Jan. 1, 2010
China's migrant workers are able to transfer their medical insurance from July 1, 2010, when they find new jobs in other provinces.
Workers are also able to change their medical insurance type based on their status, including urban workers' medical insurance, urban residents' medical insurance and rural cooperative medical insurance.
Under the new policy, pushed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, if migrant workers leave their village to work in a city, their medical insurance will be urban workers' medical insurance.
Migrant workers hold a personal ID number which is the only code recognized by the medical insurance system allowing them to update their medical insurance information.
China's medical insurance system covers 1.2 billion people and the policy is believed to push forward reform in this area, CCTV reported.
Jan. 4, 2010
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations agency tasked with fighting the spread of HIV on Jan. 4, 2010 congratulated the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States for lifting "discriminatory" travel limits that previously prevented people living with HIV from entering both nations.
Jan. 8, 2010
Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), urged to deepen fiscal and taxation system reforms, and improve the efficiency of fiscal management, so as to maintain steady and comparatively fast economic development.
It is imperative to continue the pro-active fiscal policy and moderately loose monetary policy, with priority given to the implementation of policies that support domestic consumption expansion, economic growth, economic structure adjustments and projects concerning people's livelihood, said Hu at a seminar attended by members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and researchers from the nation's top think tanks on Friday afternoon.
He also called for more investment in agriculture and rural areas, independent innovation and fostering of emerging strategic industries.
More fiscal resources should be channeled to promote public welfare development and back up undertakings concerning people's livelihood, especially education, employment, social security, medical care, affordable housing construction, and environmental protection, according to Hu.
Hu also called for improving the taxation system by optimizing taxation system structure, working out a more fair distribution of the tax burden, and standardizing income distribution, in a bid to promote healthy economic development.
Jan. 10, 2010
The General Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, Sunday issued a notice that required central governmental departments and local governments to strengthen management, stabilize market expectations and facilitate stable and sound development of the real estate market.
"With the recovery of the real estate market, such problems as excessively rising house prices have recently emerged in some cities, which call for great attention," said the notice.
It listed 11 specific measures which should be taken in five aspects -- increasing supply of low-cost houses for low-income families and common residential houses, encouraging reasonable house buying while restraining purchases for speculation and investment, strengthening real estate project loan risk management and market supervision, speeding up construction of housing projects for low-income households, and specifying responsibilities of local governments.
On increasing supply of low-cost houses for low-income families and increasing supply of common residential houses, the notice said efforts should be made to construct more smaller-sized low- and medium-pricing apartments while increasing land supply for residential housing projects.
According to the notice, governments at all levels should act to push property developers to quicken project development and sales of finished projects.
The notice also said cities nationwide, especially those with high house prices and excessively rising house prices, should step up efforts to build more affordable or low-rent housing projects for low and medium income families.
Jan. 12, 2010
The third sessions of the 9th Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress and the 9th Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened in Lhasa on Jan. 10 and Jan. 8, respectively.
The six-day Regional People's Congress proceeded in three phases, namely, listening to and deliberating the report on the work of the Regional Government, listening to and deliberating the reports on the work of the Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Regional Higher People's Court and the Regional People's Procuratorate, and electing and voting on each decision and resolution.
The Third Session of the 9th Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference proceeded until January 13.
The major missions of the session included listening to and deliberating the report on the work of the Standing Committee of the 9th Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPPCC and attending the Third Session of the 9th Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress.
Jan. 13, 2010
A strong earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, collapsing government buildings and a cathedral in its capital city.
The quake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, was the strongest ever recorded in the island country, reports from the country said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have demanded the related Chinese government departments and rescue group to help uncover those being buried, protect Chinese nationals there and provide humanitarian aid. Chinese leaders are very concerned with the safety of Chinese nationals including peacekeepers, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese.
Jan. 14, 2010
A long-awaited law designed to ensure people get compensation when their civil rights are infringed finally got the green light from China's legislators. The 92-provision Tort Law covers a range of liabilities, including traffic and medical accidents, work-related injuries, pollution, harm caused by pets and mental distress. It also covers infringements of personal rights, such as reputation and privacy.
The law would take effect in July.
Jan. 14, 2010
Blue Paper on Rule of Law in China 2009 was published. According to the paper, netizens have become a major force to push the development of rule of law in China.
Jan. 23, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Altay and Tacheng, two regions in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24. He promised to take effective measures to help people through the worst snow in Xinjiang in six decades.
"The Spring Festival (China's Lunar New Year holiday) is drawing near. We must implement well relief measures and make sure that people in blizzard-hit regions will have a peaceful and happy festival," said the Premier at a meeting with Xinjiang officials.
The central government would provide more support to affected regions, including funds and relief materials, he said. "The focus of our work is to maintain people's livelihoods, agriculture and animal husbandry operations, supplies of commodities and transport services."
Jan. 20, 2010
Chinese leaders and people, on Jan. 20, bade farewell to eight peacekeeping police officers who were killed in the 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Haiti.
Top leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang joined thousands of members of the public at the ceremony held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in western Beijing.
People were standing in long lines outside the ceremony hall in the winter chill, waiting to pay tribute to the peacekeepers who were posthumously honored by the government as martyrs.
Jan. 24, 2010
The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Jan. 24, 2010 that China would provide medical supplies worth 18 million yuan (2.64 million U.S. dollars) in additional aid to quake-ravaged Haiti.
A 40-membe Chinese medical care and epidemic prevention team would depart for Haiti from Beijing Capital International Airport on Jan. 24, 2010 with the medical supplies on board, the MOC said in a statement posted on its website.
The 20-tonne medical supplies would include medicines, hygiene equipment, medical devices and camping equipment, said the ministry.
Jan. 29, 2010.
Chinese whose homes are to be demolished for redevelopment should be paid with market prices and can sue over disputes before any demolition, according to a draft regulation issued on Jan. 29, 2010.
The draft regulation on expropriation of houses on state-owned land and relevant compensation was posted on the website of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, to solicit public opinions till Feb. 12.
Feb. 1, 2010
The first atlas on gender equality and women's development in China was released by the SinoMaps Press on Feb. 1, 2010.
The book, "Atlas of Gender Equality and Women's Development in China," maps the state of gender equality and women's development in areas including participation in political affairs, employment, education, marriage, reproductive health and law, said Yu Dongmei, chief editor of the book.
Feb. 2, 2010
China has decided to start public hospital reform with pilot programs in selected cities or districts in each province, autonomous region and municipality, according to a cabinet guideline.
The guideline on public hospital reform was discussed and approved by an executive meeting of the State Council chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.
The public hospital reform is aimed to establish a reasonable, effective and optimized medical service system, and to fully motivate all medical workers to provide the public with safe, effective, convenient and affordable medical services, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
It was stressed at the meeting that public hospitals must retain its orientation of serving public interests and giving top priority to people's health.
Feb 4, 2010
A judicial interpretation, issued by China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Feb. 3, 2010 and having taken effect from Feb 4, 2010, is the nations latest effort to crackdown on online porn.
