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	President Jiang Zemin Issues the Latest Instruction to Anti-Flood Troops Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, president of the PRC and chairman of the Central Military Commission, issued the latest instructions peak to the anti-flood army units concerning the need to meet the seventh flood peak. He called on the anti-flood troops to maintain a high degree of vigilance, make full preparation, go all out, strengthen army-people unity and, focusing on the Honghu Lake area, take strict precaution and defend to the last, so as to resolutely seize complete victory for the decisive battle against flood. In enthusiastic response to and resolutely implementing President Jiang's directives, 178,000 officers and men all went to river dykes to meet the seventh flood crest.
	President Jiang Meets With AP Board of Directors Delegation During his meeting with Louis Boccardi CEO and president of US News Agency Associated Press, Jiang said, through the present anti-flood struggle, we have seen the cohesive force of the Chinese nation and the unity and cordiality between the army and people. Jiang express thanks to the governments and people of various countries around the world who show concern for and have extended help to flood disaster in China.
	Li Peng Gives Phone Calls to Hubei and Hunan Provincial Leaders Expressing Solicitude for Soldiers and Civilians Fighting Floods in the Two Provinces In the phone calls, Li Peng called for strengthening defense of the weak and dangerous dyke sections in Honghu Lake, guaranteeing safety of major Yangtze river dykes and people's lives, and redoubling efforts to seize final victory in the anti-flood fight.
	Be Sure Not to Increase Burden on Disaster Areas Recently leaders and people from different localities went to disaster areas to extend sympathy and solicitude to local people, their intention is, without doubt, good. But if too many such groups go to flooded areas, it will increase burden on these areas, distract local leaders' attention and energy and will even evoke resentment from the masses in disaster areas. Sympathy and donations to flooded area are highly necessary, and that should be done promptly and effectively because that provides important conditions for wining final victory for the flood fight. But the most important thing is for everyone to do his or her work well, particularly the work of economic development, that is the best and most effective support and sympathy to disaster areas.
	Officers and men of a certain army unit of the Guangzhou Military Command Area who go to Hubei to battle against flood and deal with emergencies are defending major river dykes days and nights in order to meet the seventh flood peak. Pictured here are soldiers pledging to fight to death in defending major Yangtze river dykes
	Li Lanqing Meets With French Guest Vice-Premier Li Lanqing met with French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Dominique Stravss-Kahn and his party. Both sides had an exchange of views on the Asian financial crisis and bilateral cooperation, particularly economic and trade cooperation between China and France.
	Leaders of the CPPCC National Committee Donate Money to Disaster Areas
	Immortal Hero in the River-Notes on Anti-Flood Hero Gao Jiancheng On August 12, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission, signed an order conferring an honorary title 'Anti-Flood Hero' on Gao Jiancheng, political instructor of an artillery regiment of the air force, who died a heroic death for rescuing the masses and his comrades-in-arms during the fight against flood water and dealing with emergencies. An accompanying commentary entitled 'The Most Beloved Person in the New Period' hails the spirit of this hero. Gao is an average Party member, armyman and cadre, but he is a hero with indomitable spirit. At the sudden onslaught of monstrous floodwater and fierce waves and at the critical moment that concerned the life and death of the anti-flood soldiers and masses, Gao remained calm and ignored his own safety, he immediately organized efforts to rescue soldiers and civilians. He saved in succession eight people and soldiers. .Finally, due to exhaustion of physical strength, he was carried away by floodwater and thus laid down his young life at the age of 33. Gao's spirit was applauded as that he placed the interests of the people above all else while ignoring his personal benefits, he gave the hope of life to others while leaving danger to himself. The commentary says that this spirit is especially valuable under the condition of reform and opening up and the establishment of a socialist market economic structure.

