China: UN Arms Trade Treaty should be reached through consensus

China is among 23 countries who abstained in the vote for the Arms Trade Treaty in United Nations General Assembly. China insisted that the Arms Trade Treaty should be reached through consensus and accepted by all parties. Wang Min, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN says the draft resolution concerning the Arms Trade Treaty does not address the concerns of China.
Wang Min, China’s deputy representative to the UN, said, "China is not in favour of pushing through a multilateral arms control treaty at the General Assembly which concerns international security and the security of all nations. We are very much concerned about the possibility of negative precedents from multilateral arms control negotiations. We should insist on negotiating through consensus to reach a treaty acceptable by all parties."

China regrets DPRK reactor reopening: FM

China says it regrets a decision made by the DPRK to restart a closed nuclear reactor, and calls on all sides to return to dialogue.
Hong Lei, Spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "China regrets the DPRK’s decision. China has constantly advocated denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula and northeast Asia. The situation on the peninsula is complicated and sensitive. We are calling for all parties concerned to remain calm and restrained, return to dialogue and consultation as soon as possible and jointly seek ways to appropriately resolve the issue."
Meanwhile, Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Yesui has met with ambassadors of relevant countries to China, and expressed China’s serious concern over the current situation in Korean Peninisula.

China steps up monitoring of H7N9 bird flu

by CCTV reporter Yuan Yifang
Authorities in Chinese regions have ordered health institutions to step up monitoring of H7N9 bird flu after four more cases were reported Tuesday. So far there is no vaccine for this strain of the virus. Yuan Yifang has the details.
Two deaths in Shanghai from the H7N9 bird flu are first cases of human infection. An emergency plan went into effect there on Tuesday. It calls for daily reporting of statistics on pneumonia cases caused by unknown reasons.
The municipal government will set up an expert team to evaluate the severity and risk of the H7N9 bird flu. The infections and people who have been in contact with them will be closely watched. The Shanghai Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center has tested 34 samples of pig carcasses pulled from the Huangpu River. No bird flu virus was found.
The health bureau in Beijing has ordered hospitals to include the testing for H7N9 in routine monitoring. Hospitals in the capital have started to train their staff in treating pneumonia caused by unknown factors.
The public is being advised to avoid contact with poultry, to wash their hands and keep their homes well-ventilated. Chicken and eggs should be completely cooked.
There is no vaccine against the H7N9 virus. Experts say it will take time to develop, as the source of the virus is still unknown.

China reports 4 more H7N9 infections

Four people in East China’s Jiangsu Province have been confirmed as being infected with the H7N9 bird flu. This brings the official number of infections in the country to seven.
The provincial health bureau says the four people, all in different cities, are in critical condition and are undergoing emergency treatment. The expert team says no epidemiological link has been identified between these four cases at present. And people in close contacts with the infected have not been found to have fever or respiratory illness.
China reported three H7N9 bird flu cases on Sunday, two in Shanghai and one in Anhui Province. They are the first known human infections of the new strain. The two in Shanghai have died. The one from Anhui is in critical condition and being treated in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu.

China FM hosts senior ASEAN officials

By CCTV reporter Ai Yang
The 19th China-ASEAN Senior Officials’ Consultation was held in Beijing on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the officials.
Newly appointed Foreign Minister Wang Yi received senior officials from the 10 Southeast Asian countries on Tuesday afternoon. As a senior diplomat with a strong background in Asian Affairs, Wang called the meeting one between friends.

The 19th China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation was held in Beijing on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the officials.

Wang Yi, Minister of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "I’d like to congratulate us on the results and achievements made through our consultation. The mechanism has worked well and achieved far-reaching and all around progress."
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership. The two sides have decided to deepen and upgrade their strategic partnership, and promote their cooperation in the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
Over the past decade China-ASEAN ties have grown stronger. The two sides enjoy the largest free trade area in developing countries, and the bilateral trade volume surpassed 400 billion US dollars last year, a seven fold increase from ten years ago.
In the meantime, the foreign ministry earlier said the two sides will also promote their cooperation in maritime affairs. Recent island disputes created tensions when a Chinese vessel fired on a Vietnamese boat which was illegally fishing in the waters around Xisha Island in the South China Sea. China says the move was to warn of China’s territorial sovereignty. No damage was done. The upcoming ASEAN summit will be held later this month in Brunei, where the South China Sea is believed to be one of the topic of concerns.

Using the “ladders of heaven” to get to school

By CCTV reporter Wu Haojun

We’ve probably all complained about the unbearable commute to work or school. Especially if you live in a mega-city like Beijing, with notorious traffic jams and crowded subways. If that’s the case, the following story may just cause you to be more thankful for what you have. In a remote village in central China’s Hunan province, children have to walk long distances every day just to get to school.
Despite how it looks, this isn’t a boot camp session for children, rather it’s a daily routine they take to get home from school.
The two ten-meter long hand-crafted wooden ladders, dubbed "the ladders of heaven" endearingly by local villagers, are the only way in or out of their homes neatly perched amidst the mountains in Zhangjiawan village in Hunan province.
But the catchy and graceful name doesn’t really do it justice. One misstep can easily spur tragedy.
And it’s especially risky for children.
Wu Chengxiang, local villager, said:"My daughter slipped here one time. She almost fell off but I was able to catch her."
Locals shrug off the tough trip home, saying it’s manageable.
But for newcomers not used to rugged hilly roads or the complete lack thereof, being "scared" would be an understatement.
A teacher at Longtanping School said:"I was just trembling the whole time. I dared not to look down at all."
Back home, grandparents are waiting a little longer than usual.. the "outsiders" weren’t so quick on their feet.. but grandma was just happy to see everyone get home safe.
The seniors who still call Zhangjiawan village their home say they are often worried sick about their grandchildren’s journey home everyday. As for them, they simply stopped going out.
Yang Yulan, local villager, said:"I haven’t left my home since 1989. Occasionally my daughter-in-law would carry me."
The scenery in this hilly village after a rainy day looks serene. But that also means even more dangerous travel conditions.
"Don’t be afraid, Xinxin. Dad, mom and uncle are all here."
"She probably got scared the last time here."
A modern cement road is being built by the local government to link this secluded village to the outside world.
But until that’s up and running, children here will still have to rely on the "ladders of heaven."

