ASEAN to team up to boost textile industry

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

JAKARTA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Textile producers in ASEAN countries agreed to set up an alliance to boost up competitiveness, the Jakarta Post reported Thursday quoting a senior official.

Conveying the results of a recent ASEAN economic ministers meeting in Siem Reap Cambodia, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Wednesday that the commitment was aimed at promoting the textile and garment industry in the region.

One of the conclusions is that we will concentrate on the textile and garment industries. We need to work on to boosting the industries in the region, the report said, quoting Mari.

The ASEAN governments would soon invite the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (Aftex) to bring about the plan, she added. Textile and garments export from ASEAN region stood at over 30 billion U.S. dollars last year

Earlier reports said that Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam would set up a full service alliance by the end of the year. They have been regarded the top three textile manufacturing countries in the region.

Indonesian Textile Association (API) Deputy Chairman Ade Sudrajat said that the alliance was expected to boost up the inter regional textile and garment trade and cut buyers' costs by integrating orders from upstream to downstream products.

In the future, he said, buyers would no longer need to open offices in countries where their orders were processed.

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Jaguar aid talks with British government near collapse

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

LONDON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Jaguar Land Rover, a British automobile brand owned by India's Tata Group, will either have to cut its jobs and investment or turn to its parent company for help, as talks between the carmaker and the British government on financial support are nearing a collapse.

The carmaker received what it was told was a final offer from the business department on Friday, which it has not formally rejected, but is understood to feel that the tough conditions demanded in return for guaranteeing a loan are unacceptable, according to a BBC report late Wednesday.

If no financial help is provided, jobs and important investment could be cut, the report said.

The government is understood to want a right to veto management decisions, appoint its own chairman and have a say in any future redundancies at the company which employs 14,500 people.

Jaguar is said to have viewed the proposal as backdoor nationalization -- and is minded to turn the offer down.

The dispute centers on financial support from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and conditions the UK government is imposing in return for guaranteeing the loan.

At the heart of the dispute is the degree of control the UK government would be given in return for putting taxpayers money at risk by guaranteeing the EIB loan, the BBC said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) insisted the government was "prepared to help, although not on any terms."

Thai cabinet approves 2nd phase of economic stimulus packages

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

BANGKOK, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Thai weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved the country's second phase of the economic stimulus packages worth of 1.4 trillion baht (39.78 billion U.S. dollars) to shore up the country's sluggish economy, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said.

The budget will cover several investments in transportation, irrigation, education and public health projects from this year to 2012, the minister said.

It is estimated the investments will create jobs for two million people and the country's long-term competitive advantages will also be boosted, Korn said.

The investment projects will kick off after the House of Representatives approves a loan borrowing plan to finance this second phase packages.

Korn said the loan sources will be mainly from the domestic market amid the ample liquidity.

Although the budget allocation might result in the country's higher public debt, the government's financial status will remain strong, said Korn.

It is estimated the country's public debt will rise to 60 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013 from the current 40 percent of the GDP, said Korn.

The return of the investments, however, will be worthwhile, are port of the local media Bangkok Post quoted Korn as saying.

Korn estimated the country's public debt would start leveling off in 2014 and should stay at 47 percent of the GDP in 2018.

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Dutch banker: global financial crisis far from over

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A top European central banker on Wednesday cautioned against optimism that the global economy will recover soon, saying the situation is far from true.

The market should not read too much into slight improvements in some economic indicators when in fact there were still immense challenges such as access to credit, Nout Wellink, president of the central bank of the Netherlands, said in his keynote address at the Asia Regional Forum on Policy and Regulation of Financial Inclusion.

Challenges in this area (global financial system) are just as relevant as they were last November, maybe they are even more relevant nowadays, he said.

Although the crisis may have left the microfinancing institutions relatively unaffected but they were also experiencing increased pressure, he said.

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ADB President: A/H1N1 flu could derail Asias economic recovery

Special Report:World tackles A/H1N1 flu


Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

The President of the Asian Development Bank says the A/H1N1 flu has the potential to set back Asia's fragile economic recovery if it takes hold in the region.

ThePresidentoftheAsianDevelopmentBanksaystheA/H1N1
fluhasthepotentialtosetbackAsia'sfragileeconomic
recoveryifittakesholdintheregion.

Haruhiko Kuroda says an influenza pandemic would hit the region's tourism and aviation industries first. But he remains confident that Asian governments are well prepared.

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China details stance on continental shelf

The Chinese Permanent Mission to the UN has presented a note to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In the note, China urges the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf not to review the joint submission of information by Malaysia and Vietnam. The two countries presented on Wednesday a joint submission to the UN on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.





TheChinesePermanentMissiontotheUNhaspresenteda
notetotheUNSecretary-GeneralBanKi-moon.Inthenote,
ChinaurgestheCommissionontheLimitsoftheContinental
Shelfnottoreviewthejointsubmissionofinformationby
MalaysiaandVietnam.

The Chinese government said in its note presented a day later that the submission by Malaysia and Vietnam infringes upon China's sovereignty and jurisdiction in the South China Sea. And China urges the UN commission not to consider the case in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant UN rules.

Reconstruction brief at press conference

Special Report:One Year after 5.12 Quake

The Sichuan provincial government has briefed reporters in Chengdu on the current reconstruction work going on a year after the May 12th earthquake.





TheSichuanprovincialgovernmenthasbriefedreporters
inChengduonthecurrentreconstructionworkgoingona
yearaftertheMay12thearthquake.

A government spokesman said the rebuilding of rural houses is expected to be finished by the end of September, while the rebuilding of urban homes will be completed by next May.

