China, the Philippines mourn hostage crisis victims

Leaders of China and the Philippines have expressed deep sorrow over the hostage crisis that ended in the deaths of nine tourists from Hong Kong.

A working team sent by the Chinese government is now in Manila to deal with the aftermath.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao expressed their condolences on Tuesday to the families of the Hong Kong tourists killed during Monday’s hostage crisis in the Philippines.

In a joint letter to Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Hu and Wen expressed their deep sorrow for the families of those killed and consolation for the injured.

“We are in grave shock and grief on hearing that eight Hong Kong compatriots fell and many others were injured in the Manila hostage incident,” the letter said. One of the injured later died in the hospital.

“We hereby express our grave condolences and our deep sympathy to the families of the Hong Kong compatriots, and we hope the injured will recover soon,” the letter said.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has declared August 25 a day of national mourning for the victims of the hostage crisis.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, during a telephone conversation with his Philippine counterpart Alberto Romulo, said the Chinese government was shocked about the incident, deplored the slaying of the Hong Kong tourists and strongly condemned brutality against innocent tourists.

The Chinese government demanded the Philippine government launch a thorough investigation into the incident and inform the Chinese side of related details as soon as possible, he said.

(Xinhua)

Philippine embassy in Beijing lowers flag to half-mast

By Chu Meng

The Philippine embassy in Beijing lowered its flag to half-mast on Wednesday to show sympathy for the deaths of nine Hong Kong tourists in Monday’s hostage crisis.

According to an announcement issued on the official website of the Philippine Embassy of China, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III issued a proclamation on Tuesday ordering all government agencies, including the country’s embassies and consulates abroad, to lower the Philippine flag to half-mast.

“These deaths are a great loss to the people of Hong Kong and the Philippines, and [we] call for the most solemn commemoration and respect at a time of grief for our two people,” the proclamation said.

China’s National Tourism Administration (NTA) issued a caution on its website to Chinese tourists traveling to the Philippines. For those already in the Philippines, the NTA reminded them to take note of security conditions and strengthen their personal protective measures and suggested Chinese tourists go to the local police or contact the Chinese embassy in case of emergencies.

“Our tourism visa policy for China’s tourists has not changed,” a visa official from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing said on Wednesday afternoon. “We see no need for Chinese tourists to cancel or postpone travel plans to the Philippines during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday.”

 “There hasn’t been many cancellations or postponements from our registered tourists. But we’ve had more callers question the tourism environment and security situation in the Philippines,” said Zhen Hongjuan, manager of the outbound tourism department at China International Travel Service.

Zhen said security is a travel agency’s top concern. Since no other potential security hazards in other major Philippine cities were reported, registration to the Philippines tour remained open. 

However, some citizens have had second thoughts about going to the Philippines. Bao Lei, a Beijing citizen who is planning a National Day trip with his family, just crossed out the Philippines from her list.

“I decided I want to travel to Taiwan next month,” she said. “I just don’t want to be in the Philippines during this emotional time.”

The Chinese government demanded a thorough investigation on how the hostage crisis was handled and urged the Philippine government to take concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese citizens in the Philippines.

Nepali ambassador will lead walk into birthplace of Sakyamuni

By Li Zhixin

Nepali ambassador Tanka Prasad Karki announced at a news conference Monday that he will participate in a walk to Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni, from Lhasa, Tibet, during the first International Walking Around the Himalayas Day in October.

To celebrate the 55th anniversary of China-Nepal diplomatic relations, Nepal’s embassy, the Nepali Tourism Administration, China Volkssport Association (CVA) and Tibet’s Tourism Bureau will jointly hold the walk from September 26 to October 8.

The walk will start at Lhasa’s Potala Palace near Yangdork Lake and the north face of Mt. Qomolangma. The team plans to reach Zhangmu Port on the China-Nepal border on October 3. The ambassador will join the team at Katmandu and lead the participants through Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar and Tyangboche before arriving at Lumbini on October 8. The team will return to CHina three days later.

During the trip, participants will get to appreciate and experience the ethnic customs of Chinese Tibetans and Nepalese Sherpas. “This will be the first walking diplomacy between the two countries. I believe the event will strengthen the countries’ rapport and convey a message of peace to the world,” Karki said.

Those who are interested in the event can enroll at chinawalking.net.cn or through VCA at 8489 6319.

