Jan. 10, 2011
China's ruling Communist Party vowed to clamp down harder on official corruption, particularly power-money trading, in its strengthened bid to build up much cleaner and fairer governance in the country.
Party chief and China's President Hu Jintao told a national anti-graft conference in Beijing on Jan. 10, 2011 that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Central Government would wage the campaign against corruption with even greater determination and more forceful measures as "the situation remains grave".
Jan. 13 to 14, 2011
From Jan. 13 to 14, 2011, the 19th China-UK Human Rights Dialogue was held in London. The dialogue was co-moderated by Qi Xiaoxia, Special Representative for Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Peter Wilson, Director of the Asia Pacific Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom. It was attended by officials from the foreign affairs, public security, judicial, ethnic affairs and other related departments. FCO Minister of State Jeremy Browne met with the Chinese delegation. The two sides briefed each other in this round of talks on the latest progress in the field of human rights and exchanged views on the role of police in criminal trial, education and languages of minority groups, international cooperation in human rights and other issues of common concern. Both sides made positive comments on China-UK relations and the importance of human rights dialogue. Both sides considered this round of dialogue frank, thorough, and constructive. Both sides also expressed the willingness to continue the dialogue and exchanges in the field of human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect. During the dialogue, the Chinese delegation visited the education, police and other agencies in Wales.
Jan. 19, 2011
Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Jan. 19, 2011 that China is always committed to protection and promotion of human rights.
Addressing a joint press conference with U.S. President Barack Obama, Hu said China has made enormous progress in human rights recognized widely in the world.
"China recognizes and respects the universality of human rights. And at the same time, we do believe that we also need to take into account the different national circumstances when it comes to the universal value of human rights," Hu said.
Noting that China is a developing country with a huge population and in a crucial stage of reform, Hu said China faces many challenges in economic and social development, and a lot still needs to be done in China in terms of human rights.
Jan. 21, 2011
China's State Council, or Cabinet, published the newly adopted regulations on expropriation of houses on state-owned land and compensation on Jan. 21, 2011.
The new rules, which took effect upon the issuing, took the place of the 2001 regulations on administration of the housing demolition and relocation in cities.
The new rules specifically stated that neither violence or coercion may be used to force homeowners to leave. Nor could measures, such as illegally cutting water and power supplies, be used in relocation work.
The new rules also banned land developers' involvement in the demolition and relocation procedures, as well as demolition by local governments without court approval.
Jan. 24, 2011
During a rare visit to China's top complaints-hearing department, Premier Wen Jiabao asked officials to address people's complaints and to create conditions for the public to criticize and supervise the government.
Braving the winter freeze, Wen visited the State Bureau for Letters and Calls, the central-level department dealing with petitions, in south Beijing.
It was the first time a Chinese premier had held face-to-face meetings with petitioners in Beijing since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
During his visit, Wen said the government should expand channels for the public to make suggestions to and offer criticisms of the government.
Various administrative procedures should be made public and all administrative behavior should be supervised to ensure administrative power is exercised transparently, he said.
Jan. 26, 2011
Carrefour chain stores that cheat customer with misleading price tags would be penalized according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), cnr.cn.
China National Radio (CNR) first discovered the pricing inconsistency at some Carrefour chain stores. The NDRC carried out an investigation confirming the deceit. The commission found Carrefour chain stores in Shanghai, Changchun, Harbin, Wuhan and Changsha cheated consumer on price, including faking the original price during sales events, cutting price shown on the price tags, and misleading customers with price figures typed in different sizes.
The commission decided to impose fines of 500,000 yuan ($75,960) for the illegal gains that cannot be calculated. It also asked chain stores around the nation to check for pricing errors, and return any undue gains to customers.
Jan. 26, 2011
The State Council raised the minimum down payment for second-home buyers to 60 percent from the current 50 percent on Jan. 26, 2011, and called on local governments to set price targets in the latest move to rein in property prices.
The new measures were expected to further cool speculation in the housing market after property prices in 70 major cities posted their fourth straight month-on-month rise.
The mortgage rates for second-home buyers, however, remain unchanged at 1.1 times the benchmark lending rate, according to a statement posted on www.gov.cn.
"The 10 percent increase in down payment will have a big impact on the middle- and high-end housing market," said Carlby Xie, head of research and consulting for North China at Colliers International, a real estate agency.
The price for a two-bedroom apartment in Beijing along the Fourth Ring Road now stands at close to 3 million yuan ($450,000). A 10 percent increase in down payment means the buyer has to pay 300,000 yuan more.
The average annual income of a civil servant is around 100,000 yuan.
Jan. 31, 2011
Chinese government's efforts to protect online intellectual property rights (IPR) would be strengthened in 2011 by promoting the establishment of related industry associations, said Liu Shaodong, an official in the online broadcasting department of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).
The number of websites that have a license for playing video content was 594 by the end of 2010, Liu said.
"We received 232 applications for the license last year but 71 of them were rejected because they didn't meet the standards of SARFT's examination system," he added.
The standard for getting licenses requires that video content provided by websites should be copyrighted and there should be a proper internal management system and enough staff.
Feb. 10, 2011
An online campaign to publish photos of child beggars was assisting authorities to crack down on gangs that kidnap children and to help reunite kidnapped children with their families.
The Ministry of Public Security said on Feb. 10, 2011 that the public can dial 110, a police hotline, if they suspect children are being organized or forced to beg on the streets.
"The online crackdown on child trafficking is positive, especially by the micro blogs, which can spread clues and post children's information quickly," said Qian Jun, a Beijing-based lawyer specializing in online cases.
"The key lies in making efforts to protect victims' rights and prevent them from being harmed again," Qian added.
Feb. 10, 2011
Art museums, libraries and other public institutions in China had long been accused of catering to elite academics and professionals, rather than the general public.
A joint statement issued on Feb. 10, 2011 by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance was aimed at changing that situation.
It stipulated that Chinese citizens will not have to pay to enter the country's public art galleries in two years' time.
According to the statement, public art museums and libraries at State and provincial levels will cease charging entrance fees by the end of 2011.
Feb. 15, 2011
The iPhone may be one of the world's most successful consumer items, but its production has involved poor working conditions, serious damage to health and even death for the Chinese workers who make it.
The number of violations by Apple's suppliers, who help it make the iPhone and the iPad, doubled year-on-year in 2010. Those included the use of underage labor, unsafe working conditions, inadequate safety measures and improper handling of hazardous chemicals, Apple said in an annual Supplier Responsibility report.
The report noted suicides at the South China factory of Foxconn in the first half of 2010 and 137 workers poisoned following exposure to dangerous chemicals in the Suzhou facility of Wintek.
Feb. 16, 2011
Beijing Municipal Government on Feb. 15, 2011 issued new rules limiting the number of homes each family can buy as the government steps up efforts to cool the property market.
The new rules prohibit new home purchases by Beijing families who own two or more apartments and non-Beijing registered families who own at least one apartment.
Non-Beijing registered families who have no residence permit or documents certifying that members of the family have been paying social security or income tax for five straight years are also banned from buying apartments.
Beijing families who own just one apartment can only buy one more apartment, according to the new rules.
Feb. 16, 2011
China's land watchdog began an inspection campaign at the end of February, 2011 to stop the illegal use of rural land, trying especially to stamp out the expropriation of such land from farmers and the forced demolition of buildings.
"The illegal exploitation of rural land has violated farmers' rights," Yun Xiaosu, vice-minister of land and resources, said during a video conference on Wednesday. "Thorough inspections must be undertaken to protect the land."
The campaign, which was to last three months, was begun through the cooperation of the Ministry of Land and Resources, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
Feb. 16, 2011
China's Cabinet, the State Council, ordered greater efforts to contain the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and improve medical services for HIV carriers and AIDS patients.
Public awareness of HIV/AIDS control should be stepped up and more should be done to detect carriers and to reduce the chances of HIV spreading between mothers and babies, and between other groups, the State Council said.
The State Council also asked for tighter measures to ensure blood safety during medical practices, according to a circular posted Wednesday on the official website of China's central government, www.gov.cn.
