PLA Navy Expands Mission

Your Beijing Bible • Insightful and interactive – real voices from the capital’s expat community • Issues, life and style • Culture, eating, nightlife and more

Metro Beijing appears in the English edition of the Global Times here in Beijing, Monday to Friday.

Nation InDepth Life Business From Cheering on Musical SDR market countryside the carrier glass lacks to college 6 12-13 ceiling 18 liquidity B1

www.globaltimes.com.cn VOLUME 9 • NO. 2273 • MONDAY APRIL 24, 2017 PRICE 2 YUAN Pyongyang gas prices spike on talk of Chinese oil embargo

By Liu Xin China may consider cutting oil exports to North Korea to pressure the latter to halt further nuclear and missile tests, as China still hopes to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, experts said. In anticipation of the new, harsher sanctions, gas prices in Pyongyang have spiked by at least 83 percent in the past three days, following months of otherwise stable petroleum prices in Pyongyang, US news site NK News reported Satur- day. Pyongyang residents lined up at gas stations, while some stations closed or could only provide gasoline to vehicles from foreign organizations or diplomats, the report said. “North Korea relies heavily on Chinese oil supplies, and a cut in supplies would strike a blow to the coun-  2 try’s political situa- N.Korea tion as well as the Sailors line up during a ceremony in Shanghai before a three-vessel fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army navy leaves port See also lives of North Ko- for a 20-country friendly visit on Sunday, as the military celebrates the 68th founding anniversary of the navy. Photo: CFP Pages 7, 14 rean people,” Jin  Capability to protect interests in open seas improved Inside

Top News: French polls won’t affect ties3 Nation: Experts call for PLA navy expands mission registry of drone buyers 4 World: France votes in tight race 7 By Yang Sheng Chinese naval ships left Shanghai in the increase its presence overseas to meet the Asian Review: Dialogue morning for a friendly visit to more than new requirements, military expert Song won’t patch up US-Japan The Chinese navy has expanded its capa- 20 countries. Zhongping said. discords 15 bility to not only safeguard the country’s With the expansion of foreign trade, as As a signature achievement of the navy, Forum: B&R making coastal areas, but also to secure China’s in- well as China’s One Belt and One Road the Liaoning aircraft carrier has gained in advances in South Asia 16 terests in the open seas, 68 years after the initiative, the Chinese navy has taken on a combat capability and finished establishment of the People’s Liberation new mission, which is to protect the coun- its blue sea training, and the Business: China seeks  2 Army (PLA) navy, experts said. try’s overseas interests. Strong country’s first domestically expanded cooperation with Sunday marked the anniversary of the As a consequence, China’s military strat- See also built carrier is also expected to Iran B2 establishment of the navy. A fleet of three egy for the navy has changed and it must Pages 12-13 be launched soon.

Address: The Global Times English Edition, 2 Jintai Xilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100026 • News Dept: (8610) 65367574 [email protected] • Ads Dept: (8610) 65369595 [email protected] • Subscription Dept: (8610) 65369602 [email protected] Marketing Dept: (8610) 65367665 [email protected]

地址：北京市朝阳区金台西路2号环球时报社英文版 ● 邮政编码：100026 ● 国内统一刊号：CN11-0272 ● 国际标准刊号：ISSN 2095-2678 ● 邮发代号：1-181 2 Monday April 24, 2017 TOPNEWS N.Korea reportedly Stain on marriage mulls sixth nuclear test amid tensions

Pyongyang, from Page 1

Qiangyi, director of the Asia Research Center at Yanbian University, told the Global Times on Sunday. In 2003, China’s oil pipeline to North Korea was shut down for three days after a missile launch by the North, adding pressure on Pyong- yang to pull back on nuclear brinkmanship, Re- uters reported. Chinese officials said then it was a “mechanical breakdown.” A US official was quoted by Reuters as saying that an oil embargo is among the tougher sanctions Washington could pursue to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile program. “The US has always wanted China to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea to force it to give up nuclear tests. China may consider the possibility of cutting oil supplies but would also think about the risks involved,” Jin said. In a state media commentary published on Thursday, North Korea lashed out at China without naming the country in unusually pointed rhetoric. The commentary mocked “the country” as “dancing to the tune of the US.” China faces a dilemma between a possible full A woman looks at white wedding dresses displayed as a desecrated symbol by the Lebanese NGO Abaad, to oil embargo on North Korea and deteriorating protest Article 522 of the Lebanese penal code that states a rapist is absolved of his crime if he marries his victim, tensions from further provocative activities by in Beirut, Lebanon on Saturday. The law, in place since the late 1940s, is currently being reviewed by the Lebanese North Korea, Jin said. parliament. Photo: AP Data from the Seoul-based Korea Trade-Invest- ment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) shows North Korea imported 525,000 tons of crude oil from China in 2015. United Nations data shows China also export- Strong navy can deter foreign ed 218,087 tons of refined oil products to North Korea in 2015, about six times what Russia sent. North Korea may turn to Russia or smuggling interference, boost economy if China implements a full oil embargo, but the amount would be far from adequate, compared with what China provides through the pipeline, Jin said. PLA, from Page 1 “open seas protection,” and is build- tecting China’s overseas interests, ing a multi-functional and efficient including Chinese personnel, proj- Another option The visiting fleet from Shang- marine combat force structure. ects, investment and trade routes. Temporarily cutting off oil supplies is proba- hai, composed of missile destroyer The navy will enhance its capabili- In recent years, the navy has proved bly the toughest sanction China could impose on Changchun, missile frigate Jingzhou ties for strategic deterrence and coun- it can successfully execute overseas North Korea, and the possibility China could take and supply ship Chaohu, will tour terattack, maritime maneuvers, joint missions like anti-piracy protection this step is increasing, considering the Chinese Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania in operations at sea, comprehensive in the Gulf of Aden and evacuations government’s more serious attitude, Li Kaisheng, a trip lasting nearly 180 days, the Xin- defense and comprehensive support. from Libya and Yemen,” said Li Jie, a a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of So- hua News Agency reported. “Today, the navy has realized the Beijing-based naval expert. cial Sciences, told the Global Times. The visits will convey friendship, strategic transformation to ‘open seas It is necessary for China to de- Li said resolving the Korean Peninsula crisis deepen military communication and protection,’” said Zhang Junshe, a se- velop a modern maritime military relies not only on increasing sanctions from Chi- cooperation and show a good image nior research fellow at the PLA Naval force structure commensurate with na but on whether the US is willing to return to of the Chinese navy, said Miao Hua, Military Studies Research Institute. its national security and develop- the negotiating table with North Korea. Political Commissar of the navy, who ment interests, safeguard its national US President Donald Trump ordered the USS saw the fleet off. All three ships were ‘Offshore waters’ and ‘open seas’ sovereignty and maritime rights and Carl Vinson aircraft carrier-led strike group to pro- domestically built, and this is the “Near-shore defense” means de- interests, protect the security of stra- ceed toward waters off the Korean Peninsula in maiden overseas voyage of the Jing- fense in areas close to China’s land tegic sea lines of communication and response to rising tensions over the North’s nu- zhou, commissioned in 2016. The territory like the South China Sea, overseas interests, and participate in clear and missile tests and threats to the US and other two ships have previously con- Taiwan Strait and the Diaoyu Islands, international maritime cooperation, its Asian allies, Reuters reported. ducted many escort, drill and patrol and in order to meet this require- so as to provide strategic support for North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to missions. ment, the navy has to gain an over- building itself into a maritime power, sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its mili- Aside from friendly communica- whelming advantage at least within the white paper said. tary might, as two Japanese navy ships joined the tion with other countries, the over- the first island chain,” Xu Guangyu, In addition, the navy also bears the US carrier group for exercises in the western Pa- seas visits will provide a valuable a senior advisor to the China Arms highly important duty of securing the cific. opportunity for the navy to learn sea Control and Disarmament Associa- country’s second nuclear strike capa- Experts the Global Times spoke to said there conditions and environments in dif- tion, told the Global Times. bility, Song said. “China’s new-gen- is a strong possibility that North Korea would ferent parts of the world, so the fleet’s “However, we can never say we are eration ballistic missile submarine is conduct a sixth nuclear test or launch missiles officers and sailors will be better pre- fully prepared for a military resolu- now under construction and will be around April 25, the 85th anniversary of the pared for future missions like search tion to the Taiwan question,” Song launched soon.” founding of its military. and rescue, evacuation, and anti-pira- said. In addition, China’s ambition to Jin said that instead of imposing tougher sanc- cy, an anonymous former PLA navy A victory is without question if the build a powerful navy will also boost tions on North Korea, which appears to have had officer told the Global Times. PLA only deals with Taiwan’s mili- the economy, as the navy is a technol- little effect on the country, the international com- According to the latest white paper tary, but it will have to take US and ogy-intensive corps and will push the munity should consider an alternative to solving China’s Military Strategy released by Japanese intervention into consider- improvement in scientific research, the problem. the Information Office of the State ation, he said. China should always Song said. “A compromise may be reached if the five par- Council on May 26, 2015, the navy unremittingly improve its capability ties – China, US, South Korea, Japan and Russia would be shifting its focus from to keep foreign military intervention Page Editor: could promise North Korea a stable political situ- “near-shore defense” to a combined away from Taiwan. [email protected] ation as well as economic development,” Jin said. strategy of “near-shore defense” and “Open seas defense” means pro- Monday April 24, 2017 3 TOPNEWS

An activist wearing the mask SPC cautiously of Marine le Pen is taken away imposes death by police at a demonstration penalty: expert in Henin Beaumont,France, where far-right By Liu Caiyu leader and presidential The man convicted in a high candidate Le Pen profile murder and rape case will vote, during in Southwest China’s Guizhou the first round Province was executed on Sat- of the French urday after the country’s top presidential court completed a three-month election on review of the death sentence Sunday. The verdict. election is under Law experts said the top heightened court’s probe and review prove security. Photo: AP that China is becoming more discreet when enforcing the death penalty. Chen Quansong was scheduled to be executed on January 23 after China’s Supreme Peo- ple’s Court (SPC) reviewed the death penalty, Chen’s attorney told news site thepaper.cn. But the execution was can- celled on the day without  elaborating why, and the SPC China needs to weigh future options in dealing with EU launched a new investigation over the case. After three months of further investigation and proof, French polls won’t affect ties the SPC resumed its decision of the death sentence on Chen, and Chen was executed for ho- micide on Saturday. By Zhang Xin siders the EU an important win. She proposes that France highlights,” said Chen Zhimin, Chen, 30, was convicted global player. But in reality, abandon the euro, and plans Dean of School of International of murder after he killed two The results of the French presi- China has to deal with a weak- to hold a referendum on with- Relations and Public Affairs of young women surnamed Wang dential election won’t greatly ened EU,” said Cui Hongjian, a drawing from the EU. Fudan University,. and Xian in January 2014 in affect Sino-French relations, professor at the China Institute “I doubt France would even- “In term of economic and Shiqian county, Southwest Chi- but it’s time for China to re- of International Studies. tually leave the EU. Compared trade cooperation, Sino-French na’s Guizhou Province. examine its options in future EU countries have been en- with the UK, which has a more ties cannot compare to Sino- Chen then raped Wang’s dealings with Europe, Chinese gaging on the intra-zone level, independent financial market, German or Sino-British rela- corpse and covered the two analysts said. and China has adapted to this France relies on Europe for an tions,” said Cui. bodies with tree branches. France held on Sunday the trend. For example, China has integrated market. I think Le Le Pen might have a more “The case shows that SPC first round of its presidential the 16-plus-one program with Pen might bargain with the EU restrained trade policy toward tries to clear any doubts over election, the most unpredict- central and eastern European for greater reforms if she wins China, but if you see what the imposing the death penalty and able one in decades, and is countries. It is also planning the election,” Cui said. UK does after Brexit, France ensuring it is cautiously used,” widely believed to have an im- to cooperate with northern and No matter who wins, will realize it is impossible to said Mo Shaoping, a law profes- pact on the future of the Eu- southern Europe, Cui said. France’s policy toward China develop its economy and trade sor at the Central University of ropean Union (EU). The bloc, “Regardless, it is time for would largely remain the same, without working with China, Finance and Economics. who has already been shattered China to comprehensively as- analysts said. said Ding Chun, director of “China has been increas- by Brexit and is constantly chal- sess the EU’s future, since “France is a permanent Center for European Studies ingly cautious toward the use lenged by US President Donald there’s no doubt the bloc will member of the UN Security with Fudan University. of the death penalty after the Trump, would suffer another undergo reforms and adjust- Council, it is also a leading EU “This is similar to US Presi- SPC gained review rights on serious blow if Euroskeptic ments.” country, that’s why Sino-French dent Donald Trump’s policy to- death penalty cases in 2007, candidates win in the French Opinion polls suggest that ties are important in terms of ward China. China and in 2011 the court reduced election. far-right leader Marine le Pen is security and economic coop-  See also is an economy that the types of crimes covered by “Politically, China supports one of the favorites in a run-off eration. But the bilateral rela- Page 7 cannot be ignored,” the death penalty from 68 to an integrated Europe and con- on May 7 and will most possibly tionship doesn’t have many said Ding. 55,” Mo added. China recovers 40 of 100 most-wanted fugitives, anti-graft work to become easier

By Liu Caiyu 2014 to 2016, 410 of whom are Party told the Global Times on Sunday. signed any,” Zhuang told the Global members and government officials, and China enjoys extradition treaties with Times. China’s anti-graft work will become eas- also recovered about 8.9 billion yuan 48 countries as of January, including China has also been working close- ier as it has gained international recog- ($1.29 billion), according to the report. France, Spain and Italy, according to Liu ly with Interpol, which allows its 190 nition and support, experts noted, after “China’s anti-graft efforts have earned Jianchao, director of the international members to help seek wanted persons 40 out of the 100 most-wanted fugitives wide recognition, and its anti-graft work cooperation bureau of China’s top disci- and offer judicial assistance, by issuing issued by Interpol’s National Central Bu- is expected to become easier as China pline watchdog, the China News Service red notices, Gao said. reau of China in 2015 have been recov- continues to gain prominence,” said reported. Guo Wengui was the most recent ered by China as of April. Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the Australia promised on Friday to Chinese fugitive on a red notice, who is The 40 have been returned to China Research Center for Government Integ- speed up the ratification of an extradi- known to have close ties with disgraced since the list was issued two years ear- rity Building at Peking University. tion treaty with China after the first Chi- former State security vice minister Ma lier, according to a newspaper run by the Fugitives can be recovered through na-Australia high-level security dialogue Jian and has lived mainly in the US Central Commission for Disciplinary various channels, including by extradi- held in Sydney. since leaving China two years ago. Inspection of the Communist Party of tion treaties, working with Interpol and “Having an extradition treaty is the China. judicial cooperation with foreign coun- most convenient way to track fugitives, Page Editor: [email protected] China had recovered 2,566 fugitives tries, Gao Bo, an anti-graft expert at the but due to ideological differences, Chi- from 10 countries and regions from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, na and some Western nations have not 4 Monday April 24, 2017 NATION  Police seek pilots after over 60 flights disrupted at Chengdu airport Experts call for registry of drone buyers

By Leng Shumei and another 58 to land at oth- such as Chengdu Yunkan Sci- dustry, many drone pilots lack troduce a real-name system to er airports, some as far away ence & Technology Ltd, and awareness of the regulations regulate the drone industry as Drone industry experts are call- as Xi’an, capital of Northwest amateurs and professionals due to lax supervision. unregulated flights have been ing for a real-name registration China’s Shaanxi Province, and who fly drones in the city, said “Many pilots don’t register causing problems that threaten system for buyers to improve Guiyang, capital of Southwest Zhang Lipeng, an employee their drones or apply for flight China’s air safety, The Beijing management of the sector, after China’s Guizhou Province. from Chengdu drone opera- approval to avoid responsibility News reported. illegally flown drones severely More than 10,000 travelers tion training agency Tianxing for accidents, such as an explo- DJI, a Chinese drone manu- disrupted flights at Chengdu were stranded at the airport. Smartflight Technology of UAV. sion,” Wang said, adding that a facturing giant based in Shen- international airport three In a separate incident on Fri- The agency trained 60 to 70 real-name system would help. zhen, South China’s Guang- times last week. day, Chengdu police detained drone pilots in 2016, according Wang noted that drones are dong Province, has installed a Four drones were spotted two 21-year-old men who ille- to another employee surnamed cheap and easy to buy, adding program on their machines to flying illegally over the air- gally flew drones at the same Li, who said that it only repre- to the difficulty of manage- stop them from approaching port runway protection zone airport, and another 33-year-old sents a small number of the to- ment. The cost of buying a banned areas such as airports at Chengdu Shuangliu Inter- man was detained on Wednes- tal who fly drones in Chengdu. drone varies from less than 120 and governmental agencies. national Airport in Southwest day for the same act. In addi- Wang Song, a staffer from yuan ($17) to nearly 500,000 The program does not allow China’s Sichuan Province for tion, Chengdu police found the Chongqing branch of the yuan on online shopping plat- drones to take off in banned three hours on Friday, the West drones being flown illegally on National Robot Test and Assess- form Taobao. areas and it makes them slow China Metropolis Daily report- April 14, 17 and 18. ment Center, told the Global Feng Zhenglin, head of the and hover when encroaching ed. Chengdu is a hot spot for Times on Sunday that although Civil Aviation Administration into banned areas from the out- Their intrusion forced four illegal drone flights as there the government has published of China, said in March that side, according to DJI’s WeChat flights to return to their origin are many manufacturers, regulations on the drone in- the administration would in- account.

Copying visa records Iron sky flowers People watch costs fortune in Beijing dashuhua, a traditional Chinese show in which a By Zhao Yusha performer Unprepared travelers looking to get a visa to the sprays burning molten iron US are being ripped off by unlicensed “printing to simulate shops” near the country’s embassy in Beijing, a display of with unscrupulous copiers charging up to 400 fireworks, times more than the normal price for copying at a fair in one sheet of paper. Yongcheng, These pricy printers were exposed by a Sunday Central China’s article in the Beijing Morning Post, revealing that Henan Province. copying a single sheet can cost 200 yuan ($29) in The shows one “copy shop” outside the embassy. often take These “printing shops” are actually nothing place during more than cars with a copier inside, according to Spring Festival the report. or other local The printers approach visa applicants waiting celebrations. Photo: IC in line to enter and ask them if they need to print or copy application materials, US visa applicants told the Global Times. Although their services are more basic than in most other copy shops, these “mobile shops” near the US Embassy and other popular travel destinations’ visa centers charge sky-high prices. Man held for making anti-Muslim comments online They usually have no business license, an ur- ban management officer was quoted by the Bei- jing Morning Post as saying. By Leng Shumei on the menu. The video posted online incident showed the dangerous pan- The officer added that although they have showed some people attacking the halal tendency in China, which has made special efforts to manage these services, A man has been detained for being restaurant, and one person throwing expanded the range of halal products it is hard to stop them because they are able to derogatory toward Muslims for the a chair at the restaurant’s window. and services over an absurdly wide move around easily. comments he had made after a vid- Some netizens posted photos of region. These products include halal Copying a single sheet of paper usually costs eo was posted online that allegedly the chopsticks online and these were water, halal roads and halal toilets. around 20 yuan in shops near the embassy ar- showed Muslim residents vandal- maliciously used by some people Xiong added that public products eas, a US visa applicant surnamed Yang told the izing a local restaurant in Baoding, whose comments hurt the feelings and services should not be differen- Global Times Sunday. North China’s Hebei Province. of Muslims and incited conflicts be- tiated in accordance with religion as In comparison, it only costs around 0.5 yuan The non-halal restaurant was us- tween people from different ethnic long as they do not violate Islamic in most ordinary copy shops in Beijing. ing chopsticks that had the Chinese groups. The photos and comments doctrines. Yang said that visa applicants need to make characters for halal on them while have led to aggressive behavior He gave the example of the Anhui an appointment beforehand, and if the materials also serving pork. among some residents, the statement University of Science and Technol- required are not ready when their appointment Police in Baoding’s Baigou town- said. ogy, which set up shower facilities comes, they have to wait for another few days for ship said Sunday that the man, sur- The restaurant is non-halal and exclusively for Muslim students in a new appointment. named Chen, 27, will be detained for has been asked to suspend business September 2016. “So we would rather pay more money to get all 15 days and fined 1,000 yuan ($145). for rectification. Officials did not say Such extreme cases do nothing the materials required ready than wait for more He had made derogatory comments when the restaurant was attacked or but separate different ethnic groups days,” she said. that likened Muslims to pigs. if the perpetrators have also been de- and will lead to more misunderstand- Local officials said in a statement tained. ing, Xiong noted. Page Editor: Sunday that the restaurant, Zaizai Xiong Kunxin, a professor of eth- The university later reversed the [email protected] Music and Barbecue Bar, was using nic studies at Beijing’s Minzu Uni- decision after encountering a flood of the “halal” chopsticks and had pork versity of China, pointed out that the criticism online. 7 2 0 1

Best way to start your day! Download our news apps now available for iOS, Android and BlackBerry.

