新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2016/02/24（在线收听）

The Beijing Hour

Evening Edition

Shane Bigham with you on this Wednesday February 24th 2016.

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

Coming up on the program this evening...

Chinese and American authorities announce they are close to agreement on new sanctions targeting North Korea's nuclear program...

A Chinese national is among the dead following the crash of a small plane in Nepal...

And the US president has announced plans to close Guantanamo Bay Prison...

In business...new real estate- related borrowing restrictions and regulations for local governments in China...

In sports...tennis results from Dubai and Mexico...

In entertainment...2016 Chinese box office revenue has reached 10 billion yuan at the fastest pace ever...

All of that is coming up in the next hour, but first, a reminder, there are several ways you can reach us at the Beijing Hour.

You can follow our weibo account at weibo.com/beijinghour.

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Email us at [email protected].

Visit ChinaPlusnews.com for the latest news and information from China Radio International.

Top

"Important progress" Made between China and US on UN North Korea resolution

Anchor:

China and the United States have announced progress on a UN resolution to approve new sanctions against North Korea.

This comes after a meeting in Washington between the Chinese Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State.

CRI's He Fei reports from Washington.

Reporter:

China and the US have made progress Tuesday toward a draft UN sanctions resolution to punish North Korea for its recent nuclear tests and push it back to the negotiating table.

After a long talk with US Secretary of State John Kerry, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the draft, which is now under evaluation, can be expected to be approved by the two parties shortly.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi,

"I would like to tell you important progress has been made in the consultations and we are looking at the possibility of reaching agreement on a draft resolution and passing it in the near future."

US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"We have made significant progress, it has been very constructive in the last days, and there is no question that if the resolution is approved, it will go beyond anything that we have previously passed. We both hope that this can move forward very soon."

The two top diplomats both said that sanctions are not the goal but a way to urge North Korea back on track and resume talks on ending its nuclear programme.

Minister Wang Yi also reiterates that China is open to all ideas that lead to talks.

"We have put forward a basic proposal, to pursuing parallel tracks, the denuclearization of the peninsula and the replacement of the Korean armistice with a peace agreement. China is open to different ideas and would like to have further discussions about the approach with interested parties including specific steps that may lead to a resumption of dialogues."

In regards to the South China Sea issue, the two parties (China and the US) again expressed the will to resolve disputes through peaceful means. Here is Minister Wang Yi again.

"At the same time, we are committed to resolving the disputes through dialogue and negotiation in a peaceful way. The South China Sea issue is not and should not become an issue between China and United States. The Secretary and I have agreed to have further dialogue on the South China Sea to deepen our mutual understanding. In particular, it's important to prevent any miscalculation."

When asked about the radar issue in the South China Sea, Wang Yi says China is now facing the fact that advanced armaments and equipment are emerging every day in the area. He adds that no militarization should be a common goal pursued by all related parties.

"We will continue to, based on our commitment, make our efforts, and at the same time we hope that everybody will take concrete actions towards the goal of no militarization rather than engaging in double standards or multiple standards."

This is the third time in a month that the two top diplomats meet in talks. Both parties agree that the two countries have more common interests than disputes, and that broader cooperation will be the theme of the Sino-US relationship.

For CRI, this is He Fei in Washington D.C.

S. Korean military warns of stern retaliation against North Korea's "provocation"

South Korea's military has warned of stern retaliation against "possible provocations" from North Korea.

The statement of Wednesday follows a warning from North Korea the day before, of a possible military strike against South Korea's presidential office.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff have strongly urged Pyongyang to immediately stop provocative acts leading North Korea to destroy itself, saying the North will have to take all the responsibility for all consequences coming from its reckless provocations.

The statement came after the supreme command of the North's army warned that if any "small movements" are found among U.S.-South Koran forces, the first target of attacks would be Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House, and South Korean authorities.

The warning from the North's military said if South Korean armed forces continue to make military provocations despite warnings from North Korea, the North's army would enter the second phase of attacks, which would target the U.S. bases in the Asia-Pacific region and even on U.S. territory.

Aircraft found crashed in Nepal

A missing Tara Airlines plane with 23 people on board has been found crashed in Myagdi District in western Nepal.

Everyone on board has been confirmed dead, including a woman from Hong Kong and a Kuwaiti national.

Local police say the aircraft went down after hitting some trees.

