新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/03/26

 It's Shane Bigham with you on this Thursday, March 26th, 2015.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, live from the Chinese capital...
Coming up on our program this evening...
Chinese and US officials talk about cooperation in the hunt for economic fugitives 2 from China...
Saudi Arabia has launched air strikes in Yemen, targeting several locations in the capital...
One of the pilots of that crashed passenger jet in southern France had been locked out of the cockpit...
In Business: prices for gasoline and diesel 3 in China are dropping...
In Sports: first round results from the Miami Open tennis tournamen...
In Entertainment: a Chinese movie banned because of a star's drug arrest may be released after all...
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of 8. It'll be cloudy on Friday with a high of 22.
Shanghai will see light rain with a low of 10, followed by more rain and a high of 15.
Chongqing will be overcast 4 tonight, with a low of 17. Tomorrow, showers and a high of 22.
Elsewhere in Asia,
Islamabad, sunny with a high of 39.
Kabul, partly cloudy and 21.
In Australia
Sydney, sunny with a high of 26,
Canberra will have some clouds, 19 degrees.
Brisbane, thundershowers, 31,
Perth will be partly cloudy with a high of 28 degrees Celsius 6.
 
 
Top News
 
 
U.S. China Anti-corruption 8 Cooperation: State Department
 
The US State Department says Washington and Beijing are discussing China's ongoing 9 hunt for fugitive 1 corrupt 7 officials in the US.
The comment made by State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki is in response to a media report that China has handed the U.S. government a priority list of over 150 high-profile fugitive officials with hopes to bring them back to China for trial.
Psaki confirms that China has provided such lists in the past, adding that the U.S. Department of Justice is cooperating with anti-corruption investigators 11 in China.
"The Chinese – at the most recent meeting, the Chinese delegation 12 agreed that they would supply us more evidence regarding their priority fugitive cases so that we can increase our focus on the location and prosecution 13 or removal of these fugitives. So they have provided lists in the past, and certainly that's something that is ongoing."
She added that the U.S. State Department is also talking with China through legal and state channels regarding what information is needed and what steps can be taken.
 
 
Saudi Arabia launches Yemen strikes
 
Saudi Arabia has launched air strikes in Yemen against Shiite Houthi rebels to protect the government of embattled President Abd rabbuh Mansour Hadi, who was ousted 14 in January.
Saudi ambassador in the US Adel Al-Jubeir says a coalition 15 of 10 countries, including five Gulf 16 monarchies 17, has been set up to protect the "legitimate 18" Yemeni government.
"We will do whatever it takes in order to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling and from facing any dangers from an outside militia 19. We have a situation where you have a militia group that is in control or can be in control of ballistic missiles, of heavy weapons and of an air force."
Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE say they have decided 20 to answer the call of President Hadi to protect Yemen, as the country teeters on the brink 21 of civil war.
Saudi Arabia has already mobilized 100 warplanes and 150,000 troops, while Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan and Sudan have expressed willingness to participate in a ground offensive in Yemen.
President Barack Obama has also authorized 23 the "provision of logistical and intelligence support" to this military operation.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has criticised the airstrikes in Yemen, saying that it will not lead to peace, but instead "only bloodshed and slaughter 24 of the people."
Rebel backed al-Masirah TV says ten civilians 25 have been killed in air strikes in the Capital Sanaa.
A widening Yemen conflict could pose risks for global oil supplies.
Most oil tankers 26 from Arab producers like Saudi Arabia have to pass Yemen's coastlines en-route to Europe.
Crude oil prices rose by around one percent on Thursday following news of the air strikes in Yemen.
 
 
Recording 27 shows pilot locked out of crashed Airbus cockpit
 
Cockpit voice recordings 28 from the German jet that crashed on Tuesday in the French Alps show that one of the pilots was locked out of the cockpit before the plane went down, killing 29 all 150 people onboard.
The recordings did not make clear why the pilot left the cockpit or why he could not regain 30 entry as the plane steadily 31 descended 32 toward a mountain range in a remote area of the French Alps.
Investigators were studying the voice recordings from one of the "black boxes" for answers on Thursday while the search continued for a second black box.
Germanwings, the budget arm of German airline Lufthansa, operated the flight.
The airline has made arrangements to allow relatives of the passengers to travel to the crash site.
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines.
"I've been at the crash site myself yesterday with the German minister of Transport and Foreign Affairs. It was a terrible site to see the small pieces of debris 33 and we have been organising with the French authorities the possibility for those relatives who want to get closer to the scene of the accident to get there."
French President Francois Hollande, Germany's Angela Merkel and Spain's Mariano Rajoy traveled to the crash site on Wednesday to pay tribute to the 150 victims, who were mostly from Germany and Spain.
 
