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.

 
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.

 
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.

 
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.

 
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.

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.
 
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.
 
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.

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.
 
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.

 
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.

 
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.  
China’s poverty reduction a global miracle

October 17 marks the 26^th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the 5^th 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. 
 
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).
 
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.
 
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).
 
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.

 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
China to hold 12^th National Women’s Congress

The 12^th 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 11^th Executive Council of the ACWF, amend the federation’s constitution and elect its new leadership, according to a statement by the ACWF.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
China commemorates 152^nd 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
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.
 
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.  
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.”