News & Reports 2011-11-20

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

 

In This Edition

 

The 6th East Asia Summit (EAS) concludes with the adoption of two key declarations, dedicated to deepen regional ties and cooperation.

 

The re-entry capsule from the recently launched China's Shenzhou-8 spacecraft returns to Beijing safe and sound after having touched down in northern China.

 

Libyan authorities confirm that Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam has been detained in the country's southern desert.

 

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti wins a crucial confidence vote in the lower house, securing its mandate to help bring Italy out of its debt crisis.

 

 

Hot Issue Reports

 

6th East Asia Summit Concludes with Two Declarations

The East Asia Summit (EAS) has concluded with the adoption of two key declarations, dedicated to deepen regional ties and cooperation.

 

The 6th East Asia Summit brought together 10 Southeast Asian countries and eight dialogue partners, including China, Japan and the United States.

 

Wei Tong has the details.

 

The two declarations were adopted at the 6th East Asia Summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

 

The first declaration serves as the guidance of conduct for EAS participating countries towards promoting and maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

 

And the second one, which includes connectivity as one of the key area of cooperation of the East Asia Summit will support and facilitate the development of a regional public-private partnership development agenda and promote greater engagement and cooperation in people-to-people connectivity.

 

Earlier, the host of the summit, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono addressed the opening ceremony that the combined forces of the participating countries are remarkable.

 

"The total population of countries participating in the East Asia Summit is 3.8 billion people, therefore we are very focused on food, energy and water issues. On the economic front, the region has a total GDP of 33 trillion USD which is more than half of the world's GDP, so our combined economic strength can bring about change."

 

The East Asia Summit seeks to promote cooperation in political and security issues, boost economic growth and integration, and secure financial stability.

 

At last year's summit in Vietnam, leaders formally agreed to expand the meeting to include the United States and Russia.

 

With the participation of the two world powers, the group hopes to strengthen cooperation on global challenges and discuss rules on maritime security and nuclear non-proliferation.

 

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says it's significant for the participating member states to conduct cooperation and show a sense of solidarity in the face of disputes and challenges.

 

"We are aware that if we fail to cooperate amongst ourselves, most of the fundamental problems will not be resolved. If we only prioritise our own interests, we may face intense situations which are not healthy. That's why I think the future cooperation has to be comprehensive, not only partial, but also honest."

 

On the sidelines of the ongoing summit, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and US President Barack Obama conferred in a surprise meeting, which focused on economic matters that have prompted disputes between the two nations.

 

China's assistant foreign minister Liu Zhenmin said afterwards that China is seeking to cooperate with the US on security and other issues of mutual concern in the Asia region.

 

Liu also said China strongly supported the endorsement of Myanmar ASEAN chairmanship in 2014, and urged all ASEAN and East Asia countries to recognize the changes happening in the secretive Southeast Asian country.

 

"We should support Myanmar in its national reconciliation and nation building. At the same time, I think all the countries should also respect the wish of the Myanmar people in choosing their path of development."

 

Meanwhile, Premier Wen Jiabao also held a trilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.

 

Wen said he would continue to exchange views with the two leaders on major issues of common concern, and strengthen communication and cooperation among the three sides.

 

For CRI, I'm Wei Tong.

 

Shenzhou-8 Re-entry Capsule Back in Beijing

The re-entry capsule from the recently launched China's Shenzhou-8 spacecraft has returned to capital Beijing after having touched down in north China's Inner Mongolia.

 

Having completed the 17-hour journey from the north, the capsule is being transported to the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) for further analysis and research.

 

The research team received a warm welcome from the CAST staff members at the railway station.

 

Hao Ping, the chief designer of Shenzhou-8 spacecraft system says the re-entry capsule arrived safe and sound.

 

"The re-entry capsule has a smooth surface and a sound structure without any obvious lumps and bumps on it. Only the color of its surface turned tawny by ablation during its returning process. Judging from the color, we can see that the ablation was normal."

 

Hao Ping said after the capsule is returned to the lab, researchers will first take out the payload which contains several scientific experiments.

 

The cabin door will be opened on Nov. 21, when eight articles will be taken out from the cabin.

 

Hao also said that scientists would perform further analysis and research on the data collected about the Shenzhou-8 for follow-up manned space missions.

 

The Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft returned to Earth on Thursday evening after completing the country's first docking mission with target orbiter, The Tiangong-1.

 

Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi Arrested

Libya's interim justice minister Mohammed al-Alagi has confirmed that Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam had been detained in Libya's southern desert.

 

The authorities say Saif al-Islam and several bodyguards had been captured near Obari town by fighters based in the western mountain town of Zintan. He would be transported to capital Tripoli shortly afterwards.

 

Saif al-Islam has been the most enigmatic of Muammar Gaddafi's children, apparently turning within weeks from philanthropist and liberal reformer into a fighter ready to die on his home soil rather than surrender.

 

"No one should think that after the all sacrifices we have made and the martyrdom of our sons, brothers and friends, we will stop fighting. Forget it. Regardless of whether NATO leaves or not, the fighting will continue until all of Libya is liberated."