 
US launch Tikrit air strikes to push back IS militants 34
 
The US has launched a series of air strikes against Islamic State militants in the Iraqi city of Tikrit.
The Pentagon says the order followed a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for assistance, after an Iranian backed ground offensive in the city came to a temporary standstill two weeks ago.
Tikrit is a strategically important town in Northern Iraq, that was overrun by Islamic State militants last year.
The operation to retake the town began earlier this month, led by Iraqi soldiers and Shia militiamen. They had made rapid progress, taking several villages along the river Tigris and entering the Southern districts of the city.
But the city centre remains 35 a stronghold of IS militants.
The battle for Tikrit is seen as an important step towards regaining 36 control of the larger city of Mosul.
The Iraqi ground offensive, that had stopped earlier due to high casualty figures has resumed on Wednesday.
 
 
Myanmar military claims total control of Kokang region
 
Myanmar's military has claimed total control of Kokang region in the northeast.
Media reports say the military has confirmed that it has taken over all the strategic positions in the region and is calling on all Kokang ethnic 37 army fighters to lay down their arms.
The past weeks saw aerial bombings and close-quarter combat in the region, while the Myanmar government was grappling to end decades of border insurgencies in a fresh round of ceasefire talks that began last week.
Tens of thousands of refugees have fled into China's Yunnan province since fighting in Kokang first flared 38 up in early February.
The Kokang ethnic group's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army is accused by the government of being enmeshed in drug trafficking.
They were previously 39 driven out of Kokang in a bloody 40 push by the army in 2009.
 
 
China welcomes Turkey to join AIIB: Finance Ministry 41
 
Turkey has officially submitted its application in a bid to become a prospective 42 founding member of China-initiated Asian Infrastructure 43 Investment Bank, or AIIB.
The Finance Ministry of China has welcomed to this move.
So far the bank has had nearly 30 prospective founding members apply.
European nations including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland have applied 44 to join the AIIB as founding members.
Applications to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank remain open until the end of this month.
 
 
Rural banking 45 high on Boao's agenda
 
Anchor: The Annual Conference of the Boao Forum 46 for Asia held its first discussion session on Thursday afternoon.
For the first time, issues of China's inclusive approach to international finance and rural banking were high on the official agenda. CRI's Min Rui has more.
Reporter:
After ten years of rural banking reform in China, the rural economy has made considerable progress.
But the economic development of rural areas has been relatively 47 slow when compared to that of urban areas.
In order to gain a better understanding of China's ongoing rural financial reforms, a focus group selected four typical areas in Hainan, Jiangsu, Shanxi and Zhejiang to evaluate the effectiveness of rural financial reforms. The group also aimed to uncover the segments in which the rural finance system needs to further improve.
The outcome of a study Report on Development of Rural Finance 2015 was published at the first discussion session of the Boao Forum.
In the report, Hainan Qiongzhong's experiment was highlighted as a successful example of rural finance reform.
Wu Weixiong is the head of Hainan Rural Credit Cooperatives Union
"More than 60 percent of the farmers in Hainan Province have access to small loans, 10 percent more than in other places. The average interest rate is between 7 percent and 8 percent, the highest is 15 percent. What's more, the Hainan government provides a no less than 5 percent discount on the compounded interest. Thus the farmers only need to shoulder a very low interest rate, which leads to a generally widespread willingness to take advantage of the loans."
The latest round of rural financial reform kicked off in 2003 and the following decade saw rural financial institutions diversify 48 increasingly over time.
Lv Jiajin is the head of Postal 49 Savings 50 Bank of China.
"We rank among the top worldwide when it comes to the size of small loans. It is the small loan business that makes us among the top. This runs contrary to the older image attracting deposits, but without complementary lending. The small loan business laid the foundation for us to transition from a deposit and remittance 51 institution to a commercial bank."
More loans and low interest rates from the bank are not the only things that are needed. Interest subsidies 52 from the government are also considered to be an important part of the support of rural development.
Wu Xiaoling, Dean of the School of Finance at Tsinghua University, is promoting a new rural household responsibility production mechanism 53 with support from the government.
"The only way forward for rural development is to move towards a more economically efficient form of production. Under the current land ownership system in China, separated farms won't be a good idea to promote. Things are more likely to succeed if we put farmers in a household responsibility production mechanism that takes advantage of the government's financial support and technical support."
Earlier this month, China's banking regulator urged financial institutions nationwide to channel more financial support to rural areas to help modernize 54 the agricultural sector 55.
For CRI, I'm Min Rui in Boao.
 
