CRI 中国国际广播电台 2010-05-30

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In This Edition

Visiting Chinese Premier 1 Wen Jiabao focused his efforts on promoting cooperation with South Korea and in East Asia on Saturday, the second day of his three-day tour in South Korea.

Police blame the Pakistani Taliban for attacks that killed 93 people at two places of worship belonging to a minority sect 2.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifts the nighttime curfew in Bangkok, saying that order has been restored 10 days after violence killed more than a dozen people and left parts of the capital in flames.

And private detectives whose business is largely deemed illegal in China come back under the limelight again as the public discuss whether it should be incorporated into the country's judiciary system.

Hot Issue Reports

Wen Pushes for Bilateral 3, Regional Cooperation in South Korea Tour

Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao focused his efforts on promoting cooperation with South Korea and in East Asia on Saturday, the second day of his three-day tour in South Korea.

At an annual trilateral summit held in South Korea's southern resort of Jeju, Premier Wen, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama unveiled a blueprint 4 for trilateral cooperation in economy, security, environmental protection, cultural exchange and other areas in the next decade.

Wen Jiabao said he is looking forward to working together with South Korea and Japan for the success of the summit.

"We would like to accomplish our hope of fulfilling a peaceful and stable future for the region."

During a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Chung Un-chan, Wen made a four-point proposal on strengthening economic ties with South Korea.

The Chinese premier suggested that the two countries speed up the work to establish a China-South Korea free trade area, explore new areas for cooperation, oppose trade and investment protectionism of all forms and properly handle trade frictions 5 and enhance coordination 6 and communication within the framework of the Group of 20 and the ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea.

Chung spoke 7 highly of China's effective macroeconomic regulation amid the global financial crisis, saying that China's stable and rapid economic growth is conducive 8 to South Korea, Asia and the world at large.

He said South Korea values the strategic cooperative partnership 9 with China, and will work with China to increase contacts, push for the establishment of a free trade area and facilitate trade and personnel exchanges.

Larijani Challenges US to Join Fuel Swap 10 Deal Brokered 11 by Brazil and Turkey

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has urged world powers to consider a nuclear deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey as the basis for a solution to the nuclear dispute.

According to a deal reached between Iran, Turkey and Brazil, Iran would deposit 1,200 kilograms of lightly enriched uranium in Turkey. In exchange, Iran would get fuel rods made from 20-percent enriched uranium.

"I think it is now the West's turn to choose. If they return to the negotiating table and negotiate within the framework of this agreement, they can settle the fundamental issues. But if they want to act deceptively and play games in this political matter, the Iranian officials will definitely take note of that and the parliament will also be following the issue meticulously 12."

US officials have criticized the agreement, saying it does not stop Iran from continuing to enrich uranium. The US also says the deal is a ploy 13 by Iran to delay new international sanctions.

In response, Larijani called for the US to start a dialogue with Iran, asking US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to point out Washington's concerns.

The UN Security Council is currently considering a fourth set of sanctions in response to the Islamic Republic's refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

Police Say Lahore Attackers Belong to Pakistani Taliban

Police have blamed the Pakistani Taliban for attacks that killed 93 people at two worship places belonging to a minority sect.

The attacks against the Ahmadi community occurred minutes apart on Friday in two neighbourhoods in the eastern city of Lahore.

Two teams of gunmen, including some in suicide vests, stormed the mosques 14 and sprayed bullets at worshippers while holding off police.

At least two of the seven attackers were captured, while some died in the standoff.

Senior police officer Akram Naeem in Lahore said their interrogation of one of the arrested suspects revealed that the group was involved with the Pakistani Taliban.

"Our initial investigation 15 has found that they all belong to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. In this investigation I want to share two small things that, we arrested alive a terrorist, his name is Abdullah alias 16 Mohammed and his age is 17 years. He was given terrorism training in Miran Shah. "

Miran Shah" is the main city in North Waziristan tribal 17 region, which has long been filled with militant 18 groups focused on battling US and NATO forces across the border in Afghanistan.

Akram would not rule out the possibility that Punjab province-based militant groups played a role as well, but would not mention any specific groups.

Night Curfew in Thaicapital Lifted

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted the nighttime curfew in Bangkok and other areas on Saturday, saying that order has been restored 10 days after violence killed more than a dozen people and left parts of the capital in flames.

"The state of emergency that has been declared is still in place, although the curfew will no longer be extended so last night was the last as far as the curfew is concerned in Bangkok and those provinces where the curfew had been in place. And as far as the state of emergency is concerned we will continue to receive assessments 20 from people on the ground."

The emergency decree, imposed more than a month ago, curtails 21 some civil liberties and makes it easier to deploy 22 the military to keep the peace.

Abhisit also said he would not rule out an election before the end of his government's term late next year, although he added it would be difficult to hold the polls this year.

The curfew was imposed after the crackdown dispersed 23 thousands of the anti-government protesters from their barricaded 24 camp in one of Bangkok's most upscale shopping and tourist districts.

The military operation and the subsequent riots killed more than a dozen people and injured nearly 200. All told, 88 people - most of them protesters - died in street clashes, mysterious grenade attacks and sniper fire during the protests.

Pro-Palestinian Activists 25 Send Aid Ships to Gaza

Palestinians were preparing for the arrival of supplies in Gaza on Saturday even as ships carrying 10-thousand tons of aid for the blockaded strip were being held up near Cyprus.

Some 750 activists have set sail for the Gaza coast in recent days from Turkey, Greece and other European ports, but the ships were now held as organisers tried to get more than two dozen high-profile activists on board.