	Initial Arrangements Have Been Made for the Daily Lives of the Masses in Flooded Areas The Office of the Information Department of the State Council held a press conference. The conference was chaired by Zhao Qizheng, director of the Office of the Information Department, officials from the State Anti-Flood and Disaster-Relief Headquarters, Ministry of Water Resources, the General Political Department of the PLA, and Ministries of Health and Civil Affairs, as well as from Hubei and Heilongjiang provinces answered reporters' questions concerning the anti-flood and disaster-relief struggle. They disclosed that Lives of the masses in flooded areas had initially been arranged.
	Heightening Vigilance, Persisting in the Struggle to Win or Die Anti-flood morale of Inner Mongolian, Jilin and Heilongjiang soldiers and civilians remains high . They pledged not to lower their guard or slacken off but instead to win complete victory in the battle.
	Photo: In the face of rare, worst floodwater, workers and staff of the Daqing Oilfield Oil Recovery No.9 Factory rose to fight the flood. Picture shows they are busy repairing the last submerged 16-18 oil well in the Longhupao Oilfield.
	Doing a Good Job of the Collection of Agricultural Tax, Special Agricultural Product Tax and Animal Slaughter Tax to Reduce Farmers' Burden this is the call contained in the Circular issued by the State Administration of Taxation. Various localities are required to strictly carry out the state policy of stabilizing farmers' agricultural tax burden, and the stipulations on agricultural tax exemption and reduction.
	Anti-Flood Guarantees Safety, Diversification of Markets Protects Development In order to support the disaster areas, the National Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives has adopted various measures to conscientiously tackle the two tasks of fighting floods to ensure safety and expanding markets to protect development, it has sent large amounts of materials and some cash to support flooded areas in their self-supporting by engaging in production.
	Harbin-Manzhouli Railway, Wrecked by Floodwater, Has Been Successfully Rush-Repaired This represents a miracle created in the anti-flood fight by 5,000 railway workers and 1,000 PLA soldiers
	Railway and Local Authorities Join Hands to Ensure the Smooth Operation of Beijing-Guangzhou Rwailway Line In the wee hour of August 22 at the critical juncture of a landslide caused by 70 meter-long cracks on the Matangyuan dyke, armymen and civilians removed the dangerous situation and thus guaranteed the smooth operation of the Hunan section of the whole Beijing-Guangzhou railway line.
	The Rate of Import Commodities Not Up to Standard Rose in the First Half of This Year
	Wuhan Achieves Continued Growth in Foreign Exchange Earned Through Export By the end of July, the city registered 601 million yuan in foreign exchange earned through export, a 12.1 percent increase over the same period last year. This was attributed to the efforts of hundreds of the city's export-oriented enterprises which, while engaging in the anti-flood fight, actively diversified international markets.
	Song in Praise of the Anti-Flood Railway Workers Since mid-June, rainstorms have erupted in east central-south and northeast China, reports on emergencies came from Wuhan, Jiujiang and Qiqihar. Under the direction of leaders of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the million-strong railway workers, together with the anti-flood soldiers and civilians nationwide, set up many iron walls against floodwater. Where there was flood situation, they rush-transported troops and disaster-relief there, promptly repaired broken down railway lines to ensure the smooth traffic of trunk lines, they thus became the vanguards in the anti-flood fight.

	In a recent circular, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC and the Ministry of Supervision call for severe punishment of those who violate the disciplines and laws in the flood-control struggle. Some serious cases happened during this flood season are briefed in this circular.

