The blast ripped through the mine around 2.30 on Saturday morning, when there were 528 people at work, but 419 got out safely, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The Xinxing mine is in Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia. It is owned by the Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group, and produces 12 million tons of coal a year, Xinhua said.

Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang is heading to the site of the accident, and Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have given instructions about the rescue work, a sign of official concern about the latest in a long string of disasters in the world's deadliest mining industry.

Rescue teams are already on site, with 60 people hunting for the missing miners, Xinhua said.

Lax safety standards and strong demand for resources have made China's mines the deadliest in the world, despite a government drive to clamp down on the tiny, unsafe operations where most accidents occu...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:03:44 +0800 /articles/09/1122/197977/MTk3OTc3OtuhLFMT.html

* Prosecutors ask court not to release him, bail denied

* Suspect worked at Ford from 1997 through early 2007

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A Chinese engineer arrestedon suspicion of stealing Ford Motor Co. (F.N) trade secretswill likely face additional charges after more secret data wasfound on his computer, U.S. prosecutors said this week.

Xiang Dong Yu was arrested last month when he arrived atChicago's O'Hare International Airport from China on chargesthat he stole thousands of secret documents detailing Forddesigns that prosecutors say were worth millions of dollars.

In court papers filed in Michigan this week, prosecutorssaid that FBI agents seized a laptop Yu had when he arrived anddiscovered more Ford trade secret design documents as well asconfidential documents from a company they did not identify.

"Based on what was recovered from the defendant's la...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:03:22 +0800 /articles/09/1122/197972/MTk3OTcyQNX88ZUi.html

China's mines are the world's deadliest, and the blast shows the difficulties the government faces in trying to boost safety in an industry where large state-owned coal mines are considered safer than smaller, private ones.

China Central Television reported that 42 were dead, 31 rescued and the others trapped about a third of a mile (500 meters) underground. The report said the explosion was caused by a gas buildup.

Television footage showed smoke billowing out of the mine, with a collapsed building nearby.

The report said power, ventilation and commun...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:12:30 +0800 /articles/09/1122/197971/MTk3OTcxveClMHcR.html Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang (1st R) visits an injured miner at a hospital in Hegang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Nov. 21, 2009. The death toll of a gas outburst accident in a coal mine in Hegang City has risen to 42 while 66 other miners were still missing.
Photo Gallery>>>

He said the gas outburst in Xinxing Coal Mine, owned by the Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group, in Hegang City, happened 400 meters underground. Rescuers were still searching for the missing.

Pan Xiaowen, deputy director of the Hegang Mining Bureau Hospital, said that the hospital has taken in 29 injured miners from the accident.

"Six of them were seriously injured," he said, add...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:11:33 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197970/MTk3OTcw2WQj8Eou.html A gas explosion tore through a state-run coal mine in northern China on Saturday, killing 42 people and leaving 66 others trapped underground as rescuers worked hastily to save them.

China's mines are the world's deadliest, and the blast shows the difficulties the government faces in trying to boost safety in an industry where large state-owned coal mines are considered safer than smaller, private ones.

A total of 528 people were working in the Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang province at the time of the 2:30 a.m. explosion, the State Administration of Work Safety said in a statement. It said 389 escaped after the blast.

China Central Television reported that 42 were dead, 31 rescued and the others trapped about a third of a mile (500 meters) underground. The report said the explosion was caused by a gas buildup.

Television footage showed smoke billowing out of the mine, with a collapsed building nearby.

The report said power, v...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:48:04 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197961/MTk3OTYxUSplxmTl.html

Putin, speaking at a congress of his United Russia party inRussia's northern city of St Petersburg, said gross domesticproduct would decline by 8.0 to 8.5 percent in 2009.

But the former Kremlin chief said Russia must fully restorepre-crisis levels of growth in two to three years and added thathe saw cargo turnover and electricity demand rising in 2010.

Putin said Russia would widen its anti-crisis programme forcarmakers and that he was sure ailing carmaker AvtoVAZ (AVAZ.MM)had a future. He added Russia would help firms buyhigh-technology assets abroad.

But the premier said AvtoVAZ, which makes Lada cars, wouldhave to modernise and that he hoped shareholders -- whichinclude France's Renault (RENA.PA) -- would conduct themselvesresponsibly.

