ROK, China Strive for Mutual Economic and Trade Benefits

The President of the Republic of Korea （ROK） Roh Moo-hyun announced that Korea fully recognized China＇s market economy status. Roh＇s announcement was made during a joint press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was on a state visit to ROK in November. China is now the largest trading partnet of ROK, with trade volume between the two countries expected to reach 100 billion US dollars this year. The two leaders agreed that the bilateral trade volume should be doubled to 200 billion US dollars by 2012. A significant milestone having been reached between the two countries, what kind of impact can be expected to follow from the events in regards to the bilateral economic and trade relations between China and ROK？ With such questions in mind, China＇s Foreign Trade reporters interviewed Kim Ha-joong, Ambassador of ROK to China.     

China and South Korea,A Close Economic Connection Leading to Mutual Strategic Cooperation

2008 marks the 16th anniversary of this diplomatic bilateral relationship.In recent years,economic trade be- tween China and South Korea has increased greatly,with an improved complementary structure.Now,China is the largest importer of South Ko- rean products.In 1988,South Korea hosted the Olympic Games successfully,and after 20 years,another Asia country—China,hosted the 29th Olympic Games.Before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,China's Foreign Trade had the opportunity to interview H.E.Mr.Shin Jung- seung,the ambassador who served as the South Korean Foreign Ministry's Coun- selor to China from 1999 to 2001:he is very familiar with China,especially in regards to cultural and economic trade.During the interview, Mr.Shin Jung-seung shared his thoughts with us,focusing on topics such as the bilateral economy developing between these two nations,South Ko- rea's experience hosting the Olympic Games and the con- tinued use of facilities in the post-Olympic period:he also expressed his best wishes for the Beijing Olympics.     

China-EU Economic Relation： Fluctuating in 2008

The economic relation between China and EU has the great significance to each party as well as to the world. As the great political and economic powers in the today＇s world, China and EU have the urgent motivations to promote the economic cooperation between them at the global times. The economic relation between China and Europe, including the trade and economic cooperation and investment between China and Europe, has been developing greatly since 1975. The bilateral trade volume has increased rapidly, ahnost being doubled in 3 years since 2000. The bilateral trade volume arrived at US$356.2 billion in 2007. In 2007, China＇s import from EU was US$111 billion, which increases by 22% comparing with that in 2006, and exportation to EU is US$245 billion, which increases by 29%.     

Sino-Latin American Trade, Closer Tie

The financial crisis has provided a new opportunity for Sino-Latin American cooperation. In the past few years, China＇s economic ties to Latin America have witnessed comparable growth： from 1993 to 2003, China＇s trade with Latin America increased by 600 percent. Chinese president Hu Jintao set the mark for increasing trade with Latin America to US$100 billion by 2010, a goal easily met when trade surged to US$102.6 billion in 2007, which represents a 42.6 percent increase from 2006. In the first nine months of 2008, it was already up 52 percent from the same period 2007. It is widely believed that China and Latin America share the same pictures in the field of economic development, and increased relations between the two sides are mutually beneficial. Commented on the just-issued Chinese policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean Region, the first on this topic, Jiang Shixue, vice president of the Chinese Association for Latin American Studies said the document is a clear indication that China is willing to promote Sino-Latin America ties, which will be focused on economics and trade.     

South Africa Keen to Tap China's Tourism Market

Statistics show that bilateral trade between China and South Africa grew 56.1 percent in the first six months this year, with a total trade value of US$10.81 billion, providing vivid evidence to the fact that China has become South Africa＇ s largest export destination and South Africa is China＇ s biggest trade partner in Africa.     

China--Jamaica＇s Valuable Partner

Jamaica is China＇s largest trading partner in the English-speaking Caribbean and bilateral trade has developed rapidly, although last year bilateral trade has been greatly affected because of the economic crisis. However, with continuous development of the two economies, bilateral economic development and trade has great potential. During Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding＇s first visit to China in February 2010,     

China's Macroeconomic Picture in 2008

In general China＇s economic development has basically been good until now. In 2007,China＇s economic growth rate stood at 11.9%,while in the first quarter of this year,this rate maintained 10.6% growth,as national fiscal revenue increased by 35.5% compared with the same period last year. However, more macro control measures for the economy are still ahead.     