Favoring hard-working rural students helps them succeed and greatly enhances their family’s living standards. Their example is also a tremen- dous encouragement to other kids in From countryside rural areas, said Liu. Improving the grassroots  Underprivileged student Apart from the favorable enrollment policy and grants, some quota at top schools has universities have found other ways to help students from disadvantaged improved access to education backgrounds. to college One-to-one services in career guid- ance are now common in many col- ang Tian, an 18-year-old and poor areas, universities have sim- assistance program, who now devotes leges to help them to find their desired girl from one of the most plified enrollment and given financial his time to helping others. jobs and make a new start both for Wunderdeveloped counties in support to students from families After leaving the Beijing Institute themselves and the families. Northwest China’s Qinghai Province, facing difficulties. of Technology (BIT) in 2014 with a Colleges such as BIT also have never anticipated studying law at the With an annual household income master’s degree, he chose to become a programs to help these students visit prestigious Peking University. of 15,000 yuan ($2,200) and a brother grassroots civil servant in an im- foreign universities at no cost. The stunning twist in her life is also studying at the university, there poverished county in South China’s “These students would never have largely thanks to a national program was no possibility her family could Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. a chance to travel overseas given their to provide poor rural students with the have afforded Wang Tian’s tuition. During his childhood, Liu’s family families’ finances, so we came up with chance to access top universities. Grants and scholarships from the could barely make ends meet and bor- ways to help them”, said Sun Xiyan, With vast disparities in teaching university and other sponsors total rowed money from everywhere to pay director of the student support office standards among different regions, 18,000 yuan which covers all of her the tuition for his first degree. Imme- at BIT. high school graduates from underde- tuition and living expenses, Wang told diately after graduating, he found a job Money has also been poured into veloped areas have very little chance of Xinhua, adding that she will try to find and paid off the family debt of around improving teaching in poor, rural making it into the best universities. a job immediately after graduation to 80,000 yuan. For his master’s, thanks areas to eradicate poverty at its source. A sweeping reworking of the support her family. to assistance from The key to guaranteeing equal edu- higher education system has worked Her thoughts were echoed by Liu the university and cational rights lies in the improvement to change this and students from Hai from East China’s Anhui Prov- national student of local education, which requires underdeveloped areas now compete on ince, a ben- aid grants, he no more talented teachers, said Pang a more equal footing with those from eficiary of longer needed Lijuan, deputy director of the Chinese more affluent parts of the country. the rural to ask for money Institute of Education Policy Study Enrollment quotas have increased students from home. with Beijing Normal University. the recruitment of students from cen- By the end of 2015, the central tral, western and remote rural areas. budget had provided over one million On April 14, the Ministry of Educa- rural teachers in poor areas with ad- tion asked top universities to do more ditional living allowances totaling to find students from rural or poor 7.37 billion yuan. backgrounds. Universities were told to enroll 10 percent more disadvantaged Xinhua students in 2017. Strict supervision and greater transparency will ensure candidates’ suitability and eligibility. Since 2014, students from rural areas have been allowed lower entry test scores and have had two percent of 95 key universities’ admissions designated to them. Another program in poverty-strick- en areas found university places for 183,000 students from impoverished counties from 2012 to 2015. In 2013-2015, the increase in enrollment of these students at key universities remained above 10 percent each year.

Higher education, better future In China, one child’s success in the college entrance examination and Students from rural areas walk into Nantong Middle School, East China’s future career sometimes means an es- Jiangsu Province on June 6, 2015, to sit Tsinghua University’s 2016 cape from poverty for an entire family. independent recruitment program which is for rural candidates. Those who To recruit more students from rural pass the program receive bonus points on the college entrance exam. Photo: IC

China holds provincial civil service exams, 3.7 million apply to take tests

Provincial civil service ex- year has jumped to about 3.78 As in previous years, com- tax bureaus, saw even more no jobseeker wanted to win. aminations were held in 24 million, half a million more petition was fierce. On average, intense competition. There This year, assistant judge provincial-level regions on than in 2011. The number of there were 31.6 applicants for were eight local government positions received few applica- Saturday in which millions of actual exam-takers has not every position nationwide. The departments which received tions. For example, there were wannabe officials competed for been announced. most intense overall competi- more than 1,000 applicants for no applicants to the court in tens of thousands of positions, In the 24 regions, Central tion was in Yunnan Province, one position. For example, the Tianlin, the Guangxi Zhuang The Beijing News reported on China’s Hunan Province of- where there were 72 times Jiangbei district Human Re- Autonomous Region. Sunday. fered the most positions this more applicants than available sources Management Bureau According to statistics post- year with about 10,000. East posts. in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province Global Times ed on chinagwy.org, a website China’s Shandong Province Some particularly popular was bombarded with 1,746 focusing on the examinations, had the most applicants, positions, such as those with resumes for one job. Page Editor: dengxiaoci@ the number of people who receiving nearly 356,000, The commissions of develop- On the other hand there globaltimes.com.cn applied to take the exams this Beijing News reported. ment and reform and local were also some positions that 7 WORLD Monday April 24, 2017 North Korea says ready to  Most unpredictable presidential election strike US aircraft carrier France votes in tight race North Korea said on Sunday a commentary. it was ready to sink a US air- The paper likened the aircraft carrier to demonstrate its craft carrier to a “gross animal” military might, as two Japanese and said a strike on it would be French voters flocked to the from the EU. France that has an FN mayor. navy ships joined a US carrier “an actual example to show our polls under heavy security Sun- Observers predict a Le Pen Macron voted in the chic group for exercises in the west- military’s force.” day in the first round of a highly victory could be a fatal blow for northern seaside resort of Le ern Pacific. The commentary was car- unpredictable presidential elec- the EU, already weakened by Touquet with wife Brigitte, his US President Donald Trump ried on page three of the news- tion seen as vital for the future Britain’s “Brexit” vote to leave. former high school teacher ordered the USS Carl Vinson paper, after a two-page feature of the ailing European Union. Macron, 39, is seeking to who is 25 years his senior. Fil- carrier strike group to sail to about leader Kim Jong-un in- Far-right leader Marine Le become France’s youngest ever lon and Melenchon both voted waters off the Korean peninsu- specting a pig farm. Pen and centrist Emmanuel president and has campaigned in Paris. la in response to rising tension North Korea detained a Macron are the favorites to on a strongly pro-EU and pro- At midday, turnout on a over the North’s nuclear and Korean-American man in his progress to a run-off on May 7 business platform. bright spring day was up slight- missile tests, and its threats to fifties on Friday, South Korea’s but the race is too close to call Riding the crest of a world- ly compared with the same attack the United States and its Yonhapnews agency reported, in a deeply divided country. wide shift away from estab- time in 2012 – when a total Asian allies. bringing the total number of Le Pen, the 48-year-old lished political parties, the 79.48 percent of the electorate The US has not specified US citizens held by Pyongyang leader of the anti-immigration former banker and economy cast ballots – seemingly defying where the carrier strike group to three. National Front (FN), hopes to minister formed his own move- forecasts of a record low partici- is as it approaches the area. The man, identified only by capitalize on security fears that ment, “En Marche” (On the pation rate. US Vice President Mike Pence his surname Kim, had been were catapulted to the fore of Move), that he says is “neither Nearly 47 million people said on Saturday it would arrive in North Korea for a month to the campaign after the fatal to the left nor to the right.” are eligible to vote in the euro- “within days” but gave no other discuss relief activities, Yonhap shooting on Thursday of a po- But polls show scandal-taint- zone’s second biggest economy. details. said. He was arrested at Pyong- liceman on Paris’s Champs ed conservative candidate Fran- Most polling stations closed at North Korea remained defi- yang International Airport on Elysees avenue claimed by the cois Fillon and hard-left fire- 17:00 GMT, with those in ma- ant. his way out of the country. Islamic State group. brand Jean-Luc Melenchon are jor cities shutting an hour later. “Our revolutionary forces North Korea has conducted Aiming to ride a wave of also in with a fighting chance In the wake of the police- are combat-ready to sink a five nuclear tests, two of them populism that carried Donald of finishing first or second in man’s killing on Thursday, US nuclear-powered aircraft last year, and is working to de- Trump to the White House and order to reach the all-important 50,000 police and 7,000 sol- carrier with a single strike,” velop nuclear-tipped missiles led Britain to vote for Brexit, Le second round. diers have been deployed the Rodong Sinmun, the can reach the US. Pen wants France to abandon Le Pen cast her ballot in around France to protect voters. newspaper of the North’s rul-  See also the euro and also intends to call Henin-Beaumont, a former ing Workers’ Party, said in Page 14, 17 Reuters a referendum on withdrawing coal mining town in northern AFP

Reliving history Furious Afghans call Men dressed as ancient Roman centurions parade to for resignations after mark the anniversary of the foundation of Rome in 753BC, Taliban base attack on Sunday in Rome. Photo: AFP

Afghan families buried their dead and the country observed a national day of mourning Sunday after at least 100 soldiers were killed or wounded in a Taliban attack on a military base, prompting angry calls for ministers and army chiefs to re- sign. The exact toll from Friday’s assault in the northern province of Balkh remained unclear, with some local officials putting the number of dead alone as high as 130. The raid, the deadliest-ever by the Taliban on a military base, underscores their growing strength more than 15 years after they were ousted from power. Flags flew at half-mast throughout the country and special prayers were said for the dead. The defence ministry gave a figure of at least 100 soldiers killed or wounded. Kabul has so far ignored media calls for a complete breakdown of casualties from the five-hour attack near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif. But local officials including, Mohammad Ibra- him Khairandish the head of the provincial coun- German right-wing party bares election line-up cil, put the death toll as high as 130 and said about 60 were wounded. Ten gunmen dressed in soldiers’ uniforms The anti-immigrant Alternative for lowed a surprise announcement on tering the Bundestag lower house of and armed with suicide vests entered the base in Germany (AfD) party on Sunday vot- Wednesday by co-leader Frauke Petry, parliament. army trucks and opened fire at unarmed troops at ed for 76-year-old publicist Alexander the party’s public face, that she would Gauland is widely seen a sup- close range in the base’s mosque and dining hall. Gauland and 38-year-old economist not lead the AfD’s election campaign. porter of senior AfD member Bjo- A military source at the base indicated the as- Alice Weidel to jointly lead its cam- This could boost mainstream parties ern Hoecke, who caused outrage in sault was an insider attack, and the militants were paign for the country’s September and lessen the threat the right-wing January by calling Berlin’s Holocaust “young recruits who had come for training.” national election. AfD poses to Chancellor Angela Memorial a “monument of shame” A majority of AfD delegates backed Merkel’s bid for a fourth term. and demanding a “180 degree turn- AFP the two candidates at a congress in The latest polls put the AfD on 8 around” in Germany’s attempts to Cologne. The right-wing AfD is seek- to 10 percent – around a third lower atone for Nazi crimes. Page Editor: ing to win seats in the national parlia- than at the end of last year but still [email protected] ment for the first time. The vote fol- above the 5 percent threshold for en- Reuters 8 Monday April 24, 2017 WORLD  Demand Maduro delay polls, solve crisis Venezuelans march to honor violence victims

Venezuela’s opposition Anger over the OPEC na- initely delaying them because marched in silence on Saturday tion’s triple-digit inflation and the Ruling Socialist party would to honor a dozen people killed Soviet-style product shortages likely lose in many states. in three weeks of protests de- boiled over after the Supreme The next presidential elec- manding that the government Court last month briefly as- tions are scheduled for late of President Nicolas Maduro sumed the powers of Congress, 2018. hold delayed elections and ad- triggering accusations that Demonstrations have gen- dress a growing economic cri- Maduro was building a dicta- erally started with daytime sis. torship. marches that are broken up by Twelve people have been The court reversed course National Guard troops. They killed in a renewed wave of after international condemna- usually devolve from there demonstrations this month in tion, but Maduro’s government into confused melees between incidents primarily involving further fueled the protests by troops and hooded protesters security forces or armed civil- barring the opposition’s most that stretch well into the eve- ians. Another eight were elec- popular politician, Henrique ning. trocuted in a looting incident Capriles, from holding office The last week has seen an that took place following a pro- for 15 years. increase in late-night looting test. Ruling Socialist Party offi- in working class areas. Unrest Thousands of people dressed cials say the demonstrations, that began late on Thursday in white shirts marched to the in which protesters throw rocks night in the Caracas neighbor- headquarters of the country’s at police and block streets with hood of El Valle left eleven peo- Catholic archdiocese on the burning debris, are violent dis- ple dead from either electrocu- west end of Caracas. ruptions of public order meant tion or gunfire. “We want free elections, to overthrow the government. we want to get rid of this cor- The opposition says the elec- Reuters An activist paints her face on Saturday as Venezuelans gathered rupt government,” said Iomira tions council should call elec- Saturday for “silent marches” against President Nicolas Barrios, 60, an environmental tions for governors that were Page Editor: Maduro, a test of his government’s tolerance for peaceful wangbozun@ consultant who says she can no supposed to be held last year, globaltimes.com.cn protests after three weeks of unrest. Photo: AFP longer find work. and accuse the council of indef- Monday April 24, 2017 9 WORLD Blooming parade Spain’s Canary Islands battles slick after ferry accident

Spanish coast guard crews worked Sunday to clean up a three-kilometer-long diesel slick off the holiday island of Gran Canaria after a passenger ferry slammed into a pier. The ferry carrying 140 passengers smashed into a break- water late Friday in the port of Las Palmas, capital of Spain’s Canary islands off the northwest coast of Africa. Thirteen people were in- jured and the crash damaged underwater fuel pipes, the regional government said in a statement. Video footage on Spanish television showed chunks of concrete falling onto the port. Emergency crews managed on Saturday to collect half of the roughly 60,000 liters of diesel A woman wearing a Chinese Kun Opera-style costume stands on a float decorated with flowers grown from Dutch bulbs during the that spilled into the ocean, the annual Flower Parade in Lisse, the Netherlands, on Saturday. This year’s theme was Dutch design and the De Stijl art movement, regional government said. which is celebrating its centenary. Over 20 floats and 40 vehicles decorated with flowers took part in the parade.Photo: IC Three coast guard boats were on Sunday working to break up the slick – which is  three kilometers long and half Protesters fighting against alternative facts a kilometer wide – to help the diesel evaporate, it added. “Work on the spill is continuing and we hope that it will Thousands join March for Science have evaporated before Mon- day. Experts do not believe there is risk to the environment,” Fer- nando Clavijo, the president of Thousands of people joined a the rise of so-called “alterna- sonality Bill Nye the Science “Make it understandable. Make the regional government, said global March for Science on tive facts” around crucial issues Guy, who currently heads the people care. Talk to them, not in a tweet. Saturday with Washington the like climate change following Planetary Society. at them. We cannot complain The beaches around Las Pal- epicenter of a movement to Trump’s election. The movement was echoed about slashed funding if we mas and Telde, the two main fight against what many see as “We have no Planet B,” read out hundreds of events across can’t tell taxpayers why science towns on Gran Canaria, would an “assault on facts” by populist one of the signs. Many dem- the US and around the world, matters.” be closed on Sunday as a pre- politicians. onstrators sported “Keep Our from Sydney to Accra. Organizers stressed the caution, the regional govern- US President Donald Trump Science Great” caps as they ar- At a time when the Earth has protest was non-partisan. But ment said. passed dozens of protesters rived from around the country marked three consecutive years concerns about the challenges Repairing the pier will cost on his way to visit wounded on Earth Day to highlight the of record-breaking heat, and ice to the role of science in soci- around 2 million euros ($2.1 soldiers at a military hospital. importance of science to daily is melting at an unprecedented ety have spiked under Trump. million) and take six months, “Stop denying the Earth is dy- lives. Protesters marched to the rate at the poles, some march- He has proposed deep cuts in it added. ing,” one sign visible from US Capitol to carry their pro- ers said it was more important funding for scientific research, Ferry operator Naviera Ar- Trump’s motorcade read. science message. than ever for scientists to com- elevated opponents of climate mas said the accident was Despite rain, protesters “Science is political but it is municate and work toward so- pacts and environmental regu- caused by a technical fault that gathered around the Washing- not partisan. Science serves all lutions to curb emissions. lations to cabinet-level posi- sparked a power cut on the ton Monument for a festive day of us. Together we can – dare “Ditch the jargon,” advised tions. boat. of music, speeches and teach- I say it – save the world! Let’s Tyler DeWitt, the star of a pop- ins by scientists disturbed by march!” declared television per- ular YouTube show on science. AFP AFP American Airlines apologizes for onboard clash over baby stroller

American Airlines on Saturday apolo- flight attendant had forcefully taken the we have caused this passenger and her dit wrote that the flight attendant early gized to a female passenger and sus- stroller, hitting the woman with it and family and to any other customers af- on called for security to intervene in his pended an employee after a video show- just missing her child. That sequence of fected by the incident,” the airline said dispute with the woman. ing an onboard clash over a baby stroller events did not appear on the clip. in a statement released early on Satur- Bob Ross, president of the Associa- went viral, in the latest embarrassment What it shows is the unidentified day. The woman elected to take another tion of Professional Flight Attendants for a US carrier over how it treated a cus- man standing up and yelling at the flight flight and was upgraded to first class. union, said in a statement that tight tomer. attendant: “You do that to me and I’ll The treatment of passengers by the schedules, overcrowded planes, shrink- The clip, posted on Facebook on Fri- knock you flat.” The crew member then airline industry returned as a national ing seats and limited overhead bin space day by a bystander aboard the flight, points his finger angrily and challenges issue after a video appeared online two have made it difficult for flight atten- shows a woman in tears with a young the passenger to hit him. The video weeks ago showing a 69-year-old passen- dants to board passengers. child in her arms, and a man emerging shows the man returning to his seat. ger being dragged off a United Airlines from his seat to confront a male flight American Airlines said in a statement flight to make room for a crew member. Reuters attendant who apparently wrested the it was investigating the incident, which The fracas sparked international outrage stroller from the woman. took place before the plane took off on a and policy changes by the airline. Page Editor: Facebook user Surain Adyanthaya, flight from San Francisco to Dallas. A passenger who posted a description [email protected] who posted the video, wrote that the “We are deeply sorry for the pain of the latest incident on the website Red- 10 Monday April 24, 2017 WORLD

he first round of France’s  The former investment banker presidential election, one of Seven key moments in France’s hoping to become France’s youngest Tthe closest in recent memory, postwar president was once dismissed comes after a rollercoaster campaign rollercoaster election as a flash in the pan but has gone on with multiple twists and turns. to consolidate his status as the man Here AFP lists seven key moments to beat. that have defined one of the most The pro-business europhile began unpredictable electoral contests in filling arenas, finding support from decades: Socialists deserting their crumbling party as well as a broad array of Primary upset people seeking new ideas. The first came in November, when Melenchon surges from the left 63-year-old former premier Francois In the past three weeks, Com- Fillon pulled off a come-from-behind munist-backed Jean-Luc Melenchon victory in the right-wing primary, – who has steadfastly refused to join defying pollsters who had for months forces with Hamon to form a united predicted a win for 71-year-old Alain front for the left – has surged in the Juppe. polls. Fillon’s upset was put down to The charismatic 65-year-old, who strong performances in TV debates, has tapped into widespread disillu- as well as what was then a scandal- sionment with the political class, has free image compared with Juppe and bounded ahead after strong debate his other key rival, former president appearances and quirky campaign Nicolas Sarkozy. stunts such as the use of holograms. In the final weeks, polls have Hollande ducks out be a duel between Fillon and anti- was in store as the ailing Socialists shown the gap closing between front- The spotlight quickly shifted to immigration far-right leader Marine held their primary contest in late runners Macron and Le Pen and the turmoil on the left, which was waiting Le Pen. January which many analysts tipped chasing duo of Fillon and Melenchon, impatiently for President Francois At the time, Emmanuel Macron, former pro-business prime minister making the race highly unpredictable. Hollande to decide whether to stand a former economy minister under Manuel Valls to win. Any two of those four are expected for re-election despite disastrous ap- Hollande who had quit in August to Instead, 49-year-old Benoit Ham- to go through a run-off vote on May 7. proval ratings. launch an independent centrist bid on, a diehard leftist who advocates for The Socialist leader had staked for the presidency, was just beginning a basic universal income, trounced Terror strikes in home stretch his presidency on turning around to get traction in the race. his former boss in the two-round Just as candidates were making France’s moribund economy, in On January 25, the satirical and contest. their final pitches to voters in a tele- particular on reining in an unemploy- investigative newspaper Le Canard The former education minister’s vised interview on Thursday evening, ment rate that has remained stuck at Enchaine dropped a bombshell on Fil- win was seen as a repudiation of con- 39-year-old Karim Cheurfi shot dead a around 10 percent throughout his five lon and “Penelopegate” was born. troversial economic reforms rammed policeman on Paris’s iconic Champs years at the helm. Revelations that the former prime through parliament last year under Elysees before he himself was shot Hollande finally ducked out on minister had put his wife Penelope on Valls. dead by police. A note praising December 1. the public payroll with very little work Hamon’s poll numbers have Islamic State (IS) was found near his to show for it would eventually lead plunged, and he currently stands at body. Scandal hits Fillon to criminal charges being brought 7.5 percent, according to an Ipsos The killing forced security to the In mid-January, the race for the against Fillon for abuse of public survey on Friday. top of the agenda. presidency seemed to funds. Polls had shown voters were more Macron breaks through concerned about jobs and wages, but Socialists reject Valls By early February, the 39-year-old analysts have said an attack in the late A new surprise Macron began polling better than stages of the campaign could help Le Fillon with his bid to shake up French Pen or Fillon, who take a hard line on politics as a candidate of “neither the security issues. left nor the right.” AFP

Louis Aliot, one of the vice presidents of the French far-right National Front (FN) party, walks past Page Editor: electoral posters in Perpignan on Sunday, during the first round of the presidential election. wangbozun@ Top: A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Landevenec, western France, during the first round of globaltimes.com.cn the presidential election on Sunday. Photos: AFP

Monday April 24, 2017 11 MOSAIC

Beauty is a beast After three weeks, French artist succeeds in hatching eggs A model French artist Abraham Poincheval, who famous- in beastly ly spent a week inside a rock and two weeks in- makeup side a bear sculpture, has succeeded in hatching poses chicken eggs after incubating them for some backstage three weeks. during a Poincheval embarked on his latest project body art in late March of imitating a mother hen by competition at the XV incubating some 10 eggs with his own body heat International inside a glass vivarium at Paris’ Palais de Tokyo ‘Crystal contemporary art museum. Angel’ At the time, he estimated it would take 21-26 Festival of days for the eggs to hatch and the first did so on Hairdressing, Tuesday. Fashion and A spokeswoman for the Palais de Tokyo Design in museum told reporters on Thursday that nine Kiev, Ukraine, had hatched and the chicks were on their way to on Saturday. a farm. The best For the endeavor, Poincheval sat on a chair, hairdressers wrapped in an insulating blanket, over a contain- and make-up er with the eggs. artists from different He could leave his seat for no more than 30 countries minutes a day for meals. participated Earlier this year, the artist spent a week inside in the a block of stone. festival, In 2014, he lived in a hollowed-out bear which ended sculpture for two weeks. Saturday. Photo: IC Reuters