Kashi Nath Poudel is the civil aviation spokesman of Nepal:

"This morning a Tara air twin otter aircraft with calling sign "Alfa hotel" was flying from Pokhara to Jomsom at seven o'clock. We were in contact with the aircraft until eight o'clock but after that we lost contact with them."

Relatives of some of the passengers on the plane have arrived at Pokhara airport for further information.

Flying in Nepal is regarded as highly challenging due to the high terrain, unpredictable weather and poor navigation system on the ground.

Lee Teng-hui's book "betrays the nation": mainland

Anchor:

A spokesman for the central government says comments in a new book written by a former leader of Taiwan "betray the nation."

Lee Teng-hui has claimed that the "Diayu Islands belong to Japan," and has stated his support for "Taiwan Independence" in defiance of the 1992 consensus of the One China principal.

CRI reporter Guo Yan has details.

Reporter:

An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, says the book sets Lee against his compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

"Lee Teng-hui's new book is filled with obvious references to 'Taiwan-independence' and traitorous claims, and shows a colonial, enslavement mentality. The book once again exposes his die-hard Taiwan-independence stance, and his essence of being an enemy to people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The book has received strong condemnation from people on both sides of the Straits."

He stresses that the mainland resolutely opposes all forms of secessionist activities and will take measures to safeguard China's sovereign and territorial integrity.

"I want to stress that, China's sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been split since 1949, and the fact that Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed. We will never allow separation of Taiwan from China by 'Taiwan-independence' force in any name or form."

The spokesperson reiterates the mainland's one China policy and promises no major change in the wake of the island's recent leadership elections.

When asked how the Chinese mainland will interact with the new administration, the spokesman says it will continue to promote peaceful development of ties across the Taiwan Straits and protect peace and stability in the region, on the political basis of the 1992 Consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence.

His words come about a month after Tsai Ing-wen, candidate for Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party or DPP, won the island's recent leadership elections, beating rival Kuomintang candidate Eric Chu.

Tsai has so far been reluctant to state her position on the issue of Taiwanese independence.

She is expected to take office on May 20.

For CRI, this is Guo Yan.

HK expects further economic slowdown this year

Anchor:

The Hong Kong government expect economic growth will slow to somewhere between 1 and 2 percent this year, down from 2.4 percent last year, in the wake of sluggish tourism and declining exports.

CRI's Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has the story.

Report:

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary John Tsang says he has grave concern about Hong Kong's future development in light of recent political volatility, which will affect the economy undoubtedly.

"As Financial Secretary, it is my duty to mobilize resources effectively to maintain Hong Kong's economic development and fiscal health; to support local enterprises, in particular the small and medium enterprises, to cope with economic volatilities; and to safeguard the jobs of workers."

Tsang commented on Wednesday after delivering his annual budget speech. Economic growth in the city came in below the 10 year average of 3.4 percent for the fourth consecutive year.

The major macro-economic indicators are also the worst in most categories since the global financial crisis, with exports of goods and retail sales recording the first annual decline since 2009, and tourism arrivals lower by 2.5 per cent from a year ago.

The unemployment rate remains low at 3.3 percent, but Tsang says the slumping retail and tourism sectors could spill into the job market this year. The government will inject 140 million HK dollars in the sector to enhance Hong Kong's attractiveness and competitiveness.

"The tourism industry has entered a period of consolidation. In view of the changing mix and spending pattern of visitors, we need to review the development strategy of our tourism industry. Other than seeking growth in visitor numbers, we should move towards diversified and quality-driven high value-added services, with a view to attracting more high-spending overnight visitors to Hong Kong."

Meanwhile, Terence Chong, director of the Institute of Global Economics and Finance with Chinese University of Hong Kong, says the government could record a deficit in the next year or two if the economy remains bleak.

"There are cycles in the economy. The property market is declining at the moment, while the public revenue is mainly from land prices, taking profit tax and stamp duties into account, that is about 300 billion HK dollars altogether. If it drops by 10 percent, that's 30 billion less in revenue. It is unlikely the expenditure would decrease in the future, so it is not surprising to see a deficit soon."

In the budget plan, Hong Kong will further support and nurture innovation, start-ups, and creative industries to maintain its competitive edge, as well as coordinate with the nation's "Belt and Road Initiative" to explore Hong Kong's unique role.

For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.

