People's Daily Tonight: Podcast News (5/1/2018 Tue.)

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

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China, Dominican Republic establish diplomatic ties

China and the Dominican Republic signed a joint communique in Beijing Tuesday on the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level effective from the May 1.

Dominican Republic recognizes that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

China highly appreciated the important and correct decision made by the Dominican Republic in line with the international law and the basic norms of international relations. 

Dominican Republic is willing to work with China to enhance political trust, strengthen exchanges at various levels and carry out cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and education.

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US envoys coming to negotiate on trade

An official delegation is coming from Washington. 

US President Donald Trump said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer would travel to Beijing.

The delegation will also include Trump's top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, and trade adviser Peter Navarro.

China said it values the willingness the US has shown to address the current trade friction through dialogue and communication. 

The talks are expected to take place on Thursday and Friday.

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Law to protect heroes' honor to take effect

A law to protect the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs will take effect on May 1. 

The law was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Friday. 

The country and the people should forever respect and remember the heroes and martyrs for their sacrifice and contribution to the Chinese nation and the people, according to the law. 

The law bans activities that defame heroes and martyrs or distort and diminish their deeds. It also includes content on the protection of memorials of heroes and martyrs, and publicity and education about them and their deeds. 

It stresses that whoever violates heroes’ rights of name, portrait, reputation, and honor will be punished. 

With the new law, the public will have a clearer understanding of what kind of behavior is not tolerated and what the consequences will be, and the government will have clear rules to follow when exercising their duty. 

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US extends steel, aluminum tariff exemption

The White House announced that the temporary steel and aluminum tariff exemptions for EU, Canada and Mexico will be extended until June 1.

These countries would have a final 30 days to reach agreements in negotiations with the US. 

Washington also agreed to exempt Argentina, Australia and Brazil as it has reached agreements with these countries. The White House said the details of these agreements will be finalized shortly.

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DPRK removes propaganda loudspeakers from border with S.Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) removed loudspeakers from the border area with South Korea in a bid to enforce the Panmunjom Declaration, announced after the inter-Korean summit last week, local media reported Tuesday citing the South Korean military.

South Korea's anti-DPRK broadcast through the loudspeakers was already stopped on April 23 ahead of the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un on April 27.

After the third-ever inter-Korean summit at the border village of Panmunjom, Moon and Kim signed and announced the Panmunjom Declaration, under which the two leaders agreed to stop all hostile acts, including the propaganda broadcast and the distribution of leaflets, and remove tools for it in areas near the military demarcation line dividing the Koreas since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, making it an actual peace zone.

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Tax refund offered to overseas tourists shopping in Xiongan

Starting May 1, foreign passport holders will be able to enjoy tax refunds for purchases at the shopping malls in the Xiongan New Area in North China’s Hebei Province. 

Foreign visitors to the new economic zone will be able to recoup their taxes from the purchase of 324 items, including clothing, jewelry and home electronic appliances.

Statistics show over 310,000 foreign tourists visited Hebei through the first quarter of this year, spending around $130 million.

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China to make up 28% of all global spending on gaming

China will account for 28 percent of the world’s gaming market this year, according to the latest report by e-sports and video games analysis firm Newzoo.

China will cement its position as the world’s biggest gaming market as the country set to generate $37.9 billion’s worth of revenue. 

Research showed that China’s gaming industry has some 560 million gamers, representing more than 70 percent of its total online population. The majority of those gamers use mobile devices to access games. 

According to Newzoo, the bulk of China’s gaming spending is on mobile games, which will represent 61 percent of the total domestic market this year, before further increasing to 70 percent by 2021.

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

(Produced by Chi Jingyi and Chen Lidan)