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FBIS3-2540_0

Beijing's Chen Xitong, Li Qiyan Visit Former Mayor

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [By Yan Liqiang (0917 0500 1730): "Comrade Peng Zhen Wishes Beijing People A Happy New Year"] [Text] Chen Xitong, secretary of the municipal party committee, and Li Qiyan, mayor of Beijing, visited Comrade Peng Zhen at his home on the eve of the Spring Festival. They extended new year greetings on behalf of the people and communist party members of Beijing, to the former secretary and mayor and wished him long life and a happy Spring Festival. Comrade Peng Zhen was very pleased, and also wished Beijing's people and the communist party members a happy new year. Comrade Peng Zhen, who is 91 years old, cordially talked with the municipal leaders with a high spirit and clear mind. Chen Xitong and Li Qiyan said: Under the leadership of the party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core, Beijing improved all of its 1993 work over work in 1992 and achieved sustained, rapid, and healthy economic development. The per capita income of urban staff members and workers registered a substantial increase last year thanks to economic development. However, we still have some poverty-stricken, mountainous areas and low-income plants, shops, schools, and households that are experiencing difficulties. We will make efforts to solve this problem as a priority in our endeavors to achieve a fairly comfortable life in the next few years and make it a success. Comrade Peng Zhen said happily that healthy development was genuine development. He emphasized that great efforts in improving state-owned, large and medium-sized enterprises and agriculture, were key to this development. Chen Xitong said: This year's tasks for reform and development are very arduous. Great efforts should be made to maintain political and social stability in the capital. Meanwhile, we should further emancipate our minds, seize the opportunity, conduct investigation and study, make breakthroughs in key areas, and resolutely implement the arrangements of the party Central Committee and the State Council to win still greater achievements in the capital's reform, opening up, and modernization drive. Comrade Peng Zhen said: Stability is a major task concerning the entire country, and the capital should take the lead in maintaining it. Without a stable environment, nothing can be developed. Chen Xitong said that to continuously promote the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics as advocated by Comrade Xiaoping, we should strengthen party building and, in particular, achieve ideological and theoretical progress and

FBIS3-2568_0

Zhejiang Nongovernment Hi-Tech Enterprises Prosper

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Hangzhou, March 10 (XINHUA) -- East China's Zhejiang Province is encouraging scientific workers to set up more nongovernmental hi-tech enterprises to boost the local high-tech industry. According to the latest statistics, the province has about 4,000 such enterprises, employing 110,000 people. These enterprises are involved in the fields of machinery and electronics, gauges and meters, bio-chemicals, genetic engineering, medicine and the combination of machinery and electrical appliances. Many of them generate an annual output value of at least ten million yuan each a year. Under the centrally planned economy, research institutions used to undertake projects assigned by the government, which allocated limited funds and took charge of the findings. Such a system could hardly arouse the enthusiasm of scientific workers for research work, a provincial government official explained. During the current reform of the management of science and technology, research institutions have more say in their work, and scientific workers are encouraged to set up independent hi-tech industrial enterprises at their own expense, at the same time assuming sole responsibility for their profits and losses. They are also encouraged to apply their research findings to production. One example is the Hangzhou General Electrical Appliance Company, a nongovernmental enterprise specializing in telecommunications. Founded in 1990 with self-raised funds of more than 100,000 yuan, the company generates an annual output value exceeding 100 million yuan and profits climbing to 10 million yuan a year. The company has 140 employees, including 30 people with doctor's and master's degrees. The company has developed a series of advanced program-controlled telephone exchanges to meet the needs of the market. Another example is the Hangzhou Organic Silicon New Material Development and Application Company, a nongovernmental enterprise combining science and industry with trade. Many of the products, including HS-900 seal mat coat material, SI building waterproofing agent and HS-T-3 silicon resin, developed by the company have filled the gaps in China's science and technology. The company has just transferred 15 research findings to a Singapore company, and is using the money earned therefrom to build new workshops and other production facilities. The Hangzhou Feishida Computer Technology Company has been paying close attention to employing scientists and technicians, and offering better working and living conditions for them ever since its founding five years ago. With 20 research workers, the company has developed FGC color high-resolution video control boards and other computer software series. After

FBIS3-2577_0

`Massive' Military Build-Up Reported in Tibet

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] China has engaged in a massive military build-up in Tibet and conditions there are getting worse despite U.S. pressure for greater respect of human rights, a watchdog group said on Thursday [3 March]. "Today there are as many Chinese soldiers in Lhasa as there are Tibetans. Tibet, its people, and its unique culture are in grave jeopardy," said Lodi Gyari, president of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT). There has been no progress on human rights in Tibet in the past year, Gyari said. The ICI showed photographs smuggled out of Tibet showing a massive build-up of military facilities, six prisons, and huge areas of new housing. The group also displayed an official city planning map for Lhasa in the year 2000 which showed the traditional Tibetan areas of the city reduced to virtually nothing -- just the Jokhang and Potala palaces, described as cultural and tourist sites. Roads to monasteries in and around Lhasa are frequently the sites of military checkpoints, effectively restricting monks' movements, and military installations virtually surround many monasteries, the ICT said. "ICT and others have documented repeated and widespread use of arbitrary detention, torture and repression of religious and other civil freedoms throughout occupied Tibet," the ICT said. ICT hoped to alert Americans as the country weighed renewal of China's Most Favoured Nation trading status. President Bill Clinton said last year that he would not extend China's MFN beyond June 1994 unless Beijing could demonstrate significant progress on human rights. One specific request was that China begin dialogue with the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama. Gyari endorsed Clinton's call for China to begin talks with the Dalai Lama, but said there must be a clear commitment from the Chinese government to the time, place and a substantive agenda for such negotiations to be useful. "In the case of Tibet, China has made no signs of taking steps to protect Tibet's unique cultural and religious heritage, as stipulated in the president's MFN executive order," the ICT said. Human rights analysts believe the number of political prisoners held in Lhasa's six prison camps has risen by 30 percent in the past year, the ICT said. China has countered that Tibet remained at the centre of anti-socialist activity from "internal and external hostile forces".

FBIS3-2581_0

Beijing `Cannot Accept' U.S. Secretary on Human Rights Issue

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special dispatch" by staff reporter Chen Shao-chiang (7115 1421 1730): "Wu Yi on Most-Favored-Nation Status, Says the United States Should Not Wield the Big Stick"] [Text] Beijing, 10 Mar (HSIN WAN PAO) -- Wu Yi, minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, said today: "The Americans should not wield the big stick when they come to China. If they do so, they should not have come." Wu's remarks are aimed at U.S. Secretary of State Christopher, who is scheduled to arrive in China soon. Wu Yi participated in the opening session of the National People's Congress [NPC] this morning as a visitor. Wu was met by reporters when she arrived at the meeting hall. Wu Yi said that most-favored-nation [MFN] status is purely a trade matter, which should not be linked to politics. Therefore, we simply cannot accept the human rights question being raised by him (Christopher). This attitude of the Chinese Government is well known to the outside world." Wu continued: "The MFN issue is absolutely a trade matter, which should be resolved by trade methods. They (United States) want to link it to politics. This is totally unacceptable to us." Christopher will arrive in Beijing tomorrow.

FBIS3-2589_7

Commentary on Upcoming NPC, CPPCC Sessions Seize the Opportunity: A Year of Brilliant Achievements. The "Resolution" of the Third Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee Is An Important Sign of "Moving Toward Maturity" Macroregulation and Control: The Unforgettable 1993. Deepening the Comprehensive Understanding of Socialist Market Economy Through Practice Is Yet Another Manifestation of "Moving Toward Maturity" Work as One: Overall Advancement of Reform. To Give Full Play to Our Advantages in Implementation Is an Important Guarantee for "Moving Toward Maturity" Deepen Reform: The Focal Point of This Year's Work. To Handle Well the Relationship Among Reform, Development, and Stability Is the Key to "Moving Toward Maturity"

which macroregulation and control aims to solve or a difficulty that macroregulation and control itself encounters, there are always underlying causes in the system. That is why it is only logical that strengthening and improving "macroregulation and control" should lead the way in the overall deepening of reform. There were also all kinds of comments and worries about the various reform proposals, especially those for financial and tax reform. Considering the risks of the "merging of two exchange rates," even foreign experts were seized with deep concern for us. In June, the exchange rate of U.S. dollars to renminbi reached 1:12, and some people even predicted that it would go up to 1:15. Could we hold our ground? But no sooner had the macroregulation and control measures been published than the exchange rate started to drop. After moving on a downward curve for some time, it rebounded. But the state exercised regulation and control with economic means, quickly stabilized the situation, and kept it down. Through this process, the state even obtained more foreign exchange. Comments coming from China and overseas said: That was a brilliant job! The reform of the tax system is considered worldwide to be one of the most difficult reforms. It once took the Japanese Diet three terms to adopt a new tax regime. It has been said that Mrs. Thatcher's stepping down was somewhat related to the change in the tax regime. A senior U.S. official said: In the United States, whoever does this job is probably the most unpopular person in the entire country. This is because any change in the tax system would touch the most extensive scope of interests. The current situation of China's tax system reform is different from that in the West, but people are nevertheless still worried that it will run into obstruction, give rise to disputes, and cause a shock. But the actual progress that has been made so far may well be called another "exception to the rule." It has not only exceeded what was generally predicted abroad, but has also been much smoother than what we ourselves originally imagined. Judging from what happened in January this year, the operation of the new tax system was normal. Though there were some operational problems in the convergence of old and new procedures, they did not have any negative impact on production and circulation. Tax revenue in January was

FBIS3-2634_0

Qinghai Secretary Views Economic Development

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [Report on an interview with Qinghai provincial party committee secretary Yin Kesheng by XINHUA reporters Jin Jiasheng (6855 0857 5116) and Sun Ninghai (1327 1337 3189): "Take Advantage of Resource Superiority To Develop Qinghai's Economy"] [Text] Beijing, 20 Feb (XINHUA) -- Qinghai is a big province with abundant resources but a weak economic base. The establishment of a socialist market economic structure will inevitably create more historic opportunities for Qinghai's development. Only by seizing the opportunity and taking advantage of the resource superiority can the people of all nationalities in Qinghai rapidly develop Qinghai's economy. Yin Kesheng, secretary of the Qinghai provincial CPC committee, explained the fundamental way to develop Qinghai's economy during an interview with reporters soon after the Chinese New Year. "Qinghai, with a vast area indeed, has attractive natural resources for people to exploit." On Qinghai's resources, Yin Kesheng, who did petroleum prospecting work in the Qaidam desert for a long time, showed a great deal of emotion. He said: Qinghai has such resources as lake salt, hydroelectric power, petroleum, natural gas, non-ferrous metals and asbestos, and the confirmed deposits of them have a potential value of 8 trillion yuan. More than 10 of its mineral deposits, such as sodium, potassium, lithium, iodine, bromine, boron and asbestos rank first in quantity among all provinces in China. The upper reaches of the Huanghe in Qinghai are rich in hydroelectric power resources which are scarce in other parts of China. Qinghai's petroleum gas, non-ferrous metal, and gold resources are also abundant. The confirmed natural gas deposit is now 50 billion cubic meters, while it was less than 10 billion cubic meters in the late 1970's. Since the start of reform and opening up, Qinghai has made great efforts to exploit its resources and achieve prosperity, and it has found the road to success. Now, potash fertilizer in Chaerhan, the lead and zinc mine at Xitieshan, and asbestos at Mangya have become large state construction projects. In recent years, state-run enterprises, collectives, and individuals in various localities in the province were busily engaged in exploitation of resources. Baima County in Golog Zang Autonomous Prefecture used to be a "national-class" poor county. In recent years, the county has discovered gold deposits and greatly improved its financial situation. Qilian County in Haibei Zang Autonomous Prefecture has rapidly achieved financial self-sufficiency by relying on mining asbestos, coal, lead and

FBIS3-2647_0

Article Views U.S. Secretary's Visit, MFN, Human Rights

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [Fourth of four installments: "Special article" by Chu Hsing-fu (2612 1630 4395): "China and the United States Should Highly Value Their Harmony--Written on the Eve of Christopher's Visit to China" -- previous installments published in the 9, 10 March China Daily Report] [Text] Mutual Hostility Is Not Good When U.S. Secretary of State Christopher arrives Beijing on 11 March for a visit, what the Chinese and American officials have to discuss is how to enhance understanding, reduce friction, and strengthen bilateral cooperation on the basis on equality and reciprocity. It can benefit both sides if China and the United States, two big countries, can strengthen cooperation in various domains, whereas mutual hostility and a drain on strength is not good for either side. China does not constitute any threat to the United States. China and the United States and the peoples in the two countries have traditional friendship, and even during the Cold War period, they could be friends. Why cannot they get along well after the Cold War? If the United States cancels China's most-favored-nation [MFN] trading status because of the human rights issue, it will strip away the good feeling toward the United States among the Chinese people and the People's Liberation Army [PLA], China's policy toward the United States might become conservative and hard-line, and China might even adopt an uncooperative attitude toward some important international issues which concern the United States. A hard-line, conservative, and uncooperative China is obviously not in the strategic interest of the United States. Strengthen Contact for Mutual Understanding What is worth mentioning is that although China and the United States have gone round and round in the strange circle of human rights for several years, the armed forces of the two countries have already made a gratifying step in contact. In September last year, the United States adopted a new "contact strategy" toward China. Under the guidance of this strategy, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Freeman visited China at the end of last year, resuming high-level military contacts and interaction with China. Recently, the president of U.S. National Defense University has also visited China. Military contacts and exchanges between China and the United States can help foster mutual understanding between the two armed forces, and help the two countries to strengthen bilateral military cooperation. According to the press, the Clinton administration has reached some consensus on relations

FBIS3-2679_0

XINHUA on Chen Jinhua Economic, Social Development Report Discusses Foreign Trade, Debts

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 11 (XINHUA) -- Opening wider to the outside world and making efficient use of foreign funds, resources, technology and markets will be one of the major tasks in the 1994 plan for national economic and social development, a senior government official said today. The tasks were spelled out by Chen Jinhua, minister in charge of the State Planning Commission, in a report he delivered to the annual session of the National People's Congress [NPC] on the implementation of the 1993 plan for national economic and social development and on a similar draft plan for 1994. In his report, Chen stressed the need to make full use of the favorable international climate to further expand foreign trade and economic and technological exchanges. In the area of foreign trade, he said, "through the restructuring of the foreign trade and foreign exchange systems, we shall promote an increase in exports and allow a reasonable flow of imports to achieve a balance between foreign exchange revenues and expenditures for the year." Chen Jinhua spelled out the following policies to attain that goal: -- As China's export strategy, it is necessary to unswervingly increase the number and types of markets, succeed by putting quality first, and open up new markets while maintaining and developing existing ones; -- It is necessary to continue to improve the mix of export products, accelerate a switch from exporting semi-processed goods to intensive-processed goods and promote the export of high- and new- tech products; -- It is necessary to integrate technology, production and trade, and vigorously expand the export of mechanical and electrical products and complete sets of equipment that are competitive on the international market, rely heavily on modern technology, and have a high added value and good export potential; -- It is imperative to speed up the establishment of a quality certification system; -- It is necessary to encourage and support stronger large and medium-sized enterprises with good credit to move into foreign markets with quality products and good after-sale services; -- It is imperative to develop integrated trade companies in the form of enterprise groups for different industries to engage in international trade; -- It is necessary to strictly implement the system of making settlements and sales in foreign exchange for exports, raise the settlement rate for exports and improve the system of tax refunds on exports; and -- It

FBIS3-2688_0

Article Notes Additions to Li Peng's Government Work Report

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special article" by staff news team: "Latest Amendment to Li Peng's Report"] [Text] Beijing, 10 Mar (WEN WEI PO) -- Premier Li Peng's government work report has been prepared since the end of last year. The original draft was amended several times. By extensively soliciting views from all quarters, it became a draft that reflects all their views. A few days ago, the report was issued to members of the National People's Congress [NPC] and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who would be attending the sessions. It should be noted that there were four new additions to the work report when when Li Peng read it today. First, there were the contents on helping the poor, which read: "Conscientiously carry out the poverty assistance plan. The plan is intended to help poverty-stricken areas -- especially former liberated areas, minority nationality areas, and border areas -- solve the problem of food and clothing for some 80 million people and to help them out of poverty in the seven years from now to the end of this century. This is the unshirkable duty of governments at all levels. We believe that this plan surely will be ardently supported by people across the country." This was inserted into the paragraph on agriculture and the rural areas in the second part of the work report and obviously was related to the National Poverty Assistance Conference, which preceded the NPC session. One can see from this that the central authorities have attached more importance to the issue. Regulating the Widening Income Gap Pertinent to the above were the added remarks regarding improving the people's living standards in the second part of the work report, in light of the widening gap between rich and poor in China today. They read: "In the meantime, it is necessary to carry out necessary regulation of the excessively widening income gap through a policy of rational distribution and the regulatory role of tax revenue." Exactly 100 characters were added to the paragraph on the Hong Kong issue in today's work report, namely: "In keeping with the Basic Law and the decisions of the NPC standing committees, the Preliminary Work Committee [PWC] of the Preparatory Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [SAR] has begun its work. Its tasks are formidable and its responsibilities are great. I hope the PWC will unite Hong Kong compatriots

FBIS3-2711_1

XINHUA Reports on Taiwan Economic Revitalization Plans

and technological industrial zone each in northern Xinzu in northern Taiwan, in Yunlin County in central Taiwan, and in Annan district in southern Taiwan. On this basis, Taiwan's "Economic Affairs Ministry Industrial Bureau" has come up with the "Medium- and Long-Range Plan for the Development of Industrial Zones in the Taiwan Region." Included in the plan is the establishment of additional software industrial zones, a center in Gaoxiong for disposing of industrial wastes in southern Taiwan, and a center in the Zhanghua [Changhua] Industrial Zone for disposing of industrial wastes in central Taiwan in order to reduce pollution caused by industrial wastes. According to the "Industrial Bureau," the plan is meant for bringing about an even development in Taiwan, and correcting the shortcomings of uneven economic development caused by the establishment of the majority of scientific-technological industrial zones in the north. Of the 140 industrial zones with a total area of 30,761 hectares designated to be developed, the development of 78 with a total area of 13,108 hectares, has been completed; and nine industrial zones with a total area of 5,687 hectares are being developed. Since land acquisition has become increasing difficult in Taiwan, relevant authorities in Taiwan are encouraging land owners and private enterprises to take part in the development of industrial zones so the construction process can be expedited. Moreover, in view of the fact that Taiwan's water resources are deteriorating and water shortages have become increasingly serious, the "Council of Economic Planning and Development" has completed its "Plan for the Development of Water Resources," deciding that, during the next 20 years, 381.4 billion Taiwan dollars will be raised for the construction of 18 dams with an estimated effective capacity of 187,000 tonnes [figure as received], which is precisely the total capacity of the existing 40 dams in Taiwan. These dams will be developed by stages to provide the water needed for daily and industrial consumption. On the average, these dams will be able to increase water supply by 3.28 billion tonnes of water annually. Meanwhile, Taiwan is continuing with its six-year "national construction plan," focusing on 12 construction projects, including the renovation and construction of secondary and primary school facilities, the construction of parks and sports facilities, the construction of local and community cultural software and hardware facilities, the development of new urban areas and "national housing" projects, the construction of new roads and parking lots in

FBIS3-2717_1

CPC Reportedly Reviews Taiwan Policy Li Kills Three Birds With One Stone by Carrying Out "Holiday Diplomacy"

businessmen making investments in the mainland to channel their funds to Southeast Asia, in a bid to break the mainland's blockade with economy as an open sesame and expand Taiwan's diplomatic space) and an implementation of the "wild geese formation theory" (a Japanese economist's theory highly recommended by Li Teng-hui, which maps out an Asian economic scenario with Japan, the most advanced country, in the lead, followed by the "four little dragons" and then Southeast Asian countries, with the Chinese mainland and North Korea taking up the rear). To conduct "holiday diplomacy" toward Southeast Asia had been decided by the Kuomintang Central Standing Committee last December according to a motion made by Lien Chan, premier of the Executive Yuan, for a shift in diplomatic strategy. Lien Chan pointed out: South East Asian nations are now in need of money and technology, and Taiwan is capable of providing various kinds of assistance in this respect. "Taiwan has an exchange reserve of $80 billion. Can we not knock open the gate to Southeast Asia with it?" He argued that the time is ripe and Taiwan should not continue to give up what is within reach and seek after something unreachable, but should switch over from marching into Latin America to marching into Southeast Asia (countries surrounding China). Lien Chan not only put forward the motion, but also practiced it. He took the lead and went to Malaysia and Singapore to conduct "holiday diplomacy" toward the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, to open a way for Li Teng-hui and gain some experience. This effort made possible the instant success of Li Teng-hui's "holiday diplomacy" during the Spring Festival season, which fulfilled the purpose of "killing three birds with one stone:" It expanded headroom for Taiwan's diplomatic activities in the international arena, opened up new prospects for Taiwan business investment and development, and reduced Taiwan business dependence on the mainland market to prevent the increase of such dependence that might put Taiwan authorities in a passive position politically. Host Countries Ignore China's Objection The sources continued: The CPC authorities showed grave concern over Li Teng-hui's "holiday diplomacy" from the very beginning. Before Li went on the "holiday," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: Taiwan authorities are attempting to develop "substantive relations" with some countries on the pretense of "holiday-making," trying to create "two Chinas" in the international arena.