The legal document clarifies crimes involving the production, replication, publication, and sale of pornographic and vulgar content.
Feb. 8, 2010
The State Council of China issued an urgent notice urging relevant departments and local authorities to settle pay disputes involving migrant workers as millions of them were heading home for lunar new year reunion.
The notice asked local governments and relevant departments to prioritize in their work the settlement of migrant workers' back pay dispute with their employers.
It underlined the construction industry where back pay disputes often happen.
It also ordered local governments to improve the emergency management system to respond to possible mass incidents caused by pay disputes.
Feb. 10, 2010
Premier Wen chaired an executive meeting of the State Council held on Feb. 10, 2010,
Participants of the meeting heard a report on the implementation of China's Rural Poverty Alleviation and Development Program (2001-2010).
The statement said that Chinese government has made great efforts to lift the rural poor out of poverty by development in the past decade and has met the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to halve the proportion of people living on less than one U.S.dollar a day "ahead of schedule".
Other strides achieved by China are: noticeable improvement in the economic strength and infrastructure in impoverished regions, ecological degradation being brought under control, according to the statement.
Feb. 12, 2010
During a two-day trip to Longyan City in east China's Fujian Province just ahead of the Spring Festival, or China's Lunar New Year, Chinese President Hu Jintao promised favorable polices to support and accelerate the development of Fujian province.
Hu said, it is an important duty of the Party and government to help old revolutionary bases in Fujian speed up development and improve people's living standard. In the future, we will continue to implement every favorable policy to help promote the sound and rapid development in the old revolutionary bases.
Feb. 12, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited drought-plagued southwest China regions ahead of the Spring Festival, comforting affected local people and directing relief work against the disaster.
During a trip to Donglan County and Bama Yao Autonomous County in Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Feb. 12 and Feb 13, Wen urged local authorities to beef up anti-drought efforts to ensure drinking water for people and livestock and meet the water demand in spring farming.
Feb. 18, 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama met with Dalai Lama in Washington, though Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu had expressed lodged solemn representation with the United States over such a decision. Ma expressed China firmly opposes the Dalai Lama visiting the United States and U.S. leaders' contacting with him.
Feb. 23, 2010
China has chosen 16 cities to pilot reform of government-run hospitals in an effort to ease public complaint of rising medical bills, according to an official circular released on Tuesday.
The cities are required to establish a reasonable, effective and optimized medical service system, and to fully motivate all medical workers to provide the public with safe, effective, convenient and affordable medical services, according to the document.
Public hospitals must retain its goal of serving the public interests and their top priority should be protecting people's health, said the document, jointly issued by five ministries including the Ministry of Health.
The cities, including six in central China, six in the east and four in the west, were asked to start the reform from this year.
Feb. 27, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao chatted with Internet users at 3 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Feb. 27, 2010 at two state news portals.
The two major portals, www.gov.cn, of the central government, and www.xinhuanet.com, of the Xinhua News Agency, jointly interview Premier Wen, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
Netizens in China and abroad were invited to raise questions to Wen via the Development Forum and the premier was expected to answer some of these questions.
Feb. 27, 2010
Chinese government offered emergency humanitarian aid of 1 million U.S. dollars to Chile to help relief work in areas hit by earthquake on Feb. 27, 2010.
China was preparing for disaster relief work and would continue to provide humanitarian aid to Chile according to need.
A massive 8.8-magnitude quake rocked Chile early on Feb. 27, 2010, leaving at least 711 people dead and hundreds missing.
Feb. 28, 2010
The Chinese government pledges to improve the quality of education and enable people to enjoy fairer education through more investment and reforms in the coming decade.
The draft of the National Outline for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020) was published Sunday for public opinions.
The amount of government investment on education annually will increase to 4 percent of the country's total GDP by 2012, according to the outline. The proportion was 3.48 percent of its GDP in 2008.
March 1, 2010
13th session of the Human Rights Council was held in Geneva, during 1-26 March 2010.
March 3, 2010
The Third Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, opened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 3, 2010.
More than 2,000 CPPCC National Committee members, from across the country, discussed major issues concerning the nation's development during the annual meeting.
March 4, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao said the country's private businesses are now standing on a new starting line and urged them to seize opportunities for development.
Hu made the remarks when joining a panel discussion of political advisors who gathered in Beijing for their annual full session that started on March 3, 2010.
Non-public enterprises should have a clear understanding of the current situation, seize the opportunities and score greater achievements in helping accelerate the transition of the country's economic growth pattern and improve people's livelihoods, and strengthening their own competence, Hu told the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
March 5, 2010
Delegations to the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) attend the opening meeting of the Third Session of the 11th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2010.
The agenda of the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) is as following:
-- hearing and deliberating the government work report by Premier Wen Jiabao
-- examining the Report on the Implementation of the 2009 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Report on the draft 2010 Plan for National Economic and Social Development; and voting on the 2010 plan
-- examining the Report on the Implementation of the Central and Local Budgets for 2009 and on the Draft Central and Local Budgets for 2010; and voting on the 2010 central budget
-- deliberating a draft amendment to the Electoral Law
-- hearing and deliberating the work report of the NPC Standing Committee made by NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo
-- hearing and deliberating the work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) made by SPC President Wang Shengjun
-- hearing and deliberating the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate made by Procurator-General Cao Jianming
March 5, 2010
Premier Wen Jiabao told the parliament on March 5, 2010 China will further reform its decades-long household registration system, or "hukou", in 2010 as a move to push forward urbanization and shorten the urban-rural gap.
Restrictions on permanent residence registration in towns and small and medium-sized cities would be relaxed in 2010, Wen said in a government work report submitted to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).
In the report, Wen said China will solve employment and living problems rural migrant workers face in cities and towns in a "planned and step-by-step" manner.
March 7, 2010
President Hu Jintao on March 7, 2010 urged the Chinese women to contribute more to the country's development and modernization on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the International Women's Day.
Addressing at the Great Hall of the People, Hu said Party committees and governments at all levels should resolutely carry out the basic state policy of equality between men and women, eliminate discrimination against women, and crack down on violations of women's rights in light with law.
Hu stressed that women's equal rights of political participation, equal participation in economic and social development, and equal access to benefits brought by economic development must be protected.
March 8, 2010
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon sent message for International Women's Day 2010.
According to his message, gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the global mission of the United Nations to achieve equal rights and dignity for all. This is a matter of basic human rights, as enshrined in our founding Charter and the Universal Declaration. It is part of the Organization’s very identity.
March 12, 2010
China on March 12, 2010 retorted U.S. criticism by publishing its own report on the U.S. human rights record.
The report reviewed the human rights record of the United States in 2009 from six perspectives: life, property and personal security; civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; racial discrimination; rights of women and children; and the U.S.' violation of human rights against other countries.
March 13, 2010
The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, will conclude its annual session here Saturday morning.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, will preside over the closing ceremony.
