IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Li gets close look at China-made tractor

Premier Li Keqiang called on May 8 for further efforts to drive agricultural modernization and manufacturing upgrades amid China's economic transformation. Li, during his inspection tour in Central China's Henan province, visited an agricultural machinery manufacturing plant in Kaifeng and climbed aboard a newly made tractor developed using domestic technology. The premier had previously proposed developing high-powered tractors to achieve a technological breakthrough. Li also visited people living in a floodplain.

Better genetic quality of tigers is breeding target

Chinese researchers are using artificial breeding with captive-bred Siberian tigers to improve their genetic quality. There are about 1,000 Siberian tigers at the China Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center, the world's largest for tigers in captivity, in Hailin, Heilongjiang province. Researchers aim for about 100 new born cubs each year. Researchers conduct DNA tests to select parents and prevent inbreeding, according to Liu Dan, chief engineer at the center's Siberian Tiger Park, adding that it is common for a mother tiger to give birth to three at a time. Researchers have also given the animals training for life in the wild.

Scholarships coming for Belt and Road

The Beijing municipal government will set up scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students from Belt and Road countries to support studies in up to 100 programs at universities in the capital by 2020, China News Service reported on May 8. So far, 32 programs at Beijing universities have support, and a goal has been set of attracting 502 students in the 2017-18 academic year to a wide range of disciplines, including astronautics, railway operation, architecture, traditional Chinese medicine and finance.

High-speed rail test runs begin

The first high-speed railway in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region started test runs on May 7 to prepare for regular use by the end of July. The high-speed train ran at 250 to 275 km/h on a section of rail from Ulanqab to Hohhot during the May 7's trial, according to the Hohhot Railway Bureau. The section in Inner Mongolia is part of the high-speed railway linking Hohhot to Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, the co-host city of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Once the railway is operational, travel time between Ulanqab and Hohhot will be shortened to 35 minutes from the current one hour.

Painting restoration starts at monastery

Restoration of paintings on a prominent Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Gansu province began on May 3, local authorities said on May 8. The restoration work on paintings on timbers in four of the halls at Labrang Monastery is expected to be completed by the end of this year, according to Sonam Je, the monastery's relic protection manager. This is the first time the paintings have been restored since the monastery was built in 1709, Sonam Je says. Workers will repaint the damaged works using the original processes and materials.

New healthcare pricing policy has positive results

A move to scrap drug price markups has shown early signs of success in optimizing medical resources - particularly the work of specialists - and in lowering the costs of medicine for most patients, according to the Beijing health authority. The average drug cost for each outpatient visit during the past month has decreased by 9.6 percent compared with March, the Beijing Health and Family Planning Commission says. For inpatient care, the average drug cost for each hospitalization has fallen by nearly 18 percent, while the entire cost dropped by 4.1 percent compared with March.

Heavy rain abates, but more is forecast

The heavy rains that battered Guangdong province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region over the weekend waned on May 8, but the cleanup was still underway. According to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, the cities of Guangzhou and Yulin were among the worst hit. Several cities in Guangdong reported flooding. No deaths or missing people were reported. Meteorologists were forecasting more rain in southern China. The drought relief headquarters has sent three working groups to Guangdong and Guangxi to help guide storm ravaged areas to restore production.

Officials removed after deadly gas leak at mine

Six government officials have been removed from their posts after a gas leak in Hunan province on May 7 killed 18 people, local authorities say. Five of the officials were from the county's work safety watchdog and coal industry service center. The leak occurred at around 11 am on May 7 at the Jilinqiao coal mine in Youxian county. According to a report by China Youth Daily, the gas leak was caused by emissions from an illegal metal recycling plant located in an abandoned mine tunnel adjacent to the Jilinqiao mine. Its shaft joined Jilinqiao, which allowed the poisonous gas to enter.

Zhang: Rules key to build Xiongan

Vice-Premier Zhang Gaolihas stressed the need for tight control of land, property development and neighboring areas, as well as protecting historical and cultural heritage and the environment, as the Xiongan New Area is developed. The government should plan ahead before taking action, especially when planning construction of the Xiongan New Area, Zhang said after an inspection trip to the area. Zhang inspected the region's transportation network and visited some residential property sales centers, historical heritage sites and the Baiyangdian wetland.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/12/2017 page2)