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BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday hit back at a United States report on its human rights with its own report on the U.S. human rights record.     "The U.S. practice of throwing stones at others while living in a glass house is a testimony to the double standards and hypocrisy of the United States in dealing with human rights issues and has undermined its international image," the Information Office of the State Council said in its report on the U.S. human rights record.     The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2008 was in retaliation to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2008 issued by the U.S. Department of State on Feb. 25.     For years, the United States had positioned itself over other countries and released the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices annually to criticize human rights conditions in other countries, using it as a tool to interfere with and demonize other nations, the report said. The U.S. has turned a blind eye to its own violations of human rights.     "As in previous years, the reports are full of accusations of the human rights situation in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but mention nothing of the widespread human rights abuses on its own territory," China said in its report.     "The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2008 is prepared to help people around the world understand the real situation of human rights in the United States, and as a reminder for the United States to reflect upon its own issues," China said.     The report reviewed the U.S. human rights record from six perspectives: life and personal security; civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; racial discrimination; rights of women and children; and the United States' violation of human rights in other countries.     The report warned the United States that widespread violent crime posed serious threats to its people's lives and security.     According to a report published in September 2008 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the country reported 1.4 million violent crimes, including 17,000 murders and 9.8 million property crimes in 2007.     More frequent gun killings were a serious threat to the lives of U.S. citizens, the report said.     It quoted the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention assaying that 1.35 million high school students in 2007 were either threatened or injured with a weapon at least once on school property.     The report said an increasing number of restrictions had been imposed on civil rights in the United States.     It cited government surveillance of online activities, new legislation on government wiretapping last July, more cases of police abuse of force and neglect of basic rights of 2.3 million prisoners in the United States.     The United States was facing a number of social problems, including a wide wealth gap, increasing number of homeless, needy people and those suffering hunger, the report said.     It quoted the U.S. Census Bureau as saying in August 2008 that 12.5 percent of Americans, or 37.3 million people, were living in poverty in 2007, up from 36.5 million in 2006.     The unemployment rate increased from 4.6 percent in 2007 to 5.8percent in 2008, the report said.     People in the United States saw their pension plans shrink, health insurance cut and school tuition increase, while drugs, suicide and other social problems prevailed, according to the report.     The report said racial discrimination prevails in "every aspect of social life" in the United States, ranging from income, employment, education, to judicial system, often with African Americans as major victims.     "Nearly one quarter of black American households live below the poverty line, three times that of white households," it said, citing The State of Black America, issued by the National Urban League in March 2008.     The jobless rate for blacks was 10.6 percent in the third quarter of 2008, twice that of the whites, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.     The report said the African American high school graduation and college entry rates still lingered at the level of whites "two or three decades ago", and African American students in public schools were "more likely to get physical punishment than White children."     "African American youths arrested for murder are at least three times more likely than their white peers to receive life imprisonment without the possibility of parole," the report said, quoting a 2008 report of the New York-based Human Rights Watch.     It also mentioned the infringement of basic rights of indigenous Americans, inhumane treatment received by immigrants, and serious racial hostility and rising hate crime in the United States.     On "worrisome" conditions of women and children, the report said gender-based discrimination in employment, and domestic violence and sexual violence toward women were quite serious.     Also, an increasing number of children were living in poverty and danger of being physically or mentally harmed due to abuse and violence.     "The United States is one of the few countries in the world where minors receive the same criminal punishments as adults," the report said. "It is the only country in the world that sentences children to life in prison without possibility of parole or release."     "The United States has a string of records of trampling on the sovereignty of and violating human rights in other countries," the report said.     It listed the Iraq war, prisoner abuse at Guantanamo, the five-decade embargo against Cuba and arm sales.     The war in Iraq had claimed more than 1 million civilian lives and caused the same number of homeless people, it said.     The United States maintained the embargo against Cuba, though the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging itto end the embargo in last October.     U.S. arm sales reached 32 billion U.S. dollars in 2007 and weapons were sold to more than 174 nations and regions.     The United States was inactive on its international human rights obligations and offered outbound humanitarian aid that was dwarfed by its status as the richest country in the world, the report said.     China in the report advised the U.S. government to "face its own human rights problems with courage, and to stop applying double standards to human rights issues".     This is the 10th consecutive year that the Information Office of China's State Council has issued a report on the human rights record of the United States to answer the U.S. State Department's annual report.     "Respect for and protection of human rights is an important indication of civilization and progress of human society," the report said. "Every government shoulders a common responsibility in committing itself to the improvement of human rights conditions.

