新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2016/02/13（在线收听）

The Beijing Hour

Evening Edition

Shane Bigham with you on this Saturday, February 13th, 2016...

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on the program this evening...

China's Foreign Minister has expressed the country's opposition to the deployment of a US missile shield in South Korea, saying the deployment of the weapons would be harmful to regional stability...

More victims of last Saturday's earthquake have been found in the wreckage of the Wei Guan building in southern Taiwan. 116 deaths have been confirmed so far...

And Syria's embattled president has vowed to retake all territory in his country, saying the ceasefire being worked on now will not stop the government's fight against terrorism...

Sound of the Week will be heard in the second half of the program...

All of that coming up in the next hour, but first, just a reminder there are several ways to reach out to us here on the Beijing Hour.

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You can also visit crienglish.com for the latest news and information from China Radio International.

Top News

China Opposes to the deployment of missile defence system in South Korea

China has expressed opposition to the joint deployment of a missile defense system by South Korea and the United States.

During an interview with Reuters, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea is harmful to regional stability.

"The scope of the coverage goes far beyond the defense needs of the Korean peninsula. The range reaches far into into the Asian continent. This directly affects the strategic security interests of China and other countries on the Asian continent."

Seoul and Washington revealed plans to launch the THAAD system to defend against possible attacks from North Korea.

As one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world, THAAD can intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or just outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight.

Talks on the deployment are reportedly to begin as early as next week.

In regards to the situation in the Korean Peninsula, The Foreign Minister says Beijing supports the United Nations Security Council to take further steps to curb North Korea's nuclear activities.

"Sanctions are not the right way to go to achieve the Security Council's goal. The purpose should be to make sure that the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula will be brought back to the channel of a negotiation-based resolution, because this is the only right way out, and we have been in communications with the United States, Russia and other relevant parties. "

Wang Yi said China insists that there should be no nuclear weapons on the peninsula, no matter whether they were possessed by the north or the south side, and no matter whether they were developed locally or introduced from the outside.

The Foreign Minister also adds that China, a neighboring country of the Korean Peninsula and a major stakeholder in regional stability, also maintains that the Korean Peninsula denuclearization should be achieved via dialogue, not war, and that China's national security interests should be guaranteed

Wang Yi was in the German city of Munich, where senior diplomats from major countries have gathered to discuss the peace process in Syria.

On the sideline of the meetings, Wang Yi has met with his South Korean and American counterparts separately.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se says his country will keep communicating with Beijing over the deployment of the defense system.

North Korea suspends probe into Japanese abductees in response to sanctions

North Korea is ending an investigation into Japanese abductees taken decades ago.

North Korean state media broadcast a statement saying the decision is in response to Japan's expanded nuclear-related sanctions.

Japan had eased some earlier sanctions against North Korea after Pyongyang promised in 2014 to re-investigate the kidnappings, which are a highly sensitive issue in Japan.

But following North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday, Japan imposed new measures against Pyongyang.

The measures, which require Cabinet and parliamentary action, will include expanded restrictions on travel between the countries and a complete ban on visits by North Korean ships to Japanese ports.

Tokyo says Pyongyang's decision to end the investigation is regrettable.

U.S. House of Representatives Passes North Korea Sanctions Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation on Friday broadening sanctions to punish North Korea for its nuclear program.

Representative Eliot Engel, the Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says the package includes sanctions targeting North Korea and those who do business with it.

"The sanctions in this bill would focus especially on North Korean elites who conduct shady transactions with shell corporations and cover up the money trail."

House Republicans and Democrats joined together on this vote, passing the measure by a vote of 408-2 and sending it to U.S. President Barack Obama to sign into law.

The Obama administration has said it is not opposed to the bill, but officials declined to say whether or when Obama would sign it.

The legislation also appropriates 50 million US dollars for the resumption of radio broadcasts into North Korea, including the purchase of communications equipment, and support for humanitarian assistance programs.

Taiwan quake death toll rises to 116

There are now 116 confirmed deaths in southern Taiwan, one week after an earthquake toppled several buildings.

114 of those deaths happened at the site of the Wei Guan building, an apartment complex that came crashing down during the shaking, early in the morning last Saturday.

The body of the last missing resident of Weiguan Building was retrieved this afternoon.

