新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/07/04

 
 
 
The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
It's Paul James with you on this Friday, July 4, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sat down for an hours-long meeting with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul.
A number of leading Japanese figures have been coming out in opposition of the changes in that country's military policy.
Kurds in Iraq are preparing for a possible referendum on independence.
In Business.... China and South Korea coming to agreements on the handling of the renminbi.
In Sports... Zheng Jie and her partner into the semi-finals of the women's doubles event at Wimbledon.
In Entertainment... China's biggest cinema company has had its IPO plans dashed by regulator.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather....
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy today with a high of 30 degree Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop down to around 23.
Shanghai will see slight rain during the daytime with a high of 27.
Overnight, it will have heavy rain with a low of 23.
In Chongqing, it will be cloudy with a high of 31.
Overnight lows are expected to be around 23.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia.
Islamabad will see slight rain with a high of 39.
Kabul will be cloudy with a high of 28.
Over to North America.
New York will be cloudy today with a high of 30 degrees.
Washington will be cloudy with a high of 28 degrees.
Honolulu, overcast, 30.
Toronto, Canada, will be cloudy with a high of 27 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will have slight rain with a high of 14.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China, South Korea leaders pledge to enrich strategic cooperative partnership
 
Anchor
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with South Korean president Park Geun-hye in Seoul, with the two promising to push forward the FTA talks and maintain the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
CRI's Su Yi has more.
Reporter
Following their three-hour meeting, the two leaders have promised to try to finalize the free trade agreement talks by the end of this year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping,
"Our two countries should work together to strengthen the China-South Korea free trade agreement talks. We will try to conclude the talks by the end of the year in order to create a better atmosphere for achieving a target of a bilateral trade volume of 300 billion U.S. dollars by 2015."
China and South Korea launched the FTA negotiations in 2012, and have since met 10 different times to try to work various issues.
China is South Korea's largest trading partner, while South Korea is China's third largest.
Bilateral trade between the two sides surpassed 270 billion US dollars last year, which is an increase of 7 percent from the year earlier.
Park Geun-hye says the early completion of the FTA will help strengthen economic ties.
"Today, President Xi and I agreed to solidify the systematic frame of our two countries' mutually beneficial cooperation through a comprehensive South Korea-China FTA and facilitate the South Korea-China economic consolidation in the near future."
Still in the realm of economic cooperation, the two Presidents have sealed a deal on the launch of a Renminbi clearing service in Seoul.
The two have also agreed to establish a direct trading mechanism between the Renminbi and the South Korean won.
On the strategic front, the two have also reiterated their commitment to the denuclearization and maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
Xi Jinping is calling on all-involved to refrain from stirring up trouble on the Peninsula.
"Realizing denuclearization and maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula is in line with the common interests of the six party talks members. Relevant sides should resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation."
Xi Jinping is in South Korea for a two-day visit.
It is his first trip to the country since taking office last year.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
 
 
South Korea strong in culture export
 
Anchor
The growing popularity of South Korean television shows here in China is starting to raise more questions about what the TV industry in this country needs to do to keep up when it comes to exporting Chinese culture.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter
Many Chinese audiences have been used to watching some Korean TV series during the past a few years, but the one called "You Who Came From The Stars" even attracted many Chinese viewers who don't normally watch shows before. It not only achieved a record high of 2.5 billion clicks on video websites in China when it was shown last December, but also boosted Korean culture, like restaurants and catering, tourism and entertainment.
According to Jiang Wanxi, the chief representative of Korea Creative Content Agency, Beijing Office, cultural products like TV series and other entertainment programs are playing a significant role in South Korea's culture export industry.
"As of 2012, Japan ranks first in terms of Korean TV show imports, then comes the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, and the US. The Chinese market plays a big role in Korea's culture exports. So production companies will consider the needs of Chinese audiences and tailor TV products targeting that audience, For example, translated subtitles and dubbing."
China's TV show exports are still at the initial stage. Jiang Wanxi says the production process of TV shows in South Korea is very different from China.
"First, in China, the TV show will be censored after the final product is done. As far as I know, nearly half of these shows will not be aired. This results in big waste. In Korea, the censoring is synchronized with the shooting of the TV show, so the production companies can change the plot as the shooting is in process. Also the censoring standard is much less strict compared to China's. "
Jiang says content is always the No.1 priority in the production process for South Korean TV shows and movies. This helps the shows to gain acceptance in overseas markets.
His opinion is echoed by Ma Xiaolan, general manager of a Shanghai based TV production company.
"We should attach importance to the content of our TV product. Also the way we tell stories should be more appealing to the audience. China's TV industry should aim high and make preparations for the long term."
Jiang Wanxi agrees. He says China's entertainment companies and agencies still focus on short term returns rather than actually putting more investment into cultivating quality.
According to statistics, the revenue of South Korea's media exports reached 242 million US dollars, up 3.3 percent from 2012.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
China publishes confession by Japanese war criminals
 
