Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Friday 18th April

In this Bulletin

- Tibetans arrested in Kathmandu, Nepal
- No Flemish government members to attend Olympic opening ceremony and
- Ten thousand enterprises closed down or have moved away

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Several hundred Tibetan exiles have been arrested in Kathmandu the capital of Nepal.

The Tibetans, members of the refugee community, were demonstrating near Chinese diplomatic buildings.

Tibetan exiles and a police spokesman told the BBC that a total of 508 were being held in four locations.

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Following last month’s elections Zimbabwe’s Opposition leader has called for South African President Thabo Mbeki to be “relieved of his duties” as mediator in Zimbabwe.

“We want to thank President Mbeki for all of his efforts, but President Mbeki needs to be relieved of his duties,” Morgan Tsvangirai said.

Mr Tsvangirai said he had asked Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, the current chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to begin a new mediation effort.

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No Flemish government member will attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing”, Bert Anciaux, the Flemish Minister of Sport, stated at a session of the Commission on Foreign Policy in the Flemish Parliament in Brussels dedicated to the Olympics and the human rights situation in China.

The Minister, who had some personal experience with the Chinese regime last year when he was invited to China and saw his visa revoked after he announced he would speak about the situation in Tibet, said he tries to find a balance between his commitment towards sports and respect for human rights.

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Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s “frank and friendly” approach towards China is unlikely to cause a major rupture in the Australia-Sino relations, but any concrete changes will be gradual, say China experts.

Dr Paul Monk, managing director of Australia’s thinktank Austhink Consulting, believes the economic and political connections between Australia and China are strong enough to withstand the new tone.

It may also serve as an encouragement to other politicians to become more vocal.
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Mr Liang Junyan, member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, spoke on behalf of the business sector expressed, its been estimated that approximately ten thousand small to medium sized enterprises have stopped their business or moved away from the Pearl River Delta.

This is due to China implementing labor contract law, changes in trade policy, and inadequate labor force that makes the business environment in Pearl River Delta region to worsen.

According to a Central News Agency report, Mr Liang Junyan pointed out, US has not really gone into recession, although foreign enterprises are more cautious in their business dealings, but business orders have not reduced overall.

However, due to the weakening of purchasing power from the US, and the appreciation of the RMB lately, China’s labor and material costs have increased.

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The opening night of the Divine Performing Arts’ Chinese Spectacular in Auckland on April 17 was met with a standing ovation and hundreds of thrilled responses. Among the audience was the New Zealand soap opera star Kiel McNaughton.

He was particularly impressed with the “whole energy” of the drumming in the show. There are two numbers combined, rhythmic precision of the drumming and dance movements—’Drummers of the Tang Court’ and ‘Victory drums’.

Mr McNaughton also commented on the quality of the opera singers.

The Chinese Spectacular will play at the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre until Saturday April 19.

For show information please visit www.DivineShows.com

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