AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Friday 18th January

I’m James Xu with Asia cast.

In this Bulletin…

- UK Prime Minister Brown visits China;
- The UN criticises Burma; and
- China faces its worst drought in a decade.

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UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has arrived in China on his first visit to the country since taking office.

During the three-day trip, which also includes a visit to India, Mr Brown will focus on trade, the environment, and preparations for this summer’s Beijing Olympics.

The Chinese government has said the PM’s trip is intended to bring a “new vitality” to relations.

Meanwhile, human rights activists called on Mr Brown not to shy away from discussing difficult issues with the Chinese government.

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The UN has strongly criticised Burma for what it sees as a lack of progress towards change, after last year’s violent suppression of anti-government protests.

The UN Security Council called for more dialogue between Burma’s military government and pro-democracy leaders and urged the ruling junta to allow another visit by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

In December, human rights monitor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said more than 600 people were still being detained by the authorities as a result of the protests.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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According to state media reports, China is facing its worst drought in a decade, with water in parts of the Yangtze River at the lowest level in 142 years.

China faces droughts and floods annually but has seen a recent increase in extreme weather conditions.

Millions of people were short of water, and dozens of ships had run aground in the river since October, reports said.

Officials said low water levels in the Yangtze were not linked to construction of the massive Three Gorges Dam.

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As the Global Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in Batam, Indonesia last Sunday, the First Lady of the Governor, Lady Aida Ismah Abdulla, urged the world to “struggle together, show our solidarity and end the persecution of Falun Gong in China.”

The two-hour ceremony bore resemblance with the Olympia ceremony, with maidens dressed in ancient Greek costumes carrying the flame, which was passed on to athletes in a 10-km relay that followed.

The Torch Relay was initiated in Athens, Greece in August 9 2007 and will pass through 37 countries on five continents, leaving in its wake a message that the free world will not allow injustice to hide behind a symbol of world peace.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China

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The Chairman of China’s Communist Party, Hu Jintao, has once again emphasized his determination to combat corruption within the Government and private enterprises. At the same time, he pointed out the Communist Party needed to lead the fight against corruption.

According to Sound of America, Professor Dickson at George Washington University’s Department of Political Science explained that the Communist regime’s top hierarchy clearly knows that political corruption can weaken public trust of the government, therefore it has attempted to combat corruption in the last few decades.

However, it does not want to see a monitoring organization independent of the Communist Party’s control, and according to Professor Dickson, this incomplete approach will lead to more severe corruption in China.

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The District Government authorities in China’s Beitang District allegedly sent over 100 city administrators to forcefully demolish local residents’ houses.

Residents reported that they were detained in a local hotel while their houses were demolished to make way for development.

The residents say they intend to pursue legal options to sue the District Government office.

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And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “New Year Spectacular” show.
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Today the Divine Performing Arts show opened performances in two cities – Toronto, Canada, and Los Angeles in the US. Performances will continue in these cities for the next three days.

Previously the performances were given at Montreal Canada, and San Diego in the States where audiences packed the venues to take in some traditional Chinese music, song and dance, as well as the special purity and compassion that the shows are becoming known for.

As one audience member explained “If these types of performances come to America more often, the rotten parts of our culture; the bitterness, the grossness, and vulgarity of it, will eventually turn around. I’m convinced of it,”

Another audience member said “The singers were some of the finest I have ever heard. They were fantastic. The lyrics were marvellous, and the messages were very meaningful. We need to have public music be like this.”

For more information on the shows please visit www.bestchineseshows.com

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This is James Xu from the SOH Radio Network.

“Asia Cast… keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the World.”