有趣的事情作文300字

科技发展五年回眸与展望

BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- All unemployed urban residents in China will have access to medical insurance this year as the country plans to expand the coverage of an insurance scheme to all cities and towns, according to a government official Saturday.     Li Zhong, vice director of Health Insurance Department under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said at a forum that the program, which has benefited residents in more than 300 cities as of 2008, is expected to be promoted to all cities and towns this year.     The program, introduced in 2007, aimed to bring urban children, students and jobless adults under the umbrella of medical insurance.     China established a medical insurance system for urban employees in 1998 and implemented a new cooperative medical care system for rural residents since 2003.     If the program is successfully implemented, it means all Chinese residents can have access to medical insurance.     Under the program, the premiums are paid by households, instead of individuals. The government gives each participant a subsidy of at least 40 yuan annually, and grants extra subsidies for low-income families and disabled ones.     Residents have to pay a share of premium in the program and their participation is based on their free will. Urban residents with only temporary jobs could also participate in the program.     Li said the program will gradually increase its reimbursement rate and include more common diseases for compensation. The program currently mainly covers expenses of residents for hospitalization and major illness.     There are more than 240 million unemployed urban residents in China. Among them, more than 100 million have joined the program so far.

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao called for the building of a Great Wall of stability in Tibet here on Monday, prior to the 50th anniversary of the foiling of an armed rebellion led by the ** Lama's supporters.     Hu stressed the necessity to promote development and stability in Tibet when joining a panel discussion with deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) from the Tibet Autonomous Region.      Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R) joins a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2009"We must reinforce the solid Great Wall for combating separatism and safeguarding national unity, so that Tibet, now basically stable, will enjoy lasting peace and stability," said Hu.     He urged Tibet authorities to implement the central government's policies on Tibet, focus on development and stability issues, attain an economic great-leap-forward, safeguard "national security" and "social stability", and keep improving people's living standard, in order for them to make new progress in the building of "a unified, democratic, prosperous and harmonious socialistic new Tibet."     In pursuing economic development, Hu said, Tibet must stick to the development road with Chinese characteristics and Tibetan features so as to strengthen the material foundation for the building of socialistic new Tibet.     The President urges Tibet to vigorously advance the program of building "socialist new villages," develop industries with distinguished features" and strengthen ecological and environmental protection.     Hu expressed the hope that Tibet should embark on more projects that will directly result in the improvement of people's life and working conditions, particularly those of farmers and herdsmen.     The government must also give priority to addressing people's immediate needs, so that people of all ethnic groups in Tibet will be able to share the fruit of development, he said.     READY TO HANDLE INCIDENT     Hu's remarks came ahead of several sensitive dates in Tibet.     Tibet will mark the 50th anniversary of the abolishment of slavery and the theocratic regime of the ** Lama on March 28.     On March 10, 1959, in an attempt to preserve the old serfdom, the nobles and slave owners staged an armed rebellion, which was foiled by the central government of China.     The riot changed everything in Tibet. The Communists soon decided that democratic reform should be carried out immediately to demolish the entire old system led by the ** Lama.     The Preparatory Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region replaced the Gaxag government and set out to lead the reform.     From 1959 to until 1966, 1 million slaves were granted land, houses and their freedom.     The ** Lama, who fled to India, has maintained a government-in-exile since 1959, and China has charged that this group was behind the riot in Lhasa on March 14 last year and other Tibetan areas of China.     Earlier on Sunday, Legqog, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress, said the ** clique has increased its secessionist and sabotage activities in Tibet this year.     "They made attempts to make trouble through collusion with those inside or even sending in their people," he said.     "Although Tibet is currently very stable, our troops are ready to handle any infiltration and sabotage activities by the ** Lama clique and other hostile forces," Kang Jinzhong, political commissar of armed police corps in Tibet, told Xinhua Monday.     "All the armed police forces across Tibet are on routine duty. The armed police force has the ability to handle any emergencies an any time," he said.     Tibetan people are "very simple and kind" and their heart stood with the Party, according to Kang, who has been working in Tibet for more than three year.     "If there were really disturbance, it must be caused by a few people instigated under the disguise of religious cause," he said, adding up to now armed police in Tibet had not found any "abnormal situation."     Kang said some hostile forces or "a handful of people" might be making preparations for making trouble, but their conspiracy would not succeed.     Some overseas media have reported that conflict might arise at any time in Tibet, but Kang said that was "purely talking nonsense."     "I am completely relaxed. To be frankly, if Tibet were in a tense situation, I would not have come here for the parliamentary session or talk to you," he told Xinhua, adding, "I'm confident so I'm here for the session."     Kang said Tibet did not experience any instability after the March 14 riot in Lhasa.     The riot, occurring in Lhasa during last year's parliamentary session, caused 18 deaths and huge economic losses.     