The New EU

正The european bloc strives for balance in its newleadership amid challengesWith Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk elected as president of the European Council and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini appointed the EU’s foreign affairs chief at the European Council special meeting on August 30,the new leadership     

The EU Newcomer

Croatia’s accession to the EU is both an opportunity and a challenge for the western Balkan state Croatia officially became the 28th member of the EU on July 1, and the first country from the western Balkan region in the bloc. The move carries positive significance not only for Croatia but also for other western Balkan states and even the EU. After 10 years of unremitting efforts since its first formal application to join the EU, Croatia’s achievements in reform finally earned recognition by the international community and the EU through its inclusion in the bloc. Croatia’s accession to the EU can help the     

Enlisting the EU

A majority of EU member states led by Germany opposed the European Commission’s proposal to impose punitive duties on imported Chinese solar panels in a survey on May 27,the last day of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s maiden trip to Europe after assuming his new post in March.Beyond doubt,Chinese observers said,Li’s visit was conducive to reducing the trade barriers between the two large markets,even though the problem cannot be resolved entirely.They added that Li’s visit was of great significance in deepening Sino-European economic ties.Notably,the completion of     

Opening Wider

China unveiled its updated special administrative measures (negative lists) for foreign investment market access on June 30, further cutting off-limit items in its pursuit of further opening up. Jointly released by the National D evelopm ent and Reform Com m ission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the two new lists will take effect on July 30.     

The EU After Merkel

The departure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel from politics signals the end of an era for Germany and the EU. After 16 years, the duration of Merkel's tenure, a void has been left. At the last meeting of the European Council she attended on October 22, President Charles Michel described Merkel as a "monument" and said summits without the long-time chancellor would be like Paris without the Eiffel Tower.     

SYNERGY WITH THE EU

<正>Premier Li Keqiang attends a welcome ceremony held by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on May 31.Li joined Merkel for an annual meeting between the two heads of government,a mechanism that has been in place since 2004.Berlin was the f irst leg of a three-day European trip that also took Li to Belgium.The Chinese premier co-chaired     

Military Opening Up

Visits and talks will make a difference in friction-prone Sino-U.S. military relations When he set foot in China for the first time as U.S. defense secretary on September 17,     

Proactive Opening Up

正New regulations further facilitate foreign investors’ participation in China’s capital market The People’s Bank of China (PBC),China’s central bank, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange(SAFE) issued new rules on May 7 to scrap quotas on the dollar-denominated qualified foreign institutional investor (QFII) scheme and its yuan-denominated sibling RQFII,and further streamline procedures in order to facilitate their participation in China’s     

Mind Opening Games

"Their commitment to inspiring people throughout the world to open their minds and accept people with in- tellectual disabilities serves as a shin- ing example of how to change not only attitudes, but also the world." - Timothy Shrivers Chairman, Special Olympics International X IAO Kun is a new Chi- nese hero. A student at Chongwen Special Education School since 1992, the 25-year-old won several awards for trying hard at school. But Xiao came into his own on the sports field, winning me…     

Opening Up Further

正Experimental reforms aim to open wider to the outside world Folowing the establishment of free trade zones(FTZs),China has selected 12 cities and areas to try out a new open-economy system which is more open to foreign collaboration,Shen Danyang,spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce,announced on May 17 at a press briefing.     

Hu's Visit Highlights EU Ties

President Hu Jintao’s recent European visit strengthens cooperation between China and the EU Chinese President Hu Jintao’s trip to France and Portugal on November 4-7     

The Challenge to EU Integration

The Greek debt crisis threatens the stability and future of the euro zone After an unprecedent-ed rescue planof 750 billioneuros was agreed onby the EU financeministers in earlyMay, the sovereign     

China vs.EU Protectionism

China files a complaint with the WTO for the first timeagainst the EU's anti-dumping measures Recently,a trade row between the European Union(EU) and China-the world's first and third biggesteconomies,respectively-hascaused concerns.     

Opening a New Chapter

正Shanghai Book Fair explores transformation oftraditional publishing industry Last year,Gao Linze,a 16-year-old high school student,was the final visitor at the Shanghai Book Fair (SBF).This year,when the fair held its 17th edition at the Shanghai Exhibition Center from August 12 to 18,he was invited to be the first visitor and his arrival at 9 a.m.kicked off the event.     

APEC and China's Opening

THE Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC), founded in1989, is a regional economic organization for inter-governmen-tal cooperation.It currently has 21 members. China. togetherwith the special regions of Hong Kong nd Taiwan, joined theorganization in 1991. The only regional economic organization ofwhich China is a member,APEC provides for China an arena in whichto participate in regional and international economic activities, and alsohelps propel the course of China's opening to the o…     

Opening a New Chapter

When Wang Xiaobo(1952-97)wrote about his dream of visiting an Egyptian desert in his novella The Silver Age in the 1990s,the Chinese writer perhaps did not imagine he would become a rage in that country decades later.“You may not believe this but the most popular contemporary Chinese writer in Arabic-speaking countries today is Wang Xiaobo,”said Ahmed Mohamed Elsaid Soliman,General Manager of Egypt's Wisdom House Cultural Investment Co.,talking of the writer known for his allegorical style and black humor.     

Opening the Trade Valve

正The Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock link creates new trade opportunities Two years after the launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program,China introduced another stock trading link between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.This move serves to further push forward the yuan’s internationalization and cements Hong Kong’s status as an offshore yuan