By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House adviser Peter Navarro on Friday lashed out at efforts by current and former Wall Street executives to urge the United States and China to resolve their trade dispute, calling them "unregistered foreign agents" who were trying to pressure President Donald Trump into a deal. "When these unpaid foreign agents engage in this kind of diplomacy, so-called diplomacy, all they do is weaken this president and his negotiating position. No good can come of this. If there is a deal, if and when there is a deal, it will be on President Donald J. Trump's terms, not Wall Street terms," Navarro said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Trump is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the end of November on the sidelines of a G20 leaders summit to discuss a possible way out of their deepening trade war. In recent weeks, executives such as Blackstone Group Chief Executive Stephen … [Read more...] about White House adviser Navarro to Wall Street: Stay out of U.S.-China trade talks
China
Watch: China Shows Off Artificial Intelligence Journalist Who Promises ‘Brand New News Experience’
World International Affairs China's official news network has debuted what it claims to be the world's first artificial intelligence news anchor. The English-speaking avatar premiered Thursday at the state-run Xinhua News Agency, taking on the likeness of real-life reporter Zhang Zhao. In a roughly 30-second clip posted to the outlet's official social media channels, the AI anchor introduces itself as an innovation within an industry demanding more technological synergy. "Hello everyone, I'm an English artificial intelligence news anchor. This is my first day at Xinhua News Agency. My voice and appearance are modeled on Zhang Zhao, a real anchor with Xinhua," the simulated journalist told viewers. "The development of the media industry calls for continuous innovation and deep integration with the international advanced technologies," it added. "I will work tirelessly to keep you informed as texts are typed into my system uninterrupted. I look forward to bringing you the brand new … [Read more...] about Watch: China Shows Off Artificial Intelligence Journalist Who Promises ‘Brand New News Experience’
AmEx wins China approval to clear card payments
BEIJING (Reuters) - American Express Co on Friday won approval to clear card payments in China, making it the first U.S. card network to gain direct access to what is set to be the biggest bank card market by 2020. The move comes months after Beijing started allowing foreign companies to apply for licenses and ahead of a G20 meeting in Argentina where the United States and China will try to resolve their trade disputes. The preliminary approval allows the company to process and settle payments in yuan domestically by setting up its own network with its Chinese joint venture partner LianLian Group. Rivals Visa and Mastercard have also submitted requests for licenses but are yet to get approval. AmEx's JV, named Express (Hangzhou) Technology Services Co, is required to complete operation preparations within a year and get a nod from the central bank before running the card clearing business, the People's Bank of China said in a statement on its website. The approval is a "significant … [Read more...] about AmEx wins China approval to clear card payments
China expresses satisfaction over Rohingya repatriation deal
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is "happy" that Bangladesh and Myanmar have reached a deal to start repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine, its government's top diplomat said on Friday. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, U.N. agencies say, after Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmar security forces in August 2017 triggered a sweeping military crackdown. The two countries agreed on Oct. 30 to begin the returns to Myanmar in mid-November. The U.N. refugee agency has already said that conditions in Rakhine state were "not yet conducive for returns". Meeting Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque in Beijing, Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said China was "happy to see" the two countries reaching the agreement to start repatriating Rohingya, describing it as important progress to resolving what China calls the "Rakhine state issue". "This will create a good start for dealing with this complex historical issue and … [Read more...] about China expresses satisfaction over Rohingya repatriation deal
South China Sea issues come under the spotlight
Participants take part in a photo session at the 10th South China Sea International Conference on co-operation for regional security and development. — VNS Photo Công Thành Viet Nam News ĐÀ NẴNG — Discussions and forums on the South China Sea (called East Sea by Việt Nam) have become sources of interdisciplinary study among scholars and researchers from the fields of politics, social policy, environment and strategy over the past decade. Director of the diplomatic academy of Việt Nam, Nguyễn Vũ Tùng, spoke at the 10th South China Sea International Conference on co-operation for regional security and development yesterday, stating that over the past 10 years, the conference has attracted the participation of 300 scholars and 2,000 Vietnamese and international participants as well as institutes and universities. “We have built up a network of scholars and experts studying the South China Sea, promoting trust … [Read more...] about South China Sea issues come under the spotlight