Hourly News updated 14:00 2011/10/12

 China voices firm opposition¹ 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 Ministry² 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 Oversight³ 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 appreciation⁴ 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 bilateral⁵ cooperation, strategic partnership⁶

Chinese President Hu Jintao has met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Beijing, calling yesterday's meeting between Putin and Premier⁷ 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 remains⁸ 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 humanitarian⁹ aid arrives in Libyan capital

A batch¹⁰ 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, edible¹¹ oil and medicines is the first part of a 3.2-million-US-dollar Chinese package to Tripoli. The second and third batches¹² 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 Legislative¹³ 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.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

4 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

5 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

7 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

10 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

11 edible   

n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的

参考例句：

• Edible wild herbs kept us from dying of starvation.我们靠着野菜才没被饿死。
• This kind of mushroom is edible,but that kind is not.这种蘑菇吃得，那种吃不得。

12 batches   

一批( batch的名词复数 )； 一炉； （食物、药物等的）一批生产的量； 成批作业

参考例句：

• The prisoners were led out in batches and shot. 这些囚犯被分批带出去枪毙了。
• The stainless drum may be used to make larger batches. 不锈钢转数设备可用来加工批量大的料。

13 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。