Urban planning authorities react to new urban development guidelines

Anchor:

China's urban planning authorities have released fresh reaction to a newly-released guideline, which pledges to open up gated residential communities in the country.

The document, issued during the weekend, soon triggered wide discussion, with many expressing concerns over safety and property rights.

CRI's Niu Honglin has details.

Reporter:

The government guidelines are aimed at tackling problems associated with urbanization and urban sprawl encroaching on rural areas.

A key aspect of the guideline calls for roads and parking lots in newly built communities to be opened to the wider public, and be added to the urban road system, with older communities also gradually being connected to the public road network.

The idea soon triggered wide discussion.

"I would feel threatened over safety issues. If the cars run through the community, it would also bring safety concerns to the elders and children. And what about the public facilities, the roads and parking issues, who will be responsible for the management?"

"I support the idea in terms of the land itself, because we have to utilize resources and share them. But there need to be improvements in the laws so that they are acceptable to the public."

The measures have also created concerns regarding infringement on residential property rights.

Under the current Property Law, residents of enclosed communities collectively own private roads and spaces within those communities.

Li Linxue, a professor of Urban Planning at Tongji University, says changes to the law are needed if the new guidelines are to be implemented.

"You cannot just pull down the fences and say it's an open community. There is a legal problem in that. These are commercial and residential buildings and since I bought, I own the roads. How can this be resolved?"

To address these concerns, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a written statement on its website on Wednesday.

The statement affirms that the guidelines won't be implemented nationwide in a one-size-fits-all fashion, and that changes won't be secretive.

The ministry explains that local governments need to address different concerns in different regions while implementing the guidelines, as well as taking public concerns into account.

Authorities also vow that while gated residential communities are gradually opened up, resident's legitimate rights will be protected.

The latest reaction follows another one from the top court earlier this week.

Cheng Xin-wen, a presiding judge at China's Supreme People's Court, urged lawmakers to properly address the planned private to public transition, within the legal framework, to facilitate China's long-term urban planning goals.

"With the constant improvement of the law, the legalization of citizens' property right and related protection measures will coordinate well. We will watch the process closely and respond positively."

China began building enclosed residential communities in the 1950's.

However, as the pace of urbanization has quickened, city planners say these developments are hampering effective urban development.

Professor Li says the new measures will help optimize the urban road network.

"This is a big issue in China. We now suffer from a shortage of land. People are finding the land is not being used wisely or efficiently. Open communities could also ease traffic problems."

For now, the State Council guidelines only offer suggestions. How the policy will be implemented still depends on local governments.

For CRI, this is Niu Honglin.

China to promote eco-friendly burial

Chinese authorities have issued a guideline to encourage citizens to adopt environmentally-friendly methods for burial.

To save land and improve graveyard utilization, the new policy advocates eco-friendly ways such as sea burials and encourages family members to share graves.

The guideline suggests populous regions store cremation urns in halls and storage buildings to save space.

The public is encouraged to plant trees and flowers on graves and minimize the size of the tomb stones and abandon hard underground tomb chambers.

At the moment citizens in China have 20 years of rights to graveyard usage.

The guideline encourages local governments to promote the recycling use of graveyards and cultivate the modern funeral culture.

Imported Zika cases in China rise to five

Anchor:

Health officials have confirmed two new imported cases of the Zika virus in China, bringing the total to five.

CRI's Min Rui has more.

Reporter:

The two new cases involve a 38-year-old man and his eight-year-old son from Yiwu City in Zhejiang Province.

Xiong Huang with the National Health and Family Planning Commission has an update on all of the patients.

"Currently, a Zika patient in Jiangxi province has been discharged from hospital after a full recovery. Four other patients are being treated in local hospitals with standard treatments, and their conditions are now stable."

The two latest patients were bitten by mosquitoes while traveling in Fiji and Samoa.

So far all cases in China have been imported from other countries.

Noting that the virus may enter the country again, Li Dexin with Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that strong prevention measures must be taken.

"There are mainly three prevention measures. One is closely monitoring Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine practices to detect patients and isolate them. Two, disease prevention, especially monitoring its spreading agency: mosquito activity, whether they carry the virus. Three, if any epidemic should occur, measures will be taken to exterminate mosquitoes."

Scientists with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have already decoded the genome of the country's first imported case of Zika.

This has greatly helped the understanding of the virus' variations.

