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	Former President Yang Shangkun Passes Away in Beijing Yang Shangkun, former Chinese president and a veteran leader of the CPC and the armed forces, died of illness on September 14 morning in Beijing. He was 92. An obituary issued by the central authorities today called Yang a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman and strategist, a staunch Marxist, and an outstanding leader of the Party, the state and the people's army. The obituary was issued by the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military CommissionFull Story in English
	Former President Visited in Hospital by State Leaders Yang Shangkun, former president of China and a veteran military leader, died of illness at 1:17 hours September 14 morning in Beijing at age 92. Top Party and state leaders including Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing all visited Yang after he was hospitalized in deteriorating health. Leading officials of major Party and government organizations and departments also went to visit the veteran revolutionary in the hospital or sent their regards. During his last days, Yang wrote a letter to the Party Central Committee asking for a simple funeral after his death, especially as the country was ravaged by massive floods this summer.
	Chinese President Meets UN Human Rights High Commissioner and Points Out that China Places Democratic and Legal Development in an Important Position in the Process of Economic GrowthFull Story in English
	Chinese, Irish Prime Ministers Hold Talks in Beijing Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern in their talks on September 14 agreed that the first visit ever made by an Irish prime minister to China since the forging of their diplomatic ties in 1979 will surely push Sino-Irish friendship and cooperation further aheadFull Story in English
	In an unprecedented internal shake-up of the judiciary, China reshuffled a considerable number of courts and prosecutorial offices and disciplined nearly 5,000 judges and prosecutors in the first eight months this year. Courts had also corrected 8,110 misjudged cases by August and prosecutors reconsidered 1,125 mishandled criminal offenses by July. President of the Supreme People's Court Xiao Yang and Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Han Zhubin revealed these figures today when reporting to the Civil and Judiciary Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on their work in the "Intensified Educational Rectification Movement." Chairman of the top legislature, the NPC Standing Committee, Li Peng, and vice-chairman Cao Zhi attended the meeting.

	Wu Yi, state counselor, called for intensified operations to crack down on smuggling when making an inspection tour in Fujian Province. Wu Yi, also alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, demanded that conspicuous results be made in combating smuggling and vital cases be investigated and meted out as soon as possible. Dealing with trade operations, Wu Yi said that steady trade growth was reported in the first 8 months of the current year despite the critical monetary crisis in Asia and the unprecedented flooding in the country and an appropriated scale has been maintained in using foreign funds. The former trade minister urged extended exportation, further implementation of the pluralistic market strategy and the optimization of products mix. Meanwhile, she demanded improvement of the level of using foreign funding, encouraging foreign investment in capital- and tech-intensive projects and enlarging tech import scale.
	A news feature describes the stealing of diesel oil from a bonded oil tank in Lianjiang, Fujian Province . The tank was sealed off by the Customs but there was a reserved outlet on the tank which was unknown to the outsiders. Using the reserved outlet, the criminals stole 5,377 tons of diesel oil from the tank valued at 7.8ll million yuan. The criminals have been brought to justice.
	The invitation operation of the "99 Kunming International Horticultural Exposition" is in full swing and the international pavilion of the fair has been completed.
	The Agricultural Bank of China in a notice issued recently demands preparation for the supply and management of funds for purchasing cotton.
	China National Offshore Oil Corporation turned out 11.129 million tons of crude oil up to the end of August and the daily output rose about 2,000 tons in September over the average daily output in August. The crude oil output can be expected to hit a new high this year, according to the corporation.
	The Rongshui Miao Autonomous County in Guangxi produces bamboo products worth 200 million yuan a year.
	The State Quality and Technology Supervision Administration is conducting a sweeping examination of the recreational facilities nationwide in view of accidents occurring on recreational gears recently in varying places in China.
	The Bank of China granted earlier loans in 450 million yuan and US$ 60 million to finance production resumption in Hubei after the summer flooding.
	Chinese Shenda leather shoes manufactured by three noted Italian shoe makers have been exported to Western Europe.
	The State Power Corporation has drawn up a plan to ensure the fulfillment of this year's goal of 8.6 billion in profit.

	The Office of Rectifying Malpractices in Trades under the State Council issued a notice earlier urging giving full play to the staunch anti-flood spirit and implementing ethical rectification in all fields of work.
	A feature article describes the exploits of major general Yin Chengfu, superintendent of the Armed Police Technique School in Xi'an, in fighting flood on the Yangtze embankment this summer.
	A letter from a reader criticizes the practice of holding welcoming and seeing-off ceremonies when government officials go to the grassroots units to discharge duties.
	A short note praises the practice in Gushi County, Henan Province, of dispensing with ceremonies to welcome and see off government officials when they go to take up and leave their posts.
	A photo showing a law court in Weishi County, Henan Province pronouncing amid a cheering peasant crowd a verdict on a village chief who had ilegally contracted 36 mu of land belonging to a collective body. The verdict pronounced the return of the land to the collective body.
	The Central Military Commission allocates oxygen-manufacturing machine to the troops in Tibet for the first time.
	Li Min, a staff officer of the Lanzhou Military Area Command, was awarded the "Post-Loving and Work-Consummating" title for his outstanding military achievements.
	The Public Security Administration in Xingcheng County, Liaoning Province and traffic police in Hunyuan County in Shanxi Province have set a high standard for their staff and policemen and won public acclaim for their meritorious services for the people.

