IN BRIEF (Page 2)

It's anchors aweigh in South China Sea

The China-Russia navy drill, taking place for the first time in the South China Sea, is expected to improve the navies' combined ability to counter "common security threats", said Wang Hai, deputy commander of the Chinese navy. The drill is being held in the eastern waters off Zhanjiang, Guangdong's southernmost city, where the Chinese Nanhai Fleet is headquartered. This is the fifth annual naval exercise between China and Russia. China has also taken part in Russia's international military competition for two consecutive years.

Nations pledge to safeguard stability

China and Vietnam vowed on Sept 12 to properly manage differences over the South China Sea and to strengthen maritime cooperation to enhance bilateral ties. The pledge came when Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who led a delegation of 132 members for a six-day trip, his first to China since becoming prime minister in July. The South China Sea issue concerns China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, and both countries should work together to safeguard stability at sea by managing differences and promoting maritime cooperation, Li reportedly told Phuc.

First space base to be built in Wuhan

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, has been chosen as the location for China's first national commercial space industry base, which will focus on the development of carrier rockets and satellites, launch services and applications of satellite data. The base aims to have an annual production capacity of 50 carrier rockets and 140 commercial satellites by 2020, Zhang Di, deputy director of the Fourth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, said after a signing ceremony between his company and local officials on Sept 12.

ATL to provide replacement batteries

China's Amperex Technology Ltd says it has started to supply batteries for Samsung Electronics Co's Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, after faulty batteries prompted a worldwide recall of the handset. Battery shipments from ATL, based in Hong Kong, will increase greatly, according to a manager who declined to give his name. He did not provide the number of batteries to be shipped. ATL also offers batteries for other domestic and foreign smartphone manufacturers.

Beijing, Ottawa to work out an extradition treaty

China and Canada agreed on Sept 12 to begin discussions on a bilateral extradition treaty that would facilitate the return of corrupt fugitive Chinese officials at large in Canada. The agreement was reached at the China-Canada High-Level National Security and Rule of Law Dialogue in Beijing, where discussions were held on ways to improve cooperation on issues such as law enforcement, combating transnational organized crime, judicial cooperation and exchanges on the rule of law.

Global satellite network to boost internet

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, the nation's largest missile developer, plans to build a space information network that will provide global coverage. Liu Shiquan, deputy general manager of the state-owned space and defense giant, said on Sept 12 that the company will put 156 communications satellites into low Earth orbit, at an altitude of 160 to 2,000 km. Each satellite will be able to transmit 500 megabytes of data per second, Liu said.

More charging stations on way

China will accelerate construction of charging facilities for electric vehicles in residential areas to boost production and sales of green cars, the country's top economic planner said in Beijing on Sept 12. More charging stations will be built in Beijing, Tianjin, pilot cities in the provinces of Hebei and Shandong and major cities in the Yangtze River and Pearl River deltas, according to a document released by the National Development and Reform Commission and three other central departments.

Chinese Muslims observe 4-day feast

Muslims across China celebrated one of Islam's biggest holidays on Sept 12 as they gathered to pray and sacrifice animals in accordance with religious dietary laws. Eid al-Adha Festival, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is marked by wearing new clothes, taking part in morning prayers, and sacrificing sheep or cattle. The Islamic Association of China held a reception in Beijing on Sept 12, inviting state dignitaries including Vice-Premier Liu Yandong and Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, as well as envoys from Islamic countries.

Sections linked on world's highest bridge

Beipanjiang Bridge in Guizhou province, southwestern China, is expected to open to traffic by the end of the year. The 1,341-meter structure, which soars 565 meters above a river, is the world's highest bridge, according to Guizhou transportation officials. The three-year construction project began in 2013 with a total cost of 1.03 billion yuan ($154 million; 137 million euros; 113 million), according to an official statement. Vehicles will be able to cross the bridge at up to 80 kilometers per hour.

45 NPC deputies unseated for fraud

China's top legislature on Sept 13 declared the disqualification of 45 state legislators from Northeast China's Liaoning province for their involvement in unprecedented electoral fraud. The National People's Congress Credentials Committee said 523 deputies to the Liaoning People's Congress were implicated in the fraud and have either resigned or had their qualification as deputies terminated. No additional details, such as whether the deputies will face further punishment, were released.