China regrets DPRK reactor reopening

China has reacted with regret at the news that the DPRK will restart a closed nuclear reactor. The DPRK said Tuesday it has decided to restart operations at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. A statement carried by the country’s KNCA news agency said the move would bolster the DPRK’s nuclear forces in quality and quantity. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a press conference Tuesday, that China regretted the reopening and called on all sides to return to dialogue.
Hong Lei, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said:"China regrets the DPRK’s decision. China has constantly advocated denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula and northeast Asia. The situation on the peninsula is complicated and sensitive. We are calling for all parties concerned to remain calm and restrained, return to dialogue and consultation as soon as possible and jointly seek ways to appropriately resolve the issue."

Efforts on to control epidemic outbreak in Tibetan ill-fated site

By CCTV reporter Wu Lei
Rescuers at the site of the landslide that buried 83 miners in Lhasa in Tibet Autonomous Region had managed to recover 54 bodies till 4 pm on Tuesday. And although the search for the remaining miners continues, rescuers are themselves facing the threat of more landslides and an epidemic-like situation from bodies decomposing under the mud.
Gongga, doctor of People’s Hospital, Miazhokonggar County, said:"We can prevent rescuers getting affected by bacteria from decomposing bodies by using idophor, a kind of disinfectant to wash hands with."
Geng Ai’mei, head of Disease Prevention and Control Center, said:"Bacteria are breeding fast, so we have to make sure that rescuers are not affected and the sites remain safe. "

How to prevent the bird flu

The bird flu, or avian influenza, has the potential to become an epidemic, but there’s certainly no need to panic. Here is some information to help you better understand and prevent bird flu.
Avian influenza is an infection caused by certain new strains of the influenza virus that live in the intestines of birds. Most don’t affect people. However, some subtypes can infect humans. The best defense against catching bird flu is an easy one: wash your hands. Frequently washing your hands with soap and hot water keeps a variety of bacteria and viruses at bay. And although no evidence exists of transmission through undercooked poultry or eggs, for any poultry-transmitted diseases, its best to thoroughly cook your eggs, chicken or other poultry. Also be sure to clean yourself and keep your cutlery sanitized after working with raw or partially cooked poultry.
While there’s no vaccine against this particular virus at the moment, it’s still a good idea to get a flu shot, as the fear right now is that a human influenza virus and a bird flu virus could combine to form a more potent one.

WHO urges vigilance on H7N9 strain

Health authorities in Beijing say that the testing materials for detection of the H7N9 virus has arrived in the city. And the virus has been incorporated into the city’s monitoring system for avian flu. In a media briefing in Beijing on Monday, World Health Organisation warned that although no sign of human-to-human transmission has been found, vigilance is still needed.
Michael O’Leary, China Rep., World Health Organization, said:"Again, there’s been no human-to-human transmission that we’re aware of, and over 80 close contacts have been tested so far and found to be negative. So at this point this is a good sign. But it of course requires careful follow up to see if there should be any possibility of human-to-human transmission."

Woman infected with H7N9 in intensive care

By CCTV reporter Li Qiong
The woman who was the third person that contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu, is still critically ill in a hospital in Nanjing, in east China’s Jiangsu province. She got the flu virus in Chuzou, in east China’s Anhui province. Efforts are ongoing in order to figure out where the avian flu virus comes from, and if it can spread among humans.
Ms. Han, who has been in intensive care for over one week, is still in life-threatening danger.
The 35-year-old woman was sent to a hospital on March 20th, after showing signs of a fever in the city of Chuzhou, in Anhui Province.
Wei Zhengxiang, vice director of Chuzhou Disease Prevention & Control Ctr., said:"She had a very high heartbeat. Two shadows were found in her lungs. She later showed symptoms of heart failure."
Emergency life-saving efforts did not help improve her condition, and she quickly developed acute pneumonia on the same day.
Xu Xuewei, vice director of Chuzhou Disease Prevention & Control Ctr., said:"A conclusion was made that it was a viral pneumonia, but we were not sure which kind it was. We called experts from the disease control and prevention center for assistance."
Han was later transferred to a larger hospital in Nanjing for further examination, on March 30th. Joint investigations by the hospital and experts from China’s health authority confirmed that the woman had contracted H7N9.
Xu Xuewei said:"The patient bought a chicken at a poultry market one week before falling ill. The chicken was killed by the vendor, and later was processed by the patient. "
Xu said so far, there is not sufficient evidence to prove that the infection is related to the chicken in the market. Chuzhou authorities are still tracking people who had contact with the victim, while continuing to monitor local poultry markets. No additional infections in Anhui have been reported to date.

Shanghai medical institutions on high alert for H7N9 bird flu

The Shanghai government information office has held a press conference on the H7N9 bird flu. Shanghai medical institutions are on high alert for the newly-found deadly flu, and an expert task-force has been founded.
Three cases of the illness in Shanghai and Anhui province have been confirmed. The sudden onset of the illness reminded people of the dead pigs problem in Shanghai, but no virus was detected in the pigs floating in the river in Shanghai.
The three cases of H7-N9 bird flu virus were the first in the world to be found in humans. Experts say the H7-N9 is not contagious among people. 

Live cross: 3rd level emergency plan to be launched in Shanghai

Three people have been officially announced to have contracted the H7N9 strain of the disease. Two of them, both from Shanghai have died. Full story >>
For more on this issue, we are joined by our correspondent Xin Zhicong in Shanghai.
Q1, Hi, Zhicong. A press conference regarding the bird flu is just held. Is there any latest information you want to share with us?
Q2. What’s the reaction of local people now? Are they worried about being infected by bird flu?

Closer military ties between China, Saudi Arabia

President Xi Jinping has said that China will strengthen military cooperation with Saudi Arabia to jointly safeguard world and regional peace and stability.
President Xi, also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with the Saudi deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan in Beijing on Tuesday.
The Chinese president said the two sides had witnessed fruitful cooperation in trade, economy, and energy and they have had close consultation and coordination on many international affairs.
Xi Jinping emphasised that China values its friendship with Saudi Arabia and is ready to work together to push ahead bilateral relations.
Prince Khaled said his country attaches great importance to developing relations with China and stands ready to deepen their bilateral cooperation.

President Xi Jinping has said that China will strengthen military cooperation with Saudi Arabia to jointly safeguard world and regional peace and stability.

