This is Beijing-Beijing English blog

Consumers across China will soon need to dial just one number to have their grievances addressed, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) has said.

The new number, 12315, refers to March 15, World Consumer Rights Day.

Local authorities should also enable 12315 to publish text messages to consumers, leading to a shift of focus from mediation to prevention, he said.

The 12315 short messaging service was first launched by Hefei, Anhui province. The idea caught on across the nation, with different numbers being used in different cities.

The bureau said it was keen to build a video information platform in suitable venues such as supermarkets and department stores, so that 12315 center can provide real time legal advice.

Moreover, the bureau expects the new 12315 service to attempt more interactive co-operation with local government, public security bureau, quality control administration of commodity prices and health bureau, in a bid to share information, inter-transfer cases, and combine executive efforts.

In a joint poll by Sina.com and Beijing News, 2,437 people were asked what the biggest stumbling block was in the way of protecting consumers’ rights; to which 60.1 percent said the process was hideous and complex, 51.3 percent said the cost was too high.

“The future amendment of consumers’ rights protection should establish an adequate compensation system,” said Wu Gaohan, deputy secretary-general of the China Consumers’ Association (CCA), referring directly to the problem of legal costs overshooting the money received as compensation.

The poll also shows that 58.2 percent people are disappointed with the inadequate achievement of consumer rights protection agencies, 41.3 percent think there aren’t enough conduits to lodge a complaint.

Statistics from CCA showed that the consumer goods attracting the highest number of complaints last year were mobile phones (69,050 cases), garments (35,651 cases) and shoes (35,374 cases).

The first floor of the department store selling foreign trade products as part of the exhibition in Beijing was bustling with people on Friday looking for deals at the various counters selling textiles, porcelain, bags, photo frames etc.

And for those who did buy something it was worth it. Many like Zeng queued up for nearly half an hour to buy a yogurt maker.

Others like Gao and his wife bought electronic watches for 60 yuan last week and intended to buy another one this week. “The export goods are of good quality, and not that expensive,” said Gao. He commuted one and a half hours by bus from southern Beijing, to the Jinyuan New Yansha Mall, where the export fair is being held.

The fair is the second stage of the month-long foreign goods trade fair being organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce to introduce export-oriented producers to the domestic market. The first stage opened last week, and revenue on the first day itself was more than 100,000 yuan, said a report from Reference News.

A salesman who declined to be named said producers of export-oriented products should have a clear understanding of domestic sales channels, but some foreign trade companies still lack experience in this area, including after-sales service and logistics.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce is considering introducing more fairs like this, said Chen Zexing, deputy director of the bureau

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More than 800 overseas journalists are covering the two annual sessions of China’s top legislature and the country’s top advisory body. Many of them focus on the economy and social welfare.

Before the NPC opening, Olga Danasiichuk, from the National News Agency of the Ukraine, told CRI that the theme of her report this time would be ‘economics’. “This is the main priority. We are all waiting for the speech by Mr. Wen (Chinese Premier), What is he proposing and what will be the outcome of this (stimulus) package that was adopted in November last year? Are there any results so far? I’m focusing on economics mostly,” says Danasiichuk.

Having been in China for eight years and having covered many NPC & CPPCC sessions, Marije Vlaskamp, a correspondent from RTI in the Netherlands, says she will pay more attention to China’s measures to tackle the financial crisis, “we are all looking at what’s happening in China because the Chinese economy has a huge influence on European countries, especially my country, which is like one of the main economic import and export hubs through the Port of Rotterdam. So anything happening to the export and import situation world wide is also influencing our Dutch economy.”

And as the National People’s Congress kicked off on March 5 and Premier Wen’s government report was released, it certainly has put China in the world spotlight.

For Melissa Chan, a reporter from Aljazeera English, this is her third time to cover the annual sessions. Interested in China’s stimulus package policy, she says she was impressed by this year’s government work report, “Usually the speech discusses many different issues in China. This year, it is the same, but there is a lot of focus on the economy, almost everything. That is mentioned indirectly or directly linked to the economy, which I think that is sort of emphasis we haven’t seen before.”

And Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, the ambassador of Denmark, said he was particularly impressed by two messages in the report, “the first one is that, apart from the important efforts to maintain high growth in China, reform and opening-up is continuing in all areas. And I think that is one very important message that the present economic circumstances are not an argument for slowing down but rather an argument for accelerating changes. Secondly, I know that the great emphasis on environmental issues, such as climate change, I think that is important also, not just for China but also for the rest of the world.”

Foreign media are also looking forward to the Premier’s press conference on the last day of the annual sessions where they will have a chance to ask further questions. Ben O’Hara Byrne from the Global National of Canada says he is interested in how the money invested can be effectively used to solve social issues.

He said, “At the end of the day, I think the important question for him right now is that, with all the money that’s being spent and all the money they are planning on spending, how are they actually going to create jobs? How they can they make sure they find the steps that people need, such as the migrant workers?”

China will be able to achieve the economic growth target of about 8 percent in 2009, if proper policies and measures are taken, says a government work report to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the parliament’s annual session Thursday.

“As long as we adopt the right policies and appropriate measures and implement them effectively, we will be able to achieve this target,” reads the report, distributed to the media before the opening of the Second Session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC).

It is the fifth year in a row for the country to target an eight-percent growth.

“In China, a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, maintaining a certain growth rate for the economy is essential for expanding employment for both urban and rural residents, increasing people’s incomes and ensuring social stability,” says the report.

China’s economy cooled to a seven-year low of nine percent last year, and broke a five-year streak of double-digit expansion, as the global financial crisis takes its toll on the world’s fastest growing economy.

China is under great pressure to actualize the targeted eight-percent growth, which is essential for the populous developing nation, although the country outperformed the target in the previous four years.

With the global financial crisis still unfolding, the report acknowledges that 2009 could be “the most difficult year for China’s economic development since the beginning of the 21st century.”

Last time when the country was confronted by a similar crisis, China’s economy expanded by 7.8 percent in 1998, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.

China’s 4-trillion-yuan (585.5 billion US dollars) stimulus package must be approved by the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s parliament, a parliament spokesman said here Wednesday.

“The investment proposed by the central government will be listed on the annual central budget and submitted to the NPC for deliberation and approval,” Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the Second Session of the 11th NPC, told a press conference.

The State Council, or Cabinet, announced a 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package last November to shore up economic growth amid the financial crisis, which dropped to 9 percent in 2008, the lowest since 2001.

The 4-trillion-yuan package includes 1.18 trillion yuan investment from the central government in two years and the rest will come from local governments and the public.

Li said reviewing and approving the economic and social development plan as well as the 2009 central budget is high on the agenda of this year’s NPC session.

“The NPC session will strictly review the plans. The NPC Standing Committee will improve supervision to the execution of the plans and budget,” he said.

Among the additional 100 billion yuan investment in the fourth quarter last year announced by the central government, 30 billion yuan had already been allocated. Li said the State Council had reported the 30 billion yuan investment to the NPC Standing Committee.

“The rest 70 billion yuan will be included in the 2009 central budget and be allocated this year,” Li said, adding that the procedure is totally legitimate.

Li said China has improved scientific planning, tightened project management and improved supervision to ensure the money be used efficiently.

China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference or CPPCC opened its annual session in Beijing on Tuesday. Over 2,000 advisors of national affairs from across the country will underline major concerns of the country’s development including economy, employment and infrastructure during the meeting.

As one of China’s top entrepreneurs and vice-Chairman of the subcommittee of Economy of the CPPCC National Committee, Liu Yonghao is hotly-pursued by media whenever he appears at the meeting. This year the active businessman has brought with him eight proposals.

“All my proposals focus on the three rural issues of agriculture, countryside and farmers. I hope the government and private sector can provide more support to farmers to help them go through the most difficult time of the financial crisis and develop the country’s agriculture industry.”

CPPCC member Lv Jianzhong from Shaanxi says he is concerned about how to develop China’s cultural industry.

“Under the current circumstances of global financial crisis, to develop cultural industry can not only strengthen economic growth but also create employment and increase domestic demand. And cultural industry consumes fewer natural resources and causes no pollution.”

