Italy and China： Trade, Culture and History——An Interview with Antonino Laspina, Commissioner of the Italian Trade Commission＇s Beijing office

Italy is a modern, industrialized nation which has managed to preserve its traditional culture intact. It is China＇s old friend, and its long-time trade partner. In 2006, the Year of Italy in China, various measures were taken to broaden the scope of China and Italy＇s relationship, not only in terms of economic cooperation and trade, but also concerning historical and cultural awareness. What sort of new opportunities for cooperation will we be seeing in the new year？ China＇s Foreign Trade interviewed Antonino Laspina, Commissioner of the Italian Trade Commission＇s Beijing office, about this question and more.     

Weaving A Global Network

in recent years, private enterprises have increasingly become a major economic force in China. As such businesses grow, the revenue from the international business that they conduct grows accordingly. China＇s private enterprises are going global. Due to the world＇s economic globalizatlon and China＇s entry into the WTO, both domestic and international competition has come to be more intensified, which to some extent has provided a favorable environment for the international business operations of China＇s private enterprises. A document entitled Opinions of the State Council on Encouraging, Supporting and Guiding the Development of the Non-Public Ownership Economy, Including Individual Ownership and Private Investment, issued in February 2005, explicitly supports the exploration of foreign markets by private enterpris- es. It is the definitive guide for private business in China, and thus has been a driving force behind private enterprises to start international business.     

Energy Saving,Environmental Protection：Top Priority in China＇s Development——Exclusive interview with Dr.Yonglong L,Secretary-general,Chinese Committee for SCOPE（Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment/ICSU）.

Energy saving,emission reduction and economic development are major issues China has to meet in building a harmonious society.On one hand,China should pursue a sustainable,fast and sound economic development,on the other hand,she should try to decrease the overuse of energy resources and the environmental problems caused by the rapid economic growth. In this regard,on June 24,the Standing Committee of National People＇s Congress deliberated the draft of Energy Saving Law,according to which China is to take“resources saving”as a basic national policy.This is a key issue to the long-term benefits of China.With relevant questions,China＇s Foreign Trade interviewed Dr, Yonglong L（？）,Secretary-general,Chinese Committee for SCOPE（Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment/ICSU）.and Research Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Let＇s listen to Dr.L（？）＇s comments with wisdom.[第一段]     

Shaanxi Impressions

Ancient, but longing to be modern
In most people＇s eyes, Xi＇an, the capital of Shaanxi, a province in western China, is an alias for ＂Ancient China＂, which is also what Patricia from Arizona, U.S., who was sitting next to me on my Xi＇an flight thought as well. ＂My husband and I managed to spend one precious day there in our busy China trip schedule, just to have a look at the great Terra Cotta Warriors,＂ Patricia＇s eyes were glimmering as we set off flying towards history. The Terra Cotta Warriors are the masterpiece of the First Qin Emperor, whose dynasty dates back to BC 221 - BC 207. Actually, I would prefer to refer to the city as ＂Chang＇an＂, which used to be the city＇s name in the Tang dynasty （AD 618 - 907） when it served as China＇s capital during the most prosperous period in ancient Chinese history.     

Will China Continue to be the Engine of the World＇ s Economy？.

No one has an answer as to whether China＇ s economy will keep chugging along and remain the engine of the world＇ s economy. I for one am very optimistic as to the country＇ s growth prospects
With economic data consisting of mixed signals, it＇ s really a challenge to definitively know how China＇ s economy is really performing, and where it s headed.     

Japan Image Mirro

Asmall-scale survey was deducted recently by China＇s Foreign Trade and showed that Chinese urbanites are changing their attitudes toward Japan and many of them are viewing their Asian neighbor more positively. On the topic of ＂Japan linage＂, we interviewed over 50 young white collars from China. Most of them have been to Japan or working for Japanese enterprises in China. Based on their interests and knowledge to Japan, we paint an international picture to this economic giant by inflection from the thought mirror in minds.     

City Management efficiency Indexes of China＇s 200 Cities and Provinces （CMEICN 2007）——Issued by World Economy Research Centre of BTBU School of Economics（WERCCN） ＆ China Economy Index Centre of Beijing Circulation Industry Research Centre（BCEIC）

In the 21st century, China has entered into an era in which city is the principal part of development. Cities, as the basic unit of a country＇s social and economic development, undertake multiple functions such as political, social, economic and environmental management. The ＂City Management Efficiency Indexes of China＇s 200 Cities and Provinces＂ （CMEICN 2007）, organized and compiled by Professor Ji Zhu, Director of both WERCCN and BCEIC, i.e.     

Manufacturing：World Factory on Work

In the U-style trend of 2009, this year is predicted to face more difficulties and challenges in world and China＇s economic fields. China＇s Foreign Trade picks up several main industries, such as manufacture, energy, auto, high-tech industry and banking, to illustrate ＂the profile of industrial development in China far the new year.     

China-Japan-Korean Summit：New Barometer for East Asian Cooperation

On December 13, 2008, China- Japan-Korean Summit was held in Fukuoka, Japan. The summit, which was greatly different from the previously eight summits held in the framework of ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korean, that is 10＋3, was confined to only these three countries and it＇s the first time for them to do so. It happened to be China＇s first foreign activity after the opening of the Central Economic Working Conference in the same month and explained its new economic policy and measures in 2009. In addition, it＇s the first time for three main economic entities to meet after the breakout of the global financial crisis, Thus financial and economic affairs were the core issues of the summit.     