2 Shanghai men die from H7N9 bird flu

By CCTV reporter Zhang Ningben
Three people have been officially announced to have contracted the H7N9 strain of the disease. Two of them, both from Shanghai have died. Some online users in Shanghai are questioning whether the Minhang district hospital that treated one of the dead patients was telling the truth last month when it announced suspected fever cases on its official weibo account.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission says the two Shanghai men were aged 87 and 27. They got sick in late February and died in early March from H7N9. The two had had no contact with each other.
There were online rumors in early March of some unexplained deaths at the Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital in Minhang District. The hospital’s online response at the time was that three of its patients who had pneumonia had not been infected by SARS or bird flu. Two of them died.
Many people were wondering why the National Health and Family Planning Commission confirmed yesterday that one of them - the 87 year old man - had the H7N9 virus, and asked whether the hospital was hiding something.
Today, a hospital official says that they had only tested for the H5N1 bird flu, which is a subtype of the influenza A virus. But he said the answer was no.
Huang Taocheng, Shanghai 5th People’s Hospital, said:"The result that we had previously announced was for the highly pathogenic bird flu, called the H5N1 virus. But now it is H7N9, which none of us could have found at that time. "
Yuan Zheng’an, Shanghai Disease Control & Prevention Ctr., said:"We have checked all the possible pathogens that could cause severe pneumonia. They all turned out negative. So under those circumstances, we could only diagnose it as a case of severe pneumonia. But after doing an analysis for a period of time in the lab, we have found out it is a new virus. "
The hospital says the three patients had reported no contact with any poultry, and nobody who treated them is sick.
Huang Taocheng said:"It’s been two weeks since the family came to our hospital. But so far none of our staff has shown any symptoms. "
The city’s Disease Control and Prevention Center says it has been monitoring flu, pneumonia and fever patients in Shanghai. But it will take a while to determine how harmful the new virus is to humans, because it is the newest subtype of H7N9 bird flu to be found.
Yuan Zheng’an said:"According to what we know now, its ability to spread and its pathogenicity is still uncertain. But I can say it is not highly contagious. We will strengthen the monitoring of local patients who have the flu and the checks on virus mutation. And we’ll also intensify the examinations on pneumonic virus and do more lab tests. "
So far, there is no vaccine against the virus.

China regrets DPRK reactor reopening

China has reacted with regret at the news that the DPRK will restart a closed nuclear reactor, and called on all sides to return to dialogue. 
Hong Lei, Spokesman, Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "China regrets the DPRK’s decision. China has constantly advocated denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula and northeast Asia. The situation on the peninsula is complicated and sensitive. We are calling for all parties concerned to remain calm and restrained, return to dialogue and consultation as soon as possible and jointly seek ways to appropriately resolve the issue."

4 hurt, 3 buried in bridge collapse in East China

Four workers have been injured and another 3 remain buried in debris after a bridge that was under construction in east China's Fujian Province collapsed.
The collapse occurred on Monday evening in the city of Longhai, with 4 trapped on the bridge, and 3 buried underneath at the time of the incident.
The injured have been sent to a local hospital for treatment. Police, firefighters and medics have been sent to the site to rescue the buried workers. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Severe weather forecast in China

Severe weather is forecast in China over the next few days.
A strong cold front is now travelling from the Northwest toward the Southeast. It is expected to bring heavy wind, snow and sand storms to North China, with temperatures dropping by up to twelve degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, in the south, heavy rain and hailstorms are expected. Local weather forecasters warn that the rain could cause floods and landslides.

Chinese navy ends W. Pacific drill

A People's Liberation Navy fleet has concluded a drill in designated training areas of the West Pacific.
The fleet returned to the South China Sea through the Bashi Channel, an international waterway connecting the South China Sea and the Pacific.
During the three-day training exercise, the fleet conducted target practice drills, as well as manoeuvres related to maintaining maritime rights, offshore mobile interception and controlling important sea areas. Foreign warships followed the fleet during the training.

A People's Liberation Navy fleet has concluded a drill in designated training areas of the West Pacific.

A People's Liberation Navy fleet has concluded a drill in designated training areas of the West Pacific.

A People's Liberation Navy fleet has concluded a drill in designated training areas of the West Pacific.

China regrets Yongbyon nuclear facility reopening

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says China regrets the DPRK’s announcement that it will reopen the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China continues to call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and for peace and stability to be maintained on the peninsula and northeast Asia.

35 died in Jilin mining accident

The two gas blasts in 4 days have claimed at least 35 lives at a coal mine in northeast China’s Jilin Province. Ten are still missing. The deputy manager of a mining company has been detained in relation to the second explosion on Monday morning.
He is charged with ordering 21 miners to go into the mine in a rescue operation without approval. A similar blast hit the same mine last Friday night, leaving 28 dead and 13 injured.
According to the emergency headquarter on the scene, there are slim chances for the missing ones to survive. The causes of the accident are under investigation.

4 killed in E China furnace explosion

A furnace explosion in an iron and steel factory at east China’s Jiangxi province has killed 4 people and left about 30 more injured. Debris can been seen at the site of the furnace explosion.
According to the initial results of investigation, the high temperature of the debris of the steel has suddenly met with water, which caused the explosion. And further investigation is still going on for more detailed information. The explosion smashed the Xinyu Group Iron Worker’s 100-ton No.2 furnace.

A furnace explosion in an iron and steel factory at east China’s Jiangxi province has killed 4 people and left about 30 more injured.

The injured were transported to hospital and are now under treatment. Meanwhile, the explosion has also hampered one assembly line of the factory. More checks and restoration are needed to start the line.

The explosion smashed the Xinyu Group Iron Worker's 100-ton No.2 furnace.

Drought hits China's Guizhou Province

Large swathes of south-west China’s Guizhou Province has endured a continuous drought since last winter. Pan County in Liu Panshui City is one of the most affected areas, with drinking water supplies dwindling for both people and livestock.
One-third of the reservoirs in Pan County have nearly exhausted their water reserves, and more than one-fifth of its wells have dried up.
Safe drinking water for both the country’s residents and livestock is hard to come by.
With 80% of Pan County being mountainous, the drought has brought more trouble for those living in high altitude areas away from water sources.

Large swathes of south-west China’s Guizhou Province has endured a continuous drought since last winter.

At present, some towns and villages are relying on governmental organizations for water.
Jiang Zejin, Villager, said, "It is convenient that the government sends us water. If they don’t, we need to travel 4 kilometers to get water."
The Flood and Drought Control Headquarters in Pan County has initiated a second round of drought relief.

Safe drinking water for both the country’s residents and livestock is hard to come by.

Large swathes of south-west China’s Guizhou Province has endured a continuous drought since last winter.

