JANUARY 2018
China sees better nursing home services in 2017
China had improved services at nursing institutions for the elderly at the end of November 2017, Minister of Civil Affairs Huang Shuxian said on Jan. 2, 2018.
From: Xinhua
China's achievements in poverty alleviation reflects Chinese wisdom
“China has set an excellent example for the world in poverty alleviation and its achievements are unprecedented,” Rosen Plevnaliyev, former president of Bulgaria said in an exclusive interview on Jan. 4, 2018.
From: chinahuman rights.org
China leads the world in forest restoration
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has seen great progress in developing and reforming the forest sector: forest resources enjoy the fastest growth worldwide and the system of national reserved forests has been preliminary established; more than 100,000 km2 of desertificated land have been rehabilitated and the construction of forest cities has been set as a national strategy, according to Zhang Jianlong, head of the State Forestry Bureau.
From: chinahuman rights.org
Chinese middle-income earners reach 300 mln, 30% of global total
China's mid-income class has reached 300 million, accounting for 30% of the middle-income group globally, reports Outlook Weekly, a magazine hosted by Xinhua News Agency.
From: chinaplus.cri.cn
Chinese authorities investigate Marriott questionnaire incident
Shanghai authorities have investigated Marriott International after the U.S.-based hotel corporation categorized Chinese territories as countries in a mail questionnaire, angering its Chinese members.
The cyberspace administration and market supervision bureau of Huangpu District said on Jan. 10 that they had conducted interviews with the hotel company's representatives in China and ordered all related content to be removed from its website and mobile app.
From: Xinhua
Chinese average life expectancy increases to 76.5 years
The average life expectancy for Chinese in China rose to 76.5 years in 2017, according to a news briefing of the National Health and Family Commission (NHFC) on Tuesday, China.com reported.
From: People's Daily Online
China to improve healthcare for rural residents
China plans to improve its healthcare system for rural residents in poverty in 2018 as part of the nationwide campaign to eradicate poverty, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
From: chinahumanrights.org
World learns lessons from China's anti-graft campaign
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the CPC's anti-corruption drive has delivered remarkable achievements and won international applauds, which presents Chinese wisdom to the international anti-corruption efforts.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to hold National Women's Congress
The 12th National Women's Congress will be held this year in Beijing, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) announced on Jan. 16, 2018.
From: Xinhua
China to pump up support for rural startups
China will roll out more measures to support rural startups in order to further promote rural vitalization, according to a decision at a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Jan. 17, 2018.
From: Xinhua
Sanjiangyuan National Park to be established by 2020
China will establish Sanjiangyuan National Park and put in place a comprehensive national park system focusing on green development by 2020, according to a plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission on Jan. 17, 2018.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China updates pollutant emission permit system
China's top environment authority has issued an updated management guideline to regulate its pollutant emission permit system, making sure every emission into the air, water and soil is supervised, China Daily reported on Jan. 18, 2018.
From: Xinhua
China to improve care for impoverished severely disabled people
China will offer care services for severely disabled people aged over 16 to help lift their families out of poverty, according to a new government plan.
Jointly released by the China Disabled Person's Federation (CDPF), the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, and other departments on Jan. 22, the plan calls for improved medical assistance to severely disabled people in registered impoverished families.
From: Xinhua
One year on, Xi's shared future vision wins wider support
One year after Chinese President Xi Jinping further elaborated his vision of building a community with a shared future for human beings on his Swiss trip, the concept has won wider international support due to China's substantial move toward that goal.
In January 2017,Xi shared his vision at the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) on how to steer the world economy out of difficulty through concerted efforts, calling on members of the international community to work together to build a community with a shared future for human beings.
From: Xinhua
China to expand legal aid services to all rural areas
China will expand legal aid services in rural areas to give every village with at least one legal assistant by the end of 2018, said Justice Minister Zhang Jun on Jan. 24, 2018.
From: Xinhua
China needs high-quality, equal for all education: vice premier
Liu Yandong, Chinese Vice Premier attended a symposium on education work in Beijing on Jan. 24, 2018. She has said the central government will focus on developing an education system that is of higher quality and equal for all.
From: Xinhua
China's chief procurator calls for better human rights protection
Procuratorial organs at all levels should continue to improve the supervision system and uphold the unity, sanctity and authority of the country's legal system, said Cao Jianming, chief procurator of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Jan. 24, 2018.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China reports lowest urban unemployment rate since 2002
China's registered unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 3.9 percent at the end of 2017, the lowest since 2002, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Jan. 26, 2018.
From: Xinhua
AIIB sees brighter future
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral financial institution proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. It was officially founded on December 25, 2015. After two years' operation, it has won recognition from the international community.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to better safeguard private data with new regulation
A regulation on personal information security was published online in late January and will take effect in May.
The regulation, drafted by the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, has for the first time given a clear definition of “sensitive personal information.”
From: Xinhua
Top court rulings protect citizens' property rights
On Jan. 30, 2018, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) published several typical cases on property rights protection, including one in which local police were required to provide compensation for their violations during a criminal proceeding.
From: Xinhua
FEBRUARY 2018
International community applauses China’s poverty relief achievements
On Feb. 2, China has lifted over 700 million Chinese people out of poverty since the reform and opening up policy was adopted. 60,000 poverty-stricken people have got rid of poverty since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), reducing the poverty rate from 10.2 percent to lower than 4 percent. And the 19th CPC National Congress set out the goal of eradicating poverty in rural areas by 2020.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China unveils action plan for improving rural living environment
On Feb. 5, China’s central authorities unveiled a three-year action plan to im-prove the rural living environment.
Improving the rural living environment is an important task for the country to accomplish its goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020. It has great significance to the well-being of farmers and harmony of rural society, according to the document.
From: Xinhua
China calls on foreign enterprises to follow basic ground rules
On Feb. 7, China called on foreign enterprises to follow basic ground rules, after Mercedes-Benz apologized for putting a poster with quotes from the Dalai Lama on its Instagram account.
From: Xinhua
China’s poverty-stricken areas to be connected with expressways by 2020
The transportation infrastructure in China’s poor areas has been greatly improved in the past five years. China will build asphalt roads for qualified counties, towns and villages by the end of 2019 and to connect all poverty-stricken areas with national main expressways by 2020, according to the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Re-public of China (MOT).
We should improve the transportation infrastructure across the country in the pro-cess of building a well-off society, said Li Xiaopeng, minister of the MOT on a press conference on Feb. 7.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to build national public legal service system by 2020
China aims to build a national public legal service system by 2020 that covers all groups in both urban and rural areas, the Ministry of Justice said on Feb. 8.
From: Xinhua
China strengthens efforts to correct, prevent wrongful convictions
China’s judicial departments are stepping up efforts to prevent, review and cor-rect wrongful convictions to ensure justice, the Ministry of Justice said on Feb. 8.
From: Xinhua
Poverty battle at heart of CPC mission, says Xi
Communist Party of China Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping paid a visit to poor families in a mountainous area in Sichuan province on Feb. 11, where he talked with villagers about poverty reduction, ahead of the upcoming Spring Festi-val.
From: China Daily
China’s basic medical insurance covers 1.35 bln people
China’s basic medical insurance now covers 1.35 billion people, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
The coverage rate of the insurance is stable at 95 percent of the population, said Wang Hesheng, deputy director of the commission, at a press conference on Feb. 12.
From: Xinhua
Xi’s Spring Festival greetings touch, inspire overseas Chinese
On Feb. 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Spring Festival greetings to all Chi-nese people with references to hard work and family values have struck a chord with overseas Chinese.
From: Xinhua
China’s nursing homes more than triples in past five years
On Feb. 22, the number of nursing homes in China has more than tripled in the past five years, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Statistics show that the country had more than 144,600 nursing institutions as of September 2017, 226 percent more than that of the end of 2012.
From: Xinhua
Proposed constitutional amendment package unveiled
The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee made public its pro-posal on amendments to China’s Constitution on Feb. 25.
The proposal, raised to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Con-gress (NPC), was made in accordance with the new situation and practice of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
From: Xinhua
U.S. expert hails China’s achievements in poverty reduction, environmental protection
China has made great achievements in poverty reduction, environmental protec-tion and assistance to third world countries since China adopted the policy of reform and opening up 40 years ago, a U.S. expert on China said Feb. 27.
