IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Goal set for quick access by tourists

Government agencies and enterprises have jointly set a goal to establish a convenient tourism transportation system by 2020, providing easier access to scenic spots and better services for tourists, the Ministry of Transport said on Feb 28. The plan "accelerates the construction of a more effective and convenient 'quick access' transportation network, including high-speed rail, civil aviation and freeways, to improve the accessibility to and convenience in arriving at scenic spots", according to Zhang Dawei, deputy head of the ministry's Planning Department.

Senior DPRK diplomat makes visit to Beijing

Pyongyang dispatched a senior diplomat to Beijing on Feb 28 for talks amid China's efforts to stabilize the Korean Peninsula. The five-day visit by Ri Kil-song, vice-minister of foreign affairs for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opens a chance for dialogue to avoid an arms race on the peninsula, analysts said. Ri, visiting at the invitation of China's Foreign Ministry, meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb 27. Wang said China values the two-way traditional friendship and is ready to boost exchanges, mutual understanding and the healthy development of ties. Ri said the DPRK is ready to further promote ties and communicate in depth with China on the issue.

Coal's decline islooking like a trend

The decline of China's coal usage may have become a long-term trend, according to experts, after official data on Feb 28 showed that coal burning in 2016 dropped for the third consecutive year. Coal consumption, a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, dropped by 4.7 percent in 2016, the biggest year-on-year decline since 2014, according to the annual Statistical Communique on Economic and Social Development, released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Newest combat drone makes maiden flight

China's latest combat drone made its maiden flight on Feb 27 and is set to be "the biggest export deal" of any Chinese-made unmanned aircraft, according to the drone's designer, the Aviation Industry Corp of China. A yellow prototype of the Wing Loong II conducted a 31-minute test flight in northwestern China. The drone, developed by the corporation's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, was controlled by Lei Qiang, a legendary test pilot with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. China is ready to put the new-generation reconnaissance/strike drone on the international market, according to Li Yidong, deputy director of the institute and chief designer of the Wing Loong series.

Officials punished for poor leadership

The disciplinary watchdog of the Communist Party of China has publicized six cases involving officials who were held accountable for their poor leadership. The officials were punished for failing to fulfill their duty of strict Party governance, and for ineffective supervision of disciplinary violations by their subordinates, according to a circular published on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Two scientific vessels launched in sea trials

Two new vessels for scientific investigation, built from the keel up by China, were launched in Shanghai on Feb 28 for sea trials. Construction of Ocean Geology VIII and Ocean Geology IX was started by Shanghai Shipyard Co in October 2015, and the vessels will be delivered to two geological institutes under the Ministry of Land and Resources' China Geological Survey.

Guangzhou airport to stop drones

Guangzhou airport is planning to deploy an electronic security network that can automatically fend off drones, which have recently been entering commercial airspace and disrupting flight schedules. The system employs technologies that interrupt drones' flight control systems, says Huang Hao, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co.

School links with Santos FC on football academy

Sun Yat-sen Experimental Middle School in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, signed a cooperative agreement with Santos FC on Feb 27 to build a soccer academy. The middle school, which is already a training base for Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, will allocate more than 3 million yuan ($437,000; 418,883 euros; 353,113) in funding to introduce coaches from the Brazilian club.

Yang meets Trump, White House advisers

China's top diplomat, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, began a two-day visit to the US on Feb 28, and became the first senior Chinese official to meet President Donald Trump in the White House. Yang and Trump both stated the need to strengthen high-level contacts and promote coordination on international and regional affairs, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. China is willing to "respect each other's core interests and major concerns" and achieve the healthy, stable development of ties, Yang told Trump. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the two sides "discussed shared interests in national security".

China opposes web hegemony

China firmly opposes any country using the internet to interfere in another country's internal affairs, according to its first strategic report on cyberspace, which was released on March 1. The International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace, jointly issued by the Foreign Ministry and the Cyberspace Administration of China, advocates principles of peace, sovereignty, shared governance and international cooperation in cyberspace. "No country should pursue cyberhegemony, interfere in other countries' internal affairs, or engage in, condone or support cyberactivities that undermine other countries' national security," the report said. Countries should respect each other's right to choose their own path of cyberdevelopment.