FBIS3-2735_1

Paper Views Tax Reform Impact on Foreign Firms

product tax, and business tax have been applied to them since 1984. As a result, Chinese enterprises and foreign-funded enterprises in China have been bearing different tax burdens for many years past and increasing amounts of tax have been duplicated through different channels. This was unfavorable to export trade for foreign enterprises and had an adverse effect on economic development, therefore, a tax reform became a must. The new tax system, molded in accordance with international common practice, is to introduce a regulated circulating tax system with value-added tax as the core and the consumption tax and business tax as auxiliaries. This new system has embodied the principle of fairness in terms of the tax burden, and that of competition on an equal footing, and has maintained the continuity, rationality, and stability with regard to the tax system concerning foreign interests. Specifically speaking, after the tax reform, taxes concerning foreign interests will be divided into 12 categories, namely: Value-added tax, consumption tax, business tax, resource tax, tax on value added to land, stamp duty, slaughter tax, urban landed properties tax, levy on vehicle and ship licenses, enterprise income tax, personal income tax, and contract tax. Of these taxes, only the tax on value added to land is new. The circulating taxes, consisting of the value-added tax, consumption tax, and business tax which can be traced to the field of production and commodity circulation, are a major tax category accounting for a large proportion of tax revenue. A special feature of the value-added tax under the new tax system is to prevent duplicated tax and to make sure that the sum total of tax income from all channels equals the total amount of all taxes levied on commodities. The basic rate of the value-added tax is 17 percent and a unified 13-percent low rate has been set for all the taxes on daily necessities, products for agricultural use, and cultural goods, in contrast to the 14.5 percent rate for the former combined industrial and commercial tax. The main purpose of the consumption tax is to adjust the consumption structure and to guide the public's consumption pattern, with high tax rates applying only to tobacco, alcohol, cosmetics, and jewelry. The business tax rate generally ranges from 3 to 5 percent, except for certain show business items, let alone the fact that the former combined industrial and commercial tax actually contained a part

FBIS3-2738_0

Dissident Leaves Beijing; Police Cordon Around U.S. Mission

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 11 (AFP)--Three Chinese dissidents, including the leading pro-democracy campaigner Wang Dan, left Beijing early Friday [11 March] at police behest, just hours before the scheduled arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, a relative of Wang said. "Wang Dan left at 9:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) and headed for southern China," the relative said by phone, adding that the dissident would "probably be away for a week." Wang, a former leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, was accompanied by fellow dissidents Zhou Duo, 46, and Min Qi, 41, who also took an active role in those demonstrations, the source said. Police had interrogated Wang several times in recent days, in the runup to the Christopher visit but also a meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's rubber-stamp parliament, which began Thursday. Wang on Thursday had said he had no intention of leaving Beijing, and issued a statement calling on the parliament to debate human rights. Christopher, who was winding up a visit in Tokyo Friday before heading for Beijing, said human rights would be given top priority in his talks with Chinese leaders. He said on Thursday he did not have "any plans...at the present time" to meet pro-democracy activists. The United States has told China it needs substantial progress in the field of human rights before it can renew most-favoured-nation trading status, which enables many Chinese exports to escape customs duty to the U.S. market. The decision is due in around three months. Wang was jailed for four years after the Tiananmen Square crackdown, and released in February last year. His family did not give any details Friday about his hurried departure from Beijing. In another development, the Chinese authorities threw a police cordon around the U.S. embassy in Beijing, deploying dozens of police in uniform and plain clothes, an AFP reporter saw. The exceptional move appeared to be part of efforts aimed at preventing all demonstrations during the high-profile NPC session and Christopher's visit. Besides Wang, at least seven other dissidents have been detained for interrogation, three of whom have been jailed. In addition, a Taiwanese journalist, working for the United Daily News [LIEN HO PAO] of Taipei, was detained and interrogated for three hours late Thursday after he met with teachers from the People's University of Beijing. The journalist, Lai Chin-hung, who is in Beijing to cover the

FBIS3-2739_0

Dissident Arrested in Shanghai `For No Apparent Reason'

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 11 (AFP)--Wang Fucheng, secretary general for the China Association for Human Rights, was arrested Friday [11 March] by police in Shanghai, a spokesman for the group said. "Wang was arrested early this morning for no apparent reason," spokesman and fellow dissident Yang Zhou said by telephone. Yang is a founder of the Peace Charter movement which was started in November last year. Wang, 39, a private businessman who has long been involved in promoting human rights, spent three years in prison from 1979 for "counter-revolutionary" activities during the Democracy Wall movement in 1978-79. Chinese authorities' crackdown on dissidents has coincided with the opening of the annual National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday and a visit to China by US Secretary of State Warren Christopher scheduled to begin later Friday. Several dissidents have been arrested in recent days and three of them were sent to prison. Wang Dan, a leader of the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations which culminated in the Tiananmen Square massacre in the capital, was forced to leave Beijing on Friday along with two other dissidents. Dissident Wei Jingsheng has also left for the countryside by order of the authorities.

FBIS3-2740_0

Justice Minister on Detained Reporter, Activist Wang Juntao

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special dispatch" from Beijing by staff reporter Tu Fu-liang (2629 4395 5328): "Ministry of Justice Says That Beijing Will Handle Xi Yang Case Leniently"] [Text] Answering Hong Kong reporters' questions about MING PAO reporter Xi Yang, who has been detained for over five months, Chinese Justice Minister Xiao Yang said that if Xi Yang's performance is good, he will be treated leniently in keeping with the legal provisions of the authorities. But he did not give any further explanation. Xiao Yang, who attended the National People's Congress [NPC] session as a nonvoting member yesterday, answered two questions by reporters regarding the Xi Yang incident as he was about to leave the session site. [Reporter] What is the situation regarding Xi Yang? [Xiao Yang] It has already been made known to the outside. [Reporter] Will he be released? [Xiao Yang] If his performance is good, he will be treated leniently in keeping with our legal provisions. Moreover, he also said the authorities would consider whether or not to release the pro-democracy activist Wang Juntao, who is now ill in prison, ahead of time in keeping with the law and the actual situation. He said that Wang Juntao is now in "very good" condition and that the authorities are treating his hepatitis B in line with their humanitarian policy. On the other hand, seizing the opportunity afforded by the opening of the NPC and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [CPPCC] sessions in Beijing, representatives of the Hong Kong Journalist Association [HKJA] went to the XINHUA Hong Kong Branch to deliver an open letter to the NPC deputies and CPPCC delegates from Hong Kong yesterday, urging them to help in this matter and to inform the quarters concerned so that they would handle the Xi Yang case in a fair, open, and just manner and allow Xi Yang's family, employer, and lawyer to contact him. In the letter, the HKJA specifically pointed out that it has been over five months since Xi Yang was arrested and detained on 27 September and that it has been over two months since the court began to handle his case. However, so far, there has been no news about his trial or a verdict. According to the PRC Code of Criminal Procedure, a court of law should pronounce judgment one month after it begins to handle a public prosecution or must do so

FBIS3-2742_0

Intellectuals Petition for Release of Political Prisoners

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Willy Wo-lap Lam] [Text] The highest councils of the Chinese Communist Party are holding emergency sessions to deal with what could be the most potent challenge to the administration since the June 4, 1989, crisis. In a gesture of defiance seven internationally known intellectuals sent a letter yesterday to President Jiang Zemin and National People's Congress Chairman Qiao Shi demanding that Beijing release "all citizens detained because of their thoughts and expression of opinion". Not doing so, the appeal warned, would "exacerbate contradictions and spawn irrevocable turmoil". The petition, which has been made available to the Hong Kong and foreign media, also expressed "deep dismay and worries" over the recent spate of detentions of dissidents in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. The campaign is led by Xu Liangying, 74, a professor of philosophy of science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is known as "the conscience of China". The other six signatories are Professor Xu's wife, Wang Laidi, a history professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Jiang Peikun and his wife Ding Zilin, both aesthetics professors at People's University Liu Liao, a physics professor at Beijing Normal University; poet Shao Yanxiang; and novelist Zhang Kangkang. The open letter, entitled An appeal for the improvement of human rights in our country, said "the right of the freedom of thought and the expression of opinion is an inalienable right of modern man which brooks no interference". The petition warned Beijing that "the search of modernisation becomes illusory if human rights are dropped [from the agenda]". We appeal to the authorities bravely to put an end to China's practice over thousands of years of punishing people for their thinking, speech and writings." Chinese sources said party leaders were alarmed because similar petitions for human rights and political reform in early 1989 snowballed into the pro-democracy movement in May and June. One of the earliest such petitions was organised in February 1989 by Professor Xu. It was signed by 40-odd dissidents, including astrophysicist Fang Lizhi and philosophy professor Bao Zunxin. "The authorities have been behaving in an abnormal way in the past months by detaining so many people," the professor said from his home yesterday. "They should immediately release all prisoners of conscience listed by international watchdogs such as Asia Watch." Professor Xu added he and his friends had no plans to hold demonstrations or to

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Further on Hijackers' Sentencing

Daxing, a self-employed industrial and commercial businessman from Jiangsu's Taicang county who was doing business in Shanghai, asked Chen Jiangfu, a farmer from Jiangsu's Wujin county who wanted to start his own household tailoring business in Shanghai Municipality's Baoshan County, to go out with him under the pretext of doing business. On 28 January 1994, after purchasing air tickets for the Shanghai-Hangzhou flight for the following day, Zhang Daxing told Chen Jiangfu about his plot to hijack the aircraft to Taiwan and showed him a blackmail letter he had written earlier. On 29 January 1994, Zhang Daxing and Chen Jiangfu boarded China Eastern Airlines flight 5513 for Hangzhou. Shortly after the plane took off, Zhang Daxing got up and forced the flight crew to change the plane's course to Taiwan using the blackmail letter and threats to blow up the plane. Meanwhile, Chen Jiangfu followed Zhang Daxing's orders and kept an eye on the people on board. In the course of dealings between the flight crew and the two criminals, the plane landed at Hangzhou's Jianqiao Airport and the two criminals were arrested on the spot. In trying the case, the Hangzhou City Intermediate People's Court uncovered the facts and decided that Zhang Daxing and Chen Jiangfu used threats to hijack the aircraft, disregarding state law. There was sufficient clear evidence to prove that they had hijacked the aircraft. To safeguard normal aviation order and protect the safety of passengers and property, it is necessary to strictly punish criminals who hijack aircraft. In accordance with the relevant stipulations of the "Decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Strictly Punishing Criminal Elements Who Hijack Aircraft" and the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China," the Hangzhou City Intermediate People's Court passed initial judgment on principal criminal Zhang Daxing and his accomplice Chen Jiangfu. Zhang Daxing and Chen Jiangfu pleaded guilty and accepted the verdict. As they did not file an appeal within the legally prescribed period, the initial judgment of Hangzhou City Intermediate People's Court became legally binding. A spokesman for the Supreme People's Court said: Hijacking civil airplanes is a grave crime as it seriously endangers the safety of passengers and their property. The crime must be severely punished in accordance with the law. He said: The judicial organs will definitely continue to severely punish without leniency plane hijackers who defy the law and take such risks.

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Minister Says Reports of Dissidents' Detention `Incorrect'

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special dispatch": "Minister of Justice Xiao Yang Stresses That Reports on Detention of Wei Jingsheng and Wang Dan Were Incorrect"] [Text] Beijing, 10 March (TA KUNG PAO)--Clarifying rumors that Wei Jingsheng, Wang Dan, and other people have were detained, Minister of Justice Xiao Yang clearly stated today: "That is not the case. The rumors circulating abroad are incorrect. (They) have definitely not been detained or arrested." With regard to Wang Juntao's situation in jail, Xiao Yang said: "(He) is very well. We have given him treatment in accordance with the humanist [ren dao zhu yi 0086 6670 0031 5030] policy. He contracted hepatitis B six months ago." When asked if he would allow Wang's release on bail for medical treatment, he said: "We will consider the case in accordance with our own laws and actual conditions."

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Article Views Leadership `Power Struggle'

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special article" from Beijing by staff reporter: "The Greatest Two-Line Struggle in Zhongnanhai Since Deng Xiaoping's Southern Tour"] [Text] Although an "arrangement" has been made for Wei Jingsheng to leave Beijing and Beijing is carrying out large-scale arrests of political dissidents for questioning, a high-level CPC official disclosed that a two-line struggle--the greatest since Deng Xiaoping's southern tour--is taking place in Zhongnanhai. Supported by all kinds of factors, hardliners are gaining the upper hand and will, under the precondition of "stability" overwhelming everything, take a strong attitude on the Taiwan and Hong Kong issues and toward the United States. This informed source revealed that "some people in Zhongnanhai do not sleep well every day" and that all kinds of contradictions are causing a change in policy. A week ago, Wei Jingsheng told a friend that the CPC's policy on political dissidents will not change, nor would the human rights record change much. This high-level CPC official also revealed that the CPC's attitude toward "Wei Jingsheng and the like" has not changed and that it will continue to release political dissidents who "have given a good account of themselves." What has caused the CPC to change its plan and strategy in a week? The United States has always regarded the treatment meted out to pro-democracy activists, including Wei Jingsheng, Wang Juntao, Chen Ziming, and Wang Dan as a criterion to appraise the CPC's human rights record. Has the high-level CPC leadership suddenly "become ferocious" regardless of the connection between Chinese-U.S. political and economic relations on the one hand and U.S. concern for Wei Jingsheng et al and the treatment of political dissidents on the other? Is the CPC ready to take a hard-line policy? Has it worked out a complete plan to resist U.S. pressure? The high-level CPC official revealed that a silent two-line struggle is taking place for top-level power and that the participation of the gerontocrats has made this struggle for power and the two lines and policies even more complicated. He pointed out: No conclusion can be made now and no one has won or lost the struggle; as this struggle involves a wide range of aspects, it is very difficult to say whether or not there will be personnel changes or whether or not someone "will be hit by an arrow and fall off his horse?" The hardliners have gained the upper hand

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Article Views Leadership `Power Struggle'

Deng Xiaoping's public appearance, conservatives were overjoyed and became active in engaging in foreign economic and trade relations. The change in policy toward Wei Jingsheng et al is an advance indication of the adoption of a hard-line attitude. Some people believe that Deng Xiaoping's condition is worse than thought, while Chen Yun's condition is much better. No one knows who will win in this power struggle. This high-level CPC official said that "some people in the Central Committee are really worried about Deng Xiaoping's health. Deng Xiaoping's condition is worse than last year." There is a close connection between Chinese-U.S. relations and Wei Jingsheng et al's behavior as well as political dissidents' contacts with organizations outside China, this CPC official indicated. The CPC will not allow these people to form organizations or undermine social "stability," still less will it allow them to collaborate with hostile forces outside the borders. Of course, it will not allow these people to harm "state interests." Under this hard-line policy, even if Christopher arrives with strong human rights pressure, the CPC will not yield to this pressure; it will only make concessions on the Korean peninsula issue, nuclear arms control, and some economic and trade restrictions unless "there is a major internal change." And this depends on these two weeks. A Western observer said that the feeling in Beijing in March this year is similar to that in the spring of 1989. The people's resentment against speculating officials, bribery, and corruption is high, commodity price hikes are out of control, inflation is serious, the peasant issue is worsening, the gap between rich and poor is widening, and there are more problems in state-owned enterprise reform and the worker issue--all these are pummeling Beijing. Whenever the CPC faces internal pressures, it generally assumes a posture of being strong on foreign policy, carrying out retrenchment in the economy, and becoming conservative in politics. The Wei Jingsheng case is the prelude to a big case. The high-level CPC official said that the upcoming sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference could possibly reflect many problems, such as the Hong Kong issue, attitudes toward the United States, the agricultural question, the relationship between the central and local authorities, imbalanced development, and setbacks in five reforms; but these are not the focal points facing the high-level CPC leadership, the focal point lies in Zhongnanhai.

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National Program for Water, Soil Conservation Approved

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [Report by Guo Yunling (6753 0336 5376): "State Council Gives Written Reply to the `National Program for Water and Soil Reservation'"] [Text] Recently the State Council gave an official, written reply to the "National Program for Water and Soil Conservation," agreeing in principle to carry out the water and soil conservation work in accordance with the second proposition. This means that China now has a fundamental basis to go by in carrying out the work. Soil erosion in China, which is enormous in magnitude and covers vast tracks of territory, has inflicted great harm on the country. It has brought about long-term low yields and poverty to localities, and even is endangering the subsistence of the masses of people in some localities. Moreover, the running down of silt in large quantities has caused floods and waterlogging along the lower reachers of rivers. To work out this national program for water and soil conservation, the Ministry of Water Resources organized national forces to conduct large amounts of investigation and study, scientific experiments, and observation analyses. In its reply, the State Council stressed: To do a good job in water and soil conservation has a bearing on economic and social development and on ecological environmental improvement, and helps China shake off poverty and gain prosperity. It also has a bearing on the development and harnessing of rivers and lakes, as well as on the state's construction in the energy, railway, communications, and mining industries, and other areas of endeavor It is a basic national policy that will yield success in our time and will bring benefits throughout the ages. Therefore, we should uphold it for a long time. The reply pointed out: Water and soil conservation is a systems engineering undertaking. It must adhere to the principle of "prevention as the key factor, overall planning, comprehensive prevention and control, suiting measures to local conditions, and stressing better management and efficiency." Effective efforts should be made to ensure the prevention, protection, and supervision of soil erosion, and to ensure law enforcement work. The policy should be implemented whereby those who harness rivers and lakes and those who manage and protect them will reap the benefits therefrom. While devoting our primary efforts toward bringing the Huang He and the Chang Jiang under control, we also should pay close attention to checking soil erosion in other rivers and to the water

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Government To Launch `Massive Assault' on Pollution

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By staff reporter Zhu Baoxia: "State Plans Massive Assault on Pollution"] [Text] The government plans to develop eight major environmental projects in the next three years in a bid to control industrial pollution by the turn of the century. The schemes will be supported by international financial organizations including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and Global Environmental Facilities (GEF). Up to $1.2 billion is needed to launch the projects which will treat water and air pollution and dispose of solid waste, said an official from the Foreign Economic Co-operation Office of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA). The prevention of acid rain and studies on the environment are also high on the list of the planned projects, the official said. NEPA is due to get grants of $200 million to $300 million from GEF to control greenhouse gases and to protect bio-diversity. The agency is now selecting suitable projects around the country. Its reports will be sent to the international organizations for further evaluation. NEPA officials hope the eight projects will solve environmental problems which damage people's health, like pollution in Lake Dianchi in Yunnan Province and Lake Chaohu in Anhui Province. They also hope the projects will check the spread of acid rain in the south of the country. In recent years, China has worked more and more with international organizations on the environment. And by the end of last year, NEPA had set up 21 Sino-foreign environmental protection projects. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had loaned the agency $1.14 billion by 1993 and, together with the GEF, they had granted China $65.61 million for environmental protection and research. The funding helped environmental protection schemes in Shanghai and in Liaoning Province, research in Hangzhou Bay, and studies on urban infrastructure throughout China. It also helped to promote local environmental protection work and improve NEPA's administrative capacity, said Xie Zhenhua, the agency's director. Co-operation between China and the international agencies has enabled the country to obtain advanced environmental protection facilities and improved its environmental information network.

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Vice Premier Urges Major Industrial Safety Drive

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By staff reporter Cao Min: "Zou Demands Major Industrial Safety Drive"] [Text] Vice-Premier Zou Jiahua has called for a nationwide campaign to protect workers following a horrific increase in the number of people killed in industrial accidents last year. More than 60,000 people died in thousands of incidents across the country between January and October. And Zou described the toll in lives and damage as unprecedented. Governments at all levels should make every effort to stem the rise, he said on Tuesday to the third national tele-conference on industrial safety since July. He also called for new laws to protect workers and to punish firms which put them in danger. Protecting workers has an important role in China's economic development, said Zou, adding that governments and enterprises must do all they can to solve any problems. "While the workers are making contributions to our country, we must bear responsibility for their safety," said Zou. The tragic rise in the number of accidents was particularly marked in foreign-funded firms and collectively-run mines. Zou called for new laws on industrial safety to be drafted as soon as possible and for the powers of watch dog groups to be strengthened. And he stressed that any accident caused by negligence or bureaucracy must be punished severely. Safety inspections should be carried out regularly, he said, adding that they should target accident black spots such as foreign- funded or township enterprises. He also hoped the press could improve public awareness of the importance of industrial safety by high-lighting major accidents which claim many lives or cause severe damage. Labour Minister Li Boyong blamed the accident figures on poor discipline, management, and operation and lack of proper supervision. Li also accused some managers of going for higher output at the expense of their workers' safety. He also attacked the illegal practice of dismantling firms safety supervisory departments as they restructured their managements.

FBIS3-2768_0

U.S. Considers Lifting Military Aid Ban on Pakistan

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Washington, March 13 (XINHUA) -- The U.S. Administration is considering a proposal that Congress lift its ban on military aid to Pakistan in exchange for halting production of nuclear weapons materials. The proposal would allow Pakistan to take possession of dozens of F-16 fighter planes it has already paid for but never delivered because of a Congress amendment, according to the NEW YORK TIMES today. The amendment bans military aid to Pakistan unless the U.S. President can certify that Pakistan neither has nuclear weapons nor is trying to develop them. U.S. officials were quoted as saying that the proposal is part of a policy to stem the spread of nuclear arms in South Asia. The proposal implicitly recognizes that the U.S. has failed to prevent Pakistan from developing the ability to build a nuclear weapon and now is trying constrain the country's nuclear program, the newspaper said. Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that her country would not give up its nuclear program despite pressure from the United States.

