htt p://www.bjreview.com i VOL,50 N0.48 NOV. 29, 2007 SHOOTINGHIGH Sport's developmentfueled by Olympic hopes ~.% . ', :, _ _-. l~ ~.~ $,; - --.~-~..~ "~ ,-.~-~.~._~_~..~, .~ ~=~,~, 2f'.~.~ -~ ~~"- -~,~ .__~-..,. .i,:,g ~-. ~--~ ~. ~---- ~,~_nJg=~la~-'~am' ,' 7;' ~. ~ --,.... ,.~. ~---~! I~,'i '~. "."-'-,,,,..~r"~.~lj j , .~ " ~ ,IP~/i-,..-- ~ ., ,, ---~"'-........,4r/.~-!~!7 I! z i,,l ~r~,Alibaba.co m Non stop business opportunities. One stop sourcing solution. • . " -- ~ __~- - -'i - _-2 ~ _ -,-_ ,. ~- -. -. -. ,.. _ ... .... .-. _ • Search more than 1 million products in 32 categories, ~ili ~~~ • Over 3 million members from more than 240 countries-& territories. - _ VOL50 NO. 48 • " _ NOV. 29, 2007 2 EDITOR'SDESK 2 A Nation in Training 3 PEOPLE& POINTS 4 WEEKLYWATCH ] OWORLD 10 Building a Harmoniuus Partnership The China-EU summit kicks off 12 Going European The Chinese seek public COVER STORY It's difficult to envision that as administration skills in the West recently as half a century ago, China was a mere blip on the international sporting radar. Sport was the exclusive 14 Europe's Sweet Talk province of the well-heeled and influential, while the Major European countries woo majority of the people were too consumed by daily survival America all over again needs to pay it much attention. After 1949, however, the general population's lot improved and the government 18 actively began to publicize sport and good health as essential 18 What's Driving China's Transition? lifestyle attributes. State-sponsored clubs and events opened A renowned professor tells it like it is hitherto-closed doors to the common man, and sporting icons were born. Today, with some 2,000 international 20NAT,ON championship titles to its credit, and 286 medals from six 20 Path to Sporting Power summer Olympics~ China stands on the brink of being a Why a comprehensive exercise regimen must true world sporting superpower. Yet there remains a be followed nationwide yawning disparity between its few elite superstars of sport 23 Women Lead Medal Haul and the vast numbers of aspirants in training, a gap that Chinese women continue to outperform their can only be breached with a reallocation of funds and a nationwide program that brings gameplay and health to male compatriots the masses. 24 Sports on Campus 24 More Than a Game 37 Chinese Economy Remains Stable 26 Check on Power The sub-prime crisis blows over A bill aimed at curbing illegalities in sight 38 Cooling Fund Fever China's latest business vogue threatens to get 2 8 ,N ocus out of hand 28 Medals With Chinese Flair 40 Market Watch Harmony and sophistication are embedded in these new Paralympic medals 44CULTURE 44 Is the Writing on the Wail? 32Bus,. ss A dying script is given fresh sustenance 32 Overseas Expansion Merging with foreign banks becomes more bankable 46 Should the Car Free Day Initiative Be 34 Who'll Turn on the Lights? Compulsory? Energy issues plague the administration 36 U.S. Rate Cut Causes Reverberations 48 EXPAT'SEYE How China can manage its economy 48 The Real Taiyuan independently of America An idyllic city for the un-citified EDITOR'S DESN BEllINGREVIEW A Nation in Training By zHou JIANXIONG A News Weekly Published Since 19S8 http:/Avww.b~view.com . i eijing's successf~ bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics has E--mall: " " been.viewed by many as something of great significance, as it INe~tlent & Editor la Chief: Wang Gangyl symbolizes the confidence the world Olympic family has in Deputy FAir in Chief: ~..g Wmdi B Vice Preside.t: qi Wengong China's organizationalability, and represents the global communi- Amodate Editon tn Chief: Li Jtang.o ty's acknowledgements of China's robust economic progress and HuemgWei people-centered social development. It can also be seen as a con- F.xt~G~ Edlilm~. ~aou Jianxiort8 gratulatory message from international sports circles for China's Assistant F_~ematlveEditors: Yao Bin, Ding Zhimo, extraordinary aehi~ts in developing its physical culture pro- 7Za~ Zhi#ng, Francisco Little Falitol'lal.Adm!nlqrators: Li Ning, Sh[ Bosen grams in the past two decades. Senior ComuRant: Shao Hahning The emergence of China as a rising sports star has come a long OldnkntEdltm~. Yae Bin World Editm-:D~ng Zhimo way. Until the first half of the 20th century, at a time when the NaU~mEdltme: Tang Qinghug cotmtry was plunged into sheer destitution, s(~al upheavals and Bustmm Editon: Ye Shujtm, Lan Xinzlgm foreign invasion, spoas activitieswere confined only to a privileged Odtu~ gdUm-:Zsn Jifang Editorial Censultants: John Butch.. Mieha~ Standae~ few, while the majority of Chinese led a miserable life. It was not Ka~k i~Jslma, Roseanne C.