Space

Yutu gets rolling on the moon

The nation's first lunar rover and the landing craft took pictures of each other near midnight on Dec 15, marking the success of the country's Chang'e-3 lunar probe mission.

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, who both went to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center to watch the photo-taking session, congratulated scientists for the success.

Ma Xingrui, chief commander of China's lunar program, announced lunar probe Chang'e-3 mission a "complete success", after the landing craft and moon rover took pictures of each other.

Yutu, which has a life span of three months, will also conduct geographic surveys, said Sun Huixian, deputy chief engineer of China's lunar exploration program. In ancient Chinese mythology, Yutu is the white pet rabbit of the lunar goddess Chang'e.

Economy

Sights set on stable growth

China will maintain continuous and stable macroeconomic policies next year, says the head of the country's top economic planning agency.

Xu Shaoshi, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, made his remarks following the statement issued after the four-day Central Economic Conference, attended by top Chinese leaders. The statement said "the core is to seek steady progress and promote reforms and innovations" to soundly manage economic work next year.

Niu Li, an expert with the State Information Center, a think tank under the commission, said stability will be the core objective of the government, although major growth targets have yet to be announced.

Top leaders vow to follow steady path

Top leaders said on Dec 13 following the annual Central Economic Work Conference that China will seek steady economic progress by making more reforms in all areas.

During the four-day meeting, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang called for reform to be spread to every area of economic and social development.

Their commitment to more reforms comes just one month after the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China outlined future reform in up to 60 areas.

The leaders asked all local governments and central government departments to set up a branch organization to specialize in reform in their areas.

The economic work conference vowed to maintain a stable economic situation while achieving reasonable growth, though no specific GDP growth target was announced.

Defence

Statement seen as singling out air zone

While the statement issued by the joint ASEAN-Japan summit on Dec 14 did not specifically mention any country, the phrase "freedom of overflight" is understood as an implicit reference to China's recently established air defense identification zone.

The statement said ASEAN and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation regarding air and maritime links, and to recognize the benefits of improved connectivity among the countries.

The countries will "enhance cooperation in ensuring the freedom of overflight and civil aviation safety in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law", it said.

At the summit and on its sidelines, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to generate an understanding of Japan's position on China's air defence zone among the ASEAN countries.

But not all leaders shared his view. Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said that the issue should be resolved through consultations between Japan and China.

Anti-terrorism

16 killed in attack on police

Fourteen terrorists were killed as they attacked police officers with knives and explosives in Kashgar, in the southern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Dec 15, authorities said.

Two officers were killed in the clash, the local information office said.

Two members of the terrorist cell were also arrested.

The police officers were on their way to catch criminal suspects at about 11 pm in Sayibage township, Shufu county, near Kashgar when they were attacked by a mob armed with knives and explosives.

Chen Li, deputy director of the information office of Kashgar prefecture, said that the attack was still under investigation.

The attackers are violent terrorists and their behavior should be condemned, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a news briefing on Dec 16.

Diplomacy

Continuity in DPRK policies expected

Beijing said on Dec 16 that it is keeping watch on Pyongyang and hopes there will not be a "major change" in the latter's policies, as the sudden execution of the country's powerful No 2 in command has brought fear of instability to the region.

Pyongyang assured its neighbor on Dec 16 that its economic policies will not change despite the dramatic case of Jang Song-thaek, who has been labeled by foreign media as the top official driving the direction of the economy.

Observers said that ties between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are unlikely to be affected by a single incident, but Beijing certainly has to watch for the aftermath of Pyongyang's personnel changes.

Jang, the uncle of DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un, used to be the top official entrusted by Pyongyang for high-level visits and economic cooperation with China. He used to lead delegations to China for negotiations on projects, including the joint development of Hwanggumpyong Island, a special economic zone near the Chinese city of Dandong in Liaoning province.

Customers collect albums featuring the Chang'e-3 lunar probe at a Beijing shop on Dec 16 after the country's first lunar landing craft and rover landed successfully on the moon at the weekend. The achievement has sparked a passion for goods related to the probe. Liu Chang / for China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 12/20/2013 page2)