Archive for ‘China alert’

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10/04/2019

Chinese premier arrives in Croatia for official visit, China-CEEC leaders’ meeting

ZAGREB, April 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Croatia on Tuesday for an official visit to the country and the eighth leaders’ meeting of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) in the Croatian seaside city Dubrovnik.

Upon Li’s arrival, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his wife Ana Plenkovic led a warm welcome ceremony at the Zagreb Airport. Children dressed in national costumes presented flowers to Premier Li and his wife Cheng Hong.

Li is the first Chinese premier that pays a visit to Croatia since the two countries established diplomatic ties 27 years ago.

The Chinese premier said he is happy to visit the beautiful country, adding that China and Croatia share a profound traditional friendship.

Bilateral relations enjoy healthy and stable development on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, and cooperation in all areas has continuously achieved significant breakthroughs, which has brought tangible benefits to both sides, Li said.

“I expect this visit can consolidate China-Croatia traditional friendship, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen the alignment of the two countries’ development strategies and policies, expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, so as to promote China-Croatia comprehensive cooperative partnership to a new higher level,” the premier said.

Li said that currently, cooperation between China and the 16 CEECs has shown strong vitality with significant outcomes achieved in areas including economy and trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, agriculture, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

It has become a vigorous inter-regional cooperation mechanism which has provided a new avenue for China’s cooperation with Europe, he added.

Li said China expects to work with the 16 CEECs, under the principles of equality and consultation, mutual benefits, openness and inclusiveness, and with pragmatic and innovative spirits, to make the cooperation mechanism an important platform for synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the EU strategy on Connecting Europe and Asia so as to inject new impetus into the development of the China-CEEC relations and the European integration process.

During the visit to Croatia, Li will have a meeting with Plenkovic, with whom he will hold a joint press conference, attend an opening ceremony of the Year of Tourism between China and Croatia, inspect the project of the Peljesac Bridge and witness the signing of cooperation deals in several areas. Li will also meet Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic.

During the China-CEEC leaders’ meeting themed “Building New Bridges through Openness, Innovation and Partnership,” the Chinese premier and leaders of 16 CEECs will plan practical cooperation in the future, witness the signing of cooperation deals, attend a series of activities including an economic and trade forum. Li will also hold bilateral meetings with CEEC leaders.

Before landing in Zagreb, the second stop of the premier’s five-day tour to Europe, Li concluded his trip in Brussels with the successful holding of the 21st China-European Union (EU) leaders’ meeting.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in 21st China-European Union (EU) leaders' meeting, Ana Plenkovic, Andrej Plenkovic, Building New Bridges through Openness, Innovation and Partnership, Cheng Hong, China alert, China-CEEC, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Croatia, Croatian President, Croatian Prime Minister, Dubrovnik, Gordan Jandrokovic, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, parliament speaker, Uncategorized, Zagreb Airport | Leave a Comment »

10/04/2019

‘Lucky’ phone number sells for US$50,000 in China but it’s not a record

  • Online auction attracts fierce competition, sending value rocketing in first minutes of bidding
  • ‘Auspicious’ numbers are popular in China because they sound like words which signify good fortune
An “auspicious” mobile phone number has sold for more than US$50,000 at an online auction in China. Photo: Shutterstock
An “auspicious” mobile phone number has sold for more than US$50,000 at an online auction in China. Photo: Shutterstock
An “auspicious” mobile phone number has fetched more than 350,000 yuan (US$52,000) at an online auction in northern China.
The number, which ended in five fives, sold for more than 30 times the starting price of 11,250 yuan, after fierce bidding saw its value rocket to more than 300,000 yuan in just 12 minutes.
A total of 140 people registered to participate in the 24-hour auction and 107 bids were recorded. The winning bid came from a user called Li Zisheng on Tuesday evening, according to Alibaba’s Sifa court auction platform which hosted the sale.

The South China Morning Post is owned by Alibaba.

Why you shouldn’t clip your nails at night and other superstitions
It is not uncommon for people in China to pay a premium for phone numbers or car licence plates featuring numbers which are considered lucky.
Six, eight and nine are particular favourites, as they sound like the words for strength, wealth and longevity, respectively. The number five is said to represent happiness or wealth.

One of the most expensive mobile numbers on record in China contained a combination of eights and fives and sold at auction for US$680,000 in 2004, according to the Oriental Morning Post.

