Phelps came to Beijing with outsized expectations and managed to exceed them.

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Zhang Xiao'an, vice-chairwoman of the United Nations Association of China, came to Beijing's defence this morning on China Central Television by stressing that the Chinese Foreign Ministry made a "very clear-cut response this time".

BBC: China media: Pyongyang pressure

As soon as he came to office, he visited Seoul and Beijing to reassure the two countries that he wished to improve ties.

ECONOMIST: Japanese politics

Mr Cook's comments came on a visit to Beijing to meet Chinese regulators and bosses of mobile network China Unicom.

BBC: Apple expects Chinese sales 'to overtake US'

The latest bout in the asylum came last week when Gazprom jetted over to Beijing to progress gas agreements, albeit with a twist.

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Radcliffe's return to form in New York and in the Great South Run came after a disappointing display at the Beijing Olympics where she finished 23rd in the Marathon.

BBC: Radcliffe set for London return

Vobile's big break came in 2007, when the Beijing media megalith Central Chinese Television (CCTV) asked the company to help it police Olympic videoclips to prevent their spread on the Web.

FORBES: Sinking Video Pirates