This is People's Daily Tonight, your news source from China. 

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US should conclude trade negotiations with China: American Soybean Association

The American Soybean Association (ASA) issued a statement on Tuesday urging the US to hold off hiking tariffs, conclude trade negotiations with China and reach a deal.

It said with depressed prices and unsold stocks forecast to double before the 2019 harvest begins in September, we need the China market reopened to US soybean exports within weeks, not months or longer.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is leading Chinese delegation to visit the US from May 9 to May 10 for the 11th round of trade talks. (People's Daily app)

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Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations to open on May 15

China will hold the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations starting from May 15, a senior official said Thursday.

Under the theme of exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future, the conference includes an opening ceremony and sub-forums, said Xu Lin, director of the State Council Information Office, at a press conference.

More than 2,000 government officials and representatives of various circles from 47 Asian countries and other countries outside the region will attend the opening ceremony and forums, said Xu, also vice president of the event's executive committee. (Xinhua)

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Chinese yuan strengthens to 6.7665 against USD Thursday

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 69 basis points to 6.7665 against the US dollar on Thursday.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua)

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S. Korea, US, Japan hold trilateral security talks in Seoul

Military officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan on Thursday held trilateral security talks in Seoul to discuss the Korean Peninsula issue, according to local media reports citing the South Korean defense ministry.

The 11th round of Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) opened in the morning at the headquarters of South Korea's defense ministry in Seoul. The annual security dialogue was launched in 2008 to discuss regional security issues.

During the dialogue, the three sides will discuss ways to cooperate in the denuclearization of and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, regional security situations and the trilateral defense cooperation. (Xinhua)

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Florida governor signs bill allowing more armed teachers

More Florida teachers will be eligible to carry guns in the classroom under a bill Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed.

The new law expands the program to make all teachers eligible, regardless of whether they have a non-classroom role.

DeSantis signed the bill in private and didn’t issue a statement afterward.

But he made it clear he supports the changes made to the law.

This, after a rifle-toting former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17 people in February 2018. (AP)

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Shan Jixiang hired as Palace Museum Research Institute chief

Shan Jixiang, former director and curator of the Palace Museum, has been hired as Palace Museum Research Institute chief, one month after his retirement.

Wang Xudong, current director of the Palace Museum, on Wednesday handed the offer letter, dated May 6, to Shan.

Shan is well known for his innovative changes to the Palace Museum, such as the introduction of a light show during the Lantern Festival.

By the end of 2018 over 80 percent of the Forbidden City had opened to visitors, compared with only 52 percent in 2014. (China Daily)

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Chinese scientists discover bizarre winged dinosaur

And Chinese scientists have found the remains of a bizarre Jurassic dinosaur with membranous wings, showing a strange but unsuccessful attempt to fly in the evolution process from dinosaur to bird.

The well-preserved fossil was discovered in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

It dates back 163 million years and belongs to a new species of Jurassic non-avian theropod dinosaurs with feathers and membranous tissues. (Xinhua)

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And that’s People’s Daily Tonight. Thanks for joining us.

(Produced by David Nye and Cheng Weidan)