Wen arrives in Helsinki

Beijing (China)—Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Helsinki, capital of Finland on Saturday, kicking off his four-nation tour.
During his stay in Helsinki, Wen is scheduled to attend the 9th China-EU Summit and the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). He will also pay an official visit to Finland at the invitation of Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
In a written statement upon arrival at the airport, Wen noted that the 6th ASEM Summit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the ASEM. "I look forward to in-depth exchanges of views with leaders from Asia and Europe on ways to increase dialogue and cooperation under new circumstances and work together with them to strengthen the new-type Asia-Europe comprehensive partnership and build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity," he said.
The China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership is growing and expanding steadily, he said, adding that bilateral cooperation is deepening. "I am convinced that this China-EU Summit will inject new vitality into China-EU relations," he said.
China and Finland are trustworthy partners, Wen said. There exists a strong bond of friendship between the two peoples and the bilateral cooperation has been steadily enhanced, he said.
China is ready to further boost its friendly relations and cooperation with Finland in various areas on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
Finland is the first-leg of Wen's visit. He will also visit Britain, Germany and Central Asia's Tajikistan.
Wen will also attend the 5th Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), due to be held in Tajikistan's capital of Dushanbe.

—The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item

Balanced development in 20 years: Klaus Schwab

Beijing (China)—"A China well on its way to achieving balanced development with an emphasis on trade integration and cross-border flows" is what Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum (WEF) described as his "optimal scenario" for China in 20 years.
The founder and executive chairman of the Davos, Switzerland-based WEF made the remarks in an interview with China Daily on Friday.
Schwab said China would achieve the scenario when "it is backed by well-executed financial, legal and administrative reforms and the progressive emergence of a middle class and internal market."
The WEF was founded in 1971, calling itself an independent organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
The WEF is convened in Davos, Switzerland every winter and will hold a summer conference in China from 2007.
Schwab, who first visited China in 1979, said he is filled with admiration for China's dramatic transformation to what it is today.
China has achieved extraordinary growth for nearly three decades all the more impressive given the scale and magnitude of the Chinese economy, he said. It has thus "played a leadership role in propelling global economic growth."
China's economy, as measured in terms of gross domestic product, amounted to 18.3085 trillion yuan (US$2.289 trillion) in 2005, based on 10.2 per cent annualized growth from the previous year, according to figures from China's National Bureau of Statistics.
At the same time, Schwab said, the country has faced significant challenges both at home and abroad.
"Domestically, China's leadership has carved an ambitious development path based on scientific and technological advancement while protecting the environment and enhancing social harmony," he said.
"Externally, China's leading position in the global economy calls for a greater role in addressing global economic imbalances and promoting closer economic collaboration."
The WEF founder stressed that innovation is the key to tackling future challenges. "Amid rising global commodity prices and increasing domestic wage pressures, China needs to become much more resource efficient."
To be truly competitive globally, he said, "China must create greater value out of ideas, products and processes, all of which form the very essence of innovation."
That's why the China Business Summit 2006, which opens in Beijing on Sunday as a co-project of the China Enterprise Confederation and the WEF, takes "Sustainable growth through innovation" as its theme, Schwab said.
More than 500 participants from 27 countries are expected to take part in the two-day event, which aims to bring together key stakeholders to rethink and reshape the country's growth and industry agendas.
Schwab said China has been producing formidable global industry players such as Lenovo. "As domestic companies restructure, innovate and internationalize, there is definitely potential for more Chinese companies to emerge as global champions," he said.
In view of this, the WEF has especially chosen China as the headquarters of global growth companies those that have demonstrated clear potential to become leaders in the world economy.
The Annual Meeting of Global Growth Companies (dubbed "Summer Davos in China") will be held for the first time in China in August 2007. The host city is to be determined by the end of this month via a bidding system.
Like the WEF's annual meeting in Davos, the China event will be an independent platform for global leaders to shape international, regional and industry agendas, according to Schwab.
"The event will feature industry-specific meetings of global business leaders to address the unique opportunities presented by global growth companies, allowing them to exchange best practices and address their common interests and challenges," Schwab said.
He added it also presents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase China's emerging multinationals.