 
All current taxes to be set by legislation by 2020: Top legislature
 
China's top legislature says that a 1985 resolution authorizing 56 the State Council to levy 57 business taxes will be nullified by 2020.
This means that by the target date all taxes in the country will require legislation to be enacted 58.
The State Council had been given the authority to levy business taxes through regulations several years after the launch of the reform and opening-up drive.
Professor Zhu Qing from the School of Finance at Renmin University explains the reasons behind the current practice.
"At that time, many systems and regulations were badly in-need of being established, and the situation was quite complex. Under those circumstances, it was necessary for the top legislature to authorize 22 the State Council to levy business tax. With the deepening of the reform and opening up, the improvement of tax laws and the strengthening of legislative 59 power of the top legislature, now it is time to set all taxes by legislation."
Of China's 18 existing taxes, only three -- individual income tax, corporate 60 income tax, and vehicle and vessel 61 tax -- are levied 62 through legislation. The rest 15 are imposed through formal or provisional regulations issued by the State Council.
 
 
China and Africa to Strengthen Mutually Rewarding Cooperation
 
A senior health official has said China will continue to send medical teams to help African countries fight Ebola and further develop cooperation within the healthcare sector.
The announcement was made during the 5th international roundtable on China-Africa health collaboration 63.
An official with China's National Health and Family Planning Commission says China has been sending medical aid to Africa for half a century.
Ren Minghui adds that since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak a year ago the Chinese government has provided medical support worth around 750 million Yuan.
"As a whole, China has sent nearly a thousand medical staff to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and other surrounding countries. There are nearly five thousand virus samples collected, eight hundred patients treated and more than 120 thousand people trained on the Ebola control. "
The meeting is from Thursday to Saturday.
In the last five decades, more than 20 thousand Chinese volunteers have helped to treat more than 230 million patients in 45 countries and regions in Africa.
 
 
The 5th International Roundtable on China-Africa Health Collaboration Kicks off
 
Anchor: Ren Minghui with China's National Health and Family Planning Commission has also said it is a crucial time to hold discussion on China-Africa cooperation in the health sector.
CRI's Wang Wei has more.
Reporter:
Over 300 representatives from China and Africa healthcare circles are gathering 64 in Beijing for the 5th International Roundtable on China-Africa Health Collaboration.
Ren Minghui, Director-general of the International Cooperation Department of the National Health and Family Planning Committee of China, says it's a critical time to discuss health cooperation:
"Not long ago, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized health cooperation along with industrial cooperation, and security cooperation as three key areas to enhance China-Africa cooperation. And Health development will be an integral part of the new international development goals as the Millennium 65 Development Goals will expire this year. So it's quite meaningful for us to hold this meeting."
The roundtable not only serves as a platform for China-Africa health cooperation, but also presents policy recommendations for the Sixth Ministerial Conference of China- Africa Cooperation to be held Later this year.
When asked about what policies she would like to make to the Ministerial meeting, Luwei Pearson, a regional health adviser 66 from UNICEF, said she hoped the actual voice of Africa was being heard:
"I think it's important for China to form an investment plan according to the actual needs of Africa and the African people. I think we need to deliver the voice of African people, the voice of medical workers working there. There are over 50 countries in Africa. Each country has its distinct conditions. If China wants to spend the money in the right way, it needs to know what the right way is."
Meanwhile, Dr. Delanyo Dovlo with the WHO regional office for Africa has emphasized the role of local communities:
"One of the major things that are critical to get our health system function is understanding our communities and their needs. It's important to change the way how we interact with our communities. And we need to learn how to do that. Not because communities are the same but because they are very different."
Experts say the policy recommendations formed in the roundtable are expected to help promote health coverage 67 and expand access to essential medicines in Africa.
For CRI, I'm XXX.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks
 
