新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/04/22（打印版）

Hong Kong's regional government reveals plans regarding the city's much-anticipated electoral reforms...

South Korea's government has approved a plan to salvage the ferry that sank a year ago, claiming more than 300 lives...

And the Chinese president is in Indonesia for the Asia-Africa summit and the 60th anniversary of the Bandung conference...

In Sports: updating the latest football action, beginning with the UEFA Champions League...

In Entertainment: billions of dollars worth of deals have been signed at the Beijing International Film Festival...

China's president is calling for deepener Asia-Africa cooperation to achieving common goals in development and prosperity.

Addressing a leaders meeting in Jakarta Wednesday, Xi Jinping stressed greater economic integration and connectivity between the two vibrant continents.

President Xi says Asia- Africa cooperation will create new opportunities and develop new global circumstances.

"We should keep pursuing common development, align our development strategies, and translate our economic congruence into a driving forth for common growth. We should strengthen the inter-connectivity of infrastructure construction and promote cooperation between industry, agriculture, and human resources. We should also deepen our regional and inter-regional development to promote the freedom and feasibility of trade and investment. "

Referring to South-South cooperation, he points out that developing countries are faced with the similar missions of speeding up development and improving people's living conditions, and they need to join forces and march forward together.

On a wider scope, President Xi also urges coordination to push rich countries to realize their obligations to developing countries.

"Boosting the development of their developing peers and narrowing the South-North gap is a binding obligation of the developed world. Developed countries need to fulfill their aid commitments and increase assistance to developing nations with no political strings attached so as to enhance the capability for self-development within developing countries and to establish a more equal and balanced new global partnership."

The president adds China will unswervingly promote Asia-Africa cooperation under the new circumstances.

He announced that China will grant duty-free privileges to the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic ties on 97 percent of imported products, and will do so within the year.

Meanwhile he adds China will continue to offer assistance for developing countries with no political strings attached.

"China will offer 100,000 training places for developing countries in the Asia-Africa region. And we'll continue to host the Asia-Africa Youth Festival and invite 2000 young people from countries on these two continents to join the festival. China will also establish a China-Asia-Africa cooperation center to promote further cooperation among countries in the regions. "

The president adds China will hold an international seminar themed with carrying on the Bandung Spirit and welcomes all parties to participate.

Leaders from more than 30 Asian and African countries, including Chinese president Xi Jinping, have gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia for a two-day summit and the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Bandung Conference.

While addressing the opening ceremony earlier today, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said challenges and struggles faced by Asian and African nations are yet to be resolved.

He called attention to a new collective economic structure to support the effort for stability and equality across the two continents.

"As Asian and African nations, we urge the reform of the United Nations so that it will function optimally as an organisation of the world that promotes justice for all of us, for all of our nations."

The leaders attending the event are to share experiences, strengthen partnerships and discuss strategies to boost economic development on both continents through stronger South-South cooperation.

They are also expected to emphasize cooperation in counter-terrorism, economic issues, and education, and discuss issues linked with the independence of Palestine.

The first meeting of Asian and African leaders started in 1955 in Indonesia's Bandung, bridging Asian and African countries that were facing the problems of colonialism.

The Hong Kong government has revealed a reform plan that will change the way the region chooses its next chief executive. Chief Secretary Carrie Lam is urging lawmakers to seize the opportunity and realize the region's first ever universal suffrage in 2017.

One person, one vote - to decide who will be Hong Kong's new Chief Executive. But the reform plan must first be endorsed by two-thirds of the members in the 70-seat Legislative Council.

When introducing the plan on Wednesday, Carrie Lam told council members that the threshold for potential candidates at the first stage of the selection process, referring to nomination from a 1200 member committee, has been lowered.

"We suggest that a person who can obtain recommendations from 120 Nominating Committee members could become a candidate seeking nomination for the Chief Executive election."

That is down from the current 150 needed, and would allow five to ten candidates to seek nomination.