Cops called after man reneges on chicken poop bet London bar mixes whisky cocktail with a virtual twist Talk about a crappy thing to do said he would give Pan 10,000 A London bar has devised a the drink is made with 12-year- cereal and water used in the to someone. yuan ($1667) if he licked some cocktail with an unusual twist, old Dalmore whisky, while whisky is sourced. Police were called after a of the droppings. it allows the drinker to escape the accompanying virtual “We get a lot of people Zhejiang Province man licked Pan told officers he con- the city for the Scottish hills. reality experience aims to show saying ‘oh I have goose bumps’ chicken feces on a 10,000 firmed the bet with Guo before The whisky-based “Origin” guests at the bar in the One because it is happening in yuan ($1,667) bet then assault- he knelt down and touched cocktail comes with a virtual Aldwych hotel the origin of its front of you,” bar manager Pe- ed the wager-maker when he his tongue to the feces he had reality headset that transports ingredients. dro Paulo, who came up with refused to pay. intended to use as fertilizer you to the distillery where the Drinkers get a tour of the idea, told Reuters. The poop taster and fishery just moments earlier. spirit is from. sweeping Scottish fields and owner, surnamed Pan, was Shocked, Guo refused to At 18 pounds ($23) a shot, babbling brooks where the Reuters able to recover part of the pay, saying it was all a joke. money through police me- But Pan was not laughing. diation despite slugging the The two fell into an argument gambler, surnamed Guo, when that quickly escalated. Man sits exam dressed as sis-in-law the wager went south, media Pan punched Guo. Guo reported. called police. Pan told Haining county Through police mediation, A Guangdong Province man downstairs at the exam site Wearing a wig and women’s officers he was hauling chicken Pan was awarded an undis- who sought to help out his sis- and confessed their plan. clothing, Zhang managed to droppings to his garden Tues- closed amount for his efforts; ter-in-law by dressing up like Shi, 34, told officers she start the exam. But police were day when he began talking minus compensation he owed her to take a math test in her had failed the math portion of called after examiners found with Guo, who had paid to fish Guo for his injuries. place may face jail time. the adult secondary school test Zhang didn’t match Shi’s at his pond. The 23-year-old man multiple times. photo ID. Annoyed by the stench, Guo qjwb.com.cn surnamed Zhang of Foshan She admitted to imploring Both Shi and Zhang were was taken into custody after Zhang, a college student, taken into custody. Police rean examiner saw through his several times to take the test in leased Zhang on bail and he is ‘Of sound mind’ rule enforced in property transfer disguise while taking an adult her place. Zhang said he finally facing trial. It was not reported A Henan Province man seek- Chen. higher education exam. gave in because he didn’t want if Shi faces charges. ing to inherit his elderly moth- Cases where children too Police found Zhang’s sister- to cause trouble in the family, er’s house is being required to eager to get their hands on in-law, surnamed Shi, waiting media reported. Zhujiang Business Daily provide medical proof that she their parents’ property often still has all her marbles. end with the parents becom- Yolks for folks Authorities in Zhengzhou ing homeless, according to an said their “sound of mind” employee with the Erqi district policy is in place to prevent notary office. the elderly from losing their “This is in the interests of property. the elderly,” the employee said, The man surnamed Chen adding that a hospital check- said local authorities required up is enough to prove stable he provided certification that mental health. his 86-year-old mother was “Since his mother is of sound mental health while advanced in years, a med- applying to transfer the deed to ical certificate is needed to her home Wednesday. guarantee the fairness of the Local notary officials told notarization,” said Li Huayang, Chen that the application a Zhengzhou lawyer. wouldn’t be considered legal “The office has to make sure unless his mother could prove that she can make decisions,” she was initiating the transfer, Li added. media reported. This has proved to be a Henan Business Daily challenge for Chen since his A dozen chefs make egg pancakes on a pan 3 meters in diameter on Sunday to mark the start of a gourmet mother is illiterate. Page Editor: [email protected] festival in Fogang county, South China’s Guangdong “Even her own fingerprint Province. Photo: IC wouldn’t be enough,” said 12-13 Monday April 24, 2017 INDEPTH

○ Military enthusiasts rushed to Dalian to forum online. will hit the water in a few days. The garded as a symbol of a country’s naval the National Defense University of of ‘one China,’ but it can also be get a close look at China's first domestically- Many people rushed to the Dalian Due to the international news that China Shipbuilding Industry power. At present there are 23 aircraft the PLA, said that although the new interpreted as liberating Taiwan. produced aircraft carrier shipyard in Northeast China's Liaon- Corporation Chairman Hu Wenming carriers in service for 10 countries, 10 ship is similar to the Liaoning in The current Taiwan govern- ○ There has been a debate on the future ing Province on Sunday after read- security situation, it recently inspected the Dalian shipyard of which belong to the US, and four appearance and displacement, its ment, which is building vessels name of the ship, with Shandong, Hainan ing articles suggesting the launching twice in one month made them feel belong to Japan [although the Japanese interior structure and equipment themselves, may also name its and Beijing the most popular choices ceremony for the Type 001A would be may be necessary to even more certain. vessels only carry helicopters]. have seen significant upgrades, self-made vessel the Taiwan. ○ A third aircraft carrier that’s larger and likely held that day. bring both the carriers “April 23rd or March 27 in the lunar The government hopes that China’s and its integrated operational ca- Then the unification struggle more capable is reportedly under construc- Duan, a 20-year-old military fan calendar are not suitable days for new carrier will enhance the country’s pability will be hugely improved. will become a formalistic game,” tion in Shanghai working in Dalian, is one of them. “If into service as soon as launching due to the tides. I reckon maritime strength and lift people’s The Liaoning was originally de- Zhang told the Global Times. it was launched on Sunday, it would be that the ship will be tested on the water morale. signed as a cruiser equipped with He said China now has five more meaningful. But it is excusable possible “so as to enact by the end of the month,” Chen told But military experts think that it will heavy equipment such as anti-ship major issues to address. They are By Huang Jingjing that it wasn’t. Carrier construction is a deterrence around the the Global Times. The gravitational take three years for the Type 001A to be missiles and anti-submarine weap- launch heavier aircraft and the Xiongan New Area, the Taiwan huge project. Speed is always second to forces which contribute to the tides are ready for combat after it is launched, as ons. But the Type 001A was designed works more quickly. question, boundary disputes between hina’s first domestically-built security,” he told the Global Times. Korean Peninsula and in exceptionally strong during the new testing and outfitting is required. to more effectively use air power. Its the Tibet Autonomous Region and aircraft carrier was not launched Keeping an eye on the carrier has the South China Sea at moon and full moon [ first and 15th day Liu Zijun, a military commentator, compartments were designed to hold What’s in a name? India, the South China Sea disputes and Con Sunday, the anniversary of become an integral part of his life since of every lunar month]. told the Nanfang Daily that this time carrier-based aircraft. Its power system The future name of the new carrier the Korean peninsula situation. the founding of the People's Liberation he came to Dalian last year. the same time.” Chen established a team called Blue can be shortened if needed. He gave was also researched and developed in has also aroused heated discussion. He believes "Hainan" is a better Army Navy (PLAN), as some military “I go to see it once a week. From a Shark in 2015 and has organized mem- two reasons that this might happen. accordance with PLAN needs, Liang Li Jie, a military expert, said that the name regarding the southern island fans hoped it would be. But these rusty hull and being covered with vari- bers living in several coastal cities that Firstly the relevant technology is fairly told China Central Television in a country might do things differently this province’s importance to maritime enthusiasts believe the day is approach- ous cranes, vehicles and containers to Liu Zijun are in close proximity to PLAN bases mature based on the navy’s experience recent interview. time. While the Liaoning was named on issues. a military commentator ing as they discovered that the shipyard a cleared deck, it finally started to look to collect the latest news about naval with the Liaoning. Secondly due to the “I’m looking forward to its deploy- the day of its delivery, the new carrier “The Liaoning is already docked in where it is being built started to flood like it does today, which was quite excit- operations. Anything to do with aircraft international security situation, it may ment. But crew management plays a might be named when it is transferred the north. The country is now promot- the drydock containing the carrier on ing,” Duan said. Speculation that the ship would be carriers is always the most eye-catching. be necessary to bring both the carriers decisive role in combat effectiveness. from the dry dock into the water. ing the Belt and Road initiative. If the Sunday. To get a look at the ship, he regularly launched on April 23 – the 68th an- But they have their rules to prevent into service as soon as possible “so as The navy had zero experience on how to Many media outlets have speculated new ship is deployed in the South “Fans captured pictures showing takes the city’s light rail route which niversary of the founding of the PLAN leaking secrets. “We are very cautious to enact deterrence around the Korean drive and manage the carriers before,” that it might be called the “Shandong” China Sea, it can guard trade routes and that the water is already touching the passes the shipyard. He gets a view – first arose in late March when photos when releasing information,” Chen Peninsula and in the South China Sea Duan said, adding that he hopes the as it may join the Liaoning and be strategically confront India at sea.” hull. Though it was not launched today, of the ship for about 20 seconds each showing that scaffolding had been said, explaining that they do not share at the same time.” carriers will become powerful weapons anchored at the Qingdao carrier base in Chen said he hopes the ship will be it will be in no more than a few days,” time. removed and red undercoat had been high-definition pictures or information Construction of the Type 001A began for the country’s blue ocean strategy. East China’s Shandong Province. named the Beijing. Chen, 30, a naval enthusiast from Song, 16, a local high school student, painted below the ship's waterline were about core carrier parts, and delete any in late 2013, one year after the Liaon- But military experts and fans agree However, according to an online sur- “Beijing is the capital, which can Jinhua, East China’s Zhejiang Province, also went to see the carrier on Sunday. posted online. material which reveals such confidential ing was delivered and commissioned that China still lags far behind the US vey conducted by ifeng.com in January, demonstrate the paramount signifi- told the Global Times. “It’s a big day. About 200 people gath- When asked about this at a regular details. to the PLAN. Since being deployed, the in carrier technology. The Type 001A is 38 percent of the more than 300,000 cance of the carrier,” Chen said. “I think He has been updating his Weibo ered and waited for hours, wishing to press briefing on March 30, Wu Qian, When the Global Times contacted Liaoning has made dozens of scientific conventionally powered, with a full-load respondents said it should be called the we will eventually have five to six air- account – which is called General witness the launch,” he said. spokesperson for the country's Ministry Chen, he said he would talk only if research, test and training trips. displacement of 50,000 tons and ski- “Taiwan,” while 21 percent preferred to craft carriers. We can name them after Commander of Liaoning and has over “My family lived near the shipyard of National Defense responded that “it the reporter first showed him her It is classified as a training ship and jump-style launch ramps. But the US’s call it the “Beijing” and 14 percent chose the municipalities.” 320,000 followers – with news and when I was in primary school, and I is being outfitted with equipment and press card. He said it’s their standard serves as a training and test platform for newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald the “Guangdong.” According to a blog posted on pictures of the carrier. could always view the Varyag, [the Sovi- the work is progressing smoothly. As for procedure when they are approached the PLAN. Thus the Type 001A, which R. Ford, which has recently completed Zhang Rongmin, a blogger and nationalinterest.org, the website of an “We have dreamed for decades of et-era carrier purchased from Ukraine, further news, I believe we won't keep by strangers so as to guard against their was based on the Liaoning, will become manufacturer’s trials and is expected to commentator on Taiwan politics living American bi-monthly international af- having a domestically-built aircraft car- which was refitted and is now in service the public waiting for too long.” information being used by spies. China’s first combat-ready carrier. be delivered this year, is nuclear pow- in Zhangzhou, East China’s Fujian fairs magazine, China is now building a rier. We don’t mind waiting for a few as the Liaoning] from an overpass,” he Liang Fang, with ered and has a 100,000-ton displace- Province, said the new vessel is unlikely third aircraft carrier in Shanghai that is more days,” said Chen, who is also a said. “I’m thrilled we will soon have a Anti-spy precautions First combat-ready carrier the Department of ment. Replacing older steam-powered to be named the Taiwan. likely to be larger and far more capable moderator of a popular naval discussion domestically-produced one.” The fans believe that the Type 001A Aircraft carriers have long been re- Strategic Studies of launch systems, its electrical system can “The name Taiwan declares the spirit than the Type 001A or the Liaoning.

 Military enthusiasts excited at news first domestically-built vessel to launch soon

CHEERING ON THE CARRIER

Scan to read and share story on your phone

Page Editor: The Liaoning sails in open waters. Photo: Zhang Kai [email protected] Top: A distant view of China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier, which will soon be launchedPhoto: Courtesy of Blue Shark Team 12-13 Monday April 24, 2017 INDEPTH

 Military enthusiasts excited at news first domestically-built vessel to launch soon

CHEERING ON THE CARRIER

Scan to read and share story on your phone

he Korean Central News Agency standard,” which is “tantamount to the ing oil embargo, although its sanctions key to resolve it. Beijing has made its (KCNA) published a commen- enemies’ moves to bring down the so- will not target the North Korean people contributions by strictly following the Ttary on Friday criticizing China, cial system in the DPRK.” or regime. resolutions of the UN Security Council. although without naming it, for “danc- KCNA’s latest broadside followed Perhaps Pyongyang needs to revise Washington and Seoul must also make ing to the tune of” the US’ North Kore- the same pattern of its critique two its understanding that North Korea is a joint efforts with China to let Pyong- an policy. Some emotional statements months ago, which not only vented its sentinel and on guard duty for China, yang see that it can still safeguard its in the article expressed Pyongyang’s dissatisfaction toward Beijing’s action therefore, whatever it does, Beijing has country and regime without nuclear determination to go down the nuclear of imposing sanctions against Pyong- no other alternative except to endorse weapons. path. The most provocative sentence yang by following the UN Security Pyongyang. Although North Korea is subject to that attracted worldwide attention in Council resolution, but also conveyed If North Korea really thinks this, it international sanctions, Pyongyang is the commentary is that “if the country North Korea’s will to keep going its is making a mistake. Its nuclear pro- not the only one to have caused tension keeps applying economic sanctions on own way on nuclear and missile tests. gram has severely impacted peace and on the Korean Peninsula. Washington the DPRK … it should get itself ready to It attempted to pile pressure on China, stability in Northeast Asia, jeopardizing should also reflect on its wrongdoing. face the catastrophic consequences in trying to influence Beijing’s future at- China’s major national interests. Pre- US President Donald Trump always the relations with the DPRK.” titude toward Pyongyang’s next nuclear venting Pyongyang from continuing to said that the White House’s previous This is the second time North Ko- activity. develop nuclear weapons has already North Korean policy was a mistake, but rean state media has criticized Beijing However, such a move will not have become Beijing’s priority in its North- what he is doing now is no different without mentioning names. On Feb- any effect apart from further isolating east Asian policies. from his predecessor Barack Obama. ruary 23, KCNA published a critique Pyongyang itself. If North Korea con- The fundamental problem in the Trump won’t reach the right destina- accusing China’s “mean behavior” for ducts its sixth nuclear test, Beijing will North Korean nuclear crisis is the tion if he only changes a pair of shoes “totally blocking foreign trade related undoubtedly support the UN in adopt- contradictions between North Korea while continuing along the same old to the improvement of people’s living ing tougher sanctions against it, includ- and the US. China does not have the path. Show of disunity Voices

“It must be ensured that the PLA resolutely follows the command of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Central Military Commission at any time, in any circumstances.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, urging officers of the People’s Liberation Army to strictly observe political discipline and rules during an inspection Illustration: Shen Lan/GT tour of the Southern Theater Command, quoted by the Xinhua News Agency on Saturday. US media views Ivanka’s China business with biased lens “The mistrust of politicians is stronger than it has ever By Zhang Yi BSERVER rights of both Chinese and foreign been.” O businessmen equally and look into On April 6, Ivanka Trump’s company their trademark applications accord- won provisional approval from the ing to laws and regulations. But the Edouard Lecerf, director at Kantar Public, Chinese government for three new president, any business Ivanka’s US media views the process through commenting on the ongoing French presidential election, trademarks for jewelry, spa services company does with China or any- a prejudicial lens. quoted by The New York Times on Saturday. and ladies’ bags. Her company al- thing that relates to China appears Trademarks form the bedrock of a ready holds 16 registered trademarks problematic, many US media and brand and can be signs of corporate Please send submissions to [email protected]. Pieces should in China. The news has attracted experts believe, citing the reason that ambition. For Ivanka Trump, it is be no longer than 800 words. The opinion expressed in the published articles are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the much negative press in the US, as the China is a communist country. This worth having such a valuable entitle- position of the Global Times. The Global Times reserves the right to edit media believes Ivanka and her family is misleading public opinion. ment in China that boasts vast busi- the articles for length and clarity. Inquiry: (8610) 65367563 are deeply involved in China contacts As Ivanka builds a political career ness potential across the world. and policy. from a West Wing office, her brand is Ivanka’s brand does not have Check out our mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android The bias of the US media toward flourishing. It was reported that US much of a retail presence in China Donald Trump started from the imports of her merchandise, almost yet. It remains to be seen whether beginning of the election. The re- all from China, grew an estimated Ivanka’s company will use her fame lationship between Trump and the 40 percent in the first quarter of this and business savvy to get bigger deals Follow us on mainstream media didn’t see any im- year. Many in the US have questioned in China. Ivanka is more than wel- Twitter provement after Trump took office. whether Ivanka is on the right side of come to develop her brand in China, http://twitter.com/globaltimesnews As the media is constantly finding the law, given her connection with and the Chinese market is open to all faults with Trump, the connection her father as US president. So far, that abide by the law. The US media Facebook between Ivanka and China gives the there is no evidence showing Ivanka should facilitate this process rather http://facebook.com/globaltimesnews media ammunition to attack the first has done anything illegal. As Ameri- than undermining China-US rela- daughter. cans view dimly such an intertwine- tions. Sina Weibo The US media coverage of the ment of politics and business, Ivanka http://weibo.com/globaltimescn trademark issue carries many po- is walking on a tight rope. Page Editor: [email protected] The Global Times is published six times a week litical implications and prejudices China’s trademark authorities from Monday to Saturday. against China. As Trump has become have treated the legal trademark Monday April 24, 2017 15 ASIANREVIEW Dialogue won’t patch up US-Japan discords

By Chen Yang the Abe administration as the economic community has an HK reported that US expansive sway in politics. Vice President Mike Economic and trading NPence arrived in Japan frictions between Japan and on April 18 after a two-day visit the US are not news. Instead, to South Korea and held talks they were visible as early as with Japanese Prime Minis- the 1960s. Looking back at the ter Shinzo Abe and Finance history of US and Japanese Minister Taro Aso. During the economies, it is apparent that meeting with Abe, Pence reaf- economic and trade conflicts firmed the Japan-US alliance between them are prone to as the cornerstone for a stable affect politics and diplomacy. Asia-Pacific. The US-Japan At the end of 1960s, the then Economic Dialogue with Aso US president Richard Nixon did not yield any concrete required Japanese government result, but the two sides agreed to apply voluntary limitations to promote dialogue in com- on textile exports to the US, mon strategies in trade and but the Japanese government investment rules, economic did not comply. Then on July policies and infrastructure 15, 1971, Nixon suddenly an- investment, and to hold their nounced to visit China, putting second economic dialogue by Illustration: Liu Rui/GT the Japanese government, the end of this year. which took a hard line against Pence is the third cabinet purpose in visiting Japan was in the same month, which is negotiations with the US, but China, into an extremely em- member of the Trump admin- to attend the first US-Japan in no way a mere coincidence. multilateral trade negotiations barrassing diplomatic position. istration that visited Asia. Since Economic Dialogue. Trump It is assumed that the Abe will effectively dilute pressure Economic and trading frictions Trump took office in January, accused Japan of trade deficits administration intends to use from the US. between Japan and the US the new Defense Secretary and currency manipulation on such dual-track negotiations Recently, however, low sup- were not directly behind the James Mattis was the first to several occasions during the to shift the US economic poli- port rating and stalled fiscal improvement of Sino-US rela- visit South Korea and Japan, US presidential election and cymaking toward Japan from and tax reform urge Trump tions, but those discords were and then the new Secretary of thereafter. Therefore, Abe pro- inside the Trump administra- to take action to get out of the obviously among the main State Rex Tillerson headed to posed the US-Japan Economic tion. domestic mire, brace for the reasons for the US to adopt Japan, South Korea and China. Dialogue during the summit Though this economic midterm election next fall and the “Overhead diplomacy” on Frequent visits to Asia by with Trump in Washington in dialogue set the direction for prepare for the next presiden- Japan. members of the new admin- February. future negotiations, it also tial election. Several decades have passed istration show that the Trump The objective of the dia- revealed disagreements in Therefore, the Trump gov- since then, and chances of administration devotes much logue is to seek solutions to economic and trading matters ernment is presumably going a historical repeat are rather of its attention to Asian affairs. economic and trade disputes, between Japan and the US. to take a hard line on economic slim. But judging from Abe’s Meanwhile, as the schedule of prevent such discords from For instance, Pence stressed and trade issues with Japan eagerness to start the economic Trump’s visit to Britain is not poisoning political and dip- that “the TPP is a thing of the and force the Japanese Yen dialogue with the US, concerns yet finalized and both Abe and lomatic spheres, and to keep past for the United States of to appreciate and speed up and uneasiness about being Chinese President Xi Jinping lobbying the Trump govern- America” and trade with Japan FTA negotiations with Japan abandoned by the US have have extended invitations to ment to join TPP through this benefits the US economy, by imposing pressures using never been lifted from hearts him earlier, the possibility of platform. Notably, Japanese whereas Aso said that Japan the North Korean issue and of Japanese politicians. Trump choosing Asia for his Minister of Economy, Trade and the US should join hands tensions between Japan and first overseas visit cannot be and Industry Hiroshige Seko and lead in building a free China. Abe will certainly make The author is a PhD candidate at ruled out. held trade negotiations with and fair trade network in Asia. some compromises to keep the Graduate School of Sociology In contrast to his visit to US Commerce Secretary Wil- Japan has few bargaining the US-Japan alliance stable, at Toyo University. opinion@ South Korea, Pence’s main bur Ross, Trump’s close friend, chips available in two-way FTA but it will erode the stability of globaltimes.com.cn World needs to be vigilant against looming revival of Fascism in Japan

