URUMUQI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A severe sandstorm hit Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture in northwest China on Friday, reducing visibility to zero in some areas, local meteorological observatory said.The fierce sandstorm swept through the prefecture from west to east in the morning, said a spokesman with Hotan's meteorological observatory.The sandstorm, though reducing in severity, would continue to plague the area till March 16, leading to a temperature drop of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, he added.The sandstorm had affected local traffic and agriculture, according to a statement from the Hotan government.
SANYA, Hainan, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior official with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said Sunday China is expected to become the world's largest tourist destination by 2015."China, as we predict, is going to become the world's No. 1 tourist destination by the year 2015," said Taleb Rifai, secretary general of the UNWTO."China is almost there. It is now the world's fourth largest destination when it comes to incoming tourists, and the rates of growth are moving so quickly that we think this is a realistic target," Rifai said.France is currently the country receiving the most international tourists, at 80 million per year, followed by the United States and Spain, both at 60 million a year, while China has about 48 million, he said."China's tourism economy has moved incredibly in the last ten years. The number of incoming tourists rose from 8 million to 48 million. The potential of the growth is still big because of the size of China," Rifai said.Rifai said the global tourism industry is improving but challenges remain due to the weak economy."The tourism industry has to follow and is very much affected by the general economic situation, and for sure the general economic situation has started to turn around. But we cannot call it a full recovery at the moment," he said.
BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature will convene its bimonthly session from Feb. 24 to 26, making a final preparation for an annual full session next month.According to a statement of a meeting, presided over by top legislator Wu Bangguo Wednesday, an important task at the three-day session late this month is to prepare for the upcoming Third Plenum of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), scheduled to open on March 5.Lawmakers at the February session will deliberate a draft report on the work of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, the draft agenda of the third 11th NPC session, the draft of the name list for presidium and secretary-general, and the draft of the name list for non-voting delegates to the plenary session in March.They will also continue to review the draft law on mobilization for national defence, as well as a draft amendment to the law on keeping state secrets.The draft amendments to the Administrative Supervision Law and the Copyright Law will also be submitted by the State Council to the legislative session for discussion, according to the statement.They will also discuss a consular agreement with the Philippines and a report on the inspection of the enforcement of the Food Safety Law, as well as a motion regarding appointments and dismissals.
BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here on Sunday that China was misunderstood by some people who have accused the country of becoming "tough," and he called for the abandonment of "colored spectacles" about China."We stick to our principals, which is totally different from being tough," Yang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature.Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi answers questions during a news conference on the sidelines of the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 7, 2010It has always been the mission for China's diplomacy to defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests, while promoting world peace and development, he said.
BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has stressed that more efforts were needed to ensure stable energy supply, which should be regarded as a key task in regulating current economic operation. Li made the remarks Wednesday when inspecting the State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the State Grid Corporation of China on power supply during winter. He urged relative departments to help the grassroots relieve supply-demand strains in certain areas. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) inspects the State Electricity Regulatory Commission in Beijing, Jan. 14, 2010. Li Keqiang inspected the State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the State Grid Corporation of China Thursday on power supply during winter Snow and temperature drops have hit much of China, and the demand for coal, power, gas and transportation soared sharply. The pressure from power consumption kept on climbing in winter, Li said. More efforts were needed to improve coal output and supply, optimize power production and management, ensure oil and gas supply and improve energy transmission, Li said.Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (2nd R) speaks at a conference when inspecting the State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the State Grid Corporation of China on power supply during winter in Beijing, Jan. 14, 2010
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland announced Sunday it would extend anti-dumping measures by five years on imports of phenol from Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Taiwan.The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement posted on its website that it decided to review the measures a year ago in response to applications from domestic phenol companies.According to the MOC, if anti-dumping measures were discontinued, dumping of phenol might continue and would hurt the domestic industry again.However, the MOC did not provide further information concerning what the measures were and when they would take effect.Phenol is a chemical compound used in the production of some medicines, plastics, pesticides and synthetic resins.
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BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) - A senior Chinese lawmaker said on Wednesday that legislation requiring public officials to declare their personal assets is under consideration and seen as a move to prevent corruption and improve government transparency."We are researching the issue, since the legislation requires mature consideration of all conditions," said Li Fei, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the National People' s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.Li noted that the legislation should be assisted by the establishment of the personal credit system, which details individuals' financial information even if assets are not declared.Premier Wen Jiabao said on March 5 that high priority should be given to fighting corruption and encouraging integrity among public officials.Leading cadres at all levels, especially high-ranking ones, must resolutely implement the central leadership's regulations on reporting their personal financial situations and property, including incomes, housing and investments, as well as the jobs held by their spouses and children, Wen said.
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Information and Technology (MIIT) issued a guideline Sunday, urging the nation's auto producers to establish quality accountability mechanism to improve quality management.The MIIT warned auto production enterprises against blind expansion, urging them to focus more on technology upgrade and improve product quality by using "new technology, new technics, new equipment and new materials."Auto producers were also asked to strengthen after-sale service, setting up an accountability mechanism to timely recall and deal with the faulty products.As China's auto industry is at a stage of rapid development, it should take effective measures to ensure product quality, so as to prompt the industry to develop in a sound and healthy way, said an official with the MIIT.Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that new auto sales rose 46.15 percent year on year to 13.64 million units in 2009 in China, helping the country overtake the United States as the world's largest auto market.
SANYA, Hainan, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official said here Sunday more efforts should be made to further integrate tourism and culture so as to achieve greater development of the industries.Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the 2010 Boao International Tourism Forum in Sanya, a tourist resort in south China's Hainan Province.Global tourism was experiencing drastic adjustment along with the world economy's profound changes, while connections between tourism and culture had been increasing, he said.Integrated development of the two industries was an inevitable demand of the times when economic development came to a certain level, which offered huge potential for the tourism industry, said Liu.It was important to stick to opening-up and cooperation in promoting the tourism and culture industries, Liu said."The Chinese government has made the decision to build Hainan into an international tourism island, which demands more efforts to further expand opening-up and explore integration of tourism and culture, making Hainan a key platform for economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries," Liu said.The two-day forum, under the theme of "transformation of tourism and cultural industries in the aftermath of the global economic crisis," attracted delegates from more than 50 countries and regions, as well as executives of world tourism organizations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the World Travel and Tourism Council.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Tuesday that China will become even more important globally and Singapore must find opportunities to ride on China's growth.Speaking at the Business China spring reception on Tuesday night, Goh said that China has over the past year weathered the global economic downturn with exceptional resilience.Despite shrinking external demand and rising unemployment, China's timely and bold policy responses have enabled its economy to grow at a sizzling 8.7 percent last year, he said, adding that China is now reinforcing its role as the engine for growth in Asia, if not the world.Goh said that the city state recognized China's potential early, soon after China began to open up its economy in 1978.Because of the early efforts made by the Singapore government and Singaporeans, China is today the city state's third largest trading partner and top investment destination, Goh said.As for riding on China's growth, Goh said that the Singapore government will help its companies gain an even stronger foothold in China, and continue to catalyze business opportunities in China.The seven provincial-level business councils, as well as other high-level dialogues and platforms, help open opportunities for companies, reinforce the Singapore brand name and increase its mindshare in China, Goh said.