China to Host UN Ecological Gathering

China to Host UN Ecological Gathering

China will host this years global World Environment Day celebrations on June 5 in Hangzhou， Zhejiang Province， on the theme of air pollution.

Joyce Msuya， acting director of the United Nations Environment Programme， welcomed Chinas selection as host.“The country has demonstrated tremendous leadership in tackling air pollution domestically. It can now help spur the world to greater action.”

With its growing green energy sector， China has emerged as a climate leader. The country owns half of the worlds electric cars and 99 percent of the worlds electric buses， according to UN.

From 2013 to 2017， PM2.5 fell by 35 percent in Beijing， and by 25 percent in the Beijing-TianjinHebei region. Much of this reduction came from measures to control coal-fired boilers， provide cleaner domestic fuels， and industrial restructuring.

Xinjiang Deradicalization Program Details Unveiled

China has been striking at terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law and giving top priority to a preventive approach， according to a white paper The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang released on March 18.

The situation is severe and complex in Xinjiang； members of all ethnic groups are insistent in their demands that violent and terrorist crimes be punished， and that their lives and property be protected. Therefore， a lawbased deradicalization program has been launched in the region， effectively curbing the breeding and spread of religious extremism， it said.

While maintaining high pressure on terrorism and extremism， the local government fully respects and safeguards civil rights， including freedom of religious belief. While they make sure real criminals are punished， judicial organs in Xinjiang protect the defendants right to a defense and the right to use their own languages in litigation to guarantee procedural justice and protect basic civil rights， it said.

Specific measures adopted by Xinjiang include improving public wellbeing， promoting knowledge of the law through education， and offering education and aid through vocational education and training centers in accordance with the law.

New Relay Satellite Launched

The Tianlian II-01 was sent into orbit at an altitude of 36，000 km by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest Chinas Sichuan Province on March 31.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology （CAST） under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation， the satellite will provide data transmission services for satellites operating on medium- and low-Earth orbit and monitoring and control support for the launch of spacecraft.

A relay satellite is like a control station moved from the ground to space. From 2008 to 2016， China launched four relay satellites to form the Tianlian I system. It is the second country in the world to establish a relay satellite system which is able to cover the whole world.

As the first satellite of Chinas second-generation relay satellite system， Tianlian II-01 is compatible with the Tianlian I system， but its transmission speed and volume， coverage area， and life span have been greatly improved.

The construction of the Tianlian II relay satellite system will improve Chinas space-based communication infrastructure， and also provide services to countries along the Belt and Road.

Fentanyl Added to Controlled Narcotics List

China will add Fentanylrelated substances into the supplementary list of controlled narcotics with nonmedical use starting May 1. Fentanyl-related substances are defined as substances that have similar chemical structures to Fentanyl， according to a joint announcement made by the Ministry of Public Security， the National Health Commission， and the National Medical Products Administration.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid， similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent. It can be prescribed to treat patients with severe chronic pain. However， doctors have been extremely cautious over its use， since fentanyl-based drugs can form addictions and lead to deadly overdoses if abused.