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对保先教育活动的一点感想

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature approved the Food Safety Law on Saturday, providing a legal basis for the government to strengthen food safety control "from the production line to the dining table."     The law, which goes into effect on June 1, 2009, will enhance monitoring and supervision, toughen safety standards, recall substandard products and severely punish offenders. The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee gave the green light to the intensively-debated draft law at the last day of a four-day legislative session, following a spate of food scandals which triggered vehement calls for overhauling China's current monitoring system. Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the concluding meeting of the 7th meeting of the 11th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, on Feb. 28, 2009. The NPC Standing Committee, China's top legislature, concluded its four-day session on Saturday, after approving the food safety law, an amendment to the criminal law and the revised insurance law.    Winning 158 out of 165 votes, the law said the State Council, or Cabinet, would set up a state-level food safety commission to oversee the entire food monitoring system, whose lack of efficiency has long been blamed for repeated scandals.     The departments of health, agriculture, quality supervision, industry and commerce administration will shoulder different responsibilities.     These would include risk evaluation, the making and implementation of safety standards, and the monitoring of about 500,000 food companies across China, as well as circulation sector.     The law draft had been revised several times since it was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first reading in December 2007.     It had been expected to be voted by lawmakers last October, but the voting was postponed for further revision following the tainted dairy products scandal last September, in which at least six babies died and 290,000 others were poisoned.     "It actually took us five years to draft this law since the State Council first made legislative recommendations in July 2004.It has undergone intensive consideration, because it is so vital to every person," Xin Chunying, deputy director of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, said at a press briefing after the law was adopted.     She said although China had certain food quality control systems in place for many years, lots of loopholes emerged in past years, mainly due to varied standards, lack of sense of social responsibility among some business people, too lenient punishment on violators and weakness in testing and monitoring work.     China has a food hygiene law, which took effect in 1995, to regulate issues of food safety, but many lawmakers said it was too outdated to meet the need of practice.     For example, the law is far from being adequate in addressing the problem of pesticide residue in foodstuff.     According to the new law, China will set up compulsory standards on food safety, covering a wide range from the use of additives to safety and nutrition labels.     The law stipulates a ban on all chemicals and materials other than authorized additives in food production, saying that "only those items proved to be safe and necessary in food production are allowed to be listed as food additives."     Health authorities are responsible for assessing and approving food additives and regulating their usage.     Food producers must only use food additives and their usage previously approved by authorities, on penalty of closure or revocation of production licenses in serious cases, according to the law.     In the tainted dairy products scandal, melamine, often used in the manufacture of plastics, was added to substandard or diluted milk to make protein levels appear higher than they actually were.     "Melamine had never been allowed to be used as food additive in China. Now the law makes an even clearer and stricter ban on it," Xin said.     She said the compulsory system to recall substandard food, as written in the law, would also be effective in curbing food-related health risks.     Producers of edible farm products are required to abide by food safety standards when using pesticide, fertilizer, growth regulators, veterinary drugs, feedstuff and feed additives. They must also keep farming or breeding records.     Offenders can face maximum fines which would be 10 times the value of sold products, compared with five times at present.     If businesses are found producing or selling a substandard foodstuff, consumers can ask for financial compensation which is 10 times the price of the product. That's in addition to compensation for the harm the product causes to the consumer.     For those whose food production licenses are revoked due to illegal conducts, they will be banned from doing food business in the following five years.     "This is a big step to increase penalties on law violators," Xin said.     Another highlight of the law is that celebrities can share responsibility for advertising for food products that are found to be unsafe.     The law says all organizations and individuals who recommend substandard food products in ads will face joint liability for damages incurred.     This has been a hot topic in China where film stars, singers and celebrities are often paid to appear in ads of food products.     "The provisions were added out of concern over fake advertisements, which contained misleading information. Many of the advertisements featured celebrities," said Liu Xirong, vice chairman of the NPC Law Committee.     Several Chinese celebrities had advertised for products of the Sanlu Group, a company at the epicenter of the tainted dairy product scandal. They were vehemently criticized after thousands of babies were poisoned by the Sanlu formula.     Many people posted online demands for them to apologize to and compensate families of the sickened babies. But others argued that it was unfair to blame the celebrities as Sanlu had legal documents to prove its products safe.     On tonic food, a booming industry with an estimated annual output value of 100 billion yuan (14.62 billion U.S. dollars) in China, the law prohibits any claims related to prevention or cure of illness on the product's label and instruction leaflets.