Once nominated, the candidates, in the second stage, would need to get the backing of at least half of the Committee members.

And then, universal suffrage - voting. The election will have only one round. The candidate with the most votes will win, though that winner would still need final approval of the Central Government.

Recent opinion polls show the majority of the public favour universal suffrage in time for the next Chief Executive selection in 2017. But with opposition politicians holding a little more than one-third of the seats in Legco, enough to reject the plan, Carrie Lam has issued a call urging the members to respect the popular will, as Hong Kong's political reform is at a critical juncture.

"I sincerely hope that lawmakers can abandon passive attitudes and work with the Hong Kong Government and the public to implement a fair, open, just and transparent system for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage."

A dozen lawmakers have walked out of the Legislative Council in protest, vowing again to veto the proposal.

But more than 40 lawmakers have expressed their support to the plan. Tam Yiu-Chung is with Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.

"We support the proposal because it is in line with the Basic Law, the Central Government's decision made last August, and the reality in Hong Kong. We believe if it is passed, it could reduce long-term political disputes, enabling us to focus on fixing problems in different fields. It is conducive to Hong Kong's long term development as well as national interests."

"I hope the public and lawmakers endorse the proposal, so as to implement universal suffrage."

In the next two months, the Government will reach out to as many people as possible to enhance their understanding of the reform package, as their views can influence lawmakers' decisions.

The Legislative Council is expected to vote on the political reform package in mid-June.

Rescuers in Shanxi province have retrieved the bodies from the mine and are still trying to rescue two miners who are trapped underground.

Hundreds of miners were working underground when the disaster occurred at the mine over the weekend.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expresses Japan's "deep remorse" over the war, but did not offer a "heartfelt apology" to the people in neighbouring nations wronged by Japanese aggression.

Both China and South Korea have urged Abe to abide by previous statements issued by previous Japanese leaders.

"As I pointed out, because this year is a crucial year that marks the 70th anniversary of the victory in WWII, the Japanese leader must follow the commitment and statements of previous governments, squarely face and reflect on Japan's history of aggression, properly handle the issue and gain trust from its Asian neighbors and the global community with concrete action."

But Abe did not say whether he would abide by those statements issued by former Japanese prime ministers on war atrocities in his newest speech.

Yesterday, Abe made a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan's war dead are honored.

In Japan, former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama criticized Abe, saying the current will not repeat the words "apology" and "aggression" in the 70th anniversary of WWII statement.

During a televised speech, Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi thanked Saudi Arabia and its allies for supporting his government against Houthi opponents.

"I express the deepest gratitude and respect to our Arab and Muslim brothers and friends in this exceptional strategic alliance in my name and on behalf of the Yemeni people. The alliance that supported (the government's) legitimacy responded to the calls of Yemenis to serve its interests."

After the three-week "Decisive Storm" operation, the coalition is starting the "Return of Hope" action, with a goal of protecting civilians, fighting terrorism, and resuming the political process in Yemen.

China welcomes the end of air strikes and calls for political negotiations in the country.

Iran had slammed the air strikes as "senseless". Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called on the international community to condemn the Saudi-led operation and to help stop the aggression.

Saudi Arabia and its allies have alleged that Iran is behind the Shiite Houthi militant group.

Though Iran has repeatedly denied the claims, US President Barack Obama is issuing a new warning.

"What we've said to them is, if there's weapons delivered to factions within Yemen that could threaten navigation, that's a problem."

Before that, the US Navy sent an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile cruiser to the Arabian Sea near Yemen.

The US Navy says the aim of the redeployment is to ensure access and safety of the vital maritime lanes in the region.

Additionally, the Pentagon has dismissed reports that the US redeployment of naval forces is aimed at confronting Iranian vessels.

The revised treaty sets the terms that will govern South Korea's management of spent nuclear fuel for the next 20 years.

