Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting of China compete during the duet free routine preliminary at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games synchronized swimming event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting ranked the fourth in preliminary and advanced to the final.
Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting of China compete during the duet free routine preliminary at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games synchronized swimming event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Jiang Wenwen and Jiang Tingting ranked the fourth in preliminary and advanced to the final.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Chinese vice premier inspects northern port city, urging efforts to boost economy
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday urged local officials and enterprises to seize opportunities and persevere in reform and opening-up to achieve stable and fast economic growth.
Efforts should be made to foster new areas of economic growth so as to reach the goal of long-term steady and fast economic development, Li said during an inspection tour from Aug. 18-19 in Tianjin, a north China port city.
Li Keqiang , Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 18, 2008. Li Keqiang paid a visit to Tianjin from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited local factories, construction sites, port, commercial and trade service zones and residential districts during his inspection tour.
He urged local officials to speed up efforts to build the Binhai New Area into a northern portal of the country's reform and opening up drive, a base of modern manufacturing and scientific research and application, and an international shipping and logistics center.
The Binhai New Area, a pilot reform zone, consists of the three administrative districts of Tanggu, Hangu and Dagang and eight industrial zones currently under construction.
Li Keqiang , Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects in Huaming Township of Dongli District in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 18, 2008. Li Keqiang paid a visit to Tianjin from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19.
Li stressed the importance of expanding domestic market demands in boosting economic development in an era of global economic uncertainty. He called for greater efforts to raise Chinese people' income through various channels and actively explore the rural consumption markets.
Source: Xinhua
Efforts should be made to foster new areas of economic growth so as to reach the goal of long-term steady and fast economic development, Li said during an inspection tour from Aug. 18-19 in Tianjin, a north China port city.
Li Keqiang , Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 18, 2008. Li Keqiang paid a visit to Tianjin from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited local factories, construction sites, port, commercial and trade service zones and residential districts during his inspection tour.
He urged local officials to speed up efforts to build the Binhai New Area into a northern portal of the country's reform and opening up drive, a base of modern manufacturing and scientific research and application, and an international shipping and logistics center.
The Binhai New Area, a pilot reform zone, consists of the three administrative districts of Tanggu, Hangu and Dagang and eight industrial zones currently under construction.
Li Keqiang , Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects in Huaming Township of Dongli District in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 18, 2008. Li Keqiang paid a visit to Tianjin from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19.
Li stressed the importance of expanding domestic market demands in boosting economic development in an era of global economic uncertainty. He called for greater efforts to raise Chinese people' income through various channels and actively explore the rural consumption markets.
Source: Xinhua
China meets Brazil, Cuba takes on US in Olympic women's volleyball semis
Players of China celebrate their victory over Russia during their Women's Quarterfinals match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. China beat Russia 3-0.
Host China will meet Brazil in the semifinals of the Olympic women's volleyball event, but the teams followed different path in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The Chinese girls, who claimed the gold medal in an epic final against Russia in the Athens Games four years ago, edged out the same opponents 25-22, 27-25, 25-19 in the one hour and 24 minutes thriller.
In an earlier quarterfinal, world number one team Brazil was hardly tested before blitzing Japan 25-12, 25-20, 25-16 in just 67 minutes.
Megumi Kurihara of Japan spikes the ball during Women's Quanterfinals - Match 34 between Brazil and Japan of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Brazil beat Japan 3-0.
The team, labeled as the heaviest favorite for the gold medal, has now compiled a 6-0 clean sheet since the preliminaries and did not even drop one single set.
"It will be a very difficult match against Russia or China but our team is confident because of the way we have been playing," said Brazilian winger Sheilla Castro, the best scorer of the team.
Players of Cuba celebrate during Women's Quarterfinals - Match 31 between Cuba and Serbia of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Cuba beat Serbia 3-0.
Cuba also pulled off a solid game to beat Serbia 26-24, 25-19, 26-24, and will in the other semifinal take on the United States, who survived a five-set thriller to beat World Cup winner Italy.
Lang Ping, coach of the women's volleyball team of the United States, hugs her team members during the Women's Quarterfinals match U.S. vs Italy of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. The U.S. beat Italy 3-2.
The United States twice rallied from one set down to force a tie-breaker, which they won at 15-6.
"I felt very happy with the result, they can always bring me surprise. I am so proud of them," American head coach Lang Ping, a former Chinese player, said after the match.
Cuba, former world champions and Athens bronze medalists, met serious challenge from the Serbian girls in the beginning of the match. The opening set was close as either of the teams could pull away until the set was levelled at 24-all.
Cuban spiker Yumilka Ruiz hit an excellent smash and then an error from Serbia gave Cuba the first set.
