CRI 中国国际广播电台 2010-05-16

Broadcasting Time: 07:00-08:00, GMT+08:00, 2010-05-16

Hello and Welcome to News and Reports on China Radio International.

In This Edition

China and Arab states agree to upgrade their relationship on a strategic level in order to carry out an action plan for deepened cooperation in the next two years.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vows 1 security forces will not retreat but press forward with plans to halt an increasingly violent protest in Bangkok.

And Indonesian police say they have uncovered a plot to assassinate 2 the president and other top officials in attacks reminiscent of Mumbai attacks in November 2008.

Hot Issue Reports

China, Arab States Agree to Establish Strategic Cooperation Relations

Anchor: The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum 3 concluded in the northern city of Tianjin this week. China and Arab states have agreed to upgrade their relationship on a strategic level in order to carry out an action plan for deepened cooperation in the next two years. Zhao Jianfu has more.

Reporter: The two-day meeting was attended by delegates from China and 22 Arab countries. The delegation 4 signed a series of important documents between the two sides, including the Tianjin Declaration.

In an exclusive interview with CRI, Chinese Vice 5 Foreign Minister Zhai Jun said the declaration will cement the friendly ties between China and Arab states in the new era.

"The Tianjin Declaration mainly focuses on building a strategic cooperation relationship between China and Arab states, which indicates that the relationship has been raised to a new high."

The declaration also calls for building a harmonious 6 world with lasting 7 peace and common prosperity, tackling international and regional conflicts through political and diplomatic channels, and opposition 8 to all forms of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the meeting was a success, and the action plan for 2010-2012 stressed cooperation in various aspects including the economy, energy, tourism, technology, education and media.

"Both sides have detailed 9 cooperation plans for many fields, and we take it seriously to put them into practice. The Ministerial Meeting will further push for the friendly cooperation between China and Arab states. We hope to make new achievements."

The China-Arab Cooperation Forum, initiated 10 in January 2004, has served as a platform for exchanging views between China and Arab nations and for enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

Zhai Jun spoke 12 highly of the mechanism 13.

"It's our common task to cope with the current international situation and various global challenges. China and Arab states have enjoyed traditional friendship and good cooperation. What's more, now as strategic partners, we are committed to jointly 15 address challenges, and contribute to world peace, stability and development."

The next ministerial meeting of the forum is scheduled to be held in Tunisia in 2012.

For CRI, I'm Zhao Jianfu.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Members to Further Science and Technology Cooperation

Chinese Science and Technology Minister Wan 16 Gang said members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have confirmed more details on the future cooperation in science and technology.

Wan made the remark after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Minister Summit on Science and Technology Cooperation wrapped up Friday in Beijing.

"All members agreed to build up a mechanism for future cooperation. And we've agreed to make the technologies on protection and use of natural resources, new energy development and energy conservation our priority."

Science and Technology Ministers of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended the 4 day summit in Beijing.

Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization aims to strengthen mutual 11 confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries and to promote cooperation in various fields.

China, U.S. Wrap up Two-day Dialogue on Human Rights

China and the United States wrapped up a two-day dialogue on human rights on Friday in Washington.

During the dialogue meetings, the two sides briefed each other on new progress made in the field of human rights in their respective countries and had an in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual concern, including cooperation on human rights at the United Nations, the rule of law, freedom of expression, labor 17 rights and anti-racism.

The Chinese delegation was led by Chen Xu, director-general of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Chinese Foreign Ministry 18, while the U.S. side was headed by Mike Posner, assistant Secretary of State for democracy, human rights and labor.

Both sides shared the view that the dialogue has been candid 19, open and constructive 20.

Michael Posner says he is pleased about the two days' discussion.

"I was encouraged by the degree to which we had a back-and-forth dialogue. I come out of the NGO world and I have spent a lot of time in frustrating 21 meetings where it feels that everything is scripted and I'm always like, 'let's get to the real issues'. We were actually - we were talking about the real things."

The two-day dialogue in Washington is the first of its kind between the two countries since the Obama administration took office.

Both sides agreed to hold the next round of dialogue in China next year.

Thai PM: Security Forces Wouldn't Retreat

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said security forces would not retreat but would press forward with plans to halt an increasingly violent protest in Bangkok.

In a televised address, Abhisit vowed 22 to return the country to normality and a lawful 23 state.

He also defended the army's crackdown on Red Shirt anti-government protesters.

"Any shots that were fired were merely in self-defence, and were done so with a view to make sure that no losses (of life) would be incurred 24.　That is what they have done.　The government needs to continue to provide an effective blockade; we believe that this is the most effective way of ending the protest while incurring 26 minimum losses (of life)."

Some 24 persons lost their lives and more than 200 others were wounded during clashes between troops and the protesters starting from Friday, according to the Erawan's Bangkok Emergency Medical Service Center.

