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	China, Russia to Develop Cooperation in Conversion A three-day Chinese-Russian Military-Civilian Conversion Cooperation Seminar opened in Moscow Wednesday. The meeting, sponsored by the Sino-Russian Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries and the Russian International Center for Scientific-Cultural Cooperation, was attended by over 200 experts from the Chinese and Russian sides. Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Boris Yeltsin respectively sent congratulatory telegram and message of congratulations to the seminar. In his telegram, President Jiang Zemin noted that military-civilian conversion is becoming an important part of the world's peace and disarmament efforts. He said that actively probing ways to Sino-Russian military-civilian conversion cooperation is a major move toward economic and technological cooperation between the two countries, and that the peaceful use of military technology would promote world peace, social development and human progress. Russian President Boris Yeltsin, in his congratulating message, said the seminar is designed to expand areas of cooperation, establish long-term and steady relations between the two countries, and cooperate in major projects of military- to-civilian conversion.
	Guizhou Accelerates Establishment of High-Grade Highway Network Following the completion of the high-quality Guiyang-Zunyi Highway last year, construction of another three high-grade highways has been started this year. The three highways, all fly-overs and closed, total 459 km in length and involve investments of 7.6 billion yuan, their construction is started simultaneously in the same year and their scale is unprecedented in Guizhou and rare in the country. After the 15th National Congress of the CPC, Guizhou provincial Party committee and government made the policy decision of 'borrowing loans to build highways, speed up development and repay loans by means of highways'. This policy has helped Guizhou's highway construction out of predicament and brought it into a completely new period. In commenting this, our editor says that with unprecedented courage, Guizhou has adopted the above-mentioned strategy. It has actively raised funds to build high-quality highways and boost economic development. This practice is commendable. At present, in particular, increasing investment in communications infrastructure construction and expanding domestic demand is of important practical significance to guarantee achievement of the target of this year's national economic development.
	Open Mind and Firm Will of Dedication to the Country and People-the Last Days of Comrade Yang Shangkun On the morning of September 14, 1998, Comrade Yang Shangkun, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, strategist, staunch Marxist and outstanding leader of the Party, state and the people's army, passed away. Comrade Yang Shangkun had dedicated his life to revolution for over 70 years, devoted his life-long energies to the liberation and construction cause of the Chinese people and made important contributions to the cause of reform, opening up and socialist modernization in the new period. After he stepped down from his Party and state leading post in 1993, he continued to safeguard and support the work of the Party's third-generation leading collective. Even during his hospitalization, Comrade Yang Shangkun was still concerned with major domestic and international affairs and the cause of reform, opening up and socialist modernization
	Open Mind and Firm Will of Dedication to the Country and People-the Last Days of Comrade Yang Shangkun On the morning of September 14, 1998, Comrade Yang Shangkun, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, strategist, staunch Marxist and outstanding leader of the Party, state and the people's army, passed away. Comrade Yang Shangkun had dedicated his life to revolution for over 70 years, devoted his life-long energies to the liberation and construction cause of the Chinese people and made important contributions to the cause of reform, opening up and socialist modernization in the new period. After he stepped down from his Party and state leading post in 1993, he continued to safeguard and support the work of the Party's third-generation leading collective. Even during his hospitalization, Comrade Yang Shangkun was still concerned with major domestic and international affairs and the cause of reform, opening up and socialist modernization
	The 2,000 mu (15 mu =one hectare) of wheat planted on the 3,400-3,600 meter Pamir Plateau, in Tashi Ku'erganTajike Autonomous County, Xinjiang, have been all ripe and given high yield, thus changing the record that wheat can grow at the highest area of only 3,000-3,200 meters above sea level. Pictured here is Zhang Jianxin (first right), deputy township head of Tizi Nafu township, giving technical guidance in the field.