Anchor:
Chinese authorities have begun publishing confessions made by Japanese war criminals following the Second World War.
This comes just days ahead of the 77th anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge incident on July 7th, 1937, which marked the beginning of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
CRI's Xiong Siqi has more.
Reporter
Suzuki Keiku joined Japan's invasion of China in 1934.
He was a regimental commander of the 117th Division in 1945 and was ultimately captured by the Chinese army in Northeast China's Jilin Province.
In his confession, written in 1954, Suzuki recalled the atrocities carried out by Japanese troops.
*This* is just one short paragraph of the horrors he confessed to.
"In January 1942, I ordered Colonel Taura to burn down the houses of 800 families in Tangshan and kill over 1,000 farmers. In April 1942, we used poison gas and killed about 100 Chinese soldiers in Fengrun of Hebei province. Then we killed around 235 farmers who had fled from nearby counties and cut open the bowels of pregnant women. Over 800 households were burnt down, and hundreds of female villagers were raped."
The handwritten confession is the first among 44 others to be published by China's State Archives Administration on its website.
Li Minghua is the deputy director of the State Archives Administration.
"For a long time, there are political parties in Japan that deny Japan's invasion in China or try to sugar up the invasion. The confessions are published to record the history, take history as a mirror and cherish the peace. We stress that recalling history does not mean to recall the hatred, but to reflect on what happened and prevent similar tragedies from happening again."
According to Li, starting from Thursday, the State Archives will publish one confession of these 45 Japanese war criminals every day.
All of the documents will be available on the archives' official website, together with Chinese translation.
Chinese authorities held over 1,100 Japanese war criminals after 1949.
Investigations and trials lasted for five years, between 1951 and 1956.
Historical records show that at least 30 million Chinese people were killed during China's war against Japanese invasion.
For CRI, I'm Xiong Siqi.
 
 
Japanese leading figures condemn Abe's lifting of "collective defence" right ban
 
Anchor
A number of leading figures in Japan are coming forward to criticize the move this week by the Shinzo Abe government to reinterpret the country's constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has more.
Reporter
The reinterpretation of the constitution paves the way for Japan's self defence forces to help defend Japanese allies and others under what is known as "collective self-defense."
Shinzo Abe says the shift is needed to protect the lives of the Japanese people under what he decribes as an increasingly severe security environment.
But Abe's argument has met severe criticism from Banri Kaieda, President of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
"Prime Minister Abe claims this move will protect people's lives. Is this real? As a matter of fact, Abe's moves will only make the people's lives more dangerous. This move is complete barbarism."
World renowned Japanese writer Kenzaburō ?e echoes that sentiment.
"Abe quoted the peaceful essence in the preface of the constitution. But he wrongly quoted the content in it. His quotation totally violates the original meaning. We cannot allow him to go his own way."
Japan's current constitution was written in 1947 under U.S. direction after World War II.
The document says the Japanese people "forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation."
The article was crafted to prevent a repeat of Japan's militarism and invasion of wide swaths of Asia before and during World War II.
Kazuo Shii, Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party, is urging the current Japanese government to leave the dangerous path it is on.
"Here I call upon all of us to crack down on Abe's attempt to revive militarism."
Abe's move has already drawn criticism from China and South Korea, both of which suffered invasion and occupation at the hands of Japanese imperial forces.
The United Nation has also issued concerns over Japan's recent moves on its military policies.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
 
 
Indian Army Chief visits China
 
India's Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, is now on a visit to China.
This is the Indian military's first high-level visit to China since the new government in New Delhi was formed.
He has already met with Fang Fenghui, who is the Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army to discuss a number of issues, including border security and maritime cooperation.
Singh says China and India need to be partners.
"India attaches the highest priority to the relations with China, and is committed to further developing friendly and cooperative relations with your country."
China and India have already signed a political guideline on the final solution dealing with border issues.
Issues over border demarcation have led to past conflicts between the two sides.
 
