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Special English teacher training coming to rural China

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The Jack Ma Foundation and English education platform VIPKID recently announced in Beijing a cooperative plan to support teacher training in impoverished areas of China.

 The two sides have worked together and offered training and quality English teaching resources for teachers at five pilot schools in Yunnan, Guizhou and Gansu provinces through an online platform.

 They plan to extend such support to more than 200 schools in the following two years, and meanwhile, through the same platform, enable teachers and students in these areas to communicate directly with English teachers abroad.

 Mi Wenjuan, founder and CEO of VIPKID, said high-quality teaching content and good teachers are key elements in resolving the education problems facing China's impoverished areas.

 "We hope that through the cooperation and the online platform, teachers and students in remote areas can have fresh English teaching materials and could conduct English conversations directly with teachers overseas," she said.

 She added that the company announced an investment of 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) in January to help broaden the vision of children in remote and impoverished areas of China by offering more English teaching resources.

 Hu Zhiqiang, general manager of the Education Network Platform under the Jack Ma Foundation, established in October to boost educational equity in China, said the cooperation will help reduce the short supply of English teachers in underdeveloped areas of China.

 "The cooperation would benefit English education in these areas by bringing the needs of teachers and students and the English education resources at VIPKID together," he said. 

DATE:2017-04-25      SOURCE:China Daily


Poverty alleviation projects carried out in China's Guangxi

A villager shows a cultured scorpion in Nongjingtun Village of Qibainong Township in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 21, 2017. Poverty-stricken towns in Guangxi region, such as Qibai, Bansheng and Yalong, are featured with harsh living environment due to water and cropland shortage in the karst landform. Local government has made efforts to carry out poverty alleviation projects, such as building water boxes, renovating thatched houses and developing poultry and livestock industry for local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

 Workers carry water pipes for building a drought resistance project on a mountain road in Nonglei Village of Bansheng Township in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 10, 2016. Poverty-stricken towns in Guangxi region, such as Qibainong, Bansheng and Yalong, are featured with harsh living environment due to water and cropland shortage in the karst landform. Local government has made efforts to carry out poverty alleviation projects, such as building water boxes, renovating thatched houses and developing poultry and livestock industry for local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

 Photo taken on March 24, 2017 shows spiral terraced fields piled up by stones in Nongcong Village of Bansheng Township in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Poverty-stricken towns in Guangxi region, such as Qibai, Bansheng and Yalong, are featured with harsh living environment due to water and cropland shortage in the karst landform. Local government has made efforts to carry out poverty alleviation projects, such as building water boxes, renovating thatched houses and developing poultry and livestock industry for local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

 Power workers renew electric transmission line in Nongjing Village of Qibainong Township in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 21, 2017. Poverty-stricken towns in Guangxi region, such as Qibai, Bansheng and Yalong, are featured with harsh living environment due to water and cropland shortage in the karst landform. Local government has made efforts to carry out poverty alleviation projects, such as building water boxes, renovating thatched houses and developing poultry and livestock industry for local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

 Water boxes are built around villagers' houses in Nongxiong Village of Qibainong Township, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 24, 2017. Poverty-stricken towns in Guangxi region, such as Qibai, Bansheng and Yalong, are featured with harsh living environment due to water and cropland shortage in the karst landform. Local government has made efforts to carry out poverty alleviation projects, such as building water boxes, renovating thatched houses and developing poultry and livestock industry for local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

DATE:2017-04-25      SOURCE:Xinhua News Agency


MOA holds briefing on China International Tea Expo (2)

The MOA held a well-attended briefing on the China International Tea Expo for the diplomatic community in Beijing on 21 April 2017. Vice Minister Qu Dongyu attended and addressed the event.

 Vice Minister Qu pointed out that agricultural trade and exchanges have been major components of cooperation among countries along the Silk Road since ancient times. Following the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the First China International Tea Expo is a grand event for China’s tea industry and serves as an important platform for exchanges and cooperation in tea and coffee with other countries.

 Vice Minister Qu emphasized that the MOA highly values the First China International Tea Expo and is willing to work with all countries to facilitate policy communication, trade promotion and technological exchanges for sustainable and green development in the tea and coffee industries worldwide. He hoped that the embassies in China could convey the message to competent departments, relevant associations and large enterprises in their respective countries as soon as possible. The MOA is looking forward to their participation in the Expo.

 At the briefing, officials from the Department of Market and Economic Information of the MOA and the Agriculture Department of Zhejiang Province outlined the theme and schedule of the First China International Tea Expo, briefed attendees on preferential policies and services for exhibitors, and took questions from the diplomats.

 Participants to the briefing included Ambassadors, Counsellors and Secretaries from 19 foreign countries such as Bolivia, Peru, Slovenia and Turkey, and representatives from Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, World Food Programme and Center for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization.