BORDER CONTROL TIGHTENED     In the riot last year, innocent civilians suffered the most.     Tibetan businessman Losang still keeps photos of the damage to his souvenir store near Lhasa's Jokhang Temple. "They broke the glass and took away some of my most valuable items."     Losang feels easier seeing police and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army patrolling Lhasa's streets. "Tightened security is a good thing for business people and all residents."     "Who cares what other people think of the tightened security in Lhasa?" said a Tibetan woman who was taking her preschool daughter for a walk in a park near the Potala Palace.     "It's always easy to point a finger at others, but we are the ones who actually went through the tragic experience last year," she said. "If not for the police and PLA, I wouldn't have dared to take my daughter out to the streets now."     Expecting possible sabotage activities by the ** Lama clique, a senior police officer said here Monday that border control has been tightened in Tibet.     "We have made due deployment and tightened controls at border ports, and key areas and passages along the border in Tibet," Fu Hongyu, Political Commissar of the Ministry of Public Security Border Control Department.     "We will firmly crackdown on criminal activities in Tibet's border area that pose a threat to China's sovereignty and government," said Fu, a deputy to the NPC session.     "We will go all out to maintain the security and stability of border and coastal areas," said Fu.     Tibet, a plateau region in China, has a lengthy border with Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal.

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev held talks in Beijing Thursday afternoon.     The heads of states agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields and join hands to tackle the challenge of international financial crisis. After the talks, Hu and Nazarbayev signed a joint declaration and witnessed the signing of 10 agreements on cooperation in the fields of transport, education, agriculture and telecommunications. Chinese President Hu Jintao(R) shakes hands with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Beijing, China, April 16, 2009.    President Hu said the strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan had maintained a fast growth in recent years. The two countries have maintained frequent high-level contacts, political mutual trust, expansion of practical cooperation and good collaboration within the multilateral frameworks. Chinese President Hu Jintao(L) and Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev review honor guards at the welcoming ceremony in honor of Kazakhstan's President in Beijing, China, April 16, 2009. Hu expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for supporting China on such major issues as Taiwan, Tibet and the holding of Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.     Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan values the development of friendly and cooperative relations with China. He said China has raised its status in the international community by successfully holding the Olympic Games and launching the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft.     He said the effective measures taken by the Chinese government to cope with the global financial crisis have benefited not only the Chinese economy, but also the world economic growth.     Hu said the Chinese government always gives priority to developing the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan. Hu suggested that the two countries should work on four areas.     Firstly, Hu said the two countries should continue to enhance high-level contact, improve cooperative mechanism and deepen political links. The leaders of the two countries should maintain close contact. The governments of the two countries should give full play to the role of China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee to increase communication and coordination. The parliaments and political parties of the two countries should carry out exchanges in various forms on the experience of governing their respective countries.     Secondly, the two countries should utilize the complementarity of their economies to deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, energy, resources and finance to achieve common development. The two sides should further optimize trade structure, expand the scale of bilateral trade, work together to build major energy and resources projects and non-resources projects, and accelerate infrastructure construction at border areas.     Thirdly, the two countries should promote cultural exchanges and cooperation. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Kazakhstan in culture, education, health, tourism and sports. He said the two countries should encourage non-governmental organizations, media and youth organizations to expand contact and enhance friendship.     Fourthly, the two countries should deepen security cooperation and join hands to tackle various challenges. He said China will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Kazakhstan within such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. He said the two countries should join effort to strike trans-border organized crimes and the evil forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism so as to safeguard peace, stability and security of the two countries and the whole region.     Nazarbayev fully agreed with Hu's suggestion, saying under the current situation, Kazakhstan is ready to strengthen its strategic partnership with China. He expressed the willingness to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, transport, agriculture, finance and telecommunications.     He said the two countries should continue to step up cooperation in multilateral arena, especially within the frameworks of the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.     He said the two countries will work together to fight against the three evil forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world over.     Nazarbayev reiterated that Kazakhstan supports China's stance on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet. It supports China to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.     Before the talks, President Hu hold a welcome ceremony for President Nazarbayev at the Great Hall of the People.

