Wang Zhicheng

Politburo member Xi Jinping is slated to become the next vice chairman of the Military Commission and Hu’s likely successor. For ordinary Chinese though, what matters is to see the party do something against the widespread corruption among its officials, which has reached unprecedented levels.

The organization that controls the Church only allows him enough space to praise the Chinese Churches independence from the Holy See. The PA is trying to bring to obedience official bishops after the Pope's letter. Persecution of official and underground bishops.

The site of the massacre is surrounded by police and tourists can only enter by passing through checkpoints. Foreign journalists and photographers are banned. 160 internet sites have been closed down and 65 democracy activists have been arrested or are under police surveillance. A message from the Dalai Lama marking June 4th asks the Chinese government to review its judgement, in order to really become “a great nation”.

Millions of tones of Iron ore, copper nickel and alluminium to deversify China’s portfolio, over dependent on the dollar. In the interim an increasing number of nations use the Yuan for trade currency.

Members of the Politburo exalt the Party as heir to the modernisation demanded by the movement 90 years ago, but say nothing about democracy. Students are asked to “study a lot”. All demonstrations, outside official ones, are banned.

The pope's letter to Chinese Catholics remains inaccessible. But the control is practically useless. Much of the news from blocked Catholic sites - including AsiaNews - is able to pass through the firewall set up by the government.

For 9 days, the almost 3,000 delegates discussed the economy, and approved documents already decided. But they made no immediate decisions about the growing unemployment and the situation of rural residents. Many of the delegates are also critical.

Accusations of separatism against the Dalai Lama and the Uyghurs. Soldiers, policemen, security personnel on the increase to prevent any attempts at uprising. The foreign minister criticizes countries that welcome the Dalai Lama, seen as merely "a political leader." The Dalai Lama is asking only for autonomy in order to save the Tibetans from cultural genocide. An Uyghur academic asks for more help for the Muslim group, in the grip of unemployment.

Optimism and caution are the main ingredients in the prime minister’s keynote address to the National People’s Congress. He pledges a series of measures to improve the economy during the mainland’s “most difficult year”. But no actual data about the real situation in the country are given. No new stimulus package is envisaged. Military spending is twice that of health care. Social unrest is up requiring a new early warning system.

The Political Consultative Conference is underway, and the National People's Congress meets in two days. The Chinese leader calls for maintaining the "harmonious society," urging that workers not be fired and their pay not be withheld in the face of a deepening economic crisis. Repression of the Tibetans has been approved. Beijing is under tighter police control than it was during the Olympics.

For Mrs. Clinton, human rights will no longer be the main issue. In exchange, Beijing has decided to continue buying U.S. Treasury bonds, in order to support the American economy.

Reform should include compulsory education for both rich and poor students, vocational schools to meet needs of industry, better salaries for teachers and excellence in college education to mitigate unemployment among graduates. But so far mainland China has only spent 3.3 per cent of its GDP on education, compared to other countries, even poorer ones, which have invested up to 6 per cent.