A recent survey conducted by Beijing-based Horizon Research, though by no means comprehensive, should sound alarms that China and India need to do more to deepen mu- tual understanding, especially at the people-to-people level. According to the survey, 45 percent of Chinese view India favorably, while 43 percent of Indian respondents view China as a partner. More disturbingly, most Chinese still perceive India, along with the US and Japan, as posing the most threat to China.
Findings about whether Indians perceive China as a threat are unavailable. But there is ample evidence that a consider- able number of Indians do consider China a threat. Suspicion and even hostility toward China also run rampant in Indian society.
The plight of Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh offers an immediate example of this judgment. No sooner had he made some remarks in favor of China during his visit to Beijing earlier this month than the Indian official came under immediate attacks from his own countrymen.
The common practice of India applying stricter terms on imports from China than from Western countries also bears witness to the country’s distrust of its neighbor to the north. Many Chinese experts believe trade protectionism is behind India’s suspension of importing telecom equipment from Apparently, there is a huge gap between how our two coun- tries are perceived by each other and how our two countries wish to be treated.
Due to issues left over from history, the bond between our two peoples is not as close as it was in the Mao-Nehru era. In recent years, the two largest developing countries have both undergone profound social changes while coping with the changing international situation. The West-dominated media machine has also amplified disputes and fuels rancor be- tween us. All that has sowed the seeds of misunderstanding and estrangement.
Beijing and New Delhi vowed to push bilateral ties to a new high while marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations last month. More people-to- people level exchanges should be conducted to expand mutual understanding, update our knowledge about each other and improve our perceptions.
The two countries also should tackle their differences in a more constructive and forward-thinking way.
It is in our two peoples’ interests to forge a friendly relation- ship featuring robust trade ties and deeper political trust. Only when the two Asian giants feel a genuine closeness between them will the world treat our two nations with more awe and respect. - Wang Hui /China Daily
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Nepal House passes interim constitution amendment bill to extend CA term
KATHMANDU, May 29 (Xinhua) -- An emergency meet- ing of the Legislature Parliament early Saturday passed the 8th Amendment Bill of Interim Constitution of Ne- pal-2007 which will extend Constituent Assembly (CA) term by one year.
Out of the 585 lawmakers who attended the meeting, 580 voted on support of the Amendment Bill while only five voted against it.
Finalizing the result of majority votes cast by lawmakers, House Speaker Subash Nemwang announced that the 8th Amendment Bill has been passed with two-thirds majority of the Parliament.
Concluding the emergency meeting of House, he also added that the next session of House will sit on Monday afternoon. Now, the deadline for Nepal to promulgate new national constitution is also extended for one year. The two-year CA term was meant to expire by Friday midnight, if Parliament would not have passed the Bill by two-thirds majority. The government on Monday regis- tered the Interim Constitution Amendment Bill to extend the term of CA by one year.
However, the single and the largest opposition party Uni- fied Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) who filed a dissent note against the Bill took back its under- scoring the agreement between major parties to form new national unity government.
“The three parties have agreed to form a new national unity government, parties have also agreed for logical end of peace process, so in this situation I would like to take back the dissent note,” Dev Gurung, lawmaker from UCPN-M and former Minister for Law and Justice, said, when addressing the House.
The Amendment of the Bill to extend CA term was made possible after the three big parties -- the ruling communist party, Communist Party Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), Nepali Congress (NC) and UCPN-M forged consensus after an-hour-long bilateral and multi- lateral meeting late Friday night.
The big three parties agreed to extend the CA by one year and passed agreements will be implemented and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will resign within a few days to pave way for a national unity government. However, it is not clear that within how many days PM will resign.
“This opportunity will be utilized to conclude the peace process, complete new constitution drafting process and begin a new chapter of consensus politics,” M.K. Nepal told reporters right after the House meeting concluded.
Out of the 585 lawmakers who attended the meeting, 580 voted on support of the Amendment Bill while only five voted against it.
