Month: May 2019

Analysts said on Monday that while US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had pointed to the strength of bilateral ties during Trump’s ongoing visit to Japan, the two nations appear to be diverging on key issues.

At a joint news conference on Monday, the two leaders said both sides had shown their willingness to strengthen their “traditional close ties” and continue to cooper-ate in various fields.

Trump said he and Abe had agreed to cooperate on space exploration. The nations will “be going to the moon and Mars very soon”, Trump said, adding that “from a military standpoint, there is nothing more important right now than space”.

Abe spoke of walking “hand in hand” with the United States on some issues. He said Japan would be making “new investments” in key US states, and he revealed a plan to buy 105 US-made stealth warplanes, giving it the largest F-35 fleet of any US ally.

Trump’s state visit to Japan has been punctuated by ceremonial activities, with the US president meeting Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Monday-making him the first foreign state leader to be received by the monarch, who ascended the throne this month.

Cheng Xiaohe, an associate professor at Renmin University of China’s School of International Studies, said all the planned activities during Trump’s visit, including watching sumo wrestling matches and presenting the “President’s Trophy” to the winner and playing golf with Abe, were a display of Abe and his government’s intention to impress Washington.

“Abe seems to believe that the personal relationship between the leaders is of great significance for influencing relations between Japan and the US. In this case, he must win over Trump the man before he might try to influence his decision-making,” Cheng said.

While the summit appeared to have a friendly atmosphere, many analysts have said Washington and Tokyo are at odds on some issues.

Pang Zhongpeng, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Japan Studies, said that while the two countries have long touted their friendly alliance, it can be seen from the news conference that there are growing gaps between Washington and Tokyo on many issues.

In response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s recent firing of short-range missiles, Trump said he is not “personally bothered” by the tests.

Abe said that the missile tests violated UN Security Council resolutions and were of “great regret”.

On trade issues, Trump and Abe largely glossed over their differences at the news conference, despite the potentially massive tariffs on foreign autos that Trump is threatening to impose on Japan and the European Union.

Trump declined to say what Japan would have to do to avoid those tariffs but complained of an “unbelievably large” trade imbalance with the nation.

“I think we will be announcing some things probably in August that will be very good for both countries,” Trump said.

Pang, from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said as Washington has maintained an “America first” policy, in issues related to US interests “it is more likely to undermine others’ interests, even at the cost of damaging relations with its traditional allies”, he said.

On the issue of rising tensions between the US and Iran over Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Abe said that Japan and the US would work together to try and de-escalate tensions, with Trump, stating that the US is not looking for regime change.

Zhou Yongsheng, a professor at and deputy director of the Japanese Studies Center of China Foreign Affairs University, noted that as one of Iran’s important trading partners, Japan wants to be exempted from US sanctions and continue economic ties with Iran. “But that’s impossible,” Zhou said.

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North China’s Shanxi province is looking to boost tourism by developing a short-haul flight service and improving its transportation system.

A direct flight linking the city of Lyuliang and the city of Taiyuan, the provincial capital, was launched on April 30. The flight cuts the time of the 200-kilometer journey between the two from three hours by car to just 45 minutes by air.

“Flight tickets are in high demand. Flights in May are almost fully booked,” says Yun Peigang, general manager of Lyuliang Dawu Airport. “It is a new way of traveling, introducing short-distance flights between cities in Shanxi and providing breathtaking views for passengers.”

Li Ying, a passenger who has already experienced the new air route, says she spent just 28 yuan ($4) on a single trip. “It’s even cheaper than a bus ticket, and the scenery was magnificent.”

The cost of bus ticket between the two cities is 32 yuan.

Li took a Kodiak 100 aircraft, which can seat seven passengers. The aircraft can take off on a 200-meter-long runway and usually flies at an altitude of 3,600 meters, with a minimum altitude of 600 meters.

“It flew very low, and the mountain view from the plane was as clear as if I was sitting beside the window of my home looking down. It was a completely different experience from flying in a big plane,” Li says.

Besides the Taiyuan-Lyuliang air route, at the same time, Shanxi also launched short-haul flights linking Taiyuan to the cities of Datong, Yuncheng and Changzhi.

All the short-distance air routes are operated by light aircraft, with the ticket prices capped at 60 yuan.

Shanxi is a demonstration case for the development of the country’s aviation industry.

“To stimulate the development of aviation services in Shanxi, the province established Shanxi General Aviation Co Ltd last year and started to develop short-haul flights,” says Shi Lei, chairman of the company.

