CHANGSHA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — China’s investment in water conservancy projects reached a record high of 142.7 billion yuan (20.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2009, Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said Sunday.

    The total spending more than doubled the investment of 65.54 billion yuan in 2008.

    Among last year’s spending, 63.7 billion yuan were from the central budget while the rest from provincial-level governments, Chen said.

    The massive investment last year had pushed forward maintenance and upgrading of 6,124 reservoirs around the country, and helped nearly 61 million people gain access to safe drinking water, said Chen.

    Between 2008 and 2009, the country added another 1.17 billion cubic meters in its water storing capacity and improved irrigation systems on 57.7 million mu (about 3.84 million hectares) of farmland, said Chen.

    In 2009 alone, another 3 million kilowatts were added to the installed capacity of rural hydro power plants, bringing the total capacity to 54 million kw. The annual power output exceeded 150 billion kilowatt-hours.

    HANOI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — A 100-member Chinese youth delegation arrived here on Sunday for the tenth China-Vietnam youth friendship meeting.

    At the opening ceremony of the meeting, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Vietnam Nguyen Dac Vinh said the tenth meeting between Vietnamese and Chinese youth is of greater significance in the context that the two countries are embracing the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which is to fall on Jan. 18.

    Vinh said that the meeting brings a good opportunity for the representatives of the young people of Vietnam and China to exchange views of mutual concern, share experiences and propose initiatives in youth activities, especially in the education of young people, socio-economic development, community building, ensuring social security and protection of young people’s rights.

    Vietnamese and Chinese youth should together find out effective ways to promote the cooperative and friendly relations between the young people of the two countries, said Vinh.

    Wang Hongyan, head of the Chinese youth delegation and a member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China said that the exchange activities of Chinese and Vietnamese youth have become an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries.

    Wang said she believes Chinese and Vietnamese youth can definitely keep and promote the cooperative and friendly relations between China and Vietnam and pass this spirit on to the next generation, contributing to the happiness of the two peoples, and peace and development in Asia and the world.

    At the meeting, Vietnamese and Chinese youth presented each other with souvenirs and performed songs and dances to feature the cultures and close relations of the two countries.

    The Chinese youth delegation is in Vietnam for a ten-day visit. 

Chinese peacekeepers and rescuers bid farewell to the bodies of Chinese victims in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 17, 2010. The bodies of eight Chinese police officers who died in the Haiti quake would be brought home by a chartered plane of China Southern Airlines. (Xinhua/Yuan Man)

    BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — The bodies of eight Chinese police officers who died in the Haiti quake are expected to be brought home on Tuesday morning by a chartered plane, China’s Ministry of Public Security said late Sunday night.

    The Boeing 747 cargo plane, of China Southern Airlines, took off from Haiti’s capital city Port-au-Prince at 10:36 p.m. Sunday Beijing Time, after sending the first batch of humanitarian aid materials from China to Haiti.

    It was expected to arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning after stopovers at the Miami Airport and Anchorage International Airport, according to the ministry.

    Of the victims, four were officers of China’s peacekeeping force in Haiti and the rest were in a team sent by the Ministry of Public Security of China to Port-au-Prince for peacekeeping consultations.

    The eight were meeting UN officials in the headquarters of the UN Stabilization Mission in Port-au-Prince when the quake struck at about 4:50 p.m. Tuesday local time.

    The first batch of China’s humanitarian aid is worth 13 million yuan (1.9 million U.S. dollars) included 1,000 tents, water, food, emergency lights, medicines, clothing and water purification equipment.

    The aid is part of an relief package worth 30 million yuan announced by the Chinese government Friday. 

Chinese peacekeepers bid farewell to the bodies of Chinese victims in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 17, 2010. The bodies of eight Chinese police officers who died in the Haiti quake would be brought home by a chartered plane of China Southern Airlines. (Xinhua/Yuan Man)

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    BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Eight Chinese police officers have been confirmed dead in Tuesday’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Four of them were members of the UN peacekeeping mission. The other four were sent by the Chinese authorities on a temporary mission.

    With devotion, expertise and even at the cost of their own lives, Chinese peacekeepers in Haiti followed the spirit of humanitarianism and a faith in peace. Their work will always be remembered.

    Working in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, these Chinese “blue helmets,” as UN peacekeepers are commonly called, braved social unrest, tropical diseases and natural disasters to bring peace and stability to this distant Caribbean nation.

    Since 2004, China has sent eight batches of peacekeeping police to Haiti. Before the quake, a total of 142 Chinese police officers were deployed in Haiti as part of the UN peacekeeping mission.

