AOL in new tie-up with China firm

4月17日 星期一 美国东部时间(夏令时)6:22

路透社上海电  传媒业巨头时代华纳集团旗下的网络部门——美国在线(AOL)周一表示，已经和中国第二大传媒企业建立了联系，这是自其2003年退出中国市场后的第一次类似合作活动。

在新的合作关系下，宽带内容商上海文广集团(SMG)会为AOL.com中文站点提供素材，其受众主要是在美国的中文使用者。SMG宽频会提供实质内容给美国的传媒地带公司(MediaZone)，AOL中文站点的合作伙伴之一。

SMG副总裁张大钟在新闻稿中表示：“这次合作只是一个开端，将来会有更加重要的合作成果。”。他还表示，一开始合作的焦点将在免费产品和免费服务的领域，不过双方希望将来能够合作开发收费服务。

AOL在近十年中，一会儿进入中国，一会儿又退出，正映射出了它发展的过程：其全球财富在20世纪90年代的网络经济繁荣的时候聚集，接着又在2000年以后，随着网络泡沫被挤爆而不断蒸发。在2001年全球扩展业务的过程中，AOL高调进入中国，同中国最大的个人电脑生产商联想集团推进一项价值2亿美元的合作项目。但是在两年后，双方的合作宣告失败，因为没有能够获得足够的发展。

AOL在2004年向路透社透露，它已经就重新进入中国而展开对话。中国拥有超过1亿网民，是世界第二大互联网市场。但是AOL没有公布任何的商业交易。

当AOL重新回到中国的时候，它会发现，市场竞争已经十分激烈，其竞争对手既有本地的新浪(Sina Corp.)和搜狐(Sohu.com Inc.)，同样还有国际网络巨头，像雅虎(Yahoo Inc.)和微软(Microsoft)MSN服务。

Original News

AOL in new tie-up with China firm

Mon Apr 17, 6:22 AM ET

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - AOL, the online unit of media giant Time Warner Inc., said on Monday it has formed a tie-up with China’s number two media company, one of its first such pairings since it withdrew from the Chinese market in 2003.

Under their new relationship, the broadband content arm of Shanghai Media Group (SMG) will provide material for a Chinese language version of AOL.com aimed at Chinese speakers in the United States.

SMG Broadband will provide the actual material to U.S. firm MediaZone, which is a partner in the AOL Chinese language site.

“This partnership is just a beginning, with the major fruits still to come in the future,” said SMG Vice President Zhang Dazhong at a news briefing.

He said the initial focus will be on free products and services, but the companies hope to further cooperate to develop fee-based services in the future.

AOL has had an on-again-off-again relationship with China this decade, mirroring its global fortunes as it boomed during the dot-com bubble of the 1990s only to fade during the crash that followed starting in 2000.

The company charged into China in 2001 amid a broader global expansion, launching a $200 million venture with much fanfare with Lenovo Group Ltd., China’s largest PC maker.

But the pair scrapped the venture two years later after it failed to gain steam.

The company told Reuters in 2004 it was back in discussions to re-enter China — the world’s second biggest Internet market with more than 100 million Web surfers — but no deal was ever announced.

If it returns to China, AOL will find itself in a crowded market where local players like Sina Corp. and Sohu.com Inc. compete alongside global Web giants like Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft’s MSN service.

Taiwan key to China-US ties: former ambassador

作者：林赛·贝克 (Lindsay Beck)

4月14日 星期五 美国东部时间(夏令时)2:39

路透社北京电  中国方面在星期五，即胡锦涛主席即将访问美国前，表示台湾问题仍然是其与美国关系中最为重要的问题。

中国外交部副部长杨洁篪同时还表示，双方在经济和贸易政策上的分歧是可以解决的，相信这个问题将很有可能成为胡锦涛和布什总统会谈的主要议题。同时他否认了，中国的快速崛起会对世界其他各国产生威胁。但是他也保留了在台湾问题上的强硬态度，认为自1949年国共内战结束后台湾始终是中国的一个分裂在外的省。美国承认“一个中国”的原则，但是仍然是台湾最大的武器供应商，同时保证在这个拥有2300万人的民主政权统治下的小岛受到攻击的时候提供军事协防。

