Bank Of China

In recent years, Chinese leaders have been regular travelers to all parts of the globe, and China has sought a higher profile in the UN through its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and other multilateral organizations. Closer to home, China has made efforts to reduce tensions in Asia; it has contributed to stability on the Korean Peninsula through hosting and participating in the Six-Party Talks, cultivated a more cooperative relationship with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam), and participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum. Its moves to play a greater regional leadership role in Asia and, especially, the success of its "charm offensive" in Southeast Asia are examples of a new, more mature diplomacy that China has begun to evince. China is also working hard to strengthen ties with countries in South Asia, including India. Premier Wen recently made a sweeping tour ... [Read More]

Tips for Travelers to China

How to Prepare for a Safe Trip A little planning and knowledge will go a long way toward making your trip to the PRC go smoothly. Learning more about China and obeying the laws and respecting the customs will make your stay as pleasant and incident-free as possible. Consular Information Sheets, Public Announcements & Travel Warnings [Read More]

China

U.S. Department of State [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

The Basic Law's Article 23 requires that the Government enact legislation prohibiting treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government, and theft of state secrets, and to criminalize links with foreign political organizations that are harmful to national security. The process of introducing this legislation began in September with the Government's release of a consultation document proposing guiding principles for the legislation. Legislative Council members, human rights groups, business associations, representatives of the media, foreign governments, and others voiced concern that when enacted these laws and other provisions passed to implement Article 23 could restrict fundamental rights and freedoms. Of particular concern were the proposed extension of treason, sedition, secession, and subversion criminal offenses to permanent residents, without regard to nationality or legal domicile; the proposal to ban organizations affiliated with mainland ... [Read More]

US Dept of State - Washington Economic Report

World Bank Mission Crucial to Global Peace, Wolfowitz SaysHelping to lift people out of poverty is a "critical part of making the world a better place," according to Paul Wolfowitz. President Bush’s nominee to be president of the World Bank says he believes deeply in the bank’s mission.  ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S., China Announce Agreement on Technical Cooperation

In early September 2003, Secretary Snow of the U.S. Treasury Department visited Beijing and met with the Chinese Finance Minster Jin Renqing and Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China. The two sides proposed to strengthen cooperation on the financial and economic sectors, and agreed that international experience of financial development could help further deepen financial reform and opening-up. The People's Bank of China and the U.S. Treasury concurred to establish a joint technical cooperation program to facilitate exchanges and cooperation between financial and economic experts of the two countries, to promote development of the financial markets, and to strengthen market-based financial operational mechanisms and the related macro management institutions. Establishing such a technical cooperation program would also serve to enhance mutual understandings and strengthen bilateral cooperation between China and the United States in the financial and economic sectors, ... [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

According to China's 2000 census, the population of Tibetans in the TAR was 2,427,168. The population of Tibetans in autonomous prefectures and counties outside the TAR was 2,927,372. The TAR is one of China's poorest regions, and ethnic Tibetans are one of the poorest groups. The Central Government and other provinces of China heavily subsidized the TAR economy, which, according to official government statistics, grew by an average annual rate of over 10 percent for the last decade. Over 90 percent of the TAR's budget came from outside sources, and residents of the TAR benefited from a wide variety of favorable economic and tax policies. Tibetan autonomous areas outside the TAR benefited to varying degrees from similar favorable policies. Government development policies helped raise the living standards of most Tibetans, particularly by providing better transportation and communications facilities. However, while overall standards of living have risen, Tibetans' real incomes rema ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TEXT: EX-IM BANK TO EXPAND FINANCING OF U.S. SALES TO CHINA

The Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) will open its financing programs to support the sale of U.S. goods and services to the private sector of the People's Republic of China for the first time, effective October 15, 1998. The Ex-Im Bank action, which follows a normal cover policy review, coincides with the growth of the Chinese economy's private sector. ...

Washington -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has announced that for the first time it will open its financing programs to support the sale of U.S. goods and services to the private sector in China. ... [Read More]

Greenspan Says Flexible Currency Regime Would Benefit China - US Department of State

While the presumption that a revaluation of the RMB will notably increase jobs in the United States by constraining imports or expanding exports is without statistical or analytical support, it is nonetheless the case that a more flexible RMB would be helpful to China's economic stability and, hence, to world and U.S. economic growth. Rapid accumulation of foreign, largely dollar, reserve holdings by the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, as a consequence of support for the RMB could boost the growth of the money stock, with the accompanying risk of triggering upward pressure on inflation and a general overheating of the Chinese economy. ... [Read More]

China (Includes Hong Kong and Macau)

The law provides for an independent judiciary, and the Government generally respects this provision in practice. According to the Basic Law, the courts may have the power of final adjudication over all cases that are within the autonomy of the SAR. The courts also may rule on matters that are "the responsibility of the Central People's Government or concern the relationship between the central authorities and the (Special Administrative) Region," but before making their final (i.e., nonappealable) judgment, the court must seek an interpretation of the relevant provisions from the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress. When the Standing Committee makes an interpretation of the provisions concerned, the courts, in applying those provisions "shall follow the interpretation of the Standing Committee." The Standing Committee of the NPC must consult its Committee for the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Region before giving an interpretation of the law. This Com ... [Read More]