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	Chinese President Calls for Closer Eco-tech Cooperation Chinese President Jiang Zemin on November 17 called for closer Economic and Technological Cooperation (Eco-tech) within the framework of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). Jiang made the call at a meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) held in Kuala Lumpur. He said that eco-tech cooperation and trade and investment liberalization, which are mutually complimentary and reinforcing, are two main pillars of the APEC. He further noted that eco-tech is one of the important ways to realize APEC's objective of bridging up the gap of development among its member economies and achieving common prosperity. In the past years, APEC members have been actively engaged in cooperative initiatives in the field of eco-tech, which have yielded many positive results, President Jiang said. Finally Jiang expressed his hope that the parties concerned would work together to explore an effective and mutually beneficial way of cooperation, so that enterprises can better involve themselves in the APEC eco-tech cooperation.
	Chinese Premier Meets with US Delegation Premier Zhu Rongji met on November 17 with a delegation of scientists from the United States, including Nobel Prize Laureate Lee Tsung-Dao, and exchanged views with them on the future development of China's high energy physics and other issues of common concern.
	Hu Jintao meets with Cook Islands PM Vice President Hu Jintao, in a meeting with Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Geoffrey Henry, on November 17 said that China is ready to make a joint effort with the Cook Islands to push bilateral relations to a higher level.
	Chinese President Jiang Zemin Meets with Russian PM Primakov
	President Jiang Meets with Indonesian President Jusuf Habibie
	President Jiang Meets with Philippine President Joseph Estrada
	President Jiang Meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
	President Jiang Meets with New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
	President Jiang Meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
	Chinese Vice-Premier Meets Hungarian Official Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing met with Chikan Attila, Hungarian chairman of the Economic Cabinet on November 17. Li said that the two countries which have traditional friendship can further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as the economy and technology. Chikan said that the new Hungarian government attaches importance to its relations with China and hopes to develop the traditional friendship between the two countries, in particular in expanding economic and trade cooperation.

	In the "Putting Agriculture on Solid Basis" column, a group of stories report work in diverse localities to improve agriculture. A water conservancy upserge is underway in Anhui. 12 major projects and over 60 ordinary projects have started on harnessing the trunk Yangtze, Huai and Huaihongxin Rivers and tackling Gangkouwan Reservoir. Up to the present, on a peak day, 5 million laborers were working on the water conservancy projects in Anhui and 127 million cu m of stone and earth have been worked on, making up 25.4 percent of the total for the current year. 2.284 billion yuan were funneled into capital construction for water conservancy and 4 billion yuan are expected to be put into water conservancy this year. In Lianning Province' Shenyang city 1 billion yuan will be pumped into 10 farming construction projects this winter and next spring. The second round of land contracting is in smooth progress in Jinhua Municipality, Zhejiang Province. In early November, land contracting was made clear for 90 percent of peasant households in Jinhua. And over 98 percent of peasant households had been given land contracting certificates in Pujiang and Pan'an.
	In the "Shaking off Poverty" column, a roundup story depicts hard word being done to change the poor outlook in diverse areas. In Pengyang County, Ningxia Province, the forestal area increased from 3 percent of the county's area 15 years ago to the present 15 percent. 4.92 million mu of hilly slopes have been converted to terraced land in Guizhou. And afforestation in the province has raised the forest area in the province from 12.6 percent in 1990 to 20.8 percent at present. In Dingxi County, Gansu Province, 61 percent soil erosion had been halted by the end of 1997. And 11000 mu of soil-erosion land have been built into terraced land.
	In a column entitled "Selling Apples by the Piece", a short commentary advocates giving top priority to quality than quantity in production. It says that one "Zhongfu2001" apple sells 15-20 yuan in the supermarkets in Xi'an, Shanghai and Beijing. Whereas the price of apples grown in the Yellow River irrigated area, where it is not suitable to grow apple, is the lowest which the apple growers cannot bear. However, the strain of the "Zhongfu2001" was introduced from Japan. Each of them weighs about 350 g - big, juicy without bagasse and in sharp color. The commentary asks: Why apple "Zhongfu2001" is so salable? It has top-notch quality, it concludes.
	In an interview with a group of reporters, senior engineer Lin Lineng from the Fujian Oil Refining and Chemicals Corp on the south bank of Maizhou Bay in Fujian told his worries about anti-smuggling. Lin said that under the powerful anti-smuggling drive, processed oil smugglers have changed tactics in smugg-ling - using small boats in stead of big vessels. So it is difficult to seize them. He urged the related departments to take suitable steps to cope with the cunning smugglers.
	Upsurge in Railway Construction in Southwest China 250 billion yuan will go to railway construction in southwest China in 5 years to come. Of which 68 billion yuan will be put into the southwest railway network under the management of the Chengdu Railway Administration.