They are among the more than 2,200 political advisors in attendance the 2009 CPPCC annual Session. As of 5 p.m. Monday, CPPCC members had submitted nearly 300 proposals, with economy, employment and infrastructure being the main concerns as the global financial crisis unfolds. Political advisors have shown great concern to the country’s 4-trillion-yuan, or some 580 billion U.S. dollars stimulus package, saying efforts should be made to prevent “overlapping construction”.

The annual meeting has also drawn much attention from the general public. A survey done by people.com.cn, one of China’s major news portals reveals that anti-corruption, environmental protection and food and medicine safety top the list of issues netizens care about most.

Liang Song is a Beijing resident.

“I’ll pay much attention to the medical care reform and also the food safety issue. It’s closely related to our everyday life.”

This year’s CPPCC session will be watched by domestic and international media, curious to see how China has been affected by the financial crisis, and how effective the government’s 4 trillion yuan stimulus package will be. A record high of over 3000 journalists have registered to cover the 9-day session.

A Chinese man who successfully bid for two looted bronze sculptures auctioned in Paris last week says his winning bid will not be paid.

Cai Mingchao, a collection advisor of National Treasures Fund, bid 31.49 million euros (39.63 million U.S. dollars) by telephone during the auction at Christie’s on Feb. 25, Niu Xianfeng, deputy director of the fund, said at a brief press conference Monday.

“What I want to stress is that this money cannot be paid,” Cai said at the press conference.

“Every Chinese would have liked to do like this at that moment, and I’m honored to have the chance to make the bid,” he said.

The National Treasures Fund was established in 2002 under the administration of China Foundation for the Development of Social Culture registered under the name of the Ministry of Culture for the purpose of repatriating looted Chinese artifacts.

A Xinhua reporter asked if he registered at the auction as a representative of the fund, but Cai only answered, “I did this on behalf of all Chinese people.”

“The fund faces great pressure and risks by bidding for the two sculptures, but this is an extraordinary method taken in an extraordinary situation, which successfully stopped the auction,” Niu said.

Earlier media reports said the 18th Century bronze heads of a rat and a rabbit were sold for 28 million euros as part of an auction of art works owned by the late French designer Yves Saint Laurent.

China has repeatedly demanded the return of the sculptures looted when the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) was burned down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.

So far, five of the 12 bronze animal heads have been returned, while the whereabouts of five others are unknown

China hopes to cut the number of its major auto makers from 14 to 10 and increase the market share of domestic-brand vehicles in a consolidation push designed to enhance the competitiveness of a stalling industry.

The plan, which is part of a larger auto industry stimulus package announced earlier, seeks to create two to three powerhouse auto makers with annual sales and production capacity of 2 million units and another four to five car companies with the ability to sell 1 million vehicles every year, two officials from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers told Shanghai Daily yesterday.

None of China’s car companies meets the top criterion now. The one that comes closest is Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, which sold around 1.8 million vehicles last year.

The government also wants to increase the market share of Chinese-brand passenger vehicles to 40 percent from the current 34 percent, the sources added.

Backed by the merger plan and other measures contained in the stimulus package unveiled in mid-January, the government hopes domestic car makers will sell at least 10 million vehicles this year and maintain annual sales growth of 10 percent over the next three years, the sources said.

Last year, the country’s vehicle sales rose 6.7 percent to 9.38 million, the slowest pace since 2000 as the global economic downturn reduced consumer purchasing power and curtailed exports.

The merger push will have the greatest effect on China’s top 10 car makers, a group that accounted for 83 percent of total sales last year and includes state-owned firms such as SAIC, FAW Group Co and Dongfeng Motor Corp and privately owned Geely.

Some consolidation is already under way. The Beijing Automotive Industry Group, the nation’s fifth-biggest car maker, is in discussions to take over Fujian Automotive Group in south China to expand production.

Guangzhou Auto, the Chinese partner of Toyota and Honda, is pursuing the sport utility vehicle specialist Changfeng Automobile Co.

No quick fix

Analysts warned, however, that an immediate surge in industry mergers is not likely despite the government encouragement.

“Mergers and acquisitions still depend on the goals of individual car makers,” said Zhang Xin, an auto analyst at Guotai Jun’an Securities Co.

