by Chris Bodenner Tracy Clark-Flory explores the complex world of asexuals: Many asexual people masturbate — in fact, one study found that asexual people masturbate as often as everyone else. [Advocate David] Jay says some asexuals fantasize while pleasuring themselves,…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/andrewsullivan/rApM/~3/QGrt4xTJl0Q/romance-without-sex.html

Anna Friel
Anna Kournikova
Anna Paquin
AnnaLynne McCord
Anne Marie Kortright

Zoho has offered an iOS app for a while now — at least for the iPhone and iPod touch. Those of you who have been wanting to use the Zoho app on your iPad were out of luck, but that’s no longer the case.

Zoho Docs 2.0 has landed in the App Store, and the most notable change is that it’s now a universal app. Now you’re able to take advantage of the app’s mobile productivity powers on your larger iOS device. Retina display support has also been added, as have document sharing options — which you can utilize in both the viewer and collaboration modes.

Just like the basic Zoho service, the app is available totally free of charge. Paid subscriptions get you additional storage space and start at $3 per month for professional use.

Zoho Docs 2.0 adds iPad support originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=e30d06a3f25debb85a18b16621060ed7

Ashanti
Ashlee Simpson
Ashley Greene
Ashley Olsen
Ashley Scott

by Zack Beauchamp Fallows gets very angry about GOP super-committee co-chair Jeb Hensarling’s desire to let the payroll tax cut expire: Through the artificial debt-ceiling “crisis,” through the Moonie-like spectacle in Iowa of candidates (including Mr. Sanity, Jon Huntsman) raising…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/andrewsullivan/rApM/~3/afcuuiL3tEs/the-gop-hates-taxes-unless-theyre-on-the-poor.html

Brittany Murphy
Brittany Snow
Brittny Gastineau
Brody Dalle
Brooke Burke

Source: http://lyrics.wikia.com/index.php?title=Spectacular!_Cast:Break_My_Heart&diff=9836933&oldid=prev

Amanda Swisten
Amber Arbucci
Amber Brkich
Amber Heard
Amber Valletta

Along with writing partner Mike Stoller, lyricist was responsible for enduring hits including Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock and Stand By Me

Blog: Leave your tributes for Jerry Leiber

Jerry Leiber, the lyricist behind songs including Stand By Me and Hound Dog, has died at the age of 78.

Leiber worked alongside his co-writer, Mike Stoller, to produce some of the most enduring hits of the rock’n'roll era, including tracks made famous by Elvis Presley. The songwriting duo also had their work performed by the Drifters, the Coasters and Ben E King, as well as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Stoller was one of the first to pay tribute to his songwriting partner: “He was my friend, my buddy, my writing partner for 61 years. He had a way with words. There was nobody better. I’m going to miss him.”

The pair ? who notched up 15 No 1 hits ? were admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Terry Stewart, its president, said: “The music world lost today one of its greatest poet laureates.

“Jerry not only wrote the words that everyone was singing, he led the way in how we verbalised our feelings about the societal changes we were living with after the second world war.

“Appropriately, his vehicles of choice were the emerging populist musical genres of rhythm and blues and then rock’n'roll.”

Leiber was born in Baltimore in 1933, and met Stoller as a high school student after moving to Los Angeles. Their working methods ? Steiber hammering a piano while Leiber yelled out words ? soon bore fruit and their first hit, Charles Brown’s Hard Times, arrived in 1952.

This was also the year they wrote Hound Dog, which became a blues hit for Big Mama Thornton before Presley made it an even bigger hit with his rock’n'roll interpretation.

According to legend, that song came together when Leiber started beating a rhythm on the roof of Stoller’s 1937 Plymouth with his right hand and tapping on the dashboard with his left. “I kinda liked the beat and it felt good,” Leiber later told Reuters. “I started yelling: ‘You ain’t nothing but a hound dog!’ Mike said: ‘I like that.’”

In the 2009 memoir Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography, Leiber jokingly described their songwriting partnership as “the longest-running argument in showbusiness”.

