The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
It's Paul James with you on this Thursday, July 10, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The second day of the annual high-level meetings between China and the US is set to get underway later on today.
The Bank of China is denying a China Central Television report alleging some of its branches have helped clients launder money to take out of China.
China is calling for a ceasefire amid plans by Israeli forces to step up assaults on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
In Business.... Economic observers here in China are being buoyed by the latest stats from the National Bureau of Statistics.
In Sports... A penalty shoot out sends Argentina into the finals of the World Cup.
In Entertainment... a popular reality TV show from South Korea is going to be reproduced here in China.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather....
Weather
Beijing will be sunny today with a high of 35 degree Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop down to around 24.
Shanghai will be cloudy during the daytime with a high of 34.
Overnight, it will be cloudy with a low of 25.
In Chongqing, it will be cloudy with a high of 34.
Overnight lows are expected to be around 23.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia.
Islamabad will be cloudy with a high of 38.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 32.
Over to North America.
New York will be overcast today with a high of 31 degrees.
Washington will see slight rain with a high of 32 degrees.
Honolulu, slight rain, 28.
Toronto, Canada, will be cloudy with a high of 23 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be cloudy with a high of 15.
And Rio de Janeiro will have moderate rain with a high of 21 degrees Celsius.
Top News
China, U.S. Pledge Cooperation
Anchor
Today will see a resumption of the annual high-level discussions between China and the United States here in Beijing.
In opening this year's Strategic and Economic Dialogue yesterday, both China's President and the US Secretary of State have suggested both sides need to work toward common goals.
CRI's Luo Wen reports.
Reporter
As a variety of topics are being discussed, there is much potential for clashes or conflicts if discussions are not handled properly.
But President Xi Jinping himself is urging delegates to set aside their differences, at least for the time being, and he's emphasizing the need for cooperation.
He used his speech to explain why now is not the time for confrontation.
"China -US cooperation can be a significant achievement that is beneficial to both sides and to the world. China-U.S. confrontation, to the two countries and the world, would definitely be a disaster. Under these circumstances, we on both sides should look at the big picture of their ties, strengthen them, stick to cooperation and avoid confrontation."
Using a similar tone, Secretary of States John Kerry said the US is willing to take concrete actions with China to achieve common prosperity.
"We are determined to choose the path of peace and prosperity and cooperation, and yes even competition but not conflict. When the United States and China work with each other, we both stand to gain a great deal and that's why we are committed to a new model of relations of great-country relationship. A mutually-beneficial relationship in which we cooperate in areas of common interest and constructively manage the differences."
This year's dialogue comes at a critical time as the two countries celebrate the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
For the past decades, the world has witnessed the rise of China from poverty to become the world's second largest economy, and the biggest player in terms of global trade.
Relations between an existing superpower and a rising power have long been a topic worldwide.
As many people like to point out, clashes are unavoidable.
But Beijing and Washington are now conducting annual dialogues as they look to avoid old global patterns and establish a better way forward.
A year ago, President Xi Jinping and President Obama agreed to build a new-model relationship between their respective countries based on building trust, finding new avenues of cooperation, and developing deeper ties between nations.
It is not expected to be easy, and that's why President Xi Jinping has called on both sides to overcome all difficulties together:
"The building of a new model of a major-country relationship between China and the United States is an unprecedented and innovative endeavor. There is no ready-made experience to follow and it is natural that some difficulties and even setbacks may occur. Problems in China-U.S. relations are not to be afraid, as long as both sides work to solve them, instead of being distracted by them."
The two-day dialogue was established in 2009.
It has offered a platform for both countries to address bilateral, regional and global challenges and opportunities.
For CRI, I am Luo Wen.
China and US to jointly combat wildlife trafficking
China and the US are pledging renewed efforts to jointly combat wildlife trafficking.
The promise has been made at the ongoing Strategic and Economic Dialogue taking place here in Beijing.
Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi.
"During this round of the strategic dialogue, relevant departments from both sides have had constructive discussions on combating wildlife trafficking, which lays a solid foundation to expand cooperation in the next phrase. China will continue to combat trafficking of wildlife, including ivory, moving forward."
US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US and China are standing together on this issue.
"The United States and China are sending a simple but a very powerful message. We need to stop the poachers and the profits that come from wildlife trafficking."
