VOL. XXVI No. 7 July 2014 Rs. 20.00

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Fortaleza, Brazil on July 14, 2014. Both Xi and Modi came to Fortaleza to attend the sixth summit of the BRICS, which consists of five emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (2nd R) and Indian Chinese Ambassador Mr. Wei Wei met with Indian Vice Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari (2nd L) unveil President H.E. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, in New Delhi on the Encyclopedia of India-China Cultural Contacts during July 4, 2014 after the Vice Pesident’s successful visit to the book release ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, China from June 26 to 30, 2014. Mr. Wei Wei congratulated June 30, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) Vice President Ansari’s recent visit to China.

Chinese Ambassador Mr. Wei Wei met with Smt. Chinese Ambassador Mr. Wei Wei attended the Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat during his visit inauguration ceremony of the transformer manufacturing to the state from June 25 to 28, 2014. Ambassador Wei Wei base of TBEA at Karjan, Vadodara, Gujarat on June 28, expressed China’s willing to make joint efforts with 2014. Gujarat government to build up a China-style industrial park there.

Chinese Ambassador Mr. Wei Wei visited the Sanand Chinese Ambassador Mr. Wei Wei visited Kochi, the Industrial Estate in Gujarat during his visit to the state ancient cultural city of Kerala from July 7 to 9, 2014. He from June 25 to 28, 2014. visited the Chinese fishing nets along the seashores of Kochi in Kerala. Overview of Beijing

Flyovers of Beijing

Beijing is an ancient city with a long history. Back in 3000 years ago in Zhou dynasty, Beijing, which was called Ji at the moment, had been named capital of Yan. Thereafter, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty all made Beijing their capital. Therefore, Beijing was famous for “Capital of a thousand years”. The long history leaves Beijing precious cultural treasure. The Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the CCTV Building Forbidden City or the Palace Museum, and the Temple of Heaven, Beijing is an international metropolis these four sites have been confirmed with unique fashion charm world cultural heritage by UNESCO. Beijing is the seat of foreign embassies However, the best representatives for in China and representative offices of Beijing are the vanishing Hutongs and major international organizations in China Beijing quadrangle. Through hundreds of and has gathered a number of regional years, they have become symbol of headquarters of multinational enterprises, Beijing’s life. thus gradually becoming a financial center Beijing is a fast-growing modern city with city with international influence. Only in high-rise buildings, shopping malls and Beijing Central Business District vast international hotels connected by an (hereinafter referred to as “CBD”), there intricate freeway system crisscrossing the are 117 enterprises from World Top 500. city. The numbers of foreigners, who come to Everywhere, the old-timed scene and study, work, live and settle down in modern culture are combined to present a Beijing, are increasing year by year. They brand new visage of Beijing.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 3 live in harmony with Beijingers and have which can meet a variety of requirements. become a part of the population of this Beijing has gathered delicious foods from municipality. all over China and even all over the world. In Beijing, you can still drink delicious There are nearly 600 star hotels and about 170 coffee and red wines, watch the popular parks in Beijing. The forest green rate has movies of the synchronized release in the reached 51.6% and health clubs are all over world, enjoy performances of the top bands Beijing. It is worth mentioning that most of the and artists from all over the world, and buy venues of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were the latest goods from a large number of built in Beijing, of which six venues were built internationally famous brands in zero time in the colleges and universities. If you just difference. At the same time, you can buy study at relevant university, you certainly authentic Chinese silks, wear unique hand- have opportunity to experience the wonderful made embroidery shoes, and sit in a tricycle to feeling of Olympic Games in the venue. a theater to appreciate Peking opera while Beijing is the first choice for you to study drinking a pot of tea. In this way, you can Chinese experience ancient interests and charms and Many international students chose to new appeals of Beijing and enjoy comfortable study in Beijing because of its unique time that can’t be copied elsewhere. programs. In addition to regular classes, many Beijing has a safe, convenient, healthy and international students in Beijing explore the comfortable environment city and its culture so as to maximize their Beijing boasts a good public security immersion in Beijing life. The school may also situation and low crime rate. There is organize cultural activities to enrich their convenient transportation with buses and Beijing experience with lifelong memories. subways extending in all directions with low Chinese is one of the six official working costs; the communications are fast and languages of the UN and the language which convenient, the Internet is very popular and has the most users in the world as well. international direct-dial telephones can reach There is Mandarin and dialects in the more than 200 countries and regions; banks modern Chinese. Mandarin is the national and postal networks are developed; public commonly-used language, which is based on libraries, museums, arts venues and Beijing standard pronunciations. Therefore, to bookstores are numerous; going shopping is study Chinese in Beijing will make you have convenient because there are super markets more standard Chinese pronunciations and and shops with different levels and scales, get double results with half the effort.

Dough figurine of Old-time Beijinger A distant view of the Palace Museum

4 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA CONTENTS

INFORMATION

1. Overview of Beijing 3

CHINA-INDIA RELATIONS

1. Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India 6 2. Chinese President Proposes Closer, More Solid BRICS Partnership 8 3. BRICS is Also Significant for Indo-China Ties 13 4. Chinese President Meets Indian Vice President 15 5. Chinese, Indian, Myanmar Leaders Mark 60-yr-Old Peace Principles 18 6. Chronology of Panchsheel Events 23 7. China, India Seek Stronger Military Ties 31

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

1. China-U.S. Annual Dialogue, Consultation Opens in Beijing 33 2. Chinese President Xi Jinping Visits South Korea 37 3. China, Germany Pledge to Boost Cooperation, Cement Partnership 43

HIGH-SPEED TRAIN IN CHINA

1. China's High-Speed Railway Development Plan 48 2. High-Speed Train Running to the West of China 52

CULTURE & LIFE

1. What After China's Glories Get Recognized by World Heritage Committee 57 2. Eye-catching Graduation Photos Mark the Special Day 61 3. Double Seventh Festival--Not Merely Valentine's Day 64 4. Chinese Chengyu & Its Story—Hesitate to Pelt a Rat for Fear of Smashing the Utensil 67 5. Chinese Chef Recipe----Papaya Fish Soup 69

TIBET TODAY

1. Panchen Lama Attends Religious Activities in Tibet 70 2. Tibetan Children in Welfare House Move into New Home 71 3. Bliss in Vibrant Lhasa 73 4. Tashi and the Namaste Tibetan Restaurant in the Gatod Alley 76

FLIGHTS BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA 78 BOOK REVIEW 80 CCTV NEWS YOUR LINK TO CHINA AND THE WORLD 81 CRI A BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP 82

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CHINA-INDIA RELATIONS

Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India

Chinese President Xi Jinping(R) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Fortaleza, Brazil, July 14, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

On July 14, 2014 local time, President Xi Both China and India are important poles in Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra the world and share a number of strategic Modi of India in Fortaleza, Brazil. integrating points. If China and India speak Xi Jinping said that as two biggest with one voice, the whole world will listen; developing countries and emerging markets, and if China and India join hands in both China and India are in a great historical cooperation, the whole world will watch. process of realizing national rejuvenation; Whether from a bilateral, regional or global thus, what the two countries value most is perspective, China and India are long-term peace and development, and the ideals and strategic cooperative partners instead of goals of the two countries are linked closely. competing adversaries. It meets our greatest

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common interest to join hands to realize pay a state visit to India in the near future. He peaceful development, cooperative is willing to visit China at his convenience. development and inclusive development so Both India and China are ancient civilizations as to provide a better life for the 2.5 billion which share a time-honored history in people of the two countries and to fortify cultural exchanges. The two nations are strength of peace and development for the actually one mind with two bodies, so they region and the world at large. I am willing to should promote mutual understanding, give join hands with Prime Minister Modi to full play to their wisdom, jointly carry constantly push China-India strategic forward the spirit of peace and inclusiveness cooperative partnership to higher levels and in the international community, and work jointly safeguard the period of our strategic together to handle the global issues and opportunities as well as peace and stability in challenges. The harmonious co-existence and Asia and the world at large. common growth of India and China is a Modi said that after he assumed office as significant contribution to the world and the Prime Minister, President Xi Jinping sent mankind. Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit India right Xi Jinping stressed that China and India away as a special envoy, which embodies the should enhance exchanges, and said that I great importance China attaches to expect to pay a visit to India in the near future developing the bilateral relations. Recently, and welcome Prime Minister Modi to visit India, China and Myanmar co-hosted the China at an early date. The two sides should commemoration of the 60th anniversary of connect their respective development the release of the Five Principles of Peaceful strategies, establish a closer development Coexistence, and the important speech partnership, expand friendly exchanges in President Xi Jinping delivered impressed him fields such as culture, education, religion and deeply. During his term as the Chief Minister youth, forge a batch of demonstration projects of Gujarat, he paid a number of visits to China in areas such as infrastructure construction and had a personal experience of the Chinese like railways and industrial investment, p e o p l e ’ s a f f e c t i o n toward the Indian people. The new Indian government under his leadership is willing to deepen India-China friendly cooperative relations, which is of great importance to India. He is willing to maintain close and good working contacts with President Xi Jinping, a n d w e l c o m e s Chinese President Xi Jinping(1st R) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi President Xi Jinping to in Fortaleza, Brazil, July 14, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

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broaden cooperation in fields such as service government is more committed to economic trade, investment and tourism, gradually construction, and hopes to learn from China’s realize a general balance and sustainable successful experience, expand bilateral development of bilateral trade, and push exchanges and cooperation in fields such as forward the construction of the Bangladesh- economy, trade, people-to-people and China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor to cultural engagement, tourism, education and lead forward the process of regional economic personnel training. India welcomes Chinese integration. China and India should enterprises to invest in India’s infrastructure strengthen cooperation in multilateral fields, construction such as railways and build and jointly participate in the formulation of industrial parks in India. India is now actively international rules so as to strengthen the considering joining the Asian Infrastructure voice of the developing countries. China Investment Bank. India is willing to continue welcomes India to join the Asian to peacefully solve the boundary issues Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding between the two countries in a manner of member. Both sides should control and friendly consultation through the existing handle differences in an active and forward- mechanisms. India and China should looking attitude, and find fair and reasonable strengthen coordination and cooperation in solutions to the boundary issues acceptable to international and regional affairs so as to both sides as soon as possible through jointly promote peace, development and friendly consultations. Prior to the final prosperity in Asia and the world. settlement, both sides should jointly Both Xi and Modi came to Fortaleza to safeguard peace and tranquility in the border attend the sixth summit of the BRICS, which areas. consists of five emerging economies, namely Modi said that the new Indian Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Chinese President Proposes Closer, More Solid BRICS Partnership

Fortaleza, Brazil, July 15 (Xinhua) — In his speech, Xi summed up the BRICS Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday countries’ cooperation experiences and proposed a closer and more solid partnership charted out the direction for future among BRICS countries, as he delivered a cooperation. speech at the sixth BRICS summit held here. China will continue participating in Besides Xi, Brazilian President Dilma BRICS cooperation and make greater Rousseff, Russian President Vladimir Putin, contribution in safeguarding world peace and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promoting common development, he said. South African President Jacob Zuma also Xi stressed that BRICS countries, which attended the summit held under the theme of express themselves concertedly and “Inclusive growth: sustainable solutions.” contribute their share to solving many major

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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, July 15, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) international and regional issues, are qualitative growth, and coordinate economic committed to boosting world economic development, social development and growth, improving global economic environmental protection. g o v e r n a n c e a n d p r o m o t i n g t h e He called for launching all-round democratization of international relations. economic cooperation, building an integrated They have become an important force in market in trade and investment areas, international relations and an active promoting people-to-people exchanges constructor of the international system, he among different countries, and realizing in an said. early date the operation of the BRICS According to Xi, BRICS countries should development bank and a contingent reserve carry forward the spirit of openness, arrangement. inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, and Xi also stressed the importance of building develop a closer, more comprehensive and a favorable external environment for more solid partnership. development, improving global economic He urged to unswervingly push forward governance, fully implementing the sustainable economic growth, adhere to consensus of increasing developing countries’ inclusive growth, turn quantitive growth into representativeness and right to say, and

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strengthening the coordination of global topic of political coordination, Xi noted that macro-economic policies. BRICS nations should both be the anchor that The Chinese leader also proposed to boost helps stabilize the global economy and the BRICS countries’ moral appeal to others, shield that protect the peace of the adding that BRICS countries should jointly international community. provide solutions in international affairs, seek The countries should associate their justice and practice equality. respective development with world peace “China’s diplomacy has principles to act and stability, consider collectively combating upon, cherishes friendship and righteousness, terrorism and safeguarding cyber security as seeks justice and adheres to the path of the key area of cooperation, advocate a new peaceful development,” Xi said. security outlook, and join hands in China particularly treasures the safeguarding the system for international cooperation between BRICS countries and security cooperation with the United Nations puts it as a diplomatic priority, the Chinese as the core, Xi said. president said. On sustainable development and When discussing with other leaders the inclusive growth, he called on BRICS

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) poses for a group photo with Russian President Vladimir Putin (1st L), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L), Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (C), and South African President Jacob Zuma during the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, July 15, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

