Freight links with Russia expanded further

Four trucks each carrying 12 to 15 metric tons of fruits and two cross-border buses carrying dozens of passengers started their journey from Northeast China's Dalian, Liaoning province, on Friday toward Russia's Novosibirsk, marking the official launch of TIR, the global customs transit system, in China.

Sustained reforms to drive growth

BEIJING - China's economic transition toward high-quality development requires further reform and opening-up, a senior Chinese official said on Thursday at a forum hosted by the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

IN BRIEF (Page 6)

Shanghai boosts self-driving tests

The Shanghai municipal government has unveiled plans to expand the city's contribution to the autonomous driving sector by opening up more of its roads for tests.

Haidilao to raise funds via HK float

Chinese mainland's hotpot restaurant chain Sichuan Haidilao Catering Co Ltd has filed an application to list in Hong Kong after a profitable 2017.

ABB sets up new robotics center in Chongqing

ABB Group of Switzerland said it plans to enhance its business presence in Chongqing and support the development of the robotics industry in China's western regions, by stepping up smart manufacturing and driving an industrial upgrade.

Give and take winning proposition in trade talks

With US President Donald Trump tweeting that there has been no folding, and Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng saying that China is prepared for the possibility of an escalation of their trade disputes, both sides set out their respective positions for their trade talks in Washington.

Tsai should not hijack the WHA issue for political end

This year's World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva from May 21 to 26. And for the second year running, Taiwan will not attend.

Normal for firms to vote for technical standards they consider in own interests

ON WEDNESDAY, Lenovo published an open letter addressed to its employees calling on them "to win the battle for Lenovo's honor". Beijing News comments:

Impressionable kids hooked by vulgar videos

A VIDEO CLIP showing a motorcyclist in Zhaotong, Yunnan province, carrying six primary school pupils on his motorbike has proved popular after it was shown online. China Education Daily commented on Thursday:

Can China today accept male nurses?

REPORTS SHOW THAT increasingly more men are working in jobs that used to be regarded as those for women. China Youth Daily comments:

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