News » China » Chinese ambassador to Japan still "optimistic" about ties

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• Chinese ambassador to Japan still "optimistic" about ties
• CPPCC convenes annual session, stresses unity, democracy
• China ready for national legislature's annual session
• Annual political sessions of China well received abroad
• Earthquake in Yunnan destroys 700 homes
• Female oceanauts needed
• Advisers get down to business
• Change of tide for Tianjin
• Young Chinese have the right to dream
• Adviser calls for boost of middle class
• China protests U.S. politicizing telecom disputes
• Chinese ambassador to Japan still 'optimistic' about ties
• Former defense official denies Chinese hacking
• China targeting navigation system's global coverage by 2020
• Sany Group determined in lawsuit against Obama
• CPPCC stresses unity, democracy
• China protests US politicizing telecom disputes
• Ex-official dampens China-Japan war speculation
• Transforming govt functions key to averting income trap
• China's 'two sessions' agenda has world impact

Chinese ambassador to Japan still "optimistic" about ties Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:27 AM PST Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua said Sunday that he is optimistic for the future of China-Japan relations, despite the lingering tension between the two nations.

CPPCC convenes annual session, stresses unity, democracy Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:24 AM PST The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, convened its annual session in Beijing Sunday.

China ready for national legislature's annual session Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:22 AM PST China is ready for the opening of the annual session of its top legislature, with all delegations having arrived in Beijing, according to the session's press center on Sunday.

Annual political sessions of China well received abroad Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:21 AM PST The 2013 annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, have drawn positive comments from the international community.

Earthquake in Yunnan destroys 700 homes Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST A magnitude-5.5 quake hit Southwest China's Yunnan province on Sunday, injuring at least 30 and damaging thousands of homes. The quake struck Eryuan county in Dali city, the capital of the Bai autonomous prefecture, at 1:41 pm, with its epicenter 9 kilometers deep. By 7 pm, more than 2,500 houses were known to have been damaged and 700 others had collapsed, but no fatalities had been reported. The local civil affairs bureau said the quake has affected 55,000 people. The China Earthquake Network Center said it was the third quake to jolt the county within 13 hours. The first magnitude-3.0 quake happened at 12:52 am, while the second, a magnitude-2.9 one, took place at 2:30 am. Some 34 aftershocks had been recorded after the quake by 6 pm on Sunday. The China Earthquake Administration and the Yunnan provincial government have initiated an emergency response. Qin Guangrong, Party chief of Yunnan province, who is in Beijing to attend the upcoming first session of the 12th National People's Congress, also urged local authorities to conduct emergency actions on Sunday. They have already sent 6,000 tents, cotton quilts and coats to the stricken area. Yunnan's provincial earthquake bureau has sent a team to the quake-hit area, and more relief supplies are on the way. Relocation of affected residents is also under way. Yunnan province lies where the Eurasian Plate and Indian Plate meet and is prone to seismic upheaval. Last month, eight people were injured after a magnitude-4.9 quake hit the border area of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Contact the writers at liyingqing@chinadaily.com.cn and sunli@chinadaily.com.cn Xinhua and Guo Anfei in Kunming contributed to this story.

Female oceanauts needed Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST China is ready to welcome its first female oceanauts this year as the country is accelerating its deep-sea exploration, a senior official said. "The recruitment of six oceanauts is expected to begin in March," said Liu Feng, director of the China National Deep Sea Center. "I hope two of them can be female." Since Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, dived a record depth of 7,062 meters in June in the Mariana Trench, expanding the country's oceanaut team has been an urgent call. This year Jiaolong has increased the frequency of deep-sea dive programs to three seagoing legs. China has only two trained male oceanauts — Fu Wentao and Tang Jialing, who took part in the 7,000-meter dive project last year. This year's recruitment will lift the male-only restriction, but also impose more demanding requirements, Wang Chengsheng, director of deep-diving operations for the National Deep Sea Center, said. The center is working on new selection criteria, training program and assessment standards for future oceanauts, he said, adding a national standard is likely to be formed this year. In the past, besides passing a tough physical test, oceanauts were required to be men, under 35 years old with a bachelor's degree or above in a related major such as shipbuilding, electronics or machinery, Fu Wentao, a 30-year-old oceanaut, said in an earlier interview. But Wang did not reveal details about the new selection criteria for both male and female oceanauts. Liu expected the six oceanauts to be selected will take part in deep-sea dives after one or two years' training. "They should be utility players. In a deep-sea dive, they are oceanauts, and on board they can help repair and maintain the submersible," he said. With all these high expectations in the new oceanauts, Liu also said women have their own advantages over men and believes that women can do as well as or even better than men. "Women are more cautious, which is crucial in deep-sea diving," Liu said. Contact the writers at xiechuanjiao@chinadaily.com.cn and wangqian@chinadaily.com.cn

