In This Edition

 

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pledge to further strengthen their level of cooperation at a summit in Bali, Indonesia, commemorating 20 years since the two sides established a direct dialogue mechanism.

 

China's space program officials say the country's Shenzhou 8 mission and the previous Shenzhou space missions are not directly used for military or defense purposes.

 

Some European countries turn to a committee of the UN General Assembly for adopting a new resolution that calls for an end of the violence in Syria.

 

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

 

Premier Wen Pledges Further Cooperation with ASEAN, East Asian Neighbors and India

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are pledging to further strengthen their level of cooperation at a summit in Bali, Indonesia, commemorating 20 years since the two sides established a direct dialogue mechanism.

 

The two sides have also launched the ASEAN-China Center.

 

The liaison office is designed to promote cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education and culture.

 

The volume of bilateral trade between ASEAN and China has increased 37 times over the past 20 years.

 

Last year, the two sides established a free trade zone, cutting average tariff rates to less than 1 percent.

 

In the meantime, Premier Wen Jiabao is calling for China's East Asian neighbors to help promote regional integration within the ASEAN area.

 

"China, Japan and South Korea should enhance their cooperation in order to become one force. Through this united force, we'll be able to support the development of communication and connectivity within ASEAN countries, drawing upon their dominant funds, techniques and human resources. Promoting communication and connectivity within ASEAN will help to integrate the foundation of the 'One ASEAN' principle."

 

Wen Jiabao made the comments during a meeting that was attended by the leaders of ASEAN countries, Japan and South Korea.

 

Earlier, the Chinese Premier held talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

 

Singh stated that India always seeks a harmonious and cooperative relationship with China.

 

"We are committed to developing the best of relations with China and our strategic and cooperative partnership. We are neighbors, also two large growing economies of Asia, we should cooperate on issues, regional, bilateral and global."

 

The annual ASEAN summit brings together leaders from the ten Southeast Asian countries, and a number of other nations located in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

This year, the circle of participants has been expanded to include U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

 

China Says Shenzhou Mission "Not Directly Linked to Defense"

 

China's space program officials say the country's space missions have not included any programs that directly serve defense purposes.

 

Wang Zhaoyao is the Deputy Director of China Manned Space Engineering Office.

 

"I can tell you with a high sense of responsibility that the Shenzhou 8 mission and the previous Shenzhou space missions, have not been directly used for military purposes. However, as we all know, the space technologies can be used either for military or civilian purposes. It just depends on the purpose that people have."

 

Wang made the comments following the touchdown of China's unmanned space craft Shenzhou-8.

 

During its 17-day flight, Shenzhou-8 successfully rendezvoused and docked twice with the Tiangong-1 experimental space lab.

 

Two more Shenzhou missions are planned for next year, one of which will be manned.

 

The Shenzhou missions are being used to pave the way for the establishment of a manned Chinese space station by 2020.

 

Syria Faces UN General Assembly Vote Next Week

Some European countries, including Germany, France and Britain, have turned to a committee of the UN General Assembly, for adopting a new resolution that calls for an end of the violence in Syria.

 

The draft, which was also backed by four Arab countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Morocco, is set to be put to a vote next Tuesday.

 

Syria is also facing increasing pressure from other Arab countries.

 

Turkey is criticizing the world for not taking the Syrian issue seriously, suggesting there is a lack of interest because the country's not rich with oil.

 

The Arab League is giving the Syrian government a few more days to end the fighting, or face sanctions.

 

A number of countries have already withdrawn their ambassadors from Syria.

 

Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says the situation in Syria is starting to look like a civil war.

 

"I saw today a television report about a new group, the so-called Free Syrian Army, attacking a government building belonging to the Syrian army. This is all looking very much like a civil war."

 

The UN estimates that over 35-hundred people have been killed since the unrest began in March.

 

The Syrian government blames the violence on armed gangs and militants.

 

Italy's PM Wins Confidence Vote in the Lower House

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 has unveiled his plan to steer the country out of its debt crisis.

 

He is warning his people that they need to sacrifice more to heal the country's finances.

 

"We must act to decrease the costs of the political institutions. All those who represent political and administrative institutions at all levels will have to behave with sobriety."

 

Monti also says his government will introduce incentives for companies to employ more women and young people.

 

Despite this, thousands of students and union members have taken to the streets in protest.

