Beijing  - Chinese leaders gathered in Beijing Monday to plan the country's economic policy for 2009, trying to find ways to offset the negative impact of the global financial crisis.

The three-day meeting is aimed at developing strategies to fight the economic slump affecting small and medium-sized companies and transform the structures of China's economic growth, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Beijing - China on Monday protested sharply against a meeting on the weekend between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The meeting, which took place at the sidelines of a conference in Poland, triggered Chinese outrage and heated protests in online forums, as well as calls to boycott French goods.

Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned the French Ambassador to China, Herve Ladsous, delivering a strong protest, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Beijing, Dec. 8: China has announced plans to construct its first inland nuclear plant in the central province of Hubei.

The cost of the first two phases of the project, with an installed capacity of 4 million kilowatt is estimated at 50 billion Yuan (7.3 billion dollars). The third phase could cost 45 billion Yuan, the official news agency Xinhua reports.

The construction of the plant is expected to start after an environmental assessment report is approved.

The China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPG) and the Hubei provincial government agreed in March to jointly build the plant. CGNPG and Hubei Energy Group established a joint venture, known as Hubei Nuclear Power Ltd. Co., in June to develop nuclear power in the province.

Kathmandu  - China on Sunday pledged military assistance for Nepal to consolidate its security forces and peace process, officials said.

The aid pledge came during talks between Nepal Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and the deputy commander of China's People Liberation Army, Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, in Kathmandu Sunday.

"China has assisted Nepal in the security sector at various times and continues to do so," Thapa said after the meeting. "An agreement was reached on 207 million rupees
(2.6 million dollars) of Chinese assistance for Nepal's security sector."

Beijing  - China reacted angrily Sunday to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet with the Dalai Lama over the weekend in Europe.

"This development is indeed an unwise move which not only hurts the feelings of the Chinese people, but also undermines Sino-French ties," state-run Xinhua news agency said of Saturday's meeting in the Policsh city of Gdansk.

"The Dalai Lama has long been engaged in activities worldwide to split China. He can by no means conceal the separatist nature of his activities no matter what by whatever disguise and whatever florid rhetoric he may use."

Beijing, Dec. 7: China has described as unwise French President Nicolas Sarkozy insistence on meeting Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Saturday, adding that it has undermined Sino-French ties.

A Xinhua report quoted sources as saying that in meeting "separatist The Dalai Lama" the French President and his government have shown a total disregard for Beijing''s grave concerns.