He said Russia would pay 50,000 roubles to those car ownerswho agreed to trade in vehicles over 10 years old for newdomestically made cars.

Speakin...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:11:04 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197960/MTk3OTYwf8W94WQy.html

With unemployment at a generation high of 10.2 percent and once-lofty popularity ratings down, Obama said a December White House forum will leave no stone unturned in the hunt for jobs.

"Even though it will take time, I can promise you this: we are moving in the right direction; that the steps we are taking are helping," Obama said in his weekly address, amid signs that the public is getting impatient for results.

A Gallup poll on Friday showed Obama's job approval rating had dropped to 49 percent, the first time he has fallen below 50 percent in this survey, as Americans express dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy and other issues.

Obama's remarks on the economy were his first in public since returning to Washington after an 8-day Asian tour where critics said he had failed to win significant concessions on trade or currency manipulation from partners like China.

But Obama said that progress had been made w...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:27 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197959/MTk3OTU5gfIZRgHl.html

The U.S. consortium, called Crown, is led by former FordMotor Co director Michael Dingman, but has backing from Swedishinvestors, Dagens Industri wrote.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent of GeelyAutomobile, was named by Ford as a preferred bidder for itsloss-making Swedish car unit last month. [ID:nHKG181412]

Media reports put the bid at between $2 billion and $2.5billion.

"There is no point in bidding low. You are not going to winanything that way," the paper quoted a Crown consortium sourceas saying.

With unemployment at a generation high of 10.2 percent andonce-lofty popularity ratings down, Obama said a December WhiteHouse forum will leave no stone unturned in the hunt for jobs.

"Even though it will take time, I can promise you this: weare moving in the right direction; that the steps we are takingare helping," Obama said in his weekly address, amid signs thatthe public is getting impatient for results.

A Gallup poll on Friday showed Obama's job approval ratinghad dropped to 49 percent, the first time he has fallen below50 percent in this survey, as Americans express dissatisfactionwith his handling of the economy and other issues.

Obama's remarks on the economy were his first in publicsince returning to Washington after an 8-day Asian tour wherecritics said he had failed to win significant concessions ontrade or currency manipulation from partners like China.

But Obama said that progress had b...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:09:32 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197945/MTk3OTQ1H2eNVnw5.html China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:50:56 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197944/MTk3OTQ0d8sUVuUj.html

The blast ripped through the mine around 2:30am (local time) when there were 528 people at work, but 419 got out safely, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The Xinxing mine is in Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia. It is owned by the Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group and produces 12 million tonnes of coal a year, Xinhua said.

Vice premier Zhang Dejiang is heading to the site of the accident while Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have given instructions about the rescue work, a sign of official concern about the latest in a long string of disasters in the world's deadliest mining industry.

Rescue teams are on site, with 60 people hunting for the missing miners, Xinhua said.

Lax safety standards and strong demand for resources have made China's mines the deadliest in the w...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:17:34 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197943/MTk3OTQzMfczx8hy.html The British edition of “Typhoon” came out one year ago. I was living in China then and ordered a copy from London. It never arrived, though the Royal Mail’s tracking system showed that it had made its way as far as a Beijing shipping depot. Did it disappear into the routine chaos of Chinese life? Was this a purposeful, pinpoint strike by Chinese censors who figured out that it raises touchy political questions about their country?

In Shanghai, he saw how China had modernized. At an interactive session with youths, he saw the vitality of Chinese society and the diversity of viewpoints. In Beijing, he strengthened bilateral trust and working relationship with Chinese leaders. From his visits to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, he got a firsthand feel of China's rich history. Therefore, he is expected to return home with a better understanding of China.

The focus of his four-day visit, however, was the Sino-US joint statement, which highlighted the areas in which the two countries have made huge progress. First, the statement redefines Sino-US strategic positioning. At a press conference after his meeting with Obama, President Hu Jintao reiterated the importance of building positive, cooperative and compre...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:15:30 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197941/MTk3OTQxaCVxNk2V.html China and the European Union held the 28th round of human rights dialogue in Beijing.

Senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official Wu Hailong and Jan Nordlander, the ambassador at large for human rights of Sweden, co-chaired the dialogue.

Wu, director-general of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of Foreign Ministry, expounded China's measures to deepen reform on judicial system, to ensure judicial impartiality and to conduct international cooperation in human rights affairs.

