Full Text of Speech Delivered by President Jiang at APEC Leaders Meeting
Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Fellow Colleagues:
It is a real pleasure for me to meet you again, my colleagues, in this beautiful city of Kuala Lumpur. I wish to thank our host the Malaysian Government for its thoughtful arrangement. I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome our three colleagues from Russia, Peru and Vietnam, who have joined us at the meeting for the first time.
At the Vancouver meeting last year, the financial crisis in some Asian countries aroused wide concerns among APEC members. Now a year has passed but its ramification is still spreading out, not only bringing serious economic difficulties to some countries and regions in Asia, but also affecting the world economy as a whole.
This crisis has occurred against the international background of accelerated economic globalization, and it has given the world people important revelations.
Economic globalization has become a trend as a result of the economic, scientific and technological development in the present-day world. It has brought to countries in the world not only development opportunities, but also serious challenges and risks. It has also presented to countries, developing ones in particular, a new subject to tackle, that is how to ensure the economic security of a country.
The trend of economic globalization requires active participation by all countries in international economic cooperation. However, countries should expand their opening-up program in the light of their national conditions and in a step-by-step manner while paying attention to increasing their capabilities of preventing and withstanding risks.
The trend of economic globalization has made the economies of countries more and more interdependent and interactive. Once a financial crisis breaks out in certain countries or regions, not only developing countries will suffer immensely from it, but developed ones will also find it hard to stay out of it. A globalized economy calls for global cooperation. All members of the international community should work together to maintain a steady development of the world economy in a spirit of sharing responsibilities and risks.
The trend of economic globalization is emerging and developing in a context where there is no fundamental change in the inequitable and irrational old international economic order, which will inevitably widen the gap between the poor and the rich countries. The ultimate solution to this problem is to work for the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international economic order in the interest of the common development of all countries.
At the moment, the international community has a common concern about how to curb the ramification of the financial crisis at an early date and prevent a worldwide economic recession. In order to promote steady development of the international financial sector and the establishment of a new international financial order, I would like to put forward three proposals:
I. To strengthen international cooperation, prevent the spread of the crisis and create a favorable external environment for the economic recovery and growth of the crisis-stricken countries and regions. The developed countries should adopt a responsible attitude to stimulate economic growth, boost domestic demand and expand import by means of fiscal and monetary policies, and refrain from resorting to trade protectionism. At the same time, they should increase financial assistance to the crisis-stricken countries and make proper arrangements to reduce their debt burdens in an effort to help them stablize the finances and recover the economy. In this way, they will not only help these countries tide over the difficulties, but also serve their own interests.
II. To restructure and improve the international financial system and ensure a safe and orderly operation of the international financial market. Those big powers with influence in international finances are duty-bound to take effective measures to improve the supervision and regulation of the flow of the international financial capital, contain over-speculation of the international hot money, and enhance the capability for the forecast and prevention of financial risks and for their relief.
It is essential to deliberate the establishment of a new international financial order which conforms to the interests of all sides, through dialogue and consultation between developed and developing countries in compliance with the principle of equality and mutual benefit and on the basis of extensive participation by the international community. I agree that the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting should study the questions related to the restructuring of the international financial system and put forward relevant proposals.
III. To respect the independent choices made by any countries or regions on overcoming the crisis. The countries and regions stricken or affected by the crisis differ in the level of economic development and historical tradition, and also in the cause and impact of the crisis. Therefore, there is no, and cannot be, a fixed model or single remedy for them all to tide over the crisis and revitalize the economy. Instead, they should be given support in taking measures in the light of their own situation. The international community and organizations should respect the right of a country to make decisions on its own, and help it lift itself out of the difficulties as soon as possible through consultation on an equal footing. Developing countries, particularly countries and regions stricken or affected by the crisis, should make necessary readjustment of their economic structure and policies in the light of their own conditions, properly handle the prominent problems in their economic development, and increase economic dynamism by taking full advantage of the favorable conditions, both internal and external.
The financial crisis has also brought negative effect and great pressure on the economic development in China. The Chinese government has assumed a highly responsible attitude. China has provided assistance to the relevant countries within the framework of the IMF arrangements and through bilateral channels.
Proceeding from the overall interests of maintaining sustained economic growth and international economic development, China has made the decision on not devaluating the RMB, for which China has paid a high price. Having won a battle against the catastrophic floods this summer, we are now going ahead with more in-depth reforms, adopting active fiscal policies, increasing input for infrastructure construction, and boosting domestic demand in an effort to achieve this year's objective of economic and social development.
APEC, as the most important international economic organization in this region, must adapt to the new situation, persist in narrowing the gap and realizing the objective of common prosperity through economic cooperation and make timely readjustment of the priority areas for cooperation so as to better meet the needs of the developing members, which make up the majority of the membership. At present, it is more important than ever to stick to the APEC Approach characterized mainly by respect for diversity, voluntarism and consensus-building. APEC should make its own contribution to increased regional stability and prosperity by adhering to this approach.
Promoting economic and technical cooperation (Ecotech) among its members is a major task of APEC and a primary way to common development. In the world of today, science and technology are progressing with each passing day and the knowledge economy is unfolding. To redouble the efforts to develop high and new technology and speed up the economic restructuring are the only way to promote a long-term and steady development of the economies of APEC members. We are glad to see the formulation by APEC of the APEC Agenda for Science and Technology Industry Cooperation into the 21st Century and Skills Development Action Plan this year under the chairmanship of Malaysia the host country. They represent a major step by APEC members towards enhanced Ecotech.
China attaches importance to and supports the implementation of these two important documents. As an expression of this, the Chinese Government has set aside 10 million U.S. dollars to establish the China APEC Science and Technology Industry Cooperation Fund for the purpose of financing cooperation between China and other APEC members in the field of science and technology industry, and has put forward a series of proposals on cooperation projects. China has also set up a China APEC Enterprises Assembly to promote enterprise participation in APEC activities.
Promoting trade and investment liberalization is another important task of APEC. Thanks to the concerted efforts of all members, positive progress has been made and will continue to be made in this area. In the current circumstances, it is important to pursue an active and prudent policy, and its members should be allowed to make efforts towards the realization of the goal -- trade and investment liberalization -- at a pace and in a mode suitable to their own conditions and in accordance with the two timetables on the basis of voluntarism, flexibility and pragmatism.
The current difficulties facing some Asia-Pacific countries and regions are temporary ones. I believe that there is huge economic vitality and development potentiality in the Asia-Pacific region.
So long as we work together to increase cooperation and surmount difficulties, the economic and social development in this region will have a broad and bright prospect.


APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting Held in Kuala Lumpur
The 6th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Informal Meeting concluded on November 18, declaring their commitments to working together for an early economic recovery and sustained growth to achieve prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
The leaders at their meeting endorsed two important documents -- the 1998 APEC Agenda for Science and Technology Industry Cooperation into the 21st Century, and the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Action Program on Skills Development in APEC.


Li Lanqing: More Water-Efficient Agriculture Generalized
Vice-Premier Li Lanqing stressed at the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences on November 18 that China needs to save more water in its farming.
The only way out is to develop farming technology, Li said, and water-saving technology is regarded as a revolutionary way of improving production.
China faces severe water shortages and an even sharper disparity in water supplies and consumption, he said. Traditional methods of irrigation have meant a huge waste of water and developing water-saving irrigation technology is a strategic means of modernizing agriculture.
He asked all departments to join in the effort to develop water-efficient farming and proposed that regional centers be set up to do research and to spread the use of technological developments.


Strengthening Study to Improve Quality
This is the first article by Our Commentator on anti-corruption and promoting a clean and honest government. Although corruption in the cadre ranks involves only a tiny handful of people, it, however, tarnishes the Party's image, damages the relationship between cadres and masses, between the Party and masses, and endangers the development of our undertakings.
To punish corruption, it is necessary to strengthen study, further enhance the moral character and abilities of cadre ranks; it is essential to protect, support and publicize leading cadres who are honest in performing their official duties, so as to encourage healthy atmosphere; it is imperative to strengthen rule by law, severely punish the corrupt and degenerates, so as to eliminate unhealthy trends. Practical measures and actual deeds should be taken to create a media environment, living and working environment throughout the Party, in which attention is paid to study, politics and healthy tendency.
Strengthening study to further raise the theoretical level, spiritual world and political quality is an important way for rejecting corruption and preventing degeneration.
As far as leading cadres are concerned, strengthening study primarily refers to strengthening theoretical study, studying Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, particularly Deng Xiaoping Theory to establish a correct outlook on world, life and value , so as to guarantee that the power granted by the people is used to serve the state and the people; Strengthening study of various kinds of modern knowledge, so as to guarantee that cadres have adequate knowledge and abilities to give better leadership to the modernization drive.


