BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) — More foreign leaders have sent congratulatory messages to the Chinese leaders elected at the First Session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC).

    The following foreign leaders have sent congratulatory messages to President Hu Jintao, who was re-elected to the position on March 15:

    Robert Kocharian, president of Armenia.

    Haris Silajdzic, chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s presidency.

    Pierre Nkurunziza, president of Burundi.

    Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan.

    Armando Emilio Guebuza, president of Mozambique.

    Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has sent a congratulatory message to Hu Jintao, who was re-elected as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the country’s top military command.

    The following foreign leaders have sent messages of congratulations to Wu Bangguo, who was re-elected as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th NPC:

    Milorad Zivkovic, speaker of the House of Representatives of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    Georgi Pirinski, chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.

    Kasymzhomart Tokaev, chairman of the senate of Kazakhstan.

    Oliver Dulic, parliament speaker of the Republic of Serbia.

    Ilgizar Sabirov, senate president of the Supreme Assembly of Uzbekistan.

    Dilorom Toshmuhamedova, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek Supreme Assembly.

    The following foreign leaders have sent messages of congratulations to Wen Jiabao, who was reappointed Chinese Premier:

    Thomas Boni Yayi, president of Benin.

    Sergei Stanishev, prime minister of Bulgaria.

    Lado Gurgenidze, prime minister of Georgia.

    Martinho Dafa Cabi, prime minister of Guinea-Bissau.

    Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    HONG KONG, March 31 (Xinhua) — Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here Monday that relations between the Philippines and China are stronger than ever.

    Arroyo made the remarks when answering questions at a luncheon of the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference.

    The Philippines benefits from the fast growing economy of China, which is acting as a responsible country in the neighborhood, she said.

    At the Luncheon, the president gave a keynote address titled ” Modernization, Investing in the Future”, briefing the participants on the economic status and investment opportunities in her country.

    Year 2007 was the best time for the Philippine economy in over 30 years, she said, noting that the economy grew by 7.3 percent last year with steady and strong foreign investments.

    Arroyo said that 2008 holds real promise. “Not only do we expect continued strong growth, but as a result of our total economic overhaul, we are well-positioned to weather a global economic slowdown which, unfortunately, will affect all of us. ”

    ”The best thing we can do for the remainder of my term until I step down in 2010 is to stay focused on further economic reforms while providing peace, order and stability,” she said.

    ”Most importantly, my last two years will be dedicated to one main objective: to invest, invest and invest some more in our nation,” she said.

    ”Overall, we remain bullish on our economy, optimistic about our future and deeply committed to being a force for good in our nation and in our region,” she said.

    Arroyo arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday and is expected to leave Tuesday.

    BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) — China on Monday signed an agreement with Germany’s “European Energy Manager” project, under which Germany will help train Chinese energy management and conservation experts.

    According to the agreement signed between the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) and the German Energy Bureau, a program of joint training will be offered to 200 energy managers in China in 2008, 300 to 400 in 2009 and 500 more in 2010.

    The trainees will get a two-week course in China and a three-week practical training period in Germany and will get a certificate as a “European Energy Manager” if their final thesis on conservation wins approval from a panel of experts.

    The “European Energy Manager” is a program created by Germany’s Nurnberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce that offers a credential that is widely accepted in European Union member countries.

    SAFEA Director Ji Yunshi said at the signing ceremony that China hopes to learn from the experience of Germany on energy management.

President Hu Jintao meets with UAE vice-president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Monday in Beijing. (Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government has an unswerving policy to push for the stable growth of friendly and cooperative relations between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said President Hu Jintao here on Monday.

    Hu made the remarks in a meeting with UAE vice-president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was here on a four-day official trip.

    Highlighting the China-UAE relationship, Hu expressed appreciation for the UAE’s adherence to the one-China policy and applauded the UAE’s support for China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan and Tibet issues.

    Considering China and the UAE as good friends and partners, Hu said that China was ready to work with the UAE to further increase high-level exchanges and make full use of relevant mechanisms to coordinate in a timely way on bilateral relations and other major issues of common concern.