Leiber died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. He is survived by his sons, Jed, Oliver and Jake.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/aug/23/jerry-leiber-dies-78

Ali Campoverdi
Ali Larter
Alice Dodd
Alicia Keys
Alicia Witt

2:20 P.M. EDT

        THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I just completed a call with my National Security Council on the situation in Libya.  And earlier today I spoke to Prime Minister Cameron about the extraordinary events taking place there.

        The situation is still very fluid.  There remains a degree of uncertainty and there are still regime elements who pose a threat.  But this much is clear:  The Qaddafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of Libya is in the hands of its people.  

        In just six months, the 42-year reign of Muammar Qaddafi has unraveled.  Earlier this year, we were inspired by the peaceful protests that broke out across Libya.  This basic and joyful longing for human freedom echoed the voices that we had heard all across the region, from Tunis to Cairo.  In the face of these protests, the Qaddafi regime responded with brutal crackdowns.  Civilians were murdered in the streets.  A campaign of violence was launched against the Libyan people.  Qaddafi threatened to hunt peaceful protestors down like rats.  As his forces advanced across the country, there existed the potential for wholesale massacres of innocent civilians.

        In the face of this aggression, the international community took action.  The United States helped shape a U.N. Security Council resolution that mandated the protection of Libyan civilians.  An unprecedented coalition was formed that included the United States, our NATO partners and Arab nations.  And in March, the international community launched a military operation to save lives and stop Qaddafi’s forces in their tracks.

        In the early days of this intervention the United States provided the bulk of the firepower, and then our friends and allies stepped forward.  The Transitional National Council established itself as a credible representative of the Libyan people.  And the United States, together with our European allies and friends across the region, recognized the TNC as the legitimate governing authority in Libya.

        Qaddafi was cut off from arms and cash, and his forces were steadily degraded.  From Benghazi to Misrata to the western mountains, the Libyan opposition courageously confronted the regime, and the tide turned in their favor.

        Over the last several days, the situation in Libya has reached a tipping point as the opposition increased its coordination from east to west, took town after town, and the people of Tripoli rose up to claim their freedom.

        For over four decades, the Libyan people have lived under the rule of a tyrant who denied them their most basic human rights.  Now, the celebrations that we’ve seen in the streets of Libya shows that the pursuit of human dignity is far stronger than any dictator.  I want to emphasize that this is not over yet.  As the regime collapses, there is still fierce fighting in some areas, and we have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting.

        Although it’s clear that Qaddafi’s rule is over, he still has the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Libya and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Libya.

        As we move forward from this pivotal phase, the opposition should continue to take important steps to bring about a transition that is peaceful, inclusive and just.  As the leadership of the TNC has made clear, the rights of all Libyans must be respected.  True justice will not come from reprisals and violence; it will come from reconciliation and a Libya that allows its citizens to determine their own destiny.

        In that effort, the United States will be a friend and a partner.  We will join with allies and partners to continue the work of safeguarding the people of Libya.  As remaining regime elements menace parts of the country, I’ve directed my team to be in close contact with NATO as well as the United Nations to determine other steps that we can take.  To deal with the humanitarian impact, we’re working to ensure that critical supplies reach those in need, particularly those who have been wounded.

        Secretary Clinton spoke today with her counterparts from leading nations of the coalition on all these matters.  And I’ve directed Ambassador Susan Rice to request that the U.N. Secretary General use next month’s general assembly to support this important transition.

        For many months, the TNC has been working with the international community to prepare for a post-Qaddafi Libya.  As those efforts proceed, our diplomats will work with the TNC as they ensure that the institutions of the Libyan state are protected, and we will support them with the assets of the Qaddafi regime that were frozen earlier this year.  Above all, we will call for an inclusive transition that leads to a democratic Libya.