Anchor:
First, let's have a look at the numbers from the Asian markets on this Thursday evening.
Joining me on the desk is Niu Hong Lin.
Reporter:
Chinese stocks closed mixed after volatile 68 trading.
Heavyweights including ship-builders and the oil industry saw a solid session up.
The ship-building sector posted gains following reports that China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation will merge 69. The two shares both rose by the daily limit of 10 percent.
At the closing bell, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained nearly three fifths of a percent.
And the Shenzhen Component 70 Index dipped around one third of a percent.
Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index lost a fraction of a percent.
Elsewhere in Asia, most shares slipped today as the escalating 71 tensions in the Middle East provided a tailwind for oil prices.
The Japanese Nikkei plummeted 72 by over one and one third of a percent, its biggest daily decline in two months.
South Korea's KOSPI dropped one percent.
Singapore's Straits Times index gained nearly two fifths of a percent.
In Australia, the ASX 200 traded lower by more than one and a half percent.
 
 
Oil price sees its first drop in 2015
 
China's macro-economic regulator has announced that the prices of gasoline and diesel will be dropping again.
The bulk rate will drop by 200 yuan per ton at midnight. For drivers, the price will drop about a fifth of yuan per litre.
The regulator has also ordered oil companies to strictly 73 carry out the price policy and ensure stability of the oil supply.
Analysts 74 say oil prices have been largely dragged down by the slump 75 affecting international crude oil prices, spurred by the global over-supply of oil.
Experts say there's slim chance that the oil price will pick up substantially.
 
 
Australia probes mining magnate's call for iron ore output cap
 
Anchor:
Australia's competition watchdog has launched an investigation 76 into comments by a senior mining company executive.
Andrew Forrest of Fortescue Metals Group has reportedly told a banquet in Shanghai that mining companies should be putting a cap on production levels to help inflate 77 iron ore prices.
The Australian Competition Commission is now looking into the statement, saying the proposal could breach 78 competition laws.
For more on Iron Ore prices, the Beijing Hour's Paul James spoke 10 earlier with CRI's Financial Commentator 79 Cao Can.
 
 
China to boost Made in China 2025 strategy
 
China's State Council has pledged to boost the implementation 80 of the "Made in China 2025" strategy.
Earlier, Miao Wei, the Minister of Industry and Information Technology, said the move is expected to further upgrade the manufacturing sector.
"China is a main manufacturing country but it's not a manufacturing power. Many key enterprises are yet to become globally competitive. We still need to make breakthroughs in a large number of major technologies and key equipment in various industries. In addition, we should develop some important and key products that can be positioned well in the international market."
According to a mid- to long-term plan made by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, it will take three decades to transform China from a big manufacturing country into a manufacturing power, and the "Made in China 2025" strategy is the first step.
The strategy is expected to be officially released in the first half of 2015.
 
 
International Winemakers Seek Market Expansion in China
 
Twenty six Chilean wineries will showcase their product for the Chinese market at the China Food and Drinks Fair this week in Chengdu city.
Chile, the world's fourth largest wine exporter, is seeking to expand business in China.
An official from Chile's export promotion 81 bureau says Chinese consumers will have access to more and better quality Chilean wines at preferential prices, since China eliminated tariffs 82 on Chilean wines under a free trade agreement.
Meanwhile, a senior Italian official in Chengdu says Italy is looking to topple France as the top exporter of wine to China.
The market for wine in China has entered an era of mass consumption and fast growth.
A report says the wine consumption in China expanded by around 6 percent last year compared with 2013, despite a gloomy political and economic situation for the market.
 
