IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Landslide rescuers make big push

Rescuers hoping for a miracle made a big push in their search for signs of life on June 26 at the massive landslide that destroyed the village of Xinmo in Sichuan province. It was the last day of the three-day "golden rescue period", during which experts say it is theoretically possible to still find survivors of a disaster. As of late June 26, 10 bodies had been recovered, but 93 people were still missing. Three people are known to have survived. The government has carried out extensive surveys throughout the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture to detect possible geological dangers, according to Xu Zhiwen, deputy chief of the prefecture government.

Xi: More effort needed in SOEs reforms

President Xi Jinping called on June 26 for more coordinated efforts to implement the reform agenda in key areas such as the restructuring of State-owned enterprises and improving the supervision of outbound investment. Mixed-ownership reform, a major part of the overall reform of State-owned enterprises, should be accomplished by the end of this year, according to a statement released after the 36th meeting of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, presided over by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

HK urged to 'grasp opportunities'

President Xi Jinping called on compatriots in Hong Kong on June 26 to join hands with the whole nation to "grasp the opportunities of the country's development" and further implement the one country, two systems principle. Xi made his comments while visiting an exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing on achievements since the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. Concerted efforts are expected in exploration and innovation, with the goal being to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and to ensure a better future there, he said.

World stage feels impact of Governance

A book on governance written by President Xi Jinping recently marked the 1,000-day anniversary of its debut and has set a record in China's publication history dating back 40 years with over 6.25 million copies in 22 languages in print worldwide. The book, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, is known for being a "window" on the Chinese leadership and a "key" to China's development success. A dozen of the 22 language editions were released at the request of foreign countries, and by the end of 2018 another 13 language versions are expected to be added, according to XuBu, president of Foreign Languages Press, the book's publisher.

'Ladies first' subway cars launched

Shenzhen Metro Group launched "ladies first" subway cars on June 26, with the aim of providing a better traveling experience for female passengers and advocating care for women. It is the first in the country to offer the service. Ina trial operation, the metro operator has designated the first and last compartments of every train on Lines 1, 3, 4 and 5 as priority cars for women.

Palace Museum shows artifacts in Hong Kong

Two major exhibitions of cultural relics reflecting former imperial families' lives will be displayed in Hong Kong as highlights among a series of events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China. According to Shan Jixiang, director of Beijing's Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, one exhibition, titled Hall of Mental Cultivation of The Palace Museum: Imperial Residence of Eight Emperors, opened on June 28 in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and will run through Oct 15. The exhibition will display about 230 sets of artifacts, including daily-use articles, personal seals and vases that panoramically show interiors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Shan says.

State Council shuffles officials

The State Council, China's Cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of several officials on June 26. Sun Yao was appointed vice-minister of education. Ni Yuefeng was named deputy head of the General Administration of Customs. Yang Xiaowei was appointed deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, to replace Wang Xiujun.

Innovation is key to progress, Li says

China is ready to enhance its efforts in fundamental scientific research and seek breakthroughs to promote innovation-driven development and reach the technological vanguard as a new technological and industrial revolution brings profound changes to the world, Premier Li Keqiang said while chairing a study symposium for the State Council on the new technology and industrial revolution at the Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing. The revolution will reshape the economic and political landscape, rearrange global competitiveness and significantly change existing industries, Li said after hearing the reports. He stressed that China must come up with stronger original research.

13 dengue fever cases reported

The Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province has seen a surge in dengue fever cases, with 13 reported since the prefecture's first case this year on June 23.An emergency response has been launched and measures have been taken for disease prevention and control. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is potentially fatal. The first dengue fever case in the prefecture was reported in 2013.

Nation releases cybersecurity plan

China released an emergency response plan for internet security incidents on June 27.The plan was formulated and released by the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs, to "improve handling of cybersecurity incidents, prevent and reduce damage, protect the public interest and safeguard national security, public safety and social order".The plan divides cybersecurity incidents into six categories, including pernicious procedural incidents, cyberattacks and information security incidents.