	The Chinese government has strict procedures and rules for distributing the disaster-relief funds and materials as well as receiving and distributing the disaster-relief donations. We also have supervision mechanisms to guarantee these donations to be spent on the flood victims completely and promptly, therefore, so far no personnel embezzle or misappropriate such materials. These mechanisms include the supervision from banking, legal, auditing and customs systems; supervision by media, masses and the donators themselves.
	People's Forum: "Aunt, Are You Afraid of the Floods?" "I fear no flood with the leadership of the CPC and the help from the PLA", an old lady of northeast China answers the question above. This answer shows our people's full confidence in the Party and army, which is the source for us to conquer all the difficulties and hardships.
	The Ministry of Civil Affairs Urges Some Provincial Governments to Immediately Launch Activities to Collect Cotton-Padded Clothes and Quilts for Flood Victims in Northeast China.
	Professor Tsung-dao Lee Writes to the Chinese Leaders and Donates US$10,000 to the Flooded Areas. Overseas Chinese Make Donations to the Flood Victims of the motherland.
	The Journalists of the People's Daily report on the flood situations on the anti-flood frontline and fight shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers and civilians against the flood.
	Photo: Doctors from the Daqing Oilfield Treat the Children of the Flood-Hit Areas.
	Taiwan Authorities Should Demonstrate Their Sincerity for "Seeking Reunification of China" with Actual Deeds Taiwan authorities still show no sincerity in their pursuit of peaceful reunification. The recent speeches by the Leader of Taiwan authorities have wavered between "the reunification of China" and "an insistence on splittist activities." Taiwan authorities have advocated expanded cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges which would undoubtedly have a positive effect, but have nonetheless used recent meetings as forums to claim status as "an independent state" and attempted to "explore expanded international living space" in an effort to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." Taiwan authorities recently demanded that some Western nations, especially the United States, increase arms sales to Taiwan in order to ensure "the governments of Taiwan and the Chinese mainland remain separate," and firmly rejected the "concept of 'one country, two systems'" which has been successfully implemented in Hong Kong. The developing international situation and improving cross-Straits relations have resulted in an increasing number of Taiwan compatriots expressing their eagerness for a more friendly and stable environment and hope for political negotiations between the two sides at the earliest possible date. The Chinese mainland has tried to satisfy the common desire of Taiwan compatriots by proposing initial discussions to outline procedural arrangements for political negotiations, and subsequent economic and practical negotiations between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). In the face of mounting internal and external pressure, although the Leader of the Taiwan authorities reiterates his attitude toward "signing cross-Straits peace agreement through negotiations and ending the state of hostility", he, however, puts forward the prerequisite that the "negotiations" be conducted on the existing basis of "separate government of China". The actual goal of the prerequisite -- to "separate government of China on the existing basis" -- centers on denying the "one China" principle and continuing to delay negotiations on "ending cross-Straits hostilities." Taiwan authorities should exhibit their sincerity by abandoning the "two Chinas" stand and removing barriers hindering discussions on procedural arrangements for political negotiations. ARATS is seeking a common understanding based on strengthening contacts with SEF, and is perfectly willing to engage in political dialogue with the latter so long as related contacts will benefit the peaceful reunification of China and the development of cross-Straits relations. We sincerely hope that Chinese people on both sides of the Straits join hands and make new contributions to the cross-Straits relations and the reunification of the motherland.
	An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit southwest part of Xainza in Tibet Autonomous Region at 15:41 (Beijing time) yesterday. The shock was felt in Xainza and Xigaze in west Tibet and the details about this quake is under investigation.

	State Leader Shows Concern Over the Schooling Problem With Chen Feng An examinee named Chen Feng was admitted by the Xi'an Jiaotong University, but her family in the severely flooded Gong'an County of Hubei Province could not afford her schooling. A State leader learned this from CCTV's report and immediately phoned a relative department, requiring a proper solution of this matter. Many units and individuals want to send donation to her, while the university says it will exempt all tuition and provide living expenses for Chen.
	Editor's Note: Ensuring that all admitted examinees in the flooded area be able to go to school.
	State Economic and Trade Commission requires major pharmaceutical enterprises donate medicines urgently needed in the flooded areas.
	In an emergency circular, Ministry of Health calls on the health and anti-epidemics departments to do a better job in potable water hygiene and prevent food poisoning.
	Eight provinces and cities will provide one-to-one support to the flooded areas according to the arrangements of the Ministry of Health. They are: Beijing vs Inner Mongolia, Shanghai vs Hunan, Guangdong vs Hubei, Shandong vs Jiangxi, Zhejiang vs Anhui, Tianjin vs Heilongjiang, Hebei and Shanxi vs Jilin.
	Nearly 100 military and civilian medical teams are providing service in the anti-flood forefront of the Nenjiang and Songhua rivers.
	Photo: An opening ceremony was held in a makeshift school established with the donations of armymen. Some 56 pupils will attend the school on the dyke.
	Textbooks for the primary and middle schools have been printed and well prepared, but students with financial difficulties in worst flooded areas cannot afford book expenses.
	"Vision First - China Action" Being Conducted in Tibet Aqiong, who lives on the outskirts of Lhasa, was the first person to benefit from the sight recovery program sponsored by the Ministry of Health, the China Disabled Persons' Federation and Lion's Club International. "I feel very happy when I think that I will be able to see things tomorrow," Aqiong said.

