BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — The coming Beijing Olympic Games will boost by 50 percent the flat-panel television sales in China in 2008, according to a report from the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce.

    Flat-panel television sales will surge to 12 million units from eight million units this year, the report said.

    China has pledged to provide digital TV broadcasting for the Beijing Games, prompting citizens to buy high definition televisions to better view live broadcasting.

    ”Our survey shows that 53.3 percent of people plan to buy flat-panel televisions for Olympic viewing, in particular,” said Chen Bingfeng, a marketing manager at leading Chinese TV maker TCL.

    Sales of flat-panel televisions with 42-inch or larger monitors will account for 40 percent, or 4.8 million units, of the total, the report also forecast.

    BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — China added 85 million kilowatts of power generating capacity from January to November this year to fuel its double-digit economic growth, according to the China Electricity Council (CEC).

    The installed power generating capacity in China, the world’s second largest energy consumer only after the United States, stood at 622 million kw by the end of 2006.

    The rapid increase in power capacity means there was slim chance of power shortages occurring in large areas of the country despite the sustained growth in power demand, said an unnamed CEC official.

    China’s power generating capacity would jump to 900 million kw in 2010 and the power demand would grow by around 10 percent annually from 2007 to 2010, the CEC predicted.

    The power demand and supply would continue to be in basic balance in the coming years, the official added.

    Severe power shortages started to hit a majority of Chinese provinces and cities in 2002, before they eased in 2006.

    HONG KONG, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — Hang Seng China Enterprises Index on Hong Kong Stock Exchange went up Monday with 133.24 points, or 0.83 percent higher, to close the day’s trading at 16, 124.72.

    The H-shares index, initiated in August 1994 and readjusted on Sept. 10, 2007, tracks the overall performance of 43 Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

    Hang Seng China H-Financials Index moved up 97.51 points, or 0.54 percent, to close at 18,121.06.

    The H-Financials Index, initiated on Nov. 27, 2006, readjusted on Sept. 10, tracks the performance of nine major banks and insurers of the Chinese mainland.

    Hang Seng China-Affiliated Corporations Index moved up 117.50 points, or 1.96 percent, to close at 6,111.20.

    The index tracks the performance of 31 locally listed companies with a significant equity interest held by entities in the Chinese mainland.

    Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index went up 70.92 points, or 1.38 percent, to close at 5,201.33.

    Introduced on Oct. 3, 2001 and readjusted on Sept. 11, 2006, Hang Seng Mainland Composite Index gauges the performance of 103 Hong Kong-listed companies with principal places of business in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

    MACAO, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — Macao’s government will make efforts to ensure that the whole community will benefit from the booming economy by enhancing public services and curbing inflation, said Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah in his New Year speech on Monday.

    Extending his New Year greetings to the Macao people, Ho promised that, in the coming years, the government will work on translating Macao’s economic prosperity into various high quality public services, and adopting resilient and comprehensive policies to curb inflation that affects people’s daily lives.

    He said Macao’s economy, centering on the tourism and leisure industries, has taken shape as it was designed and brought prosperity to the SAR in the past year.

    Ho also pointed out that the general public contributed their efforts and ideas in public affairs, prompting the government to enhance its policies; as a result, a harmonious atmosphere was created in the whole community.

    The SAR government will continue to launch reform and open Macao’s market in a bid to develop a more diversified and up-to-date economy, he said.

    Macao, an hour by ferry west of Hong Kong, has a population of 528,000. The island city reported a 2.9-percent unemployment rate for the September-November survey period, the lowest since 1994, according to official statistics.

    BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao called for world peace and development in his New Year address, which was broadcast on Monday to domestic and overseas audience via state TV and radio stations.

    ”We sincerely hope people of all nations live under the same blue sky freely, equally, harmoniously and happily, and enjoy the achievements in peace and development of humankind,” Hu said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers the New Year address in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2007. President Hu Jintao called for world peace and development in the address broadcast on Monday to domestic and overseas audience via state TV and radio channels.(Xinhua Photo/Ju Peng)

    Hu’s address, entitled “Jointly push forward the great cause of peace and development of humankind”, was broadcast by China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television.