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese say they are pleased with the economic stimulus measures discussed at China's two top political conferences and think the proposals will provide a good road map for the future.     The two conferences, known as the "two sessions," are the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), which was to end Friday, and the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which closed Thursday.     Speaking of Premier Wen Jiabao's work report to the NPC, overseas Chinese in the Czech Republic said they are confident for the future development of their homeland.     Ni Jian, chairman of the Czech Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, together with others, said they were pleased as Wen said in his speech that China "must not slacken efforts" to promote its exports amid a sharp decline in external demand.     Wen said "We will continue to diversify our export markets and compete on quality, enhance traditional export markets, and energetically open up new markets," adding the government is to take a series of measures to relieve the difficulties of exporters.     Ni said the proposed measures lighten the way for Chinese business people abroad.     Hu Zhiheng, a Wenzhou businessman in Italy, said he was most impressed by Wen's remarks that the government will make efforts to "ensure steady growth in foreign trade."     As a matter of fact, China had already adopted a series of measures before the two sessions that included such things as raising export rebates, loosening credit, and abolishing or cutting customs tariffs, he said.     The overseas Chinese were mostly concerned with the economic policies released at the two sessions and how the government will be responding to the global financial crisis in order to maintain stable development, Luo Yuhong, chief editor of Capital News in Belgium, told Xinhua.     Lu Chengrui, head of the U.S. Shandong Association, said he holds high expectations for the two conferences, and hopes all of the plans can be implemented.     Zhan Aixia, head of the New York Beijing Association, said after reading the government work report that she expects her country to develop a stronger economy and intensify cultural exchanges with the United States.     In addition, Chinese students in Japan, Belgium and Italy also kept a close eye on China's development.     In Belgium, student Chen Fang said she was especially interested in issues concerning employment as she planned a career in China after graduation.     Wu Changbo and Chen Yao in Italy described Wen's work report as China's commitment to the world amid the economic crisis.     In the face of great challenges and difficulties, China still pledged an 8 percent economic growth, which they said has showcased the confidence of the country.     Wen's statement that put a priority on the employment of college students and the advancing of education were inspiring, they said, adding that they wish they could use the knowledge they have acquired abroad to serve the motherland after graduation.     Li Guangzhe, chief of the Chinese students' association in Japan, told Xinhua that the group cares most China's ongoing process of building a harmonious society and the role it plays in the world platform.     Li said he found the answers to those questions in the premier's work report.     The confidence delivered in Wen's report will give impetus to the development of the whole world and demonstrates that China is a responsible global power, he added.

BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Chinese wrote to the Ministry of Education in the past month to offer advice on the education plans for the next decade, according to a ministry official on Friday.     The Ministry of Education received about 1.1 million pieces of proposals in the past month, said Tian Huisheng, said a ministry official in charge of processing the public opinions.     People sent e-mails, letters and left posts on the ministry's Web site since the draft of the long-term plan on education reform and development was announced to solicit public opinions on Jan. 7.     The plan will be the country's first education development plan in the 21st century. It will include major guidelines and policies about education before 2020.     People from various backgrounds wrote to the ministry, including teenage students, retired teachers and pedagogy experts, said Han Jin, director of the education development planning division under the ministry in charge of drafting the plan. "The ministry has never ever received so many proposals."     Han recalled a letter from a 91-year-old retired teacher. He suggested the schools to improve training on students' handwriting as more and more young people are using computers.     "The proposals were about a wide range of topics but many focused on the biggest challenges in today's education service," Tian said.     Based on the proposals, the ministry made a list of top 20 problems people cared most about education service.     The top ten problems were: How to improve the number and quality of teachers in rural areas; how to realize quality education; how to reform the administration of educational institutions; how to reform the enrollment exams of all levels; how to improve preschool education; how to reduce the homework of primary and middle school students; how to fully implement the nine-year compulsory education program; how to reform higher education; how to improve the education service to rural residents and children of migrant workers; and to enable people to enjoy equal access to education.     "We will not leave out any valuable proposals. A team made up of dozens of education experts were processing the proposals round the clock," Tian said.     Education has long been one of the most talked about and controversial social problems among Chinese.     A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics issued in early 2008 showed that education was the fourth most important issue to the Chinese people, following health care service, social morality and social security.     "Education is relevant to every citizen. Students are from different backgrounds and interest groups. That's why an education development plan must be discussed widely in the society to reach a common understanding," said Prof. Yang Dongping, a pedagogy expert with the Beijing Institute of Technology.     The agenda of the public education policy should be set through such discussions, he said.     "We hope more people continue offering their ideas about the top 20 problems we announced today, especially practical proposals," Han said.     The proceeding to solicit public opinions will end by the end of this month.