He noted the rebuilding of 99 percent of basic public service facilities, including clinics and hospitals across the province, will be completed in two years. He said the government has already helped nearly 1.3 million quake-affected people find new jobs.

In addition, he said the government has pledged to have 95 percent of students back in school buildings, rather than temporary structures, by the end of this year. The spokesman said 5,335 students were dead or missing from last year's earthquake.

Premier Wen calls for closer cross-Straits co-op

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday visited Xiamen, a southeastern port city which faces Taiwan across the sea, urging cooperation for a win-win result for the mainland and Taiwan.

ChinesePremierWenJiabao(C)visitsXiamenOverseas
ChineseElectronicCo.,Ltd.inXiamen,acoastalcity
insoutheastChina'sFujianProvince,May8,2009.
PremierWenJiabaomadeaninspectiontourinXiamen
onMay8.(Xinhua/LiXueren)

With more than 3,300 Taiwan-invested companies, Xiamen, in Fujian Province, is a frontier platform for cross-Straits exchanges.

While touring Chenhong Technology Company, Wen was pleased to learn the Taiwan-invested high-tech company registered a strong growth last year despite the global financial crisis.

He said the current peaceful development of cross-Strait ties had benefited both sides.

"Recently, we have initiated new policies and measures to support the development of an economic zone on the western side of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan-invested companies will have more development opportunities," Wen said.

Premier Wen urges strengthened cross-Straits cooperation

Premier Wen Jiabao is urging cooperation to create mutual benefits for the mainland and Taiwan. The Premier on Friday visited Xiamen, a port city directly across the strait from Taiwan.

ChinesePremierWenJiabao(C)visitsXiamenOverseas
ChineseElectronicCo.,Ltd.inXiamen,acoastalcity
insoutheastChina'sFujianProvince,May8,2009.
PremierWenJiabaomadeaninspectiontourinXiamen
onMay8.(Xinhua/LiXueren)

His trip came after the State Council recently passed a plan to accelerate development of the economic zone on the west of the Taiwan Straits.

With more than 33-hundred Taiwan-invested companies, Xiamen, is a frontier platform for cross-strait exchanges.

While touring Chenghong Technology Company, Wen Jiabao was pleased to learn the Taiwan-invested high-tech company registered a strong growth last year despite the global financial crisis.

He said the current peaceful development of cross-strait ties are benefiting both sides.

Wen Jiabao, Chinese Premier, said, "What I need to emphasize is that your company has seized an big opportunity which is the peaceful development of cross-strait ties. Recently, we have initiated new policies and measures to support the development of an economic zone on the western side of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan-invested companies will have more development opportunities."

6th Hubei Wuhan-Taiwan Week held in Wuhan

The sixth "Hubei Wuhan-Taiwan Week" has been held in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province.

At the opening ceremony, Wang Yi, the director of State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said 2009 will witness the all-around development of cross-strait.

WangYisaidaslongasthetwosidesjoinhands
togethertosupporteachother,theycannotonly
rideoutthecurrentfinancialcrisis,butcould
alsograspnewopportunities. (CCTV.com)

Wang Yi said as long as the two sides join hands together to support each other, they can not only ride out the current financial crisis, but could also grasp new opportunities.

Taiwan has proposed a bilateral economic cooperation framework agreement. Wang Yi says this is in line with the two sides' economic features, and will surely bring more profit for the people.

Nearly two thousand participants from economic and cultural areas attended the ongoing Hubei Wuhan-Taiwan Week. The event is to boost trade ties between the central province and Taiwan.

By the end of last year, 2020 Taiwan companies made a total investment of 5 billion US dollars in Hubei Province. Among them were big names such as Foxconn and leading chip maker, SMIC.

Mainland, Taiwan agree to enhance ties

Special Report:3rd round of cross-strait talk

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The chief negotiators are already looking at new possibilities aimed at enhancing ties between the mainland and Taiwan.

Themainland-basedAssociationforRelationsAcrossthe
TaiwanStraits(ARATS)PresidentChenYunlin(R,Front)and
theTaiwan-basedStraitsExchangeFoundation(SEF)Chairman
ChiangPin-kung(L,Front)signagreementsatasigning
ceremony"inNanjing,eastChina'sJiangsuProvince,on
April26,2009.

Another milestone in relations across the Taiwan Straits. Whenever Chen Yunlin meets Chiang Pin-kung, people on the mainland and Taiwan expect new impetus for economic development and also for their personal benefit. Amid the global financial crisis, the chief mainland negotiator called on both sides to join hands to overcome the current difficulties and create a win-win situation.

The mainland announced that it would promote companies to invest in Taiwan as soon as the island authorities allow such investment. And the mainland will also increase its purchase of Taiwan products, as well as encourage more Taiwan investment in the mainland.

The mainland also acknowledged that both sides need to achieve a more institutionalized mechanism or framework for their economic cooperation. Representatives agree that their new agreements and consensus will improve the environment for investment on both sides. They add that the developments would also enhance more contacts between individuals and protect their rights, aswell as laying a solid foundation to improve the peaceful development of ties.

China honors outstanding military staff

Special Report:One Year after 5.12 Quake

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday honored dozens of military organizations and individuals for their contribution to the nation's quake relief or scientific research work.

President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Hu Jintao signed a decree awarding merits to 15 organizations and 28 individuals with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Three classes of merits were meted out in accordance with the receivers' contribution.

Ten units and individuals were cited for their relief efforts after the 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern China on May 12 last year, two for "remarkable troop building," five for "achievements in major scientific experiments," two for artist creations and the rest for achievements in scientific researches, according to the decree.

In a separate decree signed by Hu, four other soldiers and officers were awarded honorable titles as being "model examples" for their peers.

