News » China » Chinese state councilor meets South Korea's new president

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• Chinese state councilor meets South Korea's new president
• Shanghai police investigate toxic school uniforms
• Fire kills 1 on China's Lantern Festival
• China to halt approvals for small coal mines
• Minibus blast kills one, injures two in SW China
• Rape scandal provokes debate on child-rearing
• 1,804 organs donated for trial donation project
• Top Chinese anti-corruption official stresses frugality
• All Japanese activities regarding Diaoyu Islands illegal: FM spokeswoman
• China Focus: Xi Jinping says CPC has duty to promote cross-strait ties
• Chinese president appoints four new ambassadors
• Xi says CPC has duty to promote cross-strait ties
• Boeing-COMAC to work on air traffic management projects
• All Japanese activities regarding Diaoyu Islands illegal
• Wenzhou makes progress in property market
• Economic value of nature to be measured
• Travel peak nears end
• 2 injured, 4 cars wrecked in Tianjin fireworks explosion
• Chinese police seize Myanmar drug trafficker
• Xi says CPC has duty to promote cross-strait ties

Chinese state councilor meets South Korea's new president Posted: 25 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST SEOUL - Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong met  with South Korea's newly sworn-in President Park Geun-hye on Monday and both sides pledged to further their bilateral cooperation. Liu, a special envoy of President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered congratulatory messages to Park from the two leaders. China has attached great importance to ties with South Korea and cooperation between the two countries has reached unprecedented heights in various fields since the establishment of bilateral ties 20 years ago, the two Chinese leaders said in their messages. China hoped the two sides could jointly contribute to the development of their strategic cooperative partnership under new circumstances by deepening mutual understanding and trust and promoting communications and cooperation in all areas, they said. Liu said China hoped the two countries, now at a new starting point, could strengthen strategic communications to cement firm political and strategic mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation to ultimately realize win-win results, and expand people-to-people exchanges to promote their shared history, culture and traditional values. For her part, Park said South Korea and China have a lot in common concerning the goals of development. She said her administration is dedicated in the happiness of the people, while China has pledged to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society by 2020. She hoped South Korea and China could foster closer relations by expanding cooperation in such areas as politics, trade and economy and culture on the basis of mutual understanding. The two sides also exchanged views on regional issues. The Chinese state councilor said China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. China called on all relative parties to solve the problems through dialogue and consultation due to the complexity and sensitivity of the situation, Liu said. China appreciated Park's pledge to seek the "trust-building process" between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula, and would continue to make efforts for achieving lasting stability of the peninsula, Liu said. Liu also attended the inauguration ceremony of Park who was swore in on Monday as South Korea's first female president.

Shanghai police investigate toxic school uniforms Posted: 25 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST SHANGHAI - Police in Shanghai have started investigating a local garment firm after toxic dye was found in the school uniforms it manufactures, authorities said Monday. Disciplinary supervision authorities are also investigating whether officials allowed the substandard uniforms to enter school campuses, a city government spokesman said. As of Sunday, two out of 106 batches of school uniforms produced by the Ouxia Garment Company were confirmed to contain azo dye, which can cause cancer, said the spokesman. Student uniforms for 41 schools in the city were produced by the firm or labeled with its "Ouxia" brand. On February 18, education authorities ordered 26,400 primary and high school students to stop wearing Ouxia-brand school uniforms after a quality inspection campaign found toxic dye in some of the uniforms. Education and quality inspection departments have strengthened inspections of school uniforms used in primary and high schools and asked all schools to deliver samples of their uniforms for quality testing before distributing them to students.

Fire kills 1 on China's Lantern Festival Posted: 25 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST BEIJING - One person was killed in a fire that occurred on China's Lantern Festival, which fell on February 24, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said Monday. A total of 1,482 fires were reported nationwide on Sunday, causing direct economic losses of 4.39 million yuan (703,926 U.S. dollars), the MPS's fire department said. No major fires, or fires that result in three or more deaths, took place and 280 people were rescued from fires on the holiday, the ministry said. The Lantern Festival, which traditionally brings an end to the Chinese Spring Festival season, is highly prone to accidents as celebrations on this day include fireworks and lantern displays. Lantern Festival is held on the 15th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar. Thirty-six people were killed in fires across the country during this year's Spring Festival holiday, which lasted from February 9 to 15. To prevent holiday fire accidents, strong measures were taken, including checks of fire hazards in major public places like markets, hotels and entertainment venues, according to the ministry. Although local governments usually allow citizens to set off fireworks in designated areas during the Spring Festival holiday, many areas have banned fireworks due to air pollution and safety concerns.

China to halt approvals for small coal mines Posted: 25 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST BEIJING - China's safety watchdog said Monday it will no longer approve new coal mines that do not meet production capacity requirements in 2013 in order to ensure work safety. High-gas coal mines with an annual production of less than 300,000 tonnes, as well as coal and gas outburst mines with an annual production of less than 450,000 tonnes, will not be approved, the State Administration of Work Safety said. Last month, the administration put rules into effect that hold coal mine managers accountable for protecting their workers' lives. Managers are required to have proper operation licenses and provide better ventilation. In 2012, 1,384 people were killed in coal mine accidents, declining from 1,973 in 2011. Most of the accidents occurred in small coal mines.