Korean ambassador for nuclear energy cooperation, Park Ro-byug, says the deal would pave the way for South Korea to better manage spent nuclear fuel and improve nuclear exports.

"Due to the new agreement that is now concluded, we can solve difficulties in the field of our nuclear activities in our science industry and we can improve the lives of our people. "

Seoul and Washington launched the negotiations in October 2010 to revise the pact, which entered into force in 1974.

South Korea is still not allowed to reprocess spent nuclear fuel using US-originated nuclear materials without prior consent.

But the revised deal gives more leeway to South Korea in research activities and data collection related to spent fuel.

The United States has been worried that permitting South Korea to enrich uranium and reprocess spent fuel could make it difficult to deter other countries from seeking similar technologies.

South Korea generates about one-quarter of its electricity with nuclear reactors and exports nuclear power plant equipment and parts.

The South Korean government has formally approved plans to salvage the Sewol ferry, as demanded by many family members of those who died when the ship sunk.

The endorsement was widely expected as President Park Geun-hye promised to salvage the ship last week during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the disaster.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will take the charge to hoist the ship from the seafloor off the country's southwest coast.

"As we carry out the detailed design work of the plan, we will push to start work in the field, including the procurement of equipment and installing an ocean base camp, as early as September. We will minimise the risk and the uncertainty through descriptive verification and thorough advanced preparations especially in choosing the company for the salvage and proceeding with the detailed design work."

Salvaging the ship will cost an estimated 140 million US dollars and take as long as 18 months.

But some critics are questioning the use of taxpayers' money for raising the ship and doubt that salvaging it will provide new revelations about the sinking or find the missing.

The European Union is taking steps in some West African countries to rein in illegal migration.

The move has been enhanced after up to 800 people were feared dead in the latest migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean.

As part of the effort, some projects have been underway, aiming to reintegrate migrants sent back from Europe as well as funding village-level development work to improve local living conditions.

Andrzej Bielecki, the EU delegate in Mali, says the projects aim to make people more willing to stay in their homelands.

"One of the objectives was, through these small construction projects, building a school, toilets, a well for drinking water, things the population lacks, to be able to see the living conditions in their village improve and so think twice before trying this dangerous journey towards an uncertain end."

The United Nations has called for strengthened cooperation in addressing illicit migration flows and dismantling smuggling networks in the region.

Figures from the International Organization for Migration show over 17-hundred Africans have died en route to Europe this year, over 30 times more than that of the same period last year.

The penalty phase following the Boston Marathon bomber's trial has opened. The question is whether the convicted killer will receive the death penalty or life in prison

Prosecutors have portrayed Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as a cold-blooded killer and "America's worst nightmare."

"So today the prosecution is beginning its case. It bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that this is not just guilt, that he was not just guilty of at least 17 crimes for which the death penalty is possible, but also showing the existence of aggravating factors."

The 12-member jury must be unanimous for Tsarnaev to receive a death sentence; otherwise, he will automatically get life behind bars.

Tsarnaev's brother, Tamerlan, died four days after the bombings when he was shot during a firefight with police and then run over by Tsarnaev during a getaway attempt.

Solar Impulse II, the fuel-free airplane, has arrived in Nanjing and completed the sixth leg of its round-the-world flight.

After a three-week-long delay due to the less than ideal weather conditions along the route, the zero-fuel airplane Solar Impulse 2 is now in the city of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.

Pilot Betrand Piccard set down the plane at 11:28 p.m on Tuesday, following a 1,240 kilometers journey from Chongqing.

"We had three goals in the beginning of the year, we want the solar impulse to arrive the coast of Pacific in China, then to arrive in America, and then to be back in Abu Dhabi, finishing the entire circle. Today we have achieved the first goal."

The aircraft will remain in Nanjing for approximately 10 days before the first possible takeoff to cross the Pacific.

"Solar Impulse is in China, Solar Impulse is in Nanjing. And all the names will be ready in a couple of weeks. We will jump in the cockpit and cross the Pacific to Hawaii."

