新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/10/04

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 

Paul James with you on this Friday, October 4th, 2013.
Welcome to the abbreviated edition of the Beijing Hour as part of this National Day holiday, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Malaysia for the current leg of his Southeast Asian trip.
Lawmakers in Washington trying to bring an end to the impasse over the budget and the debt celiing have seen their time in Congress disrupted by a shooting in the Capitol district.
The Chinese hospital ship "Peace Ark" is now engaged in search and rescue efforts in the South China Sea for dozens of missing Chinese fishermen.
UN Weapons Inspectors are reporting progress on their first full day of work in trying to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be sunny today, with a high of 24 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be cloudy tonight with a low of 14.
In Shanghai, it will be sunny today, 25 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 20 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 20, and tonight will see slight rain with a low of 7 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 33.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 29.
And in North America
New York, overcast, with a high of 25 degrees.
Washington, overcast, highs of 28
Houston, overcast, 30.
Honolulu, overcast, 30.
Toronto, thundershowers, 29.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, overcast, 18.
And Rio de Janeiro will be overcast with highs of 27 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Kuala Lumpur
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Kuala Lumpur for a state visit to Malaysia.
It is the second leg of President Xi Jinping's maiden trip to Southeast Asia after a two day visit in Indonesia.
Xi Jinping says China and Malaysia share extensive common interests.
Many obsevers are expecting his visit will help increase bilateral trade.
Malaysia is China's largest trade partner among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
For more on Xi Jinping's trip to the region, CRI's Nathan Wakelin King spoke earlier with Dr. Chen Gang, Research Fellow at the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore.
(PIK callin)
It's Dr. Chen Gang, Research Fellow at the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin King.
 
 
IMF Chief Says Shanghai Trade Zone A Pilot Area for China's Economic Transition
 
Anchor
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde says the Shanghai Free Trade Zone should serve as a pilot area for China's economic transition.
CRI's Jordan Lee has more.
Reporter
Less than a week before releasing new global growth forecasts, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde makes a speech about the new transition in the global economy.
According to Lagarde, the emerging markets drove the global recovery for the past five years, but growth momentum is slowing.
Moreover, the external environment is becoming more challenging, partly due to the anticipated exit from easy monetary policies in the US.
To prevent these economies getting stuck in low gear, Lagarde suggests some needed policy responses, including currency depreciation, liquidity provision, and structural reforms. Lagarde also specially offers advices for China's economic growth.
"China needs to keep moving to a growth path based less on credit-which hit 180 percent of GDP this year-and more on higher productivity, higher incomes, and higher consumption. This means liberalizing interest rates, ramping up financial sector oversight, opening up protected sectors to private initiative, and further strengthening the social safety net."
In Lagarde's opinion, the newly opened Shanghai free trade zone is a pilot area for China's economic transition.
"By the way, I encourage you to look at what is happening in what's called Shanghai trade zone, this new initiative. That's a pilot area where a lot of I just mentioned. It's probably going to happen."
Lagarde says although the global outlook remained subdued, signs of growth appear in advanced economies. Japan's stimulus policy seems to be working, and the U.S. housing sector is improving. But the US government needs to fix its finances for the long term.
The US government shutdown follows a budget standoff between President Obama and Congress.
But a worse problem looms.
The US is up to its borrowing limit and will run out of money without agreement to lift it.
Lagarde notes that failure to raise the debt ceiling would seriously hurt US and the world.
"The government shutdown is bad enough, but failure to raise the debt ceiling would be far worse, and could very seriously damage not only the U.S. economy, but the entire global economy. I personally have neutral trust in policy makers and I hope very strongly they will find a way to resolve the issue. We hope the 'mission-critical' to be resolved as soon as possible."
Lagarde's comments were echoed by the US Treasury, which says a debt default could lead to a financial crisis as bad as 2008 or worse.
For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee.
 
 
Gunshots fired outside Capitol Hill
 
Gunshots has been fired outside the US Capitol in Washington.
The incident began after police began a chase after a car which tried to ram through a White House barricade.
This led to an entire lock-down of the Capitol complex for about an hour.
It also forced both houses of Congress into recess.
US Senator Sherrod Brown.
"We thought we heard shots, saw a lot of police cars, then we heard shots, and then the police told us to go back, we were simply walking back to our office."
The vehicle was driven by woman who had a one-year old child with her.
The woman has been confirmed killed after a crash involving her vehicle.
The child has since been taken to hospital.
The condition of the child hasn't been disclosed.
Authorities say there is no connection to terrorism.
Ahead of the disruption, US lawmakers had been trying to find common ground to try to end the government shutdown.
The House had just finished approving legislation aimed at putting National Guard and Reserve members back on the job.
 
