Beijing Steps Up Plan To Become Global High-Tech, Innovation Hub
BY LINE : CHINA DAILY
SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
China’s Capital Beijing Has Been Speeding Up Construction Of The International High-Tech And Innovation Center In Recent Years, With Three Scientific Cities And An Economic Development Zone As The Main Platform To Effectively Support The Country’s Technological Independence And Self-Reliance.
Zhongguancun Science City, Huairou Science City, Future Science City as well as the Yizhuang Economic Development Zone cover less than 6 percent of Beijing’s city area, but they generate about one-third of the capital’s GDP, official statistics showed.
Boasting a group of companies and research institutes in blockchain, semiconductor, quantum information, integrated circuit and network security, Zhongguancun saw its research and development fees hit 239.30 billion yuan ($34.49 billion) in 2021, an increase of 20.4 percent year-on-year.
The number of unicorns totaled 50 in Zhongguancun, second only to Silicon Valley in the United States. Last year, high-tech enterprises there generated gross revenue over 3.5 trillion yuan, up 19.3 percent from 2020.
Moreover, Zhongguancun has yielded fruitful results in encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, with solid steps taken to create a fair and favorable business environment.
For example, more than 140 small and medium-sized enterprises in the area have been subsidized in renting offices. Preferential policies have been issued to introduce high-end talents, especially postdocs in artificial intelligence, chip and quantum research to work in Zhongguancun. The protection of intellectual property rights has also been enhanced.
Currently, there are 1,548 specialized and sophisticated SMEs in the area, accounting for 37.4 percent of Beijing’s total.
Zhongguancun’s invention patents per 10,000 people is 617.2 pieces, 3 times more than the average of Beijing.
Huairou Science City in Huairou district and Future Science City in Changping district cover 100.9 and 170.6 square kilometers, respectively, aiming to establish a world-class scientific platform and demonstration zone along with Zhongguancun.
By Zhao Shiyue
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N. Korean Leader Says His Country Will Never Give Up Nuclear Weapons
BY LINE : THE NATION
SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un Publicly Expressed His Determination Not To Give Up The Country’s Nuclear Weapons, Accusing The United States Of Seeking The Collapse Of His Regime, Not Just Denuclearization.
He made clear that Pyongyang has no intention of resuming negotiations for denuclearization, as the North’s rubber-stamp parliament approved a new nuclear force policy during a key session earlier this week, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday.
“The aim of the United States is not just to eliminate our nuclear weapons themselves but also ultimately to bring down our regime anytime by forcing (North Korea) to put down nuclear weapons and give up or weaken the power to exercise self-defense,” Kim was quoted as saying in his speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) meeting the previous day.
He took issue with the US bid for the denuclearization of North Korea through the “biggest-ever sanctions and blockade.” He described it as a “misjudgment and miscalculation of adversaries.”
Most importantly, Kim added, the North should incessantly expand the scope of its “tactical nuclear operation” in order to bolster its nuclear combat posture.
His strong message came as the SPA adopted a new law that allows the regime to launch an “automatic nuclear strike” if it is attacked.
Under the law, a nuclear strike can be automatically and immediately carried out to destroy the origin of a provocation if the command and control system of the nuclear forces is in danger of an attack by “hostile forces,” the KCNA said.
The law gives leader Kim “monolithic command” and “all decisive powers concerning nuclear weapons,” it added.
Kim then stressed that legalizing the nuclear weapons policy has “great significance in drawing an irretrievable line” so that it can no longer bargain with its nuclear power.
He added that the “political and military conditions of the Korean Peninsula,” as well as the global political environment, must change for there to be any adjustment of the North’s nuclear policy.
Touching on domestic issues in his address, Kim called for a vaccination campaign against “the malicious virus,” apparently referring to COVID-19 and advised people to start wearing masks in November as immunity levels could fall around October.
Kim’s remarks added to the speculation about whether the North will respond to offers from Seoul and Washington on COVID-19 vaccine assistance.
At the meeting, Ri Son-gwon, the head of the North’s ruling party’s United Front Department tasked with handling inter-Korean relations, was promoted to a member of the Presidium of the SPA.
The SPA is the highest organ of power under the North’s constitution, but it rubber-stamps decisions by the ruling party.