The 4th Annual＂Alegend of the Future China＇s Leading Enterprises of Tomorrow Award＂was Launched

Standard Chartered Bank （China） Limited （＂Standard Chartered China＂） announced the launch of the 4th ＂A Legend of the Future-China＇s Leading Enterprises of Tomorrow Award＂ （＂SME Awards＂） on June 10, 2009, in Beijinng. Against the backdrop of the-glo-bal-fina-n-cial ＇ts-unami, the 4th SME Award aims to help Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs） ride out the financial storm and thrive despite the adverse economic environment.     

Accession to WTO: Where to go, the Development of Arbitration Cause in China?

As China has become a member ofWTO, and from now on, Chinaeconomy really mixes into the integra-tion of the world economy, which shallbring a great leap to our country'seconomy never to have before. All ourChinese people are very happy with it.Adapted to this, all laws related to in-ternational economic and trade and thesolution of intemational economic andtrade disputes shall be consistent withthe rules of WTO. No doubt, all theseshall bring deep influence on the arbi-tration cause develo…     

China＇s Cultural Industry Development in Governments＇ Eyes

The implementation of the Cultural Industry Promotion Plan will have a very significant impact not just on China＇s cultural development, but also the entire national economic and social development. The impact will be in four aspects： first, changing the way of economic development andadjusting the economic structure; second, expanding domestic demand, increasing employment, and actively responding to the current financial crisis; third, achieving prosperity of socialist culture and better meeting people＇s cultural need; last, promoting Chinese culture and enhancing our country＇s cultural soft dower.     

WB： China＇s GDP Growth at 9% in 2005

The World Bank said China＇s economy is expected to grow by 9% in 2005, and about 8% in 2006. In its quarterly update on the country＇s economy, the China mission of the World Bank said the economic outlook for China ＂remains good＂ in a stable macroeconomic environment and with favorable financial conditions. ＂We now project （China＇s） GDP （gross domestic product） growth of 9% in 2005,     

Strong Renminbi Policy ＆ the Coming of Age of China＇s Outward FDI

This, we believe, will be the year of Beijing＇s strong renminbi policy. Despite concerns about exports, we believe Beijing will keep the CNY pegged against a strong dollar. Combined with cheaper commodity prices and the pressing need of many overseas commodity firms to deleverage, this will create the perfect opportunity for China＇s firms to significantly ramp up their outward foreign direct investment （FDI）. China＇s outward FDI flows are focussed on three sectors： energy, raw materials, and agricultural land. The beginning of 2009 has seen a flurry of deals in which Chinese investors have secured ownership or long-term supply contracts to such things.     

New Drive for Foreign Trade

China＇s export-oriented manufacturing is severely affected under unprecedented pressure by the drastic cut of the consumer demand across the world. The shrink in the manufacturing industry gave rise to a heated debate over the appropriate transformation for the upcoming years. Long Yongtu, Secretary-General of Boao Forum for Asia, China＇s former WTO Chief Negotiator said in Annual Summit of China Economy in 21st Century, concluded on December 13, Kerry Center, Beijing, that, ＂China can draw the new drive from both the experiences of reform and opening up as well as its accession into WTO. Healthy outside environment and improvement in proper sequence are two guidelines we should stick to.＂     

Congratulatory Messages For the New Year

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Beijing wishes a happy and a prosperous New Year in 2007 to the People and Government of the People＇s Republic of China. In the year of 2007, we look forward to strengthening the relationships between the two countries and further cooperation between the Government of the People＇s Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in various fields.     

Lijiang： From Brand to Strength

The tourism industry is facing unprecedented challenges after the financial crisis. During this ＂financial winter＂, how much influence has Lijiang＇s tourism, the one that has been the pillar industry of Lijiang and important economic growth point received？ And how does the government of Lijiang deal with this？ How to transform it from ＂Brand Lijiang＂ to ＂Strength Lijiang＂？ Member of National People＇s Congress, Lijiang＇s deputy secretary of municipal party committee, and Mayor Wang Junzheng accepted an exclusive interview with our reporter.     

Russia-China Trade Witnesses The Best Period ——Interview with Sergey TSYPLAKOV, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation

The Russian Federation and the P.R. China have a long standing friendship, which has been highly praised from generation to generation. During recent years, the close bilateral political relations and high-level government visits between the two countries have made solid foundations for promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation. In 2006, China is celebrating Russia Year, in 2007 Russia will celebrate China Year, giving unprecedented opportunities for the promotion of trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. In August, China＇s Foreign Trade interviewed Sergey TSYPLAKOV, Trade Representative for the Russian Federation （of Minister Rank）, he stated： ＂The bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Russia and China has never been better!＂ By Editor     

Moving and Touching on Ruin

Yes,the earthquake is a desperate disaster to China,but what we could see from this havoc is more than ruin itself.Every story under the name of love touched our hearts and souls.With their moving and touching voices hovering above the seismic zone,let＇s dry our tears and do our best to rebuild the land of abundance...     

Spirit of a Centurial Aged Man

Yuan Geng, who created the Shekou Mode, is a pioneer in 30 years＇ history of China opening to the foreign, and a practicer of the policy by Deng Xiaoping of ＂Shenzhen Special Zone should break a way for China＂. The success of Shekou Mode provided a vane to the rapid development of economic zones and development zones in China, and the ＂growing up＂ of China. Referring to Yuan Geng, some say he is a capitalist, some say he is pioneer, and some say he is a star of reform, and so on. To carve a real picture let＇s go near to him and share the valuable memories.