China and the U.S. have established an online consultation mechanism to preserve wildlife and combat the illegal trade in endangered species.
The two sides have already tightened controls over the ivory trade, and are treating organized wildlife trafficking as a felony.
Fruitful Results from China-US Consultation on People-to-People Exchanges : officials
Results are said to be being made at the High-level Consultation on People-to-People exchanges between China and the US.
Richard Stengel, the US under secretary of state for public diplomacy, says the two sides have discussed cooperation in various fields, including education, technology, culture, sports, and on issues pertaining to youth and women.
Cen Jianjun with the Chinese Education Ministry says they're looking at expanding educational exchange programs between the two countries.
"China will continue three projects, including assigning some 10 thousand students to study in the US for doctorates; funding 10 thousand personnel specializing in people to people exchanges, and supporting 10 thousand people coming to learn Chinese here in China. And the US side will further encourage 100 thousand people to study here in China."
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the US over 30-years ago, over 900-thousand Chinese nationals have studied in the US.
Around 200-thousand Americans haved come to China to study.
China and Brazil to issue joint statement during Xi's upcoming visit
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has outlined what we can expect from Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Brazil next week.
Shen Zhiliang is the Foreign Ministry's director of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs.
"During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The two leaders will witness the signing of cooperation documents and attend the celebration for the 40th anniversary of diplomacy between the two countries. During that time, the two countries will issue a joint statement, as well as ink cooperation deals involving trade, energy, electricity, finance and technology."
Xi Jinping is due to attend a BRICS summit in Brazil next Tuesday.
As part of his time in Latin America, the Chinese President is also due to make stops in Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba.
The trip to the region comes ahead of the planned launch of a cooperation forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States by the end of this year.
Bank of China denies CCTV money laundering accusations
Anchor
The Bank of China is denying a China Central Television report alleging some of its branches have helped clients launder money to take out of China.
Bank of China says the branches involved have been taking part in a legitimate pilot program to move capital offshore.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has more on the undercover investigation by China Central Television.
Reporter
CCTV says Bank of China has played an active role in helping people move money abroad as overseas investment and emigration from China increase every year.
Current restrictions set by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange only allow an individual in China to transfer 50 thousand yuan into foreign accounts each year.
But CCTV says that many foreign banks assist BOC to bypass the restriction.
One consultant from an Australian Bank cited by CCTV says that BOC is regarded as the safest underground bank.
"The reason why we cooperate with BOC is that it has a significant meaning for the Australian immigrant investor programs. The money for immigration is very safe. It is transferred in a grey way. The process is equal to that of underground banking. The biggest business of the BOC is its overseas business. They own huge amounts of RMB in china as well as foreign currency abroad. So only BOC has such big scale."
CCTV accuses BOC of "money laundering" via its shadowy money-transferring scheme called You Huitong, which helps wealthy Chinese send an unlimited amount of funds beyond the borders after they apply for immigrant investor programs.
A customer service manager at BOC's Guangdong branch explained that they send customers' money out of the country to their branches overseas, leaving them to exchange it for foreign currency.
The manager said it is more like cross-border yuan settlement, which goes around the restrictions of SAFE.
But experts said the settlement is limited to enterprises, not individuals.
The Director of Finance Research Center at Beijing Normal University, Zhong Wei, says avoiding financial regulations is harmful.
"If the Bank of china issues fake certificates on the source of funds, knowing the money is not legitimate, and actively works with migration agents to disguise the origin of the money, that's collaborative crime."
CCTV said one sub-branch of the BOC in Guangdong has sent as much as six billion yuan ($970 million) overseas so far this year.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
Israel steps up the Gaza offensive; China calls for ceasefire
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning the Israeli military is going to "further intensify" its offensive in the Gaza Strip, saying "Hamas will pay a very high price".
Palestinian officials say at least 47 people have been killed, in what is being described, as Israel's largest offensive in Gaza in nearly two years.
The Israeli military has attacked over 560 sites in Gaza since the launch of operation "Protective Edge" on Tuesday.
Hamas militants have also fired more than 160 rockets into Israel.
Meantime, the Chinese government is expressing deep concern about the situation, and is calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.
