新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 07:00 2013/09/30

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Today is Monday , September 30th, 2013.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Chinese leaders are getting ready to attend National Day celebrations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to head to Indonesia to attend this year's APEC summit.
The Free Trade Zone in Shanghai has entered its full day of operation.
The US government appears poised for a shutdown.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be overcast today, with a high of 22 degree Celsius in the daytime, and we'll see showers tonight with a low of 17.
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 28 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 19 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will see showers in the daytime the temperature's at 18, and tonight will see more rain with a low of 6 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 32.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 29.
And in North America
New York, clear, with a high of 21 degrees.
Washington, sunny, highs of 23
Houston, thundershowers, 29
Honolulu,overcast, 31.
Toronto, overcast, 21
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, moderate rain, 17.
And Rio de Janeiro will be thundershowers with highs of 25 degrees Celsius.
 
 
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Top News
 
 
Chinese leaders to attend National Day celebrations
 
Party and state leaders are set to attend National Day celebrations in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing tomorrow.
Leaders of the Communist Party of China are due to present flower baskets to the Monument of the People's Heroes to mark the 64th anniversary of the founding of the PRC.
The National Day celebrations will be broadcast live on four CCTV channels.
The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1st, 1949.
 
 
China holds reception to celebrate National Day
 
Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng has already taken part in a reception marking National Day.
Yu Zhengsheng is the chair of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Among the comments, he says the central government will continue to support Hong Kong and Macao in developing the two regions.
He also says the Chinese government wants to enhance the political, economic, cultural and social foundations with Taiwan.
The comments by Yu Zhengsheng were made in front of more than 28-hundred representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities .
 
 
Xi to address APEC summit on China's reform
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set address the forthcoming meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Xi Jinping is also due to make a stop in Malaysia before his time in Indonesia.
The summit's priorities have been set as achieving sustainable growth.
Xi Jinping is expected to call on APEC countries to press for a more open economy globally.
Following Indonesia, China will play host to the APEC Summit next year.
 
 
Free Trade Zone launched in Shanghai
 
The country's first Free Trade Zone is now in operation.
The Shanghai Free Trade Zone is a testing ground for trying to reduce government intervention in business.
A first batch of 36 Chinese and foreign companies have been granted licenses to register in the free trade zone.
It will be the only place in China where RMB capital accounts will be freely convertible and interest rates will be more market-oriented.
Gao Hucheng is China's Minister of Commerce.
"The launch of the pilot free trade zone comes against a backdrop of China's reform and opening-up. It follows the trend of global economic development and is a major step towards a more active strategy of opening-up."
Wu Minghua is the director of the Shanghai branch of monthly magazine Maritime China.
"Comprehensively speaking, the Shanghai free trade zone includes reforms covering areas of trade, finance, administraion and others. Its core is redifining the relation between the government and the market. For example, the "nagetive list management" stresses what the government cannot do, it also gives foreign enterprises more freedom. "
The 29-square-kilometer zone does not include Shanghai's main financial district.
 
 
U.S. government faces looming shutdown
 
The clock is ticking toward a US federal government shutdown.
If the US Congress doesn't pass a budget bill by midnight on Monday, spending power by the US goverment will come to an end.
Steny Hoyer is a Democrat house rep.
"We have a matter of days, but hours left to prevent our government from shutting down. A shutdown is not a tactic, it's not a strategy, it is a failure for this country. Let us not be the country whose representatives can not work together to fulfill the most basic function of government."
If Congress fails to pass a new budget, as many as 800,000 federal workers would be furloughed as part of the shutdown.
 
 
Austrian centrist coalition survives far-right gains
 
Austria's governing coalition has gained enough votes to form another coalition government, staving off a strong challenge from the Euro-sceptic right wing.
The Social Democrats and the conservative People's Party have gathered just enough votes for a parliamentary majority.
Together, the two parties coalition got 99 seats in the lower house of parliament.
Austrian Chancellor and leader of Social Democrats, Werner Faymann.
"The past five years have been difficult. Our government has led this country during the crisis of the financial markets, trying to avoid the mistakes others have made. We did this with high employment, programmes for boosting the economy (which are) on the side of the workers, the employees and the entrepreneurs - the people of Austria!"
The election this weekend has seen the far-right Freedom Party garner nearly 22-percent of the vote.
Austrians, with an electorate of 6-million, voted to elect 183 deputies for parliament.
 
