News & Reports 2012-02-12

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In This EditionVice President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to the United States is being described in both countries as significant to boost Sino-American ties.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Islamic Republic will soon announce advances in its nuclear program.

Egypt's governing military council has called on Egyptians to be cautious of "conspiracies" and "plots" seeking to destabilize the country.

And thousands of people are trapped without food in Europe while big freeze goes on.

Hot Issue ReportsChinese Ambassador to the US Comment on Xi's Upcoming VisitChinese Ambassador to the United States, Zhang Yesui, says the upcoming visit of Vice President Xi Jinping will further accelerate the development of Sino-US cooperative partnership. CRI's Washington chief correspondent Xiaohong has more.

Ambassador Zhang Yesui says Vice President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to the United States is one of the most important high-level exchanges between China and the United States. It aims to push forward the implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

He notes that this year marks the 40th anniversary of former US President Richard Nixon's visit to China and the release of Shanghai Communique. Over the past decades, great breakthroughs have been achieved in Sino-US relations, which have generally remained stable in recent years.

"During Chinese President Hu Jintao's successful state visit to the US last year, he and US President Barack Obama reached a consensus on building a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit."Ambassador Zhang Yesui points that with the deepening of such cooperative partnership, the countries are now enjoying an increasingly closer tie. And there is still room to improve such cooperation in dealing with both domestic and international issues either on a regional or a global level.

"The building of cooperative partnership should also deal properly with confrontations and differences. The key is to respect each other, especially on each other's core interests. Meanwhile, the two countries should expand dialogue and exchanges to promote mutual trust in order to keep the proper direction of bilateral ties."Ambassador Zhang Yesui says that China is a developing country. It has no intention to harm other's interest during its own development. And Sino-US ties should not be a subzero game. The Chinese diplomat stresses that China's development will bring more opportunities to Sino-US cooperation.

Vice President Xi Jinping will visit the US between Jan 13th to 17th at the invitation of his US counterpart Jo Baiden. The trip will take him to Washington, Iowa and California.

For CRI, this is Xiaohong reporting from Washington.

American Scholars: Xi's US Visit Significant for TiesAmerican scholars have stated that the upcoming visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping to the United States is significant for US-China relations and for the relationship of cooperation that exists between the two powers regarding world affairs.

Xi Jinping will leave for the US on a five-day visit on Monday at the invitation of his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden.

David Lampton, Director of the China Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University, notes that the visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of former US President Richard Nixon's historic trip to China.

Lampton says Xi Jinping's upcoming US visit will lead to a deepening of bilateral cooperation, as US-China relations are now more important to the world than they were 40 years ago.

"Vice President Xi will meet citizens, and mayors, and governors. And this will all lay a better foundation for more cooperative relations in the future. The need now is that our leaders have to help us broaden the relationship between our society. So I think this is a particularly important time for him to come."Meanwhile, Walter Lohman, Director of the Asia Studies Center of the Heritage Foundation, says cooperation between the US and China is critical for maintaining world peace and stability.

"I think what we need is more constructive interchange about some of the conflict zones. We need to have some dialogue about the Korean Peninsula. We need to know (what) one another's plans are. I think we need more operational real interaction not just meetings."US-China relations are now viewed as one of the most important bilateral relations in the world in both economic and strategic terms.

Iran to Announce Nuclear Achievements within DaysIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Islamic Republic would soon announce advances in its nuclear program.

He was speaking on the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.

"Over the next few days the world will witness several announcements of very big achievements within the nuclear field."Ahmadinejad gave no details of how Iran's nuclear work has progressed.

Tension with the West over Iran's disputed nuclear work has risen in recent weeks.

The United States and its European allies have imposed new sanctions to try to force Tehran back to talks on its nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad denounced the stance of the West, but said Iran is prepared for talks.

"They say they want to hold talks, very well, we are prepared for talks within the frameworks of justice and respect. But you come up with excuses every day and then gather together and issue new manifestos against us."Tehran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action if sanctions fail.

Iran has warned of a "painful" answer, saying it would hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf as well as block the vital Gulf oil shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Two Explosions in Aleppo Reported by Syrian TVTwo strong blasts have rattled Syria's northern city of Aleppo, claiming at least 28 lives and wounding another 235.

Local media report one of the morning explosions took place outside the compound of the Military Intelligence Directorate.

The other blast hit the headquarters of law-enforcement force in densely-populated Arkoub neighborhood, 8 kilometres from the intelligence building.

Brigadier General Dr. Imad Mohammad said a vehicle made it through one roadblock before detonating near the gates.

"A mini bus was stopped at the gate and while being checked by members of the information desks the blast took place. The first toll was 13 dead and about 17 injured."Syrian Minister of Health Wael al-Halki said the toll is poised to rise due to the critical condition of some of the injured.

No one has claimed responsibility so far, but the government blamed the blasts on armed groups backed by foreign plots, and a research is underway.

The blasts were the first to hit Aleppo, Syria's second largest city and economic hub, which has been relatively calm since the anti-government movement erupted in mid-March last year.

The Syrian government said more than 2,000 army and security personnel have been killed during the months-long unrest, while the United Nations put the death toll in the country at more than 5,400.

Former Maldives President Demands Fresh ElectionsThe former president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed is demanding fresh elections in the island archipelago, days after his resignation.

Nasheed, who now faces an arrest warrant, has said that his resignation happened at gunpoint.

"We want the Speaker of the House (of parliament) to run the country for two months and during those two months to have elections."The new government of President Mohammed Waheed Hassan insists Nasheed steped down voluntarily.

Hassan rejects calls by his predecessor, saying the current environment is not conducive to hold "free and fair" elections.

After Nasheed's resignation, thousands of his supporters swept into the streets of the capital Male and clashed with security forces.

Nasheed says police were dragging his supporters out of their homes and beating them.

"I am always worried about being arrested, beaten up and tortured. I think the amount of the people who are always around us and the support that we are getting is creating a situation where it is very difficult for the police to drag me out."Diplomats, including a U.N. envoy, are in the Maldives, working to forestall renewed violence.

Egypt's Military Warns against "Conspiracies" on Eve of StrikesEgypt's governing military council has called on Egyptians to be cautious of "conspiracies" and "plots" seeking to destabilize the country.

The message is delivered in a statement read by a news anchor on Egyptian State Television.

"Our precious Egypt has been subject to plots aimed at striking the revolution in its core, sowing strife between our people and driving a wedge between them and their armed forces. We are in the face of plots against the nation, whose goal is to undermine state institutions and whose desire is for the country to perish in order for chaos to be widespread, for devastation to prevail."The statement comes on the eve of a wave of strikes on Saturday called by unions and youth groups to force the military council from power.

The military has been facing continued pressure from youth activists to hand over power to an elected government since it came to power early last year.

The military defends its handling of the situation, saying the process of power transition is underway.

"We prepare to complete our promises; and the opening of the door for presidential nominations that was scheduled for the 10th of March. Presidential powers will be handed over to the president after the elections, by which time, the transitional period will be complete and your loyal and brave army will return to their main mission, which is defending the borders."The military took the reins of power last February after former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak resigned amid unrests. It oversaw Egypt's first free parliamentary elections in decades at the end of last year.

Chavez Stands up for Argentina's Claim of Sovereignty over FalklandsVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez has condemned British "militarization" and says the Falklands Islands belong to Argentina.

"We join the denunciation and demand that the British government not only stop its militarization but leave the Malvinas (Falklands) because the Malvinas are Argentine."Earlier on Friday, Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman appeared before the United Nations and urged it to intervene in the long-running row over the islands.

Timerman said Buenos Aires possessed intelligence which proved that a Vanguard submarine had been sent to the area, and demanded to know whether it was carrying warheads.

The British government has denied the accusations.

Tensions between Argentina and Great Britain have been growing in recent months.

The UK has insisted that the deployment of one of its most modern destroyers, HMS Dauntless, to the region is merely routine.

The Duke of Cambridge's arrival in the Falklands for a posting as an RAF search and rescue pilot has further infuriated Buenos Aires.

Market Reforms Approved by Spanish CabinetSpain's new government has approved a plan forcing banks to set aside an estimated 65 billion US dollars in new provisions to cover toxic real estate assets.

The Cabinet passed the plan a day after Finance Minister Luis de Guindos unveiled it.

De Guindos feels positive about the new plan.

"This will mean the better financing of Spanish bank institutions, which will be healthier, more transparent and with a better cooperative government. Sooner or later this will have to reflect on more credit for families and Spanish companies."Under the new plan, to avoid having to leave piles of money idle, banks will be under pressure to sell assets such as land and foreclosed or unsold homes at lower market prices.

Banks unable to meet the new provisions to cover troubled holdings will have the option of presenting merger plans to the government and could get government assistance from an existing bailout fund.

Following the collapse of the housebuilding and construction boom in 2007, the book value of the property on Spanish banks' accounts is regarded as inflated.

This has spooked foreign investors, making it hard for Spanish banks to tap capital markets for money to lend to Spanish businesses and households.

The conservative government, elected later last year, is working to chip away at a bloated deficit and keep Spain from having to request a bailout like Greece did.

The plan is set to be sent to Parliament for a yes-or-no vote with no amendments.

Nigerian Police Recapture Last Year's Christmas Day BomberNigerian security forces have recaptured the main suspect in a deadly Christmas Day bomb attack who escaped from police custody last month.

Nigeria's State Security Service paraded Kabiru Sokoto in front of the media in Nigeria's capital city Abuja.

Marilyn Ogar, the deputy director of public relations in the State Security Service refused to divulge information on how he was recaptured,"We have brought forward Kabiru Sokoto who was declared missing, I think that is enough. How we went about it is our own business. It's private to us, we operate under the need to know principle and so we won't begin to tell you our mode of operation."Kabiru Sokoto's escape on January 18 was described by security sources as "unusual and suspicious" and it prompted President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the chief of police and his six deputies.