Authorities should consider increasing the supply of affordable anti-HIV drugs to those in need under the medical insurance scheme and do more to ease the drug cost burden of HIV/AIDS patients, the circular said.
The Cabinet also stressed efforts to improve care for HIV carriers and AIDS patients and protect their rights, particularly in health care services, employment and schooling.
Feb. 16, 2011
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said the country would fight the toughest battle to reform the health care system in 2011, as he called for practical measures towards accomplishing the reform.
Li made the remarks while addressing a national meeting on deepening China's reform of health care system on Feb. 15, 2011, according to an official statement sent to Xinhua.
Citing the reform as a key project that involves public interests, Li called for efforts to ensure the people's universal access to basic medical insurance and basic health care services.
Li added that China would largely raise the level of government subsidies for medical insurance schemes in both rural and urban areas and increase government spending on public health care services in 2011.
Feb. 18, 2011
A long-awaited project to tackle heavy-metal pollution had been approved by the State Council as part of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).
The national blueprint for 2015 had set an emission-reduction target for five heavy metals, in key polluted areas, by 15 percent from 2007 levels, Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian, told a televised conference on Feb. 18, 2011.
The metals are lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and arsenic.
There had been a number of high-profile cases involving heavy-metal poisoning in recent years.
The first national pollution census, published in 2010, shows that China discharged 900 tons of the five metals in 2007.
The ministry listed 138 target zones in 14 provinces and regions, including the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
A total of 4,452 enterprises, including non-ferrous metal mines, smelters, lead-acid battery manufacturers, leather producers and the chemical industry, are listed as major monitoring targets.
Feb. 24, 2011
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Feb. 24, 2011 ordered local governments to increase funding for affordable housing projects, stressing that the construction of 10 million units was a mandatory task that must be fulfilled in 2011.
Speaking at a national conference on affordable housing for low and middle income groups, Li said that the construction of 10 million affordable housing units in 2011 is of great significance for the government to stabilize public expectations, control housing prices, improve people's lives and boost domestic consumption.
"Housing is imperative for people's lives and local governments must waste no time in beginning the construction of 10 million affordable housing units this year and putting them into service as early as possible," Li said.
To facilitate the government's subsidized affordable housing projects, Li said that local governments should ensure basic market supply with small units and guide the public to "reasonable consumption."
More efforts were also needed to develop low-rent public housing and satisfy the demands of residents for affordable public housing, Li said. To support the construction of affordable housing, local governments can use tax breaks, determine the rent for public housing reasonably and finance construction projects in different ways, such as bank loans and social investment, he added.
Feb. 22, 2011
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had ordered all-out efforts to ensure life and property safety of Chinese nationals in Libya in light of the major changes of security situation in the country.
Hu and Wen asked relevant authorities to take timely and effective measures to achieve the aim.
The State Council, or Cabinet, decided to set up an emergency headquarter, headed by Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang, to organize the evacuation of Chinese including people from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in Libya and ensure their safety.
Feb. 22, 2011
China's rescue team headed for quake-hit Christchurch of New Zealand at Beijing Capital International Airport, Feb. 24, 2011. Chinese rescue team, consisted of one expert in seism, two experts in mechanics, seven rescuers and equipped with radar life detectors, would launch rescue operations throughout Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city.
Besides, the Chinese government offered 500,000 U.S. dollars in cash payment to help the disaster relief in New Zealand, the ministry said in a brief statement on its website.
On Feb. 22, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, causing at least 148 deaths and widespread destruction.
Feb. 25, 2011
China's newly revised Criminal Law reduced the number of crimes punishable by death by 13 to 55.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed the amendment to the Criminal Law Friday at its bi-monthly session.
It was the first time the People's Republic of China reduced the number of crimes subject to the death penalty since the Criminal Law took effect in 1979.
"The move can be regarded as an effort to respect life and protect human rights," said Prof. Liu Mingxiang, deputy dean of the Law School, Renmin University of China.
The 13 crimes were economic-related non-violent offences, including smuggling cultural relics, gold, silver, and other precious metals and rare animals and their products out of the country; carrying out fraudulent activities with financial bills; carrying out fraudulent activities with letters of credit; the false issuance of exclusive value-added tax invoices to defraud export tax refunds or to offset taxes; the forging or selling of forged exclusive value-added tax invoices; the teaching of crime-committing methods; and robbing ancient cultural ruins.
The amendment is considered another move by China to limit the use of the death penalty, following a decision in 2007 that all verdicts involving the capital punishment should be reviewed and approved by the Supreme People's Court (SPC).
Feb. 27, 2011
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during an on-line chat with the public on Feb. 27, 2011 answered questions concerning economic growth targets, housing prices, migrant workers, currency exchange rate reform, health care insurance and other matters.
Mar. 7, 2011
China would give top priority to improving people's livelihood in the five years to 2015, minister of the country's top economic planning body said on Mar. 7, 2011.
"The move aims to ensure people of all ethnic groups in the country share the fruits of the reform and opening up," Zhang Ping, director of the National Development of Reform Commission, told reporters.
March 3, 2011
China's Ministry of Public Security on March 3, 2011 issued an order instructing police officers nationwide not to participate in activities outside their scope of responsibilities such as land expropriation and home demolitions.
According to the document, which included a series of guidelines aimed at curbing corruption, policemen would be "seriously questioned" if they abuse their power in land expropriations and home demolitions. Erring officers may face severe consequences, the ministry warned.
.March 5, 2011
China opened its annual parliamentary session on March 5, 2011, unveiling a five-year development blueprint and striving to handle pressing economic issues including inflation.
The world is watching how China copes with the current complex situation and seizes the strategic opportunity for its development in 2011, the start of its 12th Five-Year Plan and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.
At the parliamentary meeting, Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a report on government work, noting that China "still faces an extremely complex situation for development" this year.
In his report, Wen said China will increase its gross domestic product (GDP) by around eight percent this year, further optimize the economic structure, keep the consumer price index (CPI) increase around four percent, create more than nine million jobs in urban areas and keep the registered urban unemployment rate at 4.6 percent or lower.
Mar. 8, 2011
The Mediterranean Sea drew the attention of the world as the situation in Libya abruptly turned worse. The safety of Chinese nationals there was at risk.
At this crucial moment, the Chinese government launched an unprecedented evacuation operation by land, sea and air and took home 35,860 Chinese nationals from the unrest-hit North African country in merely nine days.
The operation created a miracle in the history of its overseas evacuation operations since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949 and it was lauded by various circles around the world.
March 7, 2011
The Chinese government plans to build more hospitals at the county level as one of the measures to reform the national public health service, said a State Council circular on March 7, 2011.
By the end of 2011, every county with a population of more than 300,000 must have a public hospital with at least 100 beds and certificated medical workers accounting for 75 percent of the total staffs, said the pilot project plan to reform public hospitals, which was published on the official website of the Chinese government.
Under the plan, the country would try a system of technical cooperation between county hospitals and rural clinics in one-fifth of the nation's 2,800 counties in a bid to improve medical service to villagers.
The country would also try to reform the health authorities and improve supervision of public hospitals, the document said.
March 10, 2011
A socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics had been established "on schedule" in China, top legislator Wu Bangguo announced on March 10, 2011, hailing it as a "major milestone" in the history of the development of the country's socialist democratic legal system.
"We now have a complete set of types of laws covering all areas of social relations, with basic and major laws of each type already in place, together with comprehensive corresponding administrative regulations and local statutes," Wu said while delivering a work report of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the parliament's annual session.
March 11, 2011
The Chinese central government allocated 55 million yuan (8.37 million U.S. dollars) for quake relief in China's southwestern Yunnan Province, the ministries of finance and civil affairs said on March 11, 2011.
The money was used to relocate and settle local residents as well as provide them with living subsidies. Those who lost family members in the 5.8-magnitude quake would receive condolence funds.
By 8 a.m. March 11, 2011, 35 people had been found and saved from debris. More than 8,000 people were evacuated and 61 injured people relocated, the officers said.
March 11, 2011
A massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake jolted the east coast of Japan's main Honshu Island at 1:46 p.m. Beijing Time on March 11, 2011, causing over 10 thousand of deaths and catastrophic damage.