Swiss culture festival focuses on China

By Han Manman

Chinese art and culture will be highlighted at this year’s Switzerland culture festival starting September 16, according to the Swiss embassy.

The three-month festival “Culturescapes” aims to provide a panorama of China by featuring events such as live music, art exhibitions, film screenings and literature readings, said Terence Billeter, counselor of the Swiss embassy’s culture and media department.

Billeter said the festival includes 300 events and will be carried out in 18 cities in Switzerland and nearby countries Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein.

He said the festival, with an overarching theme of “traditional and modern,” will be divided into four parts: seeking roots, rethinking history, rebirth and across borders.

Xiang Xiaowei, assistant director-general of the Ministry of Culture said China will bring Yueju Opera’s The Butterfly Lovers and Kunqu Opera’s The Peony Pavilion to Switzerland.

Xiang said they didn’t select Peking Opera because Peking Opera has already enjoyed worldwide success, and the ministry wanted to promote some other prestigious but perhaps lesser-known opera troupes.

Xiang said they chose The Butterfly Lovers because it has historical significance. In April 1954, premier Zhou Enlai led a delegation to attend an international conference in Geneva, Switzerland – the first time New China participated in a major international conference.

During the Geneva Conference, the film version of The Butterfly Lovers was shown and was very popular. It helped many Westerners understand Chinese culture and how Chinese people thought.

Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China when it did so on January 17, 1950. This year marks the 60th anniversary of that occasion.

“Sixty years ago, in the context of the Cold War, this decision was bold and even visionary,” Billeter said, adding that some events at this year’s festival will commemorate this important anniversary.

Formal diplomatic relations were established on September 14th of the same year.
“Since then, and especially since the beginning of the reform and opening policy in China, bilateral relations between the two countries have intensified and diversified,” he said.

Culturescapes has become an important event on the Swiss cultural calendar ever since its first edition, highlighting the country Georgia, in 2003. The annual event reflects the variety and distinctiveness of heterogeneous cultural landscapes and provides a panorama of their art and cultural scenes.

The festival will focus on Israel next year.

Ambassadors’ wives play tennis with Sun Village orphans

Zohra Masood Khan, wife of Pakistan's ambassador to China, with Sun Village orphans. Photo by Zheng Haoyue

By Liang Meilan

Ten orphans from Sun Village in Shunyi District played tennis for the first time at the National Tennis Center Sunday, joined by wives of the ambassadors from Pakistan, Mozambique and Sudan.

Initiated by magazine BQ Weekly, the event not only collected tangible donations but also provided the kids the rare opportunity to meet dignitaries.

Zohra Masood Khan, wife of Pakistan’s ambassador, said what impressed her the most was the children’s ambition. “They show no timidity and don’t look uncomfortable. In reply to my handshakes, they try to speak one or two words in English they’ve learned at school,” she said.

Masood spoke highly of the charity event and called it humanistic. “This is my first time being with philanthropists in China, but I had many experiences in helping exactly the same group of kids back in my country by donating goods,” she said. “Here you have a more considerate way of letting the kids know they are not forgotten by the outside world. Talking to people with different backgrounds is good to their psychological health.”
Masood said she will introduce this model of charity to organizations in her country.

Yuan Hui, a 10-year-old girl in Sun Village, said this was her first time touching a real tennis racket. “This is the happiest day in my summer vacation. I can play sports and practice my English with foreigners,” she said.

“In most charity organizations, kids with disabilities or who don’t have parents are timid and refuse to talk to people they don’t know, which can evolve into lasting psychological barriers,” said Chen Yi, a freelance writer at BQ Weekly. “By adopting this kind of activity, we hope to help the kids build confidence and introduce them to an activity that can keep them physically fit as well. Other philanthropists and charity groups can learn from us.”

“The summer camp is also aimed at enhancing kids’ communication ability, which will prepare them for future development,” said Wang Lili, a psychological consultant at Sun Village.

Oman promotes itself to Chinese tourists

A scenic spot in Oman/Photo provided by EMA Communication

By Zhao Hongyi

Mohammed bin Hamoud al Toobi, undersecretary of the Sultanate of Oman’s ministry of tourism, officially launched “Tour Oman Week” last weekend in Shanghai in a ceremony attended by 150 scholars, officials and businessmen.

Oman, located in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, is famous for its beaches, deserts, mysterious castles, history, culture and tradition.