FBIS3-2773_0

Northern Iraq Situation Reviewed in Ankara

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Ankara, March 10 (XINHUA) -- High-ranking officials from countries taking part in the mandate for anti-Iraqi Coalition Forces in northern Iraq met here today to discuss the ongoing operation. Deputy foreign ministers from Turkey, France, the United States and Britain reviewed the implementation of the operation, expressing their satisfaction with the work. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, they reiterated "the commitment to the preservation of the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq." They also said they oppose all acts and efforts that may lead to the division and dismemberment of Iraq. The statement, meanwhile, also called upon the Iraqi Government to lift the economic blockade and remove all restrictions imposed upon the northern part of the country. The participants said that the future political structure of Iraq must be determined by the "entire people of Iraq" peacefully and democratically. During the meeting, France, Britain and the United States voiced their full support for Turkey's right of self-defense against the violence of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), which has been launching attacks on public and military targets of Turkey from their bases in Northern Iraq. They said the territory of Iraq should not be a safe-haven for the "terrorists." Forty-eight warplanes from the U.S., Britain and France, backed by support and transport aircraft, have been carrying out daily patrols over northern Iraq since the Gulf war ended in late February 1991. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ozdem Sanberk said turkey explained in detail the heavy economic losses it continues to face due to the 1991 Gulf war and the U.N. sanctions against Iraq. France, Britain and the U.S. promised to consult further for ways and means of alleviating the heavy economic burden on Turkey, which is trying to resume its border trade with Iraq.

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U.S. Secretary of State Meets PRC Leaders Qian Qichen Hopes for `Frank Dialogue'

of concern to the U.S. side. Qian Qichen said: China is a country that stresses the rule of law. We can only do what Chinese laws allow us to do. Qian Qichen also elaborated to the U.S. side on issues of concern to the Chinese side, such as U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the sanctions it has imposed on China. On Sino-U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, Qian Qichen noted: China and the United States have signed the "Sino-U.S. Memorandum on Cooperation in Fighting Against Drug Trafficking." In January of 1990, a U.S. court, without regard to China's judicial sovereignty and repeated representations, granted political asylum to Wang Zongxiao, a criminal in the Jinliyu drug smuggling case, who had gone to the United States to testify. This has erected an obstacle to bilateral cooperation in fighting drug trafficking. In discussing most-favored-nation [MFN] trading status, Qian Qichen said: Mutual extension of MFN status by China and the United States is a reciprocal and mutually beneficial arrangement made by the two sides according to agreements on trade relations between the two countries; it is the basis of normal Sino-U.S. trade relations. Disruption of this basis will ruin the development prospects for Sino-U.S. economic relations and trade. This will bring harm to both China and the United States. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to any linkage between trade and issues that have nothing to do with trade. Christopher said: Both the United States and China are countries that shoulder global responsibilities. Both sides share common interests in maintaining peace and security. The two countries share each other's views or hold similar views on many global and regional issues. Mutually beneficial economic relations and trade between the two countries are expanding, and they are contributing to the prosperity of both countries. A strong, stable, and prosperous China conforms to the national interests of the United States. President Clinton hopes that the United States and China will build a more constructive relationship. The talks proceeded in a frank [tan shuai 0982 3764] and businesslike [ren zhen 6126 4176] atmosphere. Present at the talks were Vice Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei; Xu Huizi, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; U.S. Ambassador Stapleton Roy; Undersecretary of State Lynn Davis; and Undersecretary of Defense Frank Wisner. After the talks, Qian Qichen hosted a luncheon in honor of Christopher and his delegation.

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U.S. Secretary of State Meets PRC Leaders Qian, Christopher Hold `Candid' Talks

that, the U.S. media made a fanfare of the event and U.S. Government officials time and again attacked China. All those acts clearly go against President Clinton's statement in Seattle that the U.S. supports a strong, stable, and prosperous China, Qian said, adding that it also constitutes a harrassment to the current visit by the secretary of state. Qian stressed that dialogue needs a good atmosphere and sincerity from both sides. "I hope to conduct dialogue with the secretay of state on the basis of candidness and mutual respect" so as to enhance mutual understanding, reduce troubles, avoid confrontation and make the dialogue conducive to the improvement of the Sino-U.S. relations and to the success of Christopher's visit, Qian said. Christopher elaborated to the Chinese side issues of U.S. concern. Qian responded that China is a country ruled by law. "We can only do what Chinese laws allow us to do," Qian said. Qian also elaborated what the Chinese side is concerned about, such as U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the sanctions it has posed against China. On Sino-U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, Qian noted that the two sides have signed a memorandum on jointly fighting against drug trafficking. He said that in January 1990, a U.S. court, in disregard of China's judicial sovereignty, granted political asylum to Wang Zongxiao, a criminal of the goldfish case, who had gone to the U.S. for the purpose of testifying. This has imposed an obstruction to Sino-U.S. cooperation against drug trafficking, Qian said. Discussing the most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status, Qian pointed out that MFN is a reciprocal and mutually beneficial arrangement reached according to the bilateral trade agreement. It is the basis of normal Sino-U.S. trade relations and the disruption of it would ruin the prospects of Sino-U.S. trade relations, Qian said. "This would bring harm to both China and the United States," Qian noted. He reiterated, "The Chinese side is firmly opposed to any linkage between trade and issues that have nothing to do with trade." Christopher said that both the United States and China are countries that bear global responsibilities. Both sides share common interests in maintaining peace and security and have identical or similar views concerning many regional and international issues, he said. He said the mutually beneficial trade relations are expanding, which is contributing to the prosperity of both countries. Christopher reiterated that a strong,

FBIS3-2777_2

U.S. Secretary of State Meets PRC Leaders Qian, Christopher Hold `Candid' Talks

understanding, reduce troubles, avoid confrontation and make the dialogue conducive to the improvement of the Sino-U.S. relations and to the success of Christopher's visit, Qian said. Christopher elaborated to the Chinese side issues of U.S. concern. Qian responded that China is a country ruled by law. "We can only do what Chinese laws allow us to do," Qian said. Qian also elaborated what the Chinese side is concerned about, such as U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the sanctions it has posed against China. On Sino-U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, Qian noted that the two sides have signed a memorandum on jointly fighting against drug trafficking. He said that in January 1990, a U.S. court, in disregard of China's judicial sovereignty, granted political asylum to Wang Zongxiao, a criminal of the goldfish case, who had gone to the U.S. for the purpose of testifying. This has imposed an obstruction to Sino-U.S. cooperation against drug trafficking, Qian said. Discussing the most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status, Qian pointed out that MFN is a reciprocal and mutually beneficial arrangement reached according to the bilateral trade agreement. It is the basis of normal Sino-U.S. trade relations and the disruption of it would ruin the prospects of Sino-U.S. trade relations, Qian said. "This would bring harm to both China and the United States," Qian noted. He reiterated, "The Chinese side is firmly opposed to any linkage between trade and issues that have nothing to do with trade." Christopher said that both the United States and China are countries that bear global responsibilities. Both sides share common interests in maintaining peace and security and have identical or similar views concerning many regional and international issues, he said. He said the mutually beneficial trade relations are expanding, which is contributing to the prosperity of both countries. Christopher reiterated that a strong, stable and prosperous China conforms to the interests of the United States. President Clinton hopes that more constructive relations would be developed between the U.S. and China, Christopher told Qian. Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Xu Huizi attended the talks. On the U.S. side are Ambassador Stapleton Roy, Undersecretary of State for International Security Affairs Lynn Davis and Undersecretary of Defense Frank Wisner participated in the 130-minute talks. Following the talks, Qian hosted a luncheon in honor of the U.S. visitors.

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Li Peng Gives U.S. Secretary Views on Relations, MFN

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 12 (XINHUA) -- Sino-U.S. relations have been established only on the basis of common interests instead of on the basis of ideology or concept of values, said Premier Li Peng. The disputes between the two country must be settled properly through consultation on an equal footing in the spirit of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences, the Chinese premier stressed, adding that the problems can only be complicated by exerting pressures unilaterally. The Chinese premier made the statements during his meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher and his party here this afternoon. Premier Li Peng said that China attaches importance to the current visit by Christopher, hoping that candid talks might help enhance mutual understanding. Recalling Christopher's China visit a decade ago, Premier Li Peng said that great changes have taken place in China as well as in the world, but the changing international situation has not in any way change the importance of the Sino-U.S. relations. On the contrary, he said, the changing international situation has called for the enhancement of Sino-U.S. relations. China has always approached the Sino-U.S. relations from the global perspective and from the fundamental interests of the two peoples, Premier Li Peng told U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher. He said that the Chinese Government attaches importance to the Sino-U.S. relations and has made tremendous efforts toward improving and developing such relations, adding that in my government work report to the National People's Congress session two days ago, he reiterated again this stand of the Chinese Government. Premier Li Peng reviewed the bilateral trade, which has in recent years, grown rapidly, with the trade volume topping 27.65 billion U.S. dollars, increasing 10 times over that of 1979. He said that China's economy is developing in a sustained, fast and steady manner and the market has kept expanding. Its import is expected to reach 1,000 billion U.S. dollars in the next seven years. At present, transportation, telecommunications and energy industries, for which U.S. is a strong power, constitute the priority sectors of China's development, the Chinese premier said. If the Sino-U.S. relations go well, with the man-made obstacles removed, it would mean a historic opportunity for U.S. economic circles. On human rights issue, Li said that China and the U.S. have different concepts regarding human rights. China is a developing country, Li said.

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More on Meeting

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [By reporter Xin Huaishi (6580 2037 2514)] [Text] Beijing, 12 Mar (XINHUA) -- At a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher at Zhongnanhai this afternoon, State Council Premier Li Peng said: Sino-U.S. relations have been established only on the basis of common interests instead of on the basis of ideology and concept of values. Li Peng pointed out: The existence of disputes between China and the United States is a reality. We believe that the disputes between the two countries must be settled properly through consultation on an equal footing in the spirit of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences. The problems can only be complicated by exerting pressures unilaterally. Li Peng said: China attaches great importance to the current visit by Secretary of State Christopher, hoping that candid talks may help enhance mutual understanding and facilitate the improvement and expansion of Sino-U.S. relations. Recalling Christopher's visit to China a decade ago, Li Peng said: Great changes have taken place in the world over the past decade and so has China's appearance taken on an entirely new look. However, the changing international situation have not in any way changed the importance of Sino-U.S. relations. On the contrary, the changing international situation has called for the enhancement of Sino-U.S. cooperation in various fields. China has always approached Sino-U.S. relations from the global perceptive and from the fundamental interests of the two peoples. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to relations with the United States, and has made tremendous efforts toward improving and developing such relations. In my government work report two days ago, I reiterated the Chinese Government's positive desire for improving and developing Sino-U.S. relations. Discussing Sino-U.S. trade and economic relations, Li Peng said: The Chinese and U.S. economies are strongly complementary to each other. Bilateral trade and economic relations have developed rapidly in recent years, with the trade volume reaching $27.65 billion, increasing more than 10 times over the figure for 1979. Chinese economy is developing in a sustained, rapid, and steady manner [chi xu kuai su ping wen 2170 4958 1816 6643 1627 4489] and the market has kept expanding. China's imports are expected to reach $1,000 billion over the next seven years. At present, the transport, energy, and telecommunications industries, in which the United States is a strong power, constitute the priority sectors for China's development. If Sino-U.S.

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Columnist Criticizes U.S. Human Rights Diplomacy

is a developing country, and the population of the developing countries in the world accounts for four-fifths of the world's total population. It is unfair to impose the human rights concept of the developed nations on the developing countries. Moreover, the U.S. accusations concerning China's human rights problem were aimed merely at encouraging a very small number of criminal offenders, and it is a matter of certainty that China could not accept them. In fact, apart from the human rights issue, there remain differences between China and the United States in many aspects. It is ridiculous to require China to accept the U.S. position on every issue. There are indeed differences between the two countries, and this can be solved only through consultations on an equal footing and in a spirit of mutual respect, through efforts to seeking common ground while reserving differences. At the same time, China is willing to maintain and develop relations with the United States. It holds that to do so is in the common interests of both countries and is beneficial to both nations. However, while pursuing its human rights diplomacy, the United States went so far to unreasonably link bilateral trade with the human rights issue in an attempt to force China to accept its human rights position. It threatened to rescind China's MFN trading status if China refused to do this. Indeed, they regard this as an effective "weapon," and have been wielding it again and again over the past few years. Some Americans wrongly thought that the MFN status was a great "favor" they gave to other nations. This practice of theirs was opposed, even by some of their allies. On 12 March, the head of the EU delegation in China reiterated: "The European Union does not agree with the practice of linking the human rights issue with trade." This time, the Chinese side frankly expressed its position to Christopher, and also put all its cards on the table. If the United States indeed rescinds China's MFN status, then it will only ruin the prospects for Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations. Thus, China will not be the only one to suffer losses, and the United States will suffer losses no less than those suffered by China. China's development will depend mainly on its domestic market, and China has strong capability for self-reliance. The United States, however, will lose a huge market. China

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U.S., Foreign Journalist Reportedly Held in Beijing U.S. Journalists Held

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 12 (AFP) -- Two American journalists have been released after being held by police for six hours after interviewing the wife of a Chinese dissident, Western reporters said Saturday. Nick Driver, of the US news agency UPI, and Matthew Forney, a correspondent with Newsweek magazine, were stopped by six uniformed police at 8 p.m. (1200 GMT) Friday as they left the home of the wife of dissident Liu Nianchun, 46, in the west of the capital. Police said their car had collided with a telegraph pole when they parked their vehicle, bringing down telephone lines. The journalists did not deny this. But then about 30 police took turns interrogating them separately about their connection with the dissident and their conversation with his wife. Before the Americans' release early Saturday at about 2 a.m. (1800 GMT Friday), police made them sign a document in which they agreed not to report what occurred during the course of the night. The incident took place as US Secretary of State Warren Christopher was on an official visit to Beijing for talks on human rights. It also coincided with a crackdown by police against dissidents and activists which began at the start of the month. According to a Human Rights Watch/Asia report Friday, Liu, who was jailed for three years in the 1980s, was one of those briefly detained and "may be in imminent danger of arrest." Liu, a longtime pro-democracy activist, called at the start of the week for the formation of an independent trade union, The League for the Protection of Working People. The union's charter focuses on some of the negative consequences of rapid economic growth and calls, among other things, for the restoration of the right to strike and for the legalisation of independent workers' and peasant labour unions. Liu is also a signatory of the Peace Charter issued by several dissidents in October 1993.

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U.S., Foreign Journalist Reportedly Held in Beijing BBC Journalist Detained

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special dispatch": "Chinese Public Security Authorities Detain, Interrogate Western Reporter"] [Excerpts] The Chinese public security authorities have detained one more Western reporter, a female journalist with the BBC. She was the fourth Western journalist detained and interrogated within 48 hours. [passage omitted] Yesterday, the Chinese authorities detained and interrogated Carrie Gracie, a female journalist with BBC. She was taken away for interrogation when she was going to go out by car with three Chinese friends. Before that, she had met and talked with some Chinese friends who were regarded as dissidents. According to reports by foreign news agencies, Gracie was taken away at 0200 in the early morning and the interrogation lasted until 0600. According to one of her friends, the Chinese public security authorities mainly interrogated her about the content of her talk with her Chinese friends in the late afternoon. Finally, they said that she did not follow the law by carrying her reporter's identification card, and asked her to sign some papers before releasing her. Her three friends also were released after being interrogated. [passage omitted]

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Premier Lien's Work Report on Administration Treat 12 Construction Projects as the Focal Points of Administration

with current and future social, political, economic, and cultural development trends; to satisfy popular aspirations and demands for knowledge and advanced studies; and to accommodate the growing liberalization and openness of our society. In addition, we will ensure that "human resources" will contribute to economic development, quicken the pace of planning and instituting an educational system based chiefly on lifetime education, expand adult education, popularize education, effect flexible exchanges and operations within the educational system, adopt flexible and varied admission standards, and institute an educational system that caters to different special aptitudes. We have completed amendments to the "University Law," thereby giving universities room for independent academic development. We also have revised the "Law on Teachers' Education" and formulated the "Teachers' Law" to expand the channels for sourcing qualified teaching staffs. Along with the implementation of a teachers' licensing system, we will improve the qualifications of primary and middle-school teachers in the future. We will promote a system of tailoring technical and vocational education to professional licensing requirements and establish more technical colleges to clear the channels for technical and vocational school students to pursue advanced studies in order to accommodate future social demands stemming from industrial restructuring. We will also chart and promote the "Plan for Developing and Improving Technical Education in Junior Middle Schools -- Toward the Goal of 10-Year Compulsory Education." To search for effective measures to cope with various educational reforms, the government is actively making plans for the national educational conference scheduled for late June in hopes of drawing on collective wisdom, devising a grand scheme, and painting a completely new and magnificent picture for our country's education in the 21st century. Moreover, we will also reform our vocational training facilities, vocation types, and the substance and form of vocational training to improve pre-job training and strengthen retraining for people transferred to other jobs, in-service training, and training in secondary skills. To upgrade the technical levels of personnel engaged in economic construction and cater to the needs of industrial upgrading and economic internationalization and liberalization, we will also promote and implement a technicians' licensing system that integrates training, examination, and employment. A very important task in increasing our economic competitiveness and improving all aspects of our investment climate is to accelerate industrial restructuring and upgrading. The Executive Yuan has formulated and is actively implementing the "Plan for Economic Rejuvenation"; it has adopted concrete strategies, which

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Premier Lien's Work Report on Administration Treat 12 Construction Projects as the Focal Points of Administration

better guidance to women, children, and youngsters and strengthen protection for them. In addition, we shall enlist the help of all the people and do our best to promote the system of "health insurance for all the people" as well as the "citizens' annuity" system. The system of health insurance for all the people combines the existing medical care services for government employees, laborers, and farmers; expands the scope of the insured to cover all citizens; and is developing into a unitary health insurance system in which the insurance premium is equitably shared and which entitles all citizens to basic medical care. We are expediting the legislative procedures for relevant laws and hope to successfully implement the system by the end of this year. As regards the "citizens' annuity" system, we hope to gurantee that every citizen will be free from want when they are old by means of compulsory savings and through joint efforts by the government and people. The system is being planned by relevant organs and will be rearranged by the Council for Economic Planning and Development. We also hope that it will be completed this year. As these two systems are important administrative measures that have a bearing on the welfare of all the people, the Executive Yuan shall plan and promote them with utmost circumspection and, meanwhile, will call on the whole nation to support them. Maintain Sound Finance Although our country is marching to join the ranks of advanced industrial countries, we must draw a lesson from the mistakes made by them in the past. The "welfare state" practice adopted by many advanced countries in Europe and America in the past has not only led to financial deficits from which they cannot extricate themselves, but it has ultimately resulted in a vicious circle, plunging both the economy and society into predicaments for which they can find no solution. A movement to make revisions to the welfare state is in the making in both Europe and America. It is really necessary for our country to understand this trend. Taxpayers are willing to look after old widowers, widows, and lonely people who are unable to look after themselves by paying taxes. However, according to Chinese cultural tradition, it is the children's duty to support and wait upon their parents, and working industriously is the way to live and become wealthy. The government must keep up the

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Leading Banker Urges End to U.S. Dollar Peg

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Hong Kong, March 11 (AFP) -- One of Hong Kong's most influentual bankers called Friday for an end to the local dollar's peg to the U.S. greenback, saying it was a major cause of chronic inflation in the territory. Bank of East Asia Ltd. Chairman David Li said the 10-year-old peg should be replaced -- after consultations with China, which takes back Hong Kong in 1997 -- with a trade-weighted basket of currencies. "Singapore does it. Taiwan does it. Even China does it," he said. Inflation eased slightly to 8.5 percent for working-class households in 1993, and Financial Secretary Sir Hamish Macleod has forecast a similar level for this year. But the British administration has its hands tied because the dollar peg surrenders monetary policy to the U.S. Federal Reserve, which is preoccupied with kick-starting the U.S. economy out of recession. The Hong Kong dollar was pegged at 7.80 per U.S. dollar in October 1983, when Sino-British talks on returning the colony to China in 1997 triggered a crisis of confidence and a flight of capital. With Hong Kong now an economic dynamo, the local dollar has consistently been on the strong side, but the Hong Kong government has repeatedly argued that the peg must stay to guarantee financial stability. Li, who also represents the banking industry in the Legislative Council, disagreed strongly with that view, saying: "Some of our very high power people have their heads in the sand." In a speech to the conference organized by the FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW magazine, Li said inflation was fast robbing Hong Kong of its competitive edge against Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. "Inflation is the single greatest threat to our competitiveness," he said. "It is simply too high. Day after day, month by month, we are pricing ourselves out of the market."

