Hello again, and welcome back to Rear View Mirror, your guide to the past week of programmes here on China Radio International.

Programme 1: http://english.cri.cn/4026/2007/07/09/269@247557.htm

We begin with CRI News this week, and the announcement of Switzerland's having formerly acknowledged China's status as a market economy.

"Chinese Commercial Minster Bo Xilai says the recognition of China's full market economy status will create a fair environment for bilateral trade relations."
       
"...recognized China's full market economy status. That is to say, the European economic community sees China as an equal, friendly trading partner."
       
The two ministers [Swiss Economic Minister Doris Leuthard and his Chinese counterpart Bo Xilai] have also decided to conduct feasibility studies towards a possible free trade agreement.
       
They also decided to set up a regular dialogue to bolster the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.”

Intellectual property rights have been much discussed since China's entry into the WTO. On CRI, we often hear of the progress being made on copyright protection, and of the difficulties of realizing it in the short term. It can be difficult to awaken people to the idea that originality is its own reward.

I'm now going to play you a series of extracts broadcast on CRI, each interesting in slightly different ways.

Programme 2: http://english.cri.cn/4406/2007/07/10/164@248098.htm

The first, extract, from Beyond Beijing on Tuesday, describes the Shaolin Temple Resort in intricate detail:

"we come to the Pagoda Forest, a graveyard for Buddhist dignitaries through the ages. On average, the pagodas are less than 15 meters (about 49 feet) high. The layer and the shape of a pagoda depend on many factors, such as one's Buddhist status, attainment and prestige during his lifetime."

Programme 3: http://english.cri.cn/4026/2007/07/11/269@248377.htm

The second, from Wednesday's China Drive, is very idiomatic, and contains an unusual progression in its opinion:

Transformers is filled with immense battle scenes. The fight sequences and set-pieces are so epic in scale and realization that the film could rest on them alone.

For some, the two hour and 24 minute feature may not have enough to keep them continually interested. But the majority of viewers will be entertained throughout.

Programme 4: http://english.cri.cn/4026/2007/07/09/1361@247318.htm

And in the third, a news report from Monday, there is no distortion of the essential facts:

"The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday that five of the country's officials held by the U.S. in Iraq have complained about their treatment in detention."

If you're interested in any of the stories you've just heard, remember that one place where you can find them all together is CRI's website. Just type www.crienglish.com and look for the links. 

Programme 5: http://english.cri.cn/3178/2007/06/29/167@243871.htm

Broadcast every evening between nine and ten in Beijing, the Pulse, hosted by Richard and Maddy, offers a greater variety of popular music than you are likely to find on any other station in China. This week they played two songs against one another:

Wow. Even the same key, though it's lost some syncopation. Really, it's a pity you can't just use Google to identify the origins of a plagiarized tune. What I liked about the Chinese version is that you can hear the singers smiling throughout the song. It's quite possible that they had no idea where it came from.

A surprise for you now, and a surprise for me. This afternoon, we were treated to a telephone call from one of our listeners in Pakistan. Here is the wholly original voice of Ahsam Ismail:

"I am Ahsam Ismail, president of the Listener's Club.

First of all, on behalf of my all-colour members, I congratulate all staff at China Radio International, the government of China and all Chinese brothers on their 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong programmes and news reports presented by China Radio International."

I asked him about his favourite CRI programs.

"News and Reports about Hong Kong, as presented By CRI, are very remarkable. The programmes In the Spotlight, Biz China, Voices from Other Lands and People in the Know are very informative. These programmes provide us with great information about China and allies all over the world."

He concluded:

"Also, I will discuss the Beijing Olympics. Our reports are very interesting and informative, and I want to see the Beijing Olympics 2008, and I will try my best to come to China and see the Beijing Olympics 2008 with my own eyes, so I listen to China Radio International."

Well, it's time once again to wind up the show. So, from me, Matthew Stedman and Rear View Mirror, it's goodbye.