The province also plans to introduce light aircraft into a wide range of fields, including weather modification, emergency rescue, air patrol, forest-fire prevention, environmental monitoring and power-line patrols.

“China’s general-aviation market has not been fully developed. The scope for future market development is huge,” Shi says.

Last year, Shanxi issued a layout of general airports between 2018 and 2030. Nearly 70 airports able to provide general-aviation services will be built by 2030, and general-aviation services will cover all counties in the province.

Shanxi, dubbed as a sea of coal, expects to boost its tourism industry, as well as combine the cultural and sports industries with the general-aviation industry through short-haul airline business, Shi says.

The province is rich in cultural heritage and tourism resources. It is home to many well-known attractions, such as the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River, Taihang Grand Canyon, Yungang Grottoes and Pingyao Ancient City.

So far, low-altitude flight services are available at three attractions: Hukou Waterfall, Yanmen Pass and Taihang Grand Canyon.

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Nation’s supportive monetary policies, fiscal stimulus will pay off, say experts

The Chinese economy can “surf through” the tide of Sino-US trade tensions, as both broad-based and targeted measures to stabilize growth will pay off, said senior economists at Netherlands-based global financial institution ING Bank NV.

“Holistically, China can weather and surf through the trade tensions because it has the fiscal stimulus and supportive monetary policies already in place,” said Iris Pang, director and economist of ING in China.

With the planned proactive fiscal measures being pushed at a good speed, the Chinese economy is set to grow steadily at about 6.3 percent this year, Pang told China Daily.

The Chinese authorities are implementing this year’s plan to cut nearly 2 trillion yuan ($289.8 billion) worth of taxes and fees, as well as to fund 2.15 trillion yuan worth of infrastructure investment through local government special bonds.

The 4 trillion-yuan stimulus package – equivalent to approximately 1.7 percent of China’s nominal GDP – is of a large scale, and will help offset the drag of trade tensions on growth, Pang said.

“I don’t think China needs any more broad-based stimulus,” Pang said, adding that it is important not to overdo the stimulus and instead “save the bullets” for potential worse-case scenarios.

During the first quarter, the world’s second-largest economy grew by 6.4 percent year-on-year, unchanged from the previous quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. In April, the economy remained stable but cooled modestly, with growth in industrial output and retail sales down from March.

“The Chinese economy is performing adequately in difficult circumstances (caused by the trade tensions),” said Robert Carnell, chief economist and head of research of Asia-Pacific at ING.

Though the economy as a whole will be on an even keel, some private and small exporters have been hurt by the US tariffs and may shut shop, which will weigh on employment stability and consumption, Carnell said.

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Making sure the private sector withstands the trade tensions is essential, only by which the economy can keep driving itself forward, said Carnell.

Targeted monetary policies have been stepped up to lend a hand to the private sector, which are “being done in a methodical and considered way that I think is ultimately going to help”, he said.

On May 15, the People’s Bank of China started a three-step plan of cutting the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) of small and medium-sized rural commercial banks, a move that will free 280 billion yuan for loans to small private companies.

The central bank has also adopted its new instrument – targeted medium-term lending facility (TMLF) – twice this year, lending more than 500 billion yuan to commercial banks that “have the potential of increasing loans for small and micro enterprises and private enterprises”.

More targeted RRR cuts and TMLF injections may be on the way, Pang said, adding that other policy support for small exporters can also be expected, such as export rebates and measures to facilitate exports to economies involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the longer term, Pang expects the Chinese economy to maintain a GDP growth rate of about 6 percent for the next decade, with the development of 5G-related industries an important driver.

The superfast wireless technology will bring “revolutionary changes” to both the Chinese and the world economy, like the evolution from “gas light to light bulb”, Carnell said.

For instance, 5G will not only bring about new demands such as for streaming and gaming, but also change economic tenets as marginal costs for production may drop to zero under some circumstances, he said.

Pang said China is expected be more advanced than many other economies in terms of 5G development, as the country had started related investments earlier. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of trade tensions, it should strive to become more self-sufficient in the sector, she said.

China may grant official 5G licenses to telecom carriers this year and is likely to start commercial use of the technology nationwide in the near future, possibly as soon as October, people familiar with the matter said recently.

Jiang Xueqing contributed to this story.

French jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger (1907-87) left a legacy of creative work showing the wit, curiosity and imagination he used to present the wonders of nature through gemstones. His designs helped shape the fashion of the 20th century and enrich the collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

A jewelry design exhibition, to open at the National Museum of China on May 30, will show 123 ornamental pieces by Schlumberger, on loan from the Richmond-based museum — which boasts a larger and more comprehensive collection of Schlumberger’s works than any other institution in the world.

The museum will also include several ancient Chinese jewelries from its collection in the exhibition, which runs through Sept 1, to enrich the audience’s understanding of aesthetic similarities and differences between East and West.

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Teheran – The recent military buildup by US regional forces has increased the danger of conflicts between Teheran and Washington and has worried regional and international players.

The United States has deployed warships and bombers to the Iranian southern waters, and has reduced the number of its diplomats and employees in Iraq, citing intelligence about potential threats to US nationals by Iran or its allies.

Besides, the US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had decided to send 1,500 more troops to the restive Middle East region.

The tension between Teheran and Washington began to develop when Trump decided to pull the US out of the Iranian nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, in May 2018.

Washington seeks to seal a new nuclear deal with Iran, to further curb Iran’s nuclear program, stop Iran ballistic missile development and halt Iran’s push for influence in the region.

Now, Iran is under unprecedented sanctions imposed by the US on its economy. The sanctions had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord.

Iran has warned that it might not abide by some of the restrictions on its nuclear activities if its economic interests are not honored by the signatories of the deal.

On May 8, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced Teheran’s withdrawal from compliance with the restrictions posed by the JCPOA on the country’s enriched uranium reserves and heavy water supplies.

Rouhani also set a 60-day deadline for the remaining parties to the deal to fulfill their obligations, particularly in preserving Iran’s interests in the areas of banking and oil.

He threatened that Iran might increase the level of uranium enrichment and start modernizing its heavy water reactor.

Teheran’s decision to suspend some of its nuclear deal commitments was meant to give time to Europeans to comply with their obligations and to bring the international agreement back on its right track, said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

Accordingly, the US president vowed to maintain policy of maximum pressure against Iran.

“Much now depends upon the dynamics inside the Trump administration and also on Teheran’s assessment of what is going on there,” Jonathan Marcus, a diplomatic correspondent for BBC, said.

Despite the escalating tensions and military reinforcements in the region, the leaders on both sides have stressed that they are not interested in war.

Saadallah Zarei, an Iranian expert on international affairs, said “there is no indication that the United States is seeking war with the Islamic republic”.

Trump has also indicated that he has more enthusiasm for dialogue than war over the foreign frictions.

In the meantime, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said last week that Trump “does not want war, but the people around him are pushing him toward war under the pretext of making America stronger against Iran”.

By far, the most important remarks inside Iran came from the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month, when he ruled out the possibility of a war between Teheran and Washington, despite the rising tensions that have fueled worries about an armed conflict between the two rivals.

“We don’t want a war, nor do they,” said Khamenei.

Xinhua

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BEIJING — Former NBA player Stephon Marbury is negotiating with his last CBA franchise Beijing Beikong to join the club as its head coach.

The basic framework has been formulated and a detailed contract is expected to be finalized this week.

Marbury was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, and was immediately traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The two-time NBA All-Star played in the NBA from 1996 to 2009 for New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

His career continued in China as he played for CBA clubs Shanxi Zhongyu and Foshan Longshi from 2010 to 2011. The scorer then became the superhero for Beijing Ducks starting in 2011. Averaging 25 points per game, he led the Beijing Ducks to three CBA titles from 2012-15 and enjoyed a loyal fan base. However, in 2017, he parted ways with the Beijing Ducks and joined another Beijing-based club Beijing Beikong. On February 11 2018, he announced his retirement from basketball.

Marbury has shown genuine superstar charisma in China and contributed hugely to the development of Chinese basketball.

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The First Chengdu University Student Fashion Week kicked off last Saturday. Centering on the styles of Chengdu costume from different eras, students at 28 universities around the world presented their idea of Chinese culture through fabric and design.

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Winners of the New Designer Award will be announced at the end of the week. Over a hundred enterprises will meet with student designers.

Two administrators at a hospital in Dongtai, Jiangsu province, have been removed from their posts after 69 patients were infected with the hepatitis C virus.

A dialysis unit at Dongtai People’s Hospital was determined to be responsible for the contamination, the city’s information office said in a statement on Monday.

