Chinese premier vows to enhance amity between China, Thailand
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has pledged in Bankok to pass down the traditional "familial affection" between his country and Thailand from generation to generation.
He said this in his meeting with Thai Princess Sirindorn, representative of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Bankok on Saturday.
Thailand is the second leg of Li Keqiang's maiden trip to Southeast Asia since he took office in March. He will also travel to Vietnam.
China urges EU to properly handle Taiwan-related issues
China urges the European Union (EU) to properly handle Taiwan-related issues and not to have any official ties or agreements with the island.
China was responding after the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Wednesday, which called on the EU to "consider upgrading its economic ties with Taiwan at the same time as with China."
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a press release that Taiwan issues are China's internal affairs, and that China opposes any foreign interference.
She said China hopes the European side can proceed from a picture of China-European relations, adhere to the one-China policy and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues.
Obama presses Congress to pass budget, avert default
As the first U.S. government shutdown in 17 years drags on into its 12th day and attracts increasingly more criticism, U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday urged Congress to pass a budget to reopen the government and remove the threat of debt default.
Obama met Democratic senators in the White House to discuss a way out of the fiscal deadlock.
Earlier Saturday, Senate Republicans blocked an effort by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, to extend the government's borrowing authority through the end of 2014 without other conditions attached.
11 missing in China bridge pier collapse
The number of missing persons following the collapse of an under-construction bridge pier has risen to 11 in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
The No. 4 pier of a bridge across the Yangtze River in Fengdu County collapsed and became submerged in water Saturday morning.
The accident happened after a beam on a floating crane fell and impacted steel cofferdams, which supported the pier.
Ten construction workers and one resident went missing after the accident.
Sixteen vessels and 141 rescuers are searching the river for the missing people.
Construction has stopped and the cause of the accident is still being investigated.
Cross-Strait forum makes proposals on political relations
Participants at the first cross-Strait peace forum have suggested the two sides create conditions for meetings between leaders, engage in military exchanges, set up a coordination mechanism for external affairs, and enhance maritime cooperation.
The mainland and Taiwan should actively foster conditions for meetings between leaders across the Taiwan Strait and make arrangements for the form and content of such occasions, according to forum minutes announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday.
China to shut coal mines in safety overhaul
The Chinese government has pledged to close more unqualified and dangerous coal mines by 2015 as the country strives to improve its alarming safety record.
The State Council, China's cabinet, says in a statement that at least 2,000 small coal mines will be closed by the end of 2015,
The closures will target coal mines with annual output of no more than 90,000 tons that fail to meet the safety rules, and mines based on substandard coal resources that are prone to accidents, according to the statement.
China cracks down on illegal publications
The Chinese government is to launch a crackdown on a wide range of publishing and journalistic misconduct such as unlicensed publications, fake reporters and re-sales of publishing rights.
From mid-October, the two-month action will also target publications containing illegal content, the use of advertising space to post non-advertising content, and domestic publication with overseas publishing licenses, among other offenses.
A circular says the crackdown will focus on wholesale markets and vendors of books, papers and magazines while imposing intensified online supervision to clean up illegal publications on the Internet.
China starts emergency plans for Typhoon Nari
A level three emergency response has been initiated to prevent damage by the approaching Typhoon Nari.
Nari is the 25th typhoon to hit China this year and is expected to cross the Xisha Islands on Monday and Hainan Island on Tuesday.
The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center has issued a yellow alert ahead of Typhoon Nari.
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters advised local governments to enhance precautions and prevention efforts and learn lessons from the recent Typhoon Wutip, which was similar to Nari and has taken a heavy toll on the affected areas.
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