| The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
It's Paul James with you on this Friday, April 10, 2015.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The Chinese government is standing behind its land reclamation projects currently underway in the Nansha Islands.
The first suspect nabbed in the "Fox Hunt 2015" campaign has been tracked down in Greece.
Iran's Supreme Leader is refusing to endorse the new nuclear accord reached by his country and world powers.
In business... Chinese authorities are reportedly preparing to increase the daily quota for the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect system.
In Sports... American Jordan Speith the early leader in the first round of the Masters.
In Entertainment... actor Hayden Christensen has been tapped to play Marco Polo in a new film about the Italian explorer.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather...
Weather
Beijing will see haze today with a high of 20 degrees Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop down to 7.
Shanghai will be cloudy with a high of 17 and a low of 11.
In Chongqing, it will be overcast during the daytime with a high of 20.
Overnight it will be overcast with a low of 14.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will be sunny with a high of 39.
Kabul will be cloudy with a high of 23.
Over to North America,
New York will see showers with a high of 19 degrees.
Washington, showers with a high of 27 degrees.
Honolulu, cloudy, 27.
Toronto, Canada, will have thundershowers with a high of 15 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be sunny with a high of 31.
And Rio de Janeiro will be cloudy with a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
Top News
China reiterates reclamation on Nansha Islands fall within sovereignty
The Chinese government is standing firm against new concerns being raised about reclamation work being done on the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
The US government says it's concerned about new satellite imagery showing reclamation work being done on the Nansha Islands.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.
"Construction on Nansha Islands is within China's sovereign right. It's reasonable, fair and legal. It does not affect any other country. Nor is it against the interest of any other country. So it is beyond reproach. After the construction, the islands will have more comprehensive facilities. Besides the necessary ones for military needs, most of the facilities are for civil services."
In making the statement, the Chinese government also notes the construction work on the Nansha Islands benefits the international community in the South China Sea, noting the Chinese islands can provide safe harbor for vessels caught up in the numerous storms which hit the region.
At the same time, Chinese authorities note strict standards for environmental protection are being adhered to.
China extradites fraud suspect from Greece
The Chinese government's latest operation to repatriate suspected economic criminals has nabbed its first suspect.
The suspect, who is accused of embezzling some 40-million yuan from a company he ran in Zhejiang, has been apprehended in Greece.
He's the first to be arrested under the "Fox Hunt 2015" program initiated earlier this month.
The suspect was tracked down with the help of an Interpol "red notice" issued in October.
Though China has no extradition treaty with Greece, the country's courts have ruled he can be extradited.
Zhang Shencai is with the Zhejiang Public Security Bureau's Economic Investigation Office.
"Greece made a ruling on the case according to existing clauses between the two countries. The Greek courts have ruled in favor of extradition. The success of the suspect's extradition should deter suspects from fleeing their economic crimes. It also shows the international society's determination in law enforcement."
"Fox Hunt 2015" is part of a larger campaign called "Sky Net" that combines government, Party, law enforcement agencies, the central bank and China's diplomatic services.
The overall goal is to repatriate Chinese nationals who have fled abroad, as well as recoup the money they've stolen.
Nie Shubin's lawyers submit opinion letter to court
Attorneys have submitted a legal opinion to a court in Shandong connected to the case of Nie Shubin.
This is a man who was executed some 20-years ago following a conviction for rape and murder.
Attorneys for Nie's family say they have found several errors in the case, including a lack of evidence and suggestions Nie's confession may have been coerced through torture.
Li Shuting is one of the lawyers looking to have Nie's case reviewed.
"The presiding judges surnamed Zhu and Meng from the Shandong Higher People's Court talked with us. Zhu reiterated repeatedly that the court will review Nie Shubin's case based on facts and the law."
Nie Shubin, then 21, was put to death for the rape and murder of a woman in Hebei.
His guilt has since been brought into question after another man claimed responsibility.
China issues guideline to improve employee welfare
The Chinese government says the plan to improve the wage payment system is an urgent matter.
A new statement from the State Council says improving labor relations is at a critical juncture, noting the country is going through major economic and social changes.
New plans have been announced to ensure employees across the country are paid on-time, and in-full.