Advisers get down to business Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST Members of CPPCC to focus on major issues facing nation More than 2,000 national political advisers, about half of them new members, will tackle a host of issues, including corruption, environmental concerns and an increasing income gap, during their nine-day annual session, which started in Beijing on Sunday. Over the past five years, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference has been making suggestions and proposals related to the work of the Party and the government, Jia Qinglin, the top political adviser, said in his work report delivered in the Great Hall of the People on Sunday afternoon. From 2008 to 2012, the CPPCC organized more than 500 in-depth studies, focusing on the economy, people's livelihood and regional development, he said. Many of the proposals had been adopted by governments, he added. Jia cited the example of Hainan province to illustrate his point. The central government mapped out a strategy to build Hainan, a tropical island, into an international tourist destination in 2009 based on a proposal that stemmed from the CPPCC. Sun Jiazheng, vice-chairman of the 11th CPPCC National Committee, led an inspection team to Hainan in 2008. Later, the team delivered a report to the central government, suggesting it delegate power to local authorities and allow them to explore a tourism-centered economy including forest walks and a yacht industry. In the past five years, advisers submitted about 28,900 proposals, according to Wan Gang, another vice-chairman of the 11th CPPCC National Committee, who reviewed the body's consultative work at the opening ceremony on Sunday. Advisers shared their stories of being a part of the CPPCC with China Daily reporters. Wu Haiyan, a veteran adviser from Zhejiang province, said that the CPPCC has provided "a brilliant platform" for her to make a real difference. Wu, deputy director of the School of Design at the China Academy of Art, recalled that she submitted a proposal to revise an article of the intellectual property protection rights law in 2010 and a few months later she received a call from the top court. "They invited me and 18 other CPPCC members to a seminar in Beijing and top court officials discussed revision details with us," she said. She received a document from the top court that highlighted the amendments attributed to her proposal. "I have seen that the authorities are more and more open-minded," she said. Some urged fellow advisers to help make the CPPCC function better as a platform for consultative democracy. Sammy Lee, a CPPCC member from Hong Kong, recalled an argument among CPPCC members a few years ago about a revision to the Labor Law. The political advisers formed two main groups, one claiming to speak on behalf of the laborers, the other for employers. Lee, chairman and managing director of the Lee Kum Kee Health Products Group, said he believed the debate had missed the point. "I think as national political advisers we should address problems from a national perspective, not simply speak for groups we stand for," he said. Action movie star Jackie Chan said he felt "thrilled" to become a national political adviser. He said that he plans to submit a proposal on the film industry. Former NBA star Yao Ming, a rookie CPPCC member, said he appreciates the opportunity to discuss major national policies with leading figures from all walks of life. Yao said he spent about a week mulling over his proposal to integrate sports with public education. "The CPPCC is a good platform for us to learn from each other as you hear a lot of enlightening ideas," he said. Contact the writers at hedan@chinadaily.com.cn and wuwencong@chinadaily.com.cn

