News & Reports 2011-11-27

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

 

In This Edition

 

Chinese ambassador to Syria says by far there is no plan to evacuate Chinese in Syria back home under the current tense situation.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey will not tolerate further bloodshed in Syria, adding new pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end conflicts.

 

Pakistan accuses NATO helicopters of firing on an army checkpoint in the northwest part of the country and killing 25 soldiers.

 

New Zealand's center-right National Party wins a second term in government after taking 48 percent of votes in the general election.

 

 

Hot Issue Reports

 

China has no Plan to Evacuate Chinese Citizens in Syria Yet

Chinese ambassador to Syria Zhang Xun says efforts have been done to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Syria. He says by far there is no plan to evacuate Chinese there back home.

 

"Chinese citizens are mainly living in Damascus and Aleppo, two quite safe cities. In order to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens there, the embassy keeps in touch with everyone, and asks the Syrian government to provide protection for Chinese citizens."

 

Given the word that the western countries may make military intervention on Syria, Zhang Xun believes it is too early to say that.

 

"I don't think the West will take military actions against Syria soon. We still support the efforts made by Arab League to promote peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, we are calling on Syrian government to collaborate with the Arab League."

 

Zhang Xun says there are totally around seven hundred Chinese living in Syria, and they are safe now.

 

Turkey Calls for Halt to Bloodshed in Syria with Russia's Opposition to Sanctions

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey will not tolerate further bloodshed in Syria, adding new pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end conflicts.

 

"I want to say clearly we have no more tolerance for the bloodshed in Syria. The attitude of friendly and fraternal countries on this subject is clear. We hope that Syria gives a positive response and opens the way for a new process. If it doesn't, there are steps we can take in consultation with the Arab League."

 

The Arab League set a Friday deadline for Syria to allow an observer mission or face sanctions, including halting flights and curbing trade. The deadline passed with no response from Damascus.

 

Ahmet Davutoglu says he is ready to attend a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers that could take place on Sunday, depending on Syria's response. He is also consulting the European Union, NATO and UN Security Council members.　

 

Meanwhile, Russia has expressed its opposition to sanctions against Syria's government and called for internal dialogue to resolve the crisis.

 

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich:

 

"Russia, as a matter of principle, proceeds from the premise that at the current stage what is needed is not resolutions, not sanctions, not pressure, but internal Syrian dialogue."

 

Lukashevich also says Russia needs more information about a French proposal for "humanitarian corridors" in Syria before taking a position.

 

The UN estimates that more than 3,500 people have died since protests against the Syrian government began in March.

 

Pakistan's PM Condemns NATO Attack on Army Checkpoint

Pakistan accused NATO helicopters of firing on an army checkpoint in the northwest part of the country, leaving 24 soldiers killed and 13 others injured.

 

The alleged Friday night attack was a major blow to already strained relations between Pakistan and U.S.-led forces fighting in Afghanistan.

 

Pakistan immediately retaliated by closing a key border crossing used by the coalition to get supplies to its troops in neighboring Afghanistan.

 

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the alleged attack and summoned US Ambassador Cameron Munter in protest.

 

"Pakistan is facing many challenges. We will be like a rock solid wall. I discussed the matter with Chaudhry Nisar and other Pakistani leaders. That's why our nation and country has become united for the defence of the country. We will not allow to anybody to attack our country."

 

The incident adds to perceptions in Pakistan that the American presence in the region is malicious, and to resentment towards the weak government in Islamabad for cooperating with Washington.

 

Pakistan also closed the Torkham border crossing to NATO supplies, as it did on Saturday, for 10 days until the U.S. has apologized.

 

Egypt New PM: Military Not to Stay in Power

Protesters at Cairo's Tahrir Square have extended a call for a million-man rally.

 

The rally has been dubbed the "Revolutionary Legitimacy" demanding a swifter purge of the corrupted officials who worked under Mubarak's regime and remain in power.

