In the wake of the tainted milk powder case, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged on Saturday his government would work hard to make sure that the country produces safe products for both its people and the rest of the world.
"The incident is not over yet ... My government and I will lead our people through this hard journey," said Wen during a question and answer session at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Davos forum in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Saturday afternoon.
"It's not just food or dairy ... We will make the entire 'Made in China' worry-free and reputable products for both the Chinese and the people across the world," said the premier.
As for the tainted milk power incident, Wen said the case not only indicated the country was still weak in production monitoring process, but also reminded the government to attach great importance to enterprises morality, business ethics, and social conscience.
Meanwhile, he made a promise that China will accelerate its pace in upgrading the country's food production industry.
China's food quality has been severely criticized recently, as more than 6,200 infants have developed kidney stones and four were killed after drinking baby formula tainted with melamine. The chemical, which was added illegally, makes the protein content of milk appear higher than it actually is.
After the well-known Sanlu formula's problem exposure, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine conducted a nationwide examination of baby milk powder to find 22 companies whose formulas were tainted.
"China did not intend to cover the truth when the incident happened. Instead, it faced frankly and bravely tried to solve the problem. I believe we will not disappoint the entrepreneurs here, as well as our people and people in the rest of the world," said Wen.
The premier said he was very much moved when he saw in TV Mandelson drink a cup of Chinese milk yesterday to show his trust for made-in-China products. "It is because he not only sees the current days, but the future."
Source: Xinhua
Monday, September 29, 2008
China confident of continued growth as global business elites meet in Tianjin amid financial woes
Though faced with "the most difficult year" for its economy, China on Saturday showed a strong confidence in its sustained, rapid growth, with Premier Wen Jiabao telling a top-grade world economic forum that his country enjoys a favorable development environment as a whole.
"We have full confidence and capability to overcome various difficulties to ensure sound and fast growth of the national economy for an even longer period of time," said the premier while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Davos forum in Tianjin on Saturday afternoon.
And such a growth will be China's "greatest contribution" to the world economy under the current circumstances, said Wen during a brief question and answer session that followed his speech.
The two-day forum, also known as the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2008, has drawn some 1,400 participants from nearly 90 countries and regions, most of whom are successful entrepreneurs and high-ranking government officials.
The meeting, second of its kind sponsored by the prestigious World Economic Forum, took place at a difficult time for the world economy, as a financial storm starting from the Wall Street rocked the globe and triggered widespread worries about economic slowdown or even depression.
"It has been an extraordinary few weeks on the financial markets, weeks with consequences across the global economy," said European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, who is also in this north China metropolis to attend the forum, on Friday in a speech to the local European business people.
The costs of this crisis will be felt by all countries, including China through changing stock market sentiment, falling inward investment and a fall in export demand tied to falling consumer spending in Europe and the US, said Mandelson.
The Chinese premier also observed that the world economic environment is getting "tougher and more complex," with "exacerbated financial volatility" and "notable economic slowdown."
And this is just one of many "considerable difficulties" faced by the country, which also needs to address other prominent problems such as domestic price rises, a weak agriculture, energy and resources constraint, poor business management, and hidden problems in the financial sector.
"As I said earlier in the year, 2008 could be the most difficult year for China's economy," said Wen, who also cited natural calamities that struck the country in a row, including heavy snow and sleet storms in January and February and a devastating earthquake in May.
Nevertheless, he stressed that "the economic fundamentals in China remain unchanged" and the economy "is moving in the direction envisaged in the macro-economic control policy."
He listed out "many favorable conditions" for China to maintain its growth, including the rapid industrialization and urbanization process, abundant supply of labor and capital, huge potential of increased domestic consumption and investment demands, a vast domestic market, and improved ability of macroeconomic regulation.
But most of all, the premier's confidence derives from China's adoption of a correct development course, as reflected in the title of his speech: "Reform and Opening-up -- the Eternal Driving Force for China's Development."
"China's changes over the past three decades would not have been possible without reform and opening-up... Reform and opening-up must be carried on through the entire process of China's modernization drive," said Wen.
The fundamental solution to all problems China now faces, including unbalanced growth, pollution and corruption, lies in deepened reform, he stressed.
Applause burst out from time to time in the full-packed Plenary Hall of the Binhai International Convention & Exhibition Center, the meeting's venue, as the participants expressed their approval of Wen's words.
Many of them have come with the hope of finding a platform to pool the wisdom of business leaders and economic masterminds worldwide, to evaluate the impact of the current crisis and propose possible ways out.