 
Iraqi Kurds prepare independence referendum
 
The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region is asking its parliament to plan a referendum on Kurdish independence.
Massoud Barzani has asked lawmakers to form a committee to organize a referendum on independence and pick a date for the vote.
"The time has come for us to determine our own fate and we must not wait for others to determine it for us."
This comes as Baghdad continues fighting to repel Sunni insurgents and struggles to form a new government.
Earlier this week, Kurdish and Sunni lawmakers walked out of the newly-elected Iraqi parliament's first session following an inability by the Shi'ite majority to nominate a prime minister.
Iraq's five million Kurds have governed themselves autonomously since the end of the first Gulf War in 1991.
Amid the Sunni insurgency, Kurdish fighters have been able to expanded their territory by as much as 40 percent.
Kurdish groups in northern Iraq, Iran and southern Turkey have been fighting for decades to have their own independent homeland.
 
 
Peres comment, Sderot protest as clashes continue
 
Israel has begun moving troops along its border with the Gaza Strip.
This is raising speculation Israeli forces are preparing to launch an expanded military operation in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory.
Israeli President Shimon Peres.
"It's time to do only two things: to respect the law and to avoid incitement."
Tensions have been running high following the abduction and killing of three Israeli teens in the West Bank and the subsequent murder of an Arab teen this week in east Jerusalem.
Israel has been hit by more than a dozen rockets over the past few days.
So far no injuries have been reported.
Israeli forces have been responding, with numerous airstrikes on Hamas targets.
 
 
New round of Iran nuclear talks underway
 
Iran and six world powers have resumed negotiations aimed at clinching a long-term nuclear deal.
Following informal contact on Wednesday, the chief negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 grouping have restarted direct talks in Vienna.
Officials with the P5+1 side have privately acknowledged that an extension of the talks might be needed.
Michael Mann is the spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who leads the negotiations on behalf of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.
"There is no set timing that I am aware of. We are going to negotiate for as long as it takes to get a good agreement. Of course everyone is aware of the July 20 deadline. We have said already, a sense of determination to get the agreement by that deadline and we hope that the Iranian side would come in a similar spirit and we can get the agreement."
This round of talks has been characterized as the last opportunity to reach a final deal before the 20th.
Failure to reach an agreement before then will see previous sanctions imposed on Iran restored to their original levels.
Iran will also be able to restart its enrichment activities it scaled back in negotiating the interim agreement.
 
 
Ukraine President Says Ready to Return to Ceasefire when Conditions Met
 
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he is ready to re-establish a ceasefire with pro-Russia rebels in the eastern part of the country, as long as certain conditions are met.
Poroshenko has made the comments as part of a phone conversation with US Vice-President Joe Biden.
Poroshenko's conditions include the freeing of all hostages and the securing of the borders by Ukranian government forces.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed Ukrainian Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey is promising the Ukranian army will retake Crimea.
"I promise you to ensure calm and order in our state, restore territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state, bring calm and peace to our home. I am sure Ukraine will win. And believe me, parade of victory will be definitely held in Ukrainian Sevastopol."
Crimea joined the Russian Federation in March following a local referendum, which Kiev has not recognized.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
 Anchor
First off, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Tuyun.
Reporter
U.S. stocks closed at record highs Thursday to end a holiday shortened week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average settling above 17,000 points for the first time in history.
The market was boosted by news that US employers added nearly 290-thousand workers to their payrolls last month, which is far more than economists forecast.
The US unemployment rate now sits at 6.1 percent.
Jonathan Corpina is Senior Managing Partner with Meridian Equity Partners.
"All the economic data is really the driver in what we've seen so far. You couple that with earnings season, and the forecast for what we're anticipating for the rest of the year, put that all together and that's really the force that's behind this market. A few geopolitical headlines that are out there that could have a little bit of a gray cloud over our markets, and we've seen those effects, but our market rebounds very quickly from that. It shows that our market is strong, can absorb these negative headlines."
At market close,
the Dow, the S&P 500 and the tech heavy nasdaq all increased around half a percent.
For the week, the Dow is up 1.3 percent, the S&P 500 added 1.2 percent, while the Nasdaq gained 2 percent.
Over in Europe,
Major European indices all headed back towards multi-year highs, boosted by U.S. employment growth and further signs of support from the European Central Bank.
Britain's FTSE 100 increased nearly three quarters of a percent.
And both Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 were up around 1 percent.
 