The police received a report that one person was missing after he went out exercising on Feb. 6, but he is not a resident of the building and whether his missing was caused by the quake remains unknown.

Memorials were held for the quake victims on Friday.

Leading political figures including Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen attended the ceremony.

10.3 Million Passengers Seen During Last Day of Spring Festival Holiday

Railway stations across China are expected to receive 10.3 million passengers today, the last day of the seven-day Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

According to China Railway, around 800 extra trains are said to be added to meet the high passenger volume during the travel peak.

Beijing railway stations have seen a growing passenger flow as people are heading home and back to work.

"I came back from Henan Province. I will start to work tomorrow, so I came back a day in advance for a rest."

Other railway stations in China such as Zhengzhou Railway Station and Anhui Railway Station have also seen a travel peak in the last day of the return rush, receiving an estimated 140,000 and 64,000 passengers respectively.

Meanwhile, snow and fog hit parts of China, disrupting a post-holiday travel rush on roads and highways as millions return from their family reunions.

"we want to go back to Wuxi but have been stuck in a 3 kilometer traffic jam."

"We have waited here for at least half an hour"

Harbin Bus station has also been influenced by the snowy weather and has taken measures to tackle the issue:

"we have 200 buses that are unable to run and more than 5000 passengers who have been trapped here. So we will rearrange our buses according to different weather conditions. Also, as highways close, we will provide special services to help travelers return their tickets."

The foggy and snowy weather has led to the temporary closure of sections of 69 expressways across the country.

HK sees largest drop of mainland tourists during Spring Festival holidays

Anchor:

Travel authorities in Hong Kong say the recent violence in Mong Kok does not appear to be deterring tourists.

However the island did witness its greatest drop in the number of mainland tourists in a decade during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Our Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has the story.

Report:

Hong Kong has seen a 10 percent year-on-year decline in the number of mainland tourists during the Spring Festival holiday, while the number of mainland tourist groups plummeted by 70 percent, to about 120 groups per day.

A rarely seen riot took place in Mong Kok on the first night of the new lunar calendar, in which more than 100 people were injured, with fires lit in the streets and bricks thrown at police.

Some mainland tourists say their itinerary was not affected by the incident.

"I am planning to spend 10 to 20 thousand HK dollars to buy electronics, clothes and shoes. Hong Kong is a city ruled by law, and should be a safe place. I believe it is only a small fraction of people who are making trouble."

But others say they worry about their safety when traveling to the city.

"The clashes were scarier than I thought, because I've heard Hong Kong is a civilized society and people have good manners."

"I am a little bit worried about my safety. I don't feel very secure here."

Shop owners in Mong Kok say far fewer tourists visited their stores during the holiday this year.

"From Monday till now, no one would like to come to this area. There are more police than tourists. My business is not even half as good as last year, what can I do? What should I do after the holiday?"

Hong Kong's Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung believes that local tourism will go through a tough time for quite a while, but the violence in Mong Kok does not appear to have put tourists off from coming to the city.

"The swift response from the police has reassured visitors that Hong Kong is still a safe destination. We haven't received any inquiries from abroad about the incident. I hope this is a solo case."

The first week in the lunar new year in Hong Kong, which was supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness, has proven to be eventful.

On Saturday morning, a large fire, suspected to be arson, broke out in a parking lot, following a similar incident where dozens of rubbish bins near Mong Kok were set on fire during the week.

No evidence discovered yet has shown any connection between the fires and the riot.

For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.

China refutes British latest six-month report on Hong Kong

China's Foreign Ministry has issued a statement, urging Britain to stop interfering in China's internal affairs as they relate to Hong Kong.

The comment was made in response to the British government's latest six-month report to parliament on Hong Kong.

A ministry spokesman said that Beijing is strongly displeased with and firmly opposed to the report, adding that it contains groundless accusations against China.

The spokesperson says the principle of "one country, two systems" has made significant achievements, as Hong Kong residents enjoy every right and freedom they are entitled to in accordance with law.

The spokesman notes that the central government is determined to implement these principles in the future.

Since Hong Kong was returned to China in July 1997, the British Foreign Secretary has reported to Parliament at six-month intervals on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong.

Beijing sees less fireworks sold during 2016 Spring Festival

Fireworks sales in Beijing during Spring Festival are down significantly compared to previous years.

The number of fireworks outlets in the capital declined by 20 percent compared to last year, and the official permit period for fireworks sales has ended two days earlier than what it did in 2015.

