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LHASA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Five bouquets of lily and chrysanthemum, one for each of the five young women who died in the riots exactly a year ago.     "We are here today, to bring you our best regards," murmured Tang Qingyan, manager of the Yishion casual wear outlet in downtown Lhasa. "May you be happy every day in heaven."     Yishion, one of the 908 shops torched by the rioters on March 14, 2008, lost five employees, including four Han nationals and one Tibetan. The women were aged between 19 and 24.     Exactly a year after the tragedy, Tang brought six employees to mourn the dead Saturday on the exposed riverbed of the Lhasa River, whose water has, in the dry season, given way to a huge expanse of sand and cobblestones.     The place was quietly sandwiched between high mountains and the "Sun Island", Lhasa's new development project with restaurants, apartments and villas. The occasional whining chirps of aquatic birds added to people's woes.     Silently, the group laid offerings on the ground: five candles, piles of "paper money", incense sticks, and two strings of firecrackers.     "Here, we've brought you some money, too, so that you won't be short of cash," said Tang as he led four young women and two men to put the "paper money" in a little flame they lit on the ground.     The Chinese traditionally burn "paper money" for the deceased, hoping they would have enough cash in the afterlife.     "Dear sister, I've got your favorite sweater," Zeng Yaoyao sobbed as she put a white sweater in the flame. "Please rest in peace."     Zeng, 20, said she dreamed of her cousin Yang Dongmei Friday night. "I was so excited I ran up to embrace her. Then she said something about her sweater. I woke up in tears."Photo taken on March 14, 2009 shows the manager of the Yishion garment store Tang Qingyan (C) and employees mourn by the Lhasa river the five sales assistants burned to death in an arson attack by the rioters on March 14, 2008, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous RegionOf the five dead, Yang, Liu Yan and Chen Jia were still single. "According to the customs in our home province Sichuan, the death of an unmarried daughter is considered evil. They could only be buried in the obscure graveyard far from their homes," said Tang.     The three girls' parents therefore agreed to have their ashes spilled into the Lhasa River. "It's a beautiful place, even better than our home province," Tang said.     Tsering Zhoigar, the only Tibetan girl, was taken to her hometown in Xigaze Prefecture for the "sky burial", the traditional Tibetan burial.     Tsering Zhoigar's close friend Basang joined Yishion after the torched store was revamped and reopened in May. "I used to spend a lot of time with her at her store after work. Now that she's gone, I feel closer to her by doing her job."     Six sales women huddled together on the second floor of the store when rioters set the ground floor on fire. Zhoi'ma, 24, was the only one to escape the fire site at the last minute.     A year after the tragedy, the nightmare still clings to Zhoi'ma, who refused to talk to the media and stayed away from the mourning. "We called many times on her cell phone, but she didn't answer," said Tang. "She told me this morning she was going to mourn her friend Zhoi'gar in the Tibetan way, and at monasteries."     Towards the end of the mourning, the flames spread to burn card-boards they had carefully propped up with cobblestones to contain the fire. With all the offerings burnt, the group threw the bouquets into the river. A young man lit firecrackers before he stood with others, bowed, and paid a silent tribute to the dead.     Four police officers, who had been silently watching the scene, lowered their heads, too. "It's sad indeed. That's why we have tightened security this year to avoid similar tragedies," said one of them, who refused to be named.     Tang still stays in touch with families of the dead.     "These good girls were all their families" breadwinners," he said. "Zhoi'gar worked with me for three years and Yang Dongmei, my wife's younger cousin, worked for a year."Photo taken on March 14, 2009 shows employees of the Yishion garment store put bunches of fresh flowers into the Lhasa river to mourn the five sales assistants burned to death in an arson attack by the rioters on March 14, 2008, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous RegionTang had known Chen Jia, the youngest of the five, since she was a toddler. "Her father is my close friend. Until the day she died, she'd been worrying for her younger brother, who was blind in one eye."     With the government's compensation for Chen Jia's death, her parents had arranged an operation for her brother, Tang said. "Now I hope she'll have nothing more to worry about."     Tang hadn't had the time to get familiar with the other two girls, Liu Yan and He Xinxin, who had worked for a week and three days respectively.     He Xinxin's parents took her home to the central Henan Province after the riots. "Her cousin used to work in Lhasa, but left for home before the new year holidays," said Tang.     "I had planned to take all my 14 employees here to mourn them today, but I didn't want everyone to point to my store and say 'hey, look, Yishion is closed,'" he said. "Together, we'll try to walk out of the shadow soon."

BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Saturday that the current international financial crisis, despite its severe impact on China's economy, also means an opportunity for the country.     China should take the opportunity to change its development pattern and realize structural adjustment so as to maintain a steady and relatively fast economic growth, Hu said when joining a panel discussion with deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) from south China's Guangdong Province.     "Challenge and opportunity always come together. Under certain conditions, one could be transformed into the other," Hu said. Chinese President Hu Jintao (front, 2nd R) talks to female deputies during the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from south China’s Guangdong Province as International Women's Day is coming, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009    Hu said China should make full use of its advantages to break the bottlenecks of development. He also called for efforts to promptly and creatively implement the policies and plans of the central government to create conditions for solid and rapid development in the future. Wu Bangguo (front L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th NPC from east China's Shandong Province, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009In a panel discussion with NPC deputies from Shandong Province, top legislator Wu Bangguo said to maintain economic growth is China's top priority now, and efforts should be made to boost domestic consumption so as to secure this year's economic development targets.     In face of impacts of global financial crisis, China should seek both a temporary solution and a permanent cure, and make efforts to upgrade its industry and improve competitiveness of Chinese enterprises, said Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from central China's Hubei Province, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009Premier Wen Jiabao said maintaining steady and relatively fast economic development amid the global financial crisis should be the focus of local governments.     The task can affect the overall development of the national economy and society, the people's interests, and the long-term development of the country's modernization drive, said Wen when joining NPC deputies from the central Hubei Province.     Governments at all levels should incorporate improving people's well-being into the efforts on maintaining economic growth to benefit the people and promote harmony and stability of society, Wen said.     He also urged local governments to take the opportunity to enhance their capabilities in dealing with complicated situations, keeping close contact with the public and implementing policies.     Governments should also improve their credibility among the people, Wen said. Jia Qinglin (front R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with members of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC from the Communist Youth League of China, the All-China Youth Federation, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and All-China Women's Federation, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009Top political advisor Jia Qinglin attended a joint panel discussion with political advisors from circles of trade unions, the youth league, and women's federations.     These social groups should "take initiative to resolve disputes, address depression of the public, and safeguard the rights of the employees, young people and women," he said.     Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also called on them to help those with difficulties to find jobs. Li Changchun (front L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009.Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said publicity work should serve the overall objectives of ensuring economic growth, people's well-being and social stability.     During the discussion with lawmakers from northwest Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, he called on media and cultural workers to provide "spiritual" support for economic growth amid global downturn. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (front L), who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009Vice President Xi Jinping joined panel discussions with lawmakers from Hong Kong and Macao respectively.     Xi said the governments of both Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SAR) have taken prompt and effective measures to counter the impact of global financial crisis.     He said lawmakers from Hong Kong and Macao have played a positive role in the country's political affairs since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over the two regions in 1997 and 1999 respectively.     Xi called on the lawmakers to fully exercise their functions and powers with focus on the country's measures of maintaining economic growth and social stability. Li Keqiang (front, 2nd R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009In a panel discussion with NPC deputies from the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Vice Premier Li Keqiang said China can enjoy large room for economic manoeuvre due to its vast territory and the high mutual complementarity in economy between different regions.     "We should turn challenges into opportunities, boost the development of the western region, make full use of advantages (of different regions), tap the market, speed up industrial restructuring, and cultivate new economic growth areas so as to keep a steady and relatively fast economic growth," Li said.     He said Xinjiang enjoys a particularly important strategic status for the country's development and stability. Efforts should be made to secure Xinjiang's stable and prosperous development, enrich people and safeguard the frontiers and strengthen national unity and social stability, he said. He Guoqiang (front R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from north China's Hebei Province, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009.He Guoqiang, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, called on officials to improve their work style in face of economic difficulties.     "We must enhance education on the officials, improve existing regulations, and step up supervision to ensure steady and relatively fast economic development," He, also member of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau Standing Committee, told NPC deputies from northern Hebei Province. Zhou Yongkang (front R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from Tianjin Municipality, in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009. When joining lawmakers from the northern Tianjin Municipality, Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau, underlined the adherence to scientific decision-making approach.     He also urged officials to focus their efforts on solving issues concerning people's well-being to sustain stability and promote social harmony.

