Hourly News updated 14:00 2011/10/12

 China voices firm opposition 1 to pressuring RMB exchange rate with U.S. domestic legislation

China is urging the U.S. government, Congress and communities to firmly oppose the action of pressuring Chinese RMB exchange rate with its domestic legislation.
In a written statement, Foreign Ministry 2 spokesman Ma Zhaoxu says pressuring the RMB exchange rate by way of domestic legislation is a wrong doing, urging the US to resist protectionism and the politicization of economic and trade issues.
His remarks came in response to the U.S. Senate's passing of the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight 3 Reform Act. 
The bill is especially directed at China's currency, the yuan, which the U.S. claims is undervalued to make Chinese exports to the U.S. cheaper. 
Meanwhile, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang suggests the bill would fly in the face of international norms if it became law. 
"At this crucial moment of global economic recovery, the US Senate uses legislation to force the appreciation 4 of trading partners' currencies. This implies a upgrade of protectionism of trade."
The controversial legislation still needs the approval of both the House of Representatives and President Barack Obama before becoming law.
 
 
Chinese president meets Russian PM on bilateral 5 cooperation, strategic partnership 6
Chinese President Hu Jintao has met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Beijing, calling yesterday's meeting between Putin and Premier 7 Wen Jiabao pragmatic and productive.
The president expressed his belief that Putin's visit will further promote the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
China and Russia reached a critical agreement on oil pricing following the 16th regular meeting between the two countries' prime ministers.
The two sides are also nearing a deal on the pricing of natural gas.
Energy pricing is one of the key issues under discussion between Putin and Chinese leaders during his visit.
 
 
12 Chinese confirmed dead on Mekong River: FM spokesman
China's Foreign Ministry says that 12 Chinese citizens are dead, and one remains 8 missing, following last week's attack on two ships in Thailand.
The statement follows the identification of the bodies pulled from the Mekong River.
Around 50 family members of the victims are now waiting for permission to head to Thailand to identify the bodies.
The Chinese sailors were killed last week following an attack by suspected drug traffickers.
 
 
Chinese humanitarian 9 aid arrives in Libyan capital
A batch 10 of emergency humanitarian aid provided by the Chinese government has landed in Tripoli, the first Chinese aid to the Libyan capital since the outbreak of the conflict. 
The 43-ton aid of rice, edible 11 oil and medicines is the first part of a 3.2-million-US-dollar Chinese package to Tripoli. The second and third batches 12 will also arrive within the week.
In addition, China's Red Cross Society has pledged a 7.8-million-dollar aid to Libya. The first batch was sent to Benghazi in August.
 
 
More Chinese mainland residents to be allowed to visit Taiwan
Tourism authorities on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will meet in Beijing tomorrow to discuss allowing more mainland cities' residents to visit the island as individual tourists.
A spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office says the mainland feels positive about expanding the number of mainland cities that Taiwan allows to take individual trips through a trial program. 
Since late June, Taiwan has opened the door to residents of the mainland cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.
So far 868,000 tourists, including 11,000 solo tourists, have visited Taiwan this year.
 
 
Hong Kong to resume Home Ownership Scheme: chief executive
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the Hong Kong government would resume the Home Ownership Scheme, a subsidized-sale program of public housing, to help low and middle-income families buy their own homes.
He made the announcement in his seventh and last policy address to the Legislative 13 Council.
The new scheme would be targeted at families with a monthly household income under 30,000 Hong Kong dollars or about 3,850 U.S. dollars, mainly first-time home buyers.
Donald Tsang's five-year term as Hong Kong Chief Executive will end on June 30, 2012.
 
 
Climbers leave mountain 13 days after losing contact with outsiders
A group of 14 mountain climbers who had lost contact with outsiders for 13 days have walked out of the mountains in southwest China.
Authorities in Aba Prefecture of Sichuan Province say the travelers are all in good health.
The group, including nine tourists from Shanghai and Zhejiang, one local guide and four porters, lost contact with outsiders after entering the Haizi Ravine, a famous tourist site, on Sept. 30. 
Relatives reported the case to the authorities on Sunday and the Aba government then mobilized a rescue team for the search.