They are also interested in what China will do in the face of the crisis, and whether the country could repeat its success in handling the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
"A crisis is often totally unexpected, and it always strikes at the most unlikely links," said veteran Chinese investor Wu Ying. "That's why we are here -- to react to the crisis with innovative methods and approaches of imaginative power."
Asked about his prescription for the current crisis, the Chinese premier emphasized international cooperation and -- more importantly -- confidence, on the parts of economists, entrepreneurs, the public and the state leaders. "At this moment, confidence is even more precious than gold or any currencies," he said.
And some key participants of the forum share China's confidence. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, predicted on Friday that the world economy will see a slowdown in growth in the next one to three years, but China will remain the fastest-growing economy with a growth rate of seven to eight percent.
Founded four years ago for growing enterprises, even though some of them were just of medium or small size, the forum of the new champions has picked "The Next Wave of Growth" as the theme for the Tianjin meeting.
In the context of the financial woes, this theme appears even more significant, as many people have started to view the new businesses, whose growth is often driven by inspiration and innovation, as a major leading force of the global economic revival.
And more attention was paid to the emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The infrastructure improvement in the developing nations has given them more opportunities to embrace new technologies and the new economy, such as bio-techs, which will bring new growth, said Peer M. Schatz, chief executive officer of Germany's Qiagen company.
"These young companies have the potential to list among the Fortune 500 in next five to ten years," said Schwab of the more than 200 new champion companies that have come to the Tianjin forum.
And according to Premier Wen, China is ready to share its development opportunities with these new businesses, and Tianjin, designed to be "the economic center in north China" in the country's development blueprint, could be a perfect starting ground.
"Many of you are from growing enterprises that are most dynamic, competitive and full of development potential. You are welcome to invest in China, to start businesses in Tianjin and to seize the opportunity and pursue greater development," Wen told the forum participants at the opening ceremony.
Source: Xinhua
"We have full confidence and capability to overcome various difficulties to ensure sound and fast growth of the national economy for an even longer period of time," said the premier while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Davos forum in Tianjin on Saturday afternoon.
And such a growth will be China's "greatest contribution" to the world economy under the current circumstances, said Wen during a brief question and answer session that followed his speech.
The two-day forum, also known as the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2008, has drawn some 1,400 participants from nearly 90 countries and regions, most of whom are successful entrepreneurs and high-ranking government officials.
The meeting, second of its kind sponsored by the prestigious World Economic Forum, took place at a difficult time for the world economy, as a financial storm starting from the Wall Street rocked the globe and triggered widespread worries about economic slowdown or even depression.
"It has been an extraordinary few weeks on the financial markets, weeks with consequences across the global economy," said European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, who is also in this north China metropolis to attend the forum, on Friday in a speech to the local European business people.
The costs of this crisis will be felt by all countries, including China through changing stock market sentiment, falling inward investment and a fall in export demand tied to falling consumer spending in Europe and the US, said Mandelson.
The Chinese premier also observed that the world economic environment is getting "tougher and more complex," with "exacerbated financial volatility" and "notable economic slowdown."
And this is just one of many "considerable difficulties" faced by the country, which also needs to address other prominent problems such as domestic price rises, a weak agriculture, energy and resources constraint, poor business management, and hidden problems in the financial sector.
"As I said earlier in the year, 2008 could be the most difficult year for China's economy," said Wen, who also cited natural calamities that struck the country in a row, including heavy snow and sleet storms in January and February and a devastating earthquake in May.
Nevertheless, he stressed that "the economic fundamentals in China remain unchanged" and the economy "is moving in the direction envisaged in the macro-economic control policy."
He listed out "many favorable conditions" for China to maintain its growth, including the rapid industrialization and urbanization process, abundant supply of labor and capital, huge potential of increased domestic consumption and investment demands, a vast domestic market, and improved ability of macroeconomic regulation.
But most of all, the premier's confidence derives from China's adoption of a correct development course, as reflected in the title of his speech: "Reform and Opening-up -- the Eternal Driving Force for China's Development."
"China's changes over the past three decades would not have been possible without reform and opening-up... Reform and opening-up must be carried on through the entire process of China's modernization drive," said Wen.
The fundamental solution to all problems China now faces, including unbalanced growth, pollution and corruption, lies in deepened reform, he stressed.
Applause burst out from time to time in the full-packed Plenary Hall of the Binhai International Convention & Exhibition Center, the meeting's venue, as the participants expressed their approval of Wen's words.