DATE:2017-04-24      SOURCE:MOA Information Office


Vice Minister Qu Dongyu meets USDA Acting Deputy Undersecretary Jason Hafemeister

Vice Minister Qu Dongyu met with Mr. Jason Hafemeister, Acting Deputy Undersecretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in Beijing on 20 April 2017.

 Mr. Qu noted that recently the heads of state of China and the U.S. met each other and reached important consensus on a number of issues. The MOA is willing to work with the USDA to implement the outcomes of the meeting, contribute to a more balanced economic and trade relations of agriculture and bring more benefits to the two peoples. The two sides exchanged views on the export of U.S. beef to China and the export of cooked poultry raised and slaughtered in China to the U.S..

 Mr. Hafemeister fully agreed with Mr. Qu and highly appreciated the MOA’s positive attitude and quick response on implementing the consensus. He expressed that the U.S. side is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with the MOA to work for outcomes in implementing the consensus on agriculture at an early date.

DATE:2017-04-24      SOURCE:MOA Information Office


China, Vietnam to hold joint fishery inspection

SANYA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese maritime police vessels on Monday left here for a China-Vietnam joint fishery inspection.

The inspection in the Beibu Gulf involves two police vessels from each side and will be conducted over three days, ending Thursday.

Maritime police will observe the fishing activities and occasionally board fishing boats to carry out random checks, according to China's maritime police authorities. The two sides will also discuss ways of improving cooperation.

The gulf is a traditional fishery ground for fishermen of both countries. China and Vietnam signed an agreement on the demarcation of the gulf in 2000. Deals on peaceful exploitation of resources were later signed.

Joint inspections began in 2006 as an annual event, and were increased to twice a year in 2016.

Chinese maritime police said the joint inspection provided a means for smooth contact with their Vietnamese counterparts, creating a peaceful and harmonious environment for the fishermen. 


Scenery of terraced fields in Guizhou

Aerial photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows scenery of terraced fields in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Wang Bingzhen) 

Aerial photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows scenery of terraced fields in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Wang Bingzhen) 

Aerial photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows scenery of terraced fields in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Wang Bingzhen) 

Aerial photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows scenery of terraced fields in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Wang Bingzhen)

SOURCE:Xinhua News Agency


China’s Belt and Road Initiative ushers in ‘Globalization 2.0’: experts

By Jiang Jie   16:37, April 12, 2017

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is drawing on a new type of regional strategy that can lead to “Globalization 2.0,” said a renowned Chinese expert on international relations.

According to Zhang Yunling, director of the academic division of International Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), humanity entered the era of “Globalization 1.0” after World War II, focusing on connecting the world via multilateral and regional cooperation. Prior to 2008, Globalization 1.0 has indeed promoted rapid economic growth, but the anti-globalization trend is always waiting, ready to strike, as imbalanced development between regions and communities is inevitable, Zhang noted.

The Belt and Road Initiative, on the other hand, offers a distinctly Chinese way of looking at global governance and cooperation.

“We try to improve the geographic advantages forged after industrialization in the West, which favors oceanic powers ... By connecting interior land, we are re-constructing these geographic advantages so that inland regions can also profit,” Zhang explained.

“It should be emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative is not a project. It is an initiative, a method. It is not only about routes drawn on a map, but also about suggesting a direction and covering neighboring regions,” Zhang emphasized.

The remarks were made at a press conference in Beijing on April 12, where CASS unveiled its latest publication with Social Sciences Academic Press (SSAP). Xie Shouguang, director of SSAP, said at the conference that the publication is especially significant since the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is scheduled to be held in May.

The forum will take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15. It will explore ways of addressing regional and global economic issues, generate fresh energy for interconnected development, and help the Belt and Road Initiative deliver greater benefits to all the people and countries involved, Xinhua News Agency reported.

“The versions of globalization led by the East and the West are different. The West tends to be more aggressive, while the East emphasizes inclusiveness. That makes homogeneity one of the key factors in cooperation, but we are trying to show that heterogeneity does not necessarily get in the way of cooperation,” said Ren Jingjing, another expert with CASS.

SOURCE:People's Daily


'Internet Plus' to fuel brand-building for Chinese agricultural products

Chinese farmers should view product promotion through the lens of “Internet Plus," said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on April 12.

“Innovation has always been key in brand-building. We have long passed the time where farmers only toiled on their land. In our era, ‘Internet Plus’ must be highlighted. China is the world’s largest consumer of meat and crops, with an annual consumption of 50 kilograms and 450 kilograms per capita respectively. It is time that we promote our brand overseas,” said Song Chengmin, a macroeconomic management official with the NDRC, at a conference on agricultural branding in Linyi, Shandong province.

The conference was held by the Linyi government and the People’s Tribune on April 12. Its theme was the proposal made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015 to strengthen brand-building for agricultural products.

