Page one China's Space Mission
China's 1st manned space mission successful, astronaut returns safe
China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, 38, was hurled into outer space by Shenzhou-5 spacecraft at 9 a.m. Oct.15 (Beijing time) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province.
Exciting Moments in China's 1st Manned Space Mission
Amidst deafening roars, the Shenzhou-5 manned spacecraft was lifted into the sky by a Long March-II-F carrier rocket. Both the spacecraft and the carrier rocket were designed and built by China independently.
This, China's maiden manned space flight is scheduled to last 21 hours. Success of its launch means that China has become the third country capable of sending people into outer space, following the United States and Russia.
"Today, our long-held manned space flight dream has finally come true," said Hu Shixiang, vice director-general of China's manned space program.
The Chinese people's space dream could be traced to a fairy tale that has been told since ancient time, about a woman of surpassing beauty flying to the moon after taking some magic medicine, where she stays as the Moon Goddess.
Back in the 14th century, a Chinese named Wan Hu attempted to send himself into sky by lighting 47 gunpowder-packed bamboo tubestied to his chair. Although he got killed in this bold attempt, Wan has since been widely regarded as the world's first person using rockets as a flight vehicle.
Thirty-three years ago, Hu Shixiang pressed the rocket blast-off button to send China's first man-made satellite into space. China's space exploration activities had since started.
Page two China's Space Mission
Five years later, with the successful landing of the country's first recoverable satellite, China turned out to be the third nation in the world having acquired the space vehicle recovery technology. "This laid a solid foundation for China's manned space flight program", said Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of China's manned space program.
"The successful launch of Shenzhou-5 proves that China's space technology has advanced from the research phase into the application phase," said Gu Yidong, director-general and chief designer of the space application system under China's manned space program.
Since China officially launched its manned space program in 1992, its experts have resolved a range of technical problems with the astronaut system, space application system, spacecraft system, rocket system and launch pad system.
Between 1999 and 2002, China successfully launched four experimental and unmanned spacecraft, paving the way for this manned flight. The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located at the juncture area of the Badain Jardan Desert and the Gobi Desert in northwest China's Gansu Province, is the country's largest spaceport from which all the previous four spacecraft were launched.
Gu Yidong told Xinhua that the manned space program's ultimate goal for China was to explore outer space and make a good use of the rich resources of space.
Gu said human civilization is moving forward step by step with mankind's domain expanding gradually from land to ocean, to sky and finally to outer space, adding that outer space exploration has turned out to be an important driving force for mankind's economic and social development.
Astronaut Yang returns safely
Shenzhou-5 landed at the preset primary landing area in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 06:23 Oct.16 (Beijing time), and China's first astronaut in orbit
Yang Liwei walked out of the cabin himself. Yang has been confirmed to be in good health after a 21-hour space travel.
Chinese, US presidents meet over bilateral ties, issues of common Concern
Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S President Bush meet on issues of common concern
Chinese President Hu Jintao exchanged views on Oct.19 with US President George W. Bush on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern on the eve of the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.
Hu said since his last meeting with Bush in Evian, France, in June, the two countries have maintained a good momentum in the development of their relations. They have scored new achievements in economic cooperation and trade as well as in the fight against terrorism.
China hopes that both sides would view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic point of view so that the China-US constructive and cooperative relations will constantly move forward, Hu said.
Bush said a good US-China relationship is important to the United States, and he will continue with his efforts for the development of the bilateral relations.
The US president said he was looking forward to the upcoming visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to the United States.
He also extended congratulations on the success of China's first manned space flight on behalf of the US government and people.
On the issue of Taiwan, Hu said China insists on the policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," and has worked with utmost efforts to resolve the issue through peaceful means. Hu stressed China will never tolerate "Taiwan independence."
The Chinese president also said China appreciates what the US side has reiterated about its one-China policy, its adherence to the three Sino-US joint communiques and its opposition to "Taiwan independence." China hopes the US side would honor its commitments.
Bush told Hu that the US government upholds the one-China policy, observing the three US-China joint communiques, opposing Taiwan's independence. He said the United States will not change that policy.
