People's Daily Tonight: Podcast News (5/18/2018 Fri.)

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

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China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier completes sea trial

China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier has completed its maiden sea trial.

Reports say it’s on its way back to Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The five-day sea trial tested the carrier's equipment, and  officials say it has achieved the desired results.

It’s China's second aircraft carrier after the Liaoning.

That’s a refitted Soviet Union-era carrier commissioned in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy in 2012. (CGTN)

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Putin and Merkel seek common ground after US Iran deal pullout

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will look to rebuild ties in Sochi on Friday after US Iran deal pullout.

Putin will host Merkel in the Black Sea resort to discuss how to fix the Iran nuclear deal – and also mend relations which have cooled since the Russian intervention in Crimea in 2014.

The visit follows trips to Moscow in the past week by German Foreign Minister and Economic Affairs Minister. (CGTN)

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Trump meets with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Washington

US President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Liu He to discuss bilateral ties at the White House.

Liu arrived in Washington on Tuesday for economic and trade consultations at the invitation of the US government. (Xinhua)

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China sees fast growth in new foreign-funded companies

China witnessed fast growth in new foreign-funded companies in the first four months this year.

The number of new foreign-funded companies surged 95.4 percent year on year to 19,002 in January-April, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Thursday.

In April, the number of new foreign-funded companies rose 39.5 percent to 4,662, according to the MOC. (CGTN)

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Palestinian minister suggests Arabs recall ambassadors in Washington

Palestinian Foreign Minister says Arab countries should recall their ambassadors to the US.

This, in response to Washington moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The US opened its new embassy in Jerusalem on Monday from Tel Aviv.

Israeli soldiers killed dozens of Palestinians protesting in the Gaza Strip while the embassy opened.

The Palestinian foreign minister said Arab states had agreed at previous summit meetings that they would cut ties with any country that moves its embassy to Jerusalem. (People's Daily app)

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China becoming rising source market for Dubai tourism

China is becoming an emerging source market for Dubai's tourism sector, according to the city's tourism authority.

Over 760,000 Chinese tourists visited Dubai last year, while about 258,000 Chinese visited Dubai in the first quarter of 2018, up 12 percent year on year.

Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has stepped up efforts to further increase the number of tourist arrivals from China with a major marketing and promotional campaign run in collaboration with top Chinese players in the travel, ICT and internet sectors. (Xinhua)

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B5 biodiesel to be provided in 200 Shanghai gas stations 

And Sinopec Shanghai is constructing a B5 biodiesel base.

B5 biodiesel is made from "gutter oil" and will speed up its entry into the market.

Reports say Shanghai will have 200 gas stations offering B5 biodiesel by the end of the year.

After a series of biochemical reactions and a mixture with normal diesel, the "gutter oil" from the food industry can be turned into green energy. (People's Daily app)

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

(Produced by David Nye, Wang Yi and Wu Kai)