Change of tide for Tianjin Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST Plans to transform the northern port city of Tianjin into an international trading hub have taken a major step forward, winning support in principle from the central government, according to the city's deputy mayor. The favorable policies for the Dongjiang Free-Trade Zone in the eastern part of the city's Binhai New Area will include transit visas, a reduction or exemption in tariffs and streamlined procedures for ships and cargo handling, said Zong Guo-ying, who is also director of the new area and a deputy to the National People's Congress. Tianjin's plan to inject more incentives into Dongjiang has received backing from the State customs, taxation and commerce authorities, Zong said. The visa-free policy is expected to result in more hotel bookings and shopping in the downtown area, he explained, although he declined to reveal a timeframe in the policy to allow transit passengers to tour the port city. After successes in Shenzhen and Shanghai's Pudong New Area, China's leaders are looking to Tianjin to become another economic growth driver. The State Council approved a blueprint in 2006 for the Dongjiang Free-Trade Zone, the first stage of which covers 10 sq km. Five years later, six container berths have been set up along the 2.3-km coastline in Dongjiang, while inspection, logistic processing and customs offices have come into service. In 2012, the total value of imports and exports going through Dongjiang reached $5 billion, a 116 percent year-on-year increase. About 80 leasing companies were headquartered in the city as of June, about 23 percent of the national total, according to Dongjiang's website. Although the area is now the largest of China's four free-trade zones, it still cannot offer services equivalent to internationally renowned port cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, Zong said. "An imminent task for us is to further promote supporting facilities, including the distribution system, simplified shipping registration and financial leasing to companies," he said. "In short, we will make a free-trade area that is in line with international standards to attract financing, talent and cargo." Liu Xianming, deputy director of the economic development administration at Binhai High-Tech Industrial Development Area, said Binhai has provided comfortable residential districts equipped with leisure and entertainment facilities to enrich the daily life of its professional experts from China and abroad. The city is also planning reforms to its hukou, or household registration system, since many non-residents employees are at a disadvantage when receiving medical care or education for their children. About 1,500 migrant workers a year are entitled to receive welfare equal to a Tianjin hukou holder, one of the pilot reform policies. "Economic incentives cannot solely sustain the city's development," Zong said. "We need to offer competitive welfare for talented people as well as financial services for companies." Jin Lianjie, a specialist in port planning at the Transport Planning and Research Institute in Beijing, agreed. "Tianjin is not an ideal port, because it can occasionally freeze during winter. But its logistics, transportation and its established status as an exit point for inland provinces in northwest China to ship cargo to the outside world have made it a competitive choice, compared with other ports on the Bohai Sea," she said. Contact the writer at zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn

Young Chinese have the right to dream Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST When I was about to leave China Daily's Brussels bureau for Beijing to cover the annual session of National People's Congress, I had an enlightening interview with professor Paul De Grauwe, the European Commission president's former economic policy adviser. Toward the end of the interview, he told me he was extremely worried about Europe's massive youth unemployment. "If our politicians don't bring economic growth and jobs, some young people, especially those in southern Europe, will become a lost generation," De Grauwe said. When I arrived in Beijing, I was eager to speak with as many people as possible to find good stories for my paper. Many people are interested in the reshuffling of governmental personnel and responsibility, with new national lawmakers flocking to Beijing this week to determine who will take the top leadership positions to run the country. Some people look forward to more iron-fisted measures against corruption. And some are expecting policies to bridge income disparities. But what made the biggest impact on me was a conversation with 23-year-old Yang Cui, who will earn a master's degree at China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing this summer and has now joined millions of graduates in the job market. "What I need now is a decent job," Yang said, adding that she expects the new NPC deputies to elect people who can help expand the opportunities. "A decent job can help me start a satisfactory career and support my parents." Yang expressed her hopes for the coming decade at a recent dinner with a group of volunteers while the annual sessions of China's national legislators and political advisers have continued the national leadership transition since the 18th National Congress of Communist Party of China in November. I knew Yang well, because we have both been involved in a charitable education project for poor and disaster-hit regions since 2008. She is from a poor village in Sichuan province, and her parents have worked for years as construction workers, going from city to city to further Yang's education. Talented and hardworking, Yang recently passed the lawyer certificate examination. This, paired with a master's degree from a prestigious university, means it should not be too difficult for her to find a job. But she has found herself moving from one job fair to another, and she said competition is tougher than expected. The obstacles are limited job offers, a smaller quota of Beijing residence permits and being a woman. And even when all these obstacles are overcome and she lands a job in Beijing, Yang will be faced with another challenge — sky-high home prices, which she says have killed her dream of owning an apartment in Beijing in the next 10 years. Even renting an apartment is a major burden. "And I need marriage and a family, not to mention having a responsibility to support my parents, who are still diligently working as migrants," said Yang with tears in her eyes. "If there is no good job, the coming decade will be bleak for me." Hearing this, my mood became heavy. Her experience reminds me of economic adviser De Grauwe's warning of a lost generation in Europe. Many young people such as Yang are ready to work for a better future with every fiber of their being. But they need to have opportunities. Many Chinese have been inspired by new Party leader Xi Jinping's idea of the "China dream". The dream for many like Yang Cui who are from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds is to have opportunities to earn their daily bread, stand on their own two feet and live a decent life. They deserve those opportunities and dreams. Chinese leaders should not just promise but also strive to deliver. The reason is very simple: they can not afford to see the hopes of many Chinese such as Yang Cui fade and leave them to face the same difficult life as their parents. Contact the writer at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