At least two hydrogen blasts have hit Japan's Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's nuclear reactors, triggering a tsunami and causing widespread devastation.
China sent rescue team and multiple humanitarian aids to Japan.
March 25, 2011
China rolled out its annual working plan to beef up food safety in 2011, as more food safety scandals had entered media spotlight and aroused public concerns.
The plan was introduced by the General Office of the State Council, and published on the website of the Central People's Government, www.gov.cn, on March 25, 2011.
According to the plan, China would specifically target dairy products, edible oils, health-promoting food, meat, food additives and alcohol in its food safety campaign in 2011.
The plan stressed ensuring food safety in those key categories by raising the benchmark for market entry, gradually phasing out unqualified producers and introducing an information-based tracing mechanism and credit system in those industries.
Mar. 17, 2011
China suspended the approval process for nuclear power stations so that safety standards can be revised after explosions at a Japanese plant, according to an executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet on Mar. 16, 2011.
The State Council required relevant departments to do safety checks at existing plants, according to a statement released after the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
The statement said all reactors in operation in China were safe and the country remained unaffected by radioactive leakages following explosions at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which was crippled by the 9.0-magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami.
March 18, 2011
Chinese authorities introduced a series of measures to block pork containing the illegal additive clenbuterol from entering the market, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement on March 18, 2011.
The MOC had sent a working team to central Henan Province, where contaminated pork was found, to help with local government investigations, said the statement posted on the ministry's website.
The Henan MOC office had urged Jiyuan Shuanghui, a subsidiary company of the country's top meat processor Shuanghui Group, to suspend production and launch in-house investigations.
March 21, 2011
On March 21, 2011, the Supreme People's Court, China's top court, unveiled a regulation to facilitate the timely distribution of compensation to eligible claimants who had their legitimate rights infringed upon by the state.
Under the new regulation, which was set to take effect starting on March 22, 2011, the state organs would be obligated to prove the lawfulness of specific practices for which they had been asked to pay compensation to claimants.
Mar 23, 2011
On Mar 22, 2011, China warned of an impending "humanitarian disaster" in Libya and called for an immediate ceasefire in the oil-rich North African state where the US and European powers had launched a four-day air assault.
"The original intent of the UN Security Council resolution was to protect the safety of all Libyan people. We oppose the indiscriminate use of armed force there, causing even more civilian casualties and more humanitarian disasters now," the spokeswoman said.
March 22, 2011
China enacted a new rule to ban smoking in enclosed public locations, according to the country's Ministry of Health on March 22, 2011.
The new rule, which would take effect on May 1, 2011, was added to the revised regulations on health management in public places from the ministry.
The new anti-smoking rule shows the government's resolution to intensify tobacco control efforts in China, which has ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization, said Xie Yang, an official from the ministry.
March 31, 2011
China's capital for the first time announced the number of government vehicles that had long been blamed by public as a cause of massive traffic jams in the city.
By the end of 2010, the number of vehicles owned by different central and municipal government departments stood at 62,026, of which 20,288 belonged to municipal government, the Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau announced in its official website.
April 10, 2011
China retorted the U.S. criticism on its human rights situation by publishing a report of the U.S. human rights record on April 10, 2011.
The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2010 was released by the Information Office of China's State Council, or cabinet, in response to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 issued by the U.S. Department of State on April 8.
The U.S. reports were "full of distortions and accusations of the human rights situation in more than 190 countries and regions including China. However, the United States turned a blind eye to its own terrible human rights situation and seldom mentioned it," China's report said.
The United States had taken human rights as "a political instrument to defame other nations' image and seek its own strategic interests," the report said.
April 11, 2011
China's Ministry of Education approved the establishment of human rights education and training bases in Nankai University, China University of Political Science and Law and Guangzhou University. They were the first batch of national-level human rights education and training bases at Chinese universities.
April 14, 2011
The victims of the devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Yushu in Northwest China's Qinghai province were honored with three minutes' silence.
The memorial was held at 7:49 am on April 14, 2011, the exact moment one year on from when the tragedy struck.
People remembered loved ones as all vehicles, trains, steamers and alarms whistled in honor of the dead.
April 18, 2011
The country's top health authority began a campaign on April 18, 2011 to better regulate organ transplants, procedures which in China had been long ridden with irregularities if not crimes.
The campaign would last until the end of 2011 and was aimed mainly at mainland medical institutions that fail to obtain the government's authorization before performing the technically demanding surgeries, said an online notice issued by the Ministry of Health.
The ministry also said unauthorized hospitals were prohibited from harvesting human organs for use in transplants.
April 23, 2011
China's top legislature on April 22, 2011 ended its three-day bimonthly session, adopting an amendment to the country's Road Traffic Safety Law that imposes harsher penalties on drunk drivers.
Drunk drivers in China would face revocation of their driver's licenses, according to the amendment. Following the revocation, drivers would have to wait five years to recover the licenses, as outlined in the amendment.
The amendment also permanently revoked the driver's license of anyone who causes an accident that was serious enough to constitute a crime while under the influence of alcohol.
April 26, 2011
China's Ministry of Public Security vowed to spare no effort in saving minors from northwestern Xinjiang who had been kidnapped and forced to commit crimes.
"Police departments across the country will launch a severe crackdown on those who organize and manipulate the kidnapping of children from Xinjiang and force them to engage in criminal activities," Vice Minister Zhang Xinfeng said at a meeting on April 26, 2011.
Zhang said the crackdown aimed to protect the rights of Xinjiang minors, promote ethnic unity and ensure the social stability of Xinjiang and the entire country.
April 26, 2011
A new health food regulation, designed to strengthen supervision and control of industry irregularities, was expected to go into effect before the end of 2011, said an official with China's top food and drug safety watchdog on April 26, 2011.
April 27 – April 28, 2011
China and the United States held a new round of human rights dialogue in Beijing on April 27 and April 28, 2011, discussing issues of common concern including new developments in both countries on human rights.
According to a news release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the dialogue was co-chaired by Chen Xu, director-general of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Michael Posner, assistant secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the United States.
The two sides had in-depth exchange of views on issues regarding bilateral cooperation in UN human rights field, the rule of law, labor rights, freedom of expression. Both agreed that the talks were frank, open and constructive, according to the release.
The Chinese side introduced the country's measures and achievements in improving and safeguarding people's livelihood, advancing the construction of democracy and legal system, and developing grass-roots democracy.
April 27, 2011
China's top legislature started seeking public feedback on a draft amendment to increase the minimum threshold for personal income tax from 2,000 yuan (306 U.S. dollars) per month to 3,000 yuan.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) published the draft amendment to the Personal Income Tax (PIT) Law on its official website, www.npc.gov.cn, calling for public submissions. The deadline for submissions was May 31.
During a bimonthly session, the NPC Standing Committee examined the draft amendment for the first time.
The draft amendment, featuring a minimum tax threshold hike, was among China's latest efforts to improve the living standards of the country's medium and low income earners, which was a major goal in China's development blueprint for the 12th Five Year period (2011-2015).
May 1, 2011
Several important changes to China's laws came into effect on May 1, 2011, addressing such things as which crimes deserve the death penalty and appropriate punishments for producers of tainted food as well as bringing in harsher sentences for people who drink and drive.
China's newly revised Criminal Law has a shorter list of crimes that can be punished by death - 55 now instead of the previous 68, which highlights "the respect for life and the protection for human rights" in the country.
China's newly amended Road Traffic Safety Law now states that drunk drivers will have their driver's licenses revoked upon conviction. Drivers found guilty of drunk driving charges will have to wait five years to apply for new licenses.
The amendment also says that drunk drivers may have their licenses permanently revoked if they cause a serious accident.
Benzoyl peroxide and calcium peroxide, two flour additives that are commonly used to 'bleach' food, will be prohibited as of May 1, according to a notice jointly released by seven ministry-level departments.
Flour and related products produced before that date will be allowed for sale until their shelf life expires.
The document said that China's improved grain processing methods have removed the need for the additives.