 

China Establishes Insurance Regulatory Commission
The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) was officially established on November 18 in Beijing as another effort of the government to further promote financial reform and develop the insurance industry.
Ma Yongwei was appointed to the position as chairman.
A CIRC spokesman said the new organization operates directly under the State Council and is in charge of administering the nation's commercial insurance industry. The CIRC will supervise and manage the insurance market in accordance with related laws and regulations.
Vice Premier Wen Jiabao attended the founding ceremony and noted that establishment of the CIRC represents a highly significant central move to strengthen financial system reform and further reduce risk.
China's insurance industry has enjoyed rapid development over the past 20 years since the introduction of the reform and opening policies. The country had 13 insurance companies by the end of
1997, including nine foreign-funded insurance groups. A total of 189 representative offices had also been established by overseas insurance companies throughout the nation.
Insurance premiums for 1997 hit 108.97 billion yuan, up 39.19 percent on the previous year, with total sum insured rising by 36 percent to 21.5 trillion yuan and the total assets of insurance companies soaring to 164.6 billion yuan.
Wen pointed out that China's rapidly developing insurance business involves a number of hidden risks. He said the CIRC will help improve the nation's insurance market and will be highly beneficial in terms of efforts to establish an insurance supervision system suited to socialist market economy.
The CIRC will also help reduce financial risk and ensure the sustained healthy development of the insurance industry, he said.
The CIRC's major tasks will center on formulating policies, regulations and development blueprints for commercial insurance; supervising and guiding business practices in the insurance industry, rendering punishment for illegal practices in accordance with the law and protecting the rights and interests of policy holders; ensuring an orderly insurance market order and promoting fair competition in the sector; and establishing a risk evaluation and warning system for the industry in order to reduce risk and promote the healthy development of the insurance sector.


Yuan Exchange Rate to Remain Stable
Dai Xianglong, governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, said on November 18 that
China will be able to keep the exchange rate of the yuan stable next year.
The banker told those gathered for the opening of the central bank's Shanghai branch on November 18 that China has witnessed sustained and healthy economic development and a good record of international payments.
China has enough foreign exchange reserves to pay for the country's imports for at least one year, said Dai.
He said that China's current floating system of exchange rates for the yuan against major international currencies is quite effective, and is under the close supervision of the central bank.
He noted that the floating system is decided by market supply and demand, which is conducive to maintaining a stabilized exchange rate for the yuan.
He said that the cost of Chinese exports will be lowered further next year, and that the margin of rising prices for consumer products will not be large.
However, severe challenges still remain for the country's export enterprises next year, and he believes measures that the Chinese government has taken will enable the country to sustain a balance of international payments, which will prevent the devaluation of the yuan.


PBOC Shanghai Branch Opens
The first regional branch of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, opened in Shanghai on November 18 and will also direct the bank's activities in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.
The PBOC Shanghai branch is the first of nine such regional branches which will be set up as a move to reform the functions of the central bank. The other eight central bank branches will also be opened before mid-December this year.
Shanghai along with Zhejiang and Fujian provinces are considered to have the most developed financial sector in China, and bank savings in these three areas account for one seventh of the country's total.
Shanghai is also China's largest trade and financial city, the country's foreign exchange trade center, and the national hub for inter-bank borrowing and lending.
Dai Xianglong, governor of the central bank, said that the PBOC Shanghai branch marks a new era in the functioning of the PBOC, and a key step toward establishing a modern financial system.
Huang Ju, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Xu Kuangdi, mayor of Shanghai, and Chen Liangyu, standing deputy mayor of Shanghai, all attended the opening ceremony for the PBOC Shanghai branch.
Xu Kuangdi said that the central government's decision to locate the PBOC branch in Shanghai will help increase economic and financial cooperation among the three localities and stimulate the economic development of Shanghai.
The PBOC Shanghai branch, headed by Wu Xiaoling, former director of the State Foreign Exchange Administration, will start exercising its power on January 1, 1999. The current PBOC branches in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Fujian will continue their duties until December 31, 1998.


