WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2007 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today opened a new agricultural trade office in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's province of Sichuan. Chengdu is China's fifth most populated city in a region of nearly 200 million people. (complete text)
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China Begin Ten Fingerprint Collection for Visa Applicants
Embassy Beijing began 10-fingerprint collection on November 15, 2007 and the program is being implemented at all consulates in China for non-immigrant and immigrant visa applicants. (complete text)
Statement by Mrs. Bush on Burma
The Burmese regime has just opened a gem show in Rangoon. The sale of gems is the regime's third largest source of revenue. These funds prop up the regime, allowing it to continue to harass, arrest, and sentence peaceful activists who seek freedom of speech, worship, and assembly.
Even as United Nations Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari and U.N. Human Rights Rapporteur Paulo Pinheiro were in Burma to help start a dialogue toward national reconciliation, the regime continued its crackdown. Despite statements that arrests had ended, the regime arrested Su Su Nwe, an ailing activist who continues to risk her life to press for change. The junta also arrested and reportedly sentenced U Gambira, a brave and respected monk, for treason.
Those who support freedom and justice for the Burmese people should not help fill the regime's coffers at this gem show. I applaud the Jewelers of America and member companies such as Tiffany and Cartier for taking a stand against the importation of Burmese gems. I urge others in the industry, both in the U.S. and worldwide, to join in this important effort and refuse to have the trade in Burmese gems prop up the Burmese regime. Consumers throughout the world should consider the implications of their purchase of Burmese gems. Every Burmese stone bought, cut, polished, and sold sustains an illegitimate, repressive regime.
U.S. Student Visas Reach Record Numbers in 2007
The best way to know America is to study here, State’s Harty says
Washington -- In 2007, the Department of State issued a record number of student and exchange visitor visas -- more than 600,000 -- greater than 10 percent more than last year. The numbers are proof of the success of the U.S. government’s effort to reverse the drop in student and other visa applications after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty told USINFO.(complete text)
Debate continues on calls from human rights and press freedom groups for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to protest the Chinese government's repression of journalists and human rights activists and its policies toward Sudan, but some argue that a boycott would accomplish nothing and could be counterproductive. (complete text)
Today, U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr., presented a check for $500,000 to the Red Cross to assist China's relief efforts in areas affected by this week’s earthquake in Sichuan Province. The funds are from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development. 
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