The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, ended its annual session Sunday morning after endorsing an amendment to the Electoral Law and the government work report, among others.
The closing meeting was presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, with the presence of President Hu Jintao and other top leaders.
March 17, 2010
The Chinese government was to conduct an inspection of how law enforcement agencies protect women's rights.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) agreed at a meeting on March 17, 2010 that teams would be dispatched to Tianjin Municipality, and the provinces of Jilin, Shandong, Anhui, Guangxi and Shaanxi from March to April.
According to Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, It is an important task to protect women's legal rights and implement the basic state policy of equality of men and women in order to build a harmonious society," said
Wu said the inspection should focus on the interests and requests of women from different social classes and resolve outstanding issues that hinder women's development.
March 18, 2010
The official news agency KCNA on March 18, 2010 slammed the U.S. "Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009", describing them as "nonsensical documents without any scientific accuracy as they distorted human rights practices of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)."
"The United States was the worst country in the world, where human existence and security were not guaranteed and elementary rights to social life were wantonly violated," the agency's commentary said, adding the U.S. administration "abridged the freedom under various pretexts, including that of anti-terrorism."
March 21, 2010
During a three-day trip to China's drought-plagued southwestern Yunnan Province that ended on March 21, Wen visited Qujing, one of the regions that suffered the most from the recent severe drought, to comfort the affected locals and direct relief work.
Premier Wen had called for intensified and consistent efforts to relieve drought in the country and help the affected people overcome the difficulty.
On his trip, Wen went to drought-hit villages, farmlands and reservoirs to learn about the impact that the drought had on local life and farm production.
March 21, 2010
During a three-day visit to northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from Mach 21 to March 23, Chinese President Hu Jintao had called for more efforts to promote social, economic development in the underdeveloped western areas of the country.
2010 marks the tenth anniversary of China's campaign to develop the west.
Hu said the past decade witnessed a good beginning of and laid a solid foundation for the "West Development" drive and the next decade would be a crucial period for pushing forward the campaign.
March 21, 2010
During a inspection tour to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from March 21 to March 23, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang had stressed that economic growth should serve the improvement of people's livelihood so as to promote ethnic unity and social stability in the country's far west Xinjiang region.
He urged the region to follow the decisions and policies of the central authorities to seek synchro progress between economic development and improvement of people's livelihood and promote prosperity, ethnic harmony and social stability.
March 27, 2010
Delivering a speech via TV on the eve of Serfs Emancipation Day, Padma Choling, chairman of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Regional Government, said the democratic reform in Tibet aimed at emancipating serfs 51 years ago under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is lofty and righteous.
Tibetans have achieved remarkable development since 1959. No reactionary force could block the powerful current of Tibet's progress.
March 28, 2010
After a coal mine flooding in north China's Shanxi Province, 153 workers were trapped underground on March 28, 2010.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao ordered the rescue headquarters to step up efforts and go all out to save the trapped people.
They also required local health authorities to give the most considerate treatment of the rescued miners.
March 28, 2010
Flag raising ceremonies were held across Tibet Autonomous Region Sunday to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the emancipation of serfs.
The national flag was hoisted against the backdrop of the grand Potala Palace at about 10 a.m. as more than 3,000 representatives from all walks of life sang the national anthem.
March 29, 2010
China aims to continue cooperation with Russia in fighting terrorism, an official spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Beijing welcomes efforts taken by the Russian government to ensure security and peace in the region as an important part of the bilateral strategic partnership, the diplomat said.
Terrorists attacked at Moscow subway stations on the morning of March 29. Qin Gang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, China extended condolences to the victims and solicitude to their families and the injured. The Chinese leaders had sent messages of condolences to the Russian leaders. China supported Russia's efforts to combat terrorist activities and were ready to strengthen cooperation with Russia both on the bilateral level and within the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in our efforts to combat the "Three Forces" and maintain peace and stability of the region.
March 30, 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law the "fixes" bill of health care reform on March 30, 2010.
He signed the bill at a community college in Alexandria, Virginia, a Washington suburb. The bill contains changes to the main health care legislation he signed before.
April 1, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for greater efforts to improve people's livelihood in an article published on April 1, 2010 in Qiushi, or "Seeking Truth," the official magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Wen, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, touched on topics such as the transformation of the economic growth pattern through technology, promoting educational and cultural development, employment, increasing urban and rural people's income, the social safety net and medicare reform in the article.
According to the article, improving people's livelihood is an important way to adjust the growth mode and expand domestic demand.
April 1, 2010
The newly revised "Regulations on Application and Use of Driver's Licenses" allows, for the first time, Chinese who are able to sit by themselves despite their paralyzed limbs to acquire a license for adapted vehicles.
More disabled people would be able to drive in China, including those paralyzed from the waist down, thanks to revisions to driving license regulations that took effect starting from April 1, 2010.
April 3, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao went on an inspection tour in the drought-hit southwest Guizhou Province from April 3 to April 5, 2010, meeting people there, seeing the dry conditions first hand and discussing relief measures with officials.
The premier visited the worst-hit Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It was his third time in 2010 to visit the drought afflicted southwest.
April 7, 2010
The Chinese government said on April 7, 2010 that it would continue to develop the country's western regions with a focus on improving people's well-being.
The government would resolutely push forward the development of the west strategy, which was initiated ten years ago and has facilitated historic social and economic progress in the region, according to a statement released after a executive meeting of the State Council on April 7, 2010 chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.
More efforts would be made to improve education, health services, job creation, social security, as well as cultural and sports development, to promote equal social services, the statement said.
Infrastructure construction would be given priority, with the building of hydro-power stations to relieve water shortages in the region, it said.
The government also called for sustainable development through a recycling and energy-saving industries and for all projects to meet ecological protection standards.
April 15, 2010
The Chinese government said on April 15, 2010 it plans to increase the land supply available for residential property, in a bid to guide the country's runaway property market into more healthy development.
China would supply 180,000 hectares of land nationwide to build houses in 2010, excluding the Tibet Autonomous Region, compared with an area of 76,461 hectares in 2009, the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) said.
April 14, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on April 14, 2010 urged all-out efforts to save lives and provide assistance to people affected by a 7.1-magnitude quake.
In two separate written instructions, Hu and Wen asked authorities to step up precautions in case of aftershocks and make sure people in the disaster-hit area were taken good care of.
They also called for efforts to safeguard social stability in the quake-devastated region in Qinghai Province.
April 15, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in northwestern Qinghai's Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu on April 15, 2010.
In his visit to Yushu, Wen visited quake-devastated schools, orphanages, monasteries and camps for quake-displaced people, conveying his utmost sympathy and concern on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council to the quake victims.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on April 16 told quake-affected people in Yushu to "help and care for each other, fight shoulder to shoulder and unite as one to overcome difficulties."
Wen said: "We can overcome the disaster and improve national unity in fighting the calamity."
April 17, 2010
Commercial banks can refuse to issue loans to buyers of their third home in areas suffering from excess property price rise, said the State Council, or the Cabinet, on April 17, 2010.
