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2017-06-05 Special EnglishThis is Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news.Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build the Chinese Navy into a strong and modern force to lend support for the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and the dream of a strong military.President Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He made the remarks during an inspection of the Chinese Navy headquarters recently.The president congratulated the Party congress of the Navy, met delegates to the congress and conveyed greetings to all navy members.He noted that the navy is a strategic military service concerning national security and overall development. He asked naval authorities to build a world-class force by promoting political awareness, reforms and rule of law.Xi visited the navy&`&s operational command center, where he greeted navy officers who were performing duties at sea.Via video, he first talked with the crew of flotilla 150, which was taking part in an overseas journey of a good-will visit. The crew told Xi that they had visited five countries in more than one month and were warmly welcomed by the host countries. Xi asked them to pass on friendship and contribute to world peace.This is Special English.The leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, the G7, have signed a joint declaration on combating terrorism.The 15-point document says the fight against violent extremism is a major priority of the G7, which will bring the fight to a higher level by relentlessly preventing, investigating and prosecuting terrorist acts, their perpetrators and supporters.The leaders pledged to combat the misuse of the Internet by terrorists to work together to manage the risk posed by foreign fighters as they disperse from theatres of conflict and to take action to cut off sources and channels of terrorist financing.Among the measure is the expansion of the use of Passenger Name Records and Advance Passenger Information in traveler screening.Terrorism was pushed to the top of the G7 summit agenda after a suicide bomber claimed 22 lives and wounded dozens of others when he blew himself up at a concert in the British city of Manchester on 22nd of May.This is Special English.In view of the latest situation in Britain, the government of China&`&s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has issued an Amber Outbound Travel Alert for the country.A spokesman of the Hong Kong regional government said residents who plan to visit the United Kingdom or who are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution and pay attention to the advice of the local authorities.The announcement came after the British authorities raised the country&`&s terror threat to critical, the highest level, after a suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena left 22 people dead.The Hong Kong regional government said its Security Bureau will closely monitor the situation in Britain, and will issue updates through media and the bureau&`&s mobile app and webpage.Residents who need assistance while in Britain may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Hong Kong Immigration Department. They may also contact the Chinese Embassy in Britain at the consular protection hotline.Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service of the Immigration Department to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. The information provided allows the department to disseminate practical information to them through appropriate means on a timely basis when necessary.You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.China says the current development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is facing new opportunities and challenges.This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation by the organization members.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says that under the collective efforts of all members, the organization has grown into a new type of regional cooperative organization with advanced ideas on cooperation and significant international influence. It plays an important role in promoting regional peace and development.The foreign minister pointed out that the organization is facing new opportunities and challenges in its development.After India and Pakistan complete the process of joining the organization during the forthcoming Astana summit, it will become the world&`&s most populous and largest regional cooperative organization, which will bring unprecedented development capacity and cooperation potential.Wang said that in the face of the rise of protectionism and regional security, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should adhere to and be supportive of trade liberalization and facilitate and promote the process of economic integration.Meanwhile, the organization should promote security cooperation to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism in a more precise and efficient manner, so as to safeguard the sovereignty and homeland security of all members and maintain the regional peace and stability.This is Special English.A cultural exchange delegation from China has given lectures on Chinese cultural diversity and traditional arts to the students of Kiev Taras Shevchenko National University in Ukraine.In particular, the lecture offered insights into Tibet&`&s history, culture, medicine, Buddhism philosophy and arts. It attracted an audience of around 300 people. Karina Kolyadych, a third-year student at the university&`&s faculty of regional studies, said the lecture on Tibetan thangka art kindled her particular interest. Thangka is the form of scroll paintings on paper, cloth or silk, which has a 1,300-year-old history.The