PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (P.R.C.)

Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

1 October 1949

Beijing

HEAD OF STATE

His Excellency President Hu Jintao

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT

His Excellency Wen Jiabao

Administrative Divisions: 23 Provinces (including Taiwan), 5 Autonomous Regions, 4 Municipalities directly under the Central Government (Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, and Shanghai), and 2 Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR)

Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korean Bay, Yellow Sea, and the South China Sea, between North Korean Bay and Vietnam

Neighbors: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, India, Kazakstan, North Korea, Kyrgyztan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam.

Topography: The topography of China is complex, high in the west and low lying in the east. Mountains, hills, and plateaus account for 65% of the country’s land area. China also abounds in rivers and lakes.

TOTAL AREA

9,596,960 sq. km. (slightly larger than the U.S.)

POPULATION

1.3 billion (as of April 2005)

CLIMATE

Temperate

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects.

LITERACY RATES

81.5%

Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity

Exports : Textiles, garments, footwear, toys, machinery and equipment, weapon systems

Export Partners : Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Russia

Imports : rolled steel, motor vehicles, textile machinery, oil products, aircraft

Import Partners : Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, Germany, South Korea

CURRENCY

Renminbi (RMB)

US$1 = RMB 8.28 (exchange rate)

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODIES

International: APEC, ARF, UN, ASEAN Dialogue Partner, WHO, WTO

The ASEAN – China Commemorative Summit to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of dialogue relations with China was agreed upon during the Ninth ASEAN – China Summit held in Kuala Lumpur on 12 December 2005.

The Meeting also agreed to call 2006 as the "Year of Friendship and Cooperation between ASEAN and China."

The Commemorative Summit which will be held on October 30, 2006 seeks to reaffirm ASEAN and China’s commitment to further enhance strategic partnership and substantive cooperation.

The China - ASEAN Expo and the China – ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will take place simultaneously with the Commemorative Summit.

Hu Jintao, male, 61, Han nationality, a native of Jixi, Anhui Province, was born in December 1942. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1964 and began to work in July 1965.

He graduated from the Water Conservancy Engineering Department of Tsinghua University where he had majored in the study of hub hydropower stations. With a university education, he holds the title as an engineer.

He is now the president of the People’s Republic of China.

1959-1964: Student at the Water Conservancy Engineering Department of Tsinghua University.

1964-1965: Postgraduate and political instructor at the Water Conservancy Engineering Department of Tsinghua University.

1965-1968: Participated in R&D at the Water Conservancy Engineering Department of Tsinghua University and served as political instructor before the start of the "Cultural Revolution".

1968-1969: Worked with the housing construction team of Liujia Gorge Engineering Bureau, Ministry of Water Conservancy.

1969-1974: Technician and secretary of No. 813 Sub-Bureau, Fourth Engineering Bureau, Ministry of Water Conservancy and deputy-secretary of the general Party branch of the sub-bureau’s head office.

1974-1975: Secretary at the Gansu Provincial Construction Committee (GPCC)

1975-1980: Deputy director of the design management division, GPCC.

1980-1982: Vice-chairman of GPCC and secretary of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (Sept. 1982-Dec. 1982)

1982-1984: Secretary, Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, Chairman of the All-China Youth Federation.

1984-1985: First secretary, Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.

1985-1988: Secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee

1988-1992: Secretary of the Party Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region.

1992-1993: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

1993-1998: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

1998-1999: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

1999-2002: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of CPC Central Committee, Vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Vice-president of the People’s Republic of China, Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

2002-2003: General secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Vice-president of the People’s Republic of China, Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and premier of the State Council.

Wen Jiabao, a native of Tianjin, was born in September 1942. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1965 and began working in September 1967. He graduated with a major of geological structure from the Beijing Institute of Geology. He undertook postgraduate study and now is an engineer.

1960-1965: Student majoring in geological surveying and prospecting of the No. 1 Department of Geology and Minerals at Beijing Institute of Geology.

1965-1968: Postgraduate majoring in geological structure at Beijing Institute of Geology.

1968-1978: Technician and political instructor of the Geomechanics Survey Team under Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau and head of its political section.

1978-1979: Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Geomechanics Survey Team under Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau and deputy head of the team.

1979-1981: Deputy section head and engineer of Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau.

1981-1982: Deputy director-general of Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau.

1982-1983: Director of the Policy and Law Research Office of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources and member of its Leading Party Member Group.

1983-1985: Vice-minister of Geology and Mineral Resources, member and deputy secretary of its Leading Party Member Group and director of its Political Department.

1985-1986: Deputy director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

1986-1987: Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

1987-1992: Alternate member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Work Committee of Departments Under the CPC Central Committee.

1992-1993: Alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Work Committee of Departments Under the CPC Central Committee.

1993-1997: Alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

1997-1998: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Committee member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

1998-2002: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice-premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Member Group and secretary of the Financial Work Committee of the CPC Central Committee.

2002-March Member of the Standing Committee of the Political

March 2003: Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Members’ Group and secretary of the Financial Work Committee of the CPC Central Committee.

March 2003: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and premier of the State Council.

He was member of the 13^th CPC Central Committee, alternate member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, member of the 14^th CPC Central Committee, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, member of the 15^th CPC Central Committee, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. He is member of the 16^th CPC Central Committee, member of the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee of the 16^th CPC Central Committee.

• 61 years old, known for amiable disposition, native of Tianjin, one of four State-level municipalities of China (together with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongging)

• heads the State Council, acts as Chief Executive Officer for government affairs

• Third highest-ranking leader in the Chinese Communist Party Politburo

• Previous Position: Vice-Premier in charge of agricultural affairs, financial reforms, flood control, poverty programs, development planning. Also held the post of Vice Minister of Geology and Mineral Resources.

• With reformist orientation; protégé of former Premier Zhu Rongji; associated with then party chief Zhao Ziyang, who opposed the use of force on Tiananmen prostesters in 1989. Instrumental in carrying out the new "pro-people" tact and transparency-in-governance policy of President Hu Jintao’s leadership.

The Philippines’ relationship with China is among the most important ties the country has with any member of the international community. China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and a major regional power with a modernizing military.