 
China South Korea launch RMB clearing cervice in Seoul
 
The banking industry here in China is now waiting to hear who is going to be tapped to handle the renminbi business in South Korea.
The People's Bank of China has yet to say which Chinese bank is going to be tasked with handling RMB clearing in Seoul.
The two countries have agreed to establish the service amid the current trip to the country by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
So far this year, the Chinese government has reached agreements with Germany, Britain, France and Luxembourg to open local RMB trading hubs.
As part of Xi Jinping's trip, China and South Korea have also agreed to establish a direct trading mechanism between the renminbi and the South Korean won.
 
 
Job openings rise 24 percent in second quarter
 
New statistics are suggesting job openings in China have increased by nearly 25-percent through the 2nd quarter.
Online recruitment portal zhaopin.com is reporting the financial sector is leading the way, with an increase of nearly 40-percent in financial job postings on its website from April to July.
The information technology sector has seen the second biggest increase at 35 percent.
Private company job postings on zhaopin are up just over 30-percent.
At the same time, the number of jobs being listed by state-owned companies are down by some 25-percent during the period.
 
 
Call-in with Doug Young on corporate news of the week
 
Anchor:
Let's check out some of the key events on the corporate front in China this week.
Doug Young joins me on the line, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
Story 1:
German fashion house Hugo Boss is taking full control of its store network in China's mainland and Macau.
Questions:
1, Most luxury brands like Hugo Boss have a physical presence in major Chinese cities. But the affluent here so far have shown more inclination to take their shopping list on overseas trips, why is that?
2, We have been reporting extensively on the sheer volume Chinese tourists spend on luxury products overseas, is there an interest both from those brands who have physical stores here and the Chinese tax collectors to keep the sales and revenue here?
3, Hugo Boss says it wants to take the marketing of its brand back in its own hands. What's your take on the timing of such a decision and do you see it as a wise move?
Story 2:
Mobile Game Maker Ourgame Drops 17 Pct On Trading Debut
1, We haven't heard many stories of success moneywise in the mobile gaming industry. Why is that and when will they become as profitable as internet games?
2, As to Ourgame's IPO, do you think it's rather a miscalculation that they failed to recognise the Chinese mainland market and opted to debut in Hong Kong instead?
Back Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
 
 
Huawei joins European’s 5G research club
 
The European Union and its information and communications technology industry have invited Chinese firm Huawei to join its 5G research team.
Huawei was elected to the board of the 5G Infrastructure Association in Europe last month.
The company will join Sweden's Ericsson in 5G research and development projects sponsored by the European Commission's 1.4 billion euro 5G Public-Private Partnership.
Shenzhen-based Huawei is the world's largest information and communication technology provider in terms of sales revenue.
 
 
Canon expects double digit growth in its printing business in China
 
Japanese camera and printer maker Canon says it expects its revenues from its professional printer business in China to grow by "double digits" this year.
Canon's business imaging division, which offers professional printers for construction and advertising firms, has already seen its revenues grow by 11-percent this past year.
Canon's internal research report says digital printing only accounts for 1-percent of all printed materials in China.
The average is around 10-percent in industrialized markets.
 
 
Bank expands lending for LNG carrier project
 
The Export-Import Bank of China has decided to lend 400-million U.S. dollars to a Shanghai shipbuilding company to construct four liquified natural gas tankers.
Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding will be constructing the ships.
Export-Import Bank, funded completely by the government, has already spent 1.7 billion U.S. dollars to build 16 large LNG carriers.
Constructing an LNG carrier is one of the most complex designs in modern shipbuilding.
 