To curb speculation, banks can also halt loans to those who can't provide materials to prove they had lived and paid taxes and social insurances for at least one year in cities where they intended to buy houses, according to a statement on the central government's website.
April 18, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited quake-hit Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province on April 18, 2010, vowing to help victims rebuild their homes as most of them now settle in tents with basic needs met.
In a morale-raising visit to quake-hit Yushu, Hu assured locals of new homes and schools and steadfast relief work.
April 24, 2010
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on April 24, 2010 urged medical workers to improve their service as the contribution to the reform of the country's health care system.
"Constant efforts must be made to improve the quality of medical and health care services, and to enhance our capabilities in disease prevention and control," Li told the opening session of a national convention of the Chinese Medical Association in Beijing.
April 27, 2010
The Chinese government announced April 27, 2010 the lifting of the 20-year-old ban on entry for foreigners with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and leprosy.
According to a statement released by the State Council, after gaining more knowledge about the diseases, the government had realized that such ban has a very limited effect in preventing and controlling diseases in the country. It has, instead, caused inconvenience for the country when hosting various international activities.
April 27, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao on April 27, 2010 called for more efforts to promote the "model worker spirit" nationwide to further advance social and economic development.
Hu made the remarks at a rally honoring 2,115 Chinese national labor heroes and 870 advanced workers in Beijing ahead of the International Labor Day on May 1.
Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, also attended the ceremony, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, praised the model workers and advanced workers for their "outstanding contributions in pushing forward the country's social and economic advancement."
April 28, 2010
A conference, featuring with role of human rights institutes in the progress of human rights, was held in Nankai University. Over 60 human rights experts from 28 universities and academies attended the conference. Luo Haocai, chairman of CSHRS (China Society of Human Rights Studies), said, there was still a long way to go though Chinese human rights had made a great progress.
April 28, 2010
China's human resource official said on April 28, 2010 the country would step up efforts to improve social services for migrant rural workers in a report on protecting migrant rural workers' interests.
In a report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Yang Zhiming, vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said relevant efforts would be listed in the next five-year plan,
Yang said the ministry would increase the coverage of labor contract for migrant rural workers, improve their working conditions and realize the portability of old-age insurance for them.
April 29, 2010
China's parliament on April 29, 2010 adopted amendments to the State Compensation Law that grant citizens greater power to obtain compensation when their rights are violated by the state.
The amendments, to take effect on Dec. 1, were approved at the end of the four-day bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or the top legislature.
When a citizen is harmed through "state negligence," the state must compensate the citizen, according to the amendments which expand the scope of state compensation, China University of Political Science and Law Prof. Ma Huaide said.
April 29, 2010
China's parliament on April 29, 2010 adopted a revision to the Law on Guarding State Secrets which narrowed the definition of "state secrets," in an effort to boost transparency.
The amended law was approved by lawmakers at the end of the four-day bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or the top legislature, after three reviews, the first of which began from June, 2009.
State secrets have a clearer definition in the amended law. They are defined as information concerning state security and interests and, if leaked, would damage state security and interests in the areas of politics, economy and national defense, among others.
April 30, 2010
The 2010 Shanghai World Expo opened on April 30, 2010, attracting the attention of the world and international participation and earning heartfelt congratulations. Some 20 world leaders attended the opening ceremony and toured the Expo.
Chinese President Hu Jintao declared the opening of the World Expo 2010 in the futuristic seashell-shaped venue.
May 1, 2010
Premier Wen Jiabao held a meeting on May 1, 2010 to discuss reconstruction work in the quake-hit Yushu, in northwest China's Qinghai province. He stressed that looking after local residents was his main priority, and said the government was doing its utmost on relief and reconstruction work.
Wen acknowledged the achievements and hard work being done by relief workers in the Yushu County. At the meeting, he said the focus of the next period would be reconstruction and future development planning. He said the standard of living in the quake-hit Yushu would eventually return to normal and even be better than before.
May 5, 2010
A meeting of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, approved the final version of the Medium and Long-term National Educational Reform and Development Plan (2010-2020) on May 5, 2010, according to a statement issued by the State Council.
The approved education reform plan for next decade promised to prioritize the development of education while ensuring fairness in the system.
The development of education ranging from pre-school education to vocational education in rural areas would be a priority in the country's overall development programs, according to the plan.
Government investment would increase steadily to support the education sector, with the ratio of government's education expenditure in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) to be 4 percent by 2012, according to the meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
May 10, 2010
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang had called on reconstruction teams to finish their work within three years in the earthquake stricken areas of the northwestern Qinghai Province. Li made the remark during a visit from May 10 to May 11, 2010 in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, epicenter of a 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14.
He asked relief workers to finish removing debris, select the site of a new township and the layout of urban and rural areas by the end of May, 2010.
By the end of 2010, reconstruction teams should strive to finish all reinforcement work for reparable buildings in the quake zone, finish building new homes for most rural residents and herdsmen, and start building new homes for most urban residents, Li said.
May 13, 2010
China and the U.S. held a dialogue on human rights in Washington D.C. from May 13 to May 14, 2010. the two sides have a frank talk
China and the United States had started a formal human rights dialogue in Washington. This round of dialogue was the 15th in the past 20 years.
The human rights dialogue between China and the US first started back in the 1990s and had been on-again-off-again ever since. During US President Barack Obama's visit to Beijing in November, 2009, the two leaders agreed to resume the dialogue after a two year suspension. Experts said this round of talk marked a new beginning.
May 17, 2010
The Chinese central authorities had set down strategic plans for far western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to achieve leapfrog development and lasting stability, at a central work conference on Xinjiang's development concluded on May 19, 2010.
President Hu Jintao said Xinjiang should embark on a development path with Chinese characteristics and one that suits the region's situation.
Hu said the region should comprehensively push forward its economic, political, cultural and social development and enhance Party building under the new circumstances.
May 19, 2010
The central government had urged provincial governments to step up efforts to ensure the supply of affordable housing by holding top provincial leaders accountable for the task.
The move was seen as another major effort by the central government to address the housing issue after the State Council, or the Cabinet, introduced a slew of measures to curb rocketing housing prices in the country in April, 2010.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development signed documents on May 19, 2010 with all the 31 provincial, municipal and autonomous region governments, as well as Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, to guarantee that they would fulfill the construction of much-needed housing this year.
China planed to build as many as 5.8 million affordable, low-rent houses for those with low incomes and those who now live in shantytowns, as well as to reconstruct dilapidated houses for 1.2 million rural households this year.
All projects would begin before the end of July, 2010, the ministry said in a statement.
May 23, 2010
May 23 marked the anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet and a series of activities were held to celebrate the historic event.
May 25, 2010
A national conference on talent, which concluded May 26, 2010, spoke volumes about the government's focus on this topic.
The central government had drafted guidelines for the mid- and long-term development of education and had launched various programs to attract talented scientists and experts from abroad.
May 28, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao asked governments at different levels to endeavor to ensure all urban and rural residents to be covered by basic health care service, a key livelihood issue in the country. Hu made the call at a group study of the members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on May 28, 2010.
Hu said the reform must realize the goal of basic health care for everyone and it was a major task to speed up the building of a basic health care system that covers both rural and urban residents.
May 31, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao encouraged children to be ambitious and pursue an all-round development while touring a museum in Beijing along with children from home and abroad ahead of the International Children's Day on May 31, 2010.
All the representatives of the sixth national congress of the Chinese Young Pioneers, the country's largest children's organization, took part in the tour with the President, as well as other children from home and abroad.
Hu expressed holiday greetings to children of all ethnic groups and wished the once-every-five-year congress a complete success, which was scheduled to be held on June 1 and June 2, 2010.
June 1, 2010
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping called on members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to play a leading role in reconstruction work in the quake-hit Yushu prefecture of northwestern Qinghai Province.
Relevant authorities should place safeguarding and improving people's livelihood in the quake zone on top of their agenda, and should focus on ensuring normal lives and work for the people before reconstruction was completed, Xi said during an inspection in Yushu on June 1, 2010.
The vice president began his inspection in the quake zone by visiting Yushu's Hongqi Elementary School, where he encouraged the students to study hard to become "future talents for the development of the country, of Qinghai, and of the new Yushu prefecture."
June 8, 2010
The Chinese government published a white paper on its Internet policy on June 8, 2010, stressing the guarantee of citizens' freedom of speech on the Internet and more intensive application of it.
The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduced facts of the development and use of the Internet in China, and elaborated on the country's basic policies on the Internet.
The Chinese government actively advocates and supports the development and application of the Internet across the country, it said, stressing the government's basic Internet policy: active use, scientific development, law-based administration and ensured security.
By the end of 2009 the number of netizens in China had reached 384 million, 618 times that of 1997 with an annual increase of 31.95 million users.
The Internet had reached 28.9 percent of the total population by the end of 2009, higher than the world average. Its accessibility will be raised to 45 percent of the population in the coming five years, it said.
June 12, 2010
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said that low-rent and affordable housing construction should be sped up to meet people's basic demands for living.
The construction of public low-rent housing seeks to offer middle and low-income urban residents with adequate housing and affordable rents. This not only helps curb skyrocketing property prices in some cities, but is also conducive to bridge the income gap and assist in urbanization, Li told a national meeting which concluded on June 12, 2010.
While speaking at the two-day meeting, Li urged local authorities to create favorable taxation and financing policies to support such housing programs.
June 14, 2010
China sent two chartered planes to bring home Chinese nationals in Kyrgyzstan on June 14, 2010, where ethnic clashes in the south had left more than 120 people dead and almost 1,700 injured.
Each of the Boeing 737-700 aircraft was capable of carrying 122 passengers and flight crew had prepared food, medicine, oxygen and medical equipment, the spokesman said.
Until June 17, 2010, China had evacuated 1,299 nationals from Kyrgyzstan where ethnic clashes have left at least 187 people dead, the Foreign Ministry said.
The return of the ninth chartered flight means the end of the three-day massive evacuation.
The clashes in Kyrgyzstan followed violence in May when supporters of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev clashed with supporters of the interim government in the southern cities of Osh and Jalalabad.
June 17, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited flood-hit Fuzhou City in central province of Jiangxi to inspect the fight against flood and disaster relief work on June 17, 2010.
Despite heavy rain, Wen paid visits to local residents who suffered from flood, as well as military, police and firefighting forces who had strived to combat the disaster.
June 21, 2010
The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee approved an education reform plan for the next decade, which aims for greater education investment and fairer distribution of resources, on June 21, 2010.
Presided over by the CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao, a meeting of the Politburo approved the final version of the Medium- and Long-term National Educational Reform and Development Plan (2010-2020).
The Politburo, the CPC's top decision-making body, said in a statement that education was the fundamental cause for the revitalization of China and social progress in the future.
The government promote educational fairness as a basic policy and increase education investment in rural, remote and ethnic minority areas, the Politburo agreed.
According to the plan, government investment would increase steadily to support the education sector, with the ratio of education expenditure in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) to be 4 percent by 2012.
June 24, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited flood-hit Fuzhou City in central province of Jiangxi to inspect the fight against flood and disaster relief work on June 24, 2010.
Despite heavy rain, Wen paid visits to local residents who suffered from flood, as well as military, police and firefighting forces who had strived to combat the disaster.
June 24, 2010
China's highest court had published details of a regulation banning the admission of confessions obtained through torture in criminal trials.
The rule comes after a man who was wrongly jailed for murder was released last month when the victim turned up alive and well 10 years later.
It is one of the two regulations issued by the Supreme People's Court on June 24, 2010 to prevent further miscarriages of justice and tighten the conviction criteria in capital cases.
The regulations focus on corroboration of physical evidence and human testimony in death penalty cases.
The regulation on principles and detailed rules for scrutinizing evidence in death penalty cases states that all physical evidence for the prosecution and defense should be revealed, identified and open to question in court.
Every item of evidence should be verified through legal procedures.
June 25, 2010
The Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress, or China's legislature, approved the amendment to China's Administrative Supervision Law, which had been submitted to China's legislature for its second reading on June 22, 2010. The amendment strengthens protection of informants in an effort to encourage tip-offs on official corruption.
The amendment said those who reveal an informant's personal information or issues he or she reports would be punished according to law.
June 29, 2010
China and EU held the 29th dialogue on human rights in Madrid, Spain. Both of the two parties believed it was a frank and constructive communication. Delegates from the EU appraised the progress of China in human rights protection.
July 1, 2010
The Tort Liability Law, which took effect on July 1, 2010, provides that people may sue for damages following medical accidents, road accidents, harm from pollution, mental distress, and violations of privacy or reputation on the Internet, as well as injuries from objects thrown from high-rise buildings.
The tort law, approved in December, 2009, has been seen as one of the key laws within China's legal framework of civil rights protection.
July 1, 2010
The minimum wage in 10 provinces and cities including Hainan, Henan, Shaanxi and Anhui provinces, as well as Shenzhen city was raised on July 1, 2010.
Except Shenzhen, other provinces or regions increased their minimum wage by at least 20 percent, with the highest at 31.7 percent in the first-tier zone in Hainan.
The increase rate in Anhui was 25.9 percent, Yunnan 22 percent, Hunan 27.8 percent, Henan 23 percent.
July 2, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged local governments to step up efforts in disaster prevention while heavy rains sweep the country's south and cause floods.
Wen made the call during an inspection tour to flood-hit Hunan Province on July 1, 2010.
He told local officials it is a top priority to ensure the safety of people and asked them to help farmers resume agricultural production.
July 8, 2010
Chinese government submitted a report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. This was China’s second submission to UN on this issue. The report comprehensively introduced the achievements China had obtained in protecting people’s economic, social and cultural rights in recent years, and it also responded to the questions UN institutions raised after China’s first submission.