"China is highly concerned about the escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. We hope all sides will bear in mind the bigger picture of peace and the safety of the people, immediately realise a ceasefire, resume peaces talks as soon as possible and stick to them."
The surge in violence follows a chain of events that started with the abduction and murder of three Jewish students in the West Bank last month.
Ukraine Rebel: Donetsk to Be Final Battlefield
A top Ukranian separatist is vowing the rebels in the city of Donetsk will make a final stand against government troops.
The city itself is currently encircled by Ukrainian security forces.
Pavel Gubarev is the self-proclaimed governor of the Donetsk People's Republic.
"There is nowhere to retreat to. For us, it's either victory or death,"
Gubarev also suggests the rebels are now going to resort to guerrilla warfare.
Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian official has gone on-record Kiev will not hold talks with the insurgents.
Valery Chaly, deputy chief of the presidential administration, is accusing the separatists of not giving an "adequate response" to previous overtures to lay down their arms and begin talks.
Hollande, Merkel, Poroshenko talk over phone
German and French leaders have held another telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande have told Poroshenko they're hoping to put more pressure on Moscow to deal with rebels in eastern Ukraine.
But at the same time, they've also called on Poroshenko to show restraint in his attempts to liberate areas of eastern Ukraine from rebel control.
Merkel and Hollande also say they expect to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days.
The German and French leaders have been engaging in the shuttle-diplomacy in an attempt to bring calm to the situation in eastern Ukraine amid the continued fighting which has left an estimated 400 dead.
Joko Widodo claims victory in Indonesia presidential election
Soft-spoken Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo is claiming victory in Indonesia's presidential election.
Widodo is the first candidate with no connection to the regime of former president Suharto.
"The winning result published by some quick count agencies is not a victory for Jokowi and vice presidential running mate Jusuf Kalla. It is not a victory for the party. It is not a victory for the campaign team. This is a victory for the people of Indonesia."
Exit polling is suggesting Widodo, who is affectionately known as Jokowi, has garnered around 52-percent of the vote.
However, rival candidate Prabowo Subianto has also claimed victory.
The official results of the vote aren't expected for at least a couple of weeks.
The winner will take over for outgoing President Susilio Banbang Yodohouno, who is required to step down after two terms in office.
Authorities investigating second spy case reportedly involving the US
German authorities are reportedly investigating a second case involving a possible German double-agent passing information on to the United States.
The revelations come a week after the arrest of a German intelligence officer for allegedly passing classified information to the US government.
Reports have suggested the man worked for Germany's Defence Ministry, and is suspected of spying for the United States.
Defence Ministry spokeperson Uwe Roth.
"I can confirm here that there are investigations of the Federal State Prosecution which fall into the Defence Ministry's area of responsibility. I cannot go further into detail, but I can tell you that we are taking this case very seriously."
So far the US side has yet to comment on the revelations of a 2nd German double-agent.
The Obama administration has also been very reluctant to talk about the original case, other than to say it does want to work with German authorities.
In the first case, a German intelligence officer is accused of passing along information about a German Parliamentary review of the NSA's alleged hacking of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone.
WHO Director Margaret Chan Calls China to Strengthen Tobacco Control
The head of the World Health Organization is calling on the Chinese government to strengthen its tobacco control regulations.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has made the comments in wrapping up a trip to China this week.
"Oftentimes, tobacco companies and specially the big tobacco (companies), they put a lot of pressure on governments and also to say that any tobacco control measures would affect the country's economy, affect the income of farmers. We would encourage countries to take the most robust action in controlling tobacco,"
As the world's largest consumer of cigarettes, China is home to over 300 million smokers.
This accounts for nearly 30 percent of the world's smokers.
Biz Reports
Anchor
First off, a check on the closing numbers in the U.S and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Fei Fei.
Reporter
U.S. stocks have recovered from their earlier declines this week, as the minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting did little to surprise the market.
At market close, both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones added about half a percent.
And the Nasdaq picked up more than half a percent.
Over in Europe, major European indexes also went up.
Britain's FTSE 100 added a third of a percent.
France's CAC 40 inched up a quarter of a percent.
and Germany's DAX increased by around a third of a percent.
China, U.S. to start negative list BIT negotiations
It's widely expected China and the United States are soon going to conclude the first phase of their Bilateral Investment Treaty talks.
