China Today and The People's Daily

UN celebrates vital but 'neglected' water
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-03-22 11:38
PARIS (AFP) - Ahead of World Water Day, coming on March 22 every year, the UN warned that trouble caused by the world's dwindling supply of fresh water goes far beyond perpetual thirst for billions around the globe.
The study, released Tuesday, gave a litany of problems extending to severe pollution, species loss, and even food insecurity.
"Freshwater shortages are likely to trigger increased environmental damage over the next 15 years," noted the UN Environmental Program's Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA) report, based on the input of 1,500 experts worldwide.
Inadequate potable water is an immediate problem for billions of people, it said. Some 1.1 billion people go without safe drinking water and 2.6 billion, or 40 percent of the world's population, lack decent sanitation, according to UN figures.
But freshwater shortages caused by massive damming and depleted aquifers are provoking a chain reaction of environmental problems as well, beginning with falls in river flows, rising saltiness in biologically-rich estuaries, and the reduction in coastline sediment.
The knock-on impact of these changes, the study predicted, will be a serious loss of fish and aquatic plant life, shrinking farmland, damage to fisheries and food insecurity by the year 2020.
At the end of the chain of consequences, it said, are increases in malnutrition and disease.
The report's release coincides with the Fourth World Water Forum, which opened on March 16 in Mexico City and culminates Wednesday on World Water Day, designated 13 years ago by the UN General Assembly.
"In recent decades, water has fallen in our esteem," said a statement on the website of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO), the UN agency chosen to coordinate this year's World Water Day when events will be organized around the globe to celebrate this vital resource.
"No longer an element to be revered and protected, it is a consumer product that we have shamefully neglected," it said.
For 2006, UNESCO chose as its theme "water and culture", echoing one of the battle cries of experts at the forum in Mexico that decentralizing water management and returning to traditional methods is the "intelligent" way to reform.
"Technology alone ... will not lead us to viable solutions," said a statement from UNESCO director general Koichiro Matsuura.
"It is vital that water management and governance take cultural traditions, indigenous practices and societal values into serious account" to reach "sustainable solutions that contribute to equity, peace and development", he said.
Among factors aggravating the world's water problems are changing patterns in human food consumption, according to the GIWA report.
"Globally, there has been an increased demand for agricultural products and a trend towards more water-intensive food such as meat rather than vegetables and fruits rather than cereals," the study concludes.
Irrigated agriculture now accounts for 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals, with only 30 percent returned to the environment, studies have shown. Industry and households, by comparison, return up to 90 percent of the water used.
The fact that many developing countries do not have adequate scientific or technical information about their water supplies is an aggravating factor.
Such nations are "operating in the dark on the size of their water resource, and the precise patterns of supply and demand," the study said.
The study also points the finger at "market failures", noting that many factors contributing to environmental degradation and pollution -- including use of pesticides and herbicide, water for irrigation, dam construction -- are heavily subsidized by governments.
Areas already severely affected, it said, include some of the world's most scenic locations including Southeast Asian sites, Caribbean coral reefs and river habitats and east African rift Valley lakes.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-03/22/content_549461.htm


Population hits 1.30756 bln by 2005: Survey
The National Bureau of Statistics released Thursday the results of a 1 percent sample census conducted in 2005. At 0am Nov.1, 2005 China's population in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government and active army was 1.30628 billion (excluding those in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan). Prediction based on the results shows that China's population would hit 1.30756 billion by the end of 2005 (excluding those in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).
The survey shows that compared with the fifth census conducted at 0am Nov.1, 2000 China's population has increased by 40.45 million or 3.2 percent. The population grew at an annual rate of 8.09 million on average.
The survey took the nation as a whole as the primary framework and provinces, regions and municipalities as the secondary framework, using stratified, multi-phased, cluster probability proportionate sampling as methodology. Final sample units were used as survey districts. It took 17.05 million people as samples, which accounted for 1.31 percent of China's total population.
The survey shows that China had a mobile population of 147.35 million, of which cross-province population accounted for 47.79 million. Compared with the fifth census mobile population increased by 2.96 million while cross-province mobile population grew by 5.37 million.
Urban population stood at 561.57 million, about 42.99 percent of the total population and those living in rural areas totaled 744.71 million representing 57.01 percent of the total population.
The Han nationality made up 90.56 percent of total population and the remaining 9.44 percent were minority nationalities.
China had 395.19 million households with the average size of 3.13 persons per household.
In the population those with university education (junior college or above) were 67.64 million, those with high school education (including technical secondary school) were150.83 million. 467.35 million people had middle school education while 407.06 million had primary school education.

