29th May 09

The New York Times

Hope, but No Advances, in China-U.S. Climate Talks

BEIJING — Five days of talks aimed at bringing China and the United States closer together on the issue of climate change did not yield substantial progress, according to a Congressional delegation that met with environmental officials and the country’s top leaders this week.

North Korea Will Never Disarm

It is time for America to shift its focus from negotiating with North Korea to negotiating with the Chinese about North Korea. Beijing understands how vital these nuclear provocations are to Pyongyang’s survival, which is why it continues to bankroll them. Washington must therefore do more to assuage Beijing’s fears of a collapse of the Kim Jong-il regime.

China Is Said to Plan Strict Gas Mileage Rules

HONG KONG — Worried about heavy reliance on imported oil, Chinese officials have drafted automotive fuel economy standards that are even more stringent than those outlined by President Obama last week, Chinese experts with a detailed knowledge of the plans said on Wednesday.

Asia Times Online

Yuan in the ascendancy
By Pieter Bottelier

Since People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan's proposal for reforming the international monetary system was published on March 23, there have been new developments with regard to the international use of the Chinese currency, the renminbi, also referred to as the yuan.