IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Economy

Conference maps path for 2014

China opened its annual Central Economic Work Conference on Dec 10 amid economists' calls for stronger and more concrete efforts for reform.

The meeting is set to review China's economic progress in 2013 and map out plans for 2014, an important year for carrying out a reform blueprint adopted last month, economists said.

The conference is expected to lead to a series of strategic planning meetings at the turn of the year, including for urbanization and rural development.

"Maintaining steady economic progress will be the top priority," said Li Ping, director of the Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Under that condition, restructuring reforms can be pushed forward to cope with a new stage of growth," Li said.

Li Yang, deputy head of the academy, a major government think tank, said China cannot wait any longer to transform its pattern of growth, and economic policies should focus on quality growth and efficiency instead of bailouts and high-speed growth in the short term.

Trade

Swiss lower house approves China FTA

The lower house of Swiss parliament approved a free trade agreement with China on Dec 10 in Geneva.

Lawmakers of the Swiss National Council voted 120 in favor, 46 against and 16 abstentions to ratify the deal after debating its pros and cons, local website Swissinfo reported.

The Swiss-Chinese FTA, signed in Beijing on July 6 after nine rounds of negotiations over more than two years, is expected to be considered by the upper house, or the Council of States in March 2014.

It is the first free trade pact inked between China and a country in continental Europe.

Statistics show that the bilateral trade volume between China and Switzerland reached $26.31 billion in 2012. The figure for the first five months of this year surged to $22.89 billion, 114.2 percent higher than the same period last year.

China is Switzerland's largest trading partner in Asia, while Switzerland is China's eighth-largest trading partner in Europe, according to official Chinese data.

Trade disputes involving China on rise

China was embroiled in 80 trade dispute cases during the January-November period, up 12 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Commerce revealed on Dec 10.

The cases involved 18 different countries and regions, said MOC spokesman Yao Jian at the ministry's regular news conference.

Yao said the recently-concluded solar panel dispute with the European Union indicates that negotiation was a main tool to resolve future disputes.

He said the 121 Chinese solar makers involved in the price undertaking deal with the EU reached in July accounted for 79 percent of China's total solar exports to the bloc.

Culture

China film festival opens in London

The first China International Film Festival London opened on Dec 6 at the Central Hall of Westminster.

Supported by the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the British Council, it was attended by famous directors, actors and actresses including Xie Fei, Simon Yam, Jaycee Chan, Huang Yi and Fan Bingbing.

In a message sent to the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming said: "With the increase of exchanges between China and foreign countries, movie has become an important medium to enhance understanding, hoping the festival could be a window to showcase China's culture and social development.

A total of 15 Chinese films, including Lost in Thailand, So Young and Silent Witness, will be screened during the four-day event.

"We hope that this festival could be a Christmas gift to the British people," said Kong Xiangxi, founder of the festival.

China to participate in Belgian culture events

China is the first non-European country to confirm its presence in the festival Mons European Capital of Culture 2015 in Belgium.

A memorandum was signed on Dec 11 in Brussels by Yang Zhijin, Chinese vice-minister of Culture, and Fadila Laanan, minister of culture and audiovisual of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels.

According to the memorandum on bilateral cooperation in the framework of Mons 2015, Chinese art groups will be encouraged to take part in the festivities of the Belgian city.

Meanwhile, China is ready to welcome artists from Wallonia-Brussels for the festival Quanzhou East Asian Capital of Culture.

Quanzhou city, located in southeast China, was one of the first seaports for trade between China and the Arab world and Europe from the 14th century to the 18th century.

Mons, which is close to the French border, was elected in 2010 European Capital of Culture for 2015. It is the fourth Belgian city to be so honored, after Antwerp, Brussels and Brugge.

With a budget of 75 million euros ($103 million), Mons provides some 100 cultural projects for the festival.

The initiative of the European Union on the European Capital of Culture dates back to 1985, in order to promote cultural diversity, exchange and understanding among EU member states.

(China Daily European Weekly 12/13/2013 page2)