http://english.people.com.cn/200603/17/eng20060317_251506.html



Economy Grew 9.9% in 2005: Statistics
China's economy grew 9.9 percent in 2005 on the back of improved efficiency, mild inflation and enhanced vitality, Li Deshui, director of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), announced at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday morning.
Preliminary estimates show that gross domestic product (GDP) for the year stood at 18.23 trillion yuan (US$2.26 trillion), Li said.
The rate was marginally lower than the 10.1 percent growth in 2004.
The value-added worth of primary industries reached 2.27 trillion yuan (US$281.54 billion), up 5.2 percent; secondary industries rose was 8.62 trillion yuan (US$1.069 trillion), up 11.4 percent; and tertiary industries increased to 7.34 trillion yuan (US$910.35 billion), up 9.6 percent.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Jan/156316.htm



CHINA GEOGRAPHY
China, (People's Republic of China), is situated in eastern Asia, bounded by the Pacific in the east. The third largest country in the world, next to Canada and Russia, it has an area of 9.6 million square kilometers, or one-fifteenth of the world's land mass. It begins from the confluence of the Heilong and Wusuli rivers (135 degrees and 5 minutes east longitude) in the east to the Pamirs west of Wuqia County in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (73 degrees and 40 minutes east longitude) in the west, about 5,200 kilometers apart; and from the midstream of the Heilong River north of Mohe (53 degrees and 31 minutes north latitude) in the north to the southernmost island Zengmu'ansha in the South China Sea (4 degrees and 15 minutes north latitude), about 5,500 kilometers apart.
The border stretches over 22,000 kilometers on land and the coastline extends well over 18,000 kilometers, washed by the waters of the Bohai, the Huanghai, the East China and the South China seas. The Bohai Sea is the inland sea of China.
There are 6,536 islands larger than 500 square meters, the largest is Taiwan, with a total area of about 36,000 square kilometers, and the second, Hainan. The South China Sea Islands are the southernmost island group of China.

http://www.chinatoday.com/


General Information of the People's Republic of China (PRC)

http://www.chinatoday.com/general/a.htm


AIDS on the Rise
Xinhua News, January 25, 2006 - The incidence of AIDS is still on the rise in China, according to a joint assessment report on the country's HIV/AIDS situation that released on Wednesday. The number of new HIV/AIDS infections in China was about 70,000 in 2005, with 25,000 deaths reported across the country, according to the report. The report added that intravenous drug use and unprotected sex were the main causes of infection. China currently has about 650,000 people living with HIV/AIDS including about 75,000 AIDS patients. The assessment was jointly released by the Ministry of Health, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and the World Health Organization during the 2005 Update on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Response in China.

China Has 111 Million Internet Users
CNNIC Jan. 17, 2005 - By the end of 2005, the total number of Internet users in mainland China reached 111 million, a 17 million increase over 2004. Total number of online computers: 49.5 million, website: 694,200, and the total number of ".cn" domain registration is 1,096,924.

http://www.chinatoday.com/


Wen: We're watching secessionists moves
By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-15 05:39
Beijing is preparing for all eventualities as Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has intensified his secessionist push for the island's "de jure independence," Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday.
He accused Chen of seriously damaging cross-Straits peace and stability with his February 27 decision to scrap a government body that sought eventual unification with the mainland.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-03/15/content_536823.htm


US urged to oppose "Taiwan independence"
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-28 19:52
China on Tuesday urged the United States to stick to the commitments on Taiwan issue and be aware of the seriousness and harm of secessionist activities in Taiwan.
The United States should take substantial efforts to oppose "Taiwan independence" and not send any wrong signal to Taiwan secessionists, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a press conference.
"We have noticed that the spokesman for U.S. government reaffirmed that the United States adheres to the one-China policy and opposes 'Taiwan independence'," Liu said.
"I hope the United States can make joint efforts with us in safeguarding China-U.S. relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits," Liu said.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-02/28/content_524797.htm


