News-Clips (2019. 10-2019. 11)
October 2019
Revised laws on judges, procurators to take effect
The revised laws on judges and procurators adopted by the country’s top legislature will become effective on Oct. 1.
The revised laws, approved at the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in April, reflect the achievements of China’s judicial reform in recent years.
From: Xinhua
China consults public opinion on draft administrative discipline law
A draft law on administrative discipline was published on Oct. 8 on the official website of China’s top legislature to consult public opinion.
The draft law was submitted to the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in August.
From: Xinhua
China records lower inpatient mortality rate
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) on Oct. 9 said the inpatient mortality rate has been gradually declining in China.
China’s inpatient mortality rate has fallen from 1.1 percent in 2005 to 0.44 per-cent in 2018, Guo Yanhong, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference.
From: Xinhua
Organ donation in China ranks No. 1 in Asia
About 88 percent of all organs used for transplant surgeries in China last year were donated by people after death, while the rest were donated by living relatives of patients who received organs, according to a report released by the National Health Commission on Oct. 9, 2019.
From: chinadaily.com.cn
China stresses “thunder-like” measures to eliminate “umbrellas” over gangs
The Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Supervisory Commission (NSC) on Oct. 9 made public six cases on gang-related corruption and “protective umbrellas” that shelter gangs.
The cases involved former senior officials in the provinces of Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Henan who took advantage of their posts to interfere in judicial activities, failed to fulfill their duties in accordance with law, took advantage of their power to seek illicit gains for gangsters or even took part in gang-related crimes themselves, according to the statement.
From: Xinhua
China strongly condemns U.S. inclusion of Xinjiang police departments in “Entity List”
China’s national anti-terrorism leading group office on Oct. 9 voiced strong condemnation of and firm opposition to the United States adding Chinese entities includ-ing police departments in Xinjiang to its “Entity List.”
The office urged the U.S. side to immediately correct the wrong practice, withdraw the wrong decision and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, it said in a statement.
From: Xinhua
China refutes U.S. blacklist, visa restrictions over Xinjiang ‘abuse’
China opposes the United States’ move to put restrictions on Chinese entities and officials and rejects claims of so-called “human rights abuses” in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Oct. 9, 2019.
On Oct. 8, the U.S. Commerce Department added 28 organizations and compa-nies to its blacklist over “human rights violations and abuses” in Xinjiang. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was placing visa restric-tions on Chinese officials for the same reason.
Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Geng Shuang on Oct. 9 refuted the groundless allegations and said Washington’s restrictions are “serious violations of the basic norms governing international relations.”
From: CGTN
Chinese procuratorates initiate over 200,000 public interest cases
Chinese procuratorates had instituted 204,446 cases of public interest litigation and filed 5,911 related legal proceedings by the end of August, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said on Oct. 10, 2019.
Steady efforts have been made to deal with cases involving polluted water management, heavy metals emissions, solid and household waste disposal as well as radio-chemicals management, said Zhang Xueqiao, deputy procurator-general of the SPP, at a press conference.
From: Xinhua
China’s Spring Bud Project helps over 3.69 million girls in 30 years
The Spring Bud Project, launched by the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund (CCTF) in 1989, has funded and helped over 3.69 million poor girls in the past 30 years.
The program, aimed at helping poor girls to finish schooling, has collected donations worth nearly 2.12 billion yuan (about 297.5 million U.S. dollars) and provided assistance to the building of 1,811 “Spring Bud” schools.
The All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) and the CCTF on Oct. 10 jointly held a press conference on the achievements made by the program over 30 years.
From: Xinhua
China clamps down on food and drug safety
Prosecutors at all levels in China filed 61,668 public interest lawsuits in food and drug safety, including 52,291 procuratorial advices, and brought 1,083 cases to the court during a year-long campaign launched by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), according to an SPP news conference on Oct. 10, 2019.
From: Xinhua
China expands pilot terminal care program
China has expanded a pilot terminal care program to 71 cities and municipal districts including Shanghai and Xicheng District in Beijing as part of ongoing efforts to advance the care for the elderly, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Oct. 11, 2019.
With the expansion, the pilot program is expected to gain experience for the standardization of end-of-life care and benefit more senior citizens, Wang Haidong, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference.
