Employees work at a plant in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. China's gross domestic product expanded 6.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter. Lu Boan / Xinhua

Growth figures show economy is more stable

China's gross domestic product expanded 6.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, the same figure as in the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics reported on Oct 19. The growth was supported to a great extent by surging property sales and government efforts to boost infrastructure investment, economists said. Other indexes confirmed the economy's stabilization. Fixed-asset investment in the first three quarters edged up by 8.2 percent year-on-year, supported by commitment to capital infrastructure and real estate investment. In retail, sales grew by 10.4 percent year-on-year, reflecting robust consumer demand. Private investment, a worrisome factor in the economy in the previous two quarters, showed a sign of quickened recovery, increasing by 2.5 percent in the first three quarters, compared with 2.1 percent for the first eight months.

Duterte plays down South China Sea issue

Visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte struck a conciliatory note during the second day of his four-day visit to China on Oct 19, downplaying the sensitive South China Sea issue at his first news conference in Beijing. He defended his controversial anti-drug campaign and blasted US military involvement around the world. China is the first country outside ASEAN he has visited since taking office on June 30. President Xi Jinping met him and said that managing differences in the South China Sea issue through dialogue and consultation is an important foundation for the healthy and stable growth of China-Philippines relations. Duterte's visit has stirred hopes that he will raise China-Philippine relations from the low caused by the South China Sea arbitration case filed against Beijing by the Cabinet of his predecessor Benigno Aquino III. China has refused to recognize the result, which it says is invalid.

Consumption dominates figures for growth

China's consumption contributed 71 percent of economic growth in the first three quarters, up by 13.3 percentage points compared with the same period last year, government data showed on Oct 19. Retail sales of consumer goods grew by 10.4 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, slightly higher than the 10.3 percent growth in the first half. Per capita disposable income in the first three quarters grew by 6.3 percent, down by 0.2 percentage points from the first half of the year.

More older migrants heading for cities

More policy support is needed to help cities to integrate a rapidly growing number of older migrants, according to a report released on Oct 19 by the national health authority. Migrants aged 60 or over numbered 17.8 million last year, 7.2 percent of the total of 247 million migrants, the 2016 Report on China's Migrant Population Development showed. In 2010, there were 9.3 million in that demographic, 4.2 percent of a total of 221 million migrants. The report, based on surveys and monitoring by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said the average age of migrants has risen to 29.3 from 27.9 in 2013.

Captive panda cubs are released into wild

Two female captive panda cubs, aged 2 and 3, that were trained to survive in the wild, were released into the Liziping Nature Reserve in Shimian county, Sichuan province, on Oct 20. The release of the cubs was confirmed by Zhang Hemin, chief of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, during the International Conference on Giant Panda Conservation. Sponsored by Zhang's research center and the State Forestry Administration, the two-day event, which began on Oct 19, drew panda breeders and researchers from across the globe. It is the sixth time Zhang's center has released captive pandas into the wild, but it is the first time two pandas were released together.

Convention marks Long March anniversary

China held a convention to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Long March at the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the event. The Long March was a military maneuver carried out by the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army of the CPC from 1934 to 1936.

Green infrastucture issue on bank agenda

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank on Oct 19 held the inaugural meeting of its International Advisory Panel, covering topics such as green infrastructure. The panel discussed the global economic situation and its implications for the bank's operations, the need to promote green infrastructure in the new global agenda and the importance of increasing private sector involvement in infrastructure in the region, the AIIB said in a statement.

Widened insurance better serves public

China's critical illness insurance system has run smoothly since its launch last year, and the central government plans to further promote it, despite facing challenges, Huang Hong, vice-president of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, said at a news conference in Beijing on Oct 19. For the first nine months of this year, critical illness insurance payouts averaged 7,138 yuan ($1,060; 962 euros; 662) per patient, with the highest payout totaling about 1.12 million yuan, Huang said. In China, basic medical insurance offers little funding or protection, and critical illnesses can leave a family broke due to high treatment costs.

Court acts to protect honor of war heroes

China's Supreme People's Court on Oct 19 published five examples of lawsuits involving derogatory or humiliating comments about China's famous war heroes. Publishing these cases is intended to illustrate the essence of socialist core values and encourage the public to respect the country's heroes, learn from them and care for them, said Cheng Xinwen, a senior civil tribunal justice of the court.

Bloc urged to invest in emerging economies

Business leaders in the BRICS bloc should promote confidence and contribute to global growth through stepped-up investment in emerging economies, President Xi Jinping said on Oct 16. The economies of the five BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, whose leaders met in India - have slowed, due to the deep adjustments and challenges in the world economy, Xi said. Among the challenges cited by Xi were the rising threat of protectionism and growing anti-globalization sentiment. The BRICS countries' advantages and potential in resources, markets and labor remain unchanged, he said, adding that executives should take a leading role in joint implementation of major projects.

