IN BRIEF (Page 2)

New Zealand a partner in innovation, Li says

Premier Li Keqiang, visiting New Zealand, said he expects that China will work more closely with the island nation on innovation and exploring third-party markets for joint prosperity. Those were among the many ways the two nations plan to ramp up cooperation, as seen in 20 agreements that had been signed as of March 28. Li returned to Beijing on March 29. At a banquet on March 28 in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, the premier said he was happy to make his third visit - the first since a 2009 trip when he was vice-premier - and he invited New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English to visit China.

China answers call for relics 'safe havens'

China's national body overseeing protection of historical heritage has vowed to respond to the call for establishing "safe havens" for cultural properties from regions in conflict. National-level museums and conservation institutions are encouraged to support international actions protecting these artifacts, according to Liu Yuzhu, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, who spoke at a seminar in Beijing. Liu also encouraged Chinese enterprises to donate more to international foundations involved in protecting cultural heritage. China will expand its cultural heritage conservation efforts beyond the nation's borders and thus better serve China's overall diplomacy, he said.

Concerns voiced over missile defense systems

The expansion by the United States of its global missile defense system will damage strategic balance and potentially spark a new arms race, Chinese and Russian representatives to a disarmament conference in Geneva said at a joint briefing on March 28. Major General Zhang Jian, head of the Combat Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, said China and Russia would take further measures to protect their national security interests and the regional strategic balance.

Greener Beijing mapped out by 2030

A draft plan outlining a greener Beijing was unveiled on March 29 so the public will have an opportunity to make suggestions. The Beijing Planning and Land Resources Management Committee said experts led and participated in 38 areas of research to draft the plan, which covers 2016 to 2030. Opinion surveys also have been prepared for it. Forest coverage throughout the capital has more than tripled from 12.8 percent to 42.3 percent, since China launched a national tree-planting campaign in the early 1980s, according to Beijing municipal authorities. The plan aims to reach more than 45 percent forest coverage and a per capita parkland area of 16.8 square meters by 2030.

Beijing, Manila set talks on S. China Sea for May

China and the Philippines will hold their first meeting under a bilateral consultation arrangement on the South China Sea in May, the Foreign Ministry said on March 28. China has invited officials from the Philippines' Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend the meeting in China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing. Beijing and Manila are engaged in "friendly discussions" on details of the meeting, she said.

Memo gets tough on shady trade activity

The Memorandum of Cooperation on Jointly Introducing Punitive Measures Against Discredited Import and Export Enterprises was released on March 28. It is designed to tackle such illegal activities as smuggling, tariff payments in arrears and shell companies, to better regulate foreign trade. It is thought to include some of the toughest such measures ever released. The memorandum says 33 central government departments - including the Ministry of Public Security, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and Supreme People's Court - will work together to keep a sharp eye on all trade companies nationwide, setting up a tight credit management and supervision network.

Local successes seen in fight against hunger

China's accomplishments in securing food safety, nutrition and poverty alleviation for its population are a crucial part of a new five-year strategic plan launched by the United Nations World Food Programme in Beijing on March 28. Working with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, the WFP aims to use the plan as a step toward building a world without hunger by 2030. It enables WFP to learn from China's expertise and experience to foster a new generation of farm leaders who can provide practical, on site demonstrations. The program, for example, would enable such young African leaders in agriculture to come to China and observe, then receive seed money to implement innovative solutions and demonstrate practices to their peers back in their home countries.

Nano research facility being built

Chinese scientists are building the world's largest multifunctional research platform for nanoscience and nanotechnology that could help develop more powerful computers and more intelligent robots. The Vacuum Interconnected Nano-X Research Facility in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, has received initial funding of 320 million yuan ($46.5 million; 42.9 million euros; 37.4 million), and will eventually have a budget of 1.5 billion yuan, said Ding Sunan, deputy director of the project.

Major ship lock sees smooth operation

More than 220,000 metric tons of cargo have been carried through the world's largest ship lock at the Yangtze River's Three Gorges Dam since September, China Three Gorges Corp announced on March 28. A total of 886 ships, carrying 220,415 tons of cargo and more than 7,900 passengers passed through the dam's lock between September and mid-March.

Thousands of artifacts added to museum

The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, said on March 29 it has added about 55,000 cultural artifacts to its inventory, some found in storage and others uncovered while renovating a kitchen. The museum, which was China's formal imperial palace from 1420 to 1911, now holds nearly 1.9 million artifacts. In 2010 there were 1.8 million pieces in the world's most-visited museum. Some of the newly cataloged items are on display at the museum, where they'll be exhibited through April 15.

Anti-smog plan goes after polluters

China unveiled an environmental plan on March 29 to curb air pollution in its northern region, which usually suffers continual smog in winter. Under the plan, all the cement and casting plants will be required to suspend production during the heating season from Nov 15 to March 15, except those providing heating services and processing dangerous waste in 28 cities in the region and the three neighboring provinces of Shandong, Shanxi and Henan. All the coal-fired power plants in these cities will be shut down if they fail to reach low emission standards by the end of October, the plan says.

Lang Ping renews coaching contract

Volleyball icon Lang Ping renewed her contract as head coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team on March 29. Having led the team to gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Lang was unsure about whether to extend her coaching role with the team after the Games, citing health reasons. She successfully underwent hip surgery in Chicago in January. An Jiajie, former assistant coach, was given the newly created title of executive coach, the No 2 slot.

Show to display top gem collections

The fifth China (Hunan) International Mineral and Gem Show will be held in Chenzhou from May 18 to 22. Hosted by the Hunan provincial government, the annual show is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia. Visitors will be able to see top gem collections, including the world's largest red tourmaline, found in Brazil.

Discoveries in tomb 2,700 years old

Uncovered remains from tombs in the Tibet autonomous region's eastern Bomi county have been verified as being up to 2,700 years old, according to a researcher. The 13 tombs were excavated at the end of last year in Chudo township, about 600 kilometers from Lhasa, the regional capital. The site lies at an altitude of 2,900 meters. The exposed area of the tombs covers up to 700 square meters, with each tomb measuring 80 centimeters long and 50 cm wide, according to the Institute of Cultural Relics Protection in Tibet. 

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/31/2017 page2)