President Macapagal-Arroyo has said in various fora that the Philippines desires a healthy, comprehensive, and long term relationship with China that transcends the specific issues between them.

Although the Philippines’ ties with China date back many centuries ago, formal diplomatic relations were established with the P.R.C. on 9 June 1975. The year 2000 was a significant milestone in RP-China relations with the commemoration of the 25^th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 9 June 2000. Fittingly, it was during this milestone year that a Joint Statement on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the 21^st Century was signed between the two countries. The document sets the course for the future direction of Philippines-China relations in the areas of cooperation in defense and military fields, trade and investment, science and technology, agriculture, education and culture, judicial-legal, and other areas.

The State Visit of H.E. PGMA to China in September 2004 brought the relationship at an all-time high. The President enjoys a high level of rapport with the current crop of Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao.

In reciprocity to the 2004 state visit of President Arroyo, President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China visited the Philippines on 26-28 April 2005. The visit affirmed the special personal goodwill between the two Presidents.

On 9 June 2005, the Philippines and China celebrated the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The 30^th anniversary is being marked by a series of events of economic, cultural, tourism and other events in the Philippines and China throughout the year.

South China Sea

The South China Sea (SCS) issue, the only irritant in the Philippines-China relations has not hampered the development of relations between the two countries. The Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to settle the dispute peacefully through consultations and negotiations. It continues to undertake diplomatic efforts at the bilateral as well as regional/international level to ensure peace and stability in the SCS.

Efforts by the Philippines and China have helped enhance the level of political understanding and mutual trust between the two countries and improve overall ties, particularly following the tensions in 1995 on the construction by the Chinese of fishermen’s facilities on Mischief Shoal in the Kalayaan Islands Group. The exchange of visits to each other’s capitals of then Defense Secretary Angelo T. Reyes and General Chi Haotian, Chief of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in 2003 helped forced a consensus that both sides will endeavor to expand military to military exchanges to enhance working relations and build mutual confidence between the defense establishments of both countries.

Joint research in the South China Sea

On 14 March 2005, the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC), China National Offshore Oil Company, Ltd. (CNOOC) and PetroVietnam signed a tripartite agreement on joint seismic survey in agreed areas in the South China Sea. The agreement provides a framework for the conduct of cooperative scientific research by the national oil companies of the Philippines and China. This development is a watershed in the regional diplomacy in the South China Sea and a step closer towards the peaceful, permanent and comprehensive resolution of disputes and overlapping claims in the area.

The agreement is a step towards possible discussions in the future between and among the claimant states on provisional cooperative arrangements in the SCS pending the complete and final resolution of the disputes. The Philippines sees the agreement in line with the Philippine policy to pursue collective security and regional cooperation to enhance peace and stability in the SCS.

This undertaking also elevates the commitment enshrined in the ASEAN-China Declaration of Parties in the South China Sea (DoC). Expanded participation in open and mutually-beneficial joint undertakings in the South China Sea will contribute further to the decrease of tensions in the area and establish a new paradigm of constructive engagement.

The Philippines also entered the undertaking within the context of its policy to pursue regional alliances to energy security. This policy, which is in the five-point energy security program of the Department of Energy, is being pursued actively in multilateral channels such as the ASEAN, ASEAN Plus Three, APEC and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the SCS

The Philippines continues its efforts to address the SCS issue in the multilateral setting through the ASEAN-China DoC which was adopted in Phnom Penh in November 2002. The Declaration was the result of years of negotiations between ASEAN and China, which the Philippines shepherded. It has become as one of the most important arena for political cooperation between ASEAN and China.

The DoC states that parties to the agreement will "undertake to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat of use of force, through friendly consultations and negotiations." Among the cooperative activities recommended by the DoC are marine environmental protection, marine scientific research, search and rescue operations, among other things.

While it supports and promotes confidence-building and cooperation, the Philippines views as paramount the vision of the DoC to institutionalize a code of conduct that will ensure peace and stability and enhance cooperation and understanding in the region, towards the peaceful, permanent and comprehensive settlement of territorial disputes and overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippines and China have been expanding cooperation in political/security matters in recent years.

The Joint Statement on the Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the Twenty-First Century signed in 2000 provides that the two sides agreed to strengthen consultations between the military, defense, and diplomatic officials on security issues.

During the State Visit of H.E. PGMA in September 2004 the two sides agreed to develop defense cooperation between the Philippines and China. The Chinese received Secretary of National Defense Avelino J. Cruz in Beijing last November 2004.

Secretary of National Defense Avelino J. Cruz visited China from 8 to 14 November 2004. During his visit he met with his Chinese counterpart Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan. During the visit the Chinese agreed to give RMB10 million in military assistance to the country, gratis. The two sides also signed a MOU on Defense Cooperation. SND Cruz and General Cao agreed that there should be more exchanges in the senior, mid-level and junior levels of the Philippine and Chinese militaries.

The Philippines hosted the first ever RP-China Annual Defense and Security Dialogue on 23 May 2005 during the visit of Gen. Xiong Guangkai, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Defense and Deputy Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, to the Philippines.

The establishment of the Philippines-China Annual Defense Security Talks mechanism is called for by the MOU on Defense Cooperation between the Department of National Defense and the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China signed by Secretary Avelino Cruz and Defense Minster Cao Gangchuan on 8 November 2004 in Beijing.

The establishment of the mechanism was agreed between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and President Hu Jintao in their talks in Beijing on 1 September 2004. It represented a major step for the two countries to further enhance the level of trust. In the past RP-China confidence-building between the two countries were in the functional areas such as in fisheries and marine environment protection until regular military-to-military exchanges (port calls, exchange of visits) began to take place since 1999.

The Philippines and China signed two agreements on cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and production and transnational crimes in September 2001. These agreements have facilitated concrete results, among them the interception of a drug shipment worth millions of pesos in Bulacan in February 2004.

Recognizing that this area has become a prominent area of security cooperation between the two countries, the Philippines and China discussed and agreed during the September and April state visits to assign police liaison officers to each others’ embassies.

The Chinese police attaché to the Philippines arrived in the country in late August or early September 2005. On the other hand, the Philippines is still in the process of preparing for the assignment of its police attaché to China.