International student numbers rising

The number of students studying in China who come from countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has increased greatly under a series of preferential policies, according to figures released by the Ministry of Education on March 1. More than 200,000 students from 64 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative were studying in China last year, up 13.6 percent from 2015. The Belt and Road growth rate exceeds that of China's international students as a whole, said Xu Tao, director of the ministry's department of international cooperation and exchange. More than 440,000 students from 205 countries and regions were studying in China last year, a year-on-year rise of 11.4 percent.

Migrant parents favor their sons

The Annual Report on Left-Behind Girls in China's Rural Areas (2016), issued on March 1 by the China Social Welfare Foundation, says that 78.9 percent of parents in villages are inclined to bring their sons with them to bigger cities for a better education. In addition, when they only have money enough to pay for one child's higher education, 97.5 percent of them would choose sons over daughters.

Lawyer not tortured, authorities say

Chinese authorities say sources in media reports fabricated allegations that Xie Yang, a Chinese lawyer, had been tortured in police detention, adding that the story was made up to tarnish China's image. Xie was probed for alleged subversion and disrupting order in July 2015. He then began living under surveillance. Legal proceedings began in January. However, since October, many foreign media organizations have reported that Xie was tortured by police in detention. That allegation was fabricated by another Beijing lawyer, Jiang Tianyong, according to an article in Global Times. An independent investigation team set up by the Hunan Provincial People's Procuratorate concluded that the allegations were false, the report said.

Shanghai smoking ban takes effect

A new regulation prohibiting smoking in all indoor public venues and work areas in Shanghai took effect on March 1, a measure that is expected to shield people from the health risks of secondhand smoke. The ban was approved by the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, the city's legislative body, in November. It extended the smoking ban to artistic performances and sports venues, open areas in maternity and infant hospitals, and to bus stops. Under the regulation, individuals caught smoking in prohibited areas will be fined from 50 to 200 yuan ($7.35 to $29.40; 7 to 28 euros; 5.70 to 24) and organizations that violate the regulation or fail to stop smokers will be fined 2,000 to 30,000 yuan.

Severe smog may vanish by 2030

China aims to eradicate severe smog by 2030, but more time and regulations are needed to make constant blue skies a reality, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on March 1. Coal burning, car exhaust fumes and emissions from industrial production are the main causes of smog; therefore, implementing stricter laws on pollutant emissions, improving fuel efficiency and reshaping China's energy structure are essential to improving the country's overall air quality, the scientists said at a smog research conference in Beijing.

Prince promotes science teamwork

China's top scientific research institute has joined up with a member of Great Britain's royal family to attract British scholars to do research in China. Prince Andrew was on hand as Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, spoke about the President's International Fellowship Initiative on Feb 27 at Buckingham Palace. Bai said it's the right time for Western scientists to do research in China. First launched in 2013, the initiative has given 2,800 scientists the chance to work in the country.

China, Singapore solidify relations

China and Singapore agreed on Feb 27 to focus their bilateral relationship on pragmatic cooperation and to explore potential in infrastructure, information technology and finance under the Belt and Road Initiative. The consensus was reached when Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli and his Singaporean counterpart, Teo Chee Hean, co-chaired a series of meetings in Beijing on Feb 27, including the 13th meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation.

Courts correct wrongful convictions

Chinese courts have corrected 34 major miscarriages of justice in the past four years in order to build public confidence in the justice system, according to the Supreme People's Court. Moreover, the courts declared 3,718 defendants innocent from 2013 to 2016 to protect their legitimate rights, the top court said in a white paper on judicial reform released on Feb 27. Last year alone, 11 such cases involving 17 people were redressed by the courts.

Police crack down on bogus banks

Police seized more than 900 billion yuan ($131 billion) in cases involving underground banks last year, the Ministry of Public Security said. The 380 major cases involved more than 800 suspects. The campaign against underground banks is aimed at maintaining financial order and security, and is helping the country's anti-corruption drive recover the assets of fugitive officials, the ministry said.

Deals from G20 summit published

A selection of agreements reached by leaders of G20 nations during last year's Hangzhou Summit has been published, Xinhua News Agency reported on Feb 27. The book, published by the Foreign Language Press in Chinese and English, is a collection of outcomes generated by G20 leaders during the summit, which was held on Sept 4 and 5.

2nd child financial incentives weighed

China is mulling financial incentives to encourage couples to have a second child, as surveys show many are reluctant to expand their families because of economic constraints. Wang Pei'an, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, revealed the potential move at a social welfare conference.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/03/2017 page2)