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China\’s central government has ordered increased transparency in the handling of major accidents and other items of public concern following a fatal high-speed train crash last month.

The general offices of the State Council, or China\’s Cabinet, and the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee said in a circular issued on Tuesday that information on major emergencies and items of public concern, such as the results of official investigations and the measures the government has taken to handle the emergencies, should be released to the public in an "objective and timely manner."

Governments at all levels should respond to the public\’s concerns in a timely fashion and provide proper guidance for public opinion, the circular said.

The document was issued just 10 days after a high-speed train crash in east China\’s city of Wenzhou left 40 people dead and 191 others injured. Explanations given by railway authorities have raised public doubts about the true cause of the accident, as well as the government\’s subsequent investigation.

"Information dispersal and public relation management were not properly conducted after the train crash," said Professor Xie Yungeng, an expert on media economics and management at Shanghai Communications University.

Xie said many officials are unaware of the powerful influence of microblogs, which have become a primary source of information for China\’s citizens and played a large role in facilitating public debate in the aftermath of the July 23 train crash.

MOVING TOWARD TRANSPARENCY

During his trip to Wenzhou last week, Premier Wen Jiabao said the government\’s investigation into the train crash will be open, transparent and under public supervision, adding that investigators will "pay careful attention to public opinion."

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All parties concerned should respect history, abide by international laws as well as the norms governing international relations, and create conditions for the settlement of the problems, he added.

Zhang called on countries in the region to make full use of the existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the six-party talks, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and explore new cooperation channels in culture, trade, science, technology sharing as well as international disaster relief and counter-transnational crime.

Concerning the PLA Army, he said as the mainstay of the PLA, the Army is a strategic force approaching the world\’s advanced level.

"To conduct joint operations under conditions of informatization, we have accelerated the Army\’s modernization drive in an effort to achieve information integration, equip the Army with new main battle weaponry and adapt it to the digitized battlefield," he said.

Zhang said currently the PLA Army is focusing on building digitized troops capable of all-domain maneuver, rapid deployment, tri-dimensional offensive and defensive operations, systemic resistance and precision strike. These are all capabilities necessary for winning future wars.

While heavily involved in domestic disaster relief operations, the PLA Army has actively fulfilled its international humanitarian obligations, he said.

Since 1998, the PLA Army has deployed more than 20,000 troops to 20 UN Peacekeeping Operations, sent specialized teams to Indonesia, Haiti, Pakistan and Japan for disaster relief missions and actively participated in international humanitarian minesweeping efforts, according to Zhang.

In addition, the Army has conducted 30 plus joint military drills and exercises with the land forces of other countries focusing on counter-terrorism and disaster relief, Zhang said.

As staunch guardians of world peace, the PLA will contribute more to regional peace and stability, he said.

Source: Xinhua

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At a recently held national conference about comprehensive management engineering of soil erosion on sloping cultivated lands, it was learned that China will enhance the comprehensive management engineering of sloping cultivated land and will build 67,000 square kilometers of standardized large scale and high standard terrace.

In the north management area, the per capita basic farmland is expected to reach 1,334 square meters, and in the south management area, 667 square meters. In the project area, the grain yield will increase by 10 million ton. Soil erosion will be efficiently controlled, the sediment deposition of rivers and lakes will be relieved, and the cultivators’ income will increase. Furthermore, the survival and development issues of the 70 million residents of the hill area will be solved properly.

Chen Lei, Minister of Water Resources Ministry of China, said that China has 239,000 square kilometers of slope farmland, accounting for about one-fifth of total cultivated land. Sloping cultivated land is production land on hill areas, which the masses have relied upon for their survival and development. But it is also the major sources of soil erosion.

The area of sloping farmland accounts for 6.7 percent of China’s total soil erosion area, but in terms of quantity, these areas account for 28.3 percent. The serious soil erosion aggravates the poverty of the Hill Areas and becomes the outstanding bottleneck that restricts hill areas’ economic and social development.

Reportedly, in this year the slope farmland comprehensive management project will be expanded to 100 counties. It will encompass the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the Northwest Loess Plateau, the Black Soil Region of Northeast China, the Southwest Limestone Area as key areas and will choose with priority impoverished areas, minority areas, the old revolutionary base areas, reservoir areas with less cultivated land and reservoir resettlement areas.

