News Bites

Sino-Norwegian forum

A two-day seminar on Sino-Norwegian environmental collaboration at Expo 2010 Shanghai was held at the Norway Pavilion on June 1. It was co-organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China and Norway's Ministry of Environment. The environmental issues under discussion at the seminar included biological diversity, climate change and pollution control.

Since mid-1990s, Chinese and Norwegian governments have been cooperating by focusing on international environmental issues and China's need for environmental protection.

The Cooperation Project on Environmentally Sound Management for Co-Processing of Hazardous Waste and Industrial Waste in Cement Kilns in China is one of these issues.

After three years of project implementation since the agreement was signed on 2006, many cement enterprises in China have started demonstration and testing for hazardous waste in cement kilns.

Mobile blood unit

The country's first mobile blood collection unit is stationed at the No 5 entrance to the Expo Garden to encourage blood donations. The vehicle, valued at 5 million yuan ($732,000), was manufactured by Xiamen-based King Long Automotive Co for the Shanghai Blood Administration Office.

The vehicle meets the requirements of the city's regular blood donation campaigns. "The introduction of new blood collection vehicle reflects the city's efforts to facilitate blood collection services," an official said.

Expo in Japan

An Expo supplement co-published by People China Magazine and Asahi Shimbun Publications is on sale in bookstores all over Japan. The supplement covers all areas of the Expo 2010 Shanghai, as well as featuring highlights of Shanghai.

It is estimated that 3 million Japanese will visit the Expo 2010 Shanghai during its six-month duration.

Enlightening forum

Spain's Salicru, a partner of the Spanish Pavilion at the Expo 2010 Shanghai, hosted a seminar on low-carbon light last month attended by more than 100 researchers and officials from Spain and China.

Gu Yande, vice-director of the Energy Research Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission, said at the forum that energy-saving techniques will be a vital part in the betterment of urban life in the future.

China Daily

(China Daily 06/11/2010 page35)