Accounting expert Zhang Lianqi says the new plan involves the government, labor unions and the companies themselves.
"The three-party mechanism is a stable triangle with checks and balances. With the government taking the lead in the committee, a new mechanism for dispute resolution is to be established, which changes the employers' dominant position over their workers. It will make collective bargaining possible. Secondly, in taking the lead of the committee, the government is likely to include mechanisms to ensure there are benchmarks the employees have to reach."
The new plan laid out by the State Council also includes the creation of an insurance system for employees wages if their employer is unable or unwilling to pay them.
The programs laid-out also include provisions to ensure employees are paid on public holidays.
China marks 25th anniversary of participation in U.N. peacekeeping missions
Anchor
The Chinese government is marking the 25th anniversary of this country's first participation in a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
Since the first Chinese peacekeepers were sent abroad a quarter-century ago, over 30-thousand Chinese troops have since been involved in more than 20 peacekeeping missions.
CRI's Xiao Yi has more.
Reporter
A team of 700 Chinese soldiers from an infantry battalion has been sent to South Sudan, representing the latest deployment. The final 130 members of that group arrived days ago aboard a UN chartered flight.
China's peacekeeping missions started back in 1990 when it sent five military observers to the truce supervision organization in the Middle East.
Now the country is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Li Xiuhua is the deputy director of the U.N. Peacekeeping Mission Office under China's Ministry of National Defense.
"By the end of 2015, the number of Chinese peacekeepers will increase from the current 2,700 to 3,100. Among the 121 countries contributing to U. N. peacekeeping operations, China will move up to 7th place from 11th. Among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has contributed the largest number of peacekeeping forces."
Over the past 25 years, China has sent non-combat units including engineering, transportation, medical and security to help with construction, logistics, relief and medical work.
Currently, over 2,600 soldiers are providing support services in nine regions and 83 serve as military observers monitoring ceasefires in both the Middle East and Africa.
Li Xiuhua says the soldiers have been following the principle of respecting local customs during the missions.
"Over the past 25 years, Chinese peacekeepers have followed the U.N.'s code of conduct and local laws. They have kept the record of zero discipline violation and zero repatriation. In Africa, the Chinese officers have won a good reputation among local residents. "
The latest 700-member peacekeeping forces in South Sudan will focus on protecting civilians as well as UN personnel and facilities.
They will also help with humanitarian relief and security works.
For CRI, I'm Xiao Yi.
Iranian leader stops short of endorsing nuclear deal
Iran's Supreme Leader has stopped short of giving his endorsement to the framework nuclear deal struck last week between Tehran and world powers.
In his first public comments on the interim agreement, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he is "neither for nor against" the deal.
"Some people congratulate me, or others, but this is meaningless. What congratulations? What has happened so far neither guarantees a deal - or talks leading to a deal, nor does it guarantee the content of a deal. It guarantees none. It doesn't even guarantee the talks will go on till the end and will lead to a deal."
In making the statement, Khamenei is demanding all the current sanctions on Iran be lifted.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also says the sanctions must be lifted as soon as a final deal is implemented.
The US side is holding to its position that the sanctions will be removed gradually.
US State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke.
"Under the agreed-upon parameters, sanctions will be suspended in a phased manner upon verification that Iran has met specific commitments under a finalized joint comprehensive plan of action. The process of sanctions suspension or relief will only begin after Iran has completed its major nuclear steps and the breakout time has been increased to at least a year. So that's consistent with what we said over the last week or so, and that was agreed upon by -- all the parties in Lausanne."
Last week's preliminary deal stipulates Iran must slash its stockpile of enriched uranium and cut the number of its centrifuges by at least two-thirds.
In return, the international sanctions currently being imposed on Tehran will be lifted, as soon as the United Nations confirms Iran's compliance.
The deal is being celebrated by many in Iran.
However, it's being dismissed by hardliners who contend Iran has surrendered too much in exchange for too little.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, are preparing to resume negotiations with Iran to try to hammer out a final deal by the end of June.
Palestinians agree to join forces with Syrian army to fight IS militants in Yarmouk camp
Palestinian factions in Syria's Yarmouk refugee camp have agreed to join forces with Syrian government forces in their fight against Islamic State militants which have invaded the camp.
