China’s top political advisor Jia Qinglin visited the newly-discovered Nanpu Oilfield during his inspection tour to northern Hebei Province from June 28 to 30.(Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — China’s top political advisor Jia Qinglin visited the newly-discovered Nanpu Oilfield during his inspection tour to northern Hebei Province from June 28 to 30.

    ”The development of Nanpu is conducive to ensuring China’s energy security and the economic and social development of the region,” said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

    The discovery of Nanpu Oilfield, boasting a reserve of one billion tons, or about 7.35 billion barrels, was announced in early May. It was the largest discovery in the country over four decades.

    The oilfield lies in the Nanpu block of the CNPC’s (China National Petroleum Corporation) Jidong Oilfield in Tangshan City of Hebei Province.

    ”Bearing in mind the task of ensuring national energy security, we should build Nanpu into a science-oriented and environmentally-friendly oilfield,” said Jia.

    China’s oil dependency, or net oil imports against oil consumption, went up 4.1 percentage points year on year to 47 percent in 2006, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    Last year, the nation produced 183.68 million tons of crude oil, up 1.7 percent, and imported 138.84 million tons, up 16.9 percent. Its oil consumption (crude plus oil products) amounted to 346.55 million tons, up 9.3 percent.

    BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — The People’s Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will run an editorial headlined “Great Conception and Successful Implementation” on Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

    Hailing the “one country, two systems” policy, the editorial says Hong Kong has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and witnessed continuous prosperity and stability in the decade since it returned to the motherland.

    Over the past decade, the central government “unswervingly” implemented the policies of “one country, two systems” and “Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong” and went all out to shore up the development of Hong Kong, the editorial says.

    The decade has witnessed that Hong Kong’s role as a prosperous free port, a center of international finance, trade and shipping, and a most free and opening economy of the world remains undiminished, it says.

    Noting that the mainland’s development has helped drive Hong Kong’s economy, the editorial says the special administrative region has also contributed to the mainland’s economic growth by serving as a platform for the mainland to attract international investment, technology and managing experience.

    The editorial also urges Hong Kong people to seek common ground while reserving difference and make united efforts for a brighter future.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed to tackle algae outbreaks that stench the country’s freshwater lakes, urging officials to take environmental management of the lakes as a state project in Jiangsu province on June 30, 2007.
(Xinhua Photo)

    WUXI, Jiangsu Province, June 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed here Saturday to tackle algae outbreaks that stench the country’s freshwater lakes, urging officials to take environmental management of the lakes as a state project.

    Since May, blue-green algae outbreaks have been reported in eastern Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake and southwestern Dianchi Lake, endangering local tap water supply.

    ”We need to take environmental management of the three lakes as a state project and put it at a more prominent, pressing and important position,” Wen said at a meeting on pollution control work of the three lakes.

    ”We should tackle the problem with scientific approach, good leadership, and high standards and confidence,” Wen said.

    The priority is to protect the lakes from further pollution and ensure the safety of drinking water for the local residents, Wen said.

    In the meeting, Wen asked local officials to strengthen supervision and ban factories from discharging pollutants into the lakes.

    He also urged more investment into tackling the algae pollution and strengthened efforts to draft regulations on the environmental protection of the three lakes.

Special Report: 10th Anniversary of HK’s Return to China

    HONG KONG, June 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday called on Hong Kong people to set aside differences, be inclusive and work together to ensure stability and development of Hong Kong.

    While toasting at a welcoming dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, Hu said Hong Kong has surely come a long way, but this has not been easy, and the people of Hong Kong should cherish their hard-won progress.

    ”To ensure stability and development in Hong Kong, a society of diversity, it is important that its people set aside differences, be inclusive and work together to promote their common interests.

    ”The people of Hong Kong from all social groups, professions and organizations, and with various political beliefs and faiths should follow the call of ‘loving the motherland and loving Hong Kong’, close ranks, uphold China’s national interests and Hong Kong’s overall interests, and strive to sustain Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” said Hu.

    President Hu arrived here Friday to attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the swearing-in ceremony of the third-term HKSAR government.

Special Report: 10th Anniversary of HK’s Return to China

    HONG KONG, June 30 (Xinhua) — The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has made great contribution to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, said state councilor Tang Jiaxuan Saturday at a reception organized by the commissioner office.

    About 600 representatives from foreign consulates and international organizations in Hong Kong were present at the reception celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong.

    State councilor Tang Jiaxuan said at the reception that during its 10 years of establishment since 1997 when Hong Kong returned to its motherland, the commissioner office in Hong Kong has played an important role in defending the legal benefits of Hong Kong people overseas and promoting cooperation between Hong Kong and foreign countries and regions, making great contribution to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.

    Tang Jiaxuan, former foreign minister who witnessed the returning ceremony of Hong Kong 10 years ago, arrived in Hong Kong Friday accompanying Chinese President Hu Jintao for the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to its motherland.

    Also speaking at the reception, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Donald Tsang expressed the Hong Kong government’s appreciation of the cooperation and support of the commissioner office, and said he hoped to further develop Hong Kong’s external relations under the joint efforts of the HKSAR government and the commissioner office.

Special Report: 10th Anniversary of HK’s Return to China

    HONG KONG, June 30 (Xinhua) — The concept of “one country, two systems” guarantees the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and will prove more successful in the future, said Chinese President Hu Jintao here on Saturday.

    Delivering a speech at the welcoming dinner hosted by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Hu said the success of Hong Kong since its return bears full testimony to the immense vitality of the concept of “one country, two systems.”

    It demonstrates that the scientific concept of “one country, two systems” put forward by Deng Xiaoping is not only the best solution to resolving the issue of Hong Kong, one left over by history, but also the best institutional arrangement that guarantees Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability after its return to the motherland, Hu said.

    The arrangement of “one country, two systems” enables Hong Kong to maintain its strength and receive stronger support from the mainland. It enables Hong Kong and the mainland to complement each other and achieve common development, Hu said.

    He said that “one country, two systems” is a good policy for Hong Kong, for the whole country, for international investors and for prosperity in the region.

    ”We have no doubt that in the course of its implementation, the ‘one country, two systems’ policy will prove even more successful and popular,” Hu said.

    Hu arrived in Hong Kong on Friday to attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China and the swearing-in ceremony of the third-term HKSAR government.