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Chen Jinhua Reports on National Economy 1. The Basic Situation of the National Economic and Social Development in 1993 2. The Major Goal and Tasks of the National Economic and Social Development in 1994 3. Strengthen and Improve Macroeconomic Regulation and Control; Comprehensively Accomplish the 1994 Plan for National Economic and Social Development

The total volume of post and telecommunications services amounted to 46.1 billion yuan, up 58.9 percent from the previous year. Rapid development was also seen in banking, accounting, auditing, information, consulting, and other service trades which provide direct services to people's everyday lives. The building of key construction projects and technological transformation projects was stepped up. Investment in fixed assets nationwide reached 1,182.9 billion yuan, fulfilling 147.98 percent of the annual plan and up 50.6 percent over the previous year, or 22 percent with inflation taken into account. To ease bottleneck restrictions on national economic development, the investment in the transport and telecommunications industries enjoyed greater increases, and its proportion in the total investment of state-owned enterprises rose to 20.2 percent in 1993 from 14.7 percent in 1992. Both the investment scale and engineering progress in railroad construction were unprecedented since the founding of the People's Republic. Preparations for the construction of the Three Gorges Project, which the NPC decided to build, have started in an all- around way. The first-stage of construction, involving earth-stone work for a cofferdam and an open water-diversion channel, is proceeding smoothly. The resettlement of displaced residents has been stepped up. The construction fund-raising has been going on quite well. New progress has been made in tackling major equipment and technology problems. In the building of key state construction projects, better results were achieved in 1993 than in previous years. A number of backbone projects of structural readjustment were completed and put into operation. One hundred thirty-three large and medium capital construction projects and [word indistinct] 128 technical renovation projects were completed. Newly added industrial and transport capacities included 14.38 million kw of electric power generation, 15.42 million tonnes of petroleum, 1,019 km of newly built, newly double-tracked, and newly-electrified railroads, 3,556 km of highways, 37.52 million tonnes in harbor loading-unloading capacity, and 3.672 million telephone lines. In addition, a number of public welfare facilities were completed and put to use. Economic, trade, and technological exchanges with foreign countries continued to expand last year. The opening up of coastal regions was moving in the direction of optimizing the industrial structure. The pace of development and opening up of Shanghai's Pudong District was accelerated. A number of new economic and technological development zones were built in some border and coastal cities and in some cities along inland rivers. Foreign trade developed steadily. The total volume of

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Chen Jinhua Reports on National Economy 1. The Basic Situation of the National Economic and Social Development in 1993 2. The Major Goal and Tasks of the National Economic and Social Development in 1994 3. Strengthen and Improve Macroeconomic Regulation and Control; Comprehensively Accomplish the 1994 Plan for National Economic and Social Development

the overall situation, including the Huai He and Tai Lu harnessing project, the Xiaolangdi key water conservancy project on the Huang He, and other water conservancy projects; the Beijing-Jiulong and Lanzhou-Xinjiang railways; harbor construction at such key ports as Qinhuangdao, Dalian, and Shanghai; the Beijing-Shenyang-Harbin, Beijing-Wuhan-Guangzhou, and Xining-Lanzhou-Urumqi optical cable trunks; major projects in the eastern region; large coal bases in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi; and large hydroelectric and thermal power stations. Efforts will be stepped up to complete automobile projects selected by the state; the Wuxi micro electronics project; and special projects on applied satellites. Preparations will be made for the early stage of the Three Gorges Project, with construction started on both banks at the same time. Construction of transportation projects leading to places outside the country and (?words indistinct) will be put into full swing. Land requisition and migration in the dam area will be completed. Preparations will continue for the early stages of Phase Three of the Baoshan Iron and Steel Complex and other key projects. Investment in processing industries that have surplus production capacities will be strictly controlled. -- Opening wider to the outside world and actively and effectively using foreign capital, resources, technologies, and markets. Efforts will continue to operate special economic zones, the Pudong New Area in Shanghai, open coastal cities and areas, and economic and technological development zones in an efficient way; and to open up more central cities in border regions, along the Chang Jiang river, and in the interior. -- Earnestly shifting economic construction onto the path that relies on scientific and technological progress, and further developing educational undertakings. We will continue to implement the guiding ideology of taking science and technology as the primary productive force. We will continue to implement the state's intermediate- and long-term science and technology development programs. This year's science and technology work will focus on the following: 1) Vigorously promoting advances in industrial technologies; 2) continuously promoting key scientific and technological research that has a major impact on economic and social development, and applying major scientific and technological achievements in industries; 3) strengthening the building of scientific research facilities and a contingent of scientific and technological personnel; and 4) helping enterprises become a mainstay in technological development. Further steps will be taken to bring market forces into play to promote integration of science and technology, and the economy. Education will continue to occupy

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Yang Zhou Detained Overnight, Released 12 Mar

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 12 (AFP)--Chinese dissident Yang Zhou, spokesman for the Chinese Human Rights Association, was released here Saturday after being detained by police for questioning overnight. "I spent the night at the police station and the police made it clear I was not to go too far," Yang said in a telephone interview. His detention came less than an hour after the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who is expected to ask the Chinese government about progress on human rights. Yang, a 50-year-old veteran dissident, was one of the nine founders of the Peace Charter, a human rights movement set up last November. Two of its leaders, Qin Yongming and Zhou Guoqiang, have been imprisoned. The secretary general of the Human Rights Association, Shanghai-based Wang Fuchen, was also detained for questioning Friday. The Chinese government has launched a major offensive against dissidents and rebel intellectuals over the past 10 days, questioning about 15, of whom three are still in custody. The latest crackdown coincided with the annual session of the National People's Congress, which began sitting Thursday.

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Yang Zhou Released 13 Mar After 2d Detention

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 13 (AFP) -- Leading mainland dissident Yang Zhou, spokesman for the Chinese Human Rights Association (CHRA), was released Sunday after being arrested by police for the second time in 24 hours. Yang, 50, a Shanghai-based dissident who is also a founder of the Peace Charter movement created last November, said by telephone that he had been released at 9:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) after being held for more than 13 hours. Another CHRA leader, Li Guotao, who was picked up with Yang on Saturday evening, was released at 1:00 a.m. (1700 GMT), Yang said. Yang and Li were the latest dissidents to be taken in for questioning during a police sweep in Beijing and Shanghai that has netted around 15 activists in the last 10 days. The detentions coincided with the opening in Beijing of the annual session of the Chinese parliament and the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

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Wang Fuchen, Yang Zhou Released 14 Mar

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 14 (AFP)--Dissident Wang Fuchen, secretary general of the Chinese Human Rights Association, was released Monday [14 March] in Shanghai after three days in police custody, a source close to him said. The spokesman for the association, Yang Zhou, who was also detained, said he had spent three consecutive nights at police headquarters in Shanghai and was set free at midday Monday. "It's become a routine," Yang said by telephone. "They come to get me in the evening, I take my cigarettes and my tea, I sleep there and come home again in the morning." "They want to keep up the pressure, and they're not arresting me to show how human they are," added Yang, 50, who is a veteran human rights campaigner and one of nine founders of the Charter for Peace movement begun last November. Wang, 39, has also been campaigning for human rights for many years, spending three years in prison for his activity during the 1978-79 Democracy Wall movement. The detentions of both men were part of a massive offensive against dissidents to coincide with the current session of the National People's Congress, China's rubber-stamp parliament, and the visit of United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher, which ended Monday. Bao Ge, another Shanghai dissident, said Monday police had instructed him to "keep quiet" during the upcoming visit to China of Japan's prime minister, Morihiro Hosakawa. He will be in China March 19 to 21. Xu Liangying, 74, a professor at China's National Academy of Sciences, said Monday he was still under heavy surveillance and was not allowed to receive foreign visitors. Xu and six other intellectuals wrote a letter to the government last week, asking it to release political prisoners.

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Hong Kong Daily Views Detention of Dissidents

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Leading mainland dissident Yang Zhou, the spokesman for the Chinese Human Rights Association (CHRA), was arrested late yesterday for the second time in 24 hours, his wife said. Yang, 50, a Shanghai-based dissident and a founder of the Peace Charter movement created last November, was also detained on Friday and then released yesterday morning after receiving a "warning" from authorities. Li Guoping said her husband had been arrested along with another dissident, Li Guotao, who was also a leader in the CHRA. On Friday, he was detained with another leading Shanghai activist, Wang Fuchen. Wang is still being held. Several other dissidents, including veteran democracy activist Xu Liangying, also said by telephone yesterday police had thrown security cordons around their apartments, in examples of official pressure on dissidents during the visit of United States Secretary of State, Warren Christopher. To date, police have arrested or detained about 15 activists in the run-up to Mr. Christopher's visit. Mr. Xu, 74, said he was being kept in a state of virtual house arrest, with police not allowing anyone into or out of his home. He was one of seven intellectuals who wrote to government leaders last week demanding the release of political prisoners. He said two policemen had stationed themselves at his door and four more had come to the main entrance of his building yesterday morning to keep friends from visiting him. "When I asked them what they were doing, they said: 'We're protecting intellectuals'," Mr. Xu said. He later tried to leave his apartment in Beijing's university district to pick up a newspaper, but police would not let him out, he said. "I fought with them, and demanded to know what law allowed them to do this," he said. "All they answered was: 'It's orders from higher authority'. " His wife, historian Wang Laidi, said: "They don't allow our friends to come in. They're concerned we'll have contact with Mr. Christopher." Mr. Christopher has said he has no plans to meet dissidents during his trip. Speaking during his hours of freedom, Yang -- Shanghai's most prominent political dissident -- said he had been treated well by police. Police also swarmed around US diplomatic compounds in Beijing yesterday in an attempt of head off any demonstrations during Mr. Christopher's visit. Journalists who tried to see some prominent dissidents on Friday night or yesterday were stopped by

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Wang Dan, Other Disidents Leave Beijing

of the authorities. However, their choice to leave Beijing before Christopher officially began his visit might avoid becoming entangled with the public securities authorities which would most likely happen. Surprisingly, a foreign dispatch quoted Wang Dan and others calling on the U.S. Government to continue to prolong MFN status for China, before they left Beijing. Wang Fuchen is the fifteenth dissident that has been detained over the past week whereas Yang Zhou has been detained twice over the past weeks. According to Wang Fuchen's family, when he returned home yesterday morning, he was immediately taken away by some public security men: "They said they were taking Wang to stay in a guest house for several days." The 39-year-old Wang Fuchen, an individual household, was given a sentence of 3-year imprisonment for participating in the 1978 Democracy Wall Campaign. He is currently secretary-general of the Shanghai Human Rights Association. Yang Zhou, one of the signatories of the "Peace Charter," had talked about Wang Fuchen being detained with this reporter over the phone before he himself was apprehended, saying: "They hold Wan Fuchen in custody as a warning sign. If Wang was lucky, he would be detained for 24 hours; otherwise, they might detain him till after the conclusion of the NPC." Shortly after, he was taken away from his home by a public security man. Yang Zhou's wife said that the public security man did not provide an explanation on why he took Yang away, nor did he disclose when Yang would be released. As to the three pro-democracy movement figures who left Beijing, they are: Wang Dan, the student leader of the 1989 student movement who sent the NPC and CPPCC an open letter only two days before; Zhou Duo, one of the last batch to withdraw from Tiananmen during the 4 June incident; and Min Qi [7044 3823], a scholar. This reporter phoned Wang Dan's family yesterday evening to inquire after him. His mother said that she knew nothing about Wang Dan's departure from Beijing; Wang Dan had "left home" when his family members were all at work and he had not said goodbye to his family, nor had he made any telephone calls. They learned about his departure through one of his friends who was with Wang Dan. According to his mother, Wang Dan had left home without saying goodbye and she was worried about it. However, she

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Article Views Coming `Tough Battle' in Reform

level of investment in fixed assets, to maintain a basic balance among the gross economic quantities, and effectively to curb inflation. Third, we should be really of one heart and one mind in using both hands to grasp the work; that is, while carrying out economic reform and economic development, we should also safeguard social and political stability and strengthen socialist spiritual civilization. Leaders at all levels should be good at finding out and stabilizing the people's feelings and resolving contradictions in good time so that a peaceful and stable situation as well as a benign public conduct and opinion environment can be maintained. We should really ensure the supply of foodstuffs and other daily necessities for the masses, and should do solid things closely linked with their daily lives. We must not disregard the people's livelihood while only being keen to raise the rate of economic growth. [end abstract] What will this year be? The leading comrades of the party Central Committee and the State Council have repeatedly stressed that this year will be a crucial year for implementing the "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee and for launching a tough battle in the in-depth reform across the board for the establishment of the new socialist market economic system. On 1 January, Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out in his speech at the new year tea party held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference: "The year 1994 will be an extremely important year for our country's reform, opening up, and modernization." "In the new year, the key part of our in-depth reform is to carefully and properly organize the adoption and implementation of a series of major reform measures for the establishment of the socialist market economic system." On 28 January, in his speech to the national propaganda and ideological work conference, Comrade Zhu Rongji stressed: "The tasks of reform and development in 1994 will all be arduous, and this is what the people are concerned about and what the world is watching. Whether we can win in this tough battle in the course of reform will be a stern test for us." Later, in his speech at the Spring Festival gala, Comrade Li Peng summarized this year's tough reform battle into three main points: "First, properly organize the implementation of the major reform measures in the fields of

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Commentary Criticizes U.S. Attitude Toward Human Rights

U.S. law is the law of laws and is universally applicable. If the law of a land differs from or contradicts U.S. law, it is automatically viewed as wrong in some way or not perfect enough, and the United States will even interfere with it. The same goes for human rights problems. Some people in the U.S. Government seems to think that the United States is a paragon where human rights are concerned and that only American standards of human rights can serve as a guide for the rest of the world. In fact, these people only look at other countries and ignore numerous domestic situations which flout international human rights norms. The situation of the Native American Indians is a case in point. The U.S. Government and American society have been treating the Indians unfairly, yet there have never been any "human rights warriors" in the United States taking any moral actions to address the history and present reality of the systematic annihilation of Indian culture. The U.S. Government doesn't care that prisons in California and Oregon use prisoners as cheap labor and then export these prison products. In the minds of the Americans, none of the Asian countries have "promoted human rights" in the past. During the era of the bipolar world order, many countries were lashed by the whip of U.S. "human rights" concepts and dared not raise any objections. Today, Asian countries can openly tell the United States that there are regional considerations in human rights, and, moreover, the right to regional development is one of them. This principle was expounded at last year's UN Conference on Human Rights. However, the U.S. Government is still violating this principle all the time and is continuing to interfere in other countries' internal affairs with its own human rights standards. The interference in China's human rights and Singapore's judiciary both originated from the same psychological background and show that the United States still has a hegemonic mentality. In fact, with the disappearance of the bipolar international system, a multipolar world order with a diverse political, social, economic, and cultural situation has appeared. This diversified world order values mutual respect and mutual noninterference. If the United States continues to act in a hegemonic style and intervenes in other countries at the slightest excuse, it will, in the near future, find that the regions will react strongly to counter such interventions.

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`News Analysis' Views Iraq's Attempts To Break Oil Embargo

Language: English Article Type:BFN ['News Analysis' by Zhang Dacheng: "Will Iraq Find Normandy To Break UN Oil Embargo?" -- XINHUA headline] [Text] Baghdad, March 14 (XINHUA) -- Defying the United Nations trade sanctions imposed since August 1990, Iraq last week sent its first high-ranking official delegation to Paris on post-sanction oil export and cooperation with major French companies. Will Baghdad find a Normandy to make a flank breakthrough of the oil embargo? Observers here noted that Iraq's latest move signaled a new strategy in its anti-sanction drive, namely, to open a flank battlefield outside the U.N. resolutions framework by selling oil profits to certain states in private. When U.S. President Bill Clinton took office at the White House in January 1993, Iraq changed its early post-Gulf-war policy toward the U.N. which was characterized by passive cooperation and positive resistance, pinning great hope on the new commander-in-chief of the pro-sanction coalition. However, Iraq turned back to the U.N. again following the U.S. missile attack against Baghdad in June and adopted a new policy of "weapons for oil." As a result, the country in November accepted U.N. Resolution 715 which calls for long-term monitoring of Iraq's weapons industries. While asserting its full compliance with all relevant U.N. resolutions, in particular Resolution 687, Iraq has been launching a campaign to press for a U.N. commitment to Article 22 by closing the chapter of weapons destruction and monitoring and opening a new one to allow Iraqi oil exports. The U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) charged with the weapons issues, however, answered that there are still doubts about Iraq's weapons-related information and that an observation of the monitoring mechanism was a must for an indefinite period. In addition, the U.S. and its Western allies tried to attach to the precondition for lifting the sanctions Iraq's recognition of Kuwait's sovereignty and boundary and resolving the issues of the Kurds and Shiite Moslems. Disappointed at the futility of its sacrifice in the main battle field, Iraq began earlier this year shifting its focus to a flank battlefield in an effort to break the sanctions, which are pushing Iraq to an endless abyss. It resumed oil sales to certain ex-partners. Observers said that such an action is well based on Iraq's abundant oil reserves and on the contradictions between the anti-Iraq coalition members. The basic reason for maintaining the sanctions is not Iraq's failure in fully compliance with the

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Commercialization of Farmland-Use Rights Reinstituted

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Nanjing, March 12 (XINHUA) -- Commercialization of farmland-use rights, a practice which was banned for more than four decades after the founding of New China in 1949, is germinating again in some parts of the country. In a traditional agricultural country such as China, rural people used to consider farmland as their lifeblood. Such a concept has been gradually changing. Many rural families, whose laborers are working in rural industrial enterprises, have willingly transferred their farmland-use rights to their fellow-villagers or even to people from other villages, townships, counties or provinces. Wang Jinbao, a 66-year-old peasant in Wuxi County, east China's Jiangsu Province, said that he has tilled the land all his life and loves the land very much. However, he added, he has now transferred his land-use rights to others because all his children have found jobs in cities or in rural industrial enterprises and no longer make their living by farming. The practice originated in the mid-1980s in the area of Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou in southern Jiangsu Province, where rural industrial enterprises are well developed. At present, over 60 percent of the rural laborers in the area have turned from farming to working in industrial or service-trade enterprises. As a result, some of the rural families are willing to transfer their farmland- use rights to skilled farmers who want to expand their scale of production. Such a practice was soon approved by the top leadership of the country. A decision on some issues concerning the establishment of a socialist market economic system adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee of the CPC on November 14, 1993 says that on the premise of adhering to collective land ownership, the compensated transfer of land-use right according to law will be allowed and that operations adaptable to economies of scale may be developed in a few economically developed areas through various forms such as the transfer of contracts and the purchase of shares on a voluntary basis. In order to solve the problem of some farmers being reluctant to continue farming and to avoid leaving the land waste [as received], the Chinese central government has selected the Pearl River Delta, Chang Jiang Delta and the outskirts of Beijing as the pilot areas to carry out the commercialization of land-use right. The official in charge of the experiment in the Chang Jiang

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State-Run Enterprise Officials To Visit Indonesia

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Y. C. Tsai] [Text] Taipei, March 11 (CNA) -- Vice Economic Affairs Minister Li Shu-chiu is scheduled to lead a 20-member delegation to Indonesia in early April to help promote the government's "southern strategy," the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced Friday [11 March]. The delegation will be composed of officials from state-run enterprises such as Chinese Petroleum Corp. (CPC), Taiwan Power Company [Taipower], Taiwan Sugar Corp. [Taisugar], Taiwan Fertilizer Co. Ltd., China Steel Corp., BES Engineering Corp., and Taiwan Salt Works. Ministry officials said the CPC will be looking at oil exploration and oil refinery deals, and Taipower is interested in investing in both hydro and thermal power generation projects. In addition, CPC officials will meet with their Indonesian counterparts on the purchase of low-sulphur crude oil and liquefied natural gas, while Taipower will offer to help train Indonesian electricity engineers and managers. Taisugar, Taiwan Salt, Taiwan Fertilizer, and China Steel are looking forward to providing Indonesia with expertise in sugar-cane planting, salt panning, fertilizer manufacturing, and steel making, respectively, the officials pointed out. Moreover, they noted, BES is considering assisting Indonesia in the planning and construction of industrial parks and residential districts. The government's southern strategy has been fueled by Premier Lien Chan's vacation trip to Malaysia and Singapore at the beginning of the year and President Li Teng-hui's unofficial visit to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand in February. The strategy encourages Taiwan manufacturers to increase investment in Vietnam and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which groups the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brunei.