Search and Rescue

The Chinese and Philippine sides conducted a Search and Rescue simulation exercise. In October 2004 the Philippine Coast Guard and its counterpart, the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration conducted a table top Search and Rescue Exercise at the Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters in Manila

The tabletop exercise was agreed by and between the Philippines and China as one of the alternatives to enhance bilateral relations and build mutual trust between the two countries during the 3^rd Philippines-China Experts Group Meeting on Confidence Building Measures in Manila on 3-4 April 2001.

Partly as a result of this exercise, the Philippines and China forged a framework agreement on maritime cooperation on 27 April 2005.

Trade and economic cooperation has emerged as a major pillar of Philippines-China relations.

This is an area that witnessed considerable progress in the last thirty years, particularly since 2000, when China began to implement broad-based market reforms. Since 2002, two-way trade has posted an average annual growth rate of 55 per cent. Trade has been in the favor of the Philippines since 2000.

The Philippines and China are looking at a US$30 billion trade volume by 2010.

The People’s Republic of China has become one of the largest trading partners of the Philippines.

Official figures from the Philippines and China affirm the sustained and dramatic growth of bilateral trade. Bilateral trade has been growing at an average annual growth rate of 41.39 per cent since 2001, over which China has become the Philippines’ third biggest trading partner (from 11^th in 2001). Bilateral trade between the Philippines and China amounted to US$6.97 billion (8.09% of RP’s total external trade) in 2005. Exports to China grew by 53.66 per cent from US$2.65 billion in 2004 to US$4.08 billion in 2005, making China the third largest export market after Japan and the US. On the other hand, China ranked as the Philippines’ fifth largest supplier of imports in 2005.

New areas of cooperation

To consolidate the expanding areas of economic cooperation between the Philippines and China, both sides have agreed to streamline the mandate of the existing Joint Trade Committee (JTC). This was the essence of the MOU on the Promotion of Trade Investment and Economic Cooperation between the Governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China, which was signed during the April state visit.

Under the JTC are newly-created joint working groups focusing on developing cooperation further in two of the most important growth areas in RP-China economic ties, i.e., mining and infrastructure construction. The Philippines hosted the 24^th meeting of the JTC in May 2005.

Agricultural Cooperation

In specific economic fields such as agriculture the Chinese government has supported the Philippines’ agricultural modernization program through various means. Hybrid rice seeds from China were used by Filipino farmers and have helped increase productivity.

The Chinese funded the US$8.75 million Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology in Nueva Ecija. This center is the brainchild and gift of then Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. It serves as the hub for scientific exchanges and technology transfer in agriculture between the two countries. According to Chinese authorities, it is their model arrangement for China’s agricultural cooperation with other ASEAN neighbors.

The PRC government also made available in 2000 a US$100 million credit facility. Portions of this facility financed the construction of an irrigation network in Banaoang, Ilocos Sur and the expansion of fishing port facilities in General Santos. Other agricultural support facilities are being considered for financing under this facility.

During the state visit of H.E. PGMA to China in September 2004, the Chinese donated hybrid corn to the Philippines. These specimen are currently being field-tested in various parts of the country in accordance with the National Seed Testing Center protocols

The two countries are also looking into cooperation in the area of fisheries after the MOU between the Philippines and China on Fisheries Cooperation was signed during the state visit of the President in September 2004. The agreement established a fisheries commission that will discuss cooperation in fisheries and promote Chinese investments in the Philippine fisheries sector. The First Meeting of the China-Philippines Fisheries Cooperation Joint Commission (FCJC) was held in Manila on 30 March 2005.

The Supreme Court in its decision of December 2004 upheld the constitutionality of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which allows 100% foreign ownership of companies engaged in large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of mineral resources. H.E. PGMA has also identified mining as a priority agenda under the Philippine development plan.

Following these developments the DTI held a mining road show in Beijing from 17-19 January 2005. The Philippine delegation was headed by then Trade Secretary Purisima and DENR Secretary Defensor and they presented opportunities for mining companies in the Philippines, specifically US$7 billion worth of investment opportunities involving 23 projects in the country. Another result of this visit was the signing of the MOU on Mining Cooperation between the DTI and China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) by DTI Undersecretary Elmer C. Hernandez and MOFCOM Assistant Minister Chen Jian on 18 January 2005.

The delegation of Secretary Purisima and Secretary Defensor managed to invite several Chinese mining firms to the International Mining Conference in Manila which was held in early February 2005. China sent one of the biggest number of delegates to this conference. A direct result of this conference was the signing of 11 letters of intent by Chinese companies. Furthermore the DTI and the MOFCOM also signed a MOA creating a technical working group to push for these projects.

Three of the agreements signed during the two state visits were mining-related. These are the business contract worth US$ 312 million on an integrated manufacturing facility in Subic, a US$ 30 million investment for an iron ore facility in Panganiban, Camarines Sur and the US$ 1.2 billion investment from Jichuan Nonferrous Metal Corporation in the modernization and redevelopment of the Nonoc Nickel Mines and Refinery Project in Surigao.

Chinese companies are also in various stages discussions with Philippine mining firms on investments in mining projects in Benguet and Zambales.

The Philippines won the country award for best mining investment destination during the Mines and Money World Congress in London, which was attended by 1,200 industry leaders from 120 countries involved in mining. Secretary Michael Defensor accepted the award for the Philippines.

The Philippines is trying to attract more tourists from China. On 11 September 2002 the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Tourism Cooperation with China to enable the country to take advantage of the vast potentials of the Chinese market. While the Philippines was the first few countries granted "Approved Destination Status" for Chinese tourists in 1993, it has not been able to attract a considerable number of tourists from China even as China continues to grant this status to more and more countries.

The World Tourism Organization forecasts by 2010, outbound tourists from China will grow to about 30 million from about 8.5 million in 2000. This number is further projected to swell to 100 million by 2020.

During the State Visit of H.E. PGMA in September 2004 the "Implementation Program of the MOU on Tourism Cooperation between the Department of Tourism and the China National Tourism Administration" was signed. In the year 2004 there were 36,203 Chinese tourists that visited the Philippines which represents only 1.8% of the total tourist arrivals to the Philippines. The DOT also assigned a tourism attaché in China in the latter half of 2004.