Many of them have come with the hope of finding a platform to pool the wisdom of business leaders and economic masterminds worldwide, to evaluate the impact of the current crisis and propose possible ways out.
They are also interested in what China will do in the face of the crisis, and whether the country could repeat its success in handling the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
"A crisis is often totally unexpected, and it always strikes at the most unlikely links," said veteran Chinese investor Wu Ying. "That's why we are here -- to react to the crisis with innovative methods and approaches of imaginative power."
Asked about his prescription for the current crisis, the Chinese premier emphasized international cooperation and -- more importantly -- confidence, on the parts of economists, entrepreneurs, the public and the state leaders. "At this moment, confidence is even more precious than gold or any currencies," he said.
And some key participants of the forum share China's confidence. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, predicted on Friday that the world economy will see a slowdown in growth in the next one to three years, but China will remain the fastest-growing economy with a growth rate of seven to eight percent.
Founded four years ago for growing enterprises, even though some of them were just of medium or small size, the forum of the new champions has picked "The Next Wave of Growth" as the theme for the Tianjin meeting.
In the context of the financial woes, this theme appears even more significant, as many people have started to view the new businesses, whose growth is often driven by inspiration and innovation, as a major leading force of the global economic revival.
And more attention was paid to the emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The infrastructure improvement in the developing nations has given them more opportunities to embrace new technologies and the new economy, such as bio-techs, which will bring new growth, said Peer M. Schatz, chief executive officer of Germany's Qiagen company.
"These young companies have the potential to list among the Fortune 500 in next five to ten years," said Schwab of the more than 200 new champion companies that have come to the Tianjin forum.
And according to Premier Wen, China is ready to share its development opportunities with these new businesses, and Tianjin, designed to be "the economic center in north China" in the country's development blueprint, could be a perfect starting ground.
"Many of you are from growing enterprises that are most dynamic, competitive and full of development potential. You are welcome to invest in China, to start businesses in Tianjin and to seize the opportunity and pursue greater development," Wen told the forum participants at the opening ceremony.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese VP pledges support for overseas Chinese entrepreneurs
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Saturday asked government departments to protect legitimate interests of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs and create favorable conditions for their investment.
Xi made the remarks here when meeting with representatives of the China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs.
He said overseas Chinese have made great contributions to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
As China continues economic reform, more overseas Chinese entrepreneurs are coming back to the country with increased investment, he said, adding that investment has become an important part of China's economy.
Source: Xinhua
Xi made the remarks here when meeting with representatives of the China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs.
He said overseas Chinese have made great contributions to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
As China continues economic reform, more overseas Chinese entrepreneurs are coming back to the country with increased investment, he said, adding that investment has become an important part of China's economy.
Source: Xinhua
Former senior Chinese leader Han Guang dies at 96
Han Guang, former executive secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, died at the age of 96.
An official statement said he died of illness at 5:06 a.m. on Saturday in Beijing.
It described Han as "an outstanding CPC member, a long-tested and loyal Communist fighter, a proletarian revolutionary and an outstanding leader in CPC discipline inspection battlefront".
Source: Xinhua
An official statement said he died of illness at 5:06 a.m. on Saturday in Beijing.
It described Han as "an outstanding CPC member, a long-tested and loyal Communist fighter, a proletarian revolutionary and an outstanding leader in CPC discipline inspection battlefront".
Source: Xinhua
Former senior Chinese leader Han Guang dies at 96
Han Guang, former executive secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, died at the age of 96.
An official statement said he died of illness at 5:06 a.m. on Saturday in Beijing.
It described Han as "an outstanding CPC member, a long-tested and loyal Communist fighter, a proletarian revolutionary and an outstanding leader in CPC discipline inspection battlefront".
Source: Xinhua
An official statement said he died of illness at 5:06 a.m. on Saturday in Beijing.
It described Han as "an outstanding CPC member, a long-tested and loyal Communist fighter, a proletarian revolutionary and an outstanding leader in CPC discipline inspection battlefront".
Source: Xinhua
Vice Minister of Agriculture: China, India not to blame for grain crisis
It is wrong to blame developing nations, China and India for the current global grain crisis.
Niu Dun, vice minister of agriculture, made those remarks Saturday at a seminar on grain security at the ongoing 2008 Summer Davos Forum held in this northern metropolis.
He said an energy shortage and cost increases for agricultural production are the root factors behind the grain shortage.
