CRI 中国国际广播电台 2010-01-18

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

In This Edition:

Chinese President Hu Jintao calls for more efforts to promote the country's independent innovation and upgrading of the industrial structure.

Chinese rescuers contiue to make all-out efforts to help survivors in earthquake-hit Haiti.

An Iraqi court has sentenced Ali Hassan al-Majeed, the Saddam Hussein's top aide widely known as "Chemical Ali", to death by hanging for his role in chemical attacks against Kurds.

And China has successfully launched another global positioning orbiter.

Hot Issue Reports

Chinese President Calls for Independent Innovation During Shanghai Tour

Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for more efforts to promote independent innovation and upgrading of the industrial structure during his inspection tour to Shanghai.

Hu Jintao visited scientific research bases, industrial parks and workshops of enterprises during the four-day tour.

He stressed promoting independent innovation and making breakthroughs in core technologies, saying such breakthroughs would provide strong support for the transformation of the mode of economic growth.

During his visit to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the President said that it's a strategic decision to develop large passenger aircraft.

"Your company bears heavy responsibilities in assembling the aircraft. The whole nation hold high hopes for you. I hope you could advance in the scientific and realistic approach, stick to independent innovation, and overcome the difficulties ahead. What's more, you should bear in mind that safety is paramount. I hope that China's self-developed large passenger aircraft could soar into the air at an early date."

Hu Jintao also inspected the modern service industry in Shanghai.

When visiting the logistic park of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Hu Jintao said logistic industry plays a crucial part in building Shanghai into an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center.

He said China should take the international financial crisis as an opportunity to restructure the industry and enhance independent innovation, so as to shift the pattern of economic growth.

Chinese Rescuers Provide Much-needed Medical Assistance in Haiti

Chinese rescuers are making an all-out medical effort to help survivors in earthquake-hit Haiti.

Fifteen members of China's international rescue team are offering medical treatment to the injured at a medical assistance station near the Prime Minister's office building.

Hou Shike, leader of China's 60-member rescue team, says doctors are worried they will not have enough medicine to treat the injured.

"We are trying our best. There is an influx of patients with trauma, and we are in desperate need of medicine, especially antibiotics. Many patients are showing symptoms of infection."

Hou says besides giving medical treatment, Chinese rescuers are providing hygiene tips and conducting epidemic prevention work in a refugee camp.

The Chinese rescue team left Beijing for the Caribbean island on Wednesday night along with 10 tons of food, equipment and medicine.

Commerce Minister: China Views Africa as Major Economic Trading Partner

China's commerce minister says Africa remains a major economic and trading partner of China.

Chen Deming who just wrapped up his three-nation Africa trip says his tour aimed to fulfill China's eight new measures to strengthen its pragmatic cooperation with Africa over the next three years.

"The three nations we visited, namely Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania, are located off the east coast of Africa. During the visit, we have gotten a brief idea of the three countries' economic situations and demands for future development. We have also visited some projects that are under construction and launched some new projects."

Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the eight-measure African policy at the Beijing Summit of the China-African Cooperation Forum in 2006 in Beijing.

As for the trade gap between China and Africa, Chen says China's has three main measures to narrow the gap.

"First, we encourage African manufacturers to promote their products in China, to improve the quality of their products and increase added value. Second, we have reduced or removed the import tariffs on the least developed African countries. Third, we encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Africa, start their businesses there and provide more job opportunities in Africa."

Chen says last year China reduced or removed the tariffs on more than 440 products imported from Africa, and this year the number has increased tenfold to about 4,700.

Chemical Ali Sentenced to Death by Hanging

An Iraqi court has sentenced Ali Hassan al-Majeed, the Saddam Hussein's top aide widely known as "Chemical Ali", to death by hanging for his role in chemical attacks against Kurds.

Majeed, a cousin of Saddam who earned his nickname because of his use of poison gas, was convicted of an attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja. He already faces death sentences in three other cases.

Halabja suffered the most brutal crackdown against Iraq's ethnic Kurds during the so-called Anfal campaign carried out by Saddam's regime in the 1980s.