 
Beijing solicits opinions on public transport
 
Municipal authorities in Beijing are now asking for public opinions about potential increases in public transport prices.
The move is the latest step in a widely-expected fare increase on both the subway and bus systems in the capital.
Authorities have not said how much they're planning to increase the rates.
The Beijing municipal government currently subsidizes public transport, on average, twice as much as other cities of similar caliber.
Professor Shi Yudong is with Renmin University.
"There is a contradiction here. As a passenger, he or she wants to spend as less as possible. But on the other hand, when it comes to finances, the government is under a lot of pressure in providing the subsidies. As a matter of fact, the subsidies for public transport have cut funding for other parts of the city."
Currently, public transport card holders enjoy a discount of 60-percent when taking a bus in the city.
The generally more expensive subway system only costs 2-yuan, or less than half a US dollar, regardless of how far you go.
Public submissions to the potential price changes will be open until July 20th.
 
 
Housing sales fall 36 percent in Shanghai in June
 
Commercial housing sales in Shanghai have fallen 36 percent year-on-year in June.
A new industrial report shows housing transactions have declined 33-percent year-on-year through the first half.
At the same time, land sales in Shanghai are down 12 percent year-on-year through the past 6-months.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China, S. Korea to Conclude FTA Talks by Yearend, Pledge Denuclearization
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean president Park Geun-hye have met in Seoul.
The two are promising to try to conclude their free trade talks by the end of this year.
The two Presidents have also pledged to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Xi Jinping and Park Geun-hye have also overseen a deal to launch a Renminbi clearing service in Seoul, on top of establishing a direct trading mechanism for the Renminbi and the South Korean won.
 
 
Israel moves forces near to Gaza amid tensions
 
Israel has deployed extra forces along the border with the Gaza Strip amid heightened tensions with the Palestinians.
Israel says the move is part of its response to mortar and rocket fire from Palestinian militants from Gaza.
Tensions are high after the murders of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank and the murder of a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem.
Israel accuses Hamas of killing the three teens while Palestinians say the murder of the Palestinian boy was a revenge killing by extremist Jewish settlers.
 
 
Hollande, Merkel urge Putin to broker Ukraine ceasefire
 
French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to encourage separatists in eastern Ukraine to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukrainian authorities.
Hollande and Merkel have made the call in a telephone conversation with the Russian president.
Ukrainian authorities have insisted Moscow is the driving force behind the unrest in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian government has denied its involvement.
Meanwhile, Hollande and Merkel are also due to hold a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in an attempt to convince him to re-establish a ceasefire.
 
 
Syria refugee crisis becoming world's largest displacement: UN
 
The UN says the Syria refugee crisis is fast becoming the world's largest displacement.
According to the UN refugee agency, there are close to 3 million Syrian refugees and the number is increasing by 100,000 every month.
It warns that failing to provide enough support for Syrian refugees by the end of 2014 could threaten the stability of the entire region.
International donors have so far contributed some 1.1 billion U.S. dollars to the Syria Regional Response Plan, but it represents only 30 percent of the revised requirements for the rest of the year.
 
 
Phones, shoes to face scrutiny as airport security tightened: U.S.
 
Airlines with direct flights to the United States have been told to tighten their screening of mobile phones and shoes.
The call is in response to intelligence reports of increased threats from al-Qaeda-affiliated militant groups.
U.S. officials are going to be singling out smartphones for extra security checks on U.S.-bound direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
US officials fear bombmakers in the Arabian Peninsula have figured out how to turn smartphones into explosive devices that can avoid detection at airport security checkpoints.
They are also concerned that hard-to-detect bombs could be built into shoes.
Al-Qaeda has made previous attempts to take out aircraft flying into the US with bombs concealed on passangers.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
THE BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Former official detained over murder
Summary
Local police say a former top political advisor in the coastal city of Shantou in Guangdong has been detained on possible murder charges.
The official reportedly admitted to police that a woman lost consciousness after he beat her up.
The woman has since died of her injuries.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Gansu official jailed
Summary
Local courts in the province of Gansu have sentenced a high-ranking official to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery.
Shi Yong, the former head of a municipal construction bureau, took 50 million yuan worth of bribes, which is being described as the biggest corruption case ever in the province.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
New environment tribunal
Summary
China's supreme court has now officially established a tribunal for environmental cases.
The tribunal will hear civil cases involving pollution, exploitation of resources and conservation of the environment.
THE BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Beijing mulls transport fare hikes
Summary
Beijing municipal authorities are looking for your thoughts on possible increases in both bus and subway fares.
Authorities in the capital have not said how much they plan on increasing the fares.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Watchdog investigates timeshare firm
Summary
A Shanghai-based timeshare company is being investigated.
It sold 10-year deals to customers, who are now complaining they can never get a vacancy.
Customers of Kololi Beach Club say they are continually fobbed off with excuses from staff.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Armless man caught driving
Summary
A man in Hubei has been caught by traffic police driving his car by using his feet.
The man lost his arms in an accident when he was a child.
He claims to have driven safely for some 160-thousand kilometers.
He has been fined 500 yuan for driving without a license.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Protection Has Precedence over Inscription
 