        As we move forward, we should also recognize the extraordinary work that has already been done.  To the American people, these events have particular resonance.  Qaddafi’s regime has murdered scores of American citizens in acts of terror in the past.  Today we remember the lives of those who were taken in those acts of terror and stand in solidarity with their families.  We also pay tribute to Admiral Sam Locklear and all of the men and women in uniform who have saved so many lives over the last several months, including our brave pilots that have executed their mission with skill and extraordinary bravery.  And all of this was done without putting a single U.S. troop on the ground.

        To our friends and allies, the Libyan intervention demonstrates what the international community can achieve when we stand together as one — although the efforts in Libya are not yet over.  NATO has once more proven that it is the most capable alliance in the world and that its strength comes from both its firepower and the power of our democratic ideals.  And the Arab members of our coalition have stepped up and shown what can be achieved when we act together as equal partners.  Their actions send a powerful message about the unity of our effort and our support for the future of Libya.

        Finally, the Libyan people:  Your courage and character have been unbreakable in the face of a tyrant.  An ocean divides us, but we are joined in the basic human longing for freedom, for justice and for dignity.  Your revolution is your own, and your sacrifices have been extraordinary.  Now, the Libya that you deserve is within your reach.  Going forward, we will stay in close coordination with the TNC to support that outcome.  And though there will be huge challenges ahead, the extraordinary events in Libya remind us that fear can give way to hope and that the power of people striving for freedom can bring about a brighter day.

        Thank you very much.

END 2:27 P.M. EDT

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/22/statement-president-libya

Anna Faris
Anna Friel
Anna Kournikova
Anna Paquin
AnnaLynne McCord

by Zoë Pollock Ian Crouch heralds the latest nerd gossip: Obama’s summer reading list (above). Instead of the expected biographic tomes, it’s heavy on contemporary fiction and highlights the instinct for narrative that’s been crucial to his political success. Obama…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/andrewsullivan/rApM/~3/l7jM0fHG73s/literati-in-chief.html

Alicia Keys
Alicia Witt
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Detmer
Amanda Marcum

Sendai Airport
Sendai, Japan

3:22 P.M. (Local) 
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Governor, thank you very much.  Come to Delaware.  It’s a lovely place.  How many students were scheduled to go to visit my home state of Delaware?  Raise your hand.  You’ve still got to come.  My granddaughters are anxious to see you.
 
Governor, thank you for that kind introduction.  And I am honored and truly humbled to have an opportunity to visit this place that has seen so much devastation and tragedy but also demonstrated for the world to see so much heroism and courage, resolve and selflessness.
 
If there was ever a single set of circumstances for the world to understand what the Japanese people are made of — their resolve, their determination, their brotherhood, it was this God awful tragedy that you have had to go through.  I came to express not only my commitment to say we will do whatever we can to help, but to tell you how much the President, how much I, how much the American people admire your character.
 
I see this is simultaneous translation.  (Laughter.) 
 
On March 11th, when the earth shook and the ocean surged, the thoughts and prayers of the entire world turned toward Japan, a great and peaceful nation that has always been there when others have needed you.  It’s something I think sometimes the Japanese people forget as they express their gratitude to us and others, you have always been there.  You have been there when others have been the victims of the forces of nature.
 
So I wanted to extend my deepest condolences, and those of President Obama and all the American people, for what you have endured, and particularly for the family, friends and loved ones of those of who have been lost.
 
But I am also here to honor the incredible spirit of the Japanese people, who remind the world of something equally as forceful as the force of nature, that is the force of the nature of the human spirit, which is equally as formidable, particularly when we join together in the most trying of times.
 
I’ll have a chance later this afternoon to visit the community center that is now the home for hundreds of families left homeless by the devastation; I’m anxious to meet them.  I’m anxious to hear their stories.  And I’m anxious to let them know America is going nowhere.  We are here as long as you want us to help.
 
But I already know that the disaster met its match in the legendary industriousness and relentless perseverance of the Japanese people.
 
Neighbors and total strangers in this region divided up the tasks essential to survival: scavenging for food wherever they could find it; overcoming downed cellular networks by communicating through message boards, radio and human messengers; gathering fuel from the tanks of the wrecked motor boats and automobiles.
 