On the issue of economic cooperation and trade, Hu said the US economy has shown signs of recovery and Chinese economy is growing fast. This will be good to the expansion of two-way trade and economic cooperation, he added.
He said China is always responsible on the issue of the exchange rate of the Chinese currency, Renminbi (RMB) yuan. China follows a market-based, single and managed floating exchange rate system, which is consistent with the current situation of China's
economy, its level of financial regulation and the sustainability of its enterprises.
Practice has proved that keeping the exchange rate of RMB stable serves China's economic performance and conforms to the requirements of the economic development in the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world, Hu said.
China will further improve its rate-forming mechanism in the process of its financial reforms, he added.
The Chinese president said China-US trade has grown vigorously and benefited people of both countries. China has taken, and will continue to take, measures to balance bilateral trade with the United States.
The two sides should strengthen dialogue and resolve disputes through negotiations, Hu said, adding that China is willing to increase imports from the United States, and hopes the US side will loosen its control of exports to China.
Bush said US-China economic relations and trade are important to the United States. US-China dialogue on economic issues will be helpful to resolving existing problems in the areas.
He said the United States will continue to work for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. He said the United States highly appreciates the active role China has played in the peaceful settlement of the issue, and supports the process
of the six-party Beijing talks.
Hu said the international community generally acknowledged that the six-party talks in Beijing is conducive to the settlement of the nuclear issue and should go on.
China firmly maintains peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and supports a nuclear-free peninsula, he said, stressing that the reasonable safety concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea should also be addressed.
The Chinese president said China will continue to work for a peaceful settlement of the issue through dialogue, and relevant sides should do their part in creating favorable conditions for the process.
China is ready to strengthen consultations and cooperation with all parties concerned on the issue, Hu said.
The two presidents also exchanged views on the issues of anti-terrorism and Iraq.
Page 3and 4 China's Economic Policies
Chinese Premier calls for speedy development, close cooperation
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech in ASEAN
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called on Oct.7 in Bali, Indonesia that countries to use a favorable environment to speed up their own development and step up regional cooperation.
While addressing the first ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, the Chinese leader stressed, "Development is the enduring pursuit of mankind". It is the only way leading to Asia's rejuvenation.
Under the present world circumstances, Asia is faced with both rare opportunities and serious challenges in its development."
However, Wen Jiabao said, there are an increasing number of factors affecting peace and development, which include the rising threat of terrorism, the new manifestations of power politics, the uneven development among countries and the widening gap between the North and the South.
"It remains a long and uphill journey to maintain world peace and promote common development," Wen underlined.
As a rapidly rising continent, the Chinese premier said, Asia is attracting more and more attention worldwide. Asia's share in the world economy has risen from 5 percent at the end of World War II to 23 percent today. Asia's economic achievements are attributable not only to the fact that Asian countries have seized the opportunities and boosted growth, but also to the burgeoning regional and sub-regional cooperation of all kinds.
In a bid to find a good mechanism for lasting development and common prosperity in Asia under the competition pressure created by the unfair and irrational international economic order, the Chinese leader called upon the Asian nations "to strengthen our solidarity and cooperation."
Turning to the current economic situation at home, Wen Jiabao noted, since the beginning of this year, "we have overcome the severe impact of the SARS epidemic and maintained fast and sound economic growth."
China's GDP has increased by 8.2 percent in the first half of this year. From January to August this year, its fixed asset investment grew by 32.4 percent, its total import and export volume reached 522.7 billion US dollars, representing a 36.3 percent increase, and 36.7 billion US dollars of foreign direct investment was utilized, marking an 18.4 percent growth over the same period of the previous year, he added.
Judging by the current trends, the Chinese premier said, "We are confident that this year's objective of achieving a 7 percent economic growth rate will be met."
According to Wen, by the year 2020, China's GDP, calculated on the current foreign exchange rate, will be over 4 trillion US dollars, which will enable China to reach the level of a moderately developed country by the middle of this century.
"A more developed and stronger China will bring about development opportunities and tangible benefits to other Asian countries, and will make even greater contribution to peace and development in Asia," Wen Jiabao asserted.
This is because firstly, he explained in his speech, it is a firm policy of China to vigorously promote Asia's development, rejuvenation, peace and stability.