In March 1988, at least 5,000 people were believed to be killed in conventional and chemical bombings and attacks ordered by Saddam's authorities.

Kurdish people in Arbil city expressed their satisfaction with this verdict.

"It is a good verdict. As a Kurdish citizen, I feel very happy with this verdict."

The Iraqi High Tribunal also sentenced former Defence Minister Sultan Hashem and former military intelligence chief Sabir al-Douri to 15 years in prison each for the attack, and Abd Mutlaq al-Jubouri, a former regional intelligence chief, to 10 years.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Stresses Regional Cooperation

Pakistani, Afghan and Iranian Foreign ministers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Islamabad as they wrapped up their trilateral meeting on regional issues.

At a joint news conference, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said coordination among the three countries is important.

"It is important to consult amongst ourselves so that we are on the same page and we have closer positions on different issues that confront our neighborhood."

His Iranian counterpart Manochehr Mottaki said that a regional approach is the key solution to resolve Afghanistan's problems and security challenges.

"Making important decisions based on regional approach to our regional problem which we are facing as a pain and suffering for a very long long time in the region. It is a regional problem and definitely the solution must be found in the region."

The caretaker Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta agreed with Mottaki.

"I hope this decision which we took, our leadership took in Tehran to come frequently trilaterally together to discuss our common issues to eliminate the threats for our region help us to take more responsibility for us, for our region as Muslim countries, as nations with tremendous commonalities."

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three ministers stressed regional cooperation in dealing with terrorism, extremism, weapon and drug smuggling.

The document said the next trilateral meeting will be held in Islamabad in the near future.

Exit Polls Show Yanukovich, Tymoshenko to Meet in Run-off Vote

Exit polls show opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are to compete in a run-off vote in the Ukrainian presidential election.

An exit poll conducted by local television channel Inter showed Yanukovich led in first round of voting with 36.6 percent of the vote, while his key opponent Tymoshenko scored 25.8 percent.

Sergei Tigipko, a former economy minister, gained 13.5 percent and incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko got only 5.2 percent in the first presidential ballots since the 2004 Orange Revolution.

Yanukovich also led in five other exit polls carried out by different agencies, all with more than 30 percent voting for him. Tymoshenko came only second to Yanukovich in all the exit polls. Therefore, the two will face each other in a second round of voting scheduled for Feb. 7.

The two opponents stood on opposite sides of the barricades during the Orange Revolution, but now both say they will abandon efforts to join NATO and pledge to repair ties to Russia

Earlier on Sunday, Yanukovich cast his ballot in Kiev, calling for change in Ukraine.

"Today I voted for a change in the country, so that our lives change in this country - change for the better. I will work with both Europe and Russia and with other countries of the world."

According to the Ukrainian Central Election Commission, some 36 million registered voters cast their ballots across the country and more than 3,000 international observers monitored the election.

Official results will be published in 10 days.

Conservative Sebastian Pinera Wins Chilean Presidential Election

Chilean billionaire Sebastian Pinera has won the presidential election, becoming the nation's first democratically elected right-wing president in 52 years.

The ruling coalition's candidate Eduardo Frei conceded defeat on Sunday after 60 percent of polling stations reported a 52 percent to 48 percent advantage for Pinera.

The result of the run-off election matches all the pre-election forecasts by media and analysts for a narrow victory by the conservative candidate.

Earlier in the day, Pinera expressed confidence after casting his vote.

"Tonight we are going to win a grand victory. But we are going to celebrate like Democrats, like men and women of good faith, with happiness, hope but also in unity."

It is the first electoral loss for the ruling center-left coalition since Chile returned to democracy in 1990.

The win by Pinera would also mark a shift to the right in a region dominated by leftist rulers from Venezuela to Argentina.

China Launches Third orbiter for Global Satellite Navigation System

China has successfully launched another global positioning orbiter from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan province.

The satellite is the third orbiter that China has launched for its independent satellite navigation and positioning network, known as Beidou, or Compass system.