	ANNOUNCEMENT: Today's Talk is a brand-name column on the first page of the People's Daily, providing an area for speeches by people in various circles, it is therefore well received by readers. In order to further implement the spirit of the 15th National Congress of the CPC, push ahead material and cultural and ethical development and give a better play to the column's role in guiding public opinion and therefore run this column even better. Our commenting department and the Chengdu Enwei Group Company will, beginning from today, jointly solicit articles for the column, readers are welcomed to submit their contributions, each of which is limited within 500 words. Please mail to: 2 West Jintai Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Commenting Department of the People's Daily, postcode: 100733
	Don't Forget to Help Boost Morale Now, floodwater is ebbing and the provision of disaster-relief continuing. The disaster-relief activity fully demonstrates the traditional Chinese virtue of supporting the weak and assisting the poor, exhibiting the spirit of socialist cooperation featuring 'the rush of aid from all parts of the country to the area suffering disaster'. However, the money and materials gained in disaster relief are, after all, limited. The important thing is spiritual inspiration, while properly continuing the donation activity, it is necessary to further help cadres and the masses in flooded areas to enhance their revolutionary vigor and boost their morale.
	Be the People's Son-Notes on Wang Xiantian, Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau in Yangxin County of Hubei Province At his post as director of a civil affairs bureau, Wang Xiantian has always placed the needs of the masses in the first position, willingly acts as a son of the people. He has been cited as outstanding Communist Party member and advanced workers for many times. Not long ago, the Hubei provincial Party committee made a decision, calling on the province's Party members in general to learn from Wang. This report focuses on three points related to Wang's advanced deeds: 1. Stepping forward in the face of disaster-During the eight years when Wang served as director of the county civil affairs bureau, Yangxin County experienced five exceedingly serious floods. At critical moment, Wang invariably stepped forward, handling the affairs of the victims as the most important matters. 2. Always concerning himself with the well-being of the masses-Wang often says, 'as director of a civil affairs bureau, when you are having your meal, you should think if the masses have rice to eat and water to drink. Only when you always keep the well-being of the masses at heart, can you be a civil servant satisfactory to the people.' 3. For things related to his own family, Wang saves whatever it can be-Over the eight years as he serves as director of civil affairs bureau, Wang's superior has awarded him 4,500 yuan in bonus, he uses all of which to help the masses with special difficulties, lonely old people and students with financial difficulties.
	News in Briefs Xi'an Investment and Trade Symposium Ends at the symposium, 124 contracts were signed, with contract value running to US$884 million; the Hebi Mining Administration successfully trial produces gas in mine pits; * Qinhuangdao builds thermoelectric internet heat-suppy project at a cost of 178 million yuan; *Xinyi-Changxing Railway starts construction in Huaian The railway totals 638 km in length and involves total investments of 6.24 billion yuan. It is planned to be completed and opened to traffic at the end of the year 2001.

	Small Township Is a Big Stage (the second article in the township enterprises series) Reporting the urbanization of Zhangjiawo Town on the outskirts of Tianjin, the article says that since the beginning of the l980s, township enterprises have made headway. At present an industrial system comprising dye, petrochemical, rubber, pharmaceutical, and iron and steel industries has been shaped up. The 1997 sales totaled over 2 billion yuan in Zhangjiawo. And over 90$ laborers in the town are working in the secondary and tertiary industries. Urbanization of Zhangjiawo has a national bearing. Another example of township urbanization: Over the past 5 years, Changzhou city in Jiangsu has implemented priority policies on housing construction. Peasants in the rural areas have been drawn to the city for building and buying homes. 0.2 million surplus laborers in the villages have engaged in industrial and commercial professions, bringing about added value to the tune of 1.4 billion in building materials, light industry, refurbishing and electric appliances trades. Investment in village and town construction in Jiangsu came to 95 billion yuan in the l996-2000 period, resulting in added value probably totaling 123.5 billion and creating 0.35 million jobs outside the construction profession a year on average. Rural housing construction has taken the road of industrialization. In Jiangsu along, there are 570 rural real estate development corporations to open up over 5 million sq m. a year. While enjoying opportunities for development, the townships are facing challenge as well. The article points out that the rural areas are integrating with cities. Should the townships are bent on their conservative ideas and not eager to make progress, they will fail to fit the demand for urbanization.
