Jia Qinglin (front), chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivers a speech as he attends a mobilization meeting of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 21, 2010. Shanghai Expo entered its 100-day countdown on Jan. 21. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

    SHANGHAI, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — China’s top political advisor Jia Qinglin Thursday called on Shanghai World Expo organizers to be determined to stage a successful, brilliant and memorable event.

    Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a ceremony hosted here to mark the 100-day countdown for the six-month-long mega event.

    The ceremony was attended by more than 6,000 people including members from the Expo organizing committee, volunteers, security staff, participating enterprises and sponsors.

    Jia said, the Expo would witness the remarkable improvement of China’s economic strength, scientific and technological strength and international status.

    The expo would boost economic and cultural exchanges between China and the world, and be conducive to the recovery of world economy, said Jia.

    Jia called for stepped-up efforts to ensure prompt completion of all venues, seamless security work and quality services.

    In a separate meeting, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan called for vigilance in the preparations for the Expo. “Organizers should detect problems and deal with them in a timely manner.”

    Wang is also head of Shanghai World Expo Organizing Committee.

    The 2010 Shanghai World Expo is scheduled for May 1 to Oct. 31. To date, 192 countries and 50 international organizations have confirmed their participation in the global feast that presents latest advances of architecture and engineering worldwide.

Jia Qinglin (C), chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a mobilization meeting of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 21, 2010. Shanghai Expo entered its 100-day countdown on Jan. 21. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Special Report:  Expo 2010 Shanghai China  

    BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday exchanged congratulatory messages with their Vietnamese counterparts to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

    In a joint message, Hu, Wu and Wen said forging diplomatic ties60 years ago has established a milestone in the bilateral relations.

    In the 21st century, the China-Vietnam relations have entered anew stage, and both sides have built the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, enjoyed fruitful results in cooperation in all areas, gradually resolved border issues and maintained collaboration on international and regional affairs, they said.

    The Chinese leaders pledged to make joint efforts with Vietnam to advance the good-neighborly and cooperative relations by carrying forward the traditional friendship, enhancing friendly exchanges and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, which serves the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the two peoples and conduces to regional peace, stability and development.

    For their part, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen Minh Triet, Premier Nguyen Tan Dung and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam always values and would fully develop the friendly and cooperative relations between both parties, governments and peoples.

    The Vietnamese leaders believed that with joint efforts both parties would continuously consolidate and develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, promote the prosperity of both countries and benefit both peoples.

    Both parties hoped to further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship of the two peoples and countries by jointly conducting the China-Vietnam Friendship Year in 2010.

    BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — China said on Monday that it is considering the evacuation of its nationals from Haiti, which was struck by a devastating earthquake on Tuesday.

    For those who are still in Haiti, including Chinese nationals from the mainland and some Taiwan compatriots, “We will help them evacuate at their request,” said Wei Wei, director of Foreign Ministry Consular Department, at a news briefing.

    ”Currently, some 30 Taiwan compatriots stay in Haiti. Chinese consular organization in Haiti has provided consular services to some who made requests,” said Wei.

   ¡¡GUIYANG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — At least seven people were confirmed dead after a moderate earthquake jolted the juncture area of three counties in southwest China’s Guizhou Province Sunday, earthquake authorities said Monday.

    The quake, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale struck at 5:37 p.m. Sunday, according to China Earthquake Administration.

    At least one person was missing and nine others injured, including two seriously, said the Anshun City Emergency Management Office. All the injured are receiving treatment at hospital.

    With a depth of about 7 km, the epicenter was detected at 25.6 degrees north latitude and 105.8 degrees east longitude in a juncture area between Guanling Buyi and Miao Autonomous County, Zhenning Buyi and Miao Autonomous County and Zhenfeng county, according to China Earthquake Administration.

    The quake triggered landslides at two sites, causing casualties, according to the administration.

    GUIYANG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Three people were killed after a moderate earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale jolted southwest China’s Guizhou Province Sunday, local government said.

    NANJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo has urged to accelerate transformation of the mode of economic development, so as to improve sustainable development when fighting the global financial crisis.

    Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, made the remarks during his visit to east China’s Jiangsu Province from Thursday to Sunday.

Wu Bangguo (2nd L, front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), talks with staff members as he visits COSCO (Nantong) Shipyard in Nantong of east China’s Jiangsu Province, Jan. 15, 2010. Wu Bangguo paid a visit in Jiangsu for investigation and research on Jan. 14-17. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

    He called for more efforts for the transformation of the mode of economic development, adjusting economic structure and boosting industrial upgrading.

    ”To accelerate transformation of the mode of economic development should be an important goal and strategic measure in carrying out the Scientific Outlook on Development,” Wu said.

    The economic recovery should be based on an optimized and upgraded economic structure, and the fight against global financial crisis be a process of improving sustainablity of development, he said.

Wu Bangguo (C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), shakes hands with a staff member as he visits WuXi AppTec company in Suzhou of east China’s Jiangsu Province, Jan. 16, 2010. Wu Bangguo paid a visit in Jiangsu for investigation and research on Jan. 14-17. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

    Wu stressed the importance of bringing in high-level human resources, advanced technologies and management expertise. He also encouraged domestic companies to acquire research and development institutions, sales networks, and famous brands, as well as to build production bases, in foreign countries.

    Advanced technologies and new economic growth points are needed for transformation of development mode, economic restructuring and industrial upgrading, and also for China to participate in international competition, he said.

    Wu also called for more efforts to develop emerging industries, including new energy, new materials, Internet of Things, low-carbon technologies and others, “to ensure China will not lose a new round of international economic competition.”

    Human recourses are the key factor of industrial upgrading and nurturing new economic growth points, Wu said.

    ”We shall bear in mind that human resources are of utmost importance,” he said.

    Wu visited industrial parks, scientific research institutions and workshops of enterprises in the cities of Nantong, Suzhou and Wuxi.