Nordlander also briefed the Chinese side on the EU nations' new legislation and new measures to improve human rights.

The two sides agreed to maintain the positive momentum of the human rights dialogue and exchanges, to promote the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

During the dialogue, the two sides also introduced each side's recent progress in human rights protection, and exchanged views on the rule ...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:15:05 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197938/MTk3OTM4Hhun9FSN.html

* Sands China EV/EBITDA valuation, 13.5 times '10 earnings (Adds quote, details, background)

By Kennix Chim

HONG KONG, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Sands China Ltd, the Macauoperation of Las Vegas Sands (LVS.N), raised $2.5 billionthrough its initial public offering in Hong Kong, a sourcefamiliar with the deal said on Saturday, hitting the bottom ofan indicated range.

While lower than the company hoped for, the IPO allows LasVegas Sands to cash in on the gambling industry boom in Macau,a former Portuguese colony an hour's ferry ride from Hong Kongthat is now the world's largest gaming hub.

The offering, together with a $1.75 billion in bankfinancing, would help Sands China to restart its Macau's Cotaistrip project, which was suspended in November 2008 due to theglobal economic downturn.

The Las Vegas-based gaming and casino company, strugglingunder a heavy debt load, is looking to raise cash and boos...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:02:15 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197937/MTk3OTM3VEtWowIp.html

BLACKSTONE MOVES TO TAKE OVER GALA CORAL

Blackstone (BX.N) has been allowed to conduct due diligenceat Gala Coral after making an audacious late intervention in thebingo group's 2.5 billion debt restructuring. Blackstone couldmake a 250 to 300 million pound cash injection in Gala, whichwas valued at five billion at its peak, in return for a majoritystake. Gala's private equity owners -- Cinven, Candover andPermira -- have already agreed a deal with junior lendersdesigned to keep the business' bingo and gaming divisionstogether. However, this would be usurped should Blackstone'soffer be accepted.

TESCO MOVES CLOSER TO FULL BANKING WITH IT SYSTEM

Fiserv has been appointed by Tesco (TSCO.L) to provide thesoftware to enable it to become a full-service bank. Fiserv'sinvolvement, as one of the world leaders in providing retailbanking software, will turn the supermarket from a provider of acollection of financial products i...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:01:52 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197934/MTk3OTM0odxuTDXF.html China pledged on Friday to continue its support of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, but a high-ranking army official said the missions will also need major reforms to meet new challenges.

General Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of Chinese Armed Forces, said UN peacekeeping operations face difficulties in policymaking, financial guarantees and planning and management when he met with Alain Le Roy, UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations.

Chen said during their meeting in Beijing reforms of peacekeeping operations must be not only "active and creative", but "stick to basic principles". He did not elaborate.

"Meanwhile, (reform) should also attach importance to cooperation with (local) regional organizations," he said. "The ultimate goal should be to improve management and efficiency of peacekeeping operations."

Chen stressed China would do as it "had always been doing" and actively ...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:51:06 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197933/MTk3OTMz8FRSeovo.html The US ambassador to China on Friday hit out at the American media for their negative coverage of US President Barack Obama's visit to China, saying they had failed to take into account important progress on many issues.

The trip was the top news story in China, drawing strong interest from the Chinese public who, surveys suggested, were largely positive in their view of the US president.

But much of the American media coverage was strongly negative, accusing Obama of failing to gain concessions on crucial issues such as Iran's nuclear program and climate change, as well as being weak on human rights.

US ambassador Jon Huntsman said the reports missed the fact that the visit resulted in important progress on cooperation in areas such as clean energy, military-to-military exchanges and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.

"I attended all those meetings that President Obama had with (Chinese President) Hu Jintao a...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:50:44 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197932/MTk3OTMyI20gZIjh.html

The appointment of Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as European Union (EU) president will help its member nations agree on a unified China policy and reduce the risk of estrangement in relations, diplomats and experts said on Friday.

EU leaders handed the block's new top job to Van Rompuy on Thursday (Friday, Beijing time). They also appointed trade commissioner Catherine Ashton, of Britain, as the EU's new foreign policy chief.

The two top jobs were created on the basis of EU reform document, the Lisbon Treaty, that takes effect from Dec 1.