Negotiations connected to the agreement have been taking place this week as part of this year's Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Once the first round of negotiations is concluded, the two sides will then begin talks on creating a negative list.
A negative list, which is the system in-place in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, is a list of items that either side would like subject to trade and investment restrictions.
A negative list is considered much more streamlined than a list of what CAN be exempted.
Talks connected to a Bilateral Investment Treaty have been underway since 2008.
Two-way trade between China and the US is already well-over 500-billion U.S. dollars a year.
Chinese finance minister says currency intervention necessary
As part of the economic talks taking place this week, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei says currency intervention is necessary when an economy has yet to fully recover and capital inflows are abnormal.
The comments come amid continued US concerns about the Chinese government's role in managing the value of the renminbi.
At the same time Lou Jiwei is applauding the US Federal Reserve for gradually winding down its bond-buying program.
But he also says the program has created challenges for Chinese authorities in managing hot money inflows.
The Fed's monthly bond-buying program is likely to end later this year.
When it comes to China's broader economic plans, Lou Jiwei has told his US counterparts not to expect a massive Chinese stimulus program which was launched in 2008.
The Chinese government has been engaged in a selective stimulus program to target areas of concern to maintain steady economic growth.
Expert predicts CPI of the second half of the year can be better
Anchor
The National Bureau of Statistics has released new economic data for June, which show a moderate, but relatively steady position in both the Consumer and Producer Price Indexes.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter
Figures from the NBS show that China's producer price index or PPI for industrial products, which measures inflation at the wholesale level, fell 1.1 percent year on year in June.
The data marked the 28th consecutive month of drops, but the pace has narrowed, down from the 1.4-percent fall seen in May, 2 percent in April and 2.3 percent in March.
As for the consumer price index or CPI, a main gauge of inflation, it grew 2.3 percent year on year in June, down from 2.5 percent in May.
Food prices, which account for around one third of the weighting in the CPI calculation, grew at a tempered rate of 3.7 percent year on year last month, down from the 4.1-percent in May. Food prices in June also declined 0.4 percent month on month.
Wang Yuanhong, a chief economist from the State Information Center, a government think tank, says this is a positive phenomenon.
"The price of pork is an important driver which stabilizes the consumer price index. As for non-food prices, like ordinary industrial commodities, the price is generally stable, as the supply is still more than the demand. So the CPI reflects moderate and small margin growth."
Yao Jingyuan, researcher of Counselor Office of the State Council says prospects for the CPI in the second half of the year can be more optimistic.
"If we make predictions on commodity prices for the second half of the year, we need to take a significant factor into consideration, which is the good harvest of the summer grain. This lays a solid foundation for the prices of agricultural products and food. The figures show the industrial products are stable with a slight drop, and with the good performance of the CPI, I believe we can easily achieve the goal of maintaining the CPI below 3.5%, which we set in the beginning of the year. I think we can even realize 2.5%."
Analysts said price levels in China are generally in a low territory in the first half of this year amid an economic slowdown which reduced demand. They say the country is currently not facing much pressure to control inflation, which should leave more room for the easing of monetary policies to boost growth.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
Call-in with Cao Can on 1H economic figures
Anchor:
A series of first half economic figures are set to be released by the National Bureau of Statistics today, including GDP, trade, investment, and industrial production stats.
Observers are expecting a rebound in economic growth through the 2nd quarter on the back of better exports and targeted government stimulus will have levelled-off the first quarter slowdown.
A survey of economists suggests GDP growth through the first half will come in at 7.4-percent year-on-year, which would be just slightly below the government's full-year target of 7.5-percent.
For more on what we can expect from the stats, we are joined on line with Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.
Questions:
1. So what's your prediction of the growth rate? Can you give us a general analysis on the health of China's economy in the first half?
2. In break-down, can we expect any good news in export, givn that the global trade environment seems to be improving?
3. What will be the key risks China will face in the second half?
4. Will we see any major change in the monetary policy stance?
Back Anchor
That is Cao Can, our Financial Commentator.
China to exempt purchase tax for new energy cars for 3 years
China's State Council, the cabinet, has announced plans to exempt new energy cars from a 10-percent purchase tax starting in September.