Li Shangfu, director of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, says the launch was a success.

"According the data from the Xi'an Satellite Monitor and Control Center, the satellite has precisely entered the planned orbit. I announce that the launch is a complete success."

The new satellite was taken by a Long March-III carrier rocket into a geostationary orbit.

It will join another two satellites already in orbit to form a network which will eventually have a total of 35. The system will be capable of providing global navigation services to users across the world by around 2020.

China sent two orbiters to establish a double-satellite experimental positioning network, known as the Compass system, in 2000. The move was aimed at building up China's own satellite navigation system to break its dependence on the US GPS network.

The country started to upgrade the experimental Compass system into a second-generation network by launching two new orbiters into space in 2007 and 2009.

Snow and Bad Weather Hits Northwestern China

Another heavy snowfall has hit Altay in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, worsening the chaos left by the previous snowstorm last week.

The Altay Meteorological Station warns of a severe snowstorm and freezing temperatures and is urging residents to stay at home.

Wang Xiaocui is a senior expert at the Altay Meteorological Station.

"Until January 19, temperatures will drop remarkably by 15 degrees Celsius. After the snow, temperatures in this area will drop from minus 36 to minus 43 degrees Celsius."

The extreme cold snap has affected coal and gas supplies in many parts of northern China.

Authorities have ordered rotating shutdowns of hundreds of factories in central China to ensure sufficient power supplies to heat homes.

Bank Commissions to property agencies called off

The China Banking Association has issued a notice calling off the reward commissions banks provide property agents for bringing in mortgage loans in an attempt to avoid negative competition among commercial banks. Let's take a closer look with reporter Liu Min.

Reporter:

The notice released by the China Banking Association says the reward commissions endanger loan security and harm the interests of both banks and home buyers. In the first nine months of 2009, new housing mortgage loans in China grew by more than 1.3 trillion yuan, or 200 billion U.S. dollars. But many home buyers depend on housing agents to help them apply for loans.

This made housing agents key clients of the banks, who usually rewarded them with commissions in the form of cash, gift coupons or discounted goods and services. CBA Deputy Secretary-in-Chief Zhou Yongfa says using the reward commissions have become an unspoken rule in the banking system, leading to vicious competition in the market.

"Some property agencies would help unqualified applicants to get mortgage loans in order to win a reward commission from the banks. This could put the banks at risk. We've seen some really bad effects from these mortgage loans in places like Zhejiang, Shanghai and Wenzhou, caused by high reward commissions."

The commission fees awarded to property agencies usually account for between 0.3 to 2 percent of the monthly mortgage payments. But in order to win more business, some banks are competing to offer agencies higher commissions. For example, banks in Wenzhou once offered commissions as high as 3 percent, with those in Chengdu topping out at 8 percent. Zhou Yongfa says this practice has harmed home buyers' interests.

"The market is thus disturbed by these vicious rules, raising the cost of the whole market. Eventually customers are those who pay these costs."

These fees have already harmed the banking industry in many cities, prompting places like Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dalian and Hangzhou to publicize a pledge asking all commercial banks in these cities to stop the practice. State-owned banks and some shareholding banks had also called off such commissions as of the end of last year. But some industry insiders think it would be very difficult to effectively curb such commissions without a legal force, since the property agencies control much of the market information. Mo Tianquan is the chief secretary of the China Real Estate Index System Office.

"Whether the rules or the voluntary notice sent out by the association has such legal effects is a big question mark. Banks compete with each other. They'll still offer all kinds of commissions to these agencies under the table."

Currently, some medium- and small-sized property agencies rely on the commissions to survive. Zhang Jian from a real estate investment consulting company, says the call-off of the commission fees will shake up agency profits.

"This industry ban will stimulate these smaller properties to seek other paths to keep their profits. But some less competitive ones will probably close down since they depend too much on the commissions if this new industry rule really take effect."