Xiong huang warns the risk of spreading of the mosquito-borne disease is still high, as the temperature warms up.

"We will be on high alert as the weather warms up, some parts of the country will enter the active season of mosquito. Once import, the Zika virus has its chance to spread in the region. The National Health and Family Planning Commission will plan ahead to prevent and control the disease."

For CRI, I'm Min Rui.

U.S. reports 14 new cases of possible Zika sexual transmission

American health officials are investigating 14 cases of Zika that may have been transmitted sexually.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says several of the cases involve pregnant women.

The CDC published interim recommendations for protecting people against sexual transmission of the Zika virus earlier this month.

In two of the reported cases, the infection has been confirmed in women whose only known risk factor was sexual contact with an ill male partner.

Although sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, the CDC says mosquito bites remain the primary way that Zika is transmitted.

Beijing has more single women

New official figures show the number of single women over the age of 30 in Beijing is on the rise.

A new survey by Beijing's Statistics Bureau shows 45 percent of the singles between the ages of 30 and 44 were women, up from 40 percent that was sampled five years ago.

Most of these unmarried women live in urban areas and hold college degrees or higher qualifications.

By comparison, most of the unmarried men live in rural areas and more than half of them have only junior high school education.

Obama announced plan to close Guantanamo prison

Anchor:

U.S. President Barack Obama has rolled out his plan to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.

He wants to make good on a campaign pledge he made eight years ago, but the move is expected to run into fierce opposition from Congress as he faces his final year in office.

CRI's Yu Yang reports.

Ann:

Eight years after he promised to shut down the prison during his 2008 campaign, President Obama is finally making his move.

"Today the Defense Department is submitting to Congress our plan for closing the facility at Guantanamo once and for all."

The plan comprises three key elements. First is the transfer of 35 detainees who are already approved to be handed to other countries. Secondly, President Obama vowed to accelerate the periodic reviews of the remaining detainees to determine whether their continued detention is necessary. And lastly, the administration is considering of relocating the suspected terrorists.

President Obama stressed that keeping the prison open is contrary to American values.

"Keeping this facility open is contrary to our values, it undermines our standing in the world. It Is viewed as a stain on our broad record of upholding the highest standards of rule of the law."

In addition, he pointed out that the closure of the prison will also save money. According to the President, 450 million dollars were spent last year alone to keep the facility running.

However, the plan immediately triggered harsh criticism. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the plan flimsy and said his committee would hold hearings on the plan soon.

For CRI, this is Yu Yang.

Chinese Companies Compete with Established Giants at MWC

Anchor:

Chinese phone makers have been making their global ambitions known at this week's Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain.

The success of emerging Chinese smartphone vendors such as Huawei, Xiaomi and ZTE is being put down to the development of mid-range, cheaper devices.

CRI's Luo Wen reports.

Reporter:

Nestling among the big players such as Apple, Samsung, LG and Sony - Chinese companies like Huawei and Alcatel are vying to steal the limelight. Xiaomi too is making its European debut with the Mi5 smartphone.

But the major players are waking up to the threat. Sony is unveiling its new Xperia X smartphone - a mid-range model.

Nicole Scott, Editor of Mobilegeeks, says like Chinese manufacturers, Sony is also targeting people who want a phone that works, at an affordable price.

"Everybody is launching a mid-range phone, because it is all about pricing, versus not necessarily having high specs but having a phone that just works really really well. And we are definitely seeing that at the Sony launch, with the launch of the Xperia X which is a mid-range phone. But Sony is doing it with their own style, it looks good, everything feels high-end, but the specifications are quite budget. And that is definitely in competition to what we are seeing from the Chinese manufacturers."

Also making an impact at the show in Barcelona is Chinese company ZTE, with the launch of the ZTE Blade V7.

The new smartphone will be selling for about 250 euros in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mexico by this summer.

Adam Zeng, CEO of ZTE mobiles, says the company is gaining strength in key markets, which they hope to use to gain traction globally.

"In future, our strategy is to leverage our success in China and the US, and the European markets, to expand into additional strategic countries around the globe. We hope that in the next three to five years, ZTE can be one of the top three smartphone vendors in select markets."

Beijing based company Lenovo is also looking to expand worldwide. The company, which is currently fifth in the global market share race, is launching the Vibe K5 Plus at the show – a 149-U.S. dollar phone only available in emerging markets.

