Briefly

HAINAN

Foreign minister meets Indonesian counterpart

The visit by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi to China marked the resumption of offline diplomacy between the two countries' foreign ministers, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday while meeting with Retno in Hainan province. The meeting sent a clear and positive signal that both sides are committed to jointly fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting economic development, Wang said. Retno is the first foreign minister to visit China since the nation began implementing regular epidemic control measures. Wang and Retno also announced the official establishment of an expedited process for personnel exchanges between the two countries.

XINJIANG

More China-Europe trains in Alataw Pass

The number of China-Europe freight trains handled by customs in Alataw Pass, a major railway port in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, went up 41.4 percent year-on-year, the customs said. The number of China-Europe freight trains passing through the port has reached 2,898 as of Tuesday, with more than 2 million metric tons of cargo transported. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the freight trains have played a crucial role in helping stabilize the international industrial and supply chains due to the limited air and sea transportation. Customs said they have implemented measures such as optimizing the clearance process to boost efficiency.

YUNNAN

Landslide kills 5, leaves 1 hurt in Yanjin county

A landslide in Yunnan province killed five people and injured one, local authorities said on Thursday. The landslide, which happened in a village in Yanjin county early Tuesday, also buried two houses, according to the county government. All the missing were found after a 33-hour rescue operation involving more than 200 rescue workers. A preliminary investigation showed that the landslide was triggered by continuous downpours.

SHANDONG

Man in stabbing plot gets 18-month sentence

A man with AIDS from Shandong province has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for planning to stab a woman with an HIV-laden syringe after he was hired to do so, a recent court document revealed. Shen Shizhuang, 31, was diagnosed with AIDS on Oct 23, 2015. He posted an advertisement online in September last year claiming he could help people collect debts or get revenge by spreading the virus to others. After reading the advertisement, Huang Zhichao contacted Shen and offered him 20,000 yuan ($2,889) to travel to Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to stab a woman with a syringe contaminated with the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS as an act of revenge, the People's Court of Hedong District, Linyi, Shandong, said in the verdict on Aug 7. Shen was caught in Guilin, a city in Guangxi, on Sept 23 before he could execute the plan.

Xinhua - China Daily