Fireworks have long been blamed for the city's worsening smog problem, prompting the government to take harsher measures forbidding or limiting firework displays.

Tao Liang is manager of Panda Fireworks, a major firework producer in the capital.

"Our stock volume this year is about 180,000 cases. Actually our stock volume has kept dropping in the past few years, which should be attributed to the influence of overall external factors like climate and consumption changes."

Tao said instead of promoting sales of big products that are worth thousands of yuan, they have decided to prioritize small and medium-sized products that are much cheaper and safer.

To win the market back, firework makers have tried to develop alternative products made with new chemicals containing fewer heavy metals.

Hangzhou and Guizhou on list of "52 places to go in 2016" by NY Times

Anchor:

Each January, the Travel section of the New York Times selects 52 must-see places around the world.

According to the magazine's official website, reasons for selection can include anything from the opening of a new museum, a new transportation option, or an historical anniversary.

Last year, Chengdu was the only Chinese city to make it onto the list. But this year includes two listings from China - Hangzhou and Guizhou.

Our reporter Li Jianhua has more on why the two cities were selected.

reporter:

Music evoking the tranquility and beauty of Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Hangzhou is one of the seven ancient capitals in China. As the saying goes "Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below" the reputation of its stunning natural beauty has spread far and wide.

Most people in China have probably heard of the City's West Lake, as it was the setting for a very well-known TV show, Legend of the White Snake, which aired back in the 1990s.

The show was based on a Chinese folktale, the white snake falls in love with Xu Xian and marries him, despite knowing that many obstacles will lie ahead of them. The West Lake was the place they would meet.

West Lake is in west of Hangzhou city. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, it is divided into five sections by three causeways. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands contained within its boundaries.

For those seeking sublime serenity, then the Lingyin scenic zone in Hangzhou is the place to go.

The Lingyin scenic zone is not only the seat of the famous ancient Lingyin Temple, built thousands of years ago, it also has the Feilaifeng, ancient grotto art. Here famous mountains, waters, celebrities, anecdotes, springs, pavilions, and Buddhist statues a re all blended perfectly.

Jin Zheng is a native in Hangzhou. He says apart from the myriad of tourist attraction, visitors should also sample Hangzhou's food.

"If someone comes to Hangzhou, they mustn't miss Dongpo Pork. You might be taken aback by its appearance—it looks really fatty, but it doesn't taste as fatty as it looks like. This course is said to be invented by Su Dongpo when he was assigned to work in Hangzhou. Su was a great calligrapher and painter back in Northern Song Dynasty 900 years ago. In addition, I would highly recommend you to go have a look at Qing Hefang Street. The buildings on both sides of the street appear to be really quaint, in which you would find many restaurants as well. Huangfanwan and Zhiweiguan are definitely worth going."

According to the New York Times, Guizhou has been added to the list because of its authentic Chinese hill tribes untainted by mass tourism.

That's the distinctive sound of the Dong people - a common sound in the mountains.

The diverse population of minorities in Guizhou also allows for a great many ethnic festivals throughout the lunar calender. During the first lunar month, which usually falls in February, the early festival in Kaili, east of the capital, celebrates local culture with displays of horse racing, pipe playing, and comedy performances.

Besides its fascinating peoples, Guizhou is also renowned for its breathtaking scenery.

Yang Qiulu, who lives there, recommends those travelling to Guizhou to visit Huangguoshu waterfall located in the Anshun district of the province.

"The first place I would highly recommend is the huangguoshu waterfall in Anshun. This waterfall is the biggest in China and is well-known for its height of more than 250 feet. When the monsoon season comes every summer, looked at a distance, the waterfall seems to be from the sky. When you are approaching it, you could feel the mist coming into your face. In addition, you can also enjoy the karst cave there. Going boating in the cave and enjoying the craftsmanship of Nature is so breathtaking. "

Guizhou is also home to the Wu River, which is the largest southern tributary of the Yangtze. Running through the isolated, mountainous and ethnically diverse province of Guizhou, it is also the birthplace of Jiangtuan fish, a major component of local cuisine.