Irrational Fees Revoked
Up to November 15, Jiangsu Province has revoked 1360 items of irrational fees to alleviate 6.18 billion yuan from the burden on enterprises. The fees involve power, post and telecom and farming-oriented vehicles.


Anti-Smuggling Yields Results in Xiamen
Anti-smuggling has yielded results in Xiamen. In the July-October period, 107 smuggling cases valued at 382 million yuan were cracked down. As a result, rampant smuggling has been basically curbed, prices for part of home-made commodities have rebounded and import and export order has been maintained and improved in the city. In the 3rd quarter, imports and exports totalled US$ 610 million, up 31.3 percent over the previous quarter. 570 million yuan in tariffs were collected at the Xiamen Customs.


Construction Projects Require Consulting
In an interview with a People's Daily reporter, Shi Qirong, first deputy chairman of China Engineering Consulting Association, said that the engineering consulting profession in China should take part in selecting engineering projects and carefully appraising the quality of construction projects as 200 billion yuan will go to construction projects in the country.


Duck Breeding in Weishi County, Henan
Photo: Duck breeding on the shoals of the Jialuhe River in Weishi County, Henan Province


International tenderings opened on November 18 on a group of state key projects.


The Famous Liquor Cultural Festival Opened earlier in Yibin, Sichuan Province.


Ample Vegetables Supply in China
Vegetable output is expected to hit 400 million tons for this year in China, ranking first in the world. In 1997, China's vegetable output made up 57.9 percent of the world's total and topping the per capita possession of 102 kg the world over.


 

Preferential Treatment to and Arrangements for Families of Armymen and Martyrs
Since the Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), marked achievements have been gained in China's work of giving preferential treatment to and making arrangements for the families of armymen and martyrs, which has developed amidst inheritance and advanced through reform, making important contributions to the strengthening of national defense, social stability , material development and socialist cultural and ethical progress.
Since the introduction of reform and opening up, various localities have been engaged in active exploration and striven to deepen the form and content of the work of giving preferential treatment to and making arrangement for the families of armymen and martyrs.
In order to guarantee the sound development of this work, the Party Central Committee and various localities have strengthened construction of the legal system in the respect of this work.


Managing State Secrets Strictly According to Law
This year is the 10th anniversary of the promulgation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Keeping State Secrets. Explicit stipulations regarding principles, the management system, the scope of state secrets, the secret-keeping system and legal liabilities for keeping state secrets are laid down in the Secrets Law, the promulgation indicates that China's secrets work has entered a new stage of managing state secrets according to law. With questions pertinent to the Secrets Law, this correspondent had an interview with Mao Linkun.
Mao Linkun said that commemorating the promulgation of the Secrets Law means that we should, following the basic principle of governing the state according to law as set forth in the 15th National Congress of the Party, further propel implementation of the Secrets Law, persist in managing state secrets strictly according to law, strengthen secret-related legislative construction, so that the secrets work will advance continually along the path to legalization under the new situation.


 

Protecting Natural Coverage in China's Key Areas
Chinese and foreign environmental protection experts attending the second session of the Second China Environment and Development International Cooperative Council proposed on November 18 that the Chinese government adopt new measures to protect the natural coverage in some major regions, such as the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys.
In a report transmitted in the name of the Second China Environment and Development International Cooperative Council to the Chinese government, experts proposed that China prohibit cutting and felling existing natural forests and adopt measures to improve energy supply on the upper reaches of the rivers, so as to reduce the pressure sustained by these forest areas


Shanxi Sets a 10-Year Goal for Ecological Environmental Construction
In order to change the face of the ecological environment of Shanxi, the provincial Party committee and government have decided to mobilize and organize people of the whole province to set off an upsurge in the construction of the ecological environment centered mainly on planting trees and grass, controlling water and soil erosion and building ecological agriculture.
The province's current 10-year goal for ecological environmental construction include: focused on reforestation of barren hills, passages, villages and towns, with the annual increase in the rate of forest coverage standing at 1 percent, and 30 percent by the year 2010, forested area reaching 70 million mu (15 mu = one hectare); construction of lawns will reach 2 percent, and 30 percent by the year 2010, the total areas of improvement will reach 23.4 million mu.


