DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Taiwanese not banned from performing in mainland shows: spokesman” plus 9 more

Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when asked to comment on an alleged entertainment ban that would make it more difficult for Taiwan entertainers to preform in mainland-based entertainment shows.

The Chinese mainland has not changed its policies and regulations regarding the participation of Taiwan entertainers in mainland programs, said Yang.

BAGHDAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and 16 wounded in a roadside bomb and a car bomb attacks in Iraq's northern city of Mosul on Wednesday, a local police source told Xinhua.

Li is to have broad contacts and in-depth communication with the South Korean people from political and economic circles on deepening the bilateral friendship, especially on economic and trade cooperation, during the two-day visit starting Wednesday, Chen told the Chinese press.

Chen, who is accompanying Li, described the visit as one of China's major diplomatic actions to strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries.

The visit will open a new page in the history of China-South Korea economic and trade cooperation, and contribute to economic stability in both countries and their common development, as well as world economic recovery and prosperity, Chen said.

The deputy minister said booming trade and investment and broadening cooperation between the two countries have become an important basis for deepening the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

In a short summary of the bilateral economic and trade cooperation in  recent years, Chen said trade between China and South Korea has experienced tremendous growth, reaching 207.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, a year-on-year jump of 32.6 percent.

At the same time, the two countries saw rapid growth in mutual investment, more project contracts and labor cooperation, better interactions in multilateral and regional mechanisms, and more people-to-people exchanges, Chen said.

China is gratified to see the progress in economic and trade cooperation with South Korea since the establishment of diplomatic ties about 20 years ago, and is confident about its future, Chen added.

Noting that China and South Korea are among countries which have gained the quickest recovery and the fastest growth in the latest global financial crisis, Chen said the two countries have great potential and bright prospects on economic and trade cooperation.

In order to further promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Chen called on the two countries to accelerate the establishment of a bilateral free trade zone, improve investment environment and promote mutual investment, strengthen cooperation on environment-friendly industries, broaden the width of cooperation, and further enhance international coordination.

Xi made the remark when meeting with Uzbekistan's Vice Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, who is in Beijing to co-chair the first meeting of the China-Uzbekistan Inter-government Cooperation Committee. Chinese State Councilor Meng Jianzhu serves as the Chinese co-chairman of the committee.

Xi said China and Uzbekistan have always been friendly and cooperative partners who trust each other. He said since the two countries established diplomatic ties 20 years ago, bilateral relations have maintained sound momentum under the joint efforts of both sides.

The two sides have continually deepened mutual trust, reinforcing time-honored friendship and achieving rich results in the cooperative areas of economy, trade, energy, security and culture, and have supported each other on issues of their own specific interests and cooperated closely on regional and international affairs, Xi said.

He said the two countries have joined hands to make important contributions to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Xi said during Uzbek President Islam Karimov's state visit to China in April, the heads of state of the two countries reached an important consensus on further deepening China-Uzbekistan friendly, cooperative partnership in an all-round way. The consensus injected fresh impetus into the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.

Xi noted that China and Uzbekistan are good friends and partners. Long-term and stable development of China-Uzbekistan friendly cooperative partnership is in the common interests of both countries and their people.

Xi said the establishment of the China-Uzbekistan Inter-government Cooperation Committee was an important decision made by the heads of state of both countries to advance bilateral links. He expressed the wish for the sides to give full play to the role of the committee in planning, guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Azimov said China is a true and reliable friend of Uzbekistan and that the latter places great importance on developing bilateral links. He said in recent years, with efforts of the leaders of both countries, bilateral cooperation in the areas of politics, trade, economy, energy, culture and security have seen rapid growth and rich results.

Azimov said the establishment of the China-Uzbekistan Inter-government Cooperation Committee is of great significance in advancing bilateral cooperation to broader areas, greater extent and higher levels.

The new plant was built in Suzhou, a city of Jiangsu Province, to meet growing demand for small-sized excavators in China, Doosan Infracore said in an-emailed statement.