Neil Mawston, smartphone market analyst at Strategy Analytics, warns that no company can be safe as the market is constantly changing.

"The market historically for the last 30 years, in mobiles, has always changed. Companies like Siemens from Germany used to make phones, now they don't. So the market always changes. I think how it is changing at the moment is that we are seeing a swing from developed markets to developing markets. So, more Chinese brands. More Indian brands. And I think potentially also more African brands in the future as well."

This year's Mobile World Congress has attracted around 21-hundred exhibitors worldwide.

The event runs until this Wednesday.

For CRI, this is Luo Wen.

Death toll from tropical cyclone Winston rises to 42 in Fiji

There have been 42 deaths in Fiji from cyclone Winston.

Officials say the government has been gathering information on the number of people who were in urgent need of food and water.

They also warn that more deaths are expected to be confirmed.

The category 5 storm swept through the Pacific Island nation on Saturday, causing widespread destruction.

Several countries, including China, India, New Zealand, and Australia have offered emergency aid.

Weather

Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of -4; sunny tomorrow and a high of 6.

Shanghai, clear tonight with a low of 2; sunny tomorrow with a high of 11.

Chongqing will be overcast with a low of 8; same skies tomorrow, highs of 14.

Lhasa will have some snow tonight with a low of -3; cloudy tomorrow with a high of 8.

Elsewhere in Asia,

Islamabad, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 23.

Kabul, overcast, 5.

Down in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sydney will be sunny, highs of 33.

Brisbane, cloudy, 28.

Perth, sunny, 30.

And finally Auckland will be sunny with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.

Headline News

Assad reassures Putin over cease-fire

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has told Russian President Vladimir Putin his government is ready to assist in implementing a ceasefire in Syria.

Russian media have quoted the Kremlin as saying the two leaders also stressed the importance of the "continued and uncompromising" fight against the Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other terrorist groups.

The U.S. and Russia have agreed to a ceasefire pact which demands both the government and opposition fighters in Syria lay down their arms this weekend.

A coordination center has been set up at Russia's airbase in Syria to implement the impending truce.

Wreckage of missing Nepali plane found

A small plane with 23 people on board has crashed in the mountainous Myagdi District in western Nepal.

Local media say the aircraft crashed after colliding with trees.

All on board have been killed.

Two foreigners were among the 20 passengers -- a Chinese woman from Hong Kong and a person from Kuwait.

The aircraft, operated by domestic carrier Tara Airlines, was flying from Pokhara to Jomsom, which is popular for both tourists and Hindu pilgrims.

It lost contact with the control tower shortly after taking off.

Gated communities will open 'gradually', says ministry

Chinese authorities have rushed to defend and clarify a controversial policy that calls for opening up gated communities to public road systems.

The new policy has drawn wide criticism, with many voicing safety and other concerns.

In an online statement, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development says the government will not take the one-size-fits-all approach in opening up gated communities.

It has also emphasized that the legal rights of residents will be protected.

Earlier, the country's top court said the community road rule still needs legislative support.

Beijing to add 10 parks in 2016

Authorities in Beijing are adding more green space to the city, with 10 more parks planned in 2016.

The city's Bureau of Landscape and Forestry says the capital will have an extra 400 hectares of green space by the end of the year, and half of that area will be public parks.

The parks will be located near residential areas or other densely populated parts of the city.

It's part of efforts by the Beijing government to reach the goal of a forest coverage rate of 42 percent in 2016 and 44 percent by 2020.

Biz Reports

Anchor:

Time to check today's business news, starting with the closing numbers in Asia.

Here is CRI's Min Rui.

Reporter:

China's A-share markets staged a remarkable rally on Wednesday.

Total turnover on the two bourses increased slightly to 580 billion yuan or 90 billion U.S. dollars.

More than 14-hundred stocks gained during the day's trading, with over 60 of them climbing by the daily limit of 10 percent.

The oil sector performed strongly on the day, with PetroChina, the nation's largest oil producer, closing 0.7 percent higher.

Meanwhile, the property sector extended its momentum and posted a 1-percent gain.

At the close,

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index increased 0.9 percent, while the smaller Shenzhen Index inched up 0.1 percent.

The ChiNext Index of growth enterprises lost 0.7 percent.

In Hong Kong, the shares decreased on Wednesday, with the Hang Seng Index down more than 1 percent.

