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Closer ties with US on the cards

China is keen to work with the United States to keep the two nations on the right path toward building a new type of major-country relations, President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague on March 24.

The Chinese leader said he appreciated a similar commitment from the US in a letter he received recently from Obama.

Xi added that he agreed with Obama's comments in the letter that China-US cooperation is beneficial for the two countries to promote shared interests and to deal with common challenges.

Beijing will remain committed to the policies of non-confrontational action, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Xi said.

Obama said the two countries not only work on issues of mutual interest and concern, but are also able to work through frictions that exist in their relations such as human rights, or dealing with maritime issues in the South China Sea and the Pacific region in a way that is constructive and hopefully will lead to solutions for all parties.

Obama added that he believes ultimately that by working together, China and the US can help to strengthen international law and respect for the sovereignty of nations.

Testing ground forgreener economy

Fujian province has announced that it has been designated China's first environmental protection pilot zone, which gives it the green light to test a series of measures aimed at energy efficiency, emissions reductions and government accountability.

The provincial government made the announcement on March 22, citing a decision by the State Council.

The measures to be implemented include audits of officials to examine their efforts on financial budgets for environmental protection and registering natural resources, such as bodies of water and forests, as intellectual property. The plan also includes economic measures that will lead to the development of cleaner industries.

Bank sees potentialin Dutch ties

Bank of China, one of the country's leading lenders, has committed itself to renminbi operations in the Netherlands and elsewhere as the global economy picks up and China sustains long-term stable growth, said its board chairman, Tian Guoli.

Tian stressed the commitment at an economic and trade forum on March 23 at which visiting President Xi Jinping was giving a keynote speech.

"For a long time, Bank of China has regarded the Netherlands as one of the overseas markets that has the highest development potential," Tian said.

Japan's nuclearstocks 'excessive'

China has added its voice to international concerns over Japan's large stockpile of nuclear materials, saying the Japanese have far more than needed for nuclear power.

Such a large stockpile increases security risks, Chen Kai, secretary-general of the China Arms Control and Nuclear Disarmament Association, said at a briefing before the plenary session of the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.

"The international community has found that Japan has stocked excessive amounts of nuclear material that surpass its need for nuclear power," Chen said.

Chinese group to bring relic back

A 3,000-year-old Chinese bronze called min fanglei will soon return to its birthplace to be reunited with the lid from which it was separated nearly a century ago.

The reunion was made possible by a private purchase by Chinese collectors in New York.

Acclaimed as the "king of all fanglei", the square bronze, which dates to the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), served as a ritual wine vessel. It was excavated in Taoyuan, Hunan province, in 1922.

It was supposed to appear in a Christie's auction, but a deal was reached before the sale between its European owner and a group of Chinese collectors from Hunan. It will be donated to the Hunan Provincial Museum, where the lid has been kept for decades.

Chinese buyers offered $20 million, but Tan Guobin, one of the collectors, declined to reveal the final price.

Sino-US school opens in Shanghai

The country's first Sino-US high school opened in Shanghai in March, the city's latest effort to deepen education reform and improve education by using overseas teaching methods.

The Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School was co-established by Shanghai Qibao High School and the Dwight School in the US. The boarding school plans to enroll 150 students, with 100 students from Shanghai and 50 from other provinces and overseas.

One of the highlights of the school is its education model, which integrates internationally recognized courses and Chinese features.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, which provides students aged 16 to 19 with the internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, will be introduced in the school. The program has received acclaim from the world's leading universities.

Nations 'need to consider impact'

Developed countries should be aware of the "spillover" effect of their economic policies, and emerging markets will remain an important force in global growth despite their present difficulties, Premier Li Keqiang said when meeting International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde on March 24.

"Developed countries should be aware of the spillover effect of their own economic policies," Li told Lagarde.

"The emerging markets face challenges, but they remain an important force in world growth."

He admitted there are difficulties for nations in coordinating their macroeconomic policies, but he urged all countries to strengthen dialogue and cooperation under international arrangements such as the Group of 20.

Travelers cutting Malaysia out of plans

One of China's largest tour operators has suspended business ties with Malaysia Airlines and said it will cancel existing flight arrangements with the carrier.

"Considering the fact that Chinese tourists have concerns over the carrier's safety record, we must fulfill our responsibility of ensuring the security of our fellow citizens," Beijing-based China Youth Travel Service said in a statement.

New bookings will be suspended and existing itineraries that include Malaysia Airlines will be changed to other carriers, it said.

The agency also promised full refunds to consumers who want to cancel trips that would have used the Malaysian carrier.

Another large travel agency, China International Travel Service Head Office, has seen a sharp decline in people signing up for tours to Malaysia, according to its publicity officer, Meng Qingfu.

(See more on page 3)

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily European Weekly 03/28/2014 page2)