DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “China Voice: Why China focuses on cultural development” plus 9 more

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing plenary meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is focused on the country's cultural development.

Cultural development may seem like an unusual topic for such high level meetings -- especially considering last year's plenum centered around the country's blueprint for development for the next five years -- but the discussion is actually happening at an important moment in China's development.

Despite China's economic miracles outshining other countries and the remarkable cultural and ideological progress it has made, China faces unprecedented challenges in the field of culture.

Chinese companies such as Sinopec and China Mobile are not newcomers to the list of the world's top 500 companies, but Chinese cultural companies have yet to produce a world-famous brand.

China produces the most TV series in the world, with about 14,700 episodes produced every year, but the import-export ratio is an embarrassing 15-to-1.

The total combined income of all 500 publishing houses in China is less than that of Germany's Bertelsmann.

Disney created the animated blockbuster "Mulan" based on a well-known Chinese folk heroine. The film was popular in China as well as in international markets, but China has yet to produce an animated film as internationally successful as "Mulan."

China is taking center stage economically and diplomatically, but its image is often distorted in the West.

The "deficit" in cultural exchange and disadvantage in international cultural competition concern not only the size of market share, but also the country's initiative in ideology and soft power, China's flagship newspaper the People's Daily said in a signed commentary.

Economic basis determines superstructure. China, which is now the world's second largest economy, has every reason to step up efforts to bring its culture in line with its economic status.

China has realized that culture has increasingly become a major source of national cohesion and creativity, a leading factor in the competition of national strength, and a backbone of economic and social development.

History has shown that when a nation awakes it always begins with cultural awareness, and the strength of a political party is greatly determined by its consciousness of culture.

The Chinese nationality has created an extensive and profound culture with a long history, and it can surely add new splendor to Chinese culture on the basis of inheriting and enriching its fine traditional culture.

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday urged the universities in the country to impart entrepreneurial skills to youth to help strengthen national economy.

He was addressing the award-giving ceremony of Prime Minister's Entrepreneurial Challenge programme DISCOVER, at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).

"I very strongly feel that universities must solve problems of our local industry and scale up their research and development focused on commercial success," the Prime Minister said.

Gilani said new growth strategy was being developed and implemented by the government and said it laid greater emphasis on human resource development, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) was also focusing on the greater role of universities in building economy, community and future leaders.

"We are also using Benazir Income Support Fund, micro-credit financing and internship schemes to support the educated and dynamic youth of Pakistan to become high achievers in life," he said.

He said the competition "Discover: Prosperity through Entrepreneurship" was absolutely in line with the vision of his government to promote education.

Gilani said for this reason, he readily agreed to the proposal as he sincerely believed that it was the only way to create jobs.

Prime Minister Gilani recalled that while presiding over a meeting of Pakistan Software Export Board, he directed completion of the Information Technology Park Project in Islamabad on fast- track basis.

He said the project will also be launched in provinces at a later stage and said he had already instructed for allotment of a piece of land for this purpose.

He said Pakistan was a truly blessed nation, where 63 percent of its population was under 25 years of age having enormous potential.

"Our demographic potential places Pakistan on a take-off stage provided the capabilities of our youth are harnessed for productive purposes," he said.

He stressed the need for developing linkages between Pakistani universities and job markets, and added it was an age of knowledge- driven economies.

Gilani felicitated the NUST and Cambridge Advisors Network, the co-organizers of this competition, for identifying the right direction for youth and creating a support system to promote industry-academia collaboration.

He said identifying entrepreneurs, connecting them with the industry, providing incubation space and seed funds, arranging industrial mentors and finally celebrating their achievements was a comprehensive phased business development programme.

The PM lauded the students for their projects and said "You have taken innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization beyond their buzzword significance, to actualization of ideas."

The Prime Minister commended the efforts of Ministry of Science and Technology and HEC for their support to technology incubator at NUST and for promoting technology-based businesses.

"Such incubators help in the growth of small and medium industries and can ultimately become significant contributors to our GDP growth."

The event was also attended by Minister for Science and Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali and Chairman of Higher Education Commission Dr. Javaid Laghari.

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- An awards ceremony was held in Beijing Monday for international photographers who participated in a worldwide photo contest focusing on the global fight against poverty.