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`Roundup' Views Improving U.S.-Russian Relations

Language: English Article Type:BFN ["Roundup" by Huang Huizhu: "U.S., Russia Repair `Relations of Partnership'"] [Text] Moscow, March 15 (XINHUA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher met Monday [14 March] in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok to discuss the newly emerging problems in relations between the two countries. The two sides announced after the meeting that Russia and the United States are still partners, although they will have differences forever. The statement indicates the U.S.-Russian relations of partnership will go ahead on a road full of zigzags. In a world characterized by multi-polarity instead of the bi-polarity structure, both the United States and Russia are paying great attention to their mutual relations. The two heads of state met thrice last year in an effort to establish a new-type relationship marked by mutual interests, cooperation and mutual restraint. At the January Moscow summit this year between Russian President Boris Yeltsin and U.S. President Bill Clinton, the two countries announced that they have "entered a new phase of mature strategic relations of partnership." However, as the situation in Russia and the international situation evolve, the two countries have neither solved their old differences nor prevented new ones from erupting. This has resulted in repeated bumping and frictions between the two countries over the past several weeks. "A number of gaps have been appearing in the mansion of Russo-U.S. partnership" and "Russo-U.S. relations have experienced some of the most serious crises for the past few years," local media reports said. It is not accidental that great ups-and-downs have occurred in Russo-U.S. relations only months after the Moscow summit. Local media reports summed up the causes for this change as follows: -- Russia is constantly adjusting its own foreign policy, and is putting a particular emphasis on an independent policy in dealing with international affairs; -- Russia is trying to strengthen its impact and role in other former Soviet republics to check the expansion of the United States in those areas; and -- The evolution of the situation in Russia has aroused worries in the United States and other Western countries. Russia's effort to resume its big-power status in the post-cold war world conflicts with the role of the U.S. as the only remaining superpower on earth. Russia has tried to adopt a pro-West foreign policy in order to win Western aid. However, the policy has

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`Roundup' Views Improving U.S.-Russian Relations

not helped Russia tide over its economic crisis or establish a market economy that would help the country integrate with the Western world. Instead, the policy has greatly weakened Russia's impact and role in the international scene and, to the dismay of many Russians, the country has lost some of its traditional spheres of influence. Yeltsin pointed out recently that Russia's foreign policy is mainly aimed at "realizing its national interests" and its diplomatic ideas should always "conform with the supreme standard of big-power status." He called for an end to "the situation of faulty and unilateral concessions" by Russia when it deals with Western countries. The Russian foreign minister also said recently that it is a "fanatical illusion" to wish that the world will be ruled by only one power -- the United States. The differences between Russia and the United States were fully shown in the course of the Bosnia crisis. Russia, as an active mediator in the Bosnia war and as a traditional friend of the Serbs, was kept out of the door when NATO decided in mid-February to press the Serbs to withdraw heavy weaponry from around Sarajevo with threats of air strikes. Russia countered the NATO decision by persuading the Serbs to withdraw the weaponry on time and sending several hundred Russian soldiers to Sarajevo. This foiled NATO's plan for air strikes and increased Russia's confidence in resuming its role in solving major international crises. Washington, furious with Russia's action on Bosnia, retaliated by arresting a senior CIA officer for spying for Russia, and by expelling a Russian diplomat. The United States has also been active in expanding into former Soviet republics ranging from the Baltic nations to Kazakhstan. The U.S. secretary of state visited almost all the former Soviet republics, promising things from aid in the removal of nuclear warheads to "democratic partnership" pacts. The U.S. supported the Baltic states' call for Russian troops withdrawal, provided aid to Ukraine at a time when Kiev was quarreling with Russia over the natural gas supply, invited Kazakhstan and some other Central Asia republics to cooperate with NATO, and supported Georgia's call for sending international peacekeeping forces to Abkhazia. Russia, which regards these areas as its spheres of special interests and responsibility, apparently considers the U.S. move as a kind of threat to its own security. Meanwhile, Russia's ever-changing domestic situation has been marked since last December

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`Specialist' Discusses Human Rights Issue

values for human rights is quite different from that of a common standard of human rights. Q: The specific situation of human rights differs from nation to nation. Under such circumstances, how can we embody the universal value of human rights while respecting the diversity of human rights in each country? A: For a long time, the human rights issue has been politicized and distorted. It became a political instrument in the Cold-War confrontation. This practice should be cast aside. The only reasonable and feasible way to promote human rights is, as stipulated by the UN Charter, through international cooperation. Various countries should discuss, exchange views and consult on human rights, rather than resorting to attacks and charges against each other. When a consensus is reached in some areas and conditions mature, international conventions may be signed and the signatories should be legally bound to the stipulations of those documents. Concrete cooperation may be achieved through bilateral, multilateral, regional and global meeting to exchange the experiences of each country. Before the 1993 Human Rights Conference was convened in Vienna, there were regional meetings in Asia, Africa and Latin America, which have proved to be beneficial to reflecting the views on the promotion of human rights from different regions. International cooperation in human rights may encompass a wide range of activities. Discussions between countries may include, inter alia, individual human rights and collective human rights; people's rights and obligations in society; personal freedom and national security; political rights and economic rights; relationships between human rights, development and peace; protection of the rights of minority nationalities and indigenous populations; and protection of the rights of women, children and the handicapped. The discussions may be conducted from different points of views, taking into account divergent historical backgrounds. But it is improper to arbitrarily say someone is 100 percent correct and others totally wrong. It needs to be noted that discussions should be held with all participants enjoying an equal status. Equality is the basis for cooperation. Although history, tradition and the present situation differ from state to state, each country has made specific contributions to human rights. The developing countries should be aware of the practices in developed countries. At the same time, they can relate their experiences to the developed countries so that both sides can learn from the successes and mistakes of the other. But it is inappropriate to assert that

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Discusses U.S. Linking Prison Products With MFN

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 16 (XINHUA) -- Chinese Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said today that neither the export of prison labor products nor immigration should become conditions for extending China's MFN status. There are a lot of such issues, they should not be played up or played down for political needs, Qian said, and China hopes both sides adopt a realistic attitude towards addressing these issues. Qian made the remarks when responding to a question at a press conference here sponsored by Zhou Jue, spokesman for the current session of the Eighth National People's Congress. On the export of prison labour products, Qian said that even the United States acknowledges that its prison labour products are exported to some countries. The U.S. side, however, does not want prison labour products from other countries to enter the United States, Qian said. Qian said China has a big market and it is entirely possible for China not to export its prison labour products to the United States. Moreover, the issue has already been settled. On the question of immigration freedom in relation to MFN status, Qian said that again this is not a problem as far as the Chinese side is concerned. Even the U.S. side acknowledges that China does not place obstacles to large scale immigration to the United States. The obstacle now is that those who are found with an intention of immigration are denied the visa to the United States. What is more. Qian said, China has the problem of illegal immigration, and "we are discussing ways to solve the problem."

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NPC News Conference on Environment

also plan to build more nuclear power stations in Guangdong and energy-deficient areas along the coast. Compared with traditional power plants that generate electricity by burning coal or oil, nuclear power stations should be considered a source of clear energy. The key requirement is that these stations must have safety measures. So when the nuclear power stations were built, China attached top priority to their quality and safety. The two nuclear power stations are very safe. They have the highest safety coefficient in the world. As as long as we strengthen management, nuclear power stations will not endanger the environment. The two nuclear power stations are now operating very well. As for the problem of treating nuclear wastes, this is a global problem. But this is not a big problem for China. Why? We have only two nuclear power stations. In addition, China has very large, very efficient, and very safe vaults [ku] for the storage of nuclear wastes. So the treatment of nuclear wastes is not a problem as far as China is concerned. [Lin Zongtang] We have very good storage facilities in the Gobi Desert [laughing heartily]. [Qu] So, countrymen in Hong Kong do not have to worry about this problem at all. [Yang Jike] Just recently I invited six professors -- prestigious experts in the fields of energy and environment -- from Sweden, the United States, Britain, Italy, and Canada to inspect the Dayawan Nuclear Power Station. We found that this station has the world's best system for ensuring security. This system can continuously monitor the way nuclear wastes are treated and how the hardware installed in the station can cope with nuclear accidents. Moreover, all the personnel in the station must receive rotational training every year to make sure they can deal with any accident. So we were very impressed. All the professors were very satisfied. So countrymen in Hong Kong can feel at ease. [Unidentified correspondent] I am a FANGZHI RIBAO [TEXTILE DAILY] reporter, I want to ask Vice Chairman Lin Zongtang this question. During last year's (?campaign) for enforcing the law for environmental protection, some rhinoceros horns and bears' gallbladders were found. How were these findings handled. What is the result of the handling? [Lin] China attaches very great importance to protecting wildlife and enforcing the Wildlife Protection Law. Last year, China joined the Convention for Protecting Endangered Wildlife and Plant Species. We are

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CPPCC News Conference on Education

as the Three Gorges Project. This is the largest-scale project to train talented people in Chinese history. [Reporter] Hong Kong SING TAO DAILY correspondent. My question is directed to Mr. Zhang Kaixun. How do you raise funds for popularizing technological innovations? Were any illicit means ever used in fund raising, such as in the Shen Taifu case? [Zhang] If the topic of a scientific research project is directly related to the development of production or a common need of the people's everyday lives, such as medicine and health care, disaster prevention and control, and new scientific instruments, the project can find manufacturers of related fields as sponsors. We have recently developed a new medical device which can accurately detect possible infant suffocation during sleep. The need for such a device already existed before we started planning the project. After we disclosed our idea to relevant enterprises and organizations, they were certain that their sponsorship for the project would succeed because it was a demand of society for scientific innovation and they had the responsibility to meet this demand. In this way, we have effectively combined the wealth, enthusiasm, and wisdom of society to jointly carry out the project. Therefore, it is not difficult for us to raise funds for developing new technology. We do not use Shen Taifu's method. [Reporter] KEJI RIBAO [SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DAILY] correspondent. My question is directed to member Ye Danian. While deliberating the government work report, what is the issue of utmost concern to CPPCC National Committee members? [Ye] My experience from attending the past seven CPPCC sessions shows that inadequate input is the issue of most concern to members from science and technology circles, and it has been discussed time and again. Members are encouraged by the Scientific and Technological Progress Law, which will become effective soon. However, they deplore the absence of provisions in the law for a fixed input in science and technology during a given period of time. They feel that even though funds for science and technology have increased numerically, the increase is off-set by price rises and the funds are insignificant. Another issue is the policy of holding fast to one end and leaving the whole field open. Members support this policy, but hope it will be more specific and easy to be implemented. [Reporter] China International Broadcasting Station correspondent. As we understand it, there are many cultural relics

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Zhejiang Leaders Hold News Conference

Along the coast, there are a dozen or so places suitable for the construction of thermopower plants with generating capacity greater than 2.4 million kw. We are confident that, by early next century, eastern Zhejiang will become the power base of eastern China. With regard to oil development, you all know that, since 1 January this year, 17 transnational oil companies have been prospecting oil, including seabed drilling and physical studies of the earth, within a 54,000 square km-zone in the sea 150 km east of Wenzhou. So people in Zhejiang are very upbeat about their sea. We can say that while Zhejiang's land size is quite small, we are a major maritime province. Zhejiang's future lies in the sea. [Correspondent] I am a correspondent from the China Central Television. I want to ask Governor Wan a question. Zhejiang is a province in which village and town enterprises are developing quite rapidly. What impact financial and taxation reforms promoted by the state this year will have on Zhejiang's economy, especially the development of Zhejiang's village and town enterprises? [Wan] Village and town enterprises are confronting many new challenges during the course of reform today. This is because state enterprises, through replacing operating mechanisms, will operate with greater vitality. The development of independent and private businesses, and also the changes in the market, are also challenges to village and town enterprises. Owing to their outmoded equipment and inadequate technology, the prospects for some village and town enterprises are also quite grim. In recent years, the provincial government has drawn up policies for cutting the taxes of these enterprises in an effort to support their development. These policies will be rescinded after the new tax system has been implemented, and some village and town enterprises may have to pay more taxes. But we must also see that village and town enterprises have developed flexible mechanisms governing their autonomy, profits and losses, capital accumulation, and development. The motivating force and pressure caused by the reform and the pressure caused by market changes will very likely prompt village and town enterprises to restructure their organization, industrial production, and product mix. So these enterprises will have problems as well as opportunities. But we think they will face more opportunities and hopes than problems. [Correspondent] I am a correspondent from GUANGMING RIBAO. My question is addressed to Hangzhou Mayor Wang Youming: A top priority of the

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Column Views `Personnel Drain' in Air Force The State Council Issues an Order Prohibiting Such Recruitment

was only about 12 percent. Into the 1990's, the industry has maintained a growth rate of 25 percent each year, but the annual rate of personnel increase has been less than 20 percent. Hungry for qualified professionals, the industry turned its attention to the air force, flaunting its high salaries and benefits. It has been learned that the monthly salary of captains who fly the main lines of all aviation companies is normally 4,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan (renminbi, similarly hereinafter), which is equivalent to 10 or 15 times the monthly salary of an active military officer ranking at the regiment or division level. Besides, those captains are also entitled to housing, job placements for their family members, long holidays, and liberal benefits. For example, a pilot working for Air China can get extras in kind worth 3,000 yuan a year. The extras in kind that a flight attendant working for Eastern Airlines can get each year are worth nearly 5,000 yuan. Such handsome conditions are very attractive to officers on the active list, who would try every possible means to retire or demobilize earlier and join the civil aviation industry. The civil aviation industry's recruitment of pilots from the air force has shocked the air force CPC committee and high-level CPC officials, and they had to adopt countermeasures to prevent such cases from spreading. In mid-January, General Cao Shuangming, commander of the air force, announced the procedures for processing officers' applications for early retirement or demobilization at an enlarged meeting of the air force. The application for early retirement or demobilization of a cadre ranking at or above the regiment commander level must be submitted to the air force headquarters for examination and approval, and a cadre ranking at or above the division level must submit these types of applications to the general office of the Central Military Commission for review. If the reasons are found to have been fabricated or the documentation forged, they will be subject to military disciplinary action, which includes striking their names off the Army roll and expelling them from the party. In the meantime, State Council Premier Li Peng issued a "Strict Ban on Recruiting Servicemen as Civil Aviation Air and Ground Personnel." This order stipulates: Civil aviation companies are not allowed to recruit air and ground personnel of the air force on the active list for any reason; or to admit into

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Liaoning Teleconference Discusses Occupational Safety

government, delivered a speech in which he put forward demands for the province's work of safe production. (Zhang Wenzhu) said: The province's situation in safe production in 1993 was as elsewhere in the country and a peak of production accidents cropped up again. The number of various accidents occurring in 1993 reached more than 28,000, resulting in the deaths of 4,800 persons. This is another large-scale increase in accidents since the first over-4,000-person occurrence of deaths recorded in 1992. The economic losses caused by these accidents last year reached more than 160 million yuan and showed a 45.15 percent increase over 1992. Traffic accidents left the largest number of persons dead followed by deaths and injuries caused by industrial and mining enterprise accidents. (Zhang Wenzhu) pointed out: The province's situation in safe production is still unstable though it has been somewhat alleviated since the beginning of this year. Important and appalling accidents still continue to occur. For this, the provincial people's government urges leading personnel at all levels and the responsible persons of enterprises to resolutely and successfully deal with the relations between security and production, between security and economic results, and between security and reform. A good job should be done in implementing the tasks of handling these relations. (Zhang Wenzhu) stressed: We should seize the emphasis and weak link of safe production and do a good job in conducting safe production. In particular, we should enhance the security supervision and inspection over the key industries, trades, and departments of communications and over coal mines. We should also do a good job in conducting propaganda and education on safe production. As for personnel who will be in special posts, we should employ them through training and keep them in line with state regulations. (Zhang Wenzhu) said: According to the state unified arrangements, we will launch the weekly campaign of safe production from 16 to 22 May this year. Through the campaign, we should foster a social environment in which everyone shows concern for security and pays attention to security in doing everything. Listening to the telephone conference at various branch halls were leading personnel from the provincial people's government, from the people's governments of various cities, from the relevant departments and bureaus under the provincial level organs and various city level organs, and from the supervisory and procuratorial departments in charge of security management --about 300 persons in all.

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WEN WEI PO Says Sino-U.S. Trade To Continue

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [Editorial: "Sino-U.S. Trade Will Continue"] [Text] U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher has concluded his visit to China. Both sides are still taking a forward-looking attitude toward the development of Sino-U.S. relations. Both sides maintain that "Sino-U.S. relations are very important and are willing to promote the improvement and development of relations between the two countries." Warren Christopher said: "Bill Clinton is determined to establish extensive and more constructive relations with China. Both sides should seize the opportunity and take action so that bilateral relations can be further developed." China and the United States have crossed swords frankly and seriously on the human rights issue, but both sides have taken a century-straddling long-term view toward the potential for developing the relations between the two countries and safeguarding the common interests of maintaining international peace and security. This has enabled the two sides to reach consensus on five areas, in which cooperation is possible. First, both sides have agreed to continue to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries. In April this year, Song Jian and Wu Yi will attend a meeting of the Sino-U.S. Science, Technology, Commerce, and Trade Committee in the United States. This indicates that both sides want to develop cooperation in science, technology, economy, and trade. Second, the U.S. side has reaffirmed its firm support to the restoration of China's status as a signatory state to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Third, China and the United States have agreed to resume and develop exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries, and both sides have agreed to establish a committee for using the national defense industry to produce products for civilians. Fourth, the Chinese side has agreed to allow a U.S group to come to China in the near future to carry out on-the-spot investigations on three cases of missing U.S. personnel during the war in Vietnam. Fifth, China and the United States have signed a statement on cooperation in implementing the memorandum on prison products. These results show that both China and the United States are calmly aware of the tremendous benefits of bilateral cooperation. This is in the interest of both countries. The common interest of both sides is not confined to the economy. On many hot spot issues of the world, China and the United States need coordination and cooperation at the UN Security

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Jiangsu, Shandong Governors View Reform, Development

a major event vital to the overall situation. While we should seize the opportunity of development, we should also thoroughly estimate and promptly discover difficulties and problems during the course of economic advance. We should conduct bold analysis, do a good job, and effectively deal with various contradictions and problems. [Correspondent] Governor Zhao Zhihao, please tell us how Shandong handles the relationship between reform, development, and stability. [Zhao] All right. To correctly handle the relationship between reform, development, and stability, and to strive to make the three promote each other and form a single entity, is the general demand set by the CPC Central Committee for this year's work. If the relationship among the three is handled effectively, they will promote one another and enjoy coordinated development. If the relationship is handled poorly, the three could impede one another and affect the overall situation. Therefore, our provincial party committee and government have decided to give top priority to reform this year. Under a responsibility system with proper division of work, responsible comrades of the provincial party committee and government have led groups of cadres in undertaking investigations and studies at grass-roots units to find new situations and resolve new problems, have popularized the practical experiences of grass-roots units, and have provided guidance for reform. [Correspondent] Governor Zhao, if new contradictions and problems emerge in Shandong's economy, how do you deal with them? [Zhao] If the economy develops too rapidly, many new contradictions will arise and the economic relationship will tend to be tense. For this reason, we generally do not demand administrations at lower levels to reach certain goals or accomplish certain tasks. All we emphasize is reforming the economic structure, carrying out technical transformation, and improving economic efficiency. In this way, we allow lower-level administrations more leeway in avoiding tense economic relationships. When making reform plans, we take the timing and scale of reform into consideration in order to make the plans feasible. Regarding social stability, we stress managing society according to law. At the same time, we undertake publicity and education campaigns among the broad masses of people in various fields to dissolve contradictions and arouse their initiative. We are especially concerned about those enterprises with difficulties in production and those operating at a loss; we would help them. We would also help people in disaster and poverty-stricken areas to improve their production and living standards. [end recording]

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Commentary Hails Convocation of 1995 World Women Conference

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [Commentator's article: "Valuable Sense of Participation"] [Text] Over the past few months, a large number of letters have been sent to Beijing from the masses in support of China's sponsorship of the United Nations' Fourth World Women Conference. This has reflected the sense of participation of the Chinese people in the years of reform and opening up. This world conference will be the largest one ever held in Beijing since the founding of the PRC. By that time, about 30,000 friends from over 100 countries will gather in Beijing, which will be a contribution made by China to the international community for the women's cause. The Chinese Government takes the convocation of the conference very seriously. When Premier Li Peng met UN Secretary-General Butrus Butrus-Ghali last December, he made a solemn commitment to the international community on behalf of the Chinese Government by saying: "We welcome the convocation of the conference in Beijing, as this will provide an opportunity for the world to understand China and for China to understand the world. We will do what we can to make appropriate preparations for the conference." At present, the preparatory work undertaken by the China Organizational Committee for the Fourth World Women Conference is in full swing. The entire Chinese people, the vast number of women in particular, have gone into action, and are expressing their support to the conference in various ways. Thanks to the support and concern of the party and government since the founding of New China, particularly over the past dozen years of reform and opening up, great advances have been made in the cause of women liberation, the position of women has been remarkably enhanced, and a lot of excellent females having emerged in large multitudes have won universal praise throughout the world. Although considerable headway has been made in the cause of women's liberation in China, there are still many aspects that are not satisfactory owing to traditional concepts. For example, compared with men, the proportion of women participating in the deliberation and administration of state affairs has yet to be raised; a certain number of women are illiterate; and women's right and interests have not been fully protected in some areas. The current conference will urge the entire society to show concern for and resolve these problems. Since reform and opening up, China's achievements in all fields of endeavor have

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Efforts Toward U.S.-PRC Military Exchanges Viewed

to sell 150 F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, and is insisting on a reversal of the sale in return for its cooperation on proliferation. Although the U.S. is adamant it will not go back on the deal, with the F-16 deliveries not due to begin until 1997 there may be some room for a compromise. Beijing is also insisting it be included in the core countries that discuss the constantly-changing terms of treaties like the MTCR. But while the Pentagon likes the idea in principle, that will mean providing Beijing with sensitive data on the West's missile programmes. Keeping technological intelligence out of China's nimble fingers is also a problem at the core of the other initiative, the Defence Conversion Commission. It has already been decided the commission will begin meeting later this year. A Pentagon spokesman said the U.S. hoped to learn a lot from China, which he described as being "15 years ahead" in the field of converting military technology to industrial use. There is no doubt defence conversion has to be expanded in the U.S., especially in California, which has been decimated by military downsizing. Officials are anxious to exploit the huge brain power at establishments like the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, near San Francisco. Now that its 8,000 employees have less work to do in the military sphere, the U.S. Government wants to find out how much of their expertise can be funnelled into designing, say, cars for General Motors. But at what risk? Livermore knows all too well, as it was at this very laboratory in the mid-1980s that a scandal erupted after a visiting Chinese delegation took advantage of lax security to gather secrets on America's neutron bomb -- possibly by bribing an employee. Not long after, it had perfected its own version. "The Livermore incident was devastating. It changed the balance of power in the region. They didn't just get a bomb, but all that goes with it," a defence intelligence official said. Nevertheless, as ties reopen, Livermore and two other national laboratories are to receive a high-ranking delegation of Chinese scientists in the near future. Washington is perhaps now coming to the conclusion that it has little power over how, when and where Beijing chooses to detain its dissidents. But it yet may come to have more influence over how China defends its territory and that is surely a goal worth discussing.