 
Shutdown Day 3, Call a Vote
 
Anchor
US President Barack Obama is pressing Republican House Speaker John Boehner to issue a call for vote on a short-term spending bill to end the government shutdown that current sits in its 3rd day.
CRI's Washington correspondent Xiaohong with more.
Ann
Obama has issued a new statement, saying the government shutdown could end immediately if House Republicans would hold a vote on a short-term spending bill without partisan attachments.
"There are enough Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives today that if the speaker of the House, John Boehner, simply let the bill get on the floor for an up or down vote, every congressman could vote their conscience, the shutdown would end today. So my simple message today is: call a vote!"
House Republicans have been putting forward peace-meal legislation to try to keep certian parts of the US Federal government running while the debate goes on.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama is also calling on Republicans to support raising the debt ceiling.
"As reckless as a government shutdown is, as many people have been hurt by a government shutdown, an economic shutdown that results from default would be dramatically worse."
At the same time, the US Treasury Department has released a new report saying a prolonged debate over the debt ceiling will severely harm the economy.
The last debt ceiling debate this past year sent shocks through the markets, despite US lawmakers eventually raising its borrowing limit before the deadline.
It led to a historic credit downgrading by Standard & Poors, one of the world's big-3 credit rating agencies.
If the US defaults, traders are warning it could freeze the credit markets, on top of forcing US interest rates to rise for its own borrowing costs.
The US is set to hit its debt ceiling in just under 2-weeks on October 17th.
House Republicans, mostly members of the Tea Party caucus, have been pressing to have the US Federal Government reign in its spending.
House Democrats have been insisting on maintaining funding for US President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
Republicans have been using the institution of Obamacare, which was also scheduled to start becoming being enacted on October 1st, as a way to press the President to backtrack on -what he considers- his landmark legislative victory in his first term in office.
Xiaohong, CRI, Washington.
 
 
Callin with Yin Xiuqi on the rescue operation in South China Sea
 
268 fishermen caught in the grip of Typhoon Wutip in the South China Sea have now arrived in Hainan.
At the same time, the search continues for 58-fishermen still listed as missing.
Three fishing boats sank near the Xisha Islands on Sunday following Typhoon Wutip.
Hospital ship "Peace Ark," which was scheduled to return to port following it's latest mission, is now joining rescue efforts in the South China Sea.
For more on the search and rescue work, CRI's Rebecca Hume earlier spoke with CRI's Yin Xiuqi who is onboard the "Peace Ark."
(callin with xq)
That is CRI's Yin Xiuqi onboard the hospital ship "Peace Ark" taking rescue efforts in the South China Sea, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
130 killed as boat capsized off an Italian island
 
At least 130 African migrants have died, and many more are missing, after their boat capsized off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.
It's being reported the ship caught fire, with passengers reportedly throwing themselves into the sea to escape the smoke and flames.
Over 150 have survived.
The number of missing is still unclear.
The wreck is one of the worst such disasters to occur off the Italian coast in recent years.
A day of national mourning has been declared.
Cecile Kyenge is Italy's Minister of Integration.
"Tomorrow will be a national day of mourning, we will hold a minute of silence in all the schools of the nation, and we will work with all the ministers in order to tackle this emergency and to start making a long-term plan to cope with it."
Earlier this week, 13 migrants drowned while trying to reach Sicily.
In wake of the latest incident, the Italian government is calling on its European Union partners to take more collective responsibility.
Martin Schulz is the President of the European Parliament.
"This is a disaster. The attribution of responsibilities is necessary. We can't leave one or two countries alone with the problem. This is a European problem and I once again repeat my call to all members of the European Union, to accept responsibility for this refugee tragedy."
The United Nations says a growing number of people trying to make it to Italian shores are from Syria.
Italy has traditionally been one of the main destinations for migrants from north Africa.
The small Italian island of Lampedusa was inundated by refugees from Libya, Tunisia and Algeria at the height of the so-called Arab Spring.
 
 
Tropical Storm Karen forms in Gulf of Mexico
 
A new tropical storm has formed in the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters in the US are projecting tropical storm Karen is going to hit the US Gulf Coast.
Currently its tracking toward New Orleans, and may make it there later on this Friday.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has already declared a state of emergency for the state.
In the meantime, Karen is bringing heavy rains to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
Mexico is still trying to recover from Hurricane Ingrid and tropical storm Manuel.
The two storms hit on both sides of the country at virtually the same time, leaving at least 159 people dead in Mexico.
The storms also forced tens of thousands people out of their homes.
 
 
Weapons experts in Syria made progress after first working day
 
The international team of chemical weapons experts says it's made "encouraging initial progress" after its first working day in Syria.
Martin Nesirky is the spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"The documents handed over yesterday by the Syrian government look promising according to team members. But further analysis, particularly of technical diagrams will be necessary and some more questions remain to be answered."
The team, which include experts from the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, has been tasked with dismantling Syria's poison gas arsenal.
The team is expected to begin on-site inspections and the initial disabling of equipment next week.
Last week, the UN Security Council agreed on a resolution to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons by mid 2014.
 
 
Russia evacuates diplomats from Libya after embassy attack
 
Russia has decided to evacuate most employees of its embassy in Libya.
Most of them are set to return to Moscow Today.
This comes after the Russian embassy in Tripoli came under fire by unknown gunmen on Wednesday.
A group of unidentified gunmen fired at the embassy and attempted to enter the compound.
No one was hurt.
It's unclear what sparked the attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is demanding Libyan authorities restore safe conditions around its diplomatic quarters.
 
