Premier Wen Jiabao says the current Chinese-Japanese ties are sound in general, and called for greater understanding, mutual trust and common interests to further the friendship.

Wen Jiabao made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with 40 members of the China-Japan Friendship Committee for the 21st Century, a consultative body of the two governments. 

The Chinese premier says both sides should...enhance exchange and cooperation in politics, economy, culture and youth fields.

He says he expects the Chinese and Japanese members to offer more suggestions to the two governments and exert vigor to the growth of bilateral ties.

 

Senior Chinese legislator calls for enhancing China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges to promote peace 

A senior Chinese legislator has called for enhancing the China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges, which she said will contribute to maintaining peace in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as in the world. 

Yan Junqi, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, issued the call in a speech to the opening ceremony of the fourth China-U. S. Civil Society Peace Forum held at the American University in Washington DC. 

She said China will continue to adhere to its peaceful foreign policies, including its good-neighborly policy, and is willing to develop friendly cooperation, on the basis of equal treatment and mutual benefits, with other countries in order to maintain peace and stability in the world.

 

China, EU promote exchange among youth army 

The EU-China Youth Leaders Summit opened in Beijing on Saturday with 92 young people from 27 EU countries gathered to discuss with their Chinese peers topics of climate change, sustainable development and youth development.

The three-day summit is a part of the "flagship events" of the EU-China Year of Youth. 

The EU-China Year of Youth has been the biggest cultural exchange activity since the two sides established diplomatic relations.

 

China airlifts third batch of flood relief goods to Bangkok 

Three cargo planes of the Air Force of China have arrived in Bangkok to deliver the third batch of flood relief goods to Thai government. 

China has donated 259 hovercrafts, 150 water pumps, 210 water filters and 1,300 tents among others worth about 40 million Chinese yuan (6.3 million U.S. dollars) as well as 1 million U.S. dollars in cash to Thailand, according to the press release of the Chinese embassy.

 

Libyan NTC member raises doubts over official Gaddafi death account 

A member of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) has raised doubts over the exact circumstances of former Libyan leader Mummar Gaddafi's death.

Waheed Burshan was quoted by Al-Jazeera as saying that Gaddafi was clearly captured and there should be an investigation as to how he ended up dead a short while later.

His remarks, contradicting head of NTC's executive committee Mahmoud Jibril's account that Gaddafi was killed in crossfire, came a day after the United Nations called for an investigation into his death.

 

Libya to form interim government within eight months

A top leader of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council says the Libyan authorities should be allowed to form an interim government after a national congress is elected within eight months.

Mahmoud Jibril, head of the NTC's executive committee, said at the World Economic Forum in Jordan that after voting on the National Congress, the NTC will start to draft a constitution and then form an interim government to manage the country's affairs until the presidential elections are held.

 

Premier Wen stresses efforts to ensure and improve people's well-being

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says ensuring and improving people's well-being must be put at a highly significant position during the process of China's macroeconomic control.

He said this during an inspection tour of south China's city of Nanning.

Wen Jabao says ensuring people's livelihood is closely related not only to social and economic advancement, but also to the people's benefits as well as social harmony and stability.

 

China reports improved safety at coal mines in first nine months 

China's top coal mine safety watchdog says the nation has seen improved coal mine safety in the first nine months as casualties had dropped.

The State Administration of Coal Mine Safety says the number of workers who were killed during work at coal mines in the first nine months stood at 1,419 -- down over 27 percent year-on-year. 

Meanwhile, the number of deadly accidents also dropped.

It says the country has not had a severely major accident causing heavy casualties for more than one year.

 

China lowers curtain of horticultural expo in home city of terracotta army 

China has lowered the curtain of a 178-day horticultural exposition in northwest Shaanxi Province, making Xi'an the third mainland city that have successfully hosted such event following that of Kunming in 1999 and Shenyang in 2006.

A grand closing ceremony featuring performing arts and the issuing of an expo declaration that advocate low-carbon lifestyle was staged SAturday night to mark the conclusion of the event hosted by Xi'an, the home city of an terracotta army.