INTO THE ORBIT

XINHUA

A Long March-6 rocket carrying 16 satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province on August 10.

This new collection of satellites is mainly used for commercial remote sensing and atmospheric imaging.The successful launch marked the 432nd mission for the Long March series.

5G Convention An exhibition area for 5G plus smart ports during a media preview of the 2022 World 5G Convention in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, on August 9. The convention took place there from August 10 to 12.

Drugs in Shortage

Authorities have demanded efforts to enhance the monitoring of production and storage of medicines that are in short supply and medicines that have been selected for centralized procurement, Xinhua News Agency reported on August 9.

While strengthening information sharing, related authorities should improve their multi-tier management of medicines and instruct producers on submitting information and increasing production capacity,said a circular jointly issued by four state organs, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology(MIIT) and the National Medical Products Administration.

The list of medicines to be closely monitored will be open to further adjustment, as will producers, the circular said.

The MIIT said it would cooperate with relevant departments to analyze information related to medicine production and inventories, and to conduct regular examinations.

Pocket Parks

China urged efforts to expedite the building of pocket parks across the country to improve people’s living environments, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on August 9. The term refers to small outdoor public spaces covering an area of between 400 to 10,000 square meters, according to the statement.

China aims to build at least 1,000 pocket parks in 2022.To achieve this goal, each provincial-level region should strive to build no fewer than 40 such parks this year, the statement said.

Local authorities should give priority to choosing indigenous plants for the parks, and give full consideration to the needs of nearby residents in building the parks, the statement added.

Cryptocurrency Speculation Curb

China’s Internet watchdog said on August 9 it had intensified a crackdown on illegal online information that may lead to speculation and fraud involving cryptocurrency.

The move, which began earlier this year, was aimed at protecting people’s assets,according to the Cyberspace Administration of China.

While urging leading online platforms to fulfill their responsibilities in presenting content, the administration shut down 989 accounts on online platforms Weibo and WeChat as well as Baidu’s online community service, which had tricked Internet users into investing in cryptocurrency, as well as virtual or digital assets.

The administration, in joint efforts with other competent authorities, also closed 105 websites hyping cryptocurrency or releasing information concerning cross-border speculation on and mining of cryptocurrency.

While pledging continuous efforts to curb illegal activities involving digital currency, the administration also cautioned Internet users against cryptocurrency speculation.

Land and Sea Use

China has announced a host of measures to support land and sea use for major construction projects, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources,Xinhua reported on August 8.

The policies stress the need to balance demand for land and resource security, the ministry said.

To support economic development, China will simplify the approval of land planned for construction projects, promote the economical and intensive use of land, optimize land supply, and improve the approval process for the use of sea and islands, said the ministry.

Efforts will also be made to ensure energy and resource security, strictly control sea reclamation, and promote highquality development through the more efficient use of resources, it added.

Party Literature

The first 12 volumes of the compilation of important literature of the Communist Party of China(CPC) have been published by the People’s Publishing House,Xinhua reported on August 8.

The book, compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Archives, is an authoritative source for the study of the CPC’s history.

It contains the Party’s literature between 1921 and 1927,with some material from before the founding of the CPC also included in the first volume.

It is a recording of the endeavor to found the CPC, the confrontation between the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and various erroneous thoughts, the Chinese communists’ journey of establishing its missions and shouldering responsibilities, and the CPC’s steering of social transformation by engaging in great selftransformation.

The documents will help deepen and expand the study and teaching of Party history,and help Party members, cadres and the public draw strength and confidence from Party history.

Vehicle Test Site

The construction of a test site for intelligent and connected vehicles (ICVs) was completed in Wuhan, Hubei Province, on August 5 to provide research and development, testing and authentication services.

With a total investment of 4 billion yuan ($593.4 million), the test site incorporates a series of cutting-edge technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence,5G and edge computing.

It covers a total area of 87.5 hectares, containing 10 scenario testing areas, four lab clusters and a Formula Two-level racing track.