From: Xinhua
Chinese diplomat calls for fair, impartial global human rights governance system
On Feb. 28, a senior Chinese diplomat called on all parties to work together to jointly promote the building of a community with shared future for human beings and to promote the establishment of a fair, impartial, open and inclusive global human rights governance system.
From: Xinhua
Xi: Reform needed for prosperity
Deepening reform of Party and State institutions has great significance for the completion of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and national rejuvenation, General Secretary Xi Jinping said.
Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark while meeting with representatives of non-Communist parties. The CPC Central Committee has held two meetings with non-Communist parties, on Feb. 6 and on Feb. 28.
From: China Daily
China releases first blue book on national geographical conditions
On Feb. 28, Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping released the Blue Book of National Geographic Conditions of China 2017 in Beijing. It is China’s first blue book on the country’s geographical conditions.
From: chinahumanrights.org
MARCH 2018
China’s top political advisory body starts annual session
On the afternoon of March 3, China’s top political advisory body started its annu-al session in Beijing, vowing to take on new mission for the country’s goal toward a “great modern socialist country.”
Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the 12th Chinese People’s Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivered a work report to 2,149 political advisors who gathered to discuss major political, economic and social issues in the world’s most populous nation and second largest economy.
From: Xinhua
Work report measures will boost fight against poverty
The government has vowed to make solid strides in targeting poverty alleviation, formulating guidelines on a three-year initiative for winning the battle against poverty through specific measures, according to the annual work report of the State Council released on March 5.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China to do more to improve people’s wellbeing: Premier Li
China will do more to directly benefit the people, address their difficulties, and ensure that their basic living needs are met, Premier Li Keqiang said on March 5.
From: Xinhua
China to improve rural infrastructure amid rural revitalization drive
On March 5, China will promote infrastructure construction as one of the mea-sures for rural revitalization, according to a government work report delivered by Pre-mier Li Keqiang in Beijing.
China will launch a new three-year renovation plan to address housing in run-down urban areas, starting with construction of 5.8 million units this year.
From: Xinhua
Premier underlines reform, opening-up, people’s livelihood
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for joint efforts to advance reform and open-ing-up, promote innovation, sustain economic growth and improve people’s livelihood at the ongoing national legislative session on March 6.
From: Xinhua
Over half of respondents willing to register for organ donation: survey
About 57.7 percent of the respondents are willing to register for organ donation, according to a survey released by the China Youth Daily on March 6.
From: Xinhua
China makes great efforts in respecting, preserving traditional Tibet-an culture: scholar
On March 7, a prominent Chinese scholar said that the Chinese central govern-ment and the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) have made great efforts in respecting, preserving, inheriting and promoting outstanding traditional Ti-betan culture and have made remarkable achievements.
From: Xinhua
Experts hail cultural development in China’s Tibet in Geneva
On March 7, experts expounded efforts and achievements in the cultural develop-ment in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) during an event on the sidelines of the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The event held at the building of the United Nations office at Geneva was spon-sored by the non-governmental organization China Society for Human Rights Studies. More than 60 experts, government officials, representatives from international and non-governmental organizations as well as media reporters took part in the sympo-sium titled “Protection and Development of Tibet Culture.”
From: Xinhua
Xi calls for earnest implementation of rural vitalization strategy
On March 8, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the rural vitalization strategy is the leading agenda for government work on agriculture, rural areas, and rural resi-dents.
From: Xinhua
China improves judicial services, ensures fairness, justice: report
Letting the public feel fairness and justice in every judicial case is the goal of courts across China, a work report of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) said on March 9.
From 2013 to 2017, the SPC handled 82,383 cases and concluded 79,692 cases, 60.6 percent and 58.8 percent, respectively, higher than those in the previous five years, according to the report available to the media.
From: Xinhua
Tibetan language still full of vitality in process of modernization: scholar
On March 9, a Chinese scholar introduced the use, protection and development of Tibetan language to the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council, saying that the Tibetan language is still full of vitality in the process of modernization and will continue to be inherited and developed in the future.
From: Xinhua
Constitutional amendment good for China’s enduring peace, stability
On March 11, the constitutional amendment adopted by China’s national legisla-ture, including a revision regarding the President’s term of office, is good for China’s enduring peace and stability, an official said.
From: Xinhua
China’s national legislature holds closing meeting
The first session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) holds its closing meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 20, 2018.
Lawmakers will vote on a draft supervision law and draft resolutions on the gov-ernment work report, and the work reports of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
From: Xinhua
China to create over 13 mln jobs in 2018: Premier Li
China aims to generate more than 13 million new urban jobs this year, Premier Li Keqiang said on March 20.
The minimal target is 11 million, but the government will work hard to reach the bigger goal, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual legislative session.
From: Xinhua
Serious disease insurance to cover 20 mln Chinese: Premier Li
More than 20 million Chinese people will be covered by a serious disease insur-ance program as the government is increasing subsidies this year, Premier Li Keqiang said on March 20.
From: Xinhua
President’s address focuses on the people
On March 20, President Xi Jinping’s important speech delivered reflected his people-centered philosophy of governance as well as his commitment to building a community of a shared future for humankind, analysts said.
From: China Daily
Blue book on rule of law in China released
The Blue Book on the Rule of Law in China (2018) was released at a seminar on March 22 in Beijing.
The Blue Book issued China’s first third party assessment index system for chil-dren’s rights protection.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China raises basic pension payments by 5 pct
China will raise the basic pension payments for retirees in 2018, the 14th year of increase. From the beginning of this year, the average monthly payment for pension-ers of enterprises, government agencies and public institutions has been lifted by 5 percent from the 2017 level, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said in a statement on March 23.
From: Xinhua
UN rights body adopts China-sponsored resolution on mutually ben-eficial cooperation
On March 24, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a China-sponsored reso-lution titled “promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights,” in which states were called to uphold multilateralism and work together to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
From: Xinhua
APRIL 2018
White paper lays out rules on foreigners’ religious activities in China
A white paper published by the Chinese government on April 3 has clarified the rules on foreigners’ religious activities in China.
Foreign visitors and residents in the country are welcome to attend religious activities at temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship, according to the white paper on China’s policies and practices on protecting freedom of religious belief.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
Xinjiang builds 80,000 houses for rural poor
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region began building 82,300 houses in impover-ished areas in the first three months of the year, authorities said April 6.
The region plans to build 300,000 subsidized houses this year. About 210,000 will be for families in extreme poverty, those receiving the minimum living allowances, and households with disabled members.
From: Xinhua
China to further efforts for universal health coverage
China is looking to make quality medical resources available to more people, according to the National Health Commission on April 6.
The focus of public healthcare work will be on the grassroots level with more resources, and more hospitals “on people’s doorsteps.”
From: Xinhua
China to become high-income country by 2025: top economist
China can sustain an annual average growth rate of 6 percent in the following 10 years and ascend to the high-income stage by 2025, said Justin Lin Yifu, honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, on April 9, 2018.
From: Ecns.cn
UN chief: China plays a key role in global governance
Thanks to the great achievements since its reform and opening up, China is playing an increasingly important role in the global governance system, said Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations on April 9, before he left for China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China launches campaigns to clean up cultural environment
China has launched three campaigns against illicit cultural content to foster a “positive” and “healthy” cultural environment on April 10.
From: Xinhua
Chinahumantights.org launches new mobile version
On April 12, Chinahumantights.org launched its English-language mobile version.
The mobile website, http://eng.humanrights.cn, will provide the latest news on the human rights development and progress both in China and around the world.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Seminar on Chinese human rights discourse system held in Changsha
The seminar “Building Chinese Human Rights Discourse System in a New Era”, co-sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) and the Publicity Department of the Hunan Province Committee of the Communist Party of China, was held on April 12 in Central South University in Changsha, capital of Hunan province.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Employment market stays stable, positive in Q1
China continued to see a stable job market in the first quarter this year, with a low unemployment rate, strong demand in the job market, and improved job prospects for certain groups of people, according to the National Development and Reform Com-mission on April 18.
From: China Daily
Xinjiang helps 41,000 destitute people find jobs in Q1
Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has helped 41,000 impoverished people in the most poverty-stricken south part of the region find employment in the first quarter, the regional government said on April 18, 2018.
