News digest

Call to arms onfight against Ebola

China can play a bigger role in the battle against Ebola, experts have said during a seminar on Sino-African collaboration at the University of International Relations in Beijing.

Liu Hongwu, director of the School of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, said that over the past few years, Sino-African collaboration in fields such as agriculture, industry, medical research and new energy has become a potent force in boosting Africa's economic development.

"China can share some of the experience it gained in fighting SARS in 2003 and dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake in Wenchuan in 2008," Liu said. "One of the challenges in the battle against Ebola is that funding is insufficient, and China can take the initiative to set up an international special fund for combating an African virus such as Ebola."

Xu Weizhong, executive director and research professor at the Institute of African Studies, part of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said China has put a great deal of effort into fighting Ebola, and this is essential to continue working with other countries in the task.

Institute reaches out to private firms for funds

The Confucius Institute, the rapidly expanding Chinese-language instruction and cultural organization, is discussing how to raise more financial support.

The feasibility of establishing a Confucius Institute Alumni Association and a Confucius Institute Foundation were discussed at the ninth Confucius Institute Conference in Xiamen, Fujian province on Dec 8.

"We plann to start establishing an alumni association - allowing people from all walks of life to give their support to us," said Xu Lin, chief executive of the Confucius Institute headquarters.

Last year, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party encouraged social organizations and Chinese-funded institutions to get involved in the development of Confucius Institutes. Regulations on financing for the institute were eased.

"Some Chinese companies such as Kweichow Moutai Group, Hainan Airlines and CITIC Group have expressed interest in supporting Confucius Institutes," Xu said.

China sends water and supplies to Maldives

A Chinese navy ship and two air force jets brought fresh supplies to to the Maldives on Dec 8 as the Indian Ocean archipelago battles a water shortage.

A navy supply ship docked in the capital after a 50-hour journey after two aircraft from the People's Liberation Army's air force landed with 40 metric tons of fresh water.

The Changxingdao dropped anchor in Male and immediately started to pump drinking water to the residents, who had not had tap water since Dec 4, when a fire knocked the treatment plant out of service.

China had already sent 20 tons of bottled drinking water on two flights on Dec 6. In addition to fresh water, the ship also has on board desalination equipment that can treat seawater to make it drinkable.

Economists call for rise in public spending

Economists called for more proactive fiscal policies to counter a deepening slowdown in growth before China's annual Central Economic Work Conference ended on Dec 9.

The meeting sets the tone for next year's macroeconomic policy. Gao Peiyong, director of the National Academy of Economic Strategy, part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told a recent forum that a larger budget deficit is likely.

Assuming 7 percent GDP growth next year, Gao said, the deficit would be between 1.35 trillion ($220 billion) and 1.9 trillion yuan.

China set a 1.35 trillion yuan fiscal deficit target for this year, about 2.1 percent of GDP, still modest compared with international standards that is 150 billion yuan more than last year.

Li Xunlei, chief economist at Haitong Securities, expects the deficit ratio to rise to 1.7 trillion yuan, or 2.5 percent of GDP.

Xu Gao, chief economist at Everbright Securities, argues that the country's fiscal policy could be bolder, with a deficit of at least 2 trillion yuan.

New Long March rocket on drawing board

China is conducting preliminary research on a super-heavy launch vehicle that will be used in its manned missions to the moon.

"We are discussing the technological feasibility and requirements of the Long March-9, and research on the solutions to some technical difficulties have started," said Li Tongyu, head of aerospace products at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. "Its specifications will mostly be determined by a host of factors, including the government's space plan and the nation's overall industrial capability, as well as its engine's development."

The Long March-9's diameter and height will be larger than those of the Long March-5, and its thrust will be much stronger, he said.

"Our current launch vehicles, including the Long March-5, which is set to conduct its first launch soon, will be able to undertake the country's space activities planned for the coming 10 years, but for the nation's long-term space programs their capabilities will not be enough," he said.

China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 12/12/2014 page3)