Submitting its first report on the covenant to the UN in June of 2003, China joined the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in 2001, which is one of the most influential global covenant on human rights.
July 13, 2010
During a high-profile work conference on national education in Beijing on July 14, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao urged the Communist Party of China and the whole country to give priority to education in their work, in order to build a moderately prosperous society, push forward socialist modernization, and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Education was the cornerstone of national rejuvenation and social progress, and the basic means to improve all-round development of individuals, Hu said during the conference.
July 14 2010
China publicized regulations on natural disaster relief on July 14, 2010.
The regulations, which make clear the responsibility of governments in disaster relief work, would take effect on Sept. 1, 2010.
According to the regulations, leaders of governments at all levels will be held accountable for relief work, and the nationwide relief work is to be commanded by the national disaster reduction authority.
The regulations also stipulates that governments above county level are responsible for mapping out emergency response plans, providing transportation and communication facilities to disaster relief work, designating emergency shelters and training disaster relief teams.
Further, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council issued a statement Wednesday, further clarifying the regulations.
Aug. 27, 2010
7th human rights training session was held in Beijing by the State Council Information Office. Nearly 50 trainees attended the training, which opened on July 27, 2010. Dong Yunhu, deputy director of State Council Information Office, delivered a keynote speech in the opening ceremony on July 27, 2010.
Human rights scholars, including Chang Jian, Zhou Qi and Liu Huawen respectively delivered speeches at the training classes. Besides, Wu Heping, official from Ministry of Public Security, and Li Zhongcheng, official from Supreme People's Court, also delivered speeches on human rights protection.
The training session was held to promote the understanding of human rights concepts.
July 29, 2010
The Outline of China's National Plan for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020) released on July 29, 2010 says allocation of public educational resources shall favor minority-inhabited areas and governments at all levels should speed up development of special education.
"Speeding up educational development for ethnic minority groups is of far-reaching importance for promoting socioeconomic development among the people and in the areas inhabited by them, and for enhancing unity between people of different ethnic backgrounds," the outline says.
By 2020, every Chinese prefecture, prefecture-level city, and every county that has more than 300,000 residents and a large number of disabled children should have at least one special education school for disabled students, says a national education outline.
August 7, 2010
A massive mudslide swept through Zhouqu County in China's northwest Gansu province on August 7, 2010, killing and injuring people and devastating houses. On August 8, Premier Wen flew to Zhouqu to instruct disaster-relief work.
August 10, 2010
A meeting on disaster-relief work in Zhouqu was held by Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and presided by President Hu Jintao.
August 15, 2010
Chinese flags across the country and at overseas embassies and consulates lowered to half-mast Sunday to mourn the victims of the devastating mudslide in the northwestern Gansu Province.
Public entertainment suspended on August 8, 2010 in a show of mourning.
August 23, 2010
A draft amendment to China's Criminal Law proposed reducing the number of crimes subject to the death penalty to better protect human rights.
The draft amendment was submitted on August 23, 2010 to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, for its first reading.
If the amendment becomes law, it would be the first time the number of crimes subject to the death penalty had been reduced since the People's Republic of China enacted its criminal law in 1979. It would also be a major move by China to limit the use of the death penalty, after the Supreme People's Court in 2007 began to review and approve all death penalty decisions.
August 23, 2010
A 21-member Hong Kong tour group aboard a bus was hijacked by a dismissed Filipino policeman earlier in the day. The crisis ended on August 23, 2010 with eight killed, seven injured. China urged the Philippines to clearly investigate the Manila bus hijacking.
August 24, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on August 24, 2010 expressed their condolences to the families of the eight Hong Kong tourists killed in a hostage crisis in the Philippines.
In a joint letter to Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Hu and Wen expressed their deep sorrow for the families of those killed and consolation for the injured.
"We are in grave shock and grief on hearing that eight Hong Kong compatriots fell and many others were injured in the Manila hostage incident," the letter said.
August 24, 2010
All government offices in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) lowered flags at half- mast on August 24, 2010 to mourn Hong Kong tourists killed in the abduction tragedy in the Philippines.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang said that all government offices would keep flags at half-mast Tuesday while principal officials would cancel unnecessary activities to mourn the dead.
Major newspapers in the city were printed in black and white on August 24, 2010. Home pages of government websites were also turned black and white.
August 24, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on August 25, 2010 called for all-out efforts to save the passengers injured in Yichun plane crash. The Henan Airlines aircraft carrying 91 passengers and five crew crashed on August 24, 2010 near Lindu airport on the outskirts of Yichun, killing 42 people and injuring 54 others.
They also ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and thorough inspections within the civil aviation system to eliminate any safety risks.
August 28, 2010
Chinese legislators on August 28, 2010 passed the People's Mediation Law on the final day of the bimonthly meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.
The NPC Standing Committee also adopted a proposal to amend the Law on Officers in Reserve Forces on August 25, 2010.
Sept. 3, 2010
Top Chinese leaders paid homage to the Chinese soldiers who died fighting Japanese aggression during the Second World War Friday, the 65th anniversary of the Japanese surrender to China.
At the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee - Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang - presented bouquets to honor the war martyrs.
Veterans, foreigners who helped China fight the Japanese invaders and other citizens also mourned the martyrs with silent tribute.
Sept. 10, 2010
The Chinese government issued a white paper on its human resources, highlighting the country's policies to cope with employment pressures and a lack of "high-level innovative talents."
The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduced the country's human resources situation, related laws and regulations and protection of workers' rights and interests.
The 41-page paper, the first of its kind in China, says China's 1.3 billion population is "a vast reservoir of human resources," and "actively developing human resources, bringing into full play the potential ability and value of each individual and promoting the people's all-round development" is a significant aim.
Sept. 15, 2010
Four Chinese government agencies jointly released a circular urging a "high voltage" crackdown take place along with more severe punishments for food safety crimes.
According to the document, in addition to casualties and the amount of money involved, Chinese courts should also weigh in on offenders' subjective culpability, criminal methods and the negative effects their behaviors cause to various markets, when sentencing the criminals.
Repeat offenders, principals of criminal groups and those resulting in severe harm to people or to large-scale sales, should be "strictly" punished in accordance with laws and regulations, the circular instructed.
Sept.16, 2010
At the opening ceremony of the Fifth APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting held in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao stressed interactive mechanism between employment and social security, and decent work.
Sept. 22, 2010
Addressing the UN summit on Sept. 22, 2010, Wen Jiabao said over the past 10 years since the UN millennium summit in 2000, the basic daily demands of a great number of people worldwide has been guaranteed. China will step up efforts to reduce the poor population and fulfill its commitments to realizing the Millennium Development Goals.
Sept. 25, 2010
Earthquakes in recent years had prompted the Chinese government to draw up a series of goals for rapid response and more efficient monitoring work, a government document indicated on Sept. 25, 2010.