In 2006, a car licence plate in Zhejiang province, eastern China, containing five eights sold for 1.67 million yuan to a Wenzhou businessman with a BMW, according to online sales platform Tencent Auto.

Not everyone is willing to pay any price for a lucky number plate or phone number, with some internet users on China’s Twitter-like Weibo service questioning why people would pay so much money for such things.

“Are mobile and car plate numbers really this important?” a user from Hunan province, central China, wrote. “This type of number will have a higher chance of getting spam calls.”

Source: SCMP

Posted in Alibaba, ‘Auspicious’ numbers, ‘Lucky’ phone number, BMW, car licence plate, China alert, Hunan Province, Li Zisheng, Online auction, Sifa court auction platform, Uncategorized, Weibo, Wenzhou, zhejiang province | Leave a Comment »

10/04/2019

Hong Kong ‘Umbrella’ protesters found guilty of public nuisance

Media caption The “Umbrella Movement” activists said they would continue to strive for democracy

Nine pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been found guilty of public nuisance charges for their role in a civil disobedience movement that called for free elections in the city.

Among them are three prominent activists, seen as figureheads of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

They could be jailed for up to seven years for their part in the “Umbrella Movement” protests of 2014.

Thousands marched demanding the right for Hong Kong to choose its own leader.

Those convicted include the so-called “Occupy trio” – sociology professor Chan Kin-man, 60, law professor Benny Tai, 54, and Baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming, 75.

They are seen as the founders of the movement that galvanised protesters in their campaign of civil disobedience.

“No matter what happens today… we will persist on and do not give up,” Mr Tai told reporters ahead of the verdict.

Mr Tai, Mr Chan and five others were found guilty of two charges of public nuisance, and Mr Chu and one other of just one charge.

A large crowd gathered outside the court on Thursday to support them. It is not yet clear when they will be sentenced.

Presentational grey line
Chu Yiu-ming, Benny Tai, Chan Kin-manImage copyrightAFP
Chu Yiu-ming, Benny Tai and Chan Kin-man (left to right) were charged under colonial-era laws that carry possible jail terms of up to seven years

Like just another day

By Martin Yip, BBC News Chinese, Hong Kong

The nine defendants walked into the court building looking refreshed and in high spirits. All but one said a few words in what might have been their last hours of freedom before their predicted jail term.

Delivering his verdict, Justice Johnny Chan said the defendants had caused a nuisance – by occupying major roads – leading to injuries among civilians. The nine looked calm and not particularly emotional. They were later released on bail. Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming smiled as they passed me, as if it was just another day.

They are yet to say if they will appeal. The court was adjourned for the day as the lawyers are yet to finish their mitigation submissions. The sentences have yet to be announced.

The broader pro-democracy camp already has bad relations with Beijing. Activists and politicians did express their anger but political analysts also warn that people might simply leave the movement out of frustration.

“Some people might feel dispirited and helpless. I hope they can see that other people haven’t given up,” Benny Tai told BBC News Chinese ahead of today’s verdict.

Seventy nine days of sit-in protests have already changed Hong Kong a lot. But today’s verdict might serve more as a reminder that this city remains divided.

Presentational grey line

What has the reaction been?

At the trial Judge Johnny Chan rejected the idea that this would have a substantial impact on society.

“It cannot be reasonably argued that a charge of conspiracy to cause public nuisance would generate a chilling effect in society,” he wrote in his ruling.

But rights groups criticised the ruling, with Humans Rights Watch saying the court was “sending a terrible message”.

“[This] will likely embolden the government to prosecute more peaceful activists, further chilling free expression in Hong Kong,” said researcher Maya Wang in a statement to the BBC.

A pro-Democracy activist holds a piece of yellow paper with a slogan in Chinese saying "People"s Hero"Image copyrightEPA
One pro-democracy supporter outside the court held up a sign saying “People’s Hero”

Lord Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, released a statement saying that it was “appallingly divisive to use anachronistic common law charges in a vengeful pursuit of political events which took place in 2014”.

This verdict comes after a string of frustrations for pro-democracy activists. In the last few years the courts have removed six lawmakers for changing their swearing in oaths to include protest phrases. Others have also been disqualified from running for office.

What were the protests about?

The protests started in reaction to a decision made by China that it would allow direct elections in 2017, but only from a list of candidates pre-approved by Beijing.

Beijing is highly sensitive about Hong Kong’s status and any calls for more autonomy from China.

The former British colony was handed back in 1997 on condition it would retain “a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs” for 50 years.