—The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item

Bank loan to fund railways expansion

Beijing (China)—The Ministry of Railways will loan 250 billion yuan (US$31 billion) from China Development Bank for railway projects during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10).
The money will be used to support the railway network's great leap forward in development, said the ministry in a news release on Friday.
Under the Medium and Long Term Railway Network Development Programme, China will lay down 17,000 kilometres of new lines for both passenger and freight transport before 2010.
The work will cost at least 1,250 billion yuan (US$156 billion), or 250 billion yuan (US$31 billion) each year at least twice the current annual investment.
Ministry officials admitted in a recent teleconference that "the (funding) situation was grave."
The ministry planned to spend 163.3 billion yuan (US$20.41 billion) on railway construction this year. However, only half that amount has been invested so far.
Official statistics show that 82.23 billion yuan (US$10.28 billion) was poured into construction in the first eight months of 2006. Although it falls well short of the ministry's target, the sum is already 1.4 times that spent in the same period last year.
The loan from China Development Bank is expected to cover one fifth of total investment until 2010, going some way to alleviate the cash shortage.
The ministry and the bank signed a summary of their financial co-operation talks on Thursday, agreeing to build a strategic partnership.
Liu Zhijun, Minister of Railways, said that the ministry needed stable financial support from the bank to reduce its financing costs and hasten reform of the railway system.
According to the summary, the huge loan will be mainly used to pay for new lines, upgrade existing lines and improve technical equipment.
The bank will provide "large amounts, long-term financial support" for these projects, said the release.
Large and important railway projects will be given special priority with the loan.
The co-operation aims to hasten progress towards national goals, and produce "an efficient, convenient, safe and comfortable railway transportation system" with big capacity and low cost.
The bank will also support related industries, such as the construction industry, logistics businesses, localized transport facilities manufacturers and information businesses.

—The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item

'China, US to strive for early resumption of six-party talks'

BEIJING—China and the United States have agreed to continue to strive for the early resumption of the six-party talks.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks at a regular press conference on Thursday afternoon.
"China still considers the six-party talks an effective mechanism for resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue," said Qin, adding that China will keep in close contact with other parties and strive for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
He said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and other Chinese senior officials met with visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher, who arrived in Beijing on the afternoon on Sept. 5, and discussed bilateral relations and the issues of common concern.
Qin noted that China insists on realizing the goal through dialogue and consultation in a peaceful manner and does not support sanctions which may have a negative effect.
Qin urged all related parties to create favorable conditions for an early resumption of the talks.
The six-party talks, involving China, the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, have been stalled since the last round in Beijing last November.
The last round of talks ended up with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to resume the talks as soon as possible.
"China hopes all related parties will keep restraint and calm and take a constructive attitude in this difficult situation." Qin said.

—People’s Daily, Daily Mail news exchange item

China-Japan leaders contacts could be resumed if political barriers removed: Tang

Beijing—A top Chinese official urged future Japanese leaders to make a "wise decision" and remove all political barriers to pave way for a normal China-Japan relationship.
Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told visiting president of the Japanese News Agency Jiji Wakabayashi Seizo Friday that if the political barriers are completely removed, China-Japan ties could begin a new chapter and the leaders of the two countries would be able to resume normal contact.
He urged the future Japanese leader to make a "wise decision" to completely remove the political barrier to bilateral relations.
Exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries has been suspended for five years. Political mutual-trust between China and Japan has been severely harmed because Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has persisted in worshipping the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A criminals in World War II are honored.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe last week announced his candidacy to become Japan's next prime minister. The other candidates lagged far behind Abe.
Abe defended Koizumi's pilgrimages to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and refused to say whether or not he would visit the shrine as prime minister.
Abe's "ambiguous strategy" will make Sino-Japanese relations uncertain, said Gao Hong, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. She said Japan must ultimately use facts to demonstrate whether it is truly serious about its relations with China.
"China-Japan ties stand at a historical crossroads and whether or not the two countries can travel in the right direction is in the interest of both nations and the peace, stability and development in the region," Tang said.
China has held a consistent, clear and firm stance on the Yasukuni Shrine visits, Tang said.
The state councilor also said China will make joint efforts with Japan to properly handle existing problems and take the China-Japan friendly relationship to new heights.
"Bringing Sino-Japanese relations back on track is the common aspiration of both peoples, and the expectation of the international community," Tang noted.

—People’s Daily, Daily Mail news exchange item