"In terms of food, I'd like to talk about the authentic fish in sour soup in Kaili. Kaili is a city in the east of Guizhou where many Miao and Dong people gather. They like 'sour.' But the sourness in this dish is different from the sourness of tomatoes. It is extracted from the local red peppers. The fish, called Jiangtuan fish, is also special, which is only produced in Wu River. Jiangtuan fish is abundant with protein and collagen, which makes the soup fresh and nutritious. "

After years of being nearly sequestered, Guizhou is now also starting to open up due to the rise of tourism. The train ride from the southwest China's province to the bustling city of Guangzhou has been cut from 20 hours to just four since a high-speed rail link opened at the end of 2014.

For those tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, Hangzhou and Guizhou are perfect places to escape to.

But like all hidden gems, they can't stay secret for long. So to experience their authenticity and charm, you'd better shake a leg and set out immediately.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.

Los Angeles shines as romantic getaway

Anchor:

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Red flags have been flying in the City of Angels - Los Angeles - to mark the occasion, and the city is billing itself as a perfect romantic getaway for couples looking to travel.

CRI's Min Rui has more.

Reporter:

From West Hollywood to Beverly Hills, retailers and hoteliers are on hand to help you tell that special person how much you love them.

Currently, all major hotels in West Hollywood are booked solid for Valentine's weekend - and, of course, for the upcoming Grammy Awards.

According to VISIT WEST HOLLYWOOD, three million people visit every year, spending around 900 US million in direct and indirect spending, of which 250 million is spent on retail and high end shopping.

Alex Stettinski, Vice-President and Interim CEO of VISIT WEST HOLLYWOOD, says the area truly has something for everyone, with chic, stylish hotels and unique shopping, Hollywood style.

"Valentine's is a great holiday for West Hollywood. It attracts a lot of people. Regional, nationally and internationally, it's a quaint city in the middle of a huge environment of Los Angeles. It's the most walkable city in California. It has amazingly romantic hotels. It has great very contemporary hotels. It has real mix for everyone".

Mondrian Los Angeles, from Morgans Hotel Group, is famed for the night club SKYBAR.

This year, it's offering the IN LOVE special which includes a romantic room, Le Belge Chocolatier truffles, a bottle of champagne and VIP access to SKYBAR.

SKYBAR General Manager Scott Logan says the place is known for celebrity sightings, and it's a perfect spot for a Valentine's weekend.

"We have all kinds of celebrities that come through here from all parts of the world. On Valentine's Day we have a wonderful hotel package, a very romantic getaway. Stay at the Mondrian hotel, access to SKYBAR that evening. You will have a bottle of champagne, chocolates and a wonderful setting here at SKYBAR".

Looking for the gift for that person who has everything?

Artwork reflecting love and sex are a trend this year according to Art Angels, contemporary art dealers in West Hollywood.

'The Big Kiss" - a massive set of red lips, is priced at 50-thousand US Dollars.

Neon art such as 'Fall in Love' and 'J'adore' are also on sale.

Jacquelin Napal-Comeau, owner of Art Angels, says statement pieces are the perfect Valentine's gift.

"Art is a fantastic gift. It's the gift that keeps on giving. It's something that's with you for generations. It's something very emotional, something that every time you walk by it, whether the person is with you or not, it will always make you think of them. It's something that you can continue to pass on and it's a great investment and very unique".

Original jewelry, decorative gift objects, bespoke interior pieces, fragrance, and original crystal jewelry are also on the best sellers list.

For CRI, I'm Min Rui.

Peace talks do not mean an end of fighting with terrorism: Syrian President

Syria's President says the peace talks to end the country's years long conflict do not mean his government's fight against terrorism will stop.

Bashar al-Assad made the remark during an interview with AFP, as international powers press for a ceasefire.

Speaking in Damascus, the Syrian president vows to retake the entire country.

"We have fully believed in negotiations and in political actions since the beginning of the crisis; however, if we negotiate, it does not mean that we stop fighting terrorism. The two tracks are inevitable in Syria: first, through negotiations, and second through fighting terrorism. And the two tracks are separate from each other."

He also commented on the large amount of Syrian refugees, saying it was up to Europe to stop "giving cover to terrorists" so that Syrians can return home.

World powers meeting in Germany have reached agreements to bring about a cessation of hostilities and allow more access for humanitarian aid.

Following the meetings in Munich, a humanitarian task force for Syria completed its first meeting in Geneva.

Jan Egeland is the Chairman of the Task Force on Humanitarian Access in Syria.