 
Alibaba Closes 26 Online Shops for Bribery 84
 
E-commerce company Alibaba Group has permanently 85 shut down 26 online shops for trying to bribe 83 Alibaba staff and seek improper 86 gains.
The move comes after Alibaba vowed 87 to clamp down on fake goods, bogus transactions, and corruption to uphold a healthy online eco-system for shoppers.
The company stated in an open letter to its vendors 88 that no shortcuts 89 or unspoken rules are allowed on Alibaba's platforms.
According to its regulations, members who seek improper gains by bribing 90 Alibaba's staff will be banned from the platform and wrongdoers will be reported to law enforcement departments.
The company also urged shoppers to report any violations 91 via its integrity platform.
Alibaba's online eco-system has been under the spotlight 92 since its 25 billion dollars initial public offering last year.
Its shares fell nearly 3 percent earlier this month after it was revealed that sellers bloated sales numbers and gained prominence 93 by paying others to pretend to be customers.
 
 
China Trade-in program for iPhone to start in March
 
News from Bloomberg, consumers will be able to take older iPhones to Apple stores in China for credit against the company's products as soon as the end of this month.
Foxconn, a key Apple supplier, will buy the iPhones directly, without Apple taking ownership.
The China plan is similar to a trade-in program launched in the US in 2013, which bolstered 94 sales.
Under the US program, non-Apple devices are acceptable. In China, however, only Apple phones are currently involved.
 
 
Hainan Airlines plans to buy 30 Boeing 787-9s
 
China's fourth-largest air carrier, Hainan Airlines, says it is planning to buy 30 Dreamliner airplanes from Boeing. The deal is worth almost $8 billion dollars.
The 787-9 Dreamliners are due to be delivered before 2021.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China hopes Sri Lanka to protect Chinese companies' legitimate interests
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Sri Lanka to protect the legitimate interests of Chinese companies, expressing willingness to deepen cooperation in trade and infrastructure with the South Asian country.
The president made the remarks during talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who is paying a state visit to China and attending the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia.
Sirisena says the current situation with the China-funded port project in Colombo is temporary as problems with the project do not lie with China.
He says his country welcomes more investment from China, promising 95 a healthy investment climate in his country.
The 1.4 billion-U.S. dollar port city project was part of a deal reached between China and Sri Lanka under the former Sri Lankan government. The new government, which took office in January, decided to re-examine it.
 
 
China launches "Sky Net" campaign
 
China will soon launch a campaign code name "Skynet" to capture corrupt officials who have fled abroad.
The country's anti-graft authority says it will be another major campaign to nab fugitive suspects of economic offenses 96 following the "Fox Hunt" campaign last year.
The new campaign, starting next month, will focus on capturing corrupt officials, cleaning up illegal certificates, busting 97 underground banks, recovering assets involved in criminal cases and persuading fugitive suspects to return home.
 
 
Beijing doctor saves U.S. woman while touring San Diego's Sea World
 
A doctor from Beijing on vacation in the US has saved the life of an American woman at Sea World in San Diego, California.
Officials at the popular tourist attraction have confirmed that a woman collapsed 99 at the park last month.
The doctor has been identified as Tang Ziren, a supervisor 100 at the emergency department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. The doctor wrote about the incident on his Weibo acccount on March 21st, saying he performed CPR on the woman after she suffered a heart attack.
The story on his social media account has received 50-thousand "likes" and more than nine thousand comments and re-posts.
 