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countries to consolidate the strong BRICS to establish development bank, momentum of their development, and stay reserve arrangement confident about their economic prospect. Fortaleza, Brazil, July 15 (Xinhua) — The “We need to adjust our economic emerging-market bloc of BRICS on Tuesday structure, achieve development of better announced plans to establish a development quality, build closer economic partnership, bank and a contingent reserve arrangement boost the building of an open world economy (CRA). and establish a global development The five members of the group — Brazil, partnership,” he said. Russia, India, China and South Africa — laid For her part, Brazilian President Rousseff out the designs of the New Development pointed out that BRICS countries enjoy rich Bank (NDB) and the CRA in a declaration resources and are strong in agriculture. released following their sixth summit in this Infrastructure construction in these Brazilian city. countries keeps developing, while consumer The NDB, to be headquartered in markets there are huge, with promising Shanghai, will have an initial authorized prospect for development, she said. capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, and its initial BRICS nations should build a close and subscribed capital of 50 billion dollars will be firm partnership, improve global governance, equally shared among founding members, promote a multipolar world and boost the according to the Fortaleza Declaration. democratization of international relations, The five countries decided that the first added the Brazilian leader. chair of the Board of Governors shall be from Putin, for his part, urged BRICS nations to Russia, the first chair of the Board of Directors deepen pragmatic cooperation, upgrade the from Brazil, and the first president of the bank level of trade and investment, strengthen from India. coordination in major international and They also agreed to set up an African regional issues, jointly face up to such global regional center of the NDB in South Africa, challenges as terrorism and cyber security. which will be established concurrently with The countries should boost the the headquarters. International Monetary Fund’s quota reform, The bank, said the declaration, is aimed at build a development agenda for the years “mobilizing resources for infrastructure and after 2015, and reduce poverty, Indian Prime sustainable development projects in BRICS Minister Modi said. and other emerging and developing He also called on BRICS countries to economies.” enhance people-to-people, educational and “Based on sound banking principles, the local exchanges. NDB will strengthen the cooperation among Meanwhile, South Africa’s Zuma said our countries and will supplement the efforts BRICS nations are willing to share of multilateral and regional financial experiences with developing countries, institutions for global development, thus jointly advocate multilateralism, promote contributing to our collective commitments political solutions to regional hot issues, and for achieving the goal of strong, sustainable support Africa’s effort to achieve peace, and balanced growth,” said the document. security and development. The CRA, with an initial size of 100 billion

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dollars, “will have a positive precautionary Indeed, though faced with such effect, help countries forestall short-term challenges as slower economic growth, liquidity pressures, promote further BRICS increase of inflation, capital outflow and cooperation, strengthen the global financial currency depreciation due to the impact of the safety net and complement existing global economic crisis and decreased exports international arrangements,” it added. to developed countries, the emerging In addition, the five countries also voiced economies are determined to deal with any their readiness to further facilitate trade, ups and downs by expanding cooperation in enhance financial ties, tackle tax-related more fields. challenges and tap the cooperation potential On the other hand, emerging economies in insurance and reinsurance markets. have a urge to boost innovative capacities and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the competitiveness in the global market by summit along with Brazilian President Dilma reforming their economic structures and Rousseff, Russian President Vladimir Putin, imbalanced development models. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and The BRICS development bank and the South African President Jacob Zuma. CRA are expected to help the BRICS countries tap their market potential and diversify BRICS development bank meets the call exports, and offers more options for them for fairer global financial order when developing their economies while Beijing, July 16 (Xinhua) — Developing avoiding risks. countries’ long-held dream of forming a bank The two mechanisms will also serve as finally came true this week as the emerging- useful subsidies to the World Bank and the the market bloc BRICS announced Tuesday the International Monetary Fund (IMF), so as to establishment of a development bank and a strengthen the international financial system, contingent reserve arrangement (CRA) at making it a more balanced and just one. their sixth summit in the Brazilian city of The bank, to be headquartered in Fortaleza. Shanghai, will have an initial authorized The bank, created by five members of the capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, and its initial BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and subscribed capital of 50 billion dollars will be South Africa — is aimed at “mobilizing equally shared among founding members. resources for infrastructure and sustainable The shared portion means each member development projects in BRICS and other country shoulders equal responsibility and emerging and developing economies,” as it is their cooperation is based on an equal footing manifested by the Fortaleza Declaration. from the start. The exhilarating outcome is due to the The bank also eyes the less developed joint efforts from BRICS members to deepen countries in Africa, with an African regional their economic cooperation and tap their center of the bank setting up in South Africa. potential by innovative means and methods. The bank is expected to facilitate trade, It dispels any doubts about member enhance financial ties, tackle tax-related countries’ determination to form such a bank, challenges and tap the cooperation potential and shores up investors’ trust in the capacities in more fields. of the emerging economies.

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BRICS is Also Significant for Indo-China Ties Wei Wei Chinese Ambassador to India

Against the background of a stable i n p r o m o t i n g d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f recovery of world economy, the 6th BRICS international relations. leaders meeting from July 15 to 16 at When the global economy was bogged Fortaleza, Brazil, with the theme of down in the worst financial crisis since the Sustainable Solutions for Inclusive Growth, is Great Depression, it was the BRICS, with d e f i n i t e l y a m o n g m o s t i m p o r t a n t stable economic growth of its members that international events in the second half of this carried forward the spirit of solidarity, year. injected hope into the market and prevented It is also an important event for China- the global economy from falling apart. India relations since President Xi Jinping of The BRICS countries are not only building China will have his first ever meeting with the upon their own strength, but also make efforts new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on to help others. Despite the financial need for the sidelines of the summit. their own economy, BRICS contributed a total As the first one of the second round of the sum of $180 billion USD to the International BRICS Summit, the Fortaleza Summit is of Monetary Fund in two rounds and the efforts great significance in inheriting the past and were well commended by the international ushering in the future. community. The BRICS, since its establishment 6 years BRICS is highlighted by pragmatic ago, has always followed an ongoing process cooperation in major projects. The BRICS compatible with the historical trend of peace, New Development Bank (NDB) and the advocated an open, inclusive and win-win Financial Contingency Reserve Arrangement concept of development. BRICS has been (CRA), which were first initiated during the gradually institutionalized into a multi-tiered 2012 BRICS Summit in India, are currently and extensive cooperation framework led by being consulted among finance departments the summit. and concrete progress is expected during the The political trust among the member Fortaleza summit. countries has been further strengthened, The NDB and CRA will not only benefit practical cooperation in many fields such as the BRICS countries, but also provide finance economy, finance, trade and development has to infrastructure projects in emerging markets been further deepened, and communication and other developing countries. It is also and coordination on major international aimed to assist them to better withstand risks affairs have been further enhanced. from international financial turbulence. The BRICS has become an important force Other key economic cooperative projects in coping with the international financial such as joint financing by respective crisis, in driving global economic growth, and development banks, cooperation among

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 13 China-India Relations industrial and business enterprises and the As India’s only neighbour in BRICS, China economic and trade liaison group will also hopes and believes that, under the strong inject new momentum for development of the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BRICS countries. India’s economy will return to a healthy track As the world’s two most populous and and develop better. largest developing countries as well as the China will enhance its cooperation with founding members of the BRICS, China and India by proactive and practical action. India are firm supporters and active Chinese Railway department has recently participants of the cooperation among the sent officials and technical experts to India for BRICS countries, and always take cooperation substantive consultation on cooperation of with other BRICS countries as one of the the speedup of existed railway lines and the priorities in their foreign policy. upgradation of railway stations. We are also China and India are also good neighbours, working closely on the implementation of the good friends and good partners that have just singed MoU on Cooperation on Industrial established a strategic and cooperative Parks. partnership for peace and prosperity. Both China is also working on a number of countries are now facing a historical mission leading Chinese enterprises to invest in India, of growing the economy and improving so as to enhance our overall investment level people’s livelihood. as well as balance our bilateral trade. I myself The China-India bilateral cooperation and have been to Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and their cooperation under the BRICS framework Tamil Nadu to find potential locations of the are complementary to each other. Our major proposed Chinese-style industrial parks. In projects include the BCIM Economic addition, China and India will also explore Corridor, the Chinese-style industrial parks in possibilities of cooperation in other areas such India, railway cooperation, and initiatives of as urbanization and agriculture. the Silk Road Economic Belt and cooperation I firmly believe that, with our joint efforts, along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. a wide-ranging, multi-level and high-quality We are also working for a “Trans-Himalayas economic cooperation between China and Economic Growth Region” driven by double- India will be achieved with more convergence engine of China and India. of our two emerging markets. The common All the cooperation can be benefited from development of China and India will ensure the BRICS cooperation mechanism. China and the Asian century’s arrival. India should establish a closer partnership of There are still challenges for the BRICS development to promote more integration of countries to move forward. As an old saying market, greater financial linkage, better goes, if you want to go fast, go alone; if you connectivity of infrastructure as well as closer want to go far, go together. It’s my firm belief people-to-people contacts, and thus to bring that, as long as China, India and other BRICS our people tangible benefits. India recently members insist on building their strong announced its railway and union budget, p a r t n e r s h i p , d e e p e n i n g e c o n o m i c indicating that India is determined to cooperation, a better future is achievable for accelerate economic development. the BRICS.

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Chinese Leaders Meet Indian Vice President

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China on June 30,2014. Mohammad Hamid Ansari paid an official visit to China from June 26 to 30 and attended commemorative activities held in Beijing for the 60th anniversary of creation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. (CNS photo)

Beijing, June 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese promote the construction of an economic President Xi Jinping met with Indian Vice corridor among China, Bangladesh, Myanmar President Mohammad Hamid Ansari here on and India, to bring along regional Monday. development, according to Xi. Xi said India is an important partner for He also called on the two countries to take China, that the relationship is a priority in an overall and long-term perspective and China’s diplomacy, and that China is ready to properly handle their disputes. work with India’s new government to push Ansari said the good-neighborly their cooperation to a new high. relationship between India and China is in the He called on the two countries to fundamental interests of the two countries strengthen communication between their and peoples. political parties, legislatures and local India values its relationship with China governments, so as to deepen mutual and will strive to promote it. It will join hands understanding and trust. with China to abide by the Five Principles of The two sides should cooperate to P e a c e f u l C o e x i s t e n c e , s t r e n g t h e n

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c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d cooperation, appropriately deal with their disputes and problems, so as to promote the development of bilateral ties as well as the construction of a more f a i r a n d r e a s o n a b l e international order, Ansari vowed. Following a ceremony o n S a t u r d a y t o commemorate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Xi said China and India Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Indian Vice President Mohammad should jointly abide by and Hamid Ansari in Beijing, China, June 30, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) c a r r y f o r w a r d t h e principles and strengthen coordination on global affairs, to play a bigger role for the world’s peace and development.

India-China common i n t e r e s t s o u t w e i g h differences: Indian VP Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said on June 30 that China and India’s common interests outweigh their differences. A n s a r i m a d e t h e remarks when he delivered a speech at the Chinese A c a d e m y o f S o c i a l Sciences, a government think tank. H e s a i d t h a t strengthening ties with Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (L) and Indian Vice President Mohammad China is one of the Hamid Ansari inspect Chinese honor guards during a welcoming ceremony priorities of India’s foreign outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 30, 2014. p o l i c y a n d t h e r e i s (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presides over a conference Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari marking the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of addresses a conference marking the 60th anniversary of Peaceful Coexistence at the Great Hall of the People in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at the Great Beijing, capital of China, Jun 28, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

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consensus across the political spectrum on security. this issue. “Our primary interest is to pay attention to India-China relations today have the task of development,” he said, stressing transcended the bilateral scope and acquired that both countries need a peaceful regional and global significance, Ansari said, environment to bring prosperity and stability adding that both countries view each other as to Asia and the world. partners for mutual benefit, not as rivals or Invited by Chinese Vice President Li competitors. Yuanchao, Ansari is paying an official visit to China and India together account for China from June 26 to 30. He attended about 37 percent of world’s population and commemorative activities for the 60th are two of the largest developing countries in anniversary of the creation of the Five the world, the Indian vice president noted. Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at the According to Ansari, they have common weekend. interests in several areas on global issues, and “These principles enunciate the basic hold similar positions on matters such as guidelines for the establishment of a new climate change, the Doha round, reform of international political and economic order,” international financial institutions and energy Ansari said.

Chinese, Indian, Myanmar Leaders Mark 60-yr-Old Peace Principles

Beijing, June 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, Myanmar President U Thein Sein and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari gathered in Beijing on Saturday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Xi delivered a keynote speech at the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing to commemorate the anniversary. China’s premier Li Keqiang, top legislator Zhang Dejiang and top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng were also present at the commemoration. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech In 1954, leaders of China, India and at a conference marking the 60th anniversary of the Five Myanmar initiated the Five Principles of Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2014. Peaceful Coexistence, which stand for mutual (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

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respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual n o n - a g g r e s s i o n , n o n - interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and m u t u a l b e n e f i t , a n d peaceful coexistence.