 
Italy's PM, president vow to seek solutions to political crisis
 
Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Enrico Letta have vowed to seek solutions to face the current political crisis.
Giorgio Napolitano and Enrico Letta met on Sunday.
Napolitano is expected to find a new parliamentary majority to back a new cabinet after five ministers announced their resignation.
The announcement by the center-right ministers comes after former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi urged ministers in his party to step down if the government did not revoke an increase to the country's value-added tax.
The tax hike will take effect next week.
Berlusconi threatened to withdraw his supporters if he is expelled from the Senate for tax fraud.
President Giorgio Napolitano must decide if there is any way to continue the government or if new elections must be held.
Napolitano has been calling for political continuity in his country.
The current coalition government was formed just five months ago.
The resignations also cast shadows over the country's struggling economy.
Laura Moriccioni is a resident of Rome.
"They have cut all the social benefits, there is nothing left for disabled and elderly people. I couldn't care less about Berlusconi. Politicians must take care of Italy and its people, unemployment and social benefits, everything."
Tensions between Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom party and Letta's Democratic Party have been rising after moves to expel Berlusconi from parliament after his conviction for tax fraud.
 
 
Assad says Syria will abide by the UN resolution calling for its chemical weapons to be destroyed
 
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has issued a new statement, vowing to abide by the United Nations resolution calling for the country's chemical weapons stockpile to be destroyed.
Assad's government has now approved the UN Security Council plan to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons programme.
The government has also agreed to join the international convention on chemical weapons.
"We joined the international agreement for preventing the use and the acquirement of chemical weapons before that resolution came to light. The main part of the Russian initiative based on our will to do so. So, it's not about the resolution, actually it's about our will."
Meanwhile, a prominent figure of Syria's domestic opposition has also hailed the UN resolution on chemical weapons.
Safwan Akkasheh is with the National Coordination Body, a group which advocates peaceful political transition in Syria.
He says the resolution would prevent a U.S. military strike that could spark broader regional war.
U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday to adopt a resolution aimed at ridding Syria of chemical weapons.
Under the US-Russia brokered deal, the Syrian government will abandon its chemical weapon stockpiles by the middle of next year.
 
 
Syria - Families shelter in Roman Ruins
 
A bombing in Syria has forced dozens of families to seek shelter in the Roman ruins in the northern part of the country.
The 15-hundred-year-old settlement is known locally as "The Forgotten Cities".
Families sheltering in "The Forgotten Cities" subsist without running water or electricity.
Basic food and medicine is also unavailable.
Some two million people have fled Syria since March 2011.
The ancient buildings, made up of churches and baths, date from the first to 7th centuries.
 
 
At least 47 killed in Nigeria college attack
 
At least 47 people have been killed after gunmen attacked a college in a part of north-east Nigeria.
The victims are mostly students.
They were shot dead as they slept in their dormitory at the College of Agriculture.
Close to 30 students were killed by suspected Boko Haram militants in a pre-dawn attack on a school in June.
Boko Haram regards schools as a symbol of Western culture.
 
 
Injured taken to hospital following blast that killed dozens in Peshawar
 
A car bombing in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least 33 people in the city of Peshawar.
At least another 70 people were wounded in the attack.
The bombing has hit the city's oldest bazaar near a mosque and a police station.
"We three friends were in the bazaar, two of my friends were in front and I was behind. There was a sudden blast. I fell down and was scared. People were screaming, flames were burning, everybody was running here and there."
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in a crowd of worshippers at a church, killing 85 people in the city last week.
While there is no immediate claim of responsibility, the Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates are being pointed to as the likely suspects.
 
 
Kenya arrests another terror suspects after mall attack
 
Kenyan security services have made another arrest in connection with the Westgate mall attack.
This brings the number of arrestees to 10 after the Sept. 21 attack.
Joseph Ole Lenku is Kenya's Interior Minister
"There are nine suspects in custody who are held under the counter-terrorism laws. As soon as investigations are complete, we will update you with the identities of the suspects."
The Interior Minister adds the East African country's security forces are working round the clock to unearth details that might lead to the arrest of more terror suspects.
The four-day siege left 67 people dead.
Investigators have also identified a car used by the gunmen.
"Forensic investigators have identified one of the vehicles used by the terrorists. Investigators have recovered items in the vehicle and these are providing good and credible leads. Some of the items found in the vehicle an assortment of illegal weapons."
The Red Cross still says 59 people remain missing.
However, the Kenyan government says there is no formal information on missing persons.
 