    ”At this moment, we have deep concern for people in the world who are suffering from war, poverty, illness and natural calamities,” Hu said. “Chinese people are deeply sympathetic to them and willing to do our best to help them get out of their plights as early as possible.”

    He said that China will adhere to a peaceful development and opening-up policy that aims at common prosperity, and will continue to push forward the democratization of international relations and promote economic globalization along a balanced and all-benefiting path.

    Domestically China’s overall national strength has further grown and people’s livelihoods have further improved in the past year. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China mapped out the grand blueprint for continuing to build a moderately prosperous society and to accelerate socialist modernization, the president said.

    ”2008 will be a significant year for Chinese people as we will mark the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up,” Hu said, adding that the drive is a crucial option that determines the fate of contemporary China and has brought historic changes to socialist China.

    ”Improving people’s well being will continue to be our top priority in building a harmonious society in which all people are well educated, workers well paid, patients well treated, elders well tended, and families well housed,” Hu said.

    ”We will continue to adhere to the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and ‘Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong, Macao people governing Macao with a high degree of autonomy’. We will join hands with compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao to safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of both regions,” he said.

    On the Taiwan issue, he said: “We will also adhere to the basic principle of ‘peaceful reunification and one country, two systems’… and work for the wellbeing of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, strive for peace in the region and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

    As the host of the 29th Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics, China will spare no effort and enthusiasm in making the two games the grand opportunities for people around the world to understand, befriend and cooperate with each other, Hu said.

    ”We warmly welcome athletes from all nations to take part in the Olympics and Paralympics, and also welcome friends from around the world to come to China and watch the games,” the president added. 

Full text of 2008 New Year Speech by President Hu Jintao

                     December 31, 2007

Make Joint Efforts to Advance the Lofty Cause of Peace and Development for Mankind

— 2008 New Year Speech

Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,

    As the clock counts down the few remaining hours to the Year 2008, through China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television, I am very delighted to extend New Year greetings to Chinese people of all nationalities, our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and in Taiwan, overseas Chinese and our friends of various countries around the world.

    The year 2007 saw new changes in the world and China has also made new progress. Chinese people have continued to work shoulder to shoulder in building a well-off society in an all-round way. China¡¯s comprehensive national strength has further strengthened and people’s livelihood has further improved. Chinese people have boosted exchanges and cooperation with people of various nations, actively engaged in the proper settlement of issues in the world¡¯s hot spots, and pushed for the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which convened two months ago, mapped out the grand blueprint for continuing to build a well-off society in an all-round way under new circumstances and accelerating socialist modernization. Chinese people from all ethnic groups are making full use of their diligence and wisdom to make new efforts to write a new chapter for a better life. 

    2008 will be a significant year for Chinese people as we will mark the 30th anniversary of China¡¯s opening up and reform. Initiated in 1978, the reform and opening-up drive is a crucial option that determines the fate of contemporary China. It has brought historic changes to socialist China. We will continue unwaveringly to hold high the great banner of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement the scientific outlook on development, further emancipate our mind, adhere to reform and opening up, develop socialist market economy,  advance socialist democracy, and develop advanced socialist culture.

    Improving people’s well being will continue to be our top priority in building a harmonious society in which all people are well educated, workers well paid, patients well treated, elders well tended, and families well accommodated. We will continue to adhere to the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” and the policies of “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong, Macao people governing Macao with a high degree of autonomy¡±.  We will join hands with compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao to safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of both regions. We will also adhere to the basic principle of “peaceful reunification and one country, two systems”. We will grasp firmly the theme of peace and development in handling cross-Straits relations, and work for the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, strive for peace in the region and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 
    At present, the overall international situation is stable. However, with the economic imbalance growing globally, the international security situation has become more complicated, and humankind is facing an increase in troubles and challenges. Sharing the opportunities for development and meeting the challenges together for the lofty cause of human peace and development are the common wishes of people in all countries. Here I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate that China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, make unremitting efforts in taking the road of peace and development, and undertaking the mutually beneficial, win-win and open strategy. We will continue to push forward the democratization of international relations, spare no effort in driving economic globalization towards a balanced development that benefits all and into a win-win situation, boost exchanges and mutual learning between different human civilizations, protect the globe on which humankind lives, and safeguard world peace and stability.
 
