China: "Hope to increase economic growth by 8%" in 2009

Minister Counsellor and Head of the Political Section for the Embassy of China, Weilin Kuang discussed "China's Development and its Role in the World," today at a Humanity Peace and Security meeting for the Korean Peninsula Issues in Washington D.C.

Weilin Kuang said in his opening remarks: "Over the last 30 years the economic progress China has made is truly remarkable…over 200 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty."

However, despite China's progress in the economic market, Kuang noted some challenges facing China: "Although we are the third largest economy in the world our GEP is behind the 100th largest economy in the world."

Talking about the current economic crisis, Kuang said: "China is faced with very serious economic difficulties and challenges."

Talking about China's relations with the world, Kuang said: “After 30 years of reform China's relations with the world has changed. China needs the world, and the world needs China."

Kuang stated that maintaining and building on external relations is vitally important to help China get through this economically demanding period.

Speaking of hope for China, Kuang said: “I am confident that a rising, confident and more prosperous China will make positive contributions to the world…China hopes to increase its economic growth by 8 per cent this year and I am very hopeful."

In regard to US-China relations, with the new Obama administration, he said: "We hope to see a continuation of these two dialogues…we have put our ideas to the US side, now its their turn, the ball is in their court…I am confident a formula can be formed to allow these two dialogues to continue…it is up to the United States to make a position."

"We have seen positive signs from President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…I hope more can be done to move forward and expand talks…face-to-face talks could be very helpful to help express mutual understanding," he concluded.

Clinton ends historic run in triumphant fashion, endorses Obama

The historic presidential campaign of New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton came to an end as she delivered an enthusiastic “thank-you” turned “Barack Obama endorsment” speech to thousands of her supporters.

Clinton’s speech, while coming at the end of a long, sometimes bitter battle against Obama, was both reflective of the accomplishments she made during her run to try and secure the Democratic presidential nomination, and was a platform she used to offer her support to the Illinois Senator.

Flanked by members of her family, including former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Clinton’s speech focused on the compelling nature of a race featuring both a female and an African American. Clinton noted that she hoped it would be “easier the next time around” for a woman running for the presidency, and she assured the audience that she would “continue to fight on the front lines of democracy” for middle class Americans.

When Clinton talked about how she will now be endorsing Obama, her sentiments were met with a loud chorus of both boos and cheers. Describing the Democratic party as a “family” she said she would now "work her heart out” to help Obama become the next president, urging her supporters to do the same.

Newest polls show Clinton is the strongest candidate to take on McCain in November

The newest polls show that Senator Hillary Clinton is the strongest democratic candidate to take on John McCain in November, winning by 10 points.

Over the past two weeks since the Pennsylvania primary, there has been a dynamic shift in opinion on who would be the strongest democratic candidate against McCain in the general election, said Geoff Garin, chief strategist for the Clinton Campaign in a conference call today. Clinton has a comfortable lead on McCain in key swing states like Ohio and Florida, which is not the case for Obama.

According to the newest polls, Clinton is gaining more ground with blue collar voters as well as independent and swing state voters, which were previously for Obama.

“There is a dominant issue in the election – who had the knowledge and the leadership to turn this economy around,” Garin said. Clinton has been doing progressively well and voters believe she is the stronger candidate to fixing the problem of the economy.

Hillary hangs tough- doesn’t trade punches with Obama, criticizes “imperial” presidency

A confident, focused Hillary Clinton took the stage as the last of the three presidential candidates to speak at the annual Associated Press luncheon this afternoon. Clinton focused on promoting the initiatives she supports and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, avoided slamming her Democratic adversary Barack Obama and Republican opponent, John McCain.

The introduction to Clinton’s speech was similar to McCain’s, in that it discussed her support of a “shield law” to a crowd composed of mainly journalists, whom she thanked for their “courage” to report the news.

Clinton, like Obama’s speech did Monday afternoon, discussed the “power of the presidency” that she claimed has been abused under the Bush Administration. Clinton noted her intention to eliminate the “imperial” presidency Bush operates under. She criticized the current administration for “ignoring” and “rewriting” laws as they see fit.

Clinton forecast a multitude of challenges the incoming administration will have to face (fixing the economy, maintaining national security, and solving the crisis in Iraq), as she painted a portrait of herself as a leader, and longtime advocate of programs focused on helping all Americans, such as universal health care.

While Obama’s speech opened by discussing how the struggles he faced growing up have helped him understand how to relate to “everyday” Americans, Clinton modestly mentioned that she understood she was “blessed” to grow up in a middle-class household and, with government aid, fund a law-school education.

Clinton described her presidency as one that would restore the “evidence based decision making” that the Bush Administration, she argued, has strayed away from. Clinton called for an “immediate freeze on housing foreclosures” and, when asked about the role played by race in the election, said she wanted voters to base their decisions on the candidates based on their policy views, not gender or skin color.

As Clinton’s speech came to a close, she mentioning the tremendous economic success America achieved under her husband, Bill Clinton, and the lessons she learned watching him build an American powerhouse.

Clinton Fundraiser Focuses on Middle Class

After an introduction from her daughter and a full high school marching band, Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton took the stage at a fundraising event at the Daughters of the American Revolution building last evening. Described by her daughter as the "progressive President we need" Clinton was enthusiastic and described a wide variety of the stances she backed, particularly those pertaining to the economy and health care.

Clinton geared much of her speech to appeal to a primarily middle class crowd, one which seemed to lack diversity. Hillary fans waved "Hillary for President" signs and cheered emphatically immediately as she took the stage. The crowd took particular pleasure when Clinton described having a "sigh of relief" when America would see a moving van leave the White House following President Bush's time in office.

Clinton also discussed passing stem cell research laws vetoed by Bush, creating a new American energy policy, ending President Bush's "War on Science," and providing sufficient funding for the No Child Left Behind Act. Senator Clinton said she did not "want to give up on any child" and discussed providing tax relief for Americans involved in public service.