China, Peru recommit to expanding trade links

China and Peru have renewed their commitment to strengthening trade links, as the Latin American nation's leader seeks further investment opportunities in the world's second-largest economy. Meeting with his Peruvian counterpart, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, on Sept 13, President Xi Jinping said the two nations should continue to enhance cooperation in energy, mining and infrastructure construction, and bolster a free trade agreement that was implemented in 2010. Kuczynski, the 78-year-old former minister of minerals and economy, said he admires China's efforts to make itself the largest industrial country and a key player in international affairs.

Joint logistics force set up to further reform

President Xi Jinping called on Sept 13 for the building of a strong and modern joint logistic support force. At the inauguration ceremony of the Central Military Commission Joint Logistic Support Force, Xi, who is chairman of the Central Military Commission, presented flags to Wuhan Joint Logistic Support Base and five joint logistic support centers. Xi asked for the transformation of Chinese troops to meet the requirement of "joint operation, joint exercise and joint logistic support" to be accelerated.

Legal procedures to be streamlined

China will streamline legal procedures by sorting cases into simple and complex categories, according to the Supreme People's Court on Sept 13. The court called for more intensive procedures in complicated cases but emphasized simplified procedures for simple or self-evident cases for optimal allocation of judicial resources. The SPC listed several measures for improving efficiency, including simplified paperwork, pretrial conferences for out-of-court settlements and online servicing of legal instruments.

Over 80% to speak Mandarin by 2020

At least 80 percent of Chinese people should be able to communicate in Mandarin by 2020, according to a work plan for popularization of the language included in the 13th Five Year Plan (2016-20). The National Language Committee and the Ministry of Education released the plan on Sept 13. According to the committee, only 53 percent of people across China could use Mandarin in daily life at the end of the 20th century.

Airplane-themed restaurant opens

The first airplane-themed restaurant in China has proved a hit after opening in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. Located inside a disused Boeing 737 aircraft, Lily Airlines restaurant gives its diners the feeling of being on board a flight. "Passengers" must obtain their bill, which is printed on a replica flight ticket, before they pass down the aisle into the cabin. All waiters and waitresses are dressed to resemble air hosts and hostesses. The restaurant has a capacity of 78 people, with 19 tables.

Spotlight shines on 'holiday corruption'

China's top anti-graft authority has stepped up efforts to prevent "holiday corruption" and provided ways for the public to provide tips during the two holidays. Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Sept 15, and the National Day holiday, which runs Oct 1 to 7, are traditional holidays when people customarily send gifts to family members and close friends. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has encouraged the public to report corruption through a variety of channels - including apps such as WeChat - especially in cases of using public money on personal trips, hosting banquets and spending on nightclubs.

Beijing rule to target unruly tourists

Tourists who have previously exhibited uncivilized behavior could be shut out of some attractions in Beijing, according to a draft city regulation now under discussion. According to the draft, the tourism authority should establish a system that can keep a record of uncivilized behavior, and travel agencies and scenic spots can refuse to provide service for those on the blacklist. Bad behavior includes disturbing orderly transportation, ruining the environment, damaging public facilities and damaging cultural relics or historic sites, the draft said.

Govt prioritizes greener Yangtze

China has made environmental protection and restoration a top priority in its development plan for the Yangtze River Economic Belt, a senior official said while discussing the national plan to boost the economy along China's longest river. The development of the economic belt will follow a green path, with the strictest environmental protection and water resources management measures, according to an official with the leading group of the Yangtze River Economic Belt development. The official said China aims to markedly improve the environment of the economic belt by 2020, with more than 75 percent of the region's water meeting Grade 3 standard or above and forest coverage reaching 43 percent. By 2030, the region's aquatic environment and ecosystem will be greatly improved, the official said.

New railway sees nation pass 20,000-km mark

A new 360-kilometer high-speed railway linking Zhengzhou in Henan province with Xuzhou in Jiangsu province started running on Sept 10, pushing the total length of China's high-speed track in service over 20,000 km, a world record. Trains will run up to 300 km/h in the initial period. The Xuzhou-Lanzhou railway is one of China's four most important railways from east to west, which will link Asia and Europe and play a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Huang Xin, an official with China Railway Corp. It also greatly reduces east-west travel time between big cities.

Data platform to aid disease control

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations launched a data platform for the control and prevention of plant and animal diseases at a meeting in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Sept 10. Through the platform, China and ASEAN members can follow unified regulations in the monitoring, prevention and control of animal and plant diseases across their borders, and will have more intensified and effective cooperation in this field, said Li Jianwei, head of animal and plant quarantine supervision for the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/16/2016 page2)