What's news

Yuan fall dictated by market, official says

Recent falls in the yuan exchange rate against the US dollar are based entirely on market forces, a senior official said on May 13 after Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.

Zhu Guangyao, vice-minister of finance, said China would not bow to United States pressure over the yuan's recent depreciation.

The Chinese currency has fallen by 2.9 percent against the US dollar since January, after appreciating by about 35 percent since 2005.

Zhu said a "two-way movement" had been the consensus of China and the US, as it reflected market forces and could avoid speculation.

Zhu said Lew had exchanged views on economic issues, including the yuan exchange rate, with top officials in China, including Premier Li.

Li promised in an annual policy speech in March that the market would be allowed to play a decisive role in allocating credit and other resources.

Ghana FA, Huawei in sponsorship deal

Global telecoms equipment major Huawei Technologies Limited has signed a deal to be a partner of Ghana's senior national soccer team, the Black Stars, for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Huawei signed the one-year sponsorship deal with the Ghana Football Association at the FA headquarters on May 12.

The agreement, worth $100,000 in cash and products, makes the Chinese company the information technology partner of the Black Stars who will be embarking on their third successive World Cup finals campaign in June.

The Chinese IT firm joins an array of sponsors for the Black Stars.

China congratulates SA on elections

China on May 12 congratulated South Africa on the success of its recent parliamentary elections, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

The ruling African National Congress won the general election, securing President Jacob Zuma a second term in office, the country's Independent Electoral Commission announced on May 10.

China paid close attention to the election, Hua said, noting that the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party had already sent a congratulatory letter to the ANC.

Forum calls for expanding cooperation

The Third China-Africa People's Forum ended in Khartoum on May 13 with leaders publishing the Khartoum Report, calling for greater cooperation between Chinese and African NGOs.

The report focused on the importance of communication and visits between Chinese and African leaders and organizations as well as collaboration between the organizations to promote the development of child and maternity centers.

The report called for expansion of programs in joint technology, environment, health, culture and poverty relief, in addition to establishing Chinese projects focusing on environmental protection in Africa and promoting small joint projects between NGOs.

In his closing remarks, Ibrahim Ghandour, the head of the Sudanese delegation, expressed the hope that the forum would improve relations and deepen the ties between non-governmental and civil societies in China and Africa.

PLA chief tours US carrier

Fang Fenghui, chief of the general staff of China's People's Liberation Army, visited US military facilities on May 13 and was expected to meet with Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on May 15, as part of the push to strengthen military-to-military ties between the two countries, according to the American Forces Press Service under the US Department of Defense.

Fang, who took office in 2012, arrived in Los Angeles on May 12, and toured the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and littoral combat ship USS Coronado in San Diego on May 13.

In California, Fang also met with US Pacific Command commander Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear III, who also escorted Fang in touring the aircraft carrier.

Fang will also tour the Marine Corps Recruit Depot before boarding a plane to Washington, where he will visit the National Defense University in Washington.

Fang is paying a five-day visit to the US at the invitation of Dempsey, who went to China in April last year at the invitation of Fang.

Legendary army sets foot in Indiana

Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an have arrived at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis in Indiana ready for their only exhibition in the United States this year.

They are poised to attract visitors with not only the story of the tomb complex of China's first emperor, but also with their original vibrant colors.

The exhibition forms part of the "Take me there: China" program staged by the world's largest children's museum.

The display, "China's Terracotta Warriors - the Emperor's Painted Army", showcases 265 rare cultural relics, including life-sized warriors unearthed from pits next to the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang, first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). The exhibition runs from May 10 until Nov 2.

Early warning system for earthquakes

An earthquake early warning system developed by a private research organization has been installed in Beijing and surrounding areas, and testing of the system has begun.

Installation was carried out in schools, communities and township government buildings in cities after the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008, said Wang Dun, director of the Institute of Care-Life, a nongovernmental organization that conducts research on quakes.

Turkmen relations given horsepower

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan presented a precious Akhal-Teke horse to China during his four-day state visit that started on May 11.

The presidents of the two countries, which are each other's biggest gas trade partners, said they would work more closely on gas.

"Akhal-Teke horses have become messengers and witnesses to the friendship of the two countries," President Xi Jinping said as he addressed a session of the International Akhal-Teke Horse Association Special Conference, which opened in Beijing on May 12.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/16/2014 page2)