We see that same spirit throughout Japan, including the brilliant young Japanese golfer who recently captured the imagination of Americans.  Ryo stood there as that magnificent swing of his and as the announcers pointed out, that he had committed all his earnings to deal with the devastation back home.
 
One eighth grade English teacher I’m told, as school resumed, told her students, and I quote:  “Many of us lost our homes and possessions in an instant.  The important thing is now making a first step toward something brighter.”
 
My dear mother, an old Irish lady used to say, in the most difficult moments, including when I lost my wife and daughter, she said, Joey, out of everything terrible, something good will come if you look hard enough for it.  It’s hard to look for it.  It’s hard to accept that.  But it’s true.  And the DNA of the Japanese people is riddled with the notion that it’s true.
 
Five months after the disaster, while there is still clearly a long way to go, you have made remarkable progress, schools are beginning to re-open, businesses are coming back, homes are being rebuilt.
 
One of the first major steps toward moving forward here in Sendai is specifically here at this airport.  On March 11th, flood waters reached I’m told the second level, almost all the way to this floor.  And when the water receded, it became the home of more than 1,000 weary survivors with nowhere to go.
 
As I stand here at this airport, I am proud — as I said to your generals — I’m proud that our military was given the privilege of being able to join your forces.  And within a week of the earthquake, able to re-open the runway that enabled the arrival of hundreds of relief workers and more than 2 million tons of humanitarian supplies.
 
And just a month after the earthquake, on April 13th, the airport reopened to commercial flights.  Indeed, one of the underpublicized but remarkable aspects of the response to this disaster is that the Japan has remained open for business.  It is still open for business.
 
The American people are also proud and honored by the way  they have been able to assist.  They're proud to continue doing whatever you would like us to as you rebuild.  And that’s because of a simple proposition.  It’s not because of government-to-government or military-to-military relations.  It’s because of a genuine affection the American people for the Japanese people.  You students, when you come to my home state, you will see that.  You will feel it.  You will understand it.  But it’s also because we know — we know if the reverse situation occurred, you’d be there — you’d be there to help us.  You’d be there to do everything you could.  As you were at Katrina, as you were in Pakistan, as you were around the world, wherever disaster has struck.
 
That’s why within hours, our military launched what we refer to in English as “Operation Friend” -— the single largest humanitarian relief effort in American history.  And it was done without having to convince the American people of anything.  It was spontaneous.  It’s because of the affection for the people — the people of Japan.  That's the building block upon which this partnership and alliance of ours is built.
 
But this is not just a one-time effort in response to a crisis.  America’s ongoing assistance to Japan’s economic recovery is just as important.  It’s not only important for Japan, it’s important for the United States.  It’s important for the United States that Japan remain open for business and continue to grow, to prosper.  And there is no limit in our view what two of the world’s largest economies, and strongest and most dynamic economies in the history of the world can accomplish together.  I emphasize together.
 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited in April to help launch the broad public-private partnership aimed at revitalizing the economy by helping build better links between this region and the global economy.
 
This is taking shape as a public-private friendship initiative, in essence the sequel to Operation Friendship, to support Japan’s recovery, in part through fellowship and grant programs that support education and innovative business projects, and in many other ways.  But it’s an investment — it’s an investment, as we see it, in tomorrow’s leaders. 
 
We’re working to enhance the cooperation between Japan and America, between Japanese and American businesses, between our nations’ civil society groups, and among public officials -—including more than 180 American municipalities with Japanese “sister cities.”
 
Look at the 16 young baseball players from right here in Sendai, who have spent the past two weeks in the United States, hosted by Hall of Fame friend of mine named Cal Ripken, as part of a State Department sports exchange program with Japan.
 
America’s commitment to our friend and ally Japan extends well beyond support in times of need and reflects the profound importance America places on our relationship with Japan and our deep ties to this region.
 
The United States is and will remain a Pacific power.  America’s focus on this critical region will only grow in the years to come -— as Asia plays an ever increasing role in the global economy and international affairs.  But the anchor for that relationship will be Japan.
 