    The two nations are highly complementary in economic terms, Hu said, urging the two sides to achieve new progress in bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, energy, investment and other areas.

    China encouraged companies from both sides to increase investment in the other country and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure construction, engineering, telecommunications, labor services and other fields, Hu said.

    The two countries should also strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and tourism and promote friendly exchanges between the two peoples, he added.

    Hu said that China and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) should strengthen their collective dialogue and exchanges, seek an all-round development of their friendly and cooperative relations and improve their coordination in international and regional affairs.

    Mohammed said that the UAE always supported China’s reunification cause and he wished China success in holding the Beijing Olympic Games.

    The two nations have enjoyed rapid growth in economic cooperation and have constantly expanded their areas of cooperation in recent years, Mohammed said. The UAE would continue to make efforts to cement and advance the UAE-China friendship and promote cooperation with China in various areas to achieve better development of bilateral relations.

    BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) — Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met here on Monday with the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Ebnezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes, agreeing to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

    Wu, who is chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body, said that the NPC attaches great importance to developing relations with the Parliament of Ghana.

    He pledged to maintain the momentum of high-level bilateral visits, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the special committees and offices of both parliaments, and enhance bilateral coordination in international and regional parliamentary organizations.

    Wu hailed the relationship between the two countries, saying that China attached great importance to such relations and was ready to continuously promote practical cooperation on a win-win basis for mutual benefit.

    He also expressed his appreciation of Ghana’s adherence to the one-China policy and support for China on the Taiwan and Tibet issues.

    Hughes said that Ghana’s Parliament was willing to make joint efforts with the NPC to develop friendly and cooperative ties, adding that Ghana cherishes the traditional friendship with China and will firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

    Hughes also met on Monday with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, and Abdul’ahat Abdulrixit, the vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

    Jia briefed Hughes on the work of CPPCC and said that the CPPCC is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Parliament of Ghana to develop bilateral relations.

    He also thanked Ghana’s government and parliament for firmly adhering to the one-China policy and supporting China’s reunification cause.

    Hughes agreed to promote cooperation between the Ghanaian parliament and the CCPCC, adding that Ghana appreciated China’s aid and support and would continue to stick to the one-China policy.

    Hughes arrived here on Sunday for a one-week visit to China as guest of Jia.

    JINAN, March 31 (Xinhua) — Professor Guy Salvatore Alitto of the history department of the University of Chicago, who has visited a county in the eastern province of Shandong time after time over the past 22 years, has witnessed great changes in China.

    ”Each time I visit China, I am astonished at its development,” said the professor, who recalled the scene in Zouping county in 1986, when he first arrived.

    ”There was only one main road running through the county,” he recalled, “In the evenings, under the dim light of a cinema, a lone booth was selling popcorn. That was recognized as night life for local people.”

    Alitto described the change of the small county as “between heaven and earth”.

    ”One year after my first visit, the county had its first cafe. Formerly distrustful farmers later welcomed me by extending congratulations for the Chicago Bulls’ crowning in the NBA championship,” he smiled.

    Situated in central Shandong, the typical agricultural county was among the first batch of Chinese rural areas opened to foreign scholars.

    Data released by the local statistics bureau indicated that in 2007, the gross income of the county was 40 billion yuan (about 5.7 billion U.S. dollars) and the per capita income of urban citizens and farmers was 13,800 yuan and 6,038 yuan, respectively. These figures were roughly 53, eight and 10 times the figures in 1989.

    Like Alitto, many foreigners have visited the county during the past 22 years, including Michel Oksenberg, a former member of the U.S. National Security Council, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who went to the county in 1997 and later published a story in the New York Times entitled “It’s Wrong to Demonize China.”

    Alitto has finished a book on the history of Zouping after talking with several hundred elderly people there, and he plans to write another book — this time, a novel on the development of Fengjia village.

    ”Thirty years have passed since China’s reform and opening up, and I have witnessed the dramatic development of Zouping,” he said. “The research goes on.”