SHENYANG, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- A senior Party official on Tuesday called for all-out efforts to safeguard fairness, justice and social stability, through improving the political and legal work and developing the law-enforcement sector.     Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks at a workshop on political and legal work and safeguarding stability in northeast China, held in Shenyang, the capital of northeastern Liaoning Province.     Zhou, who also heads the Central Political Science and Law Commission (CPSLC) of the CPC, made an inspection tour of the three northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning from Feb. 11-16 and attended the workshop on Wednesday.     The senior Party official urged local authorities, political and legal departments in particular, to implement central government's policies and integrate their efforts to safeguard social stability with efforts to achieve economic development.     "Social stability relies on economic development," he said.     Zhou told local authorities to conduct an assessment on social risks before deciding on a new policy. Officials should visit communities and villages to hear complaints from the people and learn about people's will, so as to resolve contradictions and disputes at the grassroots level, he said.     The official urged leading officials and law-enforcers to play a role in protecting the dignity and authority of socialist legal system.     "Every citizen must express their will and protect their rights in a reasonable and lawful way, so as to jointly safeguard the general stable situation of reforms and development," he said.     Law-enforcement must always give top priority to the Party's cause, the people's rights and interests, and the Constitution and law, Zhou said. He urged law-enforcers to be a guard for the safety of people's life and properties as well as social fairness and justice.     The workshop was presided by Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu, who is also a state councilor and deputy secretary of the CPSLC.     Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People's Court, also spoke at the workshop.

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Latin American and European tour has strengthened bilateral ties, broadened consensus and boosted cooperation with these countries, a senior Chinese official said Monday.     Xi's two-week trip to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Malta, as well as Fiji, where he made a transit stop, was pragmatic and fruitful, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang.     SIGNIFICANT VISIT WITH FAR-REACHING IMPACT     Xi's visit to Latin America was a major Chinese diplomatic move since President Hu Jintao's trip to the region last year, said Li.     Last November, Hu traveled to Latin America for a visit that produced a broad consensus on forming a partnership of all-round cooperation with the region on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and common development. Earlier, China issued its first policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean.     During his visit to the five Latin American nations, Xi further clarified China's policies on Latin America and stressed that China is ready to join hands with Latin American nations to further enhance cooperation and elevate China-Latin America relations to a new high, Li said.     In a speech at a seminar attended by Chinese and Venezuelan entrepreneurs, Xi raised a five-point proposal on strengthening the all-round cooperation for common development between China and Latin American nations amid the current global economic landscape.     Li described Xi's visit to Latin America as a follow-up action to push forward China's relations with the region.     The Chinese vice president's visit came before the Group of 20 summit scheduled for April in London to address the ongoing global financial crisis, Li noted.     During the trip, Xi called for a long-term perspective in planning and confidence building and urged a combination of promoting bilateral cooperation and ensuring the steady and sustained growth of China's economy. As a result, the visit has yielded remarkable results and a far-reaching political impact, Linoted.     Xi's visit highlighted China's efforts to work with these countries to tackle the financial downturn and turn the crisis into an opportunity, Li said.     Xi's trip brought him to mostly developing countries. During his visit, Xi stressed the need for developing countries to work together in tiding over the financial crisis, he said.     Xi and leaders of these countries reached broad consensus on joint efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, tackle the challenges and seek common development, he added.     During Xi's visit, the governments and enterprises from these countries voiced their willingness to cooperate with China and welcomed China to trade with and invest in their countries and join them in exploitation of energy and natural resources and infrastructure construction. 　　VISIT TO GET ACROSS CHINA'S POLICIES ON KEY ISSUES     Xi's visit spanned three continents and two oceans. In every stop, Xi explained China's positions on key issues such as the international situation, the financial crisis, the upcoming G20 summit in London, the Doha round of trade talks as well as UN reforms.     He had in-depth exchanges of views with leaders of the host countries on enhancing cooperation and jointly tiding over the economic difficulties.     Leaders of the seven countries spoke highly of China's role in stabilizing the global economic and financial situation and promoting world peace and development.     