It was in the second set that the Cuban girls, who won three straight Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000, have started to take control over the match.
After claiming the set at 25-19, Cuba took their opponents lightly in the third set while Serbia mounted a strong comeback and after two straight blocks from Maja Ognjenovic, the Serbian team overtook the lead at 22 -20.
However, Serbia was not consistent in the remaining time.
"We're pleased with this victory, and with the opportunity to fight for the medals. It was a tough match and Serbia are a tough team," said Cuba head coach Antonio Perdomo Estrella.
"Today's match was very difficult and both teams were under mental pressure. Despite the victory we didn't feel relaxed, and we must play better in the next two matches. All four teams will be feeling the same emotions."
Playing in a repeat of the Athens Games final, China and Russia both needed a win to stay on course especially after they compiled a disappointing 3-2 record in the preliminaries.
"We had chance to win the first and second sets, but we are troubled with our poor attack and the Chinese girls did a good job in blocking," Russian head coach Giovanni Caprara said.
The Russian girls did not give up even when they lost the first set and squandered two set points in the second set.
But in the third set, the team showed some signs of vulnerability when they were up 16-13. Since then, the match turned in China's favor, with the Russian attack stuffed on the net. China used a 12-3 run to take the set and the whole match.
"This was a very important game for us, we are so happy that we won because we knew that Russia is a very strong team," said China captain Feng Kun. "In the quarterfinals there are no weak teams, so we knew we must win every point, so we fought for each point and were successful in the end."
"This victory did not come easily. In the preliminary round we suffered setbacks, we lost two matches and we knew we needed to control our emotions in order to succeed."
Host China will meet Brazil in the semifinals of the Olympic women's volleyball event, but the teams followed different path in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The Chinese girls, who claimed the gold medal in an epic final against Russia in the Athens Games four years ago, edged out the same opponents 25-22, 27-25, 25-19 in the one hour and 24 minutes thriller.
In an earlier quarterfinal, world number one team Brazil was hardly tested before blitzing Japan 25-12, 25-20, 25-16 in just 67 minutes.
Megumi Kurihara of Japan spikes the ball during Women's Quanterfinals - Match 34 between Brazil and Japan of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Brazil beat Japan 3-0.
The team, labeled as the heaviest favorite for the gold medal, has now compiled a 6-0 clean sheet since the preliminaries and did not even drop one single set.
"It will be a very difficult match against Russia or China but our team is confident because of the way we have been playing," said Brazilian winger Sheilla Castro, the best scorer of the team.
Players of Cuba celebrate during Women's Quarterfinals - Match 31 between Cuba and Serbia of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Cuba beat Serbia 3-0.
Cuba also pulled off a solid game to beat Serbia 26-24, 25-19, 26-24, and will in the other semifinal take on the United States, who survived a five-set thriller to beat World Cup winner Italy.
Lang Ping, coach of the women's volleyball team of the United States, hugs her team members during the Women's Quarterfinals match U.S. vs Italy of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. The U.S. beat Italy 3-2.
The United States twice rallied from one set down to force a tie-breaker, which they won at 15-6.
"I felt very happy with the result, they can always bring me surprise. I am so proud of them," American head coach Lang Ping, a former Chinese player, said after the match.
Cuba, former world champions and Athens bronze medalists, met serious challenge from the Serbian girls in the beginning of the match. The opening set was close as either of the teams could pull away until the set was levelled at 24-all.
Cuban spiker Yumilka Ruiz hit an excellent smash and then an error from Serbia gave Cuba the first set.
It was in the second set that the Cuban girls, who won three straight Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000, have started to take control over the match.
After claiming the set at 25-19, Cuba took their opponents lightly in the third set while Serbia mounted a strong comeback and after two straight blocks from Maja Ognjenovic, the Serbian team overtook the lead at 22 -20.
However, Serbia was not consistent in the remaining time.
"We're pleased with this victory, and with the opportunity to fight for the medals. It was a tough match and Serbia are a tough team," said Cuba head coach Antonio Perdomo Estrella.
"Today's match was very difficult and both teams were under mental pressure. Despite the victory we didn't feel relaxed, and we must play better in the next two matches. All four teams will be feeling the same emotions."
Playing in a repeat of the Athens Games final, China and Russia both needed a win to stay on course especially after they compiled a disappointing 3-2 record in the preliminaries.
"We had chance to win the first and second sets, but we are troubled with our poor attack and the Chinese girls did a good job in blocking," Russian head coach Giovanni Caprara said.
The Russian girls did not give up even when they lost the first set and squandered two set points in the second set.
But in the third set, the team showed some signs of vulnerability when they were up 16-13. Since then, the match turned in China's favor, with the Russian attack stuffed on the net. China used a 12-3 run to take the set and the whole match.