Communication channel with Dalai Lama open
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-15 05:39
A senior Tibetan official said yesterday that the central government has been keeping open a communication channel with the Dalai Lama.
He also urged the exiled figure to "do things beneficial to the Tibetan people."
Qingba Puncog, chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the just-concluded annual session of the National People's Congress that the central government has been sincere in holding negotiations with the Dalai Lama.
He said the Dalai Lama should be held fully responsible for the failed contacts in the past as he had misjudged the situation.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-03/15/content_536820.htm


Bush-Hu summit set on April 20 - White House
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-23 08:41
WHEELING, W.Va. - US President George W. Bush will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Washington on April 20 to discuss issue of mutual interest and to make progress on resolving outstanding differences, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Wednesday.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) greets China's President Hu Jintao (L) in New York September 13, 2005. Hu was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting. [Reuters]
"The visit is an opportunity for the president to work with the Chinese leader on a number of areas of mutual interest and to make progress on resolving outstanding differences," McClellan told reporters traveling with Bush to West Virginia.
One key issue point of contention is Washington's continuous demand for Beijing to move more quickly to let its yuan currency trade freely in financial markets.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/23/content_550091.htm


Putin Visits China

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/china_06putin_page.html


Putin looks to business and Zen on day two of China trip
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-03-22 16:29
Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to turn his attention to business and Zen Buddhism as he wrapped up a two-day visit to China.
Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao were scheduled to inaugurate the Sino-Russian Industrial and Commercial Forum, a new club for captains of industry and key officials in each country aimed at invigorating bilateral business relations.
The Russian president was then due to hold meetings at the Great Hall of the People with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the country's top legislator, Wu Bangguo, before concluding the Beijing leg of his trip to China.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/22/content_549777.htm


Buyers of big cars have to pay more tax
By Yu Qiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-23 05:54
Buyers of big cars will fork out more tax while those who opt to buy smaller models will pay less from April 1.
Consumption taxes on passenger vehicles with engine capacity larger than 2 litres will be lifted to a maximum of 20 per cent from 8 per cent, the Ministry of Finance said on its website yesterday.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/23/content_549959.htm


Ma: Cross-Strait status quo to be kept
(Reuters/China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-23 08:32
WASHINGTON - Taiwan's main opposition leader and potential "presidential" front-runner vowed on Wednesday to uphold the status quo with the mainland, rejecting both independence and early unification with the mainland.
Ma Ying-jeou, the Mayor of Taipei, Taiwan claps in response to a student's question at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts March 21, 2006. Ma said he will try to maintain the status quo with the mainland. [Reuters]
Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the Nationalist Party and mayor of Taipei, said if his party wins the 2008 election, he would reopen talks with the mainland on mutually accepted terms.
"We will not pursue Taiwan's de jure independence, nor will we pursue the policy of immediate unification," Ma told Reuters Television in an interview in Washington.
"This is a policy that really fits the needs of the United States, mainland and the Taiwanese people," said the 55-year-old Ma, seen by many as the opposition's best bet for victory in the 2008 polls.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/23/content_550048.htm



US marine in Iraq
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-23 10:20
A US Marine with the Combat Logistics Company-117 attempts to rig a rope from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to a hovering CH-53E Super Stallion in Al Asad in western Iraq's Al Anbar province, in this handout photo taken March 18, 2006 and released March 21, 2006. Details of the operation were not available. [Reuters]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-03/23/content_550365.htm


LA bus worker, 100, presses the brake
(Agencies)
Updated: 2006-03-23 05:54
LOS ANGELES: After more than three-quarters of a century working for public transit agencies, a bus maintenance worker retired yesterday on his 100th birthday.
For decades, Arthur Winston reported to work at a bus yard at the crack of dawn. By 6 am, he would be supervising a crew of workers as they cleaned and refuelled the region's bus fleet.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-03/23/content_549960.htm



THANK YOU, CHINA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

China warns US not to make it a scapegoat - FT
By Richard McGregor, Geoff Dyer (FT)
Updated: 2006-03-22 15:14
China will take measures to meet US complaints about their bilateral trade imbalance as part of next month's trip to Washington by Hu Jintao, Chinese president, but has warned the US also to take responsibility for its economic problems.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-03/22/content_549671.htm

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