Commission fees are the decisive factor when property agencies decide which bank to recommend to clients. Many buyers are then forced to blindly take out loans from certain banks. Once all banks call off commission fees once and for all, home buyers will have more freedom to choose banks and products.

China to Fund Julius Nyerere Int'l Convention Centre in Tanzania

Friendship between China and Tanzania has grown over the years and the two countries have cooperated in various development projects, the most famous one being the China-funded Tazara railway line connecting Tanzania and Zambia.

Today another big project, symbolizing the Sino-Tanzanian friendship is being under construction. That is the building of Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in the capital Dar es Salaam. CRI correspondent attended the function and filed the report.

Reporter:

This modern convention centre project, which is constructed by a qualified Chinese construction group, China Wuyi Company, is financed by the Chinese government through China's Ministry of Commerce in conjunction with Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The convention centre will cover an area of 12,000 square metres, containing conference rooms, offices and business suites. The total investment of the project amounts 20 million US dollars.

Visiting China's Minister of Commerce Chen Deming witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of the project.

"President Julius Nyerere was the founding father as well as the grand ground breaker of the diplomatic relationship between China and Tanzania, the construction of Nyerere international convention centre will enable us to better commemorate the outstanding contribution made by our first generation of leadership to the friendship between China and Tanzania."

Tanzanian Minister of Trade Mary Nagu says China has always been in the forefront of implementing infrastructural projects in Tanzania.

She believes the convention centre is a clear testimony that China highly considers the traditional friendship between the two countries.

"Letters of exchange for the construction of Mwalimu Nyerere international convention centre and other projects were signed in China during President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete's state visit to China in April 2008. These bilateral agreements signed between the two countries are evidence of shared commitments to live to our tenant of friendship and cooperation."

Mary Nagu says the construction of this centre is a reinforcement of the friendship between the two countries initiated by the founding fathers of the two countries, the late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Mao Zedong of China.

Isaac Mwinyi, one of the masons at the construction site who has taken part in the construction work tells me how he will benefit from the joint venture upon its completion.

"I will benefit from the technology that the Chinese experts bring with them during the construction of this convention centre. As you know they are renowned engineers and construction experts. So apart from the normal work I will tap a lot of architectural skills from them. Ever since they came here we have been cooperating until now."

At the construction site hangs an elevated photograph of the convention centre demonstrating how it will be upon completion. It is spectacular and in a beautiful scenario with the backyard overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Wei Tong, CRI News, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Media Digest/Stock/Weather

Qianjiang Evening News: Scientists Deserve Public Recognition

China has granted its 2009 State Supreme Science and Technology Award, the country's top science honor to scientists Gu Chaohao and Sun Jiadong.

An opinion piece in Qianjiang Evening News says just bestowing awards on scientists is not enough. They deserve more respect and care.

The article says researchers in science are relatively less well known compared with scholars of popular culture. The public hardly knew their names before they were announced as winners of the top award.

It says in some sense this is normal because the public tends to pay more attention to people with the knowledge of popular subjects which are easier for them to understand.

But the commentary says that should not be an excuse for the public to neglect the contributions of scientists.

It says that as essential propellers of a rapidly progressing society, scientists deserve the highest honors and praise from the nation and its people.

But the writer says a sad fact is that honor and glory often come too late in their lives. The contributions of some are recognized only after their death. So society should do more to show these heroes more respect and love.

Rednet:More Steps Needed to Truly Deliver Justice

The municipal people's court of Chongqing recently announced that people whose family members are lawyers cannot occupy leading positions in the city's court.

The move aims to ensure that justice is delivered in all cases.

An article on Rednet says this move alone cannot ensure the delivery of judicial justice.

The article says it's certain that the new system will be a great help. But the most effective way of preventing corruption and delivering justice should be to make the process independent and transparent.

It also points out that it is doubtful if Chongqing's regulation can be well executed.

The writer says there are examples of such bans - like the one preventing officials and their family members from running a business - being imposed but failing to prevent corruption.

The article concludes by saying that it is not practical to expect the move to ensure justice in the courts, even though it's a good start.