From: Xinhua
Wrongly convicted man acquitted by northeast China court
The Jilin Provincial Higher People’s Court on April 20 overturned the conviction of Liu Zhonglin in a murder case more than 20 years ago.
He had his conviction overturned on April 20 as the higher court ruled that the previous convictions were based on unclear facts and insufficient evidence.
From: Xinhua
China establishes 80 national family reading bases
China announced its first 80 national bases for promoting reading in families on World Book Day, which falls on April 23.
The bases, covering 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, were announced by the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) at an event for this year’s family reading campaign held in Beijing.
From: Ecns.cn
China issues report on U.S. human rights
China Tuesday published a report on the United States’ human rights situation.
The report, titled “Human Rights Record of the United States in 2017,” was released by the Information Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, in response to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 issued by the U.S. State Department on April 20 local time.
A Chronology of Human Rights Violations of the United States in 2017 was also released by the office on April 24, 2018.
From: Xinhua
China to establish more intellectual property protection centers
On April 24, China pledged to establish more intellectual property protection centers, according to the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).
China has established 19 intellectual property protection centers nationwide, said Shen Changyu, head of the SIPO, at a press conference of the State Council Information Office.
From: Xinhua
China to introduce default judgment against corrupt fugitives
China plans to introduce default judgment in corruption-related criminal cases as authorities step up the fight against crooked officials who have fled overseas.
Lawmakers were briefed on the move on April 25 as a draft revision to the Criminal Procedure Law was submitted to the top legislature for review.
From: Xinhua
China to improve human rights protection of detainees
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) will launch a nationwide campaign to improve human rights protection of detainees, the SPP said in a statement on April 26, 2018.
The campaign, which runs from April 2018 to December 2019, will focus on protecting detainees’ rights to rewards and rest, and their rights to meet lawyers and obtain remuneration for labor, according to the statement.
From: Xinhua
China to improve human rights protection of detainees
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) will launch a nationwide campaign to improve human rights protection of detainees, the SPP said in a statement on April 26.
The campaign, which runs from April 2018 to December 2019, will focus on protecting detainees’ rights to rewards and rest, and their rights to meet lawyers and obtain remuneration for labor, according to the statement.
From: Xinhua
China adopts people’s assessors law
On April 27, China’s top legislature passed a law on people’s assessors, which allows a group of citizens to work with professional judges to try cases in court.
From: Xinhua
MAY 2018
China to continue crackdown on rural gangsters
China will continue cracking down on rural gangsters who manipulate village elections, encroach upon collective assets and terrorize the countryside, a ministry spokesperson said on May 2, 2018.
From: Xinhua
Seminar on sinicization of Marxist human rights theory held in Beijing
A seminar, sponsored by the Law School and Human Rights Research Center of Renmin University of China, on the sinicization and development of Marxist human rights theory is held in Beijing on May 5.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China’s 2018 local government poverty alleviation fund already in place
China’s central government has dispensed all its planned 2018 poverty alleviation funds to local governments on May 6, two months earlier than last year.
The poverty alleviation fund stands at 106 billion yuan (16.7 billion U.S. dollars) this year, 20 billion yuan more than last year.
From: Xinhua
China’s populous province to lift 1.1 mln people out of poverty in 2018
The populous central Henan Province vows to help 1.1 million people in rural areas shake off poverty this year, the provincial government said on May 7.
The province plans to lift a total of 2,365 impoverished villages out of poverty, and relocate 62,900 people from poverty-stricken communities to more developed areas.
From: Xinhua
China starts targeted crackdown on solid waste pollution
On May 9, 2018, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) launched a targeted crackdown on solid waste pollution following frequent cases of the illegal disposal of harmful materials in several regions.
From: Xinhua
Ministry of Education vows better distribution of rural schools
On May 10, China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) promised that no students will face difficulty in attending school or drop out of school due to unreasonable geographic distribution of schools in rural areas.
From: Xinhua
China develops youth credit system for building high-trust society
China is developing a “youth credit system” to encourage young people to take an active part in building a high-trust society, officials said on May 10.
The project is based on a five-year guideline to build a database and develop creditrating criteria, incentives, and services for young people by 2020. The efforts have been led by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the People’s Bank of China.
From: Xinhua
China, Pakistan hold 4th negotiation on human rights
China and Pakistan held the 4th negotiation on human rights on May 10, 2018.
The negotiation was co-chaired by Liu Hua, special representative for human rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Khalil Hashmi, director of UN Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. Both sides exchanged views on global human rights situation and cooperation, and bilateral technical cooperation on human rights.
The Chinese delegation also visited the Ministry of Human Rights of Pakistan and held discussions on human rights protection with Agah, permanent secretary of the ministry.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China’s Supreme Court stresses law enforcement to protect heroes
China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) has stressed on May 11 strict enforcement of a new law to protect the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs.
From: Xinhua
China raises minimum standard of basic pensions
China has raised the minimum standard of basic pensions for rural residents and unemployed urbanites, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on May 15.
From: Xinhua
Chinese police crack over 90,000 economic crimes since 2017
Chinese police have cracked down more than 90,000 economic crimes since 2017, recovering losses of 100 billion yuan (15.8 billion U.S. dollars), the Ministry of Public Security said on May 15, 2018.
From: Xinhua
More elderly Chinese feel happy: survey
More elderly Chinese are saying they live a happy life, according to a survey on the living conditions of China’s urban and rural older persons, published on May 15, 2018.
From: Xinhua
China sees unemployment remain steady in April
China continued to see the job market remain stable in April, with the unemployment rate at a relatively low level, official data showed on May 15, 2018.
From: Xinhua
Senior lawmaker stresses consistent prevention, control of infectious diseases
Senior legislator Cai Dafeng has called for consistent efforts in the prevention and control of infectious diseases to build a Healthy China on May 18.
He asked for awareness of the significance of preventing and controlling infectious diseases for economic and social development, as well as for national security and stability.
From: Xinhua
China-U.S. economic, trade consensuses “meet interests of the people”: vice premier
The consensuses reached during economic and trade consultations between China and the United States meet the interests of the people of the two countries and whole world, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said on May 21, 2018.
From: Xinhua
History of Constitution reflects history of China’s modern development
The history of the development of China’s Constitution shows the history of China’s modern development in miniature, an official from China’s top legislature said on May 22, 2018.
From: Xinhua
International forum on poverty reduction held in Beijing
Themed on “Sharing and Promoting Cooperation: Joining Hands in Poverty Reduction”, the 2018 Poverty Reduction International Forum was held in Beijing on May 23. Nearly 200 officials and representatives from both China and international organizations attended the forum.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to increase input on education, boost dairy industry and service trade
China will increase investment in education in poverty-stricken areas and on weak links in the sector, take measures to boost its dairy industry, and give priority to developing service trade, according to a State Council statement on May 24.
The central government will add 13 billion yuan (about 2 billion U.S. dollars) of funding to support compulsory and vocational education in central and western regions, poverty-stricken and rural areas, according to the statement released after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday.
From: Xinhua
China gears up for employment of 8.2 million college graduates
On May 24, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang instructed a national government meeting to work for stable employment of college graduates this summer.
It will be a tough task to help the record 8.2 million graduates find jobs and start careers, said Li in a written instruction to the meeting.
From: Xinhua
Rural education to get more financial support
China will lend stronger financial support to improve education quality in remote rural areas to improve the country’s weak links in education, a senior official said.
Zheng Fuzhi, assistant education minister, said during a news briefing held by the State Council’s information office on May 25 that China will direct another 13 billion yuan ($2 billion) toward fiscal transfers to local governments for education.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China prosecutes about 60,000 suspects for harming minors
About 60,000 suspects were prosecuted for harming minors from January 2017 to April 2018, including several high-profile abuse cases, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) on May 29.
From: Xinhua
June 2018
China’s new rehabilitation system to better help disabled children
A new rehabilitation system will be put into operation to help children with dis-abilities on Oct. 1, said Jia Yong, vice president of the China Disabled Persons’ Feder-ation, at a news briefing on June 1.
From: Xinhua
China achieves remarkable success in IPR protection: official
China has achieved remarkable results in intellectual property right (IPR) protec-tion, according to an official at the State Intellectual Property Office on June 5.