Islamic State fighters overran much of Yarmouk last week, establishing a foothold in the Syrian capital Damascus for the first time.
The camp itself had already been under siege by Syrian government forces for 2-years before the Islamic State moved in.
Anti-government Palestinian militias and members of the Free Syrian Army have been trying to hold-off the Islamic State fighters.
The new military alliance is backed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is warning the new alliance will only worsen the humanitarian situation in Yarmouk.
He's calling for an immediate ceasefire.
"After more than two years of a merciless siege, 18,000 Palestine refugees and Syrians are now being held hostage by Da'esh and other extremist militants. A refugee camp is beginning to resemble a death camp. The residents of Yarmouk - including 3,500 children -- are being turned into human shields. They face a double-edged sword - armed elements inside the camp, and government forces outside. We are now hearing worrying reports of a massive assault on the camp and all civilians in it. This would be yet one more outrageous war crime for which those responsible must be held accountable."
Syria's bloody conflict, that has entered its fifth year, has claimed the lives of more than 200-thousand people.
Millions of others have been forced from their homes.
Houthi rebels make gains despite Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have overrun the capital of the oil-rich province of Shabwa, making significant territorial gains, despite heavy Saudi-led airstrikes.
Shabwa is also a stronghold for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
At the same time, the Saudi-led coalition is still struggling to hold-back Houthi forces from the strategic port city of Aden.
The Saudi air strikes, backed by U.S. arms shipments and intelligence sharing, have now entered their third week.
Obama says decision soon on Cuba as state sponsor of terror
U.S. President Barack Obama says he has yet to make a decision whether to remove Cuba from the US list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
He's made the comments during a brief stop-over in Jamaica while on his way to Panama for the Summit of the Americas.
"There's a process involved in reviewing whether or not a country should be on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. That review has been completed at the State Department. It is now forwarded to the White House. Our interagency team will go through the entire thing and then present it to me with a recommendation. That hasn't happened yet."
Cuba's listing as a state terror sponsor is one of the major hurdles left to overcome in Washington's diplomatic reproachment with Havana.
Meanwhile, it's widely expected Obama will speak with Cuban President Raul Castro at the summit in Panama, although no formal meeting has been scheduled.
"In terms of the overall process of establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, I think that they are proceeding as I expected. I never foresaw that immediately overnight everything would transform itself."
The Obama administration announced plans to normalize its relations with Cuba in December after decades of isolation.
It had been expected the two countries would re-open embassies in their respective countries ahead of the Summit of the Americas session in Panama this weekend.
However, three rounds of talks have failed to make much headway.
The Cuban side has been pointing at Washington's failure to delist Havana as a sponsor of state terrorism as the main reason.
S. Carolina officer investigated before for excessive use of force
It's been revealed a South Carolina police officer charged with the murder of an unarmed suspect had previously been investigated for allegedly using excessive force.
Authorities are now re-investigating officer Michael Slager's use of a stun gun in a case dating back to 2013.
Slager is charged with murdering 50-year-old Walter Scott.
Scott, an unarmed black man, was shot in the back after running away from Slager following a brief scuffle.
The victim was originally pulled over by Slager for a routine traffic violation.
He is being held without bail and faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Meanwhile, civil rights leaders are demanding the North Charleston Police Departent create a citizens review board to look at other complaints against its officers.
Dot Scott is the head of the local branch of the NAACP.
"When the evidence at the scene does not support what the officer says and yet, time and time again, that's what's accepted, that tells you that it is a business as usual. When an officer at 9:30 in the morning on a Saturday feels comfortable enough in open space to fire and execute another citizen and then boldly tamper with the evidence, that tells you there's a culture here that it's alright."
The shooting of Walter Scott is the latest in a string of high-profile police shootings involving black victims and white police officers in the United States over the past year.
The incidents have stirred debate across the United States about how police used their weapons, as well as racial profiling.
Gunman kills 3 in Milan court
New questions are being raised about security in courthouses in Italy.
This follows a shooting at a court in Milan on Thursday which left 3-people dead.
A man set to stand trial in a bankruptcy hearing shot and killed a judge, his former lawyer and his co-defendant.
The suspect then managed to make it out of the courthouse before finally being captured some 25-kilometers away.
Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando.