The list of models that fall under the new policy has yet to be published.
The policy will be effective until the end of 2017
Greek parliament approves bill on electricity company privatization amid protests
The Greek parliament has approved draft bill to clear the way for privatizing its main public power corporation, despite protests by its employees and opposition parties.
The plan will see the company be split into two entities.
The smaller section, which accounts for 30 percent of the total company, will be sold to private investors next year.
Jinan to loosen its housing restriction policy
The municipal government of East China's Jinan city is loosening its housing restriction policies.
Starting today, residents with local and non-local household registrations, or hukou's, will be able to purchase more than two homes.
Authorities in Jinan had been restricting home purchases to two per family for the last three years.
Other 2nd tier cities such as Hangzhou and Changsha are also considering loosening their home purchase policies.
But most observers don't expect first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to follow the trend.
Auto sales up 8.4 percent in first half
New stats show both vehicle production and sales here in China have both exceeded 11 million units in the first half of this year.
Auto production is up around 10-percent from a year ago.
Vehicle sales are up around 8-percent year during the period.
This is down slightly from the 9 percent sales growth seen through in the first five months.
China has been the world's largest auto market for the last five years, with production and sales both exceeding 20 million units for the first time last year.
China Southern to launch Guangzhou-New York service
China Southern Airlines is launching non-stop flights between Guangzhou and New York starting next month.
This is also China Southern's first service linking China with the east coast of the United States.
China Southern will run four round-trip flights to New York per week.
The flight on-board the Boeing 777 will take about 16 hours.
Headline News
Day to of S&ED continues today
Today will see a resumption of the annual high-level discussions between China and the United States here in Beijing.
In opening this year's Strategic and Economic Dialogue yesterday, both China's President and the US Secretary of State have suggested both sides need to work toward common goals.
President Xi Jinping has urged the delegates attending the meetings to set aside their differences, at least for the time being.
For his part, US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US is willing to take concrete action to achieve common prosperity.
The annual sessions will wrap up later today.
Chinese, Ethiopian president pledge closer cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome here in Beijing.
Xi Jinping says he appreciates Mulatu's decision to choose China as the first country to visit since taking office last October.
The Chinese president says China supports Ethiopia's drive for prosperity, and says he's going to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Ethiopia.
Teshome is also due to attend an Eco Forum in the southern Chinese city of Guiyang.
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has met with the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, who will also attend the ecological forum in Guiyang.
China urges peace, stability on Korean Peninsula
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has urged joint efforts to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula after Pyongyang again fired two short-range missiles.
Spokesman Hong Lei says that under the current circumstances, China hopes all parties can do more to ease the current tension so as to jointly maintain regional peace and stability.
North Korea fired two short-range missiles into its eastern waters this morning.
It's the first time in nearly 2-decades North Korea has launched missiles from a non-coastal location.
Hamas rockets target Israel's nuclear reactor
The military wing of Hamas has admitted to intentionally targeting an Israeli nuclear reactor.
The Israeli military has also confirmed that three rockets launched from the Gaza Strip targeted a nuclear reactor in Dimona.
One of the rockets was reportedly intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense shield, while the other two landed in unpopulated fields.
Dimona is considered one of Israel's most sensitive sites.
This comes as the Israeli military cranks up its attacks on suspected Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Since launching operation "Protective Edge" on Tuesday, the Israeli military has hit close to 600 sites in Gaza, leaving over 40 Palestinians dead.
Hamas has fired over 160 rockets into Israeli territory.
Deadly storms rip through eastern US
A wave of thunderstorms with powerful winds in northern New York have killed at least four and left more than 70,000 people without electricity.
Four residents of the rural town of Smithfield were found dead after several homes were destroyed by the fast-moving storms.
Rescuers have been searching for others in the rubble.
Newspaper Picks
BEIJING YOUTH DAILY
Headline
Yunnan mudslide
Summary
So far 17 people are though to be missing after a mudslide hit Fugong County in Yunnan early yesterday morning.
Rescue teams say they're concerned a number of the missing may have been swept into a nearby river.
Others are thought to be trapped under the mud.
The exact number of those missing is still unclear.
THE BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Court reform
Summary
The Supreme People's Court has issued its first official guidance on judicial reform.
