CRI 10月.doc

10-01US Experts Say Congress Passing China Currency Bill RiskyThe US House of Representatives has passed legislation targeting Chinas currency policy, a step closer to punishing China for alledgedly manipulating its currency.The House voted on a measure that targets imports from China and other countries where currencies that are perceived to be undervalued.Both Democrats and Republicans endorsed the measure, a Washington rarity, a bipartisan vote on a substantive policy issue just weeks before key midterm elections.However US experts say the move is more of a symbolic sense than one that may produce real results, they warn that the Congress could be on a risky path.Our Washington correspondent Shanshan has more. The bill now need to be cleared by the Senate and then sent to the President to sign before it becomes law.Nicolas Lardy, senior fellow with the Washington thinktank, Peterson Institute for International Economics, says whether the House proposal will receive a vote in the Senate is unclear at this stage.I think its almost impossible for the Senate to take it up before the election. Senator Schumer has said he would like a vote on the Senate on the so-called lame duck session. But theyve got a very busy session when they come back, trying to deal with taxes and a number of other things. I think its far from certain that the Senate will take that. If the bill becomes law, it will allow the U.S. Commerce Department to estimate how much China undervalues its currency to calculate and slap countervailing and anti-dumping duties on imports from China and other countries.Former US trade representative Susan Schwab, a strategic advisor with Mayor Brown Law Firm made this asessment.There is nothing that happens after this piece of legislation goes through the House, even if it goes through the Senate, even if it goes into law, nothing happens immediately in terms of US action.While some U.S. lawmakers extol the benefits of the bill, there is evidence that even if it became law, it will not help the US economy.The Congressional Budget Office reported that the China currency bill may raise no more than $20 million a year in duties, a drop in the ocean compared with the more than $1 billion in daily imports from China reported in July.To make use of the provision, a company would have to make a similar product in the U.S., and be able to show it is being harmed by the low-cost import from China. This may be hard to prove, as many goods are no longer made in the U.S.Nicolas Lardy says the bill is not going to solve the issue, only to make the situation worse.So I think we would certainly be in a retaliation situation if this registration was passed by both Houses and signed by the President. This is a risky road. You start going down this risky road, and use this unprecedented approach in dealing with this issue, we may mind ourselves in hot water.US Secretary of Commerce Gary Lock says, although there is frustration with the US-China trade issue, people have to look at the positive side.We have 35 years of economic ties, as those ties got more complex, we are gonna have disagreements. The thing is we have those mechanisms in which we can discuss and resolve those issues. So we need to use those mechanism to overcome difficulties, and move forward.The White House has made no comment on the bill.10-02Exhibits at China National Pavilion Might Remain the Original LineupThe China National Pavilion has earned its place as a new landmark in Shanghai, even before the expo comes to a close at the end of this month. But many still wonder how much time they can have to enjoy the exhibits this red pavilion has to offer.Our reporter Ning Yan is in Shanghai to bring us the latest updates. One of the most sought-after pavilions at the ongoing Shanghai World Expo has been the China National Pavilion. Since the world fair opened in May, it has attracted more than 7 million visitors from home and abroad.Shanghais expo organizers have promised to keep the pavilion and some of the exhibits open after the expo comes to an end. With one month to go before the finale, the public is waiting for an answer and the organizers are feeling pressure to announce new arrangements.Deputy Director of the China Pavilion, Qian Zhiguang, told a press conference Wednesday that there will be a month of closure before the pavilion reopens to the public.The China National Pavilion has such a limited reception capability compared with the high public demand that an extension of its exhibits is reasonable. But after 184 days of non-stop running, its facilities need maintenance. We are hoping to reopen the pavilion after a short break.The official says hopefully the public will then be able to enjoy the original lineup of exhibits that have amazed visitors during the six-month World Expo, including a 100-meter projection of a famous classical Chinese painting entitled Along the River During the Qingming Festival, by the 12th century artist Zhang Zeduan.Xu Hubin, director of the China Pavilion, says discussions and studies about the duration and accessibility of the exhibition are still underway.We are carrying out a comprehensive appraisal right now, taking into consideration all factors including the public aspirations and the promises weve made to prolong the exhibition. Its a challenge for us to decide how long the post-expo exhibits at the China National Pavilion should be in order to satisfy the needs of all who are interested in visiting. All roads lead to Rome. There are other ways to tour the Expo. One option is to get online to watch the virtual expo. The other would be to watch the official DVD.One month before the World Expo concludes, the China National Pavilion is set to embrace a climax on October 1. Chinas National Day also marks the National Pavilion