Francois Godement, director and professor of Asia Center, affiliated to Paris-based Sciences Po, said a stable EU presidency would help Europe stabilize its ever-fluctuating relations with China.

Ties between China and some European countries were estranged last year after some leaders' supported separatist elements in the Tibet autonomous region and called for boy...]]> China Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:50:20 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197928/MTk3OTI4RkWXATvX.html China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:17:58 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197927/MTk3OTI3erHyXnNj.html

WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Nominees for key U.S.Treasury international posts said on Friday they must work topersuade China to change its currency practices or there cannotbe critical adjustments to global trade and economic balances.

Lael Brainard, nominated to be the Treasury'sundersecretary for international affairs, told a Senate FinanceCommittee confirmation hearing that she expected to spend "alarge part" of her time working to address imbalancesassociated with China's exchange rate.

"Chinese exchange rate policy ... is something that was astabilizing force at the time of the crisis, at a time whensome of the other surrounding currencies were weakening, it wasa stabilizing force," said Brainard, who was a White Houseeconomic adviser in the Clinton administration and a BrookingsInstitution senior fellow.

"The concern now is that it is getting in the way of globalrecovery, that it is no longer is a positive c...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:05:05 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197926/MTk3OTI2KQIiOvqD.html

BEIJING (Reuters) - Two Chinese rights activists who sought a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama hours before he left Beijing said on Friday they were briefly detained by police, and one said Washington's sway over rights in China had eroded.

Jiang Tianyong and Fan Yafeng said they were among several critics of China's restrictions on human rights who gathered near the U.S. Embassy in the Chinese capital on Wednesday, hoping to meet Obama before he left that night for Seoul.

Most of the group left as it became clear there be no chance of such a meeting, but Jiang and Fan said they stayed until plain clothes security police took them away for a few hours of "chats" late into the night.

"We had wanted to discuss (with Obama) the deterioration of religious freedom in China, as well as deteriorating treatment of other rights defenders," said Fan, a legal scholar who recently lost his job at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:04:42 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197925/MTk3OTI1nBR6mmyB.html

If a "bi-partisan anti-China currency bill" being plannedby both Republican and Democrats is passed and signed into lawby President Barack Obama, China could retaliate, MorganStanley (MS.N) Asia chairman Stephen Roach told an AmericanChamber of Commerce session in Singapore.

"I worry that next year,... if President Obama would allowthat bill to go through, then the Chinese will not show up atthe Treasury auctions and we will be back in the soup again,"Roach said.

China has amassed $2.27 trillion of foreign exchangereserves, the world's largest stockpile, and analysts thinkabout two-thirds of this is invested in dollar-denominatedassets. China has a huge trade surplus with the United States,and is the largest foreign holder of U.S. government bonds.

South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham and DemocratSenator Charles Schumer asked the Commerce Department onThursday to investigate alleged Chinese currency "manipulatio...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:04:19 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197924/MTk3OTI04rQNTgBR.html

Alibaba, which in 2005 traded a 40 percent stake in its group for control of the Yahoo brand in China, also owns China's top e-commerce Web sites, including business-to-business platform Alibaba.com and Taobao, a retail and auction platform. Yahoo and industry analysts expected that handing to Alibaba control of Yahoo China would boost its growth, but instead the brand has struggled in a local search market dominated by rivals Baidu and Google.

Now Alibaba is in the process of restructuring Yahoo China to focus on entertainment features, a turnaround from efforts to make the portal a user-generated content base. Meanwhile the company has launched new efforts in online search and user-generated content for Taobao, which is booming as more Chinese get online and turn to the site to buy everything from toasters and jackets to laptops and mobile phones.

Taobao, often seen as China's version of eBay and Amazon.com combined, earlier this year launched ...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:03:57 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197917/MTk3OTE3UloecHTf.html China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:35:54 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197916/MTk3OTE2LDGI1CLJ.html Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ahead of the opening of the 10th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) in Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Nov. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)
Photo Gallery>>>

MANILA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin met Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo here on Friday, pledging further efforts to bolster bilateral ties.

Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said developing relations with the Philippines as friendly neighbors was an important part of China's foreign policy and was in the interests of the peoples from both countries.