One of them, Meng Xiangbin, was given the honor posthumously as he was drowned while trying to save a suicidal woman from a river in eastern Zhejiang Province in 2007.

China to receive A-H1N1 samples

Special Report:World tackles A/H1N1 flu

Three strains of the A-H1N1 influenza virus are being donated by the United States for medical analysis in China.

The strains come from a Mexican patient and two US patients. They will arrive in two or three days. Another virus strain is being sent by Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.

ThreestrainsoftheA-H1N1influenzavirusarebeing
donatedbytheUnitedStatesformedicalanalysisin
China.(AFP/File/LeonNeal)

Chinese medical experts will analyze the strains to find out the cause of the A-H1N1 flu, and the virus's pathogenic ability.

The research will greatly improve the accuracy and speed of a test to diagnose suspected cases of the disease.

Dong Xiaoping, Epidemic Scientist, Chinese Center for Diease Control and Prevention, said, "Based on our current research and production technology, we are able to produce our own A-H1N1 flu vaccine in three to four months after we receive the flu strains."

Chinese ministry rules out sudden fuel price hike

BEIJING, May 9 -- The government ruled out any immediate increase in fuel prices on Friday despite increasing market speculation about a possible hike, top pricing officials said.

Officials at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said the recent oil price rise on the global market indicated that the domestic fuel prices should be raised.

But Xu Kunlin, deputy director of NDRC's pricing department, told a news briefing on Friday that the authorities would only increase prices after further careful consideration.

According to the fuel pricing mechanism announced on Friday, China will adjust its fuel prices when global crude oil costs fluctuate more than 4 percent over 22 straight working days.

The global crude oil price has been increasing since March, rising from 35 U.S. dollars a barrel to around 58 U.S. dollars on Thursday.

This was the first time the government made public its fuel pricing mechanism since it announced last December that it would link domestic gasoline and diesel prices to the international market.

Xu said many oil traders had engaged in speculative dealing in recent days amid rumors of a price hike. "To prevent speculative trading, we will not adjust oil prices exactly in line with the benchmarks set in the regulation."

Sothebys unveils rare blue diamond

Sotheby's has unveiled a 7.03 carat vivid blue diamond, the rarest to enter the international market this year.

The blue diamond will come up for sale as the centerpiece of a jewellery auction in Geneva on May 12.

ASotheby'semployeedisplaysararevivid
bluediamondringweighing7.03carats,
duringapreviewatSotheby'sinGeneva,
Switzerland,Wednesday,May6,2009.
(APPhoto/Keystone,MartialTrezzini)

It is one of only a handful in existence in the world and one of the rarest ever auctioned by Sotheby's.

Its sellers estimate it is worth between 5.8 to 8.5-million US Dollars. If it sells for its top value it would break the world record price per carat for any gemstone at auction.

Beichuan survivors remarry

Special Report:One Year after 5.12 Quake

The Wenchuan earthquake has left many people losing their other half. Finding a new companion is a way to help these people move on.

Yang Changbin and Zhou Xiaohong are tying the knot. And there's something even more symbolic. Tree planting is a local wedding custom meaning life and growth. The idea is particularly appealing to these twenty couples.

Treeplantingisalocalweddingcustommeaninglife
andgrowth.Theideaisparticularlyappealingto
thesetwentycouples. (CCTV.com)

Few weddings could attract so much media attention. A year ago, the earthquake brought devastation and heartbreak to these people. Today, that has been replaced with joy.

Yang and Zhou lost their spouses and children in the earthquake. They were introduced by relatives and decided to start over again.

Yang Changbin and Zhou Xiaohong, Beichuan Newlyweds, said, After all, we've survived the disaster. We want a complete family. You probably have a stronger wish for a complete family than others. What's your hope? We hope to build a happy family together. Both of us had happy families before the earthquake, so we want to have that again. Are you planning to have a child? Absolutely. Children make it a complete family.

Many couples say the marriage restores their confidence in life. And because they endured the same pain, they understand each other very well.

Zhu Yuncui, Beichuan Newlyweds, said, "So many people care about us and helped us start a new life. How could we not move on? Our children are happy about the marriage, so we don't have other concerns."

Doctors needed in quake region

Special Report:One Year after 5.12 Quake

Many hospitals in Dujiangyan city were destroyed by last year's massive earthquake.

The city's People's Hospital, the only comprehensive one still standing is overcrowded.

Everydaysincetheearthquakehasbeenexhausting
forDoctorLiuHui. (CCTV.com)

Every day since the earthquake has been exhausting for Doctor Liu Hui.

As the best ear-nose-throat doctor in Dujiangyan city, she sees 70 patients a day, sometimes more than a hundred. Her office is always packed with patients from all over the area.

She doesn't have time for lunch, or even a drink of water. We came here early in the morning, but she was busy. And when we managed a quick interview at dusk, there were still 10 patients waiting.

Dr. Liu Hui, Dujiangyan People's Hospital, said, "I feel that people care more about their health after the earthquake experience. They feel the vulnerability of human in front of the force of the nature. Now, they come to me with any ailments. In the past, they usually came when the illness got really serious."

No major building of this hospital collapsed in the earthquake. So it's the only one in the city with all medical departments still operating. That makes it patients' first choice.

The People's Hospital has treated 120 thousand patients after the quake. But it wasn't prepared for the sudden pressure. There are only 7 out-patient doctors, and all of them have to see patients from various departments.

White House official quits for presidential planes flyover in New York

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Director of the White House Military Office Louis Caldera resigned on Friday for a controversial presidential plane flyover in New York City, the White House said.

OnApril27,Calderaarrangedaflyoverphoto-opof
aplanefromthepresidentialfleetovertheStatue
ofLibertyandotherpartsoflowerManhattanofNew
YorkCity,sparkingfearsamongresidentsaboutanother
possible9/11styleterrorattack.