“It could become complicated if it involves conflicts among local governments” that are reluctant to lose a source of taxation.

The detailed measures have been sent to local governments for their review.

Under the larger stimulus plan, the government is setting up a 10-billion-yuan (US$1.46 billion) fund to help car makers develop new-energy vehicles.

It is offering 5 billion yuan in subsidies to support vehicle purchases in rural areas starting on March 1.

And the sales tax on vehicles with smaller engines is being cut in half to 5 percent.

According to a survey conducted by the Social Survey Institute of China (SSIC), to date the overall graduate employment rate is only 36 percent, far short of the target of 70 percent set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

This year graduates face grim employment prospects. On one hand, official statistics show that the population of Chinese graduates has risen to 6.1 million, and over one million previous graduates have not yet found jobs; on the other hand, the global financial crisis and the slowdown of economy will increase graduates’ employment difficulties.

Recently the Social Survey Institute of China (SSIC) carried out a survey of 1000 graduates from 11 cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen and so on, which showed that to date only 36 percent of graduates have found jobs, far short of the target of 70 percent set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

In terms of job satisfaction and happiness, the survey revealed that only 27 percent of graduates who have found jobs expressed themselves satisfied with their jobs. The reasons for dissatisfaction with their present jobs mainly lie in three areas: job content; remuneration package, and interpersonal relationships, reflecting a contradiction between the professional environment of universities and social needs.

In addition, about 71 percent of graduates interviewed said that it is very hard to find a job during this grim financial crisis, and 56 percent felt very worried about employment prospects.

 According to the survey, replying to the question about an ideal career, 28 percent of graduates preferred national government departments. Next came state-owned enterprises, research units and universities. Graduates who chose private enterprise or decided to start their own businesses account for the smallest proportion.

Hosting a successful World Expo in 2010 is always going to be a tall order. It becomes even more formidable after the splendid Beijing Olympics last August. Now, the world economic crisis has made this “economic and technological Olympics” even more arduous.

To call it an arduous and exciting task reflects the Chinese perception of a crisis, which brings both danger and opportunity.

A triumphant expo would bring much-needed hope and confidence to China and the world to combat sweeping economic woes, which are spreading like wildfires from the developed world into developing countries.

In this sense, the Shanghai Expo could be a great platform for countries and corporations to prove what they are capable of in times of great difficulties. This is indeed challenging and exciting.

Also exciting is the fact that the Shanghai Expo is likely to be the largest of its kind in history, regardless of the economic hardships.

Already 231 countries and international organizations had promised by Feb 4 to attend the extravaganza.

And so far no organization has backed out of its commitment. This will help fulfill China’s pledge to attract 200 countries and international organizations.

The enthusiasm from the participating countries and organizations demonstrates their belief in the importance of fighting the economic disaster together. It also shows their optimism in China and Shanghai, respectively among the fastest growing countries and cities in the world.

The Chinese government has thrown its full weight behind the expo since the very beginning.

It has been keeping its word on offering $100 million to developing countries in assisting them to take part.

China is also building 11 joint pavilions named after Africa, South Pacific, Caribbean Community, South America, Asia, Europe, United Nations and International Organizations to make it easier for more countries and organizations to attend.

Excitement aside, the challenges facing the expo, only 14 months away, are many and not easy.

It won’t be easy to get all the countries, which promised to attend, to finally sign the contracts, in the wake of the financial crisis. The major concern now seems to be the United States, which prohibits government financing of such exhibitions. Private fund-raising has also met great hurdles.

So it is likely that the largest economic and technological power on earth may attend the expo with a reduced budget or even miss the event, as it did in Hanover, Germany, in 2000 and Zaragosa, Spain, last year.

Other countries might also have to scale back their commitments in order to appease public opinion.

The number of international travelers, expected to account for 5 percent of the estimated 70 million visitors during the six-month long party, may also be down.

Declining occupancy at five-star hotels in major Chinese cities is perhaps a portent.

China and host city Shanghai will also need to be cost conscious amid the many social and economic challenges they face.

World Expos have created many miracles in history. Now it is Shanghai’s turn.