Chinese, Kyrgyz troops cooperate in drill

About 700 border defense troops from China and Kyrgyzstan took part in a live-fire anti-terrorism drill in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on June 27. Code-named Tianshan III, the drill took place in a mountainous area in the Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, which borders Kyrgyzstan. It was conducted as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's goal of improving anti-terrorism cooperation. The drill tested the ability of border defense units from China and Kyrgyzstan to jointly handle intensified threats as terrorist organizations continue to penetrate Central Asian countries, send trained members back to their home countries and smuggle firearms.

Beijing demands New Delhi remove troops

China has lodged protests in Beijing and in New Delhi against the encroachment of Indian border troops into Chinese territory, and it demands that India take the proper course of action and withdraw the troops, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on June 27. Indian border guards recently encroached on Chinese territory in the Sikkim section of the border and obstructed ongoing Chinese road construction in the Donglang area. Beijing is sincere in its pursuit of developing friendly China-India ties, but also unswerving in its determination to uphold its sovereign rights and interests, Lu said.

Three table tennis stars apologize

Three of China's top table tennis stars, Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin, apologized to fans on June 25 for their no-show at an international tournament, and sports authorities have vowed to investigate. They were criticized for tarnishing the national team's image by skipping singles matches on June 23 at the China Open in Chengdu, Sichuan province. The General Administration of Sport of China said the behavior was a breach of professional ethics.

Ban likely on more synthetic drugs

China may ban a deadly synthetic component of marijuana, along with more than two dozen other potent synthetic drugs, by the end of the year, according to a police official. Last week, the Ministry of Public Security announced the ban of four synthetic drugs. Now the evaluation has expanded. The additional drugs being evaluated - known collectively as novel psychoactive substances, or NPS - include 4-CEC, a psychoactive stimulant related to methamphetamine, but potentially even more dangerous, like the drug PMMA, which was banned last week, says Yu Haibin, an official at the ministry's Narcotics Control Bureau.

Intra-Party legal system promoted

The Communist Party of China Central Committee has published a document pushing forward the establishment of an intra-Party legal system, Xinhua News Agency reported on June 25. The document stresses the importance of a comprehensive legal system for the Party's governance. It set a goal to have a mature system in place by 2021, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

Cultural exchanges with HK thrive

Cultural exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have developed rapidly since Hong Kong was returned to the motherland in 1997, Ding Wei, vice-minister of culture, said on June 25, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the return. Since 1997, there have been 750 exchange programs annually, on average, with about 10,000 people participating in the past few years alone, Ding said.

1.4 metric tons of drugs destroyed

The Beijing Public Security Bureau held a ceremony on June 25 to announce the destruction of 1.4 metric tons of illegal drugs to mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which fell on June 26.Of the total, methamphetamine accounted for 177 kilograms. Other drugs included heroin, cocaine and ketamine. Drug materials, including 1 ton of opium poppies, were also destroyed. According to the bureau, the drugs were confiscated in 2014 and 2015.

Large dinosaur fossil site found

Paleontologists have discovered a large fossil site in Chongqing, according to a news conference held by the city government. More than 5,000 fossils have been excavated from a "fossil wall" in Pu'an township since October, just a year after the site was discovered by a local farmer. It is estimated that a large number of dinosaur fossils are buried at least 20 meters underground. The unearthed fossils belong to at least five dinosaur categories, such as ornithopods, sauropods and stegosauria, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology.

Illegally obtained evidence defined

The Supreme People's Court has announced a new regulation taking effect on the exclusion of illegally obtained evidence in criminal cases, banning confessions made under torture or duress. The regulation, which took effect on June 27, specifies the conditions under which evidence must be excluded in court trials to prevent wrongful convictions and safeguard human rights. Under the regulation, it is illegal for police or prosecutors to extort confessions through torture, threat or subterfuge. Forced self-incrimination is also prohibited. Confessions, witness testimonies and victim depositions obtained by force may no longer be accepted as evidence.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 06/30/2017 page2)