News & Reports 2010-06-12

Broadcasting Time: 07:00-08:00, GMT+08:00, 2010-06-12

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

In This Edition

Chinese President Hu Jintao proposes to recognize non-resource sectors 1 as a new priority for economic cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The World Cup kicks off in the South African city of Johannesburg.

Riots in south Kyrgyzstan kill 37 people and injure more than 250, as fears grow of a new cycle of violence in the Central Asian nation that hosts US and Russian military bases.

And China's consumer price index, the main gauge 2 of inflation, rises over 3 percent year on year in May.

Hot Issue Reports

Chinese President Calls for More Cooperation among SCO Members

Chinese President Hu Jintao has proposed to recognize non-resource sectors as a new priority for economic cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Chinese leader is attending the SCO annual summit in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan.

Hu Jintao made suggestion as part of a 6-point proposal for the future of the SCO during his speech to the delegates.

"We should utilize 3 new cooperation models, study ways to establish an SCO regional e-commerce platform and conduct joint 4 studies on agricultural cooperation. We propose that non-resource sectors be identified as a new priority for the SCO's regional economic cooperation."

The SCO, established nine years ago in Shanghai, was formed to safeguard regional peace and stability, while at the same time boost regional economic growth.

President Hu Jintao is calling on the SCO members to not forget that overall goal.

"We should make reasonable use of the emergency response system, find a common position in a timely manner about major international and regional issues, speak in one voice, and steadfastly 5 maintain regional peace and stability."

Participants of the summit have also approved a series of documents, including regulations on membership expansion, and the Tashkent Declaration, which is aimed at further enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as a continued crackdown on the illegal drug trade and organized crime.

World Cup Kicks off in South Africa

The World Cup has kicked off in the South African city of Johannesburg.

As the host nation, South Africa met Mexico in the first match of the 64-game tournament that ends with the final on July 11.

Fans celebrated 6 as South Africa nearly made a perfect start, scoring early in the second half before conceding a late goal in a 1-1 draw with Mexico.

"Everything was good, we performed fine, everything was nice, and then we support the boys. I said to the boys next time you've got to do a better thing, let's go forward, let's try to be better, we'll support you."

The first World Cup match to be staged on the continent followed a day of celebration throughout all of Africa, though the excitement was tempered by the death of Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter in a car accident on the eve of the tournament.

Beyond the personal heartbreak, the tragedy stole a moment of triumph from the 91-year-old anti-apartheid leader.

Mandela, who campaigned to bring the World Cup to his nation, mourned with his family and opted 7 not to attend the match or the colourful opening ceremony that preceded it.

World Cup Celebration in the Expo

After 4 years of waiting, the world's exciting moment for football come back again, this time in South Africa. Besides those lucky ones in the country, there is another place getting heat as the host country; that is the South Africa Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo. Along with a day of festivities, the pavilion has had a celebration last night, counting down for the opening of the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Our reporter He Fei has the details.

Ahmadinejad Accuses US of Hypocrisy 8 During Visit to World Expo

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is accusing the United States of hypocrisy during a visit to the World Expo in Shanghai on Friday.

His comments come after the UN Security Council voted to impose a new round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

"Those who own nuclear bombs do not allow the other countries even to use peaceful nuclear energy. They lie and accuse others that in case of producing nuclear energy they may be manufacturing nuclear weapons. Some of these countries not only have destructive nuclear weapons but also they have used nuclear weapon against the nations, meaning while themselves have committed crimes."

Meanwhile, Asadollah Asgaroladi, Chairman of the Iran-China Chamber 9 of Commerce and Industries, says he hopes the event can facilitate economic cooperation between China and Middle-Eastern countries.

"As a businessman, I've been to ten World Expos over the past five decades. The way I see it, the Shanghai World Expo is absolutely well organized and efficient. I have reason to believe that this Expo will provide a great opportunity for economic ties between China and the Middle-East, Iran included of course."

Friday was Iran's National Pavilion day in Shanghai.

37 Killed in Violent Clashes in Kyrgyzstan

Riots in south Kyrgyzstan have killed 37 people and injured more than 250, as fears grow of a new cycle of violence in the Central Asian nation that hosts US and Russian military bases.

Witnesses in Osh, the country's second-largest city, have reported hearing sustained gunfire overnight.

It is unclear what caused the latest round of unrest, but interim 10 President Roza Otunbayeva says the clashes appear to have been sparked by a local conflict.

"A vast conflict developed in the city of Osh and the surrounding areas last night. We, the interim government, worked all night and have implemented 11 curfew and state of emergency starting from 02:00 am in the city of Osh."

Local media have also reported that gangs of young men armed with metal bars and stones attacked shops and set cars and buildings on fire. Many of the victims are being treated for stab and gunshot wounds.

Southern Kyrgyzstan is considered the power-base of ousted 13 former President Kurmanbek Baikyev, and the city of Osh was witness to political violence in support of him after he was pushed from power.

Japan's New PM: Focus on Fiscal 14 Reform and Ties with the U.S

Japan's new Prime Minister Naoto Kan is now vowing 15 to strengthen ties with its key ally, the United States.

Kan made the pledge during his first speech as Prime Minister to Japan's Parliament.

"We will have the Japan-U.S. alliance as the basis of our diplomacy 16 and strengthen ties with Asian nations as well."