Finalizing the result of majority votes cast by lawmakers, House Speaker Subash Nemwang announced that the 8th Amendment Bill has been passed with two-thirds majority of the Parliament.
Concluding the emergency meeting of House, he also added that the next session of House will sit on Monday afternoon. Now, the deadline for Nepal to promulgate new national constitution is also extended for one year. The two-year CA term was meant to expire by Friday midnight, if Parliament would not have passed the Bill by two-thirds majority. The government on Monday regis- tered the Interim Constitution Amendment Bill to extend the term of CA by one year.
However, the single and the largest opposition party Uni- fied Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) who filed a dissent note against the Bill took back its under- scoring the agreement between major parties to form new national unity government.
“The three parties have agreed to form a new national unity government, parties have also agreed for logical end of peace process, so in this situation I would like to take back the dissent note,” Dev Gurung, lawmaker from UCPN-M and former Minister for Law and Justice, said, when addressing the House.
The Amendment of the Bill to extend CA term was made possible after the three big parties -- the ruling communist party, Communist Party Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), Nepali Congress (NC) and UCPN-M forged consensus after an-hour-long bilateral and multi- lateral meeting late Friday night.
The big three parties agreed to extend the CA by one year and passed agreements will be implemented and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will resign within a few days to pave way for a national unity government. However, it is not clear that within how many days PM will resign.
“This opportunity will be utilized to conclude the peace process, complete new constitution drafting process and begin a new chapter of consensus politics,” M.K. Nepal told reporters right after the House meeting concluded.
Nepal faces bigger food deficit problem
KATHMANDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Nepali government data shows that the size of the population facing food deficit in Nepal has tripled compared with last year.
According to Hari Dahal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), the country faces nearly 316, 000 tons food deficit this year, compared with 132,000 tons last year.
“Nearly 1.6 million people have been suffering from food deficit this year due to acute supply shortage while nearly 500, 000 people suffered the same problem last year,” Dahal, who is also spokesperson at MoAC, told Sunday’s myrepublica.com.
According to him, agricultural production including rice output decreased hugely last year due to a late monsoon and drought, thereby causing an acute food deficit in the country. “Rice production decreased nearly 500,000 tons last year,” Dahal added, “That has largely contributed to the food deficit problem this year.”
People from remote districts have been directly affected by the food shortage. A government team led by Joint Secretary Chandra Ghimire at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies had also conducted a field study on food deficit recently.
Ghimire said about 30 districts face food deficit problem every year. Of these, about 15 districts face severe food crunch.
“The problem of food is mainly due to lack of local productivity,” he said, adding, “The government should identify fertile land within districts facing food deficit and invest in a package program including irrigation, supply of fertilizers, technology input, sending in of technicians and other supportive projects in a bid to get rid of the problem in the long run.”
The report prepared by the Ghimire-led team also concluded that the food deficit problem in the country is worsening. Editor: Bi Mingxin
According to Hari Dahal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), the country faces nearly 316, 000 tons food deficit this year, compared with 132,000 tons last year.
“Nearly 1.6 million people have been suffering from food deficit this year due to acute supply shortage while nearly 500, 000 people suffered the same problem last year,” Dahal, who is also spokesperson at MoAC, told Sunday’s myrepublica.com.
According to him, agricultural production including rice output decreased hugely last year due to a late monsoon and drought, thereby causing an acute food deficit in the country. “Rice production decreased nearly 500,000 tons last year,” Dahal added, “That has largely contributed to the food deficit problem this year.”
People from remote districts have been directly affected by the food shortage. A government team led by Joint Secretary Chandra Ghimire at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies had also conducted a field study on food deficit recently.
Ghimire said about 30 districts face food deficit problem every year. Of these, about 15 districts face severe food crunch.
“The problem of food is mainly due to lack of local productivity,” he said, adding, “The government should identify fertile land within districts facing food deficit and invest in a package program including irrigation, supply of fertilizers, technology input, sending in of technicians and other supportive projects in a bid to get rid of the problem in the long run.”