Mexican and Brazilian leaders expressed readiness to beef up cooperation with China in international organizations and multilateral mechanisms and work together for a more fair and rational new international order, deal with financial crisis and win a greater say for the developing countries.     Colombian and Jamaican leaders appreciated China's contributions to stabilizing the world economy, saying the steady and relatively fast growth of China's economy will help other countries overcome financial crisis at an early date.     Xi also reiterated China's stance on the Taiwan and Tibet issues. The host countries all reaffirmed their adherence to the one-China policy.     The Chinese vice president welcomed the countries to participate in the Shanghai World Expo in 2010 and was given favorable responses by all. 　　FRUITFUL VISIT PACKED WITH SUBSTANTIAL ACTIVITIES     During his tour, Xi attended nearly 80 meetings, seminars, and other activities and held talks with leaders of the seven countries, exchanging views with them on bilateral ties as well as major international and regional issues of common concern.     He also witnessed the signing of over 60 cooperation documents in economy, finance, energy and mining, agriculture, infrastructure, high-tech and culture.     Xi held wide-ranging contacts with leaders of parliaments, political parties, regional leaders, and people from the media and academic communities.     Xi unveiled the first Confucius Institute in the Caribbean region, and broke ground for the Montego Bay Convention Center, a cooperation project by China and Jamaica.     Xi's visit uplifted China's relations with the seven countries, expanded their political mutual trust and strategic consensus, and deepened pragmatic cooperation, Li said. 　　BROAD PROSPECTS FOR FURTHER COOPERATION     Under the new consensus reached during Xi's visit, China and these countries will strengthen cooperation in trade, finance, energy and mining, agriculture, infrastructure construction, high-tech and culture.     The consensus laid a solid foundation for China and these countries to draw on each other's strength and achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress, Li said.     China and these countries are geographically far apart and have different social and cultural traditions, but their people have expressed an earnest wish to enhance friendship. Xi's visit served to push bilateral ties further forward, Li added.

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BOAO, Hainan, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Much has been talked about signs of recovery in Chinese economy, but little is certain about long-awaited rebound.     Discussing the latest development of Chinese economy at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), worldwide officials, business executives and professionals remained prudent about China's 8-percent gross domestic product (GDP) target in 2009, but mentioned some favorable changes in the country's economy.     Bob Hawke, former prime minister of Australia, forecast China's GDP growth between 7 percent to 8 percent. In the meantime, he believed a reversal had come.     "The four-trillion-yuan stimulus (package) is now beginning to work, and China's economy ... has reached the bottom and started to come up now," Hawke told Xinhua at the forum.     Increasing stress of sluggish exports, dampened employment and shrinking corporate profits have pulled down the Chinese economy to a growth of 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter last year.     A favorable trend might be forming in the first quarter of this year. Ding Lei, president of Shanghai General Motors Corporation Ltd., observed increasing domestic demand for motor vehicles.     "Our automobile exports remain low, but auto sales gained 12.9 percent in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter last year," Ding said.     "China's policy package to boost automobile industry has effectively activated domestic market, and boosted the confidence of companies," Ding said.     John Cleland, chief executive officer of WestNet Infrastructure Group that has resources products trade with China, also noticed "some increase in demand".     "It's very hard to say, but there are signs of recovery of (China's demand for resources products)," he told Xinhua.     "Stockpiles of iron ore and steel in China have been reducing, so hopefully some projects that were put on hold have come back in the line," he said.     "China will come through (the crisis) quickly. Resource demand will recover. The demand for iron ore and basic commodities will recover quicker than consumer economies," he said.     Stable growth can also be expected in infrastructure. As China builds its nationwide mobile network, considerable and stable job opportunities can be created, said Per-Olof Bjork, general manager of Greater China Affairs of Ericsson Group Headquarters.     However, the changes are mainly felt in industries covered in the government's stimulus package, and China might need to go through a more painstaking path to ensure healthy and stable economic growth.     Chinese economy has shown more optimistic signals in the first quarter, but there are many uncertainties, said Chris Morley, managing director of Nielson China.     One uncertainty is the grim global economic climate. The U.S. and European economies are struggling in the crisis, which means China has to seek more internal growth to make up for the loss in exports.     The first quarter continued to see a slash in exports, which declined 19.7 percent year on year. Exports used to be one of three major sectors driving the Chinese economy, but it contributed negative 0.2 percent to the country's economic growth in the quarter.     