During the last election, the DPJ came to power after campaigning to more closely ally Japan with its Asian neighbors, a platform viewed as a move to distance the Japanese government away from the LDP's historic ties to Washington.

Kan's Democratic Party of Japan has come into loggerheads with the United States over the status and future of the controversial Futenma Marine 17 Base on the island of Okanawa. Kan has said he will adhere to a previous agreement to relocate, and not remove, the base from Okanawa.

That cabinet decision eventually led to the downfall of Kan's predacessor, Yukio Hatoyama.

British FM Reasserts UK Has No Plans to Join Eurozone

British Foreign Minister William Hague has reasserted Britain's position in not joining the Eurozone.

Hague made the remarks during his first visit to the Polish capital,Warsaw since taking office.

"So the British government will not be proposing to join the euro, but we want the Eurozone to be healthy and to succeed. That is in our interests as well and so we fully 18 respect any decision that is made on that by the government of Poland."

Hague met with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, whose government aiintends to join the eurozone in the coming years.

He noted 19 that the difference in the two country's wishes to join the euro, had no negative effect on their relationship.

US Politicians Speaks Out Against Offshore 20 Drilling Ban as Scientists Double Leak Estimates

Politicians in the US are now warning that the Obama administration's temporary ban on drilling in the Gulf 21 of Mexico has sent Louisiana's most lucrative 22 industry into a death spiral.

Drake Pothier with the Houma Chamber of Commerce says oil plays a big role in local businesses.

"When both of them are being decimated, you have the fisheries that are down because of the oil, because of the oil on the shores, and then you have the oil industry that's going to be down because of the moratorium 23. You know, it's a double whammy against us."

Meanwhile, U.S. government scientists have now doubled their estimate of the amount of oil gushing 24 out of BP's ruptured 25 well to 40,000 barrels, or 6.36 million liters per day.

The massive slick is taking a huge toll 26 on people living in the area, including Al Sunseri, owner of the P&J Oyster 27 Company.

"We're 134-year-old oyster business, and right now it looks like this is going to be the last day that we are going to shuck oysters 28 at our location unless certain areas re-open here in the state of Louisiana."

It's now believed that anywhere from 160 to 380 million litres of oil may already have gushed 29 into the Gulf of Mexico. By comparison, the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off the coast of Alaska dumped 41 million liters of oil into the ocean.

China's CPI Rises 3.1 Pct in May

China's consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, has risen 3.1 percent year on year in May.

The National Bureau of Statistics says the May figure is up 0.3 percent from April's rise of 2.8 percent. It also surpasses the central government's targeted 3 percent annual inflation limit.

NBS spokesman Sheng Laiyun says the higher inflation is because of a low comparison basis from the same period last year, and was pushed up by food prices.

" A low base of comparison last year explained 1.8 percentage point of the May increase.Moreover, the cost of clothes, home appliances and vegetables-an important driver of Chinese inflation-were all falling. This means the trend is for price pressures to ease in the future."

He says although China faces quite a lot of pressure, the 3-percent target is still possible to achieve.

In the first five months, China's CPI has risen 2.5 percent year on year.

Satellite Communication in FIFA 2010 Broadcast

Millions of football fans around the world watched the FIFA World Cup live on TV as the event kicked off in South Africa. The excitement can be seen and heard thanks to a complicated network of communications satellites thousands of kilometers above our heads.

Our reporter Li Dong has the details.

Newspaper Picks

From the Shanghai Daily: An ornate Qing Dynasty Chinese table clock has sold for 3.78 million US dollars at auction 30 at the country estate of American socialite and vintner Patricia Kluge.

Bidders 31 worldwide also paid top prices for paintings, furniture and other pieces in the collection.

The clock, one of the showcase pieces of Sotheby's event in Charlottesville, Virginia, sold for a price more than triple the US$1 million estimated top value after a heated telephone-bidding session.

A Chinese collector jumped in with an offer of US$1.2 million for the nearly 200-year-old gilt-brass and enamel 32 clock, then cast the winning bid minutes later.

--------

From the Daily Telegraph: If Australia performs well at the World Cup, they may want to thank a witch doctor and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who have combined to exorcise the "curse" affecting injury-prone star Harry 33 Kewell.

Rudd chipped in with a goodwill 34 greeting at the insistence 35 of South African healer Bishop 36 Isaac Nonyane, who proclaimed the prime minister's best wishes would oust 12 the "malicious 37 spirits" plaguing the striker.

An injury to Kewell's groin has dominated Australia's build-up to the World Cup, with the head coach desperate to have his key forward fit for Sunday's opener against Germany.

Nonyane claims to have been communicating with Kewell's dead grandmother, and suggested that one way to ensure his groin was going to be ok would be to get some good wishes from the Prime Minister.

Rudd, struggling in the polls and keen to appear helpful, duly obliged.

Market Update

In the US stock market, the Dow Jones industrial average has logged its first winning week in a month.

The Dow rose 0.4 percent, to 10,211. Its climb of 279 points, or 2.8 percent, during the week was its best since the week ended Feb. 19.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.4 percent, to 1,092, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 1.1 percent, to 2,244.

In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.6 percent to 5163, Germany's DAX index fell 0.1 percent to 6048, and France's CAC-40 rose 1.1 percent to 3556.