Some towns and villages have begun construction on new emergency water projects.
Yang Xiao, Director, Pan County Water Resources Bureau, said, "After the completion of these projects, water problems will be solved for 50,000 people and 12,000 head of livestock in Pan County."
By the end of March, more than one-fifth of the crops, including wheat and rape seed were affected in Pan County.
Local authorities have been training farmers to maintain the county’s soil moisture and temperature, while guiding them to plant crops and reduce losses.

China issues level 4 emergency on response to drought

China’s national anti-drought office has issued a level 4 emergency response plan to address an ongoing drought that is plaguing south-west China. Weather officials forecast that the rainy season won’t arrive until late May.
Authorities in Beijing have sent 12 teams to drought stricken areas to assist in relief work. More than 7 million hectares of farmland have been affected by the drought, 5 percent lower from the same period last year. And more than Sixteen-million dollars has been issued to help combat the drought.

A woman stands in front of a pond that is nearly empty in Shaoxin Village of Mile, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 29, 2013. Persistent drought that sears Yunnan Province has reduced agricultural production in the city of Mile and its periphery. Some mountainous areas have even suffered from severe drinking water shortage and crop failure. (Xinhua/Chen Haining)

China’s national anti-drought office has issued a level 4 emergency response plan to address an ongoing drought that is plaguing south-west China.

April 2 marks 6th World Autism Awareness Day

Today marks the 6th World Autism Awareness Day. There are 67 million people with autism around the world. In China, more than 10 million people have been diagnosed with autism. More than anyone else, parents of children with autism want their children to live a normal life.
Chen Lianquan is a brick factory worker in the town of Zhongli in east China’s Zhejiang Province.
In order to treat his autistic son, Chen Lin, he took him to Zhejiang from his hometown, Pu’an in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province.
Almost all of his 2,000- yuan-income per month is spent on seeing doctors for his son.

In China, more than 10 million people have been diagnosed with autism.

Chen Lianquan, Father of Autistic Child, said, "I work here just to treat my son. I hope he will get better. Otherwise, he will not find a wife when he grows up."

Today marks the 6th World Autism Awareness Day. There are 67 million people with autism around the world.

Chen Lianquan has three children. His only son suffers from autism.
Expensive therapy and rehabilitation costs are almost unbearable for his family.
Chen Chao, Chen Lianquan’S Co-Worker, said, "The boy is in bad shape. He was diagnosed when he was four-years-old. His family condition is not good. They have spent lots of money to treat his son."
Chen Lin’s illness is very serious, and he has severely self-destructive behavior.
Before coming to Zhejiang, Chen Lianquan treated him in Guiyang and Kunming, two big cities in southwest China.
After learning of the story, China’s Working Committee for the Care of the Next Generation and the Shanghai Children’s Health Foundation brought his son to the Shanghai Hongci Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Jiang Yanqing, Doctor, Shanghai Hongci Children’S Hospital, said, "The psychotherapy method we have used has achieved relatively good results. Many children have noticeably improved. As a doctor, I am happy to see patients’ recoveries and their parent’s smiles."
After a period of treatment, Chen Lin’s self-destructive behavior has gradually been reduced.
In the past, his parents could not understand what he was saying, but now they can.
Chen Lin can also play with his younger sister now.
Peng Qiaodi, Deputy Chief, Shanghai Children’S Health Foundation, said, "I hope people pay more attention to these children. Helping one child is helping a family."
In 2012, the Shanghai Children’s Health Foundation supported more than 20 families like Chen Lianquan’s.
They hope more and more patients can receive better treatment.

WHO: No sign of human-to-human transmission in China bird flu cases

China is facing a new strain of the bird flu virus, discovered last week. So far it has claimed the lives of two people, and put one in critical condition in hospital. WHO’s representative in China has said that there was no sign that the new strain had spread between people.
Michael O’Leary, WHO Representative in China, said, "Again, there’s been no human-to-human transmission that we’re aware of, and over 80 close contacts have been tested so far and found to be negative. So at this point this is a good sign, but it of course requires careful follow up to see if there should be any possibility of human-to-human transmission."
China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission confirmed on Sunday that the three cases were of the H7N9 virus. It isn’t yet clear how the virus was transmitted from poultry to humans. The virus has no known vaccine.
Experts have advised people to consult doctors if they suffer from any of the possible symptoms associated with the virus. The symptoms are high fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. These were the symptoms that the victims were found suffering from before the virulent infection was confirmed in them.

Studio interview: Regular closure important for heritage protection

Beijing’s top tourist attraction, the Forbidden City, receives huge crowds everyday. Thankfully, the ancient palace compound is now finally getting its some much needed break from the scores of visitors, that walk through its gates everyday.
For more on the weekly closure of the Forbidden City, we are now joined in the studio by Doctor Gao Rui, a cultural sociologist.
Q1: Doctor Gao, many people say the half-day closure affects tourists’ plans. What are your views?
Q2: In your view, what should the president do to balance tourist demands and heritage protection?

Forbidden City’s half-day closure extended

Beijing’s top tourist attraction, the Forbidden City, receives huge crowds everyday. Thankfully, the ancient palace compound is now finally getting its some much needed break from the scores of visitors, that walk through its gates everyday. After the implementation of the half-day closure policy from January this year, Monday afternoons will continue to be closed to the end of this year.
At the heart of Beijing is the Forbidden City.
For almost 600 years, it served as the home of emperors. It houses the largest collection of well-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.
But the Palace Museum has been extremely busy. Tourists from all over the world fill the site every day.
Shan Jixiang, president of The Palace Museum, said:"During the national holiday last year, the city’s one-day record reached 180-thousand visitors. The Forbidden City is a World Heritage Site and we must take measures to protect it."
Considering the big demand from holiday travellers, the Museum won’t close on legal holidays and during the summer from July to August.
Moreover, during the upcoming Qingming Festival holiday, temporary routes have been designed to avoid congestion in the Imperial Garden.
But, some will have to visit another day.
"We arrived yesterday and we were really looking forward to going inside but what can we do, just cry."
The museum gets rest, but the staff don’t. They will carry out maintenance work on the ancient buildings and relics.
Li Ji, vice president of The Palace Museum, said:"Our staff is very busy everyday even during holidays. There is no time for training at all. The half-day closure allows us to provide some professional training for them."
Finally there’s some time for inspection and maintenance.
And, there is a lot more to be done, as the Museum gets ready to open more areas to the public in the coming days.