Developing economies, which include China, have recorded significant deficit in world farm produce trade and increasing export costs. As a result, agricultural production has been adversely affected and farmers incomes squeezed in these nations and regions.
Besides, Niu added, climate changes worldwide caused by the industrialization also impacted global agricultural production.
He noted that the impact of bio-energy development on agriculture should also not be ignored.
The Chinese Government disapproves of producing bio-fuels with maize, soybean and other cereal crops as raw materials.
However, China encourages agricultural wastes and some natural resources to be fully used to produce bio-fuels but not at the expense of forests, rain forests and the ecological system at large, Niu added.
But according to Niu, the nation will not achieve energy security at the cost of grain security.
In rural areas, China makes use of stalks, animal excrement, agricultural wastes and domestic sewage to generate electricity.
Meanwhile, clover and sugar cane have been grown for bio-fuel production, Niu said.
Such renewable energy projects as small hydro power, wind power and solar power plants are being built nationwide, he added.
As a beneficiary of international grain aid 30 years ago, China now exports up to 20 million tons of grain every year, Niu pointed out.
More than 1,500 entrepreneurs, politicians and scholars from 90-plus nations and regions attended the 2008 Summer Davos meeting which was scheduled to be held from Sept. 27 to 28.
Source: Xinhua
Niu Dun, vice minister of agriculture, made those remarks Saturday at a seminar on grain security at the ongoing 2008 Summer Davos Forum held in this northern metropolis.
He said an energy shortage and cost increases for agricultural production are the root factors behind the grain shortage.
Developing economies, which include China, have recorded significant deficit in world farm produce trade and increasing export costs. As a result, agricultural production has been adversely affected and farmers incomes squeezed in these nations and regions.
Besides, Niu added, climate changes worldwide caused by the industrialization also impacted global agricultural production.
He noted that the impact of bio-energy development on agriculture should also not be ignored.
The Chinese Government disapproves of producing bio-fuels with maize, soybean and other cereal crops as raw materials.
However, China encourages agricultural wastes and some natural resources to be fully used to produce bio-fuels but not at the expense of forests, rain forests and the ecological system at large, Niu added.
But according to Niu, the nation will not achieve energy security at the cost of grain security.
In rural areas, China makes use of stalks, animal excrement, agricultural wastes and domestic sewage to generate electricity.
Meanwhile, clover and sugar cane have been grown for bio-fuel production, Niu said.
Such renewable energy projects as small hydro power, wind power and solar power plants are being built nationwide, he added.
As a beneficiary of international grain aid 30 years ago, China now exports up to 20 million tons of grain every year, Niu pointed out.
More than 1,500 entrepreneurs, politicians and scholars from 90-plus nations and regions attended the 2008 Summer Davos meeting which was scheduled to be held from Sept. 27 to 28.
Source: Xinhua
Senior Chinese official: role models needed to promote socialism
Liu Yunshan, a senior official of the Communist Party of China , said on Saturday that more theorists, journalists, publishers and artists should be fostered for better publicity of the socialist ideology and culture.
Outstanding talents in these fields should be promoted to important posts so they can make greater contributions, said Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.
He made the remarks during a week long seminar which finished in Beijing on Saturday.
The CPC initiated a project five years ago to promote public awareness of the socialist culture and ideology.
Outstanding journalists, for example, should be able to uphold "correct guidance of public opinion" while reporting the truth.
So far 329 talented people have been promoted at their work. They all played a leading role in several publicity campaigns related to natural disasters and the Beijing Olympic Games this year, Liu said.
He added, outstanding theorists, journalists, publishers and artists should make even greater contributions to popularize the value system of socialism.
They should also work harder, be innovative at work, and pay attention to professional ethics to become role models for the general public, he said.
Source: Xinhua
Outstanding talents in these fields should be promoted to important posts so they can make greater contributions, said Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.
He made the remarks during a week long seminar which finished in Beijing on Saturday.
The CPC initiated a project five years ago to promote public awareness of the socialist culture and ideology.
Outstanding journalists, for example, should be able to uphold "correct guidance of public opinion" while reporting the truth.
So far 329 talented people have been promoted at their work. They all played a leading role in several publicity campaigns related to natural disasters and the Beijing Olympic Games this year, Liu said.
He added, outstanding theorists, journalists, publishers and artists should make even greater contributions to popularize the value system of socialism.
They should also work harder, be innovative at work, and pay attention to professional ethics to become role models for the general public, he said.
Source: Xinhua
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