新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/10/01

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Paul James with you on this Monday , September 30th, 2013.
Welcome to the abbreviated edition of the Beijing Hour for the National Day holiday, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Chinese leaders are getting ready to attend National Day celebrations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to head to Indonesia to attend this year's APEC summit.
The Free Trade Zone in Shanghai has entered its full day of operation.
The US government appears poised for a shutdown.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will see thundershowers today, with a high of 20 degree Celsius and a low of 15.
Shanghai will be overcast with some sunshine and highs of 25 degrees Celsius and lows of 18.
Lhasa will see thundershowers in the daytime with highs of 17 and 8 degrees Celsius at the lowest.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, showers, 28.
Kabul, showers, with a high of 28.
And in North America
New York, sunny, with a high of 25 degrees.
Washington, sunny, highs of 26
Houston, showers, 30
Honolulu, showers, 30
Toronto, overcast, 22
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, overcast, 17.
And Rio de Janeiro will see rain with highs of 29 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Search continues for 74 missing in South China Sea boat sinking
 
74 people remain missing after three fishing boats sank on Sunday afternoon amid Typhoon Wutip in the South China Sea.
The boats, all from Guangdong, went down near the Xisha Islands.
Search and rescue has managed to retrieve 14 people so far.
Altogether five boats with a total of 171 people aboard were caught in the Typhoon Wutip.
The Chinese Navy has dispatched 7 ships and a helicopter to help with the search and rescue.
The rescue operations are being hampered by strong winds and high waves.
Wutip made landfall on Vietnam's central coast last night.
 
 
China condemns strike on Damascus Chinese embassy
 
The Chinese government is condemning the launch of a mortar shell which hit the Chinese embassy in Syria.
The shell fell into the compound of the Chinese embassy in Damascus on Monday, leaving one person hurt.
It's believed the mortar may have been launched from the southern suburbs of Damascus.
Despite this, the Chinese side says it remains committed to finding a solution to the conflict.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.
"China always believes political settlement is the only way out for the Syrian issue. China advocates that all parties in Syria should cease fire immediately, as well as alleviate tension, end the crisis and rebuild their homes, through political dialogue."
The Chinese government has already decided to send in experts to assist in the dismantling of Syria's chemical weapons.
 
 
Xi Jinping to visit Indonesia
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Indonesia later this week.
It is his first trip to Southeast Asian countries since taking office in March.
Trade and investment are expected to top the list of discussions.
Liu Jianchao is China's ambassador to Indonesia.
"After President Xi Jinping's visit to Indonesia, settings of the bilateral relationship between the two countries will be improved a lot, mainly focusing on strategy and comprehensiveness. I think cooperation between the two sides will cover all social domains, develop in three dimensions including the sea, land, and air."
Liu adds that Indonesia plays an crucial role in boosting the cooperation between China and Southeast Asian countries.
"Indonesia attaches great importance to the cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, and has been positively boosting cooperation among them. When handling disputes in this area, Indonesia can hold a mutual and fair stance. For this part, we have many things in common."
Xi Jinping is also set to attend an informal forum of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in the resort island of Bali.
 