China to Promote Investment in Jamaica

Jamaica is one of China＇s important trade partners in the English-speaking Caribbean, in recent years, bilateral trade has developed rapidly, although last year, because of the economic crisis, bilateral trade has been greatly affected.According to China Customs statistics, bilateral trade in 2008 amounted to US$291 million. Influenced by the financial crisis, bilateral trade between China and Jamaica in 2009 was US$2.19 million, down 25.7% when compared with the same period in 2008. However, with the continuous development of the two economies, bilateral economic and trade has great potential. Dur- ing the state visit of the Jamaican Prime Minister to China,     

China＇s 2007： Widening Surplus, Surging Worries

The year of 2007 has seen rapid growth in China＇s foreign trade and great improvement in its trade structure. China＇s general trade has continued to grow faster than its processing trade. The export of China＇s private enterprises has been expanded. The structure of export commodities has been further optimized. China＇s relationship with its main trading partners has been improving.[第一段]     

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.     

Belarus Attaches Great Importance to Trade Cooperation with China

Belarus is an important trade partner of China. In January, a Belarus trade delegation, headed by Uldimir N. Bobrov, President of the Belarus Chamber of Commerce, visited China, and signed a series of agreements for economic and trade cooperation with CCPIT. When interviewed by China＇s Foreign Trade, he stressed that Belarus was ready to strengthen its commitment to comprehensive cooperation with China in many spheres.     

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.     

FTA betwee China and Korea

Under the regional cooperation being a main trend of the World’s economic development,East Asia should make China and Korea as a breakthrough,build Sino-Korean free trade district,and then push the development of the whole East Asia’s regional economic cooperation.Both China and Korea want to contribute to FTA and keep the dose geographic,humanistic and trade relation.Both countries’ political relation has been improving.In the IT industry,the focus of sino-Korean FTA,sino-Korean IT industries develop quickly and possess the cooperative basis.While in the FTA’s construction,IT industries’ cooperation faces the obstacles:Sino-Korean economic nationalism; the existence of huge china trade deficit for sino-Korean trade;the copyright dispute in the software development.Sino-Korea must take the corresponding measures in order to push the sino-Korean substantial development.     

FTA between China and Korea

Under the regional cooperation being a main trend of the World’s economic development, East Asia should make China and Korea as a breakthrough, build Sino-Korean free trade district, and then push the development of the whole East Asia’s regional economic cooperation. Both China and Korea want to contribute to FTA and keep the close geographic, humanistic and trade relation. Both countries’ political relation has been improving. In the IT industry, the focus of sino-Korean FTA, sino-Korean IT industries develop quickly and possess the cooperative basis. While in the FTA’s construction, IT industries’ cooperation faces the obstacles: Sino-Korean economic nationalism ; the existence of huge china trade deficit for sino-Korean trade ; the copyright dispute in the software development. Sino-Korea must take the corresponding measures in order to push the sino-Korean substantial development.     

China＇s Textile to Encounter Anti-dumping Peak in 2009

According to the Paragraph 242 of China＇s WTO Accession Report, by December 31, 2008,the importers are still allowed to set limitations on the quantities of the products on which China has abandoned the quotas, basing on the condition that they recognize that the Chinese products imported have disordered their domestic markets. Up till now, the USA, the EU, South Korea, Japan, Canada, India, etc., have launched legislation process in line with the Paragraph 242.     

When Two Taxes Are United, A Better Business Environment Is Expected

When China＇s status of great economic country has been recognized, the proposal of uniting the domestic and foreign enterprises＇ income taxes into one has been put on the agenda. Hot discussion has been triggered on this overture because the interests of different sides will be affected by the reform if it is launched. The article analyzes the setback of the current system of seperating the two taxes and puts forward the idea that the unity of Two Taxes is unavoidably to be conducted because it will be benefit for China＇s reality, and be in line with international economic regulation.     

After the Termination of Foreign Capital's Super National Treatment

The ＂super national treat-ment＂ enjoyed by foreign capital has finally been put to an end, a factor which has undoubtedly been closely related to the development of China＇s macroeconomy since the reform and openup began 30 years ago. Just like other countries in the past, including South Korea and Japan, which shared the same experience, China＇s attitude towards foreign capital has shifted frominitial preferential policies,     

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.     

What about China's Trade Deficit?

With its rapid economic growth over recent years,China has become an important force to be reckoned in the world.The ever-rising trade surplus makes a good example.But does Chinese enjoy a trade surplus with every foreign country? The answer is"No". Official statistics show that China has a trade defi- cit with partners in East Asia including Japan,North Korea and ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Na- tions)countries.In terms of trade structure,China also suf-     

China in Overcapacity Exacerbating？

The problem of overcapacity has been plaguing China for years. Many economists claim that China＇s double-edged economic system of foreign trade and investment has resulted in a lack of consumption. It is estimated that approximately 35% of GDP depends solely on exports, some of which has naturally turned into excessive capacity due to the recent lack of external demand from western markets. Repeated build up in certain industries, which the government has failed to restrain, has resulted in prevailing overcapacity, and has also indirectly triggered the flood of anti-dumping cases against Chinese enterprises in recent years.