Existing problems made it more difficult for Chinese economy to stay away from the impact of global crisis.     Yao Gang, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, commented that China's economy is facing a key era that calls for upgrading in development pattern and adjustment of structure.     China's mission is not only to maintain stable economic growth, but also handle excess industrial production capacity, expand domestic consumption and reduce income gap, all of which demand sophisticated policies and persistent efforts from the government, Yao said at the BFA annual conference.     On April 15, China's Cabinet, the State Council, urged faster implementation of the two batches of government investment, and kicked off the third batch.     "Only approximately 30 percent of the scheduled investment has been injected into the Chinese economy," said Edgar Hotard, board chairman of Monitor Group (China). "If the rest 70 percent were also put into the economy, it would bring further growth."     Rolf D. Cremer, dean of China Europe International Business School, said China reacted more swiftly and decisively than expected, maintaining a relatively stable growth rate, which allowed more room for adjustment and reform.     Chinese economy was still on the growing path, with industrialization and urbanization acting as the two major growth engines, said Long Yongtu, secretary-general of the BFA.     "I have always believed that Chinese economy will stop its sliding trend in a comparatively short time and return on the track of stable and rapid development," he said.

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- In her first major policy speech as U.S. secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday attached great importance to developing stronger relations and having closer cooperation with Asian countries, in particular China.     Addressing an audience at Asia Society New York Headquarters on the eve of her four-nation Asian trip scheduled to start on Sunday, the first foreign visit since she was sworn in on Jan. 21, Clinton said that Washington is committed to a new era of diplomacy and development in which Washington will use "smart power" to work with historic allies and emerging nations to find regional and global solutions to common global problems.     "In making my first trip as secretary of state to Asia, I hope to signal that we need strong partners across the Pacific, just as we need strong partners across the Atlantic," she noted, calling Asia "a contributor to global culture, a global economic power, and a region of vital importance to the United States today and into our future."     The secretary of state's destinations include Japan, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and China.     The United States and the Asian countries need to support and help each other in dealing with the gravest global threats today, which include financial instability and economic dislocation, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, food security and health emergencies, climate change and energy vulnerability, stateless criminal cartels and human exploitation, said Clinton.     While giving the audience a brief rundown of the key issues she will be addressing during her Asian tour next week, Clinton devoted much of the time to the U.S.-China relations.     The United States doesn't see China on the rise as an adversary, said Clinton. To the contrary, the Obama administration believes that the United States and China can "benefit from and contribute to each other's successes."     Washington also believes it is "in our interest" to work harder to build on areas of common concerns and shared opportunities with China, she added.     "You know very well how important China is and how essential it is that we have a positive cooperative relationship," said the top U.S. diplomat. "It is vital to peace and prosperity not only in the Asia-Pacific region but worldwide."     "Our mutual economic engagement with China was evident during the economic growth of the past two decades, it is even clearer now at economic hard times and in the array of global challenges we face from nuclear security to climate change to pandemic disease and so much else," she noted.     "Even with our differences, the United States will remain committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China, one that we believe is essential to America's future peace, progress and prosperity," she stressed.     Citing an ancient Chinese saying that "When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together," Clinton said that she believes the ancient Chinese wisdom must continue to guide both countries today.     The secretary of state announced that the two sides will resume mid-level military-to-military discussions later this month.     "And we look forward to further improved relations across the Taiwan Strait," she added.     She also revealed that during her stay in Beijing, she would discuss with the Chinese leaders on the structure of broadening dialogue between the two sides, on the basis of the Strategic Economic Dialogue from the previous administration.     Speaking of her first stop in Japan, Clinton said that the United States' security alliance with Japan, which will be 50 years old next year, "has been and must remain unshakable."     "We anticipate an even stronger partnership with Japan that helps preserve the peace and stability of Asia and increasingly focuses on global challenges ...," she added.     