Adviser calls for boost of middle class Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PST Lower taxes, better social welfare 'will double sector to 600 million' The Chinese government should implement a major tax-reduction plan to expand its middle-class population to 600 million by 2020, a senior national political adviser said. "We should map out a detailed national program to rapidly increase the middle class, which is the driving force of consumption," said Chi Fulin, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, in an exclusive interview with China Daily before the opening of the CPPCC's annual session. The growth that Chi is calling for is almost twice the US population and about 100 million more than the European Union's. Calling it China's "big strategy", Chi continued: "This is vital to decrease income disparity, maintain social stability and keep China's economy growing at a fast pace." He said China's leadership promised in November at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China to double the country's average 2010 income by 2020. "But I hope this will not be achieved by continually broadening the income gap," said Chi, who is serving as a CPPCC member for the second time. The central government has also recently made public a long-awaited program on income distribution reform, "but I didn't see detailed policy portfolios and goals to expand the middle-class population in the document", said Chi, president of the Hainan-based China Institute of Development and Reform. China's middle class currently is 23 percent of its total population, or about 300 million people. Chi said that by 2020, it should be 40 percent of the population, or 600 million. Chi urged the central government to make middle-class growth one of the prospective indicators of its economic and social development plan. "We need to map out an action plan to realize this goal," said Chi, who has been invited by Premier Wen Jiabao to give policy suggestions four times in the past 10 years. To prepare for the CPPCC session, Chi said he organized several closed-door seminars and fact-seeking tours. He has also submitted several proposals on reforms to government responsibilities and rural redevelopment. Chi has made a five-point proposal to help expand the middle class. First, he said, China should have a massive tax reduction plan to increase incomes, and at the same time, the government should lower its administrative costs. Chi also suggested that China should equally treat farmers-turned-workers as urban residents and provide social welfare for their families. Meanwhile, the government should protect the interests of those who lose their land to urban expansion and greatly increase compensation if their land is used for urban construction. Chi said the government should take measures to increase education spending and improve the skills of college students, who could be encouraged to set up their own businesses and enter into the middle class as soon as possible after they graduate. Chi also said China should also quicken its capital- and investment-market reform. "One major source of income of the middle-class family should come from investment in capital markets, but the systematic shortcomings of our stock and capital market have restricted such a possibility," Chi said. Contact the writer at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

China protests U.S. politicizing telecom disputes Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:12 AM PST China has voiced its discontent with the United States for politicizing intellectual property disputes concerning Huawei and ZTE, two leading Chinese telecom equipment makers.

Chinese ambassador to Japan still 'optimistic' about ties Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:12 AM PST Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua said Sunday that he is optimistic for the future of China-Japan relations, despite the lingering tension between the two nations.

Former defense official denies Chinese hacking Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:12 AM PST Chinese armed forces never sanction hacking activities and speculation about a special "Internet unit" is groundless, a former defense ministry official said on Sunday.

China targeting navigation system's global coverage by 2020 Posted: 03 Mar 2013 06:23 AM PST China's homegrown navigation system BeiDou is expected to achieve full-scale global coverage by around 2020, a leading scientist told Xinhua on Sunday.

Sany Group determined in lawsuit against Obama Posted: 03 Mar 2013 05:59 AM PST A spokesman for China's Sany Group stressed on Sunday that the company is determined in its judiciary procedure against U.S. President Barack Obama.

CPPCC stresses unity, democracy Posted: 03 Mar 2013 05:59 AM PST The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, convened its annual session in Beijing Sunday.