By People\’s Daily Online

Zhang said he believes the Asia Pacific region would have a bright future. "In the post-industrial age and the information society, we witness the coexistence, integration and joint progress of different cultures. The zero-sum game is being replaced by win-win cooperation, and a community awareness of shared interest and destiny is growing."

Upholding multilateralism and inclusive regionalism, countries are actively engaged in bilateral and multilateral collaboration. Prosperity and progress of the Asia-Pacific region is closely connected with that of the wider world, he said.

Zhang said a harmonious Asia Pacific and, more broadly, a harmonious world, is essential for China\’s peaceful development, the stability and prosperity of all countries in the region, and common development of mankind.

With regard to shared responsibilities, Zhang said countries in the region should pursue common security by expanding shared interests and handling disputes by peaceful means, to ensure the Asia Pacific region would be more secure and more prosperous.

He called on countries to enhance strategic trust, respect each other\’ s national interests, handle conflicts and differences appropriately, and promote practical exchanges and cooperation.

"Strategic mutual trust is the foundation for cooperation, exchanges and common security. It is also the precondition for greater transparency," he said.

He urged countries to view each other\’s development objectively and rationally, and work to build trust and reduce suspicions.

"By adopting a forward-looking vision rather than haggling over trivial matters, overcoming disturbance and seeking common ground while shelving differences, we can lay the groundwork for strategic trust among regional militaries," he said.

As conflicts and differences are inevitable, political rather than military solutions are best for solving disputes, he said.
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China on Tuesday called for the United Nations (UN) to play a bigger role in easing tensions in Libya, as the UN secretary-general\’s special envoy to Libya, Abdul Ilah Al Khatib, concluded a visit to China on Tuesday.

"As the international community continues to voice a stronger desire for a political solution to the Libyan crisis, the UN should play a bigger part," Wu Hailong, China\’s assistant foreign minister, said during talks with Khatib on Tuesday.

Wu called on the UN to step up mediation efforts and strengthen consultations with the African Union (AU) and other regional organizations in order to obtain a ceasefire in Libya as early as possible. He also asked the UN to create an inclusive political dialogue and ease tensions in the crisis-torn country.

In a separate meeting with Khatib, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reaffirmed China\’s support to a political solution to the Libyan crisis.

China would like the UN and its security council to play a dominant role in the process of resolving the Libyan crisis by political means and appreciates the AU\’s mediation efforts, Yang said.

Yang called on both sides of the Libyan crisis to give priority to interests of the country and its people and to take the international community\’s mediation proposal into account. He also asked both sides to adopt a more flexible attitude and resolve the crisis through political means.

"China would like to work with the UN and other parties to make continuous efforts for an early resolution to the Libyan crisis," Yang said.

Khatib, who visited China from Monday to Tuesday, briefed the Chinese side on the UN\’s latest political proposal on Libya and his recent trip to the north African country.

Khatib travelled to Libya\’s cities of Tripoli and Benghazi to meet with leaders from both sides of the dispute in late July.

Khatib said that he appreciates China\’s support, saying that the UN have given great attention to the positive role China has played in promoting a political solution for the crisis.

Khatib said the UN would like to make concerted efforts with the international community to resolve the crisis by political means.

Libya has been in a state of crisis since earlier this year, when rebel groups rose up against longtime Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after protests calling for governmental reform. The UN Security Council stepped in by passing sanctions and a resolution that allows the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya.

Source: Xinhua

China’s central government said it is very displeased with Japan’s making categorically irresponsible remarks that China’s ongoing defense modernization would hamper its neighbors.

The 2011 Japan Defense White Paper, made public on Tuesday, criticized China’s defense ability buildup. The report said: “Given the modernization of China’s naval and air forces in recent years, its sphere of influence is likely to grow beyond its neighboring waters.”

“It is expected that China will try to keep expanding the area of activities, and to make naval activities a routine practice in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as in the South China Sea," the White Paper said.

The report, approved by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan\’s cabinet, described China\’s stance in its maritime territorial disputes with its neighbors as "assertive".

