Digest

Guangzhou unveils 'miracle' panda triplets

A Guangdong zoo has unveiled newborn giant panda triplets billed as the world's first known surviving trio in what is being hailed as a "miracle" given the animal's low reproductive rate.

It took almost four hours for the mother, Juxiao, to deliver the cubs, which weighed 83 grams, 90 grams and 122 grams, at Guangzhou's Chimelong Safari Park, Guangdong province, on July 29.

The triplets were put into incubators while Juxiao, meaning "chrysanthemum smile", regained her strength. They are now back with their mother who is nursing them under the watchful eyes of a team of zoo staff that looks after them 24 hours a day.

"After nearly two weeks under the care of the mother the babies are very healthy," said Dong Guixin, general manager of the park.

"They now weigh nearly twice what they did when they were born."

Meanwhile, across the world in Edinburgh, Scotland, the panda enclosure at the city's zoo is to be closed to visitors following news of the likely pregnancy of its giant panda, Tian Tian, who was artificially inseminated earlier this year after attempts to bring her together with male partner, Yang Guang, failed.

If the pregnancy is successful, a cub could be born by the end of the month, said officials, becoming the first to be born in Britain.

Minister supports 'dual-track' approach

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a news conference at the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on Aug 9, that China supports and advocates the "dual-track" approach in resolving the South China Sea issue - a major step that shows the country's seriousness in achieving peaceful solutions to territorial disputes.

Wang said that the overall situation in the sea is stable and there is no problem with freedom of navigation in the area.

He said that the "dual-track" approach includes disputes being addressed by countries directly concerned through friendly negotiations in a peaceful way, and peace and stability in the South China Sea being jointly maintained by China and ASEAN countries.

Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said it is was first time that China has openly supported the "dual-track" approach, and that it illustrated its willingness to maintain a good relationship between China and ASEAN countries, while keeping negotiations over the South China Sea friendly.

Fast-food suppliers to be named

Shanghai's food and drug administration is requiring five restaurant chains release information on their suppliers on their websites, according to a city government circular released on Aug 9.

The five enterprises Yum! Brands, McDonald's, Dicos, Burger King and Carl's Jr were all involved in a food scandal that exposed Shanghai Husi Food Co for using expired meat and forging production dates.

The city government circular did not specifically mention that the information disclosure requirement is related to the Husi case.

Since the scandal, the five enterprises have suspended using Shanghai Husi as a source.

The circular said the requirement aims to strengthen supervision over food suppliers based on China's food safety laws. All five began publicizing supplier information on their websites on Aug 10. It also said the administration requires food chains in the city to strengthen examinations over food provided by suppliers and enterprises to destroy expired and unsafe food.

Xinjiang introduces cinema ratings

A cinema in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has begun refusing children entry to films it deems unsuitable.

China has no national film rating system. However, the Urumqi branch of the China Film theater chain now rates movies shown on its six screens as "G" (all ages admitted) or "PG-13" (parents of children under 13 are strongly cautioned).

The policy has been applied since Aug 3, after Chinese thriller The House That Never Dies scared young viewers at the cinema, causing some to cry and disturbing other audience members.

"Our cinema is located in a residential area, which means more children are brought here by their parents, especially during summertime when kids are on a two-month vacation," said Yao Lin, executive manager of the cinema.

He said it had not been easy to rate films because "there were neither legal grounds nor operational approaches".

Foreign ministers of China, Japan meet

Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Japan to "make practical efforts to overcome existing political obstacles between the two sides" during an informal meeting with his Japanese counterpart during an ASEAN summit in Myanmar.

According to a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang met Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, on Aug 9.

Tensions between the two countries have risen in recent months, with each side accusing the other of flying military aircraft too close to its jets in a long-running territorial dispute over a cluster of islets in the East China Sea.

China defied protests by Japan and the United States to establish an air defense zone in the region in November.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has not held talks with Chinese leaders since he returned to power in December 2012.

Exporters eyeing boost in Russian business

Fruit and vegetable exporters in China expect to increase sales to Russia, which has banned such imports from the European Union and the United States in retaliation to Western economic sanctions imposed over the situation in Ukraine.

A customs control zone was set up in Heilongjiang province last month, allowing direct exports of fruit and vegetables across the Russian border.

"Russia's ban on vegetables and fruit from the US and EU is encouraging for our exports, which are gaining momentum," said Cao Xinyi, general manager of Dili Group's subsidiary in Mudanjiang, a city in Heilongjiang provinces.

"Judging from our future orders, this boost is very obvious and will become stronger in the second half of this year," Cao said.

He expects sales to Russia this year to rise by 80 percent from last year to $3 billion yuan. Exports in the first half rose by 20 percent to 800 million yuan.

More Chinese attracted to white wildernesses

Endless snow and glaciers, untouched coastlines and the thrill of following in the footsteps of renowned explorers are luring more Chinese to polar trips.

A total of 3,367 Chinese visited the South Pole from November to March, comprising about 9 percent of the total number to the continent and ranking third after visitors from the United States and Australia, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

Chinese travelers to Antarctica comprised only 0.2 percent of the total 10 years ago, the association said. The travel season to the continent runs from November to March.

"China's booming economy and a rapidly expanding middle class are making it one of the main clients for polar tourism," said Han Weitao, vice-president of Tripolers, the only Chinese travel agency to join the Antarctica operators association.

The association was founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and conduct private-sector travel to the continent.

Although there are no exact figures for visitors to the Arctic, Han said more people are considering going there and many are taking Arctic trips for an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"The numbers making polar tours will keep growing," Han said, adding that more than 400 have applied so far for this year's Antarctica and Arctic trips organized by the agency.

China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 08/15/2014 page3)