From: Xinhua
China elected to UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
China was elected to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safe-guarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, securing 123 votes at the 7th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangi-ble Cultural Heritage at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on June 6, 2018.
From: chinahumanrights.org
CSHRS delegation visits Spain, Italy and Austria
A delegation of China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) led by Qiang-ba Puncog, chairman of the CSHRS, visited Spain, Italy and Austria from June 5 to June 14.
During talks with Spanish government officials on human rights development, the delegation gave an introduction of the rising living standards of Chinese people since the reform and opening up policy was adopted 40 years ago and China’s continuous efforts to respect and protect human rights and advance rule of law in the new era.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China toughens supervision in key regions to reduce air pollution
China will start a massive environmental overhaul on June 11 to ensure the effec-tive curb of air pollution in key regions, said sources with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on June 9.
From: Xinhua
Over 326,000 Chinese have vocational qualifications for social work-ers
More than 326,000 people have got vocational qualifications for being social workers in China since a national proficiency test was launched in 2008, the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on June 10.
From: Xinhua
China, Switzerland hold 11th dialogue on human rights
China and Switzerland held the 11th dialogue on human rights in Beijing on June 11-12, 2018.
Both sides introduced their new progress in protecting and promoting human rights, and exchanged views on issues including global human rights cooperation, criminal penalty and judicial system, women’s rights, and rights of ethnic minorities and the disabled.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Delegation of China Foundation for Human Rights Development vis-its Greece, Lithuania and Latvia
A delegation of China Foundation for Human Rights Development (CFHRD) led by Huang Mengfu, former vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consulta-tive Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of the CFHRD, visited Greece, Lithuania and Latvia from June 13 to 21, 2018.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Draft e-commerce law better protects consumer rights
China’s draft e -commerce law was submitted to the top legislature for a third reading on June 19, further regulating online market order and protecting consumer rights.
From: Xinhua
China, Belgium hold sideline meeting on child protection in Geneva
On June 19, China and Belgium held a sideline meeting on child protection during the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
From: chinahumanrights.org
US announces withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council
On June 19, the United States announced its withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council, marking the latest departure by the Trump administration from an in-ternational institution.
From: Xinhua
China, Holland hold 11th human rights dialogue
The 11th human rights dialogue between China and Holland was held in Hague,
Holland from June 20 to June 21. The dialogue was co-hosted by Liu Hua, Special Representative on Human Rights Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Van Barr, Ambassador for Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Holland.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Prosecutors to get tougher with financial, environmental, poverty-re-lief crime
Over the next three years, Chinese prosecutors will get tougher on financial and environmental crime as well as crime in poverty-relief efforts, especially corruption, Deputy Procurator-General Tong Jianming said at a news briefing on June 25.
From: Xinhua
Sideline meeting on Xinjiang’s human rights development held at UN headquarters in Geneva
On June 25, a sideline meeting on Xinjiang’s human rights development and progress was held during the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Coun-cil in Geneva.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Internet Plus Agriculture model to promote integrated rural develop-ment
China will improve internet services and information technology (IT) infrastruc-ture under the “Internet Plus Agriculture” model, as decided during a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on June 27.
From: Xinhua
China’s nutrition program benefits 37 million rural students
About 37 million rural students have benefited from the Chinese government’s nutrition improvement program since 2011, according to the Ministry of Education on June 27.
From: Xinhua
China-EU Human Rights Seminar emphasizes diversity
A human rights seminar sought consensus among more than 60 Chinese and European experts in the field in a meeting with the theme of better understanding and deeper cooperation among diverse civilizations.
The Europe-China Seminar on Human Rights, established by the China Society for Human Rights Studies in 2015, opened at the College of Europe, a postgraduate institute of European studies in Bruges, Belgium on June 28.
From: China Daily
Video on China’s achievements in poverty reduction screened in Times Square
A promotional video featuring China’s achievements in poverty reduction was screened in New York’s Times Square on June 23.
The one minute and 40 seconds promotional video will be played for over 120 times every day from June 23 to June 29 in Times Square, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
From: chinahumanrights.org
UNESCO senior official hails progress of China’s conservation of heritage sites
“I visited China for the first time in 1993, when I climbed the Mount Huangshan and was impressed by the diverse natural beauty,” said Mechtild Rossler, director of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Center, in an interview with Xinhua on June 30.
She lauded China’s contribution to the diversity of world heritage sites in the interview on the sidelines of the 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
China enjoys a rich natural and cultural heritage, many of which were inscribed to the World Heritage List, said the director, recognizing the role of China in increas-ing the diversity of world heritage.
From: Xinhua
July 2018
More than 5.81 million lifted out of illness-caused poverty in China
More than 5.81 million Chinese people have been lifted out of illness-induced poverty, said Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Health Commission on July 2.
From: Xinhua
China has more than 365,000 lawyers
The number of practicing lawyers in China surpassed 365,000 by the end of 2017, an increase of 11.5 percent, according to the All China Lawyers Association on July 2.
From: Xinhua
Chinese diplomat stresses role of development in protecting human rights
On July 3, Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese Mission to UN in Geneva, stressed that only through development can countries resolve the root cause of conflicts, safe-guard the fundamental rights of the people, and meet the ardent hope of the people for a better future.
From: Xinhua
China shares experience on development and poverty reduction with African countries
A seminar themed on “the contribution of development and poverty reduction to promoting and protecting human rights “was held during the 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council at the UN Headquarters in Geneva on July 3.
From: chinahumanrights.org
China to solidify strong employment momentum
The Chinese government will take concrete measures to boost and expand em-ployment, focusing on college graduates, veterans, laid-off and relocated workers, as decided at the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on July 4.
From: Xinhua
China to further nursing service reform
China plans to build a nursing service system supported by medical institutes, with communities as the platform and families as the basis by 2020, according to the National Health Commission (NHC) on July 6.
From: Xinhua
CSHRS delegation visits UK and Greece
A delegation of China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) visited UK and Greece from July 1 to July 6.
The delegation, headed by Fu Zitang, vice-president of the CSHRS and also pres-ident of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, held talks with thinktank, parliamentarians, officials, lawyers, judges, scholars and journalists in the two countries.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Chinese UN envoy calls for int’l efforts to protect children in armed conflict
China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ma Zhaoxu, called for international efforts to protect children in armed conflict on July 9.
He asked to give priority to prevention by teaching children to cherish peace and reject war in order to protect them from the harm of terrorist and extremist ideologies.
From: Xinhua
China, EU hold 36th human rights dialogue
The 36th China-EU Human Rights Dialogue was held in Beijing on July 9.
Liu Hua, Special Representative for Human Rights Affairs of the Foreign Minis-try and Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia-Pacific Department of the European External Action Service of the EU co-chaired the dialogue. Officials in-cluding Li Junhua, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the Foreign Ministry of China and Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, EU ambassador to China attended the dialogue.
Both sides exchanged views on human rights developments and international co-operation, the rights of women and the disabled.
From: chinahumanrights.org
Disabled children in China to enjoy greater assistance for rehabilita-tion
China will implement a national assistance system for the rehabilitation of dis-abled children from poor families, covering their treatment expenses, according to a document released by the State Council on July 10.
From: Xinhua
Seminar on China’s human rights progress held in Wuhan
A seminar on China’s human rights progress in the course of reform and opening up was held in central China’s Wuhan on July 18.
Participants agreed that China has built a relatively complete human rights pro-tection system, made remarkable achievements, and embarked on a path of human rights development that suits Chinese characteristics over the past four decades of re-form and opening up.
From: Xinhua
China issues white paper on ecological progress on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
On July 18, China issued a white paper about ecological progress on the Qing-hai-Tibet Plateau, which is a key eco-safety barrier in China and Asia, and a focus of the country’s drive to promote ecological progress.
From: Xinhua
More than 37 million students in China’s higher education last year
A total of 37.79 million students received higher education across China in 2017, with gross student-enrolment at 45.7 percent, the Ministry of Education said on July 19.
From: Xinhua
China’s pension fund investment grows steadily
Local governments in China have entrusted more pension funds for investment as the country faces the challenge of an aging population, a human resource official said on July 23.
From: Xinhua
China’s drug regulator launches nationwide investigation into vac-cine producers
China’s drug regulator launched a thorough investigation into all vaccine produc-ers across the country on July 25.
