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|Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on November 7, 2018
As agreed by China and Canada, the first China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue will be held in Beijing on November 12. China's State Councilor Wang Yong will co-chair the dialogue with Canada's Minister of Finance Bill Morneau and Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr.
The China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue was officially launched in 2017 as a dialogue on strategic, overall and long-term issues in economic and financial fields on a regular basis between China and Canada, which aims to deepen practical cooperation in economic and financial areas between the two countries, strengthen communication and coordination on major international economic and financial issues between the two sides and promote sustained sound growth of China-Canada strategic partnership.
Upon agreement, at the first China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue, discussions will be held on macro-economic situation and global economic governance, trade and investment cooperation and financial cooperation, etc.
The Foreign Ministry and the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province will hold a promotion event in the South Building at 9:30 am on November 12 under the theme of "China in the New Era: Heilongjiang, a New Path to Revitalization in Partnership with the World". State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will deliver a speech. Party Secretary Zhang Qingwei and Governor Wang Wentao of Heilongjiang Province will also address the event. Representatives of foreign diplomats in China are invited to make remarks and interact with the guests.
In recent years, Heilongjiang Province has stayed committed to the new development concept and developed itself into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, beautiful and modern province, and scored major achievements. We believe that this promotion event, with focuses on Honglongjiang's outcomes of opening up, such as its active engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation with Russia and participation in the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, will showcase the province's outstanding ecological environment, cultural and historical resources, socio-economic development achievements and potential. We look forward to your attendance at and coverage of this event.
Q: China underwent the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council on November 6. Please give us more details.
A: On November 6, China underwent the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The UPR mechanism aims to review how well the UN member states fulfill their duties and commitments on human rights on a regular basis. This is the third time for the UN to conduct the regular comprehensive review on the human rights conditions in China after 2009 and 2013.
The Chinese government attaches high importance to this review. We have sent a high-level delegation for this UPR, which is headed by Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng and comprised of representatives from nearly 20 departments of the central government, the Xinjiang and Tibet Autonomous Regions, and the governments of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. The Chinese delegation elaborated on the remarkable achievements that China has made in the area of human rights since the last UPR in 2013, expounded the development path with Chinese characteristics and China's outlook on human rights in the new era, illustrated the direction that China adheres to in terms of protecting and promoting human rights and announced the 30 new measures that China will take to safeguard human rights.
Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said in his speech that over the past four decades of reform and opening-up, China's human rights cause has been developing steadily and a well-established system to safeguard human rights has been put in place. China has become a country with rapid progress in its human rights cause, which has realized the large-scale poverty alleviation at the fastest pace, improved the institutional system which ensures that the people run the country, continuously enhanced the judicial protection of human rights, safeguarded Chinese citizens' freedom of speech and religious belief in accordance with the law, promoted and protected the rights enjoyed by vulnerable groups in an all-round manner and conducted extensive international exchanges and cooperation on human rights. China has achieved in several decades what took developed countries several centuries to achieve. On China's vast land of 9.6 million square kilometers, nearly 1.3 billion people are living a peaceful, free and happy life, free from war, terror or displacement. It can be said that this is the progress in the area of human rights achieved at the fastest pace and also represents a tremendous contribution made by China to the global human rights endeavor.
The Chinese delegation took over 300 questions raised by more than 150 countries from a panoramic perspective. We have engaged in good and constructive dialogues with all relevant parties with an open, candid, inclusive and cooperative attitude. Over 120 countries including Russia, South Africa and Ethiopia took the floor to highly commend China's development achievements, highly recognize the outlook on human rights with Chinese characteristics and speak highly of China's human rights report and the keynote speech delivered by the head of the Chinese delegation. They said that China's experience and practices in safeguarding human rights and the right to development and eliminating poverty are worth learning and drawing upon. Meanwhile, certain western countries politicized the issue of human rights and pointed fingers at China on ethnic, religious and judicial issues. In response to this, the Chinese delegation enumerated a large number of facts and figures to forcefully refute that and make necessary clarifications, underlining that no one knows better than the Chinese people as to whether the human rights conditions in China are good or not and that no country can dictate the definitions and standards of democracy and human rights, let alone impose its own will on others.
I want to stress once again that there will always be room for improvement in human rights protection. China is willing to step up exchanges and mutual learning with all countries to pursue common progress on the basis of equality and mutual respect and with a responsible and constructive attitude. We will carefully and actively heed those sincere and constructive suggestions. Meanwhile, we firmly oppose and reject the politically-biased, malicious and unreasonable accusations made by a very small number of people.
Q: According to reports, Pakistan's Finance Minister said that China has offered immediate assistance to help ease Pakistan's economic crisis. Can you confirm that?
A: China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and our bilateral relations have been running at a high standard. China has been providing utmost assistance to Pakistan as its capacity allows. We will continue to offer assistance and support within our capacity to Pakistan for its economic and social development in light of its needs and upon agreement by both sides.