Elsewhere in Asia,

Tokyo shares ended lower on Wednesday.

The benchmark Nikkei shed 0.9 percent.

South Korea's KOSPI moved down 0.1 percent.

Singapore's Straits Times dipped nearly 2 percent.

And finally, Australia's ASX/200 dropped over 2 percent.

China removes quota on QFII investment in inter-bank bond market

The People's Bank of China is to introduce more qualified foreign institutional investors to the inter-bank bond market and no quota restrictions.

The central bank says China encourages institutional investors to invest in its inter-bank bond market as a means of opening up the financial system.

The qualified investors can put money in China's inter-bank bond market after registering and opening accounts.

China bans local governments from borrowing for land reserve

The Chinese government has banned local governments from borrowing from banks to finance land purchases and preparations for property development.

According to an official statement, local governments must reduce the number of institutions responsible for land reserves, whittling down the many departments to just one.

In addition, land reserve institutions should no longer have financing, construction or land development arms.

These departments should be closed or turned into enterprises.

Meantime, governments with large swathes of land should slow down or even stop adding new reserves to improve land use and cut debt pressure.

The task should be finished before the end of this year.

Shanghai's Property Developers Urged to Think Small

The municipal government in Shanghai is planning to increase the number of small-sized apartments in the city.

Under the plan, homes smaller than 90-square-meters will make up 70 percent of the units in any new projects in central Shanghai, and 60 percent in the suburbs.

All new subsidized housing units built will have to be under 90-square-meters.

The changes follow a ban on financing new land purchases for property development by the local government.

Currently, local governments holding lots of real estate in their portfolios are being told to sell property assets to reduce debt.

For more on all this, CRI's Spencer Musick spoke earlier with John Ross, senior fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University.

Australia approves sale of biggest dairy farm to Chinese billionaire

The Australian government has approved the sale of the country's biggest dairy farming company to Chinese billionaire Lu Xianfeng.

The Tasmania-based company, Van Diemen's Land, officially changed hands on Tuesday.

In line with all foreign asset sales, the 200-million-US-dollar deal has been subjected to a review by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.

Lu Xianfeng made his bid for Van Diemen's Land in November.

Xiaomi launches new flagship smartphone

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi released its new smartphone - the Mi5 - on Wednesday.

The Mi5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor.

The price of the basic version is 2-thousand yuan or 300 U.S. dollars.

Xiaomi also released an updated version of the Mi4, which has hit the shelves priced at 1,700 yuan.

The Beijing-based smartphone maker continues to release budget smartphones under the RedMi line to retain its market share here in China.

The sales target last year was 80 million units.

CEO Lei Jun says the company remained the number one phone brand in China.

Lenovo to launch global wireless roaming service

China's Lenovo Group is set to launch a global wireless service for its mobile devices to cut roaming costs for its users.

The service, called Lenovo Connect, allows users to travel to 50 countries and use their devices at local prices on mobile Internet, without installing new SIM cards.

The wireless service will be offered through Lenovo's network, which has over 10 million users globally.

It is expected to be available in China on its LeMeng X3 smartphone and MIIX 700 tablet from this month.

Users of Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops in Europe, the Middle East and Africa can start using the service before the end of March.

Wanda chairman lays out his plans for UK

Dalian Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin says the company is planning to set up its European headquarters in the United Kingdom.

Wang says he is now negotiating a large project involving entertainment, which would generate 10-thousand jobs in the UK.

The "major deal" is expected to be announced on Friday.

In January, Wanda acquired majority ownership of US-based Thomas Tull's Legendary Entertainment for 3.5 billion dollars.

The group has plans to make five major acquisitions this year.

Chery builds electric car factory in E China

Chinese automaker Chery has begun working on a new plant in eastern China, capable of making 60-thousand electric vehicles a year.

The 1.5 billion yuan or 240 million U.S. dollar factory is located in Anhui Province.

The first phase of construction is set to be complete in September, allowing production of 10-thousand cars annually.

The first model will be a small SUV.

Chery aims to boost its annual sales of new energy vehicles to 200-thousand units by 2020.

Sports

Ferrer advances in Abierto Mexicano Tournament

and in some tennis news:

The Abierto Mexicano tournament is well underway as of Tuesday after top seed and defending champion, David Ferrer eased through the first round.