"We will reconvene Wednesday next week, already, and our team on the ground that we had on video from Damascus is going to work tonight and we will renew all requests for access, we are basically now working to solve the problems of the besieged areas."

Egeland says aid convoys will leave for Syria as soon as warring parties give the go-ahead.

U.N. figures show more than 480,000 people are under siege in Syria.

Pope Francis in historic meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba

Pope Francis have held a three-hour landmark meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Havana.

Francis was welcomed at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport by President Raul Castro, before being led to the Protocol Room to hold the historical meeting with the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The two religious leaders discussed relations between the two churches, the international situation and the protection of Christians under the threat of persecution and genocide in the Middle East and North Africa.

This is the first meeting between the two churches since Eastern and Western branches of Christianity split nearly 1,000 years ago.

Egypt reopens Rafah crossing with Gaza Strip for 2 days

Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Saturday, for two days, following a 70-day closure.

The Hamas-ruled Borders and Crossings Corporation said in a statement that Egypt reopened the crossing from its side and the first bus of passengers had already crossed.

It added that the crossing will be working on Saturday and Sunday for Palestinians who want to travel in either directions, adding that the priority is for humanitarian cases, students, and those who hold dual citizenship.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered on Saturday morning waiting for buses to move them into Egypt.

Since 2007, Hamas has been ruling the Gaza Strip, including Rafah crossing, after it violently seized control of the enclave following weeks of internal fighting with security forces of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party.

The last time Egypt reopened the terminal was on on Dec. 3 last year for two days.

Mexico relocates 233 prisoners after riot

More than 230 inmates have been relocated from the overcrowded Topo Chico prison in northern Mexico, following a riot on Friday that resulted in the deaths of 49 prisoners.

Leaders from two gangs, thought to be responsible for causing the riot, are among those who have been transported to other facilities.

The governor of Nuevo Leon says a shortage of funds and a lack of custodians, along with other irregularities at the prison, contributed to the deadly riot.

Suspected microcephaly cases in Brazil rise to 5,079

The number of suspected cases of Microcephaly reported in Brazil is now more-than five thousand.

The total has increased by six percent in the last 10 days.

The rapid increase is attributed to the Zika virus, which has been spreading across the country.

However, for the moment, no formal link has been established between the congenital malformations in newborns and the virus.

Additionally, 24 babies in Brazil have died due to microcephaly and accompanying damage to the nervous system.

German Chancellor expresses confidence of Britain-EU deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is confident that a deal to keep Britain in the European Union will be reached, but warned more compromises may be needed from both sides.

Speaking at a dinner in the German city of Hamburg with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Merkel said issues such as changes to social security systems need to be placed in a European context, not only a British one.

Cameron has defended Britain's desire to protect its sovereignty, appealing for understanding from the European Union in his talks for better membership terms that could be decided next week.

British and EU negotiators agreed to most of a reform package on Thursday.

Weather

Beijing will be clear tonight with a low of minus 6, tomorrow sunny with a high of 1.

Shanghai, overcast tonight with a low of 3, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 6.

Chongqing will see light rain tonight with a low of 8, tomorrow, more rain, high of 8.

Lhasa, clear overnight with a low of 2, tomorrow, sunny, high of 13.

Elsewhere in Asia,

Islamabad expects sunshine tomorrow with a high of 15.

Kabul, cloudy, high of 1.

Down in the Southern Hemisphere:

Sydney, sunny tomorrow with a high of 33.

Brisbane, cloudy, high of 29.

Perth, cloudy skies with a high of 33.

And finally Auckland, New Zealand will be cloudy with a high of 25 degrees Celsius.

That's it for this holiday edition of the Beijing Hour. Stay tuned for Sound of the Week.

Recapping out top headlines before we go...

China's Foreign Minister has expressed the country's opposition to the deployment of a US missile shield in South Korea, saying the deployment of the weapons would be harmful to regional stability...

More victims of last Saturday's earthquake have been found in the wreckage of the Wei Guan building in southern Taiwan. 116 deaths have been confirmed so far...

And Syria's embattled president has vowed to retake all territory in his country, saying the ceasefire being worked on now will not stop the government's fight against terrorism...

On behalf of the Beijing Hour team, its Shane Bigham in Beijing. Tune into the next edition of the Beijing Hour and let's open a window to the world together..