	Protecting Farmers' Legal Rights and Interests From Being Harmed At a recent forum of directors of provincial and municipal public security departments, the Ministry of Public Security called on people's policemen of public security organizations at various levels to further conscientiously study and have a deeper comprehension of the spirit of the Third Plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee, and get a full understanding of the major significance of strengthening rural public security work. Public security organizations should do various items of public security administrative and management work well, so as to render more direct and better services for rural economic development.
	Seminar on Minority Nationality Region's Economic Development and Resources Exploitation Opens The Seminar on Minority Nationality Region's Economic Development and Resources Exploitation opened November 17 in Beijing. Following the central authorities' strategic principle for further accelerating the development of central and western regions, the three-day meeting will sum up and swap good experiences and methods gained and adopted in recent years by minority ethnic regions in implementing the strategy for the exploitation of resources and promoting local economic development; it will analyse the main difficulties and problems facing minority nationality regions in the exploitation of resources under the conditions of a socialist market economy, study and discuss counter-measures to solve these difficulties and suggest ways and means for the exploitation of resources and economic development.
	China's Judge Hierarchy Formally Put Into Practice The implementing method formulated according to the Judge Law for appraising the grade of judges was formally put into practice, the work of appraising the ranking of judge will soon be carried out in an all-round way. This marks the formal implementation of China's judge hierarchy.

	Shanghai Baogang Group Company Established Baoshan Steel Complex merged with the Shanghai Metallurgical Company and the Meishan Steel Company to form the Shanghai Baogang Group Company in Shanghai on November 17. Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo attended the opening ceremony and called the new complex a "great event" in the iron and steel industry. He urged it to become a first-class steel company with first-rate products as required by President Jiang Zemin. The integration is important in speeding up the country's restructuring of state enterprises, Wu said, pointing out that China has become the largest iron and steel products producer in the world but it is not yet a powerful iron and steel manufacturer because of a lack of efficiency and technology. He said that the State Council has high hopes for the new merger and asked the company to improve products, technology, structure, and management and asked the city government to continue its strong support for the steel giant.
	Enhancing Concept of Efficiency Yielded by Environmental Protection During his recent inspection tour of Jiangsu Province, Zou Jiahua, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), pointed out, To do a better job of the work of environmental protection, currently it is not only necessary to enhance our awareness and understanding of the importance, necessity and urgency of environmental protection, but also necessary to change our concept and persist in reform. While stepping up our law-enforcement effort for environmental protection, we should pay attention to enhancing concept of efficiency yielded by environmental protection among cadres and masses and establish a vigorous operational mechanism in environmental-protection enterprises, so as to gradually bring the input and output of environmental-protection trade on to the orbit a benign cycle. Zou said, the Southern Jiangsu Canal, after undergoing harness, has not only played a flood-control role, but has gained environmental, social and economic efficiencies. Its experience will be able to play a positive, exemplary role in harnessing similar inland rivers in other parts of the country.
	Returned Chinese Students Have a Vast World to Display Their Abilities A forum on intellectual innovation project to bring in outstanding personnel was held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences on November 17 in the Great Hall of the People. Li Lanqing, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice-premier, attended and spoke at the forum. After listening to speeches given by some participants, Li Lanqing highly appraised the achievements and contributions made by outstanding scientific and technological personnel. He said returned Chinese students of the past several generations have made tremendous historic contributions to the cause of Chinese revolution and construction. Since the launch of the reform and opening up program, large batches of returned Chinese personnel have played an important role in the motherland's modernization drive. Practice has proved that Comrade Deng Xiaoping's instruction on the work of sending students to study abroad during China's new period is a highly far-sighted strategy. In the future, we will continue to implement the principle regarding the work of sending students to study abroad, known as "supporting students in studying abroad, encouraging them to return home and allowing them to come and go freely". We welcome Chinese students studying abroad to return to work in the country or render services in various ways for construction of the motherland. Governments and departments at all levels should create conditions and provide a vast world for these students to display their talents.
	Tang Mingzhao Passes Away Comrade Tang Mingzhao, an outstanding diplomat, ex-deputy UN Secretary-General and former advisor to the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, died of disease in Beijing on October 31 at the age of 88.
	China Congratulates on Progress in Cambodian Peace Process On November 17, China extended congratulations on the great progress scored in the meeting between the Cambodian People's Party and the Funcinpec Party under the leadership of King N. Sihanouk. At yesterday's regular press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang highly praised the special and important role played by Cambodian King N. Sihanouk in safeguarding political stability and promoting national reconciliation. "The peaceful settlement of the political crisis demonstrates the Cambodian people's ability to handle their domestic affairs and the spirit displayed by leaders of the two parties in holding themselves responsible for the country and the nation." Tang said China hopes that under the leadership of King N. Sihanouk, all Cambodian parties will take the progress as an opportunity, and carry out sincere cooperation in building the country in unity, and bringing a peaceful, stable and developing Cambodia into the 21st century.

