IN BRIEF (Page 2)

China Watch expands with Russian edition

China Daily launched its Russian edition of China Watch, the media group's multilingual publication, in partnership with leading Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta on June 14. Zhu Ling, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said 2016 is the Sino-Russian Media Exchange Year, an idea proposed by President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. As a China Daily supplement, China Watch tells China's story in English, French, German and Spanish, Zhu said at the launch ceremony.

Manchester gets first direct flight to China

The first direct flight from Manchester to the Chinese mainland took to the skies on June 10. Hainan Airlines have made Manchester Airport its only British hub outside of London and will run four nonstop flights to Beijing a week, opening up new business and tourism opportunities.

Taoist ideas tied to modern ecology

Ecological thinking included in Tao Te Ching, a Taoist book written by ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tze, should be adapted to protect the environment in modern times, experts said at a two-day cultural seminar that ended on June 13 in the east-coast city of Qingdao. The event, organized by the Chinese Taoist Association, attracted more than 200 Taoists, officials and scholars from home and abroad at Laoshan Mountain, one of the birthplaces of Taoism that is rich in relics.

Chief justice calls for Sino-British cooperation

Chief Justice Zhou Qiang believes Sino-British cooperation and exchanges in the judicial field could open a new chapter. Zhou, who is also president of the Supreme People's Court, expressed his thoughts during his visit to Britain, which ended on June 13. During the visit, he met with senior British politicians including Lord Neuberger, head of the UK's Supreme Court, and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Tianjin brand updates with smart bikes

Tianjin Flying Pigeon, a time-honored Chinese bicycle company, is producing smart bikes in cooperation with LeEco, a technology startup. The bikes, ranging in price from 3,999 to 39,999 yuan ($607 to $6,074; 539 to 5,390 euros), enable riders to track their motion, communicate with others and lock or unlock the cycles via apps.

Disney CEO says China has 'incredible potential'

China represents "incredible potential" for The Walt Disney Co, while the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort offers the entertainment giant a chance to boost its brand in the world's most populous film market, Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said on June 15. Shanghai Disney could help to revive the company's struggling international theme parks business, he said.

Global index without A shares 'is incomplete'

A global stock index without Chinese A shares is incomplete, China's securities supervisor said on June 15. The China Securities Regulatory Commission made the remarks just hours after global equity indexes provider MSCI announced it would delay the inclusion of Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed stocks, or A shares, on to its emerging market index. CSRC said the decision would not affect the opening-up or reform of China's capital market, adding that the country needs to continue to build a stable and healthy capital market.

McKellen never far from Shakespeare

Celebrating William Shakespeare's work in the 400th anniversary year of the English playwright's death, award-winning British actor Ian McKellen, better known for his portrayal of Gandalf in The Lord of Rings trilogy, made his debut on the Chinese stage and appeared at various venues around China. McKellen appeared on the red carpet on June 10 for the opening ceremony of the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival. Together with celebrated Chinese actor Jiao Huang, McKellen staged a performance in remembrance of Shakespeare in which he chanted The Seven Ages of Man, an excerpt from Shakespeare's play As You Like It.

China elected to UN economic, social council

China and other countries on June 14 were elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, a coordinating body for the work of UN agencies and funds. China won 182 of 185 votes cast in the Asia-Pacific group in the election. Other elected members were Tajikstan, United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

Zou hits new high in his US debut

Zou Shiming's victorious overseas debut on June 11 should pave the way for Chinese boxing to join the sport's international mainstream, experts said. The two-time Olympic gold medalist scored a 10-round unanimous decision over 19-year-old Hungarian Jozsef Ajtai at Madison Square Garden, New York, making his career record 8-1 since turning professional after the London Games in 2012.

IMF official warns of debt risk

China is making progress on its economic rebalancing, but rising corporate debt could pose risks to growth in the medium and long term if the debt problem isn't solved, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund said in Beijing on June 14. "China is making progress in many dimensions on its transition to a sustainable growth path, and the near-term outlook has turned more buoyant due to recent policy support," David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, said after a discussion with top Chinese officials and regulators in the financial sector.

Astronauts receiving training before mission

Two male astronauts who were selected for the Shenzhou XI manned spacecraft mission are receiving high-intensity training to prepare for the mission, due this coming winter, according to the China Manned Space Agency. Shenzhou XI and the Long March 2F rocket that will lift the craft into space are complete and passed their tests, it said, adding the Tiangong 2 space laboratory, which has two cabins, will be launched in the third quarter, before the Shenzhou XI mission.

Hero peacekeeper laid to rest in hometown

The ashes of a Chinese peacekeeper killed in a terrorist attack in Mali last month were interred in a hero's cemetery on June 13 in his hometown in Henan province. First Sergeant Shen Liangliang, 29, died in the northern town of Gao on May 31 when a car bomb was detonated at a United Nations camp. He was at a guard post at the time of the attack, and five other peacekeepers were injured. Thousands of people lined the street to pay their respects as Shen's ashes were taken from the funeral home to the cemetery.

(China Daily European Weekly 06/17/2016 page2)