Chinese and European Union (EU) officials held a high-level strategic dialogue on Tuesday amid heightened international discussion on where China is headed after displacing Japan as world's second-biggest economy.

Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo co-chaired the one-day, closed-door meeting in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The dialogue is to outlay the foundation for the coming China-Europe Summit in October. Both sides have also further coordinated their stance ahead of a series of global governance issues, including the G20 and climate change.

Speaking from Guizhou, a relatively poor province, Ashton said that while some people only see a rich China, based on events such as 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Shanghai Expo, the nation is one of economic contrasts.

"The EU should understand China in a comprehensive way, not only the fast developing side, but also the fact that China faces various challenges in a vital transforming period," Ashton was quoted as saying in a press release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"The EU should enhance its dialogue with China economically and politically, and push forward China-EU strategic cooperating," said Ashton.

Europe's "foreign minister" also said the EU would take China's development - as the world's fastest-growing major economy - as an opportunity to work with Beijing to expand trade, investment and jobs.

She added that the EU and China should encourage personnel and cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding as a further way to instill grass-roots relations between China and the EU.

"China has a clear understanding of its international role and development level", Dai told his European guests, noting China's "great achievements" in the past three decades.

"China will continue to be focused on the development of its domestic society to ensure its 1.3 billion people live a decent life," Dai said, adding that China shall continue its policies of refraining from regional hegemony, while maintaining its global responsibilities.

Domestic requirements are important, too, he noted.

Indeed, that the dialogue was held in Guizhou, one of the poorest regions of China - with a per-capita GDP standing at only one-seventh of that of Shanghai - was no accident: Dai hoped his guests could experience an altogether different, less acknowledged, part of China.

Ashton, after journeying from Shanghai, spent Tuesday afternoon visiting families in the destitute Shanping village near the capital city, whose parents are working in cities, leaving only children and their elderly at home.

Ashton also spoke to inspire primary school students in the town - many of who have little chance to leave town - by citing her own story: one with origins in a humble, working-class background that would evolve into a career as a political luminary.

Many Chinese officials and analysts believe that by witnessing China's diverse aspects - many not so often seen in the Western world - EU officials will enjoy a more balanced understanding of China.

"China wants the EU to have a more objective understanding of China and its development level," said Fu Ying, the vice foreign minister who accompanied Ashton in the tour.

Ding Chun, director of Center for European Studies at Fudan University, agreed that the eclectic nature of the trip will only have beneficial effects for Sino-European ties, he told China Daily in an interview.

This round of dialogue between Europe's "foreign minister" and other officials, moreover, is expected to enhance China's EU relations in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty which, after entering into effect late last year, furthered European integration.

The previous four rounds of strategic talks were held between vice foreign ministers of China and nations heading the European Union's rotating presidency.

The Lisbon Treaty signifies a milestone in EU unity, while representing an important chapter in Sino-EU relations, according to Wang He, an expert on European economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Ashton's week-long visit is a sign, He noted, that the EU and Beijing have undertaken mutually "realistic" approaches to address concerns that relations have cooled in recent years, noted Jonathan Holslag, a research fellow at the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies.

"It's encouraging that Ashton's visit has come after she invested a lot of time and energy among the 27 EU members to learn their expectations and concerns toward China - which is essential," said Holslag.

Ashton is expected to meet other Chinese leaders, including Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, on Thursday.

Office furniture manufacturer UPS Power Manufacturer UPS Power

Do you ever feel distressed when encountering difficulties in daily life in China and have no where to turn because of language or information barriers?

If so, please let us help you.

The English Department of People's Daily Online has launched a new column named "Complaints and Concerns."

We hope this column will provide help for foreigners living in China. We will listen to your difficulties and complaints in daily life and make efforts to help you. If necessary, we will try to redirect your problems to the correct departments in order to help you solve problems and preserve your legitimate legal rights in China.

You can e-mail us with the difficulties and problems you experience while living in China. Our e-mail address is

Our column will publish the letters from netizens, which only represents personal opinions because some letters involving specific units, departments or individuals are not verified. Netizens' English letters will be translated into Chinese and also published on People's Daily Online Chinese Edition. We will accurately publish the actual situation and release the process and results to the public.