Official figures from the Department of Tourism show that tourism arrivals from China have picked up significantly due to the government’s campaigns in China, opening of new air service links and facilitation measures.

There were 96,927 recorded arrivals from China from January to November 2005, a dramatic 167.7 per cent increase from the 36,203 arrivals recorded in the same period in 2004, making China the fastest growing source of tourism arrivals in the Philippines.

Air Services

Following years of air services discussions between Philippine and Chinese aviation authorities, the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) is preparing to commence Manila-Beijing non-stop flights on a thrice-weekly schedule beginning 11 November 2005. The national carrier last flew its Beijing service in 1989.

The resumption of Manila-Beijing non-stop flights is a major breakthrough in efforts of the Philippines to expand aviation links with China. Currently, there are regular flight connections between the Philippines and the cities of Xiamen, Beijing (via Xiamen), Shanghai and Guangzhou (charter service). Air Philippines is preparing to operate regular charter flights between Manila and Chongqing City in central China via Guangzhou beginning October 2005.

Science and Technology

The Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and China was signed on 14 March 1978. Since 1978, thirteen (13) protocols have been signed to implement the agreement. The last was signed only in April 2004. The 13^th Protocol covered 20 projects, 10 for each side, for the period 2004-2006. Among the projects included are those on soil erosion, tropical cyclone tracking, ecosystem reconstruction, robotics, herbal medicines, remote sensing applications, volcanic hazards, among others.

Cultural Exchanges

Cultural exchanges between the Philippines and China continue to flourish under the aegis of the Philippines-China Cultural Agreement signed on 8 July 1979. To date a total of 12 Executive Programs have been concluded to implement the agreement. The latest Executive Program was signed in December 2002 and covered cultural exchange projects for the years 2002 to 2004. The projects include reciprocal exchanges in culture and arts, education and research, books and publications, and film. The 2005-2007 Executive Program was signed in Foshan City, Guangdong Province in November 2005 at the sidelines of the Asia Cultural Ministers’ Forum.

Closer and expanded political and economic ties between ASEAN and China are important dynamics in the steady growth of bilateral ties between the Philippines and China.

The relationship between ASEAN and China can be traced to 19 July 1991 when the Chinese Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Qian Qichen, who attended the opening session of the 24th AMM in Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian Government, expressed China's interest in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN for mutual benefit by identifying and developing specific fields of cooperation, particularly in science and technology.

ASEAN responded positively to the Chinese approach and began preparing initiatives for a formal ASEAN-China relationship. In September 1993, ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dato' Ajit Singh led a delegation to Beijing and held exploratory talks with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Tang Jiaxuan. ASEAN and China then agreed to establish two Joint Committees, one on economic and trade cooperation and the other on cooperation in science and technology.

An Exchange of Letters between the ASEAN Secretary-General and the Chinese Foreign Minister on 23 July 1994 in Bangkok formalized the establishment of the two Joint Committees. At the same time, ASEAN and China agreed to engage in consultations on political and security issues of common concern at the Senior Officials level. In July 1996, China was accorded full Dialogue Partner status at the 29th AMM in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Chinese Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Qian Qichen attended the meeting as a representative of a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN for the first time.

China is actively engaging the ASEAN member countries in both the ASEAN +1 and the ASEAN +3 processes. The major cooperation point between ASEAN and China is the Early Harvest Program (EHP). The Philippines and China have negotiated and agreed on the product lists for the Philippine participation in the EHP. This is expected to support the sustained development of trade cooperation between the two countries.

BIMP-EAGA

The BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East Asia Growth Area) has also become an important platform for cooperation between the Philippines and China. China has given its commitment to support the projects of the grouping, particularly in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy and infrastructure development. China sent a high-level trade and investment delegation to the region on 16-28 April 2004, and visited Davao, General Santos, and Saranggani from 26 to 28 April 2004.

Filipinos in China, particularly in Beijing, are employed by international organizations, embassies, media organizations, joint-venture companies, hotels, entertainment establishments, learning institutions and households.

Employers of OFW provide housing or dormitory facilities to them, with professionals enjoying the use of more spacious apartments where they could house their accompanying family members. Those working in hotels are either provided hotel rooms during the duration of their contract or, or at their request, billeted in local apartments where they have the option of cooking their own meals.

Some overseas performing artists (OPAs) and domestic helpers work despite holding tourist or business visas. Filipinos who are unemployed request other Filipinos to temporarily accommodate them in their apartments or rooms.

The most frequent problem of Filipinos is lack of appropriate documents to qualify for legal residence and work permit in China. This stems from the lenient application of visa and immigration regulations.

Teachers are often victims of illegal recruitment. They are promised permanent teaching jobs in some provinces, without knowing that upon arrival in China they still have to wait if the school will hire them or not. Those who so not get hired are bound to overstay and pressed to try their luck with another school.

Other problems faced by OFWs, usually by musicians and teachers, include the poor conditions in their place of employment, failure of their employer in securing for them the appropriate work visas, and violation of employment contracts.

On 23 January 2003, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. led a 60-member Philippine delegation in the wreath-laying ceremony of the new Rizal Shrine in Siongque Village, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, southern China. The Philippine delegation included Consul General Corazon Bahjin, Representative Roque Ablan, National Historical Institute Chair Ambeth Ocampo, officers of the Knights of Rizal, Tarlac based descendants of Rizal’s sister Soledad, and Chinese-Filipino businessmen. Chinese officials who graced the occasion include Jinjiang City Mayor and Party Secretary Gong Qingkai, and Chair of the Jinjiang City People’s Congress Xue Zuliang.

The Shrine was built to commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s Chinese ancestral roots. The national hero is the direct descendant of Chinese trader Cua Yi Lam, who immigrated from Siongque ("Zhang-Guo" in Mandarin Chinese) to the Philippines in the latter part of the 17th century. Church records show that Cua Yi Lam was baptized Domingo Lamco at the age of 35 in Manila in 1697 and that his birthplace was Siongque village in China.

It symbolizes the strong bond of friendship existing between the Philippines and China. During its inauguration, Speaker de Venecia remarked that the Shrine "is a great symbol of the 1,000 year old friendship between our two nations."