By Deng Xianlai & Lan Jian- This tolerance of Nazism the government and among the Internal Affairs Sanae Takaichi prime minister’s own words, to zhong is by no means an isolated general public, show no regret and Defense Minister Tomomi make Japan “a normal country.” case. Japanese Prime Minister for their country’s war crimes. Inada, were reported in 2014 to The result is that it will lead Ja- Tokyo has recently decided to Shinzo Abe on Friday sent an They have even shamelessly appear in a joint picture with pan onto the dangerous path of incorporate Mein Kampf (My offering to the Yasukuni shrine claimed that Japanese milita- Yamada Kazunari, head of Na- militarism. Struggle), Adolf Hitler’s infa- that honors 14 convicted Japa- rism has nothing to do with tional Socialist Japanese Work- Japanese militarists’ aggres- mous autobiography and Nazi nese war criminals. Fascism. ers Party and a Nazi supporter. sions brought immense catas- manifesto, into students’ text- Earlier this month, the Japa- The rise of historical revi- The right-wing groups are trophes to both China and the books. nese government endorsed the sionism and denial of historical continuously fanning national- wider world and have eventu- Given the nature of the use of an equally controversial facts have increased the chanc- ist sentiments among the pub- ally brought Japan to where it book, on which the world has Imperial Rescript on Education, es of a dangerous comeback of lic as well. is today. long reached indisputable con- Japan’s ideological weapon in Fascism in Japan, and peace- One of the conservative Tokyo should deeply reflect sensus, the move has deeply the pre-war era that advocates loving people in Japan and groups once shouted extreme on the historical lessons, edu- upset Japan’s neighbors which loyalty to the Japanese emperor around the world should all be slogans such as sending Ko- cate the younger generation suffered tremendously from and has played a major role in vigilant against this dangerous reans into gas chambers in a with correct human values and Japanese militarism in WWII. promoting the growth of milita- trend. street rally in 2013, and was thoroughly eradicate Fascism It also serves as a call for vigi- rism in the country. In fact, quite a number seen carrying items with Nazi and militarism. lance against a looming revival Fascism and militarism are of media reports in the past symbols in a 2014 protest. of Fascism in East Asia. the root causes of WWII and years have exposed links be- Given the current politi- The authors are writers with the The highly controversial de- must be thoroughly uprooted. tween Japanese Prime Minister cal atmosphere in Japan, the Xinhua News Agency. opinion@ cision was made in a written re- There should be no tolerance Shinzo Abe’s cabinet members country’s pacifist constitution globaltimes.com.cn sponse to questions raised by a or ambiguity when it comes to and home-grown Nazi support- is becoming increasingly inef- lawmaker from the opposition historical issues of cardinal im- ers. fective in holding back Abe’s Page Editor: yujincui@ Democratic Party and was ap- portance. However, right-wing Two female members of the attempt to break the country’s globaltimes.com.cn proved by the cabinet. groups in Japan, both within Abe cabinet, namely Minister of military restrictions, or in the 16 Monday April 24, 2017 FORUM B&R making advances in South Asia

Editor’s Note: sial moves like allowing Dalai tion (SAARC), South Asia has Since China proposed the Belt Lama to travel to disputed not achieved development in and Road project in 2013, there areas with China and giving a the 30 years since it was imple- has been heated discussion out- platform to him in the guise mented China’s Belt and Road, side China, especially in South of religious functions. Such therefore, provides South Asia Asian countries adjacent to Chi- activities are hindrances to the with a great opportunity to na. What are the considerations implementation of the Belt and raise their countries to a level and concerns of South Asian Road initiative. that they have failed to do with countries toward this initiative? Nonetheless, understand- SAARC. South Asian nations How can China address their ing and cooperation are also look to China to stimulate their concerns and boost coopera- deepening between China and development, which no one tion? At the conference themed India in some areas. From should regard as a threat. “‘Belt and Road’ Initiative and a perpetual state of conflict, South Asia: Building Trust and Illustration: Liu Rui/GT they appear to have entered Rukmani Gupta, an Indian Cooperation” hosted by China the phase of conflict avoidance defense & security analyst West Normal University and the on countries in South Asia working group meeting soon, and cooperation engagement. The Belt and Road initia- Charhar Institute in Nanchong, and the Indian Ocean. India’s which has been postponed for There is a possibility that three tive has the potential to fill the Sichuan Province last week, attitude toward Belt and Road more than three years, and sets of trilateral and multilat- infrastructure deficit in South experts from China and South will affect these countries’ deci- some Indian experts said they eral cooperation will emerge in Asia. But for India, it needs Asia shared their thoughts on sions on whether to participate would like to see some con- the future to increase coopera- to examine the two issues — these issues. in the initiative, and China crete progresses and put for- tion between China and South whether infrastructure will requires India’s cooperation on ward some concrete projects. Asia in the spirit of Belt and invariably lead to economic Liu Zongyi, senior fellow anti-terrorism, regional stabil- Road – the China-Nepal-India growth and whether economic of Shanghai Institutes for ity and security in building the Hiranya Lal Shrestha, professor trilateral cooperation, the growth will result in stability. International Studies Belt and Road. of Tribhuvan University of Nepal China-Nepal-Pakistan trilateral There is also a need for South Asia becoming a India’s attitude toward the and former Nepali ambassador to cooperation, and a sub-regional greater clarity on the nature of part of Belt and Road will initiative is clear: support- Russia cooperation among Bangla- the Chinese investment. We signal the future of an Asian ing some part of the Belt and There are some challenges desh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and heard repeatedly that China century. China would like to Road, opposing and hedging for an uninterrupted imple- Tibet of China. is providing public goods, but synergize Belt and Road with the China-Pakistan Economic mentation of the Belt and Belt and Road is an invest- regional cooperation initiatives Corridor and the Maritime Road initiative. First, India’s Shenali Waduge, SPRYN Logistics ment from which China seeks and domestic development Silk Route, and delaying and tendency to impose guided (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka returns. plans, such as the New Silk replacing the Bangladesh- political system in countries We must keep in mind So what is the rate of the Road Project and Indo-Pacific China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) like Bhutan and Nepal and its that the Indian Ocean does return China wants from its economic corridor of the US or economic corridor. attempt to micro-manage their not belong to one country. It investment, and what are the the Mekong-Ganga cooperative Three years have passed affairs are seen as the biggest is shared by all. The Indian rules for investment in other initiative, to form a regional since the Belt and Road was hurdle in the implementation Ocean connects Africa, the countries? Does it mean that economic cooperation network formally proposed. It has of the Belt and Road across Middle East, East Asia and there is going to be a sort of that extends from the Pacific improved the infrastructure China and South Asia. The two Australia with Europe and the special economic zones only Ocean to the Indian Ocean, construction and economic de- largest countries of South Asia, Americas. The Indian Ocean for Chinese companies be- from Central Asia to South velopment in South Asia, and India and Pakistan, live in a provides the shortest economi- cause they will enjoy preferen- Asia. has stimulated South Asian state of conflict and distrust. cal oceanic route between the tial rates? Does it mean Indian India’s participation is very regional connectivity. India objects to the China- Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. companies will be left out? important to the Belt and Road I just came back from New Pakistan Economic Corridor The superpowers in the India can engage with Belt initiative. It’s not only because Delhi, and I found the India passing through the part of region need to cooperate to and Road selectively, as a long- of India’s population, labor government’s stance on the Kashmir under Pakistan’s achieve development goals. term project, it can wait to get resource and market size, but initiative has changed slightly. control. Under the South Asian As- on board once Chinese expec- also India’s political influence India will hold the third BCIM India has made controver- sociation for Regional Coopera- tations of it become clearer. Belt and Road summit participation reflects global support for initiative

Editor’s Note: In the past, globalization is based on turing capacity. These assessments are Some Western media said Italy is the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi the neoliberalism movement of capital, irrational. only country in the G7 to participate in recently revealed that 28 heads of state resulting in a series of problems such The Belt and Road initiative aims at the forum, which is a diplomatic blow to and government have confirmed their as hot money, economic bubbles and achieving a win-win result through eco- China. This, however, is illogical. attendance on the Belt and Road summit industrial hollowing. The globalization nomic cooperation. Indeed, China has First, using G7 as a standard to mea- scheduled to be held in Beijing in mid- China promotes is more inclusive. It’s demands for production capacity coop- sure the success of a forum reflects the May. Some Western media quickly shed in line with the interests of developing eration. But the demands also meet the sense of superiority among Western light on the absence countries, focuses more needs of other countries. The initiative countries. Second, some countries in of leaders from major on sustainable economic adheres to principles of joint consulta- the G7 showed their interests in the fo- Western powers. How FORUM development and contrib- tion, construction and sharing, which is rum. But due to situations at home and to respond to such B&R utes to eliminating the not a unilateral output, but stresses win- abroad, they would not be able to attend reports? What impacts wanton flow of hot money. win outcomes. the forum. will the upcoming summit have? Global The absence of major Western pow- The assumption that the Belt and Times reporter Yang Chuchu interviewed ers was interpreted as a diplomatic Shi Zhiqin, professor of international Road initiative is China’s geopolitical two scholars on this issue. blow to Beijing, which is not true. In relations, Tsinghua University strategy echoes a cold war mentality. The fact, many Western countries are busy Under the wave of anti-globalization initiative is for promoting the prosperity Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of with domestic affairs and cannot spare across the world, the Belt and Road of the global economy and the common International Affairs, Renmin University of enough time to attend the summit. For summit will play an important role in development of China and neighboring China example, countries like France and Ger- promoting globalization. It has offered countries, which reflects China’s attitude With many countries’ and interna- many have showed their willingness to a new perspective on globalization as it as a responsible country. It is suggested tional organizations’ participation, the attend, but they are preoccupied with mainly focuses on cooperation and win- that the Western countries should aban- Belt and Road summit reflects China’s general elections. win results. In the past, globalization don their prejudice against and change will to shoulder more responsibilities in A few Western countries suspect the has put more emphasis on market op- their attitude toward China. developing and promoting the Belt and Belt and Road initiative is China’s geo- eration and the free movement of capi- Road initiative, and the change of Chi- political strategy. In their minds, China tal flows. It can be said that the Belt and Page Editor: na’s role from a participant in globaliza- is promoting the initiative to expand Road initiative, to some extent, rectifies [email protected] tion to leading globalization. influence and export excess manufac- disadvantages of capitalist globalization. Monday April 24, 2017 17 VIEWPOINT Realistic solution needed for NK nuke issue

ensions continue to rise in the to do with China,” whereas Commerce will not result in leakage or pollution China is adamantly against engaging Korean Peninsula, despite North Secretary Wilbur Ross linked the inves- that could jeopardize the region. If this in war, but opposing it is not enough. It TKorea’s latest missile launch fail- tigation in part to a rise of Chinese steel line is crossed, any reaction from Beijing must always be ready for war of any kind. ure, and the 10-day delay in the expected imports. could be possible. Then Washington and Seoul would not arrival of aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson Such contradictory remarks have As the upcoming nuclear test could have the ability to threaten Beijing with in Korean waters. Furthermore, Pyong- sent a delicate signal that Washington potentially be hazardous to Northeast- war, and would respect and consider yang will likely conduct its sixth nuclear is encouraging Beijing to help out while ern China, sanctions imposed by Beijing Beijing’s suggestions on a greater level. test and also launch an intercontinental slowing down other options that could within the United Nations framework If Pyongyang’s unwavering pursuit ballistic missile. When taking those into be used in the event that US expecta- will increase, thus dramatically decreas- of its nuclear program continues and account, any type of emergency situations are not fulfilled. ing the amount of petroleum exported to Washington launches a military attack tion could arise in the Korean Peninsula Once again Beijing has found itself in North Korea. on North Korea’s nuclear facilities as a at any given time. a very difficult situation. On one hand, It is important here to keep in mind result, Beijing should oppose the move On Friday, US President Donald Beijing has made efforts to persuade that a heavy reduction in petroleum ex- by diplomatic channels, rather than get Trump tweeted, “China is very much the Pyongyang that is unwilling to listen. port does not mean completely turning involved through military action. economic lifeline to North Korea, while On the other hand, China has proposed off the supply. Beijing will make sure However, if US’ and South Korean nothing is easy, if they want to solve the a “double suspension,” an initiative that the people of North Korea will not have armed forces cross the Korean Demili- North Korean problem, they will.” Ob- seeks to have North Korea suspend nu- to experience a humanitarian disaster. tarized Line in a ground invasion for viously this was an attempt by Trump clear and missile activities, and for the What the reduced amount of petroleum the direct purpose of annihilating the to apply pressure on Beijing in his US and South Korea to also suspend to North Korea should be is a question to Pyongyang regime, China will sound its own way, so that Beijing would inspire large-scale military drills, but neither of be decided by the UN Security Council. own alarms and ramp up their military Pyongyang to give in once the North re- the parties has been listening. North Korea losing most of its petro- immediately. Beijing would never sit alizes that its “economic lifeline” with Judging from this thorny situation, leum supply would be nothing short of back and watch foreign military forces China could be cut off. it seems that the only remaining option a heavy blow to its entire industrial sys- overthrow the Pyongyang regime. The Trump administration has said for Beijing is to take only one step, and tem. It’s a price Pyongyang should pay China opposes North Korea’s nuclear on different occasions over the past then look around before taking another. for its uncompromising stance over the program, but it is also against changing week that they were “heartened” by Beijing will do what it should do, instead nuclear program. the status quo of the Korean Peninsula early signs displayed by China. Trump of doing something it does not want to If harsh sanctions cannot stop Pyong- through military force. China should even tweeted, “Why would I call China do, or is unable to do. yang from developing nuclear weapons work closely with the US and all relevant a currency manipulator when they are The nuclear issue is essentially one and ballistic missiles, Washington and parties in order to inspire Pyongyang to working with us on the North Korean that exists between North Korea and Seoul need to reflect deeply over how cease its nuclear activities. China should problem?” the US/South Korea, but Pyongyang’s much they have contributed to Pyong- also stick to its bottom line to the end, no Trump also launched an investigation nuclear activities must not jeopardize yang’s nuclear program obsession. If matter the expense. into alleged steel dumping in an effort China. Washington refuses to probe deeper into to see if imports from other countries As North Korea’s nuclear test site sits this overall issue and only replies with This is an editorial of the Chinese edition of threaten US national security. Trump close to Northeastern China, Pyongyang military force, a war will break out on the the Global Times on Saturday. opinion@ said that the investigation “has nothing must make sure its nuclear endeavors Peninsula. globaltimes.com.cn Is curbing the spread of fake news possible in age of Internet?

By Charles Gray readers could easily cial networks such as Facebook possible that the creator of a miss the hint that and Twitter focus on short fake news story will be out of A recent news story about the story is false. messages, with little analy- reach of any legal retribution. the first comments made by In other na- sis or in-depth The better long-term solu- Supreme Court Justice Neil tions, fake news commentary, tion would be to engage in an Gorsuch has taken parts of stories have making them the education campaign, helping the Internet by storm, with his drastically in- best channels to to train the world’s people to ringing denunciation of Islam- creased tensions spread fake news maintain a healthy skepticism ic extremism and pledges to between ethnic stories. regarding the numerous news forbid American schools from groups. False sto- In addition, the swift stories that appear on their so- doing anything other than ries claiming that rise of the number of cial network feeds. Since most teaching children how to stop China has utilized people with Inter- false news stories are relatively “radical Islam.” The problem, biological warfare net access has easy to debunk, an educated of course, is that this “news” against Indonesia’s created an and skeptical readership would is completely false. But it, like crops have further environment find themselves well-equipped other stories of a similar ilk, is impaired the already where many to separate truth from fiction. far from harmless fun. In fact, tense relationship between users are putting For those individuals who seek they have created real harm, Indonesia’s Chinese minority too much faith in news sto- to make money from false and stirring up ethnic and religious and Muslim majority. ries that look official, especially harmful news stories, a cam- Illustration: Liu Rui/GT conflicts and conjuring up Of course, fake news stories if they already agree with the paign against their advertisers the specter of enraged mobs are not unique to our era. In has brought to the world, claims made in the articles. could help eliminate the ad seeking “justice” for events that fact, one of the most famous the Internet has become the Someone who distrusts Mus- revenue that supports their have not in fact occurred. examples of fake news helped ideal platform for fake news, lims or foreigners is already detrimental activities. While some examples of lead America into the Spanish- whether the creators of the prepared to accept a fake news Fake news stories are no “fake news,” such as those American War, as the press stories are seeking ad revenue story, simply because it agrees longer amusing; they pose a promoted by the well-known of the time blamed Spain for by attracting viewers or actively with their preconceptions. clear risk to societies across satirical Onion website, are the sinking of the USS Maine, trying to whip up religious and Given the real threat these the globe. Only by curbing this obviously false and intended despite the lack of proof of ethnic strife. With relatively fake news stories pose, what is rising trend can the Internet only to amuse, other types of any hostile action on Spain’s little effort and cost, anyone the solution? One possibility continue to fulfill its role as a fake news are anything but part. Indeed, the term “Yellow can make a webpage look like is to hold Internet providers source of information, rather amusing. In many cases, these Press” has long been associ- a serious news site, using it responsible for allowing access than disinformation. “news” stories are made to ated with the often baseless to promote whatever false to sites known for promoting look legitimate, at least on the and exaggerated stories that information they desire. Social fake news stories, especially The author is a freelance writer surface, while they are nothing were so popular with the press networks are often utilized for if they have the potential to based in Corona, California. less than complete fabrica- of the late 19th and early 20th spreading lies and rumors, to promote violence. However, [email protected] tions. For example, the above- centuries. the point that a fake news story many nations have legal barri- mentioned story appeared on a But today, fake news sto- can quickly take on a life of its ers against such laws, and the Page Editor: yujincui@ website with a disclaimer, but ries are far more difficult to own, turning into more than international nature of the In- globaltimes.com.cn it was placed in such a way that combat. For all the benefits it gossip and hearsay. Finally, so- ternet means that it is entirely 18 Monday April 24, 2017 LIFE

By Li Jingjing from society to work and raise children at the same time without worrying about losing out hen it was announced on April 10 economically. that female composer Du Yun won The problem seems universal. Wthe Pulitzer Prize for Music for her In an article “Classical music has a sexism Musical work on Angel’s Bone, the news was all classical problem” published on the official website music circles in the US could talk about. of the Goethe Institute, the German cultural The clamor over the announcement did not association, says that while 3,187 men declared happen without reason. As a woman and a Chi- themselves as freelance composers, only 383 nese, Du is a minority within a minority when women declared the same. Meanwhile, “female it comes to the classical music field. composers earn 35 percent less on average than glass Gender equality has been a long debated their male counterparts.” topic in classical music circles in the West, It’s the same in the US, a country that for where there are far fewer women working in a long time barred women from entering the the field of contemporary composition than profession. men. In an article titled “What Du Yun’s Pulitzer “I think the problem is even worse over in Win Means for Women in Classical Music,” the China,” Du told the Global Times in a tele- New Yorker explains that in the past it was be- ceiling phone interview on April 19. lieved that “women lack compositional ability.”  Gender equality Inspiration from China Pulitzer Born in Shanghai in 1977, Du graduated Although she has lived for a long time in from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She New York, Chinese culture still has a big influ- music award later earned her bachelor’s degree at Oberlin ence on Du’s music. College in the US and her Master’s degree and She explained that the “When a Tiger Meets winner Du PhD from Harvard University. a Rosa Rugosa” she composed for violinist She was later named the artistic director Hilary Hahn’s album In 27 Pieces: Hilary Hahn Yun talks of the New York-based contemporary classical Encores was inspired by Chinese traditional music MATA Festival and is currently based music. about gender in New York where she teaches at Purchase That album won Best Chamber Music/Small College. Ensemble Performance at the Grammy Awards equality in Du recalled that while at the conservatory in 2015. elementary school and high school, there were Chinese influence doesn’t end there. Cur- classical many more female students than male, some- rently, Du is researching local Chinese operas times even at a ratio of 10:1. Yet, during college from different parts of China, such as Kunqu music and after she began her career, she noticed that opera. most of the professors and composers were “I recently began to feel like these local op- male. eras are gradually turning into something that Du explained that she feels there are many will be exhibited in a museum,” Du said. reasons for this imbalance, an obvious “I think local opera needs to encourage new one being society’s general require- creation, encourage people to listen and explore ment for women to focus on the new operas,” she said, noting that she feels that home and raise children at an the only way to help preserve traditional culture early age. is through constant creation. In the US, women are Du’s Pulitzer winning opera Angel’s Bone, expected to have a family for which she cooperated with librettist Royce between 25-40, Du explained. Vavrek, takes on the subject of human traffick- Yet in China, this window is ing through the use of religious imagery. In the much shorter, around 25-30. opera, two hurt angels are rescued by a human Yet, Du pointed out that this couple, but then are forced into spiritual and period is the most crucial sexual slavery by their rescuers. time for a composer to The opera received positive reviews from the develop her skills and figure New York Times, Time Out New York and the out what direction she wants Financial Times, not just for the story, but also to take her career. the variety and creativity of the music. “Sometimes it’s not that While researching human trafficking, Du you don’t want to continue, realized “it is not far from our lives at all, but but you are encouraged by happening around us,” even in cities like New others to not continue,” Du York. said. She hopes the opera will not just bring at- Additional pressure tention to human trafficking, but also lead the comes from the fact public realize that classical music is not some women require support art removed from everyday life. Du Yun Photo: Courtesy of Du Yun

Coin exhibit features history of culture and trade along the Silk Road

Organized by institutions Coins from outside China – “Hopefully visitors will be are also on display. This is the CCIE’s second including China’s Center of In- the show includes coins dating able to see the history of cul- According to Jin, the orga- series of exhibitions exploring ternational Cultural Exchanges from 7BC to the 20th century tural and economic exchanges nizers are also planning an the culture and art of Belt and (CCIE), an exhibition of more manufactured by kingdoms that occurred between China overseas tour of the exhibition Road countries. A previous ex- than 500 ancient coins once and empires along the Silk and countries and regions this year, but the details are hibition, The Silk Road: Reflec- used as currency along the Road, the famous ancient trade along the Silk Road by examin- still under discussion. tion of Mutual Learning, opened ancient Silk Road kicked off route that ran from the Chi- ing these coins,” Jinjiufu Mu- The exhibition, scheduled on March 8 and ran until April on Thursday at CCIE’s NICE nese city of Chang’an to Rome seum curator Jin Jiadong told to run until May 21, is part of 12 at the same venue. Gallery in Beijing. in Italy. the Global Times on Thursday. a number of cultural events Consisting of three sec- The coins on display are A number of rare coins, in- being held in the lead up to Global Times tions – Coins from Central part of the collection belonging cluding two Hetian horse coins the Belt and Road Forum for China, Coins from the Western to the Jinjiufu Coin Museum, manufactured in what is now International Cooperation set Page Editor: zhangyuchen@ Region (Today’s Xinjiang Uy- a private museum in East Northwest China’s Xinjiang to be held on May 14 and 15 in globaltimes.com.cn ghur Autonomous Region) and China’s Jiangxi Province. Uyghur Autonomous Region, Beijing. Monday April 24, 2017 19 LIFE