"The technological security measures were working, but evidently, and we will obtain more information during the investigation, the system altogether was subject to grave errors. We have asked the heads of office to operate as fast as possible to figure out the causes for these errors."
The area of Milan where the shooting took place is just a few blocks away from the city's main tourist area.
The motivation behind the shooting remains unclear.
Biz Reports
Anchor
First, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.
U.S. stocks posted modest gains on Thursday, as the easing concern about Greece boosted investor sentiment.
Greece on Thursday repaid a loan installment worth 460-million euros to the International Monetary Fund.
There had been speculation the Greek government might have balked at the repayment, as its been trying to retool its loan agreements with its international creditors.
At the same time, the US Labor Department has revised its initial jobless claims to 281-thousand.
This has come in below the market consensus of 285-thousand.
At market close,
The Dow Jones picked up 0.3 percent.
The S&P 500 gained half a percent.
The Nasdaq also climbed half a percent.
Over in Europe,
European equities rose to their highest level in nearly 8-years on the prospect of more merger and acquisitios, as well as figures showing a strong recovery in Europe's auto sector.
German data also helped to lift the mood, with seasonally adjusted exports rising 1.5 percent in February after dipping 2.1 percent in January.
At the close, both Britain's FTSE 100 and Germany's DAX jumped 1.1 percent.
France's CAC 40 gained 1.4 percent.
Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect might increase in volume
It's being reported the China Securities Regulatory Commission is considering raising the daily investment quota through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect system.
Reports suggest the CSRC has been talking with several brokerage firms about the planned move.
This follows word the daily investment quota by mainland investors in Hong Kong stocks has been reached in recent days.
Mainland investors used the entire 10.5 billion yuan quota for buying Hong Kong listed stocks on Wednesday.
This pushed up the Hang Seng by some 3.7 percent on Wednesday.
A lack of initial interest by institutional investors on both sides had been raising questions about the viability of the Stock Connect system in the early stages.
Shanghai offers bigger discounted mortgages to spur home-buying
The municipal government of Shanghai is raising the limit of the amount of money people can borrow from the city's public housing fund.
Starting on Wednesday, first-time home buyers will be able to borrow up to a million yuan.
The current ceiling is 600-thousand yuan.
The Public Housing Fund is a compulsory savings account to which Chinese workers and their employers have to contribute.
The fund offers a mortgage rate below that of commercial banks.
Market analysis suggests the average cost of a new home in Shanghai came in at 3.2 million yuan last year.
The move follows a decision by the central government to allow first-time home buyers who use the Housing Fund to only put down 20-percent as a down payment.
This is down from 30-percent.
The minimum down payment for second-home buyers has also been reduced to 40-percent from the previous 60 to 70 percent threshold.
Call-in Corporate News of the Week with Doug Young
Anchor:
Let's check out some of the main events taking place on the corporate front in China this week.
Joining me on the line now is Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
Story 1:
Wealth Management Funds Dump Alipay's Payments Service En Masse
A number of well-known wealth management funds have chosen to exit from Alipay's payment service in protest of the latter's raising services fees.
Investors in those funds found they are no longer able to buy such funds using Alipay, the payment arm of China's ecommerce giant Alibaba.
The funds suggest their exit from Alipay's platform was rather forced because Alipay is charging an unreasonable rate of service fees which make their business unprofitable.
Most online payment platforms agree on a rate of 0.3 to 0.6 percent service fee on wealth management funds.
However, the rate is hardly enforced due to the low profitability of those funds.
Questions:
1. Some fund managers suggest Alipay is trying to force out those other funds in order to establish its own fund, Tianhong Fund, as a kind of sole player on its platform, but Alipay has denied such allegations. Do you find Alipay's denial of the allegations convincing?
2. There is no free lunch. But if Alipay indeed tried to force out other funds, does that make its Tianhong Fund more attractive to investors or rather put them off due to the lack of a variety or choice?
3. There are a number of other online payment services that investors can still turn to when it comes to investing in wealth management funds, one notable example would be Alipay's archrival Licaitong run by Tencent. Is the spat between Alipay and those funds good news for Tencent?
Story 2:
55Tuan (pronounced WuWu tuan) has made a lukewarm debut on the Nasdaq.