In addition, in order to communicate with you and reply to you in a timely manner, we encourage you to leave your real identity and contact information in the e-mail and enclose comprehensive evidence, such as words and pictures. We promise that your personal information will not be released to the public.

Thank you for your support and attention.

Waiting for your letters.

blogspot blog maycc1 vox thoughts blog co uk wordpress

An investigation team has been established to examine the oil pipeline explosion that occurred in northeast China's coastal city of Dalian Friday, local authorities said Sunday.

The investigations began Sunday morning but the cause of the accident is yet to be determined, said Sun Benqiang, deputy chief of the municipal work safety bureau.

A 0.9-meter-diameter oil pipeline exploded at 6 p.m. Friday near Dalian's Xingang Harbor, Liaoning Province, triggering an adjacent smaller pipeline to explode too.

Both pipelines, owned by China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), caught fire. The blaze at the larger pipeline was extinguished around midnight. But at least five subsequent explosions fueled the fire at the smaller pipeline.

The fire was mostly extinguished Saturday morning, 15 hours after the initial explosion.

The accident happened after a 300,000 tonne oil tanker discharged its load at the harbor. The tanker left the harbor safely.

"Whether CNPC or the tanker should be blamed for the accident is yet to be determined," said Sun.

The explosion and fire caused no casualties, a city government spokesman said. The scene of the accident is far from residential areas.

The spill "seriously polluted" 11-square-kilometers of sea and "slightly affected" 50-square-kilometers of sea, said Wu Guogong, deputy chief of the municipal environmental protection bureau.

CNPC said Sunday it would do its best to reduce the impact of the oil pipeline explosions.

Oil has stopped leaking into the sea as a valve has been closed. The oil that entered the sea has been fenced off and contained, CNPC said.

Monitoring of the air and sea environment has been stepped up in the affected areas, CNPC added.

The accident has aroused the attention of Chinese leaders President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang rushed to the scene Friday night to direct operations.

Smoke from the explosions and fires at the scene is thinner than before but still irritates people's eyes and throats, said Xinhua reporters at the scene.

The pipelines linked on-land oil tanks and tankers.

Like the sentimental, like the cranky, difficult day heart level, the sleepless nights.

A little anxious, still a little sense of loss, more and more away from their former, more and more tired.

Like the feeling of a busy, busy, whether commonplace or inaction of the busy, no time like the other can make their own motivation to stick to something else, no longer have the opportunity to cranky, and now command a busy feeling up only heavy heart, but it is more busy mess, difficult to repeat heart hard to thread.

Recently he started to become irritable, irritability, alcohol drinking drunk, which I used to own, different person, still a lot of things waiting for me, my goal is still long, but his is depressed now , mind clutter.

Always like someone else's address psychological barriers, but do nothing for themselves, even if the tea tour now own music, not underestimate the level of depression thoughts in mind, like the moment of one's solitude, without fear of a person's sense of isolation. Physical and mental fatigue has been difficult to prop up the appearance of hypocrisy. Once the laughter, but now unhappy; once leisurely and talk, but now silent; have a great interest, but now depressed.

Aware of the problem, but can not find the root of the problem, understand the terrible results, but it is not help. Drawing near, but their are still in lingered, not for me, half the time points, while they are still wasting time, consuming the youth.

To address this health issue was born, and currently has no ability to solve all problems, all problems will be used to arrogate used to be exclusive of all thoughts, even if their matter how tired, no thoughts then pass others may be tired, alone, endure point, but better hone their own will.

I do not know now will continue to thoughts and when the mind does not know how disturbing me back to reality, that is, under the appearance of mature naive mind, under the guise of a strong heart is fragile, it might be a world (love) is the abandoned, or else their will more and more tired, more and more anxious.

Time like water, fleeting, youth seldom in, passing by. Are only now able to grasp the past, the loss of no longer have, the uncertainty of the future also nothing we can do as a student! !

Heart-breaking, indescribable, more difficult to heal. Put away the evil of vanity, the road is still long, so why torture yourself again, why her obsession. Zhou Cheng-Zai Budong life too much, in order to reach the other side, not stranded or sunken half-way, we must throw away the things which are difficult to give up such as: love, online games ... ...