	A number of foreign political celebrities and groups sent massages to President Jiang Zemin and the CPC, extending their concern and sympathy to China's flood victims.
	After his talks with leaders of various factions of the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) on August 24, Russian acting Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin agreed to follow the majority's proposal of forming a new coalition government. The reorganized government would make decisions independently and concentrate on financial issues, said the newly nominated Russian acting Prime Minister while meeting with former cabinet members. *The Information Secretary of Russian President Boris Yeltsin said on August 24 that one main reason for Yeltsin's nomination of Viktor Chernomyrdin as acting Prime Minister was to "ensure domestic stability and normalcy."
	Britain and the United States had agreed to allow two Libyans accused of bombing a US airline over Lockerbie to be tried by a Scottish court in the Hague of the Netherlands, separately declared British Foreign Secretary Rubin Cook and US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright in their own countries on August 25.
	China's embassy in Iraq celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Iraqi diplomatic relations on the evening of August 24.
	Indonesian Defense Minister and Chief of the Armed Forces Gen. Wiranto announced on August 24 that he had decided to expel Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the son-in-law of former president Suharto, from the military. Wiranto told reporters in Jakarta that his decision was made in response to the suggestions of the Officers' Honorary Council. Besides Prabowo Subianto, two other army officers, Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono and Col. Chairawan, were also removed from their posts but not from the army.
	On behalf of President Laurent Kabila, the Congolese delegate attended the summit of the South African Development Community. He said at the meeting on August 24 that Uganda and Rwanda must withdraw their troops from the Congo otherwise the Congolese government side would not agree a cease-fire.
	White House Spokesman Michael McCurry said on August 24 that the United States would consider cooperating with the United Nations in its investigation of US air attack against a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory.

	Russian acting Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin pointed out that the priority of government tasks was to rescue the economy and eliminate the negative influence of international financial crises on the Russian economy and people's lives. After Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced his nomination of Viktor Chernomyrdin acting Prime Minister on August 23, Russian stock markets rose for the first time since August 14. But Russian exchange markets went on slipping. *Affected by changes in the Russian government, Tokyo stock and exchange markets both slumped.
	World Bank offered capital aid of US$2.87 billion to African countries in the fiscal year of 1998, up 64.4% over last year.
	The US-based Wall Street Journal reported on August 24 that financial institutions running US common funds launched a massive march into the Japanese markets for a greater share, seizing the opportunity of weakening yen.

	Sang Lan Is Recovering Gradually Sang is taking convalescence treatment in the Mount Sinai Hospital of New York. Her doctor says she can eat with knife and fork using a pair of specially made gloves. In his letter to Sang Lan on August 5, 1998, U.S. President Bill Clinton said he was very impressed by the courage Sang Lan had shown in facing such a tough personal challenge.
	Charms of Sport Brand - Thinking on the Competition Reform of Beijing International Marathon (part 2)
	Basketball coaches from the clubs of National Division A and B are taking one-month lessons in Beijing Sport Teacher's College.
	In the opening ceremony of the 5th national senior coach training class, Yao Zhenxu, deputy director of the Administration Center of Table Tennis and Badminton, warns the provincial coaches against copying the national team. Some 33 coaches from 22 province-level table tennis teams are receiving training.

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