Mixed reactions to real estate regulations

Chinese are big savers, and many park their money in real estate. So anything perceived as rocking the boat, for better or worse, is going to get a reaction. To find out what people are saying about the regulations, we turned to China’s largest microblogging site.
One microblogger says the new regulations can be said to be the strictest ever in history, and real estate prices are bound to come down in the second quarter. Others aren’t so impressed. This netizen named Zhou Jingping says that many cities published their regulations just before the deadline, and those regulations aren’t detailed at all. And some are very critical of some of the unintended effects of the regulations on society. One microblogger has even gone so far as to claim that fake marriages will take off this year.
"Limitations on purchases, stricter loans and an information network. This is the strictest ever in history. Real estate prices are bound to come down in Q2."
"Many cities published their regulations just before the deadline. They are far from detailed. Many are just one line long."
"2013 is destined to become the year of fake marriages. People used to divorce to take advantage of loopholes. Now single people in Beijing can’t purchase a second home. Fake marriages provide a solution."

Hope fades for buried miners in Tibet

"Attention please. All the construction workers. Stop the rescue work immediately and leave the site right now."
Wu Yingjie, search team captain, Deputy Party Secretary, Tibet Autonomous Region, said:"The debris covers an area bout 3.5 million cubic meters. Minutes ago we sent out the first emergency call when we heard of the landslide. We have to ensure that there is no subsequent disaster, and also the safety of rescue workers. "
"Captain. We found one valid ID. There might be something underground."
Wamg Bom, rescue head of Tibet Fire Fighting Corps, said:"I found 3 bodies today. We haven’t slept for 3 days. And we couldn’t sleep knowing our countrymen are still under buried. "

More bodies recovered from Tibet landslide

Rescuers continue to search for the miners who were buried in a landslide in Tibet on Friday. 83 men were confirmed on site. And 36 bodies have been recovered so far. Authorities say chances are now slim any survivors would be found.
86 hours have passed since the disaster took place at 6 a.m. on Friday. According to the rescue headquarters, some 35-hundred rescuers, 300 pieces of heavy machienry, and 20 life detectors, have been mobilized. Around 2 million cubic meters of rock and earth was set loose by the landslide. The difficulties in the rescue operation are unprecedented. 3 evacuations are made on Monday to avoid the risk of possible landslides. Lin nan has the details.

H7N9 bird flu kills 2 in Shanghai

The National Health and Family Planning Commission says the two men were aged 87 and 27. They got sick in late February and died in early March. The commission says the three victims had no contact with each other, but all had a strain of the bird flu virus that had not been transmitted to humans before.
But why did it take so long to confirm the cause of death? The commission says because the virus is the latest subtype of H7N9 bird flu to be found around the world, it isn’t included in China’s virus monitoring system. And one Shanghai scientist says confirming the strain of virus is a slow process.
Prof. Jiang Qingwu, Shanghai Fudan University, said:"We need to check every gene of each nucleotide of the virus. And it takes a great amount of time from checking to confirmation. "
Authorities don’t yet know how the three were infected, and none of the 88 people who had close contact with them has developed the infection. One Shanghai doctor says this is not a cause for alarm.
Dr. Zhu Xuemei, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, said:"There is no evidence showing that domestic fowl can pass the virus on to humans. So there should be no panic. Such flu has been actually found in fowls. "
But experts advise people to see a doctor as soon as they catch a cold. Many hospitals in Shanghai say they will keep a closer eye on their outpatient and emergency services, as well as in hospital wards. So far, there is no vaccine against the H7N9 virus.

Crossover: Two of three patients had contact with birds

China is facing a new strain of the bird flu virus after it was discovered last week. So far the new strain has claimed the lives of two people. The virus is long known to have existed amongst poultry, but this is the first time that it has been found in humans. Disease control scientists are busy trying to understand how it spread and what must be done to prevent it from spreading further. For the latest, we’re joined live by ICS reporter Zhang Ningben in Shanghai.
Q1: Ningben, we understand that this is the first time this particular strain of the bird flu virus has been detected in humans. Any update on how the patients got infected in the first place?

Jilin pit gas blast kills 6, 11 missing

The second gas blast in 4 days has claimed 6 lives at a coal mine in northeast China’s Jilin Province. 11 people are missing.
Local authorities say the accident happened at around 10AM on Monday at the Babao Coal Mine in Baishan city.
Rescue work is underway and the cause of the blast is under investigation. The first blast occurred on Friday and killed 28 people.

36 bodies found in Tibet landslide

Rescue work at the site of a landslide in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has entered into the 4th day. So far, searchers have found 36 bodies.
Although hopes are dimming for the remaining survivors, the nearly 3,500 rescue workers are not giving up hope of finding the 47 missing miners.
The huge amount of debris, the 4,600-meter altitude, and snow have hampered rescue efforts. Rescuers say there are cracks on the mountaintop and secondary disasters are possible.
An emergency evacuation of rescue workers was planned Monday morning due to a possible second landslide. But the alert was later cancelled.
A team of experts has been formed to monitor the mountain around the clock and three walls have been built to prevent secondary disasters.
The landslide occurred Friday in Maizhokunggar County, about 68 kilometers from the regional capital Lhasa, burying 83 workers.

Rescue work at the site of a landslide in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has entered into the 4th day. So far, searchers have found 36 bodies.

Rescue disrupted by terrible weather

While rescuers are still racing against time at the site, terrible weather on the plateau is holding them back.
It is the fourth day of the rescue work, increase the difficulty of work and the risk of potential landslides.

Chinese navy conducts firing training in western Pacific

The Chinese navy's South China Sea Fleet has conducted a firing exercise in the western Pacific. It involved four warships, missile destroyer, "Lanzhou", missile frigates, "Yulin" and "Hengshui" , and amphibious dock landing warship, "Jinggangshan".
The attack was launched at 9 am Sunday.
Twenty minutes later, "Jinggangshan" warship fired first.
The three other warships shot at floating targets in the sea and sky in turn using their main armament and secondary cannons.

The Chinese navy conducted a target-practice drill using live ammunition in the public waters of the west Pacific Ocean on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]

They can carry out short-range attacks and destroy incoming missiles, the last line of self defense.
Lin Hai, Head, Joint Manoeuvre Taskforce, said, "Today's live fire training went well. Open-sea training is hazardous and demands top skills from both commanders and troops. The training tests and improves the Chinese navy’s command and coordination capability as well as comprehensive combat capability in accomplishing a range of tasks. It also gives the navy experience in open-sea military action. "

The Chinese navy conducted a target-practice drill using live ammunition in the public waters of the west Pacific Ocean on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's offshore training fleet conducting exercise in the western Pacific is in line with international law.
After this exercise, the South China Sea Fleet will conduct other training in the western Pacific, such as anti-terrorism, anti-piracy.