The "Zoom-in on Poverty Global Photo Contest" was co-sponsored by the Xinhua News Agency and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and lasted from May 27 to Sept.1.

More than 32,000 photos were received from over 100 countries and regions. Among the participants were photojournalists from 262 international media organizations, as well as thousands of amateur photographers.

"Poverty eradication is one of the UN's millennium development goals, as well as an obligation for people from all walks of life in international society," Li Congjun, president of the Xinhua News Agency, said at the awards ceremony.

Xinhua's role in co-sponsoring the contest with the UNDP showed its determination to aid in the global humanitarian endeavor, he said.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark expressed her gratitude for Xinhua's cooperation.

"This exhibition is the outcome of a strong partnership here in China between Xinhua and UNDP, and I thank President Li and Xinhua for cooperating with us on the contest and exhibition, " she said at Monday's ceremony.

Seven photographers, including four Chinese, one Dutch, one Italian and one Spanish photographer, won first prize in the seven categories.

Chinese photojournalist Xie Hailong won the "Anti-poverty Achievement Award" for his dedicated efforts in poverty eradication and photographic achievements.

Xinhua photojournalist Wu Xiaoling won the "Netizen's Choice Award" for his work focusing on poverty in war-torn South Sudan.

Dutch photographer Robin Utrecht snatched the "Editorial Images Best Professional Singles Award" for his work focusing on poverty-stricken people in Ethiopia.

The "Editorial Images Best Professional Stories Award" went to Italian photographer Stefano de Luigi, whose work focused on drought in Kenya.

The "Editorial Images Best Non-Professional Singles Award" was won by Chinese photographer Jiang Yushu.

Miguel Candela from Spain won the "Editorial Images Best Non-Professional Stories Award" for his photos of prostitutes in Bangladesh.

The "Creative Images Award" went to Chinese photographer Huang Lingfang.

Dozens of other photographers took home second- and third-place prizes, as well as honorable mentions.

The board of judges consisted of 11 judges from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

As an important part of the event, Xinhua and Reuters launched a joint campaign, "Into Africa," in August, sending journalists to cover poverty issues in Africa.

"They took wonderful photos for the contest, and their actions showed the aspiration and professional capacity of the world's leading media organizations in their humanitarian undertakings," said Li Congjun, also an honorary chairman of the contest's organizing committee, at the awards ceremony.

The Xinhua News Agency has launched public welfare campaigns with five UN institutions and established contact with 13 others.

It plans to launch a special media campaign with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) around Dec. 1, to mark this year' s World AIDS Day.

By then, nearly 200 Xinhua branches in China and abroad will have recorded the efforts made by UNAIDS and people all over the world to work towards UNAIDS' vision of "Getting to Zero: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths."

"Getting to Zero" has been chosen as the main theme for World AIDS Day for the next five years.

NANCHANG, China, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ye Shiwen, China's youngest ever swimming world champion, survived a strong challenge by Li Xuanxu to win the gold medal in women's 400m individual medley at the Chinese National City Games here on Monday.

Ye, who came from nowhere to win 200m IM at the world championships in July, is agruably the biggest name in pool events at the National City Games, a quadrennnial event held for athletes aged under 20, while Li was a triple gold medalist at the last National City Games in 2005.

Ye and Li got out to a quick start and went neck-and-neck for most of the race. Ye manged to set up a tiny lead on the last leg of freestyle, her specialty, and touched home in 4 minutes 33.66 seconds, her personal best time.

Li, 17, was just 0.67 seconds behind and had to settle for the silver medal.

"Congratulations to Ye. Today, she was the better of us," said Li, who represents Changsha. "I didn't swim well on the breaststroke leg and I need to improve it in future."

Less than half an hour after the 400m IM final, Ye anchored Hangzhou to victory in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay in 3:43.39. Dalian was second in 3:45.02.

Wang Shun took the men's 400m individual medley title in 4:14.09, more than two seconds shy of his own Asian record set last month in the Chinese national championships.

Changsha's Huang Chaosheng, who led at the halfway mark, finished second in 4:15.34.

In the men's 400m freestyle, Li Junqi of Zhengzhou led throughout the race and clocked a fastest time of 3:47.53.

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao's speech at the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution has been published in traditional Chinese, according to a statement issued Monday by the publisher.