 
Deadly Vietnam scaffold collapse 98 kills 14
 
At least 14 workers have been killed and more than 20 injured when scaffolding collapsed at a building site in central Vietnam's Ha Tinh province on Wednesday.
Local police say that all the victims were Vietnamese subcontractors hired to work on a seaport 101 breakwater project.
The Son Duong seaport is part of one of Vietnam's largest special economic zones, where a Taiwan company, Formosa Plastics Corporation, is building a multi-billion dollar steel complex.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
CHINA NEWS SERVICE
"China debuts 103 1st commercial flight using 'gutter 104 oil' biofuel"
Hainan Airlines has become the first Chinese airline to pilot a commercial passenger flight using biofuel produced from waste cooking oil known as "gutter oil," sparking heated debate across the country.
Flight HU7604 traveled two hours between Shanghai and Beijing on Saturday morning, powered by a "half-half" mixture of traditional jet fuel and biofuel developed from gutter oil.
Hainan Airlines says the fuel mix underwent a series of stringent 105 safety examinations and tests by aviation authorities before obtaining official approval for the maiden 106 flight.
Hainan Airlines and Sinopec say the oil mixture can gradually reduce carbon emissions 107 by 35 percent, and also effectively reduce particle pollution.
But that effect can be realized only if biofuel is in mass production and application, the chance of which is now dampened by high production costs.
Statistics show that China's annual output of gutter oil is over 30 million tons, but only about 2 million tons can be collected and recycled.
INQUISTER (US)
"4D Ultrasound Study Reveals Unborn Babies Grimace 108 When Mothers Smoke While Pregnant"
Unborn babies appear to grimace in the womb when their mother lights up, scientists have shown, demonstrating the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy 109.
The tiny movements were captured in the faces of the foetuses during 4D ultrasound scans.
Pregnant women have long been urged to give up cigarettes because they heighten the risk of premature 110 birth, respiratory problems and even cot death.
Now researchers believe they can show the effects of smoking on babies in the womb - and use the images to encourage mothers who are struggling to give up.
Both 3D and 4D ultrasounds have become very popular in recent years, with some mothers opting 111 to have the images taken once each month during pregnancy.
CHINA DAILY
"Preschool kids need new ideas, not old rules"
Beijing education authorities have launched inspection 112 tours of kindergartens to ensure that children are not overburdened with schoolwork.
Although Chinese, mathematics and English are supposed to be taught to primary school students, it is not uncommon 113 to see preschool-age children across China being forced to study these subjects.
In 2012, the Ministry of Education told kindergartens not to burden pupils with schoolwork on the pretext 114 of holding special or experimental classes.
The ministry also directed kindergartens not to assign homework to preschool children. But in practice, few local education authorities and kindergartens have followed the rule.
Fully 115 implementing 116 this regulation has become difficult due to the growing competition for admission to schools and inadequate 117 seats for applicants 118.
Some parents are too anxious about their children's lagging behind and would send their children to other training schools, which also fails to reduce the pressure on children.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Film insiders explore ways to tap the market in the New Silk Road Era
 
Anchor:
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is underway, with movie fans and experts sharing their insights about Asia's film industry.
CRI's Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has more.
Report:
China's "New Silk Road" initiative has been widely heralded 119 for its potential to reshape Asia's economic landscape.
Ma Runsheng, a renowned 120 director and producer from Beijing, believes it will also have a profound impact on the region's movie and entertainment industry.
"A Bite of China has been translated into 9 languages and aired in more than 70 countries and regions. Each single episode of the documentary has been well received. So I was considering whether we could produce A Bite of Asia, or A Bite Along the Silk Road, to introduce Asian food in new areas. That would be delicious. "
Aired in 2012, A Bite of China is a series of food documentaries telling the histories and stories behind Chinese cuisine 122. It was a big hit and has drawn 123 millions of viewers online.
Ma Runsheng also has a suggestion for what filmmakers can do to promote their works globally.
"You can introduce your productions to us and we can translate them and distribute them to other countries, so they can be appreciated by global audience without language barriers. I also hope good Chinese movies, TV dramas, animations 124 and documentaries can be played in overseas TV channels."
Yasushi Shiina, Director General of Tokyo International Film Festival, says movies have no boundaries.
"Movies provide a diverse platform for Asian countries to exchange ideas and understand each other better."
Director of Busan International Film Festival Lee Yong-Kwan says they have learned a lot from the region's film festivals.
"We have set up trans-national movie foundations to invite students to go abroad to study and travel, so they can learn others' cultures and in return, put their knowledge into practice."
India's "Bollywood," Japan's "J-pop" and South Korea's "K-pop" have already established their names globally, while the ASEAN countries, strategically located on the first leg of the "New Silk Road", have committed to opening their film markets this year.
Asia's movie industry is booming as the world's largest and fastest growing film market. Last year, combined box office receipts in this region accounted for 80 percent of all global growth in the sector.
For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Tennis: Sam Querrey takes out Victor Burgos 6-4, 6-3 in Miami.
 