Doosan Infracore China Co. (DICC) and its holding firm Doosan Infracore China Investment (DICI), both of which are the Chinese units of Doosan Infracore, have invested 72.9 billion won (6.45 million U.S. dollars) in the plant's construction over the past four years.

The new factory would mainly focus on mass producing small- sized excavators that weigh less than eight tons, while the existing plant in Yantai, a city of Shandong Province, would manufacture mid- to large-sized ones.

The production capacity of the new plant would reach 9,800 units a year, and it would be raised to 13,600 units a year by 2015 through factory expansion, according to the statement.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, Robert Scher, is on a two-day visit in Cambodia on Oct. 26-27 in a bid to boost the U.S.-Cambodia bilateral defense relationship,  according to a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

During the visit, Scher will have a series of meetings with the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense, it said.

The Discussions will focus on opportunities for future cooperation in the areas of peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and defense reform  topics of particular importance in light of Cambodia's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian  Nations (ASEAN) in 2012, it added.

Scher will also visit the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance. In  addition, he will meet with Cambodian civil society leaders to exchange perspectives on the defense cooperation relationship.

The meeting took place at Lee's office in Cheong Wa Dae.

Li arrived in Seoul earlier in the day for a two-day official visit to South Korea.

In a statement released upon his arrival, the Chinese guest said that his trip is aimed at boosting bilateral ties and promoting regional peace and stability.

BANGKOK, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Death toll of widespread floods in Thailand has climbed to 373 with two missing, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said on Wednesday.

The deluge still prevails in 26 provinces in central and northeastern parts of the country, affecting at least 2.4 million people.

Widespread and longstanding floods which were inflicted by heavy monsoon rains and tropical storms have since late July lashed 62 provinces in almost every part of the country except the South, affecting some 9.4 million people.

It becomes clear that Bangkok, the country's capital, will not be able to escape the worst floods in 50 years when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra warned Bangkok residents on Tuesday night to brace for flooding.

The premier admitted that permanent floodwalls and temporary embankments might not be able to withstand the massive inundation. It is likely that even central and inner zones of the city will be affected, she added.

"Those areas along Chao Praya River and floodwalls along the banks will be at the highest risk," said Yingluck in a televised speech.

Bangkok residents living along Choa Praya River have been warned that the October 27-31 high tide would raise the river level to as high as 2.6 meters above mean sea level, which is higher than the city's concrete floodwall of 2.5 meters. It is, therefore, expected to see water overflowing banks along the Chao Praya River.

Actually, parts of Bangkok including Don Mueang, Sai Mai and Lak Si districts in the north and Bang Phlad district near the central have been flooded already.

Since Tuesday floodwater has penetrated into Don Mueang Airport where the government set up Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC) and shelter for over 4,000 flood victims. As the water on the road in front of the airport kept rising, the center had no choice but to start evacuation of those flood victims on Tuesday afternoon.

Budget airlines such as Nok Air and Orient Thai also suspended their services at Don Mueang Airport and shifted to Suvarnabhumi International Airport after the runways were inundated.

Yingluck reassured that her government would be able to protect Suvarnabhumi International Airport from flooding but said flooding in inner city was 50-50. However, water level in the city will be ranging from 50 centimeters to one meter if it is inundated, she said.

In the worst-case scenario, floodwater might remain in the capital for two weeks or a month, according to the prime minister.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police backed by NATO-led forces raided Taliban hideouts in Charchino district of Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital city Kabul on Monday and have eliminated four Taliban insurgents including two group commanders, police said Wednesday.

"The operation launched Monday and so far four Taliban rebels, including two group commanders, namely Mullah Ghulam and Mullah Rustam, have been killed and six others made captive," provincial police spokesman Farid Hael told Xinhua.

Both Ghulam and Rustam were important commanders of Taliban outfit in Uruzgan province, the spokesman said, adding their elimination would further strengthen government control in the mountainous Charchino district and adjoining areas.

The operation would continue until the area is completely cleaned up from the insurgents, he further said.