Hu holds talks with Italian president in Rome

Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Monday, calling for a boost to ties between the two countries.

During the talks, Hu said Chinese-Italian relations have witnessed healthy and stable expansion over the past 39 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano prior to their talks in Rome, capital of Italy, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)

In 2004, the two countries agreed to establish an all-around strategic partnership, unveiling a new page for Chinese-Italian friendly cooperation, Hu said.

As next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the forging of bilateral diplomatic relations, China is willing to join hands with Italy to lift bilateral ties to a higher level, Hu said.

According to a press release issued by the Chinese delegation, Napolitano agreed with Hu, saying cooperation between Italy and China has seen smooth expansion in a wide range of fields.

Napolitano said Italy is willing to further increase its economic cooperation and trade with China, exert every effort to host the "Chinese Culture Year" in Italy and push forward the development of bilateral ties at large.

In order to boost the ties, the Chinese president offered a five-point proposal, according to the press release.

Firstly, Hu said the two countries should increase communications, exchanges and mutual visits between high-level leaders.

Hu proposed that both sides host various events to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, adding that much attention should be attached to the "Chinese Culture Year" next year in Italy.

Secondly, Hu said the two sides should enhance political mutual trust and understand each other's major concerns.

The Taiwan and Tibet issues are the key concerns of the Chinese side, Hu said, urging Italy to understand China's concerns and offer support.

Hu also said he believed Italy would continue to exert its influence within the European Union to boost the EU-China ties at large.

Thirdly, Hu urged both sides to expand substantial cooperation on various fields such as trade, investment, science and technology, environment protection, medicine and tourism.

Fourthly, the Chinese president said both sides should increase people-to-people communications and cultural exchanges in order to boost their bilateral friendship.

Finally, Hu urged both sides to conduct more cooperation and communications in international organizations and on multi-national occasions.

Hu said both countries could enhance dialogue and coordination on various major international issues such as the global financial crisis, reform of the UN Security Council, climate change, environment protection and sustainable development.

Napolitano, on his part, praised China for its important role in the international arena as well as in addressing major global challenges.

He said he appreciates China's role in the G20 summit, the G8 + 5 summit and active participation in UN peacekeeping actions.

He also said the Italian side spoke highly of the measures China has taken to tackle the global financial crisis and economic downturn. He noted that China's participation is a must for the international community in its move to tackle the crisis, reform the international financial system and realize sustainable development.

On the EU-China relations, Napolitano said Italy would continue to play an active role in boosting the ties.

The president also reiterated Italy's adherence to the one-China policy.

According to the press release, Hu also briefed his Italian counterpart on the latest social and economic developments in China.

The two leaders held the talks at the Quirinal Palace, and Napolitano hosted a grand welcoming ceremony in honor of Hu prior to the talks.

Hu arrived in Rome earlier on Sunday for a state visit at the invitation of Napolitano.

Hu was also to attend the summit of the Group of Eight and major developing countries later this week in the central Italian city of L'Aquila.

This is the sixth time that the Chinese president has attended the G8 outreach session. The previous one took place in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako last July.

The G8, an informal forum of leading industrialized nations, includes Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada and Russia.

Source: chinaview.cn

Death toll in Xinjiang riot rises to 156

Death toll has risen to 156 following the riot Sunday evening in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to official sources. Li Yi, head of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang regional committee, said early Tuesday morning that the dead include 129 men and 27 women. Firemen rescue a man injured in the riot in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, early July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Haitao) Li added 1,080 people were injured in the riot. The police put the death toll at 140 as of midday of Monday. Among the 16 newly reported dead, some died in hospitals and others were recovered from street corners, the regional police authorities said Monday night. Police have got clues that some people were trying to organize more unrests in Kashi City, Yili Kazak Prefecture and Aksu City. A man injured in Sunday night's riot receives treatment at the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) In Urumqi, the regional public security department commanded raids to several groups who allegedly plotted unrests in Dawan Township in Tianshan District and a former race course where floating population gathered. A number of suspects were arrested during the raids while there were no casualties among police officers. Vehicles set on fire and destroyed in Sunday night's riot are seen on Beiwan Street in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Shen Qiao) In Kashi, more than 200 people trying to gather at the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China, were dispersed by police at about 6 p.m. Monday. Most of the shops in the Kashi were closed amid the current tension. Only several restaurants run by Uygur people were open at about 10 p.m., the time for night snack in a normal period. Few people were seen in the streets. The police had set checkpoints at crossroads from the Kashi airport to the downtown areas. Source: xinhua.net.cn, July 7, 2009