	International Seminar on China's Economy and Investment Speaking at the International Seminar on China's Economy and Investment, Wang Chunzheng, vice-minister of the State Commission of Planning and Development, said that boosting infrastructure construction will not trigger economic bubbles. The seminar was sponsored by China Society for Research on Economic System Reform and the Merrill Lynch Group of the US. According to Wang, in a long-term view, infrastructure is still a weak link and has to be enhanced in the economic development in the country and adding input in this respect will not bring about economic bubbles. Water conservancy, railway, expressway and telecom facilities which all require stepped-up construction, their direct economic results are the not high but are in the interest of the long-term economic development. Besides, banking loans for infrastructure construction are granted on the premises of equity in the possession of a given enterprise. In addition, the commercial banks have improved their risk-prevention awareness. So bad assets will not rise.and still less produce a bubble economy. Deputy Finance Minister Lou Jiwei, speaking at the seminar, said that the issue of additional l00 billion yuan in national debt will add 1.5-2 percentage points to the economic growth this year and 2 percentage points can be expected for next year. He called this move a short-term expansion policy on finance. He added that reform of changing fees to taxes will be revved up. He disclosed the reform of road and vehicle charges will be started next year. Vice-Governor of the People's Bank of China Liu Mingkang told the seminar that the successive interest rate slashes were due to higher genuine interest rates. It should be noted, he added, the increase in broad sense money supply (M 2) has been close to 16% while the growth of the narrow sense money supply (M 1) is expected to rebound to a certain degree. Coupled with hefty investment in the fixed assets, the investment's growth rate hit 13.8% in the first half. The fixed assets investment is estimated at more than 15% for the whole year. Meanwhile, anti-smuggling has been stepped up. All these factors point to a pricing rebound at a certain extent. He stressed that the interest rate policy has to be in tandem with the forex rate policy. If the interest rate is too low, it is likely to spawn a change in the direction of forex capital flow and bring pressure to bear on the stability of the renminbi forex rate. So, he affirmed, there is no large latitude for lowering the interest rates.
	In an exclusive interview with a staff reporter, Zhang Baoming, director of the Administration of Coal Industry, said that his former ministry has been retrenched to an administration and the staff members from 402 to 95. He said that his administration's functions are the micromanagement of the coal industry instead of the macromanagement of the former coal ministry. To sum up, he said, his administration's functions are to implement professional management with legal and economic measures. He said that the functions have been changed from taking charges of specific affairs of the coal enterprises in the past to big issues at present - the total development of the coal industry. This represents a higher-level management and also a critical test, he said.
	A photo showing the start of water flow at an irrigation project in the Hongsibao Irrigation Region, in Ningxia
	In January-August, Chinese Customs offices cracked down on over l,000 major and vital smuggling cases valued at 5.4 billion yuan.
	The State Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Administration met with American commercial counselor In Beijing to discuss US measures on wood-packed commodities exported to the US from China.
	The Power Corporation in Xiajin County, Shandong Province has sought ways and means to sell power. An average annual 150 million kwh of power was sold.
	The Great Northern Wilderness Should not Be Flooded A staff reporter's news feature describes great efforts made by military and civilian authorities and the masses in the Great Northern Wildness to fight floods this summer. The Great Northern Wildness is a vital production base of commodity grains in China, It turns to the State 5 billion kg of grain a year. And the same amount of grain will be handed to the State this year despite the floods. The Wildness witnessed severe test in combating the devastating floods this summer.
	The Shenzhen Center for Appraising and Recommending High-Level Managers opened up earlier a computer networking to introduce managers to businesses, enjoying welcome from the business community in Shenzhen.

	In order to maintain justice and strengthen internal supervision, China's Supreme Court on September 17 issued regulations on disciplinary penalties for court personnel, and decided to appoint supervisors for the lower courts. These moves are concrete steps taken by the Supreme Court in implementing NPC Chairman Li Peng's directive on the ongoing judiciary shake-up. The methods of court discipline spelled-out activities by court personnel that will be severely punished. These activities include accepting offer of money, gifts or dinners from litigants, secretly handling lawsuits without complying with legal procedures or refusing to open a court session that should be opened, introducing lawyers to litigants or privately meeting with a litigant and his attorney. According to the second method, the Supreme Court will appoint senior and prestigious judges "superintendents of the Supreme Court." With authorization from the Supreme Court, they will be empowered to supervise and offer guidance to major and difficult trials, and in cases that are mishandled or evoke public resentment. Zhu Mingshan, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, said that these two measures are important moves in standardizing the procedures for internal checks and balances, and in strengthening the leadership of the Supreme Court over lower courts.
	A delegation formed by the Hong Kong Deputies to the Ninth NPC arrived in Henan Province September 17, which is the first time for them to pay an inspection tour of the Chinese mainland.

	Flooded Hubei, Hunan and Jilin Provinces Actively Devote to the Work of Restoring Production, Rebuilding Homelands and Developing Economy.