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BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and overseas reporters are invited to cover the upcoming annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).     The 2nd session of the 11th National People's Congress and the 2nd session of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC are to be convened on March 5 and March 3 in Beijing respectively, announced the general offices of the NPC Standing Committee and the CPPCC National Committee.     A media center will be opened on Feb. 26 for the two meetings at the Media Center Hotel to serve the needs of journalists, the offices said.     Chinese and resident foreign reporters should submit their applications for reporting passes before March 5 to the media center while foreign reporters temporarily in China for the "two sessions" should apply at Chinese embassies or visa organizations authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.     The Hong Kong and Macao offices of the China Travel Services are authorized to handle applications from Taiwan reporters.     Reporters from Hong Kong and Macao should apply at the central government's liaison offices in the two special administrative regions.     Two websites were opened Wednesday to help domestic and overseas journalists report the "two sessions" as the country's top-level political events are drawing near.

PORT LOUIS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived Monday in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, for a state visit aimed at enhancing bilateral friendship and cooperation.     He was greeted at the airport by Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. Chinese President Hu Jintao (L Front) shakes hands with Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam greeting him upon his arrival in Port Louis for a state visit Feb. 16, 2009. "The China-Mauritius relationship has become a model of solidarity and cooperation between two developing countries," Hu said in a statement released upon his arrival.     The two countries have carried out fruitful cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, culture, education and tourism since they forged diplomatic ties in 1972, Hu said. Chinese President Hu Jintao (L Front), accompanied by Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam (R Front), inpsects the honor guard upon his arrival in Port Louis for a state visit Feb. 16, 2009His visit will enhance mutual understanding and trust, deepen the traditional friendship and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Mauritius, said the Chinese president.     It will also help take China-Mauritius relations to a new high, Hu added. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R Front), accompanied by Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam (L), inpsects the honor guard upon his arrival in Port Louis for a state visit Feb. 16, 2009. During the visit, the last leg of his five-nation "journey of friendship and cooperation," Hu is expected to meet with Mauritian President Anerood Jugnauth and hold talks with Ramgoolam.     The two countries will sign a number of cooperation documents during Hu's two-day visit.     Hu flew into Port Louis from Dar es Salaam, after paying a state visit to Tanzania. He earlier visited Saudi Arabia, Mali and Senegal.

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met Thursday with the Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Yong Il.     Hu reviewed 60 years of China-DPRK ties, saying the friendship, initiated and fostered by the older generation of leaders, had withstood the test of international and domestic changes.     "The friendship, which has kept developing, has become the common treasure of both nations," Hu said. Chinese President Hu Jintao (R Front) meets with Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong Il (L Front) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 19, 2009    The DPRK was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China. The two countries forged diplomatic relations on Oct. 6, 1949, days after the People's Republic of China was founded.     Hu said the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government attach great importance to ties with the DPRK. China would like to work with the DPRK for a better good-neighbor cooperation.     Kim came to China on an official goodwill visit and launched the China-DPRK Friendship Year in Beijing, a year-long exchange program marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.     "We should take the opportunity of the friendship year to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen strategic communication and promote substantive cooperation for a stronger bilateral relations," Hu said.     On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Hu said a question confronting all parties concerned was how to overcome what he termed the current difficulties and resume the six-party talks at an early date.     "We hope parties concerned will take the overall situation into consideration and properly resolve the differences in a bid to promote the further progress of the talks," Hu said.     Initiated in 2003, the talks involve China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan. The last round of talks, held in Beijing in December, failed to make any substantive progress.     Kim, who was on his first visit to China since taking office in April 2007, hailed the deeply rooted DPRK-China friendship.     "Under the leadership of both countries, DPRK-China relations have developed soundly in recent years," Kim said.     He said the DPRK would unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with China and carry forward the bilateral traditional friendship.     "The DPRK will, as always, make unremitting efforts to cement and develop friendly ties with China," he said.     Kim said the DPRK people were happy about the significant achievements the Chinese people had made in economic and social development.     During his five-day visit, Kim first traveled to east China's Shandong Province and talked with his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, Wednesday.