Many people in Hong Kong believe they should have the right to elect their own leader.

In 2014, the three activists’ calls for non-violent civil disobedience joined with student-led protests and snowballed into the massive demonstrations.

Tens of thousands of people camped in the streets and demanded the right to fully free leadership elections.

Hong Kong protests (Sept 2014)Image copyrightAFP The pro-democracy protests bought an area of central Hong Kong to a standstill for weeks in 2014

The protests became known as the “Umbrella Movement” after people used umbrellas to shield themselves from pepper spray fired by police to disperse the crowd.

Protesters accused the Chinese government of breaking its promise to allow full democracy in Hong Kong, and of encroaching more and more on the region.

But the number of protesters dwindled to just a few hundred as the weeks dragged on and they ultimately failed to achieve their goal.

Source: The BBC

Posted in 'Umbrella' protesters, Baptist ministe, Benny Tai, British governor of Hong Kong, Chan Kin-man, China alert, Chu Yiu-ming, Civil disobedience, encroaching, guilty, Hong Kong, Humans Rights Watch, Justice Johnny Chan, law professor, Lord Chris Patten, Pepper spray, Police, pro-democracy activists, public nuisance, sociology professor, Umbrella Movement, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

10/04/2019

Dalai Lama recovers from chest infection in hospital

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was admitted to hospital in the Indian capital of New Delhi with a chest infection, but is doing fine, an aide said on Wednesday, as social media users prayed for the Buddhist monk’s fast recovery.

The 83-year-old Nobel peace laureate, who fled to India in early 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, lives in exile in the northern hill town of Dharamshala.

“His Holiness is doing fine now,” Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, the Dalai Lama’s press secretary, told Reuters, without giving details.

The Dalai Lama, who was diagnosed with a chest infection after being admitted to hospital on Tuesday, complaining of discomfort, will spend a few days in hospital, his personal secretary said.

A hospital official declined to comment on his medical condition, citing patient confidentiality.

Many of his supporters posted messages on social media wishing him a speedy recovery.

“Concerned that he has been hospitalised,” tweeted Naveen Patnaik, chief minister of India’s eastern state of Odisha.

“The world needs him.”

About 100,000 Tibetans live in India and many worry that their fight for a genuinely autonomous homeland would end with the Dalai Lama.

He told Reuters last month his incarnation could be found in India after he dies, and warned that any other successor named by China would not be respected.

But many Tibetans, whose tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death, suspect any Chinese role as a ploy to exert influence on the community.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing he was not aware of the Dalai Lama’s physical condition, but added, “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should follow the relevant Chinese laws, regulations and religious rituals.”
Source: Reuters

Posted in Beijing, chest infection, Chief Minister, China alert, Dalai Lama, Dharamshala, foreign ministry spokesman, Hospital, India alert, Lu Kang, Naveen Patnaik, New Delhi, Nobel peace laureate, Odisha, reincarnation, religious rituals, Tibetan spiritual leader, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

09/04/2019

Diplomat stresses efforts to bring China-Barbados cooperation to new stage

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) — Chinese ambassador to Barbados Yan Xiusheng has called for efforts to promote China-Barbados cooperation to a new stage.

In the article, carried by Monday’s People’s Daily, Yan said the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in February, making Barbados the first new partner to join the BRI in 2019.

“The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have deepened in recent years, showing a good trend of upgrading quality and accelerating speed,” Yan said.

Political mutual trust between the two sides has been strengthened, pragmatic cooperation has been steadily advancing and people-to-people and cultural exchanges have seen many highlights, he explained.

As an important partner of China in the Caribbean, Barbados attaches great importance to international cooperation within the framework of the BRI, the article read.

The signing of the MOU between the two countries has brought new opportunities for further development of bilateral relations and practical cooperation in various fields, Yan noted.

Under the framework of the BRI and guided by the principle of consultation, collaboration and benefit for all, both sides will give full play to their comparative advantages and tap into their potential for cooperation in the fields including shipping, aviation, infrastructure and modern agriculture, he said.

Efforts will be made to achieve high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and push China-Barbados friendship and cooperation into a new stage, said the article.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Barbados, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Caribbean, China alert, China-Barbados cooperation, Chinese ambassador to Barbados, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), People's Daily, Uncategorized, Yan Xiusheng | Leave a Comment »

09/04/2019

Int’l trade fair opens in central China

ZHENGZHOU, April 8 (Xinhua) — An international investment and trade fair opened Monday in central China’s Henan Province.