Q: The results of US mid-term election show that the Republicans will retain control of the Senate while the Democrats have seized control of the House. Given that the US side accused China of interference ahead of the election, what comments does China have on the results of this election? Some believe that a Democrat-led House will put more restraints on President Trump's policies. How do you think this mid-term election will affect China-US relations?
A: We noted the mid-term election that was just wrapped up in the US. This is an domestic affair of the US and I won't comment on that.
China and the US have consensus on the importance and necessity of maintaining the sound and steady development of China-US relations. Such consensus is also shared by those far-sighted Americans in various sectors. The sustained, sound and steady growth of China-US relations not only serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but also contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. China stands ready to work with the US to properly manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, and expand practical cooperation based on mutual benefit and reciprocity, and move forward China-US relations in the right direction.
Q: According to reports, President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba is now in Beijing. Is he going to meet with President Xi Jinping today?
A: President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez has attended the China International Import Expo and is on a state visit to China. As you just said, he will be meeting with the Chinese leadership soon. We will release relevant information in a timely manner and please stay tuned.
Q: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has just wrapped up his visit to China. During the visit, he met and held talks with top Chinese leadership and attended the first China International Import Expo. The two sides signed agreements on future cooperation and issued a joint communique after the visit. What is your comment on the outcome of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit?
A: We believe that Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to China is successful. The two sides issued a joint communique which elaborated on the specific outcomes of this visit. The outcomes can be summed up as follows: First, this visit deepened the friendship between the leaders from the two countries. This visit is Prime Minister Imran Khan's first official visit to China after he assumed office, which fully testifies to the importance Pakistan attaches to developing its ties with China. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders held friendly exchanges with Prime Minister Imran Khan on separate occasions and established good relations with him. Second, this visit cemented the special China-Pakistan friendly relations. The two sides believed that the China-Pakistan relations have withstood the test of time as well as the changes in international and domestic landscapes and kept moving forward. The two sides agreed that we should further strengthen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and forge a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. Third, the visit expanded our strategic communication. The leaders from the two countries had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of mutual interest and reached important consensus. The two sides agreed to establish the foreign ministers' strategic dialogue mechanism through which we can plan for and coordinate bilateral relations and across-the-board cooperation. Fourth, the visit promoted practical cooperation and friendly exchanges. The two sides agreed to firmly advance the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), set up the task force on social and livelihood projects to constantly enrich and expand the CPEC. The two sides also agreed to step up cooperation in economy and trade, finance, science and technology, agriculture and cultural and people-to-people exchanges and signed 15 cooperation agreements covering relevant areas. Fifth, the visit enhanced our coordination and cooperation on international and regional affairs. The two countries reaffirmed their support for multilateralism, free trade and win-win cooperation as well as their commitment to promoting the lasting peace and common prosperity of the region and beyond.
Both China and Pakistan are satisfied with the outcomes of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit. The two sides agreed to make concerted efforts to implement all the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and elevate the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new height.
Q: First, does China see the US mid-term election as an opportunity to recalibrate on the trade issue and open up a chance for some kind of settlement? Second, sources have it that a visitor is coming from the US to China tomorrow. Do you have more details? Third, on the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Trump at G20, do you have more information on that?
A: Let me take your second question first. China and the United States maintain exchanges at all levels and in various fields. I am not sure who this visitor from the US is. If there is an important visit, I believe the Chinese side will release the information in time.
Regarding your first question, like I said in my previous reply, the mid-term election is an internal affair of the United States. Regardless of the results of the election, China's recognition of the importance of China-US relations will remain unchanged. In view of such importance, the two governments and peoples, including the leaders of both sides, all hope to maintain the healthy and steady development of China-US relations, which is in the common interests of the two countries and the world and meets the shared aspiration of far-sighted persons in both countries. We hope that the US will work with China with mutual respect, properly manage differences, and continue to expand and deepen the pragmatic cooperation between the two sides in a spirit of equality and mutual benefit.
When President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone with President Trump the other day, the two heads of state agreed that both sides should strive to maintain the healthy and stable development of China-US relations, constantly expand China-US economic and trade cooperation, and instruct the economic teams on both sides to maintain communication and consultation to translate such aspiration into reality. We hope that the economic teams of the two sides will strengthen contact and communication and conduct consultations on issues of mutual concern to seek an arrangement on the China-US economic and trade issue that is acceptable to both sides.
As for the meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina, the two heads of state said in the telephone call that they look forward to meeting again on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina and conducting an in-depth discussion on China-US relations and other major issues. The two sides maintain communication in this regard.
Q: According to reports, US Department of State said that the DPRK-US high-level dialogue scheduled tomorrow has been postponed. Do you have any comment on that?
A: When the DPRK and the US will talk to each other should be decided by the two sides.
China's position on the DPRK-US dialogue is clear-cut. China always supports the DPRK-US dialogue. We hope that the DPRK and the US, through dialogues at all levels, including the leaders' summit, can continuously enhance mutual trust, implement the consensus that has been reached, address each other's legitimate concerns and advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue.