The People's Publishing House said the traditional Chinese version of the speech will be distributed overseas by the China International Book Trading Corporation.

Earlier, the simplified Chinese version of the speech was published by the same publisher.

China held a high-profile ceremony on Oct. 9 at the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the 1911 Revolution, or Xinhai Revolution.

Beginning on Oct. 10, 1911 with a series of uprisings, the Revolution toppled the Qing Dynasty, ending more than 2,000 years of imperial rule and giving birth to the first republic in Asia.

Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, spoke highly of the revolution in his speech, saying it was "a thoroughly modern, national and democratic revolution."

Hu eulogized Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the revolution, as "a great national hero, a great patriot and a great leader of the Chinese democratic revolution."

Hu said the rejuvenation of China must be achieved by adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics and by upholding peace, development and cooperation.

Hu also called for the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

RAMALLAH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official from the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Monday criticized a prisoner swap deal reached between Israel and Hamas to free 1, 027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The deal, which was brokered by Egypt last week, was "largely divisional, factional and improvisational," said Eissa Qaraqe, the Palestinian National Authority's minister of prisoner affairs.

"The agreement secured the release of prisoners who still have months before they complete their sentences and neglected the prisoners who have been jailed for more than a quarter of a century," he added.

According to the agreement, Israel on Tuesday will release 477 prisoners that Hamas selected. Two months later, Israel will free the rest of the prisoners.

Hamas argued that at least 300 prisoners serving life sentences are included in the agreement. They would be swapped for Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas in 2006.

Among those who will remain in prison is Marwan Al-Barghouti, a senior Fatah leader who is serving a life sentence.  Barghouti's lawyer released a statement on Monday that he and the other jailed leaders have not been consulted about the swap dead and they have never been part of the indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

CHENGDU, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- A living buddha of on Monday denounced a recent chain of self-immolation attempts by monks from a monastery in southwest China's Sichuan Province, saying such extremism is detrimental to the development of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the latest suicide attempt, a man set himself on fire at midday on Saturday near a market in Aba County of Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Police extinguished the flames and sent him to the county hospital for treatment.

The 20-year-old man had previously been a monk at Kirti Monastery in Aba before returning to secular life in 2009.

"Tibetan Buddhism stresses benevolence and caring, and is a complete system of faith and sublime values as a result of its opposition to blind superstition," said Living Buddha Gyalton, vice president of the Sichuan Provincial Buddhist Association.

The senior monk said suicide is a severe deviation from the tenets of Buddhism and self-mutilation for any reason is against human nature.

"The recent chain of self-immolation attempts by monks has triggered public bewilderment and repulsion, causing the public to gradually lose faith," he said.

If a small group of extremists continue to politicize religion and neglect the commandments of Buddhism, they risk destroying Tibetan Buddhism in modern society, Gyalton warned.

Living Buddha Dadrak of Zogye County in Aba Prefecture called on monks to cherish their lives.

"It's an important lesson for monks to be active and optimistic," he said. "To end the present life through self-immolation only brings endless bitterness."

Several self-immolation attempts were reported in Aba County this year, all by current or former monks of Kirti Monastery.

On Oct. 7, two Tibetans, aged 18 and 20, sustained minor injuries after setting themselves on fire in Aba County. Both were former monks at Kirti Monastery and were dressed in civilian clothes when they made the self-immolation attempts, said a county government spokesman.

Local police in Aba stopped a self-immolation attempt on Oct. 3, and the Tibetan man survived despite injuries to his left leg.

In September, two monks were rescued from a self-immolation attempt and received timely treatment.

In August, two monks of the Kirti Monastery were sentenced to 13 and 10 years in jail, respectively, for plotting, instigating and assisting in the self-immolation of fellow monk Rigzin Phuntsog, who set himself on fire on March 16 and died the following day.

DAMASCUS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Damascus-based opposition National Coordination Body for Democratic Change denied Monday media reports that claimed two of its prominent members had resigned.

Fayez Sara and Michel Kilo, two key opposition figures, did not resign, Abdul-Aziz Kheir, an official in charge of foreign relations in the opposition body, told Xinhua by phone.

The aim of such rumors is to target the body, Aziz said, stressing that the body has a clear-cut stance that rejects the foreign intervention. "That's why they are targeting us," he added.

