A new law to be implemented from June 1 provides for heavier penalties for organizations or individuals threatening the safety of medics and harming their dignity.

 

The law on promoting basic medical and health care also defines medical service institutions as public places. “In this way, heavier penalties for picking quarrels and threatening public security can be applied to the offenders who meet the relating provisions of the criminal law, which can better protect the medics,” said Li Huijuan, a senior lawyer in the medical field.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has realized the full coverage of free pre-school education in rural areas with the continuous increase of educational investment, according to a press conference held on June 1, 2020.

 

Xinjiang has invested heavily in the construction, renovation and expansion of 4,408 kindergartens in rural areas, according to the press conference.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Black lives matter and their human rights should be guaranteed, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 1, 2020.

 

When asked to comment on the death of African-American George Floyd, spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters that racial discrimination is a long-lasting problem in the United States. We hope that the U.S. government would take all necessary measures to deal with the violent law enforcement of police, so as to protect and safeguard the legitimate interests of racial minorities, Zhao said during a daily briefing in Beijing.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

President Xi Jinping on June 2 called for efforts to develop a strong public health system to safeguard people’s health.

 

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when presiding over a symposium attended by experts and scholars.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The average life expectancy of Chinese citizens rose from 77 years in 2018 to 77.3 years in 2019, according to statistics released by the Chinese National Health Commission on June 6, 2020.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China on June 7 issued a white paper on the country’s battle against COVID-19.The white paper, titled “Fighting COVID-19: China in Action,” was issued by the State Council Information Office.

 

The Chinese government released the white paper to keep a record of the country’s efforts in its own fight against the virus, to share its experience with the rest of the world, and to clarify its ideas on the global battle, according to the white paper.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China spent about 5.01 trillion yuan ($706.6 billion) on education nationwide in 2019, up 8.74 percent from the previous year, the Ministry of Education said on June 15, 2020.

 

The government’s budgetary spending on education amounted to over 4 trillion yuan in 2019, a year-on-year increase of 8.25 percent, according to a report issued by the ministry.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China will enhance its capacity of ensuring public health emergency supplies,with improved prevention and medical treatment, material reserves and production capabilities, the country’s top economic planner said on June 16, 2020.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s top legislature on June 18 began reviewing a draft law aimed at supporting veterans, in a move to further safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of retired military personnel.

 

The draft was submitted for its first reading at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which runs from June 18 to 20.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China expressed strong opposition on June 18 after the so-called Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 was signed into law by United States President Donald Trump. Beijing urged Washington to correct its mistakes or face countermeasures and bear all consequences.

 

The legislation twisted the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, attacked the Chinese government’s policies there and trampled on international law and the basic principles of international affairs, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on June 18.

 

From: China Daily

 

 

Nearly 3 million residents were lifted out of poverty in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2019, local authorities said on June 19, 2020.

 

A total of 737,000 households, or more than 2.92 million residents, cast off poverty in the region during the period, with the poverty rate decreasing to 1.24 percent from 19.4 percent in 2013, according to the information office of the regional government.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

A total of 10.71 million students will sit this year’s national college entrance exam in China on July 7 and 8, an increase of 400,000 over last year, the Ministry of Education said June 19, 2020.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The United Nations Human Rights Council on June 19 adopted a resolution strongly condemning the continuing racially discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent.

 

The resolution, adopted by consensus without a vote in the 47-member UN body, also deplored the recent incidents of excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers against peaceful demonstrators defending the rights of Africans and people of African descent.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The UN Human Rights Council on June 22 adopted a China-sponsored resolution, calling upon all countries to uphold multilateralism and work together to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights.

 

The resolution, titled “Promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights,” recognizes the importance of fostering international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation, and of building a community of shared future for human beings in which human rights are enjoyed by all.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

More than 95 percent of Chinese were covered by the country’s national basic health insurance programs in 2019, according to statistics released by the National Healthcare Security Administration.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

A government-sponsored online recruiting service platform has offered more than 13 million job posts for Chinese college graduates since its launch in March.

 

The “24365” platform was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and multiple recruiting platforms to help graduates find jobs amid the COVID-19 fallout.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The number of students dropping out of school amid their nine-year compulsory education period dropped by nearly 99 percent nationwide, from 600,000 in early 2019 to 6,781 as of June 14, China’s Ministry of Education said June 29, 2020.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The central government has earmarked 150 million yuan (about 21.2 million U.S. dollars) to support flood control and relief in three provinces, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) said on June 30, 2020.

