With the annual conference of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund under way, there's been increasing debate about what membership in a multilateral institution may mean for a developing country. Both U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoelick and World Trade Organization Director General Supachai Panitchchpakdi have offered the example of China's accession into the WTO in this regard. Our CRI correspondent Tian Wei reports from the US Capitol.
The WTO Director General and Zoelick held their joint press conference in the tightly guarded U.S. Trade Representative building in downtown Washington, while demonstrators outside protested what they called unfair policies favoring wealthier nations to the detriment of developing nations.
When asked about the ramifications of developing countries becoming members of the multilateral trade body, Mr. Supachai said that WTO membership does not in and of itself guarantee economic success for new members, and emphasized that their domestic factors play the most important role.
"Agreements might not deliver the consequences equally for everyone. That depends on the domestic policies."
Meanwhile, the WTO chief stressed that for member countries, especially the developing nations, it's good policy to have their rights in their own hands and seek a balance of interest in the world trade body.
In this regard, the General Director expressed satisfaction with the commitment China has shown to the WTO since it joined the organization a year ago:
"We're in the process now of going through the so-called transitional review for China. I can report to you that this has been done in quite a satisfactory basis. Up to now, China has shown its full
commitment to the accession agreement."
U.S. Trade representative Robert Zoelick likewise saw China's decision to join the WTO as of historical importance. At the press conference, he praised China's courage in fulfilling its membership in the world trade body:
"This won't be easy. Everyone knows it is going to be a challenging process. I think the Chinese commitment is real and serious."
Two U.S. trade negotiators just returned from China earlier this week after holding talks with the Chinese side about US soybeans and other lucrative farm exports to the country.
Tian Wei, CRI NEWS, Washington.
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The All-China Federation of Labour Unions will put 1.5 million laid-off workers back into employment over the next three years.
Speaking at a Labour Union Meeting, Federation Chairman Wei Jianxing calls for all Labour Unions at all levels to work hard toward promoting the re-employment policy. He stresses that it is vital to observe the legal rights and interests of laid-off workers.
He says re-employment training and vocational recommendation services should be carried out by the workers' labour union.
Wei Jianxing adds that China will establish 200 service centers over the next three years, with the aim of getting the long-term unemployed back to work in 50 cities around China.
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China is taking measures to modernize Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, in order to increase China’s share in the international market. China's currently accounts for less than 5 percent of the global TCM market.
The Ministry of Science and Technology says China will inject 6.4 billion yuan or nearly 800 million US dollars into the project, which is designed to modernize TCM research and production.
It is reported that advanced scientific and technological bases combining production, research and development have been set up in Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Gansu and Jilin provinces, all of which are rich in natural resources of TCM herbs. Scientists at those bases are conducting research and tests based on TCM theories and by applying modern technologies.
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An ocean ferry has sunk off the coast of West Africa en route to the Senegalese capital, Dakar with some 760 people on board are believed to be dead
The ferry sank in a fierce gale. Only thirty-two of the 796 crew and passengers survived, rescued by boats in the area that responded to an alert.
China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations has calls on the international community to give more support to the development of African countries.
At a special session of the UN General Assembly on the development in Africa, he said the world should have a full understanding of the situation of African countries when providing support. Support should be given without political conditions and on the basis of respecting the development plans and efforts of the recipients.
The delegate also says preventing and solving regional conflicts is the key to African development. He stresses that the UN should play its part in this regard.
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Experts in the communications industry have condemned recent TV hijackings by members of the Falun Gong. The source of the illegal television signals has been identified as Taipei in Taiwan province.
The illegal signals interrupted transmissions from SINOSAT's satellite system, causing severe financial loss for the television company.
People living in rural and remote areas found themselves unable to watch TV programs during the hijackings.
The disruptive act took place during the Mid-Autumn Festival, an important traditional Chinese festival celebrating family reunion.
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The daily nutritional diets of Chinese people have been improving over the last 13 years.
The yearly rice consumption of urban residents has dropped from 145 kilograms per capita in the 1980s to 88 kilograms per capita in the late 1990s, and that of rural residents has dropped from 260 to 250 kilograms.
Meanwhile, consumption of meat, poultry, eggs, seafood and plant oils has risen substantially.
1--Do you want black or white coffee?
2--White, please.
1--Look! There's a folk concert tomorrow evening.
Do you want to go?
2--I don't like folk music very much.
1--What kind of music do you like?
2--I like classical music. Do you?
1--Not very much. Classical music sends me to sleep.
2--I don't believe you.
1--It's true.
2--You are funny!
1--So are you! How about another coffee?
===================================
注解：
1）black or white coffee：加糖或加牛奶的称作white
coffee.什么也不加的称作black coffee.
2）folk concert：民间音乐会。folk作“民间的”、
“具有民族传说的”解。如folk dance，folk music,
folk songs, folk tale等。
3）classical：经典的。如classical music, classical
literature等。
4）How about...?（你以为）...怎么样？征询对方的意见时
常用的句型。如，征询关于时间安排的意见时，可以说How
about tomorrow？征询活动内容时可以说How about playing
tennis now?征询人选意见可以说How about Jane?等
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