Xi warns against attempt to establish dominant civilization Chinese President Xi J i n p i n g o n S a t u r d a y warned against attempts to establish a dominant civilization in the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Myanmar President U Thein Sein and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari together with delegates from China, India “We should champion and Myanmar attending a conference marking the 60th anniversary of the Five inclusiveness and mutual Principles of Peaceful Coexistence pose for a group picture during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) learning,” Xi said when delivering a keynote speech at a comme-moration marking the 60th and civilizations are rich in diversity and have anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful their own distinct features. Coexistence at the Great Hall of the People in “No one is superior or inferior to others,” downtown Beijing, urging the international Xi said. community to carry forward the principles to “We should respect diversity of build a new type of international relations. civilizations and promote exchanges, In 1954, leaders of China, India and dialogue, peaceful and harmonious Myanmar initiated the Five Principles, coexistence among different civilizations and including mutual respect for sovereignty and nations,” he added. territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, Xi said human history has proved that any non-interference in each other’s internal attempt to establish a dominant civilization in affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and the world is an illusion. peaceful coexistence. “We should promote mutual learning and Xi said diversity of civilization is a draw on all that is good created by different defining feature of the human society. countries, nations and civilizations in a joint In today’s world, there are seven billion effort to create a splendid human people of more than 2,500 ethnic groups who civilization,” said the Chinese president. live in over 200 countries and regions and speak more than 5,000 languages, said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Chinese leader, adding that different nations not outdated

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Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence non-interference in each other’s internal initiated 60 years ago are not outdated, but affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and remain as relevant and important as ever in peaceful coexistence. handling international relations. Xi said the Principles have become the “Having been tested by the evolution of basic norms governing international relations international relations in the past six decades, as well as basic principles of international law. the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, as “These five principles, as an integrated, open and inclusive principles of international interconnected and indivisible concept, law, embody the values of sovereignty, capture the essence of today’s international justice, democracy and rule of law,” Xi said relations, and can apply to relations among all when delivering a keynote speech at a countries regardless of their social system, commemoration marking the 60th stage of development or size,” he said. anniversary of the Principles at the Great Hall Xi said the Principles have effectively of the People in downtown Beijing. upheld the rights and interests of the In 1954, leaders of China, India and developing world and have played a positive Myanmar initiated the Five Principles, role in building a more equitable and rational including mutual respect for sovereignty and international political and economic order.

The conference marking the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is held in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

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Today’s world is g o i n g t h r o u g h a profound and intricate c h a n g e s , X i s a i d , adding that peace, d e v e l o p m e n t , c o o p e r a t i o n a n d mutual benefit have become an unstoppable trend. “ C o u n t r i e s a r e bound together in this community of common destiny,” said the president. “On the other hand, injustice Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (1st L front), Myanmar President U Thein Sein (2nd L front) and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari jointly attend a and inequality are still photo exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful pronounced probelms Coexistence in Beijing, China, June 29, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l relations.” commemoration and delivered speeches. “Global challenges keep emerging, so do Also present at the commemoration were conflicts and local wars in various regions,” Xi Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, top legislator said. Zhang Dejiang and top political advisor Yu He said people in many countries, Zhengsheng. children in particular, are ravaged by war. “Many people in developing countries still International community lauds Xi’s speech suffer from hunger.” on anniversary of peace principles To uphold global peace and promote Beijing, June 29 (Xinhua) — Foreign common development remains a daunting experts and scholars have highly commented challenge facing mankind, Xi said. on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote “In the new era today, the spirit of the Five s p e e c h d e l i v e r e d S a t u r d a y a t a Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, instead of c o m m e m o r a t i o n m a r k i n g t h e 6 0 t h being outdated, remains as relevant as ever; anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful its significance, rather than diminishing, Coexistence guiding international relations. remains as important as ever; and its role, Ramesh Chopra, an Indian strategic rather than being weakened, has continued to analyst, said a six-point proposal put forward grow,” said the Chinese leader. by Xi in his speech has significant meaning Visiting Myanmar President U Thein Sein and will serve as the guidelines for world and Indian Vice President Mohammad peace and development, as well as promotion Hamid Ansari participated in Saturday’s of India-China relations for mutual benefits.

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The proposal completely conforms with internal affairs of other countries has won the India’s stance on equality of sovereignty of all hearts and minds of third world and nations, its non-alignment policy, and developing countries around the globe, and common security in international affairs. especially in sub-Sahara Africa and South “Both countries should make a concerted America, where most of the poor countries are effort to build on their historical, traditional located,” he said. and cultural civilization links,” he said. Chheang Vannarith, a senior researcher of U Win Ting, editor-in-chief of Myanmar the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and ruling party’s newspaper Union Daily, said Peace, said the Five Principles are the Myanmar, China and India have shared a foundation of international relations. common pursuit in building a nice He said Chinese approaches to cooperative and win-win world. international conflicts are guided by these Countries should not only coexist principles, and the outcomes of such foreign peacefully, but should also, more policy can only be tested in a long run as China significantly, enrich the connotation and is gradually becoming a global power. spirit of the Five Principles, to realize peaceful “China needs to develop and strengthen development, cooperation and an all-win its soft power,” Vannarith said. “The Five outcome, and to enable the Five Principles to Principles of Peaceful Co-existence can serve shine eternally and continue playing a that goal well.” positive role, he said. Chen Gang, a researcher from the East Daw Yi Yi Oo, deputy director of the Asian Institute of National University of Myanmar Foreign Ministry’s Department of Singapore, said that the Five Principles have Strategic Policy Studies, said the Five guided China’s foreign policy and have made Principles, jointly initiated by Myanmar, China’s diplomacy uniquely exemplary in the China and India, have been universally whole world. recognized by the international community The Five Principles have won recognition and become a set of basic principles guiding by Third World nations as well as by the state-to-state relations. United Nations, he said. They are by no means Xi’s proposal for carrying forward the outdated. Five Principles is of great significance to Ayman Okeil, general director of Egypt’s boosting peace and development, she added. Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Joseph Matthews, director of International Human Rights, said that China has adhered to Cooperation Department at the Asia Euro the Five Principles in coping with University in Phnom Penh, said the concept of international relations. the Five Principles could be seen as the “We never heard that China violated the foundation of bilateral relations, not only sovereignty of another country, interfered in between China and India, but also between another country’s internal affairs or anything China and more than 170 other countries around of the kind. So, we can say that China is the world that have relations with China. committed to some extent to these coexistence “China’s policy of non-interference in the principles,” he said.

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Chronology of Panchsheel Events

1954

P a n c h s h e e l , o r t h e F i v e Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, were first formally enunciated in the A g r e e m e n t o n T r a d e a n d Intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India signed on April 29, 1954, which stated, in its preamble, that the two Governments “have resolved to enter into the present Agreement based on the following principles: - lMutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty lMutual non-aggression lMutual non-interference lEquality and mutual benefit lPeaceful Coexistence. Chairman Mao Zedong hosted a welcome reception for Indian Prime Two months later, during the Minister Nehru in Beijing, China in October, 1954. visit of Premier Zhou Enlai to India, he and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru issued a Joint Statement on June 28, 1954 that elaborated their vision of Panchsheel as the framework, not only for relations between the two countries, but also for their relations with all other countries, so that a solid foundation could be laid for peace and security in the world. At that time, the two Prime Ministers also expressed the hope that the adoption of Panchsheel “will also help in creating an area of peace which as circumstances permit can be enlarged thus lessening the c h a n c e s o f w a r a n d Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai met with Indian President Rajendra Prasad, strengthening the cause of peace Vice-President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Nehru in India in June, 1954. all over the world.”

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 23 China-India Relations

1955

Premier Zhou Enlai spoke at the Afro-Asian Bandung Conference held in Indonesia in April, 1955. During the meeting, Premier Zhou suggested to set the Five Principles as a base for establishing friendly, cooperative relations between countries of different social systems.

The Afro-Asian Conference—popularly they would choose neither the East nor the known as the Bandung Conference because it West but pursue their own path and strategy was held in Bandung, Indonesia, from April under the guidance of the “Bandung 18-24, 1955, that involved five sponsoring Principles”. countries (Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia By the later stages, the Bandung and Pakistan) and 24 participating countries Conference had inspired not only the from Asia and Africa, turned out to be a independence of new countries in Asia and historic watershed in the international Africa and the establishment of the Non- relations of those countries. Amid pressure Aligned Movement but also the fight against from the growing cold war bipolarism, those racialism. countries were able to concertedly affirm that

24 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA China-India Relations

1988

On Dec. 21, 1988, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China met with Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India.

2003

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari this important venture a few years ago. We Vajpayee’s visit to Beijing in June 2003 was have made good progress. I am convinced the first visit to China by an Indian prime that, with steadfast adherence to the Five minister in nearly a decade. Speaking at the Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, with Beijing University he said” “One cannot wish mutual sensitivity to the concerns of each away the fact that before good neighbours other, and with respect for equality, our two can truly fraternize with each other, they countries can further accelerate this process must first mend their fences. After a hiatus of so that we can put this difference firmly a few decades, India and China embarked on behind us.”

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Mr. Jiang Zemin, Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission, met with visiting Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee in Beijing on June 24, 2003.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee signed The Declaration on the Principles and Comprehensive Cooperation in China-India Relations at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 23 June, 2003.

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2005

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Jakarta, Indonesia on 23 April, 2005.

2013

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife in Beijing in October, 2013.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping said the third of the world’s people. The China-India world needs the common development of relations have gone far beyond the bilateral China and India, in a meeting with Indian level and are taking on a global and strategic Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Beijing significance on 23rd October 2013. The two sides should strengthen Xi said Singh is an old friend of the cooperation on international and regional Chinese people and he has made important issues as well as within the framework of contributions to the development of China- multilateral mechanisms, so as to safeguard India relations. common interests and push for the China and India have a long history of establishment of international relations ancient civilizations and are the two largest f e a t u r i n g e q u a l i t y , m u t u a l t r u s t , developing countries in the world, said Xi, inclusiveness, mutual learning, cooperation noting that the two account for more than one and win-win.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi in May, 2013.

On May 21, 2013, Chinese Premier Li friendship and has made important Keqiang met with Indian President Pranab contributions to pushing forward China-India Mukherjee in New Delhi. Li Keqiang first relations. Li Keqiang noted that China and conveyed the cordial greetings and best India are strategic partners and friendly regards from President Xi Jinping to President neighbours. One major achievement of the Mukherjee. Li Keqiang said that as an old visit is that leaders of both countries have friend of the Chinese people, Mr. President is agreed to view our bilateral relationship from committed to promoting China-India a strategic and overall perspective, to expand

28 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA China-India Relations common interests, to promote comprehensive two countries and the peoples with the cooperation, to build up more consensus and development of China-India relations. to overstep the differences so as to benefit the

2014

On June 9, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India met with Special Envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi.

On June 9, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra partners rather than competing adversaries. Modi of India met with special envoy of The dreams of both China and India to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese increase national strength and people’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi. wealth are in accord with each other. Wang Yi conveyed the greetings from Wang Yi said that the China-India President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, relations have been at a new historical starting and the message from President Xi Jinping to point and are faced with important Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Xi development opportunities. China is willing Jinping said in his message that he warmly to work with India to realize the convergence congratulates Modi on taking office as the of the development ideas, development Prime Minister of the Republic of India. As strategies, development advantages, two two important forces in the process of multi- great civilizations and two growth engines, so polarization, China and India share far more as to consolidate the strategic cooperative common interests than differences. The two partnership for peace and prosperity. countries are long-term strategic cooperative

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 29 China-India Relations

Chinese Embassy-IDSA Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Panchsheel

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in association with the Institute of Defence and Study Analysis (IDSA) o r g a n i s e d a o n e - d a y conference to mark the 60th Anniversary of Panchsheel on 11 June, 2014. The aim of the conference was to assess and review the relevance of Panchsheel in Sino-Indian relationship and draw its scope for regional and (From left) Myanmar Ambassador U Aung Khin Soe, Indian Foreign Secretary global cooperation and Smt. Sujata Singh, Chinese Ambassador Wei Wei lighting up the lamp at the interactions. reception on the 60th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The one-day confer- recent developments and the relations ence was divided into three sessions wherein between the two countries. eminent speakers were invited from both the Wei Wei, Ambassador of the People’s countries to speak and discuss about the Republic of China to India, Gautam H Bambawale, Joint Secretary, East Asia, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Tarun Vijay, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha delivered their key note address during the inaugural session. T h e f i r s t s e s s i o n covered the historical perspective of the China- India relations wherein Attending photo exhibition of Panchsheel history. e m i n e n t s p e a k e r s /

30 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA China-India Relations academicians like, Prof. Sujit Dutta, Gandhi Ambassador to India; Prof. Srikanth Chair, Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Kondapalli, Chinese Studies, Centre for East Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia, Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Delhi; Prof. Shen Dingli, Institute of Prof. Deng Junbing, Consultancy of International Affairs, Fudan University, Association of Former Diplomats of China. China and Prof. Madhu Bhalla, Chinese The concluding session talked about the Studies, Department of East Asian Studies, significance of Sino-Indian Relations in University of Delhi were present. Regional Peace and Stability chaired by Prof. The second session covered the China- Shen Dingli. It saw speakers like Prof. Chen India Cooperation in the Global Context Jidong, Institute of South Asian Studies, chaired by Amb. Nalin Surie, inviting Sichuan University; Prof. Ye Hailin, Chinese Jayadeva Ranade, former Additional Academy of Social Sciences and Dr. Jagannath Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Panda, Research Fellow & Centre India; Amb. Zhou Gang, former Chinese Coordinator, East Asia, IDSA.