19 bodies found in Tibet landslide

19 bodies had been found by late Sunday at the site of the landslide in south west China's Tibet Autonomous Region. A search for the 64 missing workers continues. A landslide struck a workers' camp Friday morning, burying 83 workers.
The huge amount of debris, the 4,600-meter altitude, and snow have hampered rescue efforts. The survival chances of the missing miners are believed slim. Rescuers say there are cracks on the mountaintop and secondary disasters are possible. An emergency evacuation of rescue workers was planned Monday morning due to a warning of a possible second landslide.
But the alert was later cancelled. A team of experts has been formed to monitor the mountain around the clock and three walls have been built to prevent secondary disasters.

Rescuers work at the accident site after a major landslide hit a mining area of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation, in Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 30, 2013. A total of 83 workers were buried in the landslide, which happened on Friday morning. [Photo: Xinhua]

Rescuers work at the accident site after a major landslide hit a mining area of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation, in Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 30, 2013. A total of 83 workers were buried in the landslide, which happened on Friday morning.[Photo: Xinhua]

Rescuers work at the accident site in Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 31, 2013. Thirteen bodies have been found until 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the site of a mining area landslide. The disaster struck a workers' camp of the Jiama Copper Polymetallic Mine at about 6 a.m. on Friday, burying 83 workers. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Rhinos arrive at National Forest Park in Yunnan

Rhinos died out in China in the late 1950s. But in 2010 China adopted several South African white ones. On Sunday six reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. When they’re ready and given the all clear, they’ll be released into the wild.
After a journey of about 12 hours, six rhinos arrived at the Puer National Forest Park. One rhino will remain in the Wild Animal Zoo in Kunming because the keepers there feel it’s not yet ready to be released into the wild.

On Sunday six rhinos reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. When they’re ready and given the all clear, they’ll be released into the wild.

The conservationists say the six rhinos were calm and healthy throughout the long journey. Before being put into a temporary pen, the rhinos have to be transferred one by one in a small truck. Their vet finds it hard to say goodbye to these big fellows.
Ji Yang, Vet, Yunnan Wild Animal Park, said, “I’ve been with these rhinos for nearly three years since they came here. We’ve built a close relationship. I find it hard to tear myself away from them. But I’m happy they will have a better environment to live in.”
It took about six hours to put these rhinos into the temporary pen. One rhino got frightened on being released from the cage. The park-keeper says these young rhinos will need time to build the numbers of their species back up.

On Sunday six rhinos reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. When they’re ready and given the all clear, they’ll be released into the wild.

Yang Dehai, Vice Manager, Pu’Er National Forest Park, said, “The rhinos still need more than a year before they start mating. They’re still young calves in the estrus stage of development. ”
The zoo authority says that if the rhinos can acclimatize to their new home here, they will let them roam freely in the park within a week.
Hu Chao, Pu’Er, Yunnan Province, said, “About half a century ago human’s incessant hunting resulted in the extinction of rhinoceroses in China. Now people are making efforts to help this animal to revive their species on this land again. Many are saying that to enjoy the view of the wild animals, we should spare no efforts to protect them.”

On Sunday six rhinos reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. When they’re ready and given the all clear, they’ll be released into the wild.

On Sunday six rhinos reached the Puer National Forest Park in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. When they’re ready and given the all clear, they’ll be released into the wild.

Crossover: Possible second disaster hampers rescue for landslide in Tibet

In Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, rescuers have found eleven bodies and continue to search for another 72 miners who were buried in a landslide in Tibet early on Friday morning. 
19 bodies had been found by late Sunday at the site of landslide in south west China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It struck a workers' camp Friday morning, burying 83 workers. The region's high altitude, about 4,600-meters, and snow have hampered rescue efforts. A possible second disaster also poses extra problems.
Let’s speak to CCTV reporter Lin Nan who’s at the site. Hello, Lin Nan.
Q1: How is the rescue work going, what can you tell us?
Q2: Bad weather has caused problems, how is the situation now?
Q3: How long will the rescue work continue?

Cold front to sweep north China

China’s National Meteorological Center says another cold snap is set to sweep north and northwestern China from Monday.
The cold air will bring more precipitation to the northern areas of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and drop temperatures by up to 12 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, heavy snow continues in northeast China, and it’s expected to get heavier in the coming days. Expressways in the provinces of Liaoning and Jilin have been closed due to the bad weather. The meteorological authorities say rainy weather will last for at least another 3 days in south China, with thunderstorms or hail expected in some parts. Experts warn of geological disasters like mud-rock flows or landslide in southwestern areas.

Taiwan increases mainland visitor quotas

China's Taiwan region has increased the number of daily mainland group visitors to 5,000 a day and the number of individual visitors to 2,000 a day. That’s according to the tourism authorities there.
The new numbers represent a jump of a thousand for each category. The increased quotas began to take effect from Monday. Meanwhile, the tourism authorities also set new standards for the tourism groups. The officially recognised high-quality tours, meaning a higher-level of service provided, will have priority in terms of processing visa.
The Chinese mainland was the largest source of tourists for Taiwan last year, with the mainlanders accounting for 36 percent of all visitors to the region. Statistics show that more than 2.58 million mainlanders visited Taiwan in 2012. Taiwan tourism bureau spokesman, Zhang Xicong said that with the number of tourists growing, it’s essential that quality is ensured.
Zhang Xicong also said "We will continue to check the quality of the mainland tourism groups in regards to their agenda, transport, accommodation and shopping arrangements. If we feel they offer good quality, we will give them priority entry to Taiwan."

Mr. Homework: Homework "helper" on Weibo

Chinese elementary or high school students often face tons of homework after school, some of which can be very difficult, forcing students to stay up very late at night. But now, students have a new helper on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
All you have to do is post a question--be it math or Chinese--to a Weibo user named "Here comes the answers for homework". The user, also nicknamed "Mr. Homework" will either answer it himself or repost a list of volunteers you can turn to. And normally, you will get the answer within 10 minutes.
"Mr. Homework" is a 25-year-old programmer surnamed Lin in Fujian Province. Lin said he has memories of huge amount of homework, which has inspired him to help others.

