Beijing values peace within S. China Sea

The concern about "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea is "much ado about nothing", a spokesman for the annual session of the top political advisory body said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Cruise ship starts maiden Xisha trip

SANYA, Hainan - A new cruise ship began its maiden voyage to the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea on Thursday afternoon. The Changle Gongzhu, or Changle Princess, sailed from Sanya with 308 passengers on board.

Policies see intl student numbers rise

The number of students studying in China from countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has increased greatly under a series of preferential policies, education officials said.

Left-behind girls struggle for education

"Left-behind" girls in rural China, whose parents have moved from their hometown in search of work in cities and towns, have a smaller chance of attending school than their male counterparts, due, in part, to a long-held perception that men are entitled to more privileges than women, according to a recent research.

Shanghai's new smoking ban takes effect

A new regulation prohibiting smoking at all indoor public venues and work areas in Shanghai took effect on Wednesday, a measure expected to shield people from the health risks of secondhand smoke.

Story of torture is 'fake'

Chinese authorities have refuted foreign media reports that a Chinese lawyer had been tortured in police detention, saying that these allegations were fabricated to tarnish China's image.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Laid-off workers to get new jobs

China needs to re-employ an additional 500,000 workers who were made redundant as a result of capacity reduction in the coal and steel industries this year.

Severe smog may become thing of the past by 2030

China aims to eradicate severe smog by 2030, but more time and regulations are needed to make constant blue skies a reality, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on Wednesday.

Newest combat drone makes maiden flight

China's latest combat drone made its maiden flight on Monday and is set to be "the biggest export deal" of any Chinese-made unmanned aircraft, according to the drone's designer.

Animal saliva may aid in therapy

Scientists in southern China have used animal saliva to produce a protein that could aid in the development of therapeutic drugs for neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Two scientific vessels launched in sea trials

Two new vessels for scientific investigation, built from the keel up by China, were launched in Shanghai on Tuesday for sea trials.