	Chinese Vice-President Congratulates CYL School on 50th Anniversary Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao September 14 sent a letter of congratulations to a forum marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the School of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League (CYL) of China. The school, founded on September 15, 1948, has made important contributions to helping educate China's young people and to advancing the Party's cause of training cadres, Hu said. So far, the school has trained more than 40,000 high-quality young cadres. "We are approaching a new century full of opportunities and challenges. It is a strategic task that has a direct bearing on the overall situation and the future to waste no time in fostering outstanding young cadres and other talented young people," Hu said in the letter.
	There is no foundation for the rumors spreading through the Internet that in China the existing retirement pension will be decreased sharply, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
	Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen Meets UN Human Rights High Commissioner Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen September 14 told visiting United Nations high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson that the Chinese government supports her work and hopes she will continue to play a positive role in promoting development of human-rights dialogue and cooperation in the international community.
	Photo: A bird eye's view of the western part of Hefei, capital of Anhui Province.

	Freshmen's First Class On September 9, Nankai University in Tianjin arranged a vivid class on "Deng Xiaoping Theory" for the newly enrolled students in the department of chemistry. The freshmen watched the special TV program "Unity Is Strength", made by Tianjin Municipal Department of Publicity to reflect the battle against flood this summer.
	Shanghai Education Commission has recently declared concrete targets to improve the housing conditions of young college teachers.
	China was well on the road of taking at least three titles after men's grenade throwing in the 46th Military Pentathlon World Championships in Beijing. With a total of 17,712 points, the Chinese men's team led their closest rivals Brazil by 362.7 points. "It's impossible for us to catch up with China," Brazil's coach Helcio Botelho said.
	The eight-day World Chess Master Games opened in Hawaii on September 13. 38 players would be divided into two groups to compete for the champion.
	Jiangsu won both the Men's and Women's team champions in the finals of '98 National Badminton Championships in Chengdu on September 14.
	The 8th IAAF World Cup in Athletics concluded in Johannesburg on September 13. After a three-day grueling match, Africa won the men's team champion with a total score of 110 while the United States took the lead in women's team. Namibian contestant Frank Fredericks gained the first place in Men's 200-meter and distinguished himself for winning the championship for the African team. The famous US sprinter Marion Jones won the 100- and 200-meter gold medals and broke the IAAF record. Chinese athlete Guan Yingnan won the first bronze for the Asian women's team at the World Cup with a jump of 6.74m.
	Beijing will host the All Chinese Basketball Invitations from November 26 to 29. More than 80 teams at home and abroad will engage in the game.
	Photo: National Table Tennis Players' Tour to Yan'an On the upper right are coach Cai Zhenhua (m) and Wang Chen, Sun Jin, Feng Zhe and Kong Linghui (from left to right); The upper left is a local teenager (right) beating the world champion Kong Linghui 8-4 at the demonstration match (Kong conceded him five points); Pictured on the right is the 18-year-old Sun Jin, who defeated Wang Chen 2-1.

	New Russian Prime Minister Presides Over First Government Meeting Calling for Hard Work to Stabilize Situation All government members, whether appointed by President Boris Yeltsin or acting in the post, should make all-out efforts in the work, required Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov on September 14 in the first government meeting after his nomination was approved by the State Duma last Friday. * In an interview with the NTV Itogi television on September 13, Primakov said that the new government must do everything to continue the reforms, but it is necessary to correct some mistakes made in the past. The prime minister emphasized that the government must lean on Parliament for support, but it cannot be an adjunct of Parliament.
	The 18th Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Opens South African President Nelson Mandela, also chairman of SADC, called on the countries in this region to go onto the track of peaceful development as soon as possible, while addressing the opening ceremony on September 13 in Grand Baie, Mauritius. He also urged the state leaders to the summit to promote the peaceful process in the Congo (K) and Angola. The heads of state and the representatives of its 13 member countries attended the meeting.
	Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with US Middle East peace envoy Dennis Ross in Alexandria on September 13. At the press conference held after the meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa said his country will work for a balanced agreement reached between Palestine and Israel. Ross attended the talk between Israeli cabinet secretary Danny Naveh and senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on the night of September 13 at US Ambassador Edward Walker's house.
	Turbulence Occurs in Tirana Violence erupted over the death of opposition leader Azem Hajdari on September 12.
	Leaders of the Three Major Political Parties in Cambodia Agree to Talk The three parties' leaders agreed on September 14 to meet with King Norodom Sihanouk to seek a possible resolution to the political crisis. They have also reached agreement on three main points: -- not to cause or provoke any public demonstrations; -- to hold a summit in Siem Reap under the chairmanship of the King and without any pre-conditions; -- the newly elected National Assembly should be convened as scheduled on September 24.
	It Is not a Sound Strategy to Stir the Soup in Order to Stop Boiling An article in the International Forum column says the United States should take political and economic measures to reduce terrorist activities toward USA, but not use violence to stop terrorism.
	News Analysis: Close Watch and Careful Response -- A brief analysis on EU's policies on Russia
	Developing Sino-Japan Friendship -- An interview with Song Jian, chairman of the Association of Sino-Japanese Friendship

	According to the Annual Report 1998 released in Washington on September 13 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the global economic growth rate of 1997 was 4 percent, despite the Asian financial crisis. * The IMF report spoke highly of the Chinese economy, adding China's promise of not devaluating Renminbi has played an important role in the economic recovery and stability in Asia.
	Commentary: Comprehending Correctly the Present World Economy -- First of the commentaries on the recent monetary turmoil in the world
	China Tibetan Children's Troupe arrived in Washington on September 13 to take part in a 6-day international children's festival in Virginia. After the festival, they will visit and perform in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
	Photo: Several Egyptian farmers are interested in the Chinese-made Shanghai tractor exhibited in the 11th Sahara International Agricultural Exhibition in Cairo on September 13.

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