 

Furthermore, the protesters are asking for a fair investigation into the deaths of at least 38 protesters who were killed during clashes with security forces in and around Tahrir Square.

 

Sunday's rally has been timed 24 hours ahead of ballot day, due to be held on Monday.

 

Violence has been lasting for nearly a week in Cairo, northern city Alexandria, Suez and Ismailia as protesters and police clashed to demand the military regime to return power to a civil government.

 

Earlier, the newly-appointed Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri says military leader Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi has no intention of staying in power.

 

"The military council's Tantawi does not wish to stay in power and I wouldn't have agreed to do the job if that was the case."

 

Speaking shortly after his appointment, the 78-year old el-Ganzouri promised to build a government involving different groups.

 

"In forming the government we will send for different types of people, from any party faction, any political leaning - they're all encouraged to put their names forward. The thing that concerns me is forming the best government for the country."

 

El-Ganzouri held various senior posts during the era of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

 

His appointment is the latest in a series of efforts by the military to appease protesters.

 

Dutch, Finnish Ministers Urge Stronger IMF Role in Europe's Debt Crisis

The Dutch and Finnish finance ministers have advocated a stronger role for the International Monetary Fund in helping stem Europe's debt crisis at a meeting with their German counterpart.

 

The three ministers, whose countries are among the eurozone's healthiest financially, consulted with each other ahead of a meeting next Tuesday of the 17-nation eurozone's ministers.

 

They stressed the need to press ahead with the implementation of month-old decisions by European leaders aimed at shoring up the eurozone, particularly by increasing the firepower of the bloc's 440-billion-euro rescue fund.

 

Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said the three are convinced that a bigger role for the IMF is needed to ensure adequate funds for the rescue.

 

"We favor an enhanced and strengthened and increased capacity of the IMF, which for example, could be done by bilateral laws of all countries, European countries and non-European countries, to increase the effective size of the IMF. And the IMF could play a bigger role in this crisis through that."

 

Finnish Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen, stressed the need for action against the debt crisis.

 

"The most important thing is that every country does the national measures, especially Greece and now also Italy."

 

The three ministers are pushing hard for Greece and international institutions to wrap up negotiations on a new 130-billion-euro aid package before the end of the year.

 

Economic Ministers of UNASUR Meet in Buenos Aires

Finance ministers from the Union of South American Nations, or UNASUR, have agreed to apply a package of measures to energize trade and internal consumption and avoid contagion from the financial and economic crises that have hit developed countries.

 

Officials met at a summit in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

 

Amado Boudou, Argentina's Finance Minister, expressed his confidence in the future.

 

"We are certain that we must continue to grow, and we won't get ourselves out of a crisis on this scale with cuts that freeze the economy. On the contrary, we believe that in all of our countries there is still the possibility of incorporating a large part of our population into the labor market and the consumer market."

 

UNASUR Secretary General Maria Emma Mejia said experts would unveil a new investment plan to build regional infrastructure at a meeting in Brasilia on November 30th.

 

"We are taking into consideration a new package of measures to energize, to create more jobs and more productivity in our region."

 

The finance ministers and the presidents of the central banks of the 12 member states meeting at the summit also stressed the importance of encouraging regional trade.

 

Both Government Supporters and Protesters Demand Implementing GCC's Deal

Government supporters and protesters in the Yemeni capital Sanaa have held separate rallies on the first Friday since President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a deal to transfer power.

 

The two sides requested that the government implement the deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC.

 

Anti-Saleh protesters said they would continue holding rallies every Friday until their demands were completely met.

 

Tens of thousands of people crowded in Sanaa urging to establish a safe, stable and economically developed Yemen led by the new government.

 

Aatsal Amor, a member of the National Peace Committee of Transformative Power, said the implementation of the GCC deal was a pre-condition for such a goal.

 

"Signing the deal to transfer power is our first goal. Saleh won't be president any more. However, we have no idea when the GCC deal will be implemented."

