"Wall Street Journal" of the United States on August 26 carries former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's signed article concerning his own view of China, which is titled "We Can Help China Embrace the Future". In the article, the former British leader talked about his impression on Beijing's 2008 summer Olympics as well as on contemporary China, and also offer his ideas on how can the West get to know China and get along well with China.
"The Beijing Olympic Games were a powerful spectacle, stunning in sight and sound," said Blair. "But the moment that made the biggest impression on me came during an informal visit just before the Games to one of the new Chinese Internet companies, and in conversation with some of the younger Chinese entrepreneurs."
These people, men and women, were "smart, sharp, forthright". Above all, Blair noted, there was鈥�"a presence of the spirit of get up and go, that reminded me greatly of the U.S. at its best and any country on its way forward"鈥� and "that is the spirit that will define its future," he acknowledged.
What does the Olympic Games mean to China? In the words of Blair, "It is that they mark a new epoch 鈥�an opening up of China that can never be reversed. It also means that ignorance and fear of China will steadily decline as the reality of modern China becomes more apparent."
During his 10 years as British leader , he frankly conceded that "I could see the accelerating pace of China's continued emergence as a major power鈥�I understood it analytically. But I did not feel it emotionally and therefore did not fully understand it politically." Moreover, he noted clearly and explicitly that "power and influence is shifting to the East", and that "some see all this as a threat. I see it as an enormous opportunity."
In exhorting Western observers not only to "illuminate the distance to go, by all means, but recognize the distance traveled," Tony Blair said, "This means that the West needs a strong partnership with China, one that goes deep, not just economically but politically and culturally. The truth is that nothing in the 21st century will work well without China's full engagement."
This article reflects Blair's political sensitivity as a distinguished senior British statesman. He has come to see that a booming, prospering China offers an "opportunity" to the rest of the world, which should actively contact or engage it, and this profound, incisive view of his derives from his super political sensitivity. During his tenure as the British prime minister, Hong Kong smoothly returned to China and an all-round Sino-British partnership was forged with a frequent exchange of visits between leaders of the two countries, and bilateral cooperation in all spheres began "warming up".
To date, Britain has become the largest accumulative investor and the third largest trading partner within the European Union . Last year, the Sino-British trade volume reached close to 40 billion US dollars, a 100-percent increase over the figure for 2005.
Recognition of complex national conditions in China and the need for gradual, steady progress of its reform and opening up, and the recognition of the rise of the East not as a "doomsday" for the West -- also pose a visual angle for the West to get to know China.
Britain was the first nation in the Western world to set up a democratic system of the modern times, apart from its Civil Wars of the mid 17th century, its democratic political process has all along been alive with strong hues of reformism for the gradual spread of peaceful democratic governance. It is perhaps because of this reason that Blair is fully capable to understand the largeness and complexity of China and that its reform and opening-up progress have to be active but sound and steady.
Britons once had their psychological gaps of vicissitudes in history, but contemporary Britain, nevertheless, has again found or restablished its own position globally. It is precisely ascribed to its historical experience and correct angle of view that Blair is adept at exhorting them not to hesitate before the rise of the East, which they should see as "an enormous opportunity" rather than "a threat". "But we have to exercise a lot of imagination and eliminate any vestiges of historic arrogance," he said.
London 2012 gives Britain a tremendous chance to explore some of these changes and explain to the East what the modern West is about, he wrote at the end of his article. "My thoughts after the Beijing games are that we shouldn't try to emulate the wonder of the opening ceremony. It was the spectacular to end all spectaculars and probably can never be bettered. We should instead do something different, drawing maybe on the ideals and spirit of the Olympic movement," said former Prime Minister Tony Blair. "We should do it our way, like they did it theirs. And we should learn from and respect each other. That is the way of the 21st century."
By People's Daily Online, and its author is PD desk editor Wang Tian
Friday, September 5, 2008
Beijing ensures barrier-free transport for disabled
Beijing declared absolutely ready for the Paralympics on Friday, pledging barrier-free facilities and services of transportation for the disabled during and after the Games.
"We are working to offer personalized services for the disabled people in terms of reservations for taxis and public vehicles, construction of ramps and barrier-free toilets and others," said Liu Zhi, spokesman for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
"All the facilities designed for the disabled will continue to use even after the Games," he added.