Day of China, where the holiday will be celebrated in style.10-03Tiananmen Square Attracts Tourists from All Directions on China National Day Anchor: As a tradition for Chinas National Day, a flower bed display on the world largest city-center square, Tiananmen square has always been a major attraction for tourists from home and abroad. This years setting, however, is a little different from the previous ones.Our reporter Yao Yongmei takes a closer look.The tradition of displaying flower bed at Tiananmen square could be traced back to 1985 when Beijing decided to decorate the square with flower settings designed to reflect the social and economical development of the country.On the heels of last years 60th anniversary parade, this year, the flower display is taking on a more natural look.Xing Yu, Chief designer of the flower bed, says that the shape symbolizes the prosperity of the country.The display this year is themed as flower prosperity. The central flower bed stretches 50 meters in diameter and is 3 metres high. It shapes like a peony flower and two streamline green belts were placed on both sides of the square.A local Beijing resident who comes to the square every year to see the display says that the size this year is significantly smaller than before.Because it is not a big historical year like last year, and I think the government is trying to be economical, so its not too extravagant.Even so, travelers from abroad are still amazed by the massive arrangement of flowers.They are very beautiful, love the colors, and I think they obviously have gone through a lot of troubles to make it look very attractive, especially now, ya, its great!They look terrific, absolutely great, the fountains terrific and the flower bed is beautiful. Theres nothing like this in Australia. This is unbelievable, this is great.Standing at the center of the countrys capital, Liu Chunhua,a traveler from northeastern Chinas Jilin Province, expresses her feeling about the radical change of the country.We have benefited so much from the country after the implementation of the opening up and reform policy. Take the flood in our province this year for example, without the help from our nation, we couldnt get through. Two of my relatives houses were flushed away and now they have their new houses built with the money from the government within just two months.The flower bed display will be removed after the National Day holiday, which lasts from the Oct 1st to the 7th.10-04Expo Exposed:Shanghai Expos Secret Party Scene RevealedNormal operating hours of the Shanghai Expo are from 9:30am 10:30pm. But if you thought thats when the excitement stops youd be wrong, very wrong. In fact this is just when some of the best entertainment starts. Our Dominic Swire brings us this exclusive glimpse into the secret party scene behind the closed doors of the Expo. With thousands of foreign employees working and living together on the Expo site, many of them young party goers, the emergence of a thriving social scene is hardly a surprise. What may be, however, is the sheer number of Expo events held behind closed doors and the way in which theyre publicized amongst those in the know.We have 450 staff in the Australian pavilion. About 200 of those are in the main young people from Australia.Peter Sams is Pavilion Director and Deputy Commissioner-General for Australia at the Shanghai Expo. Speaking in the midst of a huge party hosted by the Australian pavilion, he explains the importance of socializing at such events.Young people, strangely, enjoy nightlife; and, of course its important for them to have fun and interact with other pavilions. The best experiences that they have come from the interacting with other people from around the world. Thats a legacy of Expo thats often not spoken about. The connections and friendships and sometimes relationships that are build between countries through people working at the Expo. Its a really nice thesis.The Australian party is just one of numerous afterhours parties held for those working at the Expo once visitors have left the grounds. In fact there are so many of these parties that a couple of enterprising officials from the Lithuanian pavilion took it upon themselves to launch the website . This provides a live update of all the unofficial social events happening at the Expo.In the beginning, I really love parties, myself.Aivaras Kriauciunas is Deputy Commissioner General for the Lithuanian pavilion, and one of the creators of the site.In the beginning it was like this. Everyone figured out because I love parties I know where the parties are. So they started calling me every night asking, Aivaras, wheres the party tonight? I was really tired of answering the phone, so I just made the website.Kriauciunas says the first few parties were initially organized by Lithuania, Malta and Angola. But soon after many other pavilions started picking up on the idea. Now not one week goes by without a handful of afterhours festivities.This coming Friday, if Im not mistaken, theyll be four parties. Four parties, one night!Paulius Staniunas, also from the Lithuanian pavilion, is the one who updates the site. He explains whats special about the Expo parties.Why they good? Because people know how to party. Imagine this: in the Expo, people are collected from all around the world in here, the best people. Because each country wants to represent themselves in the best way they can. The best pavilion, the best equipment, the best staff. The best people from all over the world gather in one place. So definitely they know how to party and thats what makes these parties so good.Undoubtedly the Expo is primarily focused on catering towards the tens of millions of Chinese visiting the site; but there are also thousands of foreign staff having a jolly good