“台湾问题是中美关系中最重要、最敏感的核心问题。”身为前中国驻美大使的杨洁篪向新闻界表示，“我们呼吁中美两国合作来看待并反对台湾独立活动。”正当杨洁篪发表上述观点的时候，台湾反对派的政治人物正在北京同中国领导人会面，并促请台湾政府开放三通并扩大贸易范围。鼓吹台独理念的台湾总统陈水扁，以终止《国家统一纲领》来挑衅大陆方面，在大陆方面看来，这个是他走向台湾独立的一个步骤。

分析家表示，中国希望能够得到美国政府的在台湾问题上非常明确的支持。“对于双方领导人而言，最大的挑战并不在于有多可靠的承诺，而是双方如何能够共同努力并且成功促使陈水扁推动两岸关系的发展。”北京大学研究中美关系的专家朱峰表示。

杨洁篪将中美关系视为世界上最重要的双边关系，并且表示双方在贸易问题上迅速膨胀的分歧和中国的人民币问题能够得到解决。一个由中国副总理吴仪率领的贸易代表团，会签署总额超过160亿美元的采购合同。杨洁篪认为：“这一点证明了中美双方完全能够合理地解决双方的贸易摩擦。”这次陪同胡锦涛访问的将不会有企业家，但是代表团成员将包括商务部长薄熙来和国家发展和改革委员会主任马凯。

虽然美方对中国的军费开支超过两位数的增长表示忧心忡忡，但是杨洁篪表示，这次访问将不会有军方代表随行。他同时说，公布国防政策白皮书，并且邀请外国军事观察家来访，显示出中国始终坚持和平发展的道路。

Original News

Taiwan key to China-US ties: former ambassador

By Lindsay Beck

Fri Apr 14, 2:39 AM ET

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Friday that Taiwan remained the most important issue in its relations with the United States, days before President Hu Jintao heads to Washington.

Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also said differences on trade and economic policies, which are expected to dominate talks between Hu and President Bush, could be resolved and countered suggestions that China’s rapid rise posed a threat to the rest of the world.

But he reserved his strongest comments for Taiwan, which China has considered a breakaway province since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

The United States recognizes the "one-China" policy, but it is also the biggest arms supplier to Taiwan and has pledged to defend the democratic island of 23 million in case of attack.

"The Taiwan question is the most important, most sensitive core issue in the China-U.S. relationship," said Yang, who is also a former ambassador to Washington.

"We call on the United States to work together with China to oppose and counter secessionist activities on the part of Taiwan," he told a news conference.

He was speaking as Taiwan opposition politicians met Chinese leaders in Beijing and urged Taiwan to allow regular direct flights and expand trade.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, who advocates independence, has alarmed China with moves such as shelving guidelines on eventual reunification, which Beijing sees as a steps toward formal secession.

China will be seeking a clear show of support from Washington on Taiwan, analysts say.

"What the challenge is to both leaders is not how solid reassurances will be, it’s how both can work together to try and manage the issue should Chen try to push the relationship," said Zhu Feng, an expert on China-U.S. relations at Peking University.

Yang called ties between Beijing and Washington "one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world" and said differences over a ballooning trade gap and the value of China’s currency could be managed.

A trade delegation led by Vice Premier Wu Yi that will yield deals worth more than $16 billion also proved "it is completely possible for China and the United States to properly handle trade friction," Yang said.

No business leaders will be accompany Hu, but Commerce Minister Bo Xilai and Ma Kai, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, will be among those in his delegation.

Yang said military personnel would also not be on the trip, despite concerns in Washington over double-digit increases in China’s military spending.

Publishing policy papers on defense and invitations to foreign military observers showed China was committed to peaceful development, Yang said.

