Issue No. 2

19 September 2008

Ambassador Song Zhe, Head of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Communities wrote a letter to the 784 Members of the European Parliament on the Beijing Olympic Games and China-EU relations on September 3. Ambassador Song expressed appreciation for the EU's goodwill support to the Games and hoped China and the EU will continue dialogue, exchange and communication to enhance understanding, narrow differences and strengthen trust, for the purpose of ensuring lasting friendship and cooperation. To read the letter, please go to http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cebe/eng/zxxx/t512282.htm

Ambassador Song Zhe delivered a speech at a dinner reception hosted by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China on September 16. Ambassador Song emphasized that the past three decades of reform and opening up in China is also a period of major development in China-EU relations. He expressed his confidence that the growing Chinese economy and a more open market of China will provide immense opportunities to entrepreneurs and investors of all countries. For detailed information, please go to http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cebe/eng/stxw/t513242.htm

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with German President Horst Koehler in Beijing on September 7. President Hu welcomed Koehler to the Paralympic Games and thanked the German government and people for their support and assistance during the blizzard disaster and the Sichuan earthquake that struck China in the first half of the year. President Hu said China is ready to work with Germany to push for a long-term, stable and sound development of bilateral ties. Koehler praised the Beijing Paralympics opening ceremony as superbly organized. He commended China's accomplishments in various fields following three decades of reform and opening-up, and said that Germany hopes to share with China each other's experience in economic and social development, and work with China for world peace and development through more exchanges and dialogues.

The Beijing 2008 Paralympics, which opened on Sept. 6, came to a splendid end on September 17. International Paralympics Committee President Philip Craven applauded that the Beijing Paralympics had been first class. During the sports gala, about 4,000 disabled athletes from 148 countries and regions, the largest participation ever, showcased their courage and confidence, striving to break down walls of prejudice and discrimination.

The Beijing Paralympics has boosted China's cause of disabled people. Besides evoking more social awareness for the cause of the disabled, China has cooperated with international organizations to ensure the disabled in the country enjoy equal rights in terms of education and employment. It has worked with the International Labor Organization global body to develop equal opportunity legislation for those with disability in the workplace, which has supported training for employment opportunities. China is not only among the first signatories of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but it ratified this convention in June. The newly-amended Law on Protection of the Disabled of China, which took effect on July 1, added details about financial support, medical care and rehabilitation services for the disabled, along with preferential policies on jobs and taxation.

At the invitation of the International Paralympic Committee, Mr. Jan Figel, Member of the European Commission for Education, Training, Culture, Youth and Sports, attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games and other related activities between September 5 and 9. He said in an interview with the Chinese media that the Beijing Paralympic Games have provided opportunities for the promotion of human values and social inclusion of people with disabilities. Chinese Minister of Education Zhou Ji met with Mr. Jan Figel in Beijing on Sept. 8. Both sides exchange views on the cooperation of education. Mr. Figel also visited Beijing No. 8 Middle School and watched the students' sports activities. For detailed information about his interview, please go to http://www.china.org.cn/paralympics/2008-09/13/content_16446704.htm

Premier Wen Jiabao inspected repair work and raised morale among residents during his forth visit to southwestern Sichuan Province early September. According to Premier Wen, the relief work so far is successful and is entering a critical stage to boost rehabilitation. He vowed the central government would continue the relief work as best as it can along with local governments and residents.

Per the quake relief headquarters under the State Council, currently people in the quake zone has no problem in eating, drinking among other life necessities. No major epidemics were reported and industry and agriculture basically resumed. With a combination of temporary housing and repaired buildings, about 4.45 million homeless families in the province have found accommodation. In October, a nationwide campaign will be launched on donating clothes and quilts to the quake zone to help people there spend winter safe and sound.

China will provide more opportunity for foreign investment, Vice Premier Wang Qishan announced on September 8. China will insist on its opening-up policy, continuing to perfect the policies for the utilization of foreign capital to provide more spaces for overseas enterprises in the country. At the same time, China will raise the service qualities of governments and guarantee a fair investment environment with a transparent legal system.

On September 11, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs set up a new department which will be in charge of welfare lottery, charity activities, donations and welfare projects for the elderly, disabled and children. With the aim to boost the charity cause in China and contribute to the country's social security system, the new department will draft rules on volunteers affairs and work on a nationwide volunteer network. It is also entrusted to make regulations on running the welfare lottery and managing the welfare fund raised through the lottery. For detailed information, please go to http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/11/content_9930233.htm

The Chinese government has approved working rules for the national-level Anti-Monopoly Committee which organizes investigations and assessments on the overall situation of market competition, and drafts reports; makes anti-monopoly guidelines as well as carries out the law. The anti-monopoly law, which took effect on Aug. 1, will focus not only on protecting and facilitating competition, but also on encouraging concentration, acquisitions and mergers to improve efficiency in markets. It will encourage enterprises to become more powerful and competitive, and at the same time, prevent inappropriate mergers which lead to monopoly. For detailed information, please go to http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-09/14/content_7025700.htm

China's State Council issued an implementation regulation for Labor Contract Law on September 18. The new law, which was put into effect on January 1 2008, was hailed as a landmark step in protecting employee's rights. The regulation listed 14 conditions under which an employer can terminate a labor contract. These included an employee's incompetence to live up to the job requirements, serious violations of regulations and dereliction of duty. China's top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, adopted the Labor Contract Law in June 2007. For detailed information, please go to http://www.china.org.cn/government/news/2008-09/19/content_16503113.htm