 
China's Zhong Rong Group Unveils Plan to Restore Crystal Palace in London
 
Anchor
There's been a proposal for another multi-million-dollar investment in the UK from China.
This time, Chinese developer Zhong Rong Group has unveiled a new plan to restore the Crystal Palace, which was formerly one of the icons of London in the 19th century.
CRI's London correspondent Tu Yun has more.
Reporter
The original Crystal Palace, venue for the 1851 Great Exhibition - which was the first World's Fair - burnt down in a fire in 1936 after being relocated to South London in 1854.
Nearly eighty years later, a Chinese national is proposing putting up some 800-million-US-dollars to try to restore it.
"We've been carrying out studies on the Crystal Palace and on how to make it even more perfect and functional."
Ni Zhaoxing, a newcomer to the Forbes Billionaires List this year, is Chair of Shanghai-based developer Zhong Rong Group.
The group already has three glass and steel buildings in Shanghai.
"I have over ten years of experience in developing this kind of buildings. I'm also a collector, having collected a lot of works of art from both China and Europe. We want to make the new Crystal Palace an architectural art work and the palace for works of art."
Ni Zhaoxing says the modern version of English architect Joseph Paxton's glass house is expected to regenerate the 180-acre park site, accommodating cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions and screenings.
The plans include the full restoration of the park, based on the original Victorian design.
London Mayor Boris Johnson says the proposal by Zhong Rong Group stands out from other plans.
"There have been previous proposals. There have been ideas about fair ground attractions, and ski slopes. But this is I think the one that does justice to the spirit of Paxton's original vision."
The project would be the 4th major investment plan by Chinese developers in London this year.
Chinese firm ABP has already agreed to invest 1.6-billion-dollars to redevelop the Royal Albert Dock.
Ping'an Insurance has agreed to a 400-million-dollar purchase of the Lloyd's building.
The Dalian Wanda Group has put together a luxury hotel development plan worth more than one billion dollars.
The Zhong Rong Group's new Crystal Palace project could create more than two thousand jobs and attract wider investment into the local high streets.
Boris Johnson expects the new project to be a landmark for London.
"This is about a new project that's going to recreate a 21st Century version of the Crystal Palace, which will be an amazing cultural landmark for London. I think it is a beautiful idea. This isn't an act of nostalgia. This is where I'm looking forward and is adorning our city with something that's going to be absolutely world-class."
The investor has submitted a request for an exclusivity agreement to the local council as the land owner.
A planning application could be submitted as early as next autumn.
If all approvals are given, work could start on site in late 2015.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun in London.
 
 
Taiwan companies focus on the mainland in international expanding
 
Anchor
More and more companies from Taiwan are starting to tailor their development strategies with the mainland in-mind.
CRI's Lucy Du explains.
Reporter
Advantech is listed in the world's top three automatic control companies.
When Chen Shunlang, General Manager of Advantech China, first came to Kunshan, Jiangsu, in 1999, he favoured the legal environment and governmental management concept. This led to him building their manufacturing park in the area.
"First of all, the location of Kunshan is very close to Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai, only one-hour drive. Another reason is that we believe in the credibility of the local government. Their words match their actions. Their communication and management are based on laws instead of personal connections. So when encountering problems, we have laws to rely on."
Years later, Advantech established 39 offices in 18 countries and numerous agents in over 80 countries.
Chen says the mainland plays a vital role in their overseas development, since it is now the largest market for electronics.
Just like Advantech, Cheng Shin Rubber also set their base in Kunshan. Threr they built the largest professional testing tracks for tires in Asia.
Zeng Yaode is Special Assistant to the General Manager of Cheng Shin Rubber, China.
"We see tar when looking at the tracks. But there are differences between the tar as well. We have tar used for highways in Germany. Highways there do not set speed limits. So this tar is rougher. There are also tiles roads in Belgium. Many European roads pave tiles. But our paving is different from one another. Professionals know the reason for such different designs."
Cheng Shin Rubber is also the produer of one of ten best tires in the world – Maxxis Tires. Maxxis provides tires for over 2 million cars in more than 150 countries.
Zeng says that they must acquire key technology of their own when competing with international brands.
"First, we must have our own brand name. Second, we also need technologies. The key to a famous brand is technology. Automobile companies must recognize our technology up to their standards. So we build one testing center, one research center, as well as a manufacturing base and a thorough system of production quality control."
Since July last year, the Chinese mainland has approved over 80 thousand investment projects from Taiwan, with a total capital of 56 billion US dollars.
For CRI, this is Lucy Du.
 
 
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Malaysia for the current leg of his Southeast Asian trip.
Lawmakers in Washington trying to bring an end to the impasse over the budget and the debt celiing have seen their time in Congress disrupted by a shooting in the Capitol district.
The Chinese hospital ship "Peace Ark" is now engaged in search and rescue efforts in the South China Sea for dozens of missing Chinese fishermen.
UN Weapons Inspectors are reporting progress on their first full day of work in trying to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles.