Joining AIIB links China-UK trade, finance co-op

Britain was the first western country to sign up for the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, leading the way for other Western countries to join. CCTV reporter Ming Tian takes a look at how this move might benefit trade and finance.Taobao agent
Britain’s decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in March was a surprise but it opened the gate for other European countries to apply for membership. Germany, France, Italy, and many others followed suit. Looking back, British officials say the move was in line with Britain’s interest in expanding its export sector, saying it will stimulate trade via better infrastructure facilities.
"The whole ambition of AIIB is an infrastructure financier in Asia. The kind of countries it may help in Asia in terms of trade, are at least in the past generations, very different kinds of countries. It is very important for a country that has been so involved in trade to be actively involved in that," said Commercial secretary of the UK Treasury Jim O'Neill.

Trade flow is not the only beneficiary of the A-I-I-B. Here at Beijing's financial hub, where the bank's headquarter will be located, economists say the set-up would also bolster Chinese currency’s use, and consequently, its internationalization process.
And much more. The cooperation spans all financial areas, according to chief researcher Lyu Lixin from Cinda securities.

"The cooperation would include not only the monetary market, the capital market, and investment market. The UK's joining has great political and economic meaning for other European countries to invest in infrastructure," said Dr. Lyu Lixin, research director of Research & Dev't Center, Cinda Securities.China Ebay

Shanghai warming up for Halloween

A supermarket nearby says sales of Halloween costumes and candy are good, and it can sell dozens of plastic jack-o-lanterns every day.Taobao agent

With two weeks to go to Halloween, many stores around Shanghai are offering costumes and candy in readiness for the ghoulish festival.
With two weeks to go to Halloween, many stores around Shanghai are offering costumes and candy in readiness for the ghoulish festival.
This shopping mall in Pudong has set up a Halloween-themed virtual reality train ride. Riders put on a pair of glasses and then experience a ride full of ghosts and other scary monsters.

"The objects come flying at you. You almost feel you're waiting for the impact. It's brilliant," said Leon Michelson.
A supermarket nearby says sales of Halloween costumes and candy are good, and it can sell dozens of plastic jack-o-lanterns every day.
"This Halloween, maybe just some candy for the kids that come by, maybe a pumpkin, make a jack-o-lantern," said Aaron Spears.
Some people have plans for costume parties.
"So we will probably end up in a house party and then move to a club, I think. I am going to dress like a dolphin, I paid for my own (costume) on Taobao I think I paid for like 300 kuai," said Oliver Pietrantoni.
"My daughter, she wants to be Cinderella, so we have a little Cinderella costume for her, and I'm going to put her hair up in a little bun and tiara. So we are really excited because we just got here, and she can meet all of the other kids and play in her costume," said Keri Zhao.

Many nightclubs and amusement parks around the city will also hold special events on Halloween. China Ebay

New exhibition focuses on Yue-Kiln celadon ceramics

This exhibition displays more than 150 pieces and aims to unfold developments in the artform over its long history, along with its rich cultural meanings.Taobao agent

Displaying celadon ceramics up to 3,000 years old from the Yue kilns.

The Palace Museum is the world's richest repository of Chinese art and artefacts. During this 90th-Anniversary year, another exhibition has opened, this time displaying celadon ceramics up to 3,000 years old from the Yue kilns.
The "Yue kilns" were used to make celadon pottery - characterized by its light-green hue - from the Western Zhou dynasty, beginning in 771BC, until the Song dynasty beginning in 960AD. Most of the kilns were located in what is today eastern Zhejiang Province, where the ancient Yue people lived.
This exhibition displays more than 150 pieces and aims to unfold developments in the artform over its long history, along with its rich cultural meanings.
"This is the museum's first-ever exhibition featuring only Yue kiln celadon. And the items on display are very precious, fully showcasing the best of the Yue kiln," said Lyu Chenglong, Palace Museum.

There are also 22 pieces donated by renowned collector Chen Guozhen. Over the past three decades, he has accumulated more than six thousand celadon artefacts from the Yue kilns.
"If I keep the relics at home, only I can appreciate them. But now the items are showcased here at a world-renowned museum, visitors from all over the world can see the precious pieces of my collection," said Chen Guozhen, donator.
To date, the Palace Museum has accepted more than 30 thousand items - many very rare - from collectors worldwide, among which are more than 5,000 pieces of pottery and ceramics.China Ebay

This exhibition runs until December the 15th.

English Premier League focusing on Asian marketplace

The United Kingdom prides itself on being the home of modern football, and the English Premier League is one of the sport's most successful organizations.Taobao agent So with Chinese President Xi Jinping heading to Manchester both sides are already cooperating on ways to further develop the game and cultivate new fans.
Over the past five years, the sports industry in the United Kingdom has continued to outdo itself, exceeding 20 billion pounds in revenue, while becoming one of the country's Top 15 economic sectors. Leading the way is the English Premier League, with perennial title contenders Arsenal turning a profit of 350 million pounds last season. Television has also helped the Gunners achieve tremendous international popularity, and the club's recent fan registration drive in China soared past the 10-thousand mark in less than three weeks.
The EPL is now one of the most profitable leagues in Europe, and Asian markets have become increasingly important to the Premiership, with China's large population giving the nation incredible fanbase potential, leading major stars to begin interacting with fans through the internet, especially during traditional holidays.

Football exchanges between the two sides have also increased in frequency in recent years, with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong hosting a conference on ways to further bolster the sport through bilateral efforts while visiting the UK last month. Both sides reaffirmed plans for their governments to collaborate by helping promote their respective professional leagues, while officially cementing further cooperation in youth football development projects.
Former England captain David Beckham is a de facto sports envoy between the two countries, as he was named the CSL's Global Ambassador two years ago, and when youth players from the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation traveled to the UK last October, the retired icon reiterated his commitment to a series of ongoing development efforts.