Nattawut Saikua is one of the Red Shirt leaders.

"This situation that we have right now, I can't see what it can lead to except civil war and that's not something we want."

On Saturday, soldiers unrolled razor wire across roads in a commercial district North of the main protest site.

But fighting spread to several streets leading to the encampment, even as the army set up barricades 27 in an attempt to seal off the area, where shops, hotels and businesses remained closed.

Amid the violence, the rest of the capital has remained largely normal with shops, restaurants and cinemas open and busy.

Iran Foreign Minister Comments at G15 Leaders Summit

The G15 summit got under way in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday, with a meeting of foreign ministers from the member states.

In an opening address to the conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki criticised the western superpowers for ignoring the roles of independent and developing countries in world affairs, saying the situation needed to change.

"The occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the threats towards independent countries of sanctions and military invasion, are some other examples of dominance-seeking countries' attempts to sustain the current situation."

Tehran was hosting the summit at a time when the country was under increasing pressure to ease international concerns about it nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian President, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, is scheduled to try and broker 28 a compromise with the Iranian leadership over the nuclear programme issue during the summit, as a last ditch attempt before an expected further round of sanctions by the UN Security Council for its defiance 29 on uranium enrichment.

The G15 was established in September 1989 at the 9th meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and originally comprised 15 developing countries from Asia, Africa and the Americas, but has since expanded to 18.

The current members of the G15 are Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

Iran is currently the chairman of the 18-nation bloc 25.

Light News

Indonesian Police Claim to Have Uncovered Plot to Kill President

Indonesian police said on Friday that they had uncovered a plot to assassinate the president and other top officials, and to mount an assault on hotels to kill foreigners, in attacks reminiscent of the attacks in Mumbai of November 2008.

Indonesian National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters in Jakarta that the plotters were planning to launch an assault during this year's Independence Day ceremony on August 17, which is to be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the country's top dignitaries.

"They intended to commit murder in Java and Jakarta, specifically targeting the Indonesian President and other officials. They also planned to launch attacks in Jakarta against foreigners - especially Americans – by attacking and controlling hotels within certain communities, imitating what happened in Mumbai."

The plot was discovered during interrogations of dozens of suspects arrested in a February raid on a militant 30 training camp in the western province of Aceh.

Most of those arrested were believed to have trained at the Aceh camp, run by a group called al-Qaida in Aceh, a new splinter of the Southeast Asia terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

In November 2008, a group of young Pakistanis attacked luxury hotels, a Jewish centre and a busy train station in India's financial capital, claiming the lives of 166 people.

Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, stipulates 31 religious freedom in its constitution.

The country has been engaged in a long battle against militant extremist groups.

Wen Jiabao Stresses Need to Seek Underlying 32 Causes of School Attacks

In the wake of recent school attacks, Chinese Premier 33 Wen Jiabao says there is a need to seek the underlying causes in addition to toughening up safety measures.

"Apart from toughening up safety measures, we also need to pay attention to the underlying causes. We are making serious efforts in tackling social tensions, settling disputes and improving local governments' ability to smooth things out. I believe that a harmonious and safe environment should be given not only to the children, but also to every single person. We should be able to do this."

A 48-year-old man killed seven children and two women at a kindergarten in northwest China's Shaanxi Province Wednesday, and then committed suicide.

In March, a man killed eight elementary school children in Nanping City, Fujian Province.

Chinese police are now vowing 34 to enforce the law "firmly" to stop school attackers, which may include guns for officers on school patrols.

Wu Heping, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, has told reporters that the killing 35 of innocent children has to be condemned 36 by the whole society.

He stresses that their top priority is going to be the protection of schools and kindergartens with little safety precautions.

UN Official Speaks on China's Post-quake Reconstruction 37 Work

Jordan Ryan, a UN Development Programme assistant secretary-general has spoken highly of China's reconstruction work after the Wenchuan earthquake.

He made the remark Friday after he had overseen 38 the reconstruction work in Southwestern China's Sichuan province.

"I take away from the visit to China, the enormous ability of China to be able to respond to massive disasters, this building of the new city, you know, hugely impressive to see the amount of work that's underway. The design, the sort of concern for making it green and making it benefit the people that suffer, it's truly extrodinary and very impressive to see that. "

Jordan Ryan hopes the experience of Sichuan will be applied 39 in the on-going reconstruction projects in another quake stricken area of Yushu,Qinghai Province, and added that related UN programs are under way to assist the reconstruction.

Another Sexual Abuse Victim Surfaces in Polanski Case

British actress Charlotte Lewis has come forward, claiming that she was another victim of Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski.

Lewis, 42, claimed that Polanski sexually abused her in Paris some 28 years ago, several years before she had a role in Polanski's 1986 movie, "Pirates".

