CPC magazine celebrates 50th anniversary; First chartered flight between mainland and Taiwan lands; China-Uzbekistan section of the Central Asian gas pipeline inaugurated
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  • The official magazine of the Chinese Communist Party “Qiu Shi” (Seeking Truth) marked the 50th anniversary of its founding in the previous week. President Hu Jintao urged the magazine to improvise and be innovative in its thinking to help build “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” The magazine, which was earlier called “Red Flag”, contributed greatly to Marxism and socialist values in China1.

    In an important Cross-Strait development, the first chartered flight from the mainland to Taiwan landed at Taipei. More than 100 mainland tourists boarded the Airbus A330 of China Southern Airlines which marked an important step to take the Cross-Strait ties ahead2. The chartered flight proposal was floated after the victory of Taiwan’s Nationalist Party (KMT) in both the legislative and the presidential elections.

    In other developments, officials from the Chinese-Russian Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development met in Moscow to discuss measures to improve bilateral ties. The work plan of the committee for 2008 was signed during the meeting. The committee was established in 1997 with the mandate to help expand Sino-Russian ties and deepen political trust and understanding3.

    The China-Uzbekistan section of the Central Asian gas pipeline was opened on June 30. The pipeline, whose total length is 1,801 km, is a joint venture between the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Uzbekistan Petroleum Corporation4.

    Meanwhile, Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC, during a meeting with the Dalai Lama’s representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen urged the Tibetan spiritual leader to stop activities which might encourage violence in Tibet and sabotage the Beijing Olympic Games. Du noted that it would be “impossible to have necessary atmosphere and condition for the next round of contact” if the Dali Lama did not carry out this task5.

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