China, India Seek Stronger Military Ties

Beijing, July 3 (Xinhua) — Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commi- ssion Fan Changlong met with Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh in Beijing on Thursday. Singh is the first Indian Army Chief to visit China since 2005. His visit, which comes after the new Indian government took office in late May, is regarded as a positive signal from India to interact with China’s political and military Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (R) meets with Indian Army Chief General leaders. Bikram Singh, who is also chair of the committee of chiefs of staff of the Indian armed forces, in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 31 China-India Relations

Fan said China and India have maintained good momentum in developing bilateral relations in recent years and called on the two militaries to take the o c c a s i o n a s a n opportunity to advance military-to-military ties. Fan proposed that the two militaries strengthen strategic mutual trust, practical cooperation and Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Fan Changlong (R) meets p r o p e r l y m a n a g e with Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh, who is also chair of the committee differences. of chiefs of staff of the Indian armed forces, in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) “ O u r c o m m o n interests far outweigh our the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, differences,” Fan said. “Both countries have enhance high-level military exchanges and sufficient wisdom and capability to deal with communication to increase mutual trust and historical problems.” reduce suspicion, Fang said. Singh called on the two countries to cash He suggested both sides expand in on common interests in developing a cooperation in joint exercises, peacekeeping, mutually supportive relationship. He said anti-terrorism, escort missions, personnel communication and interaction between the training and think tank exchanges. militaries is important for ensuring peace and “Both sides should strengthen border tranquility in border areas. control to prevent disruptions to the broader Singh, also chair of the committee of chiefs military-to-military relationship and bilateral of staff of the Indian armed forces, is on a ties,” Fang said. China visit from July 2 to 5. He held talks with Thanking China for its hospitality, Singh Fang Fenghui, Chief of General Staff of the said India and China are not rivals and that Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), India is willing to deepen communication and before meeting with Fan. cooperation with China and further the Fang hailed the sound foundation for the military relationship. relationship between the two militaries. China is willing to work with India to uphold

32 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

China-U.S. Annual Dialogue, Consultation Opens in Beijing

Beijing, July 9 (Xinhua) — The sixth round This year’s strategic dialogue covers a of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic wide range of topics of domestic and foreign Dialogue (S&ED) and the fifth round of High- policy, including climate change, science and Level Consultation on People-to-People innovation, Sudan and South Sudan, UN Exchange (CPE) started in Beijing on peacekeeping and the illegal trade in animals Wednesday. and plants, as well as interactions in the Asia- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Pacific region, according to Chinese Assistant opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang T h e e c o n o m i c dialogue will address issues of the macro economy, trade and investment cooperation a n d t r a n s n a t i o n a l regulations. T h e a n n u a l C P E focuses on closer links b e t w e e n t h e t w o countries’ youth, with highlights including a s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n program proposed by Xi’s wife Peng Liyuan and Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the joint opening ceremony of the Sixth Obama’s wife Michelle Round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the Fifth Round of China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in Beijing, O b a m a a n d a capital of China, July 9, 2014. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the The S&ED will be co-chaired by Chinese exchange of students. Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, as well as U.S. Secretary of State President Xi welcomes Obama to visit China John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. for APEC summit The CPE will be hosted by Vice Premier Liu Beijing, July 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese Yandong and Kerry. President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that he

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 33 External Affairs welcomes and expects talks with Barack determined to ensure healthy and stable Obama when the U.S. president visits China growth of China-U.S. ties on a correct track. to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ “China is willing to make concerted Meeting in November. efforts to this end,” he said. Xi made the remarks while meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, for his two delegations for the sixth China-U.S. part, described this round of dialogue as Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) and “excellent.” He said Xi’s strong speech the fifth China-U.S. High-Level Consultation opened the annual meeting and had raised the on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) held in level of the dialogue. Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday. He quoted Obama as saying the United In his opening remarks, Xi praised the States welcomes and hopes to see a “strong, positive progress of the annual high-level prosperous and stable” China. meeting, urging the working groups of both “We mean what we said,” he added. sides to coordinate to implement the The S&ED was co-chaired by Chinese Vice consensus of this round of S&ED and CPE. Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Xi said the new model of China-U.S. Yang Jiechi, as well as Kerry and U.S. relationship is drawn from the experience of Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. The CPE was bilateral ties over the past 35 years. hosted by Vice Premier Liu Yandong and Xi said he and President Obama are Kerry.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd L) and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew (1st L) in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2014. John Kerry and Jacob Lew came here to attend the Sixth Round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the Fifth Round of China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People- to-People Exchange. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

34 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs

Xi proposes ways to h a n d l e C h i n a - U . S . frictions Beijing, July 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China and the United States should properly h a n d l e f r i c t i o n s a n d contradictions in their bilateral relations, so as to forge a new model of major- country relationship. In a keynote speech at the China-U.S. Strategic Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd R) attends the joint opening ceremony of the Sixth Round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the Fifth Round and Economic Dialogue, of China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in slated for Wednesday and Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Thursday, Xi said the two countries should promote mutual trust. that their common interests far overweight “China is striving for its dream of realizing differences,” he noted, saying that respect is great national rejuvenation, which requires a needed in terms of each others’ sovereignty, p e a c e f u l a n d s t a b l e i n t e r n a t i o n a l territorial integrity, and chosen model of environment more than ever. Thus, China development. will stick to its peaceful development,” he He called on both sides to avoid being said, adding that the two sides should distracted by accidental issues, and said they enhance dialogue and cooperation to should stick to dialogue, consultation and strengthen trust. other constructive ways to expand Secondly, China and the United States understanding and consensus. should respect each other and accumulate Furthermore, Xi said the two countries shared interests to defuse differences, should deepen cooperation based on equality suggested the Chinese leader. and mutual trust, and tap more cooperative “Both sides should keep the big picture in potential. sight and grasp the general goal of boosting They should “accelerate negotiations on t h e n e w m o d e l o f m a j o r - c o u n t r y the Bilateral Investment Treaty, strengthen relationship,” Xi said, referring to the military dialogue, combat all forms of consensus he established with U.S. terrorism, work together in dealing with counterpart Barack Obama when he visited climate change and promote communication the country in June last year. and coordination on major international and “The two countries should keep in mind regional issues,” Xi urged.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 35 External Affairs

The Chinese president also underlined Since then, five rounds of the dialogue Sino-U.S. people-to-people exchanges in the have been held, with the first in Washington speech, saying both sides should encourage in July 2009, the second in Beijing in May 2010, friendly exchanges between their peoples, the third in Washington in May 2011, the and broaden social communication channels fourth in Beijing in May 2012, and the fifth in to consolidate public opinion in favor of Washington in July 2013. bilateral friendship. The dialogue mechanism combined and “The foundation of Sino-U.S. friendship replaced the China-U.S. Strategic Dialogue lies in the people, and our hope in youth,” Xi and China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue, added. which had both played a major role in strengthening the China-U.S. ties. China-U.S. Strategic and Economic China-U.S. Strategic dialogue, initiated by Dialogue former President Hu Jintao and former U.S. On April 1, 2009, former Chinese President George W. Bush in 2004, was held President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack six times. Obama agreed to establish the mechanism of China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue was inaugurated by former U.S. Treasury during their first meeting in London on the Secretary Henry Paulson and former Chinese sidelines of the G20 financial summit. Vice Premier Wu Yi in Beijing in September

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (3rd R, front), State Councilor Yang Jiechi (2nd R, front), U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd L) and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew (3rd L) attend a speical meeting of climate change during the Sixth Round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

36 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs

2006. The biennial event was held five times. Since the establishment of the two mechanisms, China and the United States have conducted effective dialogues on issues of strategic importance. The ever evolving China-U.S. relations and the changing international situation have added to the urgency of furthering the cooperation and communi- cation between the two U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (3rd R) and Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew (2nd R) pay a visit to the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, capital of China, countries. July 8, 2014. Kerry and Lew are in Beijing for the sixth China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) held in Beijing on July 9 and 10. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping Visits South Korea

Seoul, July 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye held talks here Thursday, vowing to enrich the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. Xi said China and South K o r e a a r e i m p o r t a n t neighbors, close partners and good friends. R e v i e w i n g a l l t h e substantial progress that has been made since they established diplomatic ties more than 20 years ago, the Chinese President Xi Jinping (1st L) holds talks with South Korean President two nations have a lot to Park Geun-hye (2nd R) in Seoul, South Korea, July 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 37 External Affairs

summarize, he said. billion U.S. dollars by 2015, the two countries The two nations respect each other’s social should nurture new cooperation growth system, development mode and core points in fields such as new energy, interests, see each other as a development t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , i n t e l l i g e n t opportunity, support each other’s peaceful manufacturing, among others, said Xi. development and jointly safeguard a peaceful China is willing to launch a RMB clearance and stable neighboring environment, he said. service in South Korea and hopes the two China-South Korea relations are facing an sides could speed up negotiations so as to opportunity of great development, said Xi, complete their free trade talks before the end adding that the two sides should share of the year. development opportunities, handle the China, Xi said, welcomes South Korean challenges together and deepen their enterprises to invest more in central and cooperation in a comprehensive manner. western China. The two sides should become partners As to people-to-people exchanges, Xi said that share common development, promote both countries will celebrate the Year of regional peace and Asia’s revitalization, and Chinese Tourism in South Korea in 2015 and boost world prosperity, he added. the Year of South Korean Tourism in China in Xi made a four-point proposal to enhance 2016. bilateral ties. To elevate bilateral personnel exchanges Regarding political security cooperation, to 10 million in 2016, Xi suggested the two Xi said he is willing to maintain frequent sides waive visa for service passport holders communication with Park and exchange and offer visa waivers for short-time travelers views on major issues of common concern at any time. The two sides should strengthen communi- cation and enhance mutual trust through governmental, parlia- mentary and party-to- party communication a n d c o o p e r a t i o n mechanism, Xi said. As for economy and trade cooperation, Xi said the two sides should further expand mutual beneficial cooperation in this field. To raise the bilateral South Korean President Park Geun-hye holds a welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae before their talks in trade volume to 300 Seoul, South Korea, July 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

38 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs

between the two sides. Regarding regional and international cooperation, Xi said China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with South Korea in establishing an A s i a n i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n v e s t m e n t b a n k a n d advancing the plan for creating an Asia-Pacific free trade area. The two countries, he said, could jointly hold memorial activities next year on the o c c a s i o n s o f t h e 7 0 t h anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Fascist War, of the v i c t o r y o f t h e W a r o f Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and of the Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with South Korean President liberation of the Korean Park Geun-hye in Seoul, South Korea, July 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Peninsula from Japan’s colonial rule. accomplish a high-level and comprehensive For her part, Park extended warm free trade agreement before the end of this welcome to Xi’s visit. year, so as to provide a fresh institutional South Korea supports China to framework to enhance the two countries’ comprehensively deepen reform and believe economic and trade cooperation, advance the that the Chinese dream could be realized at an two-way investment and financial early date, she said. cooperation and promote regional economic While the Chinese dream and South integration. Korean dream converge, the peace, stability The bilateral cooperation should also and prosperity of the northeast Asian region contribute to the region and the world at will be promoted, said Park. large, she said, stressing to jointly promote the The South Korean side sincerely hope that economic prosperity of the world and deal the two countries could become strategic with challenges, such as climate change. cooperative partners who could support and South Korea supports China to help each other, stands ready to strengthen successfully host the informal economic communication with China in the areas of leaders’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic political affairs, security and military, and is Cooperation (APEC) this year, said Park. willing to exchange views on major issues in a After the summit talks, senior officials timely manner, she said. from the two countries signed a series of She expressed her hope that the two cooperation agreements covering diplomacy, countries, with their joint efforts, could sustainable development, finance,

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 39 External Affairs

environment protection, local affairs, surely continue to forge ahead and achieve customs, people-to-people exchanges and new greater development.” media, in the presence of the two heads of Park described her talks with Xi as state. “candid and friendly.” She told reporters that The two sides also issued a joint statement. the two sides reached many important While meeting the press after the talks, Xi consensuses on cooperation in a wide range of said that a new situation offers a new areas and signed a series of important deals. opportunity for the development of bilateral Park said that she believes President Xi’s ties. visit will forcefully advance the strategic China and South Korea will not only seek cooperative partnership between the two shared development, but also join hands to countries, and become a “new milestone” in cope with global challenges and safeguard the the history of bilateral relations. peace and stability in the region and the world Before their talks, a grand welcome at large, Xi said. ceremony was held at the Blue House for “Through this visit, I’ve got a feeling that President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. China and South Korea have capabilities, Peng, accompanied by South Korean conditions and willingness to strengthen their officials, visited a world cultural heritage site strategic cooperative partnership,” he told in Seoul, the ancient Changdeokgung Palace, reporters. and watched the performance of artists of “I have full confidence in the future of traditional Korean instrument. China-South Korea relationship and also, I’m Peng said that the friendship between the very much looking forward to it.” he said. “I two peoples goes back to ancient times and believe the ties between the two countries will more Korean friends are welcomed to visit China. The Chinese president arrived here Thursday for a two-day state visit to South Korea, his first trip to the Asian neighbor since he took office last year.