The areas simulate different road scenarios, including extreme weather conditions, weak signal environments, traffic jams and emergencies.

“The site is like a ‘supermarket of test items.’ We have road scenarios such as ring expressways, urban arteries and country roads to meet all the testing needs for the production of qualified ICVs,”said Li Jixin, project manager of the test site developed by China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Ltd.

A Relaxing Remedy Tourists visit a scenic area themed on Chinese medicine and flowers in Luanping County of Chengde, Hebei Province, on August 8. In recent years, the county has been developing more innovative ways to attract tourists.

Wuhan is a pilot city of ICV and smart transportation development in China. In July, the city revealed a plan to expand its testing roads for ICVs and smart transportation to 500 km in the coming three to five years.

According to the plan, the city aims to complete the intelligent reconstruction of at least 100 km of open testing roads in one to two years. It will also facilitate the application of smart buses, driverless taxis and driverless terminal delivery.

Channeling History The opening ceremony of the Beijing International Grand Canal Culture Festival takes place in Tongzhou District in Beijing on August 8. With more than 2,500 years of history, the Grand Canal connects Beijing and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. A more than 1,000-km-stretch of the canal was declared a World Heritage Site in 2014.

Car Sales

Some 1.82 million passenger cars were sold nationwide via retail channels in July, up 20.4 percent year on year, data from the China Passenger Car Association showed.

Production of passenger vehicles amounted to 2.16 million units in the month, surging 41.6 percent year on year.

The improving logistics and supply chains, increased business activity, the country’s raft of proconsumption measures, among other factors, all contributed to the auto market expansion, the association said.

China in late May announced it would halve the car purchase tax for passenger vehicles priced at 300,000 yuan ($44,389) or less and with 2-liter engines or smaller. The tax cut will last from June 1 to the end of the year.

Major auto companies also stepped up their promotional activities in July to counter the setbacks suffered earlier this year due to COVID-19 flare-ups, in order to meet their annual goals,according to the association.

In July, retail sales of newenergy vehicles (NEVs) in the country soared 117.3 percent year on year to about 486,000 units.In the first seven months, NEV sales totaled 2.73 million units,skyrocketing 121.5 percent year on year, the data showed.

Import Expo

Ninety percent of the planned enterprise exhibition area has been booked for the Fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The figure was released on August 8 at a pre-exhibition supply and demand matchmaking meeting for the event’s technology and equipment exhibition area.

The Fifth CIIE will take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. Over 270500 companies and industry-leading enterprises have confirmed their participation in the event.

The CIIE was first held in Shanghai in 2018, making it the world’s first import-themed national-level expo.

Forex Reserves

China’s foreign exchange (forex)reserves climbed to $3.1041 trillion by the end of July, up $32.8 billion from June, data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed on August 7.

“Supply and demand in the domestic foreign exchange market remained balanced,” Wang Chunying, deputy head of the administration, said, commenting on the data.

Wang attributed the increase in forex reserves to the rising dollar index and financial asset prices globally.

Deeming the external situation to be complex and grim,Wang said the global financial market still faces uncertainties amid increasing risks and challenges in the global economy.

But China’s economic fundamentals for long-term growth have remained unchanged thanks to its efforts in coordinating COVID-19 prevention and control with economic and social development, which will keep the country’s forex reserves stable, Wang said.

Foreign Trade

China’s foreign trade in goods jumped 10.4 percent year on year to 23.6 trillion yuan ($3.5 trillion) during the first seven months of the year, official data showed on August 7.

Exports rose 14.7 percent year on year to 13.37 trillion yuan($1.98 trillion), while imports increased 5.3 percent from a year ago to 10.23 trillion yuan ($1.5 trillion), according to the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

During the period, China’s trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union and the United States, expanded 13.2 percent, 8.9 percent and 11.8 percent from a year ago, respectively.