From: Xinhua
China sets air quality target for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
Chinese authorities on Oct. 16 released an action plan for air pollution control in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and nearby areas, setting specific targets for the au-tumn and winter seasons.
The average density of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that causes smog, should drop 4 percent year on year from Oct. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, according to the plan jointly released by several government agencies including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
From: Xinhua
Xi stresses efforts to win battle against poverty
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has underscored continuous efforts to win the battle against poverty.
China must stick to its poverty relief target, make unremitting efforts, and ensure high-quality outcomes in the battle, Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed when giving instructions on Oct. 17 as the country observes the sixth National Poverty Relief Day, which falls on Oct. 17 every year.
From: Xinhua
China wins global applause for efforts in world peacekeeping
China’s efforts in keeping world peace, and promoting cooperation and develop-ment won global applause at the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, held from Oct. 20-22, 2019.
“China has played a very critical and a very important role in UN peacekeeping operations,” said Atul Khare, UN under-secretary-general for operational support.
From: Xinhua
China generates largest amount of information, richest ideas, says Chinese diplomat on human rights
A Chinese diplomat on human rights said here on Oct. 21 that China has the largest amount of information and generates the richest ideas in the world.
China’s Constitution and other laws fully respect and guarantee citizens’ freedom of speech, said Liu Hua, special representative for Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, at an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression held by the Third Committee of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly.
From: Xinhua
Chinese human rights experts hold symposium on Xinjiang, HK issues at UN
A seminar on counterterrorism and de-radicalization in Xinjiang, reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibet and Hong Kong’s Fugitive Offenders Ordinance amend-ment bill was held by China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) on Oct. 23rd at the UN headquarter, New York.
Officials from the UN Permanent Missions of 13 countries such as North Korea and Singapore attended the symposium.
From: en.humanrights.cn
China to leave no one with disabilities behind, senior official says
The Chinese government will not leave persons with disabilities behind in its effort to build an all-round well-off society by 2020, a diplomat said at a human rights meeting on Oct. 21, 2019.
China attaches great importance to promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities, Liu Hua, special representative for human rights of China’s Foreign Ministry, said at a United Nations dialogue on the rights of people with disabilities.
From: Xinhua
Chinese envoy refutes U.S. groundless accusations on China’s human rights
A Chinese envoy refuted the “groundless accusations” on China’s human rights by the United States and a few other countries on Oct. 22, 2019.
“The United States and a few other countries, in their old habits, have made attempt to use human rights to interfere in China’s internal affairs, which China totally rejects,” Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, also known as the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee.
From: Xinhua
China to tighten up plastic use in schools
Chinese authorities demand primary and middle schools to step up education on environment protection and reduce the use of plastic, according to a statement issued on Oct. 23, 2019.
The schools should not force students to use plastic book covers, especially sub-standard ones, which could damage children’s health, said the statement.
From: Xinhua
Dozens of countries oppose U.S. using Xinjiang to interfere in China’s internal affairs
Dozens of countries expressed firm opposition to the United States and other countries for using Xinjiang to interfere in China’s internal affairs on Oct. 29, 2019.
They voiced their support for the counter-terrorism measures in Xinjiang through joint and separate statements made during a discussion on human rights at the Third Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, also known as the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee.
From: Xinhua
China urges U.S., Britain to stop distorting facts on Xinjiang-related issues
China on Oct. 30 urged countries including the United States and Britain to stop distorting facts on Xinjiang-related issues and make real and concrete efforts to sup-port the healthy development of the international human rights cause.
On Oct. 29, a few Western countries including the United States and Britain delivered a common speech during the dialogue, criticizing China’s Xinjiang policy, while more than 60 others countries also made common speeches supporting China’s position on Xinjiang, praising China’s great progress in human rights protection and opposing interference in China’s domestic affairs under the name of human rights.
From: Xinhua
China to uphold, improve unified systems for ensuring wellbeing of urban, rural residents: document
China will work to uphold and improve unified systems for ensuring the wellbeing of both urban and rural residents and to meet people’s ever-increasing needs for a better life, according to a decision of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
The decision on some major issues concerning how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance was adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee on Oct. 31.
From: Xinhua
Chinese charity helps improve medical services in poverty-stricken areas
A total of 127 ambulances are set to head for hospitals in poverty-stricken regions in China, the China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation announced on Oct. 31, 2019.