The organizing committee has provided wheelchair users with 70 barrier-free taxis during the Paralympics, accepting phone appointments by dialing 961001, according to Liu.
"Besides, we have strengthened training for service staff who provide reservation and relay service to realize entirely barrier-free trip for disabled passengers," he said.
They could reach 96166 and 96834568, respectively, to request help for taking public vehicles and subways.
To ensure barrier-free trip for the disabled people in subways, Beijing has paved blind tracks and installed with Braille marks in gateways. Meanwhile, over 300 elevators, lifting platforms and stair-climbing vehicles were installed to carry wheelchairs.
The city has 2,835 low-floor barrier-free buses and 600 barrier-free buses for the disabled people, with blind paths, ramp roads, wheelchair waiting areas and ground marks set to help them, according to Liu.
To help the blind pedestrians and wheelchair users, Beijing has paved 1,541-kilometer-long paths for the visually impaired in 880 urban roads, and built 23,641 ramp crossings in such key areas as busy streets and peripheries of the Paralympic venues.
Meanwhile, a total of 18 underground passages and 48 overpasses accessible for wheelchairs, while some 450 overpasses and underground passages built with special care for the visually impaired, Liu said.
The world's premier event for disabled athletes is to begin Saturday in Beijing, where more than 4,000 competitors from 148 countries and regions were readying for participation in a total of472 disciplines in 20 sports.
Source: Xinhua
"We are working to offer personalized services for the disabled people in terms of reservations for taxis and public vehicles, construction of ramps and barrier-free toilets and others," said Liu Zhi, spokesman for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
"All the facilities designed for the disabled will continue to use even after the Games," he added.
The organizing committee has provided wheelchair users with 70 barrier-free taxis during the Paralympics, accepting phone appointments by dialing 961001, according to Liu.
"Besides, we have strengthened training for service staff who provide reservation and relay service to realize entirely barrier-free trip for disabled passengers," he said.
They could reach 96166 and 96834568, respectively, to request help for taking public vehicles and subways.
To ensure barrier-free trip for the disabled people in subways, Beijing has paved blind tracks and installed with Braille marks in gateways. Meanwhile, over 300 elevators, lifting platforms and stair-climbing vehicles were installed to carry wheelchairs.
The city has 2,835 low-floor barrier-free buses and 600 barrier-free buses for the disabled people, with blind paths, ramp roads, wheelchair waiting areas and ground marks set to help them, according to Liu.
To help the blind pedestrians and wheelchair users, Beijing has paved 1,541-kilometer-long paths for the visually impaired in 880 urban roads, and built 23,641 ramp crossings in such key areas as busy streets and peripheries of the Paralympic venues.
Meanwhile, a total of 18 underground passages and 48 overpasses accessible for wheelchairs, while some 450 overpasses and underground passages built with special care for the visually impaired, Liu said.
The world's premier event for disabled athletes is to begin Saturday in Beijing, where more than 4,000 competitors from 148 countries and regions were readying for participation in a total of472 disciplines in 20 sports.
Source: Xinhua
Mine gas blast toll rises to 10 in southwest China
The death toll from a coal mine gas blast in southwest China's Sichuan Province early on Friday has risen to 10 with eight still missing, rescuers said.
The gas blast occurred at 2:52 a.m. Friday in the mine of Jinhe Coal Mining Co., Ltd in Jiuqing Town, Xingwen County, when 44 miners were working underground, the Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Administration said.
Only 26 emerged from the pit after the accident, and rescuers are still searching the missing.
Sichuan's vice governor Li Chenyun has rushed to the site to direct rescue work.
The licensed township mine has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes.
On Thursday, a mine gas explosion in northeastern Liaoning Province killed 27 people and injured six.
Source: Xinhua
The gas blast occurred at 2:52 a.m. Friday in the mine of Jinhe Coal Mining Co., Ltd in Jiuqing Town, Xingwen County, when 44 miners were working underground, the Sichuan Provincial Work Safety Administration said.
Only 26 emerged from the pit after the accident, and rescuers are still searching the missing.
Sichuan's vice governor Li Chenyun has rushed to the site to direct rescue work.
The licensed township mine has an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes.
On Thursday, a mine gas explosion in northeastern Liaoning Province killed 27 people and injured six.
