IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Scientists developing stratospheric airships

Chinese scientists are developing a family of high altitude airships that can help with Earth observation, maritime monitoring and communication signal relays. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences are working on the stratospheric airships, so-called because they are capable of conducting long-term operations in the stratosphere - the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 20 to 50 km. According to the academy's development plan for the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), researchers are to perform flight tests before the end of 2020.

China-Eurasia Expo building on success

Guests from 57 countries and six international organizations are expected to participate in the fifth China-Eurasia Expo, which is to be held in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, from Sept 20 to 25. Adiljan Dawut, deputy head of the International Expo Affairs Bureau in the region, said 2,192 enterprises will have exhibits, an increase of 40 percent over the previous expo. Among them 418 are from outside the Chinese mainland. The exhibition area has increased by nearly 60 percent to 140,000 square meters, he added.

Plan aims to reduce new disability cases

China's central authority has issued a national plan to reduce new disability cases by 2020 by promoting awareness and early screening, Xinhua News Agency reported. According to the plan, issued by the general office of the State Council, most women should be screened for hereditary conditions, and prenatal checkups should cover 60 percent of women in the next five years. The document also called for better safety supervision at factories and improved road management to reduce disabilities from injury.

'Weak links' targeted for improvement

Measures will be taken by the Chinese government to improve weak links, including poverty alleviation, infrastructure, urban flood prevention and boosting new growth engines for more balanced and effective development. The decision was made during the State Council executive meeting on Sept 5, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, who heard a report by the National Development and Reform Commission on efforts to improve weak links now and in the future. Li said reducing excess capacity, lowering corporate costs and improving weak links for better livelihoods of the people will be the government's core task in 2016, while keeping economic growth within a proper range.

First lady highlights fight against AIDS

China's first lady, Peng Liyuan, called for a redoubling of international efforts against HIV/AIDS on Sept 5 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. As the World Health Organization's goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis and HIV, Peng led a group of officials' spouses to Zhejiang University for an anti-AIDS activity. Spouses from Argentina, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, Turkey, Singapore and Thailand attended the activity with Peng. They watched a video about fighting AIDS and listened to a speech about how the campus is working to prevent the disease's spread.

Pandas now classed as 'vulnerable'

China's furry national icon has been downgraded from endangered to vulnerable on the global list of species at risk of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature announced the downgrade on Sept 5 in Hawaii. It said evidence from a series of national surveys indicates that the previous population decline has been reversed. Endangered means "high risk of extinction in the wild" while vulnerable means "high risk of endangerment in the wild". Still, experts in China warn that the good news for the giant panda could be short-lived and may require an even greater conservation investment.

Study: Sound-induced fear can be treated

Scientists in Shanghai say they've found a way to erase the brain's association of fear with certain sounds. Their findings could open up new methods to cure post-traumatic stress and anxiety disorders. The researchers, from the Institute of Neuroscience, a branch of Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, tested their hypothesis on mice. Research results were published on the website of the journal Nature Neuroscience on Sept 5.

Beijing takes firm stance on HK agitators

Beijing underscored its "resolute opposition" to any form of "Hong Kong independence" activities, either within or outside of the special administrative region's Legislative Council, an official statement said on Sept 5. The statement, issued by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, noted that certain organizations and candidates were publicly advocating "Hong Kong independence", capitalizing on the exposure afforded to them because of the LegCo election, which was held on Sept 4.

Birthday party held for ancient city wall

Two hundred people born under the astrological sign of Virgo held a grand birthday party on Nanjing's city wall to coincide with the wall's 650th birthday on Sept 5 in Jiangsu province. The Virgos, whose birthdays were between Aug 23 and Sept 22, shared birthday cakes and gifts at the party. The youngest partygoer was just 1 and the oldest in his 90s. The wall is one of the world's largest and best-preserved ancient city walls, with 25.1 kilometers remaining in good condition. The highest part is 24 meters and the thickest 15 meters.