Anchor
With the recent addition of a number of cultural heritage sites here in China to UNESCO's World Heritage List, cultural experts are calling for more to be done to better preserve this country's storied past.
CRI's Zeng Liang has more.
Reporter
Su Zhiliang, Head of History Department in Shanghai Normal University expresses his concerns about the over-development in cultural heritage.
"We know that there are some local governments regarding the inscription as their vanity projects, resulting in rise in entrance fee, over-development and destruction of historical sites after the registration of world heritage."
Though the successful registration of world heritage can bring noticeable economic benefits, it may also jeopardize the heritage due to overdevelopment.
In the famed Mogao Grottoes, many cave paintings have peeled off due to the carbon dioxide and steam brought by excessive number of tourists. In only a few decades, the caves have been spoiled by visitors, which has impacted much more than natural erosion in the past thousands of years.
According to Su, in terms of heritage development and preservation, there are great differences between China and other countries.
"Taking the Czech Republic for example, some small towns inscribed on the World Heritage List are under well-protection. Everything in these towns are remained the same as before and there are also limitations on the number of visitors. Ticket prices are very low and some of them are even free of charge."
After the inscription, rapid developments in commercial and infrastructure would occur, which always contradict the purpose of heritage preservation.
Culture critic Tan Fei points out that protection should be put first when it comes to development of heritage.
"The purpose of nomination is to gain more resources for protecting the world heritage, but some local governments treat it as a cash cow. Although it is understandable, but protection is prior to development instead of another way around."
Tan also suggests that law enforcement can be better used for protecting world heritage sites.
"Some world heritages are poor-maintained because people do not follow the UNESCO's regulations to protect and manage the sites. I think everything should follow the law, including the Law on Protection of Cultural Relics. Business cannot outweigh the law in response to this issue.
China has its first registered world heritage in 1986, its number of UNESCO designated heritage sites has rapidly gone up to the World's Number two.
For CRI, this is Zeng Liang.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Zheng Jie through to double's semi's at Wimbledon
 
In tennis action from Wimbledon this morning,
China's Zheng Jie is through to the semi-finals in the women's doubles draw.
She and her partner, Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic, have advanced into the semi's after getting past Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Czech Lucie Savarova 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Zheng Jie and her partner, the 9th seeds, will have to battle the 2nd ranked Italian duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci if they hope to advance to the finals.
That match will get underway at 6:30pm tonight Beijing time.
--
The loss in the women's doubles quarter finals capped off what must have been a disappointing day for Lucie Savarova.
Earlier in the day the women's singles event, the 23rd seed was blown out of that draw by compatriot and 6th seed Petra Kvitova, 7-6, 6-1.
Kvitova will be up against rising Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard, who has advanced to her first-ever Grand Slam final.
The 13th seeded 20-year-old upset French Open runner up, 3rd seeded Romanian Simona Halep in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
The women's final will take place Saturday at the All-England club.
--
A young Chinese player is through to the quarter finals of the girl's event at Wimbledon.
16-year old Xu Shilin, who just joined the WTA tour earlier this year, has advanced in a 3-set victory over a Swiss competitor.
She'll be up against an unranked Romanian girl in the next round.
--
The men's semi-finals are set to take place tonight.
First up on center court will be top-seeded Novak Djokovic taking on hard-hitting Bulgarian Gregor Dimitrov.
The 11th seeded Dimitrov is into the semi's after downing defending Champ Andy Murray.
Following that match, former Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will be looking to make his way back into the finals at the All-England club when he takes on 8th seeded Canadian Milos Raonic.
The men's semi-finals will get underway tonight at 8pm Beijing time.
 
