The taste of spicy crawfish draws a grimace during the 17th China International Crawfish Festival in Xuyi, Jiangsu province, on June 13. More than 30,000 people joined the festival to enjoy the food. The spicy crawfish is considered a delicacy and a local specialty. More than 35 metric tons were gobbled up during the festival. Zhou Haijun / For China Daily

Overseas Chinese can help build Belt and Road

Premier Li Keqiang called on June 12 on overseas Chinese to invest more in China and participate in building the Belt and Road. Overseas Chinese businesspeople should make use of their advantages in capital, technology, management, business networks and human resources to participate in China's development, Li told representatives of the second overseas Chinese business conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li said that China's advantage as an attractive investment destination and huge goods market continues growing, and the economy is creating 13 million new urban jobs every year. He also pledged to push tax cuts for companies. In his speech, Li vowed to push a new round of opening-up, lift more restrictions on access for foreign capital and create a more equal business environment.

Chinese researchers tour Iowa farm

Nearly 20 members of top Chinese think tanks, including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and China Center for International Economic Exchanges, visited the United States' best-known farm to the Chinese, Kimberley Farms in Iowa, on June 11. They retraced the roads that President Xi Jinping traveled in 2012 as a visiting vice-president. The visitors got a closer look at how the cornstalks braved the strong wind and waves of heat. They ended the tour with a field trip to patches of the 1,618-hectare corn and soybean farm operated by Rick Kimberley in Maxwell, Iowa, about 60 kilometers northeast of the state capital of Des Moines.

Nation's highest military award founded

China has established its highest military award, the Order of August 1. The selection process for the first group of winners has begun. Approved by the Central Military Commission, the Order of August 1 will be awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to safeguarding the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, and advancing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces. A list of 17 candidates nominated by the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police Force and the public security force have been made public to receive comments both from the military and the general public. Astronaut Jing Haipeng, commander of the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft, is among the 17 candidates.

Xi highlights stance against terrorism

In a speech on June 9, President Xi Jinping highlighted China's firm stance on fighting terrorism and safeguarding regional peace at a time when the world is facing more security challenges than ever. Recent acts of terrorism show that the fight against the "three evil forces" - terrorism, separatism and extremism - remains a long and arduous task, Xi said in a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. Xi wrapped up his four-day visit to the Central Asian country on June 9.

Singapore FM invites Chinese bids on project

Singapore welcomes Chinese companies to submit bids on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail, Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan has said. In a written interview with China Daily, he said Singapore "recognizes China's experience and expertise". The international request for bids, to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, will be jointly put out by Singapore and Malaysia later this year, he said. The minister, on an official visit to China on June 11 and 12, noted that the project aims to improve connectivity among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Hospitals take aim at corruption

China's top health authority pledged on June 12 to intensify the fight against irregularities in the health sector, such as doctors making money illegally through buying and prescribing drugs. A new guideline from the National Health and Family Planning Commission aims to improve professionalism and services at hospitals and clinics through a variety of means, including education of medical staff, more severe punishment for irregularities and intensified supervision from health authorities to prevent corruption.

Preventive steps taken as typhoon approaches

Guangdong province was taking preventive measures to minimize losses from a looming typhoon. The eye of Typhoon Merbok, this year's second but the first to hit China, was above the South China Sea some 90 kilometers south of Shenzhen at 6 pm on June 12, according to the National Meteorological Center. Packing winds up to 90 kilometers per hour, Merbok moved northwest at a speed of 20 km/h and made landfall on the coast between Taishan and Shenzhen on June 12. The Shenzhen weather observatory issued a yellow alert for Merbok at 1 pm on June 12. Schools suspended classes.

Talent flows after city offers benefits

Guangzhou has become a major destination for talent after the city launched a special "green card" program last year, official data suggest. The city government said on June 12 that it had issued 1,560 of its so-called talent green cards as of the end of March, including 68 to citizens of the United States. The cards entitle residents from China or abroad to the same rights and services as locals, such as permanent residency, being able to purchase property or cars, sending their children to public schools and enjoying the same employment and healthcare benefits. Cards were issued to 165 people from 11 countries and regions as well as 368 people from Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Shenzhen, according to the city. Foreign applicants are not required to first hold a permanent resident permit.

Big solar drone reaches near space

China's Caihong solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, the country's first near-space solar drone, has successfully flown at an altitude of 20 kilometers. The project team of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp announced on June 13 that the CHUAV, with a wingspan of 45 meters, flew smoothly in near space for more than 15 hours under control, completing its planned path before landing securely.

China, Panama set official ties

Beijing and Panama announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 13, as the Central American country cut its "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan. "In light of the interests and wishes of both peoples, the Republic of Panama and the People's Republic of China have decided to grant each other, from the date of this document's signing, mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level," the two nations said in a joint communique. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Panamanian Vice-President and Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo signed the communique in Beijing. The nations will cooperate in areas such as trade, investment, maritime affairs, culture and education as well as tourism, Wang said.

Residents win more suits against officials

China has seen a significant rise in the number of residents filing - and winning - lawsuits against government departments after a shake-up in the law, the top court said on June 13. Last year, courts nationwide resolved 225,020 such lawsuits, known as administrative cases, an annual increase of 13.2 percent, according to the Supreme People's Court. More than half were related to the plaintiff's livelihood, such as disputes over demolitions. Governmental departments lost 32,895 administrative cases in 2016, a loss rate of 14.62 percent, up by 0.84 percentage point from the previous year, according to the Supreme People's Court.