"This was a very important game for us, we are so happy that we won because we knew that Russia is a very strong team," said China captain Feng Kun. "In the quarterfinals there are no weak teams, so we knew we must win every point, so we fought for each point and were successful in the end."
"This victory did not come easily. In the preliminary round we suffered setbacks, we lost two matches and we knew we needed to control our emotions in order to succeed."
Public traffic in Beijing
The flood crest of the Huaihe River surpassed the danger mark at Wangjiaba, a hydrological station in east China's Anhui province on Monday, intensifying risks of the river bursting its banks.
The water level monitored at Wangjiaba was 63 cm above the danger mark on Monday morning, when the flow at 3,910 cubic meters per second.
The provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters warned the water level could rise by another 30 cm by Tuesday, when the flood peak was expected to reach Wangjiaba.
More that 20,000 hectares of farmland have been inundated since the river began to swell on Saturday, according to the headquarters, which has mobilized more than 2,700 people to patrol the embankments.
The flood was triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment area since Wednesday. The weather cleared on Monday and the provincial observatory was forecasting no heavy rain in near future.
The headquarters on Monday called on government institutions to allocate more personnel to flood control efforts along the embankment.
The sixth longest river in China is one of the most flood prone in the country. Its first flood this year was on April 22, and the highest water level monitored at Wangjiaba was 27.78 meters. It was the most extensive spring flooding since 1964.
Source: Xinhua
The water level monitored at Wangjiaba was 63 cm above the danger mark on Monday morning, when the flow at 3,910 cubic meters per second.
The provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters warned the water level could rise by another 30 cm by Tuesday, when the flood peak was expected to reach Wangjiaba.
More that 20,000 hectares of farmland have been inundated since the river began to swell on Saturday, according to the headquarters, which has mobilized more than 2,700 people to patrol the embankments.
The flood was triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment area since Wednesday. The weather cleared on Monday and the provincial observatory was forecasting no heavy rain in near future.
The headquarters on Monday called on government institutions to allocate more personnel to flood control efforts along the embankment.
The sixth longest river in China is one of the most flood prone in the country. Its first flood this year was on April 22, and the highest water level monitored at Wangjiaba was 27.78 meters. It was the most extensive spring flooding since 1964.
Source: Xinhua
China's Xu wins historic Laser Radial bronze at sailing
Xu Lijia of China competes in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008. Xu clinched the bronze medal in this event.
Xu Lijia of China celebrates with Chinese national flag after clinched the bronze medal in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008.
Sailors compete in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008. Anna Tunnicliffe from the United States claimed the title in this event.
Xu Lijia of China celebrates with Chinese national flag after clinched the bronze medal in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008.
Sailors compete in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008. Anna Tunnicliffe from the United States claimed the title in this event.
Shawn Johnson of United States wins beam title at Olympic gymnastics tourney
Shawn Johnson of the United States competes during women's balance beam final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Shawn Johnson claimed the title of the event with a score of 16.225.
Shawn Johnson of the United States won the gold medal of beam event at Olympic gymnastics tournament on Tuesday.
Shawn Johnson collected 16.225 points for the title, edging her fellow American Nastia Liukin to the second place at 16.025. Cheng Fei of China settled for the bronze medal at 15.950.
Source: Xinhua
Shawn Johnson of the United States won the gold medal of beam event at Olympic gymnastics tournament on Tuesday.
Shawn Johnson collected 16.225 points for the title, edging her fellow American Nastia Liukin to the second place at 16.025. Cheng Fei of China settled for the bronze medal at 15.950.
Source: Xinhua
Zou Kai of China wins horizontal gold medal
Zou Kai of China won the horizontal gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games on Tuesday.
China's Zou Kai competes during men's horizontal bar final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event with a score of 16.200.
Zou Kai scored 16.200 points for the gold, the ninth for the Chinese gymnastics team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The silver medal was taken by Jonathan Horton of the United States at 16.175, followed by Fabian Hambuechen of Germany in the third place at 15.875.
China's Zou Kai celebrates after his performance in men's horizontal bar final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event with a score of 16.200.
Source: Xinhua
China's Zou Kai competes during men's horizontal bar final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event with a score of 16.200.
Zou Kai scored 16.200 points for the gold, the ninth for the Chinese gymnastics team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The silver medal was taken by Jonathan Horton of the United States at 16.175, followed by Fabian Hambuechen of Germany in the third place at 15.875.
China's Zou Kai celebrates after his performance in men's horizontal bar final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Zou Kai claimed the title of the event with a score of 16.200.
Source: Xinhua
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