May 10, 1983

Data center to help earthquake forecast

China will establish a national data storage and treatment center to aid research on earthquake forecasting and analysis.

A four-day conference on seismological research decided to concentrate on key areas of earthquake prediction-including the identification of quake-threatened zones, definition of earthquake indicators and damage forecasts.

When completed, the national data storage and treatment system will be able to automatically collect, record and treat data from monitoring and observation stations in major areas of the country.

China develops medical service for 55 minorities

China has made considerable progress developing an effective medical service for her 55 minority ethnic groups in the past three decades.

There are now 28,200 medical institutions in areas inhabited by minority ethnic groups, 24 times the 1952 figure of 1,100.

Professional medical and health workers increased 20 times, numbering 368,800, with 80,500 of them coming from minority ethnic groups, including 3,400 practicing traditional medicine of their own ethnicity.

May 11, 1983

All-round marine development urged

Leading oceanographers have proposed that China concentrate efforts on utilizing marine recourses in a major policy switch.

The marine development is of strategic significance to social and economic progress and should be brought in line with China's development programs, said oceanographers.

Preparations should be made for developing deep-sea, oceanic and polar areas. These include the establishment of the deep-sea mining industry and scientific observation stations in the Antarctic.

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page9)