Xi, Park share concerns over Japan’s constitution reinterpretation Seoul, July 4 (Xinhua) — S o u t h K o r e a n President Park Geun-hye and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping shared concerns over Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) meets with South Korean President Park Geun-hye (1st R) in Seoul, capital of South Korea, July 4, 2014.(Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Japan’s reinterpretation of

40 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs

its pacifist constitution during their luncheon meeting, the South Korean presidential office said Friday. Ju Chul-ki, senior foreign affairs and security advisor to Park, told a press briefing that Xi and Park held a s p e c i a l l u n c h e o n meeting where the two leaders shared worries a b o u t J a p a n ’ s continued history- revisionist attitude and its attempt to expand Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and South Korean President Park Geun-hye jointly the self-defense right. meet journalists after their talks in Seoul, South Korea, July 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao They sympathized Dawei) with the need for Japan to pursue its defense and security policy in a apology made in 1993 by then Chief Cabinet way that further complies with its pacifist Secretary Yohei Kono, who acknowledged constitution, while shunning politics even the that the imperialistic Japan was involved in Japanese people do not support, Ju said. the recruitment of more than 200,000 young The two leaders called attention to the women, mostly Koreans, and forced them to reality where many countries around the serve in military brothels. world as well as more than half of the On June 20, the Abe cabinet unveiled the Japanese people opposed to the Japanese results of its reexamination on the Kono cabinet’s reinterpretation of its post-war Statement. It said the South Korean constitution to allow itself to exercise the right government intervened in the wording of the to collective self-defense. apology, indicating it was the consequence of The cabinet, headed by Japanese Prime closed-door political dealings. Minister Shinzo Abe, announced a resolution Xi and Park also shared views that to reinterpret its 67-year-old constitution on international coordination to resolve the Tuesday, fueling concerns over Japan’s return Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to its past militarism. (DPRK)’s nuclear issue can be broken if Regarding the Kono Statement, the two sanctions imposed on the DPRK for its leaders shared regrets over Japan’s recent nuclear program are mishandled. review on its 1993 apology for the wartime sex The Japanese cabinet gave a green light slavery, saying the review was aimed at Friday to ease sanctions on the DPRK after damaging and disparaging the statement. Pyongyang formed a team to reinvestigate The Kono Statement refers to an official into whereabouts of the Japanese it

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 41 External Affairs

kidnapped in the 1970s and 1980s. So far this year, the world’s second largest President Xi arrived here Thursday for a economy has reached agreements with two-day state visit, his first trip to the Asian Germany, Britain, France and Luxembourg to neighbor since he took office last year. Xi held open local RMB trading hubs, as the Chinese a summit meeting with Park Thursday. currency has been increasingly used in global trade and investment. ‘ Also on Thursday, RMB Clearing Service to Open in Seoul China and South Korea agreed to establish During Xi’s visit, China and South Korea direct trading mechanism between the RMB signed a deal Thursday to launch a renminbi and won, the South Korean currency, (RMB) clearing service in Seoul and boost according to the joint statement signed by the cooperation between their central banks. two countries. The People’s Bank of China and the Bank The move would eliminate the need to of Korea inked a memorandum of exchange either currency into U.S. dollars understanding in this regard, which will when settling accounts, and is believed to be hopefully facilitate bilateral trade and able to save transaction fees and hedge investment by reducing transaction costs and against foreign exchange volatility. exchange rate risks. In addition, China will grant 80 billion The move is also considered as another RMB yuan (13 billion U.S. dollars) quota of push for the use of RMB by banks and investment to South Korea under the RMB businesses in international transaction. Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (RQFII) program, the statement said. Launched in 2011, the RQFII program allows foreign investors to invest in Chinese onshore stock and bond markets with offshore RMB. The Chinese currency rose to be the seventh most used payment currency globally earlier this year. RMB payments grew by 29 percent month-on-month in March with a market share of 1.62 percent, up from 1.42 percent in February, a c c o r d i n g t o g l o b a l transaction service firm Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at a forum on China-South Korea economic SWIFT. and trade cooperation in Seoul, capital of South Korea, July 4, 2014. Xi Jinping The People’s Bank of and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye attended the forum jointly.(Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) China is yet to announce the

42 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs

nomination of a clearing bank to handle RMB indicating an annual increase of seven business in Seoul. percent, statistics with China’s General China is South Korea’s largest trading Administration of Customs show. The figure partner, largest market of exports, largest equates to South Korea’s trade volume with source of imports, and largest destination of the United States and Japan combined. overseas investment, while South Korea was The RMB deposits in the banking sector of China’s third-largest trading partner and South Korea reached a record 70 billion RMB fifth-largest source of foreign investment in yuan (11.33 billion dollars) at the end of May, 2013. second only to U.S. dollar in its foreign China’s two-way trade with South Korea currency deposits, according to the Bank of totaled 274.25 billion U.S. dollars last year, Korea.

China, Germany Pledge to Boost Cooperation, Cement Partnership

Beijing, July 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese and Germany are strategic partners and President Xi Jinping met with German should look at bilateral affairs from a global Chancellor Angela Merkel here on Monday and pledged to cement t h e s t r a t e g i c partnership between the two countries. Recalling his state visit to Germany in March, Xi said China and Germany were pushing forward with a c o n s e n s u s o n a c o m p r e h e n s i v e strategic partnership. Merkel’s visit will provide a new driving force for the bilateral relationship. Both Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela major powers, China Merkel during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2014. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 43 External Affairs

perspective, Xi said. nology, aeronautics and astronautics, and He proposed joint efforts to improve social security. global economic governance and the The chancellor said Germany will international system to promote world peace, improve the investment environment to stability and prosperity. The sides should attract Chinese enterprises and facilitate visits “take bigger steps” in their practical between the people of the two countries. cooperation and work harder to create more The German side stands ready to step up joint-venture brands, highlight cooperation communication and coordination with China on manufacturing and make best use of the under multilateral mechanisms including new RMB offshore trading center in G20, she added. Frankfurt. Briefing Xi on the internal reform of the Xi welcomed Germany’s enthusiasm for European Union (EU) and the EU’s efforts to the Silk Road Economic Belt and German overcome the debt crisis, Merkel expressed companies’ competition in the Chinese her gratitude for China’s support. market. Xi reaffirmed that China will support Xi suggested the two sides increase European integration and work as a good cultural and people-to-people exchanges by partner of European countries, adding that he working together on textbooks, art and hopes Germany will continue its important literature, mutual understanding and role in China-Europe relations. friendship between the youth of the two During the meeting, the two leaders n a t i o n s , a n d encouraging media organizations to cover each other’s country in a comprehensive and impartial way. F o r h e r p a r t , M e r k e l s a i d t h e German side hopes to give full play to the role of the mechanism of inter-governmental consult-ations and boost cooperation in an innovative way on finance, industry and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L) holds talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (3rd R, front) in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2014. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) information tech-

44 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs exchanged ideas on governance and regional Cooperation next year. and international issues of common concern. Regarding China-Europe ties, Li hoped Germany would play a positive and Chinese premier holds talks with visiting constructive role in China-Europe ties and German Chancellor properly settle trade disputes through Beijing, July 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese dialogue. Premier Li Keqiang and visiting German Merkel, on her seventh China visit as Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed in Beijing German Chancellor, said Germany hoped to on Monday to expand cooperation in such build an innovative partnership with China, areas as trade, technology and environmental and expand bilateral cooperation in finance, protection, to build a stronger strategic technology, agriculture and culture. partnership to cope with global challenges. The Chinese economy is full of vitality, she In their talks at the Great Hall of the said, adding German companies would like to People, Li said China and Germany enjoy expand investment in China, and participate broad common ground in safeguarding in the development of central and western world peace, developing a win-win China. partnership and advocating global free trade. Germany welcomes Chinese investment Hailing the achievements since and will make efforts to streamline visa diplomatic ties were established 42 years ago, processes to facilitate personnel exchanges, he said China hopes to cement understanding Merkel said. and trust with Germany, and the two The German leader said her country countries should respect each other’s core supports exchanges and dialogues between interests and major concerns. European Union and China, and is ready to China will give full play to the play a constructive role in advancing EU- consultation mechanism between the two China relations. governments and speed up formulation of a After their talks, the two leaders medium-to-long-term cooperation plan, said witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements the Chinese premier. on cooperation in trade, aviation and He also suggested cooperation in such environmental protection. areas as trade, finance, technology, industry, Later on Monday, China’s top legislator information technology, energy saving, Zhang Dejiang met with Merkel, calling for environmental protection and culture, as well closer exchanges between the two countries’ as coordination in global affairs. parliaments. China will participate as a partner country The Chinese National People’s Congress in CeBIT 2015 in Hanover, one of the world’s hopes to improve understanding and trust largest IT fairs, Li said, and the two will host a between the two countries and promote the China-Germany Year of Innovative sustained and healthy development of the

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 45 External Affairs

Sino-German strategic partnership, Zhang said. Merkel, for her part, said various political parties of the German parliament attach great importance to their ties with China. S h e p l e d g e d t o f a c i l i t a t e c l o s e r e x c h a n g e s a n d cooperation between the two parliaments. Merkel arrived in Chengdu, capital of southwestern China’s Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet with delegates attending the first meeting of Sino-German Advisory Committee on Sichuan Province, on Economy in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Sunday to start her three- day China tour. Li said the outcome includes an 80 billion yuan (13 billion U.S. dollars) investment China, Germany to promote ties to new quota granted to Germany under the RMB progress Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors Beijing, July 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese (RQFII) program. Premier Li Keqiang said Monday that China is Li said China can keep its economic willing to promote China-Germany ties to growth within a reasonable margin,and in the new progress in the spirit of mutual respect second quarter of this year, China’s economic and mutual benefit. conditions had improved from the first During a joint press briefing following his quarter. But he warned against the risks of a talks with visiting German Chancellor Angela slowdown, saying the country cannot be Merkel, Li explained the outcome of their complacent on this issue. official talks. Li outlined areas that the Chinese Li said that China and Germany government will focus on to maintain stable established a high-level fiscal and financial economic growth. dialogue mechanism. He said the two sides China will continue to stimulate the agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields market, especially in financing for small of innovation, sustainable development and businesses and reducing red tape, he said, environmental protection. adding this will increase the efficiency of

46 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA External Affairs supply. cooperation in the fields of innovation, joint In the coming months, China will continue research, market access, new urbanization , to strengthen preemptive fine tuning of its energy conservation, climate change and economic policy and carry out “targeted health services. controls,” according to the premier. Germany is willing to collaborate closely “We have the conditions and capability to with China in international and regional keep the Chinese economy running within a affairs, and to face challenges and realize reasonable margin and achieve the goal of common development, Merkel said, adding economic growth for the whole year,” Li said. that Germany appreciates China’s support of He noted that since the beginning of this the EU and the euro. year, world economic recovery has endured Chinese and German companies signed a a complex situation with both good news number of agreements for deals including and bad news, and that “China’s economy is buying helicopters from Germany and setting also faced with the pressure of slowing up a new automobile manufacturing base in down.” China. H o w e v e r , h e s a i d t h e C h i n e s e The two sides agreed to establish a new government has refrained from adopting a manufacturing base for FAW-Volkswagen full-scale stimulus policy, but instead has Automotive Co., Ltd. They also decided to worked on the basis of maintaining growth build an “ecopark” in Qingdao that will within a reasonable margin. showcase energy-efficient buildings. Air The government has put special effort into China signed an agreement with its Star pushing forward reform and opening up to Alliance partner, German airline Lufthansa. the outside world, overhauling the Li recalled the Chinese People’s War of government approval system, improving Resistance Against Japanese Invasion, urging business registration procedures and relaxing remembrance of history. controls on market entrance, he said. “The future can begin and peace can be By implementing policies to stabilize maintained only if lessons from history are growth, promote reform, readjust the kept in mind,” Li said during a joint press economic structure and improve people’s briefing with visiting German Chancellor livelihood, China has maintained stable Angela Merkel after their talks. growth in the economy, according to Li. Monday coincided with the 77th In the first quarter, China’s GDP growth anniversary of the beginning of the war. stood at 7.4 percent, while employment and Li reviewed the Chinese people’s eight- inflation indices were in the healthy range. year fight up until the Japanese surrender in Merkel said that Germany is willing to 1945, saying “past experience, if not forgotten, make full use of intergovernmental is a guide for the future.” consultations with China to deepen

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 47 High Speed Train in China

HIGH SPEED TRAIN IN CHINA

China's High-Speed Railway Development Plan

China started the research on high-speed Xuzhou, Xi’an-Chengdu , Xi’an-Lanzhou- railway technology since 1980s, and began to Urumqi, Chengdu-Chongqing, Hefei- construct high-speed railways in 2003. Fuzhou, etc. According to the Chinese mid-and long-term Based on the primary research and railway network plan, by 2020 the overall experience from more than 10 years of large- operating length of railways in China will scale construction , China has mastered the stretch to 120,000km , and that of high-speed full set of high-speed railway technology railways will reach up to 16,000km. systems. After 10 years of large-scale construction For subgrade engineering technology of work, till the end of 2013, China has high-speed rails, China has solved a set of key completed a number of high-speed railways , technical problems involving soft soil, such as Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing- collapsible loess, karst and coastal soft clay Guangzhou-Shenzhen , Harbin-Dalian, soil. Zhengzhou-Xi’an , Shanghai-Hangzhou- For bridge engineering technology of Xiamen, Shanghai-Nanjing-Wuhan- high-speed rails , key technical problems Chongqing high-speed lines; the operating solved by us includes the control of length of high-speed railways reaches up to deformation for steel beam with large 11,000km, ranking first in the world. tonnage, and deepwater foundation At present, the high-speed railways under constructions across rivers and mountainous construction include Beijing-Shenyang, areas. Hangzhou-Changsha-Kunming, Zhengzhou- For tunnel engineering technology of

48 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA High Speed Train in China

high-speed rails , China has overcome the environment, and other technical problems technical problems associated with large regarding tunnel designs, risk evaluation, and section loess tunnel, underwater tunnel, karst constructions under complex geological tunnel in high pressure and rich water conditions.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 49 High Speed Train in China