China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble releases plans for Spring Performance Season The China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble, one of China’s most prestigious performing troupes for ethnic minority art, announced the program for its upcoming Spring Performance Season on Sunday, also the ensemble’s Open Day in Beijing. According to ensemble CELEBRATING president Ding Wei, this was the ensemble’s fourth Open Day, which gives audiences the chance to get a close look at and even play traditional music ASIAN FILMS instruments used by ethnic minority groups in China. In addition to this, the ensemble also provided short lec- tures on performance art and held example performances for the performance season. A total of four performances, mainly dance dramas, will be staged during the Spring Performance Season. Qushui Song, which will he 19th Far productions that hit A number of Asian filmmakers and be held Monday night, tells a East Film cinemas in 2016, celebrities are expected to take part in romantic story that takes place TFestival including Chinese the festival, including Chinese director on Southwest China’s Wuling (FEFF) kicked award-winning Feng Xiaogang, Laotian director Matti Mountain, which is home to off at the Teatro filmsI am not Do and Japanese actor Matsuda Ryuhei. China’s Tujia and Miao ethnic Nuovo theater Lady Bovary Additionally, a series of workshops minorities. in Udine, and Soulmate and seminars for industry insiders will Thursday will see a restaged Italy, on Friday, directed by be held during the festival to discuss version of the troupe’s dance marking the Hong Kong the development of Asian film in recent drama, Tsangyang Gyatso. beginning of director Derek years. The dance drama follows Europe’s largest Tsang, Philippine Starting in 1999, FEFF has worked the life of Tibetan musician annual gathering thriller Seclusion, to introduce Asian films, especially Chi- and poet Tsangyang Gyatso dedicated to Asian Vietnamese fantasy nese films from Hong Kong and movies (1683-1706) and has been film. movie Tam Cam: The from Southeast Asia, to European coun- staged more than 40 times This year, 83 titles Untold Story and Indone- tries over the past 18 years. across the country since its from 12 Asian countries and sian comedy filmMy Stupid The film festival is scheduled to run debut in 2015. regions including China, South Ko- Boss. For 25 of the films, this will be for a week and come to a close on April The following night will rea, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam and the the first time they have been shown in 29. see a performance of the Philippines will be shown at the festival. Europe. concert Ode to Prairie as part Japanese road movie Survival Family This year, FEFF is also presenting Audiences attend the 19th Far East Film Festival opening ceremony in Jailbreak of the ensemble’s celebration and Cambodian action film of- the retrospective Creative Visions: Hong Italy on Friday. Inset: Promotional of the 70th anniversary of the ficially opened the festival, according to Kong Cinema 1997-2017, which will material for Soulmate establishment of North China’s a FEFF press release sent to the Global screen 10 Hong Kong films produced Photos: Courtesy of the Far East Film Inner Mongolia Autonomous Times on Friday. over the past two decades, to com- Festival Region. Other films set to be screened at memorate the 20th anniversary of Hong the festival include a number of Asian Kong’s handover to China. Global Times Global Times

Salon focuses on the importance of a good story in Chinese film ‘Painting Heart Expert’ debuts on streaming platform Sohu TV On Thursday, a salon dedicated to at the salon, Zhou Yiyu, a free-lancer After two years relying on star discussing the importance of good sto- scriptwriter, said that since Chinese of preparation power. According ries and scripts in film was held at the sci-fi films are not able to compete with and filming, to the show’s pro- Beijing Intentional Film Festival’s Film Hollywood’s superhero blockbusters, Chinese action ducers, the entire Market event. the best path in film is to “focus on fantasy drama series will focus “Not too long ago, I read Sapiens: A romance and humanity, and discuss the series Painting on various small Brief History of Humankind, which says problems [Chinese] face today.” Heart Expert hit stories centered the biggest difference between humans Audiences in their 20s have been streaming site on the two main and animals is that humans can tell sto- gaining ground in China in recent Sohu TV on characters that will ries. Over the past 12 years, I have been years. As such, how to write good Monday. be shown as self- continuously doing one thing – search- stories targeting younger audiences in While contained episodes. ing for good stories,” said Wu You, China was also a key point of discussion recent stream- At a promo- founder and CEO of media company at the salon. From left: Sun Bohao, Zhu Xudan ing dramas in and Xiong Ziqi attend a promotional tional event for the Beijing Cloudwood Co, Ltd, the salon’s “We have run into a lot of companies China have been event for Painting Heart Expert on show in Beijing organizer. which ask for post-1980 generation adaptations of Friday in Beijing. Photo: IC on Friday, actor Li Wu noted that over the past several scriptwriters or post-1990 writers... To popular online Junchen said that years, China has been lacking good be honest, we have worked with numer- novels, the new the sign of a good stories in film. ous scriptwriters and have found that drama is an original script. The story show is one that can inspire audienc- Taking science fiction as an example, age doesn’t really influence what they focuses on two people with magical es to think about the subject matter. Wu said that during the genre’s height are capable of writing,” Ying Luojia, a abilities who are natural enemies: one “I hope audiences will be inspired there were a number of writers in the producer and scriptwriter agent, said. has the ability to steal people’s hearts, to think after watching the drama,” US such as Mary Higgins Clark and while the other uses his powers to he said. Isaac Asimov. Global Times defend them. The series will debut two new “But in China, the only book we talk Starring a number of young episodes every Monday night. about over and over again is Liu Cixin’s Page Editor: relatively unknown actors, the series Three-Body Problem.” [email protected] is looking to become a big hit without Global Times Talking about sci-fi romance story 20 Monday April 24, 2017 LIFE ‘Born in China’ released in US market

Disneynature’s filmBorn in China, which focuses on the lives of rare species native to China such as pandas, snow or most artists playing Coachella too early.’ And I don’t have the app to to acoustic guitar. As he wrote the album, leopards and golden mon- days before a new album, the pre- accept his money.” DeMarco said, he was listening to folk keys, hit theaters in the US on Fmier festival would be an obvious DeMarco’s carefree demeanor extends rock greats Paul Simon and James Taylor Friday. place to plug the upcoming release. Mac to his musical style. Sometimes described – but also Japanese early-generation A Sino-US coproduction DeMarco is different. as part of a subgenre of “slacker rock,” he synthesizer music, which he sampled on produced by Disneynature and The Canadian indie rocker, whose exudes nonchalance with songs whose Salad Days, giving his sound an occasion- directed by Chinese director third album This Old Dog comes out on mellow arrangements disguise under- al psychedelic air. Lu Chuan, the film was also May 5, matter-of-factly told the crowd as tones of melancholy. “There’s a congruency between the screened at the Embassy of he “debuted” new songs under the hot Despite his persona, he is no musical music that I’ve made before, the music China in Washington DC that desert sun that he imagined some had slouch. He plays every instrument in the people expect me to listen to, and the same day. already heard them through leaks. studio and has a quickly recognizable music that I actually do listen to,” he said. China’s ambassador to the “I don’t care,” DeMarco told AFP later, lo-fi sound – honed on his last full-length “And on this album it merged a little bit US Cui Tiankai said before the sipping a beer in his ripped jeans and album, 2014’s Salad Days – with a gentle more than it usually does.” screening that the relationship casually sprinkling profanities into his reverb on his guitar enveloping the between human beings and speech, when asked whether he wanted melody. ‘Visceral’ stage experience nature is as equally important anyone to buy the album. This Old Dog preserves Playing Coachella, which takes place as the relationships between “People want to have the picture cover DeMarco’s trademarks over two weekends with identical lineups nations. He expressed his hope or whatever – go buy it on vinyl. If you but turns more in southern California, DeMarco showed that the cooperation between want to download it off iTunes, whatever. his talent for multitasking – singing and Lu’s film crew and the US crew Or if you want to, download it for free,” playing the guitar while smoking a ciga- will help to raise the awareness he said. rette between his teeth. about environmental protec- “A kid actually sent me 10 bucks on Backed by his touring band, he tion. this app and the brought the set to a climax by hitting Cui said that social and memo said,  ‘SlackerMac rock’ DeMarco star his pedals for heavy distortion and cultural dialogue is among the screaming – playfully, rather than new dialogue mechanisms in- ominously – like a warlock. stalled after the recent success- Such goofiness feels comfort- ful meeting between Chinese able to DeMarco. President Xi Jinping and US shows carefree spirit Although he recently President Donald Trump. at Coachella festival played a New York benefit That will certainly mean more for Planned Parenthood – cultural exchanges between the the reproductive health two countries in the future. group under threat from The film debuted in China President Donald in August 2016. It will be Trump – he said his translated into 10 languages activism is limited and released in 100 countries to donations and that he and regions in the near future. has no plans to write political Born in China currently has ROCK songs. an 81 percent approval rating “My heart beats just like among critics and an 85 per- anybody else’s heart, but cent audience rating on Rotten here’s the thing – I can’t go there,” Tomatoes. he said. FLAIR“I don’t want to alienate anybody,” he added, explaining that Americans in particular tend to take pride in strong political positions. The title track on This Old Dog is a tale of never forgetting past love, with a tongue-in-cheek video of anthropomor- phic dogs strolling around Los Angeles. DeMarco wrote the album while living in New York but completed it in Los An- like, geles, saying he moved west so he could ‘I lis- afford to buy a house with his girlfriend. tened Even if New York real estate is still out of reach and his fans don’t always pay for his music, the 26-year-old marveled at how he pulled in live crowds. “I like to have a visceral and real experience with people. That’s what I’m in it for,” he said. “People wouldn’t come to the shows if they didn’t know the songs.” “I’m making way more money than I ever thought I would ever in my life, and I’m able to hook up a Promotional material for Born lot of my family members and in China Photo: IC people I love,” he added. Mac DeMarco performs “If it’s bigger, or even less, who Xinhua – Global Times at Coachella Music & cares? It’s beautiful.” Arts Festival in Indio on Page Editor: April 14. Photo: IC zhangyuchen@ AFP globaltimes.com.cn Monday April 24, 2017 21 TEABREAK Garfield Horoscope

Happy birthday: Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Have faith in your abilities and what If you are confused about you can achieve with them. Your hard where your career is head- work at the office has left a favorable ing, asking for advice from impression on your colleagues. A your friends can help shine surprising development will end up a light on things. Lady Luck will shine having an immense impact on your down on you when it comes to financial future plans. Your lucky numbers: 1, 3, matters. You are highly likely to come 5, 10, 18. up with some successful moneymaking ideas. ✭✭✭✭ Crossword Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) Don’t push yourself too Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) hard today. You are highly The stars will favor change ACROSS likely to burn yourself out today. This will be a great 1 Flat-bottomed harbor boats far too early if you do not time to push yourself in 6 It’s a matter of taste pace yourself. Try to collaborate at work, a new direction. Don’t 11 Parking place and make sure that you’re not spending hesitate to set your goals on something 14 Chicago landing spot too much time working on your own. bigger and better. Green will be your 15 Alistair or Sam ✭✭✭ lucky color. ✭✭✭✭ 16 Words said before a pastor 17 Drives recklessly ... Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) 19 Mauna ___ Your creative side will prove Worry and stress will 20 Cursed to be a valuable asset today. make it hard for you to 21 Scenic walking paths Do not allow anyone else to get anything done today. 23 Opposite of a crooner take credit for your ideas or Don’t waste your energy on 26 Far-off hard work. It will be a good idea to pay negative thoughts. Success or failure is 27 Elevates close attention to your health over the beyond your control, all you can do is 28 Beyond ordinary under- next few days. ✭✭✭ try your best. ✭✭✭ standing 29 Inquire Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22) Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) 30 Evil spirit You may find yourself neck You will have a lot on your 32 Casino bandits? deep in a very confusing plate today. While things 35 Average grades situation today. Before you may seem easy at first, 37 Traditional bodies of knowl- jump the gun, take a few you will end up facing a edge 7 Top-notch 54 ___ good race (competed steps back and try to examine every- much bigger challenge than you had 39 Blockhead 8 Finger food of the islands well) thing from an objective viewpoint. You imagined. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. 40 Creme de la creme 9 Giraffe relatives 57 Kenan’s Nickelodeon co- may be surprised how much getting ✭✭✭ 42 Comes up short 10 Hires different actors star a little distance will help your thought 44 “Much ___ About Nothing” 11 Runs from a battle ... 58 Biochemistry abbr. process. ✭✭✭✭ Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) 45 “The Wizard of Oz” charac- 12 Classic movie theater name 59 Propel on water, in a way Bringing some romance ter 13 Breakfast staple 60 “Don’t give up!” Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22) into your life will brighten 47 Like the nervous system 18 Tasty crumb You may find that you are up a dull day. However, this 49 Any person 22 Artificial leg? easily distracted today. This will require you to let your 51 Bounce on one’s knee, as a 23 Crutch, essentially will have a huge impact affectionate side free. Do not hesitate to baby 24 Artist’s stand on your work, so remove make a move if you see an opportunity. 52 Gathered, as cattle 25 A critic’s job is to critique ... yourself from temptation by staying off ✭✭✭✭ 53 Fund one can’t touch? 26 Force units the Internet. ✭✭✭ 55 Country hotel 28 Definitely not a rocket Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) 56 Repeat what one hears ... scientist Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Your insight and hard work 61 To and ___ 31 Grinder in the back Sharing your achievements have served you well at 62 Continent separator 33 Kind of wave on social media will cause work, and will hopefully pay 63 Moon-related 34 Lifted, so to speak Today’s Solution others to stand up and take off soon. You will be able to 64 In great shape 36 Confined to a pig pen notice of you. Money mat- put yourself in line for a promotion by 65 Oktoberfest tune 38 Parody ters will require your personal attention. furthering your education. ✭✭✭ 66 About to weep 41 Surround completely ✭✭✭ 43 Chef’s sprinkle, some- DOWN times Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22) RATINGS ✭ 1 Costa del ___ 46 Doc Patience will be your great- 5: Head for Macao! 2 “Tai” follower 48 “That’s a lie!” est weapon when dealing 3 Common deciduous tree 49 Slight smell 4: Ye gods! The planets align! with stressful situations. 3: Things are looking up. 4 Takes from by force 50 Artist Matisse You will succeed so long as : Don’t bet on things working out. 53 Heavy, durable furniture 2 5 Sushi wrap you don’t try to rush without thinking 1: Watch out for black cats and ladders. 6 Surgery evidence wood things through. ✭✭✭

LearningChinese

Illustration: Xia Qing/GT Chat attack retirement home B: I’m not sure. But the people I know B: That’s mainly because the facilities 养老院 don’t do this that often. at these organizations are not that (y2ngl2o yu3n) 不清楚。但我身边的人很少这么做。 complete. They might end up suffering (b& q~ngch^. d3n w6 sh8nbi`n de r9n after they are sent there. A: I saw some foreign movies recently. h0nsh2o zh-me zu7.) 主要还是因为这些机构的设施不够 It seems that it’s quite normal for sons 完善吧。可能把老人家送去了也是 and daughters to send the elderly to a A: After my neighbors sent their 遭罪。 retirement home? elderly parents to a retirement home, (zh^y3o h1ish# y~nw-i zh-xi8 j~g7u de 我最近看了几部外国电影，看来好像 everyone called them unfilial behind sh-sh~ b&g7u w1nsh3n ba. k0n9ng b2 子女把老人送养老院是挺常见的事？ their backs. l2or9n ji` s7ngq& le y0sh# z`ozu#.) (w6 zu#j#n k3nle j@b& w3igu5 di3ny@ng, 我邻居把老人送养老院，结果暗地里 k3n l1i h2oxi3ng z@n) b2 l2or9n s7ng 被人说不孝。 Page Editor: y2ngl2o yu3n sh# t@ng ch1ngji3n de (w6 l!nj$ b2 l2or9n s7ng y2ngl2o yu3n, [email protected] sh#?) ji9gu6 3nd# l@ b-ir9n shu4 b&xi3o.) 22 Monday April 24, 2017 SPORTS RoundUp

Athletics Gatlin, US romp to win Justin Gatlin and the US roared to victory in the men’s 4x100-meter relay as rivals Canada and Jamaica dropped batons at the IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas on Saturday. Run down by Canadian Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse in the earlier heats, the 35-year-old Gatlin romped home in the final, leading the US team of Leshon Collins, Mike Rodgers and Ronnie Bak- er to victory in 38.43 seconds. Barbados claimed the silver and China surprised by taking the bronze. Australia finished fourth ahead of France as both joined the medalists in qualifying for the IAAF World Champion- ships in August. Olympic champions Ja- maica failed to qualify for the final. Only once before since Kenyan runner Daniel Wanjiru celebrates after winning the men’s elite race at the London Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 5 2008 had Jamaica failed to minutes and 48 seconds on Sunday. Photo: CFP claim gold in a global 4x100- meter race.  Wanjiru holds off Bekele as Keitany breaks record Tennis Nadal takes historic title Rafael Nadal won the Monte- Kenyans seal double in London Carlo Masters for a record- breaking 10th time with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Spanish compatriot Albert Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru held women, one for “mixed gen- of seconds adrift of the head of third mile. She reached 10 Ramos-Vinolas on Sunday. off a late charge from Ethiopi- der” and the other for “women the race when Wanjiru split the miles 1 minute ahead of Rad- The 30-year-old Nadal will an Kenenisa Bekele to win the only.” lead quartet with an accelera- cliffe’s overall world record, be aiming for a 10th French London Marathon on Sunday Bekele, 34, a three-time tion in the 21st mile. and although that pace proved Open title as well next month. in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 48 Olympic champion on the Bekele overtook Lilesa, Kirui unsustainable, she managed to It was Nadal’s first title seconds. track, had been hoping to break and Karoki but could not catch stay comfortably ahead of the in almost a year and further His triumph completed the Dennis Kimetto’s men’s world Wanjiru, who won by 9 seconds women’s only record. cemented his place in history double for Kenya after Mary record of 2:02.57 and asked in his first appearance at the Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba as he became the first man in Keitany sealed her third Lon- pacemakers to deliver him to London Marathon. finished 56 seconds down in the Open era to win the same don title in a women’s only the halfway mark in 61.30. Karoki finished 1 minute, 53 second place, while compatriot event 10 times. world record of 2:17.01, beating They arrived 10 seconds seconds down in third on his Aselefech Mergia was 6.07 He won eight Monte-Carlo Britain’s Paula Radcliffe’s previ- slower – still on world-record marathon debut. minutes down in third. titles in a row from 2005 to ous best by 41 seconds. pace – but Bekele then fell away “Being second is frustrat- “I tried to push all the time. 2012 but then lost to Novak Radcliffe still holds the over- as his leg muscles tightened ing. I felt my hamstring and I’m very happy with the finish Djokovic in the 2013 final. He all record of 2:15.25, which she up under the strain, leaving my right calf. I had to change time,” Keitany said. won the title again last year set in a mixed gender race at Wanjiru, fellow Kenyans Be- my running style,” Bekele told Last year’s winner, Jemima and then added the Barcelona the London Marathon in 2003 dan Karoki and Abel Kirui and reporters. Sumgong of Kenya, did not de- crown a week later, yet had not when she used male runners to Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa to form The women’s race was far fend her title after failing a drug lifted a trophy since, losing help set the pace. a four-man lead group. less competitive, after Keitany test earlier in the season. three finals already this year. The IAAF recognizes two However, Bekele staged a re- made an electric start and dis- marathon world records for covery and was only a handful tanced all of her rivals by the Reuters Agencies ‘Relieved’ Wiesberger edges Fleetwood in Shenzhen International playoff

GOLF “I’ve had a stretch of really good Fleetwood, 26, was the tournament’s round, but had slid to 26th place by Sun- events the last couple of months and it’s second-ranked player after American day. Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger beat Eng- really nice to have a trophy again. Bubba Watson, but continues a streak Local favorite Li Haotong, ranked land’s Tommy Fleetwood on the first “Tommy has had a great day and I’m of bad luck in the country – he was run- No.151 in the world and winner of the playoff hole to win the $2.8 million just grateful to make that one shot in the ner-up at the 2014 Volvo China Open, Volvo China Open last year, missed the Shenzhen International on Sunday in playoff when I needed to.” and came in third at the first Shenzhen cut for Round 3. Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, secur- Wiesberger has not missed a cut in International in 2015. It was the third edition of the Shen- ing his fourth European Tour title. the last eight months, claiming seven “I’ve played well all week but I was re- zhen International at the Genzon Golf Despite continued rain, the 31-year- top-five finishes since the US PGA ally disappointed – it was stressing me Club – the first Chinese course to host old Austrian shot a one-under-par 71 Championship. out, actually – that I couldn’t really get multiple European Tour events. to force a playoff with Fleetwood, who The world No.43, who nabbed two anything in the hole, especially in the carded a tournament-best 63 to set the European Tour titles in 2012 and the second round when I played almost as AFP clubhouse target at 16-under. Open de France in 2015, is the first Euro- good as I could and didn’t get anything “I’m feeling a bit relieved now, I pean to win the Shenzhen tournament out of it,” Fleetwood said. Page Editor: have to say,” the European Tour website in South China. He is now set to move The heavily favored American Wat- [email protected] quoted Wiesberger as saying. up into the top 30. son made clubhouse leader in the first Monday April 24, 2017 23 SPORTS  Treble-chasing club to play Aberdeen for Scottish Cup victory Celtic into final at the expense of Rangers

A second-half penalty by Scott Sinclair matches this season. through McGregor. from a quick Celtic breakaway. sealed a 2-0 win for champions Celtic It brings to an end a 92-year Hamp- Moussa Dembele brought down Goalkeeper Wes Foderingham hesi- over bitter rivals Rangers and a place in den Park hoodoo for Celtic, who failed to Mikel Lustig’s long ball over the top of tated in coming to collect Kieran Tier- the Scottish Cup final on Sunday. beat Rangers in the last four of the com- the Rangers defense and laid it back ney’s through ball allowing Griffiths Sinclair’s penalty and a first-half petition on their previous five attempts into the path of the Scottish midfielder, to run in on goal and the striker was effort by Callum McGregor set them up since their last victory at this stage in whose first-time strike with his left foot brought down by a horribly mistimed with a May 27 date with Aberdeen – who 1925. rolled into the bottom corner. sliding challenge from James Tavernier. beat holders Hibs 3-2 on Saturday – and Rangers kicked off at Hampden but it Rangers were then relieved to see Foderingham nearly made amends a potential domestic treble for the first was to be the closest they were to the ball Dembele, scorer of five goals in five Old as he palmed Sinclair’s spot kick on time in 16 years. for the majority of the half. Firm appearances, limp out of the game to the inside of the post but the ball McGregor and Sinclair’s goals Rangers had conceded just once in on the half hour with a pulled hamstring bounced over the line to double Celtic’s avenged defeat at the hands of Rangers their previous five games, but with Celtic to be replaced by Leigh Griffiths. advantage. at the same stage last year and extended enjoying the lion’s share of possession a Just as Rangers started to threaten in their unbeaten run to 41 domestic goal seemed inevitable and it duly came the second half, they conceded a penalty AFP