Classic Short philosophical articles
Someone else's path
A person to go through wetlands, because there is no road, we ventured to go. Although a very dangerous left cross-right jump, is just able to find a way, the Kehao territory did not last long, did not go far, careless stepped into the mud, sank.
One person to another through the swamp and saw footprints of their predecessors, thought: This must be someone pass along the footprints of others will not go wrong. Try to step to the feet turned out really, so they go on at ease. Kick Ta Kong finally sunk in mud.
One person to another through the swamp, looking at the footprints in front of the two men, neither want to be down to go down, his fate is predictable.
... ...
One person to another through the swamp, looking at the footprints in front of the crowd, thinking: This must be - the other side of the road section leading to the marshes to see, there are so many people walked past, along the walking I must also could go the other side of swamp. Then went to march, he was finally sunk in the mud.
The way the world is not more people go more smoothly in the more flat along the footsteps of others, not only get out of new ideas, and sometimes may also fall into the trap.

Lost Toys
The sculptor has a 12-year-old son.
Dad gave him his son was to make a few pieces of toys, sculptor never promised, would only say: try your own hands can not do? Her son is very angry very angry. But over time, he fail to beat the father, will no longer beg, struggle, try to make them according to their own imagination.
Originally, the sculptor of the son's "work" No matter did not ask, laissez-faire. Children are often Zaochu some bizarre things, he is very happy, but soon tired of re-production.
In order to better their own system of toys, children begin to pay attention his father's work, often stood in Taiwan while watching his father how to use various tools, and then imitate the application of toy making. Her father never explained to him what is still laissez-faire.
A year later, the child seemed to initially grasp a number of manufacturing practices, and toys were made so looks somewhat like an appearance. At this time, my father occasionally pointing 12. But the stubborn temper, the child has never been the father's words seriously, its own way, their own entertainment, the father is not angry.
Another year, the child's skills have markedly improved, can be arbitrarily tinkering with all kinds of human and animal shapes, the child often their own "masterpiece" show to show people, attracted a lot of praise. But the sculptor is always faint smile, and do not care like.
Suddenly one day, the children kept in the studio all the missing toys in! He was very much surprised and bewildered! Father said: "The thieves may have been to last night." No way a child, only to re-create.
Six months later, studio once again stolen! Daughter was very sad and decided to move into their own bedroom, all the toys; but his father does not allow that would be dirty house. Another six months, the studio also stolen. So many times, children have gradually grown into a juvenile. His father was suspected that some mischief: Why does not see his father for the theft from surprised to prevent it?
One night by chance, his son returned from abroad to the Middle, see studio lights lit, then sneak peep at the window: Father Beizhao Shou, in the sculpture before the pacing, watching. A moment, the father seemed to make some decisions, one turned around, picked up an ax, the majority of his works played smashes! Then, these broken clods piled together, put the water, re-, and into the mud. Children stood puzzled out the window. At this time, he saw his father went up to him before the batches of toys! I saw my father pick up the toys to scrutinize every moment, but also with the cheek & Veg them, like kissing like! Then, the father threw his son all of the home-made toys mix mud pile up!
When his father back when the son had been standing behind him, staring at a pair of angry eyes! Father some shame, gently stroking his son's face, he muttered: "I is not, oh, because, and only destroyed the poor, we can create better."
Another ten years, the father and son were at home and abroad with the works of many awards.

Genuine forgiveness
On one occasion, inventor Thomas Edison and his assistants produced a light bulb. It is their hard work day and night of the fruits of their labors. Subsequently, the Edison so that a young apprentice to get this bulb to another lab upstairs. It took the hands of apprentices from the Edison light bulb, carefully step by step, up the stairs for fear of the hands of the new stuff slide. But the more he thought, the more nervous heart, hands can not help but shiver up, when the stairs to the top, the light bulb finally dropped to the ground. Edison did not blame the apprentices. A few days later, Edison and his assistants then used the time day and night to produce an electric light bulb. Done, you still need someone to send light bulbs upstairs. Edison never even considered, it will be it to the light bulbs that were previously off the ground will be an apprentice. This time, the apprentices sit safely on the light bulb got upstairs. Later, someone asked Edison: "forgive him enough, so why take it then give him the light bulb? If they fell to the ground and how to do?" Edison replied: "Forgive are not just mouths to talk about, but do depend on . "

If you can read this post, it means that the registration process was successful and that you can start blogging