The monument, made of the world-famous Jinjiang granite stones, stands at 18.61 meters high, which is taller than the 12-meter high Rizal Monument in Manila. It was built in a 5-hectare park named in Rizal’s honor, making it the biggest Rizal Shrine outside the Philippines. The Park will also be the site of a Rizal museum and library.

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It is bounded by the South China Sea in the West, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Sulu and Celebes Sea in the south, and the Bashi Channel in the north. The northernmost tip of the country is 241 kilometers south of Taiwan while the southernmost tip is only 14.4 kilometers north of Borneo.

The total land area of the archipelago is approximately 300,000 square kilometers. The three largest island groups are Luzon with an area of 141,395 square kilometers, Visayas with 56,606 kilometers, and Mindanao with 101,999 square kilometers.

The archipelago is further subdivided into regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. There are 16 regions, including the National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), CARAGA and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Metropolitan Manila has been designated as the National Capital Region and is composed of the cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Caloocan, Makati, Pasig, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Marikina, Valenzuela, Paranaque and Malabon, and the municipalities of Navotas, Pateros, San Juan, and Taguig.

There are 79 provinces, 117 cities, 1,500 municipalities and 41,945 barangays.

• CAPITAL

Manila

• CLIMATE

The climate is tropical. The rainy season is from June to October; the cool dry season is from November to February; and the hot dry season is from March to May. Temperature ranges from 21°C to 32°C, with the average at 27°C. Average humidity year round is 77%. All regions are exposed to typhoons, which are prevalent during the rainy season.

• POPULATION

The Philippines has a total population of 76.5M as of May 2000. Population density is 255 persons per square kilometer.

The national language is Filipino, derived mostly from Tagalog. There are about 70 other local languages and dialects spoken. The major ones are Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray, Pangasinense, Pampango and Maranao. English is widely spoken and understood. The Spanish and Chinese languages are still spoken by a minority.

• BRIEF HISTORY

Filipino society and culture were fairly well developed prior to contacts with other countries as documented from archeological artifacts recovered.

Some 500 years before Ferdinand Magellan set foot in the Philippines, the Filipinos had commercial relations with China, Indo-China, Malaysia, India and Arabian countries. Chinese silk, porcelain, jars, gold, ivory, and beads were traded for wax, bird’s nest, teakwood, rattan, pearls, precious stones and other marine and forest products.

On March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for the Spanish crown and brought great changes in the political, social and cultural life of the people. Christianity was introduced and a centralized government was established. By the beginning of the 17^th century, Spain’s sovereignty over the Philippines had been fully established. Spain’s rule for over three centuries was marked by sporadic revolts.

The first Filipino revolt was led by Lakandula, the last King of Manila, in 1574 to castigate the Spaniards because of their reneged promise to exempt the Filipinos from tribute and forced labor. The revolt was terminated when the Filipinos were promised better treatment. Many of the revolts were caused by the people’s desire to win back their freedom and others were prompted by Spanish oppression.

The bloody climax of Filipino struggle for freedom was the Revolution of 1896, which was also the culmination of revolts against Spanish rule. The national hero Dr. Jose Rizal led a reform movement in the 1880s, which eventually led to the 1896 revolution. Dr. Rizal was tried in Manila and was sentenced to die by musketry.

His death fuelled the fires of revolution and on June 12, 1898, leaders of the revolution declared the country a sovereign state and proclaimed the first Republic of the Philippines.

While the revolution embroiled the country, Spain declared war against the United States because of the latter’s intervention over Cuba’s fight for independence. Cuba was then a colony of Spain. Spain was defeated and on December 10, 1898, the Philippines was formally ceded to the United States by virtue of the Treaty of Paris. The occupation of the American was resented by the Filipinos and the outcome was the Filipino-American War which lasted for three years.

After several attempts of Filipino patriots to secure an act to grant independence from the United States, the Philippines was able to obtain the approval of the Tydings-McDuffie Independence Act, which provided for the establishment of a Commonwealth government to end after a ten-year period, and the adoption of a Constitution. A Constitutional Convention drafted the Constitution which was ratified on May 14, 1935. The election of Commonwealth officials followed, with Manuel L. Quezon as President, and Sergio Osmena as Vice President. On November 15, 1935, the new officials assumed office and thus began the ten-year period of self-government.

This was interrupted when the Philippines was drawn into a war in the Pacific as an ally of the Americans against the Japanese. Japanese troops occupied Manila in 1942 and for three years, the Filipinos suffered the ravages of war.

The liberation of the country was fully attained in February 1945, marking the start of the country’s massive rehabilitation and rebuilding out of the devastation brought about by the war.

On July 4, 1946, a year after the end of the war, the American flag was lowered and the Philippine flag was hoisted, signaling the recognition of Philippine Independence from the U.S.

• GOVERNMENT

The Republic of the Philippines, a democratic and republican state, has a presidential form of government under a new Constitution promulgated in 1986 and ratified by the people on February 2, 1987

The 1986 Constitution provided for a tripartite system: the Executive, represented by a President elected by direct vote of the people for a six-year term; the Legislative, represented by a bicameral Congress, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and a Judiciary, with the power of judicial review.

Executive power is vested in the President, who is assisted by the Cabinet. The President is the head of the Cabinet, which is responsible for formulating key policies and carrying out executive functions. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The Congress has exclusive lawmaking powers. The Senate has 24 Senators elected at large and the House of Representatives has 226 Congressmen elected by district and by party list. The Judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and other inferior courts. The Supreme Court has a Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices appointed by the President.

• RELIGION

The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholics make up nearly 85 percent of the population. The other religions are Protestantism and Islam.

• ECONOMY

During the first quarter of 2004, the robust expansion in gross domestic product (GDP) by 6.4 percent and gross national product (GNP) by 6.2 percent indicated that the economy’s engines of growth remain generally healthy, with all economic sectors - agriculture (7.7%) , industry (5.5%) , and services (6.4%) – expanding.

Underpinning the strong growth were factors whose impact countered the adverse effects from developments such as the rising price of oil and the uncertainty arising from the election.