 

Saif is also the most elusive of the late Libyan leader's eight offspring, wanted on war crimes charges but evading a manhunt for months to remain the only leading family member still at large.

 

Saif al-Islam owned a 10 million pound home in London but his activities and friendship caused much embarrassment in the West when the rebellion broke out.

 

The director of the London School of Economics (LSE), Howard Davies, resigned over the university's ties to Saif, its former student. LSE was believed to have accepted a 300,000 pound donation from Saif al-Islam's foundation.

 

Italian PM Wins Second Confidence Vote

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has won a crucial confidence vote in the lower house, securing its mandate to help bring Italy out of its debt crisis.

 

MPs voted 556 to 61 to endorse the new government's programme after Monti asked to be allowed to continue in office until new elections in 2013.

 

Earlier on Thursday, Monti passed his first confidence vote in the upper house, or senate.

 

Monti says he hopes his policies will eventually change the poor view of politicians in the eyes of the Italian public.

 

"If we manage to work in a calmer environment, we might be able not only to help the country, which would benefit from efficient actions and structural reforms, but also to help the politicians to have more credibility and enjoy more respect by the citizens."

 

Monti says he hopes to soon present a package of reforms to parliament and would travel to Brussels next week to map out his strategy to reduce debt and spur growth to the European Commission.

 

Monti's strategy focuses on budgetary rigor, economic growth and social fairness.

 

Earlier, he pledged to reform the pension system, re-impose a tax on homes annulled by his predecessor Silvio Berlusconi, fight tax evasion, and cut political costs.

 

Former Philippines President Arrested over Electoral Corruption

Former Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been arrested on electoral fraud charges in a tug of war set off by her attempts to leave the country ostensibly for medical treatment.

 

Police Superintendent James Bucayo has confirmed the detention.

 

"While the accused Arroyo is sick, she can't walk and she is wearing a neck brace. As a precaution she should stay here in the hospital, she is under arrest and she is being guarded by police."　

 

The 64-year-old former president has been in hospital since her failed attempt to board a flight out Manila on Tuesday.

 

The election fraud charges filed Friday by the Commission on Election carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

 

The charges stem from allegations that Arroyo conspired with officials to tamper with results of 2007 congressional polls to favor her candidates.

 

She denies any wrongdoing and accuses the government of political persecution.

 

Arroyo ranked as the country's least popular leader during her presidency from 2001 to 2010. She had faced down several coup and impeachment attempts over corruption allegations.

 

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to Establish Economic Union by 2015

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to set up a joint body to regulate the economy and trade between the three nations, paving the way for an economic union of the three former Soviet republics.

 

The Eurasian Economic Commission will be set up in January, operating in a similar way to the economic bodies of the European Union.

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the commission is the first step toward an ultimate economic union of the three nations by 2015.

 

"We are creating the new economy.　We are the so-called "fast-growing economies" even with the problems that all our countries have. That's why we are starting, not from different levels, but from a roughly level playing field, while of course being aware that the economy of Russia is bigger and our partners' economies are smaller."

 

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said economic integration between the three nations will benefit them all.

 

"I won't hide, naturally we spoke today, I speak slightly earlier than my turn, that we have to shift to trade using our own currencies on large-volume commodities, using the Kazakhstan tenge and ruble, and the Belarus ruble, in order to exclude the circulation of a large dollar among us."

 

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have already set up a common customs zone that allows free movement of labour and goods between the countries.

 

North Korea Asking for Resumption of Six Party Talks

North Korea's top envoy in France has called for the resumption of six-party talks without preconditions, so that they can put their nuclear proposal on the table.

 

Yun Yong Il, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says that the instability in their country is due to US policy, and has called for the resumption on six-party talks on their nuclear package.

 

"We must resume six-party talks unconditionally and without any preconditions and then we can put all the issues concerning nuclear as a package on the table."

 

Yun Yong Il made the comment while addressing university students in Toulouse, southwest France.

 

The United States ended two days of talks with North Korea at the end of October sounding upbeat on an eventual return to wider talks to end Pyongyang's atomic programs.

 

The talks in October followed discussions in July, the first since six-party talks over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme collapsed in 2008.

 

The United States and South Korea insist that North Korea immediately halt its uranium enrichment efforts, which it unveiled last year, as a precursor to restarting regional talks that would offer aid in return for de-nuclearisation.

 

The six-party talks, a result of North Korea withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 aim to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns as a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. It is composed of China, Russia, the US, Japan and two Koreas as participating states.

 

Protest Calling for Transition to Civilian Leadership in Cairo

Tens of thousands of Islamists and young activists have gathered in Cairo confronting Egypt's ruling military council with the largest crowd in months to protest the generals' attempt to give themselves special powers over a future elected government.

 

It is one of the largest rallies in Egypt in recent months.

 

This rally is dominated by the country's most organised political group, the Muslim Brotherhood, which has rarely come out in full force since the protests that forced President Hosni Mubarak to step down in February.

 

The Brotherhood had until recently avoided confrontation with the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, but now warns of escalating its protest campaign if plans to give permanent political powers to the military are not scrapped.