A statement from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said U.S. President Barack Obama has accepted the resignation, which will be effective as of May 22.

It also said the president has asked his Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to jointly review the organizational structure of the White House Military Office, "to make recommendations to him to ensure that such an incident never occurs again."

In his resignation letter released by the White House, Caldera said the aftermath of the incident made it impossible for him to stay in office.

He also apologized for distracting Obama's work by arousing the controversy.

On April 27, Caldera arranged a flyover photo-op of a plane from the presidential fleet over the Statue of Liberty and other parts of lower Manhattan of New York City, sparking fears among residents about another possible 9/11 style terror attack.

The image of a low-flying plane accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet sent some New Yorkers into the streets and into a panic -- reminding them of the tragic 9/11 attacks on the city.

Chinese mainland, HK sign further expanded economic agreement

HONG KONG, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese central government and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed on Saturday the sixth supplement to an important trade agreement to give Hong Kong firms greater and easier access to the mainland market for tourism, securities and banking services, among others.

The Supplement VI to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed by John Tsang, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, and the central government's Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Zengwei in Hong Kong at a ceremony witnessed by HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

Speaking at the ceremony, Donald Tsang said the supplement agreement will introduce 29 measures that will build on the liberalization of 20 services sectors and open two more sectors of research and development and rail transport to Hong Kong businesses.

The total number of services sectors covered by the CEPA and its supplements will thereby be expanded from 40 to 42, Jiang said. Under the agreements, the mainland has agreed to exempt tariffs for all products of Hong Kong origin and allow preferential treatment to Hong Kong service suppliers in the service sectors.

The new measures will take effect on Oct. 1, 2009, three months earlier than usual, to allow the trade to enjoy the benefits earlier, Jiang said at the ceremony.

Donald Tsang welcomed the agreement, saying that the new measures will be mutually beneficial and help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing economic downturn.

Under the new agreement, mainland travel agents authorized to operate group tours to Taiwan can organize group tours for mainland residents to enter Hong Kong in transit. The aim was to help the travel trade develop multi-destination tourism packages.

Authorization requirements have been also further relaxed under the agreement for Hong Kong commercial banks to establish sub-branches or service points, while qualified securities firms in Hong Kong and the mainland will be allowed to establish joint businesses in Guangdong, the mainland province neighboring Hong Kong.

Sichuan residents move to new homes

Special Report:One Year after 5.12 Quake

The largest relocation and residential migration is taking place in China's quake hit Sichuan Province.

With reconstruction work smoothly entering its final phase, many new projects are being launched to further improve the living conditions in the quake zone.

Withreconstructionworksmoothlyenteringitsfinal
phase,manynewprojectsarebeinglaunchedtofurther
improvethelivingconditionsinthequakezone.
(CCTV.com)

Friday was a big day for 145 households from Longxi Township of Wenchuan County - the quake's epicenter.

They lost their fields and homes in the disaster and now they are beginning their journey to a new home,in Qionglai City.

Although they became emotional at leaving their hometown, most of them are looking forward to a brand new life.

Disabled by quake, helped to recovery

Special Report:One Year after 5.12 Quake

Last May's massive earthquake in Sichuan left tens of thousands of people disabled.

Withthecareandassistancefromthe
community,someofthemhaveregained
theiroptimismandconfidenceforlife.

With the care and assistance from the community, some of them have regained their optimism and confidence for life.

Chinese Vice Premier urged enterprises to contribute to industrial growth

TIANJIN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang urged enterprises to contribute to industrial growth by bringing central government's guidance of boosting domestic demand into full play.

Zhang made the remark during his visit to 13 enterprises in the machinery, light industry, petrochemical, textile, auto and other sectors as well as ports, in Tianjin Municipality from May 7 to 8.

Zhang said positive signs had been seen in the country's industrial sector, but there were still challenges ahead.

He underscored firm implementation of the central government policy to ensure economic growth, boost domestic demand and enhance industrial upgrading.

He encouraged enterprises to seek to produce products that would meet market needs and expand both domestic and international markets.

Enterprises should improve their management and push forward innovation and structural adjustment, he said.

Taiwan chief negotiator agrees to stay in position

TAIPEI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan chief negotiator Chiang Pin-kung, who had tendered his resignation as chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) earlier, on Friday agreed to stay on.

Chiang told a press conference here he was willing to stay and finish the ongoing work.

He said when he met Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits(ARATS) in Nanjing last month, he had invited him to Taiwan for a new round of talks, and he would keep the promise.

Chiang, who will turn 77 this December, told the media on Wednesday that he decided to resign because of his "age" and "physical strength".

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou, however, said he wouldn't endorse the decision and had returned Chiang's written resignation.

Ma paid a visit to Chiang and SEF members Friday afternoon, praised their work and persuaded Chiang to stay on.

Chiang said he would act in the general interest and make the right decision.

Chiang was appointed chairman of the Taiwan-based SEF, a non-governmental organization authorized to handle cross-straits affairs, after Ma became the leader of Taiwan in May 2008.

Chiang and Chen had held three talks since June 2008, leading to the signing of the historic agreements allowing direct flights, shipping and postal services across the straits, and opening the island to mainland tourists.

In the latest round of talks between the SEF and the ARATS held in Nanjing of eastern Jiangsu Province in late April, the two sides also agreed to cooperate in finance and justice.

China explains details of new oil pricing mechanism

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner Friday announced details of the country's new oil pricing mechanism, for the first time after the new pricing system kicked in at the beginning of this year.

In a statement on its website, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said China would adjust domestic fuel prices when global crude prices reported a daily fluctuation band of more than 4 percent for 22 working days in a row.

