News & Reports 2010-06-13

Broadcasting Time: 07:00-08:00, GMT+08:00, 2010-06-13

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

In This Edition

China says the U.S move to incorporate the renminbi exchange rate into the antidumping and countervailing duty investigation 1 of Chinese aluminum 2 products does not conform to World Trade Organization rules.

Russia declines to get involved in Kyrgyzstan's internal conflict, although it says it is willing to provide humanitarian 3 support to the southern part of the Central Asian state.

Tensions emerge between French and Flemish speakers ahead of Sunday's elections in Belgium.

Police in Beijing intensify 4 efforts to crack down on drunk driving during the World Cup.

Hot Issue Reports

Chinese Commerce Ministry 5: Incorporating Exchange Rate of yuan into AD, CVD Investigation Doesn't Conform to WTO Rules

China's Ministry of Commerce has refuted the U.S.'s move to incorporate the renminbi exchange rate into the antidumping and countervailing duty investigation of Chinese aluminum extrusions and coated paper.

Ministry spokesperson Yao Jian says the move does not conform with World Trade Organization rules.

"The accusation 7 on the exchange rate of yuan is beyond the WTO's jurisdiction 8. Meanwhile, the so-called undervaluation of the yuan is not specifically provided to an industry, so it doesn't fit in the definition of 'subsidy 9.' Therefore, incorporating the exchange rate of the yuan into the dual 10 investigation is baseless and doesn't conform to WTO rules."

Yao also says the exchange rate of the renminbi, or yuan, has nothing to do with the trade imbalance between China and the United States

.

He says although China has a trade surplus with the U.S. in goods, their bilateral 11 trade is generally balanced if the service trade and American enterprises' sales in the Chinese market are taken into account.

Russia rules out immediate 12 dispatch of troops to Kyrgyzstan

Russia says it sees no conditions for getting involved in Kyrgyzstan's internal conflict.

However, Kremlin spokeswoman Natalia Timakova says Russia will provide humanitarian support to the southern part of the Central Asian state.

Kyrgyz interim 14 leader Roza Otunbayeva has sent a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, appealing for help to quell 15 the violence, which erupted on Thursday due to inter-ethnic clashes.

"We need more military forces in order to pacify 16, to settle the situation. In this regard we first of all asked Russia for help. I signed a letter addressed to President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev."

The death toll 17 has risen to 63 with another more than 800 injured.

Earlier, the Kyrgyz interim government announced a state of emergency and curfew in the southern city of Jalalabad, in addition to the second largest city of Osh.

Spain to Propose EU Exert Strong Diplomatic Pressure on Israel to End Blockade in Gaza

Spain says it will propose the European Union exert strong diplomatic pressure on Israel to end its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made the remarks at a joint 18 press conference with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"We condemn 19 these tragic 20 acts carried out by Israel against the naval 21 convoy 22 that wanted to ship in humanitarian aid to Gaza. We also have a clear position over the need to lift the embargo 23 on Gaza for humanitarian reasons. This is our position and we hope and wish it will be the position of the European Union."

Zapatero said Spain's Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, will propose the EU deploy 24 all its political and diplomatic capability 25 to end the Gaza blockade at its Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.

He said he was confident European countries would back the proposal, as well as efforts by White House envoy 26 George Mitchell to try and rebuild trust between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

British Deputy Prime Minister says U.S. should avoid "megaphone diplomacy 27" over BP

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has warned against "megaphone diplomacy" as the U.S. and UK governments make concerted attempts to ensure the oil spill catastrophe 28 in the Gulf 29 of Mexico does not affect bilateral relations.

Clegg urged a cooling of transatlantic tensions during a visit to Madrid.

"I don't, frankly 30, think we're going to reach a solution to stopping the release of oil into the ocean any quicker by allowing this to spiral into a tit-for-tat political and diplomatic spat 13. I and the whole British government want to only play our role and as much as we can—a constructive 31 role to find a solution to what is a huge environmental disaster."