Jia said China attached great importance to participating in major projects that would benefit the Filipino people and ...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:16:51 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197915/MTk3OTE1SFsKFisU.html

ICBC owns ten-year receivable bonds with a face value of 313billion yuan ($45.85 billion), issued by Huarong AssetManagement Co. in exchange for ICBC's debt at face value as partof a government restructuring of China's banking system.

"For the interest, we have no problem," Lai Xiaomin,president of Huarong Asset Management Corp, told Reuters on thesidelines of a conference.

"But we are now studying how to pay the principal."

ICBC (1398.HK)(601398.SS) Chairman Jiang Jianqing said in aninterview last week that the bank was "still discussing" what todo with the bond, which has not yet expired.

In late September, another asset management company, Cinda,extended by 10 years the maturity of a $36 billion bond due toChina Construction Bank (0939.HK)(601939.SS).

The banks believe that the AMC bonds are backed by stateguarantees, but some analysts question whether banks might haveto bear some of the ...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:03:14 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197914/MTk3OTE0Z0qhrrtr.html

* IPO had priced above estimates, raised $111.1 mln

NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Shares of Chinese discounthotel chain 7 Days Group Holdings Ltd (SVN.N) jumped as much as28.6 percent in their New York Stock Exchange debut on Friday.

The American depositary shares stood at $13.70, up 24.6percent, in morning trading after rising as high as $14.15earlier.

The ADSs priced at $11, the top of the estimated range of$9 to $11, in the chain's initial public offering on Thursday.Guangzhou-based 7 Days raised $111.1 million in the IPO.

The underwriters of the IPO, which was managed by J.P.Morgan and Citi, have an option to buy 1.5 million additionalADSs.

7 Days reported revenue of $121.7 million for the firstnine months of 2009, and an operating profit of $6.9 million. A$9.3 million interest expense during the period caused it topost a net loss of $1.4 million.

The company has posted net ...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:02:51 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197913/MTk3OTEzXpiEXypG.html

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Investors who missed out on Wynn Macau's recent IPO will have another chance with Sands China's initial public offering, but the stock could be a riskier bet given Sands' uncertain outlook and rich valuations.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS.N), the world's most valuable casino firm, may have to price the IPO for its Macau assets below the top of its range to win over investors, analysts said.

The Sands China (1928.HK) IPO, Asia's fourth-largest this year if it raises the intended $3.35 billion, comes amid a deluge of equity offerings in Hong Kong, and elsewhere in Asia, including rival Wynn Resorts' (WYNN.O) offering of its Macau assets last month.

Shares of Chinese real estate group Longfor Properties Co (0960.HK) rose 14 percent on their debut on Thursday, after the company raised $912 million in an IPO.

With Las Vegas struggling, institutional investors willing to hold on to the stock may find Sands China ...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:02:29 +0800 /articles/09/1121/197912/MTk3OTEyXmT2jmj8.html

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The launch of 3G in China and India by the likes of China Mobile (0941.HK) and Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO) could boost wireless broadband worldwide, sparking a boom in new offerings as millions of users sign up for services.

The move to 3G and its likely follow-on, fourth-generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, is also set to help Chinese network equipment makers such as Huawei HWT.UL better challenge Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and Nokia Siemens Networks NOKI.UL.

"A lot of people in China and India don't have fixed line connectivity, so they will look to wireless broadband for their future online access," said Michael O'Hara, chief marketing officer of the GSM Association, a mobile industry group, on the sides of a telecoms industry event this week in Hong Kong.

India, the world's fastest-growing wireless market, with about 490 million users, has been adding about 14 million subscribers each month. The govern...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:02:07 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197909/MTk3OTA5YGA7l1Qb.html

The anti-dumping measures target TDI, a widely used organic compound in the chemical industry, imported from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. The period will be five years.

China launched anti-dumping measures on TDI from those countries in 2003 for a period of five years, and launched an investigation into ending of the measures in November 2008, on the request of some Chinese companies.

The MOC said that if China suspended anti-dumping measures on the material, the domestic industry would continue to be harmed.

To breakdown, business revenue of wireless telecommunications took 60 percent share while those for fixed-line business and data communications took 28 percent, and 12 percent share, respectively.

The ministry also released subscriber data which showed more and more Chinese people are choosing mobile phone services while fixed-line subscribers are decreasing.