May 4, 2011
The daily compensation for victims of criminal offenses has been raised to 142.33 yuan, up 16.9 yuan from that in 2010, according to a circular issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Wednesday.
The adjustment was in line with the hike in daily wages across the country, according to the circular.
Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday showed that the average annual wage of the workers in urban non-private sectors increased 13.5 percent to 37,147 yuan in 2010, or 142.33 yuan (21.92 U.S. dollars) each workday.
May 4, 2011
China would prioritize its efforts to send wandering children from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region back home in its national campaign against abduction, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA).
At a work conference on helping abducted people on May 4, 2011, the ministry ordered local civil affairs agencies across the country to overcome difficulties to do a good job in helping return wandering Xinjiang children to home.
Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Dou Yupei said at the conference it is "very important" for local civil affairs authorities to make special arrangements for rescued children and take good care of them due to their special ethnic custom and languages.
May 6 – 7
China started elections of lawmakers at the county- and township-levels on May 7, 2011, which granted, for the first time, equal representation in legislative bodies to rural and urban citizens.
More than two million lawmakers at the county- and township-levels would be elected during nationwide elections, held every five years, in more than 2,000 counties and 30,000 townships, according to figures provided by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the top legislature.
These are the first elections after the Electoral Law amendments were adopted in March 2010 that require both rural and urban areas to adopt the same ratio of deputies to the represented population in elections of people's congress deputies.
May 7 – 9
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hailed the progress of post-quake reconstruction efforts in southwestern Sichuan Province and expressed his belief that the people there have a "strong will" and a "bright future."
"The enormous changes over the past three years have proved that people in this disaster-hit area will never back down, and that they will stand firmly on this land and build up their towns with their own hands," Wen said.
Wen made the remarks during an inspection of the area's reconstructed facilities. The May 7-9 inspection tour marked Wen's 10th visit to the region since the devastating magnitude-8.0 earthquake occurred in May 2008, leaving 80,000 people dead or missing.
May 11, 2011
China's State Council, or Cabinet, on May 11, 2011 passed a five-year development plan for the country's 83 million disabled people, vowing to offer better social security and public services to those with disabilities.
China would strive to improve the social security system and provide better public services for the disabled as their overall living situation still lags behind the average social level, said a statement released after a Cabinet executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
The government hoped to "ensure that, in general, disabled people can live well-off lives by 2015, with marked improvement in their participation in social affairs and overall development," according to the statement.
The government would provide the disabled with special support and guarantee a basic standard of living by expanding the welfare scope and by including all disabled citizens in urban and rural areas in the country's old-age insurance and basic medical care insurance programs by 2015, it said.
May 12, 2011
Thousands of people gathered in the former administrative center of Beichuan, Sichuan province, on Thursday to mark the third anniversary of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the province on May 12, 2008, leaving 87,000 people dead and millions more homeless.
People waited, in a solemn, single file, to put fresh flowers in front of a cemetery where more than 7,000 victims of the quake were buried.
May 19, 2011
China's State Council has ordered a prompt special investigation into land expropriations and house demolition practices around the country, in order to put an end to illegal forced demolitions.
Effective measures should be taken to stop any illegal forced demolition, as well as violence and coercion in the demolition procedures. Also, efforts should be made to prevent and solve disputes, said a circular issued by the General Office of the State Council, which was made public May 19, 2011.
Land expropriations and house demolitions should be carried out in a legal, civilized and harmonious manner, the circular said.
The circular also asked all government departments to strictly implement regulations and instructions issued earlier by the State Council.
The State Council published a regulation on expropriations and compensation of houses on state-owned lands in January, stipulating that all expropriations and demolitions must be conducted through due process, such as public opinion hearings and fair compensation for the house owners.
According to the circular, the special investigation should include checking into the implementation of regulations and rules, such as whether the expropriation and compensation plans had undergone public opinion hearing procedures, as well as whether the compensations were sufficient and had been paid before the expropriation and demolition without delay and deductions in compensations.
May 15, 2011
People marked 21st National Day of Assisting the Disabled around China.
May 20, 2011
The Higher People's Court of Shaanxi Province, northwest China on Friday heard the appeal to the death sentence filed by a music student who stabbed a cafe waitress to death to cover up a hit-and-run.
Yao Jiaxin, 21, a student at the Xi'an Conservatory of Music, was convicted of murdering Zhang Miao, the mother of a two-year-old boy, in Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi, to prevent her from reporting the accident to the police. The case aroused widespread public outcry over the increasing reckless behaviors of the country's rich younger generation.
May 23, 2011
Tibet is an inseparable part of China and its fate has always been closely linked with that of this country, said top political advisor Jia Qinglin at a symposium marking the 60th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation on Monday.
On May 23, 1951, representatives of both the Chinese central government and the former local government of Tibet signed a "17-point agreement" in Beijing, marking the region's peaceful liberation, said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
According to 17-point agreement, the Tibetan people should "unite and drive out imperialist aggressive forces from Tibet and return to the big family of the People's Republic of China."
Tibet's peaceful liberation "fundamentally expelled imperialist forces, safeguarded the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, cracked down on various secessionist forces and maintained national unification and ethnic unity," said Jia, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
May 24, 2011
Chinese courts were told on May 24, 2011 to pronounce a two-year suspension of execution for condemned criminals if an immediate execution is not deemed necessary.
The Supreme People's Court (SPC) said, in an annual report of the work of people's courts, that death penalty should only be applied to "a very small number" of criminals who have committed "extremely serious crimes."
Under the policy of "justice tempered with mercy," capital punishment reprieves should be granted as long as they are allowed by law, the supreme court said.
The people's courts showed respect, in the use of death penalty, for the right to life, which is the most basic human rights, the report said.
The Chinese legislature amended the Criminal Law in February to reduce the number of crimes punishable by death by 13 to 55, for the first time since the Criminal Law took effect in 1979.
May 25, 2011
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on May 25, 2011 called for strengthened efforts to help college graduates find employment.
"Employment pressures for college graduates are great as the number of graduates is increasing rapidly," Wen said at a meeting of the State Council, or cabinet.
Wen noted that some students' employment expectations were unrealistic, and employment services could not always meet their demands.
"The task to improve the employment environment for college graduates is still arduous," he said, urging relevant departments to "make every effort" to help graduates find employment.
Jun. 1, 2011
The State Council, or China's cabinet, said on June 1, 2011 that a new pension program would be launched in July to benefit unemployed urban residents.
The social pension system would be implemented in 60 percent of China's cities and townships by the end of 2011 before being introduced nationwide in 2012, according to a State Council meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
All unemployed urban residents over the age of 16 are eligible for the program, according to a government statement released after the meeting. Students are not included in the program, the statement said.
The program would help create full coverage for China's basic social pension system, the statement said.
June 2, 2011
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on June 2, 2011 reiterated the importance of creating jobs for millions of college graduates, as he believed the employment situation for prospective job-seekers would be difficult in 2011.
Zhang's remarks came two days after the State Council, or China's cabinet, issued a circular asking local authorities to create supportive policies that would help college graduates find jobs.
Zhang urged relevant authorities and universities to map out detailed plans and provide employment counselling services to ensure that soon-to-be graduates can find jobs more easily.
Jun. 8, 2011
The delegation of China Society for Human Rights Studies led by Luo Haocai started a 3-day visit to Australia. On Jun 9, they came to Canberra, the capital of Australia and exchanged opinions with local government officials and experts on the path of China's human rights' development and how to protect human rights by rule of law.
Jun. 10, 2011
The draft Mental Health Law of China stated that mental health examinations must be done at the discretion of the patient or their guardian.
The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council on June 10, 2011 published the full text of the draft Mental Health Law on its official website to seek public feedback.
According to the draft law, mental disease diagnosis should be conducted on a voluntary basis.
Jun. 13, 2011
The delegation led by Lou Haocai, the president of China Society for Human Rights Studies, came to Johannesburg, and exchanged opinions on the path of China's human rights' development and how to protect human rights by rule of law with experts and scholars of South Africa Human Rights Commission and the Institute of International Studies of University of the Witwatersrand.