 

Meanwhile, Saleh supporters gathered near the presidential palace in the capital. Supporters holding photos of the president to express thanks to him for signing the deal to transfer power.

 

New Zealand National Party Wins Second Term in Gov't

New Zealand's center-right National Party has won a second term in government after taking 48 percent of votes in the general election.

 

The National party leader John Key will continue to serve as the country's Prime Minister for the next three years.

 

Speaking to his supporters in Auckland, Key said the campaign had been hard and thanked his supporters.

 

"It's been a hard campaign but it's been a road that we've travelled with so many New Zealanders backing us. With the support of nearly half of the country in very difficult times for New Zealand with lots of challenges in front of us. But with the goodwill of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders."

 

New Zealand's main opposition Labour party leader Phil Goff has conceded defeat in the general election, admitting his party will not form the government.

 

New Zealand has about 3 million registered voters out of a population of roughly 4.4 million.

 

Germans Protest against Nuclear Shipment

Anti-nuclear activists in northern Germany are trying to prevent a nuclear waste shipment from France in the coming days.

 

They have set up nonviolent protest camps around the small village of Gorleben, the destination of a train carrying 11 containers of nuclear waste.

 

Michael Broder, a biological gardener from the city of Goettingen, has been in the anti-nuclear movement for more than 15 years.

 

He is now at a protest camp, about five kilometers away from the storage facility at Gorleben.

 

"I want to carry responsibility in any way I can, and that's why my protest is nonviolent, because violence only leads to counter-violence."

 

Protests have been taking place all over the country in attempts to disrupt the controversial nuclear waste delivery.

 

Nuclear energy has been unpopular in Germany since fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine drifted over the country.

 

The annual waste shipment from France has been a traditional focal point for protesters.

 

This is also the first shipment since Chancellor Angela Merkel decision to close down all Germany's nuclear plants by 2022 following the nuclear disaster earlier this year at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.

 

Money-laundering Russian Tycoon Released on Bail

A London court has released Russian businessman and Portsmouth Football Club owner Vladimir Antonov on bail.

 

Antonov was arrested in connection with a huge money-laundering probe that has rocked Lithuania and Latvia.

 

Investigators are probing alleged fraud and money laundering at his banks in the Baltic states.

 

Lithuania has decided to liquidate Antonov's Snoras bank there.

 

About a week ago, the Lithuanian government took over Snoras after finding assets reported on the lender's balance sheet were missing.

 

Nerijus Maciulis, a Lithuanian economist, says the failure of the bank will not pose any serious threat to the country's financial system.

 

"The Bank of Snoras is not systemic bank which means it does not pose a significant threat for the system as a whole. What we can say is that the government and Bank of Lithuania were able to contain the problem, and panic did not start."

 

Lithuanian regulators claim that hundreds of millions of euros were siphoned from Snoras, the country's fifth-largest financial institution.

 

Meanwhile, Latvian authorities have said similar asset stripping took place on a large scale at a subsidiary bank controlled by Snoras.

 

9th Guangzhou Auto Show Opens to Public

The ninth Guangzhou Auto Show has opened to the public, showcasing the newest cars from automobile manufacturers around the globe.

 

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers says the country's automobile market has entered a period of slow but steady growth and will likely not see a sharp increase in sales. The association predicts that the industry's growth rate will reach only about three percent this year.

 

Dong Yang is the association's Executive Vice President.

 

"This year, sales of passenger vehicles increased six or seven percent, among which, the sales of sedans increased by eight percent. This time last year, it was said that one policy would be canceled, causing a rush of purchases amounting to 1.8 million last December. Sales this year are not as high as last year. In all, growth rates this year will be around three percent, maybe less."

 

The auto show, which began earlier this week, aims to boost car sales and stimulate the industry.

 

Industry experts say China's automobile market has seen high growth since 2000 with a 24-percent industry growth rate.