From January to July,China’s trade with Belt and Road partners and other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)soared 19.8 percent and 7.5 percent year on year.

In July, trade with RCEP partners reached 1.17 trillion yuan($173 billion), up 18.8 percent year on year, boosting the overall foreign trade growth by 5.6 percentage points, said Li Kuiwen,spokesperson for the GACC.

Coal Production

Nationwide advanced coal production capacity has been expanded by a total of 490 million tons per year since September 2021, the National Mine Safety Administration said on August 5.

A total of 147 coal mines have attained the necessary qualifications for advanced production capacity since the beginning of this year.According to the administration, China saw 190 mining accidents in the January-July period, down 14 percent year on year.

The administration said it will continue to promote the release of advanced coal production capacity on the premise of ensuring safety, and strengthen supervision over coal mine safety.

New Maglev Line

Construction of the first domestically developed trial railway line using rare earth permanent magnetic levitation (PML) technology was completed in Xingguo County, Jiangxi Province, on August 9.

The 800-meter line was jointly developed by the Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, China Railway Liuyuan Group (CRL Group),China Railway Hi-Tech Industry Co. Ltd. and China National Rare Earth Functional Material Innovation Center.

With a designed maximum speed of 80 km per hour, the rail system now can serve a twocarriage maglev train with a carrying capacity of 88 people.It is equipped with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, 5G and intelligent sensing technologies.

The track, which is constructed with rare earth PML technology, can keep trains in a state of suspension, which is energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

Chen Guodong, General Manager of CRL Group, said the cost-effective rail transit technology has broad potential for application such as at scenic spots, airport terminals, business centers and small towns.

Bank Loans

Outstanding loans to private enterprises by banking institutions stood at 58.2 trillion yuan($8.64 trillion) at the end of June,up 11.4 percent from a year ago,according to the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission.

New loans to private enterprises accounted for 53.5 percent of the total new corporate loans in the first six months, up 0.8 of a percentage point year on year.

The interest rate of new loans to private enterprises was 4.74 percent in the January-June period, down 0.57 of a percentage point year on year.

Warehouse Storage

The warehouse storage sector continued to rebound in July,according to a survey jointly released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing and CMST Development Co. Ltd.

The index tracking the sector’s development stood at 53.1 percent in July, continuing to stay in the expansion range, the survey showed.

A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while below 50 percent reflects contraction.

The sector reported an improving business performance,with the sub-index tracking business profits reaching a new high in a year.

The survey also predicted a steady growth of the sector in the future as policies to stabilize economic growth will further boost demand and supply.

KENYA People line up to vote at a polling station in Nakuru on August 9. Kenyan citizens cast their ballots that day to elect their fifth president as well as members of the National Assembly, senators and county governors

BELGIUM Giant panda twins Bao Di (left) and Bao Mei enjoy a happy birthday meal at the Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette on August 6. They were born on August 8, 2019, to Hao Hao and Xing Hui residing at the zoo on loan from China

JAPAN Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on August 10. He reshuffled his cabinet and the executive lineup of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as the administration faces slipping public support

REPUBLIC OF KOREA A vehicle is partially submerged on a foloded road in Seoul’s Gangnam District on August 8.Eleven people were killed and eight others still missing as of August 11, after the capital was pounded by heavy rains

SINGAPORE Aparachutist presents a skydiving show during the 57th National Day celebrations on August 9

ZAMBIA President Hakainde Hichilema pays tribute to the Chinese nationals who died during the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) in the 1970s, at the newly built TAZARA Memorial Park in Chongwe, Lusaka Province, on August 10

NEW HEAD OF HONG KONG SECURITY SECRETARIAT

The State Council has appointed Sonny Au Chi-kwong, a career police officer, as secretary general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), replacing Chan Kwok-ki who was promoted earlier to become the region’s chief secretary for administration.

Au joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1980. He was promoted to chief superintendent in 2007, assistant commissioner of police in 2011 and senior assistant commissioner of police in 2015. He has held various posts, including director of personnel and training, and director of crime and security. In the past five years, Au served as security undersecretary.

