Mainland, Taiwan negotiators sign service trade agreement
Negotiators from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have signed a major service trade agreement in Shanghai.
The move is expected to further strengthen economic ties across the Taiwan Strait.
Chen Deming, mainland chief negotiator on cross-Strait ties, says the signing of the agreement is "imperative".
His counterpart from Taiwan Lin Join-sane says the agreement will optimize the investment and trade environment in both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.
The service trade agreement is one of the follow-up agreements to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement or ECFA, a more comprehensive cross-Strait economic pact signed in 2010.
China, EU willing to solve PV dispute through negotiation
China and the EU both hope to solve an ongoing trade dispute involving photovoltaic (PV) products through price undertaking talks.
The China-EU Trade and Economic Joint Committee has held a session in Beijing to discuss Issues concerning bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including the PV issue.
Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng told reporters that China and the EU have been in close communication regarding issues related to the PV trade dispute. Technical-level discussions have been positive and constructive.
China has urged the EU to keep overall China-EU cooperation in mind and take a pragmatic attitude.
China says Philippines' seizure of Ren'ai Reef unacceptable
Chinese government says the Philippines' seizure of Ren'ai Reef in the South China Sea is unacceptable.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying says China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty is "unswerving".
The comments come following reports saying the Philippines has deployed a fresh batch of marines and supplies to Ren'ai Reef.
Chinese vice premier warns against global overflow of liquidity, protectionism
China says the world should strengthen coordination to prevent a global overflow of liquidity and oppose all forms of protectionism amid the fragile economic recovery.
In a keynote address to the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said more cooperation and joint efforts are needed for the world economy to return onto a fast track of recovery.
South Korea envoy in China on Korean Peninsula
South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator Cho Tae-yong is now in Beijing to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei.
Cho has just concluded his meetings with his US and Japanese counterparts in Washington.
Cho's visit to China coincides with that of his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan.
The North Korean envoy says his country is ready to join in any form of talks to ease the tension on the Peninsula, including the six-party denuclearization talks.
This round of talks comes after North Korea surprised many this past weekend by proposing direct talks with the US.
Death toll from northern Indian flood rises to 550
The official toll from the flash flood in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has risen to 550, and over 50,000 people are stranded.
Floods and landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall, hit northern India Sunday, with Uttarakhand being the worst affected state where hundreds of buildings were washed away. And those killed included local residents as well as pilgrims visiting the state.
A government official says the death toll could rise further, though rains have stopped in the state famous for its several pilgrimage spots.
The Indian military has been continuing its rescue operations.
Xi extends festival greetings to Antarctic workers
Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended Midwinter Festival greetings to Chinese and other nations' scientists and engineers working in the South Pole region.
Xi Jinping said antarctica is no longer a mysterious region isolated from human civilization, and exploration of the area will play an important role in dealing with global climate change and promoting sustainable development of human society.
He said Scientists of many nationalities have made fruitful achievements in Antarctic scientific expeditions.
He hoped they can increase exchanges and cooperation in order to make new contributions to humanity's peaceful use of the land.
Lightning-triggered explosion kills 3 in E China
Lightning has triggered an explosion at a fireworks plant in east China's Jiangxi Province, killing three people and injuring 45 others.
Six of the injured are in critical condition.
The explosion happened Friday afternoon when more than 300 employees were working at the Jinshan fireworks plant in Fuzhou City.
Gas and diesel price raised in China
Gasoline and diesel prices in China increased today.
The retail prices of gasoline were raised by 100 yuan per ton and diesel by 95 yuan per ton.
That is 0.07 yuan per liter for gasoline and 0.08 yuan per liter for diesel.
China to launch anti-smuggling campaign
China will launch a six-month nationwide campaign to combat smuggling.
Vice Premier Wang Yang says the campaign will primarily target the smuggling of "hot" commodities and activities in "major" areas. |