Broadcasting Time: 07:00-08:00, GMT+08:00, 2009-07-03

Hello and Welcome to   News and Reports  on China Radio International.

In This Edition:

• A senior Chinese diplomat says President Hu Jintao's participation in the upcoming G8+5 meeting in Italy will help promote dialogue between industrialized and developing countries.

• U.S. troops launches major operation in Afghanistan.

• The International Monetary Fund for the first time approves bond sales to member countries.

• And Williams sisters will meet in a Wimbledon singles final for the fourth time.

Hot Issue Reports

• Chinese Diplomat: G8, Emerging Economies to Boost Cooperation

A senior Chinese diplomat says China will promote dialogue between industrialized and developing countries at the upcoming G8+5 meeting in L'Aquila, Italy.

Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei briefed on President Hu Jintao's schedule during the G8 summit.

"We should send a strong signal for further cooperation on promoting an early recovery of the world economy, carrying forward and continuing the agreements reached during the previous G20 summits. We should also promote dialogue and cooperation between G8 countries and the developing world, and push for a new partnership between countries in the northern and southern hemispheres in order to promote equality and mutual benefit."

Leaders at the meeting will discuss global challenges such as the financial crisis, climate change, and energy and food security issues.

President Hu Jintao is scheduled to attend the meeting next week, following a four-day state visit to Italy. He will then go to Portugal for a two-day state visit.

The dialogue will be held between G8 countries and five emerging economies, namely China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico.

• Italian Trade Official: President Hu Jintao's Visit to Italy to Boost Sino-Italian Economic and Trade Cooperation

Concerning Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit to Italy, Chinese and Italian officials say it will improve the all-around relationship between the two countries.

• US Marines Launch Huge Anti-Taliban Drive in Helmand Province

Thousands of US Marines have swarmed Taliban-controlled villages in southern Afghanistan in the first major operation under President Barack Obama's new administration.

The offensive was launched in Helmand province on Thursday.

The province is a Taliban stronghold and the world's largest opium poppy producing area.

Captain Drew Schoenmaker, Marine Corps Captain of Bravo Company, says his troops took many insurgents by surprise.

"The aim of the assault was to put Marine Corps forces behind enemy lines. We dropped in to a few places that nobody had been."

The goal of the offensive is to clear insurgents from the troubled region before the Afghan presidential election on August 20.

Officials say the operation, dubbed "Strike of the Sword," was the largest, fastest-moving and biggest Marine offensive since the 2004 operation in Fallujah, Iraq.

Strike of the Sword involves nearly four-thousand newly arrived Marines plus 650 Afghan forces.

• Iraq, France sign cooperation agreement 

Iraq and France have signed a number of agreements to boost business ties and promote investments.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his French counterpart Francois Fillon signed the deals in Baghdad.

Al-Maliki calls on French firms to take part in rebuilding Iraq, particularly, with the improvement of security in the country.

"This big delegation of businessmen and firms and their determination to form an Iraqi-French committee for businessmen is welcome. Such a committee will be an element of support and assistance and it will facilitate the mission of firms that want to work in Iraq."

The French delegation led by Fillon includes the president of the Total oil company and the head of the European aerospace and defence contractor EADS.

Fillon is the first foreign leader to visit Iraq since US-led forces officially withdrew combat troops from Iraqi cities on Tuesday.

• Medvedev: Russia-US Relations Decline to Cold-war Level

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev says he's hopeful the upcoming summit with US President Barack Obama will help Moscow and Washington find new ways to cooperate.

His message has raised expectations that the two leaders will reverse the sharp slide in relations over disputes such as missile defence, and NATO expansion.

"Unfortunately, relations between our two countries have worsened in recent years. A crisis of confidence, lack of action, unwillingness to take any new steps. Although leaders of our countries had a good personal rapport, Russian-US relations declined to a level practically on a par with the Cold War era. I hope that my American colleague and I will hold substantial and full-fledged talks that will produce real results."

Medvedev adds Moscow and Washington both have a responsibility to fight international terrorism, drug trafficking and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Obama is to visit Moscow on Monday, his first trip to Russia as US president.