Zhu Rongji Meets Environmental Advisors
On November 18, Premier Zhu Rongji met with Chinese and foreign members of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, who are attending the organization's second meeting held in Beijing.
Among the members are Huguette Labelle, president of the Canadian International Development Agency, Qu Geping, chairman of the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee of China's National People's Congress, Xie Zhenhua, director of the Chinese National Environmental Protection Agency, and Chrispin Tickell, president of the Green College of Oxford University.
Founded in 1992 as a senior advisory body, the council explores ways to coordinate development in the environment, economy and society in accordance with China's specific national conditions, and offer advice to the Chinese government.


 

Photo: Where Are You, Meteor Shower?
On the early morning of November 18, thousands of university and middle school students gathered at Nanjing Zijinshan Observatory to spot the Leonid meteor storm. These students from Nanjing University of aeronautics and astronautics climbed up the mountain at 8:00 PM and stayed there until 4:00 AM the next morning. But the long-expected meteor shower never appeared except for several lonely meteors sliding over the sky.


Books to Commemorate Zhu Ziqing Published
To mark the centenary of Zhu Ziqing's birth, Jiangsu Education Publishing House earlier published a series of books on this great writer, which included "Complete Collection of Works of Zhu Ziqing", "Zhu Ziqing picture album", "Prose Anthology of Zhu Ziqing", and "Footstep on the Earth-- Zhu Ziqing Biography".


Beijing Accelerates Tube-Shaped Apartments Renovation in colleges and Universities
To provide better residential conditions for young and middle-aged college teachers so that and they will live and work in contentment, Beijing is speeding up the renovation of tube-shaped apartments where they are living in. All the reform engineering will be completed before the end of this year. The residential conditions of some 12,600 young and middle-aged teachers will be greatly improved.


China Establishes Anti-Computer Virus Mechanism
The quick reaction mechanism of anti-virus in the Chinese computer field was certified by the world-famous computer enterprise. The largest PC producer Compaq earlier declared in Beijing that after a full investigation and study on anti-virus technology and product they have decided to adopt Ruixing 9.0 as the anti-virus tool and spread it in China.


 

Jiang Zemin on Electronic Commerce
Chinese President Jiang Zemin called upon the developed members of APEC to help the developing members promote electronic commerce by providing them with the necessary technical assistance.
Speaking at the Sixth APEC Leaders Informal Meeting held at Cyberjaya, about 45 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur, Jiang said that electronic commerce represents the future of doing business and its application would give the APEC members more trade opportunities.
He said that at the present stage of electronic commerce, there is a considerable gap between the developed and developing members.
"Only through extensive and in-depth technical exchanges and cooperation can electronic commerce develop in a coordinated manner among APEC members," the Chinese President said.
He pointed out that in developing electronic commerce, "we should not only pay attention to the promotional role of the private, industrial and commercial sectors, but also improve macro-planning and guidance by government departments".


China Announces Move to Set Up APEC Science Cooperation Fund
The Chinese government has set aside US$ 10 million to establish the China APEC Science and Technology Industry Cooperation Fund to finance cooperation between China and other APEC members in the field of science and technology.
This was announced Wednesday by Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the sixth APEC Leaders Informal Meeting held at the Cyberview Lodge, which is about 45 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur.
The fund will be co-provided by China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), the Ministry of Finance and the State Economic and Trade Commission.


President Jiang Zemin Visits the Personnel of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia


Tang Jiaxuan Satisfied with APEC Leaders Meeting
The sixth leaders meeting of the APEC forum ended yesterday with members broadly optimistic at overcoming the region's economic and financial turmoil, said Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
Tang said at a press conference after the meeting that, along with the financial troubles, the leaders had discussed trade and investment liberalization, economic and technical cooperation and other issues of common concern.
They had also reached a broad consensus which was reflected in the declaration at the end of the meeting, Tang said.
Overcoming the financial crisis and strengthening cooperation in revitalizing the economies of East Asia were among the main priorities of the meeting, said Tang.
He said the leaders not only saw the daunting challenges brought about by the economic globalization and the financial crisis, but also realized the potential and vitality in the Asia-Pacific region.
The leaders believed that with a single effort by all the member economies and with support from the international community, the Asia-Pacific region would overcome the crisis and resume growth, Tang said.
The measures China had taken amid the Asian financial crisis were applauded by all as highly responsible, Tang said.
The leaders also discussed the reform of international financial systems and how to strengthen supervision and control over short-term capital flows.
They committed themselves to strengthening and supporting APEC to enable it to play its role in improving world financial systems, Tang said.
The leaders endorsed at the meeting the arrangement of nine economic sectors for voluntary liberalization and decided that from the next year on, each member could implement its own commitments on the basis of voluntarism.
This arrangement manifested APEC's principles of voluntarism, consensus and flexibility, said Tang.
Strengthening economic and technical cooperation had been agreed by APEC members, he said, and the meeting endorsed the Agenda of APEC Science and Technology Industry Cooperation into the 21st Century proposed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Kuala Lumpur Action Program on Skills Development.
Tang said implementing the two documents would enhance the economic development capacity of APEC economies, narrow the development gaps and make progress toward common prosperity.
President Jiang announced at the meeting the establishment of China APEC Science and Technology Industry Cooperation Fund and China APEC Enterprises Assembly.
These and other practical measures by China to promote APEC economic and technical cooperation were welcomed by other members, Tang said.


The First Batch of ROK Visitors Leave for DPRK
889 ROK travelers left for a five-day tour of DPRK on November 18. It is the first time that the ROK residents to visit DPRK by ship since 1948.


 

OECD Forecasts Slower World Economic Growth
The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revised its prediction for the world economic growth in its Bi-Annual Economic Report released on November 16.
According to the new prediction, the average growth rate of the 26 OECD member states will be 2.2 percent, 0.2 percent down from the prediction made half a year ago. The average rate will be only 1.7 percent next year, 0.7 percent down from the previous estimation. There will be a favorable turn in 2000 and the average rate is expected to be 2.3 percent.
The OECD said that the world economy is faced with serious challenge. Whether or not Japan, the second largest economy, can overcome crisis is vital to the development prospect of the global economy. But the Japanese economy presently is worse than what it was six months ago.
The report also said that overcoming Japan's financial crisis is the key to avoiding a world economic recession.


Asian Crisis-Hit Economies Slowly Recover
There are some signs of hopes for recovery of crisis-affected Asian economies although the glimmers of light are faint, said US economic experts and US media recently. These countries can shake off the crisis if they persist in their policies and measures to stimulate economic growth.
USA Today reported on November 16 that the stock markets throughout the Asian region have rebounded, local currencies have risen and interest rates have come down.
Steven Radelet, an economist at the Institute for Economic Development of Harvard University, said that there are signs that the Asian economies "have hit bottom." But he predicted that "it's going to be long overhaul" until the Asian countries turn around and recover.


Latin American Foreign Investment Amounted to US$9 Billion
The Brazil-based Business News quoted related UN organizations as saying that foreign direct investment (FDI) of Latin American countries climbed to US$9 billion last year, 4 times of the figure of the previous year. Chile took the lead with a US$2 billion FDI. Brazil and Mexico respectively came second and third.
Meanwhile, Latin American countries absorbed a record US$44 billion FDI in 1997.


 

1999 World Table Tennis Championships To Be Named After a Chinese Enterprise
The 45th World Table Tennis Championships, to be held in Belgrade from April 25 to May 9,1999, will be named after Dawei Group, a well-known Tianjin-based private enterprise. Dawei Group and International Table Tennis Federation signed a contract in Beijing on November 18.
According to the contract, the event will be named Dawei 45th World Table Tennis Championships, and Dawei will give US$500,000 to ITTF for the naming.
ITTF Chairman Xu Yinsheng and Dawei President Wu Dawei signed the contract.


China Upset by Yugoslavia at World Men's Volleyball Championships
The Chinese men's volleyball team on November 18 lost 0-3 to Yugoslavia, third place in the Olympics in Atlanta.


Best Reports for 13th Asian Games to Be Chosen
The Chinese Sports Journalists' Association and Philips Consumer Communications will select best news reports on the 13th Asian Games, contributed by Chinese journalists and published in newspapers or broadcast over the radio.
China Sports Information Network will launch its Chinese website on the 13th Asian Games (http://asiangames.sport.gov.cn).


First Mahjong Invitational Tournament to Take Place in Guangzhou
Approved by the State Sports General Administration, the first national Mahjong invitational tournament will be held in Guangzhou on December 28-30.
64 delegations, each consisting of one leader and four players, will participate in the event.


 
   

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