Beijing-based group buying website WuWuTuan has made its initial public offering on the Nasdaq.
At close on Wednesday, shares of the company have only gained a moderate 2 percent.
Wowo has aimed at raising 40 million dollars through the IPO.
Among its mostly depressed peers, the company did however, turn a profit last year, grossing some 20 million dollars during the first nine months.
Questions:
1. We have been expecting Meituan, the real big player to make some splash on Wall Street this year, but Wowo seems to have taken the pre-emptive strike so to speak. Is this fund raising going to affect Meituan's expected IPO later in the year?
2. Wowo and Meituan are one of the few survivors in the group buying market. Most other websites have so far all turned to big internet giants like Tencent and Baidu, either acquired by the latter, or received the latter's funding. Why Wowo thinks it still has a chance to fight on its own terms?
Back Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
Deliveries of new-energy cars double in Q1 in China
New stats show the sale of new-energy vehicles in China have doubled through the first quarter.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers is reporting deliveries of new-energy hit over 26-thousand units during the January to March period.
Deliveries of purely electric vehicles hit more than 15-thousand.
Word of this comes on the heels of the Ministry of Transport putting out new plans to have 200-thousand new-energy buses and 100-thousand new-energy taxis on the road in Chinese cities by 2020.
Authorities in the Beijing, Tianjian and Hebei region are now requiring that at least one-in-three new buses, taxis and logistics vehicles put on the roads in the region have to be electricity-driven.
Finnair to operate Airbus A350 on long-haul flights to China
Finnish national carrier Finnair has announced its going to start using its new Airbus A350's for its flights among Helsinki, Shanghai and Beijing.
The daily service with the A350 will begin between Helsinki and Shanghai in October.
Daily flight between Helsinki and Beijing will start in November.
Finnair has total of 19 Airbus A350s on-order.
The A350 can seat 297 passengers.
Britain Discovers Mega-size Oil Basin in Southeast England
A British energy company says its discovered a massive oil field in southeastern Britian.
UK Oil & Gas Investments says the field may contain as much as 100-billion barrels of oil.
By comparison, around 42-billion barrels of oil has been pumped out of the North Sea over the past 40-years.
One complication to extraction may be opposition to large-scale drilling in the area.
The oil field covers heavily-populated areas including Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.
Headline News
China reiterates reclamation on Nansha Islands fall within sovereignty
The Chinese government is standing firm against new concerns being raised about reclamation work being done on the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying says construction on Nansha Islands is within China's sovereig right and does not affect any other country.
Hua says that after the construction, the islands will have more comprehensive facilities. Besides the necessary ones for military needs, most of the facilities are for civil services
At the same time, Hua notes strict standards for environmental protection are being adhered to in the construction.
China's top legislature keeps closer eye on government with inquiries
It's been announced more senior government officials are going to be brought before the National People's Congress to answer questions about their work in addressing public concerns.
The move is part of a plan by the NPC Standing Committee better-use its special inquiry system by making more vice premier-level officials accountable.
The system was first initiated in 2010 to allow the country's top legislature quiz government officials about specific issues during its bi-monthly session.
So far just 15 special inquiries have taken place.
Ministry in rare move to reject hydropower project
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has shot down a proposal for a hydropower project on the Jinsha River, which is an upstream section of the Yangtze River.
In making the decision, the Ministry says the project will push fish reserves in the Yangtze past the ecological red line.
The thousand megawatt project is being proposed by the Three Gorges Project Corporation.
This is the government-backed group which built the Three Gorges Dam a decade ago.
While the Ministry of Environmental Protection has rejected the proposal, the project isn't officially dead yet.
Final approval lies in the hands of the State Council, China's cabinet.
China court jails 11 for people trafficking
Eleven people will have to continue serving their jail sentences in Guangxi for the kidnapping and trafficking of Vietnamese women.
The Guangxi Higher People's Court has upheld the verdicts handed down to the members of the human trafficking ring.
The group would lure the women into hotel rooms in Guangxi, then tie them up and drive them into neighboring Guangdong.
From there, they would be sold.
The group kidnapped a total of 16 women over a 4-month period from late 2012 to March of 2013.
All the victims have since been repatriated back to Vietnam.