"I am also a victim of Roman Polanski. He sexually abused me in the worst possible way when I was just 16 years old, four years after he fled the United States to avoid sentencing for his crime. He took advantage of me, and I have lived with the effects of his behavior ever since it occurred. All I want is justice."

The British actress said she had traveled to the United States to make sure that justice is finally done and that Polanski gets what he deserves. However, she has not said whether she will pursue a civil case against the Polish-French film director.

Polanski, the Oscar-winning director of "Rosemary's Baby", "Chinatown" and "The Pianist", pleaded guilty in 1977 to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, but fled to Europe before sentencing.

World Cup Candidates Present Bid Books to FIFA

Nine candidates to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 have handed over their bid books to FIFA.

The applicants 40, four from Europe, four from the Asian Football Confederation plus the United States, presented their technical documents to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

"Thank you for being with us, thank you for bidding for the World Cup 2018."

The formal handover started the final phase of campaigning. FIFA will analyze 41 the candidates' plans before choosing the two tournament hosts in December.

Europe is favored to host the 2018 finals, with England and Russia competing against joint 14 bids from Netherlands-Belgium and Spain-Portugal.

Australia and the US are also in both contests.

Japan, Qatar and South Korea have focused solely 42 on the 2022 competition, believing Europe is a lock for 2018.

England's bid team was fronted by David Beckham.

"I think everyone involved in the bidding are serious competitors. You know, it's a competition, like the president said, and as English we're very passionate 43 and we're ready for a competition."

Media Digest

China Daily: Harvesting Rainwater

Water shortages plague most Chinese cities. Even so, rainwater is either inadequately 44 harvested or not at all.

Recent rainstorms that affected 45 a number of cities in South China have sparked debates on rainwater conservation efforts in urban areas.

One can take a lesson from the German pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, which is showcasing Berlin's rainwater harvesting system. The system not only makes use of the city's rainwater but also keeps the city's waterways uncontaminated.

Chinese cities received as much as 260 billion cubic meters of rain in 2004, according to latest available data.

Properly conserved 46, this rainwater could help ease chronic 47 water shortages in urban areas. Yet, few cities have facilities to collect rainwater. Beijing's water management authorities say most of the capital's rainwater is not used, instead finding its way into the city's waterways.

A commentary in the China Daily argues that China should develop rainwater collection systems and offers several ideas for rainwater use in urban areas. Besides providing supplemental water and emergency water reserves for the city, it can increase moisture in the soil for urban greenery, mitigate 48 urban flooding and improve the quality of groundwater.

At a household level, harvested rainwater can be used for flushing toilets, washing laundry, and bathing. Rainwater can also be treated for use as drinking water.

The commentary admits that funds needed for rainwater conservation, such as building tanks to collect and store rainwater, are by no means modest. However, if the money can be found, it will go a long way in combating water scarcity 49, as Berlin's system demonstrates.

Chinese cities already spend significant amounts to clean up urban waterways, and this problem could be eased by the new rainwater systems. Furthermore, if rainwater collection systems are able to effectively prevent floods in cities inundated 50 by rainstorms, incalculable economic losses could be avoided.

The commentary also suggests that allowing more rainwater to seep 51 into the ground and recharge underground aquifers 52 is another way to beat the water shortage. Utilizing 53 the benefits of rainwater is imperative 54 for sustainable development.

Foxconn Suicides Cry out for Warmer Working Environment

Another employee of Taiwan-funded Foxconn Technology Group ended her life this week, bringing the total to six so far this year.

People are wondering how to prevent the loss of these young lives in the first place.

A commentary on Beijing News noted 55 that to maintain workers' mental health, companies should offer in-house psychological counseling and interventions 56, and also make sure that its employees feel 'happy'. Enterprises should improve workers' welfare and cultivate more humane 57 corporate 58 cultures, which encourage not only improved work performance, but also warmer and more supportive inter-personal relations between coworkers.

However, despite the fingers pointed 59 to the rigid 60, semi-military corporate culture of the Foxconn company, sociologists pointed out that the suicide rate among Foxconn employees is actually lower than that in the whole country.

Fan Fumin, professor of Psychology 61 Department at Tsinghua University, said the suicide rate among Foxconn employees is about 2 to 3 per 100 thousand. However, the figure is not high if compared to the suicide rate surveyed in China in 1999 by World Health Organization, which is 13.0 per 100 thousand in males and 14.8 per 100 thousand in females.

Therefore, other than an individual case, the serial 62 suicides indicate a serious social problem that the whole Chinese society is now facing.

All 6 cases of suicides involved workers born in the 1980s and all were second-generation migrant workers. These farmer turned workers have chosen a different life than their fathers', as a result developing value systems and lifestyles very much close to their urban counterparts. However, the historical rural-urban divide and deep discrimination and inequality in society towards this group hindered their efforts to realize their dreams.

In response, sociologists call for more government actions to reduce the rural-urban gap in hopes of avoiding such tragic 63 endings for these workers.