More than 15,700 business delegates, including 2,566 from overseas, are taking part in the 13th China (Henan) International Investment and Trade Fair in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, according to the organizer.

The fair covers an exhibition area of 54,000 square meters. A batch of cooperation projects is expected to be inked at the fair, with projects each worth more than 1 billion yuan (149 million U.S. dollars) to account for about one-third of all deals to be signed.

A variety of activities, including a forum on “Air Silk Road” will be held during the fair. More than 170 company executives and 43 scholars will participate in these activities.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Air Silk Road, China alert, Henan province, International Investment and Trade Fair, international trade fair, Uncategorized, Zhengzhou | Leave a Comment »

09/04/2019

Railway trips increase during tomb-sweeping holiday

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) — China saw a total of 54 million railway trips during the three-day tomb-sweeping holiday, up 9.9 percent year on year, according to the national railway operator.

The China Railway Corporation said it added 2,460 trains during the holiday to handle the increase and ensure safe and orderly trips.

April 5 saw a total of 15.23 million railway trips, setting a one-day record for the tomb-sweeping holiday.

Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, is an important occasion for Chinese to honor their ancestors. Many also spent the three-day holiday on leisure travel.

According to figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China saw 112 million domestic trips during the holiday, up 10.9 percent from last year’s holiday.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, China Railway Corporation (CRC), Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Qingming Festival, railway trips, tomb-sweeping holiday, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

09/04/2019

China supports France, Germany’s efforts in upholding multilateralism: spokesperson

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) — China on Monday voiced its support for multilateralism after France and Germany jointly proposed an “Alliance for Multilateralism” during a recent session at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart Heiko Maas intended to officially launch the Alliance during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly scheduled for September.

“China has always staunchly upheld, supported and practiced multilateralism,” spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing while commenting on the proposed Alliance, adding that China supports the efforts of the international community including France and Germany in maintaining multilateralism.

Lu said China stands ready to work with all parties in preserving the international order and regime with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter at its core, and the rule-based multilateral trade regime with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, with a commitment to multilateralism.

Against the backdrop of a surging trend toward economic globalization and multi-polarization as well as a constant increase in global challenges, the world needs multilateralism more than ever before, the spokesperson said.

Speaking of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks at a forum on global governance attended by French, German and EU leaders during Xi’s recently-concluded European visit, Lu mentioned Xi’s advocacy for safeguarding multilateralism, enhancing international dialogue and cooperation, and jointly addressing the deficits in governance, trust, peace and development, so as to improve global governance.

“China is ready to work with all parties in facilitating a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, to jointly build a community of shared future for mankind,” Lu added.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Alliance for Multilateralism, China alert, Chinese President Xi Jinping, EU leaders, France, French Foreign Minister, Germany, Heiko Maas, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Lu Kang, multilateralism, UN Charter, UN General Assembly, Uncategorized, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) | Leave a Comment »

09/04/2019

Li urges closer China-Europe cooperation for mutual benefit

BRUSSELS, April 8 (Xinhua) — China and Europe stand to benefit from closer cooperation, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in a signed article published Monday in German newspaper Handelsblatt as he kicked off a visit to the continent.

In the article titled Embracing Openness and Cooperation for Mutual Benefit, Li pointed to rising instabilities and uncertainties in the international situation and a resurgence of protectionism, unilateralism and anti-globalization sentiments.

Against such a backdrop, China and Europe need to jointly uphold multilateralism and the free trade system by following a strategic and global perspective and a sensible approach, Li said.

“Our two sides need to work together to promote an open world economy and address long-running issues and new challenges confronting the human society to inject stability into an increasingly uncertain world,” he said.

China, said the premier, will continue to cooperate with the European Union (EU) on a broad range of issues, such as upholding the Paris Agreement, promoting sustainable development, adhering to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear issue and combating terrorism.

China, he added, is also ready to step up communication and build consensus with the EU on such issues as advancing the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to fully accommodate the interests and concerns of all parties and better safeguard the interests of the majority of WTO members.

The premier noted that the past 40 years have witnessed a 250-fold increase in trade between the two sides, and that the EU has been China’s top trading partner for 15 years in a row, while China has been the EU’s second largest trading partner for years running.

Two-way trade hit a new record of 682.16 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, close to eight million visits are exchanged between the two sides every year, and more than 600 flights connect them every week, he added.