Tel interview: Rules cannot regulate parents' behavior

Beijing has implemented eight new measures to lessen the heavy workloads on students in the city’s Primary and middle schools. The new regulations are being called unprecedented, and extremely tough.
Now for more on the issue, let’s welcome Dr. Wang Yan. She is the director of the Department for International Cooperation at the National Institute of Education Sciences.
Q1: As we all know this is not the first time rules have been set to ease students’ heavy workloads. But why does the burden still exist?
Q2: The new regulations are being called unprecedented and extremely tough. How do you see its efficiency? Do you think it will be able to solve the problem completely?

Workload lessening brings concern

Many other cities in China including Jinan, Taiyuan and Xiamen have also begun to take measures to lessen the heavy workloads of primary and middle school students.
While students are enjoying more spare time to play, the measures are bringing concern to parents and schools.
Parents worry that children will be less competitive in high school or on the university entrance exams because of the measures. Some worry that if the Ministry of Education keeps taking the college enrolment rate as teaching evaluation standard, the new measure will not be workable for the long term.
Supporters suggest that instead of giving homework, schools can set up various classes of interest for students, such as arts and crafts, sports, and musical instruments to enrich students’ after-school time.

Beijing sets new rules to ease students' burden

Beijing has implemented eight new measures to lessen the heavy workloads on students in the city’s Primary and middle schools. The new regulations are being called unprecedented, and extremely tough. Some of the measures include exempting first and second grade students from homework and banning mid-term exams all together. CCTV reporter Su Yuting went to a primary school in Beijing to see if the policy has been effectively carried out.
Less homework and more time to play, outdoor exercises are also being promoted to ensure that each student gets at least one hour of physical activity every day.

Beijing has implemented eight new measures to lessen the heavy workloads on students in the city’s Primary and middle schools.

Young students are very delighted after the new measures were put in place to ease their academic burden.
Xu Yiyang is a fourth grade student studying at Beijing No.2 Experimental Primary school. Like many other children, she feels the workloads are not as heavy as before.
Xu Yiyang, Student, said, "Previously, I needed to do lots of homework and go to after school classes. But now, teachers and parents no longer give us so much homework."
Ma Liying is the vice principal of the Beijing No.2 Experimental Primary school. She said her school is doing research to pursue more efficient teaching methods.
Ma Liying, Vice Principal, Beijing No.2 Experimental Primary School, said, "Our school has reduced class hours for first and second grade pupils from 28 to 26 a week. We also carried out a campaign named "lightening schoolbag". These moves aimed to encourage students to gain self-learning capabilities, so that they can be more proactive and interested in learning. This will make studying less burdensome."
School is over at about 3:30 pm. It’s time for Xu Yiyang to enjoy her time back home.
According to the new regulation, assignment for third and fourth grade students can be finished within 30 minutes. Now there is much more time left for Xu Yiyang after she finishes her homework.
Today she decided to go skating, one of her favorite hobbies. And after skating, she also has enough time to go fencing. Her mother hopes changes will be made in the test-oriented evaluation system to advocate students’ long-term development.
Guo Yanxing, Xu Yiynag’s Mother, said, "My daughter loves these kinds of sports. Before the implementation of the new regulations, she attended these activities only on the weekend, but now, she can exercise every day. Studying should be a long-term marathon rather than a short-term hasty rush. I hope my daughter will gain more energy in her childhood to be able to sprint in the end."
Efforts to ease the burden on young students have had a certain impact on their daily lives. It’s hoped that students’ spare time will no longer be occupied by heavy workloads, so that they have more time to focus on activities they are interested in. That could be good for cultivating generations of all-around development.

Lingering drought affects SW China

A drought this intense has not been seen in more than two decades in southwest China’s Sichuan province. Facing parched farmland and scorched wheat, farmers here have in front of them a nightmare scene before the coming Spring Ploughing season.
Wheat here in previous years could grow a meter tall, now only 80 cm, and per hectare we used to get around 12,000 kilograms of wheat, but this year it will be difficult to hit 1,500 kilograms per hectare.

A drought this intense has not been seen in more than two decades in southwest China’s Sichuan province.

The statistics from the provincial civil affairs department shows more than 6 million people have been severely affected by the drought, with financial losses nearly 1.7 bln yuan in the province.
Yang Xiaobo, Analyst, Sichuan Meteorological Bureau, said, “In recent years, the Indian Ocean’s temperature has been at abnormal levels, leading to the abnormal water moisture movement, and this has lead to the drought in southwest China.”
Lingering drought has also had a grave impact in China’s southwest provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan, where more than 12 million people and millions of heads of livestock have been affected.
Luo Hong, Director, Neijiang Agricultural Bureau, said, “About 80,000 hectares lands were affected, and it’s also had an impact on the growth of wheat and rape and broad beans.”

A drought this intense has not been seen in more than two decades in southwest China’s Sichuan province.

The drought will also eventually hit livestock farming as well. This cattle rancher says these animals have not had drinking water for 2 days because of the shortage.
He Shuliang, Neijiang Cattle Rancher, said, “We’ve sold a number of cattle, we have no water for these cattle, we really don’t know what to do."
He Shuliang has sold more than 200 of his 600 animals because he cannot afford to feed them. Analysts say if the drought continues it will impact the commodity and food prices.
With so many ponds like this drying up, and no adequate irrigation system in the area, ranchers and farmers have been forced to rely on water supplied by local fire trucks to feed their parched land and thirsty livestock.

Drought plagues most parts of China

Severe drought has wreaked havoc on China’s agricultural production over the past month, leading to water shortages for people and livestock in most parts of China.
Major producers for winter wheat in northern and central China are the worst-hit areas, while a delay of the rainy season across southwest China is expected to worsen the water shortage in the region.
About 7 million hectares of farmland nationwide have been affected. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has said that nearly 6 million people and 4 million livestock across the country are facing water shortages.

Severe drought has wreaked havoc on China’s agricultural production over the past month, leading to water shortages for people and livestock in most parts of China.

Severe drought has wreaked havoc on China’s agricultural production over the past month, leading to water shortages for people and livestock in most parts of China.

Severe drought has wreaked havoc on China’s agricultural production over the past month, leading to water shortages for people and livestock in most parts of China.