The commission said refiners would enjoy "normal" profit when global crude prices are below 80 U.S. dollars per barrel, but would face narrower profit margins when the crude prices rise above 80 U.S. dollars per barrel.

However, fuel prices would not go further up, or only be raised by a small margin, when crude prices rise above 130 U.S. dollars per barrel, and fiscal and tax tools would be used to ensure supplies, the NDRC said.

Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose 37 cents a barrel to settle at 56.71 U.S. dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange Thursday after reaching a six-month high of 58.57 dollars.

Crude prices staged strong rally on news of upbeat economic data in the United States, rising more than 10 percent in two weeks.

The NDRC statement also came a day after it denied an online report claiming imminent price hike.

C1 Energy, an energy information website, Thursday reported that the Chinese government would raise fuel prices as of midnight Thursday, but said later the price adjustment had been canceled, with reasons unknown.

Official: DPRK not to consider dialogue with S Korea

PYONGYANG, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) could not consider having a dialogue with South Korea considering that Seoul was making an issue of human rights in the country, a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said Saturday.

The fact of South Korea enticed some defectors to hold a so-called North Korea Freedom Week in Washington showed that the South attempted to make the DPRK's human rights international, the spokesman was quoted by the official KCNA news agency as saying in a statement.

This behavior was totally negation and provocation against the regime and dignity of the DPRK, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said South Korea was not qualified to discuss the problems considering that it had itself human rights problems.

The spokesman said the army and people of the DPRK were inflamed by the South's act of defaming or slandering the public. The DPRK could not consider having a dialogue with South Korea at all, he said.

35 rebels killed in Sri Lanka fighting

COLOMBO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 35 rebels were killed Friday as the advancing troops took control of what appeared to be the last rebel defensive earth bund in the island's northeastern battle zone.

The Army's 58 division had completely cleared the Karyamullvaikkal area in the Mullaithivu district, defense officials said Saturday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels are now limited to an area of just 3 sq kms.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman, said that troops would continue to carry out operations outside the newly demarcated no fire zone, a 2-km-long, 1.5-km-wide coastal strip covering the area south of Karyamullivaikkal and Velamullivaikkal.

"The troops will continue to target LTTE in order to free civilians from LTTE clutches", Nanayakkara said.

The last bits of fighting has left a massive civilian population in internally displace camps.

Some 200,000 are already in government welfare camps in the northern districts of Jaffna and Vavuniya.

Some 50,000 are still believed to be trapped in the now shrunk no fire zone where the LTTE rebels are mingling with the civilian population.

Sri Lanka's over 3 decade old conflict has cost over 70,000 lives during the LTTE's quest to set up a separate homeland for the minority Tamils seeking political independence from the Sinhala majority.

U.S. lay-offs slow down, jobless rate still high

U.S. employers cut 539-thousand jobs in April, the fewest since October, according to government data.

The report released by the Labor Department on Friday signaled the economy's steep decline might be easing and gave the stock market a boost.

USPresidentBarackObamaspeaksonjobcreationandjob
training,flankedbynurseMaureenPike(L)andsmall
businessownerSharonArnold(R)intheEisenhower
ExecutiveOfficeBuilding,nexttotheWhiteHouse,in
Washington,DC.(AFP/MandelNgan)

However, it shows the jobless rate last month rose to 8.9 percent, the highest since late 1983.

President Barack Obama said the data shows that there have been "somewhat encouraging" improvements in the country's stricken labor markets.

He said the job losses, however, were still a sobering toll.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "It underscores the point that we're still in the midst of a recession that was years in the making and will be months or even years in the unmaking; and we should expect further job losses in the months to come."

According to Friday's report, private sector employment fell by 611-thousand in April. This follows a 693-thousand decline in March.

But a 72-thousand jump in government payrolls moderated the overall job-loss figure.

Iranian President to run for re-election

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has formally announced he's a candidate in the June 12th presidential election. Ahmadinejad began his term in office in 2005.

IranianPresidentMahmoudAhmadinejadwavestoreporters
ashecomestoregisterhiscandidacyfortheupcoming
presidentialelectionsattheinteriorministryinTehran
onMay8,2009.Ahmadinejadwasthesecondofthefour
leadingcandidatesexpectedtostandintheJune12
electiontoformallyregister.(Xinhua/AhmadHalabisaz)

On Friday, he went through the official registration procedure at Iran's Interior Ministry.

Many observers believe none of the current candidates in the conservative camp are a threat to Ahmadinejad's bid for a second term.

Earlier on Friday, Iran's former Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards, Mohsen Rezaei also formally registered his candidacy.

Iran's president is elected for a four-year term and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

Typhoon kills at least 24 in Philippines

A typhoon struck the northern Philippines on Friday killing at least 24 people. The storm dumped heavy rains and triggered landslides. Three people are missing.

Rescuersandconstructionworkersrepairastrom-ravaged
bridgealongamajorhighwayintheeasternPhilippines'
cityofSorsogononMay5.(AFP/File/CharismSayat)

Typhoon Cha-hom had maximum winds of 120 kilometers per hour when it made landfall overnight north of Manila. It rapidly weakened into a tropical storm, but caused widespread flooding.

Hundreds of people were moved to safety. About 20 typhoons and storms hit the Philippines each year, but, usually, not this early.

Forecasters suggest the extreme weather may have been caused by global warming.

Pakistani army kills more than 140 militants

The Pakistani army has attacked suspected militant positions in the Taliban-controlled northwestern Swat valley area.

The army said more than 140 militants were killed. And, United Nations figures show that nearly half a million Pakistani civilians seek to flee the area.