China protests US politicizing telecom disputes Posted: 03 Mar 2013 02:51 AM PST BEIJING - China has voiced its discontent with the United States for politicizing intellectual property disputes concerning Huawei and ZTE, two leading Chinese telecom equipment makers. "Intellectual property right is a private right, and we oppose its politicization," State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) commissioner Tian Lipu said on Sunday. He said Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp. are leading intellectual property owners in the world IT industry, and main applicants of the world's Patent Cooperation Treaty. "They are on par with any western multinational corporation in the quantity and quality of owned intellectual property," said Tian. "They comply with international business rules and safety rules in operations." According to the SIPO, China granted 2,734 invention patents to Huawei and 2,727 to ZTE, in 2012, meaning they were the biggest receivers of invention patents on the Chinese mainland last year. Tian said "Public policies should take into account social impacts. When intellectual property disputes arise, we should appeal to legal and judicial means and allow businesses to solve the disputes by themselves. "It is a little ridiculous for the United States to penalize Chinese companies with intellectual properties. It reflects the anxiety and irrationality of some people. I hope they can change such practices." On January 31, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) initiated a Section-337 investigation into wireless devices from Huawei and ZTE, along with two others based in South Korea and Finland, on the grounds of patent infringement. The probe was based on a complaint filed by InterDigital Communications and another three US companies in early January. The complainant accused these companies of infringing its patents related to wireless devices with 3G and/or 4G capabilities, and requested an exclusion order and cease and desist orders, according to the federal bipartisan panel. Within 45 days, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. Should the complaint be approved, the panel will issue remedial orders, such as a ban on importation of accused products. Huawei and ZTE responded by denying the patent claims and saying they  would actively fight the suit. In October 2012, the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee issued a report alleging that Huawei and ZTE pose possible threats to US national security. The committee suggested US companies should avoid buying their equipment from Huawei and ZTE. Huawei and ZTE were accused of deliberately inserting "back doors" in their products. Back doors are programs secretly inserted by developers, enabling attackers to install malicious software that could paralyze networks and allow hackers to gain entry to highly classified systems. But an 18-month White House-ordered review on Huawei, indicated no evidence of Huawei espionage was found. Huawei and ZTC are the second- and fifth-largest telecom equipment makers in the world, respectively. In recent years, they have pursued a foothold in the US market but are accused to be under the control of the Chinese government and have entered the US market through unfair means. Huawei's products and services are sold in over 140 countries, and it has over 20 research and development centers around the world. It pocketed 15.4 billion yuan ($2.44 billion) in net profits in 2012, up 33 percent year on year. About 66 percent of its revenues came from overseas markets, according to Cathy Meng, the company's chief financial officer. ZTE, a smaller listed competitor, has estimated losses of 2.5 to 2.9 billion yuan for 2012.

Ex-official dampens China-Japan war speculation Posted: 03 Mar 2013 02:51 AM PST BEIJING - A war is not a rational and realistic solution for problems between China and Japan, said a national political advisor and former defense ministry official here on Sunday. Tension behind China and Japan may currently be high amid some speculation of armed conflict between the nations, but Qian Lihua, a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said "It is not rational or true that China and Japan are doomed to fight a war." "A military solution is the last resort to settle problems. We should not talk about war and military actions in such a careless way when the two countries just have problems." China values its relations with Japan and has always targeted settling disputes peacefully through dialogue, said Qian, who used to head the foreign affairs office under the Ministry of National Defense. "Once we sit down and talk, there will always be a way out," the official added. However, Qian also warned that, if Japan goes too far in the wrong direction and turns to irrational resorts, Chinese armed forces would have to react. The current tension between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands has been caused by irresponsible actions taken by the Japanese government, according to Qian. Japan has not realized its mistake and instead has made it worse by politicians throwing out tough words and spreading comments on "threats from China," he said. "These are irresponsible for people of both countries. They should eat what they plant," he said.

Transforming govt functions key to averting income trap Posted: 03 Mar 2013 02:51 AM PST BEIJING -  After three decades of reform and opening up, China has already become a middle-income country by World Bank standards. But the achievement also comes with a challenge: how to avoid the so-called middle-income trap that had plagued so many developing countries after they reached similar income levels? Based on the experiences of South Korea, Chile and other countries, transforming government functions and changing economic development mode in a right way is the key to solving the problem. Take South Korea as an example. Between mid-1980s and early-1990s, Seoul had shifted its economy from a government-led to a market-centric mode that required a fundamental transformation of government functions. As of 1995, the country's per capita income exceeded $10,000 and thus skipped the middle-income trap. However, changing the government's role in the economy does not mean we should go to the other opposite extreme of market fundamentalism. A relevant lesson could be drawn from Argentina, which has been mired in the middle-income trap for over 30 years since it pursued a failed reform in 1980s that called for weakening government functions despite premature market conditions. As a result, the country has since then been prone to the shocks of market liberalization forces. The middle-income trap is not only a pure economic problem, but also is closely related to social and political issues. In some countries, the government is unable to play its due role in the economic development due to strong social resistance to reforms. In other countries, with proper design and mechanism, a functionally-transformed government became a driving force for socioeconomic progress. In this respect, Chile is a good example. In 2011, the South American nation averted the middle-income trap and increased its per capita income to 12,280 dollars. Aside from transforming its economic development mode and pursuing more balanced income distribution, the country over the past decades has restricted government power and relentlessly fought corruption. At present, it is a consensus in China to deepen reform, which is needed for the country to skip the middle-income trap, achieve sustainable development and realize the revival of the Chinese nation. The keynote report of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last November made it clear that the core of the economic system reform is to properly handle the relationship between government and market. It also called for increased respect for the law of market and a better way for the government to play its role. The message is clear -- transforming government functions would provide an institutional foundation for the country to successfully skip the middle-income trap and achieve sustainable growth and lasting prosperity. And Beijing has the resolve and capability to get the job done.