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday evening hosted a gala to mark the traditional Lantern Festival.     Top leaders including President Hu Jintao and representatives from Beijing's intellectual circle attended the event.     Prior to the gala's opening, Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the participants on behalf of the CPC Central Committee. General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Hu Jintao (C) talks with delegates from the intelligentsia during a get-together marking the traditional Lantern Festival at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2009. The CPC Central Committee hosted a get-together here on Monday to mark the Lantern Festival    He said the year 2008 was very extraordinary, during which the CPC Central Committee with Hu as the General Secretary led the Party and the nation to win the victory in combating unusual natural disasters, to successfully host the Olympics and Paralympics, and complete the mission of flying the Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft.     The year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of new China, and it is also a pivotal year to face big international and domestic challenges and realize new development in promoting the Party and the country's causes, he said.     The official urged the intellectual circle to shoulder the historic mission and continue to contribute wisdom and strength to the country's reform and opening-up drive and the socialist modernization.     Other leaders attending the gathering included Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.     The Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is an occasion for family reunion. It marks the formal end of lunar New Year festivities.

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CHANGSHA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Monday called for faster construction of affordable housing.     "In the affordable housing projects lie the immediate interests of the people, especially low-income families," said Li at a working conference on the issue in Changsha, capital of the central Hunan Province.     He said affordable homes could increase investment and stimulate consumption, and were an important measure to deal with the global financial crisis and to maintain economic growth.     The government has pledged that 7.5 million affordable homes will be provided in cities, and 2.4 million in forest districts, reclamation areas, and coal-mining regions by the end of 2011. This year, 2.6 million urban and 800,000 rural homes would be built. Another 800,000 rural homes in poor condition will be renovated.

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday called on the armed forces to provide mighty support for national interests and social stability. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed police shall energetically speed up the modernization of defense, resolutely safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and provide a mighty support for national interests and social stability, Hu said.     Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a plenary meeting of PLA deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislative body. Chinese President Hu Jintao (front L), who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with a deputy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2009. Hu Jintao attended the plenary meeting of the PLA delegation on Wednesday.     He stressed the Party's leadership in the armed forces and called for the scientific development of defense and armed forces.     The armed forces shall voluntarily serve the overall work of the Party and the country, and contribute to economic development and social stability, he added.     He also told local Party committees and governments to support the development of defense and armed forces.

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature approved the Food Safety Law on Saturday, providing a legal basis for the government to strengthen food safety control "from the production line to the dining table."     The law, which goes into effect on June 1, 2009, will enhance monitoring and supervision, toughen safety standards, recall substandard products and severely punish offenders. The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee gave the green light to the intensively-debated draft law at the last day of a four-day legislative session, following a spate of food scandals which triggered vehement calls for overhauling China's current monitoring system. Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the concluding meeting of the 7th meeting of the 11th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, on Feb. 28, 2009. The NPC Standing Committee, China's top legislature, concluded its four-day session on Saturday, after approving the food safety law, an amendment to the criminal law and the revised insurance law.    Winning 158 out of 165 votes, the law said the State Council, or Cabinet, would set up a state-level food safety commission to oversee the entire food monitoring system, whose lack of efficiency has long been blamed for repeated scandals.     The departments of health, agriculture, quality supervision, industry and commerce administration will shoulder different responsibilities.     These would include risk evaluation, the making and implementation of safety standards, and the monitoring of about 500,000 food companies across China, as well as circulation sector.     The law draft had been revised several times since it was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first reading in December 2007.     It had been expected to be voted by lawmakers last October, but the voting was postponed for further revision following the tainted dairy products scandal last September, in which at least six babies died and 290,000 others were poisoned.     "It actually took us five years to draft this law since the State Council first made legislative recommendations in July 2004.It has undergone intensive consideration, because it is so vital to every person," Xin Chunying, deputy director of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, said at a press briefing after the law was adopted.     She said although China had certain food quality control systems in place for many years, lots of loopholes emerged in past years, mainly due to varied standards, lack of sense of social responsibility among some business people, too lenient punishment on violators and weakness in testing and monitoring work.     China has a food hygiene law, which took effect in 1995, to regulate issues of food safety, but many lawmakers said it was too outdated to meet the need of practice.     For example, the law is far from being adequate in addressing the problem of pesticide residue in foodstuff.     According to the new law, China will set up compulsory standards on food safety, covering a wide range from the use of additives to safety and nutrition labels.     The law stipulates a ban on all chemicals and materials other than authorized additives in food production, saying that "only those items proved to be safe and necessary in food production are allowed to be listed as food additives."     Health authorities are responsible for assessing and approving food additives and regulating their usage.     Food producers must only use food additives and their usage previously approved by authorities, on penalty of closure or revocation of production licenses in serious cases, according to the law.     In the tainted dairy products scandal, melamine, often used in the manufacture of plastics, was added to substandard or diluted milk to make protein levels appear higher than they actually were.     "Melamine had never been allowed to be used as food additive in China. Now the law makes an even clearer and stricter ban on it," Xin said.     She said the compulsory system to recall substandard food, as written in the law, would also be effective in curbing food-related health risks.     Producers of edible farm products are required to abide by food safety standards when using pesticide, fertilizer, growth regulators, veterinary drugs, feedstuff and feed additives. They must also keep farming or breeding records.     Offenders can face maximum fines which would be 10 times the value of sold products, compared with five times at present.     If businesses are found producing or selling a substandard foodstuff, consumers can ask for financial compensation which is 10 times the price of the product. That's in addition to compensation for the harm the product causes to the consumer.     For those whose food production licenses are revoked due to illegal conducts, they will be banned from doing food business in the following five years.     "This is a big step to increase penalties on law violators," Xin said.     Another highlight of the law is that celebrities can share responsibility for advertising for food products that are found to be unsafe.     The law says all organizations and individuals who recommend substandard food products in ads will face joint liability for damages incurred.     This has been a hot topic in China where film stars, singers and celebrities are often paid to appear in ads of food products.     "The provisions were added out of concern over fake advertisements, which contained misleading information. Many of the advertisements featured celebrities," said Liu Xirong, vice chairman of the NPC Law Committee.     Several Chinese celebrities had advertised for products of the Sanlu Group, a company at the epicenter of the tainted dairy product scandal. They were vehemently criticized after thousands of babies were poisoned by the Sanlu formula.     Many people posted online demands for them to apologize to and compensate families of the sickened babies. But others argued that it was unfair to blame the celebrities as Sanlu had legal documents to prove its products safe.     On tonic food, a booming industry with an estimated annual output value of 100 billion yuan (14.62 billion U.S. dollars) in China, the law prohibits any claims related to prevention or cure of illness on the product's label and instruction leaflets.

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Saturday broke ground for a China-funded convention center in Montego Bay, north of Jamaica.     At the ceremony, Xi described the amity between China and Jamaica with a Chinese saying which says bosom friends stay close at heart though thousands of miles apart.     The China-Jamaica friendly partnership for common development, established in 2005, has led the bilateral cooperation into a new stage as mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples were deepened and cooperation in various fields achieved remarkable progress, Xi said. Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Montego Bay Convention Center, which is contracted to be built by China, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Feb. 14, 2009China highly values the friendly and cooperative relations with the Caribbean region, and is determined to build an all-around cooperative partnership for equality, mutual benefit and common development with Latin American-Caribbean countries, Xi said.     With a project budget of about 52 million U.S. dollars, the convention center, once completed, will provide approximately 20,000 square meters of rooms for meetings, exhibitions and other events.     Xi said the convention center will become not only a new sight in the coastal tourism city, but also a milestone in the China-Jamaica mutually beneficial cooperation.     Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, Montego Bay Mayor Charles Sinclair were also present at the groundbreaking ceremony.     Xi concluded his visit to Jamaica in the afternoon and left for Colombia to continue his six-nation tour, which includes the trips to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Malta.

