08-28-07

中国执政的共产党10月15日举行全国代表大会 (China's Ruling Communist Party to Begin National Congress Oct. 15)

中国官方媒体报导说，中国共产党将从10月15号开始举行重大的代表大会。中共闭门举行的党代会每5年召开一次，制订党和国家的议事日程，通常包括某些高层领导的人事变更。

中国最高领导人胡锦涛的5年任期预计在17大上再次延长，不大可能遇到任何直接挑战。相反，政治分析人士注意到，这次大会将是胡锦涛通过任命官员和推动新政策来巩固自己权威的机会。

目前，17大召开正值中国处在国际舞台的重要时刻。随着2008年北京奥运会日益临近，中国面临越来越大的媒体关注。

Chinese state media are reporting that the Communist Party will begin holding a major congress on October 15th. The closed-door congress, which is held once every five years, sets the party's and the country's agenda, and typically includes the reshuffling of some top leaders.

It is not likely that there will be any direct challenge to Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected to see his five-year term renewed during the meeting. Instead, political analysts note that the meeting will be an opportunity for Mr. Hu to strengthen his authority by making appointments and pursuing new policies.

The meeting comes at an important time for China on the world stage, as it faces increased media attention in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

默克尔会晤中国记者和研究人员 (German Chancellor Meets Chinese Journalists, Researchers)

德国总理默克尔与中国新闻记者和研究人员会面，推动北京更好地尊重人权。默克尔女士星期二在北京对一些研究人员说，在北京奥运会明年开幕之前，全球将比以往会更加密切地关注中国。她说，国际社会将尤其严格地审视中国的言论自由与新闻自由。

此前，默克尔同一组中国记者见面，包括因触怒当局而被解除编辑职位的李大同。西方国家批评说，中国实行媒体新闻检查、骚扰记者以及少数民族和宗教团体。

德国总理默克尔说，她星期一在与中国领导人会谈时，也提出了对人权的关注。

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met with Chinese journalists and researchers as she pushes for Beijing to better respect human rights. Ms. Merkel told a group of researchers in Beijing Tuesday the world will be watching China more intensely than ever before ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics. She said freedom of speech and the press in China will be particularly scrutinized.

Earlier, she met with a group of Chinese journalists, including Li Datong who was dismissed from his editing position after angering authorities. Western countries have criticized China for its media censorship and harassment of journalists and minority and religious groups.

The German chancellor says she also raised concerns about human rights in talks with China's leaders Monday.