For now, 3,592 ambulances have been donated to poor counties nationwide, with each of the 592 national-level impoverished counties having received at least three ambulances, the foundation said.
From: Xinhua
China releases guideline to improve elderly care
China’s National Health Commission and seven other authorities on Nov. 1 jointly issued the country’s first guideline on improving the elderly care system.
The guideline requires that over 80 percent of the country’s general hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and primary-level healthcare institutions are age-friendly by 2022.
From: Xinhua
Clarified rules on handling online information crime to take effect
Top judicial authorities’ latest guideline on handling online information crime of internet service providers (ISPs) will take effect on Nov. 1.
ISPs refusing to fulfill their duty concerning information network security may face jail if they cause leaks of over 500 pieces of users’ communication content, location, credit or property information in China, according to a judicial interpretation by the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
From: Xinhua
Xi stresses people-centered development in urban construction
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the concept of people-centered development must be carried out in urban construction.
Xi made the remarks during an inspection tour in China’s economic hub Shanghai on Nov. 2, 2019.
From: Xinhua
China, ASEAN connectivity cooperation helps reduce poverty in region: Philippine official
The enhanced connectivity cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is pivotal in the fight against poverty in the region, a senior Philippine official said here on Nov. 4, 2019.
Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez stressed the importance of enhanced connectivity with China in the fight against poverty, which is one of the most important development goals of ASEAN countries.
From: Xinhua
Authority requires strengthened food safety supervision in rural schools
A leading group office under the Ministry of Education on Nov. 5 required the regions and schools which carry out the nutrition improvement program to strengthen food safety supervision as the winter comes.
From: Xinhua
Documentary on China’s education achievements to be aired
A four-episode documentary series featuring China’s achievements on education during the past 70 years will be aired on China Central Television starting from Nov. 5, 2019.
The series, jointly produced by China Media Group and the Ministry of Educa-tion, will demonstrate the country’s consistent efforts to develop education.
From: Xinhua
Authority requires strengthened food safety supervision in rural schools
A leading group office under the Ministry of Education on Nov. 5 required the regions and schools which carry out the nutrition improvement program to strengthen food safety supervision as the winter comes.
From: Xinhua
China’s Tibet enjoys development, religious freedom: Chinese am-bassador to India
Tibet has been part of China since ancient times and it enjoys development and religious freedom, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong wrote in an article pub-lished in the Hindustan Times on Nov. 6, 2019.
The article, entitled China’s Tibet: A story of progress, said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 60th anniversary of democratic reform in Tibet, and over the past 60 years great changes have taken place in Tibet under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
From: Xinhua
China intensifies efforts to ensure supply of farm produce, keep prices stable
The Chinese government will take stronger measures to ensure the supply of key farm produce and keep prices stable, the State Council decided at its executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Nov. 6, 2019.
From: Xinhua
Xinjiang dispatches over 8,000 scitech professionals to assist with poverty alleviation
Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has dispatched more than 8,000 scientific and technical professionals to 87 counties, cities and districts in a bid to help with the region’s poverty alleviation work, according to the regional department of science and technology on Nov. 6, 2019.
From: Xinhua
China to strengthen punishments for food safety violators: official
China will toughen its punishment for food safety violators, as its revised regulation on the implementation of the Food Safety Law adds a maximum fine of 10 times the annual income of a violator, an official said on Nov. 12, 2019.
The regulation, to be effective starting Dec. 1, strengthens the punishment of illegal activities, adding a “punishment to person” system to hold legal representatives and relevant responsible persons accountable, who may face fines up to 10 times their annual income, said Sun Meijun, an official with the State Administration for Market Regulation.
From: Xinhua
China allocates 830 million yuan for drought relief
China has earmarked 830 million yuan (about 118.6 million U.S. dollars) to alleviate drought and ensure agricultural production, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Nov. 12, 2019.
A total of 605 million yuan of the fund will be used to relieve drought and secure water supply in provinces including Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei and Hunan, as well as Chongqing Municipality, said the MOF in a statement.
From: Xinhua
Chinese armed police donate 33 million yuan for girls’ education
The Chinese People’s Armed Police Force (CAPF) on Nov. 13 donated more than 33 million yuan (about 4.71 million U.S. dollars) to a charity project aimed at helping poor girls finish schooling.
