Domestic Market Robust while Overseas Market Sluggish
In the first 5 months of the year, Guangdong's domestic investment and consumption recorded two digit growths thanks to a series of stimulus packages. Fixed asset investment rose over 15% while domestic consumption increased by over 14% year-on-year. However, as demand on the international market still remains low, Guangdong's foreign trade dived deeper in May, down by 22%.

Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing Develop Closer Economic Cooperation
Guangzhou,Foshan and Zhaoqing will work closer in order to build a one-hour economic proximity circle, linking the 3 cities with new inter-city railway lines. The 3 cities signed a cooperation agreement today (June 17), with the industrial dual transfer policy being the main aspects. The 3 sides pledged to jointly treat water and air pollution, with the ambitious aim to clean up the environment.

Sichuan Students Farewell Jiangmen
480 teachers and students from Sichuan bid farewell to their fellow classmates in Jiangmen's Wuyi Country Garden today (June 17), after spending one-year in Guangdong after their campus was destroyed in last year's earthquake. They completed junior grade 3 and are now heading back home. It's a sad moment for many of the children who, in the past year, have become good friends with their Jiangmen classmates. With tears in his eyes, Pu Ya told us:
''We have built true friendships. We have shared our happiness and our sadness and today might be the last time we see each other.''

Tomorrow, the 2nd group of students will hit the roads back home, another 1000 students who will never forget the warm welcome the received in Guangdong.

Massive Gang Trial Kicks Off
Yesterday in Yangjiang, opened the trial of 43 alleged gangsters. Given the large number of accusations, that trial is expected to last 22 days. Lin Guoqin, 53, is accused of organizing and leading a group that, amongst many others, is believed to have committed murder, ran casinos and extorted people. Another leader, Xu Guoqin, 42, also used the gang to monopolize the local seafood, construction material, gas and transportation markets since the mid-1990s. The other alleged gang members were often working in the transport, energy and construction material sectors.