The report prepared by the Ghimire-led team also concluded that the food deficit problem in the country is worsening. Editor: Bi Mingxin
Thursday, May 6, 2010
CHINAsia Update 14
CHINAsia Update 14 is out and can be downloaded here:
http://sites.google.com/site/chinasiaupdate/magazine/issue-14
Our focus for this issue is Global Terrorism
Some key articles are:
- Communist Party of Nepal Maoists
- India Reviews Security Apparatus to Fight Naxal Rebels
- Nuclear Security Summit
- How dire is the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism?
http://sites.google.com/site/chinasiaupdate/magazine/issue-14
Our focus for this issue is Global Terrorism
Some key articles are:
- Communist Party of Nepal Maoists
- India Reviews Security Apparatus to Fight Naxal Rebels
- Nuclear Security Summit
- How dire is the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism?
Images From Around Asia April
A martial arts performance held in Kaifeng, CentralChina’s Henan province, April 3, 2010. [Photo/CFP]
Little India is an ethnic neighborhood found in
Singapore that has Indian cultural elements. Little
India lies to east of the Singapore River—across f
rom Chinatown, located west of the river—
and north of Kampong Glam. The Little India area
is reported to have developed around a former
settlement for Indian convicts. Its location along
the Serangoon River originally made it attractive
for raising cattle, and trade in livestock was
once prominent in the area. Eventually, other
economic activity developed, and by the turn
of the 20th century, the area began to look like an Indian ethnic
neighbourhood. Photo by FlickR User williamcho
Singapore that has Indian cultural elements. Little
India lies to east of the Singapore River—across f
rom Chinatown, located west of the river—
and north of Kampong Glam. The Little India area
is reported to have developed around a former
settlement for Indian convicts. Its location along
the Serangoon River originally made it attractive
for raising cattle, and trade in livestock was
once prominent in the area. Eventually, other
economic activity developed, and by the turn
of the 20th century, the area began to look like an Indian ethnic
neighbourhood. Photo by FlickR User williamcho
SHANGHAI, April 30, 2010 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on
April 30, 2010 shows the fireworks show of the
opening ceremony for the 2010 World Expo
held in Shanghai, east China.
April 30, 2010 shows the fireworks show of the
opening ceremony for the 2010 World Expo
held in Shanghai, east China.
ANQING, April 11, 2010 (Xinhua) -- The pupils enjoy
their happy leisure time during the classes interval,
at the Sinopec Elementary School of Project Hope,
sponsored by the China Petrochemical Corp.,
inside the landlocked mountainous Shuikou Village,
Toutuo Town, Anqing City, east China’s Anhui
Province, April 8, 2010. There are 4 teachers in the
school teaching some 44 pupils at 7 grades in this school.
Project Hope is a Chinese program aiming at financing
education for poverty-stricken students. (Xinhua/Yang Xiaoyuan)
Photo Editor: Ingmar Zahorsky
their happy leisure time during the classes interval,
at the Sinopec Elementary School of Project Hope,
sponsored by the China Petrochemical Corp.,
inside the landlocked mountainous Shuikou Village,
Toutuo Town, Anqing City, east China’s Anhui
Province, April 8, 2010. There are 4 teachers in the
school teaching some 44 pupils at 7 grades in this school.
Project Hope is a Chinese program aiming at financing
education for poverty-stricken students. (Xinhua/Yang Xiaoyuan)
Photo Editor: Ingmar Zahorsky
First day of indefinite strike in Nepal peaceful
KATHMANDU, May 2 (Xinhua) -- People’s life all over Nepal was affected by indefinite general strike and shutdown on Sunday.
The strike was called by UCPN (Maoist) as part of its agitation demanding the step down of the incumbent government.
General lives of people were affected by the strike. Local shops, private offices, industries, factories, education institutions, transportation all came to a halt due to the strike.
Few cars, ambulances, hospital buses, journalist’s motorcycles could be seen on the road.
