Fresh Start: Podcast News (5/10/2018 Thu.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi’s speech commemorating Marx’s birth anniversary published

Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the conference to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx has been published by the People's Publishing House.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered the speech in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 4.

The booklet is available at Xinhua Book Store outlets across the country. (Xinhua)

Chinese premier calls on China, Japan, South Korea to safeguard free trade, expand cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on China, Japan and South Korea to jointly safeguard free trade, expand investment and industrial capacity cooperation, as well as enhance innovation cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

The business summit was held following a trilateral meeting between Li, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Tokyo.

The Chinese premier also called for accelerating negotiations on a China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement and pushing for an early agreement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership so as to promote the building of East Asian Economic Community. (People’s Daily app)

China invited to send delegation to US for trade talks

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin invited Chinese Vice Premier Liu He to the US for further economic and trade negotiations, the US Department of Commerce said in a statement Wednesday.

China accepted the invitation, the statement said.

The US delegation led by Mnuchin visited China on May 3 and 4.

The two sides agreed to set up a work mechanism to maintain close communication.

They said that a sound and stable China-US trade relationship is crucial for both and are committed to resolving economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultations. (People’s Daily app)

North Korea releases US detainees

Three American detainees have been freed by North Korea and are heading home with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US President Donald Trump said Wednesday.

"I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health," Trump tweeted. (AFP – People’s Daily app)

Iran sticking to nuclear deal

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Wednesday that Iran is adhering to its “nuclear-related commitments” under the Iran nuclear deal, a day after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement.

A spokesperson for the agency said that “Iran is subject to the world’s most robust nuclear verification regime.”

Foreign ministers from France, Britain, and Germany are looking for ways to salvage the deal and will meet with Iranian representatives next Monday. (AFP – People’s Daily app)

Chinese stealth fighter undergoes sea-based combat training

China's J-20 stealth fighter underwent sea-based combat training for the first time on Wednesday, according to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force.

The stealth fighter made its maiden flight in 2011 and was officially commissioned into service last September.

An air force spokesperson said that the sea-based training helps protect the nation’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. (China Plus – People’s Daily app)

Beijing readies for Olympics

Beijing is currently in the midst of venue construction, marketing development, and other organizational work to prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Competition venue construction, which was paused during the winter, is back on pace to be completed in time for event testing at the end of 2019. China will also reuse many venues from previous Olympic games, such as its National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center.

The Olympics will utilize 25 competition and non-competition venues located in Beijing, Yanqing district, and Zhangjiakou. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

Prescription drug abuse on the rise in Australia

Data collected by Australia’s Department of Human Services found that drug abuse for prescription painkillers has risen by 26 percent in Australia over the last two years.

The country has seen a 168 percent rise in pharmaceutical drug-related deaths in the last decade, prompting doctors to call for more regulations.

A Federal Government spokesperson said it is working with its states to improve the technology used for tracking prescription drug distribution. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from Greek philosopher Plato:

“If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Raymond Mendoza, and Ziyi Zeng.)