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The online credit card application process will take about 10 minutes, however for your protection the system will automatically log you off if there is no activity for 30 minutes. All information in this application will be lost if this occurs.
Please Note: Credit Cards are subject to approval, restrictions apply.
Applicants must reside in the servicing area of California Bank & Trust
or have a current checking or savings account with California Bank & Trust in order to submit an application for a credit card.
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Visa Signature Card Holders are automatically enrolled in the AmaZing Rewards ® program and are eligible for annual bonus points. (Click on program name for more information including details on any fees that may apply.)
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Authorized User:
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.
When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents.

subset: commoncrawl


text: While developing the second phase of their Cretaceous Sea Exhibition, The Hastings Museum in Hastings, NE commissioned a life-size model of a Xiphactinus from Gary Staab, a paleo artist based in Kearney, MO. The Xiphactinus was a large predator fish that lived in the Western Interior Sea during the late Cretaceous Period and skeletal remains of this "X-fish" have been found in many parts of North America, Europe, and Australia. Luckily for us, Gary and his team documented the painstakingly detailed process of creating the life-like model in the excellent video above. [Thanks, Jo!]


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The Drawing Exchange Portal offers an online tool to improve Design stage One Call communications between Designers and Facility Owners.
The application allows Designers to upload their plans in an electronic format, making the plans available for Facility Owners, who then may download the file, annotate with their facilities, save, and upload the electronic plan for the Designer to view.
Access the Drawing Exchange Portal application here
Don't have a POCS User Account, click here to learn how to create one.


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If Pitt libraries don't have the books you need, use E-ZBorrow to request items from other academic libraries
- Pick up and return the items at any ULS Library. Items are generally delivered within 4-7 days
- You will be notified via email when the book is available for pickup
- E-Z Borrow items are checked out for six weeks with one six week renewal
- Overdue fines are .25 per day/per item, there is no grace period.
- The E-ZBorrow system handles requests for books. If you need a photocopy of an article, please request it through ILL (Interlibrary Loan)
- Your Patron ID No. is the number on your PITT ID
Availability of service may vary during holiday and interim periods.


text: What You Need to Know About the Crime of Criminal Recklessness! Normally, incidents ranging from an auto accident to throwing a rock and hurting someone are civil matters. As a result, you may sue or be sued in civil court under a tort theory. Sometimes negligent acts are covered by auto or homeowner's insurance coverage and sometimes not. However, at some indeterminate point, negligent acts cross the line and become criminal matters. Do you know where this line is at, and when your actions may be ... Read More