Jun. 14, 2011
China launched a year-long national campaign targeting illegal highway tollbooths amid rising public outcry over the management of the country's tollway system.
Initiated on June 20, 2011 by five central government departments, the campaign was designed to eliminate unauthorized tollbooths, as well as legal tollbooths that are continuing to operate beyond their authorization period.
The campaign was also intended to prevent other illegal practices regarding the collection of highway tolls. These practices include changing the status of government-funded roads to make them into for-profit commercial routes and charging unreasonably high tolls in some areas.
June 15, 2011
Two guidelines concerning women and children's affairs over the next 10 years were approved on June 15, 2011 at an executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet, stressing gender equality.
The Program for the Development of Chinese Women (2011-2020) covers main goals, policies and measures to ensure women's legitimate rights and interests,and promote their social status, according to a statement released on June 15, 2011 after the meeting.
The program also aims to ensure that women equally exercise their democratic rights in accordance with the law, equally participate in economic and social development and equally enjoy the achievements of reform and development.
The Program for the Development of Chinese Children (2011-2020) sets goals in the areas of health, education, welfare, social environment and legal protection. Relevant policies are also made to guarantee childrens' right to subsistence, development, being protected and participation.
The program also aims at boosting children's physical and mental health and their overall qualities as well as narrowing the development gap between children in urban and rural areas.
June 15, 2011
Tibet today sits amid its best historical phase--featuring economic and social progress, ethnic solidarity, flourishing cultural development, and an improved quality of life for its residents, Wang Chen, director of the Information Office of the State Council, said on June 15, 2011. He made the remarks during his speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in Beijing from June 15 to July 8.
During the past six decades, under the leadership of the central government and assistance from across the nation, Tibet has undergone sweeping changes, Wang said.
The exhibition will also help the world to see a true picture of a changing Tibet, Wang added.
Jun. 16, 2011
From June 16 to 17, 2011, the 30th dialogue between EU and China was held in Beijing. Chenxu, the director of the International Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Jim Moran, director for Asia at the European External Action Service of the EU host the dialogue. Both sides said that the dialogue was sincere and deep, which enhanced the mutual understanding. The EU side said that they hoped to hold next dialogue on human rights in Europe in 2012, and China said they would think it over.
Jun. 17, 2011
From June 17 to 18, the delegation led by Luo Haocai, the president of China Society for Human Rights Studies visited Singapore. They held deep exchanges on human rights, social development and questions of common interests with experts and scholars of National university of Singapore.
Jun. 27, 2011
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao delivered a speech named "The Path to China's Future" at the Royal Society. He said that China would respect and protect human rights, protecting the right of all members of society to equal participation and development according to the law, persistently advancing political restructuring and building a socialist country ruled by law.
Jun. 30, 2011
China's top legislature on June 30, 2011 adopted an amendment to the country's individual income tax law. The amendment raised the monthly tax exemption threshold from 2,000 yuan (307.7 U.S. dollars) to 3,500 yuan (538.5 U.S. dollars).
The adjusted threshold was 500 yuan greater than the amount originally proposed in a previous draft of the amendment, which was submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on June 27, 2011for its second reading.
The new exemption threshold was agreed upon after the legislature held two meetings on June 28, 2011 and June 29, 2011 to listen to its members' opinions. It was during these meetings that the NPC's Law Committee proposed raising the threshold to 3,500 yuan.
The amendment was "necessary and timely" and would reduce tax burdens for people with low incomes, as well as help to adjust the distribution of income, according to the committee's proposal.
July 1, 2011
Chinese President Hu Jintao, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, addressed a grand gathering marking the 90th founding anniversary of the CPC, in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2011. All the comrades in the Communist Party of China (CPC) should bear in mind that all people are equal before the law, President Hu Jintao said on Friday.
July 1, 2011
Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office, published an article in the magazine Qiushi (Seeking the Truth). According to his article, China had conducted foreign communications and talks in the field of human rights, and supported the organization to hold three Human Rights Forums. Since 2000, China had published Human Rights Records of the United States for 11 successive years to retort the U.S. criticism on China's human rights situation. Besides, China had implemented the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010).
July 5 – 8, 2011
The China Society for Human Rights Society (CSHRS) sent its first delegation to visit Taiwan from July 5 to 8 at the invitation of Taiwan's Chinese Association for Human Rights (CAHR).
The CSHRS delegation, headed by Li Junru, vice chairman of the mainland rights body, met with Wu Poh-hsiung, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), during the visit.
Li said that the mainland delegation's visit boosted mutual understanding between the two sides on human rights issues and played an important role in promoting the healthy development of cross-Strait relations.
Wu hailed the visit as a "breakthrough" that would open up new areas for cultural and economic exchange between the mainland and Taiwan.
July 8, 2011
The Chinese government started to solicit advice from the public to a draft guideline for the development of the country's charities in the next five years in a move to attract more public attention to the cause.
China would step up efforts to introduce and amend laws and regulations that manage donations and voluntary services, as well as the registration of non-governmental organizations, private non-enterprise units and foundations, according to the draft.
July 11, 2011
The Chinese government Monday published a white paper on the development of Tibet since 1951 to mark the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of the region.
The document, released by the State Council's Information Office, reviewed the history of Tibet, particularly the liberation in 1951, as well as profound political, social and economic changes that have taken place in Tibet over the past 60 years.
July 12, 2011
China had accomplished various goals set by the National Human Rights Action Plan (2009-2010), which demonstrated that the country's human rights record and its people's livelihoods had improved, a senior official said on July 12, 2011.
Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), made the remarks at an assessment meeting of the action plan, attended by more than 200 people, including officials of state organs and representatives of mass organizations, nongovernmental organizations and research institutions.
July 14, 2011
All targets and tasks set by the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010) had been fulfilled as scheduled, said a report released on July 14, 2011 by China's State Council Information Office (SCIO).
The report was titled Assessment Report on the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010).
It said that all measures stipulated in the Action Plan had been put into practice, with all the goals achieved and tasks fulfilled in due time by the end of 2010.
July 19, 2011
A grand ceremony was held on July 19, 2011 in Lhasa to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet.
More than 20,000 people rallied at the Potala Palace Square as Vice President Xi Jinping delivered a speech, pledging to lead Tibet into a prosperous future under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Xi, heading a 59-member central government delegation to attend the anniversary celebration, presented to Tibet's top officials a gold-plated plaque bearing an inscription by President Hu Jintao congratulating the region on the 60th anniversary of its peaceful liberation.
July 20, 2011
China's State Council, the Cabinet, on July 20, 2011 ordered a crackdown on illegal land grabs and forced demolitions while ensuring no decline in the country's farmland.
Local authorities should boost land management and supervision amid rising illegal land use and violations of citizens' rights, the State Council said in a statement released after an executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
July 23, 2011
A train crash happened on late July 23, 1011 when train D301 rear-ended train D3115, leaving at least 32 people dead and 191 others injured until 2:30 a.m., July 24, 2011.
July 25, 2011
China's central government had allocated 2.5 billion yuan (387.8 million U.S. dollars) as basic living allowances for orphans in 2011, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs on July 25, 2011.
Orphans in China's less developed western regions would receive 4,800 yuan in 2011, up 480 yuan from 2010. Orphans in central areas would receive 3,600 yuan while those in eastern provinces would get 2,400 yuan -- both figures were up by more than 10 percent year-on-year.
July 25, 2011
A total of 199 million Chinese rural residents had joined the country's rural pension insurance program by the end of June, 2011, an official of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) said on July 25, 2011.
Speaking to a press conference, the MOHRSS spokesman Yin Chengji said 54.08 million rural residents had started to receive pensions from the state-subsided program that covered nine municipalities and provinces including Tibet Autonomous Region.
July 27, 2011
At an executive meeting of the state council, Premier Wen Jiabao expressed deep condolences for the victims of the deadly train crash that occurred on July 23, 2011. He said, production safety should be strengthened, especially in transportation, coal mine, building and chemical industries.
Aug. 2, 2011
The State Council, or China's cabinet, on Aug. 2, 2011 released a circular urging increased openness in government affairs in order to ensure that government officials will continue to work in a lawful and efficient manner.