The investigation is conducted after an earlier examination of 45 vaccine produc-ers that began at the beginning of the year, and follows an illegal vaccine production case revealed recently.
From: Xinhua
China to complete standardizing urban, rural medical insurance by 2019
A unified national medical insurance service, from which both urban and rural residents enjoy equal benefits, will be in place by 2019, said the state medical insur-ance administration on July 25.
From: Xinhua
Chinese military contributes to global peace, security: official
The Chinese military has made a major contribution to global peace and stability amid rising threats, a Chinese diplomat said here on July 26.
Wang Yang, defense attache at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, said that China will endeavor to pursue peaceful development and stabilization of the world order even as it modernizes its military to respond effectively to contemporary security challenges.
From: Xinhua
China allocates 140 billion yuan to help needy groups
On July 30, China’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) said it had injected 140 billion yuan (about 20.5 billion U.S. dollars) into an allowance scheme to help needy families and individuals.
China has met its allocation target for this year ahead of schedule, according to the ministry.
From: Xinhua
August 2018
Disaster-relief materials sent to flooded areas in Xinjiang
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management on August 1 sent a batch of disaster-relief materials to flooded areas in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The materials, including tents, foldaway beds, and quilts, were transported to the storm-hit regions from the central government’s reserve warehouses in Urumqi and Kashgar, the ministry said.
On July 31, some areas in the city of Hami in eastern Xinjiang were pelted by heavy rain.
From: Xinhua
China moves to improve legal services for disabled
Chinese authorities have pledged to improve legal services for the disabled and enable them to fully participate in litigation, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) said on August 2.
People’s courts are required to facilitate ways for the disabled to engage in proceeding such as filing a case, trial, or investigation, according to a circular issued by the SPC and the China Disabled Person’s Federation.
From: Xinhua
China reports 18,400 voluntary organ donors by July
China has recorded 18,433 voluntary organ donors, who donated 52,213 organs, from 2010 to mid-July this year.
The numbers were released by the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, organizer of the Chinese Transplant Congress held on Aug. 3 in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
From: Xinhua
Health authorities required to provide information, observation for rabies vaccines recipients
Health authorities and healthcare institutions across China must provide observation and consultation services for people who have received rabies vaccines from Changchun Changsheng Life Sciences Ltd., according to a statement issued by the National Health Commission (NHC) on Aug. 7.
The measure is aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of the public and protecting the legitimate rights of vaccine recipients, the NHC said in the statement.
From: Xinhua
Chinese people’s pursuit for better life unstoppable: article
Come rain or shine, the steps of Chinese people in pursuing a better life are unstoppable, according to a Chinese language commentary which was published under the byline “Xuanyan” in the People’s Daily on August 8.
The 4,700-character article, titled “Create a better life, come rain or shine,” summarized China’s development and reform since 1949, as well as its attitudes towards the challenges facing the country.
From: Xinhua
China welcomes Bachelet’s appointment as UN human rights chief
China welcomes Michelle Bachelet’s appointment as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and is ready to work with her on the development of international human rights, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on August 13.
The United Nations General Assembly on August 10 approved the former Chilean President as the next UN human rights chief.
From: Xinhua
China slashes foreign media for smearing anti-terror measures in Xinjiang
China on August 14 criticized some foreign media for smearing China’s anti-terrorism and crime-fighting measures in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, saying their reports are driven by ulterior motives.
“Some anti-China forces have made false accusations against China for political purposes,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a written statement.
The United Nations committee on the elimination of racial discrimination reviewed the situation in China at its 96 th session on Aug. 10 and 13 in Geneva.
From: Xinhua
China’s Red Cross society donates relief fund for flood-victims in Myanmar
The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has provided relief fund for Myanmar people in flood-affected areas in Yangon on August 13.
On behalf of the RCSC, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang handed over 100,000 U.S. dollars’ relief fund to Myanmar Red Cross Society.
In accordance with the figures from the National Natural Disaster Management Committee and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, at least 20 people were killed by flooding across Myanmar, especially in southern part of the country recently.
From: Xinhua
China, Africa to strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction
China and Africa will step up cooperation to reduce poverty, a Chinese poverty relief official said on Aug. 14.
The two sides will strengthen communication to share their experience of poverty alleviation and work together to conduct research in the field.
From: Xinhua
China begins 3-year action plan to improve environmental monitoring
China’s top environmental watchdog will implement a three-year action plan from this year to clamp down on environmental offenses including fabrication and interference of monitoring data.
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment will step up supervision and checks on the data gathered by monitoring agencies at provincial, municipal and county levels, an official with the ministry said on August 16.
From: Xinhua
China releases guideline on winning battle against poverty
China released a guideline on Aug. 19 on winning the battle against poverty in the next three years to prepare the nation for eradicating poverty by 2020.
The guideline reiterates the country’s target of lifting all rural poor and impoverished counties out of poverty and eliminating absolute poverty by 2020 to build a moderately prosperous society.
From: Xinhua
China working on long-term poverty relief strategy
China’s campaign against poverty will not come to an end in 2020, as the country is working on a long-term strategy for poverty reduction, an official said on August 20.
“To become a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, our biggest area of weakness lies in rural areas, especially the poor people in rural areas,” Han Jun, deputy director of the office of the central agricultural work leading group, said at a press conference.
From: Xinhua
United focus urged for poverty relief
China will adhere to the current criteria for determining the size of its poor population and enhance poverty relief policies to ensure extreme poverty is eliminated by 2020, a government official said on Aug. 20.
The central government released a document in 2015 saying that in order for people to qualify for government assistance, they should meet five criteria or have an annual income under 2,300 yuan ($335), as set in 2010, and adjusted annually for purchasing power parity.
From: China Daily
China to deepen fight against gangs: official
A senior Chinese official on Aug. 21 demanded deepening the fight against criminal gangs.
The order was given at a national workshop chaired by Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for the Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee.
From: Xinhua
Premier urges more efforts to develop western China
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for more efforts to boost growth momentum and improve people’s livelihood in the country’s less-prosperous western regions on August 21.
Western areas should continue with reform and opening-up and vigorously innovate to achieve high-quality development, said Li, who is also head of the State Council leading group on the development of western regions.
From: Xinhua
Chinese ministry announces new measures for poverty alleviation
China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs on Aug. 22 unveiled new measures to support the fight against poverty.
These include strengthening social welfare support, mobilizing non-governmental organizations, volunteers, philanthropists to join the anti-poverty campaign, improving subsidies for people with disabilities, providing better care for the elderly and left-behind children in rural areas, and improving community-level governance and its oversight.
From: Xinhua
China launches emergency flood relief response in Anhui
China’s disaster relief authorities have launched a level IV emergency response plan to help flood victims in Anhui Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said on Aug. 22.
About 2.63 million people in the east China region were affected by floods as rivers saw surging water levels due to heavy rains and influxes of water from upper reaches.
From: Xinhua
Major China city to be coal-free to battle pollution
The northwestern Chinese city of Xi’an has set a target to be coal-free by 2020 in a bid to tackle air pollution.
Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi Province and home of the Terracotta Army, has rolled out a spate of tough measures for cleaner air in a three-year action plan, the city government said on August 23.
From: Xinhua
Authorities order Didi to improve safety after passenger killed
The Ministry of Transport (MOT), the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities on Aug. 26 ordered ride-hailing platform Didi Chuxing to rectify operation patterns so that ensure safety with its services after a female passenger was killed in east China’s Zhejiang Province.
According to local police, a 20-year-old woman went missing after hailing an auto from Didi in the city of Wenzhou. The driver was caught by police and confessed to rape and murder.
From: Xinhua
Draft tax law revision eyes fairer income distribution
Chinese lawmakers on Aug. 27 began the second reading of a draft decision on the Individual Income Tax Law at a bimonthly session of the top legislative body.
Explaining the draft to lawmakers at the start of the National People’s Congress(NPC) Standing Committee session, Xu Hui, vice chairman of the NPC’s Constitution and Law Committee, said that it is necessary to revise the current law to enable taxation to better play its role in adjusting income distribution.
From: Xinhua
Lawmakers mull regulation to protect memorial ceremony for Nanjing Massacre victims
A draft regulation to protect the national memorial ceremony for Nanjing Massacre victims was submitted for deliberation at a session of the Standing Committee of the Nanjing Municipal People’s Congress that opened on Aug. 28 in east China’s Jiangsu Province.