The would-be passengers, including 17 European legislators and a Holocaust 26 survivor 27, were expected to join the ships from Cyprus.

One of the organisers said on Saturday the Cypriot government was not allowing smaller boats to carry the group to the flotilla waiting in international waters.

Organisers were appealing to the Turkish government to get the group out via a Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus port.

A spokesperson for WitnessGaza.com said they planned to break the siege at Gaza by opening up a sea lane into the region.

"This mission is part of a global international solidarity 28 movement and one tactic 29 of many to confront and challenge Israel's occupation and to dismantle 30 it."

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel was fully 31 prepared to counter them.

"For us it's clear that it's a provocation 32 against us. It's violence against our sovereignty, and we really have all the determination and political will to prevent this provocation against us. And we hope the international community will understand us and I think we're ready at any cost, as I already mentioned, to prevent this provocation."

Israeli military officials said naval 33 commandos have conducted drills in preparation for boarding and searching the convoy 34. Activists faced arrest and deportation 35 and their cargo 36 would be confiscated 37 for possible transfer by Israel to Gaza.

Apple's iPad Launched in Europe and Asia

Technophiles mobbed Apple stores in Europe and Asia on Friday in a quest to snatch up the hottest gadget 38 of the moment-the iPad.

Long lines gathered along the streets of London, Frankfurt, Rome, Paris and Tokyo as eager buyers anxiously waited to wield 39 their credit cards.

"I'm a bit embarrassed to be part of the masses, but the thing is, tonight it's going to be sold out."

"I can't say anything, I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm the happiest I've been in my life!"

British broadcaster and comedian 40 Stephen Fry is also one of the iPad enthusiasts 41.

"It's a remarkable 42 cultural event if you like. I know some people will regard that as peculiar 43 for a digital device but it is. It's more like an album launch or a film premiere because the device is not just something for nerds, it has a cultural meaning too."

Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, California, said earlier this month it had sold 1 million of the devices in the United States in 28 days.

The company started taking orders for the iPad abroad on May 10 after pushing back its international delivery target amid extreme demand at home.

The computer looks like a larger version of Apple's iPhone and can be used to send e-mails, draw pictures and play games.

Steel Merger 44 Approved with Panzhihua and Anshan Steel

Liaoning-based Anshan Steel Group has received approval from China's state asset regulator to merge 19 with Sichuan-based Panzhihua Steel, paving the way to become the biggest steelmaker in China.

Private Investigation Industry Slowly Develops in China

Recently, cases involving private detectives that have been sentenced for operating illegally have garnered 45 much attention. Now that private investigation services have been identified, which have long been obscure in China, the cases have sent a message the government will take a tougher stand on the industry.

Shrinking Wages Inspire Debate and Trouble

A recent survey by the All-China Federation 46 of Trade Unions shows the proportion of China's gross domestic product on wages has been shrinking for 22 consecutive 47 years.

The organization warned that low pay, long working hours and poor working conditions for millions of workers are triggering conflicts and mass incidents, which pose a grave challenge to social stability.

An editorial on China Daily says the declining share of wages as a proportion of China's GDP has necessitated 48 the need for fresh regulation, especially in a country that is trying hard to embrace consumer-led growth.

It notes the Ministry 49 of Human Resources and Social Security has achieved little progress so far in drafting an amendment 50 to the current wage regulation due to strong opposition 51 from employers.

It says any delay in government efforts to halt the downward spiral of wages as a proportion of the national GDP will be disappointing.

Sustained inaction may actually fuel already rising tensions between laborers 52 and employers, as evidenced by the recent case of workers at a Honda plant in Guangzhou who went on strike over salary issues. The shocking string of suicides at the Foxconn plant in Shenzhen has also highlighted, among other things, the bitter conditions industrial workers are forced to endure in this country.

It notes the proposed wage regulation is expected to include much-awaited rules on equal pay and collective negotiations 53 on wages.

On one hand, the widening wealth gap demands immediate 54 effort to significantly increase the work reward for the many poor compared with the rich returns on capital enjoyed by entrepreneurs. On the other, the shift in the growth model means it has to foster a large group of affluent 55 consumers as quickly as possible. Sustainable growth in consumption will mean nothing if employee wages are kept down.

Farmers Want Access to Investment Lines

Recently, the China Securities Regulatory Commission conducted a survey on rural residents demand for access to invest in securities. This news caused heated debate on the feasibility of developing a brokerage in securities within rural areas.

A commentary on the Oriental Morning Post hails the move as satisfying the investment needs of the farmers. It claims rural residents are not incapable 56 of making investments; it's just there are not enough channels for them to do so. This is the biggest bottleneck 57 issue facing the development of investment services in China's rural areas and also the biggest block for any rural-friendly projects actually developing.

Another commentary on Jiangnan Times also supports the idea and suggests by making a cautious first step, instead of bold ones, developing an investment securities service in rural areas can serve as an education for farmers on risk prevention in the stock market.

But others disapprove 58, saying the move is a vicious trick to cheat farmers out of their hard-earned money.

A commentary from the Beijing Times points out China's stock market is not an ideal place for farmers to invest their money. The stock market features aggressive fund-raising by listed companies and losses of more than 70 percent from investors 59. If farmers get stuck in the quagmire 60 of failed investment attempts, not only do their dreams of becoming rich evaporate but also normal agricultural activities will be adversely 61 affected 62.

The commentary also notes there are already well-to-do farmers who became investors in the stock market, but this situation cannot justify 63 the policy of encouraging farmers to invest in stocks. It says those richer farmers have an amount of financial risk-resistance capacity and some investment strategy knowledge, but a stock market next door is a different case, as it will attract both the well-off and those who struggle for a basic living.