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A1 Heat Pump Clean
$39 for an Interior Heat Pump Clean for 1 Unit, $59 for a Full Clean for 1 Unit or $99 for a Full Clean for 2 Units from A1 Heat Pump Clean (value up to $163)
- Highlights
- Fine Print
- Company
The Offer
- The cooler weather is on the way so take this great opportunity to heat things up!
- $39 for an indoor unit heat pump clean & maintenance (value $70)
- $59 for a full heat pump clean & maintenance on 1 unit (value $118)
- $99 for a full heat pump clean & maintenance on 2 units in the same house (value $163)
- A clean heat pump is an efficient heat pump, heating your home more effectively – and keeping running costs down!
- Check out these fantastic reviews.
What We Like
I have what you might call a 'Type A' personality. I'm a big fan of lists, itineraries and properly scheduled tasks. And with the end of summer just around the corner, I'm already planning to get my heat pump cleaned and ready for winter. Winter 2016, that is – I prepared for this winter last year. Doesn't everybody?
What? You haven't had your heat pump cleaned yet? You've NEVER had your heat pump cleaned? Better get on top of that straight away – and A1 Heat Pump Clean are offering three great options that'll help you do just that!
A clean, well-maintained heat pump warms air more efficiently, costs less to run, extends the life of the device and is better for you and your family. Not everyone can be as organised as me, but you can organise yourself a top-notch clean from A1 Heat Pump Clean – just click Buy, call or email to book, and let them take care of the rest!
The Fine Print
Offer expires on 20/05/2016
Booking essential, subject to availability
Does not include repairs or parts
The heat mode function of your heat pump must be in working order when the technician arrives on-site or there will be a $40 surcharge to cover downtime and travel costs
This deal covers Christchurch and surrounding areas
Areas covered (no travel charge): Christchurch route takes in Kaiapoi and Lyttelton. Thursday route takes in Governors Bay, Lincoln, Leeston and Rolleston. Friday route takes in Woodend, Pegasus Town, Rangiora, Cust, Oxford
Valid Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30pm
Not valid on Public Holidays
No exchanges
No refunds or cash back (except where required by law)
Must be used in 1 visit
Not for use with other offers


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The sturdy multi-purpose wall formwork system per se. Large panel sizes up to 3.30 m, 100 % compatible with the hand-set system AluStar. Over 30 years proven track record in civil engineering and commercial and residential construction. For sale and rental. Available also from authroized MEVA partners.
StarTec is also available as a pre-assembled safety system, ready-to use and complete with platforms, guard-railings and ladder access: StarTec-Securit safety system.
Panel heights 330, 270, 135 and 90 cm, panel widths from 240 to 20 cm; for vertical or horizontal use
90° and 135° inside and outside corners and steplessly adjustable articulated corners from 60° to 180°
Maximum load capacity is 60 kN/m² (German standard DIN 18218, table 3, line 7)
Frames made of closed high-strength steel profiles
High-quality powder coating with additional priming and cavity sealing
270 cm and 135 cm wide panels with bump notch
Practical MEVA multi-function profile with welded-in Dywidag nuts
Tie hole with conical steel sleeve, welded in from both sides
3 tie holes per panel height 330 cm, 2 per height 270 cm, 1 per height 135 and 90 cm; symmetrical Arrangement
Panel 270/240 with tie holes inside panel; panel height 135 cm with centred tie hole at top and bottom
Panel connection with compact developed assembly lock: one piece, weighs only 2,0 kg
All-plastic facing alkus, no swelling or shrinking
Easy repair of scratches or drill holes etc. on site with the same polypropylene material
Screwable and nailable without chipping off of top layer
The alkus facing lasts as long as the Frame
MEVA fulfils stringent requirements with flexible formwork solutions. The Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the Hungary's most popular cultural attractions.
MEVA STB 450 offers flexible solution for narrow, inclined rail section: Near the municipality of Gretzenbach, the four-track route branches into two separate lines. Here, the two southern tracks gradually descend and pass below the cantonal road before entering the new Eppenberg Tunnel.
Four apartment buildings at heights up to 202 m by 2020: the city centre redevelopment project Deansgate Square. In use for a total of 194 storeys: the automatic MAC climbing system from MEVA
In Zurich the motorways cross each other from all directions. Every morning and evening in this densely populated region the heavy through and long-distance traffic is joined by commuter traffic.
The STB 450 has often proved its strength when being used vertically to support walls. For a motorway bridge north of Frankfurt it is being used horizontally for the bridge piers.
Putting superlatives on Dubai's skyline continues with the construction of the Rosemont Hotel and Residences on Sheikh Zayed Road.
MEVA foldable working and climbing platform. It is delivered to the site folded and pre-assembled and can be used as a climbing platform.
MEVA pouring platforms, walkway brackets and comprehensive safety accessories make your concrete pours safer and faster. The pouring platform is simply swung into position on the AluStar, StarTec, Mammut or Mammut 350 wall formwork panels.
Komplett vormontiertes, aufklappbares Sicherheitssystem StarTec-Securit für MEVA Wandschalung StarTec. Mit Betonierbühne, Rückenschutz, Leiter und Durchstiegsluke. Rutschfester Riffelblechbelag.
Comprehensive, modular safety system for MEVA wall wall formwork systems. Easy, standard attachment to the multi-function profile. Baukastensystem mit Betonierbühne, Rückenschutz, Frontgeländer und Durchstiegsluke mit Leiter und Stirngeländer. Befestigung an der Funktionsstrebe des Wandschalungssystems. Richtkonsolen am Rücken der Laufkonsole, dadurch keine Unterbrechung der Arbeitsbühne.
Push-pull props R and bracing brackets SRL are used to align and support wall formwork. Push-pull props SRL have left- and right threaded spindles. The brace bracket 250 consist of a push-pull-prop R 250 (190 - 320 cm) and bracing bracket SRL 120 (90 - 150 cm).
Circo is a robust steel system with integrated hinge joints for circular columns. It is available in 5 cm steps from 25 to 80 cm and in heights of 50, 100 and 300 cm. The two shells are closed using the standard M clamp.
MEVA FormSet anchors for single-sided formwork, stop end rail and stop end bracket for slab edges and cantilevering slabs with safety mesh for slab edge fall protection
Modular system for heavy duty bracing. The brace lengths are variable and can be used to support and align high walls and columns beyond 6 m heights.