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BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters launched an orange alert on Wednesday, urging local authority to be fully aware of the grim situation and give drought-relief work top priority.     The unprecedented drought which started last November, has affected 146 million mu (9.73 million hectares) of crops nationwide by February 4, among which 42.19 million mu are severely affected, according to the latest figure released by the headquarter office.     About 139 million of wheat land in the eight wheat-producing provinces were threatened, comprising 46 percent of the total wheat croplands in the areas. People irrigate the wheat field at Xindian Village in Luoyang, a city in central China's Henan Province, Jan. 4, 2009. Drought has hit most of Henan Province, one of China's key wheat producing regions, due to lack of rainfall since last October.Some 3.98 million people and 1.95 million livestock are short of drinking water.     The headquarter office asked local governments to be accountable for relief work and make every effort to expand irrigation areas.     The local authority should enact integrated plans on water distribution to minimize the risk of the drought, according to an emergency notice by the headquarter office.     Four more working teams were sent to the drought-hit areas on Monday to supervise the relief work.     The Ministry of Finance is expected to arrange more funds, after the previous 100 million yuan (14.6 million U.S. dollars) to support the relief effort.

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leaders joined in panel discussions with the country's political advisors Wednesday, calling for concerted efforts to pull through the global financial crisis which is unfolding its impact on the country's economy. Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R), shakes hands with a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009. Hu Jintao and Jia Qinglin (1st R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited the CPPCC members from the China Association for Promoting Democracy and the China Democratic League on WednesdayAll parties, all organizations, all social strata and all ethnic groups should unite under the central authorities' decisions and strategy to overcome difficulties, President Hu Jintao said in a discussion with members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).     He called on all Chinese people to stand together and "bravely move forward" though difficulties are in sight.     "This year is pivotal for the country to combat the financial crisis and maintain a steady and relatively rapid economic growth," Hu told political advisors from the China Association for Promoting Democracy and the China Democratic League, two non-communist parties.     "To ensure economic growth, people's well-being and social stability is of great importance to maintain a stable overall situation of reform and opening-up," Hu said. Wu Bangguo (front R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the CPC during the panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009Top legislator Wu Bangguo called on members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to play an exemplary role and contribute wisdom and strength to the national development during his discussion with a group of advisors from the CPC.     Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress, pinpointed the importance of investigation and research on issues concerning people's livelihood in a bid to "fully reflect the real social situations and the public opinions."     He asked the CPPCC members to make efforts to promote the building of a harmonious society. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front L), meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the circles of economy and agriculture during the joint panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009In the discussion with advisors from the circles of economy and agriculture, Premier Wen Jiabao said the country need to make large-scale government investment and bring in more social and private funds as well.     While the crisis demands stronger government macro-control, the role of the market mechanism should also be given a full play, he said.     Wen called for resolute and prompt government decisions in the face of the economic woes but stressed that officials must work according to the law and procedures.     "We must make sure every major government investment plan is appraised in a scientific way and will be known, understood and supervised by the people," he said.     "The more difficulties we have, the more opinions we should solicit from various groups," he said. Jia Qinglin (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC from the religious circle during the panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin encouraged political advisors from the religious circle to guide believers to "promote economic development and social stability."     He asked them to work for harmonious religious relations and the reunification of the motherland.     The other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, also joined panel discussions with political advisors. Li Changchun (L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the social sciences, media and publication circles during the joint panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March Li Changchun told political advisors from the social sciences, media and publication circles to nurture an environment that can help ensure economic growth, people's well-being and social stability by conducting investigations and better answering questions of public concern. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (front L), who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macao SAR during the joint panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009.During a panel discussion with advisors from Hong Kong and Macao, Vice President Xi Jinping assured that with the support from the central government and through efforts made by the regional governments, the two special administrative regions will surely tide over the crisis and achieve long-term prosperity. Li Keqiang (2nd R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the education circle during the panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009.Vice Premier Li Keqiang stressed the priority of education in his discussion with advisors from the education circle, saying education is the "strategic foundation" of the country's modernization.     A better education system will benefit the people's well-being and all-round development and provide talent support for the country's economic and social drives, he said. He Guoqiang (2nd R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from the China Democratic National Construction Association and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce during the joint panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009. He Guoqiang, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, called on non-public sectors of the economy to adapt to the market transformation, shift development mode and shoulder social responsibility by making more contributions.     He also urged to intensify the battle against corruption and improve officials' work style. Zhou Yongkang (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with specially invited members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) during the panel discussion in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2009.Zhou Yongkang called for preventing and resolving social conflicts and listening to public opinions so as to safeguard public rights and interests.     The CPPCC National Committee started its annual full session Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled to end on March 12.

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BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China should speed up reforming its financial system to make the yuan an international currency, said political advisors Saturday.     "A significant inspiration to draw from the global financial crisis is that we must play an active role in the reconstruction of the international financial order," said Peter Kwong Ching Woo, chairman of the Hong Kong-based Wharf (Holdings) Limited.     The key to financial reform is to make the yuan an international currency, said Woo in a speech to the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body.     That means using the Chinese currency to settle international trade payments, allowing the yuan freely convertible on the capital account and making it an international reserve currency, he said.     China's yuan, or Renminbi, can be freely convertible on the current account but not on the capital account, preventing it from being a reserve currency or a choice in international trade settlement.     China has announced trial programs to settle trade in the yuan, a move analysts say will facilitate foreign trade as Chinese exporters might face losses if they continue to be paid in the U.S. dollar. The dollar's exchange rate has become more volatile since the global financial crisis.     Economists say the move will increase the acceptance of the currency in Asia, which will help it become an international currency in the long run.     The status of the yuan as an international currency will benefit China by giving it a bigger say in world financial issues and reducing the reliance of its huge foreign reserves on the U.S. dollar, some analysts say.     Other analysts argue a fully convertible yuan will hurt China as it would allow massive capital outflow during a financial crisis.     Meanwhile, Chinese authorities remain cautious.     It's possible that the global financial crisis will facilitate the process of making the yuan internationally accepted, but there's no need to push for that, Yi Gang, vice central bank governor, told Xinhua earlier this month.     That process should be conducive to all sides, he said.     Xu Shanda, former vice director of the State Administration of Taxation and a CPPCC National Committee member, urged for faster paces in making the yuan an international currency as a way of increasing national wealth.     He said the United States and the European Union have obtained hefty royalties from the international use of their currencies while China has become the biggest source of that income.     A royalty, or seignior age, results from the difference between the cost of printing currency and the face value of the money.     "China's loss due to royalty payment has far exceeded the benefit of not making the yuan an international currency," he said in a speech to the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee, without elaborating.     China's State Council, or Cabinet, said last December it would allow the yuan to be used for settlement between the country's two economic powerhouses -- Guangdong Province and the Yangtze River Delta -- and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.     Meanwhile, exporters in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province will be allowed to use Renminbi to settle trade payments with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members.

BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China would manage to make breakthrough in yuan-based cross-border payment system in 2009, People's Bank of China, or the central bank, said in an on-line report.     According to the report reviewing the country's payment system in 2008, China would further develop regional and international cooperation in payments, and improve the yuan-based cross-border trade settlements this year.     The report also pointed out that China's payment system had remained safe, stable and efficient last year despite severe natural disasters and global financial downturn, as a total of 1,131 trillion yuan (about 166 trillion U.S. dollars) had been spent through the payment system, 37.62 times of the GDP last year.     The central bank's high-value payment system (HVPS), core infrastructure of the country's payment system, had conducted 214 million payments worth 64 trillion yuan last year, up 24.42.     China's securities settlement system had remained steady and provided strong support to the securities business, said the report. Trading volume in China's interbank bond market reached 10.46 billion yuan, up 66.03 percent from that of 2007, it said.     According to the report, non-cash payment products, such as bank cards and bill payment, had become more popular among Chinese citizens.     Chinese people had conducted 13.8 payments through non-cash products per capita last year, up 18.1 percent from that of 2007. Up to 24.2 percent of China's retail sales last year had been spent through the bank card system, 2.3 percentage points higher than the 2007 level, it said.

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SANMEN, Zhejiang, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday started the construction of its first third-generation pressurized water reactors using AP 1000 technologies developed by U.S.-based Westinghouse. The reactors, located in Sanmen of east China's Zhejiang Province, will also be the first in the world using such technologies.     The Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant will be built in three phases, with an investment of more than 40 billion yuan (5.88 billion U.S. dollars) injected in the first phase.     The first phase project will include two units each with a generating capacity of 1.25 million kw. Photo taken on April 18, 2009 shows the foundational construction site of the No.1 unit of the first phase of the Sanmen nuclear plant in Zhejiang Province. The Sanmen nuclear plant, with the world's first nuclear plant using the AP1000 technologies, a type of third generation nuclear power reactor introduced by America's Westinghouse company, started the construction recently    The first generating unit will be put into operation in 2013, and the second, in 2014. The plant will eventually have six such units.     "It is the biggest energy cooperation project between China andthe United States," said Zhang Guobao, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission and also head of the National Energy Administration.     "It will contribute to the human kind's peaceful use of nuclear power," he said.     China launched bidding in 2003 for its nuclear power stations of the third generation. Foreign companies including Westinghouse, France's Areva and Russia's AtomStroy Export are major bidders. Photo taken on April 18, 2009 shows the foundational construction site of the No.1 unit of the first phase of the Sanmen nuclear plant in Zhejiang Province. The Sanmen nuclear plant, with the world's first nuclear plant using the AP1000 technologies, a type of third generation nuclear power reactor introduced by America's Westinghouse company, started the construction recentlyWestinghouse became the winner after China signed a memo with the United States on the introduction and transfer of third-generation nuclear power technologies in December 2006.     The final agreement was inked between China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation and Westinghouse in July 2007, according to which China will buy four third-generation pressurized water reactors from Westinghouse. The agreement also involves technology transfer to China.     Two of the four pressurized water reactors will be installed in Sanmen of Zhejiang Province and two in Haiyang City, eastern Shandong Province.     William Poirier, vice president of Nuclear Power Plants China of Westinghouse Electric Company, said China has a sound nuclear power security system with a strict supervision work.     He said he believed China can replicate the experiences of the third-generation nuclear power technologies and build more such stations.     China's mainland has 11 nuclear reactors at six plants, all on the east coast, with a combined installed capacity of 9.07 million kw.     To meet its fast economic growth, China plans to develop more nuclear power. The country plans to have 40 million kw of installed nuclear capacity on its mainland by 2020, which would be4 percent of projected electricity supply capacity, or double the current level.     Of the 11 reactors, three use domestic technologies, two are equipped with Russian technology and four with French technologies, and two are Canadian designed. All the 11 reactors employ second-generation nuclear power technologies.     Speaking at Sunday's inauguration ceremony of the first-phase project of the Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang urged making more efforts to develop new energy to ensure the country's energy security and boost economic growth.     He underscored innovation as the key to nuclear power development, calling for enterprises to adopt advanced technology and enhance self-innovation.     He said it was inevitable that China would need to improve energy structure and enhance energy conservation and emission cuts when resources and environment issues took their toll on economic development.