According to the document issued by the State Council, China's cabinet, one goal by the year 2015 is to have search and rescue teams able to reach quake zones in less than two hours.
Meanwhile, basic living standards of the people in disaster-hit regions will be ensured within 24 hours of an earthquake, said the document.
Sept. 26, 2010
The Chinese government released a white paper on human rights in China in 2009, highlighting the role of Internet freedom and the country's efforts in safeguarding citizens' legitimate civil and political rights.
"The overall cause of human rights has been promoted in an all-round way," says the white paper, published by the State Council Information Office under the title "Progress in China's Human Rights in 2009."
Sept. 27, 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China will improve its vocational training system to promote employment and economic development.
"Vocational training is a major way to enhance the skills of the labor force, as well as an effective measure to promote and stabilize employment," a statement released after an executive meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, presided over by Premier Wen said.
Sept. 28, 2010
China's State Council, the Cabinet issued a compilation of white papers on Tibet.
Edited by the Information Office of the State Council and published by the People's Publishing House, the compilation includes eight papers on Tibet and three regarding ethnic groups and religion published since 1992.
The white papers outline Tibet's history since 1959, and achievements of the Tibet Autonomous Region in economic growth, protection of cultural heritage, eco-protection and other areas.
Oct. 8, 2010
Chinese President Hu Jintao said that saving lives must be the top priority for flood relief work in south China's Hainan Province.
He said people who were threatened by floods should be rapidly relocated, and measures should be taken to prevent secondary disasters and reduce losses.
Since Sept. 30, the island province had suffered continuous torrential rains, causing many rivers to swell and floods in some areas.
Oct. 12, 2010
Three ministries, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), released a notice requiring provincial-level governments to evaluate the work concerning housing price stability and welfare housing projects and would be held accountable for poor performance.
The notice required cities with overpriced housing, rapid rises in housing prices and tight housing supply to limit the number of houses that a local household is allowed to buy within a certain period of time. Local governments should increase the actual housing supply and strive to accelerate the construction of welfare housing projects.
Oct. 15, 2010
The document, the CPC Central Committee's Proposal on Formulating the Twelfth Five-year Program (2011-2015) on National Economic and Social Development, was adopted at the Fifth Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee which ended Oct. 18. It would play a crucial role in shaping the country's development over the next five years.
Divided into 12 parts, the proposal provides the basis for drafting the 12th five-year program. It includes accelerating transformation of economic development pattern, further expanding domestic demand and pushing forward the modernization of agriculture.
The proposal also stresses development of a modern industrial system, coordinated development of all regions, and the building of an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly society in the coming five years.
Oct. 19, 2010
The Third Beijing Forum on Human Rights, with "Human Rights and Development: Rethinking Concepts, Models and Approaches" as the main theme and "Scientific Development and Human Rights", "Cultural Diversity and Human Rights" and "Global Governance and Human Rights" the sub-themes, kicked off in Beijing on Oct. 19, 2010.
Prestigious and influential experts and scholars on human rights, celebrities and councilors from home and abroad were invited, including chairpersons of the National Human Rights Committee of some countries and officers of the UN System. Participants of China mainly consisted of experts and scholars of China Society for Human Rights Studies, scholars of major human rights study institutions from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Nearly 100 participants, with 40 from China and 60 from foreign countries attended the forum.
Oct. 20, 2010
The Chinese government pledged to enhance international cooperation in human rights and make due contributions to the world human rights causes.
"The Chinese people will, as always, enhance international cooperation in human rights and, with people from other countries, make their due contribution to the cause of world human rights and the building of a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity," Wang Chen, director of the State Council's Information Office, said when meeting with foreign participants on the Third Beijing Forum on Human Rights.
Oct. 21, 2010
Juvenile courts across China had started erasing the criminal records of some underage convicts, to prevent them from facing discrimination upon discharge from prison.
The practice, common in the West, was being trialed in China, where young people applying to enter the armed forces and some jobs are required by law to have their criminal records checked, said Shao Wenhong, a retired Supreme People's Court senior judge.
Shao said on the sidelines of the Beijing Forum for Human Rights that if the trial is successful, the practice will be codified into law.
"It will be a big step forward for the protection of rights in the Chinese judicial system,"
Oct. 25, 2010
The country's top legislature said that the right of habitation is "one of the fundamental rights for residents" and should be guaranteed through legislation, as its bimonthly legislative session opened in Beijing.
The statement is seen as another major step after the central government introduced a slew of measures to curb rocketing housing prices in the country.
Oct. 28, 2010
China's top legislature voted to adopt a social insurance law that aims to prevent the improper use of social security funds, after reading it four times and receiving feedback on the draft from the general public.
The Social Insurance Law specifies a common right for all citizens to access and enjoy five forms of insurance: basic endowment insurance, basic medical insurance, employment injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance.
It also allows employees to transfer their basic endowment insurance accounts from one residence to another and promises a new endowment insurance system for rural residents.
The law overcomes many of the obstacles under the old regulations, which restricted movement of the country's increasing migrant population. It says that a new medical payment system should be established to allow medical insurance in one place to be repaid in another. Citizens should also be allowed to pay pension premiums in one place and withdraw money from another.
Oct. 31, 2010
The 184-day World Expo concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony. The gala is viewed in China, as another event of national pride, after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The closing ceremony was held at the Expo Cultural Center at the World Expo Park in Shanghai.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao declared the closure of the Expo at a ceremony. Before that, he said at the Summit Forum on the sidelines of the Expo the success of the Expo has boosted China's confidence and resolve to pursue reform and opening up.
Nov. 8, 2010
The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, or China' s cabinet, issued guidelines on Nov. 8, 2010 focusing on creating a government ruled by law, which requires officials and government staff to improve their ability in addressing "prominent problems" through legal means and invites the public to contribute to legislation.
According to a statement issued along with the guidelines, the State Council said it was "important" and "imperative" to build a government ruled by law, as China now faces challenges, including imbalanced development of rural and urban areas, a widening income gap, an increased numbers of "social conflicts" , as well as corruption and injustice in law enforcement in some sectors.
An official with the Legislative Affairs Office said Monday that the guidelines will further safeguard public interests and maintain social and economic order by requiring stepped-up efforts from authorities to investigate and punish cases that run counter to the country' s mandate for the safe production and issues related to food safety, the protection of natural resources and the environment, as well as public security.
Nov. 10, 2010
The rural land maintenance campaign should bring about higher incomes for farmers and more efficient agriculture and not go against farmers' will, the State Council, at a meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, said, according to a statement released after the meeting on Nov. 10, 2010.
The State Council, China's cabinet, said the forced eviction of farmers from their homes must be stopped and avoided during rural land maintenance.
Emphasis must be placed on farmland maintenance that aims to improve the ratio of high output farmland in rural areas, the statement said.
Nov. 19, 2010
Chinese ministries and local governments have coordinated efforts to combat price hikes by increasing grain supplies, clamping down on speculation and offering subsidies, as the central government has growing concerns about rising inflation.