 

Designated for Sichuan, Guizhou and Hunan, the funds were allocated by the Ministry of Finance and the MEM after a level-IV emergency response, the lowest in the country’s four-tier warning system, which was activated for the flood-hit regions.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s top anti-poverty agency on June 30 urged better monitoring of farmers susceptible to flashfloods and other geological disasters.

 

The advisory came after strong rainfall and floods ravaged several southern provinces over the past month, hampering local poverty relief efforts and raising concerns that those who recently escaped poverty might be hit hard.

 

From: chinadaily.com.cn

 

 

Speaking at the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on June 30, Cuba on behalf of 52 countries welcomed the adoption of the law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by China’s top legislature.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

On June 30, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) began its 44th regular session to discuss human rights at a time that could not be more pertinent as the COVID-19 pandemic exposes vast inequalities across the globe.

 

The time for an open discussion on human rights, and particularly how they should be broadened in scope, could not be more opportune and should not be wasted for political opportunism.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

 

Belarus on July 1 delivered a joint statement on behalf of 46 countries at the 44th session of UN Human Rights Council, voicing support for China’s anti-terrorism and de-radicalization work in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

 

“We urge refraining from making unfounded allegations against China based on disinformation,” they said in the statement.

 

From: Ecns.cn

 

 

China urges certain countries to correct their mistakes on human rights issues,refrain from politicizing the relevant issues or practicing double standards, and stop meddling in other countries’ domestic affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said July 2, 2020.

 

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing while commenting on the European Union’s recent allegations at the UN Human Rights Council regarding Xinjiang-related human rights issues.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on July 2 addressed recent accusations against China, disseminated by certain Western countries, on issues involving Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The ministry published a statement on its official website refuting 37 false claims,citing detailed scientific and legal evidence. It said the statement was composed to prevent the false claims, which it said were full of ignorance and biases against China,from causing further misunderstandings.

 

From: CGTN

 

China firmly opposes Pompeo’s Xinjiang-related accusations: spokesperson

 

China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed groundless accusations by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over China’s Xinjiang policy, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on July 3, 2020.

 

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a news briefing that Pompeo’s remarks, which claimed that the Chinese government was using forced labor in areas including Xinjiang,were entirely fabricated.

 

The rights and interests of workers from ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang as part of China’s large workforce are protected by law, Zhao said, adding their customs, religious beliefs and spoken and written languages are all protected by law.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Human rights experts are raising the alarm on the increase in incidents of xenophobia amid the coronavirus pandemic as the United Nations (UN) continuously receives reports about racially motivated violence against Asians.

 

Dozens of human rights experts joined a webinar on July 3 to discuss how to address incidents of racism amid the challenges posed by COVID-19.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on July 6 said it has allocated 45.66 billion yuan (about 6.46 billion U.S. dollars) to boost the capacity for the prevention, control and treatment of diseases.

 

The funds will focus on regions hit hard by the epidemic and fields in urgent need or facing shortage.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of ensuring people’s well-being, and advancing reform and innovation to boost development.

 

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour to the cities of Tongren and Guiyang in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, from July 6 to July 7.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on July 7 defended the new security law and the implementation rules in Article 43, stressing that instead of undermining the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, the legislation will safeguard Hong Kong’s stability as well as residents’ freedoms and rights.

 

Lam made the remarks at a weekly news briefing during which she reviewed actions taken by the SAR government in the past week and dismissed several fallacies spread by some media organizations.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China on July 8 allocated a total of 615 million yuan (about 87.6 million U.S. dollars) for disaster relief in regions hit by floods, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) said.

 

The funds, allocated by the Ministry of Finance and the MEM, were channeled to Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Guizhou, with 430 million yuan to be used for flood control. The remaining 185 million yuan will be used to help people affected by the disasters.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China will make all-out efforts in flood control and disaster relief work while advancing the construction of major water conservancy projects, according to an executive meeting of the State Council on July 8, 2020.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s top political advisor Wang Yang on July 10 stressed implementing targeted measures to provide care and services for left-behind children and elderly people in the countryside.

 

More than 170 political advisors expressed their opinions on the matter onsite or via mobile links and platforms. They made positive comments on the government’s work on left-behind children and elderly people in recent years, but pointed out deficiencies in the service system and implementation of relevant policies.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The Tibet autonomous region has achieved a historic leap from a system of feudal serfdom to socialism thanks to the region’s democratic reform and the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, an expert said at an event recently in Chongqing.