 
Indonesia looks for more Chinese tourists
 
Anchor:
Indonesia's Minister of Tourism is calling for more Chinese tourists to visit the country.
This come ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has more.
Reporter:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to pay a state visit to Indonesia on Wednesday.
This is also Chinese President Xi Jinping's maiden visit to Southeast Asia.
Feng Huilan, Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, says that China is an important partner of Indonesia.
She notes President Xi Jinping's visit to Indonesia will further promote their strategic partnership and deepen communication in culture and tourism between the two nations.
"For example, there will be co-operations in the areas of political security, culture and education. I think we can achieve some breakthroughs especially in trade, investment and tourism. In recent years, China's investment in Indonesia mainly focused on infrastructure construction and resources exploration. This time, there might be hopes of expanding Chinese investment in Indonesia's manufacturing and set up an industrial production zone. And in tourism, we hope this time we could sign a memorandum of understanding to raise the tourism population between the two countries."
Ms. Feng Huilan was the Minister of Trade of Indonesia from 2004 to 2011.
She was appointed to the newly-created position of minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in a cabinet reshuffle in October 2011.
Feng believes tourism is hugely important to Indonesia's economy.
The minister says she sees China as an important target market for Indonesian tourism.
"Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, China, and Japan are among the top of the 16 major target markets for tourism. And we have never attached greater importance to the Chinese market than now. So far, the number of Chinese tourists to Indonesia is still below 1-million, but the figure has reached over two million to Thailand. As such, we can see that there is large potential in the tourism exchange between the two sides."
As regards to promoting tourism in China, Feng says she is only too aware just how much the hit Chinese movie "Lost in Thailand" attracted a great number of Chinese tourists to Thailand.
As Indonesia becomes a more popular destination among Chinese travelers, Feng adds she is also considering inviting famous Chinese directors to shoot films in Indonesia.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
 
 
QA with Zhu Feng with Peking University
 
Anchor:
For more on Chinese President Xi Jinping's Indonesian trip, CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King earlier spoke with Professor Zhu Feng with Peking University.
…
Professor Zhu Feng with Peking University speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King.
 
 
Li Keqiang made a speech at National Day reception
 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says development is China's first priority.
Speaking at a reception to mark this National Day, he also says the government should make sure development brings benefits to everyone.
"China will build a clean government with the implementation of the rule of law, promote equal access to education, fair employment opportunities and a fair environment for starting businesses. We should make sure all market players can compete and develop in a fair and transparent environment."
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and other state leaders gathered Monday evening at the Great Hall of the People to celebrate the National Day.
More than 11-hundred people attended the reception.
 
 
"Negative list" management approach of China FTZ put into enforcement
 
The Foreign Investment Access Special Management Policy or Negative List of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone has been put into enforcement.
A negative list grants foreign investors more freedom to set up businesses.
It allows them to operate according to a not-to-do list, rather than a to-do list.
Dai Haibo is the deputy director of the FTZ's administrative committee.
"If a foreign investment is in the negative list, the management of the investment will follow previous approaches."
The Negative list management is considered one of the key policies of the Shanghai FTZ.
Foreign investments in the FTZ not listed on the negative list won't require approval from government agencies.
The Shanghai FTZ opened on Sunday.
 
 
HSBC China PMI shows operating conditions continue to improve in September
 
The full-month Purchasing Managers Index by HSBC for the manufacturing sector this past month has come in at 50.2.
This is relatively unchanged from the 50.1 figure registered in August.
Any reading above 50 indicates expansion.
New business from overseas has increased for the first time in 6-months.
Stronger demand from Europe and the United States is being cited.
Average production costs have also increased for a second consecutive month in the Chinese manufacturing sector.
 
 
Chinese appliances companies take the lead in the international market
 
Anchor:
China's appliances manufacturers are starting to take more a foothold on the international stage.
CRI's Lucy Du has more.
Reporter:
Little Swan, founded in 1978, is now the third largest manufacturer of washing machines in the world. Its products are exported to over 130 countries.
Konka, the first joint venture company in China, has also taken an international development path. It has established manufacturing bases in Europe, Southeast Asia and North America.
Zhang Haining, Deputy General Manager of Konka's Kunshan branch, attributes their success to an upgrade in technology and the preferential policies of the government.
"The development of technology is endless. Our companies are also transforming from traditional manufacturers to internet companies. First, it's because televisions are now closely connected to the internet. The second reason is the expanding online marketing. When the government introduced a new policy to subsidize energy saving products, it also makes the upgrading of our products even faster."
Qiao Xiaofang, Manager of Konka's Research Department, says that they must respond to international demands flexibly in order to survive in the fierce market.
"The price war in electronics is severe. Many overseas clients have high standards about pricing. The product must be cheap in order to compete in the market. We have many low cost products. But when high-end customers ask for functions like a better display or sound effects, we can also produce accordingly."
Little Swan is also proud of their technology and marketing strategies.
Gao Yang, Director of Little Swan's Testing Center, says that Little Swan has obtained quality certificates from most countries in the world, thus ensuring international development.
"We can basically meet the requirements of major countries. The energy consumption standard is fundamentally a trade barrier. Every country has its own standard. These are mainly systems used in the European Union, North America, Australia, and other places like Saudi Arabia, Taiwan or Hong Kong. So if we want our products to sell in those places, we must meet their standards."
Chinese appliances companies now agree that competition is reconstructing the world market. They will improve their technology and energy efficiency in order to sell more to the world.
For CRI, I am Lucy Du.
 
