MARKET WATCH

正OPINION Soothing Local Woes It has been a pressing task for China to address acute concerns over local government indebtedness.The problem has sounded an alarm for the Chinese economy as the country's local government debts amounted to a dizzying 10.7 trillion yuan     

A Banking System in Transition

THE four large state-owned commercial banks - the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Bank of China, the Construction Bank of China, and the Agricultural Bank of China, constitute the backbone of the Chinese banking system. Owing to low efficiency, lack of capital, and a high rate of bad debts over time, however, the system was weak and ineffective. In order to redress the situation, late last century the Chinese government launched reforms to streamline these four commercial banks and their operations. The banks subsequently set up asset management companies to buy back and resolve non-performing assets. Their operational structure was also upgraded and optimized so as to improve management efficiency and economic performance.     

Local Debts on a National Scale

Recently proposed Ministry of Finance measures to supervise the financing platforms of local governments and to regulate and avert risks in managing local debts have met with protests from many of the local authorities.     

Off the Chinese Press

Repayment Ability StrongAccording to the State Administration ofForeign Exchange, China's foreign debts addedup to US $147.63 billion at the end of June.This figure represents a decrease of US $4.2billion, or 2.8 percent, from that of last year.The reduction is mainly attributable to thefluctuation of exchange rates in the international market. For example, the depreciation of theeuro and the Japanese yen has directly reducedChina's debts in these currencies whenexchanged for US dollars…     

Crisis Trigger:NATO Reneged on Promise

<正>When the Soviet Union disintegrated, Russia inherited its “one-vote veto” status on the UN Security Council, as well as most of the Soviet territory, overseas assets and debts. At the same time, Russia was also left with the great power and historical leanings of the former state, as well as the promises, grievances and hatreds surrounding the dissolution.     

On the Lawful Rights and Interests of Mentally Retarded Children——A case study of a rehabilitation center in Liaoning Province

Mentally retarded children are the most disadvantaged among disabled children. Since the reform and opening up, with support from the Communist Party of China, the government and the public, the legitimate rights and interests of mentally retarded children have greatly improved. But problems in this respect remain serious, and various levels of government, relevant departments and the public should attach much importance to these     

Chinese Local Government Delegation Attends 2005 National General Assembly Of Australian Local Government

Invited by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), a 11-member delegation of the Chinese local government, sent by the CPAFFC, attended the 2005 National General Assembly of Australian Local Government from November 6 to 9 in Canberra. The National General Assembly The ALGA convenes a national general assembly annually to discuss issues concerning the local government. The theme of this General Assembly was Good to Great: Pursuing Progress Through Partnership, that is, asking the federal government to give the local government more financial support, equitable treatment and formal recognition. Local government representatives and well-known experts and scholars of Australia, and     

More Government Transparency for Enhanced Human Rights Protection

Since 2007 when Regulations on Government Information Disclosure was adopted, the State Council has issued almost a dozen documents to guide government information disclosure around the country. These documents have gradually expanded the scope of disclosure and recognized the significant role of transparency in promoting the rights to information, participation and supervision, and in building a government that is innovative, impartial and operating under the law. Meanwhile, these documents have, in both theory and practice, exceeded the limit of the Regulations, posing a challenge to increasing government transparency proposed at the Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee.     

White Paper on the Protection and Development of Tibetan Culture

On September 25, 2008, the Chinese government released a white paper on the Protection and Development of Tibetan Culture. This white paper, the seventh onthe theme of Tibetan affairs, presents a mass of facts and figures as evidence of the Chinese government＇s great efforts over.the past half-century to protect and develop Tibetan culture, especially since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy.     

The opportunity and challenges faced in Beijing after the entry into the WTO Create A Splendid To By Deng Hongbo morrow

China's entry into the WTO firstly is the government's entry into the WTO. After entry into the WTO, the government will greatly adjust and improve policy regulations, the managerial system and controlling mechanisms according to the principles of the WTO and the Chinese government's promise of entering the WTO. As far as the Chinese government is concerned, entry into the WTO is not only the transition from non-mem-     

Public Policy in the Asian Century

正AS premier of Victoria I often had the privilege of welcoming foreign business and government delegations to our state.Many were from Asian countries,and I was frequently struck by their deep interest in the way government works in our country–how the states relate to the Commonwealth,how the public service relates to the executive,and how public policy is made and implemented.     

Building an Open Government

BUILDING an open government is the demand of the time. It puts power in the spotlight and exposes it to scrutiny and supervision, commented Zhang Qinghong, magistrate of Changsha County. Wu Silong, Party secretary of Kaihui Township in that county, terms the move as an inner-revolution of the government.     

China＇s Strategic Choice： Tackling Global Climate Change Head-on

CLIMATE change is a grave chal- lenge facing humanity in the 21st century, and one to which the Chinese government has attached great importance. It is a key strategy and a resolute policy of the government to actively tackle this issue for the sake of China’s economic and social development. China will continue to take action and make positive contributions in the fight against climate change.     

Public Opinion for the Greater Good

THERE was no public information on the work of the Chinese government, other than reports compiled within the administration itself, prior to the mid-1980s. And it was only in the 1990s that public opinion polls and market research began to be conducted by legally registered non-governmental organizations. There are now departments within the government whose specific purpose is to evaluate proposed government action and recent achievements. Policy research is carried out on the basis of public opinion polls.     

The Financial Crisis： How Europe Can Save the World

CRISIS has been one of the most frequently uttered words since the second half of 2008. Bad ＇news came out of the box in an endless stream - bankruptcy, unemployment and bad debts. Due to intense efforts to stimulate global financial machinery, the economy finally started to see signs of recovery by late 2009. Now many observers are still pondering how the economic system went so awry, and Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian Prime Minister, is one of them.     

A Bigger Role to Play

正Trade unions face heavy tasks of better representing and safeguarding employee interests According to Chinese tradition, all debts should be paid before the New Year. However, two recent cases of     

Shake-Up

Amajor reshuffling of the provincial heads of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and ministerial-level government officials happened at the end of 2009 and in early 2010.The change in ministerial-and provincial-level cadres in the middle of two CPC national congresses,like the one in December 2004 between the 16th and 17th CPC national congresses,is becoming routine.The CPC National Congress is held once every five years.The latest round features the appointment of female cadres to key posts and the exchange of local government officials and Central Government officials.     

Platform for Communication

A high-profile forum draws domestic and global automakers As the 2006 Chinese Government Auto Purchase Forum, scheduled on July 11-13 in Tianjin, draws near, the country said it will launch negotiations to join the Government Procurement Agreement before December 2007, and it will also submit its government procurement market-opening list to the World Trade Organization. What will it mean once China opens its government procurement market to the domestic and global economy? What is the current status of the government auto purchase market, an important part of government procurement in China? Are there any problems and how will it fare in the future? Chen Dajun, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the Chinese Government Auto Purchase Forum, recently spoke to Beijing Review staff reporter Dai Xiaohua about these issues.     

Party Gatherings Zoom In on Development

<正>Local Party congresses review past progress and chart the course for the future Echeng Commercial and Trade Market,wholesale clothing market in Beijing’s Fengtai District,was last year transformed into Fengtai’s government service center and library.The transformation is an example of how the local government is relieving the city of functions nonessential to its role as the nation’s capital.