-m-ht until the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 that sporting Staff ltel~rte~: Tang YmmkeJ,F~g Jieahua. activities were embraced by the ordinary people. And along with Din8 Y'mg, Ni Yanshuo. Diug Wenlei. Wang Jun,. Yml Wet, the gradual improvement of the people's livelihood, due attention Tan Wei, Li Li, Lie Yu, Liu Yunlam. was paid to bettering their physical fimess and enriching their ¢xd- Yh pumin,j~ Xtua~ ~ Xi=q~ tural life. In the spirit of uplifting the health standards of all citi- l-lnYee. Yuan Yuan F~ gtUter,Wang Xims zens, not only have relevant guidelines and arrangements been Photographer= 7mngXiaoylng,Wel Y~o made to encourage active participation in mass sports and fitness Art: Li Shigoag schemes, but many state-owned sports facilities have been opened ~: Qkx Wenli to the public, either for free or with a nominal charge. Tens of thou- Onane Edlt0r:. Li 23mtzho, sands of sports societies or organizations have sprung up across rite Adverth:h,~ ~ Dai Xiaohea country, providing technical guidance to amateurs, promoting dif- Dl~trnmtrvnl)lreetor~ WangWelwra. r~m Cha.~ ferent kinds of sports, and organizing contests at the grassroots Hmmmtan~ Z]~tSl~Xiaoli level. la~ Cmperettom paa sh=msqin Le~t Ce.mel.-Y.e Che~ Meanwhile, China also has exhibited growing prowess in sports Nol~h Amed~ iln/¢ml competitions, with its remarkable performance on global sports are- Chiet: Wa.g Y~juan has during the preceding decades. Since rejoiningthe International Rm~(t': Che. Wen Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1979, what was once perceived to be Td/Fu= 1-201-792-0334 E-nm~ [email protected] "an inferior race" by Western nations, has, thanks to state-spon- Geneml Edltor~ ~ sored sports development strategies, captured some 2,000 champi- Tel-.86-10-68996252 onship rifles in major sporting international events, and grabbed a Fu: 86-10-68326628 ~us~ r~nu,u total of 286 medals, including 112 gold, 96 silver and 78 bronze, in Tel: 86.10.68996259 the six summer Olympic Games the country has pacdcipated in. Ad This has put China on par with some of the world's sports giants, Fax: 86-I0-68329398 such as the United States, Russia and Germany. l~mmall: ad@blm,iew.eom.=n Chinas ongoing internationalsporting achievements have [~uuaou inspired local citizens and further stimulated their enthusiasm in Tel: 86-10-6831~07 F~B: 86-10.68328738 sports activities, Sports news claims one of the largest national audi- E,.maih cimtflafi~a@~review.~ ences and is always a favorite topic of discussion, while fimess exer- Pub~h~ everyThunday.by cises have become fashionable for the young and old alike, because BE~J)NO ~, 24 B~ I,a. Beljing 100037. China. practicing sports is.conceived to be a route to a healthierlifestyle. As Overseas Dlm.lbetmn a',/na lnten~atlmml Book Trading the BeijingOlympics draws closer, more and more people have Corporation (Guoji Shudian), P. O. BOX 399, become sports-conscious and expectant of their athletes' good perfor- Beijing 1(X)044, China. Tel: 86-10-.68413849 Fax: 86-I0q584(2166 E-maih Despite the impressive showings in global sports competitions, there are differing views on what is the most approtaSate strategy to ~.~e~ o~-t~- ~- ~ ~.~ ~l'I~r~: an-n China into a t~al spore power. The main dispute lies in the dis- 17/H. Paramotmt Bkls, 12 I~ Yip St, Chal Wan. HK proportionate allocation of resources for.the state sports dev¢lopmem. 852-28046~7Fay 852-280464O9 While an astronomical figure has been used to train world-class champions, gov~Jnent ~g on mass sports activities b-'UBSCP.IPI"ION~ (I Year) Amtmlla........................................................................ AUD 1,8.80 ~m~Jainslargely inadequate and can barely meet the growing demand New Zealtod .............................................. ................ NZD 144.00 of the masses. The best approach secms to be a substantial Ixldget L,'K ........................................................................... GBP 53.~ USA.................................... :................ : ...................... u~ 85.3O on public sports facilities,equipmeat, and trainingprog3"atm, Om~t~ .........................................................................CM3 t~.~ so that the fitness levels of thv whole nation can be raised. • 1"~ imblkat~ Iresjetned BIJYtt~ Media ~ notwerk in ~ar.rated hotels. CmUaettelephem number=O10.59254944 t..lavea cm',n~, c~int ~"question? Be~,~ ~wedmmes F~ k~t~u:k Prlnted In Chim bt E-mallow ~ teamat ¢e,,daet@l~m,iew.~m.(;n ~ writeto us at BeijlngReview, c&c ac~rr r,pJ~mNo.CO. 0B~E,~) L~. ,Z4eatmmumg l.u,Beqing te003L Chh~. i..~e~s may be ~ ~ Je~h orcmlent 2 BELLING REVIEW NOVEMBER 29, 2007 Rice Scientist "We now have $1.4 trillion Predicts Record in foreign exchange reserves, and I tell my foreign friends Yield I have never been under more Though the survival pressure." '~I~' ~,• _.~ .1." _~ of our world should not Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, describing . be linked to the efforts China's huge foreign exchange reserves as a • of a few elite, Yuan symbol of both strength and huge responsibili- ' ' Longping is definitely ty when he delivered a speech at the National someone who has made University of Singapore on November 19 a bigger contribution.