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Tariff hikes won't address US trade deficit: spokesperson

The US unilateral measure of imposing additional tariffs won't solve its trade deficit issue, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The widening or narrowing of the trade surplus or deficit is decided by the market, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng said at a press conference in response to a question on China's widened trade surplus with the US.

Gao said the fast expansion of exports was mainly due to factors such as increased demand in the US domestic market. It could also be partly due to front-loading by Chinese exporters who are worried about the US tariff policy.

Gao said that the US trade deficit is related to its low savings rate, the status of the US dollar as the reserve currency and the country's control on exports to China.

The US side should recognize that the unilateral measure of imposing tariffs cannot solve the problem, Gao said, adding that China and the US should take pragmatic measures and work together to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral trade. (Xinhua)

Hong Kong to issue special stamps to commemorate launch of high-speed railway

On Thursday, the Hong Kong Post reported that a set of special stamps commemorating the upcoming launch of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) will be released on September 17.

The special stamps, together with associated products, will also be available for purchase.

A set of four stamps symbolizing the regional linkage display vivid colors and sharp XRL trains. The three cities connected by the new line include Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, found on each stamp, representing their own cultural characteristics and landmark.

"The central part of the train shows linked hands to signify the close relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland," the Hong Kong Post Senior Manager Nelvin Lee during a press conference. (Xinhua)

China's climate change efforts highlighted at global summit in California

The three-day Global Climate Action Summit is currently underway in San Francisco, where experts and leaders are focusing on healthy energy systems, inclusive economic growth, sustainable communities, land and ocean stewardship, and transformative climate investments.

The China Pavilion Opening Ceremony, co-hosted by the Department of Climate Change from China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the California government, has received great attention from many attendees.

Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs of China Xie Zhenhua, who is co-chairing the summit alongside California Governor Jerry Brown and three others, said in his opening remarks that China is an active participant, builder, and contributor to global climate governance.

Xie said China has not only made important contributions to the signing of the Paris Agreement, but also actively carries out multilateral and bilateral cooperation on climate change.

Brown, governor of California, said he appreciates China's role in the field of climate change and hoped to continue to strengthen cooperation with China while jointly promote practical actions for green and low-carbon transformation.

A number of multilateral memorandums for cooperation between China, California, and other regions were signed during the event. (People’s Daily app)

S.Korea, DPRK to hold preparatory talks for upcoming inter-Korean summit

South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will hold preparatory talks on Friday for the upcoming inter-Korean summit, the presidential Blue House of South Korea said Thursday.

A Blue House official, who declined to be identified, told reporters that the working-level dialogue to prepare for the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un will be held on Friday at the border village of Panmunjom.

Moon and Kim agreed to hold their third summit in the DPRK's capital Pyongyang for three days from Sept. 18.

The working-level officials from the two sides are expected to discuss protocol, security and media coverage during the upcoming summit. (Xinhua)

Wind and rain from Florence’s leading edge lash Carolinas

The outer bands of wind and rain from a weakened but still lethal Hurricane Florence began lashing North Carolina on Thursday as the monster storm moved in for a prolonged and potentially catastrophic drenching along the Southeast coast.

Florence’s winds had dropped from a peak of 140 mph (225 kph) to 105 mph (165 kph) by midmorning, reducing the hurricane from a terrifying Category 4 to a 2. But forecasters warned that the widening storm — and its likelihood of lingering around the coast day after day — will bring seawater surging onto land and torrential downpours.

“It truly is really about the whole size of this storm,” National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. “The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact — and we have that.”

Forecasters said Florence’s eye could come ashore early Friday around the North Carolina-South Carolina line. (AP)

Shanghai adopts facial recognition to prevent fatigue driving on buses

A bus company in Shanghai has installed cameras equipped with facial recognition and image analysis technology to prevent driver fatigue.

As the camera captures every movement and facial expression of the bus driver, irregular behaviors or violations like making phone calls, smoking or falling asleep will be detected, said Xia Zhirong, a representative from the Shanghai Jiushi Bus Company.

"When monitoring an abnormal behavior, the system will react and report to back-end staff within 5 to 10 seconds," Xia said, adding once the bus reaches its destination, the driver will be taken away for further investigation. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day.

Which country has the most time zones?

(Answer: France.)

Today's quote is from Chinese philosopher Confucius.
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Terry Guanlin Li, and Lance Crayon.)