iPhone gets slow start at China sales launch
Owen Fletcher, PC World, October 30, 2009
The iPhone launch was welcomed with little enthusiasm in Beijing on Friday as rain, low temperatures and high prices drove away potential buyers. Buyers filled only about two-thirds of an outdoor sales queue set up at a shopping mall in Beijing. China Unicom is selling the iPhones for about 4,999 yuan with no service contract, which is much more expensive than the cracked gray-market iPhones that is sold for around 4,000 yuan (US $587) at many local electronics markets. Apple has also removed Wi-Fi services from the iPhone for China to comply with the country’s regulatory demands, which is another boost to the buyers’ preference for gray-market versions. --posted by Ying Jia Huang
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China extends invitation to N. Korea’s Kim
United Press International, October 30, 2009
Chinese state newspaper, the China Daily, reported on Friday that President Hu Jintao has extended his invitation for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to visit China “at his convenience.” The invitation was made after a meeting between North Korea and China marking the 60-year alliance between the two countries. North Korean officials said they may consider rejoining the six-party talks with the United States over its nuclear program after a visit in October by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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Uighur activist Kadeer says China transfer policy caused riots
Stuart Biggs, Bloomberg, October 30, 2009
Rebiya Kadeer, an exiled Uighur activist and the head of the Washington-based World Uighur Congress, said at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday that the recent violence in Xinjiang was caused by the forced movement of Uighur women to mainland China to work in factories and hotels. According to Kadeer, as many as 300,000 women were assigned to work in areas outside Xinjiang as part of a government program to assimilate ethnic minorities. The Chinese government has repeatedly accused Kadeer of orchestrating the clashes between the Uighurs and the Han Chinese in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Kadeer maintains that she only wants the Uighurs “to live their lives in peace.” ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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China plans tourist destination near Macau: report
AFP via Google News, October 30, 2009
The South China Morning Post reported that China plans to turn a sparsely populated island, Hengqin, which is located near Macau, into a tourist destination. Officials told developers that they want the Hengqin population to grow from 4,000 to 200,000 by 2020, with resorts, villas, golf courses and other entertainment centers. Hengqin is aimed at drawing more tourists to the area for non-gambling activities. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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U.S. and China tackle clean energy challenge
MSNBC.com, October 30, 2009
President Obama is scheduled to visit China next month and one of the key topics of discussion with his Chinese counterpart will be clean energy issues. China and the United States account for a combined 40 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. Both countries are under extreme pressure to cut down their production of greenhouse gases. The meeting between the two leaders is expected to yield ideas for the United States and China to work together in the clean energy arena.---posted by Newly Paul
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