	Foreign Ministry Spokesman Praises Madagascar for Its Stance on Taiwan China appreciates and welcomes the Madagascar Government's decision to abolish its so-called special agreement with Taiwan and hailes this decision as conducive to the development of relations between China and the African island nation, the spokesman Zhu Bangzao told reporters September 17 in Beijing. The Taiwan authorities' actions splitting the motherland are becoming more and more unpopular in the world and its so-called "pragmatic diplomacy" is rejected and opposed by many countries, Zhu said. "This fully demonstrates that Taiwan's attempts and activities, which violate the 'one China' principle, are doomed to failure," said Zhu.
	China Appoints New Ambassadors China has made new appointments and removals of ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary to 12 countries. The list follows: To the Russian Federation: Li Fenglin, removed, succeeded by Wu Tao. To the Republic of Korea: Zhang Tingyan, removed, succeeded by Wu Dawei. To the Republic of Iraq: Sun Bigan, removed, succeeded by Zhang Weiqiu. To the Republic of Sudan: Zhang Weiqiu, removed, succeeded by Deng Shaoqin. To the Republic of Namibia: Lian Zhengbao, removed, succeeded by Tang Zhenqi. To Mauritius: Zheng A'quan, removed, succeeded by Xia Shou'an. To the Republic of Lithuania: Wang Zhaoxian, removed, succeeded by Guan Hengguang. To Turkmenistan: Yin Songling, removed, succeeded by Gong Liefu. To the Republic of Azerbaijan: Lei Yincheng, removed, succeeded by Zhang Guoqiang. To the Republic of Armenia: Yang Kerong, removed, succeeded by Zhu Zhaoshun. To the Republic of Fiji: Hou Qingru, removed, succeeded by Chen Jinghua. To the Republic of Bolivia: Qiu Xiaoqi, removed, succeeded by Wu Changsheng. These appointments and removals were made by Chinese President Jiang Zemin in accordance with the decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
	Germany Donates DM 25 Million in Goods to China German ambassador to China Konrad Seitz, on behalf of the German government, September 17 donated goods worth DM 25 million to the Chinese government for disaster relief and post-flood reconstruction in China's flooded areas. This is the largest flood-relief donation yet from a foreign government and includes steel products, lumber, water purifiers, water pumps, tents, vehicles, and medicines. In addition, the German government has offered DM 922,000 to the Red Cross Society of China and other relief organizations via its foreign ministry. German's Volkswagen, Siemens and Baier companies have also provided emergency aid valued at 12 million yuan for the flood victims.
	HK Increases Flood Relief Donations The Ministry of Civil Affairs September 17 received another flood relief donation of HK$ 33 million from the HKSAR. The funds were raised by a number of charitable organizations and the Tung Wah Hospitals Group and Television Broadcasts Ltd. of Hong Kong.
	News-Photo Show On China's Anti-flood Effort An exhibition of approximately 300 news photos recording China's fight against severe flooding that has been over, opened at the China Revolutionary Museum in Beijing September 17. The works of nearly 100 Chinese journalists and free lancers depict how Chinese leaders, ordinary Communist Party members, officers and men of the People's Liberation Army, as well as civilians joined hands to combat devastating floods in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and along the Nenjiang and Songhua rivers in northeast China. This photo show will last through September 28.
	Photo: On the eve of "September 18 Incident", people visit the memorial hall of the Incident, which has been a patriotism-education base since its opening to the public in 1991.

	To Provide Theoretical Support to China in the 21st Century ---On the Reform Drives of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
	The Fourth Symposium on National Pilot Projects on Rejuvenating Villages through Science and Technology ended in Henan. At the symposium, 30 advanced units and 100 individuals were cited for their achievements in the projects.
	The ROK President Kim Dae-jung said that the ROK was going to propose a combined delegation with the People's Democratic Republic of Korea to the Winter Asian Games, the 2000 Olympic Games and the 2002 Asian Games. Kim made this remark while meeting with the visiting Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Games, on September 17. He also indicated that he would give full support to China if China applied to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
	Dalian Wanda Retains League Title China's soccer power Dalian Wanda retained its league title four rounds before the end of the season after beating Shandong Luneng 3-2 in the 22nd round of the Chinese Soccer League Division A on September 17. Wanda's Swedish player Hans Eklund opened the scoring at the 39th minute. Midfielder Li Ming made it 2-0 for the defending champions 10 minutes into the second half. Wang Peng hit in the third goal of the game for Wanda at the 65th minute. But the Dalian Wanda then relaxed and let the home team fight back with two goals to cut the deficit to 3-2.