The High Court's five-year reform plan includes 45 reform measures covering eight different areas, including more transparency in assigning jurisdictions for cases.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Military tightens auditing
Summary
The People's Liberation Army has introduced a new auditing regulation to step up the fight against corruption in the Chinese military.
Under the new rules, any malpractice uncovered by the PLA audit office will be transferred to military law enforcement.
The PLA is also promising to keep a close eye on miltary spending, assets and all military economic activity.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Arrests for copyright infringement
Summary
The National Copyright Administration has announced that more than 40 suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in eight online piracy cases.
The suspects are accused of profiting from movies, TV programs, and music without authorization.
PEOPLE'S DAILY
Headline
Cigarette smuggling
Summary
Hong Kong Customs officers have arrested a 27-year-old truck driver for cigarette smuggling.
Around a million cigarettes were found concealed in fake ovens on the truck.
The cigarettes are said to be worth over 2-million renminbi.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Officers jailed for bus crash
Summary
Two police officers have been sent to prison for dereliction of duty in connection with a deadly bus crash in Gansu in 2011.
The horrific crash left 20 kindergarten children dead.
The accident has provoked criticism of school bus safety in this country's rural areas
Special Reports
Commercial Football Games in Beijing
Anchor
With World Cup fever gripping the world, including China, we take a look back at some of the football highlights which have taken place in this country.
Here's CRI's Chi Huiguang.
Reporter
In 1994, Chinese football League A began in Chengdu Sports Center in China's southwestern Sichuan province. It symbolized the initiation of Chinese football. In the same year, Beijing gained football fans' attention through the first commercial game in China's football history.
In August, Beijing's Workers' Stadium welcomed a game between Sampdoria, then champion of Italy Cup, and the Chinese national team. To many's surprise, China won the game.
In the same summer, European Champion AC Milan came to the same stadium and was defeated by Beijing Guoan.
Gao Feng is a former player of Beijing Guoan.
"It was like a legend at that time. Sometimes we thought we had to win, whether it was AC Milan or Arsenal. We dare not say that we stood from a high position. Actually, we put ourselves in a low position. But we felt that we were going to fight with you. Indeed, competitions with foreign teams in those years had injected a cordial??? to the Beijing football market."
However, the unbeaten legend did not last long. In 1996, the England National Football Team beat the Chinese National Team. Later, Beijing Guoan lost against Napoli and Boca Juniors.
It was the 2003 Real Madrid China tour that familiarised Chinese fans on the meaning of commercial games. With Beckham, Ronaldo, Zidane and Figo on board, the Galácticos visited China in August. The great exposure of the superstars sparked huge market effects. The revenue for ticket sales exceeded $4.8 million.
However, the obvious commercial ambitions and the fatigue during their long-distance journey dampened the enthusiasm of the renowned stars. Most of these games disappointed the fans.
Zhang Bin, director of CCTV Sports, explained that there are many uncertain factors in the commercial games.
"The major factor is probably the quality of the game itself. A football team is composed of football stars. And who come and how long they play on the field make a difference in the competitiveness, the quality and the value of a football game."
In 2011, the Italian Super Cup came back to the Bird's Nest. What's worth mentioning is that the game was between AC Milan and Inter Milan. It is not only the first time Milan Derby performed in the Italian Cup, but also the first time it took place in Asia.
All the 90,000 seats in Bird's Nest were packed. Fans across the country rushed and surged into the stadium to watch the gala.
It is, of course, the grandest football game ever played in Beijing.
BACK ANCHOR
That is CRI's Chi Huiguang reporting.
Sports
Argentina beat Netherlands to reach World Cup final; Call-in with Mark Dreyer
Argentina have reached the World Cup final by beating the Netherland 4-2 on penalty shootout.
They will now play Germany on Sunday.
For more on the match and the final, we're now joined live by Mark Dreyer, founder of China sports insider website.
1. What do you expect from Sunday's final?
2. What's your overall impression of this year's World Cup so far?
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on 'worst day'
A growing number of voices in Brazil are calling for the resignation of the national football team's head coach in the fallout from yesterday's embarrassing loss in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is describing his team's 7-1 blowout to Germany as "the worst day" of his life.