Domestic demand, led by consumer spending, has held up well. Personal consumer spending grew a robust 5.9 percent, helped by a combination of the strong growth in agriculture, election-related spending, and overseas remittances. The strong growth in agriculture is not only due to favorable weather but also to the vigorous support of the government which led to an expansion in irrigated areas and the use of hybrid seeds and other essential farm inputs. Manufacturing has also benefited from the expansion in exports (10%) to main trading partners such as the US, Japan, Southeast Asian economies, and the increasing trade with China. Boosting this was the 15.8 percent growth in exports of non-factor services which includes earnings from call centers and business process outsourcing centers. Meanwhile, notwithstanding the uncertainty arising from elections, investments in construction and durable equipment rose 4.8 percent. Investments in durables were mostly investments in agriculture, telecommunications, office and data processing, and in industries that are investing to improve competitiveness such as textiles, sugar milling, and pulp and paper.

The increase in the price of oil presents a downside risk in the coming quarters. However, the economy has enough bright spots to mitigate the increase in oil prices and possible hike in interest rates. These include support for agriculture, the continued expansion of the telecommunications and IT-related businesses, public sector spending for key infrastructure projects of government owned and controlled corporations--the North Luzon Expressway, LRT Line 2, port development, and inflow from overseas workers.

Currency: Philippine Peso

Capital : Fuzhou

Government : Hualin Road, Fuzhou

Telephone Number : (591) 7021333

E-mail : webmaster@fj.gov.cn

Website : http://www.fujian.gov.cn

Fujian, called "Min" for short, is situated in the southeast of China on the coast of the East China Sea. Fujian covers a land of 540 km from east to west and 550 km from north to south. It faces Taiwan Province across the Taiwan Strait and adjoins Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces on the northeast, northwest and southwest, respectively. Its territory includes 121,400 square kilometers land and 136,300 square kilometers of sea. Its coastline stretches 3,324 km, the second longest in the country. Encompassing 1,401 islands of different sizes, Fujian is a vital navigation hub between the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It is one of the Chinese provinces closest to Southeast Asia, West Asia, East Africa and Oceania.

Topography:

Mountains and hilly areas constitute over 80 percent of Fujian's land area. Plains are concentrated in its southeast coastal areas.

Capital : Nanning

Address : 1 Minyue Road, Nanning

Telephone Number : 0771-2807778

Geographical location:

Located in south China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is a coastal province. It occupies a land of 236,700 square km, accounting for 2.5 percent of the nation's total and ranking ninth among all the provinces.

Elevation extremes:

Situated on the southeast ring of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Guangxi stands high in the northwest and low in the southeast, with the highest point at 2,141 meters above sea level. 
Climate:

Situated in a region at low latitudes, Guangxi borders on the tropic sea in the south, and has mountain ranges in its northern part. The climate here is characterized by having a short winter and long summer with the annual temperature averaging between 16ºC and 23ºC.

The annual rainfall in Guangxi is between 1,000 2,800 mm, growing gradually southward from the north. The rainfall from April through September make up 75 percent of the annual rainfalls. The rainy season just coincides with the hot season.

Affected by abnormal advances and retreats of monsoon, Guangxi often sees changes in precipitation and temperature. Drought, floods, typhoon and hailstorms may frequently hit the area.

Water resources:

Thickly crossed by rivers, Guangxi is rich in water resource. It is estimated that the surface water flowing in the province amounts to 188 billion cubic meters, accounting for 7.12 percent of the nation's total and ranking fifth among the provinces.

Because of the abundant water resources, Guangxi is estimated to have an energy potential with a power generating ability coming to 78.8 billion kw/h annually. Statistics of 1999 showed that existing hydropower stations in Guangxi had a total installed capacity of 6.1 million kw, with the annually generated electricity being 24.73 billion kw/h, leaving an immense room for development.

Minerals:

Guangxi is known for having various mineral deposits, and it serves as one of the 10 important production bases of nonferrous metals in China. The number of proven mineral resources comes to 96, including 53 of which the deposits ranks 10th or above among provinces. The region has especially abundant reserves of manganese and tin, which amount for one third of the national total. In addition, Guangxi takes a leading role in having the reserves of vanadium, tungsten, antimony, silver, aluminum, talcum and so forth. What makes the province a favorite place for mineral development and production is that the mineral resources are found relatively concentrated lying beneath the earth.

Marine resources:

The southern section of Guangxi is ringed by seacoast. The Beibu Bay, a natural semi-enclosed bay in the northwest of the South China Sea, provides a favorable environment for the breeding and growth of various fish species. It is home to over 500 types of fish and shellfish. Among them over 50 are of economic value. They include red snapper, grouper, Spanish mackerel, butterfish and red coat. The total fish resources amount to 750,000 tons. The Beibu Bay Fish Farm covers an area of some 40,000 square sea miles.

Sub-tropical vegetation and animals:

By now, 929 kinds of land-based vertebrate animals are found in Guangxi, accounting for 43.3 percent of those found in China. Among these wild animals are 149 kinds which are rare species.

Guangxi ranks first among the Chinese provinces in being home to the rare species of plants. About 8,354 wild plants have been found in the region, including 122 kinds which are near distinction and need special protection.

Among the 670 species of fruits growing in China, 110 take their roots in Guangxi is regarded as a leading province in China to produce and export tropical and sub-tropical fruits. The region is well known for high-quality shaddock, banana, pineapple and orange. The year 2001 saw Guangxi producing a total of 4.05 million tons of fruits, ranking first among the Chinese provinces.

Vast stretches of natural forests:

The survey made in recent years showed that the forests in Guangxi occupied a land of 13.2 million hectares, accounting for 55.54 percent of the province's total territory. Good climate and geographical location enable Guangxi to have as many as over 8,000 tree species, including more than 1,000 kinds of arbor. Most of the precious forest resources are seen concentrating in the northeast section and Baise area, where about 39 percent of the province's timber products are put out.

Total population: 48.57 million (2003)

Population growth rate: 7.29‰

Ethnicity:

Guangxi is multi-ethnic region, where a number of ethnic groups live, including the largest groups such as the Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, Dong, Mulam, Maonan, Hui, Jing, Yi, Shui and Gelao, and some 25 smaller ones.. The Zhuang is the largest ethnic minority group in the region, which has a population of 15.38 million.