According to the draft, speech that distorts or denies the facts of the Nanjing massacre, behavior such as photo-taking or video-shooting dressed in the uniforms of Japanese invaders at memorial sites, and infringements of the right of name and portrait of victims, survivors and martyrs of the Nanjing massacre will all be banned and punished.
From: Xinhua
China allocates 177 million yuan for flood relief
China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Aug. 29 said it has allocated relief fund totaling 177 million yuan (about 26 million U.S. dollars) for the flood-hit Shandong Province.
Shandong has suffered from severe floods after Typhoon Rumbia, the 18th this year, brought heavy rains to the coastal province. As of Aug. 23, at least 3.8 million people were affected, with six dead and 15 missing, according to local authorities.
From: Xinhua
Boost for western areas mulled
More measures are in the pipeline to boost investment in infrastructure in China’s western areas, a senior official with the nation’s top economic regulator said on August 30.
The planned measures will seek to stem the investment downtrend that may hinder balanced development of the economy, he said.
From: China Daily
China adopts new law on soil pollution prevention
China’s top legislature on August 31 passed a law on soil pollution prevention and control, as the country has escalated its fight against pollution.
The law was adopted after the third reading at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC).
From: Xinhua
September 2018
China lifts 740 million rural poor out of poverty since 1978
China lifted 740 million people in rural areas out of poverty from 1978 to 2017, roughly 19 million each year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Sept. 3.
The poverty ratio in rural areas dropped 94.4 percentage points during the same time period with an average annual decrease of 2.4 percentage points, according to the NBS.
From: Xinhua
Red Cross Society of China strengthens cooperation with Tibet
The Red Cross Society of China and the regional government of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region signed an agreement on Sept. 4 to further reinforce cooperation in humanitarian aid.
The organization will help and promote emergency rescue training, humanitarian aid, and international exchanges and cooperation in the region, according to the agreement.
From: Xinhua
China to release updated essential medicines list
China’s National Health Commission on Sept. 5 announced its recent plan to publish the 2018 National Essential Medicines List, which will cover 165 more medicines than the prior edition.
The updated list will have 685 medicines, made up of 417 Western medicines and 268 Chinese-patented medicines, Zeng Yixin, vice director of the commission, said at a press conference.
From: China Daily
Gov’t funds aid 520 million students in six years
China has financially aided 520 million students since the 18 th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, spending 886.4 billion yuan (129.6 billion U.S. dollars), an official with the Ministry of Education said on Sept. 6.
According to Zhao Jianjun, deputy head of the ministry’s finance department, six new policies on the financial aid were released during the six years, while 13 relevant policies were improved.
From: Xinhua
Violence on campuses takes a dive
China has seen a continuous drop in cases of violence on school campuses in the past three years, thanks to improvements in the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law and efforts aimed at protecting juveniles.
The number of offenses on campuses, including kindergartens, primary schools and colleges, exceeded 1,000 in 2015, but fell 16.5 percent in 2016 and then declined another 13.4 percent in 2017, according to a report issued by the China Justice Big Data Institute on Sept. 6.
From: China Daily
Financial aid given to 95.9 million students
China spent 188.2 billion yuan ($27.5 billion) last year helping 95.9 million students — from preschools to universities — attend school, the Ministry of Education said on Sept. 7.
The funding represented an increase of 92 percent from 2011, while the number of students receiving financial support from the government was up 22 percent in the same period, Tian Zuyin, director of the National Center for Student Financial Aid, told a news conference in Beijing.
From: China Daily
China calls for food safety checks at schools
China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) on Sept. 7 released a circular calling for better food safety work for the country’s nutritional improvement plan for students.
The circular was based on recent food poisoning incidents in several regions that involved a large number of students.
From: Xinhua
Vice premier calls for raising food safety standards
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Sept. 8 stressed the focus on solving problems in the country’s food safety work while presiding over the first plenary session of the food safety commission of the State Council.
Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the food safety commission, said that food safety concerns the health of everyone, and is one of the top concerns of the people.
From: Xinhua
Beijing rebuts human rights allegation
Beijing said on Sept. 10 that the Human Rights Watch NGO has always been full of prejudice against China and distorted the facts when it accused the Chinese government of suppressing Uygurs.
The organization said in a report that the Chinese government conducts mass arbitrary detention, torture, mistreatment and daily pervasive controls on Uygurs.
From: China Daily
China launches safe travel initiative
A safe travel initiative aimed at raising awareness of traveling safely and providing humanitarian aid during travels was launched on Sept. 10 in Beijing.
The “Safe and Responsible Travel Initiative” was jointly announced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, China Tourism Academy, and Ctrip, China’s leading online travel agency.
From: Xinhua
Xi stresses social norms of respecting teachers, valuing education
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Communist Party of China (CPC) and society to promote the social norms of respecting teachers and valuing education on Sept. 10.
Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement at a national education conference on Sept 10, which marks the 34 th Teachers’ Day in China.
From: Xinhua
China urges Sweden to guarantee safety and legitimate rights of Chinese tourists
China has called on Sweden to guarantee the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese tourists, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Sept. 11.
“In the early morning of Sept. 2, three Chinese tourists, including two elderly,were brutally treated by local police on the outskirts of Stockholm,” Geng told a routine press briefing.
From: Xinhua
Over 6 million children benefit from China’s neonatal screening programs
More than 6 million Chinese children in poverty-ridden areas have benefited from neonatal screening programs, the National Health Commission said Sept. 12.
It is estimated that 5.6 percent of newborns have birth defects in China. Data from the China Disabled Persons’ Federation suggests that about 900,000 babies are born with birth defects every year.
From: Xinhua
China slams a Japanese man for kicking ‘comfort women’ statue
Mitsuhiko Fujii, a citizen of Japan who was in Taiwan representing 16 civilian groups who objected the building of a “comfort women” statue, was captured by surveillance cameras kicking the bronze statue and posing for pictures on Sept. 6.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang on Sept. 12 said China hopes Japan will take up its responsibility and handle the incident properly, when asked about China’s stance on the man’s conduct.
From: CGTN
Chinese ambassador questions Swedish police after tourists thrown out of hotel
Chinese ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou said he couldn’t understand the Swedish police’s claim, which said the policemen who brutally treated Chinese tourists didn’t violate the law.
“The head of the local police station met with my colleagues at this noon,” the ambassador told Aftonbladet on Sept. 17. “The police chief confirmed that the three tourists didn’t break the Swedish laws, but also said the policemen didn’t break the laws either. We can barely understand the statement.”
From: CGTN
China to become world’s largest country of organ transplants in 2020
China is expected to have the most organ transplant surgeries in 2020, said Huang Jiefu, director of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee.
The number of registered volunteers for organ donation in China had neared 615,000, with 19,380 successful donation surgeries resulting in 54,956 organs transplanted as of Sept. 9 this year, according to the Third China International Organ Donation Conference that opened in Xi’an on Sept. 21.
From: Xinhua
Environment watchdog talks with local officials on misuse of natural reserves
Local officials in eight regions and heads of forestry in three provinces were called for environment watchdog talks on Sept. 26 regarding misuse and damage of natural reserves.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) commanded local authorities to strictly manage natural reserves, prohibiting them from pursuing temporary economic benefit at the price of worsening the environment.
From: Xinhua
China unveils air pollution control plan for Beijing, neighboring region
China will begin reducing the average intensity of PM2.5, a major air pollutant, by around 3 percent year on year in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding areas this fall and winter, according to an official plan released on Sept. 27.
The plan was released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, several other central government departments and the governments of six provincial-level regions.
From: Xinhua
Action plan aims to add more clear winter days
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment released an action plan on Sept. 28 that aims to add more days of clear skies this autumn and winter.
The plan will be implemented in 28 cities, including Beijing, Tianjin and cities in Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong and Henan provinces.
From: China Daily
October 2018
China to improve medical dispute settlement mechanisms
China’s National Health Commission, along with five other departments, has vowed to further improve the mechanisms for settling medical disputes.
Ma Xiaowei, head of the commission, called for comprehensive implementation of a government regulation on preventing and settling medical disputes, which went into effect on Oct. 1.