An initial investigation by an expert panel of specialists from the National Health Commission and provincial and city health authorities said that lax management at the hospital was to blame for the infections.

“The hospital’s infection management system had not been properly used, causing the infections,” the statement said.

The two administrators, the hospital’s president and deputy president, were removed from their posts. Another 14 officials held accountable in the incident, including local health officials, will also face punishment, it said.

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All infected patients are receiving treatment and are in stable condition. The hospital was ordered to rectify problems and Dongtai is conducting a citywide inspection to eliminate the risk of further infection, the statement said.

A similar incident occurred at a hospital in Shaanxi province in 2016 in which 26 patients contracted hepatitis C during dialysis treatment due to malpractice, China News Service reported.

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that primarily affects the liver. During the initial infection, people often have mild or no symptoms. Over several years, victims can develop cirrhosis or liver cancer.

A professor at Beijing Friendship Hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, said the hepatitis C virus is blood-borne and the most common manner of infection is through exposure to small quantities of tainted blood.

Hospitals must take precautions to ensure that injection equipment is sterile, strictly screen donated blood for hepatitis B and C, and properly train health personnel, he said.

Cang Wei contributed to this story.

Short videos that go viral have brought obvious benefits to “Cyberstar” cities, such as Xi’an and Chongqing, along with some problems.

Jia Linlin, director of the tour guide management department at online travel agency Ctrip, said she is happy to see more people “signing in” to visit such destinations after watching videos featuring their lesser-known attractions.

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The videos enable potential visitors to familiarize themselves with the “real situations” in tourist destinations before they decide to travel, while travel agencies can introduce customers to places by using the latest information, Jia said.

Sheng Xia, 32, a freelance writer in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, said short videos of some scenic spots were helpful when she planned a reunion trip with her college classmates.

Deciding to travel this month, Sheng said she and her six classmates considered several “internet celebrity” cities before selecting Chongqing.

“Videos of Chongqing often appear on the lead page of platforms such as Douyin, and my classmates and I – frequent visitors to these platforms – were immediately attracted by special and new scenic spots or cultural experiences,” Sheng said.

“As most of us had not been to Chongqing, we unanimously decided on the city when we were discussing where to go,” she said, adding that hot scenic spots in videos were on their “must-see” list. These include Hongyadong, the Yangtze River Cableway and Liziba Station, where a subway line passes through a building.

Research conducted by Tsinghua University in September found that short-video platforms have helped to improve the image of cities, and even their economies, by increasing their popularity and appeal to tourists.

The research found that such videos are boosting cities’ popularity by showcasing their BEST attributes (background music, eating, scenery and technological facilities).

However, increased popularity has also brought some problems. One of them is popular culture being copied elsewhere in Xi’an, or even in other cities.

Jia, from Ctrip, said there now many areas in Xi’an and other places where wine bowls are being smashed, after one venue in the Yongxingfang area became an online hit.

“Such experiences may be popular for a short time, but will quickly lose their appeal if tourists can see them almost everywhere,” she said.

In addition, the arrival of more tourists has resulted in increased pressure for travel agencies, as well as for urban transportation and parking facilities.

Hongyadong, a well-known scenic spot in Chongqing featuring Bashu-style buildings (the ancient name for Southwest China including Sichuan province and Chongqing), only received 5,000 tourists a day when it was built in 2005.

But during the International Labor Day holiday last year, from April 29 to May 1, about 100,000 tourists visited the area, making it too crowded for comfort.

City authorities said they are working to solve these problems by improving management and services.

For example, Xi’an has taken measures such as introducing short-term traffic restrictions and encouraging tourists to park several kilometers from scenic spots during peak seasons. Visitors can also take free shuttle buses to venues.

 

 

In 1966, master artist Zhang Daqian — then living in Brazil — painted a landscape depicting a view of Huangshan Mountain in East China’s Anhui province, to show his relief over recovering from a major illness. He gifted the painting to Zeng Lyuchuan, an old friend in Hong Kong.

The painting, titled Landscape of Cloudy Mountain, will be auctioned at Beijing Poly International’s on June 4.

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Landscape of Cloudy Mountain, which is nearly 3.9 meters long, shows Zhang’s mastery in the techniques of Chinese mountain-and-water painting. For decades, Zhang studied the works of great ancient painters and became adept at copying them.

The landscape also demonstrates Zhang’s exploration of a more abstract approach by splashing ink on paper. He continued experimenting in this style even after his eyesight deteriorated.