New Developments in an Old Friendship——An Interview with Charles Madibo Wagidoso,Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to China

CHINA has long had a close relationship with Africa, and in recent years economic and political ties have grown even stronger. Both the Chinese government and private enterprises have significant investments on the African continent. Last November a 20-member governmental delegation came to Beijing from the central-east African nation of Uganda, to talk to Chinese political and business leaders about fostering economic and cultural links between the two countries. Shortly after the delegation＇s visit, two China Today reporters met with the Ugandan Ambassador, Mr. Charles Madibo Wagidoso, to discuss what was achieved, the ambassador＇s impressions of China and the upcoming Beijing Olympics.     

Meritocracy Is a Good Thing

Political meritocracy is the idea that a political system is dcsigned with the aim of selecting political leaders with above average ability to make morally informed political judgments.Political meritocracy has been largely eclipsed from political theorizing in the modern world,but there are three important reasons for reviving and reinterpreting this political ideal,particularly in a Chinese context.First,political meritocracy has been,and continues to be,central to Chinese political culture.Second,democracy is a flawed political system and meritocracy can help to remedy some of its flaws.Third,the Communist Party of China (CPC) itself has become a more meritocratic organization over the last three decades or so.     

Putting Individuals and Their Lives First

The Fifth Session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s parlia-ment, and that of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s PoliticalConsultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, tookplace in early March as planned.For over a decade, the two annual sessions havebeen important platforms for Chinese people to voice their opinions and discusspublic affairs.Proposals presented by deputies to the NPC and members of the CP-PCC will be considered by the government as potential policies.The sessions haveimmense political significance and are drawing more and more attention from all overthe world.     

Human Rights in China: Exploration and Development of Whole-process People's Democracy

Whole-process people’s democracy represents a new exploration of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era as well as a novel and important method for protecting the human rights of the Chinese people· It is conducive to solving a multitude of problems hindering the protection of civil rights and political rights·The greatest highlight of whole-process people’s democracy is that the people are the masters of their own country and exercise the power to govern the state through “extensi...     

Taxi Drivers of Beijing

CHINA'S taxi drivers are a unique breed. In Beijing, they comprise the city's most colorful cast of characters. They include sage political commentators; chainsmoking, malodorous cynics and garru- lous would-be tourist guides. In a city not easily accessible to the non-Chinese speaking foreigner, taxi drivers often act as both a metaphoric and literal compass, dispensing words of advice and warning, as they zoom about the labyrinth-like roads, blissfully unaware of the effect their bold manoevres might     

Second Meeting of China-Spain Forum

T he Second Meeting of the China-Spain Fo- rum with the theme of “new phase of China-Spain cooperation” was held in Barcelona, fromNovember 30 to December 1, 2004. Chinese andSpanish delegates from the political, economic,cultural, educational, scientific, sports and thepress circles as well as from the local govern-ments had constructive discussions on further-ing exchanges and cooperation in extensive fieldsbetween the two countries and between Chinaand Europe. Juan Antonio Samar…     

A Close Look at the Chang An Club

MONEY and a career are two means to a better life; money secures the approval of one's peers, and as a result, one becomes part of the elite. Making the acquaintance of and working together with such people is an exchange of intelligence, and also an inte…     

A Critical Point For Europe

正China tries to give a hand as the euro zone struggles on the verge of collapse Greece,the first European country to fall into debt trouble,is faced with a painful decision on whether to stay in the euro zone.At present,the country is suffering the heavy blow of a triple crisis- sovereign debt,social problems and political uncertainty.There are no regulations on how a member     

China’s Human Rights Progress in the New Century

Human rights are a kind of right deriving from human dignity.The pursuit of wellbeing and dignity is the eternal aspiration of human beings,as well as of the Chinese people.Since reform and opening up,particularly since the beginning of the 21st century,China has achieved remarkable advancements     

A NEED TO UNDERSTAND

In spite of the close political and trade ties between China and the United States , their peoples think they need to learn more about each other China 's ties with the United States have grown increasingly tighter as the two countries have more and more mutual interests in the areas of the economy, trade , technology and international affairs. The two countries also seem to be getting to know each other better. At the same time, the people from the two countries have different understandings. Here are the opinions on Sino-U.S . relations of those interviewed by Beijing Review reporters Chen Wen in New York and Ding Yin g in Beijing.     

