Roundup - 30/11/2009

• The 12^th EU-China Summit has been held in Nanjing, Jiangsu today. Premier Wen Jiabao set the tone of the meeting by condemning countries which wanted the Renminbi to fluctuate more freely. He argues that they merely wanted to curb China's growth and that a stable Yuan was important, not only for China's growth, but also for global recovery from the current economic crisis.
  
  China aslo succeeded in securing a number of deals including further sharing of technology and 57 million Euros of investment for a near-zero emissions coal power plant.
  
  China aims to achieve its recently announced carbon intensity cuts largely through investing in new technologies. Green technologies are a growth area in China, particularly in Jiangsu where, according to Xinhua, the production value of green industries grew 60% last year.
  
  
  
• China hosted officials from India, Brazil, South Africa and Sudan, current chair of the G77 over the weekend. The officials created a draft document on climate change to help present a united front during the climate summit in Copenhagen. The statement declares that the Kyoto Protocol should remain in place. This would ensure that the burden of tackling climate change remains firmly on the West. Zhou Shijian, from Qinghua University, has characterised the summit as being 'for the West to compete for dominance, while for developing countries it is to fight for the right to development.'
  
  
  
• 48 officials and 10 journalists are facing charges of corruption after a State Council probe alleged they took bribes to cover up a coal mine disaster in Hebei. 34 miners and a rescuer died after an explosion at the Lijiawa mine in Yuxian County on July 14^th last year.
  
  According to the allegations mine bosses hid bodies, destroyed evidence and paid out 2.6 million RMB to keep to scandal hidden from public view for 85 days.
  
  
  
• A former judge has committed suicide in jail while awaiting trial. He was implicated during a crackdown on organised crime in the city of Chongqing. Wu Xiaoqing had been charged with accepting 3.5 million RMB in bribes and was unable to explain a further 5.2 million RMB in his possession. He was also charged with extorting money during land auctions, his mistress and 10 of his lawyers are also under investigation.
  
  The crackdown in Chongqing has led to the implication of nearly 200 officials including the former head of the judiciary and deputy chief justice of the high court. 1,500 alleged mafia members have also been detained including Xie Caiping, the 'Godmother of the Underworld,' who was sentenced to 18 years a month ago.
  
  
  
• The Chinese Ministry of Health is working with various government departments to drop the ban on foreigners entering the country with HIV/AIDS. Xinhua reports that Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu hopes that the ban will be removed before the beginning of the Shanghai Expo 2010. December 1^st is World AIDS Day.