Progress in China and ASEAN ties hailed

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to guidelines for a senior diplomats' hotline to address maritime emergencies, and issued a statement on applying the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea in the South China Sea. The joint statement was released after Premier Li Keqiang attended the 19th ASEAN-China Leaders Meeting. The meeting was held on Sept 7 in Vientiane, Laos. Li said he believed the documents will be of great significance in boosting mutual trust, reducing maritime risks and safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Met's Chinese ceramics ready for auction block

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art will offer more than 700 pieces of Chinese ceramics for sale through live and online auctions at Christie's in September. Lots include works from the Song (960-1279) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties that originally were in the collections of John D. Rockefeller Jr, Samuel Putnam Avery, and other prominent US collectors. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the museum's acquisitions fund. There will be a live sale on Sept 15 and an online sale from Sept 13 to 22.

Army gets advanced combat helicopters

The People's Liberation Army has equipped all ground force aviation units with advanced WZ-10 combat helicopters. Several WZ-10s have been delivered to an aviation brigade of the PLA 13th Group Army under the Western Theater Command, the military's TV news channel reported. It means all of the army's aviation units now have the advanced attack helicopter, the report said.

Center set up to study fishermen's guidebooks

A research center was opened in Hainan province on Sept 7 aimed at ensuring the preservation of genglubu, books Chinese fisherman have traditionally used for guidance in the South China Sea. The center at Hainan University will have dozens of professors dedicated to history, law, nature, economy, culture and international relations concerning the sea. Their research is expected to provide convincing proof of China's sovereignty over the sea, adding to the evidence already provided by the genglubu.

Foreign exchange reserves decline

China's foreign exchange reserves fell by $15.89 billion to $3.185 trillion in August, official data showed. It was the second consecutive monthly decline, hitting the lowest point since December 2011. Yi Gang, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, said China has an adequate cushion for maintaining financial stability, and its currency will continue to be stable in the long term.

Scientists create unique fabric for cool clothes

Chinese researchers at Stanford University have developed a plastic-based textile that can cool the human body and may someday reduce demand for air conditioning. The material cools by not only taking away sweat like ordinary fabrics, but also by allowing the heat that the body emits as infrared radiation to pass through, which makes the wearers feel cooler than they would when wearing cotton clothes, according to research published in the journal Science.

Biennial air show to feature latest weaponry

China's biennial air show, which will showcase aircraft and provide a platform for technological exchanges and trade talks, will open on Nov 1 in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. Developments achieved by the PLA Air Force will also be exhibited at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, said air force spokesman Shen Jinke. The air force will demonstrate about 900 items of weaponry during the six-day show, including aircraft, radar equipment and missiles, Shen said.

Documents tell wartime tale of Jews in Shanghai

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum has said it hopes that documents about Jewish refugees' life experience in Shanghai during World War II will eventually be listed in China's national legacy archives. The museum said it will continue enriching and improving its collection of historical materials and make them part of the national legacy archives, and then global archives. At least 20,000 Jewish people sought shelter in Shanghai during the war, or used the city as a jumping-off point for other safe destinations.

Report on use of seawater released

Daily output at China's 121 seawater desalination projects reached more than 1 million metric tons at the end of 2015, according to an report on Sept 7 by the State Oceanic Administration. The water is used mostly for industrial purposes (67 percent), with the rest for residential use. The report said China's daily output represented less than 1.25 percent of the world's daily production volume of 86.5 million tons at the end of 2015.

Precautionary measures advised to fight Zika

Authorities and experts have warned of the risks of the Zika virus spreading to China and urged precautionary measures, as the number of cases in Southeast Asia increases. Authorities responsible for entry and exit inspection and quarantine across China should intensify monitoring and cooperation in the prevention and control of the virus, according to an alert on Sept 7 by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Beijing speeds up high-tech center role

China is accelerating efforts to make its capital a national high-tech innovation hub, as a leading example of the country's innovation drive. This is being done by achieving breakthroughs in key technologies and easing permanent residence procedures for overseas experts. The guideline said Beijing, as a national center for scientific and technological innovation, should upgrade its industries from low-end to medium- and high-end.

Third round of major inspections coming

The State Council has issued a notice about a new round of major inspections to its subordinate departments and regional governments, which will be the third of its kind. The inspections will focus on supply-side reform, innovation-led development, stabilizing the economy and improving social welfare. Inspection teams will consult officials and solicit opinions from the public.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/09/2016 page2)