"We should stick to lawful, scientific and democratic policy-making and increase the scope of publicity, especially for major reform plans, policies and projects that are directly related to the people's interests," said the circular, which was jointly issued by the State Council and the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
The circular stressed that expenditures and budgets for government departments at all levels, as well as data on key construction projects, must be publicized in full detail.
Aug. 4, 2011
China's Ministry of Finance said on Aug. 4, 2011 that it would earmark 7.15 billion yuan (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) for boosting the quality of rural health care.
As part of the central government's budget, the money would be distributed to 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
Aug. 8, 2011
Two guidelines concerning women and children's affairs over the next 10 years were published by the State Council, or the Cabinet.
The Program for the Development of Chinese Women (2011-2020) covers main goals, policies and measures to ensure women's legitimate rights and interests, and promote their social status.
The Program for the Development of Chinese Children (2011-2020) sets goals in the areas of health, education, welfare, social environment and legal protection. Relevant policies were also made to guarantee children’s right to subsistence, development, being protected and participation.
Aug. 17, 2011
China's urban and rural senior citizens will all enjoy pension insurance by 2015, according to a statement issued on Aug. 17, 2011 after an executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet.
The meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, discussed and endorsed the nation's 12th Five-Year (2011-2015) Program on senior citizens' development.
During the five-year period, China's population aged over 60 will increase from the current 178 million to 221 million, which will lift their proportion in the entire population from 13.3 percent to 16 percent, the statement noted.
Aside from providing pension insurance, the government will move to make elderly care services available throughout the country.
August 18, 2011
The Supreme People's Court's new interpretation of the Marriage Act makes a clearer demarcation of spouses' property.
The legal explanation rules that houses and other major properties – not explicitly put in the names of both partners on legal papers – are solely belongings of the initial owner. In China, men are usually obligated to buy a house prior to marriage.
Originally, the law said the properties must be evenly cut and distributed between the divorced partners.
Aug. 20, 2011
Chinese Vice Minister of Public Security Huang Ming has ordered a "high-handed crackdown" on crimes involving minors in order to safeguard social stability.
Huang ordered police to investigate and destroy criminal gangs that "violate the interests of minors" and intervene to prevent children from being forced into criminal activities, the ministry said in a statement on its website on Aug. 20, 2011.
Huang made the remarks at a teleconference called by the State Council, or cabinet, the statement said.
The vice minister called on police to beef up community patrols in order to ensure street children are protected from those who attempt to prey on them, the statement said.
Aug. 23, 2011
Over 60 officials from China' s various government departments gathered Aug. 23, 2011 in the eastern city of Nanjing to begin a four-day training session on human rights.
During the session, officials will receive lectures on a range of issues concerning human rights, including China's practices of human rights protection, legal and administrative protection of human rights, and the relationship between safe production and human rights protection.
The aim of the training is to enhance awareness among the officials to respect and protect human rights and to urge them to properly execute their power, according to Dong Yunhu, deputy head of the State Council Information Office (SCIO).
He said China has made great headway in its development of human rights protection since the country first published the white book on human rights in 1991.
Aug. 26, 2011
Themed "development and creation of Chinese human rights theory and practices", the two-day seminar ended on Aug. 26, 2011. Around 70 Chinese human rights experts attended the seminar.
Sep. 6, 2011
The Chinese government published a white paper on the country's development, stressing peaceful development is China's strategic choice to realize modernization, make itself strong and prosperous and make more contribution to the progress of human civilization.
The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduces the path, objective and foreign policy of the peaceful development and elaborates on what China's peaceful development means to the rest of the world.
Sep. 8, 2011
The Blue Book of China's Human Rights (2011), annual report of China's Human Rights was released by China Society for Human Rights Studies on Sept. 8, 2011 in Beijing.
This was the first time that the Chinese civil organization issued a comprehensive human rights report and the society said it would publish an annual report every year.
The book details the experiences and lessons in the development of human rights in China, analyzes existing problems, and suggests the way to further improve the situation of human rights protection.
Sep. 12, 2011
With billiards, table tennis and laughters, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sept. 12, 2011 joined elderly people at a Beijing nursing home, Beijing No.1 Social Welfare House, to celebrate 2011's Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional occasion in China for family reunion.
Sep. 19, 2011
The State Council, or China's cabinet, ordered local governments to give more support for the construction of low-income housing projects, especially low-rent public housing units.
Officials attending an executive meeting of the State Council, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, agreed on measures to promote the construction of low-income housing projects, especially low-rent government-owned apartments offered to urban low-income households, newly-employed laborers and migrant workers.
Sep. 21, 2011
The fourth Beijing Forum on Human Rights opened on Sept. 21, 2011, with around 100 human rights experts and officials from around the world attending the event.
Luo Haocai, President of China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHR) which sponsored this event, said at the opening ceremony that recognizing and respecting human dignity is the principle and starting point of international human rights laws, as well as the basic point of view of the Chinese government.
Luo added that China has recognized international human rights principles by approving more than 20 international treaties, and is also willing to promote global human rights exchanges and dialogues.
Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office of China, said in a speech that China has made significant progress on human rights by developing the economy and enacting laws protecting human rights.
But Wang said problems remain with China's human rights efforts due to uncoordinated economic development, such as the increasing income gap between urban and rural dwellers.
China published the National Human Rights Action Plan in April 2009, the first one of its kind that the country has made to promote human rights. The CSHR and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences jointly published the first blue book of China's human rights earlier this month, pointing out the problems and difficulties in and making suggestions for China's human rights development.
Around 100 experts and officials in human rights from 26 countries and regions and international organizations are attending the two-day forum. They will exchange views on topics of "concept of value and human rights", "cultural traditions and human rights", and "dignity and human rights".
Sep. 28, 2011
China would publish a second action plan on human rights, said Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO).
The new plan would cover economic, social and culture rights as well as civil and political rights. It would also make commitments to improving the rights of ethnic groups, women, children, senior citizens and disabled people, Wang said.
A major goal of the new action plan was to offer more effective protection to citizens' political rights, according to Wang.
Human rights would be considered throughout all the process and fields in building democracy and rule of law, said Wang.
The new Action Plan would be formulated through discussions with more than 56 organizations, including government departments and non-governmental organizations.
Oct. 6, 2011
A subway train crash that occurred on Shanghai's subway Line 10 on Sept. 27 was caused by negligence, with twelve people disciplined in connection with the accident, investigators said on Oct. 6, 2011.
Oct. 8, 2011
China's State Council, or the Cabinet, on Saturday urged the building of an efficient, safe and regulated distribution system for agricultural products in a bid to lower prices.
The government will work to boost the country's logistics capabilities and better link producers and consumers to cut intermediary costs, according to a statement released after a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.
Oct. 9, 2011
President Hu Jintao's speech at Sunday's ceremony marking the centenary anniversary of the 1911 Revolution was published on Monday, according to a statement from the publisher.
The People's Publishing House said in a press release that the speech, titled remarks on the commemorative ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, has been published and is now available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across the country.
Oct. 9, 2011
More than 100 million Chinese farmers are expected to be transferred to urban areas over the next decade, said a report released Sunday.
The report entitled 2011 Report on the Development of China's Floating Population said the country's urban citizens will exceed 800 million by the year of 2020.
Oct. 10, 2011
China is approaching its target of starting construction on 10 million affordable housing units this year, part of the government's efforts to stabilize runaway property prices.
China had started building 9.86 million units of affordable housing by the end of September, or 98 percent of the total amount planned for this year, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said in a statement on its website Monday.
Construction of 1.18 million such houses commenced in September, the statement said.
Oct. 11, 2011
Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang on Tuesday called for innovation in the management of China's migrant population, as well as improvements in social security.
In order to better manage and serve the country's 200-million-strong migrant population, the government should make efforts to allow them to share public services equally with urban citizens, Zhou said.
Zhou called for better employment, housing and education services for migrants at the meeting. Zhou also requested greater efforts to extinguish organized crime and human trafficking in order to better safeguard the lives and property of China's citizens.
