Hello, and welcome to this edition of CRI Round up I'm Yun Feng in Beijing.

Let's take a look at some of the major events that took place in China and around the world during the past week.
______________________

Cross-straits relations are expected to be further boosted as dialogue between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan resumed on Thursday.

The mainland-based Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation resumed talks for the first time in nine years.

The chairman of the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits, Chen Yunlin says the dialogues could raise cross-strait ties to a new level.

"As long as we trust each other, understand each other, and support each other, I am sure this meeting will become an important platform for improving relations across the Taiwan straits."

The discussions included allowing weekend charter flights between the two regions as well as issues concerning mainland tourists travelling to Taiwan.
_______________________

The helicopter, that crashed on May 31st while conducting relief operations in the quake-hit region of southwest China's Sichuan Province, was found on Tuesday near the quake's epicenter, Yingxiu.

A crew of five military personnel and 14 earthquake victims were all found dead. The helicopter was destroyed: the rotor, airframe and rear section were found scattered across the vegetation.

________________________

A decisive victory has been achieved in the draining of the Tangjiashan barrier lake in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Ge Zhenfeng is the chief commander of relief work at the lake.

"The gradual appearance of stones reassures me that our efforts to drain the lake have been successful."

At 4pm on Wednesday, the flood alert for the Tangjiashan barrier lake was officially lifted, allowing 250,000 relocated people to return home.
_______________________

Growth in China's consumer price index was lowered to 7.7 percent for May.

The figure, released on Thursday, was broadly in line with most forecasts, but still in excess of the government's annual target of 4.8 percent.

Qi Jingmei, a senior researcher with China's State Information Center, says China still faces inflationary pressure, but this will improve, as food prices -- the main driving factor of high inflation -- have started to decline.
________________________

Torrential rains plagued southern China last week, affecting nearly 1 million people, disrupting traffic and threatening the safety of reservoirs.

Authorities are taking every precaution to fight flooding and ensure safety along the major rivers, reservoirs and strategic facilities.

Shi Guangqian is a senior official at the Yangtze River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarter. He says the water levels in the threatened areas of the river are being carefully monitored.

"As of now, the rainfall in the Yangtze region, especially the middle and lower reaches of the river, have been normal. Everything is under control at present."

_______________________

China has expressed "serious concern" and "strong discontent" over a Japanese coastguard vessel's collision with a Taiwan fishing boat in the East China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang clearly relayed the official stance at a regular briefing on Tuesday.

"The Diaoyu Islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times. China holds indisputable legal proof of ownership. We demand that the Japanese government stop illegal activities around the Diaoyu Islands so as to prevent incidents of this kind from happening again."
_____________________

In other parts of the world,

Vietnam has increased its benchmark interest rate to the highest in Asia to cool the quickest inflation since 1992, allowing the dong to weaken.

The central bank of Vietnam raised the base rate to 14 percent from 12 percent to stabilize the economy on Wednesday.

The bank also lowered the dong's reference rate by 2 percent to avoid currency speculation.
_______________________

South Korea's top trade official set out for the US on Friday for talks on resuming American beef imports. The issue sparked weeks of protester rallies over concerns about mad cow disease.

Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon tells reporters the purpose of his visit.

"The purpose of my visit is to regain the trust of our consumers, and to pave the way for efficient implementation of the agreements made between private companies."

Both the South Korean and US sides say they do not plan to renegotiate the April agreement that places no age restrictions on beef imports.

Kim says his aim is to work out measures that would alter the way the deal is put into effect while still retaining South Korea's credibility.