Manchester City, whose Etihad Stadium is one of the stops on President Xi Jinping's itinerary during his visit to the UK, also has great interest in China, and the pitch at the team's training academy hosted a warm-up match for the Women's World Cup between the PRC and Three Lionesses this past spring. On the men's side, the Citizens made Sun Jihai the English Premier League's first Chinese player 13 years ago.China Ebay And now the entire EPL seems to be eagerly anticipating the next.

Hong Kong Open: Defending champ Hend two strokes back after 18 holes

As for the Hong Kong Open, many didn't think the tournament would survive.Taobao agent Last year -- it lost its title sponsor and was moved from its traditional early December date, and there was also an issue with the venue. But the oldest sporting event on the island has resolved its issues and all those troubles did not seem to affect Lu Wei-chih and Andrea Pavan who would share the lead after the opening round.
Australian Scott Hend makes a solid start to his title defending, moving to four-under-par following his fourth birdie of the day, at the 15th hole.
Level-par at the turn, Ian Poulter shots a bogey-free back nine with three birdies to finish the day on three-under.
He is one shot behind Ryder Cup team-mate Graeme McDowell, who was in a seven-way tie for sixth place, two shots off the lead -- thanks to that great putt.
Pan Cheng-tsung goes close to claiming a share of the lead, but a bogey at the last saw the golfer from Chinese Taipei slip back to five-under. 1 off the pace
Pan's compatriot Lu Wei-Chih would grab a share of the lead -- thanks to some solid play with the flat stick.

He was also pretty good with his iron play -- this nice approach sets him up for a birdie, as he would tweet on three consecutive holes to help him move to 6-under after a 64. He was tied with Italy's Andrea Pavan for the lead.

The second round of the event is underway, with Justin Rose now the leader, then a pair of golfers a shot back at minus 8, including overnight co-leader Wei, who is still on the course through 8. The well-dressed Ian Poulter is at 7-under. And the other co-leader from the opening Andrea Pavan has played four holes and is 3 back of top spot. China Ebay

UEFA Champions League: De Bruyne’s late winner gives Citizens vital win

In UEFA Champions League, Manchester City were facing Spanish side Sevilla in a Group D match yesterday.Taobao agent The two sides came into the match at the Emirates Stadium level on points and a win for either side would prove vital in thier bid to qualify for the knockout rounds.

Sevilla in red were Europa League winners for the last two seasons and have not looked out of place in the elite competition as they go ahead on Yevhen Konoplyanka's strike in the 30th minute.

6 minutes later, Yaya Toure wiggles free from his defender and finds Raheem Sterling, whose close-range attempt is right at Sergio Rico who can't coral it and the rebound falls to Wilfried Bony and his shot deflects off Adil Rami and into the net for an own goal.

It's not until the final moments of the match that a winner is finally found. With the play wide open, Kevin De Bruyne makes a run into the box and creates enough space fowire a low shot into far corner as City escape with a narrow 2-1 win.

Manchester City 2 - Sevilla 1

"When you win it's very important for the trust of the players, because it's always important to arrive at a game like the derby on Sunday winning and not losing with a lot of doubts. We need to continue improving what we are doing," said Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager.
Los Blancos remain on top of Group A with draw

Now we've got Real Madrid at Paris St. Germain with both sides undefeated and yet to concede a goal in the competition after two rounds. Los Blancos would be playing without the injured Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez. PSG were almost at full strength with their preferred midfield of Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti.

The hosts impose their usual possession pattern on the game and have their first clear chance after 11 minutes when Matuidi's low shot is saved by Keylor Navas.

The visitors have a great opportunity in the 25th minute, but Kevin Trapp makes a fine save foot on Jese after a brilliant through ball from Toni Kroos.

The German keeper is at it again 10 minutes from the interval, tipping Cristiano Ronaldo's header over the bar as Real begin to take control. Casemiro forces Trapp into another save with a long-range shot.

Real's best chance comes in the 39th minute, but neither Ronaldo or Casemiro can score.

PSG are back in possession after the break and Edinson Cavani goes close when he latches on to a cross from Motta in the 49th.

At the end of a sharp counter-attack, Ronaldo misses the target with a powerful angled shot. 0-0, is the final score. The result extends Real's undefeated record in group matches to 18 games to equal Barcelona's mark in 2012.

Other matches saw Malmo beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0, PSV Eindhoven lost to Wolfsburg 2-0, CSKA Moscow drew with Manchester United 1-1, Galatasaray defeated Benfica 2-1, Atletico Madrid thrashed Astana 4-0 and Juventus drew Moenchengladbach 0-0. China Ebay

CBSA Haining Open: World Number 3 from China crushes compatriot Tang 4-0

At CBSA Haining Open, the PRC's premier potter Ding Junhui was taking on Tang Jun, with the winner of this match moving on to the Round of 32.Taobao agent

Ding looks to be in brilliant form as he grabs the first two frames with ease. He produces a break of 123 in the second against his wildcard opponent.

In the third frame, Tang fails to pot a black right around the pocket. That mistake is all Ding needs, and the home favorite manages to clear the table to lead 3-0.
The fourth frame sees Ding take firm control after sinking a long-range red. With very little drama, the World Number Three makes a break of 69, and wins the match 4-0 after only one hour at the table, to reach the Last 32.

"We played quite fast. Four frames in one hour is close to my record when I'm training. He was a very good player when I was young, but now I think he couldn't concentrate on crucial balls. He should have played better," Ding said.China Ebay