As President Obama said in Tokyo, during his first visit to Asia as President, and I quote:  The United States of America may have started as a series of port cities along the Atlantic Ocean, but for generations we have also been a nation of the Pacific.  Asia and the United States are not separated by this great ocean; they are bound by this great ocean.
 
That’s why when President Obama and I came to office two and a half years ago, we were determined to strengthen our partnership and alliance with Japan, which has served as a foundation of this region’s security and prosperity for over half a century.
 
Those nations in the region that are prospering and growing, and we want to see them grow, that has been made possible by the stability and certitude that Japan and the United States have been able to provide over the last 50 years.
 
Rooted in common interests and shared values -— including democratic ideals, respect for human rights, the rule of law — this alliance always plays an indispensable role in ensuring the security and prosperity of not only Japan and the United States, but, quite frankly, the entire Asia-Pacific region.
 
We are committed to ensuring that it continues to be effective in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.  Toward that end, I was pleased that in June our Secretaries of Defense and State met for the first what we call “2 +2” talks in more than four years, part of our effort to increase security cooperation with Japan in the coming years.
 
Our partnership continues to thrive.  Even as you recover from the earthquake and the tsunami, Japan continues to play a prominent and positive role in world affairs.
 
I just want you to know that we remember and we are aware that whatever and wherever on the planet disaster strikes, Japan has always been among the first to lend a hand and deploy aid workers, generous contributions, essential donations to the recovery of that country or region.
 
When the Indian Ocean tsunami left hundreds of thousands dead or homeless throughout the region, when the earthquake leveled Port-au-Prince, in Haiti, when flood waters ravaged Pakistan, when Hurricane Katrina cut a devastating swath through America’s Gulf Coast, in every one of those instances — without being asked, and countless others that I have not mentioned, the people of Japan have lent a hand.
 
But as Japan faces its own difficult time, Americans will stand by Japan for as long as it takes.  My visit today is to reinforce and reassert that commitment of an ally to an ally, a friend to a friend.
 
And let me say one last thing.  There are some around the world who are betting on the decline of America and the inability of Japan to rise again.  They are making a very bad bet.  Both of us — both of us will continue to grow and prosper.  And together — together we are a significant part of the engine that will allow the world to recover.
 
I thank you for your friendship.  I thank you for giving us the honor of being able to be of whatever assistance we have been so far.  And may God bless the people of Japan and the people of the United States upon whom this relationship is really built.
 
Thank you very, very much.
 
END
3:38 P.M. (Local)

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/23/remarks-vice-president-biden-sendai-airport

Bar Refaeli
Beyoncé
Bianca Kajlich
Bijou Phillips
Blake Lively

4:26 P.M. (Local)

        PRESIDENT HU:  (As translated.)  Honorable Vice President, it is a great pleasure to meet you again in just half a year’s time.  I want to welcome you to pay this official visit to China.

        Mr. Vice President, you’re an old friend of the Chinese people.  You’ve made two previous visits to China, the first one in 1979 and then again in 2001.

        During my visit to the United States this past January, you and Secretary Clinton hosted a welcoming banquet for me, and you gave a warm and a friendly remarks at that occasion.  I wish to express my sincere appreciation for that again.

        Over the last two days, National People’s Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping have had very good meetings and talks with you.  You attended a China-U.S. Business Dialogue, and tomorrow you will be visiting Chengdu of Sichuan province.  I believe your current visit will help you have a deeper understanding of China and the Chinese people.

        This visit will also help push forward exchanges and cooperation between our two countries in various fields and make new contribution to the building of a China-U.S. cooperative partnership.

        Now, I’d like to listen to you, Mr. Vice President.

        VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Mr. President, it’s an honor to be here.  I thank you for your time.  Your poor colleagues have had to be in my company and been so nice to me the last two days.  We spent hours together thus far.  Mr. Ambassador, again, thank you.