In round one action from the Miami Open:
Sam Querrey beat Victor Estrella Burgos of Dominican Republic 6-4, 6-3.
Querrey ensured the first day ended without an American exit following his triumph the second consecutive 125 Masters 1000 event on the ATP World Tour.
Elsewhere, it was a narrow but straight-sets win for Austrian Dominic Thiem over Diego Schwartzman.
Thiem won 7-6, 7-5 to reach the second round.
He'll be joined by Juan Monaco of Argentina, who defeated Ruben Bemelmans of　Belgium, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.
In other action:
Two-time Miami Open champion Victoria Azarenka easily advanced to the second round Wednesday, beating Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain 6-1, 6-3.
Azarenka took a 4-1 lead in the first set before Soler-Espinosa held serve in the fifth game. In the second set, Azarenka initially 126 trailed 3-1 before winning the next five games to end the match.
And Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, who has had two shoulder surgeries the past five years, won her first WTA Tour-level match since the Memphis tournament in February 2010.
The 328th-ranked Vaidisova, who had a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2007, beat Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos 6-1, 7-6.
And finally, 45th-ranked Sloane Stephens posted a 6-1, 6-3 win over Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium
 
 
Football: China extends Perrin's coaching contract to 2018
 
In off pitch Chinese football news-
Chinese Football Association has closed the deal to extend national team coach Alain Perrin's contract to 2018.
The estimated salary for Perrin and his two assistants will be around two million dollars annually 127.
Perrin coached Chinese team to reach the Asian Cup quarterfinals in January, but team China were ultimately laid low in a 2-0 loss to the host Socceroos, the eventual 128 winner of the tournament.
China's overall performance under Perrin's helm since March last year has been impressive and the Frenchman's pragmatic style likely also played a role in persuding CFA to go ahead with the contract extension.
Team China has played a total of 14 games, including 10 friendlies, with Perrin in charge, losing only two games, 1-3 to Mali in a friendly and 2-0, to Australia in the Asian Cup.
 
 
NBA: Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 129 95-93
 
In the NBA, it's a full slate 121 of games now on the books:
James Harden scored 25 points and 10 assists as the Houston Rockets handed the New Orleans Pelicans their fourth straight loss with a 95-93 victory.
Brooklyn took out Charlotte 91-88.
The LA Clippers beat out the New York Knicks 111-80.
The Atlanta Hawks 130 took down Orlando to end their losing streak 131, 95-83.
Indiana edged the Washington Wizards 103-101.
Chicago beat out Toronto 116-103.
Miami beat Boston 93-86.
Cleveland dispatched Memphis 111-89.
The Lakers landed a win over Minnesota, 101-99.
League laughing-stock Philadelphia got a rare win over Denver 99-85.
Portland beat out Utah 91-89.
San Antonio mercilessly crushed Oklahoma City 130-91, a 39 point pounding.
And it was the Sacramento Kings over Phoenix 132, 108-99.
 
 
Golf: Preview ahead of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio
 
Looking ahead at some golf action teeing off in just a few hours, -
The Valero Texas Open is the penultimate tournament before the Masters, with players jockeying for a spot in the top 50 in the world rankings to gain entry to Augusta.
It will take place this week on the Oaks Course, a 7,435 yard par 5 72 course. This year's victor will take home US$ 1,116,000 of the US$ 6.2 million purse as well as 500 FedEx Cup points.
There have been nine multiple-time winners over the years, with Arnold Palmer and Justin Leonard taking the title three times each.
Zach Johnson has won it twice and will be in the field later today, along with Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Jimmy Walker and Phil Mickelson.
Johnson says that its easy to overstate the degree to which TPC San Antonio prepares players for Augusta:
"I mean, yeah, that certainly doesn't hurt. Any time you have, you know I would say, slope change, undulations around the greens and rye overseed that helps, you know, for Augusta cause that's what we're gonna see. All that being said, I mean, you know, I mean, lotta guys play Houston - they think it's comparable so I don't know if there's a true golf course out there that would get you perfectly 133 ready for Augusta."
Next week the PGA Tour heads to the GC of Houston for the Shell Houston Open before moving to Augusta for the Masters on 9-12 April.
 