 

The new prime minister is under enormous pressure to act quickly as the country's borrowing rate is lingering around the 7 percent red line.

 

Analysts say Italy's economy is too large for a European bailout.

 

Fear Grows over Iran Nuclear Program

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano has issued his first public statement following revelations by his agency that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon.

 

"The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive. I have full confidence in the Agency's technical experts. Now that I have this information and assessment, I must alert the world. That is my duty as Director General."

 

Speaking at an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Amano says the agency wants to send a special high-level mission to Iran to address its growing concerns.

 

"I made a concrete proposal to send a high level mission to Iran to discuss the outstanding issues including the elements contained in this report and I believe clarifying the outstanding issues is in the interest of Iran.　Therefore I am optimistic that in due course we will be able to set a date to have a dialogue."

 

However, the IAEA has stopped short of reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council.

 

That move could lead to more sanctions against Iran.

 

In last week's report, the IAEA says Iran has been conducting research and experiments connected to the development of nuclear bombs.

 

The report suggests some of the activities may still be going on.

 

Iran has categorically denied the suggestion, saying the report is "politically motivated."

 

MOC: China US Trade Surplus is Overestimated

The Ministry of Commerce says China's trade surplus with the United States is overestimated by 60 percent according to WTO studies.

 

Assistant Minister of Commerce Yu Jian-hua made the comment at a press briefing of the State Council.

 

"Our surplus mainly came from processing trade and industry transfer. That's why the trade surplus of the U.S. with Asia remained at a growth of more than 60 percent. Some industries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and ASEAN had been transferred to the Chinese mainland, so the U.S. surplus with these countries and regions was also transferred to the Chinese mainland. Therefore we have a trade surplus with the U.S."

 

China's trade surplus fell 36 percent year-on-year to 17 billion U.S. dollars in October, far below the expected figure of 25 billion U.S. dollars.

 

Talks on China Banks Suspending Sale of Short-term Products

China Banking Regulatory Commission, or CBRC, is advising banks across the country to temporarily halt the sale of short-term wealth management products.

 

Banks often turn to short-term products to collect deposits to meet their regulatory requirements at the end of each quarter.

 

The chair of the Commission says he is worried about the risks this poses when it comes to liquidity.

 

As such, CBRC is forcing banks to suspend the sale of products with maturities of less than a month.

 

For more on this, our reporter Ding Lulu spoke to Shen Hong, China Bureau Chief Dow Jones Newswires.

 

US Police Arrest Hundreds of Occupy Wall Street Activists

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across the United States, marking the Occupy movement's two-month anniversary.

 

In New York, police have arrested at least 300 protesters.

 

Witnesses say some police officers hit the protesters who resisted arrest.

 

At least five officers were injured.

 

Occupy Wall Street activists started the day by marching through the city's financial district and later rallied across the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

"Well, I think it's important to show that it's not just a few hundred people hanging out in Zuccotti Park, it's people from all over the city and coming from all over the country who are really committed to making sure that there's equal access to economic opportunity and justice for everyone in the country and not just for the one percent."

 

"Too little people control too much in our country, and it's time to understand that in America, it is the American people that have the rights, and not the few privileged that have all the power."

 

Over 700 people were arrested during a similar march at the Brooklyn Bridge last month.

 

The national day of action has been planned before the crackdown on the two-month-old encampment in New York's Zuccotti Park.

 

U.S.-China Forum on the Arts and Culture is Underway in Beijing

A host of American stars, including actress Meryl Streep, film directors Joel and Ethan Coen, musician Yo-Yo Ma and best-selling author Amy Tan are in Beijing to attend the first ever U.S.-China Forum on Arts and Culture.

 

They'll perform with their Chinese counterparts during the four-day event, which aims to strengthen cultural exchange between the two countries.

 

Film directors Joel and Ethan Coen, known as the Coen brothers, were the creative force behind award-winning films such as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, and True Grit.

 

Joel Coen says he is interested in working with Chinese filmmakers.

 

"I think that any exposure to a foreign culture, especially the arts of a foreign culture are (inaudible) by anyone who is aware and awake and watching those things and open to them. So in that respect I'm quite certain it will happen."

 

The forum features panel discussions on a wide range of culture and runs for one more day.

 

Cartoon Art Museum

Animated cartoons have long been a favorite for children everywhere. Parents encourage their children to watch cartoons because they believe cartoons can inspire innovation.

