What they say

"The language and learning skills of these primary and middle school students have yet to become well developed. To be admitted by good schools, they followed parents' or tutorial classes' arrangements and acted dishonestly."

'Pack mule' to lighten soldiers' loads

China has developed a four-legged robot that can relieve soldiers from carrying heavy equipment and large backpacks when they perform duties on rough terrain, said its designer.

Strategic assessments to reduce pollution

China has started its first strategic environmental impact assessment in the three major industrial zones with the most severe pollution, aiming to provide more effective prevention from sources of pollution, the national environmental watchdog said on Tuesday.

Vanke workers to stop saying 'boss'

China Vanke, the country's largest property developer by market value, has banned the custom of calling superiors "boss", according to an internal notice from its Shanghai branch that was posted online.

Modernization drive boosts PLA's capabilities

The period since the start of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), has seen China make a number of remarkable achievements through its military modernization drive, and the People's Liberation Army now owns some of the world's best weapons, according to experts and observers.

R&D fund bolstered by private sector

Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of special reports to mark achievements in various sectors during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).

China set to continue shooting for the stars

It was midnight in mid-October, but Chen Min, who lives in a village near the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, was still up and about. The vendor in her 20s was earning extra money by selling snacks to visitors who had arrived to watch a rocket launch.

China to buy more grain abroad, shift farming focus

China expects to increase its grain imports during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) rather than continue to increase its farming capacity, according to Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu.

Rise in soybean imports expected to continue

China's soybean imports rose 13 percent in the first nine months of the year, compared with the same period last year, and officials said the trend is likely to continue through the period of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Yangzhou record for fried rice is revoked

The recognition given by Guinness World Records to Yangzhou in East China's Jiangsu province last week for the world's largest serving of fried rice has been revoked.

Ice hockey energized by Olympic fanfare

Ice hockey is riding on the momentum of Beijing's successful Winter Olympics bid to involve more Chinese youth in the sport.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)