RoundUp Tumbling to a draw Chongqing Football Lifan forward Nan Song Glory into Aussie final falls as he Perth Glory will play Sydney competes for FC for a place in the Australian the ball in A-League Grand Final after their Chinese Super League ending Melbourne City’s sea- match son in Melbourne on Sunday. against Glory rocked the expen- Shandong sively assembled City team Luneng 2-0 with first-half goals from on Sunday Spaniard Diego Castro and in Jinan, Joel Chianese. Glory reached Shandong the A-League final four for the Province. first time in five years and they After a will take on the Sky Blues in 1-1 draw, Sydney on Saturday. Luneng are Brisbane Roar will play now fourth Melbourne Victory in next after six games with weekend’s other semifinal. 13 points, They beat Western Sydney three behind Wanderers 6-5 on penalties leaders after the scores were locked at Guangzhou 1-1 after extra time in Friday’s R&F. Lifan other elimination final. are seventh with nine Milik rescues Napoli points. Photo: Substitute Arkadiusz Milik res- CFP cued a dramatic 2-2 draw for Napoli following a topsy-turvy second half at Sassuolo which saw the visitors lead 1-0, gift an equalizer and then hit the Playoff pressure brings pain and pleasure in equal measure woodwork twice on Sunday. Dries Mertens headed Napoli in front from Jose Calle- It’s been a week where we have seen them drop to fifth. games left and seven teams jon’s cross in the 52nd minute seen the agony and ecstasy of Their latest conquerors were currently outside of the TALKINGBALLS to delight the army of shirtless knockout football. Extra time, visitors Fulham on Saturday playoff places still stand a visiting fans behind the goal. penalty shootouts and away and the Londoners are likely to chance of making it. That’s JONATHAN WHITE But a mistake by Napoli’s goals guarantee emotion, one have a very different view on the football at its most exciting. usually inspirational captain way or the other, but at least you playoff system. Arguably the di- That doesn’t mean it’s not Just ask Brighton. Marek Hamsik allowed Sas- expect that in the cup. What vision’s in-form team, Fulham also the game at its most cruel. Realistically, we’re going to suolo to level seven minutes about the ups and downs of the only made the playoff places Take Brighton last season. They see more playoffs in English later when Domenico Berardi last few weeks of the Football for the first time at the start of missed out on promotion on football in the future. A lot of intercepted the Slovakian’s League season? Is there any- the month and have timed their goal difference, unable to beat the other European leagues headed back pass and fired thing worse than the race for run at exactly the right time. second-placed Middlesbrough use a playoff to decide rel- past Pepe Reina. the playoff places? It’s a similar story at Shef- in the last game of the season egation and promotion so the Mertens smacked a free Huddersfield Town fans field Wednesday, where the before crashing out of the play- Premier League is missing a kick against the crossbar and might not think so. Despite the Owls have seen a late-season offs to Sheffield Wednesday. trick. Sooner rather than later Lorenzo Insigne hit the inside club being guaranteed a fin- flourish guide them into fourth It’s often the case that the the winner of the Champion- of the post before Sassuolo ish well above the 19th-, 16th-, with two games left. Their fate team that just misses out on ship playoffs will meet with the sneaked a second in the 80th 17th- and 19th-placed finishes is in their hands and it could an automatic spot struggles in team who finished third bot- minute. since they were promoted to mean another go at the play- the playoffs, whereas the club tom of the Premier League for the Championship in 2012, offs. that just creeps in carries their a place in the coming season’s Agencies they now risk slipping out of The playoff system certainly form and good feeling into top flight. Can’t wait. the playoff places. A couple of keeps the league alive at a stage the knockouts. That’s football, Page Editor: games ago the Terriers looked in the season where many I guess, and these teams have The author is a Shanghai-based wanghuayun@ globaltimes.com.cn odds-on for automatic promo- games could be dead rubbers. had 46 games to finish higher. freelance writer. jmawhite@gmail. tion, but a couple of losses have In League Two there are two And there’s always next year. com SPORTS 24 MONDAY APRIL 24, 2017

Stephen Curry scored 14 of his 34 without forward clutch jump shot at the buzzer that al- points in the fourth quarter and the Kevin Durant (calf lowed the Grizzlies to level their play- 2016-17 Golden State Warriors stormed back injury), guard off series at 2-2 in Memphis. NBA from a 16-point third-quarter deficit Shaun Living- Gasol’s floater over Spurs defender to beat the Portland Trail Blazers ston (finger) and LaMarcus Aldridge with 0.7 seconds The visiting Raptors pulled level 119-113. forward Matt left capped a thrilling back-and-forth with Milwaukee at 2-2 in the best- Klay Thompson tallied 24 points Barnes (ankle). first-round playoff contest in front of of-seven Eastern Conference series, on Saturday for the Warriors, who Warriors a crowd of 18,100. which continues Monday in Toronto. seized a commanding 3-0 lead in coach Steve Kerr Kawhi Leonard scored a playoff In Atlanta, the Atlanta Hawks led the best-of-seven first-round Western also did not attend career-high 43 points for the Spurs, in- wire-to-wire en route to a dominating Conference playoff series. the game because of ill- cluding San Antonio’s final 16 points 116-98 victory over Washington, cut- CJ McCollum scored 32 points ness. He was replaced by assistant in the fourth quarter. ting the Wizards’ lead in the playoff and Damian Lillard added 31 for the coach Mike Brown. “Both teams played their hearts series to 2-1. Blazers, who will try to stay alive with a Lillard scored 22 points and McCo- out,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich Forward Paul Millsap registered win in Game 4 on Monday. llum 17 as the Blazers went into half- said. “Just a fantastic basketball game. his second consecutive double-double “They had a lot of adrenaline but time leading 67-54. The fans got their money’s worth.” by finishing with 29 points and 14 we were able to withstand their runs Curry and Thompson were a com- Leonard added eight rebounds, rebounds as the Hawks clawed their and get back in the game,” said Curry. bined eight for 25 from the field at six steals and three assists. Leonard’s way back into the Eastern Conference “I love these kind of moments. I have halftime. fadeaway jumper with 12 seconds left series. confidence in myself to make those Elsewhere, Marc Gas- in regulation gave San Antonio a 96- Game 4 of the series is Monday in shots.” ol lifted the Memphis 94 lead. Atlanta. Golden State were Grizzlies to a 110-108 But Leonard’s brilliant perfor- After the game, Millsap and Wash- overtime win over the mance was in vain as Mike Conley led ington’s Markieff Morris continued to San Antonio Spurs with a Memphis with 35 points and had nine fire verbal jabs at each other. rebounds and eight assists. Morris called Millsap a “crybaby.” Conley, who had 11 points in the “He’s a crybaby. You get all the calls  Grizzlies pull final quarter, answered with a floater when you’re a crybaby. That’s how I in the lane with four seconds left to tie look at it,” Morris said. even with Spurs the game at 96-96. Millsap said, “It definitely got per- Leonard then missed a 21-footer sonal now, yes.” (6.4 meters) at the buzzer to send the Atlanta also got 27 points and nine game into overtime. assists from Dennis Schroder. Rookie Warriors In Milwaukee, DeMar DeRozan, Taurean Prince scored 16 points. held scoreless from the floor a game earlier, struck for 33 points and nine AFP rebounds to lead Toronto over Mil- waukee 87-76. Stephen Curry of the Golden State put Blazers Warriors drives in for a layup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday in Portland. Photo: CFP

Page Editor: on brink wanghuayun@ globaltimes.com.cn

Clear NATIONAL City Hi (ºC) Lo (ºC) Forecast April 24 Dali 19 14 Rain WEATHER Guilin 23 19 Rain Hangzhou 27 16 Cloudy Cloudy H: 23º H: 13º Kunming 19 11 Rain Beijing L: 11º Harbin L: 1º Lijiang 16 13 Rain H: 21º Urumqi L: 10º Humidity: 13% Macao 24 22 Shower Wind Scale: 3 Nanjing 27 16 Cloudy Daily Air Pollution Index: Qingdao 15 12 Shower Overcast Low Sanya 31 26 Cloudy UV Index: Low Shenyang H: 15º Two-day forecast L: 5º Shenzhen 26 22 Thunder Suzhou 26 16 Cloudy

Rain H: 20º H: 24º INTERNATIONAL L: 9º L: 11º City Hi (ºC) Lo (ºC) Forecast

H: 21º Amsterdam 13 4 Rain Tianjin L: 11º Bangkok 39 26 Rain Berlin 14 4 Rain Shower Brussels 16 2 Rain H: 14º H: 28º Hohhot L: 3º Xi’an L: 15º Cairo 25 13 Cloudy Colombo 31 26 Rain H: 25º Frankfurt 17 2 Overcast Shanghai L: 16º Thunder H: 23º Karachi 36 25 Clear Chengdu L: 15º Kuala Lumpur 30 25 Rain London 14 1 Rain Manila 34 25 Rain Melbourne 22 14 Rain H: 19º Mexico City 23 13 Rain Wind Lhasa L: 7º Moscow 8 0 Sleet H: 27º Mumbai 31 26 Cloudy H: 27º H: 27º Taipei L: 22º Chongqing L: 19º Wuhan L: 17º Nairobi 30 16 Rain New York City 15 10 Rain Snow Paris 16 4 Rain Rome 20 9 Cloudy H: 25º Guangzhou L: 20º San Francisco 15 11 Rain Sao Paulo 22 16 Rain Seoul 22 12 Rain Smog Singapore 28 26 Rain H: 25º Hong Kong L: 22º Sydney 23 17 Rain Tokyo 18 12 Cloudy Washington 18 12 Rain Biz Update Biz Comment Insight Biz Overview China seeks China- Protectionism China’s gate to cooperation Europe haunts global South Asia with Iran B2 trains on economy B7 B8 track B4-5

www.globaltimes.cn BUSINESSMONDAY APRIL 24, 2017 FINANCE “The yuan will gain SDRs in China’s interbank market, two omy exported $2.1 trillion worth of car- By Zhang Ye months after the World Bank started go, accounting for 13.2 percent of the more prominence in selling three-year SDR bonds. global total. China’s central bank vice governor China will actively facilitate the use Also, China’s economy powered has called for efforts to promote the the SDR, as China is of SDRs in the bonds market, domestic more than 30 percent of the world’s liquidity of the global market for Spe- news portal caixin.com reported on Sat- economic growth during the 12th Five- cial Drawing Rights (SDR), the Xinhua playing an increasingly urday, citing Yi at the forum. Year Plan period (2011-15), making it News Agency reported over the week- important role in the The role of the yuan in pushing SDR the largest contributor to the global end. usage is not very big yet, partially due to economy during that time. The SDR market lacks liquidity, world’s trade and limited allocation, experts said. The active promotion of the SDR is and “hedging and settlement costs are The IMF’s weighting in the SDR of part of China’s plan to boost the yuan’s relatively high,” so the infrastructure economy.” the US dollar, the euro and the yuan are international use and gain a larger role for the market needs improvement, 41.73 percent, 30.93 percent and 10.92 in the international financial system, Yi Gang, vice governor of the People’s Liu Xuezhi percent, respectively, according to the Liu noted. Bank of China (PBC), was quoted as Senior analyst at Bank of Communications IMF website. “Increasing its role in the interna- saying by Xinhua. Yi was speaking at a tional financial system is crucial for forum during the IMF and World Bank basket in October 2016, China’s cen- Growing importance China, and could determine whether Spring Meetings in Washington. tral bank has been actively promoting The yuan will gain more promi- the country can grow into the world’s In order to inject more liquidity into the use of SDRs as a unit of account, nence in the SDR, as China is playing largest economy,” he said. the market, Yi suggested that market as well as for financial instruments and an increasingly important role in the Currently, the international finan- institutions could increase the use of official reserves. According to Yi, China world’s trade and economy, Liu Xuezhi, cial system is dominated by the US dol- the SDR as a unit of account, which has started reporting foreign reserves a senior analyst at Bank of Communi- lar, which is the world’s main reserve would encourage their participation in and international balance of payment cations, told the Global Times Sunday. currency. the SDR market. data in SDRs. A WTO report on April 12 showed Yi emphasized at the forum that the The SDR system was created by the In late October 2016, Standard Char- that China maintained its position as use of SDRs is not aimed at replacing IMF in 1969, not to serve as a currency tered Bank (Hong Kong) successfully the world’s largest exporter in 2016, the dollar, and that the dollar’s reserve but as a crucial reserve asset to provide issued one-year bonds denominated in when the world’s second-largest econ- currency dominance will be main- liquidity to the global economic system tained for a long time, according to and supplement member countries’ Caixin. official reserves amid global financial Xu Gao, chief economist at China crises. Currently, the value of the SDR Everbright Securities, agreed with Yi, is based on a basket of five currencies saying that the scale of – the Chinese yuan, the US dollar, the SDR market lacks the SDR is small and British pound, the euro and the Japa- its scope is limited, so nese yen. it cannot play a full role PBC Governor Zhou in reforming the interna- Xiaochuan pointed out liquidity: PBC tional financial system. in 2009 that SDRs, The IMF should issue which have the policies to further potential to support the “act as a su- SDR and per-sovereign official make reserve cur- it more rency,” should attrac- have a greater role  tive to in- in reforming the in- Measures needed to promote stitutions, ternational monetary Xu told the system. reserve asset Global Times Since China’s currency Sunday. was included in the SDR

Page Editor: [email protected]

Send your tips, insights or photos to [email protected], or call our news line: +86 10 6536 7583 Address: The Global Times English Edition, 2 Jintai Xilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100026 B2 Monday April 24, 2017 BIZUPDATE  Vice premier urges tangible results in traditional, emerging sectors China seeks expanded cooperation with Iran

TRADE maintained steady momentum which will benefit the region Silk Road Initiative, known as that Xi’s historic visit to Iran in Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yan- of development. and beyond, China will further the One Belt, One Road initia- 2016 helped boost significant dong said Saturday in Tehran, In January 2016, Chinese promote the comprehensive tive, was proposed by Presi- progress in bilateral relations. capital of Iran, that China is President Xi Jinping paid a strategic partnership with Iran, dent Xi in 2013 with the aim of Sattari expressed the hope willing to strengthen compre- state visit to Iran and formulat- strengthen cooperation in tra- building a trade and infrastruc- that the two countries could hensive cooperation with Iran ed a strategic plan with Iranian ditional sectors such as energy, ture network connecting Asia further promote the initiative and achieve tangible results in leaders on China-Iran relations, tap the potential of cooperation with Europe and Africa along and strengthen cooperation in various sectors. she said. in the emerging sectors of ca- ancient trade routes. various fields. Liu made the remarks dur- “Over the past year, the two pacity, connectivity and indus- Sattari said that bilateral re- After the meeting, Liu and ing a meeting with Iranian Vice sides have achieved significant trial parks, and expand coopera- lations have made considerable Sattari witnessed the signing of President Sorena Sattari. progress in their cooperation in tion in science and technology, progress in recent years. cooperation documents in the Liu said that bilateral rela- politics, trade, energy, agricul- education, culture, medicine Iran always places its re- fields of science and technol- tions, which provide mutual ture and culture,” Liu said. and health, Liu added. lations with China as a high ogy, culture and art. support at crucial moments Under the frame of the The Silk Road Economic Belt priority of its foreign policy, and on major issues, have “One Belt, One Road” initiative, and the 21st Century Maritime the vice president said, adding Xinhua

Sweet choice Chongqing leads GDP growth during Q1

DATA With 23 provincial-level regions having released their first-quarter GDP figures as of Saturday, 13 reported accelerated growth year-on-year and Southwest China’s Chongqing was ranked No.1. Chongqing’s GDP growth rate hit 10.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage point year-on-year. South China’s Guangdong Province continued to lead the country with the largest GDP of 1.9438 trillion yuan ($282.33 billion). Northeast China’s Liaoning Province, South- west China’s Yunnan Province and North China’s Shanxi Province posted GDP growth rates of 2.4 percent, 9.9 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, more than 3 percentage points higher year- on-year. Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autono- mous Region saw a 1.7 percentage point increase. Eight provinces including South China’s Hainan Province and Central China’s Henan Province saw declined growth.

Global Times

Customers choose commodities in M&M’s World in Shanghai on Friday. The store will close on May 15 for RoundUp renovations that will last about a year, local news website shanghaiist.com reported on Thursday. As M&M’s first flagship store in Asia, the shop opened in Shanghai in 2014, attracting 15,000 shoppers per day.Photo: IC METALS Aluminum foil ‘subsidized’ The US International Trade Commission (USITC) announced on Friday (US time) that the country’s Listed banks face profitability pressure: Moody’s report imports of aluminum foil from China are “allegedly subsidized and sold in the US at less than fair value.” As a result, the US Department of Commerce will FINANCE The 11 State-owned and joint-stock and retail, and mining sectors in- continue anti-dumping and countervailing duty inves- Chinese listed banks face profitability commercial banks including the In- creased by an average of 0.8, 1.0 and tigations on aluminum foil imported from China, with pressure from the country’s slowing dustrial and Commercial Bank of 1.6 percentage points, respectively. determinations due in June and August, according to a economic growth, despite the ab- China reported average loan growth Profitability remained under pres- statement on the USITC website. Data from the depart- sence of any significant deterioration of 12 percent in 2016, faster than sure throughout the year, reflected in ment showed that the country imported around $389 in reported asset performance, said the gain of 10 percent in 2015, while a continued decline in the banks’ re- million of aluminum foil from China in 2016. Moody’s Investors Service. the national joint-stock commercial turn on average assets (RoA), mainly Meanwhile, the banks’ capitaliza- banks continued to expand lending due to factors including a further nar- ECONOMY tion and liquidity positions remained faster than major State-owned ones. rowing in net interest margins. Migrant remittances decline stable overall, but weakened among The reported asset performance The RoA for the 11 banks fell to Dragged down by low oil prices and a weak economy the smaller entities due to their faster for these 11 banks remained largely 1.05 percent in 2016 from 1.15 per- in Europe, remittance flows into developing countries rate of asset growth, Moody’s said in stable last year, it said. cent a year earlier, it said. The Chi- dropped for the second straight year in 2016, caixin. a report over the weekend. “The banks’ stable reported asset nese economy expanded 6.7 percent com reported Sunday, citing a World Bank report. Given their less favorable position performance came despite our view in 2016, its slowest growth in a quar- Migrants sent $429 billion back to developing coun- in competing for deposits, smaller that current asset risks remain biased ter of a century. tries last year, sliding 2.4 percent from the previous banks’ reliance on wholesale funds to the downside because of rising cor- year, according to the report released on Friday. Low oil continued to increase, while the tenor porate leverage and strong mortgage Xinhua – Global Times prices and weak economic growth are main reasons. of such funding shortened slightly in growth amid rapid house price appre- It forecast that remittance flows into developing the second half of 2016, indicating a ciation,” Moody’s said. Page Editor: countries will recover to $444 billion this year. rising vulnerability to financial mar- In 2016, nonperforming loan ra- [email protected] ket volatility. tios for manufacturing, wholesale Global Times Monday April 24, 2017 B3 BIZMARKETS  Policymaker addresses potential fallout from win by euroskeptic candidates ECB can help banks, not govts after French vote