 
Senate rejects Obamacare delay compromise
 
The Democratically-controlled US Senate has rejected a proposal by the House of Representatives to delay President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms in return for temporarily funding the federal government.
US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
"As we said Friday, nothing has changed. They tried to send us something back, they're spinning their wheels. We are not going to change Obamacare."
The US government is 5-hours from being shut down.
The Senate has so far rejected all House efforts to modify Obamacare.
Failure to reach any agreement will force many federal services to shut down for the first time in 17 years.
US President, Barack Obama
"I suspect that I will be speaking to the leaders today, tomorrow and the next day. But there is a pretty straightforward solution to this. If you set aside the short term politics and you look at the long term here, what it simply requires is everybody to act responsibly and do what's right for the American people."
The impasse will put up to 1-million federal workers on unpaid leave.
 
 
Obama reassures Israel over Iran nuclear issue
 
U.S. President Barack Obama has told the Israeli government that words are not sufficient for Iran to resolve international concerns about its nuclear program.
The comment come after Obama met up with visiting Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been urging the U.S. to keep tough economic sanctions on Iran in place.
"What I also shared with the Prime Minister is that because of the extraordinary sanctions that we have been able to put in place over the last several years, the Iranians are now prepared, it appears, to negotiate. We have to test diplomacy. We have to see if in fact they are serious about their un-, their willingness to abide by international norms and international law and international requirements and resolutions."
The U.S president says his country reserves the right to keep all options open, including military action.
At the same time, Netanyahu continues to insist Iran's nuclear program must be dismantled.
Netanyahu's visit with Obama comes just days after the US President's historic phone call with new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
The call is the first direct conversation between US and Iranian leaders in more than 30 years.
 
 
UK Introduces New Scheme to Bring Down Long-term Jobless
 
Anchor: Britain has announced a new scheme to bring down long-term jobless rates. As CRI's UK correspondent Tu Yun reports, the new measures will affect some 200,000 people that have been out of work for two years or more.
Reporter:
Since taking office over three years ago, Britain's Conservative-led coalition government has been putting in place such measures as welfare cuts and tax reduction to reduce deficits and boost growth.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne says the strategies the government's taking are working.
"The deficit down by a third; exports doubled to China; taxpayers money back from the banks, not going in; 1.4 million new jobs created by businesses; one thousand new jobs announced in this city today. Our plan is working."
But Osborne admits the battle, as he calls it, to turn Britain's economy around is far from being over.
Thus the government is to introduce a scheme to curb welfare costs.
Under the "Help to Work" plan, those who are out of work for two years or more will have to do either full-time community work, attend the job centre every working day, or enroll in a new mandatory regime to tackle such problems as drug addiction and illiteracy.
Otherwise, they'll face losses of benefits.
"No one will get something for nothing. Help to work and in return work for the dole because a fair welfare system is fair to those who need it and fair to those who pay for it, too."
It's the first time Britain has had such a national scheme for long-term jobless.
It'll come into force in April next year.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun in Manchester.
 