Landslide rescue continues in Tibet

Rescuers continue to search for more than 80 miners, after they were buried in a landslide in Tibet early on Friday morning. Two bodies have been found so far. The mine, near the city of Lhasa, is run by a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have both called on rescue teams to spare no efforts in saving the buried workers.
Temperatures are below freezing. The rescue work continues at an altitude of more than 4-thousand meters.
More than 3,500 rescuers and 300 large machineries including 30 excavators have been deployed to shift the rock, as part of the rescue operation.
Wang Jianglin, rescuer, said "The excavation is ongoing, and we will spare no effort."
The rescuers, themselves, face the risk of being buried by further landslides.
Local authorities are there to guide the rescue work.
Chen Quanguo, Party Secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region, said "We must prevent any secondary disaster and ensure the safety of our rescuers. Meanwhile, we are conveying our condolences to the families of the victims."
Recent snowfall in Tibet has made the rescue work more difficult.
The affected area is 3 kilometres long and 30 meters deep. It’s estimated 2 million cubic meters of mud, rock and debris engulfed the site of the mine workers’ camp, located 2 kilometres from the mountain pass.

Chinese President concludes Congo trip

Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped up his tour of Africa, with the opening of a public hospital and university library in the Republic of Congo’s capital Brazzaville.
The two facilities are among several joint infrastructure projects in the country, that are being driven by Chinese investment and expertise. Xi Jinping’s first overseas tour since taking office, a tour that took him to Russia, Tanzania, South Africa and The Republic of Congo, has been widely hailed a success. The president has now returned to China.
Saturday was President Xi Jinping’s last day in the republic of Congo. But before his departure, a few duties needed to be done.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L, front) and Denis Sassou Nguesso (R, front), the president of the Republic of Congo, attend the completion ceremony of the China-Republic of Congo Friendship Hospital project in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, March 30, 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

First was the official opening of a public hospital, one of the many here that have been funded by the Chinese government.
After a short ceremony that lasted about half an hour, Xi Jinping and his host Denis Sassou Nguesso headed to a university library.
It too has been constructed with the help of China.
Roy Fiwanja, student, said " We’ve had many universities but they didn’t have well equipped libraries. Now we have a grand library, rich in material that we students can use for our research."
The two facilities are among projects that China has undertaken in Congo.
On Friday, president Xi Jinping signed several deals with the Congolese government, two of which include the construction of a river port in president Sassou Nguesso’s home town, and a sea port in Congo’s financial capital of Point Noire, which would export mineral ore shipments.
It has been a busy two days for president Xi Jinping here in the republic of Congo. In less than fourty hours, he has addressed the public, signed several deals with the government of Congo and officially opened two public facilities. Xi Jinping’s departure from Congo Brazzaville marks the end of his maiden tour of Africa as his head of state.

Landslide rescure continues in Tibet

Rescuers continue to search for 83 miners, more than 37 hours after they were buried in a landslide in Tibet early on Friday morning. One body has been found so far.
The mine, near the city of Lhasa, is run by a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have both called on rescue teams to spare no efforts in saving the buried workers.
Temperatures are below freezing. The rescue work continues at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters.

Rescuers work at the accident site after a major landslide hit a mining area of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation, in Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 30, 2013. A total of 83 workers were buried in the landslide, which happened on Friday morning. (Xinhua/Zhang Quan)

More than 3,500 rescuers and 300 large machineries including 30 excavators have been deployed to shift the rock, as part of the rescue operation.
Wang Jianglin, rescuer, said, "The excavation is ongoing, and we will spare no effort."
The rescuers, themselves, face the risk of being buried by further landslides. Local authorities are there to guide the rescue work.

Rescuers work at the accident site after a major landslide hit a mining area of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation, in Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 30, 2013. A total of 83 workers were buried in the landslide, which happened on Friday morning. Rescuers have not yet found survivors or bodies 28 hours after the massive landslide. (Xinhua/Zhang Quan)

Chen Quan'guo, Party Secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region, said, "We must prevent any secondary disaster and ensure the safety of our rescuers. Meanwhile, we are conveying our condolences to the families of the victims."
Recent snowfall in Tibet has made the rescue work more difficult.
The affected area is 3 kilometres long and 30 meters deep. It’s estimated 2 million cubic meters of mud, rock and debris engulfed the site of the mine workers’ camp, located 2 kilometres from the mountain pass.

China-Congo Friendship Hospital completed

President Xi Jinping attended the completion ceremony of the China-Congo Friendship Hospital on Saturday. The hospital located in Brazzaville is one of the 30 facilities in Africa the Chinese government committed to help build at the 2006 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
The China -Congo Friendship Hospital will become the largest general hospital in the region of Mfilou, Brazzaville. The Chinese government contributed more than 6 million dollars for the construction of the hospital.The hospital sits on 20,000 square meters of land. The main structure of the hospital includes an outpatient building, the laboratory and the inpatient unit.
The hospital also boasts 95 in patient beds. The Congolese government is set to recruit more staff for the hospital which currently has only 84 people working for the facility.
Brazzaville local residents and the hospital workers are all excited about the launch.
A medical director of China-Congo Friendship Hospital said, "This shows how the hospitals contribute to an important part of our life"
China has invested much in Congo’s healthcare, their aid investment reaching 10 million US dollars by 2002. Most health staff are ready to carry out their duties in improving the Congolese health sector.
Zhou Enyin, technical director of China-Congo Freindship Hospital, said, "This project is a local landmark building, is the only one general hospital played a significant role in improving the health conditions of local residents. Local residents also give a lot of praise and we feel very proud, also will continue friendship of the China- Congo peoples’ and make greater contribution."
China and Congo are preparing to celebrate 50 years of bilateral ties. Congolese President Sassou Nguesso praised China, saying China has respected and helped Africa. China is currently Congo’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade ballooning to five billion dollars in 2012 from $290 million in 2002.

Republic of Congo issue joint communique

China and the Republic of Congo have issued a joint communique on the agreements reached by the two nations’ presidents as well as their common desire to promote bilateral ties and expand cooperation in the future. The communique was issued after Friday’s meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso in Brazzaville.
The communique said the two countries’ relationship meets the interests of the two peoples and has played a positive role in promoting the two countries’ development. The two heads of state pledged to continue to support each other on issues regarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two presidents also agreed to increase trade and investment in various sectors and to step up bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
The communique also detailed Xi Jinping’s invitation to Denis Sassou Nguesso to visit China, adding that the exact date would be arranged via diplomatic channels.
Graphics:
Relations between China and the Republic of the Congo are in the interests of the two peoples and have played positive role in promoting both countries’ development.
The two heads of state pledge to continue to support each other on issues of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The two leaders reaffirm their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in key sectors, eg. agriculture, infrastructure and energy.
The two presidents also agree to step up people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Xi Jinping invites Sassou Nguesso to visit China.