China's 'two sessions' agenda has world impact Posted: 03 Mar 2013 02:51 AM PST BEIJING - China's "two sessions" that started on Sunday will formulate policies that have significant impact on the world, foreign experts say. The annual full sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and its advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), would appoint top government officeholders and complete a once-in-a-decade leadership transition. They would also see new policies taking shape to push ahead reforms outlined in the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) late last year, in which Xi Jinping was elected party leader. China's growth, global opportunity China is now a vital engine of global economic growth, and a strong locomotive that drags economic recovery across the world after the global financial crisis, Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua recently. Last year's CPC congress stressed sustainable and "healthy" economic growth, which places more emphasis on domestic consumption, technology, and green economy. It also involves upgrading the industrial structure and speeding up urbanization to integrate development of China's urban and rural areas. Ken Lieberthal, a senior fellow with the U.S. Brookings Institution and a leading China expert, told Xinhua that China's future well-being depends on how effectively it reforms its domestic economic system to put it on a more sustainable path. "China's role in Asia and globally will inevitably grow enormously larger if China's economy successfully transitions and continues to produce healthy growth," Lieberthal said. Yuen Pao Woo, president and CEO of the Vancouver-based think tank Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, echoed that view. Yuen said that China's demand would spur global growth amid stagnation and recession in most European and American economies. Mahmoud Allam, the former Egyptian ambassador to China, said he believes China, as it develops, will also bring benefits to others. "We are now living in an open world, in which China has achieved success from its reform and opening-up policy and learning from other countries," Allam said. Many countries are seeking cooperation and partnership with China. China can offer support on investment, technology, labor and development experience for a win-win outcome, the former ambassador said. "Beautiful China" initiative to lead global environmental efforts China's "two sessions" this year also will map out concrete steps toward a "beautiful China," an initiative proposed by former CPC leader Hu Jintao in an agenda-setting report to the 18th CPC Congress. Foreign experts say China's strong environmental awareness is laudable and its efforts to balance the economy with the environment would provide useful experience for other countries. Adel Sabry, former vice chief editor of the Egyptian newspaper Al-Wafd, said one task for China's new cabinet is to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution in industries that still rely on outdated technologies. Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King's College London, said China could learn from London's catastrophic 1952 smog that killed at least 4,000. Beijing can make laws to curb air pollution, as London did with the Clean Air Act of 1956 that cleared its smogs. Developed countries such as the United States have many lessons China can learn in order to avert similar pollution incidents, said William Allen, president and CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. China's peaceful development to benefit world China is taking a peaceful path of development and will become a stable, responsible global player that contributes to world peace and development, said Hu Yishan, former political secretary to the Malaysian prime minister. Mikhail Titarenko, director of the Far East Institute of the Russian Science Academy, said China is following a road of peaceful development. That, he said, would promote the establishment of a fair and just world order and also help create a stable environment for China to develop and prosper. Xi told a group study session with members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau that global prosperity and stability represent an opportunity for China, while China's development represents an opportunity for the world. He added that the success of a peaceful path of development will depend on the utilization of the opportunities that exist for both sides. The international community interpreted the remarks as China's inclination to cooperate more actively with other countries for mutual benefits and win-win results and to overcome global challenges and contribute to world development. Le Luong Minh, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said the association is willing to strengthen cooperation with China. China is an active builder of the global order and international system. Reality has proved that the development China is seeking is peaceful, open, cooperative and mutually beneficial. China will impress the world with its sincerity, Sabry said, adding that the country would play a bigger role on the world stage through win-win cooperation.

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