"I can't explain it; I am not going to justify it. I do not think that my players will have difficulty in understanding that there was an error, a fatal error, we lost the match, we could have lost by two or by one, but we lost in a way that we have never lost on a national level, it is historic. If I could respond with full knowledge of what happened in those six minutes, I would, but I really do not know."
The 65-year-old says he will not discuss his future until the end of the tournament.
Brazil, the first team to concede seven goals in a World Cup semi-final, will play for 3rd place in Brasilia on Saturday.
Following the humiliating defeat, unhappy fans and protesters took to the streets of Sao Paulo, setting fire to over 20 buses in frustration.
FIFA suspends Nigeria
Nigeria have been suspended from all international football by FIFA amid allegations of government interference in its football federation.
The Nigerian Football Federation has been hit with a court-order, preventing its President from running its football affairs.
The NFF leadership was then voted out at a Federation general assembly, and replaced by a sole administrator.
FIFA had given Nigeria's government until Tuesday to reinstate the sacked Nigeria Football Federation executive committee.
Nigeria's government contends the move was essential, as legal proceedings against the country's football authority are ongoing.
The NFF leadership has been accused of derailing the country's World Cup campaign in Brazil.
Nigeria, the African champions, reached the second round of the World Cup this year for only the third time in history.
Froome pulls out of Tour de France
In cycling,
Defending champion Chris Froome of England has pulled out of the Tour de France after crashing twice on stage five which took place in torrential rain.
Froome had resumed his ride after his first fall of the day, but withdrew after his second crash with around 66-kilometers of the stage to go.
During the fourth stage a day earlier, Froome also crashed, injuring his wrist.
He was cleared to resume racing following an X-ray.
Froome isn't the only rider to be unseated on a difficult day in northern France.
Marcel Kittel of Giant-Shimano - the winner of three of the opening four stages - also took a tumble.
Stage five was won by Holland's Lars Boom.
Overall leader Vincenzo Nibali, who also crashed yesterday, managed to recover to finish third.
Marco Benfatto wins 4th stage of Tour de Qinghai Lake
Staying on cycling,
Kazakhstan's Marco Benfatto survived a major crash just a mile before the finish line to win the fourth stage of the Tour of Qinghai Lake here in China.
Mehdi Sohrabi from Iran finished second, while Robert Forster from the US was third.
After stage four, Benfatto's teammate Iiya Davidenok now holds the overall lead, overtaking Ukrainian Oleksandr Polivoda for the yellow jersey.
Women's British Open 2014: Stacy Lewis glad of Michelle Wie rivalry
In golf,
This year's Women's British Open is set to get underway later on this Thursday at Royal Birkdale.
American Stacy Lewis heads into the major as the defending champion and current world number-1.
Lewis is expected to face a tough challenge from compatriot Michelle Wie, who comes into this week's event off the heels of her victory at the US Open.
Feng Shanshan from the Chinese mainland comes into the tournament currently sitting 9th in the world.
She'll be teeing off later today in a group behind former world number-1 Tseng Yani from Taiwan.
Spurs ink head coach to long-term extension
In off-season NBA news,
The San Antonio Spurs have rewarded head coach Gregg Popovich for leading his club to this year's NBA title.
San Antonio has agreed to a multi-year contract extension for Popovich.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The 65-year-old has spent his entire 18-year head coaching career with the Spurs, winning five NBA Championships in the process.
Popovich has also won NBA Coach of the Year three times, including this past season.
Donald Sterling jousts with opposition lawyers at Clippers court case
Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Donald Sterling became embroiled in a shouting match with the lawyers of his estranged wife at the trial connected to the possible 2-billion dollar sale of his NBA franchise.
The 80-year-old shouted and interrupted the proceedings, saying he wants to keep the Clippers for financial reasons.
Lawyers for Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, contend he's showing early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
This is the backbone of Shelly Sterling's case that she should have the right to sell the Clippers.
Entertainment
China restricts artists from performing abroad to gain fame
China will restrict domestic art troupes from performing at prestigious venues abroad, saying many did so at public expense just to gain fame, not for any artistic merit.
The Ministry of Culture says more and more troupes are staging performances or exhibitions at world-famous centers like Vienna's Golden Hall.