 
Search for survivors ends at site of collapsed Mumbai apartment building
 
The search for survivors at the site of a collapsed apartment building has been called off in the Indian city of Mumbai.
"The operations went on till about 5:30 a.m. The Natural Disaster Response Force and fire brigade have worked very hard and also the local area volunteers. It was estimated that about 61 dead bodies have been recovered."
The final death toll stands at 60.
Rescuers managed to save 33 people from the building's wreckage in the two-day search.
This includes a girl pulled from the ruins nearly 12 hours after the collapse.
The building, which housed workers for Mumbai's municipal government, was constructed in 1980.
Locals have complained of the use of substandard materials as a likely cause.
 
 
Britain to Found New Cyber Defense Force
 
Anchor:
The British government is set to create a new cyber unit to help defend national security. CRI's UK correspondent Tu Yun has more.
Reporter:
British defense secretary Philip Hammond made the announcement at the Conservative Conference in Manchester.
"Britain will build a dedicated ability to counter attack in cyber space, and if necessary, to strike in cyber space as part of our full spectrum military capability. We will form a joint cyber reserve unit so that IT specialists in the industry can work alongside regular military specialists in this vital national defense effort."
According to Hammond, Britain's cyber defences last year blocked around 400,000 advanced malicious cyber threats to the government secure intranet alone.
"Tomorrow's threats won't just be encountered on the land, the sea, or in the air. They'll come from space and increasingly through the internet. Countering those threats means spending an increasing proportion of our defense budget not on traditional military hardware, but on computer systems and complex software tools."
The defence ministry aims to recruit hundreds of reservists as computer experts to work alongside regular forces in the creation of the new Joint Cyber Reserve Unit.
The role of the unit is to protect computer networks and safeguard vital data.
Recruitment will start next month.
Meanwhile, outside the conference venue, around 50,000 people were protesting against the government's austerity measures, some calling for abandoning the multi-billion-dollar Trident nuclear system renewal program.
But the defence secretary insisted the program would continue.
"Altogether there are over 17,000 nuclear weapons in the world. While we'd all like to see progress on genuine multilateral disarmament, unilaterally abandoning our deterrent would put the British at risk of nuclear blackmail. So we'll renew Trident and we will maintain continuous at-sea deterrence."
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun in Manchester, UK.
 
 
Russia Arms Expo-Russia Arms Expo concludes, bringing 1-billion-euro in overseas orders
 
This year's Russia Arms Expo has concluded, drawing about one billion euros in overseas contracts for the country.
The expo attracted nearly 300 military enterprises.
"I like every exhibit. The tanks and vehicles are so huge. It's the first time for me to see such a huge tank."
"I like them too, especially the planes. There are big planes, small planes and middle-sized ones. Some planes carry missiles and some don't. They are beautiful."
The expo is the biggest military products fair ever held by the Russian government, aimed at expanding its internal and global weaponry market.
 