Xi confers honor on PLA unit in Hong Kong

President Xi Jinping recently signed an order to confer an honorary title on a special military unit stationed in Hong Kong ahead of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. The title is called the Hong Kong Garrison Model Special Force Company. It is bestowed on the First Company of the Special Force in the People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong. The company aims to become a world-class unit and has upheld strong discipline and completed many important missions, the order said. It has effectively fulfilled its garrison duties in a special area.

Imports of US beef will resume soon

China plans to resume US beef imports, which were halted in 2003, in a move to boost economic ties and further balance the trade surplus with the United States. The two countries finalized protocol details that mean US exporters can prepare for their first shipments in 14 years. It was set to take effect in mid-July.

Diesel trucks taking coal to ports will be banned

Authorities have put the brakes on diesel trucks transporting coal to and from seaports in northern China. It's one of a series of new measures to cut vehicle exhaust emissions, a senior environmental official said on June 13. Since April, only trains are allowed to carry coal to Tianjin Port. Other ports, including Cangzhou and Tangshan in Hebei province, will follow suit in September, under an air pollution action plan for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Before the ban, diesel trucks were making 6,000 to 7,000 journeys a day to Tianjin Port, according to Liu Bingjiang, head of air pollution control at the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Disciplinary watchdog modifies inspections

The top disciplinary agency of the Communist Party of China published results of its latest round of inspections into government offices and State-owned enterprises on June 11, showing the impact of its modified methods. In this round of inspections, examinations became more precise and problem-oriented, it said. The four teams that were sent to government offices and State-owned enterprises were downsized to five or six members, while more inspectors worked in the background in supporting roles. Each team member specialized in a certain area, such as CPC regulations, accounting or auditing.

45,000 civilian drones have been registered

About 45,000 civilian drones have been registered under real names since a new rule was introduced to improve civil aviation safety, an official said on June 13. On June 1, China required civilian drones weighing more than 250 grams to be registered under real names after several cases of civilian drones posing a threat to civil aviation safety. Drone owners must register before Aug 31. The registration process has gained support from manufacturers and users, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Confucius' family tree now fully digitized

The lineage of Chinese philosopher Confucius, believed to be the world's largest recorded family tree, has been fully digitized, it was announced on June 13. The digital version, based on the family tree revised in 2009, includes about 2 million of Confucius' descendants, and contains more than 20 million characters. The digitalized version makes revision, searching, verification and censuses easier, according to Kong Xiangsheng, a 75th-generation descendant of Confucius and curator of the philosopher's family archives.

'Pandemic' possible with H7N9 virus

A study published by a prestigious international medical journal has warned that mutations in the bird flu H7N9 virus could lead to a "pandemic" that could cause sickness and death around the world. The study, led by Yu Hongjie and fellow researchers at Fudan University's Public Health Institute in Shanghai, is based on information from all labconfirmed human cases of H7N9 reported on the Chinese mainland as of late February. The findings were published in Lancet Infectious Diseases this month. A surge in human infections with the latest outbreak in China has prompted pandemic concerns. The study aimed to describe the epidemiological traits of the virus and to estimate the risks, according to Yu.

Chemical weapons pact supported

China firmly supports the purpose of the Convention on the Banning of Chemical Weapons and expects to strengthen cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, State Councilor Yang Jiechi said on June 12. He made the remarks in a meeting with the organization's Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu. Uzumcu spoke highly of China's role in the organization and its achievements in fulfilling its obligations over the past two decades.

Ancient tree's seeds sprout after space trip

Seeds from a cypress tree believed to be more than 5,000 years old have sprouted after being taken into space last year on the Shenzhou 11 mission. Twenty-eight seeds had sprouted as of the end of May, according to Zhao Xia of the Shaanxi Forestry Department's rare tree germ plasm resources group, said on June 12. The 20-meter-tall cypress is in Huangling county. It is said to have been planted by Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, who is regarded as the common ancestor of all Chinese.

Beijing plans first exclusive bike lane

Beijing plans to build its first special bicycle lane connecting a crowded residential area with a business center to solve traffic congestion in the area, it was announced on June 12. Unlike other bike lanes in Beijing, which are often crowded with cars, this one will be exclusively for cyclists. The 6.3-kilometer lane will connect the Huilongguan residential community in Changping district with the Shangdi of Haidian district, where many companies are located, says Rong Jun, a spokesman for the Beijing Commission of Transportation.

Graduates' job rate stays at high level

The employment rate of college graduates remained high last year, with more being hired in knowledge-intensive industries, according to the Chinese College Graduates' Employment Report, which was released on June 12 by MyCOS, an education consultancy in Beijing. The report put the employment rate of college graduates for 2016 at 91.6 percent - about the same as the 91.7 percent in 2015, but a fraction lower than the 92.2 percent in 2014. It was based on a survey of 289,000 graduates in 31 provincial-level regions. Many college graduates went on to pursue higher academic degrees, while others started their own businesses. Both groups are counted in the employment data, according to Guo Jiao, deputy director of the MyCOS Research Institute.