 
Wave of car bombs across Baghdad kills 51
 
The death toll from a series of bombings in Shiite neighbourhoods of Baghdad on Monday has reached 51.
Dozens of others have been wounded in the assaults.
No group has claimed responsibility, although the strikes bare the hallmarks of al-Qaida's local branch in Iraq.
The attacks on Monday follow a series of bombings the day before which left 46 dead.
More than 45-hundred civilians have been killed since April amid the sectarian violence in the country.
 
 
Chicago train collision injures dozens
 
Over 30 people have been hurt following a collision involving a pair of commuter trains in Chicago.
The injured have been taken to local hospitals.
The crash took place during the morning rush hour.
Local officials say none of the injuries appear to be life threatening.
 
 
Indonesia demands closer cooperation with Australia on border issues
 
Indonesia's President is calling for closer cooperation with Australia on immigration issues.
The call has come amid Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot's visit to the country.
This comes just days after a boat packed with Australia-bound asylum seekers sank in Indonesian waters, leaving 36 dead.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says the two countries need to work together to combat the problem.
"Those coming from the Middle East and many other countries, are burdening Indonesia either socially or economically. And when some of them travel to Australia, it also burdens Indonesia. Therefore, in the spirit that Australia and Indonesia are able to overcome this problem, the solution is cooperation. Effective, precise and good cooperation."
Newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott won the September election on a promise to end asylum seeker boats ending up on Australian shores.
The Indonesian government has expressed concern over Abbott's plan.
The plan would see the Australian navy intercepting boats and forcing them back into Indonesian waters.
 
 
Turkish PM Erdogan announces "historic" reform plans
 
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a set of proposals designed to try to strength the ties with his country's Kurdish population.
Erdogan says his new proposals will lift certain restrictions on the use of the Kurdish language.
He says it will also liberalize the wearing of headscarves.
"As for changing the dress regulations, we are abolishing the ban on headscarves in public institutions. The dress code for employees working in public institutions included restrictive rules for women and men."
Authorities consider the reforms to be key in seeking peace with the Kurds.
However, many are saying the new proposals do not meet expectations.
Kurdish groups have demanded Erdogan lift restrictions on the Kurdish language even further, saying Kurdish children have the right to education in their mother tongue.
The Kurds believe the restrictions on their language are tools of cultural repression.
The PKK, the Kurdish rebels in the southwest of the country, suspended their expected pullout from Turkey earlier this year, claiming Erdogan's government has not fulfilled their promises to improve Kurdish rights.
 
 
First session of Kercher murder trial adjourned as judge and jury consider defense requests
 
The second appeal of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher has opened in Italy.
American Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend were originally aquitted 2-years ago.
Lawyers from both sides are pressing for the re-examination of DNA on the knife suspected to be the murder weapon.
Kercher was found with her throat slashed in the home she and Knox shared in 2007.
 
 
Rising tennis star Zhang wins China derby at China Open
 
China's rising tennis star Zhang Shuai has beaten veteran Peng Shuai, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round of the China Open, winning the China derby.
Zhang won her first WTA title of her career in the recent Guangzhou women's tennis tournament earlier this month.
Following a series of outstanding performances, the 24-year old tennis star lifted her ranking to 66, a personal best.
Zhang and Peng both hail from Tianjin, a port city in east China, which boasts several top female tennis players including Duan Yingying and Zheng Saisai.
 
 
Texas and TB to play one-game playoff for final playoff spot
 
The Texas Rangers had to win seven straight games just to keep their playoff hopes alive.
However, they will need to win another game at home later this morning if they intend on reaching the postseason for a fourth straight year.
For the fourth time in the last seven years, the regular season will be extended by one game.
The Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays are set to play a one-game tiebreaker to decide the final American League wild card spot.
The winner of Monday's contest at Rangers Ballpark will face Cleveland on Wednesday.
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
Over 70 people are missing after Typhoon Wutip rolled through the South China Sea.
The Chinese government has spoken out following the shelling of this country's embassy in Syria.
HSBC's September PMI readings for the manufacturing sector has come in slightly ahead of this past month.
The clock is ticking toward a possible shutdown of the US government.