Source: Xinhua
Barrier-free website opens in Beijing
The opening ceremony for Chaoyang Distric govenrment's barrier-free website was held in Beijing recently.
Disabled persons can browse the website without others' help through an voice mode interactive operation.
The website is built for visually impaired people , and in accordance with the needs of disabled persons to mainly issues relevant policies and service information, timely reports Paralympic Games tournament activities.
Besides the disabled persons in Chaoyang District, the disabled persons in other places can visit this website through the Internet too.
By People's Daily Online
Disabled persons can browse the website without others' help through an voice mode interactive operation.
The website is built for visually impaired people , and in accordance with the needs of disabled persons to mainly issues relevant policies and service information, timely reports Paralympic Games tournament activities.
Besides the disabled persons in Chaoyang District, the disabled persons in other places can visit this website through the Internet too.
By People's Daily Online
Over 40% of private enterprises have plan to expand overseas business
About 700,000 private enterprises in Chinese mainland have plan to expand their business overseas in the next three years, including establish overseas sales channels and overseas offices, says a survey by HSBC Bank . In the process of globalization, private enterprises need more international financial services.
The survey shows that in the early stage of development, the majority of private enterprises mainly rely on its own capital. With the development of business, they need external funding support.
Currently, 71% of private enterprises mainly get loans from state-owned commercial banks, and only 12% of private enterprises in mainland use foreign investment banking services.
Many private enterprises have growing interest in foreign banks' services, including short term RMB loans, the exchange rate / interest rate hedging, mergers and acquisitions advisory services, and so on.
By People's Daily Online
The survey shows that in the early stage of development, the majority of private enterprises mainly rely on its own capital. With the development of business, they need external funding support.
Currently, 71% of private enterprises mainly get loans from state-owned commercial banks, and only 12% of private enterprises in mainland use foreign investment banking services.
Many private enterprises have growing interest in foreign banks' services, including short term RMB loans, the exchange rate / interest rate hedging, mergers and acquisitions advisory services, and so on.
By People's Daily Online
Robert Mundell: China expected to become world's largest economy in 2050
China is expected to become the world's largest economy in 2050, said Nobel laureate in economics, "the father of Euro" Robert Mundell in a speech entitled "Construction of Northeast Asia Headquarters Base", according to sources from the Ministry of Commerce.
At the fourth Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum, Robert Mundell gave his own evaluation of China's economic development situation.
In his view, China's annual GDP growth maintains a rate at around 11% at present; in the next 15 to 20 years it will not be lower than 8%, and China will retain a rapid growth until 2030. China is expected to become the world's largest economy in 2050. The per capita income of China will also keep on rising.
Robert Mundell also pointed out that a major bottleneck of China's economic development is energy. As a major coal consumption country, China's carbon dioxide emissions accounts for 14% of the world's, of which more than 85 % are from coal. To keep sustainable energy development as soon as possible and get rid of the excessive dependence on coal are crucial for the economic development of China.
By People's Daily Online
At the fourth Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum, Robert Mundell gave his own evaluation of China's economic development situation.
In his view, China's annual GDP growth maintains a rate at around 11% at present; in the next 15 to 20 years it will not be lower than 8%, and China will retain a rapid growth until 2030. China is expected to become the world's largest economy in 2050. The per capita income of China will also keep on rising.
Robert Mundell also pointed out that a major bottleneck of China's economic development is energy. As a major coal consumption country, China's carbon dioxide emissions accounts for 14% of the world's, of which more than 85 % are from coal. To keep sustainable energy development as soon as possible and get rid of the excessive dependence on coal are crucial for the economic development of China.
By People's Daily Online
Cambodian Senate president returns home from China visit
Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim arrived in Phnom Penh on Friday after paying an official visit to China.
Chea Sim was welcomed by some Cambodian senior officials and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
At the invitation of Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chea Sim left Cambodia Monday for China to pay a five-day visit.
During his stay in China, Chea Sim respectively met with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and Jia Qinglin on Tuesday.
Source:Xinhua
Chea Sim was welcomed by some Cambodian senior officials and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
At the invitation of Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chea Sim left Cambodia Monday for China to pay a five-day visit.
During his stay in China, Chea Sim respectively met with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and Jia Qinglin on Tuesday.
Source:Xinhua
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