The two opposition figures were renowned for their firm stances towards foreign intervention that some opposition parties abroad were calling for.

The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change was formed on June 30 with the participation of prominent opposition figures and parties, aiming to unite Syrian opposition to find a solution to the months-long crisis in Syria.

According to a recent UN tally, 3,000 people have been killed since the eruption of protests in mid-March. However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem recently put the number of army officers and law-enforcement troops killed by "terrorist groups" since the eruption of protests at more than 1,110.

CHONGQING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and ASEAN countries will see closer cultural cooperation, as the two sides made a decision to schedule cultural ministerial meetings at the ongoing 12th Asia Arts Festival in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

The consensus to hold regular ministerial meetings was reached based on China's proposal at the China and ASEAN (10+1) Cultural Ministerial Meeting on Oct. 10.

The future China and ASEAN (10+1) cultural ministerial meetings, in comparison with the existing cultural ministerial meeting of ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea (10+3), will allow exchanges between China and ASEAN member countries to be more targeted and direct, said Arief Maulana, culture officer of the ASEAN Secretariat.

The previous cultural exchanges between China and the Association of Southwest Asian Nations (ASEAN) were conducted within the 10+3 framework, which had several limitations.

"Previous cooperation relied on individual projects, rather than a stable mechanism," Maulana said. "ASEAN countries want to learn about China's best practices in cultural heritage protection, cultural industry development and cultural policy-making."

"The establishment of the 10+1 mechanism will not only promote  cultural protection, but also help spread our culture to regions outside Asia," Maulana said.

The 10+1 cultural ministerial meeting on Oct. 10 is part of a 10-day arts festival that will run from Oct. 10 to 20, marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of dialogues between China and the ASEAN.

The festival, hosted by China's Ministry of Culture, includes a range of events, such as the Asian Culture Forum, during which the Chongqing Declaration was reached.

The Chongqing Declaration, issued at the closing ceremony of the Asian Culture Forum, states that cultural and art institutions from Asian countries should carry out further dialogues and cooperation and effectively make use of different cultural resources to promote the development of Asian culture and arts.

"The launch of the Asian Culture Forum has expanded cultural communication forms among Asian countries from communication between artists to large-scale exchanges between research institutions and organizations," said Wang Chen, an official with the Bureau for External Cultural Relations under China's Culture Ministry.

Based on the consensus reached at the Oct. 10 ministerial meeting, China and ASEAN are dedicated to advancing their cooperation to a more pragmatic level.

"It is now time for more practical cooperation and ASEAN countries would like to see a concrete action plan in cultural cooperation," said Wang.

He proposed that China and ASEAN further collaborate in cultural heritage preservation, the construction of a cultural resource database and personnel training.

The current task is to decide on the details of the 10+1 mechanism, such as the frequency and schedule for holding ministerial meetings, as well as priorities for future cooperation, said Maulana.

Maulana added that ASEAN would like more support from China in the development of small- and medium-sized companies in the cultural industry.

For ASEAN countries, the establishment of the 10+1 mechanism means that cultural exchanges will be a "two-way street," said Felipe de Leon, chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines.

Indonesia hopes to enhance cultural exchanges with China and protect Asian cultural diversities against threats posed by globalization, said Agus Sartono, Indonesia's deputy coordinating minister for people's welfare.

"Singapore wants to strengthen cooperation with China in traditional arts, such as martial arts, and invite Chinese artists to Singapore so that local fans can get a better understanding of traditional culture," said Sim Gim Guan, deputy secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts.

The first official meeting of China and ASEAN (10+1) cultural ministers will be held in Singapore in 2012.

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian border police commander said Monday that the country's border guards killed six drug smugglers on its southern borders, the state IRIB TV website reported.

Brigadier General Ahmad Geravand said that the armed smugglers who had plans to take narcotics into the country were killed in the southern region bordering Pakistan, said the report.

In the clash which erupted on Monday morning different kinds of narcotics, two machine guns and ammunition were seized from the drug traffickers, Geravand told the reporters without specifying the exact location of the clash.

In the operation, two Iranian border guards were also injured, he was quoted as saying.

Iran is located at the crossroad of international drug smuggling from Afghanistan, the world's top opium producer, to Europe.