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Health-Care Plan Aims To Reduce Maternal, Child Mortality

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By staff reporter Zhu Baoxia: "Health-Care Plan To Cut Death Rates"] [Text] The Public Health Ministry yesterday unveiled a $200 million health project that aims to drastically reduce the death rates of pregnant women and little children in poverty-stricken counties. The programme demands that by the year 2000 the mortality rate of pregnant women in these counties be cut by 50 percent while deaths of children under 5 years old be reduced by one-third. The World Bank will loan China $100 million over the next six years for the project. And governments at all levels will match the WB loan in their budgets to jump start the joint health project, said Liu Peilong, Director of the Foreign Loan Office of the Public Health Ministry. The project is scheduled to begin this summer. It targets reducing death rates of mothers and children by expanding and improving primary health care services in the remote and poor districts. The $100 million loan and local matching fund will be used to build and improve the village and county health care centres as well as anti-epidemic institutes. Grass-roots medical workers will be trained in the latest methods of treating diseases and preventive health care. The World Bank and the ministry last week concluded the first- phase pre-evaluation on the project counties. Liu said around 300 counties with a population of nearly 1OO million were selected for the project. The counties were chosen from Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Guangxi and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Chinese and foreign specialists studied project plans by examining current health situations in the counties. The ministry, with help of some international health organizations and foreign specialists, is compiling teaching materials to train the local medical workers. Ministry statistics show that in the poor and remote counties, the death rate for children is more than 60 per 1,000. And the maternal mortality rate is more than 200 per 100,000, yet in some places it can be as high as 1,000 in every 100,000. The main cause of maternity fatalities is post-delivery bleeding, accounting for about half of the deaths . Malnutrition is one of the major causes of the high mortality rate of children in the poor counties.

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Dissident Shao Jiang Sends Open Letter Urging Democracy

Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 15 (AFP)--Dissident Shao Jiang has sent an open letter to Chinese leaders calling for political detainees' release, press freedom and respect for citizens' rights. A copy of the letter dated March 12 was received by the foreign press in Beijing Tuesday [15 March]. Shao, who became famous during the 1989 student demonstrations in Beijing, sent the letter to Deng Xiaoping, President Jiang Zemin, Prime Minister Li Peng and delegates meeting at the National Peoples' Congress in the capital. Shao's was the third open letter sent to Chinese leaders by democracy advocates within one week, in what some observers see as the most serious challenge to Chinese authorities since the 1989 demonstrations. The letter denounced "corruption, social disorder, the economic imbalance between the interior of the country and the coastal regions, inflation and unemployment." Shao also wrote that it was "important now to create a good social environment for the development of China." He called for "the liberation of all persons detained for their beliefs," "the halt of violations of dissidents' rights as citizens," the "suppression of points of law concerning beliefs," and "freedom of the press." The dissident also asked that the public be informed of the "assets possessed by the (communist) party and state officials" and that the government "open a dialogue with all Chinese on society's problems." Shao's letter also demanded "official explanations of the deaths of June 4, 1989" when the military crushed demonstrations in Beijing. Officially, some 300 persons were killed in the capital, but according to most witnesses, the crackdown caused more than 1,000 deaths. Shao, 24, is a mathematician. After the Tiananmen events, he spent 18 months in prison and was released in February 1991. He was questioned March 2 in Beijing and interrogated for 24 hours in a campaign of intimidation launched by police against dissidents. Wang Dan, one of the 1989 Beijing student leaders, sent an open letter March 10 to NPC delegates calling for a debate on human rights. The same day, seven intellectuals sent another open letter demanding "the liberation of all citizens imprisoned because of their speeches or their ideas." Among signatories was professor Xu Liangying, 74, a long-time defender of individual liberties. On March 8, the militant democrat Liu Nianchun officially requested to register an independent workers' union, called the League for the Protection of Working People, which claims to unite some 120 signatories.

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Han Dongfang, Labor Situation Profiled

his reasons for visiting are nonpolitical. "I'm going to the U.S. to visit my family," he said. "I hope to persuade them to come to Hong Kong." It has been several months since he last saw his wife, Chen Jingyun and his 15-month-old son Linfeng, now living in New York where his son was born. It would have been difficult to bring them here before now. Since Governor Chris Patten intervened to allow the labour leader to stay in Hong Kong -- much to the chagrin of China -- Mr. Han has moved six times. He did not have a job and had to depend on donations from friends and labour unions to get by. The Christian Industrial Committee, and its director, legislator Lau Chin-shek, gave him his present job as editor of the China Labour Bulletin. That led to an employment visa to stay in the territory. The committee is part of the Hong Kong Christian Council. Like many of China's dissidents who took part in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and managed to live through prison afterwards, Mr. Han, 30, is mature for his age. A quiet, friendly man with a quick sense of humour and almost majestic demeanour, he lives alone in his small $3,500-a-month studio on Lamma, just up the hill from the Yung Shue Wan ferry terminal. A small balcony overlooks the sea. Papers and books are strewn around the floor and dirty clothes are piled on one of two chairs. There is a no-smoking sign on the door, a reminder of the tuberculosis that he contracted in prison. U.S. pressure, and China's fear he would die in prison, eventually led authorities to release him on medical grounds and allow him to travel to the U.S. for treatment, provided free of charge by Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and its doctors. Although surgeons had to remove a quarter of his left lung, he says the disease is in remission. When Mr. Han is not writing, or calling his contacts in China -- "he's always on the phone," says a friend -- he takes walks in Lamma's hills, remembering harsher times and people, such as the prison doctor who tortured him with acupuncture needles. "At least he said he was a doctor," he says, laughing, then adds ruefully, "I still feel the numbness in my legs." Mr. Han never set out to be

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Regulations on Urban People's Police Patrols Implemented

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [By Gong Xinwen (7895 6580 2429): "Public Security Minister Tao Siju Signs Order To Begin Implementation of the `Regulations on Patrols by the Urban People's Police'"] [Text] Beijing, 24 Feb (RENMIN RIBAO) -- Public Security Minister Tao Siju signed and issued an order to begin formal implementation of the "Regulations on Patrols by the Urban People's Police" (hereinafter the Regulations). The patrol officer's duties and competence, activities while on the beat, and discipline are clearly defined by the Regulations so that the patrolling officers can be on the beat and perform their duties according to law and subject themselves to mass surveillance. Duties which the people's police should perform while on the beat are defined by the Regulations, such as maintaining public order within their jurisdiction, forestalling and stopping violations of public order, cordoning off scenes of public order emergencies, dispersing the masses and maintaining order, taking part in dealing with illegal rallies, marches, and protests, taking part in handling disasters and accidents, maintaining order, and rescuing people and property. They are to maintain traffic order, stop practices which hinder state functionaries from performing their duties according to law, receive citizens who report cases, mediate disputes between people in public places, stop troubles caused by mental patients and drunkards, help pedestrians who ask for directions, aid people who badly need assistance, such as those who sustain injuries, who are sick, and who are in distress, and help the handicapped, the aged, and children who are confronted with problems. Officers should accept and handle lost articles and try by every means to return them to their owners or send them to departments in charge of lost property, patrol their jurisdiction to ensure safety and brief relevant units and residents along the road on removing hidden perils, inspect discipline of the people's police, and fulfill other missions prescribed by laws and regulations. As stated in the regulations, the people's police can also exercise the following authority according to law: They can interrogate people suspected of perpetrating crimes and inspect vehicles and articles involved; check residents' identity cards; detain or take other coercive measures against criminals caught in, before, or immediately after their acts, people suspected of perpetrating major crimes, or offenders at large; check violations of road traffic management; punish people who violate public order management according to the PRC Regulations on Punishment of Violations of Public Order

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Crime and Punishment in the PRC for 1-14 Mar

and legal organs, and law enforcement personnel; illegal possession of rifles and smuggling and selling ammunition; and other serious crimes, which gravely harm social order. From 20 to 31 January this year, 14 prefectural and city courts throughout the province held 137 rallies to sentence more than 2,700 criminal offenders according to law. (Summary) (Beijing FAZHI RIBAO in Chinese 28 Feb 94 p 2) Inner Mongolia The Tuoketuo Public Security Bureau in Hohot, Inner Mongolia, recently smashed a major human smuggling ring. By the end of January 59 suspects had been detained, of whom 22 were arrested. Li Daichun and Li Dailin, natives of Sichuan's Fengxi County, are the principal offenders. With Li Dailin's wife Huang Yan, Li's sister-in-law Xie Suqing, and 11 others, in the name of recruiting people, they abducted more than 200 women from Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou to Inner Mongolia and sold them to human smugglers there for over 800,000 yuan. When the first trader of the ring found some women, he contacted the local smuggler. After the women were escorted to Inner Mongolia, they were sold at a low price to the second trader, who would transfer them elsewhere by truck and sell them to third and fourth traders. The Tuoketuo Public Security Bureau has arrested 245 human smugglers since 1989 and saved more than 160 victims. (Summary) (Beijing FAZHI RIBAO in Chinese 21 Feb 94 p 2) Sichuan Chengdu police recently cracked a large drug-trafficking case, seizing 26.9 kg of heroin and arresting 18 criminals. On 28 August 1993, police in Jinmu District, Chengdu learned of a gang engaged in drug trafficking. Police investigating the case were joined by another special police team, organized by the provincial, city, and district public security departments, taking the number of policemen on the case to over 100. The case was finally settled after over 170 days of efforts. The gang comprised elements from Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangdong. Since the first half of 1992, acting in league with overseas drug traffickers, it had conducted drug- trafficking and smuggling activities on several occasions, making several million yuan profit. Also confiscated were five imported luxury cars, over 1 million yuan, a number of weapons, ammunition, and drug-processing equipment. (Summary) (Beijing ZHONGGUO XINWEN SHE in English 0728 GMT 9 Mar 94) Shaanxi In view of the rampant criminal activities of ancient tomb excavation and smuggling of cultural relics in recent years,

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Dissident Movement Grows, Rejects U.S. Pressure on Rights

human rights when their economic state was well below that of China today." Ding Zilin, a 57-year-old academic who has also added her signature to the letter, welcomed "all the support that foreigners could bring to the democracy movement." She added however that "improvements in China's human rights cannot be achieved overnight." Wang Dan, a student leader of the 1989 democracy movement that was crushed at Beijing's Tiananmen Square when troops opened fire on demonstrators, said: "human rights in China cannot be accomplished by the Americans or Europeans, only by Chinese themselves." The leading dissident returned to the capital Wednesday after several days of "forced vacation" in the countryside. Before and during Christopher's visit, some 15 well-known dissidents were detained by police with three of them still behind bars. Yang has been questioned four times since the beginning of the month, but says he believes that "the police have changed their attitude towards dissidents in Shanghai and carry out their work without brutality," showing "that the government is now more careful in treating the democracy movement." "The movement comprises many more persons than before and from all walks of life," Yang said. "We can speak out publicly to demand the freedom of arrested dissidents. I myself was able to express my criticisms to the police who questioned me, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago." Three open letters on democracy have been sent to the Chinese leadership in the space of a week, and some observers say it is the biggest act of defiance launched since the 1989 demonstrations. "At the time, the concept of democracy was a little too abstract. Now the movement is closer to reality, with more concrete objectives," Yang said. "We have passed from a clandestine stage to a public stage while trying to proceed in a legal way." Wang Dan agrees with the description of the movement's evolution, but adds that "with the progress of economic reforms, calls in favor of political reform will multiply." Ding says that "what is happening today is the continuation of 1989." Her 17-year-old son was killed when troops opened fire on students at Tiananmen Square. "Before I wasn't involved in politics. It was the death of my son that woke me up. I don't want the same thing to happen to other young Chinese and that is why I wrote that open letter with the other intellectuals."

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Shanghai Activist To Demand Apology, Reparations From Japan

it would be "hypocritical and unfounded" for Japan to pledge its friendship with China unless Tokyo first apologised and paid compensation for the damage it inflicted on China during the Sino-Japanese war. The medical researcher accused the Chinese Government of violating its own constitution and acting "against the wishes of its people" when it renounced its rights to seek reparation from Japan in 1972. He said the renunciation was made without the consensus of the National People's Congress--the highest authority in the Chinese Government--and was therefore unconstitutional. "I have to make the statement public now because I understand they will stop me from speaking out when Mr Hosokawa comes," said Mr Bao yesterday. Meanwhile, Beijing student activist Wang Dan and two other dissidents returned to Beijing yesterday after having left the Chinese capital for the duration of U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher's visit. Mr Wang said he and dissidents Zhou Duo and Min Qi had spent the past few days in the southeastern coastal city of Xiamen. They had gone of their own volition to prevent the tension surrounding Mr Christopher's visit from becoming even greater after several dissidents were detained to keep them away from the current session of the National People's Congress and the Secretary of State. Mr Wang, one of the main leaders of the 1989 student movement, said he decided to leave Beijing after"the repeated persuasion of some friends." He also said he had been advised that "the conflicts would become more acute" if he stayed but refused to say who had told him this. "If the authorities had demanded that I go, I would not have gone," said Mr Wang. The three men stayed at a hotel in Xiamen and spent the time touring the city. Three or four plain-clothes policemen followed them wherever they went. When Mr Wang arrived back in Beijing, uniformed police were still in the reception room at the apartment block where he lives. Nevertheless, Mr Wang said: "I'm completely free." Mr Wang said he was heartened by the concern Mr Christopher expressed about human rights in China but said he did not pin much hope on pressure from outsiders. Sources said that dissident Wei Jingsheng, who served more than 14 years in prison before being released last September, was unlikely to return to the capital from Tianjin over the next few days. Mr Wei left Beijing on March 6.

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Li Peng Article on Vegetable Supply 1. Governments at all levels should be very much concerned about and pay attention to improving the people's living standards. 4. Put in Place Effective Means for Exercising Macroeconomic Regulation and Control

feeding the people and the task of construction -- and correctly handle the relationship between the two. Feeding the people means solving the people's livelihood problems, which is a major task that governments at all levels must perform well. We must unify our thinking and understanding with this task in mind; strive to do good "vegetable basket," grain, cotton, and edible oil work; and maintain a sufficient market supply and relatively stable prices. Our government is the people's government, and the purpose of the people's government is to wholeheartedly serve the people. To be concerned about the people's vital interests at all times is bound duty of our governments at all levels. Grain, cotton, edible oil, and nonstaple food are the basic necessities of the people's livelihood. We used to say fuel wood, rice, edible oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea were our seven daily necessities. Today, we should add vegetable as another necessity and as the top necessity. At present, the income of most of our people in both urban and rural areas is still quite low and their food expenses still account for a large proportion of their total consumption expenses. Under such a situation, the prices of grain, edible oil, meat, vegetables, eggs, aquatic products, and other major food items have a direct bearing on the people's consumption level. If food prices are too high, urban and rural residents will have to increase their basic living expenses and reduce other spendings, and their actual living standards will be affected. Our party and government are the representatives of the people's interests. We should take constant improvement of the people's living standards as the objective of all our work. Since we are elected by the people, we should protect their interests. A very important one of the three causes in the "conduciveness to three causes" stressed by Comrade Deng Xiaoping is improving the people's living standards [the other two are developing the productive forces of our socialist society and strengthening the overall capacity of our socialist country]. The governments at all levels should first strive to meet the basic needs of all the people, and then keep improving their living standards. Only after we solve well the problem concerning the people's livelihood which they are most concerned about, will they support us and listen to what the party and government say. The solution of the problems concerning the

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Provinces Improve Water Conservancy Facilities

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Changchun, March 16 (XINHUA) -- Provinces in Northeast China have been raising funds from various sources to improve their water conservancy facilities. The region, with a population of 110 million, consists of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning Provinces and the eastern part of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. Two main river -- the Songhua River and the Liaohe River -- flow across the region, and there are three border rivers: the Heilong, Yalu and Tumen Rivers. Including 1.43 billion yuan of central government funding, the region pooled more than four billion yuan (459.77 million U.S. dollars) between 1990 and 1993 to build 73 reservoirs and a number of other urban flood-prevention projects and farmland water conservancy projects. Newly-built water projects are able to supply 159 billion cubic meters of water every year for industrial, agricultural and urban use. In addition, the region obtained some 400 million U.S. dollars' worth of foreign loans during the past few years for seven of its large-scale water projects. Local government sources said that previously water projects were paid for solely by the government, which resulted in inefficiency in urban flood prevention and shortage of water resources. The provincial governments now all encourage enterprises and individuals to engage in undertakings related to water conservancy projects, which are bound to get profitable returns, according to government sources.

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More on Defectors

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Hong Kong, March 18 (AFP)--Two illegal immigrants claiming to be North Koreans have asked for political asylum in South Korea after they were arrested by authorities here when they crossed the border from China, a government spokesman said Friday. The two North Koreans, one believed to be a scientist, arrived in Hong Kong separately on March 11 and 13 from China, he said, adding "the matter is now being investigated." They are the first North Koreans to defect in this way. A spokesman for the South Korea consulate here said the two could be North Koreans, but added "we don't exactly know what's going on as of now. The Hong Kong government has not approached us on the matter." The two reportedly walked across the border from China in broad daylight and were at first taken for Chinese illegal immigrants when they were stopped by border patrols on this side. The Hong Kong Immigration Department was reportedly trying to assist the two in their application for asylum in South Korea.

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North Koreans Reportedly Defect in Hong Kong

Language: English Article Type:BFN ["Exclusive" report by Political Editor Mary Binks] [Text] Two North Korean defectors--one a scientist--have sought asylum in Hong Kong, prompting fears they may be the first of a wave of refugees fleeing political persecution and economic hardship in their country. Hong Kong immigration authorities are believed to be assisting them apply for asylum in South Korea. But South Korea is already entangled in a diplomatic row with its northern rival over an increasing flow of defectors heading south-- the incidence of which the Pyongyang government maintains is being fabricated by South Korea. The Hong Kong government has kept a firm lid on details about the two illegal immigrants since they were picked up separately by border patrols at Sha Tau Kok within two days of each other a week ago. The first was detained last Friday, and the other on Sunday. They crossed the border on foot during daylight--one picked up at the fence, the other further across the border. Initially regarded as illegal immigrants from China, the two revealed their identities during questioning. They were then handed to immigration authorities, and are being held at an undisclosed location. A Security Branch spokesman issued only a brief statement in response to questions about the detainees. "We can confirm that two illegal immigrants who claim to be from North Korea arrived in Hong Kong separately on the 11th and 13th of March," he said. "The matter is now being investigated." Security sources have voiced concern that Hong Kong may face a wave of refugees from North Korea as Pyongyang wrestles with economic hardship and food shortages. The Hong Kong Government remains anxious not to disclose details of the detainees in case Hong Kong is forced to become a conduit for North Korean defectors heading for South Korea. The number of North Korean defectors had increased in recent years since Pyongyang's European communist allies began disintegrating in 1989. Since then, 60 North Koreans have been allowed to enter South Korea, mostly through third countries. But South Korea's acceptance of the defectors is exacerbating tensions between the two Koreas. In fact, South Korea has already become a sanctuary for a stream of North Koreans defecting from Russia and China. Hundreds of North Koreans are reported to be wandering through Russia and China after escaping from logging camps in Siberia. South Korea's ambassador to Beijing, Hwang Pyong-tae claimed that in

FBIS3-3301_0

Labor Activist, Church Leader Reportedly Detained

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Prominent dissident and labour activist Liu Nianchun was detained yesterday sparking fears the spate of arrests that started early this month would at least continue until the fifth anniversary of the June 4, 1989 crackdown. A source close to the family of Liu, an unemployed worker and labour rights advocate in his 30s, said yesterday he was picked up for interrogation near his home in western Beijing. "Two plain-clothes police and four uniformed police from the local police station took him away at about 5 pm today," the source said, adding that the police had invoked the "summons and investigation" rule to detain him. Liu became the 18th dissident picked up for investigation in the last two weeks. Police released most activists after short periods in detention centres, but are still holding three of Liu's fellow labour rights activists for "anti-government activities". Two weeks ago, Liu proposed the creation of a new organisation deemed frightening to the Communist Party--a quasi-union to protect labour's right to strike and has taken his petition to the ongoing session of the NPC. In addition, it was learnt yesterday a leading member of China's underground Catholic Church had been secretly detained by police less than a year after being released from three years in a labour- education camp. Wei Jingyi, who was appointed secretary general of the Mainland Council of Bishops after his release from jail in March last year was taken into custody on January 20 by local public security bureau officers in Xushui county, Hebei province. Wei, in his mid-30s, was one of dozens of bishops and priests rounded up after the clandestine bishops conference in Xian, in November 1989, all of whom [sentence as published].

