Spotlight: China pledges to promote global cooperation to build sustainable cities

QUITO, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- China will strive to promote global cooperation to help build sustainable cities, a senior Chinese official said Monday.

"China is committed to actively participating in and promoting the process of sustainable urbanization," Chen Zhenggao, China's minister of housing and urban-rural development, told the third United Nations (UN) Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, or Habitat III, held in Ecuador's capital of Quito. The meeting, which will end on Thursday, aims to put together a new urban development agenda to address urban sprawl and inequity. Beijing will work toward "the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda in China to continue to improve the quality of human settlements," said Chen. To that end, China will "strive to create harmonious, livable, vibrant and unique modern cities, so that people live a better life," added Chen. Abroad, China "will continue to strengthen international cooperation in the area of human settlements and support the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and other UN agencies in their efforts to implement the 2030 sustainable development goals and the New Urban Agenda," said the minister.

China has compiled the so-called "Shanghai Manual," which "presents a wide range of good practices in urbanization worldwide," UN-Habitat recently said on its website, adding the manual is to be launched in Quito. In July, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Joan Clos traveled to China, where he met with Chen and "complimented the achievements of China with regard to planned urbanization, which has generated many experiences that are valuable for other developing countries," the UN agency said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who presided over the opening ceremony of Habitat III along with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, said the success of the New Urban Agenda "will depend on the collaboration of all countries and all stakeholders."

"The New Urban Agenda that you will adopt here reflects the broad participation of governments and all urban actors. It will set global standards for sustainable urban development and help us to rethink how we build, manage and live in cities," Ban said.

At the time of Habitat I -- the first UN conference on human settlements -- in 1976, around 40 percent of global population lived in cities. Now the proportion has reached 54 percent and is expected to reach 66 percent by 2050, according to the United Nations. Rapid urbanization has greatly reshaped human society. However, the "level of planned organization has decreased and the quality of the planning has also decreased," said Close ahead of the Quito meeting. Ban echoed Close' words, saying: "Urban areas are expanding rapidly, especially in developing countries, and that expansion is frequently unplanned. Approximately a quarter of urban dwellers live in slums or informal settlements." It is clear that transforming the world for the better means transforming towns and cities, Ban said, calling for better urban governance, planning and design as well as more investment in adequate and affordable housing, quality infrastructure and basic services. "We need a global partnership for sustainable development, encompassing national, regional and local authorities acting in concert with development partners, businesses, investors and communities," Ban said.

Instant recovery eludes China's noodle makers

Emma Deng did something unusual on her recent Beijing-Shanghai five-hour high-speed trainride. Instead of snacking on a bowl of instant noodles, as was her wont, the frequent travelerunpacked lunch and beverages brought from KFC and Starbucks outlets at the Beijing SouthRailway Station.

"When you have choices of fresh food from restaurants, instant noodles become lessattractive," she said.

Fast-food alternatives and health awareness have been dealing heavy blows to the instantnoodles market in China, the world's largest.

Once the staple of train passengers and office staff working overtime, instant noodles are nolonger having easy access to tummies in China.

According to the World Instant Noodles Association, consumption in the Chinese mainlandand Hong Kong has declined from 42,470 million servings in 2011 to 40,430 million servingsin 2015.

According to Mintel Group Ltd's report released in January, retail sales of instant noodles inChina are estimated to have grown just 2.2 percent between 2010 and 2015, reaching 65.3billion yuan ($9.7 billion) in 2015. Mintel expects a 1 percent drop in sales to 62.1 billion yuanby 2020.

Four noodle-makers－Tingyi Holdings, Uni-present, Baixiang and Jinmailang－command an80 percent share of China's instant noodles market.

Leading brand MasterKong of Tingyi saw its net profit plunge nearly 65 percent year-on-yearto $69.7 million in the first half of this year. Its second-quarter profit saw the sharpest drop inten years, down nearly 14 percent year-on-year to $1.54 billion.

In the first six months of this year, instant noodles accounted for almost 37 percent of thegroup's revenue, 52 percent of market-wide sales and 43 percent of market share, accordingto Nielsen's statistics.Zhao Ping, a researcher at the Institute of China Council for the Promotion of InternationalTrade, attributed the decline in sales of instant noodles to changing tastes of Chineseconsumers.

"Awareness of nutrition, health and safety in the context of food is up," said Zhao. "Alternatives to instant noodles are popular due to the rapid growth of Chinese chains that sellrice- or noodle-based fast food."