In the press briefing held today in Nanjing Lukou Airport, Ambassador of Switzerland to China Jean-Jacques de Dardel said that in the 65th anniversary of China-Swiss diplomatic relations Solar Impulse means a gift for the common and greener future of both countries.

"To be able to be here on the 65th anniversary of our close and productive Sino-Swiss relations, 65 years of being together and doing things together, it comes at the best of all time that Solar Impulse, maybe in a formula way, Switzerland's gift to our common future because we do have a common future and we must tend to that future by taking care of renewable energy ,protecting environment and having technology at the service of people."

He also added that Swiss is able to develop technology in the field of clean energy and they are expecting to join hands with China.

About 250 young Palestinian couples have married in a mass wedding in the West Bank city of Jericho.

Thousands of Palestinians from all over West Bank, Muslims and Christians alike, have gathered in Jericho for the mass wedding.

With unemployment in double digits and the cost of living rising, couples unable to afford a traditional wedding have jumped at the chance to take part in the all-expenses-paid party.

Akram Al Shrouf, one of the coordinators of the event, says they're allowing bride and groom to invite 20 people each.

"Marriage needs a lot of money. Most of the young people (here) are unemployed. President Mahmoud Abbas saves a lot of money for them, and helps them to have the wedding. He makes this party, gives them the dresses and some money. This will help them to build their families."

"This is to help the newly-weds to get married. I've heard that they will pay 4000 dollars for each couple to help them with the preparation and expenses, overcome the economic difficulties, and it's a good initiative."

He says he probably would have had to wait for a few years to tie the knot had it not been for the group wedding, noting that he only makes around 200 shekels, or around 50 US dollars a day.

"I want to have my own wedding if I have money, but right now in Jerusalem if I want to have a wedding, it costs me about 100 to 150 thousand shekels, we don't have it. I'll need to work for 2 years, even 4 years to wait for my wedding. But Mr. President helps us with the wedding, and thank God, we have it."

During the ceremony itself, the brides wore traditional black and red embroidered Palestinian robes and carried bouquets of white roses.

Along with music, those in the crowd waved Palestinian flags and took to the floor to dance after the ceremony finished.

"A big gathering, a big wedding, for the Palestinians to celebrate the Palestinian tradition, and to express the identity of Palestinian people, that we are here and we will remain in this land. And it's also a nice gathering, you can see people from all over the West Bank, and it's nice."

Previous Palestinian mass weddings had almost predominantly been in the domain of Hamas, with over 20 mass weddings held in the Gaza Strip over the past three years.

Tax authorities in Australia have revealed that Microsoft, Apple, and Google are each being investigated regarding corporate taxes.

The revelation was made by Tax Commissioner Chirs Jordan who says his office is questioning the testimony of executives from each of the multinationals last week to a senate committee investigating corporate tax avoidance.

Executives from each company claimed their respective firms operate out of Singapore and therefore transfer profits there, where the tax rate is lower.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is urging developed countries to increase support to developing nations and with no political strings attached.

Xi Jinping made the call at an Asian-African leaders' meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

He stressed that developed countries have a binding responsibility to help the developing world and enhance their self-development capacity.

Xi Jinping is due to have several bilateral meetings with other world leaders before heading to the city of Bandung to attend events marking the 60th anniversary of the first Asian-African conference.

Hong Kong has announced a constitutional reform package detailing arrangements for the election of the region's next top official in 2017.

Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Carrie Lam says candidates of the region's next chief executive will be picked by a 1,200-member Nominating Committee.

She says the committee members will be from the 38 sub-sectors of the four major sectors of the existing Election Committee.

The Hong Kong government plan came after the Chinese central government granted universal suffrage in the election of the region's top official last August.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has voiced strong opposition to a visit by Japanese lawmakers to the Yasukuni shrine, which honors convicted World War II war criminals.