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A new entry in government-issued press cards, to be added later this month, might help many Chinese reporters persuade tight-lipped officials to talk.     The entry will say: "The governments at all levels should facilitate the reporting of journalists who hold this card and provide necessary assistance."     "Without a proper reason, government officials must not refuse to be interviewed," said Zhu Weifeng, a senior official with the General Administration of Press and Publication.     Many considered this a positive signal that the authorities welcomed supervision from the media.     The new press card statement followed a regulation on the disclosure of government information, effective last May, which was the first government rule safeguarding citizens' right to be informed.     "Media and public supervision are among the arrangements the country is making to control the power of the state and protect civil rights," said Li Yunlong, a human rights expert at the Institute for International Strategies of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).     "How to prevent state power from infringing on civil rights is a very important issue in human rights protection," Li said.     This week, the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva conducted its first review of China's human rights record, and it acknowledged the country's efforts in human rights protection.     The country took a long and winding road to acceptance of the concept of "civil rights" but was headed in the right direction, Li said. "I have seen a trend toward increasing supervision of the authorities and more restrictions on their power."     Mo Jihong, a research follow with the Law Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, saw the same trend in legislation. "The changes in the Constitution were obvious," said Mo.     China's first three Constitutions, issued respectively in 1954,in 1975 and 1978, all had a chapter on the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. But none of those versions defined "citizen," which affected the implementation of these items, he said.     The current Constitution, adopted in 1982, closed this loophole and put the chapter on citizens' rights before that of the structure of the state, he said.     "It showed the country acknowledged that the state derived its legitimacy through protecting citizens' rights, rather than by giving rights to citizens."     In 2004, an amendment to the Constitution added an article stating that the state respects and preserves human rights.     "Through the amendments, the Constitution gave more responsibility to state organs to protect civil rights," Mo said.     The country has also adopted laws to restrict the exercise of state power. In 1990, the law on litigation against the administration provided the first way for the common people to sue government departments.     Further, the law on legislation, adopted in 2000, included an article stating that only laws can limit personal freedom. This had the effect of barring any authority, except the legislature, from issuing regulations or rules to limit personal freedom.     "But the implementation of laws remained a problem," Mo said. "The authorities who enforce the laws should be carefully watched."     Li noted that China's unique culture played a role. Traditionally, Chinese seldom talk about "rights" but instead stress the concept of people's obedience to the society.     "Civil right is a concept borrowed from the West. That's why it will take time to make everyone aware of it, especially those holding power," he said.     "But we should not give up because we don't have such a tradition," he said. "China does not need to make itself a Western nation but can explore its own way based on its own culture and reality," he said.     Last year, in the wake of an increasing number of protests nationwide, the government launched a campaign requiring officials to talk with citizens and consider their requests regularly. The move proved to be an effective way to ease public anger and reduce misunderstanding.     A trial program to invite independent inspectors to detention houses in northeast Jilin Province also received acclaim as an innovation in this field.     The two-year program ended late last year. The 20 independent inspectors, who were teachers, doctors, businessmen and community workers, examined conditions in these detention houses and examined their records so as to ensure that custody procedures were in line with the law and detainees were not treated inhumanely.     "The concept of 'putting people first' raised by the present CPC leadership can be regarded as an effort to respect and protect civil rights," Li said.