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BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia on Tuesday signed seven agreements on a package cooperation program for energy resources.     The agreements include a pipeline construction project, a long-term crude oil trading deal and a financing scheme between the China Development Bank and the Russia Oil Pipeline Transport Company, according to a source with the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, China, on Feb. 17, 2009According to the agreements, the crude oil trading volume is estimated to reach 15 million tonnes, the source added.     The signing ceremony was witnessed by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin.     During the previous talks held between the two, Wang highlighted that the strengthening of the bilateral energy cooperation between the two sides would help stabilize the two economies.     "We hope the two sides will give a full play to the bilateral energy negotiation mechanism to promote the bilateral energy cooperation to score substantial outcomes," Wang told Sechin.     The Russian deputy prime minister agreed with Wang's views, calling on the two countries to step up cooperation in such fields as energy and finance and make joint efforts to guarantee the contracted projects be implemented according to the agreed roadmap and schedule.     The two sides also agreed that the bilateral energy cooperation already scored a "substantial step forward." Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (R) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Igor Sechin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 17, 2009. Senior Chinese and Russian officials headed by Wang and Sechin held a high-level energy negotiators' meeting here on Tuesday.In a following meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Sechin said that the achievements of this visit indicated the high level of the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.     Russia would work with China to make more achievements to celebrate this year's 60th anniversary of forging diplomatic ties, Sechin said.     Wen said the agreements are fruits of friendly and strategic cooperation between the two countries, adding the cooperation is of high significance for the two countries to work together to cope with the international financial crisis and advance their relations.     The energy cooperation between the two nations is long-term, comprehensive and sustainable, Wen said, hoping that the related organs would act promptly to implement all the agreements.     Official statistics showed that Russian-Chinese bilateral trade posted a rapid growth in the first half of last year but slowed in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, as the global economic turmoil spread.     Trade between the two countries was valued at 56.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 18 percent year-on-year. It was sharply down from 44.3 percent of growth rate in 2007, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.     Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew only 5.6 percent year-on-year in 2008 because of the financial crisis and drastic decline in income from oil exports. The growth rate was 2.5 percentage points lower than a year-earlier level.