China, Uruguay to study trade pact

China and Uruguay have agreed to hold consultations on starting joint feasibility studies of a bilateral free trade agreement, diplomats confirmed. In a joint statement released after a meeting between President Xi Jinping and his visiting Uruguayan counterpart, Tabare Vazquez, the countries pledged commitment to "pushing forward free trade partnership building". Additionally, the leaders decided to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

Steps planned to boost regional economies

A series of major measures will be adopted in an effort to further revitalize the slowing economy in Northeast China, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces and the eastern part of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region,especially as the region's pillar industries are cutting production capacity and private investment has dropped. The measures were in two support documents, including the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) for Revitalizing Northeast China, approved by the central government on Oct 18 at the second meeting of the Leading Group for Revitalizing Northeast China and Other Old Industrial Bases.

New loans are fueled by boom in housing

Chinese banks issued 1.22 trillion yuan ($181 billion; 166 billion euros, 148 billion) in new loans in September, up from 948.7 billion yuan in August, according to data released on Oct 18 by the People's Bank of China, the central bank. New housing loans issued to individuals stood at 475.9 billion yuan, according to Ruan Jianhong, head of the statistics and analysis department at PBOC. In the first three quarters, China's new housing loans to individuals rose to 3.63 trillion yuan, or 35.7 percent of new loans, Ruan said.

Resource projects will benefit the poor

China's Cabinet released a plan on Oct 18 that will enable the poor to share earnings from local hydropower plants and mining projects. To pilot the reform, the government will choose a maximum of 20 projects in impoverished contiguous areas and counties targeted in the country's poverty alleviation program, according to the State Council. Local residents will be able to acquire stakes in such projects with compensation they receive for land used by the projects for construction, the plan said. The reform will be carried out from late 2016 to the end of 2019, and the chosen projects will begin construction in 2017.

Tibet attracts 21 million tourists in 9 months

About 21 million Chinese and foreign tourists visited the Tibet autonomous region in the first nine months of this year, up 20.4 percent year-on-year, authorities said on Oct 18. Tourism revenue during the period increased by 25.9 percent year-on-year to 28.7 billion yuan ($4.25 billion; 3.8 billion euros; 3.4 billion pounds), according to the regional tourism development commission.

Mobile animal clinic on hold over license plate

The launch of a mobile clinic for stray animals in Beijing has been delayed for a year, as the NGO behind the project first needs to obtain a license plate for the vehicle. Volunteers with the Ta Foundation for Animal Protection said the 1 million yuan ($148,000; 135,000 euros; 120,000 pounds) project, which could help neuter hundreds of stray cats and dogs, was partially funded by donations from about 8,000 netizens. However, in Beijing, companies and individuals are required to enter the license plate lottery every two months. The measure was introduced to control the number of new vehicles on the roads.

NPC schedules bimonthly session

China's top legislature will convene its bimonthly session from Oct 31 to Nov 7, according to a statement issued after a chairpersons' meeting on Oct 18. Attendees at the meeting, which was chaired by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, suggested that at the upcoming session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, legislators should continue deliberating draft laws on the film industry and public cultural services; draft general rules of China's civil code; draft amendments to the marine environment protection law and the law on private education; and draft revisions to the law on the Red Cross Society.

Australians nabbed in gambling raid

China confirmed on Oct 17 that some Australian nationals were detained in Shanghai for suspected gambling crimes, adding that "the case is still under investigation". Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the police have, in accordance with laws and bilateral agreements, notified the Australian consulate general in Shanghai of the detentions. Hua, without confirming the number of Australians detained, said the Chinese side will guarantee the legal rights and interests of concerned parties, and consular officials could visit and offer necessary assistance.

Festival promotes foreign languages

The Beijing Foreign Language Festival took place at Beijing's Chaoyang Park on Oct 22 and 23. Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Program organizing committee, the festival featured activities combining entertainment and knowledge about foreign languages to promote foreign-language learning among Beijing residents. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was one of the themes of this year's event. Traditional handicrafts such as clay figurines, kites and hair monkeys were displayed with English explanations.

Police crack down on wild bird trade

Police have detained seven people for allegedly capturing and trading wild birds, after a law enforcement campaign began on Oct 9. The two-month campaign began after more than 3,000 live birds were rescued from nets during the National Day holiday. So far, the police have removed 9,310 meters of nets, raided 79 centers trading birds and found more than 1,700 birds, a spokesman for the city's public security bureau said.

Hong Kong lawmakers protest anti-China acts

Dozens of Hong Kong's lawmakers walked out of a Legislative Council meeting on October 19 to protest the anti-China antics of two separatist lawmakers-elect during a swearing-in ceremony. The lawmakers who participated in the walkout demanded the pair apologize and retract their remarks before being given a second chance to take the oath.

Stamp collection sets Guinness record

A collection of 1,606 stamps featuring the Chinese chrysanthemum has been officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for containing the most stamps in a single series. A representative of Guinness World Records made the announcement on Oct 18 at the annual Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Festival in Central China's Henan province.

Leaders of BRICS countries display their unity at the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa, India, on Oct 16. From left: Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 10/21/2016 page2)