The number of fixed-line subscribers was down by nearly 19 million for the first ten months while mobile phone users were up by more than 88 million, reaching 730 million by the end of October.

Total phone users reached 1.05 billion at the same period, according to the statement.  

Source: http://www.cs.com.cn/xwzx/05/200911/t20091120_2262727.htm

"The aim of the meetings was to find a common ground in resolving the crisis.

"I had proposed a formula that most probably would be acceptable to all quarters involved, with the hope that MCA would regain credibility and the confidence of party members and the Chinese community," he told reporters here today.

Najib said he had also informed Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to continue discussions based on the formula given, with the MCA leaders as he was scheduled to leave for Trinidad and Tobago to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Najib said based on his separate meetings with the MCA leade...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:38 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197904/MTk3OTA07pP10iRM.html SHANGHAI — A few weeks ago, Stephen A. Schwarzman, the chairman of the Blackstone Group, the world’s biggest private equity firm, signed a joint venture here with Shanghai’s municipal government, creating the first Blackstone fund denominated entirely in Chinese currency.

Go to your Portfolio »

The $732 million fund was the latest example of two trends: global private equity firms seeking to raise capital from increasingly wealthy Chinese individuals and institutions, and the growing international stature of the Chinese currency, formally known as the renminbi.

Chinese private equity funds are emerging in big cities as China promulgates new regulations aimed at creating a homegrown private equity indust...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:22:28 +0800

Total production in October was 1.966 million tonnescompared with a revised 1.897 million tonnes in September. Totalproduction in October 2008 was 2.187 million tonnes

Primary aluminium production in China rose to 1.294 milliontonnes in October from 1.219 million tonnes in September and1.106 million tonnes in October last year.

To see the full breakdown of primary aluminium productionplease click on IAI-PROD and <0#STOCKS-IAI>. Figures are inthousands of tonnes.

(Reporting by Pratima Desai; editing by William Hardy)

FIBank, the sixth biggest bank in the European Unioncountry, said it would become an agent of Exim Bank in Bulgariaunder a signed partnership deal, the first of its kind between aBulgarian and a Chinese bank.

"The two banks will support their operations and will fundtogether projects of mutual interest in Bulgaria, China andother countries," FIBank said in a statement.

The bank, one of the few in the Balkan country which is nota unit of a foreign lender, did not provide details.

Over 85 percent of the 29 banks operating in Bulgaria areforeign owned, mainly by EU-based lenders.

Exim Bank, which has total assets of 59 billion euros($87.77 billion), is one of the key tools of the world's thirdlargest economy to finance imports and exports of Chinesemachinery and equipment, FIBank said.

Last week, the official China Daily said a unit of thecountry's sovereign wealth fund will inject capital in...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:06:08 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197893/MTk3ODkz9w8UJE37.html China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:45:57 +0800

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC) National Committee, who is on a two-day visit to the Philippines, attended the opening ceremony.

With the theme "World Prosperity through Chinese Entrepreneurship", this year's conference focuses on cooperation to weather the financial crisis and to explore ways to achieve the sustainable growth of the private sector.

Vice Chairman of the convention Alfonso Uy said in his speech that the interaction and cooperation between Chinese is particularly important as impacts of the crisis linger in the world economy. "The conference will serve as the platform to deepen exchanges, ...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:25:39 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197891/MTk3ODkxVgx9Q88m.html More than 40% of the Chinese consumers plan to increase spending in 2010, and an improved social welfare system is the strongest driver to prompt them to consume more, a MasterCard report has found.

A survey of 6,300 urban and rural subjects shows that over 50% of the urban respondents chose "improve social welfare" and "rein in housing prices" as their top two concerns; 47% ticked "reduced property taxes", 42% "resume the weeklong May Holiday", 40% "reduced personal income tax" and 33% "offer coupons for cars and appliance". Over 70% of rural respondents looked to a better social welfare system for larger expenditure.

Interestingly, 41% of urban respondents versus 59% of rural counterparts were planning to spend more in 2010; 18% of urban residents and 16% of rural dwellers would cut consumption, while 41% of urban residents and 25% of rural dwellers would keep their expenses unchanged.

Source: http://www.cs.com.cn/xwzx/03/200911/t20091119_2261627.htm

The push comes as a result of ongoing problems with employers who renege on paying those who worked for them, and employers who vanish without a trace, leaving workers unpaid. The problem is especially bad for migrant workers.