time, too.10-05A New Way to Travel and SocializeAn online community called Couchsurfing has now attracted 2 million members worldwide and has changed the way people travel and socialize. Founded in the United States in 2003 with just an idea of staying in a strangers place for free, Couchsurfing has now become the biggest online hospitality and culture exchange website. And as our Su Yi reports, the national day holiday might be an ideal time for travellers to go counchsuring.Couchsurfing is a non-profit organization that connects travelers with locals together in about 230 countries and regions around the world. It is a platform for people to exchange cultures, build friendships, and learn travel experiences. People who joined Couchsurfing name themselves Couchsurfer.How it works basically is when you are planning to travel somewhere, instead of spending a lot of money on hotels and hostels, you go to the website and find someone local whose couch availability is open and then send a request to him. If you dont need a couch, then simply just ask to meet up and have a coffee or drink together. By doing so, you not only get to know the real local life, but also have an opportunity to talk to the local person and exchange ideas. Quoting a Couchsurfers reference You get off the train meeting a stranger and you say goodbye to a friend.Mike Shaw, a long time Couchsurfer from the United States who is now living in Beijing , says he joined CS because he found some similarities between CS and himself.I saw a story in an American Newspaper about the website and it was very interesting to me. I like the idea that you can stay at a strangers home. I went to the website to investigate the kind of people, they look a lot like me,they were open to other people , they like to travel , they were interested in other cultures, I said, I could join that.Alongside the initial focus of hosting and staying with a local as a guest in their home or as Couchsurfers call it Surfing, the website also facilitates a growing array of activities and events.Attending a Wednesday Couchsurfing gathering along with 30 other couchsurfers in Beijing, Lydia Zhang, a local born Chinese girl, who had most of her life spending in Australia says Couchsurfing has changed her life.Its life changing, there are a lot of trust in this website.Ive heard a lot of stories about it. There are couchsurfers that are actually our of town,but actually left the keys underneath the mat for people to actually just pick it up and say, look you can use anything you want. I think this is really amazing. I love it. Despite the huge popularity among Couchsurfers and those who are interested in it, many are still concerned about using the website. The biggest worry might be the safety issue. CS.com offers a well-rounded form for all members to fill out. Moreover, the past reference that other travelers left on the profile page is a good evaluation for you to decide who you want to meet.Barryfun, the ambassador of C Beijing forum says a good way to know a member is to look over the references. Potential couchsurfers and couchsurfers to look at the profile the person you are going to stay with, make sure they have enough references, make sure they have enough vouchers, make sure they have been a part of the organization for a while. Dont go with the stranger who just joined the day before , go to someone who has a lot of positive references.In China alone, there are now about 35,000 mandarin speaking surfers and 22,000 English speaking surfers with other language speakers totaling about 15,000.Even though China has a traditionally conservative culture, but a lot of modern young Chinese, especially university students are attracted by this new way of traveling and meeting interesting people and are trying to adapt the western-made idea.Wang he, a graduate student from China Foreign Affairs University, says she was a little bit nervous when she first joined CS activities.Yeah, I was a little bit of nervous, when I first joined a party, most of the people I didnt know. Id prefer to be introduced by the all timers of Couchsurfing instead of to be active to introduce myself. After that, I can handle it very well. If you are a road lover and enjoying meeting new people and sharing, maybe its time to try something a little different like Couchsurfing. With about 99% of positive experience in the history, Its almost certain that your first Couchsurfing bite would be a delicious one.10-06British Wins 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineBritish scientist Robert Edwards won the 2010 Nobel Prize for the development of in vitro fertilization, said the Nobel Assembly at Karolinksa Institute on Monday. CRIs correspondent Chen Xuefei reports from Stockholm. Goran Hansson Secretary of the Nobel Committee on Physiology or Medicine made the announcement in Stockholm.The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute has today decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010 to Robert Edwards for the development of in vitro fertilization.The jury said that Edwards is awarded for the development of human in vitro fertilization or IVF therapy.His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large proportion of humanity including more than 10 percent of all couples worldwide.Edwards had the vision that IVF could be useful as a treatment for infertility in the 1950s.He worked systematically to realize his goal, discovered important principles for human fertilization, and succeeded in accomplishing fertilization of human egg cells in test tubes.His efforts came to a success in 1978 when the worlds first test tube baby was born.About four million individuals in the world have so far been born following IVF. Many of them are now adults and some have already become parents.Wit