Secondly, China's development will bring tremendous immediate and long-term benefits to Asian countries. And thirdly, China's growth adds to the peaceful forces and could contribute more to regional stability.
Wen Jiabao said that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officially launched the negotiation on establishing a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2002, and positive headway has been made in the talks in the past year. He expressed his confidence that the Free Trade Area will be established according to schedule and in 2010, a Free Trade Area of nearly two billion people with a total GDP of almost 3 trillion US dollars will take shape in Asia.
"Pursuit of peace, cooperation and prosperity is the goal of China's Asia policy. There are broad prospects and great potential for economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN," Wen said.
Page4 and 5 Sino-US Relations
Bush says Sino-US relationship full of vitality
FM Li Zhaoxing meets with President Bush
US President George W. Bush said on Sep.22 that the present US-China relationship is full of vitality, and this is vital for the two countries.
He said this during talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Chinese diplomats said.
The United States is willing, together with China, to continue pushing forward the bilateral relationship, Bush said at a meeting with Li, who arrived here on Sunday on his first visit to the United States since he became the Chinese foreign minister in spring.
Bush reiterated that the United States adheres to the one-China policy, abides by the three joint communiques between the two nations and opposes the "independence of Taiwan."
He spoke highly of the constructive role China has played in the international affairs, including the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Iraq.
Bush also said he looks forward to meeting again with Chinese President Hu Jintao during a forthcoming meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum set to be held in Thailand next month, and to an early visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to the United States.
Li said the two countries have recently made fresh headway in exchanges and cooperation in all fields, adding that the coming meeting between the leaders of the two countries will be of significance in promoting the development of the bilateral relationship.
Li said that both China and the United States have witnessed a rapid development in economic and trade cooperation, and such a cooperation of mutual benefits has given an impetus to the prosperity of the two countries.
He said China will work with the United States to enhance dialogue and cooperation in the realms of economy, trade and finance, and continue promoting the economic stability and growth in the two countries and the world as a whole.
Sino-US cooperation in economy and trade, as well as the anti-terror fight and other world issues, has proved that the two countries have shared extensive and important interests, Li noted. He added that this will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the whole world.
On the Taiwan issue, the Chinese foreign minister said it has been the most important and sensitive issue in the Sino-US relationship, and he hopes the US side takes it seriously and, with actual deeds, abides by the one-China policy and complies with the three joint communiques.
Li also stressed that China's new leadership has attached great importance to the Sino-US relationship and will work with the US side to push forward the constructive relationship of cooperation between the two nations in a stable and healthy way.
Page5
US Navy guided-missile ships leave China
US Navy guided-missile ships visit China
Two US guided-missile ships left the port of Zhanjiang on Sep.26, ending their five-day goodwill visit to China.
The ships, with 630 crew on board, are the cruiser Cowpens and the frigate Vandegrift.
During the visit, US naval staff participated in various activities with their Chinese counterparts, including visiting warships, holding talks and parties, and playing basketball, football and tug-of-war.
James Kelly, a US major general in command of the US ships,said the visit strengthened understanding and trust between the armed forces of the two countries, especially the navies. He expected to welcome Chinese naval fleet to visit the navy of the United States.
Zhanjiang port is the home of the South China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy. This was the first time Zhanjiang port had opened to foreign vessels since the founding of new China in 1949.
Page 6 Events at Embassy
National Day celebrated at Embassy
Chinese Ambassador to the United States Mr. Yang jiechi hosted a reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C on Sep.30 for celebrating the 54th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In his remarks at the reception, Ambassador Yang said that China has made significant progress in all fields over the past 54 years in particular the past 20 years of implementing reform and opening-up policies, and the people's life has been improved remarkably. The year of 2003 is the starting year for the new leadership of China. Although facing many challenges at home and abroad, China still achieved 8.2 percent GDP growth in the first half of the year.
Ambassador Yang pointed out that both China and the United States are highly influential countries in the world. It is not only beneficial to China and the United States and the peoples of the two countries to develop and strengthen constructive and cooperative relations, but also conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region and the world at large.
More than 500 guests including officials from the U.S. government, businessmen, scholars and representatives from the diplomatic and cultural communities attended the reception.