The appointment came at the suggestion of HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, who said Au possesses a strong sense of national security and is well versed in national security affairs.

Open Kitchens

August 11

A rising preference for ordering food delivery has led to a flourishing of restaurants that only offer deliveries and do not offer dine-in services. Conventional restaurants are under relatively efficient supervision by food safety watchdogs,and also, consumers eating in can supervise restaurant kitchens to some degree. Delivery-only restaurants or kitchens are not subject to such supervision. Some of them are located in badly planned and constructed or the least developed areas of cities. Some of them are difficult to locate and some are unhygienic.

The Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation is working to respond to the public’s food safety concerns by presenting an online app for consumers to watch food processing and cooking as well as tableware cleaning and disinfection. So far, the app has covered more than 9,000 schools, kindergartens and dining halls. This supervisory app can also be applied to small and scattered takeaway kitchens to effectively standardize the takeaway sector and reduce consumer concerns.

Increasing Employment

August 4

This year’s college graduates are entering a critical period of job hunting.In 2022, about 16 million people need to find jobs and a record 10.76 million of them are college graduates.

Stabilizing employment has been an important policy goal, supported by a series of fiscal, monetary and industrial policies. From campuses to communities in all cities, services to promote employment are underway, and job fairs are frequently organized.

Thanks to effective policies to contain COVID-19 and the recovering economy, the employment market on the whole was on the rise in the second quarter of this year.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are the major entities to absorb employees. June saw indexes of small and medium-sized enterprises rebound on the whole, signaling economic recovery across the board.When these businesses are in a good shape,economic and social vitality will return and boost employment in turn. The next step is to put in place supportive policies, helping business entities tide over difficulties. New jobs are to be created while old jobs are maintained.

Meanwhile, to realize high-quality and full employment, the priority is to promote employment among the young, college graduates in particular. Efforts by the government, universities and businesses are pushing more and more college graduates to match themselves to suitable posts. Various channels for becoming employed or starting up businesses are open to them, scattering them across hi-tech sectors, workshops,communities or rural revitalization posts.Young graduates are busy embarking on a journey towards a better life.

Protecting Time on Scientific Research

August 11

The priority for scientists is to conduct research and youth is the prime time for them to make breakthroughs. Young boffins are the backbone of the development and innovation of China’s core technologies. However, the reality is,work-related but non-academic activities,like meetings and business get-togethers,keep eating into their precious time for scientific research.

To prevent irrelevant activities from straining them, since 2018, actions have been taken to relieve scientists of nonacademic burdens. However, these actions have not brought about significant improvement. This year’s upgraded efforts, made by five departments including the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology to relieve them of such burdens means to further liberate young scientists from unnecessary proforma activities and endless performance appraisals.

Scientists are not supposed to act as social activists, and they are by no means obligated to engage themselves in public relations events. Scientific breakthroughs are not made in social activities and performance appraisals, and similarly these events will not strengthen their abilities. To ensure sufficient time is spent on research is the basic and essential requirement for scientists to create and innovate for the good of humanity.

PLAYER MAKES HISTORY ON ATP TOUR

It took China’s Zhang Zhizhen three hours to defeat Italy’s Andrea Vavassori and win the Association of Tennis Professionals’ (ATP) Challenger Tour in Cordenons,Italy, on August 8. The victory marked the 25-year-old’s third Challenger Tour title.Zhang, No.161 in the world following the recent ATP Challenger Tour, a range of satellite tournaments that run alongside the regular ATP World Tour,is once again the highest-ranking Chinese player in the men’s singles classifications. He won two Challenger titles in 2019 before ranking No.136 in February 2020, an all-time high for Chinese men’s tennis.

Born into a Shanghai sports family, with his father Zhang Weihua a former football player and his mother a shooting athlete,Zhang began playing tennis at the age of 4 and started his professional career in 2012.