The Spaniard beat John Millman of Australia with straights sets of 6-4, 6-2 to win the match.

This win is good news for Ferrer after the tennis star slipped into the world number 8 slot following some disappointing losses in Argentina and Rio.

The tennis star is looking to win the tournament for a 5th time and could very well do so if he continues his level of playing.

Wawrinka brakes 1st round curse at Dubai

and in some tennis news from Dubai:

Stan Wawrinka has advanced passed the first round of the Dubai championships on Tuesday, something he has had trouble doing in the past.

Wawrinka has played in the tournament twice before, in 2006 and 2008, and lost both opening matches.

And on Tuesday, it seemed he would lose again, this time to opponent Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Wawrinka failed to close out the first set and in Frustration smashed his racket, but the following two sets would see the Tennis pro make a come back.

The final score for the match would be 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

With this win, Warwinka brakes his curse and moves onto the second round

Barcelona beats Arsenal in Champions league

in some Euro football news:

Barcelona's head coach, Louis Enrique, stated that he is proud of his team for their victor over Premier League team, Arsenal on Tuesday.

This win marks 33rd undefeated game for Barcelona.

The final score for the game was 2-0, with Lionel Messi scoring the points for Barcelona.

After the game, Enrique told the press he was happy with his teams performance.

"I liked everything about Barcelona today. I liked everything from the very beginning. And I also liked the way we scored, we had plenty of possession and in the first half we managed to have the ball a lot. Our opponent defended with every player in their own half, but we still managed to hamper them."

If Barcelona continues to dominate, they will be the first team to win the European Cup in successive seasons since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.

SIPG boss believes China has a bright future in football

and for some domestic football action:

Shanghai SIPG boss Sven Eriksson stated that he believes China can realize their international football goals within the next decade.

Eriksson commented on the exciting new investments club teams in China are making to facilities and picking up new talents.

He also stated that football fan President Xi Jinping has been a great influence to the football industry here in China

As China might be endanger of an early exit from the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, Eriksson is confident that the near future holds only success for Chinese football.

"Ten years ahead, 15 years ahead, I am quite sure that the China national team will compete to win the World Cup together with a lot of other teams of course. Because, it's not only the top of football in China which getting bigger and bigger and more and more expensive. Also, Chinese clubs opening football schools all over China, more or less everyday a new school here and there and young boys and girls will start to play football so the future for China is great, I'm sure about that."

Eriksson has worked with many big league clubs such as Manchester City and Benfica.

He began his career in China, working with Guangzhou R&F in 2013 before taking over his current team, Shanghai SIPG, in 2014.

F1 Legend Niki Lauda talks on Mercedes F1 Team

in some F1 racing news:

Three-time formula one champion Niki Lauda spoke to the press on Tuesday ahead of the new season.

The racing legend who now works as Mercedes non-executive chairman stated that, in the coming new season, the Mercedes team will not place any team orders on drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

During his meeting with the press, Lauda explained the team's bold strategy.

"We have a simple rule. We have no team orders. Both drivers can do whatever they want. So if both drivers can do that they are enemies. Like (Sebastian) Vettel is an enemy to them, they are enemies among themselves. And there are some friction going on especially when the races get close, which is normal. But the Mercedes philosophy is to let them race. I would never tell a driver that he cannot pass the other one. That is completely wrong from my point of view. So this is not a soap opera. They are fighting each other."

This strategy seemed to work well for the team last season, as Mercedes dominated the F1 racing track.

The new season will kick-off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 20th

France's Rugby Squad preps for Wales match

and in the world of Rugby:

The French squad are looking to take on Wales this Friday for their next match in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament.

This will be the French teams third clash against Wales in the tournament.

Currently, they are undefeated in their matches against the Welsh.

Ahead of this match, Frances fly-half, Jules Plisson stated that despite their wins, his team will be performing on Friday.

"It's the first time we play outdoors this year. We see the Welshmen play monstrous game sequences. We see them defend very aggressively, so it will be a battle in all the sectors. It will be an enormous game in a context we all know, so all of us have to be prepared."

Wales has already changed their starting line in preparations for the game.

The face-off will happen on Welsh turf as the home team seeks a win against France.

Entertainment

Chinese Box Office Reaches 10 Billion Yuan Benchmark

Chinese box office revenue for 2016 reached the 10 billion yuan benchmark, or about 1.5 billion US dollars, as of yesterday.