        To get straight to the point, Mr. President, President Obama asked me to come to Beijing to meet with you and others to reaffirm our absolute, total commitment to a strong and enduring positive relationship with China, and to reaffirm our commitment to stay engaged in the world in the most vigorous way possible.

        I have — I have made two visits to China, but, Mr. President, in light of President Obama’s request, I expect, with your indulgence, I’ll make many more in the near term.  Your meeting with President Obama made a very strong, positive impression on the American people.  And my meetings here thus far have been extremely helpful to me.  I began to establish a very good relationship with Vice President Xi, and the President and I look forward to working with him, as well as hoping to continue the great legacy you’ve begun in the relationship.

        I must tell you I’m impressed by his raw command of issues, and it has been reassuring.  And, Mr. President, President Obama genuinely looks forward seeing you in Hawaii.  His favorite place in the world is Hawaii.  It’s his home state.

END 4:32 P.M. (Local)

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/19/remarks-vice-president-biden-meeting-chinese-president-hu-jintao

Autumn Reeser
Avril Lavigne
Bali Rodriguez
Bar Refaeli
Beyoncé

Beijing Hotel
Beijing, China

10:42 A.M. (Local)
 
VICE PRESIDENT XI:  (As translated.)  Vice President Biden, representatives of the business communities of the two countries, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, it gives me great  pleasure today to have this operation to attend together with Mr. Vice President, an opportunity presented by your visit to China, actually — the China-U.S. Business Dialogue.
 
I know that the representatives present are accomplished business people in your respective fields, and you have made active contribution to the business cooperation between our two countries. 
 
Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation and pay my tribute to the efforts you have made in advancing the business cooperation between our two countries.  Enterprises are key contributors to the wealth of human society and important forces in driving world progress and development.
 
Business people of both China and the United States — honest — (audio difficulties) — over the past 30 years and more since we established diplomatic relations, the business people of the two countries have worked together in a pioneering effort and returned a lot of — (audio difficulties) — January this year, President Hu Jintao paid a successful state visit to the United States. 
 
President Hu and President Obama jointly inaugurated a new stage in China-U.S. ties that is our joint effort to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. 
 
During his visit to the U.S., President Hu Jintao encouraged business people of the two countries to make the most of the opportunities presented by the deepening economic globalization, actively explore each other’s market, and promote our mutually beneficial cooperation.
 
President Obama also stressed that the cooperation between the business communities of the two countries is the most important part of U.S.-China ties.  The businesses of the two countries are the primary force of the business cooperation between us.  And it’s for you to work together in exploring and shaping the future of our cooperative partnership.
 
I believe it’s important that China-U.S. businesses should seize the opportunities and work together to pursue common development as China-U.S. relations continue to deepen and in particular in the face of a complex and severe situation of the world economy.
 
To do that I would like to make the following four points.  First, we need to reinforce confidence.  The international financial markets, drastic fluctuations and uncertainties and destabilizing factors confronting world economic recovery have intensified, posing new challenges to economic growth and the businesses of the two countries.  Under such circumstances what’s most important is to reinforce confidence as confidence is more precious than gold.
 
As far as China is concerned, we will continue to pursue a proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy.  We will maintain the continuity and stability of our macro-economic policy and make it more targeted, flexible and forward-looking.  We are going to strike a proper balance between fast and steady growth, adjustment of economic structure and managing inflation expectations.  We are confident that we are able to keep steady and fast economic growth.  There will never be a so called “hard landing” for the Chinese economy.
 
Yesterday in my discussion with Vice President Biden, he briefed me about efforts of the U.S. government in spurring growth and jobs, cutting the budget deficit, properly handling the debt problem, and preserving the confidence of global investors.
 
The U.S. economy is highly resilient and has a strong capacity for self-repairment.  We believe that the U.S. economy will achieve even better development as it rises to challenges.  We hope that the business people of the two countries will reinforce confidence, work hard to turn challenges into opportunities and embrace change and innovation.
 
I hope that the business people of the two sides will make active contributions through their development to the growth of China and U.S. economies and to the strong, sustainable and balanced development of the global economy.
 