The party workers were staging demonstrations at major thoroughfares, chanting slogans calling for the government to step down.
The Home Ministry on Saturday had issued directives to all the concerned people and professionals to carry out their general lives as it were as the security was beefed up.
However, few shops and markets are open.
The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) postponed all examinations of Grade 12 ( High School ) for an indefinite period on Sunday due to the Maoist’s strike.
Security personnel were deployed at the various places in the capital city and around the country as well.
The indefinite strike Sunday ended peacefully without any re- ports of violence. The Maoist cadres were singing songs and merry making by gathering in the streets.
Ram Bahadur Chettri, 53, a farmer from Sindhupalchowk, was a little furious, saying he is ready to sacrifice his life for the country.
“We are fighting for constitution, we want our constitution and we want this government to be down at any cost,” he exclaimed.
Kanchi Maya Tamang, a tenth grader, told Xinhua that she came all the way from Sindhupalchowk, some 40 kilometers away from the capital, to participate in the strike and demonstration.
Kumar Lama, an icecream seller, was very happy that his business was up compared to other day. Talking to Xinhua he told that his business rose as many people on the streets are eating his ice-creams.
Apart from blocking roads the Maoist cadres were singing and dancing singing anti-governmental songs and merry making.
The roads in the Kathmandu valley were crowded with people dancing and singing in all the joyful ways.
The announcement of the general strike was made on Saturday following a mammoth rally in Kathmandu valley on the occasion of the 121st International Labor Day.
The strike was pretty much peaceful and there were no reports of violence. Enditem
The strike was called by UCPN (Maoist) as part of its agitation demanding the step down of the incumbent government.
General lives of people were affected by the strike. Local shops, private offices, industries, factories, education institutions, transportation all came to a halt due to the strike.
Few cars, ambulances, hospital buses, journalist’s motorcycles could be seen on the road.
The party workers were staging demonstrations at major thoroughfares, chanting slogans calling for the government to step down.
The Home Ministry on Saturday had issued directives to all the concerned people and professionals to carry out their general lives as it were as the security was beefed up.
However, few shops and markets are open.
The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) postponed all examinations of Grade 12 ( High School ) for an indefinite period on Sunday due to the Maoist’s strike.
Security personnel were deployed at the various places in the capital city and around the country as well.
The indefinite strike Sunday ended peacefully without any re- ports of violence. The Maoist cadres were singing songs and merry making by gathering in the streets.
Ram Bahadur Chettri, 53, a farmer from Sindhupalchowk, was a little furious, saying he is ready to sacrifice his life for the country.
“We are fighting for constitution, we want our constitution and we want this government to be down at any cost,” he exclaimed.
Kanchi Maya Tamang, a tenth grader, told Xinhua that she came all the way from Sindhupalchowk, some 40 kilometers away from the capital, to participate in the strike and demonstration.
Kumar Lama, an icecream seller, was very happy that his business was up compared to other day. Talking to Xinhua he told that his business rose as many people on the streets are eating his ice-creams.
Apart from blocking roads the Maoist cadres were singing and dancing singing anti-governmental songs and merry making.
The roads in the Kathmandu valley were crowded with people dancing and singing in all the joyful ways.
The announcement of the general strike was made on Saturday following a mammoth rally in Kathmandu valley on the occasion of the 121st International Labor Day.
The strike was pretty much peaceful and there were no reports of violence. Enditem
Chinese Ambassador Qiu guohong Attends the Inaugura- tion Ceremony of Nepal-China Friendship Center
On March 24, 2010, Mr. Qiu Guohong, Ambassador of
the People’s Republic of China to Nepal attended the In-
auguration Ceremony of Nepal-China Friendship Center.
Together with Mr. Bajracharya, the Chairman of the
Nepal-China Friendship Center and all the members, as
well as the distiguished guests from Nepal, the Ambas-
sador expressed his congratulations and hope for the
newly-established center as an NGO to promote people-
to-people exchange and cooperation between China and
Nepal.
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