Top news of the week:

• Heatwave To Affect 900 million People in China

  July 18, 2022

  The ongoing heatwave that is scorching China right now is going to affect up to as many as 900 million people across the country, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in some cities. Shanghai is one city to receive a red warning; temperatures reached 40.9 degrees Celsius on July 13 – the highest since 1873. Recent extreme heat in many places in the northern hemisphere has been caused by a combined strengthening of high pressure over the hemisphere’s subtropical region, according to a Chinese climate expert.

• China has over 1.85 million 5G base stations in use

  July 19, 2022

  The amount of 5G base stations in use across China has exceeded 1.85 million, greatly facilitating the country’s digitalization drive, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.  China will strive to add 600,000 5G base stations in 2022 and accelerate upgrading industrial internet, said Wang Peng, an official with the ministry. Information infrastructure also consolidates the foundation for the development of the digital economy. In the first half of the year, digital industries such as online shopping, online education and telemedicine saw a good growth momentum.

• China’s industrial activities continue recovery, with high-tech production leading

  July 20, 2022

  China’s industrial activities are continuing a recovery trend following recent COVID-19 outbreaks, led by production in high-tech industries. The country’s industrial output jumped 3.4 percent annually in the first half of 2022, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed earlier. During the January-June period, high-tech manufacturing saw a 9.6-percent increase from the first six month last year, significantly higher than other industries. In June alone, China’s industrial output jumped 3.9 percent from last year, led by strong new energy vehicle (NEV) production.

• Li Keqiang Attends the World Economic Forum Special Dialogue

  July 21, 2022

  Premier Li Keqiang attended the Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Beijing on July 19, vowing China’s further efforts to deepen high-level opening-up and foster a market-oriented, world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework. Premier Li delivered an address and exchanged views with business representatives. The dialogue was moderated by Executive Chairman of the WEF Klaus Schwab, and nearly 400 business leaders from over 50 countries participated.

• Environmental impact assessments rise

  July 22, 2022

  Environmental authorities nationwide approved environmental impact assessments for 47,800 projects in the first half this year. Planned investment in these projects totals 8.4 trillion yuan ($1.2 trillion), a 28.9 percent increase on last year, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), in order to enhance the efficiency of its examination and approval processes, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment helps local environmental authorities by offering support throughout procedures, from drafting environmental impact assessment documents to government examination of national major projects.