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Column Analyzes `Tough Stand' on Human Rights

really care about the rights, interests, and well-being of the vast number of Chinese people; instead, they were only concerned about a very small number of people who attempt to subvert the Chinese Government and undermine China's stability. This is in fact a political and legal issue rather than a human rights issue." The remarks uttered by Qian and Jiang made people realize more clearly the essence of the United States' "human rights" diplomacy. According to the sources, although China gave the United States a message that it would not yield on the human rights issue in order to keep its MFN trading status, this did not mean that China does not care about the continuation of MFN status. Instead, according to their assessment of the current domestic and international situation, the Chinese authorities thought that the United States would not recklessly rescind China's MFN status. According to WAISHI DONGTAI [TRENDS IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS], an internal newsletter distributed to those cadres engaged in foreign affairs, shortly before Christopher's visit to China, a Chinese diplomat gave a speech at a seminar in the CPC Central Party School and reviewed the Sino-U.S. struggle over the MFN issue in the past. He said: "Not only in China, but also in the international community, a great deal of research has been done on this issue, and all of the researchers reached a common conclusion: MFN status must still be given to China, because the national strength of the United States has substantially declined, and it needs economic cooperation with other countries. On many international issues, the United States can no longer impose its own ideas on its Western allies. For example, in Bosnia and Somalia, the United States ran into snags again and again; even when dealing with affairs in Haiti and the Philippines, the Unites States can no longer continue its club- wielding policy." The diplomat said: First, the recent spy scandal caused a rift in U.S.-Russian relations, and Russia stopped following every instruction dictated by the United States due to domestic pressures; second, there have recently been trade frictions between the United States and Japan, and Japan has seen rising domestic demand for trade equality, even though the United States is using "Super 301" as a heavy weapon to force Japan to open its market; third, Clinton himself has been seriously plagued by the "Whitewatergate affair," and people are watching to see

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Wang Dan Clarifies Stand on Renewal of MFN Status

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [By staff reporter from Beijing: "Wang Dan Calls for Extension of Most Favored Nation Status for a Year"] [Text] The mainland's most famous pro-democracy activist, Wang Dan, yesterday issued a statement calling on the United States to renew the mainland's most favored nation [MFN] status, adding that the United States should also exercise close attention to the mainland's human rights record. The following is the full text of Wang Dan's "statement on MFN:" Foreign press circles gave wide publicity to a joint statement issued in the names of "Zhou Tuo, Wang Dan, and Min Qi" on 11 March 1994. Their reports referred to a sentence on "strongly calling on the United States to renew China's MFN status." Here I would like to solemnly clarify that this remark on MFN, particularly the word "strongly," does not represent my personal stand or attitude. Thus a correction is necessary. To clear up this misunderstanding, I am willing to make an open statement on my basic stand and attitude concerning the MFN status. My opinion follows: 1. This year the United States should renew China's MFN status, because if the United States abolishes China's MFN status, first, this could damage the economic interests of the Chinese people; second, this could be unfavorable to speeding up the introduction of market economy, whereas the vigorous introduction of market economy will fundamentally promote China's social progress; third, this could stop U.S.-Chinese economic relations, while facts have shown that these relations are effective ways to promote social progress in China; separation could cut off the channel for the United States to urge China for human rights improvement; fourth, this could discourage the enlightened leaders in the CPC from pursuing a firm reform policy and could provide a pretext for those with ulterior motives to hamper reform and opening up; fifth, this could ruin China's pro-democracy movement and aggravate the situation in which pro-democracy activists find themselves. This year is an important and crucial year in China's reform process. Any decision beneficial to promoting reform is wise and worthy of support. The international community should also notice that the Chinese Government has switched from refusal to acceptance on the human rights issue and has made some sensible moves on some aspects of human rights. This should also be encouraged. 2. In the meantime, it is also my opinion that MFN status should, naturally, be linked

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Reparation Demanders Protest at Japanese Embassy in Beijing

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By John Kohut] [Text] Chinese police defused a potentially explosive protest yesterday by detaining more than 100, mainly elderly people, as they attempted to demonstrate against Japan on the eve of Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa's arrival in Beijing today, according to witnesses and sources close to the protest. Scores of elderly people, some in their 80s, seeking reparation for Japan's occupation of China during the 1930s and 1940s, began descending upon the Japanese embassy in Beijing just after it opened yesterday morning. The authorities had apparently been tipped off about the protest and surrounded the embassy with about three dozen uniformed policemen and several times that many plain-clothes police. Protesters from across the country were supposed to converge on the embassy at 10 am, but they started arriving much earlier and were bundled off into jeeps and taken to a police station near the embassy, according to the sources. They said some 300 petitioners appeared at the embassy and more than 100 were taken away by police. Some of the protesters detained were carrying letters addressed to Prime Minister Hosokawa. Gao Minke, 82, who works in a hospital in southern China, wrote in a protest letter that Japan should apologise for war crimes and compensate relatives of the victims. Mr Gao, who was detained, said he lost more than 10 relatives at the hands of Japanese soldiers in a rural part of Jiangsu Province in 1938. An estimated 10 million Chinese died during the occupation. Others tried to deliver copies of a letter signed by the Preparatory Committee of Chinese Civilians Seeking Reparations from Japan saying "problems left over by Japan's war of aggression have not been solved". "We representing 500,000 living sufferers and relatives of the dead victims, resolutely request that you give a formal apology to the Chinese people and a definite reply to the reparation demands of the Chinese civilian victims," the letter to Mr Hosokawa said. Police also intercepted more than 100 protesters at a train station in the southern part of the city, the sources said. Tong Zeng, a researcher in his 30s who has been one of those behind the movement for Chinese civiliansto get billions of dollars in war reparations, was reportedly taken into custody yesterday. When contacted last night, his family said: "He is out and will be away for a few days ... They have taken him

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Intellectuals Demand Release of Compensation Activists

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 21 KYODO -- A group of 500 Chinese intellectuals sent an open letter to the ongoing National People's Congress (NPC) on Monday [21 March] demanding the release of war compensation activists detained by Chinese security authorities. The letter says more than 100 victims of Japanese aggression during World War II were detained Friday in front of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, a day before Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa arrived in China for a three-day official visit. "According to eye witnesses, there were no marches, demonstrations, petitions, sit-ins, shouting or similar disturbances. On the contrary, they expressed themselves peacefully and had an orderly attitude," said the letter, describing the activists. "All were crippled after receiving injuries and being forced to labor for the Japanese Army during the time of the Japanese invasion," it said. "The oldest is 85 and the youngest is 56." The letter also called for the release of Tong Zeng, a leader of the compensation movement, who since 1992 has received support from NPC delegates on the matter of demanding compensation from the Japanese Government, it said. Sources close to the movement said the 100 elderly activists were released and sent home Sunday evening, but that Tong's whereabouts were still unknown. Tong's wife also made inquiries into her husband's whereabouts, but was told by police that nothing was known of his case, the sources said. Police took Tong from his home Friday morning after he refused to follow orders of his work unit to leave Beijing during the Hosokawa visit, they said. A group of 32 NPC delegates at the ongoing session of the NPC, China's legislature, earlier filed a motion demanding compensation for civilian victims of the war from Japan and a formal apology by Hosokawa, but the motion has reportedly been shelved by central authorities. Informed sources said the Movement for War Compensation is potentially huge as elderly Chinese still harbor rage at the Chinese Government's agreement to give up demands for war reparations from Japan as stated in the 1972 Sino-Japanese joint communique which restored diplomatic ties between the two countries. Police have singled out Tong because of a letter, forged with Tong's signature and sent to thousands of victims calling them to come to Beijing during Hosokawa's visit, one source said. The one-page letter, which also urges the NPC to make security departments apologize, is accompanied by

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Beijing Frees Protesters

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 21 KYODO -- China's Public Security Bureau released more than 100 Chinese protesters late Sunday night [20 March] after detaining them for two days for demanding war compensation from Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, informed sources said Monday. The protesters, including now elderly victims of Japan's wartime aggression, were taken into custody Friday on the eve of Hosokawa's arrival in Beijing for an official visit to China. Many of the elderly came to the Chinese capital by train from Hebei and Jiangsu Provinces, the sources said, adding they will be turned over to the Beijing offices of their home provinces. The sources said Tong Zeng, leader of the unofficial victims of Japanese War Crimes Reparations Committee, was still in police custody Sunday. He was arrested Friday morning. They said a petition drive to win Tong's freedom is under way among Chinese intellectuals in Beijing. In a welcoming banquet speech on Saturday, Prime Minister Hosokawa called on China to improve its human rights record, saying human rights are a universally accepted value. The Chinese Government has been sensitive about demanding war compensation for civilian casualties from Japan reportedly because it is afraid it could damage favorable official ties that include as much as 1.2 trillion yen in loans.

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Heilongjiang Governor on Seizing Opportunity, Reform

long, we must seize them. As far as Heilongjiang is concerned, a very important opportunity for the province these years has been the central authorities' (?policy) concerning opening up border areas. By opening up border areas, Heilongjiang has made significant development in economy and foreign trade over the past years. I have noticed that the central authorities are particularly concerned with the problems of agriculture and large- and medium-sized enterprises. Under the current situation, we should seize the opportune time at which the development of agriculture and invigoration of large- and medium- sized enterprises are proposed by the central authorities to boost the development of these two sectors in Heilongjiang. As for deepening reform, reform has been launched for a decade or so; how we should deepen reform is [words indistinct]. Talking about opening up wider, although Heilongjiang Province has been stepping up the pace of opening up border areas in the past few years, the key lies in opening up to all directions. After all, we cannot attach importance to opening up border areas only, and ignore countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Therefore, the central authorities [words indistinct] proposed this year that we open up border areas on the one hand, and open up to Southeast Asia and Latin America in an all-round way on the other. [Yang] Governor Shao, what is your view about correctly handling the relations among reform, development, and stability? [Shao] I believe the handling of relations among the three is not only to address problems in the past, more importantly it is to set a higher standard and demand social and economic development in the new situation. To properly handle the relations among reform, development, and stability, I believe we must face actual [words indistinct] and problems, think them over and reform them. There are indeed some problems among reform, development, and stability that have plagued us for a long time. The key to solving these problems lies in developing the tertiary industry step by step. For example, Heilongjiang Province has reaped bumper harvests in agriculture for several years in a row, and attained expected results every year. It should have [words indistinct]. On the contrary, however, peasants' incomes did not increase rapidly and Heilongjiang's revenue is getting worse. This means there is no healthy cycle among production, development, and stability. This problem has something to do with properly handling the relations

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Provincial Party Chief Discusses Shanxi's Development

basically accelerated its construction of energy and chemical industry bases last year. On the strategy of emphasizing both coal and electric power, Hu Fuguo said: Shanxi will take advantage of its coal to develop the electric power industry. With the State Planning Commission's approval, we recently started the construction of Yangchuan No. 2 Power Plant and the Liulin Power Plant, bringing the total capacity of power generating projects under construction in Shanxi up to 3.6 million kw. At the same time, the Yangcheng Power Plant will be built with imported technology and equipment and with funds from outside the province. During the first stage of its construction, generators with a total of 2.1 million kw capacity will be installed. The preparatory work for its construction is being stepped up. After completion, it will supply electric power exclusively to Jiangsu Province. Feasibility reports on building power plants in Hequ, Wangqu, and Hejin have been prepared. Shanxi's thermoelectric power generating capacity will double by the end of the century. Hu Fuguo said: The construction of roads and water diversion projects is in full swing in the province. The Taiyuan-Yulin first- class highway has been completed and is open to traffic. The construction of two express highways and three second-class highways has started in an all-around way. By 1997, Shanxi's highways will be able to transport annually more than 100 million tonnes of goods out of the province. The construction of the Wanjiazhai project for drawing water from the Huanghe has started. After completion, the project will solve Shanxi's water shortage problem once for all. The Taiyuan airport and railroad are under renovation. On the province's abundant coal resources, Hu Fuguo said: It will not do without excavating coal, but coal excavation alone cannot solve all our problems. The establishment of a socialist market economic structure has created a development opportunity for an energy-rich province like Shanxi. Complete decontrol of coal prices will help rationalize Shanxi's coal management system and create new opportunities for Shanxi's enterprises to accumulate capital funds and develop themselves. The establishment and development of the production-factor market will make it possible to market electricity as a commodity and will enable us to realize the strategy of emphasizing both coal and electric power industries. Shanxi's electric power development will enter a golden age. So long as we seize the development opportunity, new progress will be made in Shanxi's economic construction.

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Agriculture Ministry News Conference

principle of guiding, enlightening [su dao], and serving them. We have also taken some measures to make the flow more rational. Moreover, we plan to set up a consolidated, nationwide labor market to regulate the supply and demand of laborers between cities and rural areas. [Unidentified correspondent] I am a reporter from the U.S. WALL STREET JOURNAL. You just mentioned that you have taken some measures for increasing the purchase of grain and cotton. It is likely that the purchase of these products will decline this year? To what extent will it decline? Moreover, has last year's problem of IOU's been completely resolved? Have there been any other measures taken to prevent the recurrence of this problem? Thank you. [Liu] Let me answer your last question first -- the IOU problem. We have taken care of this problem which occurred in the agricultural sector in 1993. Now, no more IOU's have been given for agricultural purchases. Now for the question about purchasing quantities: we fulfilled the 1993 state plan for grain purchase but we did not fulfill the state plan for cotton purchase. This is primarily because the plan set for cotton production was not fulfilled as a result of natural disasters and smaller acreage for cotton last year. We only fulfilled 70 percent of the cotton purchasing target. This lady [the WALL STREET JOURNAL reporter] and many other reporters have asked the question about the balance of total grain supply and demand. Let me answer your question with some figures. Last year when I attended a conference of the FAO [UN Food and Agriculture Organization], I gave a report on China's grain output in recent years. Comparison of the statistics released by the FAO and China shows that, on average, China produced 31 kg of every additional 100 kg of grain the world produced during the 12- year period from 1980 to 1992; and that China produced 40 kg of cotton, 34 kg of oil-bearing crops, 37 kg of aquatic products, and 54 kg of meat of every additional 100 kg of these goods the world produced during that 12-year period. That is to say, except for cotton, the production of which declined in China in 1993, the output of all other crops -- cereal and oil bearing crops, aquatic products and meat -- exceeded the average. The Chinese population now accounts for 22 percent of the world population.

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Commentary Examines Six-Character Principle

reality and choose suitable main industries, as well as other related industries. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the rational division of labor and cooperation among regions and avoid uniform industrial structures, so that all localities can give play to their strength and make effective and full use of their economic advantages and resources. Liaoning Governor and NPC Deputy Yue Qifeng discussed Liaoning's second economic progress. He said: In transforming an old industrial base, it is necessary to have new ideas and not to blindly follow other's practices. It is necessary to use high and new technology in developing a number of new enterprises and transforming a number of old enterprises. It is necessary to close down a number of old enterprises which do not merit transformation. It is necessary to constantly optimize the product mix and develop a number of technology-intensive products which are high value-added, highly marketable, bring high economic returns, and which will help promote the province's economic development. Deputy Wang Guangying, who is of noble character and high position, suggested the use of foreign capital and technology in invigorating inefficient large and medium state-owned enterprises. Economic efficiency is inseparable from product quality, marketability, and after-sale service. During the two sessions, Deputy Ma Yue, who is general manager of the Dongfeng Automobile Company in Hubei, visited the Beijing service center of Dongfeng automobiles and Fukang-brand sedans to seek users' comments on 15 March, which happened to be the "Consumer Rights Day." He said: In the past, enterprises were responsible for planning only. Now, they must be earnestly responsible to the users. If we do not enlarge the scale of production rapidly to lower costs and produce cars of a high level of technology, good quality, and reasonable prices to satisfy users, we will not be able to do anything but watch foreign companies seize all of China's automobile market. Only healthy development is genuine development, and only effective development is genuinely healthy development. To put more effort into "healthiness" and efficiency is the common aspiration of the NPC deputies and CPPCC members attending the two sessions, as well as the common aspiration of the people across the country. If everyone in our country enhances his awareness of efficiency and tries in every possible way to raise economic efficiency, we will be able to promote the country's modernization in a sustained, rapid, and healthy way.

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AFP Details Report on Protesters in Tiananmen Square

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 21 (AFP)--At least two protestors Monday [21 March] scattered pamphlets in Tiananmen Square here as a group of delegates to China's parliament were passing, witnesses said. Police immediately grabbed the camera of an Agence France-Presse photographer who had taken pictures of the protest and opened it to expose the film. A plainclothes policeman filmed the entire incident. Witnesses said several hundred people were gathered behind security barriers on the eastern side of the square to watch the delegates leave the parliament building when, about 10:45 a.m. (0245 GMT), the pamphlets were scattered by at least two protestors stationed at different parts of the square. Uniformed and plainclothed police, who have been controlling access to the square since parliament opened its annual session March 10, quickly moved to disperse the crowd and seal off the area. The pamphlets were also hastily gathered up. It was not known if any arrests were made. Tiananmen Square was the scene of massive pro-democracy protests which were crushed by the Army during the night of June 3-4, 1989. Since delegates from all over China arrived for the parliament session, dissidents and intellectuals have made several attempts to put across their pro-democracy and pro-human rights views. Three open letters have been sent to delegates, but Monday was the first time dissidents have openly defied the police. Before the session began, police launched a massive campaign to intimidate opposition with the arrest of some 15 dissidents, forcing some of the better-known to stay away from the capital while parliament met. In a separate development, a Chinese carrying a letter addressed to communist party and parliamentary leaders calling for democracy was arrested just after meeting journalists, several witnesses said. Gao Hongming, a civil servant in his 40s, was detained by plainclothes police and pushed into a black car as he came out of the Jianguomenwai foreigners' compound on the east side of the capital in early afternoon. The letter, dated March 7, had already been sent to the party Central Committee and parliament, Gao said before his arrest.

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Protestor Reportedly Arrested in Tiananmen Square

Language: English Article Type:BFN [From "News at One"] [Text] Police in Beijing have arrested at least one person who tried to distribute leaflets in Tiananmen Square, and one news photographer had his film seized. Witnesses said that they saw leaflets being thrown into a crowd in the square, the site of the 1989 Beijing massacre. One incident occurred on the north side of the square and another took place at the Monument to the People's Heroes in the center of the square. There was no indication what the leaflets said. One witness saw police throw a person into a car and drive off immediately after the incident.

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XINHUA Reports on APEC Finance Ministers Meeting

the Asia-Pacific region. The ministers hope the discussions will help address some of the challenges facing the region, including ensuring non-inflationary regional growth and financing investment and infrastructure development. The meeting is held in accordance with the vision statement issued on November 20, 1993, in Seattle, when the APEC leadership conference was held. In an opening statement to the meeting today, U.S. Secretary of Treasury Lloyd Bentsen said that the meeting represents "the first opportunity for regional discussions about basic issues like economic growth and financial challenges." "It would be hard to imagine a group of finance ministers with more of a reason to consult. The region includes the world's fastest-growing economies. We account for half the world's output, half the world's foreign exchange reserves, and nearly half the world's population. "And trade within our region has reached 1 trillion dollars a year," he said. Bentsen said, "All this growth brings with it a need for a broadened perspective. In today's interdependent world, this kind of economic performance cannot be sustained in a vacuum. We all share an interest in economic strength for the region as a whole." He said that uneven and divergent economic performance in the region "creates uncertainty, uncertainty retards investment, and investment is essential to sustained growth." "That is why we need to consult and to cooperate in identifying successful economic strategies for the future," Bentsen said. Attending the meeting are finance ministers and their deputies from APEC nations of Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei are also participating in the meeting as regional economies while Chile, which has applied for APEC membership, is attending as an observer. No specific agreement was expected at today's meeting. A draft summary of the meeting has been handed out to the delegates. But changes are expected during discussions among the ministers. Also speaking at today's meeting, Indonesian Finance Minister Mari'e Muhammad said that "foreign capital can play a significant role in promoting the efficiency of domestic resources." He said Indonesia recognizes that its resources cannot meet all of its financial needs, particularly in the area of infrastructure development. Analysts say that over the next decade, Asia will need investments totaling some one trillion U.S. dollars to develop highways, airports, telephone lines, ports and power plants.