The Spring Buds Project, jointly promoted by the All-China Women’s Federation(ACWF) and the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, has received a total of 91 mil-lion yuan in donations from the armed police force.
From: Xinhua
China to launch nationwide vaccine tracking system next year
China is expected to launch its nationwide vaccine tracking system in March next year, an official said on Nov. 14, 2019.
The system will cover information on the entire supply chain of products of all domestic vaccine manufacturers and vaccination information from health departments, said Yan Jiangying, deputy director of the National Medical Products Administration.
From: Xinhua
Chinese premier stresses multiple measures to improve people’s livelihood
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for reform and innovation to tackle obstacles in the country’s development and multiple measures to improve people’s livelihood.
Li made the remarks during an inspection tour in the cities of Jingdezhen and Nanchang in eastern China’s Jiangxi Province from Nov. 14 to 15, 2019.
The premier stressed efforts of further reform and open up, in a bid to maintain the economic operation within a reasonable range and achieve major annual targets.
From: Xinhua
China steps up efforts to counter child abuse
“Don’t touch me, do you want to go to jail?” said a second-grade girl at the pri-mary school affiliated to Chen Jinglun High School in Beijing. While sounding at first like a harrowing encounter, it was actually a simulation class of a philanthropic project named “Girls’ Protection,” in which students learn skills like how to say “no” to unwanted sexual advances.
As World Children’s Day falls on Nov. 20, such classes on self-protection and sex education for children, as part of the efforts to counter child abuse, are becoming a more common scene across China.
From: Xinhua
China to promote centralized medicine procurement, use to ease patients’ burden
China will improve its mechanism for centralized medicine procurement and use in a steady and orderly manner as part of its efforts to deepen healthcare reform and provide better medical services to the people, the State Council decided at its executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Nov. 20, 2019.
From: Xinhua
Chinese delegation on human rights visits Egypt
A delegation of China Foundation for Human Rights Development paid a visit to Egypt from Nov. 21-23, during which the two sides discussed increasing exchanges and cooperation in the field of human rights promotion.
The delegation was led by Huang Mengfu, chairman of the foundation, who held a meeting with Mohamed Fayek, head of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights.
From: Xinhua
China vows to ensure food safety in schools, kindergartens
China’s Ministry of Education on Nov. 25 said it will establish a long-term mechanism to ensure food safety for students and teachers in middle and primary schools, as well as kindergartens.
There are 515,000 middle and primary schools and kindergartens in China, the ministry said, noting that 417,000 of them have introduced a regulation asking school officials to accompany students during each school meal.
From: Xinhua
China builds service network for child health
China has built a service network for child health, integrating primary-level medical service centers, maternal and childcare facilities, children’s hospitals and pediatric departments in general hospitals, said a senior official with China’s National Health Commission (NHC).
Medical service and healthcare play an indispensable role in promoting children’s early development and well-being, Yu Yanhong, an official with the NHC, said at an international seminar on early child development held on Nov. 26, 2019.
From: Xinhua
UN Women calls for social awareness on gender-based violence
UN Women held a launch ceremony for a 16-day event featuring prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls on Nov. 27 in Beijing. The event, themed on “Generation Equality: Stands Against Violence,” started on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The 16-day event chose the color orange to warn against gender-based violence, as well as to express hope and encouragement for the victims, aiming to raise public awareness to respect women and support their rights.
From: Xinhua
China builds service network for child health
China has built a service network for child health, integrating primary-level medical service centers, maternal and childcare facilities, children’s hospitals and pediatric departments in general hospitals, said a senior official with China’s National Health Commission (NHC).
Medical service and healthcare play an indispensable role in promoting children’s early development and well-being, Yu Yanhong, an official with the NHC, said at an international seminar on early child development held on Nov. 26, 2019.
From: Xinhua
China honors groups, individuals for protection of women and children’s rights
Nearly 2,000 groups and individuals were awarded for their contributions to protecting women and children’s rights, according to a launch ceremony held in Beijing on Nov. 28, 2019.
Launched by the All China Women’s Federation (ACWF) in 2001, the awards project promotes the protection of women and children’s rights.
From: Xinhua