Li Shouzhen, spokesman of the federation, said as the year-end is approaching, cases of default on payments may rise. The federation will join hands with the government and carry out a special inspection to check payment of the migrant workers from Nov 15 to Feb 5, 2010.

Moreover, the federation is working with related authorities to set up and improve the mechanism to ensure wage payment, he said.

"The federation is suggesting adding provisions to the Criminal Law...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:05:21 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197878/MTk3ODc45yd7OLEe.html

Vice President of Xinhua News Agency Zhou Xisheng (L, front) shakes hands with Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative in China (R, front), after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Beijing on Nov. 5, 2009. A large-scale global media campaign for children' rights co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was launched here Thursday in the run-up to Universal Children's Day, which falls on Nov. 20, in advance of a planned 24-hour global live multimedia coverage of events on the day. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)Photo Gallery>>>

BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Starting from 8 a.m. (Beijing time) Friday, Xinhua will work with all participating media organizations to launch a 24-hour multimedia "relay" coverage of "Global News Day for Children" on six continents.

"Global News Day for Children" is a global media campaign co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and the Unit...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:27:52 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197877/MTk3ODc3T8x3FG1i.html GENEVA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday rejected requests made by the United States, the European Union and Mexico to establish a WTO expert panel to investigate and rule on so-called Chinese restrictions of raw materials exportation.

At a meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body, the Chinese delegation reiterated that "its measures related to exportation are consistent with the principles and rules of the WTO," and the country "consistently respects and abides by the WTO rules and its own commitments."

"China is disappointed that the three complainants choose to move forward with requests for panel establishment at this meeting... and is not in a position to agree to the establishment of a panel at this time," the delegation said.

The United States has accused China of restricting exports of "numerous raw materials critical to U.S. manufactures and workers," thus violating WTO rules. The materials at issue include coke, bauxite, fluors...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:27:30 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197876/MTk3ODc2KP2pS6sR.html BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's military will earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the Chinese and U.S. presidents in efforts to steadily advance bilateral military ties, Defense Ministry spokesman Huang Xueping said Thursday.

Huang was responding to a question concerning the outlook for the coming year on the Sino-U.S. military relations.

He said the important consensus on bilateral military relations reached by the two presidents showed a clear direction for future development.

China and the United States issued a joint statement in Beijing Tuesday, pledging that the two countries would "take concrete steps" to advance "sustained and reliable" military-to-military relations.

The joint statement came after the talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. counterpart Barack Obama.

In the statement, the two sides also commended the outcomes of the visit to the U.S. by General Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the C...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:27:10 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197875/MTk3ODc199lIT7IG.html

The Ministry of Health (MOH) Thursday vowed to punish officials who underreport the H1N1 flu pandemic following criticism from a prominent medical expert who cast doubt on China's official death toll from the disease.

At a meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body, the Chinese delegation reiterated that "its measures related to exportation are consistent with the principles and rules of the WTO," and the country "consistently respects and abides by the WTO rules and its own commitments."

"China is disappointed that the three complainants choose to move forward with requests for panel establishment at this meeting ... and is not in a position to agree to the establishment of a panel at this time," the delegation said.

The United States has accused China of restricting exports of "numerous raw materials critical to US manufactures and workers," thus violating WTO rules. The materials at issue include coke, bauxite, fluorspar, magnesium, silicon m...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:26:26 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197873/MTk3ODczVyU8kMqu.html BEIJING: Guo Hong is a doctorate student in computer science -- but to his parents, he's just "Doggy."

It's a nickname that's given the 26-year-old cause to cringe over the years. "It embarrassed me when my parents called me that in front of my girlfriend."

In rural China, parents have traditionally called their newborns inappropriate names, such as Doggy, Smelly or Fool, in the belief that it will confer long life and deter evil spirits from haunting their offspring.

Related readings: From Confucius to pop, kids bask in multi-culture Plan aims to fight child diarrhea in developing world Advocates urge child-abuse laws UNICEF urges Bolivia to fight against sexual abuse of children UN says hunger stunts some 200 million children

When People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, one in five children died before thei...]]> China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:06:55 +0800 /articles/09/1120/197858/MTk3ODU4p6hZ4n3z.html China Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:31:04 +0800