APakistaniarmysoldierstandsguardonaroadleading
toPakistan'stroubledvalleyofSwatwheregovernment
securityforcesarefightingwithTalibanmilitants,in
MardannearPeshawar,PakistanWednesday,May6,2009.
(APPhoto/MohammadSajjad)

On Friday, Pakistani jets screamed over Taliban-controlled towns and bombed suspected militant positions.

Military operations were taking place in three districts that stretch over some 1,000 square kilometres.

Major-General Athar Abbas, Pakistan's Military Spokesman, said, "On the directive of the government, the army is now engaged in a full-scale operation to eliminate militants, miscreants and anti-state elements from Swat. They are on the run and trying to block the exodus of civilians from the area. During the last 24 hours approximately over 140 militants have been killed in different areas."

Much of the fighting has been in Swat Valley's main city of Mingora....a militant hub that was home to about 360-thousand people before the insurgency two years ago.

Many of them have fled the city, but tens of thousands remain.

Some said the Taliban prevented them from leaving and used them as human shields to discourage the Pakistani army from using force.

According to the United Nations figures, half a million people have either already left the Swat Valley and nearby districts or want to leave but can't because of the fighting.

ECB announces combined new measures to fight downturns

FRANKFURT, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday renewed its efforts to fight against economic downturns, with combined measures including cutting its key interest rate to a new low and buying up bonds, surprising most market players.

RATE CUT

The ECB cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to a record-low 1 percent on Thursday.

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet told reporters after the ratecut this was not necessarily the lowest point of the cycle, which has slashed the main refinancing rate by 325 basis points since October.

The ECB said the rate cut is due to the fact that the inflation threat to the eurozone continue easing, while the recession deepens.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the 16-nation economy will shrink 4.2 percent this year, more than the projected2.8 percent contraction in the United States and 4.1 percent in the United Kingdom.

Inflation was 0.6 percent in April. The ECB, which aims to keep the rate just below 2 percent, said the figure may drop below zero in 2009.

Gold edges lower as unexpected job data ease economic worries

CHICAGO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange ended slightly lower on Friday after gaining for 4 straight sessions this week, as the economy concerns were further mollified by better-than-expected job data. Silver and platinum fell, too.

Gold price for June delivery dropped 60 cents, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 914.90 U.S. dollars an ounce.

The Labor Department released on Friday that nonfarm payrolls fell 539,000 in April, the smallest decline since last October and well below economists' expectations of 610,000. However, the country's unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percent to 8.9 percent, the highest level since 1983.

The slowing pace of layoffs for April reflected an easing in the massive job destruction during the previous five months despite the higher jobless rate, which is considered to be another sign the economy is bottoming out and recovering gradually, limiting gold's appeal as an asset to hedge the recession risk.

However, worries over inflation helped keep the precious metal loss limited especially after the European Central Bank announced on Thursday to cut its interest rate by 0.25 points to a record low level of 1 percent and the Bank of England also plans to step up efforts to increase the money supply to shore up the economy.

A much weaker dollar was another supportive factor to gold. By the end of gold floor trading time, the rate against euro plummeted more than 2 cents to 1.3594 dollars, the lowest level since March 26.

July silver finished at 13.955 dollars per ounce, down 7.5 cents. July platinum lost 10.20 dollars to 1,147.10 dollars an ounce.

Dollar falls amid better-than-expected job data

NEW YORK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The dollar fell against major currencies on Friday as risk appetite in foreign exchange trading was boosted by better-than-expected job data.

Non-farm payroll employment declined by 539,000 in April, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday. It was the smallest decline in six months, less than a loss of 620,000 expected by analysts and far below the 699,000 drop in March. The unemployment rate rose from 8.5 percent to 8.9 percent, the highest since late 1983.

The report showed that the labor market was still deteriorating, but the rate of decline was moderating, analysts said. About half of the improvement from March came in the government sector, as it hired temporary workers for preparatory work on the 2010 Census. The rest of the improvement was widely spread across the private sector.

There were indications that the industry's headlong decline is bottoming out, as the manufacturing workweek rose for the first time since July 2008, and manufacturing overtime rose for the first time since November 2007.

Investors' risk appetite was also helped by the results of the U.S. government's stress test, which showed better-than-expected picture of health of major U.S. banks. The government said 10 of the 19 largest U.S. banks must raise about 74.6 billion U.S. dollars in new capital, less than some had feared.

The euro bought 1.3622 dollars in late New York trading compared with 1.3373 dollars it bought late Thursday. The pound rose to 1.5215 dollars from 1.4996 dollars.

The dollar fell to 1.1513 Canadian dollars from 1.1740 Canadian dollars, and fell to 1.1065 Swiss francs from 1.1309 Swiss francs. It fell to 98.40 Japanese yen from 98.99 Japanese yen.

Djokovic cruises through to semis in Serbia Open

BELGRADE, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Serbia's Novak Djokovic beat compatriot Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-2 on Friday to cruise through to the semifinals of the Serbia Open in Belgrade.

Top-seeded Djokovic defeated fifth seed Troicki in just over an hour and will face fourth-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi in the semifinals.

The obstacle for me was tough because I had to face my fellow countrymen. I am taking it step by step and I am not thinking about the finals. Seppi is a tough competitor, but I think that the advantage is on my side. said Djokovic.

The Serbia Open, which opened on Tuesday evening, would last until Sunday. Djokovic, the world number three, is the odds-on favorite to win the tournament, although the 21-year-old expects strong challenges.