Expelled star Wang makes humble return to China

4月10日 星期一 美国东部时间(夏令时)2:36

路透社北京电  王治郅作为中国的首位NBA球星，由于拒绝出战2002年亚运会而被开除出国家队，他在星期一终于回国并道歉。而中国则试图在北京奥运会前与所谓“问题明星”达成和解。

王治郅在2001年和达拉斯小牛队签约，为后进NBA的中国球员姚明和孟克·巴特尔铺平了道路。以上这三个球员，被认为是在NBA中的中国“长城”。而正是当初开除他的中国篮球协会，敞开胸怀欢迎他。

“我们始终对重视和爱惜球员的天赋”，周一在CBA（中国篮协）的官方网站上，它的发言人说，“国家队的大门始终向优秀并愿意报效祖国的球员敞开。”

28岁的王治郅，作为前八一火箭篮球队队员和一名现役军人，在机场为他背弃中国的行为做出公开道歉。在CBA的官方网站上援引了他的道歉：“当时我太年轻、不成熟，正因为这一点，我做出了一个完全错误的决定。但是，这几年在深刻的反省下，以及在军方、篮协领导的帮助下，我已经深刻认识到以前所犯的错误。“

事实上的封杀

中锋王治郅2月份在美国与CBA副主席李元伟进行会面了几次后回到了中国，之前王治郅已经在本赛季前被迈阿密热浪队所放弃。

尽管姚明在休斯敦火箭队的职业生涯很成功，并且在当地媒体被当作头条新闻。但是，对王治郅即便是相对而言不成功的球场表现，在报道上仍然受到事实上的限制，直到今天仍然如此。

虽然能否进入国家队还不能确定，但是CBA表示，主动权在王治郅手中。同时还表示，“是否能够再次入选国家队取决于他的能力、心理状况和身体状态。”

中国体育当局对那些逃避国家义务的运动员的前景表示黯淡，包括奥运跳水冠军田亮在内的许多“问题明星”被列入黑名单中。然而，根据最近的媒体报道，中国会重新召回对那些原来被放弃的国家队运动员，为2008年北京奥运会组成是最强大的队伍。王治郅回国前，中国优秀的网球选手彭帅也同国家和解，之前她曾经抱怨过国家义务过重。

Original News

Expelled star Wang makes humble return to China

Mon Apr 10, 2:36 AM ET

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s first NBA star, expelled from the national team for skipping the 2002 Asian Games, made an apologetic return on Monday as China seeks to reconcile with "problem stars" ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Wang Zhizhi, who paved the way for Chinese NBA players Yao Ming and Menk Barteer when he signed for the Dallas Mavericks in 2001, was welcomed back with open arms by the China Basketball Administration, the same body that expelled him.

The three became known as China’s "Great Wall" in the NBA.

"We have always placed importance on and cherished talent," a CBA spokesman said on its official Web site on Monday.

"The door of the national team has always been open to those excellent athletes willing to pay back the motherland."

The 28-year-old former player and army official with the Ba Yi Rockets military team publicly apologized at the airport for turning his back on China.

"At the time I was young and immature," he was quoted on the CBA Web site as saying.

"Because of this, I made a very wrong decision.

"Through these years of painful reflection and with the help of leaders of the army and the CBA, I have deeper recognition of the mistakes I’ve made in the past."

VIRTUAL BAN

The center’s return follows several meetings with CBA vice-president Li Yuanwei in the United States in February after he was dumped from the NBA’s Miami Heat team prior to the current season.

Whereas Yao Ming’s NBA career with the Houston Rockets has prospered and makes daily headlines in local media, there has been a virtual blanket ban on coverage of Wang’s relatively unsuccessful stint in the world’s top league — until today.

His return to the national team has not been confirmed, but the CBA stated that the ball was firmly in Wang’s court.

"Whether he plays for the national team again will depend on his capability, mental and physical conditions," the CBA said.

Chinese sporting authorities take a dim view of athletes shirking national duty, having black-listed a number of problem stars, including Olympic champion diver Tian Liang.

However, recent media reports have said that China would reach out to national athletes it had cast off in order to field the strongest possible team for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Wang’s return follows China’s recent reconciliation with promising tennis player Peng Shuai, who had complained of being stifled by national duties.