“Both China and Oman are seeing rapid increases in tourism,” al Toobi said. “Both countries see tourism as one of the economic driving forces and channels of employment. We are interested in attracting more Chinese tourists in the years to come and are confident we can do so.”

China and Oman signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding in which both promised to provide assistance to tourists from the other country.
 
According to statistics from Oman, more than 14,000 Chinese tourists have visited the country over the past four years. China has become one of the most rapidly increasing sources of tourism, with an annual rate of increase of more than 30 percent.

“This gives us hope that we can do better,” the undersecretary said. He expected to sign an agreement with China’s National Tourism Administration to further increase the number of Chinese visitors to Oman in the coming years.

The two countries have a long history of cooperation, the undersecretary said. Two thousand years ago, Oman was an important hub on the famous “Water Silk Road,” a sea route that connected China and Europe. In the 15th century, Oman was one of the stops of the Sanpao fleet – sent by a Ming Dynasty emperor – en route to Tanzania and Kenya.

In addition to natural scenery and ancient cultures and traditions, Oman is a nation with modern infrastructure and convenient living facilities, al Toobi said.

Air China and China Southern Airlines currently have flights to Dubai. From there, tourists will have to arrange a separate one-hour connecting flight to Oman. “I hope travel agencies list Oman in their projects and traveling routes, and hope [Air China and China Southern Airlines] use Muscat, our capital, as the transitional airport to other destinations in the Persian Gulf and Africa,” al Toobi said.

Oman issues several types of visas to Chinese tourists, including two-week tourist visas, single-entry and multi-entry month-long visas. Tourists with visas to the United Arab Emirates can enter the country without applying for a separate visa.

“We also welcome Chinese businesspeople to invest in our tourism industry,” al Toobi said. “We value our relationship with China, and the government of Oman will provide all assistance necessary to Chinese visitors as we have in our oil projects.”

Japan’s new ambassador to China wants to deepen ties

By Chu Meng

Japan’s new ambassador to China, 71-year-old Uichiro Niwa, took office in Beijing on Monday. As the first Japanese ambassador with decades of business experience in China, he made a deepening of Sino-Japanese strategic relations the first task on his agenda.

“In recent years the leaders of the two countries have created a conducive environment for the development of bilateral ties. I am very glad to see that,” Niwa told Xinhua News Agency’s Japan correspondent in Tokyo on July 31, the day of his departure to Beijing.

Niwa said China and Japan, as close neighbors, should cooperate as if they’ll be here for the upcoming 1,000 or 2,000 years rather than the next 10 or 20. In the long run, both countries share a lot of common interests, and a stable, friendly relationship is the ultimate goal, he said.

During his first week in office, the ambassador did all he could to give the Chinese public a good impression. “Besides working on ongoing political affairs such as the Sino-Japan Free Trade Association, his second important task at present is to take a set of photos for profile stories and prepare a speech for the Chinese public,” said second secretary Xi Chun from the Japanese embassy.

Niwa, the former president of Itochu Corporation, said that he aims to boost communication, strengthen economic cooperation and build on the mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries. He also said that in the age of globalization, no one can conduct diplomacy with just one country. So relations with Korea and the US are also important.

Niwa was appointed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan in June to the key diplomatic post, making him the first ambassador to China from outside the government sector since the two countries normalized relations in 1972.

To give such a job to a non-bureaucrat is an unusual move in Japan’s rarefied diplomatic service, but it’s understandable. Hu Xinxin, a researcher from the Institute of Japanese Studies in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, “China is Japan’s main trading partner and chief source of friction over territorial and historical issues. This is a sign that the Japanese government does not trust the bureaucrats. In China, Niwa will have to carefully pick his way through the challenges and opportunities that the country represents for Japanese foreign policy.”

She explained that the selection of a businessman also underscores the changing relations between the two countries. Japanese exports to China, which grew 41 percent this April compared with the previous year, have represented much of Japan’s shaky economic recovery. And the appointment of 71-year-old  Niwa shows the Japanese government’s desire to deepen economic integration between the two countries.

Pakistan suffers floods, China provides urgent assistance

A man carries valuables salvaged from a flood that destroyed his home in Pabbi near Nowshera, Pakistan. CFP Photo

By Zhang Dongya

China provided 10 million yuan to Pakistan to help the country after flooding affected the lives of 3 million people. The first consignment of relief goods included tents, electric generators, water purification systems and medicine.