 
Li Na and Coach Carlos Rodriguez Part Ways
 
In other tennis news,
Chinese world number-2 Li Na is no longer going to be officially working with former coach Carlos Rodriguez.
Their interim coaching deal came to an end following her third round loss at Wimbledon.
Li's agent says she's now going to be looking for a new, full-time coach.
However, she will continue to train with Rodriguez whenever she is in Beijing.
Rodriguez became Li Na's coach in July 2012.
 
 
World Cup to resume tonight
 
World Cup action is set to resume this evening.
The first of two quarter-final matches are set to get underway at midnight, with a clash of European powers, as Germany is set to battle France.
And at 4am, it will be two powers from South America butting-heads, as hosts Brazil will take on Columbia.
 
 
Overpass Collapses in World Cup City; Two Killed
 
Concerns about Brazil's shakey infrastructure ahead of the World Cup have come to fruition in a deadly accident.
An unfinished overpass has collapsed in the World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte, killing two people.
The front of a passenger bus was crushed by the overpass, which is about 3 kilometers from the World Cup stadium.
The cause of the collapse is unclear at this point.
A World Cup semi-final match will be held in Belo Horizonte next Tuesday.
The stadium itself has already hosted five games.
No problems with the stadiums have been reported at this year's World Cup.
 
 
Di Maria Asks to Leave Real Madrid: Report
 
Media reports are suggesting Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria has asked to leave the club this summer.
A Spanish newspaper is reporting the Argentine star has told the club he feels undervalued at the Spanish football powerhouse, which took home this year's Champions League title.
The 26-year-old Argentine winger is coming off a remarkable season, where he contributed 37 goals and assists.
It's also being reported both Manchester United and Arsenal are looking at picking up Di Maria.
His buyout is said to be in the range of around 50 million euros.
 
 
Kevin Stadler Shines with One-Stroke Lead in French Open Debut
 
In golf,
American Kevin Stadler holds a one-stroke lead over German Marcel Siem after the first round of the French Open.
Stadler, who is playing in the tournament for the first time, carded a bogey-free round of 7-under.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell finished the day six strokes off the lead.
US Open champ Martin Kaymer finished his first round with a less-than-stellar one-over.
 
 
Dirk Nowitzki to Stay With Mavericks for 3 More Years
 
In NBA free agency news,
Veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki has reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year, 30-million dollars deal to stay with the Dallas Mavericks.
It's being reported the deal will allow Nowitzki to return to free agency in the summer of 2016, and preserves the rare no-trade clause he had in his last contract.
Nowitzki has reportedly agreed to take the pay cut in hopes of leaving enough salary-cap space for the Mavericks to sign top free-agent target Carmelo Anthony.
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It's also being reported that the New York Nicks plan to meet with Carmelo Anthony later on this Friday.
Anthony has also been meeting with a number of teams as he tests the free-agent market, including the LA Lakers, the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls.
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Meanwhile, free-agent point guard Darren Collison has agreed to a three-year, $16-million deal with the Sacramento Kings.
Collision spent last season with the LA Clippers.
 
 
NHL's Canucks sign free agent Vrbada to 2-year deal
 
The free-agency sweep continues in the National Hockey League.
The Vancouver Canucks have moved to bolster their offense.
The Canucks, who just days before signed all-star goaltender Ryan Miller, have added free-agent Radim Vrbada to their lineup.
Vancouver has signed the 32-year old forward to a 2-year, 10-million dollar deal.
Vrbada spent the last 5-years with the Phoenix Coyotes.
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In other NHL news,
Russian veteran Alexi Kovalev has announced his retirement from the game.
The 41-year old, who played last year in the Swiss league, has decided to pack it in after playing over 13-hundred games in the NHL.
Kovalev, drafted 15th overall by the New York Rangers in 1991, helped lead that team to its Stanley Cup victory in 1994.
He also spent time in Pittsburgh, Montreal and Ottawa before ending his NHL career in the 2012-2013 season with the Florida Panthers.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Wanda Cinema Co. China IPO Denied
 