The bombing of a local Catholic church killed 37 people and wounded 57, the deadliest of a series of attacks during Christmas last year.

Police arrested Sokoto on January 17. While escorting him from the police headquarters to his house in Abaji to conduct a search there, their vehicle came under fire and Sokoto escaped.

Thousands Trapped without Food in Europe while Big Freeze Goes onThe cold snap in Europe that has killed hundreds of people - most of them homeless - continued over the weekend.

In Romania, tens of thousands were isolated in over 70 villages, many living without food, water and medicines.

A 77 year-old villager complained the cold response from the government:

"Our lives are very harsh here. What can we do if we don't have leaders in Bucharest? Two men, make it 4. Why do we need hundreds of men there to make decisions?"In Germany, tens of thousands crowded onto the frozen Alster lake in the northern port city of Hamburg to celebrate the first traditional Ice Delight Festival in 15 years, but hundreds of ships on the rivers near Duisburg were trapped in ice.

Further southeast, despair was hitting those who lost their homes in an earthquake in eastern Turkey several months ago. Many were struggling to keep warm with coal stoves or electrical heaters.

Record low temperatures and heavy snow were making life even harder for the more than 140,000 earthquake survivors still living in temporary housing.

And in Britain, a village just west of London recorded a record low temperature of minus 18.3 degrees Celsius.

"Yeah, it's been pretty cold but, I mean, it is winter time so you can't expect people to... well, the weather to be kind to us at this time of year..."Meteorologists say the frost in Europe may last until the end of the month, raising the prospect of further deaths and an extended spike in gas prices.

Extreme Winter Weather Continues in Russia's Southern RegionsMeanwhile, in Russia, southern regions continued to survive extreme winter weather on Saturday with temperatures dropping down to 20 degrees below normal.

Russian Emergencies Ministry officials have warned that temperatures could reach as low as minus 27 degrees Celsius in the coming week.

In the southern Rostov-on-Don region, local Chief Agricultural Specialist, Igor Tatyanko, said low temperatures accompanied by harsh winds have made them worried about next year's harvest.

"As soon as the temperature goes up, we will take the wheat crops for accelerated cultivation to see if the fall crops have survived. Otherwise we will need to plate feed these fields and use it for the spring sowing."Other regional residents were left without a water supply after cold temperatures froze water in the pipes.

China Daily: Regulate Official VehiclesA program which aims to reduce carbon emissions is to be put forward across the country in the near future.

The program encourages government agencies to stop using their official vehicles one day a week based on their license plate numbers.

An editorial in the China Daily states that the policy which will be put into place has been long overdue and more needs to be done if it hopes to be effective at all.

The editorial claims that the new measure is a timely correction of the entrenched impression that those using official vehicles have a higher status and therefore should enjoy privileges over private vehicle owners.

Limiting the use of private vehicles according to their plate numbers has been in place for some time in a number of big cities in China. However, this is the first time that official vehicles have been included within the traffic-control measures.

Furthermore, the new measure would lead to tangible emission cuts as a huge number of official vehicles are currently on China's roads; even though the exact number is still unknown.

However, the editorial points out other measures should also be put forward in order for the new regulations to be effective.

There are a vast number of loopholes in the system which allows the users of official vehicles to dodge motoring restrictions.

Government officials can purchase several vehicles with different number plates because there is currently no effective control over the number of vehicles government officials can own.

Some families in Beijing, for example, purchase a second car so they can drive on those days when their first is restricted from being on the road.

More importantly, the editorial stresses that measures like this should be enforced rather than merely encouraged.

Mere encouragement leaves many officials indifferent to the measures, while many simply resist them outright.

Finally, the editorial states that enforcement agencies should be empowered to monitor and punish those that break the rules when using official vehicles.

Only once all supporting rules and measures have been drawn up and enforced, can the proposal fulfill its purpose.

***************************Western Geopolitical Calculation Dooms UN Security Council Syria Draft to FailureFor much of this week, a number of Western countries have strongly criticized Russia and China for their double veto of a draft resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council.

Many governments even called the veto a "travesty" and claimed it would encourage "further bloodshed in Syria."A commentary by the Xinhua News Agency says the accusations are unjustified as the West is trying to impose its own agenda on the Syria crisis.

The article notes that the Western-backed resolution would lead to a "regime change" in Syria by demanding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to a deputy.

It says that the Assad-led Syrian government has close ties with Iran and other anti-West forces in the Middle East, including Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah.

The commentary points out that seeking a "regime change" in Syria could further isolate Iran and Hezbollah, which is arguably the strongest Western motive on the Syria issue.

Thus, the editorial states that some Western countries should seriously reflect on their own actions instead of accusing Russia and China for the failure of the UN resolution on Syria.

The Xinhua commentary stresses that the international community should engage in dialogue with the Syrian government in an effort to end the violence there.

In agreement with this viewpoint, an opinion piece in the Global Times says China and Russia should help Syria reform and avoid revolution.