Haiti migrant boat sinks off coast, killing 21
As many as 21 people are dead after boat full of migrants sank off the northern coast of Haiti.
The boat, which left Haiti overnight on Wednesday, sank off the coast after running into bad weather.
Local reports say at least 21 bodies have so-far washed up on-shore.
There are also reports of survivors.
However, details remain sketchy at this point.
Newspaper Picks
Global Times
Headline
Top 10 archaeological finds
Summary
Chinese archaeological experts have selected the country's top 10 archaeological finds through last year.
The Dabona Cemetery in western Yunnan and the Zhang Zhung Kingdoms Tombs in Tibet are among the 10 major finds.
The earliest one dates back over 600-hundred years.
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China Daily
Headline
Australian apartment purchase
Summary
A Chinese businessman has purchased Australia's most expensive apartment in Melbourne's tallest apartment tower for 25 million US dollars.
The 750-square-meter penthouse spans the entire top floor of the skyscraper.
Construction of the tower itself isn't going to be finished until 2019.
The same report in the China Daily is suggesting that Chinese buyers are currently purchasing some 12 percent of new homes in Australia.
=====
Beijing News
Headline
Chinese tourist death
Summary
A 70-year-old Chinese woman has died after bumping into another tourist on the Great Wall near Beijing.
The woman hit her head on the wall after bumping into a Canadian tourist who is waling down the wall in a fast speed a few days ago.
Police are treating the incident as an accident.
======
Beijing Times
Headline
New Energy plates
Summary
Over 37-hundred applications for the latest round in Beijing's License plate lottery have applied for new energy vehicles.
The figure is a record high.
====
Shanghai Daily
Headline
Office workers delay meals
Summary
A new survey is suggesting many white-collar employees in Shanghai are going hungry due to pressure in the workplace.
Over 80-percent of some 17-hundred office workers polled says they "usually" eat lunch or dinner at irregular times due to their busy schedules.
=====
Chongqing Economic Times
Headline
School Uniforms in Museum
Summary
High School uniforms from the city of Shenzhen are being added into a modern life collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
The museum says the school uniforms have become an important part of China's pop culture.
Special Reports
Meet in Beijing Arts Festivals will kick off on April 23rd
Anchor
Final preparations are underway for this year's "Meet in Beijing" Arts Festival.
The event, now in its 15th year, will open on April 23rd and run through May.
CRI's Liu Xiangwei has the details.
Reporter
Fans of the arts in Beijing, whether they are interested in American ballet dance or northwest China's acrobatics, will have a whole month and more to enjoy a cultural feast at the 15th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival. 42 art troupes and more than 100 musical bands from around the world will showcase their passion and talent.
This year the festival will feature American culture as a highlight. From the ballet classic Swan Lake, to choirs, jazz, even cuisine culture, various art forms from across the ocean will enjoy the spotlight in Beijing.
Latin American culture will also be emphasized, as percussion music, folk songs and modern dance from Argentina, Mexico, and many other countries race to showcase their wares.
What's more, arts fans will set their eyes on northwest China during the festival, where rich cultural treasures are waiting to be rediscovered. A major dance show called "The Youth of the Desert" will be brought from Xinjiang to Beijing for the very first time, aa testament to the endeavors of a generation of Chinese on the vast desert there.
Shen Jian is the head of Xinjing Production and Construction Corps.
"During the creative process, we've found a resonant part among all of us, which is our youth. We believe there's only barren desert. There's no barren youth time. We hope our work will convey this message and win ourselves more friends from all over the world."
As the piece de resistance for the closing performance, China's national heritage Peking Opera will be given prominence at this year's festival. A well-known play called Unicorn Purse will feature Zhang Huoding, and showcase the life of a charitable girl. Not long after the festival, Zhang Huoding and her team will travel to New York City, and perform the same piece at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts to introduce it to US audiences.
Song Guanlin, head of the China Arts and Entertainment Group, which is hosting the festival:
"To close the festival with a Peking Opera masterpiece, it's like an echo to history, and to the feature country of America. We all know that back in 1930, Maestro Mei Lanfang visited the U.S. with a reverberating Peking Opera performance which had enormous repercussions."