By the end of 2003, Guangxi had 16,102 primary schools, 2,990 middle schools, 424 polytechnic schools and 45 institutes of higher learning.

GDP: 273.21 billion yuan in 2003

GDP growth rate: 10.2 percent

Average GDP per capita: 5,964 yuan

Revenues: 34.14 billion yuan in 2003.

Foreign trade: The total foreign trade volume reached US$3.19 billion in 2003.

Foreign investment:

The year 2003 saw the actual utilization of US$690 million of foreign investment, up by 11.3 percent from the previous year. Of the figure, US$456 million were foreign direct investment. A total of 28 transnational companies had projects in Guangxi during the year.

Per capita disposable income of urban resident: 7,785 yuan (2003), up by 6.4 percent.

Per capita net income of rural residents: 2,095 yuan (2003), up by 4.1 percent.

Pillar Industries:

(1) Power industry with the hydropower as the mainstay,

(2)   Nonferrous metal industry;

(3) Building materials industry (cement, plate glass, ceramic, granite and marble); and

Situated in the northeast CORNER OF THE Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, Guilin is hailed by many as the most beautiful place in China and is one of the must-see destinations for most foreign tourists. According to a popular Chinese saying, "Guilin’s scenery bests all others in the world." Its shapely, rising limestone towers and crystal clear waters are often portrayed in Chinese artworks. Adding to its natural beauty are many fascinating caves.

The city of Guilin was founded in the Qin Dynasty in 314 BC as a small settlement on the Lijiang River. It became increasingly important following the construction of a canal joining the river with another further north, providing a transport link with the Yangzi. The imperial court could thus send food and provisions by water from the Yangzi plains to its armies in the far south. The town became the provincial capital in the Ming Dynasty, and remained so until 1914, when the capital was moved to Nanning.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, Guilin has developed a fledgling industry, producing a variety of products such as pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizers and silk. From its noted profusion of lowering cassia trees, which have a strong, sweet scent, it produces a number of specialties including perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon and herbal medicine.

Governor : Huang Zhiquan

Address of Provincial : 69 West Beijing Road, Nanchang City

Telephone Number : (791) 6224166, 6224110

Website : http/www.jiangxi.gov.cn

Geographical Location :

Jiangxi, also called "Gan" for short, is one of China’s inland provinces. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, on the southern bank of the Yangtse River, between 24’29-30’04’ north latitude and 113’34-118’28’ east longitude. It borders Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in the east, Guangdong Province in the south, Human Province in the west and Hubei and Anhui provinces in the north, covering a total area of 166,900 square kilometers.

Topography and geomorphology:

The topographies of Jiangxi are dominated by mountainous and hilly land, with mountains covering 36 percent of the province’s total territory. Mount Huaiyu in the northeast has the province’s largest copper reserve; Wuyi Mountain, a World Cultural Heritage site, lies in the eastern part; the Dageng Ridge and Jiulian Mountain in the south are known as the "capital of tungsten".

Climate:

Jiangxi’s annual average temperature is around 18ºC. Temperatures in the northeastern and northwestern areas and that along the Yangtze River are lower than other parts of the province, ranging from 16ºC to 17ºC. The other parts of the province are warmer, with temperatures ranging from 18ºC - 20ºC.

Jiangxi has plentiful rainfall. The average annual rainfalls range between 1,341 mm and 1,940 mm.

Jiangxi has abundant mineral resources. Of the 150 known minerals, more than 140 have been found in Jiangxi. Among these, the deposits of 89 have been verified, with 33 of them ranking among the top fives of the country. Ferrous metals in Jiangxi include iron, manganese, titanium and vanadium. Among the 13 non-ferrous and precious metals are copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver. There are also 29 rare and rare-earth minerals, such as niobium and tantalum. The province has developed the largest copper mine in Asia and its copper smelting base is the largest in China.

Fifty-nine percent of Jiangxi’s territory is covered with forest. Its timber reserve amounts to 250 million cubic meters, in addition to 1 billion plants of bamboo, both figures taking leading positions in the country.

The good ecological environment characterized with rich water resource, changing topographies and wide coverage of vegetation ensures Jiangxi’s abundance in wildlife. And its protection of the environment and wildlife has shown effective results in recent years.

Fish and birds, large in number of species, have great economic value and therefore have the priority for protection. Poyang Lake presents an ideal winter shelter for migratory birds.

Jiangxi has beautiful landscapes with green mountains and clear waters. The major scenic spots include: Mount Lushan, Jianggang Mountain, Longhu (Dragon and Tiger) Mountain, Sanqing Mountain, Poyang Lake, and the cities of Nanchang and Jingdezhen.

Mount Lushan has been listed as a World Heritage sire by the UNESCO. Together with Jinggang and Sanqing mountains, it offers charming peaks and quiet valleys.

Guifeng Peak and Dragon Palace are noted for their precipitous cliffs and deep caves. The landscapes of Poyang Lake and Gangjiang River are attractive while ancient temples at Longhu Mountain, Qingyuan and Donglin attract visitors with unique religious architectures.

Population: 41.64 million (2000)

Population Growth Rate: 9.8%

Life expectancy (average): 68.3 years (2000).

Ethnicity:

Jiangxi is home to 38 ethnic groups, of which the Han people are the largest group, accounting for 99 percent of the province’s total population.

There is an average of 259 people living in a square kilometer of land in the province.

GDP: 245 billion yuan (US$25.59 billion) in 2002.

GDP Growth Rate: 10.5 percent

Revenues: 20.01 billion yuan (US$2.42 billion) in 2001, up by 16.6 percent from that of the previous year.

A total of 1,193 products in 58 categories are exported from Jiangxi to 153 countries and regions in the world. The customs statistics show that the annual value of imports and exports in 2000 reached US$1.6 billion, up by 23.36 percent from the previous year. Of this figure, export accounted for US$1.2 million, up by 32.1 percent, and rest amount of US$400 million was from import, up by 4.6 percent.

Foreign Investments:

Jinjiang City, in east China’s Fuijan Province, has become a major sports-shoes manufacturer, with an annual output value of 10 billion yuan (1.2 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for one quarter of the country’s total.