“I am confident that these figures will only grow bigger in the future,” Li said.

Having opened itself to the world, China will not close its doors but will only open them even wider, Li said, adding that more and more European companies are benefiting from China’s latest round of reform and opening-up measures.

“For example, BASF has announced a 10-billion-U.S.-dollar investment decision for a wholly-owned production complex in China’s Guangdong province,” he said. “ING of the Netherlands and the Bank of Beijing will invest 3 billion RMB yuan to establish a joint venture bank, with ING holding a 51 percent stake, making it the first foreign-controlled bank in China.”

The recently adopted Foreign Investment Law is designed to provide better protection for foreign investors and make China an even more attractive destination for overseas investment, he said.

“China is ready to work with Europe to promote two-way opening-up and provide a level playing field for our companies to strengthen cooperation in each other’s countries,” added the premier.

Li’s five-day Europe tour, scheduled for April 8 to 12, takes him to Brussels for the 21st China-EU leaders’ meeting, and Croatia for an official visit and the eighth leaders’ meeting of China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs).

According to Li, during the upcoming China-EU leaders’ meeting, the two sides will compare notes on a timetable and roadmap for intensifying negotiations on a China-EU Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The two sides, he added, will also push for meaningful progress in the negotiations on the agreement of geographical indications, and hold the fourth China-EU Innovation Cooperation Dialogue.

“We want to use these efforts to develop new areas and new highlights in China-Europe cooperation,” said the premier.

As regards China-CEEC cooperation, Li said that as a platform for cross-regional cooperation, it is oriented to promoting free trade and globalization.

“China-CEEC cooperation, which has developed in the larger framework of China-Europe relations and EU laws and regulations, is conducive to more balanced development and unity of the EU and serves as a useful complement to China-EU relations,” he added.

“China and the EU have far more common interests than differences,” he said. “And our two sides have the wisdom and capability to properly handle differences, jointly tackle challenges, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation to the benefit of our nearly 2 billion people.”

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Bank of Beijing, Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), China alert, China-CEEC cooperation, China-EU Bilateral Investment Treaty., Chinese premier Li Keqiang, combating terrorism, Embracing Openness and Cooperation for Mutual Benefit, European Union (EU), Handelsblatt, ING of the Netherlands, Iranian nuclear issue, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Paris Agreement on climate change, Uncategorized, World Trade Organization (WTO) | Leave a Comment »

09/04/2019

Xi stresses wide participation in promoting afforestation

CHINA-BEIJING-LEADERS-TREE PLANTING (CN)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends a tree-planting activity in Tongzhou District in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2019. Other Party and state leaders, including Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan, also attended the activity. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed efforts to carry forward the Chinese nation’s tradition of loving, planting and protecting trees, and to involve the whole society in promoting afforestation.

Wide participation by everyone in China should be encouraged in pushing for large-scale afforestation of the country to achieve more tangible results, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

He made the remarks while attending a tree-planting activity in east Beijing’s Tongzhou District and planting saplings of different types of trees.

Other Party and state leaders, including Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan, also attended the activity.

Xi talked with school children who are also attending the tree planting activity, asking about their study and sport exercise, urging them to foster awareness about environmental protection starting in childhood, and encouraging them to build a more beautiful motherland with their own hands.

Xi said this year marks the 40th anniversary of National Tree Planting Day. In the past 40 years, China’s forest area and forest stock volume have doubled, respectively, and China is home to the world’s largest man-made forest. The proportion of China’s contribution to the world’s vegetation increase also ranked first.

At the same time, the lack of forests and vegetation, and fragile ecological environment are still problems that need tremendous efforts, said Xi.

Xi stressed that the Chinese nation has a good tradition of loving, planting and protecting trees. Wide participation by everyone in China should be encouraged and officials at all levels should set examples as volunteer tree planters.

Efforts should be taken to promote the high-quality development of afforestation, coordinate management of mountains, waters, forests, farmland, lakes and grassland, continuously advance the building of forest city and forest countryside, Xi said.

Xi called for solid efforts to improve people’s living environment, develop a green economy, and strengthen forest management and protection to achieve more tangible results.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in Afforestation, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, China alert, Chinese President Xi Jinping, fragile ecological environment, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Han Zheng, Li Zhanshu, National Tree Planting Day, Tongzhou District, Uncategorized, Wang Huning, Wang Qishan, wang yang, Zhao Leji | Leave a Comment »

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