China's largest cinema chain, Wanda Cinema Line Co., has had its bid to raise 320 million U.S. dollars through listing on the Shenzhen stock exchange denied by regulators after the company failed to produce the required documents for an initial public offering.
The Securities Times reports that Wanda Cinema Lines had its application to issue 60 million shares for an IPO halted because of insufficient documents.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission accepted 637 applications for listing by July 1, but only 40 were approved.
Dalian Wanda Group, helmed by Chinese business mogul Wang Jianlin, is the largest owner and operator of movie theatres in the world.
In 2012, Wanda spent over two billion dollars buying AMC Theatres, the second-largest theatre chain in North America.
 
 
1st Picture of Henry Cavill as Superman for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"
 
Comic-book fans are in a frenzy over pictures released today showing actor Henry Cavill as Superman for "Batman v Superman: Dawn on Justice," which is shaping up to be one of 2016's most-anticipated movies.
The single photo shows Superman standing stalwart amid pouring rain, as a grey urban skyline acts as the shots morose backdrop.
USA Today first ran the photo, along with their interview with the person helming the project, "Man of Steel" director Zack Snyder.
Back in May, Snyder tweeted a still from "Dawn of Justice" that showed actor Ben Affleck, whose been tasked to play Batman in the movie, standing forebodingly next to the Bat-mobile. The picture was the first image of the new cast of heroes called up for the film and made headlines both in the comic-book and entertainment worlds.
"Dawn of Justice" marks the first time the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight will appear together on the big screen, despite sharing the spotlight in numerous comic-books and TV shows.
The film, which also features DC superheroes Wonder-Woman and Cyborg, is expected to set up the first "Justice League" movie, DC's answer to Marvel's "Avengers" franchise.
"Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" is slated to be released next May.
 
 
Final trailer for Chinese internet film "Old Boy" released
 
(old boy trailer)
The final trailer for the popular Chinese internet micro film "Old Boy"'s big-screen sequel "Old Boys: The Way of The Dragon" was revealed last night.
The online micro film "Old Boy" 2010 tells a story about a pair of high school friends in their middle age, forms a band and participates a talent show to pursue their unfinished dream in their youth.
Due to its popularity, "Old Boys" was tapped to be adapted to the big screen. In the upcoming sequel, the duo make their way to the U.S. for their chance in the limelight.
"Old Boys: The Way of the Dragon" premieres in China on July 10th.
 
 
New "Transformers" Earning More in China than U.S.
 
"Transformers: Age of Extinction" is busting more box offices in China than in the U.S., according to China Movie Media Group, who released the numbers for the film on Tuesday.
Grossing over 134 million U.S. dollars in its first five days of hitting the big screen in China, "Age of Extinction" is outpacing its 121-million-dollar five-day U.S. showing.
China Movie Media Group, which is a production-partner for "Age of Extinction," says that the latest "Transformers" outing is on its way to surpass Avatar's China showing, which netted over 217 million U.S. dollars.
The film's success in China over the U.S. is attributed to the involvement of China Movie Media Group, which assisted with promotion for "Age of Extinction" on the mainland.
The previous "Transformers" movie earned about 165 million U.S. dollars in China, according to entertainment trade publication, Variety.
 
 
Bryan Singer Files Motion to Dismiss Sex Abuse Case
 
"X-Men" director Bryan Singer has filed a motion to dismiss a teen sex abuse case, claiming that the lawsuit has no legal basis and it was improperly filed anonymously by an actor identified as "John Doe 117."
The suit was originally filed against Singer in May by attorney Jeffrey Herman, who filed on behalf of the John Doe, according to entertainment news outlet, The Hollywood Reporter.
Singer and three others were also named in a suit filed by Herman on behalf of the John Doe in Hawaii.
Along with the motion to dismiss, Singer is also demanding that John Doe file a bond worth 300-thousand U.S. dollars to cover the director's expected legal costs.
The motion will be heard in Los Angeles on August 18.
 
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sat down for an hours-long meeting with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul.
A number of leading Japanese figures have been coming out in opposition of the changes in that country's military policy.
Kurds in Iraq are preparing for a possible referendum on independence.
In Business.... China and South Korea coming to agreements on the handling of the renminbi.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.