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday called on the nation to strengthen "conviction for victory" as he unveiled an unprecedented stimulus package to shore up economic growth amid global downturn.     In a work report to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's parliament, Wen said China is facing "unprecedented difficulties and challenges" as economic growth slows, employment pressure mounts and social uncertainties increase in 2009, the most difficult year since the new millennium.     PREMIER'S ECONOMICS     China's economy cooled to a seven-year low of 9 percent last year, and broke a five-year streak of double-digit expansion, as the global financial crisis took its toll on the world's fastest growing economy.     The country, however, is "able to achieve" an economic growth at about 8 percent as long as right policies and appropriate measures are adopted and implemented, Wen said. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a government work report during the opening meeting of the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2009In his report, Wen outlined an aggressive stimulus package, including huge government investment, tax reform, industrial restructuring, scientific innovation, social welfare and promoting employment.     In addition to a 4-trillion yuan (585.5 billion U.S. dollars) stimulus package that was announced in November, the premier also proposed a budgeted fiscal deficit of 950 billion yuan (139 billion U.S. dollars) for 2009, a record high in six decades and nearly three times over the last record of 319.8 billion yuan set in 2003.     The deficit accounted for less than 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), nearly surpassing an internationally accepted risky line.     Wen said increasing government spending is the most active, direct and efficient way to expand domestic demand, while economists believe China's 2-trillion U.S. dollar foreign reserves, current-account surplus and budget surplus offers the government lots of room to do so.     Other key economic and social targets included creating more than 9 million jobs in the city, controlling urban registered unemployment rate under 4.6 percent and keeping the rise of Consumer Price Index (CPI) at about 4 percent.     EXPECTATIONS OF A MIGRANT WORKER AND MORE     While nearly 3,000 lawmakers convened at the Great Hall of the People in the center of Beijing, Zhang You, a migrant worker from central Anhui Province who was waiting in his rented room for a job opportunity in the outskirts of the capital, also watched Wen's nationally televised speech, though the Premier's economics might be beyond his imagination.     "I didn't quite understand what those figures meant," he said. "But I was impressed by Premier Wen's vow to expand social security for migrant workers and help us find jobs," the 30-year-old man said. "I am happy about that."     Zhang, a painter, said he has had no work to do for months. "I guess it's because fewer people are buying houses," he said. China's real estate sector was also hit by the international financial crisis with fewer people buying houses.     But Zhang said he believes he will soon be able to find a job. "I feel the government is trying hard to overcome the difficulties. This kind of situation won't last long."     "I hope the economy will get better. My whole family is depending on me," said Zhang, one of the 20 million migrant workers who have lost jobs following the financial crisis.     In addition to millions of migrant workers seeking jobs in the cities, another 6.1 million college students are due to graduate this year, worsening the country's unemployment woes.     Announcing a 42-billion-yuan central government investment to boost job opportunities, Wen said in his report "the government will do everything in its power to stimulate employment."     He said the government will make full use of the role of the service sector, labor-intensive industries, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the non-public sector of the economy in creating jobs, he said.     Hao Ruyu, vice president of the Capital University of Economics and Business, said to maintain an 8 percent growth rate is "vital" to the Chinese economy and the country's stability.     "One percentage point growth could create 800,000 to 1 million jobs," said Hao, vice chairman of the NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee.     Despite worsening world economy, economists are optimistic about China's economic growth as previous stimulus measures have started to show initial effects.     Economist Li Yining told Xinhua that he believes China's economic growth this year could reach 8 percent, or even higher.     The Chinese economy is also very likely to recover before other major economies, even though the world economy is still shrouded in uncertainty, said Li, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the nation's top political advisory body.     "The economic slowdown is beginning to bottom out, and the economy is bound to rebound on huge government investment," he said.     According to a survey of factories issued Monday by the brokerage CLSA, China's manufacturing activity contracted for a seventh consecutive month in February, but at a slower rate than previous months.     INVESTMENT FOR A HARMONIOUS SOCIETY     While explaining the stimulus plan, Wen said the government will "give top priority to ensuring people's wellbeing and promote social harmony."     He said a total of 908 billion yuan of the central government investment this year will go to projects aiming at improving people's life.     Those projects covered low-income housing, education, health care, culture, environmental protection, and reconstruction in regions affected by the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province.     As part of the efforts to shore up domestic demand, Wen said China will increase investment to improve China's social security network, whose low coverage has long been blamed for the country's high saving rate.     He said the central government plans to spend 293 billion yuan on the social safety net this year, up 17.6 percent or 43.9 billion yuan over the estimated figure for last year.     The money will be used to fund social welfare programs, including pension, medical insurance, unemployment insurance and living allowances to low-income groups.     Wen also promised that his government will improve efficiency and continue to combat corruption.     "We must discharge our duties with great diligence and, through our actions and achievements, build a government that is for the people and is pragmatic, clean, efficient to satisfy people's needs and win their trust," he said.     CHINA IMPETUS LIMITED?     As the world's fastest expanding economy, China's policy making has captured international attention since the world was hit by the financial turmoil. Before Wen delivered his report, U.S. stocks broke a five-day losing streak with the Dow Jones industrial average rising 149.82, or 2.2 percent, to 6,875.84 on Wednesday.     Some analysts said expectations on China's economic stimulus package might have contributed to the stock jump.     But Wang Xiaoguang, a Beijing-based economist, said such an influence is very "limited."     Wang said China's stimulus package might help store up some investors' confidence in world economy, but the recovery of the world depends on both China and the United States.     China's economic growth could help cushion the blows of world economic downturn, Wang said. "But if the U.S. economy continued to worsen, China alone could not revive the world," he said.