    At this moment, we are greatly concerned about people still suffering from warfare, poverty, disease, and disasters. We Chinese people are deeply sympathetic to them and are willing to do our utmost in helping them get rid of their plights as early as possible. And we sincerely hope that people of all nations can live a peaceful life of freedom, equality, harmony, and happiness under the same blue sky.

    In 2008, the 29th Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics will be held in Beijing. We, as the host, will spare no effort and enthusiasm in making the two games the grand opportunities for people around the world to understand, befriend and cooperate with each other. We warmly welcome athletes from all nations to take part in the Olympics and Paralympics games, and also welcome friends from around the world to come to China and watch the games.

    At last, from Beijing, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

(Source: CRIENGLISH. com)

    HANOI, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — The cooperative relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have experienced smooth development, especially in the fields of politics, trade, and investment, in recent years.

    ”The multifaceted cooperation between China and ASEAN has been the best over the past 15 years,” Associate Prof. Dr. Do Tien Sam at Vietnam’s Institute for Chinese Studies told Xinhua recently.

    China and ASEAN have frequently maintained exchanges of high-level visits to promote their friendly and cooperative ties, and intensified dialogues on policies to enhance their mutual understanding and trust.

    In 2007 alone, Chinese leaders paid some visits to ASEAN countries, including the trip to Singapore by Premier Wen Jiabao in November, and welcomed some of their counterparts from ASEAN member countries, including Vietnamese State President Nguyen MinhTriet in May and Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh in August.

    Besides, annual China-ASEAN summits have opened opportunities for the two sides to discuss measures to beef up their cooperation, especially in the fields of politics, economy and trade, and exchange views on other issues of common concern.

    The two sides have continued consultations on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theSouth China Sea, and upheld peace and stability in the sea.

    The enhanced political trust has laid foundation for the cooperation between China and ASEAN in economy, trade and other fields, Sam said, noting that the construction of the China-ASEAN free trade area (CAFTA) is the clearest manifestation of their political and economic ties because this is the political determinations of leaders of both sides.

    Now, China and the 10 ASEAN members, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, are speeding up tariff reduction, a move to facilitate the CAFTA’s establishment.

    The average tariff imposed by China on imported ASEAN goods is expected to drop to 2.4 percent in 2009 from current 5.8 percent. Under the CAFTA, China and the older ASEAN members — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand — will impose zero tariffs on most goods in 2010, and Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam will follow suit in 2015.

    ”China has become one of ASEAN’s leading trade partners and foreign investors. The CAFTA will bring about great opportunities to both sides,” Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the 4th China-ASEAN Trade Fair (CAEXPO) in October.

    China-ASEAN trade fairs have been organized annually in China since 2004, contributing to fostering the bilateral trade and investment cooperation. The two sides are actively negotiating for an investment agreement, facilitating their cooperation in the field.

    Trade between China and ASEAN is expected to exceed 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up from estimated 190 billion dollars in 2007 and 160.8 billion dollars in 2006. China and ASEAN are now each other’s fourth largest trade partners.

    Chinese investment in ASEAN rose rapidly to nearly 1.1 billion dollars by the end of 2005 from 150 million dollars in late 1991. By the end of 2005, ASEAN had total investment of 38.5 billion dollars in China.

    Together with politics, trade and investment, China and ASEAN have closely joined hands in such other fields as transport, agriculture, science, technology, education, culture, human resource development, environmental protection, and disease prevention.

    The two sides have signed the China-ASEAN Maritime Transport Agreement, and adopted the China-ASEAN Aviation Cooperation Framework.

    Besides, they have enhanced their cooperation in international and regional forums such as the ASEAN+3 summits (ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea), East Asia summits, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, and the World Trade Organization (WTO), contributing to peace, stability and development in Asia and the world.

    With their current fine cooperation and unceasing efforts in boosting the ties, the prospect of China-ASEAN relations in the coming time is rosy, Sam said.