Second, we need to take a long-term perspective.  If one is to have a full view of the scenery, one needs to cast his eyes to the far horizon.  Over 30 years ago, when China just launched a firm and prudent exploration of reform and opening up, crossing the river by testing out the stones, the business people of the United States already showed extraordinary vision and courage and came to China for investment and business establishment.
 
Over the past 30 years and more, they have witnessed China’s fast development and shared the opportunities of China, their investment has produced bountiful results.  Today’s China has a more enabling policy environment, improved infrastructural facilities, better services and a larger pool of human resources.  There is even broader space in the Chinese market.
 
It has been clearly stipulated in China’s 12th five-year plan that we will accelerate a shift of growth model and stimulate greater domestic demand.  In the next five years, China is expected to import over $8 trillion of commodities, and by 2015, the total retail sales of China are expected to reach 31 trillion RMB-yuan, and that will create greater business opportunities for American businesses and businesses of other countries.
 
At the same time, an increasing number of competitive and far-sighted Chinese businesses are actively exploring the American market.  We hope that the business people of the two sides will take full advantage of the enormous opportunities for cooperation in energy, environment, infrastructure, biomedicine, financial services and between small- and medium-sized enterprises.
 
We hope that they will work closely with each other, make the most of the current favorable conditions and invest in the future, writing together new chapters in our business cooperation.
 
Third, we need to deepen cooperation as China’s reform, opening up and modernization drive gather momentum.  There has been a fundamental change in our conventional model of cooperation where the United States provides capital and technologies; and China labor, resources and the market.  Today an increasing number of U.S. businesses — is providing quality services and products to Chinese consumers.  And more and more Chinese businesses are going to the United States to make investment and start businesses, contributing their part to the growth of the U.S. economy and the creation of jobs in the U.S.
 
For example, the North America route opened by COSCO has contributed to the prosperity of American ports and more jobs there.  The Novel and Haier Group have opened factories and R&D centers in the U.S., and their products are wildly popular with American consumers.  The Xiangtan Electric Manufacturing Corporation of Hunan province will also soon establish a branch in Delaware.  Mr. Lu Quanqiu from Wan Xiang Group has employed over 600 local people in his company’s branch in the United States.
 
These are the vivid examples of the growth of our business cooperation, and it shows that our cooperation is expanding and moving to a higher level.
 
There is competition in our cooperation.  Yet such competition is healthy based on mutual learning and mutual reinforcement.  In a fundamental sense it is conducive to our common development.
 
Fourth, we need to be mutually inclusive.  A Chinese proverb reads, as an ocean admits all rivers, one is to be inclusive to all things.
 
Given the big size and rapid expansion of our business cooperation, it’s only natural that we have some differences and frictions in our cooperation.  But we need to approach them with an inclusive mind, and we need to properly handle these differences through equal consultations in compliance with the law of the market and WTO rules.  We should not politicize or sensationalize the trade issues.
 
Here I want to emphasize that China will continue to free its mind and stay committed to reform and opening up.  We will — running the country according to the law, and make continual improvements to our laws and regulations related to foreign business cooperation.  We will intensify IPR protection and treat all businesses as equals in terms of the accreditation of indigenous innovation products and government procurement.
 
At the same time, we hope the United States will eliminate the interferences of trade and investment protectionism.  We hope that there will be early and concrete actions on the part of the United States on issues which are of high concern to the Chinese side, including easing the export restrictions of high-tech products to China and providing a fair environment for Chinese businesses to make investment in the United States.
 
I believe as long as we treat each other as equals and embrace mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, we will have even better growth in our business cooperation. 
 
In conclusion, I wish even greater accomplishments for the business people of the two countries.  And together we can write more success stories in our practical cooperation.
 
Thank you.  (Applause.)
 
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you.  I will be brief.  There’s much to talk about.  The Vice President and I — and I want to thank him for his hospitality and look forward to his reciprocal visit to the United States.  I — we’ve had an opportunity to talk at some length, and we’ll have further opportunities, so I will be brief because I’m mainly here to listen.
 
