Senior CPC official calls for promoting national reunification, rejuvenation: Xinhuanet
December 20, 2022
A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has pledged to unite Taiwan compatriots to jointly promote national reunification and rejuvenation. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in a letter to congratulate the convening of the 2022 annual conference of the summit for entrepreneurs across the Taiwan Strait on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and its general secretary Xi Jinping. Click here to read...
China-donated aid distributed among 6,000 families in Afghanistan: Xinhuanet
December 20, 2022
Afghan authorities have distributed China-donated humanitarian aid to 6,000 needy families in the western Herat province, provincial director for Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs Mohammad Hashim Khalid said Tuesday. Click here to read...
China adds more cities to pilot programs list for service opening up: Xinhuanet
December 20, 2022
China's State Council said Tuesday that it has allowed a further six cities to launch comprehensive pilot programs for opening up the service sector. The six cities -- Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Chengdu -- can carry out the pilot programs for a period of three years, starting from the date when their plans for the programs were approved, according to the State Council. Click here to read...
China producing 60 million COVID-19 antigen test kits daily: Xinhuanet
December 20, 2022
China's daily output of antigen test kits has hit around 60 million units, as the country steps up output of anti-COVID-19 medical supplies. The figures were shared by Huang Guo, deputy director of the National Medical Products Administration, at a press conference on Tuesday. Click here to read...
Major highway tunnel completed in Tibet: China Daily
December 20, 2022
A tunnel connecting Tsokha and Jinling townships in Penba county, Tibet autonomous region, was completed on Saturday after four years of construction. The tunnel is located on Shargongla in the county, where altitudes soar to 5,200 meters above sea level. The mountain is steep and in 2000 was connected with nothing but rough vehicle roads. Click here to read...
China identifies over 130 sublineages of Omicron: China Daily
December 20, 2022
China has detected over 130 sublineages of Omicron in the past three months, including the highly watched BQ.1 and XBB strains, but their pathogenicity remains unchanged, an expert said on Tuesday. Click here to read...
HKSAR chief to begin duty report in Beijing with border reopening, economic recovery topping agenda: Global Times
December 20, 2022
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will travel to Beijing from Wednesday to Saturday to deliver his annual work report, which will also be his first duty visit since he became leader of the HKSAR government.
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Deaths from other or underlying diseases not classified as COVID-related deaths: epidemiologist: Global Times
December 20, 2022
China’s top epidemiologist said at a press conference on Tuesday that the deaths of COVID-19 patients due to underlying diseases, which is the main cause of their deaths, are not counted as deaths from Omicron infections.
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Leading respiratory expert predicts Beijing facing spike in severe COVID-19 cases over coming fortnight, urges city to expand ICUs: Global Times
December 20, 2022
Beijing may experience a spike in severe COVID-19 cases over the next fortnight, a leading Chinese respiratory expert warned, urging medical institutions to expand intensive care units (ICUs) and boost medical resources to address the impending wave of infections.
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Chinese pharmaceutical firms operate at full capacity to address cold medicine shortage: Global Times
December 20, 2022
Many Chinese pharmaceutical companies are operating at full capacity to meet rocketing demand for cold and fever medicines, and thanks to various measures taken by the government and firms, the shortages are easing, according to industry insiders on Tuesday. Click here to read...
Belt and Road News Network Second Council Meeting held in Beijing: People’s Daily
December 20, 2022
The Belt and Road News Network (BRNN) Second Council Meeting was held on Dec. 19 in Beijing. Representatives of 38 council members of the BRNN from 23 countries took part in the meeting online or offline. Click here to read...
U.S. monitoring rising COVID rates in China - White House: Reuters
December 20, 2022
The Biden administration is closely monitoring the rising rates of COVID infections in China in the wake of relaxed rules, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a call with reporters on Tuesday. Kirby said the administration is watching the potential impact on U.S. companies and supply chains although the administration has worked to build up resiliency to mitigate any economic impact. Click here to read...
World Bank cuts China growth outlook on COVID, property woes: Reuters
December 20, 2022
The World Bank has cut its China growth outlook for this year and next, citing the impact of the abrupt loosening of strict COVID-19 containment measures and persistent property sector weakness. The Washington-based lender, in a report released on Tuesday, said it expected China's economy to grow 2.7% in 2022, before recovering to 4.3% in 2023 as it reopens following the worst of the pandemic. Click here to read...
China urges those with mild COVID symptoms to return to work: Kyodo
December 20, 2022
Chinese authorities have called on those with mild COVID symptoms to return to work, in a radical shift from previous strict restrictions, as the world's second-largest economy promotes the resumption of business activities and hospitals suffer from manpower shortages amid a surge in the virus. Click here to read...
China says it will only count Covid deaths from respiratory failure in official toll: South China Morning Post
December 20, 2022
China’s National Health Commission has clarified that only Covid-19 patients who die from respiratory failure will be counted towards the official death toll after this week reporting the first deaths since the easing of pandemic controls. Many elderly had other chronic illnesses and very few people died directly from respiratory failure caused by the coronavirus, experts from the NHC said. Click here to read...
China should go easy on zero-Covid violators now that rules have eased, former top court judge says: South China Morning Post
December 20, 2022
Those who might have violated China’s Covid-19 restrictions earlier should be let off now that zero-Covid rules have been eased, a former top court judge has said. Huang Yingsheng, one-time criminal cases judge at the Supreme People’s Court, said even though the pandemic was nearing its end, many amends related to its handling remained to be made – especially in the legal field. Click here to read...
China to work with Australia to promote strategic partnership, says Xi Jinping: Reuters
December 21, 2022
China's President Xi Jinping said he will work with Australia to promote a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. "I attach great importance to the development of China-Australia relations and am willing to work with the Australian side," Xi said in a report from CCTV. Click here to read...
Japan warns of China's COVID situation, cuts view on factory output: Reuters
December 21, 2022
Japan will pay close attention to the COVID-19 situation in China, in addition to risks from a global economic slowdown, price hikes and supply constraints, according to its monthly report for December. The economic report from the Cabinet Office comes as Japan, the world's third-largest economy, wrestles with sluggish global growth and high import costs that have weighed on its exports and manufacturing activity. Click here to read...
China imposes national security review on data, merger deals involving foreign capital as Beijing tightens cross-border information flow: South China Morning Post
December 21, 2022
Chinese authorities will impose a strict review of data processing, cross-border data transfers, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities involving foreign capital that could affect national security, as Beijing moves to safeguard what it considers as sensitive information. That approach forms part of new policy guidelines released on Monday by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council, the country’s cabinet. The guidelines aim to boost the country’s data market, while addressing issues such as data rights and trading profit distribution. Click here to read...
Xi says China, Germany partners of dialogue, development, cooperation, and for handling global challenges: Xinhuanet
December 21, 2022
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Germany have always been partners of dialogue, development and cooperation, as well as partners for handling global challenges. Xi made the remarks during his phone talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Click here to read...
New policy mix to propel turnaround in China's economy: Qiushi
December 21, 2022
With a new policy mix unveiled at a meeting last week, China, the world's second-largest economy, is ramping up efforts to ensure an overall recovery next year despite the looming shadow of a global economic recession. Click here to read...
Construction of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle in full swing: Qiushi
December 21, 2022
As another important regional development strategy, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle in southwest China is glittering under the spotlight of "coordinated regional development" highlighted in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Click here to read...
Chinese mainland reports 3,049 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet
December 21, 2022
The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 3,049 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Wednesday. A total of 1,953 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the mainland on Tuesday, said the commission in its daily report. Click here to read...