From: Xinhua
China sees smooth traffic during National Day holiday
China reported less road accidents during the seven-day National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Oct. 7.
As of 7 p.m. Sunday, the number of road accidents causing casualties declined by 34 percent year on year and the number of deaths caused by road accidents dropped by 47 percent. No traffic accidents with more than 10 deaths had been reported, said the ministry.
From: Xinhua
China plans to speed up renovating shantytowns
China has decided to speed up renovation of its shantytowns to improve the living conditions of people with housing difficulties, according to a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Oct. 8.
The meeting vowed to speed up revamping shantytowns and ancillary facilities, and tighten supervision over construction quality and safety in accordance with the requirements of the 2018 government work report.
From: Xinhua
Another 25 counties in Tibet shake off poverty
Twenty-five counties and districts in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region have been officially taken off the country’s list of impoverished areas, according to an announcement by the local poverty relief office, made public on Oct. 6.
The counties and districts went through rigorous evaluation, including assessments from third-party institutions and examinations by both central and local governments, before being removed from the list.
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From: Xinhua
China to optimize freight transportation structure
China will optimize its transportation structure in the next three years, with goals of significantly raising the proportion of railway and waterway freight, an official document said on Oct. 9.
In 2020, the railway freight volume will increase by 1.1 billion tonnes from that in 2017, while the waterway freight volume will go up by 500 million tonnes, according to an action plan released by the State Council.
From: Xinhua
New growth drivers contribute to 70 percent of new employment: report
New growth drivers fostered by mass entrepreneurship and innovation have contributed to about 70 percent of China’s new jobs, the country’s top economic planner said on Oct. 14.
Mass entrepreneurship and innovation have provided important support to stabilize and boost employment in China, said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in a report on China’s mass entrepreneurship and innovation in 2017.
From: Xinhua
China spends 4.25 trillion yuan on education in 2017
China spent 4.25 trillion yuan (around 614 billion U.S. dollars) on education in 2017, a 9.45-percent increase from 2016, said an announcement on Oct. 15.
More than 3.42 trillion yuan of the input was fiscal expenditure, up 8.95 percent from the previous year, accounting for 4.14 percent of the country’s GDP, making 2017 the sixth consecutive year that the number was over 4 percent, according to the announcement jointly issued by the Ministry of Education, National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Finance.
From: Xinhua
China publicizes stories of poverty alleviation among disabled
China introduced on Oct. 16 four outstanding disabled people and representatives who have aided the disabled to promote their work in poverty alleviation.
“One has to have willpower. A person may get disabled, but his will can never get disabled,” said Li Jian, from a village in central China’s Henan Province, at a press conference at the State Council Information Office of China.
From: Xinhua
China finishes drafting law on veterans’ welfare
China’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs has finished drafting a law on veterans’ welfare and is sending the draft to relevant departments for opinions, the ministry said on Oct. 16.
According to the ministry, it will send the draft law to the central and state organs, provincial-level governments and relevant military units to solicit opinions.
From: Xinhua
More than 80 percent of child leukemia cases curable in China
More than 80 percent of diagnosed childhood leukemia cases in China are curable, said the National Health Commission (NHC) at a press conference on Oct. 16, citing the improvement in leukemia treatment standards for child patients.
Around 15,000 child patients are diagnosed with leukemia each year, making the disease one of the most common type of malignant tumors among children, according to Zheng Huyong, a senior doctor at the National Center for Children’s Health (NCCH), which is affiliated with the NHC.
From: Xinhua
Poverty eliminated in another 85 Chinese counties
China announced on Oct.17 another 85 counties have been officially taken off the country’s list of impoverished areas, marking further steps toward its goal of eradicating poverty by 2020.
The announcement, made by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, came on the fifth National Poverty Relief Day, which falls on Oct. 17 every year.
From: Xinhua
Xinjiang fighting extremist thought
Lawmakers in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have revised local regulations to allow local governments to set up education facilities to help those who have been lured into terrorist activities and those affected by extremist thoughts to return to society and their families.
The full text of the revised anti-extremism regulation, adopted by the regional people’s congress on Sept. 5, was released on Oct. 16, when it took effect.
From: China Daily
China’s poverty reduction a global miracle
October 17 marks the 26th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the 5th Chinese Poverty Relief Day.
Since the reform and opening up policy was adopted 40 years ago, China has lifted over 700 million people out of poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to the world poverty reduction. The poverty rate declined from 10.2 percent in 2012 to 3.1 percent in 2017, making China the first developing country to realize the United Nations Millennium Development Goal.
From: en.humanrights.cn
China makes remarkable efforts to improve family planning: official
China has made remarkable efforts to improve family planning work, especially in reforming its administrative approach towards a client-oriented approach in family planning, a senior official said on Oct. 18.
Wang Peian, vice director of the population, resources and environmental committee under the CPPCC National Committee, made the remarks at a launch event of the State of World Population 2018 report, released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
From: Xinhua
China’s health insurance program helps 5 million rural families out of poverty
About 5.81 million rural families impoverished due to illness-related expenses have been lifted out of poverty since China initiated a new health insurance program in 2016, according to Wang Hesheng, deputy director of the National Health Commission at a poverty-alleviation forum in Beijing on Oct. 18.
In 2017, registered poverty-stricken patients only had to pay an average of 15.8 percent of their medical expenses, a decrease of 26.6 percentage points compared to 2016.
From: Xinhua
China sees stable jobs market
China’s jobs market performed stably in September with declining unemployment rate and rising job creation, data showed on Oct. 19.
In September, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas came in at 4.9 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the same period a year ago and from that recorded a month ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
From: Xinhua
China spends big on rebuilding shantytowns
China spent huge amounts of money on renovating shantytowns in the first three quarters of 2018, housing authorities said on Oct. 22.
In the January-September period, China spent more than 1.37 trillion yuan (about 198 billion U.S. dollars) on urban shantytown renovation, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said on its website.
From: Xinhua
47 Mongolian kids with heart disease to receive free treatment in China
Forty-seven Mongolian children suffering from congenital heart disease will receive free medical treatment in Chinese hospitals, the Red Cross Society of China branch in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said on Oct. 24.
Doctors from Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital went to Ulan Bator and conducted screening for congenital heart disease for children aged 1-14.
From: Xinhua
Measures targeting religious extremism effective, official says
Measures to contain the spread of religious extremism in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, including offering free vocational training to help people find jobs, have proven effective and no terrorist attacks have occurred in the region in the past 21 months, said a senior official.
Shohrat Zakir, chairman of Xinjiang, spoke with Xinhua News Agency on Oct. 23 during an interview on the regional situation.
From: Xinhua
China’s top political advisor urges efforts for national reunification
China’s top political advisor Wang Yang has called for uniting the efforts of Chinese at home and abroad in the cause of national reunification.
Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a ceremony held in Beijing on Oct. 23.
From: Xinhua
China to hold 12th National Women’s Congress
The 12th National Women’s Congress will open on Oct. 30 in Beijing, the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) said on Oct. 26.
The congress will hear and deliberate a work report by the 11th Executive Council of the ACWF, amend the federation’s constitution and elect its new leadership, according to a statement by the ACWF.
From: Xinhua
97.8 percent of China’s agricultural products above quality standard in 2017
China is making headway in ensuring agricultural products safety, with 97.8 percent of the major agricultural products tested meeting or exceeding the quality standard in 2017.
The up-to-standard ratio rose to 98.1 percent in the first half of this year, according to a work report submitted at the bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee that closed on Oct. 26.
From: Xinhua
Vocational training centers aim to promote better lifestyle
On Oct. 23, Nabi Abudurext returned to his job as a driver at a telecommunications company in Kashgar city, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. He had recently graduated from the city’s vocational education and training center that was established to help people to avoid religious extremism and lead better lives.
“I received my graduation certificate on Oct. 10 after passing exams on the county’s common language, legal knowledge and vocational skills. Because my skills have improved, my manager has promised to promote me. Soon, I will be head of the group of drivers who drive the maintenance vehicles,” the 31-year-old said, sitting at home with his wife and children in Qianjin village, Naizierbage township, Kashgar.
From: Xinhua
China has fewer rural left-behind children
China has fewer “left-behind children” in the countryside, due to government policies helping bring migrant families together, a ministry official said on Oct. 30.