To survive the onslaught of new foods and dispel the image of junk food, instant noodles needimproved nutrition quotient and better ingredients like dry fruits and vegetables, she said.

According to a December 2015 Mintel report, instant noodles are generally regarded as anunhealthy snack in Asia, despite their popularity in the region. The continent accounts for 86percent of global sales, according to the WINA.

Not surprisingly, China saw a significant decline in sales. Per capita consumption is 2.6kilograms, much lower than 8.7 kg in South Korea.

In response, both MasterKong and Uni-present have launched new instant noodle productsthat are positioned as healthy and premium snacks.

MasterKong has upgraded its Classic series that was priced 4 yuan to a high-end productpriced 4.5 yuan per pack. This has helped bring about a recovery in its June revenue. Thenew product includes a concentrate of soup that enhances both taste and nutritional value,according to the company's half-yearly financial report.

Other developments in the market include the end to Nissin's collaboration with Jinmailang asthe former aims to invest more in the premium segment. This, in turn, may have promptedJinmailang to shift its focus to the mass market.

French court upholds decision to dismantle Calais "jungle" migrant camp

PARIS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The administrative court of Lille on Tuesday upheld a decision to close the migrants camp in Calais, northern France, rejecting a group of charities' request to halt the camp's closure.

The court ruled that dismantling the migrants camp -- known as "the jungle" -- in the French port city "does not disregard the principle of prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment."

"On the contrary, the closure aims to put an end to such treatment to which migrants are currently subject," it added.

In a joint statement, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Housing Minister Emmanuelle Cosse said the court's decision "confirms the government's humanitarian approach and determination to initiate the dismantling of the camp as soon as possible and before the winter."

On Sept. 25, French President Francois Hollande pledged to completely dismantle the shanty town in northern Calais where thousands of migrants are camping, vowing to redistribute them in centers across the country.

They will be put into groups of 40 to 50 people for a limited period between three and four months. The migrants who fit the asylum criteria will stay in France while those who do not will be sent home, according to the French president.

Wars, political instability and poverty in many Arab and African countries forced thousands of people to displace and seek a better life in Europe, leading to an unprecedented migrant crisis.

About 9,000 migrants live in Calais where the French end of the Channel Tunnel is located. The migrants attempt to board lorries and trains heading to Britain.

France has promised to receive 30,000 refugees over the next two years.

Internet fandom of Pakistani chai wala expands to India, Middle East

ISLAMABAD: An instagram photo of a chai wala in Islamabad taken by aspiring photographer Jiah Ali went viral on social media platforms not because of his flavorsome tea but for his eye-catching and debonair looks.

Overnight, chai wala became top Twitter trend with girls going mad after the latest internet crush.

Netizens from different countries have been observed admiring his outstanding good looks and dashing personality.

His stunning high-fashioned supermodel appearance with blue eyes while pouring tea has forced the people to take to Twitter, wishing he can get some modeling contract.

The real name of internet fame holder chai wala is Arshad Khan, who works at Sunday Bazaar (Peshawar Chowk) near vegetable area.

Arshad Khan, brother of 17 siblings, expressed his ecstasy on becoming famous in one day.

Talking to media, he said that he is happy with his overnight popularity but it is irritating when people gather around him for pictures during working hours as he is supposed to work to earn livelihood.

Moreover, he said that people have taken more than 150 pictures with him so far.

pak china frindship. a friend is need is a friend indeed

China defends Pakistan after Modi's 'mothership of terrorism' remark

China sprang to long-time ally Pakistan's defence on Monday after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi branded Pakistan a “mothership of terrorism” at a summit of BRICS nations.

Modi's remarks to a meeting of leaders from BRICS ─ Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa ─ escalated his diplomatic drive to isolate Pakistan, which India accuses of sponsoring cross-border terrorism.

Tensions between the two countries have been running high since the Sept 18 Uri army base attack in held Kashmir killed 19 Indian soldiers in the worst such assault in 14 years.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, asked about Modi's comments, said China opposed all forms of terrorism and that the international community should increase counter-terrorism cooperation.

“We also oppose the linking of terrorism to any specific country, ethnicity or religion. This is China's consistent position,” she told a daily news briefing in Beijing.

“Everyone knows that India and Pakistan are victims of terrorism. Pakistan has made huge efforts and great sacrifices in fighting terrorism. I think the international community should respect this,” Hua added.

China and Pakistan consider each other “all-weather friends” and have close diplomatic, economic and security ties.