CANBERRA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd here Saturday, and the two leaders pledged to combat the financial crisis and further develop bilateral ties.     After conveying greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Rudd, Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, expressed sympathy to Australia for the recent bushfires and floods. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (1st R) meets with Li Changchun (1st L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, in Canberra, capital of Australia, March 21, 2009On bilateral ties, Li proposed both countries keep high-level exchanges and he welcomed Rudd and other Australian leaders to visit China.     He suggested the two countries expand economic cooperation on the basis of mutual benefits. "Proceeding from the fundamental interests of our development, our two countries should promote energy and resources enterprises to forge long-term strategic cooperative relations," he said.     He also urged the two sides to steadily advance negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement in line with active, pragmatic, balanced and mutually beneficial principles.     Australia is a major destination for Chinese overseas students and tourists. Li pledged to strengthen bilateral cultural links between the two peoples. He welcomed the Australian side to participate in the World Expo due to be held in Shanghai in 2010.     Both China and Australia are important countries in the region.Li suggested both countries maintain close consultation on such major matters as combating the financial crisis and coping with climate change. Li Changchun (L Front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visits the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, capital of Australia, March 21, 2009The Group of 20 London Summit will be due in early April. Rudd told Li that he anticipated meeting again with Chinese President Hu Jintao during the summit. The close contacts between the leaders of the two countries have promoted the growth of bilateral ties and the expanding common interests have opened broad prospects for bilateral cooperation in all areas, he said.     He also spoke highly of the stimulus measures adopted by China after the financial crisis. He said that the role of G20 should be given full play for accumulating a consensus for addressing the current financial and economic problems.     On the reform of the international financial system, emerging countries should increase their say and decision-making rights, he said.     Also on Saturday, Li visited the National Portrait Museum and National Museum of Australia.     Li arrived in Australia on Friday. Australia is the first-leg of Li's four-nation tour which will also take him to Myanmar, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

厦门seo排名

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Railways (MOR) signed a deal with state-owned vehicle producer CNR Corporation Limited (CNR) here Monday to purchase 100 high-speed CRH trains for 39.2 billion yuan (about 5.74 billion U.S. dollars).     CRH, an abbreviation for China Railway High-speed, refers to trains with speeds above 200 km per hour. With a designed speed of 350km/h, the new CRH trains will travel between Beijing and Shanghai in 2011, when the construction of the 1318-km, high-speed railway between the capital city and the country's financial hub is expected to complete.     "The contract does not include any foreign parties, as Chinese companies possess core technologies for the high-speed trains and have complete intellectual rights over the 350km/h CRH type," said Zhang Shuguang, director of the transport department under the MOR.     The MOR had introduced railway technologies from Japan, France, Germany and Canada in the development and production of the 200km/h CRH trains already in operation at present.     According to the agreement between the ministry and CNR, all 100 trains will be self-developed and manufactured under the CNR group. Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co. and Changchun Railway Vehicle Co., two CNR subsidiaries, will be in charge of the production of 60 sets and 40 sets, respectively.     Zhang said China would see "large purchases" of CRH trains in the coming years upon the completion of more passenger railway lines across the country.     The MOR has planned to spend 500 billion yuan to buy trains over the next four years.     "The purchases will provide strong support for related industries," Zhang said.     The manufacturing of a CRH train requires nearly 100,000 parts from a wide range of industries such as mechanics, metallurgy, electrics, chemical, and materials.     "We will buy more CRH trains this year as a move to help stimulate domestic demand," said Zhang without giving further details on the purchasing plan.