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GUANGMING RIBAO Urges Stop Using Human Rights as Pretext

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 22 (XINHUA) -- One cannot use human rights as a pretext for sticking one's nose into the internal affairs of other countries, according to a signed article in today's "GUANGMING" DAILY [GUANGMING RIBAO]. While calling for an end to this practice, the article said that some people abroad would always like to use human rights as a pretext and flagrantly interfere in China's domestic affairs. Time and again they put forward lists of names of allegedly persecuted people of various kinds and ask, in disregard of the laws of China, for earlier release of prisoners on the lists. They threaten otherwise to impose sanctions on China or to cancel certain favorable treatment. A country must have its own laws and regulations compatible with its internal conditions, the article said. "It is universally acknowledged that people who break the laws must be punished according to relevant laws in that country." It is unacceptable, even though it is laughable, that the lists of names of such alleged victims of human rights and the so-called facts published are often based merely on hearsay and rumors. For instance, some of the people on the lists are just described as having the name of so and so, with no other detailed information such as age, address or origin. On some occasions, the handful of overseas critics simply distort the facts and stick labels of high-sounding noble causes -- such as for the cause of democracy or for political differences or for religious beliefs -- on listed criminals who have actually been convicted in China of various crimes, such as arson or murder. These foreigners with ulterior motives falsely allege that criminals who are actually receiving fair treatment and enjoying sound health have been cruelly tortured and are on the verge of death. China rules itself, and will always do so, only in accordance with its own laws and regulations. Others may have different opinions about such laws and regulations, but they can never be authorized to change them or to ask China to handle its domestic affairs in line with the laws and decrees of another country. People abroad who would like to use the laws and regulations of their own country as a model and to force other countries to accept these laws are in practice interfering in other countries' affairs. A country, as well as its

FBIS3-3452_0

Guangxi To Earmark 667 Hectares for Singapore Companies

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Report by staff reporter Wang Yong: "Guangxi Land Woos Firms From Singapore"] [Text] Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region plans to earmark 667 hectares for companies from Singapore. This was announced over the weekend in Beijing by Cheng Kejie, chairman of the regional government. In June, Cheng is to visit Singapore to negotiate the specific terms of the deal. "We expect a bundle of large projects financed by Singapore to be finalized soon in the Tieshangang area," Cheng told a press conference held during the ongoing National People's Congress. Guangxi, the potential trade thoroughfare between China and Southeast Asia, is the latest investment target of Singapore, which is moving a large chunk of its business to China. Singapore has already agreed to set up tens of billions of dollars worth of industrial projects in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Guangxi, however, is closer to Southeast Asia. It has 1,595 kilometres of coastline capable of supporting 21 ports. Many believe foreign investors would find it an easy springboard to enter the country's vast West. Hong Puzhou, head of Guangxi's Planning Commission, said the region is expected to set up one of the nation's few electronics and automobile manufacturing bases within the next couple of years. And Beihai, a port city on the Beibu Gulf, has gained State support to become an international economic hub. Economists have predicted that Beihai will be part of an emerging international economic centre formed by Vietnam and China. To date, most foreign investment in Guangxi has gone into Beihai. Cheng also said that Guangxi will build or renovate five major airports capable of handling Boeing 747 planes in three years. And it should have an additional installed capacity of 4 million kilowatts next year when five power plants come on stream. Cheng added that the State plans to set up a 4.2 million kilowatt hydropower plant in Guangxi soon. Despite Guangxi's plans, poverty remains the biggest problem.

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NPC Stresses Popularizing Agricultural Technology

low morale owing to budget shortage. A deputy from Qinghai compared the current state of popularization of agricultural science and technology to "a severed thread, a broken net, and the departure of personnel." Deputy Liu Zhongzhu, president of the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, maintained that irrational structure is also an important cause of ineffective popularization of agricultural technology. He said: Agricultural colleges are placed under the control of the education department; institutes of agricultural sciences are placed under the control of the science and technology commission; departments in charge of popularization of agricultural sciences are placed under the control of the agricultural departments; and the agricultural fund is placed under the control of departments in charge of planning, financial, and banking affairs. Because such controls are very unlikely to be merged organically, their strengths as an integral whole cannot be manifested. "The situation of popularizing agricultural technology has become even worse today." Shandong's NPC Deputy Yu Songlie said anxiously: "Under the new situation of developing the market economy, some local authorities have arbitrarily 'weaned' the organizations in charge of popularizing agricultural technology. Consequently these organizations have to find their own way out and many technicians have left the agricultural sector to do something else. When these people are gone, who is going to popularize agricultural technology and train farmers? This situation certainly will hinder China's agricultural development from reaching a higher stage." Fujian deputy Zeng Jinfeng said: Pushing the popularization organs to the market is likely to give rise to two problems, even if the technicians of these organs choose to stay: First, for the sake of incomes and profits, these departments will withhold the technology that ought to be popularized; and second, out of consideration for economic interests, the technicians will likely popularize only the profit-making technology which has nothing to do with grain and cotton production. Higher agricultural output depends on two factors: Larger acreage and higher per-unit yield. China's situation shows that it is hard to depend on the first factor, namely larger acreage, which is decreasing; and that increasing per-unit yield substantially through counting on scientific and technological progress has become increasingly important. For this reason, NPC deputies have urged the government that it should take measures as quickly as possible to stabilize and strengthen the ranks of agricultural technicians to make sure that agricultural science and technology can be successfully transformed into productive forces.

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NPC Deputies Discuss Inflation, Price Controls

are not strictly controlled, economic relations will be distorted, the macroeconomic environment will become intense, and the overall situation of reform and opening up will be endangered. Chinese statesmen are absolutely sober-minded about this point. They do not deny inflation and have made up their minds to introduce control and regulation. At these ongoing NPC and CPPCC sessions, government leaders have, of course, focused on controlling excessive price increases. Li Peng said: Lifting control over prices does not mean giving up macrocontrol and regulation; prices must be controlled within the framework of the forbearance of civilians; in particular the "vegetable basket" issue regarding the urban and rural people must be properly resolved. Zhu Rongji said: Controlling prices and stabilizing markets are important tasks for governments at all levels. From now on, achievements in agricultural and vegetable basket issues should be taken as the main criteria for appraising governors, provincial party secretaries, and mayors. Li Lanqing said: If prices cannot be controlled, popular feelings and stability will be affected and reform cannot be carried on. Economic, legal, and administrative methods should be adopted to stabilize prices. Recently, the Chinese Government has repeatedly given orders demanding the clear pricing of commodities, the implementation of price checks, and strict supervision of the prices of daily necessities and service charges. These moves have initially stabilized popular feelings but whether or not they will help halt excessive price increases remains to be seen. The policy is good but needs to be put into effect. In Chinese society, which is experiencing the transformation from a planned economy into a market economy, from lower to higher income, and from closed to open operation, the large-scale introduction of reform and rapid economic growth will inevitably cause certain inflation. In this situation, the government must severely curb the practice of raising prices at will and strictly control the investment scale and consumption fund to fundamentally stop price hikes. On the civilians' part, they should spend their money reasonably, promptly report malpractices, and avoid panic buying -- this is a sensible choice. We should not turn pale at the mention of price raises because, if we do, we will not be able to control them. However, neither should we take the problem of price hikes lightly, otherwise it could affect and ruin reform and discourage the reformers. "China's agony" really exists but a new life will emerge after this agony.

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Guangxi Region Leaders Hold News Conference

four such projects. In exports, "san zi" enterprises are a force that should not be underestimated. Their exports now account for about one-eight of Guangxi's total exports. [Unidentified Vietnamese correspondent in Mandarin] I am a reporter with VNA. First, in the past few years, especially since the normalization of relations between the two countries, what progress has been made in Guangxi's ties with Vietnam? Second, what are the prospects for development between Guangxi and Vietnam? [Cheng] Since China and Vietnam normalized their relations in November 1991, significant progress has been made in economic and friendly contacts between the two countries. The development in this area has been healthy, and it has brought benefits to the people of the two countries. [passage omitted] Take trade as an example. According to the situation in border trade in the past few years, such trade is mutually complementary. We have built several economic projects in Vietnam. These projects require that both sides continue cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis. [Unidentified correspondent] I am a reporter with the XINHUA NEWS AGENCY. Recently, many experts from international economic circles have predicted that an international metropolis will emerge in Southeast Asia and the Beibu Wan [gulf] area. It has been learned that Guangxi's Beihai city has drawn up some plans in this connection. Would Mayor Shuai please brief us about the plans? [Shuai] Beihai city has eight major resources. Its fresh water, land, port construction, and tourism resources are especially good. In short, with these resources a large port for commerce with foreign countries can be built. In addition, it has a huge potential of becoming a large metropolis. [passage omitted] [Chinese-American correspondent in Mandarin] I am Zhou Youkang, a reporter with the Voice of America. I have a question concerning investment: Mr. Chairman, you have just mentioned that investments in Guangxi were mainly from Taiwan and Hong Kong. What about the United States? In your opinion, what can the United States do to contribute to Guangxi's economic development? How do you promote trade between Guangxi and the United States? [Lei] In fact, apart from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, the next biggest investor is the United States. The biggest wholly owned enterprise, the [Tule] Company I have just mentioned, has invested $40 million in leasing 60,000 mu of land in [Hepu] for agricultural development. The company will import fine seed strains from the United States and

FBIS3-3484_0

Articles Urge Curbing Peasants' Move Into Cities

Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Jottings on the Two Sessions" by reporters Pu Liye (5543 4539 2814) and Xu Xingtang (1776 5281 1016): "There Are Thousands of Ways To Get Rich; Why Does Everyone Have To Go to the Cities?"] [Text] Beijing, 20 Mar (XINHUA) -- Tens of millions of peasants have streamed, like the tide, to cities. Is this good or bad? This has been a controversial, hot topic for a long time. During the current sessions of the Eighth National People's Congress [NPC] and the Eighth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [CPPCC], this topic has not only remained hot but has also become a more serious one. NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members have linked the proper handling of the rural labor force to the work to improve peasants' lives and to stabilize the overall situation. The NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members believe that the "tide of workers" is a sign of the historical progress of China's traditional agricultural society being transformed into a modern one. They said: In a sense, the trend is reasonable as well as inevitable. However, while the flow of workers has created huge material wealth, it has brought with it or given rise to some social problems. To properly solve the employment problem of the more than 100 million surplus workers currently in rural areas, we cannot simply set our eyes on moving them to cities -- we should simultaneously organize peasants' migration and provide them with jobs in their hometowns, and we should come up with new ideas and develop various industries and trades. "The homeland is as good as the outside world," said Deputy Shen Zhifeng, who is mayor of Shijiazhuang city. Over the last few years, Shijiazhuang has encouraged peasants to develop high-yield, good-quality, and highly efficient agriculture. Currently, the city has 1 million mu of high-efficiency cash crops and more than 12 million chickens, rabbits, cattle, and pigs. Last year, the per capita income of the city's peasants increased 100 yuan over the previous year. Shen Zhifeng said, "Once there are more opportunities in rural areas and people's incomes are higher, who will be willing to leave their dear ones at home and go to cities to take their chances?" Hebei Province is only one example. Deputy Shao Qihui, who is governor of Heilongjiang Province, said: In the northeast, thousands or tens of

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Anhui Province Becomes Key Mineral Producer

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 14 (XINHUA) -- Chinese geologists have discovered more than 90 types of minerals in east China's Anhui Province. According to the "CHINA GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES NEWS", 540 out of the newly found 1,900 deposits are available for exploration. The reserves of 30 minerals including coal, iron, copper, sulfur, alumstone, lime mudrock and amargosite rank among the top in the country. According to the paper, Anhui has 146 proven coal deposits, with combined reserves of about 25 billion tons, ranking seventh in the country. The reserves of iron ore are distributed in central Anhui's Maanshan, Lujiang and Huoqiu Counties, and those of 55 types of minerals, including copper and sulfur, are located in the valley of the Chang Jiang River.

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Hunan To Double Power Output Through Foreign Investment

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Liu Weiling: "Closing The Power Gap"] [Text] Central China's Hunan Province, where the shortage of electricity restrains economic growth, is inviting overseas investment and cooperation in building power stations. Several power plants, including three 1.2 million-kilowatt stations in Xiangtan, Wangcheng and Yiyang, have been approved by the province's Power Industry Bureau for overseas co-operation. The bureau has also set up a special working group to raise foreign capital. Officials with the bureau said investors from Germany, Sweden, Australia, France, Britain, Canada, the United States and Hong Kong show strong interest in investing in Hunan's power industry. The New Xiangtan Power Station is expected to cooperate with investors from Sweden, and a German company is negotiating with the bureau for construction of the Wangcheng Power Plant. Last year, TIME Engineering Berhad, a member of the Malaysian Renong Group, signed a contract with Lianyuan city to construct a 250-megawatt coal-fired power station in the city. Total investment for that project was put at $230 million. Wu Haichun, general manager of the province's Power Industry Corp, admitted that Hunan has one of the country's worst shortages of electricity, but he promised that the province will make big progress this year. By the end of 1993, the province had installed capacity of 6.58 million kilowatts, double the figure in 1980. However, its per capita consumption of electricity is only 60 per cent of the national average. Wu said that from l994 to 2000, the province plans to install another 9 million kilowatts of capacity, of which 7 million will be thermal and 2 million hydropower. But to do that, Hunan needs 30 billion yuan ($3.45 billion). Wu said the province will use various methods to raise the capital. To expand the government's fund for electrical investment, the province is expected to raise electricity prices this year. It also plans to raise money from the securities market by converting power enterprises into shareholding companies. Hunan Huayin Power Co Ltd, the province's first shareholding power company, was established last year and is expected to go public. The company has issued shares worth 288 million yuan ($33 million), and most of the money raised will be used to renovate the Zhuzhou Power Plant. The province also plans to invest 2.75 billion yuan ($315 million) in electrical construction this year, compared with 1.71 billion yuan ($191 million) last year.

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Tibet Increases Number of Rural Industrial Enterprises

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Lhasa, March 15 (XINHUA) -- Rural industrial enterprises are booming in the Tibet Autonomous Region and becoming a fresh force in its economic development. A survey shows that the region has 9,180 such enterprises employing 51,000 people. Their gross income last year amounted to 310 million yuan, an increase of 24 percent over the previous year. This highland region began to develop rural enterprises later than the interior parts of the country. A local official said that the expansion of rural enterprises is giving the local people a faint sense of commodity economy and helping to rationalize and boost the local economy. The official acknowledged that Tibet's rural enterprises are concentrated in cities and towns and are developing unevenly.

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Yunnan Exports More Machinery, Electrical Products

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Kunming, March 17 (XINHUA) -- Southwest China's Yunnan Province, a leading producer of quality cigarettes in China, saw a sharp increase in its exports of machinery and electrical products last year. According to local officials, Yunnan exported machinery and electrical products worth 102.75 million U.S. dollars in 1993, up 48.2 percent compared with the previous year. Bordering Myanmar [Burma], Laos and Vietnam, the province has been making efforts to make full use of its geographical advantages over the past few years. In opening up markets for its machinery and electrical products, it has adopted a policy of giving priority to the development of the Southeast Asian market while strengthening traditional markets in Hong Kong, Macao, Europe and the United States. Besides building more special production bases for machinery and electrical products in the province and sending missions to hold fairs of machinery and electrical products in neighboring countries, the relevant local departments have also adopted flexible ways of trading to boost exports of such products, including spot exchange trade, barter trade, buyer's credit and seller's credit, and have achieved marked results. For instance, the province has experienced a rise of 81 percent in its exports of machinery and electrical products to the United States. So far, Yunnan exports more than 70 kinds of machinery and electrical products, as against only a dozen kinds in 1984, since when the quality of its products for export has kept improving. The proportion of products for export with higher technical content and machinery, and instruments and meters with higher added value is increasing rapidly, the officials added.

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Inner Mongolia Promotes More Women To Leadership Roles

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Huhhot, March 15 (XINHUA) -- The Inner Mongolia autonomous region, north China, has been promoting more women to leading positions in recent years. Official sources here said the region now has 243,000 women cadres -- 34.2 percent of all the cadres in the autonomous region. Some 55,000 of the women are from ethnic minorities. Women also make up 23 percent of the regional people's congress members and 17.5 percent of the regional committee members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the sources said. The region has set up a computer data bank to provide lists of possible women candidates for various positions. The region also sees to it that women cadres are given proper opportunities to receive professional training and further education, so that they can be more qualified to lead.

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Inner Mongolia Promotes More Women To Leadership Roles

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Huhhot, March 15 (XINHUA) -- The Inner Mongolia autonomous region, north China, has been promoting more women to leading positions in recent years. Official sources here said the region now has 243,000 women cadres -- 34.2 percent of all the cadres in the autonomous region. Some 55,000 of the women are from ethnic minorities. Women also make up 23 percent of the regional people's congress members and 17.5 percent of the regional committee members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the sources said. The region has set up a computer data bank to provide lists of possible women candidates for various positions. The region also sees to it that women cadres are given proper opportunities to receive professional training and further education, so that they can be more qualified to lead.

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Activist Detained Before Hosokawa's Arrival

Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Daniel Kwan] [Text] Police have stepped up their intimidation of war reparation campaigners by detaining almost all activists in Beijing and Shanghai during Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa's three-day visit to China. Although Beijing yesterday released more than 100 elderly anti-Japan activists after two days of investigations, Shanghai police rounded up war reparation activist Bao Ge just before the Prime Minister's arrival in the east China city. The release of the elderly dissidents coincided with a report which said 500 intellectuals had signed a petition to the National People's Congress (NPC) calling for their release and a public apology by the police. According to Bao's friends, the 31-year-old medical researcher was picked up by police officers yesterday morning. Yang Zhou, a friend of Bao, said the activist had no plans to demonstrate or embarrass the Government during Mr Hosokawa's visit and he believed Bao would be set free soon after Mr Hosokawa left Shanghai. "He (Bao) has no plans to do anything... But the authorities obviously don't want to see even the slightest trouble. Although the issue (war reparation) is not related to the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) debate, anything ugly could affect MFN," Mr Yang said. The 100 or so dissidents, whose average age is 65, were detained last Friday after they had petitioned Mr Hosokawa to issue a formal apology and to pay compensations. Bao last Thursday sent a similar petition to the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The Chinese Government agreed to drop claims to Japanese compensation 22 years ago when the two nations restored diplomatic relations. But many Chinese citizens regard the deal as a sellout and are seeking billions of dollars in compensation from Tokyo. One source said police had released more than 100 representatives of the group, the China Civilian Preparatory Committee for Japanese Reparations, but sent them all under escort back to their home provinces. Another 100 locked in a south Beijing depot were also sent home. "They were released on Sunday night but police are taking them home under supervision," the activist said, adding a Beijing-based war reparation movement activist, Tong Zeng, remained in police custody. Mr Yang said the strong reaction from the Government could backfire. He said that despite the leadership's disapproval, intellectuals such as Beijing scholar Xu Liangying were still able to challenge the authorities by putting out an open letter calling for the release

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Security Forces Said Trying To Defuse `Challenge'

to give up their plans before Mr Wei, who had been asked by police to leave town during Mr Christopher's visit, returns to the capital later this week. Witnesses at Tiananmen Square said at least two protesters were arrested when they tried to distribute pamphlets as a group of NPC delegates were walking out of the Great Hall of the People. One incident occurred on the north side of the square, near the gate where the late Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the communist state in 1949. Another took place at the Monument to the People's Heroes in the centre of the square. Police scrambled to gather up all the pieces of paper. There was no indication what the leaflets said. One witness saw police throw a person into a car and drive off immediately after the incident. Police took film away from Manuel Ceneta, a photographer for Agence France Presse. Later a government employee named Gao Hongmin visited the office of a Western television network to show them copies of a leaflet he said he wanted to distribute in Tiananmen Square yesterday afternoon. The leaflet called for a fully free market economy, gradual steps towards democracy and a reversal of the official verdict on the 1989 pro-democracy protests. Gao, 44, said he was working alone and had no connection with the morning leaflet attempts. He was grabbed by security agents on leaving the guarded compound and thrust into a car. Last night, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement that two Chinese women "were stopped by other citizens for disturbing public order this morning". The wording suggested the women were arrested. The Foreign Ministry statement said "it was improper for foreign journalists to cover news in China without going through necessary formalities". Meanwhile, 500 intellectuals yesterday reportedly petitioned Beijing to free more than 100 victims of Japanese war crimes who were detained last Friday while protesting outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on the eve of Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa's visit. While Beijing police yesterday reportedly released most of the detainees, who were elderly people from the provinces, they held on to Tong Zeng, a veteran organiser of the war-reparations movement. The petition, addressed to the NPC, called for the immediate release of Mr Tong and other detainees. It said police last Friday had taken tough action against protesters who had acted in a "peaceful and obedient manner"

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Dissidents Continue Campaign for Political Reform

Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, March 21 KYODO -- Chinese dissidents continued their campaign for greater political and social freedom Monday [21 March] as police took quick measures to stop leaflets being distributed in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. "I started taking pictures when I saw leaflets flying and police running from all directions," said Manuel Ceneta, a photographer from a French news agency. Ceneta said he was covering the ongoing National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People which adjoins the square, and then had his camera taken from him and his film exposed. A similar incident near the Tiananmen gate tower was also reported Monday, but police gathered the leaflets before the contents could be discerned, a witness said. It was not immediately known if the perpetrators of the incidents were detained. Chinese courts normally issue lengthy prison sentences for such actions which are regarded as "inciting counterrevolutionary activities." Also on Monday, KYODO NEWS SERVICE received a letter from an employee of China's diplomatic service company, Gao Hongmin, who stated that on March 21 he planned to distribute political leaflets in Tiananmen Square. Police took Gao away as he left the offices of a Western television company, where he left copies of the leaflet in the early afternoon. Gao's leaflet called for more democracy and for the government to rescind its description of the military crackdown on prodemocracy movement in Tiananmen square in 1989 as "a counterrevolutionary rebellion." China's capital has been a hot bed of political unrest since U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher came to Beijing 10 days ago and demanded the government to improve its human rights record. Nearly 20 of China's most well-known political dissidents were detained for questioning at that time. Meanwhile, police have also cracked down on protests by elderly victims of Japanese aggression 50 years ago. The protesters began appearing in Beijing before Saturday's visit by Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, with over 100 reported to have been detained. Spring is the traditional season for political protests in China. This spring coincides with the 75th anniversary of the May 4 democracy movement and the fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.