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SHENZHEN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China started construction of the eastern segment of the country's second West-East natural gas pipeline in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province on Saturday.     Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang attended the kick-off ceremony announced the start of the construction.     The pipeline, the second after the first West-East natural gas transfer project, will cross 15 regions and carry 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year to Zhejiang, Shanghai, Guangdong and Hong Kong, among others.     When visiting the construction site, Li said the pipeline under construction is the country's most expensive energy project in decades and the world's longest natural gas pipeline. It is of great importance to ensuring China's energy security, coordinating regional economic development, deepening the ties between Hong Kong and inland provinces and promoting economic growth.     The 8,704 km pipeline will be made up of one trunk line and eight sub-lines. Construction of the west segment of the pipeline was started in February 2008 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The whole line will be operational by the end of 2011.     As China battles the financial crisis and expands its domestic demand, the second West-East gas pipeline project is a landmark project that will boost people's confidence to overcome the crisis, said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission.     The total investment of the second West-East gas pipeline was 142.2 billion yuan (20.82 billion U.S. dollars). The eastern segment stretches 2,472 km, with an investment of 93 billion yuan.     The government approved the east segment project during an executive meeting of the State Council or the Cabinet last November, in a hope to ease natural gas shortage, boost economic development and popularize utilization of clear energy.     Zhou Dadi, a researcher with the Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission said the construction of the gas pipe is essential for China to increase gas resources and ensure energy security.     It is hoped that construction will boost consumption and increase investment amid a world economic downturn, Zhou added.     It is estimated that investment will top 300 billion yuan in other relevant industries, including machinery production, electric technology, and construction material sectors.     Dong Xiucheng, professor with China University of Petroleum said this project will help China increase clean energy consumption.     In China, coal makes up 70 percent of the total energy consumption, 40 percentage points higher than the world average. Natural gas consumption only accounts for three percent of the total.     The completion of the second pipeline is expected to save 11.06million tonnes of coal every year.     The first West-East gas pipeline was finished in 2004. It has provided 42 billion cubic meters of gas to 3,000 factories and nearly 200 million people over the past five years     Wang Yang, secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also attended Saturday's ceremony.

HONG KONG, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China may get a more level playing field in terms of self-positioning when dealing with the United States amid the economic downturn, but Chinese leaders should beware of the potential traps behind U.S. flattering, scholars and senior editors said Friday.     Speaking at a Financial Times forum on Sino-U.S. relations in Hong Kong, the scholars said they expected the bilateral relationship to remain generally healthy in years ahead as both sides want stability and were pragmatic.     China is currently preoccupied with tackling the challenges facing itself, such as the need to further restructure the economy, finding an alternative development model to the export-driven growth of the past decades, and even the pressure of social instability.     The decisions made by Chinese leaders in dealing with the current crisis "will set the way for the long-term reinvention of the Chinese economy," said Jonathan Fenby, author of A History of Modern China published by Penguin.     China will emerge stronger if it can deal with the issues rightly, he said.     Lifen Zhang, editor-in-chief of FTChinese.com, said China does not have the strength to be the economic savior amid the current crisis and should handle self-positioning carefully when dealing with the United States.     "There is a lot of flattering going on at the moment, but be careful. What do the Americans really want?" he said, adding that a number of scholars have recently written on the topic.     On the top of the U.S. agenda was currently the need to restore confidence and integrity in the world's most developed economic system, which calls for cooperation from China, the world's fastest growing developing economy, said Simon Schama, professor of history at the University of Columbia.     But Schama said China should bear in mind that the next election in the United States will be in 2010 and avoid overplaying the leverage in its hand.     "What the Chinese government ought to be aware of is not so to overplay in its hands this leverage as to encourage a .. backlash" as the conservatives may seize certain popular issues, including trying to present an image of the Obama administration as being too soft, he said.