 

Djokovic Knocked out of ATP World Tour Finals

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has been eliminated from the tennis World Tour Finals currently underway in London. He lost to fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. CRI's Tu Yun reports.

 

This is Tipsarevic's first win over Djokovic in their four meetings on court.

 

While some may refer to the world No. 1's fatigue after a long season as a factor behind his opponent's victory, Tipsarevic suggested he himself also faced some empty tank issue at the end of this year, during which he climbed from No. 49 to No. 9 in the world rankings.

 

"Credit to me because I beat the world No. 1 maybe not at his best day, but still that's I feel a victory that no one can take from me. So I'm really happy that I managed to win in the end and strangely finished the season with a win. You know, I'm not really used to that."

 

Despite the loss, Djokovic, who successfully grabbed ten titles including three Grand Slams this year, seemed relaxed.

 

"To be quite honest, I really don't want to go back and see, you know, what I could do better or maybe in order to prepare for this tournament. Everything happens for a reason. Ii hand an unbelievable year. Nothing can really ruin that. I will remember this year as the best of my life. I just want to prepare well for 2012."

 

In the last round-robin match, Czech Tomas Berdych beat David Ferrer 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, to grab the last spot in the semifinals.

 

Berdych will take on France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Ferrer against Swiss Roger Federer.

 

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun reporting from London.

 

China Daily: Airport Officials Must Come Clean about Construction Flaws

 

Strong winds that swept through the capital earlier this week ripped off part of the roof of Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3. This was the second time that the building's roof had been damaged by strong winds, following a previous occasion last December.

 

Soon after the strong winds hit, the airport's information center said emergency repairs had already been completed and safety was not affected.

 

Nevertheless, the public was highly concerned about the damage, especially considering that the terminal is one of Beijing's landmark buildings.

 

An editorial in "China Daily" says airport management must answer the following questions to ease public concern: What was the reason for the incidents? Was there any investigation or remedial action taken after the first incident? Was anyone found to be accountable?

 

The editorial further points out that such problems are not unique to Capital Airport. This summer, for example, the newly built Nanjing South Railway Station experienced leaks in its roof and foundation, although officials referred to the problems merely as "routine weather checks." The editorial says such an attitude of not treating a problem as a problem is alarming and inexcusable.

 

This editorial concludes that only by responding to public concern about the construction quality of Capital Airport's Terminal 3, honestly owning up to building flaws and effectively remedying their causes can airport officials regain public trust.

 

***************************

 

Modern Express: Gov't Must Eliminate Profiteering in Sales of Essential Drugs

 

China Central Television recently exposed unbelievable profiteering by two pharmaceutical companies that sold government-sponsored medicines at wildly inflated prices. One drugmaker based in eastern Shandong Province sold a type of Nefopam at 65 times its ex-factory price.

 

A commentary in "Modern Express," a newspaper based in the eastern city of Nanjing, says the scandals run counter to the government's intensified efforts to curb high drug prices.

 

It notes that the government began to overhaul the national medical system three years ago with reforms focused on reducing drug prices for patients. The government established a so-called basic medicine system and issued a list of more than 300 types of essential medicines.

 

Under the system, the government strictly manages the production, distribution and sale of the medicines. Only provincial authorities can purchase the designated medicines, and medical institutions must sell them to patients at the same price.

 

The government also requires hospitals to give preference to the basic medicines when prescribing drugs to patients to restrict any attempts by medical centers to make a profit.

 

The commentary notes that authorities have claimed these efforts have resulted in a price decline of basic medicines by an average of 25 percent compared to three years ago. But it goes on to say the newly uncovered profiteering scandals threaten to undermine the credibility of the medical reforms.

 

The commentary argues that serious problems still exist in the government-sponsored medicine system and says official caps on the retail prices of some drugs exceed their ex-factory prices by 100 times in extreme cases.

 

In conclusion, the commentary urges the government to take immediate steps to resolve the problems to ensure that the ongoing medical reforms truly benefit ordinary citizens.