Wuzhou:Lingnan's Most Memorable City

正THE ancient city of Wuzhou is regarded as the cradle of two provinces.Emperor Taizong(993-997)of the Song Dynasty(960-1279)demarcated the area to the east of Wuzhou as Guangdong,and the western area as Guangxi.Today the city is known for its elegant natural scenery and industry as well as its antique culture.It has been recognized as a National Forest City,a world capital of artificial gemstones and a national model for recycling and green energy.Liang Yusheng,a famous Kung Fu novelist,set one of his stories among the spectacular natural wonders of Wuzhou.Wuzhou is a city built around rivers,and waterways are at the heart of city life.The Xunjiang and the Guijiang     

Fifty Years of Sino-Norwegian Cooperation——An Interview with Norwegian Ambassador

Geographical distance has not hindered friendly relations, ongoing for more than two centuries, between China and Norway. Norway recognized the People's Republic of China on January 7,1950 and diplomatic relations were established on October 5, 1954. In 1955, the two countries began to exchange ambassadors. Since then their political, economic and cultural cooperation has steadily advanced. The year 2004 marks the 50th anniversary of establishment of Sino-Norwegian diplomatic relations. In honor of the occasion, China Today spoke with Norwegian Ambassador Tor Chr. Hildan on bilateral trade and economic cooperation.     

Ethnic Museum of the Central University for Nationalities

THE Central University for Nationalities Ethnic Museum houses over 20,000 cultural relics relating to China's 56 ethnic groups. The majority of these are traditional costumes and ornaments that examplify expertise on the part of ethnic minorities in weaving, dying, embroidery and tannage. Some are decades, and others centuries old. Exhibits such as the gifts to Chairman Mao Zedong and the central government in the early days of the People's Republic from the Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama, and ethnic minorities across China are of great political and historical significance.     

China’s Unique Political Institution

China boasts a large population,a vast land,a long history and a rich cultural heritage.As a result,it has unique political institutions.Every government in Chinese history has tried to cope with disasters and special challenges of an expanding population and territory in order to maintain the legitimacy of their rules.During this long history,the Chinese people have formed a distinctive political ideology.The Chinese are far-sighted and attach more importance to the whole rather than to the individual parts.They place political stability and prosperity at an important position.The prosperous dynasties of the past were all governed by strong and open-minded governments.     

Heihe：The Pioneer of Sino-Russian Trade

SITUATED in northern Heilongjiang Province, Heihe looks across the Sino-Russian border at Blagoveshchensk, the administrative center of Russia's Amur Region. At their closest point, the two cities are just 750 meters apart. Their histories are therefore closely interrelated. The Gift Swap That Launched a Thousand Deals In September 1987, Heihe presented Blagoveshchensk with 208 tons of watermelons, or one kilogram for each of its citizens. In return, it received 306 tons of fertilizer from its Russian neighbor. This gift swap sparked off a flurry of border trade between the two nations, and much of it was carried out through these cities. Border trade quickly expanded to every aspect of business. Merchants brought diverse cargoes such as furs, toys, razor blades, and tableware from Russia and other CIS countries to Heihe, and returned with many China-made goods like jewelry, sportswear, and down-padded anoraks.     

Governor of St. Petersburg Matvienko’s Visit to Qingdao

St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia, is located at the Neva River Delta at the eastern end of the Gulf of Finland. It is Russia's gateway to Europe. The city which had been the capital of Russia for two centuries during the rule of Tsars is still a political, economic and cultural centre of the country only next to Moscow, and the central city of the Russian northwestern region. St. Petersburg, with its     

the Republic of Kore a Youth Visit Beijing

As the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of Korea approaches, the youth associations of the two countries are busy in preparing and launching celebrations.Eighty-two young students from 24 associations of Pusan, Korea, visited Beijing from Jan. 15 to. 18 in a trip sponsored by the Council of Youth Organizations of Pusan.The delegation paid a visit to the headquarters of the All-China Youth Federation as soon as they arrived in     

Hard Bases of China’s Soft Power

THERE is currently much discussion in China about "soft power," and I follow this discussion with great interest as a marketing professional and a lay observer. Here I would like to express my opinion in a professional sense. I was in charge of marketing and branding London for eight years, from 2000 to 2008. During that period the success of our work was recognized by international surveys that fre- quently ranked London as the world’s number one city.     

CHINA＇ S POLICY TOWARD ETHNIC GROUPS AND THEIR COMMON PROSPERITY（Part Five）

Ⅶ. Fostering Cadres and Talented People of Ethnic Minorities
Cadres and talented people of ethnic minorities are their outstanding elements. These people are well acquainted with their ethnic languages, histories, traditions and customs as well as their local political, economic and cultural characteristics. They serve as a bridge between the government and ethnic minorities. The situation of minority cadres and talented people indicates the development level of ethnic minorities. For a long period of time,     

Valentine＇s Day Cynicism

THE debate on whether to observe Valentine＇s Day on February 14 heats up every year with as much intensity as a new romance. On the Intemet both supporters and opposers are many. On the evening of February 12, 2009, two men in Changsha City, Hunan Province erected a banner on the pedestrian thoroughfare of Huangxing South Road with the slogan, ＂It is everyone＇s duty to boycott repugnant Valentine＇s Day.＂ On the banner are the many signatures of netizens who agree to do just that.