China-US trade war can still be avoided

China announced new tariffs on 128 products imported from the United States on Monday in response to the new US tariffs on steel and aluminum that took effect a week ago. Although China is determined to counter the US' trade protectionist move to impose up to $60 billion in tariffs on Chinese products, it still hopes to resolve the trade conflict through talks. It means a trade war between the US and China can still be avoided if Washington comes to the negotiating table.

Sino-Russian ties will steadily advance

Editor's note: China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Russia on April 4 and 5 as President Xi Jinping's special envoy. Three experts share their views on future China-Russia relations with China Daily's Pan Yixuan. Excerpts follow:

Kim's visit reiterates Beijing's importance

Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, paid an unofficial visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping from March 25 to 28. At his meeting with Xi, Kim discussed the Korean Peninsula issue, and his scheduled meeting with Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in on April 27 as well as his planned meeting with US President Donald Trump sometime in May, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Xiongan holds out lots of promises for foreign firms

To the south of Beijing, Xiongan New Area is taking shape not only to offload non-capital functions from Beijing but also to become a "world-class water and forest city". The new city in Hebei province will be larger than London, which covers about 1,500 square kilometers.

No tolerance for those trying to split country

Both the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued strong statements on Saturday expressing their resolute support for the SAR government in its bid to reign in any collusion between Hong Kong separatists and external forces.

Xiongan to blaze a new trail for further reforms

Xiongan has been in constant change since April 1 last year when the Communist Party of China Central Committee announced its establishment as a new area to take over some of Beijing's non-capital functions and blaze a trail for the balanced development of the densely-populated Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.

Easing listing requirements will help enterprises realize their innovations

THE CURRENT stringent requirements on corporate profitability will be eased to enable innovative startups in tech, bio-tech and high-end manufacturing to apply to be listed before they become profitable if they meet certain standards set by the authorities, according to a notice published by the State Council, China's Cabinet, on Friday. Beijing News comments:

Y-STR proves to be evidential link

A MAN surnamed Gao has been convicted on raping and killing 11 females from 1988 to 2002 in Northwest China's Gansu province and North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, after admitting his guilt in court. He was sentenced to death on Friday. Beijing News comments:

Ways must be found so Chinese referees worth their whistles

FIFA has unveiled the names of the referees for the 2018 World Cup that will be staged in Russia from June 14 to July 15. It is a pity, but not a surprise, that there is not a single Chinese referee among the total of 99 referees, who are from 46 countries and regions, on the list. People's Daily comments:

Cartoon

The acid test for China as it comes of age

On March 22, US President Donald Trump announced three measures in response to an "investigation" into China's intellectual property rights violations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The US administration claimed that China's actions, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation, which had harmed US businesses. The three measures are:

Patriotism basis of 'one country, two systems'

Speaking at the closing of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress last month, President Xi Jinping said the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions should integrate their own development into the country's development, and take measures to enhance the sense of national consciousness and patriotism among their residents.