“The number of rural left-behind children had dropped to 6.97 million as of the end of August, down 22.7 percent from two years ago when the government started tracking the numbers,” said Ni Chunxia, deputy head of the social affairs department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
From: Xinhua
China issues guideline on improving infrastructure
The State Council has released a guideline on strengthening the country’s infrastructure.
“The country should further improve infrastructure and public services, raise infrastructure quality and make better use of the key role of effective investment in optimizing supply structure,” according to the guideline made public on Oct. 31 on the government’s website.
From: Xinhua
November 2018
China eyes more cooperation with UNDP on sustainable development
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Nov. 1 met with the Administrator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner, calling for concerted efforts in upholding multilateralism and promoting sustainable development.
Li said that the resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism under the current international situation brings instabilities and uncertainties.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the largest developing country, China hopes to work with UN development agencies including UNDP in upholding multilateralism and the international order with the purposes and principles of UN Charter at the core, he said.
From: Xinhua
New measures to boost employment
China will take targeted measures to further boost employment, the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Nov. 2.
Employment momentum has remained steady this year, and the number of urban jobs created in the first three quarters has surpassed the government’s target for the whole year, meeting participants said. Yet with a complex environment at home and abroad, there still is considerable pressure on employment, and the nation will continue to give priority to creating jobs and implement a more proactive employment policy.
From: Xinhua
China’s perspective on human rights widely understood, recognized, supported: diplomat
China’s Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng on Nov. 6 said that China’s perspective on human rights has been widely understood, recognized and supported.
According to Le, China’s approach to human rights development with Chinese characteristics and its point of view such as “no security, no human rights,” “development is a primary human right,” “poverty reduction helps human rights promotion” and “cooperation for human rights,” have aroused strong resonance and wide recognition during the review.
From: Xinhua
Exhibition on China’s human rights progress held in Geneva
An exhibition titled “The Development of China’s Human Rights in the New Era” was launched here on Nov. 5 at the UN Geneva headquarters.
The exhibition, jointly sponsored by the Permanent Mission of China to UN in Geneva and the State Council Information Office of China, features more than 100 pictures and 10 micro-videos on progress in China’s human rights situation.
From: Xinhua
China unveils plan for pollution treatment in rural areas
China unveiled a plan on Nov. 6 to resolve crucial environmental problems in rural areas to foster sound ecological environment.
Jointly released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the plan aims to facilitate green development, improve the ecological environment and strengthen environmental supervision in rural areas.
From: Xinhua
China shares wisdom on poverty relief through Internet
As China is seeking to bridge its urban-rural digital divide, this year’s World Internet Conference (WIC) shares China’s experience on poverty alleviation through the Internet with guests overseas.
Held from Nov. 7 to 9 in Wuzhen, eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, the fifth WIC attracted around 1,500 guests from 76 countries and regions, including government officials, representatives from international organizations, business leaders, experts and scholars. Many participants were eager to gain first-hand anti-poverty wisdom from China, which has lifted 68.53 million people out of poverty in the past five years.
From: Xinhua
China solicits public opinions on draft vaccine management law
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation on Nov. 11 published a draft law on vaccine management at its website to solicit public opinions for half a month.
The 11-chapter draft law stipulates that supervision and management of vaccines’ market access should be tightened. The draft law requires stricter management on vaccine production, research after sales, distribution and vaccination.
From: Xinhua
New global survey shows Chinese most optimistic about their country
China is the most optimistic country in the world, with 91.4 percent of its citizens believing their country will become better a place in the next decade, according to a report released on Nov. 12.
The report, “Priorities of Progress: Understanding Citizens’ Voices,” released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Nov. 12, is based on a global survey of 50 countries to examine how citizens feel about their country’s progress.
From: Xinhua
Beijing offers required training for kindergarten staff
The education authority of China’s capital has offered training to principals and teachers of all kindergartens in Beijing to improve faculty management and teaching capacity as well as work ethics.
Heads and teaching staff from all of the capital’s kindergartens are required to complete 30 hours of training, which includes an eight-hour face-to-face component and 22 hours of online courses, according to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission on Nov. 9.
From: Chinadaily.com.cn
China commemorates 152nd anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth
A ceremony was held in Beijing on Nov. 12 to commemorate the 152
nd anniversary of the birth Sun Yat-sen, a great national hero and patriot, and pioneer of China’s democratic revolution.
The event was held by the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, at the downtown Zhongshan Park, which is named after Sun.
From: Xinhua
New global survey shows Chinese most optimistic about their country
China is the most optimistic country in the world, with 91.4 percent of its citizens believing their country will become better a place in the next decade, according to a report released on Nov. 12.
The report, “Priorities of Progress: Understanding Citizens’ Voices,” released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Nov. 12, is based on a global survey of 50 countries to examine how citizens feel about their country’s progress.
From: Xinhua
Chinese courts hear 28,000 state compensation cases since 2013
The Supreme People’s Court (SPC) said on Nov. 13 courts nationwide heard over 28,000 state compensation cases from 2013 to October this year, as the country makes more efforts to protect the legitimate rights of those who have been wronged.
The SPC also released details of five exemplifying state compensation cases, further clarifying the applicable conditions when people should receive state compensation. Details of five exemplifying cases concerning judicial aid were also released.
From: Xinhua
Seminar on national human rights education and research held in Xi’an
A seminar on national human rights education and research was held in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, on Nov. 15. The event was co-organized by China Society for Human Rights Studies and Publicity Department of Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Participants said China has made historic progress in the development of human rights during the 40 years of reform and opening-up, building a relatively complete system of human rights protection and opening up a human rights development road suitable to the country’s conditions, the seminar organizers said in a statement.
From: Chinadaily.com.cn
China to provide more children with affordable preschool education
About 85 percent of preschoolers in China, aged between three and six, will be enrolled in certified kindergartens by 2020, according to a high-level directive published on Nov. 15.
Meanwhile, children studying at affordable kindergartens, including public and private ones, will account for 80 percent of all preschoolers by that date, said the document jointly issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.
From: Xinhua
China to push forward land greening campaign
China on Nov. 20 unveiled a plan to enhance its land greening efforts and boost domestic ecological resources.
Under the plan, released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the country will increase its forest coverage ratio to 23.04 percent by 2020, while the volume of forest resources will expand to 16.5 billion cubic meters.
From: Xinhua
China to tighten supervision on medicare funds
China’s National Healthcare Security Administration said on Nov. 21 it will soon launch a nationwide campaign to combat medicare fund fraud.
The administration said the campaign will target medical institutions, drugstores and the insured, focusing on violations including the fraudulent use of social security cards and falsification of medical documents.
From: Xinhua
Domestic families take in 90 percent of adopted Chinese children
Nearly 90 percent of adopted Chinese children were taken in by domestic families in 2017, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement on Nov. 21.
A total of 17,510 Chinese children were adopted last year, with 15,336 adopted by Chinese families, 87.6 percent of the total, and 12.4 percent adopted by foreign families, said the statement.
From: Xinhua
China has 393,000 community-based non-profit organizations
The number of community-based non-profit organizations (NPOs) has reached 393,000 in China, said Chinese Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Zhan Chengfu on Nov. 22.
Community-based NPOs refer to those that are initiated by residents of a community and mainly cater to their immediate needs such as providing help to neighbors, arranging cultural and sports activities, and technical services for production in rural areas.
From: Xinhua
China’s carbon trading transaction value exceeds 6 billion yuan
China’s carbon trading saw transaction values hit over 6 billion yuan (about 860 million U.S. dollars) since June 2013, with traded emission quotas exceeding 270 million tonnes, China’s environment watchdog said Nov. 26.
“Carbon emission declined both in intensity and amount in the pilot carbon trading areas,” Li Gao, a senior official of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, told a press conference.
From: Xinhua
Growth of global wages lowest since 2008, China defies trend: ILO
The growth of global wages dropped to its lowest rate last year since 2008, far below levels during the world’s financial crisis, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Nov. 26 noting that China defied the trend.
“We see a worrying trend of global wage growth,” ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said at a UN press conference here, observing that the slow wage growth looks likely to continue in 2018. The report says, “While wages have increased rapidly over the past decade in some countries, most particularly in China, in many other countries average wages remain low and insufficient to adequately cover the needs of workers and their families.”
From: Xinhua