It says some troupes rent venues at their own expense and give away tickets for free or even pay audiences to attend. These troupes will use their performances at notable venues to promote supposed international fame.
The ministry says public-funded art troupes may not apply for funds just to raise their prestige.
It adds that individuals who want to perform at the headquarters of international organizations will need to now obtain permission from the government.
Zhejing Satellite TV to reproduce "Running Man"
Zhejiang Satellite TV has signed a contact with South Korean's SBS (seoul broadcasting system) TV station to jointly produce a Chinese version of the reality series "Running Man".
"Breakup Guru" lead Deng Chao and Hong Kong actor Wang Zulan are confirmed to join the show.
All Cast members at the Korean "Running Man" sent a video wishing success for the Chinese version of "Running Man".
"Hello everyone. Congratulations for the shooting of "Running Man" by Zhejiang Satellite TV. We hope the reproduced program will be interesting and liked by many people, and achieve a great success."
"Running Man" is SBS's flagship show hosted by South Korean's most popular MC, Yoo Jae-suk. The program has gained a huge fan-base in Korea and other parts of Asia since it first aired in 2010.
The reproduced program is estimated to start shooting in August.
Bai Baihe's lawyer issue statement to deny theft rumors
A lawyer has issued a statement on behalf of Chinese actress Bai Baihe denying rumors circulating online that the celebrity was caught shoplifting.
On July 1st, the unverified claim that Bai was caught stealing high-priced items at a luxury goods shop in Shanghai was disseminated to many websites from an anonymous source.
Some online outlets reportedly added that the actress allegedly had a prior conviction for theft.
The statement issued by the actress's lawyer says that the information is a malicious fabrication and has brought great mental anguish to Bai.
It also demands that media outlets spreading the unverified information to make a public apology to the actress.
Bai Baihe rose to fame for her breakout role in the 2011 romantic-comedy, "Love is Not Blind."
Mail Online apoligizes to Clooney over article claiming fiancée’s mother disapproves of marriage
The British website Mail Online has apologized to American actor George Clooney for alleging that his fiancé's mother opposed their marriage on religious grounds - a story Clooney called both wrong and irresponsible.
Clooney is engaged to Beirut-born lawyer Amal Alamuddin, whose father belongs to a prominent Druze family. The Druze are followers of a monotheistic religion based mainly in Lebanon, Syria and Israel.
Citing unnamed family "friends," Mail Online, which is affiliated with Britain's Daily Mail tabloid, reported this week that Alamuddin's mother wanted her 36-year-old daughter to marry a Druze man.
It said Amal Alamuddin risked being "cast out of the community" if she wed Clooney and claimed that several Druze women had been murdered for not abiding by strict Druze rules.
Clooney called the story "completely fabricated."
In a statement issued to USA Today, he said Alamuddin's mother, Baria, was not Druze and "is in no way against the marriage."
Mail Online removed the article, saying they accept Clooney's assurance the story is false and apologized to him, Alamuddin and her mother for "any distress caused."
Clooney and Alamuddin have not announced a date yet for their nuptials. It is the second marriage for him and the first for her.
JUSTIN BIEBER BEING CHARGED WITH VANDALISM OF NEIGHBOR'S HOME
Canadian-born singer Justin Bieber is being charged in Los Angeles for an egg-throwing incident in January that damaged a neighbor's home.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office says Bieber is charged with one count of misdemeanor vandalism.
DA spokeswoman Jane Robison has said that the Grammy-nominated singer would not be present for his arraignment at the Superior Court in Van Nuys, California.
It's not immediately clear what the potential penalty is.
The singer's Calabasas mansion was searched in January and detectives later filed a search warrant to obtain images from Bieber's Instagram account to match them up to surveillance footage taken from his home.
A detective wrote that a person matching Bieber's description was seen high-fiving his friends after running toward a neighbor's home, but footage of the egg attack was not captured.
Sheriff's detectives estimated the damage to the home at up to 20-thousand U.S. dollars.
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
The second day of the annual high-level meetings between China and the US is set to get underway later on today.
Economic obsevers here in China are being bouyed by the latest stats from the National Bureau of Statistics.
China is calling for a ceasefire amid plans by Israeli forces to step up assaults on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
In Business.... a new tranche of first-half Chinese economic stats are due out today.
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. |