanghai.
China is moving ahead with their green sustainability trials with city vehicles. We currently need to be doing more to expedite green industries in the global economy as the US. The US however has not signed the Kyoto Protocol and China has.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-26 22:28:15 Print
BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China is to promote the use of energy-efficient and new-energy vehicles in public sector in 13 cities, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said here Monday.
The program will be put into trial in public transport, taxi industry, postal and urban sanitary services in 13 cities including Beijing and Shanghai.
China is moving ahead with their green sustainability trials with city vehicles. We currently need to be doing more to expedite green industries in the global economy as the US. The US however has not signed the Kyoto Protocol and China has.
Earth Quake in China -URUMQI
Today an earth quake in China
URUMQI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, which jolted northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday, has affected more than 4,500 people and caused house collapses and damages, regional authorities said Monday.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-26 23:09:11
URUMQI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, which jolted northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday, has affected more than 4,500 people and caused house collapses and damages, regional authorities said Monday.
www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-26 23:09:11
Modern China's- Trade Tributary Cambodia -BBC News
Though Cambodia has been free for years, this was shocking due to the violent nature of the removal.
RSS Cambodia BBC News had a surprising article about the eviction of Dey Krahorm in Phnom Penh. The Traveling musicians, cultural arts and dancers that lived in the the slum area of the city were removed. This removal was not without force, and was done before land compensation was firm. Most artistic events happen within the city, so the forceable removal took the artist from their work. How long will Arts, and culture suffer while it peacefully waits.
RSS Cambodia BBC News had a surprising article about the eviction of Dey Krahorm in Phnom Penh. The Traveling musicians, cultural arts and dancers that lived in the the slum area of the city were removed. This removal was not without force, and was done before land compensation was firm. Most artistic events happen within the city, so the forceable removal took the artist from their work. How long will Arts, and culture suffer while it peacefully waits.
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