For track engineering technology of high- integrated passenger service system and a speed rails, China has established a set of high-speed rail dispatching command technology system involving theoretic management system are also established calculation, structural design, production- through research and development. manufacturing, on site pavement, and China’s high-speed rail train set operation maintenance for ballastless track, technology is now at the top of the world. On which has realized the standard application of December 3th,2010 , the new generation of ballastless track in large scale projects. Chinese made “harmony” 380A achieved a Fro train control technology, China has hourly speed of 486.1 km, which has made it developed a train control technology system the fastest vehicle on the ground in the history. for trains with hourly speed at 200km levels China’s high-speed rail technology system and 300km levels, and with the help of the includes Construction, EMU, Train control, GSM-R wireless communication system, Traction, Despatching system, Safety, System bidirectional live transmission of control Integration. information between trains and ground is The same as India, China is a populated made possible. country, railway plays a vital role in the A traction power supply technology transportations in China. However , for a long system is also developed by research, which time in the past , passenger railway station has realized the safe operation for double was relatively undeveloped. The function of locomotive, double arch EMU running at the station was simple, the transfer between 300km levels. Beyond the above, an trains was inconvenient, and the operation

50 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA High Speed Train in China efficiency was low. work, China has mastered the key Since the new century , with the technologies in the construction and development of high-speed rail technologies, operation. China has established its own the construction of Chinese Passenger technical standards of the high-speed railway. Railway Station has also made great This advancement of technology from achievement . Until the November 2013, 527 “pursuer” to “leader” presents a historical Passenger Railway Stations are completed in leap. China, among them, 264 railway stations are In the area of high-speed railway, China high speed railway stations. There are still 322 has the fastest development, the longest Passenger Railway Stations under operating length and the largest scale of construction. construction in the world. After 10 years of large-scale construction

The Beijing South Railway Station serves as the terminus for high-speed trains on the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Rail and the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. The station integrates a Beijing Subway station , bus hubs and taxi stands, into the same building, and includes a wide variety of restaurants in the station. Beijing South Railway Station won the International Awards 2009 from Royal Institute of British Architects.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 51 High Speed Train in China

High-Speed Train Running to the West of China

by Li Fangfang

Nan Baojun, 43, a veteran railway steward with 20 years’ experience, was excited when she spoke to Beijing Review on a test high-speed train running from Urumqi to Shanshan in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. “Xinjiang finally has its high-speed railway,” she exclaimed with glee. At 9:50 a.m. on June 3, 2014, a CRH2-061C high-speed train began its 283-km journey from Urumqi to Shanshan to test the Xinjiang section of the second double-track line of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway. The railway, which was first built in 1952- 62, is the only one that connects Xinjiang with other parts of China. The new line starts in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, and takes a slightly different route, winding through the neighboring Qinghai Province before re-entering Gansu and joining the old route that heads northwest toward Xinjiang. The 1,776-km new line crosses a vast expanse of the Gobi Desert and Workers from the Urumqi Railway Administration wait for a other areas with harsh natural CRH2-061C high-speed train ready to pull out from Urumqi Electric Multiple Unit Deport at 9:50 a.m. on June 3, 2014. conditions including extreme temperatures and wind speeds, both in March 2010. After the last section between of which needed technical innovations to Gansu and Qinghai finishes its test running in overcome. September, the new line will start trial Construction of the Xinjiang stretch of the operation. It will be finally put into use at the railroad, which runs for 710 km in total, began end of 2014. With the new railway, travel time

52 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA High Speed Train in China

between Lanzhou and Urumqi will be cut from the current 21 hours to 8 hours or less. X i n j i a n g ’ s l o c a l residents have longed for the opening of the high- speed railway for a long time. “When I took a taxi to go to work, the driver asked me when Xinjiang would have its own high- speed railway,” said Nan, who will be in charge of all the attendants on the route after it is put into use. The speed of the test high-speed train reaches 275 km per hour, 10 percent faster “When I went to get a than the designed one, to make extra sure that everything is operating as expected haircut, the hairdresser also asked me if it was true that Xinjiang was The trial run on June 3 included tests on building a high-speed railroad.” dynamic response, rails, communications and aerodynamics, and all the results were within safety limits, said Fu Lianzhu, chief engineer of the line’s trial run project. This section is designed for an average speed of 250 km per hour when it begins operations. During the test, the speed used was 10 percent faster, 275 km per hour, to make extra sure that everything is operating as expected. “We had to undertake nine days of testing before we started the trial run,” Fu said. According to Fu, the Adi Tuerdi, an Uygur driver, operates the test high-speed train. train began its trial run at a

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 53 High Speed Train in China speed of 160 km per hour, regularly the high-speed trains in Xinjiang. It’s also a increasing its speed by 20-km increments. pride for my family, and even for all Uygurs,” After the speed exceeded 200 km per hour, the Tuerdi said. increases were lowered 10 km per hour until it reached 275 km per hour. Not that far “On account of the high speeds, we When Tuerdi worked for the Urumqi- drivers have to take turns [to get a chance to Hami section of the old route of the Lanzhou- experience it],” said Adi Tuerdi, 34, an Uygur Xinjiang Railway, it took more than six hours train driver. Besides Tuerdi, there is also one to travel the roughly 600 km of the route. Kazak and 10 Han ethnic drivers on the trial But when the high-speed railway goes high-speed train. They were all selected from into operation, it will be possible to traverse it train drivers working in Xinjiang. in as little as two and a half hours. “It’d be Tuerdi experienced tough tests as a possible to make a day trip to and from candidate over the past several months. The Urumqi to Hami, a city in south Xinjiang,” basic criterion is that a driver has healthy Tuerdi said. physical and mental condition and good For people in Xinjiang, online shopping is knowledge of China’s railways. When he not as convenient as it is in the rest of China passed his interview in Beijing, Tuerdi was because of the long wait for packages and given the opportunity to learn the theoretical higher delivery fees. knowledge needed for high-speed trains and For those using ShunFeng Express, a receive practical training. premium delivery company in China known Tuerdi received his driving classes in for its efficiency, delivering a package from Baoji, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Beijing to Urumqi takes a week at least and and Southwest Jiaotong University in costs 24 yuan ($3.84) per kg. However, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, some 3,000 km customers in other provinces, with the far away from Urumqi. exception of those in southwest China’s Tibet He practiced his skills at the Wuhan Autonomous Region and in Qinghai, their multiple unit train depot in central China’s purchases can arrive in two days and the Hubei Province, one of the four major depots delivery fees can be so low that some online in China. The other three are in Beijing, vendors are even willing to cover them for Shanghai and Guangzhou in south China’s their customers. What’s worse, some online Guangdong Province. business owners rejected orders from However, the highest priority is a train Xinjiang to avoid the hassles of the driver’s recorded safe-driving distance. They inconvenient trans-portation arrangements. cannot have violations within at least 100,000 “When we were trained in Wuhan, km of one another. Tuerdi’s safe-driving enjoying shopping without delivery costs was distance is 573,400 km, which he has worked so exciting,” Nan said. She looks forward to up since his career as a train driver started in high-speed cargo trains that can improve the 2003. situation. “I’m proud to be the first Uygur driver of

54 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA High Speed Train in China

The high-speed railway will make a huge second are considered hurricanes. difference. The old route of the Lanzhou- In the four areas with extreme wind that Xinjiang Railway will be used exclusively for the railway passes, there are 208 days a year cargo trains while the high-speed railroad will where winds exceed 20 meters per second. be for passenger trains, according to Liu Xinle, A 462-km wind shield has been built to a railway official in Xinjiang. prevent damage, covering 65 percent of the total length of the Xinjiang section of the high-speed railroad, the largest wind protection structure in China’s high-speed railway construction, according to La Youyu, Chairman of Lanzhou- Xinjiang Railway Xinjiang Co. “Constructing a high-speed railroad in such a harsh natural environment is a real challenge,” said La, a Tibetan with a rich experience in railway construction. He participated in building the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed Zulhumar Tursun (left), 22, serves passengers on the test high-speed train. railway and the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the world’s highest and “It means that the current transportation longest high plateau railroad, as capability for both cargo and passengers will vice commander in chief. be doubled,” Liu said. “Without the protection wall, trains would have to stop running when wind Challenges Conquered speeds reach 30 meters per second. But now, Xinjiang is the largest base of wind power they don’t have to do that till it exceeds 40 in China. The windiness of the region was a meters per second,” La said. major factor in the decision to build so many Xinjiang is also renowned for the large wind farms there, but sometimes the wind is temperature differences between day and responsible for more than just generating night, which can cause concrete to crack. “We electricity and can cause serious damage and worked hard to choose the best formula for be a potential threat to trains. the concrete possible,” La explained. The high-speed railway passes four T h e h i g h - s p e e d r a i l w a y ’ s particularly notorious windy areas, where environmentally friendly construction is gusts of wind can reach 60 meters per second, another highlight, especially near the equivalent to the wind speed in a category 4 Dabancheng wetland, a national nature hurricane. Wind exceeding 32 meters per reserve in Urumqi.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 55 High Speed Train in China

During the cons- truction, clear rules forbidding littering and random driving were made. Workers built a road exclusively for construction use. After the construction work was finished, the road is used for follow-up railway maintenance and given to the local people for their daily use.

Economic solution Xinjiang is a remote region, and more than half of its population is made up of ethnic strong.” minorities who follow Islam. Violence in the Echoing Tuerdi’s sentiment, Zulhumar name of “jihad” has been increasing since Tursun, 22, an Uygur attendant on the test 2009 and represents the biggest threat to the train, is also confident in Xinjiang’s future. region. “Xinjiang is not what you heard in rumors,” Chinese President Xi Jinping urged she said. strengthened precautions and international Tursun is proud to be one of the first nine anti-terrorism cooperation, stressing long- candidates chosen from about 5,000 women term stability as the main goal for the region at who all wanted to work for the first high- the second central work conference on speed train in her hometown. Xinjiang on May 29. Affected by the terrorist attacks, direct The meeting was held in the wake of a investment in Xinjiang and tourism revenues series of bloody terrorist attacks in the region, reduced 50 percent and 40 percent including one at an open air market in respectively in May, comparing with the same Urumqi, which left 39 people dead and 94 period last year, according to Lai Xin, a senior injured on May 22. It was the second terrorist official with the region’s Development and attack in Urumqi in less than a month. On Reform Commission. April 30, an explosion at the Urumqi Railway But Li Wenqing, a local tourism official, Station killed three people, including the two pins his hopes on the high-speed railway to attackers, and injured 79 others. revive the industry. “Terrorism can’t break the unity of the “The high-speed railway will cut the costs Xinjiang people or stop the region’s and time needed to visit Xinjiang,” Li said. development,” said Tuerdi. “We are very Xinjiang received 52 million domestic

56 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Culture & Life tourists and 1.1 million foreign tourists in know the outside world.” 2013. Li is still optimistic about reaching the The high-speed railway will also greatly target of receiving 57 million tourists this improve Xinjiang’s transport capabilities to year. Central Asian and European countries and “The tourism industry will become strengthen its role of being the transportation Xinjiang’s most important industry, hub along the Silk Road Economic Belt, said accounting for 10 percent of its GDP by 2015,” Erkin Tuniyaz, Vice Chairman of the Xinjiang Li said. Regional Government. “With its beautiful natural scenery and In a speech in Kazakhstan last September, cultural sites, we need a developed President Xi proposed the construction of a transportation net. If tourists can travel here “Silk Road Economic Belt” as a way of within three days rather than seven days, that boosting political and economic ties between would be great” Nan said. “As with the high- China and neighboring countries, as well as speed railway in use, more people can come to accelerating the development of China’s know Xinjiang and Xinjiang locals can better western regions.

CULTURE & LIFE

What After China's Glories Get Recognized by World Heritage Committee

China had made marathon journeys UNESCO World Heritage List with before having its 2,400-year-old Grand Canal Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, China has a and its section of the millennium-old trade chance to review its shared ancient memory route Silk Road inscribed on the World with its friendly neighbors, he said. Heritage list on June 22. Citing the period under the reign of This dual honor has boosted China’s Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- national pride. But amid cheers, there is a A.D. 220) as an example, the director said the sober reminder from scholars and officials of trade route’s prosperity always coincided the disgrace of resting on past glories in a time with the political stability and economic of profound changes. flourishing in history. Liu Qingzhu, director of the Academic It was Emperor Wudi who sent general Committee of the Archeology Institute of the Zhang Qian to make China’s first travel to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, saw both far west. The Emperor’s idea of seeking historical and realistic significance in the political contact with the countries in the far preservation of the two relic sites. west had propelled the economic and cultural By submitting a joint application for exchanges between East and West. adding part of the Silk Road route to the “In the Chinese culture, tolerance and

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harmony are always valued. As the Silk Road has been a synonym for peace, cooperation, is an epitome of such culture, reviving it is of openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and immediate significance,” said Liu. mutual benefit. The day before the inscription was The Silk Road spirits have been at the announced, Chinese State Councilor Yang forefront of joint application, according to Jiechi reiterated at a peace forum in Beijing Chen Tongbin, chief of the Institute of that China would carry forward the spirit of Historical Research of the China Architecture the ancient Silk Road to work actively to build Design and Research Group. the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st “Through close cooperation with century Maritime Silk Road. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, we identified Put forward by Chinese President Xi differences and at the same time found ways Jinping during his visit to central and to achieve our common goals. Also through southeast Asian countries last fall, the new joint application, we learn to engage different Silk Road initiatives revealed China’s parties and broaden our horizons to focus on sincerity to achieve common development for the integrated value of an initiative,” said countries along the routes, he said. Chen. In the State Councilor’s eyes, the Silk Road For Dong Bing, chief of the Grand Canal

China's Grand Canal, the longest artificial waterway in the world, was inscribed on the World Heritage list on June 22, 2014. The Grand Canal with a history of more than 2,400 years was recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Committee which convened its 38th session in the Qatari capital. The 1,794-km canal runs from Beijing to Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province.