Rainstorms wreak havoc in S. China

People walk on a flooded street in Guilin, a city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. Due to heavy rainfall, the water level of Lijiang River which passes Guilin reached 147.5 meters at 17:00 pm on Friday, 1.8 meters over the alert level. Some scenic spots in Guilin City has been closed. [Xinhua]

DPRK fires 5 short-range missiles

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired one additional short-range missile on Saturday, raising the total number of missiles fired in the day to five, local media reported.

According to South Korean Joint Forces, the DPRK fired an additional missile off the east coast from a base near Wonsan, Gangwon Province at around 02:50 p.m. (0550 GMT), in addition to four short-range missiles fired at the same place earlier in the morning.

The DPRK started with two scud-type missiles between 08:00 - 08: 30 a.m. (2300-2330 GMT Friday), after which shot two more at around 10:45 a.m. (0145 GMT) and noon (0300 GMT).

All the five missiles are estimated to have a range of 400- 500km, the official said.

The missile firing came two days after the DPRK test-fired four short-ranges off its eastern coast, which South Korean officials described as part of routine military drills.

"Although the missiles fired on Thursday appear to be part of routine military drills, the recent scud missiles seem to have political purposes as they were fired a day before the US Independence Day," the official said.

The DPRK, since May, has been spotted with actions in preparation for firing a new mid-range missile, as well as scud missiles, Yonhap said.

The military authorities, however, said no sign has been observed from either its eastern Musudan-ri base or a new Tongchang-ri base on its west to conclude that an intercontinental ballistic missile launch is imminent.

In April, the DPRK threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile in protest of the UN Security Council's presidential statement which "condemned" the DPRK's earlier long- range rocket launch.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)

Dam bursts in SW China

The mounting threat of a local reservoir dam that had cracked and collapsed in part of its structure after days of heavy rainfall has led to the evacuation of more than 7,000 residents in down stream area in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Soldiers and volunteers carry rocks to reinforce the Kama Reservoir dam in Luocheng County in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [China National Radio]

The swelling floods caused by continuous rainfall started to overflow via the spillway of the Kama Reservoir dam Friday evening, but it also burst through the bottom of the dam, causing the collapse in part of the structure and making the dam in a shaky position, China News Service reports.

Floods overflow via the spillway and burst through the bottom of the Kama Reservoir dam, causing the collapse in part of the dam and making the whole structure in a shaky position. [Cnsphoto]

Soldiers and volunteers have been mobilized to reinforce the dam located in Luocheng County and latest reports said no more damage occured.

Courtsey:China.org.cn (CRI July 4, 2009)

Adieu Jackson !

"What about sunrise

What about rain

What about all the things

That you said we were to gain.. .

What about killing fields

Is there a time

What about all the things

That you said was yours and mine...

Did you ever stop to notice

All the blood we've shed before

Did you ever stop to notice

The crying Earth the weeping shores?"

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman.

The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut as an entertainer in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5. He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group and was referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years. Jackson's 1982 album Thrillerremains the world's best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and History (1995).

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in American popular music and culture. He was the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"—widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop music and contemporary R&B artists across several generations.

Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his Heal the World Foundation, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy that damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s along with conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, actions which caused further controversy. In 2005, during People v. Jackson, Jackson was tried and acquitted of different sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—thirteen Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. At the time of his death, Jackson was preparing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held at The O₂ arena in London at the beginning of July 13, 2009.

Courtsey : Text (Wikipedia.org) & Photo(Time)