U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron over the weekend, where the spill is set to be top of discussions.

One-third of the Gulf of Mexico's federal waters remains 32 closed to fishing as a result of the oil leak.

The number of dead and injured birds and marine 33 animals is climbing after oil began leaking from the well following the explosion of a BP rig on April 20th.

Divisions Expected to Widen After Belgian Vote

Belgians will vote on Sunday in elections that are expected to show the tensions between French and Flemish speakers.

With the separatist New Flemish Alliance led by Bart De Wever expected to do well in Flanders — the northern, Flemish-speaking part of the country — the voting on Sunday will herald 34 new political uncertainty 35.

De Wever says:

"We do not believe in a revolution. We believe in an evolution towards Flanders, which is our own democracy... We don't believe that we are going to split up this country in one day or one evening. It will be a slow, gradual, but certain evolution."

Analysts 36 say De Wever appears to have made Flemish independence a more mainstream 37 force by sapping support from parties like the Vlaams Belang which is identified with the far right.

Belgium is divided between richer and more populous 38 Flanders and the more economically disadvantaged, French-speaking south called Wallonia.

Divisions between French and Flemish speakers were at the root of the crisis that prompted the weekend elections.

Beijing Cracks Down on Drunk Driving During World Cup

Police in Beijing have intensified 40 efforts to crack down on drunk driving during the World Cup. All drunk drivers will be detained once they are caught without exception.

As football fans often drink a lot while watching matches, the number of traffic violations 41, such as drunk driving, driver fatigue 42 and speeding, is likely to increase.

In response, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau has promised to crack down on traffic offenses 43 to prevent accidents.

Right after the opening World Cup match Friday, police patrolled the main roads in Beijing, including Sanlitun Bar Street, to check drivers' levels of alcohol.

Police say during the World Cup, traffic violations such as drunk driving will be punished under the strictest rules.

"Drunk drivers will be fined 1,800 yuan and lose 12 points. They will also be detained for 15 days and receive a temporary suspension of their driver's license 44 for six months."

All traffic police units will take strong action in districts during the event, especially from 7 p.m. until early the next morning, as well as on weekends and holidays when the number of traffic violations tends to increase.

Shanghai Expo's theme forum 45 opens to discuss culture

The second theme forum of the Shanghai World Expo is being held in east China's city of Suzhou, with scholars and officials discussing the value of a nation's cultural heritage along with urban regeneration.

Addressing the forum, Chinese Cultural Minister Cai Wu talked about the role of culture in promoting urban development.

"Culture is the root and soul of a city. It is a key factor that can ensure the living quality of urban residents and improve the happiness index. The forum will provide a broad platform for experts from around the world to exchange views on preserving cultural heritage, the integration 46 and co-existence of multiculture in cities, urban cultural innovation and practices, cross-cultural communication as well as cultural ecology."

Meanwhile, United Nations Under Secretary-General Sha Zukang spoke 6 highly of the Shanghai Would Expo's role in showcasing multiculture.

"The Expo event is capturing the world's attention. It is spreading knowledge about the unique beauty and depth of Chinese culture and about the riches of cultures from over 190 countries."

The two-day forum has attracted about 800 participants from nearly 20 countries and regions as well as international organizations.

Shanghai International Film Festival kicks off

The 13th Shanghai International Film Festival has kicked off with great fanfare 47.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Welcome to the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival."

Like any other major international film festivals, all eyes were on the glamorous 48 movie stars and filmmakers on the red carpet at the Shanghai Grand Theater.

Mayors of Tourism Cities Share Experiences in Boosting Tourism

Mayors from some of the world's renowned 49 tourism cities have gathered in central China's Zhengzhou city to share their experiences with sustainable development.

The forum has attracted mayors and representatives from 65 foreign cities and 43 Chinese cities.

Austria's Innsbruck became well-know throughout the world after it hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1964 and 1976.

Martin Krulis, the city's deputy mayor, says hosting high-profile world events is the key to keeping Innsbruck's tourism sector 50 vigorous.