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W o r l d H e r i t a g e Application Office, putting the world’s oldest and longest artificial waterway into the World Heritage List is more like a marathon testing the applicant’s stamina and strength. “ E i g h t y e a r s h a s passed, the success doesn’t come easily,” said Dong, likening the inscription to “a solemn promise to protect the canal for not just the Chinese but the world.” A horse team passing by the ruins of Hanyuan Hall, once an integral part of the Built in B.C. 486, the Daming Palace which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). (Xinhua) 1,011-km-long Grand Canal is the largest civil engineering project In ancient China, the orderly management before the Industrial Revolution, revealing of canal transportation provided the the exceptional hydrotechnics and operating prerequisite to the economic prosperity as it capability in the Oriental civilization, was essential to grain supply. according to the evaluation of the UNESCO Nowadays, the cargo handling capacity of World Heritage Committee. the waterway is four times as much as that of As the waterway runs through six the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, according to provincial regions, the application office had Tong Mingkang, deputy director of the State to coordinate a variety of stakeholder to sort Administration of Cultural Heritage. out the problems in water conservation, “It is hard to imagine for the ancient China transportation and cultural relic protection. to preserve peace and solidarity without a

The ruins of the Subax buddhist temple in Kuqa County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The Subax buddhist temple was once an influential temple in the ancient Qiuci State. (Xinhua)

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sound management of the waterway to facilitate the c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d c o o p e r a t i o n a m o n g different regions,” said Chen Tongbin. The secret of sound management nowadays, according to Zheng H a n x i a n , g e n e r a l manager of the Hangzhou Canal Group, is “to give back the waterway to the people.”

“Our principles is Photo taken on Oct. 10, 2013 shows the scenery of Yulong River in Yangshuo protection first, ecology County of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. first, developing tourism (Xinhua/Lu Bo'an) f o r t h e p e o p l e a n d emphasizing overall management,” said through, economic planning department Zheng. must solicit the opinions of cultural heritage Dong Bing said in Yangzhou, a city in protection department in writing and may Jiangsu Province where the Canal runs veto any project once it suspects that the relic a r e a m i g h t b e endangered. R e c a l l i n g t h e application work, many officials and scholars agree that an o p e n m i n d a n d reverence to history are essential. Wang Jianxin, an archaeologist with t h e N o r t h w e s t University in Xi’an of Shaanxi Province, said that through the fate of a relic, one can feel the ups and The scenery of karst landform in the scenic spot of Lijiang River in Guilin, south China's downs in history and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The World Heritage Committee inscribed an hold the pulse of the extension of South China Karst, a natural World Heritage Site since 2007, into the UNESCO's World Heritage List. (Xinhua/Wang Cuirong) changing world.

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The Weiyang Imperial City Relic of Han relocated, this area has been restored into a Dynasty in Xi’an, for instance, one of the 33 reserve where many residents would like to sites of the Silk Road relics, used to be the go for a stroll on spare time. residence of royal and nobles. In Tang “No one can retain the wheel of history. Dynasty (618-907), it became a reserved The essence of relic protection is to uphold a garden for the aristocratic. Till the later Song culture,” said Wang Jianxin. (960-1276) dynasty, commoners began to “In Han Dynasty, the Weiyang Imperial swarm in. City was the central platform for Sino-foreign As one of China’s earlier cultural relic exchanges and a fashion town. We can not get sites, the 4.8-square kilometer-area was slow back to those days, but we can learn from the in development and turned into a shanty history to improve our capability of staging town as infrastructure facilities elsewhere in cross-cultural dialogues in the age of the city quickly improved in the past decades. Internet,” said the archaeologist. Now, with the 10,000-strong residents

Photo taken on June 21, 2014 shows the Tomb of Zhang Qian in Chenggu County of Hanzhong, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Zhang Qian (ca. 164 BC - 114 BC) was an influential diplomat of China's Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 9 AD) and one of the pioneers of the Silk Road. (Xinhua/Tao Ming)

Eye-catching Graduation Photos Mark the Special Day

Midsummer comes, with greeneries spreading out. Graduating students will leave their schools and set off for new lives. Some Chinese college graduates take fabulous photos to mark the special time in their lives, as graduation is a huge milestone that they will always want to remember.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 61 Culture & Life

Graduates of Nankai University dress in a style reminiscent of China in the early 20th century. [CNS photo]

Students dress like clowns in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. [CNS photo]

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Chinese college graduates take photos in wedding dresses [CNS photo]

Chinese college graduates take photos in funny ways [CNS photo]

Chinese college graduates take photos in funny ways

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 63 Culture & Life

Double Seventh Festival--Not Merely Valentine's Day

Legend has it that every year on the night of the Double-Seventh Day, the Weaving Girl and the Cowherd in heaven would meet at the Magpie Bridge. The Weaving Girl is a beautiful and smart fairy with deft hands and the women in the mortal world will beg for intelligence and deft needle work from her; hence July 7 of the lunar calendar is also called Begging- for-Dexterity Festival. Therefore, the Double-Seventh Day is not merely a Chinese Valentine’s Day. The Origin of the Double-Seventh Day As China’s Valentine’s Day, the Double Seventh Festival is the most romantic one among all traditional Chinese festivals, and also a day most valued by girls in the past. Today, it is still one of our favorite festivals u n d e r g o i n g e v o l v e m e n t a n d innovation based on the traditional culture. 1. Double-Seventh Day originating from nature worship of the human race According to historical literature, is also called “Kuixing (head star) Festival”, or records about Altair (represented by the “Shaishu (Basking books) Festival”. cowherd in the legend) and Vega (represented 2. Double-Seventh Day was also the by the Weaving Girl) had come into being product of time worship of the ancients along with the increasing understanding of In the Chinese language, “Qi” (seven) astronomy and weaving technology of the forms a partial tone with “ Qi “ (a period of Chinese at least three or four thousand years time); the number “ Qi “ appears in both ago. The first star of the Big Dipper is called month and day giving a strong sense of time. Kui Star (head star), or kuishou. Later, the one The number “seven” displays the periodicity who gained the first place in the highest of time in the folk wisdom, which usually sets imperial civil service examination is called “double seven” as the termination of time. “da kui tian xia shi” (literally, great head of the Meanwhile, “ Qi “ forms partial tone with “Ji”, world scholars); and the Double-Seventh Day

64 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Culture & Life

therefore “double seven”, carrying the meaning of double auspiciousness, is a lucky day. In Taiwan of China, July is considered as the month c a r r y i n g h a p p i n e s s a n d auspiciousness. 3. “Double Seventh Day” is also a phenomenon of number worship January 1, March 3, May 5, July 7, and September 9 along with February 2 and June 6, altogether seven pairs of date in the lunar calendar, were considered as auspicious days by the ancient Chinese. “Seven” is mysterious aesthetic feeling. Furthermore, “ Qi also the number of the beads in each row of the “ bears the same pronunciation with “ Qi “ abacus, romantic and precise, giving a (wife), thus the Double Seventh Day is to a great extent a festival related to women. Legend about the Double Seventh Day – The Cowherd and the Weaving Girl The fairy tale of the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl is one of the four most famous folktales of ancient China. It is a classic love story between a fairy and a human being and has a widespread influence. The Qixi Festival is said to have something to do with the fairy tale. Naturally, the seventh day of every seventh month of the lunar calendar has become Chinese Valentine’s Day. The tale of the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl is a love story between the Cowherd, a human being, and the Weaving Girl, a fairy. They fall in love with each other, get married, forced to separate and blocked by the Milky Way. Out of compassion for them, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year, flocks of magpies fly to form a bridge with their bodies over the Milky Way, allowing

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the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl to meet Folk Customs on the Double Seventh Day each other. This story, to some extent, reflects Ingenuity Test by Floating Needle Chinese people’s wishes to pursue the Ingenuity test by floating needle is one of freedom of love and marriage. the common customs on the festival. Put some The fairy tale of the Cowherd and the water in a vessel and leave it in the open air Weaving Girl has made the Qixi Festival the until it is covered by a film of dust. Then cast a most romantic traditional Chinese festival. needle or thin straw on it to see the pattern of Countless poems in Chinese history are in the shadow at the bottom, so as to test their praise of the story, the most famous works ingenuity. being the ancient poem of the Han Dynasty Far in the Skies Is the Cowherd Star, Qixi by Du Mu of the Tang Dynasty and Fairy On the Magpie Bridge by the great ci writer Qin Guan of the Song Dynasty. In addition, traditional Chinese operas like Beijing Opera and Shaanxi opera etc have plays about the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl. The fairy tale also contains Chinese people’s understanding about star images. In the tale, the Weaver Girl Star (the Vega) is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, facing the Cowherd Star (the Altair), the brightest Pleading for Skills by Threading a Needle star in the constellation Aquila, across the In order to plead for skills, threading a Milky Way. needle is the most long-standing means. It The Chinese fairy tale of the Cowherd tests the speed of threading a needle under the and the Weaving Girl can be seen as a story moon. It is said that the needles used in the enjoying equal importance as the Greek contest are the seven-hole needle of the Han myths of Odyssey, Jason, the Argonauts and Dynasty or the nine-tail needle of the Yuan the Golden Fleece and the ancient European Dynasty. With more holes than ordinary legend of The Ring of the Nibelung etc. On needles, they are rather hard to handle. the seventh day of the seventh month of the Cobweb as the Determinant lunar calendar every year, Chinese women customarily look up into the night sky, searching for the Weaver Girl Star and the Cowherd Star on both sides of the Milky Way and hoping to see their annual gathering. Meanwhile, girls on the ground hope to have clever hands and good sense, just like the Weaving Girl. They also pray for a happy marriage of their own. Thus, the Qixi Festival has been entrenched in Chinese culture

66 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Culture & Life

Pleading for skills with cobweb is another flour, sugar and honey. Generally Qiaoguo common custom in the festival, in which are made into a fusiform shape and deep-fried everybody puts a spider into a locket and into a golden color. The deft hands will nip waits until the next morning to see if there is cobweb and if any, how it looks. The one with a most round cobweb of the most mesh will be the winner. Pleading for Skills by Threading a Needle In order to plead for skills, threading a

them into all shapes related to the legend of the Festival. The melons and fruits used on the day are usually carved into the shapes of flowers and birds, or carved with patterns in relief on the melon peel, which are therefore called “carved melons”. needle is the most long-standing means. It Contest Banquet in the Palace tests the speed of threading a needle under the The contest banquet was held in the palace moon. It is said that the needles used in the in the Yuan Dynasty on the festival. Before the contest are the seven-hole needle of the Han banquet games were played to test ingenuity. Dynasty or the nine-tail needle of the Yuan The contest goes like this: when ribbons were Dynasty. With more holes than ordinary scattered down from a streamers-decorated needles, they are rather hard to handle. tower, the palace maids shall contend to pick Qiaoguo them up, and the one getting the most Qiaoguo (Fried Thin Pastes) is in different flamboyant ribbon shall be the winner. shapes with the materials mostly being oil,

Chinese Chengyu & Its Story— Hesitate to pelt a rat for fear of smashing the utensil

There is a story in “Book of Han” about a One night, he noticed a mouse jumped rich man who was a lover of antiques. Among into the vase and was trying to eat some food his large collection was a rare vase made of which the man had carelessly left there. The jade. The vase was of exquisite workmanship sight infuriated the man. In a fit of rage, he and of historical value. He loved it dearly. threw a stone at the mouse. The mouse was

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killed, but the precious vase was also broken for sure. The loss of the vase pained the man greatly. He deeply regretted his own thoughtlessness had brought such unrecoverable loss. He now realized that anyone who only cares for the present and overlooks consequences is apt to bring disasters upon himself. So he sounded a warning: People should not ruin their precious things to get rid of a mouse, but hesitate to pelt a rat for fear of smashing the dishes beside it. Now, the idiom “tóu shu jì qì” is mainly used to refer to people who are too cautious to take action.

tóu shu jì qì

68 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Culture & Life

Chinese Chef Recipe----Papaya Fish Soup

Introduction: Let it sit for an hour and then drain any water This neutral soup is extremely rich in Peel and cut the papaya into large edible carotenes, antioxidants and vitamin C. It is the cubes soup to make for women who are going Start boiling your soup water through confinement and is said to aid in In a pan, add oil and fry the ginger with the production of milk for breastfeeding women. fish on low-medium heat (until the fish is The soup itself is very sweet and high completely cooked and the skin is a slightly nutritious. It is also ideal for babies and browned) children. Put the fish into a soup bag and add to water What Ingredients are required? Add papaya and ginger 4 medium-sized golden threadfin bream (or Boil for at least an hour any other appropriate substitute) Any benefits? 1 large papaya (use green papaya if used for This soup is rich vitamin C, carotenes and increasing milk in breastfeeding) antioxidants 5-6 pieces of dried scallop It is said to aid in milk production for 3 large dried dates breastfeeding women (use green papayas in 2 slices of fresh ginger this case) 2 L of water Any precautions? 1 teaspoon of salt (to marinate the fish) Caution must be taken when making fish 1 teaspoon of oil (to fry the fish) soup as the fish will disintegrate. This is why How do I prepare it? it’s important to use a soup bag to put the fish After the fish is cleaned, wipe the fish with in to keep all the contents contained. This is paper towels or a cloth to remove excess water particularly important when serving the soup Cover the fish with a small amount of salt to babies or children. (inside and out)

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 69 Tibet Today

TIBET TODAY

Panchen Lama Attends Religious Activities in Tibet

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (C), who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, offers head-touching blessings to Buddhist believers at the Sera Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 3, 2014. The Panchen Lama made a research and inspection tour in Lhasa in recent days [Xinhua/Chogo].

