Health

Bird flu 'can be contained'

Health officials have expressed confidence in curbing the H7N9 strain of bird flu and reiterated that China has the adequate capabilities to deal with such outbreaks. However, the possibility of the virus being transmitted between humans cannot be ruled out, a World Health Organization official said.

Michael O'Leary, the WHO's China representative, said such a possibility remains despite no one in close contact with the first human H7N9 cases having tested positive for the strain. He made the remarks at a news conference held by China's National Health and Family Planning Commission on April 8.

Liang Wannian, director of the health emergency response office under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said: "We are closely monitoring the situation and have expanded virus tracking into more areas of the country."

Investment

Big role for private capital

Private capital will play a major role in China's fixed-asset investment and account for over 80 percent of the total investment over the next eight years, a top researcher with a government think tank said.

From 2013 to 2020, China's annual investment growth rate will be around 18 percent, and this can be achieved only through active participation of private investors, Bao Yujun, president of the China Private Enterprises Research Association, said on April 6 during the Boao Forum, held in Hainan province.

By the end of last year, the number of private companies in China had reached 10.85 million with a total registered capital of more than 31 trillion yuan ($5 trillion; 3.8 trillion euros).

Science

More facilities in Antarctica

China plans to increase its presence in Antarctica with two more research stations, an official in charge of the country's scientific programs in the polar regions said on April 9.

The two new facilities are expected to join the existing three Chinese stations on Antarctica - Changcheng (Great Wall), Zhongshan, and Kunlun - by 2015, said Xu Shijie, an official with the China Arctic and Antarctic Administration.

He unveiled the plan the day that the Chinese research vessel Xuelong (Snow Dragon) returned from its 29th expedition to the South Pole and anchored at a Shanghai port.

The five-month expedition completed missions that include selecting the site for one of the new facilities, he said.

Travel

Pollution drives tourists away

Environmental issues such as poor air quality and water pollution have turned away inbound tourists during the first quarter of the year, according to the Chinese tourism authority.

The number of overseas tourists to China was estimated at 31.66 million in the first three months, a drop of 1.8 percent compared with the same period last year, according to a report released by the China Tourism Academy. Chen Xu, a researcher from the academy, added that the revenue brought in by overseas tourists was about $11.3 billion (8.64 billion euros), a 3 percent drop from last year. T

he report was based on the national tourist satisfaction survey the academy conducted. Air quality stood at 69.80, the lowest among all items surveyed, while water quality stood at 73.92, the lowest public service score.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/12/2013 page2)