“Those were the items that Pakistan needed the most,” Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan said during a meeting with Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying in Pakistan on Wednesday. “It is a timely gesture of the close friendship between the two countries, for which we are extremely grateful to the people and government of China.”

Fu conveyed the condolences of the Chinese government and people. “The devastation and suffering in Pakistan has been felt in China,” he said. “We will do whatever we can to help the Pakistani people.”

Fu also thanked the Pakistani government for rescuing Chinese nationals. Last week, a Chinese construction company in Pakistan was flooded, affecting 265 Chinese workers. They were later saved after rescue operations.

“Pakistan will continue to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals and businesses in Pakistan,” Khan said.

China’s Ministry of Commerce suggested that Chinese people and companies in Pakistan closely monitor the flood and take precautionary measures to protect their property.

Flash floods have hit every province in Pakistan, with Khyber-Pakhtunkwa and Balochistan suffering the worst damage. This is reportedly the most severe flooding in Pakistan in nearly a century. The floods have killed more than 1,400 people and left more than a million homeless.

Khan said Pakistan has mobilized all its resources, including its armed forces, to provide immediate relief. Still, the challenge remains enormous as the floods  head south.

Pakistan has also launched an appeal for international assistance. The ambassador said Pakistan’s most urgent needs were  shelter, food, medicine, water, sanitary kits, dewatering pumps and water filtration plants.

Aussies help promote Chinese tourism

By Han Manman

Australia hopes to be the No. 1 destination for Chinese travelers in the next few years. To promote travel, Tourism Australia launched a huge marketing campaign in Beijing this week with the tagline, “There’s nothing like Australia.”

As part of the campaign, more than 3,500 Australians were asked to share their favorite place or experience in Australia. The campaign uses digital, print and broadcast media to show what is unique and iconic about the country and why others should visit.

“Our research told us that Aussies want to help promote Australia to people overseas. With that in mind, our new campaign was developed to involve Australians because they are the experts on what makes Australia unlike anywhere else,” said Andrew McEvoy, managing director of tourism.

He said Chinese travellers will be able to access the stories at nothinglikeaustralia.com.
According to the latest Visa PATA Travel Intention Survey, more than half of the mainland Chinese travellers surveyed said they intended to travel to Australia over the next two years, McEvoy said.

“Since gaining Approved Destination Status in 1999, the China travel market has grown dramatically for Australia to become one of the top five destinations for international travellers,” he said.

The survey also revealed that the top three attributes that Chinese travellers look for in destinations overseas are natural scenery, sunshine and beaches and new places.

As part of the campaign, Tourism Australia and China Southern Airlines has also announced a new partnership.

“This fits perfectly with our strategy of continuing to build our primary markets of Guangdong, Beijing and Shanghai, but also the development of high outbound travel growth areas including the Jiangsu, Zhejiang regions and a number of secondary city markets,” he said.

McEvoy added that most of Australia’s Chinese visitors come from Guangdong, and that southern China accounts for 30 percent of the total number of tourists who visit Australia.

McEvoy said China Southern Airlines will begin direct flights from Guangzhou to Brisbane this November and will add more weekly flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

China is currently the fourth largest international tourists to Australia. More than 366,000 Chinese travellers set foot in Australia in 2009. In the first five months of this year, Australia has received 200,000 visitors from China, a 10 percent increase from last year.

Freeze frame: capturing the moment in ever-changing Beijing

 

Alessandreo Vecchi works with ihs camera. Photos provided by Alessandreo Vecchi

 

By Chu Meng

“Normal Status of Beijing,” a photo exhibition by Italian expat Alessandreo Vecchi, opened in the Italian Embassy Cultural Institute this week and will run until the end of August.

Through 16 photos of the most ordinary local residents, the photographer hopes to capture present-day memories of a city quickly and permanently changing on the road of modernization.

Explaining why he chose to take pictures of Beijing, an oft-documented city, Vecchi, who has lived here for three years, said, “My China will never be the same China of a Chinese person, and it would never be the same of an American or a South African, even if we take pictures of exactly the same things.”

He believes that the same object viewed differently contains different meanings, even seen by non-photographers. “A hamburger appears to be a dead animal to a vegetarian, but a delicious meal to someone else,” he said.

Vecchi has been to nearly 400 cities around the world – he keeps track by circling them on a map in his home in Italy – and each new city offers him a fresh perspective. Vecchi, in presenting everyday life – including pollution and the demolition of hutong – is trying to tell people what they’re taking for granted in the name of progress.