    Their impeccable service and high discipline, together with their professionalism and devotion to peace have won respect from both the United Nations and local people.

    Hedi Annabi, head of the UN Stability Mission in Haiti, who also died in the quake, had spoke highly of the performance of the Chinese peacekeepers.

    ”I have the chance to see the professionalism of China’s police force and a Chinese policeman become director of an important UN police department in Haiti. They are all doing well,” he had told Xinhua in an interview.

    China, as a responsible big nation, has been actively taking part in UN peacekeeping missions in war-torn regions across the world.

    Statistics show that China has so far sent 12,753 troops to 18 UN peace missions. It has also sent 1,571 police on UN peacekeeping missions to East Timor, Bosnia, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Haiti and Sudan.

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised China’s outstanding peacekeeping efforts. As one of the most important members of the United Nations, “you now rank among our top 10 contributors of both funds and peacekeeping forces,” Ban said.

    UN Under-Secretary-General Alain Le Roy also praised China’s contributions to world peace and expressed gratitude to the Chinese peacekeepers in Darfur for their outstanding performance.

    As the biggest developing country, China holds dear the lofty ideal of lasting world peace and universal prosperity.

    To realize this ideal, the country is making its due contribution to world peace, stability and development. The eight Chinese police officers who died in the Haiti quake sacrificed their lives in following this lofty faith.

    URUMQI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Having plagued by blizzards and cold snaps over the past weeks, Altay in the northern part of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, however, is bringing fun to locals with snow nearly 50 cm thick on average on its pastures.

    Altay, boasting one of the longest history of skiing with ancient rock paintings discovered there depicting skiing activities dating back to 12,000 years ago.

    To mark one of the origin places for skiing around the world, awinter ski festival is being held at Mount Jiangjun ski run in Altay. The festival has attracted 105 people of Kazakh and Mongolians ethnic groups from all parts of Altay and neighboring areas to strive for the 5th Champion of the traditional Kazakh-style skiing.

    Last week saw 1 meter of snow fall in some areas of Altay, with temperature touching the low point of minus 42 degree Celsius.

    However, such snow and coldness did not dispel local people’s passion for skiing and other fun in winter. Apart from the above-mentioned contestants, thousands of tourists and ski fans have been tempted to the ski run.

    Guo Dandan, the first Chinese style-ski world champion, said that the ski run was one of the best ones in China, and the snow condition there was of world-class.

    Altay Mountains are situated on the conjunction of China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia and in the very center of Asia. The far distance away from oceans makes the area cold, but less windy, which allows the perfect conditions for skiing.

    In ancient days, people of the local Kazakh ethnic group used the ski-boards for hunting, and the tradition has been passed on to present day.

    According to Nils Larsen, an American expert having documented skiing in the Altay Mountains since 2005, use of single pole and horse furs in the bottom of ski board make the traditional Kazakh-style skiing in Altay stands out in the sport worldwide.

    ”There are also some traditional ski styles in Russia and some of the Scandinavian countries, but the one in Altay is probably the best retained. And Altay itself is such an interesting and beautiful place, I have kept coming back every year since the first time I was here,” said Nils, who is trying to make his second documentary about skiing in Altay Mountains.

    Actually, there is more than ski in Altay. Since 2003, ice-engraving has gradually become a very important part of life in Altay winter. There are more than 50 pieces of ice-engraving works exhibited this winter. The illuminations at night make the ice sculptures look even more beautiful. Lots of local families enjoy the icy art works on the spot.

    ”The snow this year was probably the heaviest I’ve ever seen. Indeed it has caused troubles to some extent. But I love snow and winter, since it brings more fun,” said Murat, a 17-year old Kazakh who went for the ice-engraving park with his family.

    BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the death of eight Chinese police officers who died in the Haiti quake and sent words of comfort to their family members.

    Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, ordered the proper handling of issues arising from the police officers’ deaths.

    Other senior Chinese leaders including Wen Jiabao, Xi Jinping and Zhou Yongkang also gave instructions on the handling the issues.

    Of the victims, four were officers of China’s peacekeeping force in Haiti and the rest were in a team sent by the Ministry of Public Security of China to Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, for peacekeeping consultations.

    The eight were meeting UN officials in the headquarters of the UN Stabilization Mission in Port-au-Prince when the quake struck at about 4:50 p.m. Tuesday local time.

    The CPC Central Committee and State Council urged an all-out rescue for the eight after the quake hit. The bodies were found after 94 hours of search.