(Xinhua 2014-07-05) The 11th Panchen China’s top political advisory body, the lama Lama concluded his religious duties in also met CPPCC members in the regional southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region capital Lhasa. on Friday, said sources with the regional “As CPPCC members, we should work government. together on national development and The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini people’s interests in Tibet,” he said. Qoigyijabu, one of the two most revered The Panchen Lama began his Lhasa visit living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, visited on Tuesday. These visits have become an monasteries in Jokhang and Sera, where he annual event in recent years. performed rituals, including sutra Born in 1990 in Tibet, the 11th Panchen interpretations and blessings. Lama was chosen in November 1995 through A member of the Standing Committee of traditional methods. He is also vice president the Chinese People’s Political Consultative of the Buddhist Association of China. Conference (CPPCC) National Committee,

70 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Tibet Today

Tibetan Children in Welfare House Move into New Home

(China Tibet Online 2012- 12-03) The children in Chozin Family Welfare House moved into new home in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China’s Tibet A u t o n o m o u s R e g i o n recently with the great concern of Tibet government and warm-hearted people from all walks of life. Now, the Chozin Family Welfare House, equipped Children were taking photos in the Chozin Family Welfare House in Lhasa, with kitchen, dinner room, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.[Photo/China dormitory and classroom, is Tibet Online] f u l l o f s u n s h i n e a n d children’s laughter. welfare house. Children here can learn the "At present, there are 64 children in our Tibetan medicine, singing and dancing, the t r a d i t i o n a l p a i n t i n g (thangka) as well as sewing. The school-age children could also go to the nearby primary school to receive the nine years of compulsory education.” Nyidron, the computer teacher said. The Chozin Family Welfare House, originally situated in the New Anju Garden in eastern Lhasa, was founded in 2006 by the late president Chozin Dondrup, Children were playing the game of“ hawks catch chicken” in the Chozin Family Welfare House in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet who adopted a total of 75 Autonomous Region.[Photo/China Tibet Online] i m p o v e r i s h e d f a m i l y

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children and orphans. Chozin Dondrup ran the family welfare house with his own wages and the income by selling thangka. Professional teachers in the family welfare house provide systemic training on traditional Tibetan folk art for the children, who a r e d i v i d e d i n t o f o u r professional classes according to their hobbies and interests. Chozin Dondrup wishes every child here could not only master a traditional skill to live Children were talking about playing skills in the classroom in the Chozin on , but also carry forward the Family Welfare House in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.[Photo/China Tibet Online] traditional Tibetan culture.

donated for the children for several times. "We hope to bring more warm-hearted people to take care of the children through our own actions. We also wish the children could work harder, learn some skills and grow up happily!” they said.

A child was chatting with a guest in the activity room in the Chozin Family Welfare House in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

In the yard, a group of warm-hearted young people from Beijing were playing the game of”hawks catch chicken” with the The practicing room of the Chozin Family Welfare children. Three girls, who were not reluctant House in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet to tell their names, have come here and Autonomous Region.[Photo/China Tibet Online]

72 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Tibet Today

Bliss in Vibrant Lhasa

The illuminated Potala Palace dominates the skyline of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.[Photo/China Daily]

(China Daily 2014-07-07) Cultural shows the city. I thought I would see a Lhasa that is in the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region fast asleep. Well, I was wrong. The entire fill a tourist’s evenings with delight while place was alive with people’s chatter, well-lit roadside shops serve up some delicious and shops and roadside stalls selling local inexpensive local delicacies. Bidisha Bagchi delicacies. explores. I instantly knew that evenings in the Upon landing at Lhasa’s Gonggar airport capital city of the Tibet autonomous region on a full-moon night, we were greeted by our were delightful. local tour guide with a hada - a white silk scarf We spent our days visiting the city’s that signifies goodwill, purity and good various tourist spots, and once back at the fortune. hotel, took a shower and went out for walks. It was quite late when we reached our Our hotel was within walking distance from hotel, conveniently located near Barkhor Potala Square, the city’s main public space. Street, which felt like the hub of activities in The awaiting rickshaws tempted me, but I

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 73 Tibet Today preferred to walk. A cool breeze forced us to Tianhai night market had better options for wear light jackets. street food and shops, we preferred Barkhor The Potala Palace and the stupa in front Street, mainly because it was closer to our are both lit up in the evenings. The sight is hotel. gorgeous. We spent a lot of time just walking There were rows of makeshift stalls around the square, which is opposite the offering a variety of things from prayer beads palace. Musical fountains entertained tourists to traditional jewelry and from embroidered and local people alike. handbags to skirts and scarves. Hundreds of people were there at the Bargaining was easy, too. I bought a square. Many of them strolled. Some just sat handbag for 20 yuan ($3) when the female around. And others leisurely talked to their vendor had asked for 35 yuan. Both of us - the friends. buyer and the seller - looked happy at the end. On our way back, we took a rickshaw. Vegetables and meat that were skewered Although this environmentally friendly, and cooked in front of us at roadside shops simple vehicle is commonly seen across Asia, were delicious and unexpectedly cheap. The and is of little novelty value to me, I still loved only problem was the language. As English the ride back to the hotel. isn’t spoken or understood by the local On the second night of our stay, we went people, it was difficult to hold conversations out again. Even though we were told that the except for exchanging a few pleasantries.

The daily show at the Tibet Drama Theater, Happiness on the Way, showcases Tibetan music and dance.[Photo/China Daily]

74 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Tibet Today

But even then, we relied on guessing the meaning of Tibetan words and enjoyed the food. The roadside eateries did brisk business by offering not just local food but Nepalese and Korean barbecue as well. Blissful indeed! T h e b e s t p a r t o f evenings in Lhasa was perhaps going to the Worshippers clad in traditional attire are a common sight on Barkhor Street, the cultural shows. Himalaya hub of activities in Lhasa.[Photo/China Daily] - a daily exhibition of minutes as we watched the well- Tibetan culture through songs and dances - choreographed dances, the beautiful play of was held at the Lhasa People’s Cultural and lights, vibrant sets and colorful costumes of Art Museum. A similar show titled Happiness the dancers. The reba drum dance, lama on the Way also ran for about 100 minutes dance, wheat cultivation, making wine from every evening at the Tibet Drama Theater. barley and wedding scenes were all explained For one such show, we reached the theater through the performances. a little ahead of show time so as to avoid rush The show ended with a song that everyone hour. With tickets for the fourth row, we had in the audience ended up singing, including seats with a full view of the stage in front of us. me. Music truly does not have any borders, be Two screens on either side of the stage they cultural or religious. We all sang aloud explained every scene in Mandarin and and sometimes hummed, even though we did English. That made it easy for us to follow not know the meaning of the words or how to onstage performances. pronounce them correctly. The show opened with a ceremony, and Our evenings in Lhasa were packed went on to depict Tibetan culture through five with shopping, eating and watching themes and five different colors, based on the cultural shows. It was money well-spent. Tibetan philosophy of five elements of nature We definitely need to plan another trip - - water, earth, wind, fire and sky (space). soon. We were mesmerized for about 100

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 75 Tibet Today

Tashi and the Namaste Tibetan Restaurant in the Gatod Alley

Text & Photo by Mu Yunge

The Gatod Alley, located at Tibetan costumes doing their the junction of the Barkor South laundry beside a faucet. Street and Barkor West Street, is Sometimes, married women one of eight extended alleys chat with neighbors along with around the Barkor Street. This their kids while sitting alley is surrounded by clothing comfortably in front of their stalls and could easily be doors or in the courtyard.The ignored if one didn’t pay close sunshine usually leaves attention. mottled shadows on the Half Peaceful and Half bluestone ground in the Bustling courtyard. The street peddlers When you enter the Gatod cry their wares, sending echoes Alley from the bustling Barkor down the small Alley. Street,you find yourself Tashi, the store keeper of Namaste Tibetan Restaurant. If you go deep into the alley standing in a quiet place. There from the Barkor Street, you can are a lot of old courtyards on find numerous stores on both sides of the alley both sides of the alley.There is a blue iron telling their own story besides those antique tablet on almost every gate of these courtyards courtyards with closed gates. The stores are and if you take a close look, you will find that neither spacious nor crowded. However, they the iron tablet is for a Lhasa Protected Historic often give various small surprises judging Building, as issued by the administration of from the traditional Tibetan handicrafts cultural relics. hanging on their doors.The goods sold in It is obvious that these courtyards were these stores are often unique and creative. once the mansions of rich families. It seems Deep in the alley, there is a peaceful that skilled craftsmen built every Tibetan restaurant called Namaste, standing courtyard.Otherwise, it could not have stood between a peaceful narrow meandering unbroken for such a long time. The alley in footpath to its north and a bustling alley to its front of the courtyard gates is narrow, east. Customers usually sit under the sun meandering footpaths. It is an extraordinarily umbrella and order a pot of hot sweet tea in peaceful place compared with the bustling Namaste’s open teahouse. They can watch Barkor Street. people passing by and listen to young girls If you are lucky, you can still see real life singing occasional melodious songs outside scenes in those ancient courtyards. In the while enjoying the tea.It is pleasant to courtyard, you can probably see girls wearing

76 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Tibet Today memorize ordinary life scenes together with Nepal,met his wife Sangye in Lhasa. the splendid fl avor of sweet tea. Theyencountered a lot of difficulties in Smile and Insistence running their restaurant in its early stage. Tashi is the manager of Namaste However, their employees including Tashi Restaurant in the Gatod Alley. Every day, she were always with them at the most difficult comes to the restaurant early in the morning stage.Eventually, they succeeded. This branch and arranges her daily work skillfully. Tashi is restaurant is an honorarium to their getting used to her daily routines in Namaste, employees from Jampa and Sangye as which was reconstructed from a protected promised. historic courtyard.It is her habit to watch The branch restaurant was opened in 2008. tourists from different areas, even different Although the headquarter restaurant is countries, enjoy the sunshine in Lhasa every famous and has a booming business, its day. branch is not quite successful at first because of its disadvantaged location. Its business didn’t turn better until May 2010. Since the start of this branch restaurant, Tashi has performed her duties as the manager. Because the restaurant is a gift from her boss, inTashi’s opinion she has to manage it well so as to be worthy of her employer’s trust and her own efforts. Tashi has become a confident lady now. Even her gentle smile has a strong and competent feeling. She has built up this branch restaurant from nothing. She has made enormouschanges in her own life and starts tolook like a confident and competent office lady in a big city. The quiet and comfortable courtyard in the Namaste Tibetan Restaurant.

The restaurants’ name, Namaste, means “hello” in Napalese. It gives you a tranquil and tender surrounding. Even its air makes people lazy. The Namaste Restaurant in the Gatod Alley is a branch of the one in Lhasa Film City. The story of this branch restaurant is as touching as the tender environment of its courtyard. The first Namaste Restaurant was co-founded by Jampa and his wife Sangye in 2006. Jampa,a man from Katmandu in Traditional food offered in Tibetan Restaurant.

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 77 Flights Between China and India

78 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA Flights Between China and India

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 79 Book Review

BOOK REVIEW Dear Readers, If you are interested in China and eager to get some knowledge about it, we here present you a really GREAT book – “China in Diagrams”. Every topic is illustrated in diagrams, which is very absorbing and faily easy to comprehend! If you find interest in the book, you or your friends are most welcome to come to gate No. 1 of our Embassy to get the book for FREE. You can also ask for a VPP service if you need. However, since some books are quite limited, we can only send the books based on the principle of “first come first serve” as well as balancing different areas. Please email us first to reserve the book providing the serial No. of the NFC. Hope to hear from you in the coming future. Editor News From China E-mail: [email protected] Address: 50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021 Tel: 0091-11-26116683

The great success of China's economic reforms has resulted in immense changes in the Chinese society. Many in the world yearn for more knowledge of the country with a population of 1.34 billion. In response, we have publishing this book for years. This edition contains latest data taken from the 11th Five-year Program of the PRC (2006-2010).

Diagrams in this book tell of the basic situation of China including structure of the state, geography, natural resources, history and culture, economic construction, social development, science and education, traffic transportation, environment protection, livelihood, tourism and defence, etc. and shows the latest development of the country.

80 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA CCTV News

July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA 81 CRI CIBN

82 July 2014 NEWS FROM CHINA

Postal Regd. No. DL-SW-16/4034/12-14 R.N.I. No. 47440/88 July 2014

A Brilliant Nightview of Beijing CBD Area.

Published, Printed and Edited by Mme. Xie Liyan on behalf of the Press Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021. Tel: 26881249, Fax: 26882024 Printed at A.K. Printers, S-217, Bank Street, Munirka, New Delhi-110067, Ph: 9818114996 Chinese Embassy Website: http://in.china-embassy.org E-mail: [email protected] Website of Foreign Ministry of China: www.mfa.gov.cn E-mail:[email protected] www.fmprc.gov.cn

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