Malaysia holds My Lovely Mum contest on Mothers Day

Nordaliya,38yearsoldfromKualaLumpur,
posesaftershewonthechampionduring
"MyLovelyMum"contestinSerdangof
SelangorState,Malaysia,May10,2009.
Ashoppingmallheldthecontestto
celebratetheMother'sDay.
(Xinhua/ChongVoonChung)

Spaniel Alfie proves its a dog-eat-dog world as he gobbles up a toy puppy

It was a case of dog-eat-dog when spaniel Alfie swallowed a toy puppy.

Owners Joanne Dutton and daughter Madeline, seven, were amazed when the vet's X-ray revealed the cause of the dog's illness.

EnlargeDogeatsdog:AnX-rayofspanielAlfie'sstomach
afterheateatoypuppy.

Vet Mark Allington said: 'We took an X-ray of Alfie and it was fairly obvious what he had swallowed and it was removed after a couple of hours' surgery.'

Joanne said: 'Alfie is back to normal again now - running around like a lunatic.'

Forest fire in California

AhelicoptermakesaneveningwaterdropontheJesusita
fireinSantaBarbara,CaliforniathemorningofMay8,
2009.Thestubbornbrushfirethatconsumed75foothill
homesabovetheCaliforniacoastaltownofSantaBarbara
ragedwithrenewedferocityforafourthdayonFriday,
forcingatleast30,000peopletofleeasitadvancedon
thecityandtwonearbycommunities.[Agencies]

Fathers love without end

BEIJING, May 11 -- Li Yongbing gets up early and busies himself in a neat courtyard at his home in the town of Fuxin. He is preparing to visit his wife, Wang Qin, who passed away in the earthquake last year.

"I'll burn some paper money for her and tell her our son is fine," says the 28-year-old, pushing back his glasses, as if trying to hide the welling tears.

LiYongbingcarrieshissonLiZihaoinawheatfieldinFuxinTownship,
MianzhuCity,SichuanProvince,southwestChina,May3,2009.(Xinhua/Li
Xiaoguo/QinQing)

A year on from the disaster, Li is finally reconciled to waving goodbye to the past and looking ahead instead. The past year has not been easy for him, but like millions of fellow sufferers, he pulled through.

Both Li and his wife worked at the Qingping Township Central Primary School, in the city of Mianzhu. Li taught Chinese, Wang art. They fell in love in 2002, but didn't marry until four years later. Their son Li Zihao was born in December, 2007.

On May 12 last year, Li was teaching as normal, while his wife went to Hanwang Town Central Primary School to exchange teaching methods with other educators. She was buried in the debris. Their son was barely 5-month-old.

Li clearly remembers that the day before had been Mother's Day and Wang bought some vitamins for Li's mother, who lived with them.

Li says after getting the news he was "desperate and numb" for several days. Every time friends and colleagues called, he cried and wouldn't accept their condolences. "I heard that woman was created with a rib from man. I could feel pain all over, especially in my heart," Li recalls as he mixes his son's formula milk powder with boiled water.

Click for more news in Culture Express

Chinese Bridge competition to be held this July in Changsha

AcontestantdrawsatraditionalChinesepaintingduringtheFrench
roundofthe"ChineseBridge"competition,aChinese-languageproficiency
contestforforeigncollegestudents,inPoitiers,France,onMay9,2009.
ThetwowinnersofthecontestheldhereonSaturdaywillattendthefinal
ofthe"ChineseBridge"competition,whichwouldbeheldthisJulyin
Changsha,centralChina'sHunanProvince.(Xinhua/LiXuemei)

Click for more news in Culture Express

Charlene Choi - Two Missing One

Promotional photos of Hong Kong pop singer Charlene Choi for her first
solo album "Two Missing One." [Photo: sina.com.cn/Tungstar]

Click for more news in Culture Express

Jenson Button wins Spanish GP

In motorsports, Jenson Button claimed his fourth Formula One race win of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Briton became the ninth straight winner from pole position on the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona.

JensonButtonclaimedhisfourthFormula
OneracewinoftheseasonattheSpanish
GrandPrix.TheBritonbecametheninth
straightwinnerfrompolepositionon
theCatalunyacircuitinBarcelona.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli triggered a first-lap, first-turn accident that brought an abrupt end of the day for four drivers.

That brought out the safety car, and the drivers had to wait for the racing to resume. Once it did, mechanical failure knocked Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen out of the action.

Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello took an early lead, so Button's crew gave the Briton a two-stop strategy,which would prove decisive. Barrichello led by nearly eight seconds after all the leaders had visited the pits. Button set-down a blistering pace before he pulled in for his second stop with 19 laps to go.

Click for more news in Sports Scene

AC Milan draw to 1-1 with Juventus

Switching to football in the Italian Serie A, AC Milan and Juventus met on Sunday night virtually just to entertain the crowd. Milan already holds the Serie title, and the game ended with a 1-1 draw.

ACMilanandJuventusmetonSundaynightvirtuallyjustto
entertainthecrowd.MilanalreadyholdstheSerietitle,and
thegameendedwitha1-1draw.

Juve was under great pressure, after failing to win in 5 straight games. Meanwhile, AC Milan had won 5 in a row. Juve's players were clearly more inspired and created more opportunities for the team.

Scoreline remained 0-0 at the end of the first half.

Second half, 56th minute, Fillipo Inzaghi's long pass found Massimo Ambrosini, Ambrosini missed, but Clarence Seedorf was there to follow up for the score. Milan took a 1-0 lead.

In the 59th minute, Milan's lead last three minutes, when Vincenzo Iaquinta sent in a header. Scoreline leveled at 1-1.

Neither team scored for the rest of the match. Milan's Giusseppe Favalli drew a red card before full time.