A kaleidoscope of arts and culture, the 15th "Meet in Beijing Arts Festival" will commence on April the 23rd, and last for more than five weeks. 100 indoor and 50 outdoor performances will be seen onstage. Ticket prices will be friendly too. Some will even be issued free of charge.
Back Anchor
CRI's Liu Xiangwei reporting.
Sports
F1: Sebastian Vettel Optimistic, But Realistic in Shanghai
The Formula One circuit heads to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, and it's no longer a safe bet that Mercedes will top the podium by the end of the weekend.
Mercedes came into the 2015 season as the team to beat following a dominant campaign last year that saw Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg sweep to victory in 16 of 19 races.
But Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel's first-place win in Malaysia showed that the rest of the field wasn't prepared to move aside.
Tire degradation due to the extreme heat aided Vettel down in Malaysia, and while he stays realistic about the strength of his Mercedes competitors, Vettel says his team aims to stay ahead of the pack in Shanghai.
"It was nice for them to get that feeling again. But, as i said, for the next races nothing has changed. We want to confirm that we have a strong package and a strong car and want to make sure that we stay ahead the people that we stayed ahead of in the last couple of races."
Hamilton, who captured the season-opening race in Australia and was second in Malaysia, will be hoping for a boost on a track where he's enjoyed considerable success.
He's won the Chinese Grand Prix three times - more than any other driver - and finished on the podium six times overall.
The Chinese Grand Prix revs up this Sunday.
NBA: Preview, Thabo Sefolosha Breaks Leg, Will Miss Rest of Season
In hoops Acton, over in the National Basketball Association:
Just two games on deck this morning:
Getting underway at about 8 a.m., Beijing time:
The Chicago Bulls are taking on the Miami Heat. The Bulls have Derek Rose back before they hit the post-season, while Miami are still in a battle to earn a playoff spot.
And the Golden State Warriors will host the Portland Trailblazers. Golden State are in danger of losing three straight, but are 14-0 at home. Portland are on the hunt for home-court advantage in the playoffs and have won seven of their last nine.
In off-court news,
ESPN is reporting that Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha suffered a fracture in his leg and will miss the rest of the regular and post season.
Sefolosha reportedly sustained the injury while resisting arrest outside a Manhattan nightclub, following the stabbing of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland.
Sefolosha and fellow Hawk Pero Antic were arrested for blocking officers frome establishing a crime scene where the attack occured.
Football: Weekend Preview
Switching over to football;
In upcoming English Premiere League action this weekend:
Arsenal look to make a play for the league's top spot when they go into their game against Burnley.
Southampton take on Hull City;
Swansea will face Everton;
Sunderland hit the pitch against Crystal Palace;
Tottenham will battle Aston Villa;
West Brom Albion will take on Leicester;
Stoke will face West Ham.
Then on Sunday,
Leaders Chelsea take on QPR
And third-place Manchester United will go up against fourth-place Manchester City.
In weekend action from La Liga:
Barcelona will take on Sevilla and Real Madrid will go up against Eibar.
Chelsea Offers Record $6mln for J-League Striker
English Premier League leaders Chelsea have offered to buy Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto from FC Tokyo.
Japanese news outlet Sports Nippon reported that Chelsea offered about six million U.S. dollars for Muto, which would be a record offer from an overseas club for a J-League player.
Muto confirmed the offer, but the 22-year-old has not made a decision yet.
Hockey: NHL Recap/Preview
And in Hockey action taking place this morning:
Taking a look at some games underway or about to get underway shortly in the National Hockey League:
The New York Rangers are hosting the Ottawa Senators, who need to win to maintain their hopes of getting into the playoffs: (UPDATE)
And Boston are racing for the East's final playoff spot as they take on the already eliminated Florida Panthers: (UPDATE)
Montreal could wrap up the Atlantic Division title if they emerge victorious over the Detroit Redwings, who are hunting for their 24th trip to the post-season: (UPDATE)
Later this morning:
The defending champions Los Angeles Kings are in a do-or-die situation against Calgary. LA is on the brink of elimination, while Calgary is one win away from a playoff berth.
And Winnipeg could nab their second playoff showing in franchise history with a win over Colorado.
Golf: Masters Round 1 Recap
And over in the Masters down at Augusta National:
Twenty-one-year-old American Jordan Spieth is at the top of the leaderboard at 8 under.