Much has changed since my first visit here, actually to this hotel over 30 years ago with a group of — I was then a very junior United States senator, and we were the first delegation to meet with Deng Xiaoping.  And I brought with me the heads of — we brought with us, the senators, the heads of certain American companies, two of whom are here today and — although they weren’t here 30 years ago — both Caterpillar and DuPont.  And there was open discussion about the possibility of American business doing business in China, which was unheard of up to that point, and the reverse, as well.
 
And I’m pleased to say over 30 years later, I look around this table at such a group of successful and powerful business leaders, both in China and America, and it gives me reason to have great optimism about the next 30 years.
 
I agree with what the Vice President said, and he listed the four areas that I will not go into detail, the four points that he wanted to make.  But with regard to the point about confidence, I want you to know that I have absolute, unequivocal confidence in the strength and the vitality and the growth of  the American economy.  No one has ever made money betting against America.  And I am absolutely confident, as well, that the two largest economies in the world are the road to world recovery.  And we’ve had many discussions so far, many hours of discussions.
 
I also agree with the Vice President that competition is healthy.  It is good.  It has awakened us.  It has regenerated us.  It has — it is nothing but welcome on the part of the United States.  And one other point we’ll get to discuss today, I hope you will discuss, is that we welcome — President Obama and I, we welcome, encourage and see nothing but positive benefits flowing from direct investment in the United States from Chinese businesses and Chinese entities.  It means jobs.  It means American jobs.
 
We also welcome and are really encouraged by the 12th five-year plan and the reordering of the economy toward a more consumer-based economy.  That is also — I never tell another man or another country what’s in their interest, but it seems to me it’s very much in the interest of the Chinese and the Chinese people, but it’s also in the interest of the United States. 
 
So I would also like to point out that we’ve made much progress, but there are some real and perceived barriers that exist in both countries that have to be dealt with.  I think it’s legitimate for Chinese business persons and government officials to point to the dilemma with the American visa process, which I very much want to work on with the Vice President.  I think there’s other things.
 
But I also think you are aware that we think market access is — changes have to take place here in China, as well.  And so the Vice President and I have had all of our discussions, going back to our first meeting in Rome, based on mutual respect.  And one of the things that I have a bad reputation for is being straightforward, and I’m really pleased that the Vice President has been straightforward, as well.
 
And so only friends and equals can serve each other by being straightforward and honest with them about the perceived injustices or the perceived tilting of a playing field; and you have legitimate concerns about access to America.  And I would argue we have legitimate concerns in reverse.  But the trajectory — the trajectory of the relationship is nothing but positive, and it’s overwhelmingly in the mutual interest of both our countries.  And it’s presumptuous to say this, but I think it’s in the interest of the world.  It’s in the interest of the world that we increase — increase — the interaction between not only our business community, but our economies writ large.
 
Obviously, economic issues have been a particular focus of the growing cooperation between the United States and China.  Our governments are committed to and working hard to promote economic growth.  It’s strong.  It’s sustainable, and it is balanced, fair and open.  Bilateral trade and investment between the United States and China, as is pointed out, is growing rapidly in both directions.  We’d like it to go even more rapidly in terms of investment in the United States because it creates jobs and it creates economic opportunities in both countries.  And we will have more good news later today about greater access and also continued development and investment both ways.
 
Our enhanced cooperation to put it bluntly and succinctly is extremely good for the United States.  I would suggest, although you would make — be your own judge, I think it’s good for China, as well.  And I think it’s good for the wider world.
 
And so in the spirit of trying to figure out how to resolve both perceived and real barriers that exist on both sides of the Pacific, I’m anxious to listen and be educated. 
 
So, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.  And thank you, Mr. Vice President.  I’m anxious to hear what people have to say.
 
END
11:03 A.M. (Local)

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/19/remarks-vice-president-biden-and-chinese-vice-president-xi-us-china-busi

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