Click for more news in Sports Scene

Museum of Telecommunications attract visitors in Brazil

Special Report:Tech Max

Visitorslistentotheradioguidebesidea
roundscreendisplayingthedevelopmentof
telecommunicationsintheMuseumofTelecom-
municationsinBraziliancityofRiodeJaneiro,
May9,2009.ThemuseumofTelecommunications
islocatedinaculturecenterbuildinginRio
deJaneiro.Themuseum,transformedanddecorated
since1999,providesaudio,vedioandother
multimediatovividlyintroducethedevelopment
oftelecommunicationsinBrazil.(Xinhuaphoto)

-- Click for more news in Tech Max

Rediscovering China

Rediscovering China, a feature program of the English Service of China Central Television is the only weekly program on China to explore contemporary Chinese culture and social changes totally through foreigners eyes. All hosts on the show come from non-Chinese backgrounds.

Watching this program, you will witness the far reaching changes brought about by the historic opening up and reform policies introduced since the late 1970s; experience contrasts and diversities of many cultures; and discover the variety of new interests and lifestyle changes of the Chinese people in this fast moving 21st century.

With unique viewpoints and colorful revelations, Rediscovering China brings a portrait of New China to everyone with a healthy curiosity and questions about this acient and fabled land.

Rediscovering China is an exciting, insightful up to the minute bridge between East and West.

Contact Info

E-mail: RediscoveringChina@ cctv.com

2009 CCTV International Advertising Rate Card

CCTV Sports Entertainment Co., Ltd is the exclusive advertising agency of CCTV International (CCTV-9).
Tel: +86 10 88243346
E-mail: cctv5@vip.sina.com

This rate card goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2009.

Program Category

Program

Broadcasting Time

Ad. Rates (Yuan/Day)




(Chinese/English Name)

(Beijing Time)

5 sec.

10 sec.

15 sec.

30 sec.

News
《综合新闻》

9 times a day: 00:00/03:00/05:00/09:00/
10:00/15:00/16:00/17:00/23:00

20700
31000
38800
69800

CCTV NEWS

《新闻一小时》
Once a day: 12:00
2400
3600
4500
8100

NEWS HOUR

《今日中国》
3 times a day, Mon.- Sat.: 01:00/07:00/*22:00
5900
8900
11100
20000

CHINA TODAY

《今日亚洲》
Twice a day: 4:00/*20:00
4700
7000
8800
15800

ASIA TODAY

《环球了望》
Twice a day: *08:00/19:00
4700
7000
8800
15800

WORLD WIDE WATCH

《体育新闻》
4 times a day: 05:15/10:15/16:15/23:15 (Sat., Sun.: 05:00/10:00/16:00/23:00）
9300
13900
17400
31300

SPORTS SCENE

《一周回顾》
3 times on Sun.: 01:00/07:00/*22:00
1800
2700
3400
6100

CHINA THIS WEEK

Business
《财经中国》
6 times a day: 2:00/6:00/11:00/14:00/18:00/21:00
13800
20700
25900
46600

BIZ CHINA

Features
《今日话题》
Four times a day: 00:30/07:30/13:00/*19:30
9300
13900
17400
31300

DIALOGUE

《人物聚焦》
4 times on Sun.: 03:15/*09:15/15:15/23:15
2000
3000
3700
6700

UP-CLOSE

《纪录片》
3 times a day, Mon.-Sat.: 6:30/17:30/23:30; twice a day, Sat./Sun.: 6:30/17:30
7000
10600
13200
23800

DOCUMENTARY

Culture
《文化快讯》
Four times a day: 2:30/08:30/14:30/*20:30
9900
14800
18500
33300

CULTURE EXPRESS

《外国人看中国》
3 times a day, Mon./Thurs.: *5:30/13:30/21:30
2600
3900
4900
8800

REDISCOVERING CHINA

《学汉语》
3 times a day, Mon.- Sat.: 03:15/*09:15/15:15
5900
8900
11100
20000

LEARNING CHINESE

《中国各地》
3 times a day: *4:30/11:30/18:30
7100
10700
13400
24100

AROUND CHINA

《旅游指南》
3 times a day, Tues./Wed./Fri./Sat.: *5:30/13:30/21:30
2600
3900
4900
8800

TRAVELOGUE

《自然与科学》
3 times a day, Mon.- Fri.: 03:30/*9:30/15:30
5000
7500
9400
16900

NATURE SCIENCE

高科观察（自然与科学 周末版）
3 times on Sat.: 03:30/9:30/15:30
5000
7500
9400
16900

HI-TECH

《新探索》
4 times a day, Mon.- Fri.: 01:30/*10:30/16:30/22:30
6800
10200
12700
22900

NEW FRONTIERS

《华夏文明》
3 times a day, Mon.- Fri.: 03:55/*09:55/15:55
5000
7500
9400
16900

CIVILIZATION

Remarks:
1. The asterisk (*) time is the first broadcasting time. New programs are updated with each broadcast.


2. CCTV NEWS at 00:00/17:00 and SPORTS SCENE on Sat./Sun. both last for half an hour.


3. This rate card goes into effect on January 1, 2009. For other matters not covered herein, please consult the pertinent CCTV regulations.

Sports Scene Overview

Sports Scene is a daily 15-minute sports news program on CCTV International. The program brings a roundup of major sports stories taking place in China and around the world with a focus on domestic sporting events.

Every Sunday, there is a 30-minute special edition of Sports Scene (on Sundays, the program broadcast time begins 15 minutes earlier than weekday broadcasts).

In addition to the latest sporting news, the weekend edition of Sports Scene includes a recap of the past weeks main stories and a profile of one of Chinas Olympic champions. With the Olympic Games coming to Beijing, China in 2008, Sports Scene will be playing an even more important role in keeping the world abreast of Olympic Games related developments in Beijing and Chinas contributions to the world of sports.