It usually holds a plenary session in March or April to deal mainly with the budget and cabinet reshuffles.
Meanwhile, the North staged a large nighttime event in Pyongyang on Thursday to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the country’s foundation. Kim attended it together with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, the KCNA reported.
Nuclear talks between the US and the North have remained stalled amid little progress in inter-Korean reconciliation since the Hanoi summit between then US President Donald Trump and Kim ended without a deal in 2019. (Yonhap)
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India Bans Export Of Broken Rice With Immediate Effect
BY LINE : THE STATESMAN
SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
The Step Has Been Taken In View Of The Extraordinary Growth In Exports And Shortage Of Poultry Feed And Rice For Ethanol Production In The Domestic Market.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has banned export of broken rice. Union Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Friday that the step has been taken in view of the extraordinary growth in exports and shortage of poultry feed and rice for ethanol production in the domestic market.
Not only this, the board has imposed a 20 percent duty on export of all types of rice except basmati and boiled rice. These changes will be applicable with immediate effect.
He said the price of rice in the domestic market had started climbing continuously, it increased from Rs 16 per kg in January to Rs 22 per kg till September 8. In one month, the retail prices have gone up by 43 per cent, so it was necessary to control these prices. Pandey has put an end to the question of shortage of rice in the country, saying that there is sufficient stock of rice in the country.
This announcement of the government will have an impact on the domestic market prices. He said this would increase domestic inflow and availability of broken rice for poultry feed and ethanol production.
The Food Secretary said that the unexpected jump in the export of broken rice can be gauged from the fact that according to the data released by the ministry, it increased by 4178 per cent from April to September this year. Whereas in 20-18-19 2021-22 it has increased by 319 per cent in a span of four years.
In this, 93.56 lakh metric tonnes of rice was exported from April to August, in which the contribution of broken rice was 21.31 lakh metric tonnes, which is 22.78 per cent of the total exports, whereas in 2019 it was only 1.34 per cent.
In the last full year, this figure was 83.64 lakh metric tonnes. Under this restriction, exports will be allowed till September 15 in certain circumstances. There are also some points, such as loading of broken rice may have started on the ship before this ban order, where the shipping bill has been filed and the stock which has already arrived at the Indian ports and their rotation.
In fact, this time due to unusual monsoon activities, and less water falling at many places, the production of paddy this year may be lower than last year, with the possibility of its impact on rice prices in the coming times. In this context, if we assess the data released by the Ministry of Agriculture, the area under paddy has come down from 5.62 per cent to 383.99 lakh hectare in the state.
India is the second largest rice producer in the world after China, and accounts for 40 per cent of the world’s rice market. The country exported 126.53 lakh metric tonnes of rice in the financial year 2021-22, out of which 39.4 lakh metric tonnes of basmati rice was, as per official data, hence it exported 49.95 lakh metric tonnes of non-basmati rice in the same period.
The country exported non-basmati rice to more than 150 countries in 2021-22. But with this ban of the government, now there is a possibility of shifting purchases to Thailand and Vietnam. India accounts for more than 60 percent of rice exports, so buyers will move to other countries from where they can get this rice.
India is the cheapest rice supplier to the countries of the world. In such a situation, the effect of this ban is believed to be fixed on the world rice market.
China was the biggest buyer of broken rice with a purchase of 10.1 lakh metric tonnes in 2021, while African countries such as Senegal and Djibouti also bought rice from India on a large scale, before the Center in May assessed food security potential situations. Wheat export policy was amended. While banning exports, the government had said that this step has been taken to meet the needs of arrangements for overall food security of the country. The Indian government was not limited to banning wheat exports.
By Anjali Bhatia
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Message Mourns Passing Away Of Queen Elizabeth II At The Age Of 96
President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Friday to Britain’s new King Charles III on the passing away of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday.
On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people and in his own name, Xi mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II and expressed sincere condolences to the British Royal Family, government and people.
In his message, Xi said that Queen Elizabeth II had won wide acclaim as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to visit China, and her demise is a great loss to the British people, Xi added.
Xi stressed that he attaches great importance to the development of Sino-UK relations.