Oct. 11, 2011
Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for more efforts to expand domestic demand and balance urban and rural development in a bid to facilitate the country's economic restructuring and improve the livelihoods of China's people.
Li made the remarks during an inspection tour of central China's Hunan province that lasted from Oct. 10 to 11.
Oct. 16-Oct. 18, 2011
The 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded its sixth plenary session in Beijing Tuesday, adopting a guideline to improve the nation's cultural soft power.
Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the session, which opened on Saturday.
Oct. 19, 2011
The municipal government of Beijing unveiled a regulation Wednesday allowing more people to apply for public rental housing in the latest effort to provide affordable housing.
According to the regulation effective starting December, low and middle-income earners, new employees, and those who were non-local registered but have worked in the city for a certain number of years were eligible to apply for public rental housing.
Nov. 24, 2011
The proportion of Chinese employees who have signed labor contracts with their employers has increased since the implementation of the Labor Contract Law in 2008, China's top legislator said on Monday.
About 97 percent of workers in "sizable enterprises" had signed contracts with their employers by the end of 2010, an increase of 6.3 percent compared to 2007, Hua Jianmin, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said in a report to the top legislature on the implementation of the law.
Oct. 24, 2011
A long-awaited draft law and the nation's first to protect the rights of mentally ill people and prevent the illegal forced hospitalization of healthy people was presented to country's legislators on Monday. According to Health Minister Chen Zhu, there are 16 million people suffering from "severe" mental health problems in China, making psychiatry one of the most costly areas of health care. Statistics released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009 show 100 million Chinese suffer mental disorders, with at least 56 million mentally ill people across the country unable to get access to proper treatment.
Oct. 24, 2011
China's top legislature on Monday began to review a draft amendment to the Resident Identity Card Law, which requires fingerprints be added to people's resident identity cards in a bid to combat counterfeiting.
Chinese citizens should have their fingerprints recorded when applying for or changing their resident identity cards, according to a draft amendment which was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for review.
Oct. 26, 2011
The State Council, or China's Cabinet, on Wednesday approved a plan to create a national vaccine provision system in order to boost the country's ability to cope with epidemic emergencies.
The plan was passed at a regular meeting held by the State Council and presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.
"Our country's vaccine reserves can meet the basic demands of regular epidemic prevention, but our ability to research, manufacture and preserve supplies for emergencies are inadequate," said a statement released after the meeting.
Oct. 27, 2011
China has put in place a socialist legal system of laws with Chinese characteristics by the end of 2010, says a white paper issued by the Chinese government Thursday.
The system of laws is based on the conditions and reality of China, meets the needs of reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive, and reflects the will of the Communist Party of China(CPC) and the Chinese people, says the white paper titled the Socialist System of Laws with Chinese Characteristics.
Oct. 29, 2011
China will make proper fine tuning on its macro policy, keeping it "more targeted, flexible and forward-looking," and continue measures to control consumer prices, China's State Council, or Cabinet, said Saturday.
The government should maintain control of the intensity, pace and focus of economic regulation and grasp the changes in economic development trend, according to a statement released after a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.
Nov. 1, 2011
China reported about 429,000 registered AIDS patients and HIV carriers as of the end of September, up by nearly 60,000 over the past 11 months, according to official figures released on Oct. 31, 2011.
Chen Zhu, China's Minister of Health, revealed at a conference jointly held by the Ministry and the UNAIDS's Theme Group in China that since the 1980s, the country had seen over 164,000 registered AIDS patients and 86,000 recorded deaths attributable to the disease.
Although growth in the registered HIV/AIDS population has declined in recent years, previous research also indicated a large group not covered in the official count.
A joint research project conducted in 2009 by the ministry, the UNAIDS and the World Health Organization estimated the total to be 740,000 as of the end of that year.
With more HIV carriers turning into AIDS patients and more deaths reported, the spread of the disease will project a growing influence on the social and economical development of affected regions, Chen said.
Nov. 9-Nov. 10, 2011
The Third Work Experience Exchange Meeting of Human Rights Research Institutions was held in Chengdu on Nov. 9 in 2011. Luo Haocai, head of China's Human Rights Research Society said that China has achieved much progress in human rights institution construction and theories, and human rights education and training system has been established basically in universities in China.
Luo said about 50 human rights bases were established in universities and research institutions in China. Three universities are currently approved to engage in human rights training and education. They are Nankai university in Tianjin, China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing and Guangzhou University in Guangdong province.
Nov. 10-Nov. 11, 2011
The Third Forum on the Development of Tibet of China opened in Athens on Nov. 10, 2011 to further introduce Tibet to the world.
The forum was jointly sponsored by China's State Council Information Office, the Chinese embassy in Greece and the Hellenic-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries to enhance the world's understanding of Tibet and strengthen international co-operation on the development of Tibet.
Over 200 government officials and scholars, as well as business and media representatives from Greece, China and other countries attended the forum.
Topics of the two-day event included Tibet's economic-social development, cultural heritage, environmental protection, technology, education, tourism development and foreign investment opportunities.
The Third Forum on the Development of Tibet concluded on Nov. 11, 2011 in the Greek capital with a consensus saying the recent changes in the autonomous region produced good results and with an appeal for the international community to contribute to the region's future.
Nov. 11-Nov. 16, 2011
CSHRS (China Society for Human Rights Studies) held the Third Work Experience Exchange Meeting of Human Rights Research Institutions in Chengdu in November in 2011. CSHRS also conducted research on human rights theories in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Shaanxi Province. CSHRS visited universities, research institutions and discussed the present status of human rights research institutions and human rights theories with related officials.
Luo Haocai, head of China's Human Rights Research Society, and Dong Yunhu, vice-President and Secretary-General of China Society for Human Rights Studies and so on were engaged in the research.
Nov. 16, 2011
Much debate rose over a draft regulation that would force employers to pay for two additional types of insurance for their employees.
The proposal, which the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security posted to the website of the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office on Nov. 15, 2011, would make employers responsible for providing five varieties of insurance to workers.
The two additions are workman's compensation and maternity insurance. The public has a month to comment on the proposal. Workman's compensation insurance will enable workers who have been injured at their jobs to receive compensation and help in paying their treatment bills.
Maternity insurance allows working women to obtain subsidized medical treatment and gives them various benefits during pregnancies. It also allows future fathers to take a couple of days off work to accompany their wives to the hospital for childbirth and to receive subsidies.
Nov. 16, 2011
The Chinese government on Nov. 16, 2011 unveiled a white paper on its poverty reduction efforts in the past decade, highlighting achievements and challenge for China to bring common prosperity to its more than 1.3 billion people.
The white paper, titled New Progress in Development-oriented Poverty Reduction Program for Rural China, was released by the State Council Information Office.
The white paper introduces China's policies, achievements, special programs, social involvement and international cooperation in the fight against poverty. It was the Chinese government's second white paper on poverty reduction after it issued the first edition of such document in 2001.
Nov. 17, 2011
The Ministry of Education on Nov. 17, 2011 urged schools and kindergartens nationwide to conduct safety checks on buses after 21 children were killed in a head-on collision between an overloaded school bus and a coal truck.
The ministry ordered school bus safety checks for kindergartens, primary schools and middle schools after the fatal crash happened in Gansu province on Nov. 16, 2011.
The white paper says the mission to reduce poverty is particularly difficult in China given the size of the poor population in its rural areas.
Nov. 18, 2011
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang visited HIV/AIDS medical personnel, volunteers of non-government organizations (NGOs), and people living with HIV ahead of the World AIDS Day which falls on Dec. 1.
Li said HIV prevention and control is a systemic project that takes the entire society to carry out, calling for establishing a mechanism to involve "social forces" into HIV prevention and control.
Li asked health authorities at all levels to keep close contact with HIV-related NGOs, providing assistance needed to these organizations and their volunteers.
"Care, respect and assistance are the best pain relievers for people living with HIV," Li said, calling upon the entire society to pay greater attention and care to this group of people.
Nov. 21, 2011
Female workers in China are expected to enjoy longer maternity leave from work - before and after childbirth. They will be forbidden to do certain hazardous jobs after a new regulation comes into effect.