Hong Lei also urged the Japanese politicians to do more to help Japan reconcile and build trust with its Asian neighbors.

A group of Japanese lawmakers from various parties visited the Yasukuni Shrine Wednesday morning, one day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented a religious offering to the shrine.

Meanwhile, Hong Lei reiterated Beijing's opposition to foreign interference on the Tibet issue.

His comments came in response to the U.S. Congress's recent call for China to review its Tibet policy and restart dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Residents of Yemen's capital Sanaa have welcomed the end of a month-long campaign of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Saudi military spokesperson Ahmed Asiri has announced the end of the air campaign, saying efforts will focus on finding a political solution to the crisis.

Some residents of Sanaa have expressed hope for a lasting ceasefire and reconstruction, although Saudi Arabia has not confirmed whether the airstrikes will stop altogether.

Taliban militants in Afghanistan have announced that the group's annual spring offensive against the government and its supporters will begin on Friday.

The militants say all foreign troops in Afghanistan need to leave the country if they want the war to truly end.

US-led NATO troops ended combat operations in the country in December, but thousands of soldiers remain in the country to support Afghan security forces with training and advice.

Turning now to our business news with a look at the numbers from the Asian markets on this Wednesday evening.

Chinese stocks had a bullish run on Wednesday, closing at their highest level in more than seven years.

The key Shanghai Composite Index touched 4,400 points during the afternoon trading session, its highest level since March 7, 2008.

Analysts attributed the robust performances on the day to constant capital inflows into the stock market.

Shares of the securities, pipeline transportation, information dissemination and medical equipment industries were among the largest gainers.

Shares of China's top bullet train makers, CSR and CNR, tumbled again, by nearly 5 percent and 5.8 percent respectively.

The drop came after shares of both companies soared between March 17 and April 20 and their prices more than doubled in one month.

Japanese stocks ended above the 20-thousand threshold for the first time in 15 years as investor sentiment was lifted by robust trade data.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has unveiled a new series of measures to encourage people to start their own businesses.

At the same time, the Premier says the government is planning to open up the infrastructure sector and other public service areas to private investment.

The statement from Li Keqiang also suggests mass entrepreneurship and innovation is the way to make China strong.

The Premier has been suggesting China's rising e-commerce sector is one area where employment growth can be achieved, promising more government support for the so-called Internet Plus sector.

For more on the direction the Chinese government wants to go regarding employment, the Beijing Hour's Paul James earlier spoke with John Ross, Senior fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University.

That was John Ross, Senior fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University, speaking with the Beijing Hour's Paul James.

China's central bank says there is still room for more monetary easing policies, especially cuts to the reserve requirement ratio (RRR), in the coming months.

Chen Yulu, member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), says ongoing deflationary risk indicates a high possibility of more loosening measures in the future.

Official figures show the consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, averaged 1.2 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year.

While producer prices, a measure of costs for goods at the factory gate, also dropped 5.6 percent year on year in the first quarter.

The current reserve requirement ratio remains high at 18.5 percent, presenting enough room for further cuts.

Despite a slowdown of the economy, China's auto sector is expected to continue growing. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers is predicting tis sector will expand by 7 percent this year.

To secure better positioning in the market, domestic brands are showing off their latest models at the Shanghai Auto Show, highlighting SUVs and new-energy technology.

Chinese auto makers have been spending heavily to roll out new models, and the Shanghai Auto Show is one of the most important platforms to display those new products.

Company President Wang Fengying says Great Wall will focus on its Haval brand, which specializes in SUVs.

"We have adjusted our strategies. Great Wall Motor will not debut any new sedan over the next two years. We will merely focus on SUVs. "

The popularity of Haval products has helped transform Great Wall Motors into one of China's most successful auto brands. The company hopes to sell 10,000 units a month each of two new vehicles - the H6 Coupe and the H8 SUV.

Auto analyst Yale Zhang believes that domestic brands' efforts to create new SUV models have helped them boost market share.