Minibus blast kills one, injures two in SW China Posted: 25 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST GUIYANG - One person was killed and two others injured on Monday in a minibus blast in southwest China's Guizhou Province, local government sources said. The incident happened at around 9 p.m. when the minibus exploded in the Shiqing Village, Zhouxi Township, said a spokesman with the city government of Kaili. The injured were rushed to hospital and their injuries were not life threatening, said the spokesman. Judging from the scene, local police suspected the explosion was a criminal case and were investigating it.

Rape scandal provokes debate on child-rearing Posted: 25 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST BEIJING - An alleged gang rape scandal put the son of renowned Chinese singer Li Shuangjiang under fire over the weekend, sparking debate over how children should be raised in contemporary society. Police insiders who requested anonymity said 17-year-old Li Tianyi is the son of Li Shuangjiang, dean of the music department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts. Li Shuangjiang, 74, built his reputation in past decades by singing popular patriotic songs. Last Friday, a user on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, wrote a post claiming that the 17-year-old had been detained along with four others after a woman reported to the police that she had been taken to a hotel and gang raped after drinking with the men in a bar. The news was confirmed by Beijing police the same day. Li Tianyi's accomplishments, such as playing for the China Youth Hockey team, have created the impression that he is successful in comparison to his peers. However, he has also made headlines for his controversial behavior. In 2011, he and another teenager attacked a couple who allegedly blocked their driveway near the entrance of a residential community in Beijing. He was later sent to a government correctional facility for one year. Although the children of the celebrities have long been the envy of children from ordinary families in China, Li Tianyi's scandal has shocked the public and led some to reflect on how children should be educated. "All families should draw lessons from the scandal. Parents should teach their children to be upright people in addition to teaching them intellectual skills," education expert Xiong Bingqi said. Xiong added that public figures should reflect on the way they teach their kids, as well as spend more time with their children. The opinion was echoed by TV hostess Ni Ping, who said that the children of celebrities are more likely to be troubled due to a lack of parental care. The scandal and ensuing coverage have become hot topics on Chinese social media sites, with newspapers and web portals running commentaries on the scandal. The China Youth Daily carried a commentary urging restraint in covering the case, stating that the 17-year-old Li's personal information and photos should not be carelessly exposed without confirmation from police. The article further noted that he is still a juvenile and his rights should be protected by law. "The scandal has highlighted public anxiety regarding social problems, such as the inequitable distribution of social wealth and the widening gap between the rich and the poor," said Zhou Xiaozheng, a sociologist at Renmin University. "Public figures should spearhead the preservation of moral integrity," he said.

1,804 organs donated for trial donation project Posted: 25 Feb 2013 05:31 AM PST A trial human organ donation project has brought in 1,804 human organs since March 2010, according to a Monday statement from Ministry of Health and the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC).

Top Chinese anti-corruption official stresses frugality Posted: 25 Feb 2013 05:02 AM PST A top anti-corruption official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has vowed severe penalties for lavish banquets and tours fueled by public funds.

All Japanese activities regarding Diaoyu Islands illegal: FM spokeswoman Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:35 AM PST All Japanese activities regarding the Diaoyu Islands are "illegal and invalid," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday.

China Focus: Xi Jinping says CPC has duty to promote cross-strait ties Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:16 AM PST Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday stressed the CPC's duty to carry forward the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations.

Chinese president appoints four new ambassadors Posted: 25 Feb 2013 02:40 AM PST Chinese President Hu Jintao has appointed four new ambassadors to foreign countries, according to a statement from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Monday.

Xi says CPC has duty to promote cross-strait ties Posted: 25 Feb 2013 03:10 AM PST Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday stressed the CPC's duty to carry forward the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations.

Boeing-COMAC to work on air traffic management projects Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:42 AM PST Two new research projects on China's air traffic management will be conducted by the technology center, co-established by Boeing Co and Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, the two companies announced on Monday. The Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center, which was launched in August, will work with Civil Aviation University of China to forecast the 30-year capacity of China's national airspace system. The research will develop evaluation tools to predict trends of future airspace development and provide recommendations for improving the national airspace system. The center also will work with Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics on the development of an air traffic decision support system to optimize in-bound air traffic flow at airports. The project will help air traffic controllers determine the most efficient arrival sequences and enhance flight safety by providing better situational awareness. The center previously released research to identify contaminants in waste cooking oil and processes that may treat and clean it for use as jet fuel.