	The 17-year-old Chinese weightlifter Li Zhuo broke the world record at the Asian Weightlifting Tourney in Chongqing on September 16. In the women's 48-kg class, She snatched 83 kilograms to beat the previous world record of 82.5 kilograms. China made a clean sweep of five gold medals in two classes including women's 48kg and men's 56kg.
	'98 National Table Tennis Championships stared in Jiangxi on September 17. A total of 220 players are engaged in the 7-day game.
	Canadian sprinter and world record holder Donovan Bailey got injured in the leg while playing basketball on September 9 and had to accept operation in Toronto. Medical experts indicated that there was hardly any possibility of Bailey's full recovery. Bailey said that he would try all out to make preparations for the Pan-American Sports scheduled for next year and to attend the Spain World Athletics Championships in 1999.
	*The Chinese University Students Basketball League is about to start the men's finals. The champions of the Northern and Southern regions will compete for the first place in the B-class. The winner will be qualified to challenge the A-class champion.
	The first stage of the National Women's Basketball Club Championships concluded on September 16. Liaoning, Airforce, Zhejiang and Shanghai teams were qualified to play the semi-finals. *The Associated Press and the USA Today both reported on the story of Chinese female gymnast Sang Lan, who was serious injured in the July Goodwill Gym Games. They commended Sang's high spirits in fighting against possible paralysis.
	Chinese famous acupuncture expert Shi Xuemin, who is also President of the No.1 Hospital attached to Tianjin Chinese Medical College, told reporters that gymnast Sang Lan would be able to stand up and walk with a stick. Doctor Shi carefully examined Sang's injury during he attended the World Congress on Traditional Chinese Medicines in the United States.

	Some State and Government Leaders Send Telegraphs to Express Condolences Over the Death of Former Chinese President Yang Shangkun
	Colombian President Andres Pastrana Meets With Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo During the meeting on September 16, Pastrada said the delegation led by Wu has been the 2nd important delegation since the new Colombian government was formed in August. The President held a banquet in honor of the Chinese delegation in the afternoon.
	Vice-Chairman Zhang Wannian Talks with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Henry H. Shelton
	On September 17, Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi received Shi Guangsheng, Chinese minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation.
	Russian President Boris Yeltsin Says He Agrees With Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov on the Candidates for the Government Yeltsin said it will take about one more week to finish the formation of the government. Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov said on September 16 that the assertion on conclusion for the reforms is unfounded.
	US President Bill Clinton Vows to Continue Leading the Country
	International Forum: Economic Superpowers Should Assume Responsibility Economic globalization has become a trend, so the economic superpowers should join hands with the developing countries in fighting against the current international monetary crisis and stabilize the international monetary market as soon as possible.
	India Commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the Aiding-China Medical Team The Indian Commemoration Committee for Dwarkanath Shantaram hosted an assembly on September 15 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Indian Aiding-China Medical Team. Chinese Ambassador Zhou Gang warmly praised the team, represented by Doctor Kotnis for its contributions during the Anti-Japanese War.
	Iranian Foreign Minister says Iran wants to solve the conflicts with the Taliban before using force.
	Sam Rainsy Party Announces It Will Attend First Cambodian Assembly Session King Norodom Sihanouk Will Preside Over the Session
	A Foreign Minister Meeting of the Arab League Is Held in Cairo on September 16-17
	Dialogue on Hot Spot: Monetary Crisis Spreads to Latin America

	Director-General Renato Ruggiero of WTO Hopes China Will Join the Organization The director-general said in Helsinki on September 16 that the door of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is open to all applying countries. A working group is to be formed to prepare for the new round of negotiations beginning in 2000.
	The global economic growth rate in 1998 will be 2 percent, about 1.2 percent below that of 1997, according to a report of the UN Trade and Development Conference released on September 16.
	Science and Technology: Satellites Display Their Prowess in Disaster-Relief
	Photo: Chinese Tibetan Children's Troupe Performing Tibetan Dance in USA
	Photo: US students convey their appreciation to the Tibetan Children after their performance

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