"These two or three years they launched a lot of SUV models, overwhelming, basically a lot more than the overseas car makers. That's why in the SUV sector the local car makers market share is increasing. "

According to LMC Automotive, Chinese automakers currently have 43% market share, up from 38% last year.

New-energy vehicles are also featured at the Shanghai Auto Show, as China has pledged to promote environmentally friendly options under a national strategic initiative.

Du Guozhong, Public Relation manager with BYD, says all the products they display at the auto show are new-energy vehicles.

"Our highlight at the show is purely new-energy. We brought nine models. Since BYD is a Chinese brand, we named those models after Chinese dynasties, easy to be remembered. Even though they are sold to other countries, people will know it is a Chinese brand."

China is now the largest car market in the world. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers predicts that the total number of cars sold in the country annually will soon exceed 25 million.

LeBron James scored 30 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 2-0 lead in their opening-round series with a 99-91 victory over the Boston Celtics this morning.

"Well I've been in this moment before and a lot of our guys haven't, so I felt like it was important to me to just try to put a staple in the game the best way I know how. And I was being aggressive and I was able to make a few plays to help our team get the win and that's what's very important for me, just to be there for my team when we need it."

Game 3 is set on Thursday in Boston, where James had his first stint with Cleveland end with a playoff loss in 2010.

Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals for the seventh time in the last eight seasons on Tuesday by comfortably beating Paris St Germain 2-0, thanks to a pair of first-half goals from Neymar.

Neymar has scored in all four Champions League appearances against Paris St Germain, netting five in total.

Paris Saint-Germain team forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Barcelona indeed played a great game.

"I think we are in progress. The project has been going on for a short time. We have done big steps. But today we played against a better team than us. Just to be realistic. There is no need to lie or make up stories. That is the way it is."

Hong Kong's Ng On Yee claimed the Ladies's World Snooker Championship on Tuesday with a 6-2 victory over Emma Bonney of England.

The 2009 and 2010 World Amateur champion only dropped four frames in four matches from the last-16 stage.

She also ended Reanne Evans' record 10-year reign as women's world champion with a 4-2 win in the semi-finals.

The 29-year-old is the first woman since Alison Fisher in 1994 to be granted the chance to qualify for men's events.

China's Ding Junhui advanced into the last 16 of the tournament with a 10-7 victory over Mark Davis.

The world number three lost his chance to record a maximum 147 break due to a bizarre lapse of concentration.

The Dong Feng Citroen Badminton Asia Championships 2015 gets underway on Wednesday in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Former champion Wang Yihan will take on World Junior Champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the second round.

Badminton World Federation President Poul-Erik H?yer has been knighted by Denmark's Queen Margrethe II during her 75th birthday honours.

Only two sporting heroes have been awarded the Order of the Dannebrog with the other being golfer Thomas Bjorn, who has played on three Ryder Cup-winning squads.

The 49-year-old H?yer has been the president of badminton's international federation for two years.

The opening game of the season will be the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the defending champion New England Patriots September 10.

The league's annual Thanksgiving showcase will feature the Packers hosting the Chicago Bears.

It will be the first time since 1923 that Lambeau Field has played host to a game on Thanksgiving.

Mixed martial arts fighter Anderson Silva meets with Brazilian Taekwondo Federation officials on Wednesday in hopes of competing in next year's Olympics, despite facing a possible doping ban.

World Anti-Doping Agency director David Howman says it's up to the federation to decide if Silva can participate.

"it's not for us to decide, that's up to the international federation responsible for the event he may be competing in the Olympic games and they will come to us for guidance and If it's not a test under our rules or code, we can't give guidance. ... We're going to have to really say it's at their discretion. I'm sure they'll exercise it with some care.'

40-year-old Silva is one of the most prominent figures in Mixed Martial Arts history and a superstar athlete in his home country.