The president said he is willing to work with King Charles III to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level as an opportunity to promote the sound and stable development of bilateral relations, further benefiting the two countries and their peoples.
Also on Friday, Premier Li Keqiang sent a message of condolence to British Prime Minister Liz Truss, mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and expressing condolences to the queen’s family members and the British government.
Queen Elizabeth II, whose death at Balmoral in Scotland was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday, was born in the era of silent movies, and lived to see the era of virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
She arrived in a world in which her grandfather King George V was the emperor of India, and left it with Britain still finding its feet on the world stage following its exit from the European Union.
As the first British monarch to visit China, Queen Elizabeth II witnessed and supported the advancement of friendly Sino-UK ties since her visit in 1986.
In her most recent interaction with President Xi in 2015, she described Xi’s visit to the United Kingdom as “a milestone in this unprecedented year of cooperation and friendship” and the two countries’ relationship as “truly a global partnership”.
“We have much reason to celebrate the dynamic, growing economic relationship between our countries as well as our success in working together to address pressing international challenges,” she said in her speech, adding that global challenges, such as terrorism, poverty and climate change, call for collaboration between the nations.
“This global partnership is supported by an expanding network of links between the people of our two countries … while we welcome the increasing numbers of Chinese tourists, students and business visitors to the United Kingdom,” said the queen, who then recalled her first and only visit to China in 1986.
The queen had a packed schedule as she visited Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Shaanxi province, Kunming, Yunnan province, and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. During her visit, she had the opportunity to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors.
The queen said these were all unforgettable memories of China’s ancient civilization, “Yet it was China’s desire to shape a new future which captivated us the most. We were struck by the energy and enthusiasm with which China’s leaders were forging ahead with a new and ambitious future for the Chinese people.”
Two years prior to her China visit, the governments of China and the UK reached an agreement on Hong Kong’s return to the motherland under the principle of “one country, two systems”.
During her visit in 1986, the queen praised the conscientious efforts of both sides during the previous two years which were dedicated to the full and smooth implementation of the joint declaration.
In 1999, two years after Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, then Chinese president Jiang Zemin visited the queen at Buckingham Palace. The queen said she thought highly of the smooth transition of sovereignty of Hong Kong, as well as China’s policies and Chinese culture.
In 2005, one year after China and the UK established a comprehensive strategic partnership, the queen invited then Chinese president Hu Jintao for a state visit, during which the Chinese and UK governments and businesses from both nations signed an array of agreements on cooperation.
Kong Yuan, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Queen Elizabeth II played a very important role in maintaining the national honor and pride of Britain.
“Her death will be an emotional blow for many British people, especially when the country stands on the brink of a deep economic crisis and with many foreign policy challenges to manage,” Kong said.
Just two days before she passed away, Queen Elizabeth II formally appointed Liz Truss as Britain’s prime minister at the queen’s Balmoral estate in Scotland on Tuesday.
Kong said although Truss made some confrontational remarks about China during the contest for the leadership of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, there’s no reason for her to make Sino-UK relations confrontational.
“The latest figures show that China is Britain’s third-largest trading partner, so pragmatic cooperation will continue to be in the interests of both sides,” he said, adding that China and the UK have great potential for cooperation in many sectors, such as financial services, education, healthcare and climate change.
By XING YI in London,CHEN YINGQUN and ZHANG YUNBI in Beijing
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Queen Developed Warm Ties With Japan, Imperial Family
BY LINE : THE JAPAN NEWS
SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Longest-Serving Monarch, Not Only Met With Three Generations Of Current Or Future Emperors During Her 70-Year Reign, But Also Interacted With The Japanese Public During A Visit For Which She Was Remembered For Her Warmth And Caring Smile.
“I met the queen only for a short time, but I was impressed by her doing her duties on a very tight schedule,” said Motoko Aizawa, 63, who is currently living in Washington. “She was a great person who dedicated her life to serving people.,”
The queen, who died Thursday at the age of 96, arrived for her first official visit as head of state to Japan on May 7, 1975, and stayed for six days. Aizawa met the queen when the monarch observed traditional Japanese sports at a gym in Tokyo, where she explained the finer points of the martial arts including naginata, which uses a long-handled sword.