The United States and Indonesia now "have an opportunity for stronger partnership in education, energy and food security," stated Clinton, adding that the two sides are committed to pursuing such a partnership with a concrete agenda during her visit to the Southeast Asian nation.     Calling the Republic of Korea "one of our staunchest historic allies," Clinton said that the two countries are committed to expanding trade in a manner that benefits both, and "we will work together to that end."     "So I will leave for Asia Sunday with a firm commitment to working very hard with our partners across the Pacific," she concluded in her nearly-half-hour speech.     The secretary of state also took the opportunity to offer peace to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in exchange for the latter's complete abandonment of its nuclear project.     The Obama administration is committed to working through the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and normalizing relations with the DPRK, if the latter totally abandons its nuclear weapons program, she said.     If the DPRK is prepared to "completely and verifiably" abandon its nuclear program, the Obama administration will be willing to normalize bilateral relations with the country, she noted, adding that Washington will also assist Pyongyang in meeting its energy and other economic needs if that happens.     In her speech, Clinton also underlined Washington's endorsement of "open and fair trade," in an apparent attempt to soothe many countries' concerns that the ongoing global financial crisis may lead to a fresh round of trade protectionism, particularly in the developed countries.     "(In the face of the financial crisis,) we cannot respond with a race to erect trade and other barriers. We must remain committed to a system of open and fair trade," she stated.     The U.S. Congress' push for a "Buy America" provision in the massive economic stimulus package proposed by the Obama administration has recently invited concerns from major trading partners of the United States, including Europe, Canada and Japan.

BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Irrigation has covered 52.7 percent of the wheat farmland in drought-hit provinces in China by Saturday, said the Ministry of Agriculture.     A total of 85 million mu (about 5.67 hectares) of wheat land have been irrigated in eight drought-stricken provincial regions, the ministry told a meeting on Sunday.     Minister Sun Zhengcai said it is of importance to fully use machines in the fight against drought. People irrigate a wheat field in Laocheng Township of Changge County, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 3, 2009. Henan, one of China's key wheat producing regions, has suffered from drought since Oct. 24, 2008. Some 2.9 million hectares of farmland in Henan were affected    He asked local governments to increase subsidies for farmers to buy more irrigation-related and water-saving equipments, and make every effort to expand the irrigation coverage and save water.     By Saturday, 152 million mu of wheat farmland, which accounted for 95 percent of the drought-stricken crops in China, was affected in eight provincial regions including Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu.     Rain and snow from Friday to Sunday in the southeastern part of northwest China and the southwestern part of north China has reduced the area of drought-affected farmland by 20 million mu.     China experienced the most severe drought for decades. As of Saturday, 299 million mu of crops, 4.42 million people and 2.2 million heads of livestock were affected.     The crops affected was 110 million mu more than the average level during the same period in past years.     During a visit to central China's drought-hit Henan Province on Saturday and Sunday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged officials in drought-hit areas to place "top priority" on relief work as agricultural stability concerns China's bid to revive its economy.     China has declared the highest level of emergency in response to the drought, employing artificial means to induce rains and allocating 86.7 billion yuan (about 12.69 billion U.S. dollars) as subsidies to farmers.     In addition, the central government has decided to earmark 400 million yuan to local governments for drought relief.

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council, or Cabinet, adopted a stimulus plan Wednesday for the shipbuilding industry at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.     The meeting said shipbuilding is a modern, comprehensive industry that provides technical equipment for transportation, maritime development and national defense. Supporting shipbuilders would also help other sectors, including steel, chemicals, textiles, light industry, equipment manufacturing and information technology, it said. New orders for domestic shipbuilders are expected to fall to 20-30 million deadweight tons in 2009, compared to 58.18 million deadweight tons in 2008, according to the China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry    The meeting agreed to increase credit support by an unspecified amount for ship buyers. It also decided to extend the existing financial support policies for oceangoing vessels until 2012. These policies include tax rebates on key imported components for domestically owned oceangoing ships.     It said construction of new docks and the expansion of slipways should be suspended for three years to facilitate industrial restructuring.     It also recommended investment in research and development of facilities to build high-technology ships and maritime engineering equipment and promote technical innovation.     The meeting also approved a draft plan for fighting drought. 

BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held in-depth exchanges of views over the phone on Thursday on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.     Wen said the ongoing unprecedented financial crisis has inflicted a severe impact on the world's economic and political structure, and brought difficulties to the development of China and Russia.     As strategic partners for cooperation, China and Russia should enhance coordination and cooperation, which has important significance not only for the two countries but the world at large, Wen said.     He said China and Russia enjoy firm mutual trust and have huge potential for cooperation in such fields as the economy, trade, energy, science, and technology. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, capital of Russia, Oct. 28, 2008. Wen Jiabao and Putin held talks here Tuesday at the 13th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian prime ministers.    The two countries share broad consensus on many major issues including the overhaul of the international financial system, Wen said.     With firm belief and positive actions, we are sure to overcome the financial crisis, he said.     China is willing to take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations to enhance high-level exchanges with Russia, actively promote cooperation on major projects, successfully hold cultural activities such as the Year of Russian Language in China and the Year of Chinese Language in Russia, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs in efforts to promote the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation to a higher level, Wen said.     Putin said Russia always attaches great importance to the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation.     In the current situation, Russia is willing to work with China to strengthen high-level exchanges and communication, and promote cooperation in areas such as the economy, trade and energy, Putin said.     He said Russia is willing to make joint efforts with China to ensure the success of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Years of the Chinese and Russian Languages to promote the further development of China-Russia relations.

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ADDIS ABABA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese representative to the 120th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Monday urged all countries to abandon any form of trade and investment protectionism amid the sweeping financial crisis.     "During times of economic difficulties, the international community should abandon all forms of trade and investment protectionism and work for the progress of the Doha round of negotiations at an early date," Uyunqimg, Vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, said at the Addis Ababa meeting. Uyunqimg, Vice-chairwoman of National People's Congress Standing Committee of China, attends the 120th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, April 6, 2009. The 120th Assembly of the IPU and its related meetings are being held in Addis Ababa from April 5 to 10, with the overall theme of "Parliament: Building Peace, Democracy and Development in times of Crisis"She told fellow parliamentarians that the outbreak of the global financial crisis added to the destabilizing factors and uncertainties in the international political and economic arenas, and posed grave challenges to the political, economic and social life of various countries.     "Therefore, it is timely and fitting for this IPU Assembly to put the tackling of the crisis top on its agenda," she said.     Due to their low level of economic development, lack of diversity in economic structure and vulnerability of the financial system, developing countries are far more severely affected by the financial crisis than developed countries.     The Chinese official called on the international community, developed countries in particular, to shoulder their due responsibilities and obligations, continue to honor commitments of assistance and debt reduction, maintain and increase assistance to developing countries to help them tide over the difficulties and maintain financial stability and economic growth.     "We hope that parliaments around the world will play a positive role, avoiding any legislation that is protectionist in nature and urging their respective governments to shun any action that may aggravate the economic hardship for developing countries under the current circumstances," she said.     The April 5-10 meeting attracted over 1,000 legislators from around the world, and the delegates are scheduled to discuss the political, economic and social situation in the world with the overall theme of "Parliaments: Building Peace, Democracy and Development in times of crisis."Uyunqimg, Vice-chairwoman of National People's Congress Standing Committee of China, addresses in the 120th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, April 6, 2009. The 120th Assembly of the IPU and its related meetings are being held in Addis Ababa from April 5 to 10, with the overall theme of "Parliament: Building Peace, Democracy and Development in times of Crisis".

BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council, or Cabinet, adopted a stimulus plan Wednesday for the shipbuilding industry at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.     The meeting said shipbuilding is a modern, comprehensive industry that provides technical equipment for transportation, maritime development and national defense. Supporting shipbuilders would also help other sectors, including steel, chemicals, textiles, light industry, equipment manufacturing and information technology, it said. New orders for domestic shipbuilders are expected to fall to 20-30 million deadweight tons in 2009, compared to 58.18 million deadweight tons in 2008, according to the China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry    The meeting agreed to increase credit support by an unspecified amount for ship buyers. It also decided to extend the existing financial support policies for oceangoing vessels until 2012. These policies include tax rebates on key imported components for domestically owned oceangoing ships.     It said construction of new docks and the expansion of slipways should be suspended for three years to facilitate industrial restructuring.     It also recommended investment in research and development of facilities to build high-technology ships and maritime engineering equipment and promote technical innovation.     The meeting also approved a draft plan for fighting drought.