However, he tested positive for two steroids in an out-of-competition test in January and also failed a test after his UFC victory over Nick Diaz on Jan. 31.

Courtney Conlogue beat her fellow American Carissa Moore on Wednesday at Margaret River in Australia to win the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.

"I had a bit of a tricky start yesterday, I was just kind of feeling out of rhythm, it was one of those off days. I was like I'm just going to go surf and have a bunch of fun and I think it just got me all psyched and happy for the event, it just felt really good."

The 2rd Silk Road International Film Festival will be held between Xi'an and Fuzhou from September 22 - 26.

Chen Ye, vice mayor of Fuzhou, who is also deputy director of the festival committee introduced their preparations at a press conference held in Beijing today.

"The framework of the festival has been set up. Theme slogan, logo, trophy and the mascot solicited from the public are currently waiting for approval. Also, the invitation work of guests and film screening has all been launched."

This year's festival will highlight the theme of Maritime Silk Road, focusing on films in the countries and regions on the belt which reflects ancient and modern civilization.

"Nowadays, international community exists disputes and differences on many issues. Cultural exchange of such kind can strengthen the understanding of different countries"

The director's new film "The teacher" has been confirmed to be screened at the festival.

Last year, the competition section of the festival has gathered nearly 200 movies from around the world.

The ongoing 5th International Beijing Film Festival has so far generated over $2 billion in contracts.

According to the organizing committee, the figure is a 32 percent increase year on year, and is more than any other film festival in Asia.

A ceremony was held at the festival for 36 major projects, including creation, production, release and marketing.

The projects included an animation called "Beast of Burden," which will be co-produced by China Film Animation Ltd, and New Zealand based Huhu Studios.

In the first four Beijing International Film Festivals, 80 projects were signed generating over $4.3 billion.

The festival will end tomorrow with a closing ceremony, announcing the winners of the Tiantan Awards.

Prize winners will be chosen by a jury that includes American actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro and Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan.

Malian musician Rokia Traore is also on the panel, along with British actress Sienna Miller, French performer Sophie Marceau and Spanish actress Rossy de Palma.

This year's Cannes Film Festival opens on May 13th with French director Emmanuelle Bercot's drama "La Tete Haute."

New movies by Gus Van Sant, Nanni Moretti, Jia Zhangke and Jacques Audiard are among those competing for the festival's top prize, the coveted Palme d'Or.

Time Magazine celebrated its '100 Most Influential People in the World' with a gala event, held last night in the U.S.

The annual list recognizes a diverse group that includes world leaders, artists, journalists, politicians, and innovators.

Many well-known artists attended the event, among them were Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer, Laverne Cox, and Tim McGraw.

"I'm more nervous than I was at the Oscars because I'm around people that are not in my business, for the most part. I don't know these people and I admire them also, so I'm far more nervous than I am."

Other influential artists being honored included "Good Wife" star Julianna Margulies and "Transparent" creator Jill Soloway.

As well as honors handed out at the event, there were also performances by this year's honorees, Kanye West and Tim McGraw.

Former CNN host Piers Morgan has been questioned for the second time police in the UK about tabloid phone hacking.

Morgan, who was the editor of Britain's "Daily Mirror" newspaper between 1995 and 2004, said he attended a voluntary interview with detectives.

He was previously questioned by police investigating hacking in December 2013, and has denied knowing that reporters were eves-dropping on mobile-phone voicemails when he was an editor.

Britain's phone hacking scandal was triggered by the 2011 revelation that employees of Rupert Murdoch's "News of the World" listened to the voicemails of politicians, celebrities and even crime victims in a quest for scoops.

Hong Kong's regional government reveals plans regarding the city's much-anticipated electoral reforms...

South Korea's government has approved a plan to salvage the ferry that sank a year ago, claiming more than 300 lives...

And the Chinese president is in Indonesia for the Asia-Africa summit and the 60th anniversary of the Bandung conference...

新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/04/22（在线收听）