 

Recently, Beijing's first Cartoon Art Museum opened its doors to the public.

 

Our reporter Wang Jing has the story.

 

Located in Chaoyang District, the Beijing Cartoon Art Museum is a cartoon wonderland: gigantic transformers welcome visitors at the gate; televisions hanging on the wall constantly play cartoon films; pirate ships, haunted castles and other models are displayed in the exhibition Hall. Here, you can find all the celebrities of the cartoon world.

 

"It's invoked lots of my childhood memories. Look at this one, it's "Journey to the West". I remember when I was a little girl, I really enjoyed this cartoon. The first thing I would do after coming home from school everyday is to turn on the television to watch it."

 

"The Monkey King, that cartoon impresses me most."

 

"Little Tadpoles Looking for Mummy", "Nezha Stirs up the Sea" and all the other well known domestically produced animated cartoons are on show. China's first talking cartoon "Camels' Dance", first color animated cartoon "Why the Crow is Black" and the first paper-cut cartoon "Pigsy Eats the Watermelon" are the special guests of honor, which attract both children and their parents as they meander their way around the exhibition.

 

As the only cartoon themed museum in Beijing, a theater has been established inside in order to showcase animated cartoons.

 

The past few years have witnessed a rapid development of the domestic cartoon industry. Televised time for cartoons has increased nearly five times since 2005. Six cartoon industry bases have been established in Beijing, and San Jian Fang, the location of the museum, is one such place.

 

Wang Zhiping is the head of the Beijing Cartoon Art Museum.

 

"We have a few Interactive activities which involve the guests. What visitors are most interested in are painted cartoons, but there are many other genres, just like clay-mation, paper-cut cartoons, and puppets. In the future, we'll include all of these genres in order to provide a comprehensive exhibition."

 

With the rapid global development of the cartoon industry in recent years, many foreign animated cartoon films are finding their way onto Chinese cinema screens, achieving large box office revenues in the process.

 

At the same time, the "Pleasant Goat", "The Tibetan Dog" and many other domestic cartoons have also proved very popular among young Chinese children and their parents. Many parents believe animated cartoons can inspire their children's imagination, thus improving their level of ability and innovation.

 

One thing that must be mentioned is the fact that entrance into the Beijing Cartoon Art Museum is free to the general public. If you have time, go and immerse yourself in a world of childhood memories.

 

For CRI, I'm Wang Jing.

 

Dumplings with Pneumonia-induced Bugs Taken off Shelves

 

China's Shanghai Daily newspaper reports that a popular brand of frozen dumplings has been taken off the shelves in Shanghai because they have been found to harbor dangerous bugs that can cause pneumonia.

 

It was authorities in Nanjing city who made the discovery when examining dumplings made by food producer Wanchai Ferry.

 

It's just the latest in a number of dumpling bacteria scares.

 

Last week a number of other frozen dumplings sold in south China's Guangzhou were found to have the same bacteria.

 

And last month food inspectors in Beijing revealed they found a similar batch of dodgy dumplings earlier this summer.

 

But the article says all of these brands have been removed from supermarket shelves.

 

Antibiotics in UK Over-prescribed

 

British newspaper The Guardian reports that the UK's Health Protection Agency has just released a survey showing that antibiotics are over-prescribed simply because the public believes they will cure colds and flu.

 

The study asked over 1,700 people about their attitudes towards antibiotics. And the results show a quarter of people surveyed wrongly believe that taking antibiotics can help to relieve coughs and colds.

 

This is despite 70 percent of those surveyed understanding that taking antibiotics when not necessary can be a bad idea.

 

The health agency says that unnecessary drugs can help develop strains of drug-resistant diseases, which are very hard to treat.

 

The agency advises doctors to learn to resist patients that demand drugs when they are not absolutely necessary.

 

However, the study found 97 percent of those questions said they had received antibiotics after asking for them.

 

Market Update

 

U.S. stocks traded mixed on Friday amid concerns over the European debt crisis.

 

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.2 percent, to 11,796.

 

The Standard & Poor's 500 was down 0.04 points to 1,216.

 

The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 0.6 percent to 2,573.

 

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was down 1 percent to 5363. Frankfurt's DAX lost 0.9 percent to 5800. CAC-40 in Paris slipped 0.4 percent to 2997.