Ma Zhaoxu, a spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters that China is strongly dissatisfied with Japan\’s 2011 defense white paper, as it contains irresponsible comments on China\’s national defense construction.

"The Japanese 2011 defense white paper made carping and irresponsible comments on China\’s national defense construction," Ma said.

Ma said China\’s reinforcement of national defense and military modernization drive is entirely for safeguarding China’s sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity, not targeting any other country.

"China\’s development is offering significant opportunities to all countries in the world including Japan," Ma said. "China has not, and will never be a threat to any other country".

"I hope Japan can learn from the past, seriously reflect on its own defense policy and do more to deepen mutual trust with neighboring countries, maintain regional peace and stability, while not the contrary," Ma added.

Source: People’s Daily Online

China will continue to participate in UN peacekeeping operations and make greater contributions to world peace and development, a Chinese general said Wednesday.

Major General Xu Nanfeng, head of the Chinese delegation to the UN Military Staff Committee, made the remarks to senior UN officials, including UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy and diplomats at a reception marking China\’s Army Day observed on Aug. 1.

This year marks the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People\’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Xu said it is an important mission for the PLA to maintain world peace and promote common development, and China has actively participated in the UN peacekeeping missions.

The PLA has also carried out military exchanges and cooperation with other countries and engaged in strategic consultations and dialogues on regional security cooperation, Xu said.

For his part, Le Roy said he is grateful for China\’s participation in the UN peacekeeping missions, saying he is very pleased with the "professionalism and dedication of Chinese peacekeepers, as well as the quality of their performance."

China is now a major troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and has the largest number of UN peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Over the past 21 years, the PLA has deployed a total of 15,000 peacekeepers to 20 UN peacekeeping missions. At present, around 2,000 Chinese officers and soldiers are involved in 10 of the 15 UN peacekeeping operations.

Source: Xinhua

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that China\’s seabed exploration activities will help the country to further understand and utilize international seabed resources and serve the common interests of mankind.

"(The activities) will be conducive to improving scientific knowledge of deep sea resources and effectively protecting the seabed environment", said spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.

Ma made the remarks in a reply to a reporter\’s question about the recent approval China received from the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international seabed regulatory body, for its application for exploratory work in international deep seabed areas.

The ISA Council approved the application on July 19, permitting China to search for polymetallic sulphides, a type of mineral resource, in an international deep seabed area located in the southwest Indian Ocean. The application was submitted by the China Ocean Minerals Resource Research and Development Association (COMRA).

The approval of the application means that the COMRA has exclusive exploratory rights for polymetallic sulphides in the area, as well as priority mining rights for future development programs, according to the spokesman.

"According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, international seabed areas and their resources are the commonly inherited property of mankind", Ma added.

The COMRA filed the application in May 2010 with a guarantee from the Chinese government.

Source: Xinhua

Beijing is the most expensive city on the Chinese mainland for expatriates, ranking the 20th highest in the world for costs of living, according to an annual report released by Mercer, a US-based consulting company.

While housing remains the biggest expense for expats from transnational corporations, the price of schooling, healthcare and buying imported goods remains higher than other cities in the region.

"Prices of imports including clothes and electronics are about 10 to 40 percent higher than in Singapore as they are heavily taxed," said Kin Soon Cheong, a Singaporean expat working for an engineering corporation.

Mercer surveyed 214 cities, including nine in the Chinese mainland, and found Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the three most expensive. The survey is used by multinational companies, governments and NGOs to calculate pay and allowances for expat employees.

Beijing is now even more expensive than New York City (32nd) and Paris (27th), but not quite as expensive as 18th-placed London. The survey takes into account the cost of goods and services including alcohol and tobacco, sports and leisure, utilities, clothing and accommodation.

Mercer said the survey is based on expatriates\’ life patterns, and the price of goods is collected from three types of stores – discount stores, supermarkets and fine stores.

"For example, we go to stores frequented by the expat population, and select international brands for comparability purposes," said Nathalie Constantin-Métral, senior researcher at Mercer.

"For accommodation, we include the price for houses and apartments in areas favored by expatriates," she said.

Foreigners sent to China are mostly senior-level employees, and their companies usually offer allowances to cover housing, schooling and transportation, said Gong Lili, senior consultant at Antal International, a British consulting company in Beijing. These expenses are often many times higher than for other foreigners in Beijing who organize employment by themselves, and do not have what is referred to as a "full expat package."