"Innsbruck would never have had such success in tourism if it hadn't hosted the Olympic Games. It has benefited from the Games up to now. So I think we should introduce some themes to attract tourists. China is also holding high-profile events like the Shanghai World Expo. I believe more and more people from around the world will travel to Shanghai."

China's southernmost city of Sanya has been at the country's forefront of tourism development, as the government is determined 51 to build Hainan island into a top international tourism destination by 2020.

Sanya's Deputy Mayor Wang Baiqing says the tropical city will follow a path of sustainable development.

"Sustainable development must be achieved with the precondition of a sound environment. The government of Sanya has been implementing 52 policies on environmental protection and people's livelihoods 53 above the national standards."

Many of the participants share the same philosophy that the environment is an important pillar for boosting tourism.

They agree that tourism shouldn't develop at the cost of environment and say tourist bureaus have an obligation to preserve beautiful sceneries for future generations.

Lhasa tourism strategy unveiled

When we think of Tibet, Mount Chomolungma, the holy Namtso Lake, and its unique culture might come to mind, as well as possible altitude sickness which can be all too common for those not accustomed to the air in Tibet.

However, Tibet is looking to attract more and more tourists to the region and in the next few years, this mysterious land will opened up its treasures to even more visitors who will be able to savor 54 all that Tibet has to offer.

A ten-year project to tap the tourism potential in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, was recently unveiled in a conference in Beijing. CRI's Du Lijun has the details.

Trade Unions Must Protect, Not Placate 55, Workers

Nearly 1,200 members of the Shenzhen Trade Union have been dispatched to assuage 56 aggrieved 57 employees at Taiwanese technology company Foxconn's factory in the city's Longhua district.

Reports say union members have had candid 58 discussions with Foxconn employees, coordinated 59 communication with the company management and organized recreational activities.

The news reports have reassured 60 the public that something was to be done to address complaints about employee work conditions following a recent spate 61 of 13 suicides that claimed the lives of 10 workers.

Yet, an editorial in "China Daily," raises questions about what the city's trade unions did before or during the period of the attempted and actual suicides, including when one employee at the factory took his own life last year after he was beaten up for allegedly stealing an iPhone prototype. The editorial also asks what role trade unions should play in China.

That so many workers committed suicide at the Foxconn unit within a relatively 62 short span of time was bizarre enough, yet no union took concerted action to ascertain 63 the reasons for the suicides or improve worker conditions at the factory, the editorial said.

Among the poor work conditions were low wages, forced extra work hours, little expectation of change in work conditions and a lack of emotional support from colleagues. But no trade union official was on hand to indulge in "heart-to-heart talks" much less fight for better remuneration for workers, according to the editorial.

Stop China's Shame of Abandoning Its Rural Elderly

China's tradition of filial piety 64 has been facing an unprecedented 65 crisis, especially in rural areas as a result of severe lifestyle pressures and rapid urbanization.

The majority of senior citizens in rural families have no one to provide for them, as their children have gone to the cities to become migrant workers.

An editorial in the "Oriental Morning Post" says the basic fairness and justice of providing for the aged 39 cannot be achieved only through traditional means that rely on family or land.

In September 2009, the Ministry of Civil Affairs established new standards for the payment of old-age allowances that entailed 66 consistent implementation 67 across all provinces and benefits for everyone 80 years of age or older to be paid monthly.

But nearly a year later, only a few localities have met these standards.

The editorial argues that the country needs to adopt a general system in which wealthier local governments contribute more to rural areas. As for higher old-age allowances, it says the country also must adopt a national system of rural medical and endowment insurance. These should be implemented 68 free of charge for all rural residents 60 years of age or older, while insurance for retired 69 people under 60 should include joint contributions by both the recipients 70 and the local governments.

The editorial says only when all this has been done can China achieve the social harmony standard proposed by the famous ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius 2,300 years ago that dictates 71: "Provide for the aged not only in your family, but also in others."