 
MLB: Masahiro Tanaka limits the Mets to three runs but Yankees lose 7-2
 
Masahiro Tanaka and the Yankees faced their New York rivals, the Mets, in a spring training game in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon.
Tanaka, making his third appearance in spring training, gave up a leadoff double to Juan Legares and Legares scored two batters 134 later.
Yankees catcher John Murphy couldn't handle a low pitch from Tanaka, allowing Legares to make it to third safely and, when Murphy's throw bounced past Chase Headley, the Mets centre fielder made it home safely for the first run of the afternoon.
Tanaka then walked Lucas Duda, but left the Met stranded 135 on first base by sending John Mayberry Jr. and Kirk Nieuwenhuis down on strikes to end the inning.
Tanaka offered this take on his work in the pre-season:
"All things taken into consideration, I think I was able to get the most out of all of my starts this Spring."
Tanaka was able to get the Mets down in order in the top of the third inning but, after striking out Duda to open the fourth, Mayberry belted 1-0 pitch to left field for a solo home run.
When all was said and done, Tanaka limited the Mets to three runs - two earned - over four and two-thirds innings pitched, but it was not enough as the Yanks lost to their cross-town rivals 7-2.
 
Entertainment
 
 
"A Fool" might be Released as Planned
 
It has been reported that Wang Xuebing's latest movie "A Fool" might be released as planned on May 1st.
The film has been facing a possible ban recently after Wang Xuebing, one of its leading stars, had been detained because of drug use in Beijing.
A poster of the movie has just been released with the theme "return," three of the main characters walking along a road, but the position that is said to be Wang Xuebing is now empty with only a shadow.
Netizens have been speculating all his parts in the film may have been re-filmed.
 
 
China dominates Asian Film Awards
 
It was a triumphant 136 night for China at the 9th Asian Film Awards held in Macau last night, grabbing 10 prizes from 14 categories.
As predicted director Lou Ye's "Blind Massage 137," about the lives of a group of blind massage therapists, won best film.
Shot in semi-documentary style, the film also took home the award for best cinematographer.
As predicted Ann Hui won best director for "The Golden Era," a three-hour literary epic 138 starring Tang Wei as the 1930s novelist Xiao Hong, one of China's most-prominent women writers.
The film also won best supporting actor for Wang Zhiwen.
Liao Fan won best actor for his role in drama "Black Coal, Thin Ice."
The movie's director, Diao Yinan, won the award for best screenplay.
"Gone With the Bullets," starring Jiang Wen, who also directed the film, took home the most awards, all in technical categories.
The awards glowed in a bit of Hollywood glamour 139 with the presence of musician-singer Jermaine Jackson, who presented the award for best composer.
 
 
U.S. producers set to produce two films in China
 
U.S. producers Cameron Jones and Jerry Weintraub are set to produce two movies in China with Beijing's Galloping 140 Horse, the company behind John Woo's "The Crossing."
Jones will produce "Forever Young," an English-language musical comedy with Eric Stoltz, who has a track record in musicals, including directing 13 episodes of 'Glee,' set to direct.
Production is expected to begin by the end of the year, with filming locations in China and America.
Weintraub will produce "Legion One," a martial 141 arts action comedy, that will likely follow later.
Under recently appointed head of film, Ray Chen, Galloping Horse is expanding feature film activities, and has green-lighted two other local Chinese titles "Lost In New York," and "Love From Another Planet."
Combined production budgets for the four titles are reported to be in excess of $81 million, with Galloping Horse putting up approximately $24 million of the total, alongside finance partners and distributors Enlight and Le Vision Pictures.
 
 
Two films awarded top prize at the HAF
 
Hong Kong film project "Lazy Hazy 142 Crazy" and "That Summer" from the Chinese mainland were both winners at the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum.
"Lazy Hazy Crazy" is a $1.5 million youth love story and the directorial debut 102 of Luk Yee-sum.
The young director also bagged the iQIYI Special Award, a new prize created by the major Chinese Internet video platform.
"That Summer" is a drama about a 10-year-old boy who discovered his father's secret affair with the daughter-in-law of his elderly neighbor.
Director Zhou Quan and producer Terence Chang have assembled one-fifth of the project's $1 million budget.
Established in 2012, the HAF aims to develop feature films with regional appeal by providing support for promising scripts.
25 features and five documentaries were also presented at the event in search of finance and production partners. More than 300 submissions 143 were received this year.
 
 
Zayn Malick quits One Direction
 
One Direction has confirmed that Zayn Malick has quit the group.
Malick said his life with the band has been more than he could ever have imagined, but after five years now is the right time to leave the band.
 
 
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour. A quick recap of your headlines:
Chinese and US officials talk about cooperation in the hunt for economic fugitives from China...
On behalf of all the Beijing Hour staffers, Shane Bigham in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour, to open a window to the world together.