The draft regulation, which the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office posted on its website on Nov. 21, 2011 would replace the original that became effective in 1988.
The new rules would prolong a working woman's maternity leave from the current 90 days to 98 days. It erased a clause in the current regulation, which says "the regulation does not apply to those who violate the family planning policy".
Other benefits listed as part of the regulation includes at least a two-week leave from work for women suffering a miscarriage (or having an abortion), if she has been pregnant for less than four months. Women in a similar situation after a pregnancy of four months, or longer, could enjoy at least six weeks' leave.
Nov. 22, 2011
The Chinese government on Nov. 22, 2011 issued a white paper on its policies and actions for addressing climate change, highlighting a range of major policy measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its remarkable results during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period.
The white paper, titled China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change, was released by the State Council Information Office. The white paper introduced China's policies and actions for addressing climate change, and the positive results achieved during that period, as well as China's overall arrangements to address climate change and its related negotiating position.
Nov. 25, 2011
The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and UN agencies in China jointly held an event to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Beijing on Nov. 25, 2011.
Meng Xiaosi, vice-chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation, and Abhimanyu Singh, the chair of the UN Theme Group on Gender and UNESCO representative to Beijing, attended and addressed the event.
In her speech, Meng spoke highly of the contributions made by the UN to the development of global gender equality and encouraged more young people to join the effort to eliminate domestic violence against women and to protect women's rights and empowerment.
She also gave a brief introduction to the efforts that the ACWF has made to the EVAW Joint Programme and its outcomes and advocated for a national law addressing domestic violence.
Singh encouraged the younger generation to condemn and stop the violence against women, pointing out that young people play a critical role in eliminating violence against women and girls.
Nov. 27, 2011
"The social status of the female population indicates the level of social progress (of a nation), while children are the future and hope of a nationality and a nation," Premier Wen Jiabao said on Nov. 26, 2011.
While addressing the fifth National Working Conference on Women and Children, the premier highlighted the importance of women's and children's wellbeing, noting they bear on "the future of the nation and the nationality."
China's women and children, who make up two-thirds of the country's 1.3 billion strong population, are an "important force for promoting national development and social progress," said Wen, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
The party and the government have always attached great importance to women's and children's issues, the premier said, noting that China has issued specific laws to protect women's and children's rights, while specific organizations have been set up to carry out government plans regarding the development of women's and children's rights.
Nov. 28, 2011
Local legislators in Shenzhen are drafting the country's first local regulation to protect Good Samaritans. Zhou Chengxin, director of the research institute under the Legislative Affairs Office of Shenzhen, said it is unclear when the draft could be submitted to Shenzhen People's Congress for discussion.
The current draft includes rules such as exempting those who help others from responsibility if the rescue fails, as long as there was no negligence or deliberate sabotage.
It also stipulates that if the person being helped wants to make an accusation against the helper, he or she must offer evidence.
Nov. 29, 2011
Senior Chinese leaders convened on Nov. 29, 2011 to map out efforts to alleviate poverty in the country's rural areas over the next decade as the government tries to narrow a widening wealth gap.
The two-day working conference on poverty alleviation held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will study the implementation of the Outline for Development-oriented Poverty Reduction for China's Rural Areas (2011-2020).
The outline is expected to be unveiled after the conference, the first of its kind since the last such conference was held in 2001, when the rural poverty-alleviation plan for the 2001-2010 period was announced.
The government has a goal of providing adequate food and clothing for poverty-stricken people while ensuring their access to compulsory education, basic medical services and housing by 2020, an official in charge of poverty reduction said earlier in November.
The widening wealth gaps between urban and rural areas, different regions and between the rich and poor in China were worrisome, said Fan Xiaojian, head of the Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development under the State Council.
Dec. 1, 2011
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Dec. 1, 2011 pledged new measures to help people living with HIV/AIDS obtain affordable drug treatment, enjoy fair job and education chances and avoid being discriminated.
Wen made the remark in Beijing during a discussion with a group of people representing HIV carriers and AIDS patients, doctors and AIDS researchers on the World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1, 2011.
Dec. 2, 2011
China officially unveiled its poverty-reduction plan for the next decade -- in which it pledged to provide adequate food and clothing for poverty-stricken people while ensuring their access to compulsory education, basic medical services and housing by 2020 -- showing the government's determination to fight poverty.
In the Outline for Poverty Reduction and Development of China's Rural Areas (2011-2020), the government said ensuring sufficient food and clothing for the impoverished and helping them become prosperous will be a priority over the next decade.
The outline is the third state-level poverty-reduction plan and is part of the government's efforts to build a well-off society in an all-around way by 2020.
Dec. 4, 2011
China's first human rights education and training base was opened in Tianjin's Nankai University on Dec. 4, 2011.
The university would advance its current human rights courses and have three additional courses on human rights each year to complete the system. It also vowed to provide human rights training to society.
Luo Haocai, head of China's Human Rights Research Society, said the base will beef up China's human rights theories, bring up more professional human rights workers and enhance peoples' awareness of human rights.
Dec. 6, 2011
Launching press conference of the World Report on Disability and CBR Guidelines in China were held in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 6, 2011
China has issued various occupational qualification certificates to nearly 500,000 of its handicapped citizens in the past five years, according to a statement released by the China Disabled Person's Federation (CDPF) .
A total of 3.76 million disabled people nationwide received some form of vocational or technical training during the 2005-2010 period, according to the statement.
The CDPF said in the statement that it will train another 1.8 million disabled people in the next five years, and it will launch a variety of programs in order to make millions more employable.
More than 4.4 million urban and rural citizens with disabilities are currently employed in China.
Dec. 7, 2011
The State Council, or the Cabinet, on Dec. 7, 2011, approved a blueprint to establish a credit rating system and intensify monitoring for pharmaceutical groups to boost the country's drug safety over the next five years.
The 2011-2015 plan set the general goal of "sharply" increasing the level of safety and people's satisfaction toward drugs by ensuring all pharmaceutical products meet the standards of a newly revised regulation on the quality management of medical products as of the end of 2015, said the statement.
According to the plan, the country will also step up efforts to improve its standards for chemical medicines and biological products in line with the international level and take the lead in making international standards for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Dec. 8, 2011
China plans to see an "obvious decrease" in the death toll caused by natural disasters in the next five years, the State Council, or Cabinet, said on Dec. 8, 2011.
The annual direct economic losses caused by natural disasters should be controlled at less than 1.5 percent of the country's annual GDP from 2011 to 2015, according to the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) on disaster relief circulated by the State Council.
It must be guaranteed that all people who survive disasters have access to food, water, clothes, medical aid and shelter within 24 hours, the plan said.
To achieve the target, the State Council promised to improve the country's natural disaster monitoring and response systems, and raise public awareness of disaster prevention and reduction.
Dec. 20, 2011
One of human rights education and training bases was opened in Guangzhou University. Luo Haocai, head of China's Human Rights Research Society, attended the opening ceremony.
Dec. 27, 2011
Premier Wen attended the meeting of the annual central conference on rural work in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 28, 2011.
Dec. 27, 2011
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) voted to adopt a resolution to submit the draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law to the NPC's annual session for further reading.
The draft amendment for the second reading put bonds, shares and funds on the list of assets that prosecutors and police are allowed to check and freeze, given that criminal suspects might have a variety of financial assets.
The draft amendment adds a new clause allowing those who suffer from serious diseases, are unable to take care of themselves, are pregnant, or care for infants, to be released on bail.
Dec. 28, 2011
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao presided over a State Council meeting to hear the report on the investigation of the fatal high-speed train crash in July, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 28, 2011.
Dec. 31, 2011
Monitoring PM2.5 pollution will be included newly amended draft of the national air quality standards, according to a statement of the Ministry of Environmental Protection released on its official website Dec. 31, 2011.
The new revision was approved in principal at the ministry's executive meeting presided by the minister Zhou Shengxian on Dec 30, 2011.
The decision was made at the meeting to urge the relevant departments to further revise and improve the new standards as soon as possible.
