IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Dating websites face tougher regulation

China's Internet watchdog has shut down 128 dating websites in the past three months as it tries to combat online fraud and protect millions of users' interests.

The Cyberspace Administration of China said the sites lacked legal registration, were illegally leaking user information, allowed fraud and obscene content, or were connected with prostitution.

More than 20 dating websites were required to make changes or face suspension.

The CAC launched its campaign in early February. Most of the tips it acted on came from the public.

Online dating websites should take this opportunity to improve their operation and management as well as build trust among the public, the administration said.

Platform for aviation cooperation with Africa

China has set up a platform to boost aviation cooperation with Africa, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on May 19.

The cooperation platform will integrate resources and share information on aviation development between China and Africa, according to the CAAC.

New flights will be added between China and Africa, and more effort will be made to boost aviation training and flight safety technology cooperation, said CAAC deputy director Wang Zhiqing.

During his visit to Africa in May last year, Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing encouraged Chinese enterprises to form joint ventures with African counterparts to improve Africa's aviation industry.

China has since moved forward on co-founded airlines, technology and aircraft exports.

Investments aim skill development in Kenya

Kenya stands to gain much in skills and knowledge development with the growing investment from Chinese entrepreneurs, local experts in issues of social and economic growth said.

China has continued to strengthen its ties with the leading East African economy in recent years, with its presence being felt in some sectors critical to the country's growth. They include transport infrastructure, energy and education.

Professor George Gongera, a human resource expert, said on May 17 that China's way of nurturing its people's skills was a learning experience for Kenyans.

He said for more than three decades, the now technologically advanced country has been sharpening the skills of its citizens in preparation for macroeconomic developments.

"Kenya can borrow that model of training and intensify its approach to building the capacity of its young people so that they can have the skills needed for growth in the country," said Gongera, who is the dean in the Faculty of Cooperative and Community Development at the Cooperative University College of Kenya.

State Council considers soil pollution plans

China is considering policies to boost public and private cooperation in soil pollution control and treatment, gradually opening up the sector to full outside investment. An action plan for the sector, which could be approved by the end of this year or the start of next, has been submitted to the State Council for approval, said industry insiders. The blueprint reveals that the country's environmental regulator is expected to draft a timetable for reforms of the sector, aimed at curbing all soil pollution by 2020.

BRICS bank may open by year-end

The BRICS Development Bank will be operational as early as the end of this year, or the beginning of 2016, and membership will not be limited to the group's five-member nations, Vice Minister of Finance Shi Yaobin said on May 15.

Shi said the institution would be open for all members of the United Nations, with inclusion agreed by its board of governors. He also disclosed that preparation work for the new multilateral lender is well underway, including the creation of its articles of association to be approved by each nation's legislature, the establishment of the multilateral secretariat, and the formulation of its mandate and some specific policies.

The details were in a statement on the Ministry of Finance's website. It also said the first meeting of the bank's board of governors will be in early July during the BRICS summit in Russia, when it will formally appoint its president and vice-presidents.

Surge in nation's global tourist ranking

China has surged up the global tourist rankings over the past eight years, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. The country has gone from the 71st most-popular destination in 2007 to 17th in 2015, which the study attributed to its exceptional natural and cultural resources. It also has very competitive prices, it noted. On the negative side, however, the report highlighted that the country's tourist sector is restricted by air pollution, and relatively poor services and infrastructure.

Steel companies eye online success

The China Steel and Iron Association and several industry partners joined hands to set up the Steel E-commerce Research Center on May 18, with an eye on upgrading and transforming an industry reeling from low profits.

The research center, initiated by the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, will conduct preliminary research for steel companies taking the e-commerce route and also provide suggestions to policymakers to help the industry develop in a healthy and regulated manner.

Li Xinchuang, head of the institute, said existing problems for the industry include vicious competition, inaccurate trading data and improper disclosure of customer information, all of which need to be solved and regulated urgently.

According to industry data, there are 178 steel e-commerce trading platforms in China, accounting for about 27.6 percent of domestic online commodity trading platforms.

Tax cut on new-energy vehicles and vessels

The Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have proposed tax exemptions and cuts for energy-saving vehicles and vessels. The country will exempt taxes altogether for new pure-electric commercial vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, fuel-cell commercial vehicles, pure-electric passenger cars, and fuel-cell passenger cars, as well as new-energy vessels. Taxes will also be halved for energy-saving vehicles and vessels that meet relevant standards.

Inland nuclear projects get fresh impetus

Nuclear power projects in inland regions may get more attention during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), energy officials said on May 18.

Zhang Huazhu, director-general of the China Nuclear Energy Association, said the biggest hurdle for the development of inland nuclear plants is not technical issues as the nation's energy administration is speeding up efforts to study the environmental impact and safety for people.

"Currently the problem is how to increase public awareness on nuclear safety. We need to be more transparent in monitoring nuclear power plants and gauge perceptions from the public," he told a news conference in Beijing.

He said that about 60 percent of the nuclear power plants in the US are located in inland regions, while inland nuclear projects account for about 67 percent of the total in France.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/22/2015 page18)