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Chinese vice president arrives in Russia to start four-nation Europe tour
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping has arrived in VLADIVOSTOK for a five-day official visit to Russia.
In a written statement upon his arrival today, Xi Jinping said he believes his visit will cement the mutual political trust, deepen cooperation with mutual benefit and advance the all-round and rapid growth of the strategic partnership of coordination of the two countries.
Russia is the first leg of Xi's four-nation Europe tour, which will also take him to Belarus, Finland and Sweden.

Rescue continues for workers trapped in north China railway tunnel collapse
Rescuers have drilled through the debris of a collapsed railway tunnel in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and begun piping in fresh air, hoping to save the 10 workers who have been trapped in the rubble for more than 24 hours.
A spokesman with the emergency rescue headquarters says drill had worked 27 meters deep before it drilled through the rubble early Saturday afternoon.
He said water and milk would be sent down the tunnel soon.
An estimated 2,000 cubic meters of rocks and dirt caved into when the tunnel collapsed Friday in Zhuozi County of Ulanqab City, about 150 km from the regional capital Hohhot..

Scholar warns of radical urbanization in China
A Chinese scholar has warned radical urbanization might harm farmers' welfare and create "urban slums."
Prof. He Xuefeng, a sociologist with Huazhong University of Science and Technology based in central Hubei Province, has told Xinhua that, if the country's urbanization moves too fast, the cities might not be ready to provide proper public service for newcomers, who have lost their farm lands at hometown.
He suggested that the country should push urbanization step by step, taking full account of farmers' real interests.
China now has about 900 million rural residents and about 145 million of them have left their hometowns to work in cities.

Severe sandstorm blasts Beijing
A severe sandstorm that plagued northwestern China in the past few weeks has arrived in Beijing, packing strong winds and tonnes of sand.
Beijingers woke up to see clouds of yellow dust in the air Saturday morning. The loose soil and dust that had traveled hundreds of miles blanketed Beijing's streets, covering parked vehicles, bikes, roofs and even plants and making its way into apartment buildings.
The weather bureau says the winds would appease Sunday, when the weather in Beijing would be overcast with possible sleet in the northern suburbs.
The sandstorm has also affected Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong.

China speeds up offshore wind power construction
China will give top priority to developing offshore wind power projects to boost its flourishing wind power industry in 2010, according to a senior energy official .
Shi Lishan, deputy director of the New Energy and Renewable Energy Department of the National Energy Bureau has told seminar that his bureau has formulated basic ideas and formalities for the tenders.
But he would not elaborate on the timetable and exact sites in the concession project list.

China's largest freshwater lake starts annual fishing ban
About 100,000 fishermen living around the Poyang, China's largest freshwater lake, docked their vessels at midday Saturday for a three-month annual fishing ban.
The seasonal ban, in place since 2002, is considered crucial to sustain the lake's ecology and fishing resources.
During the ban, local authorities will patrol the water as well as local markets and restaurants to guard against illegal fishing.
Meanwhile, the government would also provide training for the laid-off fishermen and encourage them to take temporary jobs in other industries.

China opposes illicit trafficking of small arms, light weapons: Envoy
China says it opposes illicit production of and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, and is ready to work with the international community to properly solve this problem at an early date.
Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement when he was speaking at an open debate of the UN Security Council meeting on the impact of illicit arms trafficking on peace and security of the Central African region.
He said China is willing to work together with the international community towards an early and appropriate solution of this problem.

Russia, U.S. likely to clinch new arms deal in April
Russia and the United States are likely to sign new arms control deal in Europe in April.
Deputy head of the Russian government office, Yuri ushakov, has told reporters that most probably, the treaty will be signed in April.
He said the signing ceremony will not take place in Washington DC. The most probable location is Europe.
Yuri Ushakov said this after talks between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Clinton, who is on a two-day visit to Moscow, said earlier Friday that the United States and Russia were "on the brink" of signing a new deal.

Obama reoffers dialogue with Iran over nuclear issue
U.S. President Barack Obama says his administration still seeks dialogue with Iran over its nuclear issue but the Iran government has chosen isolation.
Obama made the remarks Saturday in a special video message in celebration of Nowruz, or "New Day," which marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the New Year for millions in Iran and other communities around the world.