Aizawa was a first-year high school student at that time and was chosen because she had won a national English speech contest for junior high school students the previous year. When she completed her assignment and said farewell to the queen, the queen smiled and complimented her, Aizawa recalled.
“Having contact with the queen made me feel confident about my English,” said Aizawa, who went on to pass the bar exam in Britain and now works as a human rights activist in Washington. “It was a great honor to meet her and she had a major impact on my life.”
At the British Embassy in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, flags flew at half-mast. A 55 year-old woman from Nagoya visiting the Embassy with flowers said in tears, “She was always there for people and a lovely lady who always had a sense of humor. I really wanted her to recover.”
The official visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to Japan in 1975 was a reciprocal visit for that of Emperor Showa to Britain in 1971. The Emperor Emeritus attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, when he was Crown Prince.
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U.S. President Biden To Attend Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral
BY LINE : THE NATION
SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden Said On Friday (September 9) That He Would Attend The Funeral Of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.
Biden told reporters he did not have details of the event and has not yet called King Charles.
“(Journalist asking : Are you going to the Queen’s funeral, Sir.?) Yes. I don’t know what the details are yet but I will be going. (Journalist asking: Have you called the King? Have you spoken to the King?) I know him, I haven’t spoken with him. I did not call him yet.”
Britain has declared a period of mourning until the state funeral, which will be held in a little over a week’s time.
King Charles Vows To Serve His Nation As Britain Mourns Late Queen
BY LINE : THE NATION
SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
Charles, Who Raced To Be By The Side Of The Queen At Her Scottish Home On Thursday (September 8), Traveled Back To London With His Wife Camilla, Now Queen Consort, Before Meeting The Prime Minister And Making The Televised Statement.
“As the queen did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation,” King Charles said.
The death of the queen, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, has drawn condolences from around the world.
Australia Holds 96-Gun Salute To Honour Queen Elizabeth II
BY LINE : REUTERS
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
Australia Paid Tribute To Queen Elizabeth On Friday By Honouring Her With A 96-Gun Salute Outside The Parliament House, One For Every Year Of Her Life.
“History will remember few like Queen Elizabeth II. We mourn her passing. We are grateful that we have witnessed and benefited from her remarkable life,” Australian Governor-General David Hurley said in a televised address to the nation after the salute. “We are grateful we have witnessed and benefited from her remarkable life.”
Australians across the country woke on Friday morning to the news of the queen’s death, with many shocked and saddened by the news. She was the head of state of Britain, New Zealand, Australia and 12 other realms within the Commonwealth of Nations.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the nation’s figurehead and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96.
Monarchs Of Sweden, Norway And Denmark Pay Tribute To Queen Elizabeth II
BY LINE : REUTERS
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, Norway’s King Harald And Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf On Thursday Paid Tribute To Queen Elizabeth Who Died At The Age Of 96.
In a statement addressed to King Charles, Queen Margrethe said Queen Elizabeth had been a “towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all”.
King Harald sent his condolences to the royal family and the British people.
“For nearly a century, Her Majesty devoted her life to the service of the Commonwealth, following the British people through good days and bad, in times of happiness and sorrow,” the 85-year-old monarch said in a statement.
Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf, 76, said in a statement he was “deeply saddened” by the news.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the nation’s figurehead and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday.
Australian Leader Criticised Over Controversial Tweet Following Queen’s Death
BY LINE : REUTERS
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt Came Under Fire On Friday Over A Tweet He Posted Calling For The Country To Become A Republic, Just Five Hours After News Of The Queen’s Death Broke.
“Our thoughts are with her family and all who loved her. Now Australia must move forward,” said Bandt on Twitter.
“We need Treaty with First Nations people, and we need to become a Republic,” he added.
Bandt was however accused by some supporters of being disrespectful by bringing up the issue within hours of the monarch’s demise.
“Absolutely disgusting. You can’t even wait at least 6 hours before pushing a policy agenda. Disgraceful,” one user tweeted in response.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch as head of state, although the role is largely ceremonial. But a debate has been going on for some time on whether the country still needs to keep a distant monarch as the head of state. A 1999 referendum in Australia on becoming a republic was narrowly defeated.
When asked about the issue, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Today’s a day for one issue and one issue only, which is to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.”