• Health Officials Meet on H1N1 Control

Health officials from more than 50 countries and organizations have gathered in Mexico to share experience in prevention and control of the H1N1 pandemic.

WHO head Margaret Chan praised the quick and decisive actions taken by the Mexican government in the early stage of its development.

She said the meeting would prepare countries for new challenges the virus might pose.

"Like all influenza viruses, H1N1 has the advantage of surprise on its side. We have the advantage of science and of rational and virorous investigation on our side, supported today by tools fo data collection, analysis and communication that are unprecedented in their power. We have another advantage on our side, collaboration. It's my sincere wish that this meeting will take us some big stpes forward in building our collective defenses against a threat that is shared by all of us."

Mexican President Felipe Calderon underlined the importance of international cooperation in combating the flu.

"It's a global challenge whether it's the H1N1 flu, or other public health incidents. It needs joints actions of all countries. No single organization, society, or government will win this battle on their own."

Since its outbreak in April, the virus has spread to over 120 countries in the world. Nearly 80,000 people were infected, and more than 330 died.

Mexico has been one of the worst hit countries, recording 116 deaths from the flu.

• IMF Approves Framework for Issuing Notes to Member Countries

The International Monetary Fund executive board has approved a framework to issue notes to its member countries for the first time.

John Lipsky is IMF first deputy managing director.

"The London leaders' summit authorized the IMF members to provide an additional 500 billion dollars of new resources for the IMF. And the notes are an innovative new way for us to raise our funds and resources from our members in support of these anti-crisis facilities."

Under the framework, members may sign agreements to purchase IMF notes up to a limit set by the member.

Lipsky says several members, including China, have already expressed their interest in buying IMF paper.

"China is taking a leadership position and in an innovative way in showing the willingness to invest in these IMF notes."

Beijing has showed intention to invest up to 50 billion dollars, and Brazil and Russia up to 10 billion dollars each.

Once purchased by member governments, or their central banks, the notes would be tradable within the official sector.

The principal of the notes will be denominated in Special Drawing Rights, the Fund's unit of account.

SDR is a currency basket composed of the U.S. dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound sterling.

Light News 

Media Digest

• Reports on latest accidents call for intensified government administration and supervision

A series of domestic accidents have been reported by Chinese media in recent days. Last Saturday, a 13-storey apartment building under construction in Shanghai toppled over, killing a worker at the construction site. Two days later, a train collision in Hunan killed three people and injured 63. Almost at the same time, a road bridge collapsed in northeast China where the death toll has risen to four.

An article on Xinhua News says the accidents, which took place in sequence, reflect problems in both administration and supervision.

In the case of the collapsed building in Shanghai, the responsible developer was originally the collectively-run corporation of the local county. According to the article, the legal person representing the developer is head of local land requisition authority. As a consequence, it is difficult for government officials to enforce supervision and inspection.

In the case of the collapsed road bridge, the article goes on to say, the accident investigation was handed over to the local government, which blamed a presumed overloaded vehicle as the cause of the accident. The writer cited a comment from a local resident, saying it is a ridiculous excuse to avoid responsibility.

Drawing lessons from the latest accidents, the writer noted it is important to improve the public awareness on work safety; meanwhile it urged related authorities to fulfill responsibilities of administration and supervision.

• More severe penalties should be given to drunk drivers

A drunk driver lost control of his vehicle and caused an accident that killed five people, including a pregnant woman in east China's Nanjing city on Tuesday night.

A commentary in Xinhua severely condemns the driver and calls for a tougher crackdown on drink driving.

According to Chinese law, drunk drivers face fines of up to 2,000 yuan, or 300 US dollars, as well as up to 15 days in prison. DWI offenders face up to three years imprisonment if the crash involves death, personal injury or serious loss of property. However, the writer argues the punishment should be more severe in a bid to stop drink driving, which causes more than ten thousand car accidents each year in China.

At the same time, the article suggests related authorities should be tougher on the enforcement of drink driving laws. The traffic administration monitors drink driving; however, it should tighten its grip with intensive, routine road checks. Cautions should also be given to those who provide alcohol to drivers, according to the article.

In conclusion, the article calls for joint efforts from the government, media and communities to strangle the dangerous act of drink driving.