The European Central Bank governments such as Italy, as Le Pen promised a referen- that the measure will not be data show they had parked (ECB) can supply cash to banks happened during the 2010-12 dum on France’s euro member- needed. 174 billion euros at the ECB if Sunday’s presidential vote in debt crisis. ship while Melenchon vowed “If there should be prob- in excess of their mandatory France roils markets, but sup- “The problem is more long to end the independence of lems for specific French banks reserves as of March 3, the lat- pressing a rise in governments’ term and has to do with what the ECB, which is in charge of liquidity-wise, then the ECB est day for which data is avail- borrowing costs would go be- happens to spreads [between controlling inflation in the eu- has... emergency liquidity as- able. yond its mandate, ECB policy- government bond yields in rozone, and overhaul the EU or sistance [ELA], but we don’t Austrian finance minister maker Ignazio Visco said on different countries], but this hold a referendum to leave it. expect of course any special Hans Joerg Schelling said any Saturday. transcends monetary interven- As France is the eurozone’s movements,” Nowotny said in market turmoil after Sunday’s Investors fear that a poten- tions,” Visco, who heads the second-largest economy, many Washington. vote was likely to be short-lived tial runoff between euroskeptic Bank of Italy, told reporters fear its departure would cause Speaking later at the IMF, and the Eurogroup of the euro- candidates Marine Le Pen and at the International Monetary the whole currency club to col- French central bank governor zone’s finance ministers would Jean-Luc Melenchon would Fund and World Bank spring lapse. Francois Villeroy de Galhau not react to it. raise questions about France’s meetings. Visco and his Austrian coun- declined to comment on any “From the experience of the future in the eurozone and the The ECB is on course to buy terpart Ewald Nowotny said the post-election scenario and said past, this reaction of markets very survival of the euro. 2.3 trillion euros ($2.47 trillion) ECB was ready to provide lend- Visco’s and Nowotny’s com- is a very short one,” Schelling This may in turn drive out worth of mostly government ers with Emergency Liquidity ments “were only binding for said. “I don’t think there is any bank deposits and push up bonds to boost inflation, but is Assistance, a lifeline used to them.” reaction from the Eurogroup.” borrowing costs, as measured barred by treaties from directly prop up the Greek banking sec- French banks currently have by bond yields, for debt-laden financing governments. tor, but expressed confidence more cash than they need. ECB Reuters – Global Times Playing to gamers Germany proposes Cosplayers perform on Saturday at a playground in plan to boost private Wuhan, capital of Central China’s Hubei Province. investment in Africa The performers were dressed as characters from Narrowing the gap between the rich and poor is NetEase’s popular key to avoiding a destructive rise in populism, mobile role-playing German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble game Onmyoji. said on Saturday as he laid out a plan to boost China’s market private investment in Africa. for anime, comics, “If we do nothing to change this, we can expect video games and a rise in populist parties and demagogues, and novels, is expected a rise in instability around the world, with all its to hit 480 billion negative effects for sustainable growth,” he said yuan ($69.73 in a speech in Washington. billion) by the end “We are seeing it already in some parts of the of 2017, according world,” he said during the Global Infrastructure to media reports. Forum at the Inter-American Development Bank. Photo: CFP Schaeuble is one of several officials who attended the IMF and World Bank spring meetings held from Friday to Sunday. He said Germany, which holds the presidency of the G20 group of nations, is pushing a plan to have African nations partner with certain G20 countries and international lenders, such as the World Bank, to attract outside investors to the Tight liquidity poses major risk to mainland stocks in Q2 continent. The first stage of the proposal, dubbed “Com- pact with Africa,” would focus on offering assis- Chinese mainland stocks face several banking business and risk manage- tance to Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and risks in the second quarter of 2017, TOCKREVIEW ment, while the insurance regula- Ivory Coast. such as tightening liquidity condi- S tor on Thursday called on insurance “If we want to ensure long-term stability and tions and tensions on the Korean companies to strengthen supervision security, we have to continue to reduce the gap in Peninsula, domestic media reported. A total of 409 individual stocks over operations and investment ac- wealth between the rich countries and the poor The central government’s inten- slumped by the 10 percent daily limit tivities. countries of this world, especially on the Afri- sified campaign against speculative last week. UBS strategist Gao Ting also at- can continent,” Schaeuble said on Saturday in a trading and risky financial practices The Shanghai Composite Index tributed weak investor sentiment speech. could attract more investor funds to edged up 0.03 percent to 3,173.15 to profit-taking in Xiongan-related Schaeuble also warned against a precipitous blue-chip stocks, which are consid- points on Friday, but slid 2.25 percent stocks and “worries about growth and uncoordinated rollback of financial regula- ered more secure than other equities, over the course of the week, the in- peaking and deceleration of corporate tions, saying such a move could jeopardize sta- the Shanghai Securities News report- dex’s worst weekly performance since profits.” bility. ed on Saturday. December 2016. Despite a stronger-than-expect- “Only a well-monitored and responsibly regu- Experts believe that the value of The blue-chip CSI 300 Index ed first quarter, China’s economic lated financial sector will be resilient enough to well-performing blue chips will rise. edged up 0.15 percent to 3,466.79 growth is expected to slow to 6.5 provide a sound basis for sustainable growth,” Shanghai stocks inched up Friday, points, down 0.57 percent for the percent for the full year and weaken Schaeuble said in a speech to the International though tighter regulatory scrutiny week. further to 6.2 percent in 2018, as the Monetary and Financial Committee. and fears of an economic slowdown ChiNext, the country’s NASDAQ government seeks to cool the proper- dampened investors’ risk appetite. equivalent, fell 2.57 percent for the ty sector and temper credit growth to Reuters – Global Times Last week, interest declined in week. contain risks from a dangerous build- stocks linked to the new Xiongan eco- China’s banking regulator has put up of debt, a Reuters poll showed. Page Editor: [email protected] nomic zone, in North China’s Hebei out a slew of policy directives in re- Province, the report said. cent weeks aimed at lenders’ shadow Global Times – Reuters B4-5 Monday April 24, 2017 BIZOVERVIEW   Figuratively Speaking LOGISTIC Makingheadlines By Huang Ge “Such services aim Gasoline exports from China China-Europe freight rail services to promote trade Industrial firms’ profits ing to a statement on the website of in March, up 25 percent year- have become a vital part of the The National Bureau of Statistics Ministry of Commerce. on-year, customs data “One Belt, One Road” initiative facilitation and (NBS) is set to release the profits for The meeting is supposed to end showed. Diesel exports and helped boost economic co- China-Europe trains on track major Chinese industrial companies on Thursday. market integration, 840,000 tons jumped 53 percent to operation between countries and in March whose annual revenues are The decision was announced after 1.91 million tons. regions along the route, although  Cooperation benefits B&R initiative, facilitates trade and if they run well, above 20 million yuan ($2.91 million) a meeting between China’s Premier concerns over high operating costs on Thursday. Li Keqiang and New Zealand Prime persist, experts said Sunday. relative upgrading is Profits reached 1.02 trillion yuan Minister Bill English during Li’s visit Companies debuting on China’s The comments came after the secure,” He Weiwen, an executive train service was first launched On Sunday, the Russia-Gan- nomic and trade ties, according to likely to continue in in the first two months of 2017, up to New Zealand. New Third Board last week, railway authorities of China, Belar- council member at the China So- in 2011 and at least 3,557 freight zhou freight train, the first service the report . 31.5 percent year-on-year, according which brought the total us, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongo- ciety for the WTO, told the Global trains have run so far, the Xinhua linking East China’s Jiangxi Prov- Experts also expressed concern the future.” to a statement on the website of the Yuan’s market share number of companies lia, Poland and Russia have signed Times on Sunday report said. The services covered ince with Europe, departed from over the sustainability of these car- NBS. Global transaction service provider listed on the New 41 an agreement to deepen coopera- He noted that “such services 27 cities across China and 28 cities Kansk with 38 containers and suc- go services and warned of potential He Weiwen, The increase was the largest in Swift is scheduled to announce the Third Board to 11,109. tion on China-Europe freight rail aim to promote trade facilitation in 11 countries in Europe, accord- cessfully arrived at its destination problems caused by high costs. executive council member at the China nearly six years. yuan’s market share in global pay- services, the Xinhua News Agency and market integration, and if they ing to the report. Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, people. “The major problem is that Society for the WTO That increase was mostly a result ments for March on Thursday. reported on Saturday, citing China run well, relative upgrading is like- One representative railway, the com.cn reported. most China-Europe freight trains of the surging prices of large com- The yuan was ranked No.6 in Railway Corp. ly to continue in the future.” Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Rail- The service aims to import return to China with their contain- modities such as coal, steel, mines February, accounting for 1.84 percent Share of electricity used in The agreement serves the “One Bai Ming, a research fellow at way, which stretches from South- from many sources, which will be ers empty. Therefore, such services “Small consumer goods from and crude oil, NBS official He Ping of the market, according to a report Beijing that is forecast to Belt, One Road” initiative, enhanc- the Chinese Academy of Interna- west China’s Chongqing Munici- conducive to efficiently using con- largely depend on local govern- Yiwu, East China’s Zhejiang Prov- was quoted as saying in the state- Swift released in March. be transmitted from other ment. The amount paid in yuan surged regions within the next es the market share of rail cargo tional Trade and Economic Coop- pality to Duisburg, Germany, was tainers, cutting logistics costs and ments’ subsidies,” said Zhao Jian, ince, are better shipped via sea 70% three years. between Asia and Europe and pro- eration, told the Global Times on put into service in 2011. creating a logistics structure that a professor at Beijing Jiaotong Uni- because it does not matter if the 4.1 percent year-on-year in February, motes economic growth and trade Sunday that freight trains linking It has carried China’s goods features balanced exports and im- versity. shipment is a few days late,” Zhao China-NZ FTA upgrade while that paid in all global curren- cooperation for countries and re- China and Europe have become like IT products, automobiles and ports, according to the report. “The average seaborne ship- said. Yiwu is the largest wholesale The first round of negotiations for an cies dropped 5.21 percent, the report gions along the route, according to a vital part of the “One Belt, One motorcycles to Europe, said media The service means that Gan- ping fee is 3,000 yuan ($436) per center for small consumer goods upgrade to the China-New Zealand showed. the agreement. Road” initiative. reports. zhou Port officially is involved container, while it is about 10,000 in China. free trade agreement is scheduled to Advanced coal capacity that will The agreement noted that the “These countries’ efforts to ad- in the “Belt and Road” yuan by railway,” Zhao said, noting “Only if cargo volumes are large begin on Tuesday in Beijing, accord- Global Times be added this year in North countries will advance railway in- vance such multinational integra- initiative and it that sea shipping is an economi- enough, can the costs be reduced,” China’s Shanxi Province to frastructure for safe, smooth, fast, tion and improved management of also marks a new cal choice for imports of European Zhao said. stabilize the market convenient and competitive servic- the services will promote economic chapter of Sino- basic raw materials and exports of But experts also said that the ex- supply, the Taiyuan 70m tons es and use information technology and trade connection of coun- Russian eco- China’s small commodities. pansion of services needs controls. Toronto housing steps praised Evening News reported. to increase train speed and unified tries and regions along the services. route.” The countries will expand rail China-Europe The map for Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway HOUSING es by foreign buyers as part of 16 Proportion of the 4,077 services to more areas with faster freight Bank of Canada governor Ste- measures designed to cool the companies in 28 Chinese customs clearance, and a joint phen Poloz said over the week- housing market in Toronto, the cities that inspection group work team and expert team will Belarus end he was happy that Ontario nation’s largest city. found are not complying with be formed to solve problems, said Duisburg Russia had brought in new measures A 33 percent increase in prices 68.9% environmental Xinhua. Poland Alataw Pass to tackle the Toronto housing in Toronto in the year to March, standards. Germany “It is not merely China’s Urumchi market, saying a foreign buyers on top of a doubling in prices responsibility. The joint Kazakhstan tax should help dampen demand since 2009, had prompted an efforts will help servic- China and affect the psychology of spec- outcry of concern about a poses become institu- Lanzhou Xi’an ulators. sible bubble despite multiple Spending by air carrier HNA tionalized and “I’m happy that there are mea- moves by the federal government Group and its subsidies in Chongqing sures, it’s a risk we’ve been high- to tighten mortgage rules. nine overseas merger and lighting,” Poloz told reporters on Poloz said prices in Toronto acquisition deals the sidelines of the spring meet- had become divorced from fun- $4b this year. ing of the IMF. damentals. “How will they work? Well, He also noted there were signs Graphics: GT some of them are similar to what that some form of speculative de- happened in Vancouver, (that) mand had taken over based on seems to have had some effect an extrapolated expectation of Aroundtheworld on the Vancouver market, we are continued price gains. still monitoring that, so I have “I think you are actually play- Chow Tai Fook’s purchase of Australia’s Alinta every reason to believe they will ing with, or trying to influence, gas and electrical company wins approval The first direct freight train from make a contribution,” he said. psychology more than funda- Hong Kong jewelry conglomerate Chow Tai Fook China to the UK arrived in Barking, Ontario’s provincial govern- mentals,” Poloz said. the UK on January 18. Photo: IC won regulatory approval to acquire Australian gas ment last week introduced a 15 and electricity company Alinta Energy Holdings in percent tax on property purchas- Reuters a deal worth $3.1 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday. The deal has been approved by the Foreign In- siderable concern around their manufacturers express toward vestment Review Board and is subject to strict con- More companies show interest ability to implement Industry Industry 4.0 may stem from their India’s digital payments to prosper with new communication technology ditions, an official from the treasurer was quoted as 4.0 strategies, as only 57 percent lack of a systematic approach to saying to Bloomberg. in Industry 4.0 process: report of Chinese players feel prepared, implementing such initiatives, Chow Tai Fook announced the purchase inten- compared with 71 percent in the the report showed. E-COMMERCE company of Paytm, according to the Paytm’s monthly transactions have big population,” he said, sion in official statements on March 16. It has been US and 68 percent in Germany, Only 9 percent of Chinese China’s mobile payment and digital report of Economic Times at the time. surpassed 200 million, five times the He also noted that the importance looking for value-added investment opportunities MANUFACTURING percent in Germany and 54 per- the report noted. manufacturers have assigned technology will help India release Ant Financial’s investment marks figure of traditional card swiping ter- of the digital economy by letting or- to expand Alinta’s business, domestic news portal Nearly 80 percent of Chinese cent in Japan. SOEs in China seem to hold clear responsibilities for this pro- enormous market potential and a milestone in the development of minals in all of India, he added. dinary people in, thus prompting the cb.com.cn reported on Saturday. companies believe that Industry The report said that privately the biggest reservations regard- cess, compared with 22 percent quicken India’s drive to get rid of pov- Paytm, said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, The Global Times found that the improvement of society and ending As a family-owned enterprise, it is natural for 4.0 will increase their competi- owned Chinese companies dem- ing their Industry 4.0 prepared- in the US and Germany and 31 erty by building an inclusive financial CEO of Paytm over the weekend. That Paytm logo appears in many physical poverty. Chow Tai Fook to get involved in other sectors as the tiveness, far more than in devel- onstrated the highest levels of op- ness, with only 44 percent ex- percent in Japan. system, experts noted over the week- to the investment, Paytm has gained commercial facilities, including gas Wang Jun, a professor with the jewelery industry has reached a bottleneck, Zhang oped countries, a report released timism at 86 percent. pressing readiness, compared Only 6 percent of Chinese end. such crucial digital technology as QR stations, flower stands, bakeries and China Europe International Business Peiying, a consultant with the China Luxury Insti- by McKinsey&Company said That compared with 73 per- with 68 percent of executives at companies have a clear roadmap, Paytm, India’s largest mobile pay- codes, anti-money laundering tools bars in India. School, told the Global Times that tute, was quoted as saying to cb.com.cn. over the weekend. cent of respondents at State- private companies. in contrast to 33 percent of comment and ecommerce platform, has and risk control. An inclusive financial system from the cooperation between Paytm As a newcomer to the Australian energy mar- The survey, which covered owned enterprises (SOEs). The optimism among pri- panies in the US, 35 percent in been developing rapidly since the The number of Paytm users has means prosperity, noted Sudheendra and Zhifubao, a payment application ket, Chow Tai Fook’s diverse business includes the 130 executives from companies In addition, Chinese manu- vate companies may be due to Germany, and 21 percent in Ja- start of 2015 when China’s Alibaba reached 220 million, becoming the Kulkarni, chairman of India-based of Ant Financial, “we can see India’s first Ferrari dealership in the Chinese mainland, a across a range of industries, facturers expect Industry 4.0 will their urgent need to increase ef- pan. Group and its affiliate Ant Financial world’s third-ranked mobile payment think tank Observer Research Foun- active learning from China.” jewelery chain with more than 2,000 outlets and a said that about 76 percent of re- yield revenue and cost improve- ficiency and quality to remain The report was released at the first invested in it. platform at present, an executive of dation, when commenting on the in- Princess Yachts dealership, as well as holdings in spondents in China believe that ments of more than 15 percent, competitive, as well as their rela- opening ceremony of the Beijing The second round of investment Paytm told the Global Times on April fluence of China’s mobile payment on Global Times technology start-ups such as Uber and Airbnb, Aus- Industry 4.0 will increase their a level that exceeds what was ob- tively greater level of flexibility to Digital Capability Center at Tsin- came in September 2015 with $680 12, noting that the number continues India. tralian Financial Review reported on Sunday. competitiveness. served in other markets. reduce labor costs compared with ghua University. million, making Alibaba and Ant to increase by tens of millions per “India’s traditional banking indus- Page Editor: That compared with just 57 Despite the apparent hype, SOEs. Financial the largest shareholder of month, taking up more than 70 per- try has become very sluggish, unable [email protected] Global Times percent of US respondents, 50 many executives express con- The uncertainty that Chinese Global Times One97 Communications, the parent cent of the market. to accommodate the needs of such a B4-5 Monday April 24, 2017 BIZOVERVIEW   Figuratively Speaking LOGISTIC Makingheadlines By Huang Ge “Such services aim Gasoline exports from China China-Europe freight rail services to promote trade Industrial firms’ profits ing to a statement on the website of in March, up 25 percent year- have become a vital part of the The National Bureau of Statistics Ministry of Commerce. on-year, customs data “One Belt, One Road” initiative facilitation and (NBS) is set to release the profits for The meeting is supposed to end showed. Diesel exports and helped boost economic co- China-Europe trains on track major Chinese industrial companies on Thursday. market integration, 840,000 tons jumped 53 percent to operation between countries and in March whose annual revenues are The decision was announced after 1.91 million tons. regions along the route, although  Cooperation benefits B&R initiative, facilitates trade and if they run well, above 20 million yuan ($2.91 million) a meeting between China’s Premier concerns over high operating costs on Thursday. Li Keqiang and New Zealand Prime persist, experts said Sunday. relative upgrading is Profits reached 1.02 trillion yuan Minister Bill English during Li’s visit Companies debuting on China’s The comments came after the secure,” He Weiwen, an executive train service was first launched On Sunday, the Russia-Gan- nomic and trade ties, according to likely to continue in in the first two months of 2017, up to New Zealand. New Third Board last week, railway authorities of China, Belar- council member at the China So- in 2011 and at least 3,557 freight zhou freight train, the first service the report . 31.5 percent year-on-year, according which brought the total us, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongo- ciety for the WTO, told the Global trains have run so far, the Xinhua linking East China’s Jiangxi Prov- Experts also expressed concern the future.” to a statement on the website of the Yuan’s market share number of companies lia, Poland and Russia have signed Times on Sunday report said. The services covered ince with Europe, departed from over the sustainability of these car- NBS. Global transaction service provider listed on the New 41 an agreement to deepen coopera- He noted that “such services 27 cities across China and 28 cities Kansk with 38 containers and suc- go services and warned of potential He Weiwen, The increase was the largest in Swift is scheduled to announce the Third Board to 11,109. tion on China-Europe freight rail aim to promote trade facilitation in 11 countries in Europe, accord- cessfully arrived at its destination problems caused by high costs. executive council member at the China nearly six years. yuan’s market share in global pay- services, the Xinhua News Agency and market integration, and if they ing to the report. Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, people. “The major problem is that Society for the WTO That increase was mostly a result ments for March on Thursday. reported on Saturday, citing China run well, relative upgrading is like- One representative railway, the com.cn reported. most China-Europe freight trains of the surging prices of large com- The yuan was ranked No.6 in Railway Corp. ly to continue in the future.” Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Rail- The service aims to import return to China with their contain- modities such as coal, steel, mines February, accounting for 1.84 percent Share of electricity used in The agreement serves the “One Bai Ming, a research fellow at way, which stretches from South- from many sources, which will be ers empty. Therefore, such services “Small consumer goods from and crude oil, NBS official He Ping of the market, according to a report Beijing that is forecast to Belt, One Road” initiative, enhanc- the Chinese Academy of Interna- west China’s Chongqing Munici- conducive to efficiently using con- largely depend on local govern- Yiwu, East China’s Zhejiang Prov- was quoted as saying in the state- Swift released in March. be transmitted from other ment. The amount paid in yuan surged regions within the next es the market share of rail cargo tional Trade and Economic Coop- pality to Duisburg, Germany, was tainers, cutting logistics costs and ments’ subsidies,” said Zhao Jian, ince, are better shipped via sea 70% three years. between Asia and Europe and pro- eration, told the Global Times on put into service in 2011. creating a logistics structure that a professor at Beijing Jiaotong Uni- because it does not matter if the 4.1 percent year-on-year in February, motes economic growth and trade Sunday that freight trains linking It has carried China’s goods features balanced exports and im- versity. shipment is a few days late,” Zhao China-NZ FTA upgrade while that paid in all global curren- cooperation for countries and re- China and Europe have become like IT products, automobiles and ports, according to the report. “The average seaborne ship- said. Yiwu is the largest wholesale The first round of negotiations for an cies dropped 5.21 percent, the report gions along the route, according to a vital part of the “One Belt, One motorcycles to Europe, said media The service means that Gan- ping fee is 3,000 yuan ($436) per center for small consumer goods upgrade to the China-New Zealand showed. the agreement. Road” initiative. reports. zhou Port officially is involved container, while it is about 10,000 in China. free trade agreement is scheduled to Advanced coal capacity that will The agreement noted that the “These countries’ efforts to ad- in the “Belt and Road” yuan by railway,” Zhao said, noting “Only if cargo volumes are large begin on Tuesday in Beijing, accord- Global Times be added this year in North countries will advance railway in- vance such multinational integra- initiative and it that sea shipping is an economi- enough, can the costs be reduced,” China’s Shanxi Province to frastructure for safe, smooth, fast, tion and improved management of also marks a new cal choice for imports of European Zhao said. stabilize the market convenient and competitive servic- the services will promote economic chapter of Sino- basic raw materials and exports of But experts also said that the ex- supply, the Taiyuan 70m tons es and use information technology and trade connection of coun- Russian eco- China’s small commodities. pansion of services needs controls. Toronto housing steps praised Evening News reported. to increase train speed and unified tries and regions along the services. route.” The countries will expand rail China-Europe The map for Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway HOUSING es by foreign buyers as part of 16 Proportion of the 4,077 services to more areas with faster freight Bank of Canada governor Ste- measures designed to cool the companies in 28 Chinese customs clearance, and a joint phen Poloz said over the week- housing market in Toronto, the cities that inspection group work team and expert team will Belarus end he was happy that Ontario nation’s largest city. found are not complying with be formed to solve problems, said Duisburg Russia had brought in new measures A 33 percent increase in prices 68.9% environmental Xinhua. Poland Alataw Pass to tackle the Toronto housing in Toronto in the year to March, standards. Germany “It is not merely China’s Urumchi market, saying a foreign buyers on top of a doubling in prices responsibility. The joint Kazakhstan tax should help dampen demand since 2009, had prompted an efforts will help servic- China and affect the psychology of spec- outcry of concern about a poses become institu- Lanzhou Xi’an ulators. sible bubble despite multiple Spending by air carrier HNA tionalized and “I’m happy that there are mea- moves by the federal government Group and its subsidies in Chongqing sures, it’s a risk we’ve been high- to tighten mortgage rules. nine overseas merger and lighting,” Poloz told reporters on Poloz said prices in Toronto acquisition deals the sidelines of the spring meet- had become divorced from fun- $4b this year. ing of the IMF. damentals. “How will they work? Well, He also noted there were signs Graphics: GT some of them are similar to what that some form of speculative de- happened in Vancouver, (that) mand had taken over based on seems to have had some effect an extrapolated expectation of Aroundtheworld on the Vancouver market, we are continued price gains. still monitoring that, so I have “I think you are actually play- Chow Tai Fook’s purchase of Australia’s Alinta every reason to believe they will ing with, or trying to influence, gas and electrical company wins approval The first direct freight train from make a contribution,” he said. psychology more than funda- Hong Kong jewelry conglomerate Chow Tai Fook China to the UK arrived in Barking, Ontario’s provincial govern- mentals,” Poloz said. the UK on January 18. Photo: IC won regulatory approval to acquire Australian gas ment last week introduced a 15 and electricity company Alinta Energy Holdings in percent tax on property purchas- Reuters a deal worth $3.1 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday. The deal has been approved by the Foreign In- siderable concern around their manufacturers express toward vestment Review Board and is subject to strict con- More companies show interest ability to implement Industry Industry 4.0 may stem from their India’s digital payments to prosper with new communication technology ditions, an official from the treasurer was quoted as 4.0 strategies, as only 57 percent lack of a systematic approach to saying to Bloomberg. in Industry 4.0 process: report of Chinese players feel prepared, implementing such initiatives, Chow Tai Fook announced the purchase inten- compared with 71 percent in the the report showed. E-COMMERCE company of Paytm, according to the Paytm’s monthly transactions have big population,” he said, sion in official statements on March 16. It has been US and 68 percent in Germany, Only 9 percent of Chinese China’s mobile payment and digital report of Economic Times at the time. surpassed 200 million, five times the He also noted that the importance looking for value-added investment opportunities MANUFACTURING percent in Germany and 54 per- the report noted. manufacturers have assigned technology will help India release Ant Financial’s investment marks figure of traditional card swiping ter- of the digital economy by letting or- to expand Alinta’s business, domestic news portal Nearly 80 percent of Chinese cent in Japan. SOEs in China seem to hold clear responsibilities for this pro- enormous market potential and a milestone in the development of minals in all of India, he added. dinary people in, thus prompting the cb.com.cn reported on Saturday. companies believe that Industry The report said that privately the biggest reservations regard- cess, compared with 22 percent quicken India’s drive to get rid of pov- Paytm, said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, The Global Times found that the improvement of society and ending As a family-owned enterprise, it is natural for 4.0 will increase their competi- owned Chinese companies dem- ing their Industry 4.0 prepared- in the US and Germany and 31 erty by building an inclusive financial CEO of Paytm over the weekend. That Paytm logo appears in many physical poverty. Chow Tai Fook to get involved in other sectors as the tiveness, far more than in devel- onstrated the highest levels of op- ness, with only 44 percent ex- percent in Japan. system, experts noted over the week- to the investment, Paytm has gained commercial facilities, including gas Wang Jun, a professor with the jewelery industry has reached a bottleneck, Zhang oped countries, a report released timism at 86 percent. pressing readiness, compared Only 6 percent of Chinese end. such crucial digital technology as QR stations, flower stands, bakeries and China Europe International Business Peiying, a consultant with the China Luxury Insti- by McKinsey&Company said That compared with 73 per- with 68 percent of executives at companies have a clear roadmap, Paytm, India’s largest mobile pay- codes, anti-money laundering tools bars in India. School, told the Global Times that tute, was quoted as saying to cb.com.cn. over the weekend. cent of respondents at State- private companies. in contrast to 33 percent of comment and ecommerce platform, has and risk control. An inclusive financial system from the cooperation between Paytm As a newcomer to the Australian energy mar- The survey, which covered owned enterprises (SOEs). The optimism among pri- panies in the US, 35 percent in been developing rapidly since the The number of Paytm users has means prosperity, noted Sudheendra and Zhifubao, a payment application ket, Chow Tai Fook’s diverse business includes the 130 executives from companies In addition, Chinese manu- vate companies may be due to Germany, and 21 percent in Ja- start of 2015 when China’s Alibaba reached 220 million, becoming the Kulkarni, chairman of India-based of Ant Financial, “we can see India’s first Ferrari dealership in the Chinese mainland, a across a range of industries, facturers expect Industry 4.0 will their urgent need to increase ef- pan. Group and its affiliate Ant Financial world’s third-ranked mobile payment think tank Observer Research Foun- active learning from China.” jewelery chain with more than 2,000 outlets and a said that about 76 percent of re- yield revenue and cost improve- ficiency and quality to remain The report was released at the first invested in it. platform at present, an executive of dation, when commenting on the in- Princess Yachts dealership, as well as holdings in spondents in China believe that ments of more than 15 percent, competitive, as well as their rela- opening ceremony of the Beijing The second round of investment Paytm told the Global Times on April fluence of China’s mobile payment on Global Times technology start-ups such as Uber and Airbnb, Aus- Industry 4.0 will increase their a level that exceeds what was ob- tively greater level of flexibility to Digital Capability Center at Tsin- came in September 2015 with $680 12, noting that the number continues India. tralian Financial Review reported on Sunday. competitiveness. served in other markets. reduce labor costs compared with ghua University. million, making Alibaba and Ant to increase by tens of millions per “India’s traditional banking indus- Page Editor: That compared with just 57 Despite the apparent hype, SOEs. Financial the largest shareholder of month, taking up more than 70 per- try has become very sluggish, unable [email protected] Global Times percent of US respondents, 50 many executives express con- The uncertainty that Chinese Global Times One97 Communications, the parent cent of the market. to accommodate the needs of such a B6 Monday April 24, 2017 BIZCOMMENT Time is ripe for stronger Sino-Nigeria financial ties

