IN BRIEF (Page 2)

President calls for rejuvenation

President Xi Jinping called on Sept 25 for the whole country to raise its spirit and make persistent efforts to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as the Communist Party of China is preparing for its 19th National Congress in about three weeks. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee, made the remark while visiting an exhibition at the Beijing Exhibition Hall. It is being held to showcase the country's progress in the past five years under the leadership of the CPC with Xi as the core. The exhibition, a precursor to the 19th National Congress of the CPC scheduled for Oct 18, has 10 sectors with different themes, including boosting the rule of law, deepening reform, protecting the environment and building a strong military. The seven members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee visited the exhibition. A number of senior vice-national level officials also visited on Sept 25.

Xi, UK's May agree on peninsula goals

China remains committed to the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, firmly maintains the international nuclear nonproliferation mechanism and resolutely champions peace and stability in Northeast Asia, President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sept 25. The peninsula issue should be resolved through peaceful means, including dialogue and consultation, and this requires the joint efforts of the international community, Xi said. He also said it is hoped that Britain stays committed to promoting peace and talks and playing a constructive role in easing the tension and resuming dialogue. May said Britain is committed to maintaining international and regional peace and stability and is committed to the peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Tianjin ex-leader gets 12 years for bribery

The former acting Party chief and mayor of Tianjin, Huang Xingguo, was given a 12-year prison sentence and fined 3 million yuan ($453,000; 382,000 euros; ￡335,000) by a court in Hebei province on Sept 25 for taking bribes. Huang, 63, was given a lenient sentence after confessing. He took the initiative to tell judicial authorities of previously unknown facts about his criminal activities, according to the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court. The court also said Huang provided criminal tips about other people to judicial authorities, which have been verified. Further, he surrendered all his ill-gotten gains. Huang used his position for the benefit of others through promotions and obtaining land for projects, then accepted bribes valued at more than 40 million yuan, either by himself or through others, from 1994 to 2016, the court determined.

New media youth forum kicks off in Russia

The Second China-Russia New Media Forum opened in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Sept 25, with collegiate participants from both countries calling for further bilateral cooperation. "Chinese and Russian media share a common vision in increasing abilities and capabilities in international public opinions in the internet era," Zhou Shuchun, editor-in-chief of China Daily, said at the opening ceremony of the forum, which is themed on New Media-Youth Collaboration. "During the internet era, China and Russia face a similar international public opinion environment," Zhou said, adding that China Daily has also engaged actively in pragmatic cooperation with Russian media. Alexei Volin, Russia's deputy minister of communications and mass media, said the use of new media as well as educating the younger generation are two important topics that Chinese and Russian media enterprises can work on together.

Tian'anmen flower basket now on display

A 17-meter-high flower basket in Tian'anmen Square opened to the public on Sept 25 as part of the upcoming National Day celebration. The huge flower basket is attracting plenty of tourists, both from China and other countries. The giant basket, a National Day decoration since 2011, is themed "Blessings to China" this year, and is adorned with artificial fruit for the first time. In addition to artificial peonies, magnolias and Chinese roses, the main arrangement features pomegranates, persimmons and apples. Fourteen additional floral terraces along Chang'an Avenue are among the National Day decorations.

Major secret bank busted in Guangzhou

Police broke up a major secret private banking operation in Guangzhou's Panyu district recently, cutting off a major channel used to transfer assets abroad. The Guangzhou Public Security Bureau said in a statement on Sept 25 that the secret bank, which was hidden in a food bazaar in the city's Panyu district, was investigated for suspected involvement in cross-border transactions valued at more than $70 million (59 million euros; ￡52 million) in the past month. More than 10 bank accounts were frozen after the operation was raided, according to the statement. A female suspect, surnamed Ai, who allegedly operated the secret bank, was detained. Ai, 30, a native of Sichuan province, had been illegally exchanging foreign currency in recent months, the police said.

New eyeball in space peers toward Earth

China's most advanced weather satellite officially began operating 36,000 kilometers above Earth on Sept 25, greatly improving the country's capabilities in weather forecasting, environmental monitoring and disaster prevention and relief. It is also expected to help China's response to climate change. The 5.4-metric-ton Fengyun 4A, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, lifted off on Dec 11 atop a Long March 3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. During its shakedown period, the satellite performed well and generated good-quality images and data, according to a news release from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, which oversees the satellite project. It said the Fengyun 4A can be used to detect and monitor typhoons, sandstorms, rainstorms and smog. Engineers from the China Meteorological Administration took control of the satellite on Sept 25.

Xi pledges to help strengthen Interpol

President Xi Jinping vowed strong support for Interpol on Sept 26 with practical measures. These will include helping 100 developing countries build or upgrade communication systems and crime labs in the next five years, so that the law enforcement cooperative can raise its global influence and leadership. China hopes to work closely with countries and international organizations on global security, and jointly build universal security for humankind, Xi said in his keynote address at the opening of the 86th Interpol General Assembly in Beijing. The president said that China had made remarkable progress in combating crimes of various kinds and building its crime-prevention system. "More and more people believe China is one of the most secure countries in the world, which is an important contribution China has made to the world," he said. The Chinese government will establish an international law enforcement institute under the Ministry of Public Security, which will train 20,000 police officers for developing nations in the next five years, Xi told the assembly.

Entrepreneurs gain government support

China's first-ever guideline that advocates entrepreneurial spirit and creates a favorable environment for entrepreneurs will play a vital role in driving the ongoing supply-side structural reform to further boost innovation, experts say. The guideline was released on Sept 25 by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. It advocates entrepreneurial spirit, which includes hard work, pursuing excellence, craftsmanship, innovation and social responsibility. The guideline stresses that the government will protect the legal rights and interests of entrepreneurs, ensure fair competition and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights to encourage innovation. According to the guideline, a negative list management program will be rolled out nationwide to ensure fair access to industries and businesses that are not off-limits for market entities.

National park plan has ambitious goal

China released on Sept 26 an overall plan on the development and management of national parks. It calls for the strictest measures to protect the country's natural beauty and pass it on to generations to come. By 2020, China will formally set up a group of national parks and establish a new national department to take charge of the comprehensive management of these parks, according to the plan. By 2030, the system will be further improved and the management more efficient, it said. As one of the most important areas in natural reserves, the national parks will receive the strictest protection, according to the plan jointly released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, China's Cabinet. "The national parks are owned by the State, shared by the people and passed on to future generations... as precious natural legacies," the plan says.

Innovators told they can help relations

Innovation cooperation between China and the United States has provided great opportunities for the people of both nations, Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said on Sept 25. Liu's first stop on her visit to the US was the 2017 China-US Young Maker Summit and China-US Youth Innovation Center inauguration ceremony on Sept 25 at New York University. The event was part of the China-US Social and People-to-People Dialogue. Liu visited the exhibits at the China-US Young Maker Competition from NYU and Chinese universities, accompanied by NYU President Andrew Hamilton.

Chinese subway cars for Boston

In November, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co, a manufacturer of high-speed and subway trains, will deliver the first six subway cars to Boston in the United States. A total of 392 cars will be assembled later in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, at a subsidiary of CRRC Changchun, a State-owned train manufacturer based in Jilin province. CRRC Changchun also will provide subway trains for Los Angeles and for Melbourne, Australia. "We no longer win the deals only with competitive prices, but also with high technology standards and business solutions. We have one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities globally," says Cao Ran, executive vice-manager of the overseas business department of CRRC Changchun.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/29/2017 page2)