‘CPEC could become another East India Company’

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers from the upper house on Monday expressed the fear that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could turn into another East India Company if the country’s interests were not actively protected.

“Another East India Company is in the offing; national interests are not being protected. We are proud of the friendship between Pakistan and China, but the interests of the state should come first,” Senator Tahir Mashhadi, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development, said when some committee members raised the concern that the government was not protecting the rights and interests of the people.

The East India Company was the British trading mission sent to India, which became the precursor to the British colonial presence in the subcontinent, eventually gaining power and overthrowing the Mughals who ruled India at the time.Following a briefing by Planning Commission Secretary Yousuf Nadeem Khokhar, a number of committee members voiced their fears over what they perceived as the utilisation of local financing for CPEC projects, instead of funding from the Chinese or any other foreign investment. They also expressed concern over the fixing of power tariff for CPEC-related power projects by the Chinese.

Senators question why most corridor projects are being funded locally, not through foreign investment

Since only one of three Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members of the committee was present at the meeting, most of this criticism went unanswered. Even Senator Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, the lone PML-N senator in attendance, endorsed the committee chairman’s complaints.

The meeting was informed that a major portion of the CPEC depended on local finances rather than Chinese investment.

“It will be very harmful for us if we have to bear the entire burden; will this [project] be a national development or a national calamity? Whatever loans taken from China will have to be paid by the poor people of Pakistan,” Mr Mashhadi observed.Highlighting the status of CPEC-related power projects, the Planning Commission secretary said that the Matiari-Lahore transmission line project had “not been scrapped” and was being pursued by its Chinese sponsors.

Recently, the National Energy Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) had approved tariff for the project, while the government’s Private Power Infrastructure Board had filed a review petition on the tariff in order to address the sponsors’ concerns.At this, Senator Usman Khan Kakar pointed out that Nepra had fixed the power tariff for the project at 71 paisas/unit, while Chinese investors were demanding 95 paisas/unit.

“The government has filed an appeal before Nepra, seeking the increase despite the fact that the burden will be borne by poor consumers,” he said.

The secretary also informed the committee that the Gadani power plant complex had been shelved due to the lack of a dedicated jetty.

He also said that the 6,000MW project was not part of the CPEC.

Senator Kakar immediately reacted, saying that despite the fact that the project was not part of the CPEC, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong had recently claimed that the Gadani power plant had not been scrapped and was indeed a part of the corridor. “Why is this project, which does not even exist, being counted in our account?” he asked.

He said that the infrastructure being established in Gwadar would only benefit the Chinese and Punjab governments, not the local community. “The people of Balochistan will only get one benefit from this project, which is the water supply,” he said, adding that no electricity or railway projects had been planned for Balochistan under the CPEC.

Senator Mandokhail said that a sense of deprivation was being instilled in smaller provinces. “We do not want the CPEC at the cost of the federation,” he added.

Since Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was not present in the meeting, the senator urged the secretary to advise him to ensure the integrity of the federation.Senator Mandokhail also accused the Planning Commission of prioritising Balochistan very low on its list, given that it has not representation in the commission itself.

Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Senator Sirajul Haq said that like certain other parts of the country, Fata and AJK were also being neglected in the CPEC. “There is nothing for both areas in the CPEC,” he said and suggested that a 35km road was built to link Muzaffarabad to the CPEC so that the people of AJK could also reap its benefits.

Trump offers to help reduce India-Pakistan tensions

WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that if elected, he’d like to mediate between India and Pakistan because the region was a “very, very hot tinderbox”.

But like the Obama administration, Mr Trump also said that he would only mediate if both countries asked him to do so.

In a meeting with the Indian community in New Jersey this weekend, the Republican candidate promised that if voted to power, he would make the United States and India “the best of friends” and they would have a “phenomenal future” together.

“There isn’t going to be any relationship more important to us,” he added.

Later, in an interview to The Hindustan Times, Mr Trump expressed his desire to play a role in reducing India-Pakistan tensions.

“Well, I would love to see Pakistan and India get along, because that’s a very, very hot tinderbox,” he said. “That would be a very great thing. I hope they can do it.”

Mr Trump also referred to “the recent problem” in held Kashmir where Indian forces have killed more than 100 demonstrators since July and a terrorist attack in Uri brought the two countries close to yet another armed conflict.

Asked if he would like to play a role, he said, “If it was necessary I would do that. If we could get India and Pakistan getting along, I would be honoured to do that.”

He said that reducing tensions between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed nations would “be a tremendous achievement” and “if they wanted me to, I would love to be the mediator or arbitrator”.