 

More than 20 professors and experts from home and abroad discussed Tibet’s social development and human rights record over the last few decades at an online side event of the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council International Conference on Social Development and Human Rights Protection in Tibet. It was held at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing on July 13.

 

From: China Daily

 

 

China’s community-level medical institutions were asked to improve inpatient wards and provide more beds for the elderly, according to a circular released by the National Health Commission on July 13, 2020.

 

Hospital beds in community-level medical institutions should be mainly used for elderly patients, rehabilitation, nursing care and palliative care, the circular said.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The China Society for Human Rights Studies on July 14 published an article laying bare the harsh reality of the serious division between the rich and the poor in the United States under the superficial of its overall prosperity.

 

The growing division between the rich and the poor in the United States has further highlighted and exacerbated the existing social and economic inequality within the U.S. society, reducing people at the bottom to a more difficult situation, read the article titled “The Growing Division Between the Rich and the Poor Leading to Increasingly Severe Human Rights Issues in the United States.”

 

From: CGTN

 

 

State Councilor Wang Yong on July 14 called for all-out efforts in flood prevention,relief, and rescue work to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.

 

At a video conference on July 14, Wang, also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, called on relevant authorities to enhance coordination and strengthen monitoring and early-warning systems for heavy rainfall, typhoons, and other severe weather events.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Beijing released a scheme to adjust basic pension for retirees, increasing 50 yuan ($7.13) per month for each person, according to the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau on July 14, 2020.

 

The new scheme, which starts on July 15 is expected to benefit nearly 3.97 million Beijing residents, including retirees of Beijing enterprises, government bodies and institutions.

 

From: chinadaily.com.cn

 

 

China has completed more than 60 percent of its annual target of new urban jobs,with 5.64 million such jobs created in the year’s first half, the National Bureau of Statistics said on July 16, 2020.

 

The country set a target to add more than 9 million new urban jobs in the Government Work Report, and it has completed 62.7 percent of the annual target, according to the NBS.

 

From: China Daily

 

 

A Chinese envoy on July 17 called for efforts to tackle sexual violence in conflict by conflict prevention and the empowerment of women.

 

All countries should work together to build a peaceful and prosperous world free from conflict, said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China will start to renovate 39,000 old urban residential areas this year, benefiting some 7 million households, according to guidelines released by the State Council on July 20, 2020.

 

The country will basically form the institutional framework and policy system for the renovation of old urban residential areas by 2022 and strive to finish the rebuilding of all communities that need to be renovated by the end of 2025, according to the guidelines.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Representatives from a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China have participated in the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council through videos links, voicing their views on a series of topics including the rights to health, education and poverty alleviation.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain hit back on July 21 at comments by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab that accused Beijing of so-called human rights abuses against Uygurs, claiming the remarks are complete lies.

 

The “gross human rights abuses” against the Uygurs and “forced sterilization and abortion” of Muslim women are sheer lies, the spokesperson said in a statement. From 1978 to 2018, the Uygur population in Xinjiang doubled, from 5.55 million to 11.68 million, and this ironclad evidence proves the above claims do not hold water, the statement added.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China has revised its state-subsidized student loan policy in a bid to further reduce the debt burden of college student borrowers, according to an official circular.

 

State-subsidized student loans are priced at 30 basis points below the loan primerate (LPR) - a market-based benchmark lending rate - of the same class and same term, said the circular, made public on July 22 on the website of the Ministry of Education (MOE).

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China will give priority to the prevention of COVID-19 while deepening healthcare reform in the second half of this year, according to a document issued on July 23, 2020.

 

Released by the General Office of the State Council, the document clarifies the key tasks for deepening reform of medical and health systems.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s health authority on July 30 started a nationwide pilot network, providing integrated elderly care and medical services to the country’s aging population.

 

The network offers distance services, including telemedicine, chronic-disease management, follow-up medicine delivery, guidance on caregiving, and medical lectures,said the National Health Commission.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for relentless efforts in enhancing safety in production and flood control to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.

 

All localities and departments must strengthen the overhaul of key industries for loopholes to prevent major and extremely serious accidents, Li said in an instruction to a national teleconference on production safety on July 31, 2020.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The government of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region invested over 200.6 billion yuan (about 28.6 billion U.S. dollars) in improving people’s livelihood in the first half of this year (H1), accounting for 74.7 percent of its total public expenditure.

 

From: Xinhua