	Beijing government and China Agricultural University (CAU) signed an agreement earlier. CAU will make scientific research according to the features of Beijing modern agriculture and the demand of rural economic development. Some research centers on biological technology, information, fodder and water saving will also be established. Beijing will provide necessary policies and environment for CAU to attract talented people.
	Hong Guoqi, secretary of the Party Committee of Nankai University and Liang Gongqing, vice-governor of Yunnan Province, exchanged visits earlier and agreed on promoting cooperative work between the two sides. Nankai University will cooperate with Yunnan Province on new products development, high-level talents cultivation, disciplines construction, and training of management and technological personnel.
	Liang Zhu, a famous violin concerto reputed as one of the world music classics in the 20th century, will be adapted to a poetic drama dance. The first-phase preparation was completed and the rehearsal will begin. Young artists will interpret and dig up the essence of Liang Zhu with new expressive form and viewpoint. New Liang Zhu will be lengthened to 50 minutes from the previous 25 minutes.
	Liu Xiaoguang Beats Ma Xiaochun Again The third game of the 11th Zhongxing Telecom Cup Chinese Weiqi Meijin Challenge Contest ended in Shenzhen on November 17. Challenger Liu Xiaoguang beat defending Meijin Ma Xiaochun with 3/4 pieces. Now the total score is 2:1.

	Chinese President Jiang Zemin Attends the Evening Dinner Held by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir.
	Photo: President Jiang meets leaders of other nations at the APEC forum.
	DPRK Condemns the Spy Satellite Plan A spokesman for DPRK's Foreign Ministry made a statement which stressed that the spy satellites launching plan proposed by the Japanese government is an action of legalizing its policy of being a big military power and threatening and intimidating DPRK. The spokesman noted that this plan will trigger new arms race in Asia and intensify the distrust and confrontation in this region.
	A group of 86 UN arms inspectors have returned to Baghdad November 17 on a UN flight, and the UN Special Commission, which is in charge of disarming Iraq, is expected to resume its duty today.

	Asian nations are extricating themselves from the economic crisis so that the British investors' confidence has been recovered and stabilized.
	Due to the eased tension in the Gulf Region, the oil price dropped to a record low in the past 10 years.

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