 

The rally was called to protest a document floated by the government which declares the military the guardian of "constitutional legitimacy," suggesting the armed forces could have the final word on major policies even after a new president is elected.

 

The document, which includes guiding principles for Egypt's new constitution, also introduces clauses that would shield it from civilian oversight.

 

Most of Egypt's pro-democracy groups object to the document, calling it an attempt to perpetuate military rule past the post-Mubarak transitional period which is supposed to end with the election of a new parliament and a new president.

 

In addition to the Brotherhood, Salafis, left- and liberal-leaning groups also joined the rally, demanding a timetable for the end of military rule, which began in February.

 

Hatem Azam is an Egyptian protester,

 

"I am sure with such participation in this million march we will have a free election that will bring the people's opinion to the boxes. We believe that we will have a civil democratic government."

 

The show of force comes 10 days before the country's first parliamentary elections since Mubarak stepped down, when a Brotherhood-affiliated political party is expected to fare well.

 

Clean-up Operation Begins in Flood-Inundated Bangkok

Residents and soldiers in Thailand's capital Bangkok have started to clean up areas that have been successfully drained of floodwater following recent floods.

 

The busy Lad Prao intersection, one of the most built up areas of Bangkok to be hit by the floods, has officially been reopened to traffic.

 

But water started receding after authorities successfully reduced the flow of water towards the city center, while soldiers dug up the shallow Lad Prao Canal to push existing water into the main water drainage system.

 

With the water now gone, many are glad to pitch-in scrubbing the streets.

 

"I'm happy to have this opportunity to help my country. It's a good opportunity. Because all Thai people have to love each other, we have to help each other."

 

"When the flood waters first came, it was very, very sad. Now, the water has receded, we're happy, and we can help each other clean up."

 

Thailand has suffered its worst flooding in 50 years, which has killed nearly 600 people and affected over two million since it started in July.

 

Time to Protect China's Groundwater

 

China's increasing urbanization is posing a number of challenges, not the least of which are water scarcity and pollution.

 

In particular, the country's groundwater has been overused and polluted in many areas, posing a serious threat to its sustainable development.

 

A commentary in the China Daily says the situation should prompt the government to make greater efforts to conserve and clean up this groundwater.

 

The newspaper notes that about 70 percent of residents in the northern regions are using groundwater for drinking. And more than 40 percent of the country's farmlands depend on groundwater for irrigation.

 

But it warns that rapid urban development and intensified agricultural activities have begun to dry up and contaminate the all-important groundwater.

 

Government reports estimate that more than half of the cities that conduct groundwater monitoring programs had poor water quality last year.

 

The article blames the pollution of groundwater on lax supervision on industrial wastewater treatment in urban areas and the overuse of fertilizers in the countryside.

 

It says the government urgently needs to set up an effective groundwater monitoring network to increase knowledge about groundwater pollution and protection.

 

Furthermore, the commentary calls on the government to impose effective groundwater protection and management rules on urban and industrial projects.

 

The China Daily adds that the government will also need to work with farmers to reduce the use of agro-chemicals and improve overall agricultural practices.

 

In conclusion, the newspaper warns that the future of our children and grandchildren will be sacrificed if the current generation irreversibly destroys critical water sources.

 

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The Nation Owes Its Children More than an Apology

 

A rickety 9-seat school bus which had 64 kindergarten kids crammed inside, crashed into a truck, leaving 20 dead, 18 of whom were below the age of 4.

 

An editorial in the Southern Metropolis Daily argues that school buses are the most vulnerable vehicles on this country's roads.

 

Instances of speeding, over-capacity, and even driving without licenses are happening on a daily basis on school buses across the vast under-developed areas of the country.

 

The editorial asserts that if anyone deserves unconditional care and protection, it is the kids, not only at home or at school, but even more so on the road when neither parents nor school teachers are keeping an eye on them.

 

The editorial argues that this nation doesn't pay its due to its youngest offspring. It argues that if our government revenue can allow imports of Audis and Mercedes-Benz in large numbers for administrative use, it surely can spare a little to put kindergarten kids on safe roads.

 

It states that it's high time that governments of all levels stepped in to buy good-quality school buses and train qualified drivers to avoid such tragic accidents from ever re-occurring.

 

An editorial in the Xinjing Daily also echoes the same outrage and concern.

 

But it argues that buying strong buses and training qualified drivers are far from enough. More importantly, it says we need complete and effective legislation regarding school buses.

 

Laws are missing to clarify who should be responsible for the management of school buses. If school buses are mainly a government responsibility, then we must ban all the private businesses that are involved in commuting the kids from home to school.

 

It also suggest that laws need to be established to eradicate any discrimination against kids due to regional differences, differences in source of funding and even residence registration status.

 

The maintenance and the daily management of school buses should be given a higher priority and therefore should be regulated by uniform standards across the country.

 

In all, it argues that not only does the government owe an apology to the kids; society as a whole needs to act quickly and decisively to establish laws and regulations to ensure that the most vulnerable receive the best protection if this country cares about its future.