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Julia Gillard 'stonewalling' on matter: Tony Abbott
THE stage has been set for a fiery finish to the federal parliamentary year, with the opposition vowing to use question time to grill Prime Minister Julia Gillard about her time at law firm Slater & Gordon.
Ms Gillard was again forced to answer questions on Friday after Nick Styant-Browne, a former senior partner at Slater & Gordon, produced documentary evidence showing Ms Gillard had been involved in the mortgage arrangements for a property partly bought using union funds stolen by her then boyfriend Bruce Wilson.
The 1993 bank letter confirms Ms Gillard received an insurance certificate of currency, which was required for approval of a $150,000 mortgage provided by the firm's loan department.
But two years later she told the firm's partners she had "no recollection" of seeing the document.
A 1996 police investigation found Mr Wilson, an Australian Workers' Union official, siphoned the remaining funds needed to purchase the Fitzroy property from a union association.
There is no suggestion Ms Gillard had any knowledge of Mr Wilson's activity.
But Liberal Party Deputy Leader Julie Bishop told Sky News Ms Gillard's version of events had now been contradicted by two people with "intimate knowledge" of the events.
Ms Bishop, who has already used question time to quiz Ms Gillard about the matter, said the opposition would continue to seek a "full and frank explanation" from the Prime Minister on a range of issues.
"There are very detailed questions that I wish to put to the Prime Minister in Question Time next week and I will do that without going into all of the information now because it's obviously very complex," she said.
"I have put a number of questions to her and she has not answered most of them. In a couple of instances she has given answers which I believe need further following up and that's what I intend to do next week in question time."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Ms Gillard was "stonewalling" on the matter.
"I think all of us are more than ready to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt but in order to give her the benefit of the doubt we have got to hear her side of the story; we've got to hear from her the kind of candour and openness about how she conducted herself professionally as a lawyer and how she has conducted herself in answering these questions as a Prime Minister," Mr Abbott said.
Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne the revelations were the latest chapter in a long-running smear campaign.
She urged people to apply common-sense in assessing the matter.
"What this boils down to is that 17 years ago I couldn't recall events that happened two-and-a-half years earlier," Ms Gillard said.
"And let's be very clear ... the matter I couldn't recall related to Slater & Gordon issuing a mortgage, not a matter associated with any union fund or account.
"So what this all means is that this whole campaign of smear actually boils down to absolutely nothing.
"There has not been one substantiated allegation of wrongdoing put against me across the full 20 years and the whole campaign of smear."
Asked directly if she had seen the 1993 document, Ms Gillard said she had given the firm's partners her "best recollection" when quizzed about the matter in 1995.
She also made the point she was not the solicitor in charge of the matter.