In second, it's Jason Day, who is 6 under through the 16th.
World no. 1 Rory McIlroy is 1 under, as is defending champ Bubba Watson and 12 others that are tied for 19th.
Tiger Woods is through round one at one over par.
Entertainment
Hayden Christensen to Star in US-China co-produced 'Marco Polo'
Canadian actor Hayden Christensen, of Star Wars fame, will star in Marco Polo, the latest co-production between Paramount and China Film Group.
Christensen shot to fame for his legendary role as Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels.
Chinese firms Yuehua Entertainment and Huahua Film & Media Culture, as well Phoenix Entertainment are all part of this big-budget co-production.
Rob Cohen is directing the feature, which is billed as a fantasy movie with tones of action.
Polo was the Venetian merchant who embarked on a 24-year journey in China in the 13th century.
His adventures were later chronicled in a book that is widely considered to be the introduction of Chinese culture to Europe.
Polo's early years in China are being dramatized by another Netflix series.
Re-discovered WWII documentary returns to China
A documentary film that focuses on China's resistance to the Japanese invasion during World War II is set to greet Chinese audiences, more than 70 years after it was made.
The Oscar winner, 'Kukan': The Battle Cry of China, was filmed by American correspondent Rey Scott in the 1930s.
Sponsored by Chinese American filmmaker Li Ling-Ai, Scott visited China four times since 1937, and he recorded the hardships faced by ordinary people in the war-torn China.
The research and collaborative innovation center of Chongqing has acquired the rights to screen the film in China.
The movie premiered in the United States in 1941 and was even watched by late U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
"Helios" selected as Beijing International film festival's closing film
The 5th Beijing International film festival has picked Hong Kong crime thriller "Helios" to be the closing film.
The film festival will kick off on April 16.
( helios trailer)
"Helios" is film about military elites from China and South Korea who team up to help deal with a nuclear weapons crisis.
The movie focuses on exploring the relationship between traditional Chinese martial arts and Chinese astrology.
The film is a follow-up to award-winning blockbuster Cold War by the local directing duo Sunny Luk and Longman Leung.
The multi-star cast involves some of the names in the region including mainland actor Wang Xueqi, Hongkong actor Jacky Cheung, Nick Cheung, Taiwan actor Chang Chen and South Korean heart throb Ji Jin-Hee.
"Helios," is scheduled to hit the theatres on April 30th.
Sylvia Chang makes comeback with 'Murmur of the Hearts'
Veteran Taiwan filmmaker Sylvia Chang is making a comeback after a seven-year hiatus with her new film "Murmur of the Hearts."
The movie is about three young people living in Taiwan who are haunted by their past and the hidden truth about their broken families.
Chang says, love and compassion, have been the focal point of all her films and her latest offering is no exception.
"The significance of this film, to me, is to create a fond memory, positive emotions, and bring warmth back to society. For the past two years, I've paid a lot of attention to issues pertaining to the younger generation. "
Chang enlisted familiar faces from her previous projects with new ones — including Malaysian actress Lee Sinje and Taiwan actor Lawrence Ko, playing a mother and son who become estranged.
Isabella Leung from Macau and Golden Horse nominee Joseph Chang play lovers whose relationship is rocked by an unwanted pregnancy.
"Murmur of the Hearts" will be released on April 17th.
Jeff Beck Preps Live Album, Two new studio tracks
British rock guitarist Jeff Beck is planning to release a live album in May.
It will also include two new studio tracks. They will be the iconic guitarist's first new songs since 2010.
Jeff Beck Live+ is slated to be release on May 5th
Recorded at various venues throughout 2014, the album boasts 14 cuts from across Beck's vast career, including hit singles "Morning Dew," "Big Block," and Beck's Beatles' cover "A Day In the Life."
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick look at the headlines before we go...
The Chinese government is standing behind its land reclamation projects currently underway in the Nansha Islands.
The first suspect nabbed in the "Fox Hunt 2015" campaign has been tracked down in Greece.
Iran's Supreme Leader is refusing to endorse the new nuclear accord reached by his country and world powers.
In business... Chinese authorities are reportedly preparing to increase the daily quota for the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect system.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together. |