lecturers also introduced cultural features of other Chinese ethnic groups to the Ukrainian public, stressing harmony and equality among the people of all of China&`&s 56 ethnic groups.While speaking after the lecture, a student of the university&`&s faculty of international information said ethnically diversed Ukraine has to learn from China&`&s experience in building a harmonious society.This is Special English.The Chinese Bridge, a Chinese language proficiency contest for foreign students, has been held in Kabul, Afghanistan.The first prize went to Ahmad Walid Ahadi from the Confucius Institute at Kabul University and another student from Marefat, a famous private school in Afghanistan. The top winners will represent Afghanistan in the final event in China later this year.A total of 12 students from Kabul University and Marefat took part in the contest.There are three sections in the contest themed "Dreams Enlighten Future", namely Chinese speech, knowledge of China, and a China-related talent show.In his speech, one of the winners, Ahadi, talked about his dream of becoming a diplomat working to improve China-Afghanistan friendly relations. Contestants also performed Wushu, the Chinese martial art, and Chinese calligraphy, for the audience.An official from the Confucius Institute at Kabul University said that in the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative, they hope to facilitate such bilateral exchanges by teaching students about the Chinese language and culture.Founded in 2008, the Confucius Institute at Kabul University has enrolled 321 students, 246 of whom have won the scholarships to study in China. It cooperates with Marefat School to further promote the Chinese language teaching and Chinese culture.You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing. You can access the program by logging on to crienglish.com. You can also find us on our Apple Podcast. Now the news continues.A fund of 160 million yuan, roughly 23 million U.S. dollars, has been set up to help the development of four space science satellites, as well as advanced scientific research.The fund was jointly set up by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with each side sponsoring half of the investment. The fund will last from 2017 to 2020.The four satellites are the Dark Matter Particle Explorer Satellite, retrievable scientific research satellite SJ-10, a quantum communication satellite and a hard X-ray modulation telescope satellite.The fund will support experiments including the exploration of dark matter particles, microgravity science and space life science, as well as the observation of compact objects including black holes and neutron stars. This is Special English.American astronauts have successfully replaced a failed computer relay box outside the International Space Station during a short spacewalk that lasted less than three hours.U.S. space agency NASA has declared victory on the installation of this replacement. A NASA TV commentator said around two hours into the contingency spacewalk conducted by astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer that the relay box, known as MDM, which failed on Saturday, which is one of two units that regulate the operation of radiators, solar arrays and cooling loops, have been successfully replaced.The cause of the MDM failure is not known, but because each MDM is capable of performing the critical station functions, the crew on the station was never in danger and station operations have not been affected.A similar MDM replacement spacewalk was conducted in April 2014.Typical spacewalks last around six and a half hours, but Tuesday&`&s spacewalk lasted just two hours and 46 minutes.During the spacewalk, the two astronauts also installed a pair of antennae on the station to enhance wireless communication for future spacewalks.This is Special English.The latest and most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has left Norfolk naval station for acceptance trial.Media reported that the first-of-its-class warship will conduct test operations at sea, ensuring that it was built according to contract specifications.American navy officials say the acceptance trial, the last phase before the deliverance of the ship to the Navy, will be overseen by the Navy&`&s Board of Inspection and Survey.Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley predicted recently that the aircraft carrier, hull numbered CVN-78, will soon enter service upon completion of its acceptance trial.The USS Ford completed its shipbuilder&`&s trial in April.Construction of the USS Ford began in 2005 and was originally set to be completed in September 2015, but saw its construction delayed and its cost raised to 12.9 billion U.S. dollars, up two billion dollars from its original cost forecast.The USS Ford is the first of a new class of supercarriers. Boasting the most advanced weapons in the world, it is part of a push by the U.S. government to bolster its naval power. You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.The China Xinjiang International Dance Festival will be held in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from July 20 to August 5.Local officials say that with the theme "Chinese dream, colorful Silk Road", the festival will be an artistic gala of dance from both home and abroad.The festival will present more than 60 performances by art groups from Pakistan, Egypt, Russia and other countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, as well as domestic groups, including groups from Xinjiang. This is Special English.Archaeologists in north China&`&s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region recently found a cave painting of human hand prints that they estimate to date back to the Paleolithic Period.（全文见周六微信。）