All Japanese activities regarding Diaoyu Islands illegal Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:42 AM PST BEIJING - All Japanese activities regarding the Diaoyu Islands are "illegal and invalid", a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday. "The Diaoyu Islands are an inherent part of China's territory," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing, adding that no country challenged China's sovereignty over the islands from the 15th century to 1895. Hua made the remarks in response to a question regarding Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's speech last week at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington where he said no country questioned Japan's control over the islands during the period from 1895 to 1971. "It is ridiculous to say so," Hua said, referring to Abe's speech. "After the end of World War II, Japan did not fulfill its due international obligation as a defeated country in accordance with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and did not return the Diaoyu Islands to China," said the spokeswoman. "All Japanese activities regarding the Diaoyu Islands are based on illegal theft and occupation and are therefore illegal and invalid," she said. "No matter what the Japanese side says, they cannot hide the fact that they have illegally occupied Chinese territory," she added. During his visit to the United States, Abe also said Japan would handle the issue in a calm manner and maintain political dialogue with China. Hua said China's stance on the development of relations with Japan based on the "four political documents" has not changed. The documents include the China-Japan Joint Statement signed in 1972, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in 1978, the China-Japan Joint Declaration signed in 1998 and a China-Japan joint statement on comprehensively advancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations signed in 2008. "We hope the Japanese side will practice what it preaches, show sincerity through substantial action and make joint efforts with the Chinese side to push bilateral relations back onto a normal track," said the spokeswoman. Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that Abe and US President Barack Obama talked about during the Japanese prime minister's visit, Hua said China is open to all cooperative proposals that will help to promote economic cooperation and prosperity in Asia and the Pacific region. Given the current situation, all sides concerned should fully consider the diversity and differences of the region and push ahead with economic integration in an open, inclusive and transparent way, Hua said.

Wenzhou makes progress in property market Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:42 AM PST There was an apparent drop in transaction prices of residential property in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, in 2012, a signal that speculative investments have been curbed, Wenzhou's price bureau said. Both the city's newly built property prices and trade volume dropped in 2012, with the selling prices of newly built properties declining 14.3 percent year-on-year. Average residential property traded at 25,886 yuan ($4,110) per square meter in 2012, a drop of 24 percent year-on-year. "According to our calculations, the ratio of the city's average property prices against the city's average income is about 15," Xinhuanet.com reported, citing an insider from Wenzhou's price bureau on Sunday. According to the insider, the ratio was 18 and 16 in 2010 and 2011, respectively. There is still a lot of work to be done to bring Wenzhou's property prices close to average income ratios between 10 and 12, added the insider. With speculative activities contained in the property market, most buyers are acquiring property for their own use.

Economic value of nature to be measured Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:42 AM PST A pilot program to measure the economic value the ecosystem provides to human society will be launched in the Kubuqi desert in the northern Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the seventh-largest desert in China. The program will see a new standard - the Gross Ecosystem Product - be adopted for the first time. The standard will measure the total economic value of all ecosystem products and services that nature provides for human well-being, according to a statement at a news conference in Beijing on Feb 25. The program will be jointly launched by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Elion Foundation. The program will develop a pilot program to establish an evaluation framework for GEP and identify practical policies, technology and institutional arrangements for establishing a GEP accounting system, according to the statement. "If we only measure economic growth using GDP, we do not capture the vast environmental costs incurred, thus creating a false impression of economic prosperity," said Huang Yi, a professor on environmental science at Peking University. "Besides the current GDP, we hope the GEP accounting system can be used as a new standard to evaluate local economic and social development in future," said Zhu Chunquan, China program officer of the IUCN.

Travel peak nears end Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:42 AM PST The last peak of this year's Spring Festival travel rush is expected to arrive in the next few days as migrant workers and students return from family visits to study and work, railway authorities forecast. The four railway stations in Beijing have already seen more passenger arrivals prior to and after the Lantern Festival, which fell on Feb 24, and more passengers, mostly college students and migrant workers, could bring a renewed travel peak in the next few days, the Beijing Evening News quoted railway authorities as saying. More than 380,000 passengers returned from the holiday to Beijing over the weekend, most of which were short-trip passengers. The Ministry of Railways expected the Spring Festival Travel rush ending on March 6.

2 injured, 4 cars wrecked in Tianjin fireworks explosion Posted: 25 Feb 2013 04:42 AM PST Two residents were injured and four cars destroyed by fire in an explosion that rocked a residential compound in Tianjin on Saturday during celebrations for the Lantern Festival, Xinhua News Agency reported. A witness was quoted as saying that flames from a firework spread to the trunk of a car full of fireworks and firecrackers, which exploded. The report said the explosion, at around 9 pm, injured two passerby and destroyed four cars. Five other cars were also damaged and the windows of a residential building were shattered. The two victims were sent to hospital.

Chinese police seize Myanmar drug trafficker Posted: 25 Feb 2013 01:25 AM PST Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province announced Monday that they have detained a drug trafficker from Myanmar and confiscated 14.9 kilograms of heroin.

Xi says CPC has duty to promote cross-strait ties Posted: 25 Feb 2013 03:10 AM PST Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday stressed the CPC's duty to carry forward the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations.

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