 
China Becomes Emerging Market for General Aviation
 
Anchor:
The Beijing International Aviation Expo this past week has seen a leading aviation observer here in China suggest changes to this country's General Avaiation strategy.
CRI's XYee has more.
Reporter:
General aviation (GA) refers to all civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services. It covers a large range of activities, both commercial and non-commercial, including flying clubs, flight training, agricultural aviation, light aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.
Opening up the low-altitude airspace allows privately owned aircraft to fly below 1,000 meters, which would encourage more and more companies to enter the general aviation market.
In 2011, there were a total of 123 enterprises with general aviation business certificates in China, representing an increase of 12 percent compared to 2010; in 2012, the number increased to 149, additionally 114 other enterprises received permission for its establishment.
The general aviation industry in China is now surging forward.
At the general aviation sub-summit of the 15th Beijing International Aviation Expo held on Thursday, Luan Dalong, a researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences says that developing general aviation can boost the aviation manufacturing industry, and promote the national economy.
"General aviation has very high economic value and plays a prominent role in the national economy. It can not only upgrade the industrial structure, but also improve people's lives. The general aviation industry contributes to the national economy in the aspects of infrastructure, industrial development, education and training, medical assistance, etc."
Zhang Ju'en, the head of the Science and Technology Department of China Aviation Industry Corporation, says it's necessary to take a fresh look at the definition of GA.
"With its broad development, general aviation is deeply related to the national interest and people's livelihoods. But we gave it short shrift in the past. We even have different opinions on the functions of general aviation. For this reason, there's huge space for its development. I forecast that there will be a development burst in the near future."
Zhang says the general aviation industry in China is still in the critical stage of reform and development.
"Several issues regarding general aviation need to be addressed, such as general aircraft, the technological conditions of general aviation airports, emergency rescue hardware development, and related regulations and policies. Overall plans in the field need to be made, especially with regard to the talent pool."
In recent years, the number of holders of private pilot licenses has increased rapidly, companies and individuals are eager to purchase small aircrafts. This presents not only opportunities but also challenges to the general aviation industry.
Frederic Campagnac is Technical Assistance Team leader of the EU-China Civil Aviation Project.
"Of course there is a big potential for the development of general aviation, but also a very long way to go. There are lots of very big challenges, I think, let everybody know and needs lots of coordination, and probably to be taken time, for instance, the opening of the lower altitude airspace. "
For CRI, I'm XYee.
 
 
China's Qingtian Stone Carving Art Exhibition opens in Stockholm
 
Anchor:
China's Qingtian Stone Carving Art Exhibition has opened in the famous Millersgarden in Stockholm.
CRI's special correspondent Chen Xuefei has more.
Ann:
Onita Wass, Director of Millersgarden Museum in Stockholm's Lidingo explained why they like to have Qingtian Stone Carving Art exhibited here.
"I want to show something different because if you walk around Millersgarden, you see very big bronze scupture made by Carl Millers and they are very classical from Europeans sense of point, very big gods and goddesses, columns etc. When you come here, you have to sharpen your eyes to look at the fine details, you have to put on new glasses I think when you come here to be able to appreciate this incredible handicraft and when you do, I think it will really touch you."
She said that it is good that China still keeps those traditional art craft.
"I visited Qingtian city and the outside in the village, they made a lot of scupture, my impression is that it is fantastic that this craft is still ongoing and that is still alive because I saw so many young artists still do this scupture and sell and they can earn their living on it, quite good some of them, I think that is fantastic, that is still alive because nowadays of course so many things that we do with our hands are disappearing, so I think this is very good."
She said this is the first time to display traditional Chinese art in Millersgarden museum and her museum likes to exhibit Millers' work in China too.
Ye Peiqun, Executive Director of China Festival in Sweden and Vice President of Swedish National Chinese Associations spoke at the opening ceremony.
"Qingtian sculptures exhibition is an important part of China Festival in Sweden. It aims at promoting bilateral cultural exchanges and letting Swedish to know more about Qingtian and China."
Chinese Ambassader to Sweden Lan Lijun also spoke at the opening ceremony.
"I hope embroidery on stone sculptures from Qingtian will further promote bilateral exchanges, and enhance friendship and mutual understanding."
Ten master pieces of art are being exhibited including Red Sorghum, Flower Basket, Lion Dance and God of Longevity by Lin Ruikui(1921-2011) Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts and Lin Bozheng, Master of Arts and Crafts of Zhejiang Province.
For CRI, this is Chen Xuefei reporting from Stockholm.
 
 
China offers solar power tax breaks
 
The Ministry of Finance has announced plans to offer tax breaks to manufacturers of solar power products.
The rebates are going to be offered until December 31st, 2015.
Vendors of self-produced power products using solar energy will receive immediate refunds of 50-percent of their value-added taxes.
The move comes as demand from major export destinations -- the European Union and the United States -- contracts due to recent trading rows.
The government currently provides a subsidy of 0.42 yuan or 7 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour to solar power stations.
The country's top 10 solar panel makers have up to 100 billion yuan in debts.
The industry suffers heavily from overcapacity and analysts believe many producers face elimination in the coming months.
 
 
Supreme court specifies terror hoax definitions, punishment
 
The Supreme People's Court has issued a new set of guidelines as to what should be classed as false terror threats.
The statement is meant to address a range of potentially-false terror information.
Anyone found guilty of spreading false terror threats will receive up to 5-years in prison.
This comes after series of false terror threats.
May alone saw 6-cases of false bomb threats in China, causing disruption to 22 flights in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.