In a move to head off price hikes, the State Administration of Grain will increase sales of grain supplies to meet the public's needs and stabilize market prices, the agency said in a statement posted on its website on Nov. 19, 2010..
Additionally, it will sell a set amount of cooking vegetable oil and soybeans from government reserves beginning next week, in addition to the weekly sales of wheat, rice and corn that has already begun, the statement said.
Nov. 25, 2010
November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW Day). Stopping violence against women is an important international social issue and one of the areas of concern for the protection of Chinese women's human rights. Today, to celebrate the international elimination of violence against women day, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and United Nations in China (UN China) jointly held an EVAW Day event with the theme "UNiTE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN".
Nov. 26, 2010
According to a State Council document posted Friday on gov.cn, the government will spend more money in building, restoring and expanding kindergartens to raise safety levels and meet increasing enrollment demands.
Preschools are the "weakest" part of China's education system, according to the Chinese government which says it will generally improve the country's kindergartens to ensure a quality start for children.
Nov. 29, 2010
The State Council, China's cabinet, said Monday it will revise penalties to further crack down on price violations in order to tackle inflation.
The revised code will mainly target price manipulation, collusion, malicious hoarding and the spreading of false information, a statement issued after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao said.
Revision to the Provisions on Administrative Penalties for Price Violations is necessary to crack down on price violations and to maintain normal order and market pricing, the statement said.
Nov. 29, 2010
The State Council, China's cabinet, pledged on Nov. 29, 2010 to step up screening for HIV-AIDS while improving the public's knowledge of the disease and working harder to protect those at risk of infection.
The government will expand its monitoring network to detect as many HIV-positive people as possible, a statement issued after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao said.
Dec. 3, 2010
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang urged the country to offer better services for the disabled.
Li made the remarks on Dec. 3, 2010 while visiting the Care and Rehabilitation Expo, a three-day international exhibition on equipment to assist disabled and aged people.
Dec. 3rd marked the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. China's disabled population had exceeded 83 million. Li called for more efforts to care for the disabled in a bid to improve their quality of life.
Dec. 8, 2010
China raised the compensation to be paid through work-related injury insurance during a regular meeting of the State Council chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao on Dec. 8, 2010.
Regulation on Work-related Injury Insurance and the measures for the control of invoices were revised at the meeting.
According to the revision, the compensation to families of those who die from work-related injuries had been raised to 20 times the per capita disposable annual income in urban areas. For work-related disability, the compensation rose by one to three months of salaries of the insured employee.
Dec. 9, 2010
China was willing to strengthen cooperation with foreign countries on human rights, Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, said on Dec. 9, 2010 while meeting in Beijing with US delegates from the 2nd Sino-US Judicial and Human Rights Seminar.
Wang said although China and the US each had their own interpretations on human rights because of different political and social systems, and cultural traditions, the two countries can still show respect for each other and seek common ground by enhancing cooperation.
The annual seminar had been playing a positive role in promoting exchanges and cooperation since 2009, Wang said, and he hoped it would continue to be a platform to gain more mutual understanding and more common ground.
The success of the seminar showed different views on human rights should not become an obstacle to strengthening communication and cooperation in the human rights field between China and US, said Stephen A．Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations.
The 2nd Sino-US Judicial and Human Rights Seminar was held on Dec 7-8 in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province.
Dec. 15, 2010
Five government officials were punished on Dec. 15, 2010 due to the abuse of mentally ill workers in a factory in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said the local government.
More than 10 workers had been treated badly during the past three to four years in the plant, including eight mentally ill people, according to local sources.
The factory was registered on July 16, 2006. Covering more than 6,667 square meters, it produces talcum powder and quartz sand.
Dec. 14, 2010
More than half of the Chinese public had voiced the hope that taxes would be reduced on vehicles and boats as the country's top legislature discontinued soliciting opinions for the draft law on vehicle and boat taxation.
According to a statement released on Dec. 14, 2010 by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, 97,295 comments, along with 40 letters, had been received as of Nov. 30, after the draft law opened to public comments one month ago.
Figures showed that about 37 percent of the comments were in favor of the draft law, and some 55 percent hoped the law could reduce taxes.
Dec. 15, 2010
After almost one year of discussion and revision, the State Council, or China's cabinet, on Dec. 15, 2010 started soliciting public submissions on the second version of the much-discussed draft regulation on expropriation of houses on state-owned land and compensation.
The draft regulation was posted on the website of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council. Public submissions on the draft would be accepted until Dec. 30.
According to the revised draft, local governments must not force residents to relocate. Instead, they must rely on courts to make decisions after taking into account the residents' and developers' concerns.
The forced demolition of houses was a hot topic in China, where urban development had made relocation of households a common phenomenon. Forced demolitions had sometimes led to violent confrontations.
Dec. 17, 2010
China Society for Human Rights Studies, CSHRS for short, held a seminar in Beijing on Dec. 17, 2010. The seminar focused on human rights missions and challenges in China during the 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015). Luo Haocai, President of China Society for Human Rights Studies, and Li Junru, vice president of China Society for Human Rights Studies, delivered keynote speeches at the seminar.
Dec. 13, 2010
China should take the on-going Asian Para Games as an opportunity to create a more caring society, said the country's vice premier on Dec. 13, 2010 while at the games.
"Caring for the disabled is the responsibility of both the government and the whole society," said Hui Liangyu, also director of the disabled working committee of the State Council, or the Cabinet.
The Asian Para Games, a quadrennial continental sports event for the disabled, opened on Dec. 12, 2010 and concluded on Dec. 19, 2010.
Dec. 20, 2010
China and Australia held their 13th dialogue on human rights in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2010, agreeing to continue to discuss and cooperate on the subject.
Cui Tiankai, China's vice foreign minister, and Heather Smith, deputy secretary of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, co-chaired the dialogue.
The two sides briefed each other on progress made in safeguarding and promoting human rights, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.
Both sides also exchanged views on each other's moves to protect human rights and international cooperation in human rights.
Dec. 22, 2010
A rural endowment insurance scheme, which was being operated on trial basis in part of the country's rural area, may bring an end to the tradition of rural seniors who depend on their children for financial support.
Under the insurance scheme introduced in September 2009, farmers across the country, who aged 60 years or older, each can receive a pension of 55 yuan (8.3 U.S. dollars) paid by the government per month.
Dec. 29, 2010
China on Dec. 29, 2010 released its first ever white paper on the nation's anti-graft efforts, expressing its resolve to strengthen the fight against corruption.
The document, titled China's Efforts to Combat Corruption and Build a Clean Government, was issued by the Information Office of the State Council, or Cabinet.
The report would helped eliminate bias and misunderstanding about China's anti-graft battle as it details both achievements and problems, said He Zengke, a researcher at the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, a prominent research institute on Marxism and Chinese policies.
China's efforts to combat corruption and build a clean government had been managed systematically and promoted comprehensively and "achieved results," the report said.