Hu Xiaoyun, director of the China Academy for Rural Development at Zhejiang University, pointed out that it remains difficult to sell many Chinese agricultural products at high prices, even though they are equal in quality to their overseas counterparts.

“Even at some high-end venues in China, we are served foreign tea instead [of Chinese tea]. This is heartbreaking because tea originated in China and we see a huge amount of tea production every year,” Hu said.

In fact, China is not short of agricultural brands, but is enmeshed in an age of “wilderness,” according to Dang Guoying, a researcher with the Rural Development Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Dang told reporters on the sidelines of the conference that a large crowd of small Chinese brands cannot win out against Western giants. To spur domestic agricultural development, authorities should encourage brand-building rather than offering blueprints.

“On top of the agenda is our mission to find a carrier to hold the brand. It is usually giant agricultural cooperatives that do this job in the West. There are reportedly up to 1 million co-ops in China, which is in fact bad for brand-building,” Dang explained. Echoing the NDRC official, Dang also agreed that access to the internet could bring down the cost of agriculture.

“With the help of the internet, some less developed regions have become known in other regions, and business deals have been made. This pattern could promote basic infrastructure construction,” Dang said, adding that a beneficial cycle could be perpetuated in rural areas to boost sales as well as brand-building.

SOURCE:People's Daily


State Council to promote pilot program for land planning at provincial level

Updated: Apr 12,2017 5:10 PM  

The State Council approved an inter-department joint meeting system for land planning at the provincial level, as an effort to push forward pilot work in space planning in provinces.

According to the document, the joint meeting should promote the pilot program in provinces and study major issues encountered in the process under the lead of the State Council.

The joint meeting should also evaluate work results and promote successful practices. Meanwhile, it should study laws and regulations involved in space planning, and undertake other tasks from the central government.

Currently, the joint meeting is composed of the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Land and Resources, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, State Forestry Bureau, State Oceanic Administration, and State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping.

In the future, the joint meeting may bring in other members as needed.

 


Kenya thankful for China's food donation

Kenya is the latest beneficiary of a series of food donations from China that have been provided to African countries to help the continent mitigate food insecurity resulting from changes in weather patterns.

Beijing has announced a donation of 21,000 metric tons of rice worth Ksh2.25 billion ($21.9 million; 20.5 million euros; 17.5 million) to be distributed to hunger-ravaged Kenyans in 23 counties. The first shipment of food is expected to arrive in Kenya in about a month.

According to Henry Rotich, Kenya's treasury secretary, approximately 3 million Kenyans in both rural and urban areas are at risk of starvation.

The Chinese government responded to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's appeal in February for food aid from the international community, after declaring drought in the country a national disaster.

According to the national treasury, approximately 3 million Kenyans in both urban and rural areas are affected. Children under 5 years and expectant and lactating mothers are highly vulnerable to malnutrition.

"I wish to thank the government of China for the quick response to the president's appeal," Rotich said. The grant will go a long way toward supplementing the ongoing government efforts addressing the food crisis."

Rotich says the Kenyan government is working with the Chinese government on long-term mitigation measures like irrigation programs in drought-prone areas.

Liu Xianfa, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, says the donated rice will be able to support 1.4 million people for a month on average.

"China has always paid attention to the drought situation in Kenya. For the past three years, we have been mobilizing the Chinese community in the country to support drought victims through food and water donations.

Since late last year, the Chinese government has donated rice to several African countries to help them mitigate the food crisis. Beneficiaries include Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Sierra Leone.

Toward the end of February, Beijing donated 5,983 tons of rice worth Ksh22 billion ($6.1 million; 5.7 million euros; 4.9 million) to Uganda to support drought-stricken people in the country.

About 10.9 million Ugandans are experiencing acute food shortages, while 1.6 million have no food at all, according to Uganda Food Security Outlook for June through January.

Food security is attributed to prolonged severe drought, which has affected crop production, leading to increased food prices.

In September, the Chinese government donated 19,000 tons of rice worth $24.6 million to Zimbabwe. About 4 million people in the country are in need of food aid.

It also promised to donate 10,000 tons of urea fertilizer to be distributed to the farmers who were to take part in a government maize production program to produce 2 million tons of grain.

Handing over the donation, Chinese Ambassador Huang Ping was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying the grant was a fulfilment of the drought-relief pledge made to affected African countries by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in South Africa in December 2015.

"Today's event testifies to the strong ties between China and Zimbabwe as all-weather partners, especially in the area of food security and agriculture," Huang said.

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Wu Ping told Agriculture Minister Monty Jones recently that China will donate 6,300 tons of rice, equivalent to 126,000 50-kilogram bags of rice.

By the end of last year, China donated 6,000 tons of rice to be distributed to 271,266 households in 16 of 24 districts affected by drought in Malawi.

 SOURCE:China Daily


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