Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) presents a burr puzzle to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as they attend a China-Germany economic and technological cooperation forum in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 10, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Hi, here's what you need to know about China.
BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders have visited their predecessors with seasons greetings ahead of the Spring Festival.
Former leaders including Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao got personal visits either from the current leaders or from their representatives, according to a statement from the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Wednesday.
The visitors wished their hosts a happy Spring Festival, good health and long lives, the statement said. http://xhne.ws/tYowF
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BEIJING -- The central government has issued guidelines on preserving and developing excellent traditional culture, eyeing a "marked boost" in the international influence of Chinese culture by 2025.
The guidelines, which were jointly issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and the General Office of the State Council, have been designed to preserve and carry forward various forms of traditional arts and Chinese culture.
The guidelines set out that by 2025, major achievements will be registered in traditional culture-related research, education, protection, inheritance, innovation and exchanges. The international influence of Chinese culture should register a "marked boost." http://xhne.ws/h8q66
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BEIJING -- China's population is expected to peak at about 1.45 billion around 2030, according to the national population development plan for 2016-2030 released by the State Council, China's cabinet, Wednesday.
The country will enter a key transitional period between 2021 and 2030 in its population development as it will witness a decrease in the number of people of working age, more elderly people, still active population migration and diversified family patterns, according to the plan, which was signed and approved by Premier Li Keqiang. http://xhne.ws/kUSoC
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BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the phone. The two leaders exchanged lunar new year greetings and views on China-Germany ties, China-EU relations and global affairs.
The Chinese premier said that during the past year, China-Germany relations have witness plenty of momentum and bilateral cooperation has achieved positive results. The international political and economic scenes are facing several uncertain factors, Li said, adding that China and Germany should send stable signals to the global markets and jointly safeguard the existing international system through trade and investment liberalization. http://xhne.ws/a5ZQT
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WASHINGTON -- China and the United States are expected to continue cooperation under the new U.S. administration led by Donald Trump, the Chinese ambassador to the United States said Tuesday.
Although the Trump administration has yet to formulate its China policy, the general trend of China-U.S. cooperation cannot be reversed as it is "the only right choice" for both countries, said Cui Tiankai on the sidelines of a Lunar New Year reception at the Chinese Embassy.
Cui noted that such cooperation is in the interests of both China and the United States, the world's two top economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. http://xhne.ws/w1TRo
