Listen Download More

China's top legislature ends annual session, endorses Electoral Law amendment
The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, ended its annual session Sunday morning after endorsing an amendment to the Electoral Law and the government work report, among others.
The closing meeting was presided over by to legislator Wu Bangguo, with the presence of President Hu Jintao and other top leaders.
Wu Bangguo said the NPC deputies have submitted 506 motions to the session.
He asked all the special committees to earnestly handle these motions and let them play an important role in legislative work.

Premier: Stable yuan contributes greatly to world economic recovery
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao says the stable RMB Yuan has contributed greatly to the world economic recovery out of the global financial crisis.
The premier made the remark at a news conferce following the conclusion of the annual session of China's National People's Congress in Beijing on Sunday.
He says the Chinese yuan is not under valued, there is no reason to appreciate.
He said the value of RMB has not changed and this has benefited both China and its trading partners.
"Survey of last years figures show that of the 37 countries' exports to China, 16 countries increased their volumes, including the EU countries. Aalthough their exports reduced by 20.3 percent, their export to China only reduced by 15.3 %.".

Chinese Premier urges better coordination, financial reform to tackle global economic imbalance
Premier Wen Jiabao says the world needs better coordination in macro-economic policies and reforms of international financial system to solve the imbalance of the global economy.
He told reorters in Beijing the imbalance of the world economy is mainly reflected on the imbalance between consumption and saving of major economies.
The premier said it is improper for some countries to fix their eyes only on China's exports in dealing with the imbalance,

China expects mild, controllable price increase this year: official
An official with the commerce ministry says consumer price increase in China is expected to be "mild and controllable" this year.
Fang Aiqing, assistant commerce minister has told reporters in Beijing that the country's inflation target this year has been set in accordance with the real situation and is expectedly achievable.
He said factors such as increasing world's commodity prices, higher costs of raw materials, labors and environmental protection are all likely to boost domestic prices.
However, he said as the government enhances and improves macro regulations and market supplies exceeds demand, prices are likely to stabilize.

Freezing weather, sand storms to hit central and east China
China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has issued an alert, warning a temperature drop and sand storms brought by a cold wave would sweep central and east China over the next two days.
It said temperatures in the central and east parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northeastern parts of the nation's northwest areas, and the Shandong Peninsula, would plummet by 10 to 14 degrees Celsius.
The administration urged local authorities to take protective measures to ward off possible damages caused by the freezing weather.

Countries dismiss U.S. human rights report as intervention
Egypt and North Korea have joined Russia in dismissing as intervention the U.S. human rights charges against these countries.
The three countries have reiterated their stance on opposing U.S. intervention with their internal affairs and stressed their determination to reject the U.S. charges.
The U.S. State Department has been issuing annual reports on human rights in various countries since 1977 and the reports have almost always drawn criticisms and rebuffs from the countries the reports criticize.

Obama, Medvedev agree to sign nuclear arms deal soon: White House
The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have agreed to sign a nuclear arms control treaty soon.
Referring to an earlier telephone conversation between Obama and Medvedev, the White House said the results of their talks are encouraging, and both leaders are committed to concluding an agreement soon.

Taliban claims responsibility for serial bombings in S. Afghanistan
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the multiple bombings Saturday night in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar city.
The Taliban said in a statement on its website early Sunday morining that the attacks, which killed at least 27 people and injured over 52, was "a message" for the NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal, who announced to launch a crackdown on the Taliban in Kandahar province this summer.
Police said four suicide bombers riding two motor cycles and two bicycles targeted Kandahar prison, police department, a guest house in Al- Jadid market and a mosque Saturday evening causing the casualties.

Thailand's anti-gov't protesters demand House dissolution
Thailand's anti-government protesters have officially announced an ultimatum of a House dissolution within 24 hours.
The announcement was made Sunday by anti-government United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core leader Veera Musikapong at the main rally site in capital Bangkok.
Veera said the red-shiretd people will step up pressures on the government, while he did not disclose details yet.