"Expats have an average housing allowance of 10,000 to 15,000 yuan ($1,549 to $2,323) per month, and more than 100,000 yuan each year if they have children in school," Gong said. Residential rental prices in Beijing and Shanghai have been increasing over the past six months, said the survey.

"House rental is the most expensive part of living in Beijing," said Rory van den Berg from Scotland, senior advisor with Montpelier Group. He is trying to keep to a budget. Although living costs are not expensive now, he may feel the pressure if prices keep increasing, Van den Berg said.

"This place is expensive, food is OK but housing prices are soaring all the time. The facilities are good and safe, and buses and subways are cheap. I feel the city costs more and more these years," said Dhurw Dev Siiygh, a yoga instructor from India.

Higher labor costs and general inflation have contributed to the increasing cost of living in Beijing, according to Zhong Dajun, director with the Center for Economy Observation and Studies at Peking University.

But he still feels that foreigners get a good deal living in Beijing. "It\’s not fair for expats to make big money and buy things at cheap prices at the same time, so the cost of living increase is normal and reasonable," he said.

"It might cost more to eat and rent a house, but the service quality is good, which is a pretty good bargain," Zhong noted.

Source: Global Times

While regulations are being finessed for the launch of the Shanghai international board, which would allow foreign companies to list on the Chinese mainland for the first time, attention is also being focused on one crucial element: a chronic lack of skilled financial professionals.

Foreign banks and local securities companies are scurrying to find workers with the right skills and experience. Even Tu Guangshao, Shanghai\’s vice-mayor in charge of finance services, said the greatest inhibitor to the city\’s bid to be a world financial center was the lack of professionals.

The Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai. The difficulty in hiring and retaining high-caliber professionals has become the biggest business challenge for companies in the Chinese financial hub. (China Daily Photo)

The latest statistics show that the number of people working in finance in Shanghai is 300,000, up from the 200,000 in 2006. However, that is only 2 percent of the city\’s total work force. In New York, the figure is 10 percent.

There are fears this could hamper China\’s ambition to turn the city into a competitive international financial center that could rival New York, London, Hong Kong or Singapore by 2020.

Career opportunities

In an April survey conducted by eFinancialCareers.com, a leading global website for career advice in banking and financial markets, 56 percent of responding companies said they are looking to increase their head count in 2011. However, 95 percent of them believe there is shortage of skilled talent in the current market. As many as 28 percent described the shortage as "long-existing".

Further complicating matters is a tendency among those already employed in the sector to switch jobs.

Fluidity is typical in the financial services industry, according to George McFerran, head of Asia-Pacific at eFinancialCareers. Referring to another survey his company conducted, he said: "While 77 percent of respondents expressed their satisfaction with their current job, they said they are still continuously looking for better career opportunities. Another 13 percent said that they were unhappy and wanting to change jobs as soon as possible."

Mark Hall, a manager at Kelly Services China, a human resources and consulting company, echoed the sentiment.

Hall cited a recent study that showed the majority of financial organizations (93 percent) reported a lack of middle- to senior-level professionals with relevant skills, which had a negative effect on their ability to serve clients.

"The difficulty in hiring and retaining middle- to senior-level professionals has remained the top business challenge for companies," Hall said.

Furthermore, the greatest negative effect is experienced by the private equity and trust ends of the business, followed by funds, securities, insurance and investment banking. The skills reported to be in shortest supply are those considered most important for middle-ranking and senior executives in the sector. Initiative and enterprise – considered to be two of the most important skills – are cited among the top skills in short supply.

"As the financial services sector in China is constantly challenged by changes, organizations are looking out for middle- to senior-level professionals who possess high levels of initiative and the ability to build long-term relationships with clients as well as autonomously sell products and services that are targeted to individual client needs," Hall told China Daily.

This has mirrored findings from eFinancialCareers, which identified corporate banking relationship managers, private banking relationship managers and risk managers as the top three professionals most wanted in the talent pool.

"As the financial sector is by nature a service industry, it is highly essential to maintain relationships to draw clients and sell products," McFerran said.

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Source: China Daily