IN BRIEF (Page 2)

China ready for more Russia exchanges

Beijing is ready to work with Moscow to prepare for high-level exchanges in the near future, as the two countries have always trusted and supported each other, no matter how the international situation changes, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on May 25 while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian capital. As part of the good relationship between the two emerging markets, bilateral meetings of leaders have been frequent, including Putin's meeting with President Xi Jinping in May during a trip to China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. Wang said Putin made an important contribution to the success of the forum. Putin told Wang he expects that Xi will visit Russia at an early date, and said the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination "is worthy of its name".

Inspection efforts grow tighter

The country's inspection work, which has proved effective in boosting clean governance, should focus on adhering to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, according to a key meeting presided over by President Xi Jinping. At the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the senior leaders reviewed two documents on inspection work - one about revising the regulation on inspection, the other a report about inspection of the ideological departments of the CPC central authorities. During the meeting, senior officials were asked to set themselves as examples by exercising self-restraint in the use of their power, accepting supervision and acting in line with rules.

Trains to better support Belt, Road

A committee to coordinate freight rail services between China and Europe was launched in Beijing. The committee, initiated by China Railway Corp, consists of 33 stakeholders of China Railway Express, including a number of companies operating the service and research institutes. The committee will work to improve quality and efficiency of the service to better serve the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Li Wenxin, deputy general manager of China Railway Corp. Measures will include establishing transfer hubs to assemble container cars for a train trip as needed, launching an international information service, and starting a hot-line number, 95306, for clients to check on their cargo.

Exchange rate calculation change to ease fluctuation

China is considering introducing a "countercyclical factor" to adjust the way it calculates the yuan's daily reference rate against the dollar, according to a statement by the country's foreign exchange trading system on May 26. Analysts say the move will help prevent excessive fluctuation of the currency. The change in the method of setting the yuan's daily central parity rate against the dollar will better reflect the market supply and demand, lessen possible "herd effects" in the market and help guide the market to focus more on macroeconomic fundamentals, the China Foreign Exchange Trade System says. China's foreign exchange market is prone to the "habitual influences of irrational expectations" and one-way market expectations can sometimes be exaggerated, failing to reflect the real relationship between market supply and demand, the statement says.

Beijing dismisses remarks from G7

Beijing expressed strong disapproval of the G7 Summit statement on the East and South China seas, and it has asked the group to "stop making irresponsible remarks". Foreign Ministry spokesman LuKang expressed dissatisfaction with the leaders' statement, which said they "remain concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas".The summit was held on May 26 and 27 in southern Italy. Lu said China's position on the East and South China seas issues is "clear and consistent". It has always been committed to properly managing and solving disputes through negotiations with countries directly involved, and to promoting cooperation with them in various fields, he said.

Xi stresses need for green development

President Xi Jinping, who also is general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for more efforts to push green development and green lifestyles as the country seeks to better balance economic growth and environmental protection. At a study session attended by members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee recently, Xi listed six key tasks, including speeding up the transformation of growth models and intensifying anti-pollution measures. Xi said China has made historic social and economic achievements since the reform and opening-up, but rapid development has left it with environmental issues.

Yang Jiechi co-chairs fourth dialogue

State Councilor Yang Jiechi began a three-day visit to Japan on May 29, co-chairing the fourth high-level political dialogue between China and Japan with Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat of Japan's National Security Council. Yang said political trust is the fundamental guarantee for a healthy, stable relationship between the two countries. The importance that China attaches to developing relations with Japan remains unchanged, and it hopes Japan will keep up with the times, he said.

Ultrafast missile interceptor developed

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, one of the major defense contractors for the People's Liberation Army, recently revealed that its Second Academy in Beijing has made a "new-generation aerospace defense missile" that incorporates top space technologies, and which it describes as one of the corner stones of a world power's strategic prowess. The weapon is so difficult to design that only a handful of nations in the world are able to develop it, the State-owned company said, adding that its product is capable of bringing down targets tens of kilometers above the ground that fly 10 times faster than a bullet.

Satellite station network complete

A network of remote-sensing satellite ground stations that cover all of China's territory and 70 percent of Asia passed its final acceptance examination on May 31. The network is headquartered in Beijing and features three ground stations - in a suburb of Beijing; in China's westernmost city, Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; and in Sanya, Hainan province.

China 'clear, consistent' on nuclear issue

State Councilor Yang Jiechi said China insists on a political resolution to the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue through peaceful means, in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on May 30.China's stance on the issue is "clear and consistent", he said. The two sides should keep their histories in mind and look ahead, pressing continually to improve relations based on the spirit of four important political documents between China and Japan and the four-point agreement reached in November 2014, Yang said.

Ads for cosmetic surgery targeted

China has launched a campaign, expected to last a year, to clean up the cosmetic surgery industry and ensure public health. The campaign, set to run until April next year, is being waged by State authorities responsible for health, public security, cybersecurity, customs, drug safety, industry and commerce, according to a notice from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The campaign will cover areas like the production and application of drugs and appliances, and staff training and advertising, with a focus on cosmetic injections.

Military to cease paid services

The Central Military Commission will terminate all paid services provided by the military by the end of June 2018, according to a military professor. Services in 10 fields, including nursery education, press and publications and personnel training, should stop by then, said Jiang Luming, professor at the National University of Defense Technology. Projects in another five fields - real estate rentals, agricultural products, accommodation services, medical care and scientific research - should also cease, he added.

CRRC expanding around globe

China Railway Rolling Stock Corp has a global footprint that spans 102 countries and regions, and says plans for further expansion are on track. Electric multi-unit trains from CRRC factories can be seen from Macedonia to Brazil. Its light-rail cars are in the Philippines and Turkey. Its high-speed trains are set to purr along lines in Indonesia. The company runs freight trains and electric locomotives in South Africa, Ireland, Argentina and Kenya. When you add it all up, the group's assets abroad have surged from 3 billion yuan ($435 million) in 2013 to 30.6 billion yuan last year. The number of overseas employees has also jumped, from 509 in 2013 to 4,808 last year.

Sino-Russian exhibition set to open

A Sino-Russian documentary exhibition will open in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on June 6.As part of the events to celebrate the Year of Sino-Russian Media Communication, the exhibition will screen 20 documentaries from the two countries, including The Taste of Xinjiang. During the exhibition, an international documentary forum themed on the Belt and Road Initiative will be held to discuss cooperation among China, Russia and countries in Central and Western Asia.

Boost set for privacy on internet

A fundamental new cybersecurity law, which took effect on June 1 and is intended to safeguard sovereignty in cyberspace, national security and the rights of citizens, bans online service providers from inappropriately collecting and selling users' personal information. The new law, which was passed by the country's top legislature in November, makes it clear that no one can use the internet to conduct fraud or sell prohibited goods. Those who violate the provisions and infringe on personal information will face hefty fines, it stipulates. To protect individuals' privacy, internet service providers are forbidden by the new law from collecting user information that is irrelevant to the services provided, and they should handle the information they do collect in line with laws and agreements.

Table-tennis coach ordered home over gambling

Kong Linghui, the former Olympic table tennis champion, has been suspended as head coach of the Chinese women's team after a luxury hotel in Singapore filed a lawsuit against him over alleged gambling debts, the Chinese Table Tennis Association said on May 30. Kong was ordered to immediately return home from the World Championships in Duesseldorf, Germany. An investigation by the association and other officials, according to a statement, described his behavior as a "serious violation" of rules for public officials. Kong admitted he had borrowed the money in a social media post on Monday night and said he did not participate in gambling, but "only sat and observed".

(China Daily Africa Weekly 06/02/2017 page2)