The city’s shoe-making industry was initiated in the 1980’s when some local families opened small workshops to produce cheap sandals and slippers, but over the past two decades it had developed into a local industrial pillar, with over 2,000 shoe factories manufacturing 300 million pairs of sports shoes a year.

Since 1993, the city has made great efforts to boost exports as many local manufacturers have participated in international trade fairs or held shoe exhibitions abroad.

Now, Jinjiang-made sports shoes sell well all over the world and some 30 local businesses have set up branch agencies in foreign countries. More than 500 local companies have established business ties with foreign firms via the Internet.

Last year, Jinjiang exported sports shoes worth 4.7 billion yuan, about 36 percent of the city’s total exports.

Meanwhile, factories making shoe materials and accessories have also mushroomed in Jinjiang, with the total output value now over two billion yuan.

Nanchang, the capital of Jianxi Province and the center of the provincial economy, politics, science and technology, and culture and education, is an old city. It is also known as a heroic city because of the August 1 Nanchang Uprising. Governing five districts (East Lake, West Lake, Qingyunpu, Wanli and Jiaoqu) and four countries (Nanchang, Xinjian, Jinxian, and Anji) with a total area of 7,400 square kilometers.

Over 5,000 years ago, ancestors of present-day residents used flint implements to exploit this rich land. The town was first built in 200 BC. In the fifth year of the reign of the Han Emperor, Gaozu (202 BC), Yuzhang Jun (Jun was an ancient administrative division equal to a present-day prefecture) was set up, which governed a country named Nanchang.

Nanchang means ‘a prosperous south part of China’. Being over 2,200 years old, Nanchang is a city with significant historical relevance. Nanchang belongs to the sub-tropical monsoon climate; therefore it has mild and pleasant weather for almost all the year round.

Nanchang is a beautiful city with the Gan river, the mother river of local people, traversing through the whole city. Water is her soul or in other words water carries all her beauty. Lakes and rivers in or around Nanchang bring a special kind of charm to the city. Nanchang is honored as ‘a green pearl in the southern part of China’ thanks to its clear water and fresh air.

Nanchang University, the key comprehensive provincial institution and one of the key constructive universities of China supported by the government under the State 211 project, is located in Nanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi Province. It is entitled by the Ministry of Education of China to enroll foreign students supported by the Chinese government scholarship and it is also one of the Chinese universities where foreign students come to study with foreign government scholarships. Nanchang University, initially named National Zhong-Zheng University, was founded in 1940.

The University is a comprehensive one, with the characteristics of a great balance of arts, science and technology as well as co-development of science , technology and medicine. It consists of 86 undergraduate specialties concerning arts, history, philosophy, economy, management, law, science, technology, agriculture, education, and so on. Currently, the university consists of 16 schools with 174 Master’s degree programs, 25 PhD programs, 86 Undergraduate programs and 2 post doctor’s scientific research flow work stations. Total enrollment amounts to over 83,000.

There are two national key laboratories, one project center directed by the Ministry of Education, one clinical pharmacology base at national level and one branch center in Jiangxi province of the national research center for stem cell engineering and technology as well as ten affiliated hospitals of various kinds.

Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is located in Southern Guangxi in the sub-tropical region between 107 º19’ – 109º38’ East Longitude and 22º12’ - 24º2’ North Latitude with an area of 22,293 square kilometers, it is situated in the middle of Nanning Basin through which Yongilang River runs.

Nanning enjoys a favorable geographical location in Southwestern China, connecting the Indo-China Peninsula to the west and Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, Macao and Hainan Province to the east, making it not only an important economic center along the Beibu Gulf, but also a rapid growing gateway city to Southeast Asia in the southern and southwestern parts of China. The city is only 104, 173 and 204 kilometers respectively to the Ports of Qinzhou, Fangcheng and Beihai, and only 204 and 230 kilometers respectively to the cities of Dongxing and Pingxiang bordering Vietnam. Moreover, it is reached by both railways and Yongjiang River. Four key railways meet here, namely, Hunan-Guangxi Railway, Guizhou-Guangxi Railway, Litang-Zhanjiang Railway and Nanning-Kunming Railway making the city an important hub in Southwestern China. The completion of the 2^nd Phase Project of dredging Xijaing River enables thousand-ton ships to sail directly from Nanning to Hong Kong and Macao via the Yongjiang River, a branch of the Xijiang River.

An important gateway to Southeast Asia for Southwestern China, Nanning is a hub, a regional center and an opening city that plays an active role in the communication between China and ASEAN countries. It is becoming a new and booming economic zone and a hotspot for foreign investment in China. With its rapid urban development Nanning attaches great importance to improving the natural environment and enjoys the reputation of the "the Green City of China" because of its best green coverage in the country.

Nanning became the capital of Guangxi Autonomous Region in 1958.

Nanning Today

Economic Overview

The economy of Nanning is developing rapidly. In 2002, the city’s GNP was 35.6 billion Yuan, an increase of 11.5 percent over the previous year.

Pillar Industries

Food processing, papermaking, aluminum processing, machinery, chemical engineering, biological engineer, pharmacy, electronics and information are the pillar industries and focus of the development of Nanning.

Retail Sector

With the growth of the economy and the increased availability of consumer products, spending on items such as telecommunications, digital devices, automobiles and houses has become the focus of consumer spending.

The total retail sales of consumer goods have reached 18.31 billion Yuan. Nanning has become a major retail center for convenience, consumer and specialty goods for the entire region, linking the full network of producers and consumers.

Nanning Prospects

The great opportunity of being the host city of Sino-ASEAN Exposition will rapidly promote the strategic status of Nanning. In December 2003, the Tenth Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Nanning Committee of CPC passed a decision to speed up construction of a greater Nanning through three phases in the first 20 years of this century by implementing five strategies:

1. To develop urban and rural areas as a whole and construct a large regional hub - Nanning’s strategic status will be established as a regional center, an internationalized city, and a giant composed of central city, secondary central city, key and small towns linked together by the Yongjiang River and trunk lines.

2. To optimize economic distribution and construct a strong basis for industrial development - Nanning will construct a modern manufacturing base by enlarging industrial investment and implementing "projects of ten billion Yuan industrial investment".