At 54 days into the year, that's the fastest the nation's cinemas have ever reached that total.

Last year, it took three months to reach 10 billion yuan in box office receipts, and in 2014 it took five months to earn that amount.

Nearly 30 percent of the revenue this year has been earned by only one movie: The Mermaid, by Hong Kong comedian and director Stephen Chou.

As of yesterday, "The Mermaid" has grossed almost 2.9 billion yuan after only 16 days of release. The movie is now the all-time leader for ticket sales by a domestic film. Monster Hunt, which earned 2.4 billion yuan after it was released last year, was the previous revenue leader.

There is much anticipation that The Mermaid will become the first Chinese film to earn 3 billion yuan at the domestic box office.

Fantasy-action movie "The Monkey King 2" starring Aaron Kwok and Gong Li is the second highest-grossing release of the year, followed by "From Vegas to Macau 3". Each movie has made just over a billion yuan so far.

Experts say the Spring Festival Holiday was a boon for ticket sales in the world's second-largest film market, as there were several family-friendly releases, along with an increasing number of screens in an increasing number of Chinese markets.

While those-in-the-know say you can't use the holiday numbers to predict box office receipts for the entire year, many of them expect this could be the year that China exceeds 60 billion yuan in total receipts.

Prestigious scriptwriter Zhang Xiaotian dies at 77

Renowned Chinese author and scriptwriter Zhang Xiaotian has died in Beijing at the age of 77.

He was the head writer for many historical dramas including movies like "Kai Guo Da Dian" "The Last Empress" and "Chongqing Negotiations" as well as TV series "Sun Yat-sen" and "The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

Zhang had also published several novels since the early 60s.

He received many awards during his career, including many as a scriptwriter in top Chinese competitions such as the Golden Rooster Awards, Hundred Flowers Awards, and Huabiao Awards.

French Cultures Festival to spread across China in March

The 21st French Cultures Festival will open in 200 Chinese cities on March 10th.

A series of activities including over 30 concerts and a dozen exhibitions and lectures will be held, along with the screening of 20 movies, including the 2014 Cannes Film Festival winner "Timbuktu."

There will also be singing and poetry translation competitions as well as a Pivot Dictation competition, with prizes including a trip for two to Switzerland and France.

According to China Daily, The first round of The Pivot Dictation competition started on Tuesday and will continue March 1st, when the 29 best players of the WeChat game will be chosen for the final competition which takes place at the Swiss Residence in Beijing on March the 20th.

From March the 10th to the 25th, a series of concerts including indie pop, punk and jazz will be played in 14 Chinese cities while over 100 classic French songs will be available in 3,500 KTVs around the nation.

"Eddie the Eagle" Premieres in New York

Hugh Jackman showed up Tuesday night at an intimate premiere for his new movie "Eddie the Eagle."

The film tells the story of British ski jumper Eddie Edwards and his journey to the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

Edwards was the first to represent Great Britain in ski jumping at the Olympics, though he came in last place in both the 70 and 90 meter events. Jackman who plays Eddie's trainer said he loves the winter games and admires the athlete.

"I'm a huge Olympics fan. I grew up in Australia, fair to say that winter Olympics is not our greatest strength, but I was still really into it. I remember Eddie. I remember watching it. But when you really understand his story, what he went through, and what pressure he was under at the thing. It is mind-blowing what he did."

"Eddie the Eagle" is set to open in US theaters on Friday and in Chinese theaters on March 18th.

It's been reported that the actors are also scheduled to promote their movie in Beijing on March the 9th, which marks Hugh Jackman's third time in the country.

Weather

Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of -4; sunny tomorrow and a high of 6.

Shanghai, clear tonight with a low of 2; sunny tomorrow with a high of 11.

Chongqing will be overcast with a low of 8; same skies tomorrow, highs of 14.

Lhasa will have some snow tonight with a low of -3; cloudy tomorrow with a high of 8.

Elsewhere in Asia,

Islamabad, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 23.

Kabul, overcast, 5.

Down in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sydney will be sunny, highs of 33.

Brisbane, cloudy, 28.

Perth, sunny, 30.

And finally Auckland will be sunny with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.

That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour...

Recapping our top stories...

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On behalf of the Beijing Hour team, it’s Shane Bigham in Beijing. Join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour, to open a window to the world together...