By Song Wei Nigeria also has a strong will- launch of new projects. As Chi- representation in develop- nancial authorities in the coun- ingness to carry out financial na’s industrial capacity projects ing countries. Based on this, try to establish a mechanism gainst the background cooperation with China on its may lead to environmental financial cooperation should for bilateral financial coordina- of China-Africa industrial capacity cooperation. pollution risks, co-funding the be promoted between Chi- tion and cooperation. On the Aindustrial capacity Nigerian President Muham- projects with Nigeria will help nese companies and Nigeria’s basis of mutual political trust cooperation, financing is the madu Buhari was quoted by weaken the opposition from sovereign wealth fund to and economic policy coordina- key to strengthening connec- media reports as saying last non-governmental organiza- achieve two goals: introducing tion, the two countries could tions with African countries’ year that as the China-Nigeria tions and interest groups. capital from the wealth fund promote cooperation among development strategies and relationship aims to achieve Second, it could safeguard into China-Nigeria production production capacity coopera- facilitating the smooth launch mutual trust, mutual benefit energy security. Close financial capacity cooperation projects tion funds, Nigeria’s sovereign of production capacity coopera- and friendship, the economic cooperation will certainly boost and setting up other pro- wealth fund and the China- tion projects. and trade cooperation between the economic and trade cooper- grams to strengthen industrial Africa Development Fund. Nigeria is a large oil-produc- the two countries will have ation between the two coun- production capacity coopera- Second, China and Nigeria ing country, with a consider- the same spirit. He also said tries, thus promoting strategic tion between China and other could adopt equity cooperation able sovereign wealth fund and that given its strong demand mutual trust and stabilizing African countries. to jointly finance production sizeable investment strength. for infrastructure develop- the oil supply to China. Third, Concrete measures could capacity projects. Unlike loans, Since the US shale gas revolu- ment, Nigeria will continue to it could improve governance. be taken in the following three which focus on projects’ short tion, Nigeria has felt a lot of provide favorable policies and Deepening financial coop- aspects: The first is setting up term repayment capabilities, pressure from falling oil prices, guarantees for investors, ac- eration between China and a China-Nigeria national indus- equity investment pays closer so it has an increasing desire cording to media reports. Nigeria will be conducive to trial capacity cooperation fund. attention to programs’ long- for investment diversification. From the perspective of the development of China’s I suggest the People’s Bank of term sustainable financial ca- Meanwhile, Chinese enter- China, leveraging Nigeria’s relationship with the Eco- China and China’s Ministry of pacity. The government could prises have “gone global” for sovereign wealth fund is of nomic Community of West Finance could strengthen their encourage the China Develop- many years, often with the sup- strategic significance. First, it African States and the African communication with Nigeria’s ment Bank, the Export-Import port of State funds, but they could reduce resistance to the Union, increasing the Chinese central bank and relevant fi- Bank of China, Industrial and don’t have enough confidence Commercial Bank of China in their own ability to achieve and other financial institutions profits. Moreover, there are lots to strengthen their cooperation of pessimistic views toward with Nigeria’s sovereign wealth China’s overseas projects at fund in a bid to offer equity -fi home and abroad, such as the nancing services to production continuous criticism over the capacity cooperation projects. Lagos-Ibadan railway project. Third, the two countries As such, Chinese enterprises could attract capital from Ni- are over-cautious about inter- geria’s sovereign wealth fund national operations. However, through commercial means. given the comprehensive and Bonds, concept stocks, public in-depth development of the offerings and insurance could Sino-Nigeria relationship, be issued to absorb capital, in subjective and objective condi- a bid to expand fund-raising tions are ripe for cooperation channels for the China-Nigeria between both parties’ sover- national industrial capacity eign wealth funds. cooperation fund. Also, China From the perspective of Ni- Development Bank and the geria, the country possesses a Export-Import Bank of China considerable sovereign wealth could have more strategic fund, laying a solid foundation cooperation with Nigeria’s for China to carry out financial sovereign wealth fund to set cooperation with the country. up a multilateral investment Nigeria’s purpose in setting up company. the sovereign wealth fund is to achieve sustainable develop- The author is an associate ment before the depletion of researcher with the Chinese its oil resources and to create Academy of International Trade long-term investment for the Illustration: Luo Xuan/GT and Economic Cooperation. sake of future generations. [email protected] India needs to learn that economic development comes before a naval buildup

By Hu Weijia have more influence in the Asia-Pacific of a buildup of aircraft carriers. YEONTHEECONOMY and Indian Ocean regions. In the past few decades, India and “China is planning to build more aircraft E India itself could be taken as a nega- China have taken different paths in carriers to bolster its maritime capabili- tive example for a buildup of aircraft terms of aircraft carriers, but the differ- ties, which could pose a bigger threat to China had no aircraft carriers until 2012 carriers. India’s first aircraft carrier was ent results achieved by the two coun- India,” India’s Economic Times reported when its first one, theLiaoning , was purchased from the UK in 1957, but the tries point to the underlying importance recently. With concerns expressed by In- commissioned, adding to the evidence vessel was not adequate for modern of economic development. New Delhi dian media outlets about the rise of Chi- that China’s pursuit of military develop- strategic requirements, forcing India should perhaps be less eager to speed na’s military strength, the two countries ment has been in synch with its overall to develop its own aircraft carrier. The up the process of building aircraft car- need to avert an arms race, especially at economic expansion. country unveiled its first domestically riers in order to counter China’s grow- a time when China’s first domestically As the world’s second-largest econ- built aircraft carrier in 2015, but the Wall ing sway in the Indian Ocean, and focus built aircraft carrier is being prepared omy, China is now capable of building Street Journal said in 2016 that top US more on its economy. for launch in late April. a strong navy to safeguard the security naval engineers discovered the carrier Aircraft carriers are seen as symbols of strategic maritime channels. China’s wouldn’t be operational for up to a de- The author is a reporter with the Global of a nation’s military might, but the construction of its first aircraft carrier is cade. New Delhi is perhaps too impa- Times. [email protected] construction of them consumes huge a result of economic development. The tient to develop an aircraft carrier. The amounts of resources, thus requiring country would have finished work on country is still in its initial stage of in- Page Editor: developing countries to learn how to it several years ago if Beijing had sim- dustrialization, and there will be many [email protected] keep their military ambitions in check. ply wanted to engage in an arms race to technical obstacles that stand in the way Monday April 24, 2017 B7 BIZCOMMENT Specter of protectionism haunts global economy

By Cheng Shi period of correction. address inequality and the appears to be aware of this. In geopolitical risk will suppress The weak global recovery protectionism pressure. its report, the IMF maintained the full return of investors’ risk he global economy is is fundamentally based on However, we believe that the trade growth projection at appetite. in the midst of a period the slowdown of total factor although the IMF’s sugges- a low level of 3.8 percent for Increasing trade friction is Tthat is both encouraging productivity. Since the financial tions are reasonable, it is 2017 and cut the projection for inevitable in 2017. The global and bewildering, in the after- crisis, financial innovation unlikely that protectionism 2018 by 0.2 percentage points economy is in the midst of math of the financial crisis. has been suppressed to some can be suppressed in the short to 3.9 percent. Global trade macro chaotic changes and Earlier this month, the IMF extent, hindering optimized al- term, given the complicated growth remains much weaker uncertainties will continue released its World Economic location of resources. Besides, external environment. This than the trend level and forces to spring up here and there. Outlook report, titled “Gain- demand-side stimulus policies intrinsic contradiction will moving against globalization China and the US remain the ing Momentum?” Thanks to have been rolled out frequently further weigh on the long-term are reaching their climax. double anchors of the global a surprisingly strong recovery across the globe, but supply- outlook for the Given the hardly sustainable recovery. Their stable yet below in the past six months, the side structural policy has been global economic market frenzy led by cyclical trend level growth prospects IMF raised its global economic relatively rare. Against that recovery, and volatility, protection- set the weak keynote of recov- growth projection for 2017 backdrop, policy stimulus the IMF ism and its ery. to 3.5 percent. The IMF has impedes the natural recovery generally been too optimistic of productivity. The author is head of ICBC recently, with its projections Downside risks compound International Research Ltd. mostly being cut in the course to form a negative feedback, bizopinion@globaltimes. of some 40 revisions in the increasing the likelihood of com.cn past decade. However, the fund systemic risk realization. The broke this pattern in its recent prevalence of protectionism, report, with a 0.1 percentage isolationism and populism and point upward revision to 3.5 conversion from economic risk percent, an even more bullish to geopolitical risk, weigh on estimate than before. productivity at various levels. Looking purely at short- Economic fundamentals set term growth, 3.5 percent the stage for trade conflict. The growth falls within the trend key reason for increasing level of 1980-2016 but it may global trade friction is the lack sustainability. Whether it’s heterogeneous cyclical the commodity market or eas- positions that invite ing policy, they are undergoing antagonism. Added marginal tightening. This will to this rivalry is US weaken global short cycle re- President Donald covery momentum. In the past Trump’s extremely six months, the economies provocative policy that beat expectations the most statements and were the UK, Japan, Spain, actions. The China and Russia. Their new IMF in its World projections for 2017 are 0.9, Economic Outlook 0.6, 0.4, 0.4 and 0.3 percent- report emphasized age points higher than half a the dangers from year ago, respectively. But Rus- protectionism. Both sia and Japan still face the risk theoretically and of stagnation. practically, submission The IMF believes the to protectionism will global economy now faces a hinder long-term recovery. complicated situation of short Therefore, the IMF suggests cycle rebound plus long cycle possible policy levers includ- downturn. Such a view of the ing active labor market reform, global economy conforms to more progressive taxation, our “cyclical complication” changes to housing and credit paradigm. Cyclical volatility markets and implementation is mainly the result of earlier of structural policy. These expansionary policy efforts measures could taking effect intensively. With potentially diminishing policy effects, the global economy still faces huge downside pressure, and after volatility, the global economy Illustration: Luo Xuan/GT will inevitably have to enter a China steps up efforts to attract Aramco toward potential record listing in Hong Kong bourse

China has upped the ante in the race for large, fixed amount of stock during the world’s biggest listing than its price tag. and demand is growing far more rap- influence over Saudi Aramco’s flotation. listing, is meant in part to sway Aramco Riyadh is sensibly engaging with ev- idly. There are also benefits in partner- It has assembled a State consortium to toward a Hong Kong listing. eryone. King Salman visited both China ing with a rising naval power with major act as cornerstone investors as it pushes The IPO, forecast to break world re- and Japan in March to talk up Aramco. strategic interests in the Middle East. for a Hong Kong listing. Rival exchanges cords at $100 billion, is certain to attract Japan is still a contender; a Break- in Tokyo and Singapore will need to step some Chinese sovereign funds whether ingviews analysis of market characteris- The author is Pete Sweeney, a Reuters up to stay in the game. Aramco lists in Hong Kong or on Mars. tics puts Tokyo in second place behind Breakingviews columnist. The article was According to a source-based Reuters But launching at least part of the float in New York as a foreign venue for the oil first published on Reuters Breakingviews. report, China Investment Corporation, the special administrative region, which giant. Japan also imported more Saudi [email protected] oil majors including Sinopec and Petro- has struggled to find successful IPOs of crude than China last year. China, and State banks would join the late, would please Beijing. The mainland Even so, China has extra strategic at- Page Editor: group. The move, which would mean team will be more interested in the pres- tractions. For one thing, China’s total [email protected] committing ahead of time to buying a tige gained from playing a role in the crude imports are far larger than Japan’s, B8 Monday April 24, 2017 BIZINSIGHT  With boost in trade with Nepal, port of Gyirong county grows in importance China’s gate to South Asia

the Himalayas. Still, the last 20-kilome- Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region is the country’s new gateway to South NEBELTONEROAD Asia, which is expected to play an important role in China’s “One Belt and One O ter stretch of road from Gyirong county Road” initiative. As trade between China’s Tibet and Nepal has grown, local authori- to the border is widely considered the ties have stepped up efforts to integrate the autonomous region into the South Asia most dangerous part of the journey. Economic Corridor. Domestic media has recently spotlighted a trade route between Despite the poor road conditions, Looking down from one stretch of China’s Tibet and Nepal and an expansion of railway freight services to the country. trading freight volume at Gyirong port road built into a cliff, an abandoned The Global Times reporter recently traveled to Tibet to look into how those efforts surged 583 percent in 2016 to 104,500 Nepalese truck can be seen amid the have turned out. This is the first part of a two-part story. tons, according to Gyirong Customs. evergreen forest below. The growing border trade reflected “We have accidents here all the time, the local government’s efforts to and construction workers are doing By Chen Qingqing in Gyirong Trade between China’s Tibet and integrate the autonomous region into their best to improve the roadway, so neighboring Nepal has taken off in China’s “One Belt and One Road” initia- now the traffic control takes hours,” Qi n a recent sunny Thursday recent years. tive and transform the Gyirong port Mei, an employee from the port author- morning in Gyirong county After a deadly earthquake hit Nepal into a gateway for trade with Nepal and ity, told the Global Times on Thursday. Oin Southwest China’s Tibet in April 2015, demand surged for im- India, said Hu Hong, head of Gyirong When traffic control officers stop Autonomous Region, dozens of workers ported food, clothing and other necessi- county. drivers, they can spend an entire night busily loaded crates of apples onto a ties. In 2016, the autonomous region’s Local authorities have allocated more waiting outside the port’s checkpoint. truck bound for neighboring Nepal. exports to Nepal jumped 11.9 percent to funds to improve the road to the port, as Frequently, a long queue of trucks Chinese apples are in demand in 3.6 billion yuan ($522.95 million), ac- well as its checkpoints. makes this narrow road even more dif- India, and more and more Chinese cording to a report that Lhasa Customs “We have also raised 80 million yuan ficult to traverse. companies have started shipping the sent to the Global Times on April 17. to improve the inspection zone and fruit through Nepal. Meanwhile, the region imported 898 related facilities, etc,” Hu told the Global Expanding the port Gyirong county sits in forested million yuan in goods from Nepal, up Times on Thursday. After the earthquake in Nepal shut valley in a remote part of the southern 2.1 percent from the previous year. down Zhangmu port, the largest busi- Himalayas. The county has the feel of a When the weather is good, hundreds A dangerous road ness port in Tibet, about 80 percent of border town. It is full of little restaurants of Nepalese trucks pass through the Tibet is about three times the size of the freight was redirected to Gyirong, and hotels that serve the truck drivers Gyirong port each day. The trucks carry California. Its size, mountainous terrain said Dan Zeng, deputy director of who pass through day and night. a wide variety of products, including and wide variety of climates have made Gyirong Customs, told the Global Times Gyirong is located on a highway that perfume, handcrafts, electronics, fruits infrastructure development a challenge. on Thursday. runs to Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. and vegetables. The port is about 20 Although a railway connects Tibet’s At the Gyirong Customs offices, The 130-kilometer stretch of road serves kilometers from the border, but truck capital of Lhasa with the central city of which are hidden behind several dilapi- as a gateway to South Asia for many drivers often spend hours delayed on Xigaze, which provides convenience to dated buildings, Wang Fei, an employee Chinese who make a living in the trade the route due to the landslides that have Chinese businessmen, any cargo head- from the customs offices, sat in front of business. regularly occurred since the ing south needs to be hauled by truck. a computer checking clearance docu- earthquake. And it takes about 15 hours to drive ments online. “If the condition of the from Xigaze to Gyirong. “The clearance procedures can now road was better, we could For traders doing business with all be done online,” he told the Global deliver a lot more,” said Nepal, taking the road from Xigaze to Times. “We review all the paperwork a 30-year-old driver from Gyirong is unavoidable. that a company submits to our system, Kathmandu surnamed Some are clothing exporters based in so its representatives do not need to Nyaupane, who was waiting South China’s Guangdong Province or come to the office in person.” at the inspection customs East China’s Zhejiang Province. Although authorities have been zone on his way to the port It takes more than 40 days to ship improving customs services while on Thursday. products by sea to Nepal or India. One enhancing the effectiveness of the port, While Nepalese trucks alternative is to transport goods by rail less developed transport, inspection and can enter Gyirong county, from Guangzhou, capital of Guang- clearance conditions across the border they typically just shuttle dong, to Lanzhou, capital of Northwest have become a bottleneck for further goods to and from Nepal. China’s Gansu Province, then by road development, said Hu, the county head. For Chinese trading from Lanzhou to Gyirong, which takes There is a large border gate on companies, having Nepalese 15 days, according to the veteran busi- the Chinese side of the port. On the trucks transport the nessman. Nepalese side, there is a tent to receive goods into Nepal is “So when a new design comes out, trucks and visitors on their way across cheaper than doing they can sell their products to Nepal or the border. it themselves, said India as quickly as possible,” he told the Landslides occur even more fre- a Chinese business- Global Times. quently on the Nepal side of the border, man who has been For those who ship apples to Nepal, and it usually takes Nepalese authorities trading with Nepal and which are later transferred to India, road months to clear the way due to a lack of India for more than two transport is much faster than by either funding. decades. The business- rail or by sea. However, drivers have to “There needs to be more diplomatic man wished to remain traverse a rough road that will take them efforts, but it takes time,” the veteran anonymous. to an altitude of over 5,000 meters in businessman said.

Above: Workers in Gyirong county load trucks with apples bound for Nepal. Below: A Nepalese driver waits at border gate at Gyirong port, which connects China’s Tibet with Nepal. Main picture: The road connecting the city of Xigaze and Gyirong county has become a freight route for Chinese Page Editor: companies doing business with Nepal. [email protected] Photos: Chen Qingqing /GT