LIAOYUAN, Jilin Province, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- From March to September last year, 48-year-old Li Guizhi visited the detention house of the Liaoyuan City in northwestern Jilin Province five times, asking detainees whether they had been tortured.     Her question list also included: "Do you know you have the right to ask lawyers?", "Do you have enough food every day?", "Are you taken to see a doctor when you are not well?".     Li, a community director of the Nankang Street of the Longshan District of Liaoyuan, was in her spare time a public inspector of detention houses. It means she could randomly select time to visit local jails and randomly choose detainees to talk to.     She was also entitled to inspect the jails' condition and examine the jails' records so as to ensure that custody procedures were in line with the law and detainees were not treated inhumanely.     As the first pilot city of the detention inspection system in China, Liaoyuan had 20 public inspectors like Li. They were doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, civil servants or community workers. Meanwhile, they were either local legislators, political advisors or "people's supervisors", a voluntary post to oversee jurisdiction. They were recommended to be selected as public inspectors thanks to their legislation or public working experience.     These inspectors who had received legal training would put forward proposals for improvements after each tour of the detention house which, therefore, would be obliged to ameliorate its living or working conditions accordingly.     This year, the pilot program continued to be unfolded in Jinzhong of northern Shanxi Province and Zhang Jiagang of eastern Jiangsu Province. More cities would be added to the list.     The Research Center of Litigation System and Judicial Reform under the Beijing-based Renmin University of China was the organizer of the program in China.     Sponsored by the European Union, the program was part of a package of cooperation agreements in political, legal, cultural and economic fields. Legal cooperation between China and Europe covers areas such as the death penalty, anti-torture and professional training of judges and prosecutors.     Chen Weidong, a professor with the Renmin University who was in charge of the program, told Xinhua that treatment of detainees, to some extent, reflected the level of protection of the public's rights and interests.     "Through the introduction of public supervision, which is more independent, to oversee the detention place exercising its power, the system is conducive to ensuring that prisoners are treated in accordance with the law," he said.     China signed the United Nations Convention against Torture in Dec. 1986 which ensured that torture was a criminal offence. "Parties must promptly investigate any allegation of torture, and victims of torture must have an enforceable right to compensation," it said.     In addition, the UN passed in 2002 the Optional Protocol to the Convention, which encourages the establishment of an international inspection system for places of detention.     Currently, more than 20 countries, mainly European nations, have set up the system. Many other developed countries, including the United States, have not established such a system.     According to the Chinese law, law makers and political advisors were entitled to patrol detention places, reflecting parliament's and political advisory bodies' supervision over administrative organs.     Over the past few years, Chinese procuratorates had set up the "people's supervisor" system, in a bid to prevent injustice amid law execution. Most procuratorates of the country had selected people's supervisors.     However, the Supreme People's Procuratorate statistics show Chinese procuratorates punished 930 government workers in 2006 who illegally took people into custody and extorted confessions by torture.     Chen said in the past, supervision was mainly institutional, such as recording and videotaping, and asking lawyers to be present, when interrogating suspects.     "Public supervision, which we currently advocate, enables the public to gain a close and independent observance of the detention places, the result of which is more convincing and can help improve China's image in protecting human rights," he added.     Chen said the inspection system examined many factors, ranging from living conditions of detention places to the fulfillment of various legal rights and interests.     "It neither depends on high-tech equipment nor is confined to the number of legal workers or the time of working, so it can be promoted in any region with any economic situation," he added.     However, a survey about the pilot program, conducted by the Renmin University, showed that detectives generally opposed to the system, saying inspection activities in detention places would "disturb their working plans and easily allow detainees refuse to confess".     Many lawyers believed the "independent" inspection should be worthy of the name, which means detention house staff should be absent when inspectors talked to detainees. It could alleviate detainees' pressure.     TO BE PROMOTED NATIONWIDE     As a main propeller of the program in Liaoyuan, Wang Wensheng, the chief procurator of the Liaoyuan People's Procuratorate, admitted, "All reform will face resistance, risks and blame."     Chen said local officials' open-mindedness and achievements of local judicial reform was considered as key factors in selecting pilot cities. Liaoyuan was an outstanding example.     The first phase of the program, which started as early as 2006,ended last year. The second phase, with Jinzhong and Zhang Jiagang cities added to the list, aimed to find out if the system would be feasible in the country's hinterland and economically prosperous regions.     The project team hoped the system, which was considered as an innovation of China's judicial reform, could be promoted nationwide, but no timetable could be set at the moment. The project was scheduled to end in 2012.     Cheng Lei, a member of the project group and a post doctorate with the law institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Hopefully, the system can be extended to other parts of the country through legislation. Provincial legislation is easier, such as a law on detention place inspection system in northwestern Jilin Province."     Li Guizhi, the Liaoyuan public inspector, said she felt a great honor when becoming an inspector.     "Such voluntary work, without any payment, should convey a message to the world that China's efforts against torture is in line with international practice," she said.