News-Clips (2020.02-2020.03)

February 2020

Chinese vice premier inspects newly-delivered hospital to combat coronavirus

Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan,who leads a central government group to guide the epidemic control work in Hubei Province,inspects Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan,central China’s Hubei Province,Feb.2,2020.Entrusted by Xi Jinping,general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee,Sun Chunlan inspected Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) Hospital,a newly-delivered hospital to combat coronavirus in Wuhan.

From：Xinhua

China’s No.1 central document prioritizes poverty relief,improving rural weak links

Agriculture,rural areas and farmers’ issues remain China’s top priorities for the 17thconsecutive year as this year’s “No 1 central document,” released on Feb.5,stressed poverty alleviation and improving rural weak links.

As the first policy statement released by China’s central authorities each year,the document is seen as an indicator of policy priorities.This year it urged efforts on two main tasks — winning the battle against poverty and strengthening areas of weakness concerning agriculture,rural areas and farmers,as the country strives to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects this year.

From：Xinhua

WHO says new hospitals in China’s Wuhan remarkable effort,pays tribute to lab staff

The World Health Organization (WHO) said in Geneva on Feb.5 that the construction of new hospitals in China’s city of Wuhan for novel coronavirus patients is a remarkable effort,while paying tribute to lab technicians who have been under huge workload of diagnosis and testing.

From：Xinhua

Xi stresses law-based infection prevention,control

President Xi Jinping called for greater legislative,law enforcement,judicial and law observance efforts to strengthen the capacity to carry out law-based infection prevention and control on Feb.5,2020.

Xi,also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission,made the statement when presiding over the third meeting of the Commission for Overall Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee.

From：Xinhua

Charter flights bring home over 1,500 Hubei residents stranded overseas

China has dispatched 12 charter flights to fly more than 1,500 stranded Hubei residents home from overseas following the novel coronavirus outbreak,a civil aviation official said on Feb.6,2020.

From：Xinhua

Chinese UN envoy refutes U.S.accusations over counter-terrorism in Xinjiang

A Chinese UN envoy on Feb.7 refuted accusations by the United States over China’s counter-terrorism efforts in its northwestern region of Xinjiang.

At a Security Council meeting on the threat posed by the Islamic State,Wu Haitao,China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations,said the remarks by the U.S.representative regarding Xinjiang are “unwarranted.”

From：Xinhua

Collection of virus-related information should follow rule of law

Information collected for preventing and controlling the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak are not allowed to be used in any other situations,and the collection should be developed within groups of confirmed and suspected cases as well as those who had close contacts with the patients to avoid discrimination.

The collection requirements have been highlighted in a notice issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China,the country’s top internet watchdog,on Feb.9,2020.

From：chinadaily.com.cn

Xi Jinping vows to win people’s war against novel coronavirus

Xi Jinping,general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee,stressed resolutely winning the people’s war against pneumonia epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus on Feb.10,2020.

Wearing a mask,Xi,also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission,visited a residential community,a hospital and a district center for disease control and prevention in Beijing.

The inspection came at a time when many people outside the epidemic center of Hubei Province resumed work after an extended holiday.

From：Xinhua

China urges improved working conditions,care for medical staff

Chinese authorities have called for improving the working conditions and care for medical personnel at the frontline against the novel coronavirus pneumonia.

According to a circular jointly issued by the National Health Commission,the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance on Feb.11,the payment of the allowance for medical workers should be guaranteed.

From：Xinhua

Over 59 million Chinese elderly covered with commercial health insurance

About 59.18 million elderly people in China are covered with commercial health insurance,with the penetration rate standing at 35.5 percent,said China’s top insurance regulator on Feb.13,2020.

Covering almost all types of insurance,over 2,400 insurance products are available for people aged 65 and above,according to the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission.

From：Xinhua

China’s Yunnan lifts 1.37 million people out of poverty in 2019

About 1.37 million people bid farewell to poverty last year in southwest China’s Yunnan Province,the local government said on Feb.17,2020.

According to the provincial poverty alleviation conference,3,005 villages were no longer labeled poor as of the end of 2019,and the average income of farmers in poverty-stricken areas rose from 2,744 yuan (392 U.S.dollars) in 2013 to 9,249 yuan last year.

From：Xinhua

China stresses timely spring farming,stable employment

The State Council,China’s cabinet,stressed the importance of timely spring farming and a steady business environment for stable employment on Feb.18.

Local governments should take responsibility for guiding spring farming to ensure stable agricultural production and a bumper harvest,according to a statement released after a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

From：Xinhua

UN chief issues “call to action” on human rights

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Feb.24 issued a“Call to Action for Human Rights” at the 43rdregular session of the UN Human Rights Council,which opened here on February 24 and will last until March 20.

The call singles out seven areas where concerted efforts could achieve a quantum leap in progress or avert the risk of backsliding,Guterres explained.

From：Xinhua

UN rights chief urges cooperative action for more equitable,sustainable world

United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Feb.24 urged states to harness solutions and the power of cooperative action to ensure a more equitable and sustainable world.

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council here,Bachelet stressed that the “human rights agenda offers guidance to resolve grievances and conflicts,improve lives and create greater justice,more peace and more sustainable development.”

From：Xinhua

Chinese authorities stress differentiated epidemic control strategies

Chinese authorities stressed precise and differentiated strategies in the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic on Feb.24,2020.

Measures should be taken based on different conditions in each region to combat the epidemic,according to a meeting of the leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak,which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang,also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the leading group.

From：Xinhua

China stabilizes employment through various channels

China has rolled out policies to support enterprises to ensure existing jobs through measures like unemployment insurance and vocational training subsidies,assistant finance minister Ou Wenhan said on Feb.24,2020.

Besides,China has issued policies such as lower financing guarantee fees to alleviate the high financing costs of small and micro enterprises to help them cope with the epidemic,he said at a press conference.

From：Xinhua

China tightens management on elderly care institutions amid epidemic

Elderly care institutions in high-risk regions of novel coronavirus infection should suspend elderly people and staff from entering the facilities,according to a guideline issued by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs on Feb.25,2020.

From：Xinhua

China achieves better gender equality over 25 years:envoy

The 43rd session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council held a high-level panel discussion on Feb.25 commemorating the 25thanniversary of the“Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action” adopted at the 4thWorld Conference on Women in 1995.High-level representatives from more than 100 countries,diplomatic envoys in Geneva and representatives of international organizations attended the event.

From：en.humanrights.cn

All roads lead to human rights development

As there is more than one way to protect human rights,countries should respect the right of every country to choose its own path to achieve peace and development,said Chen Xu,China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva,at the ongoing 43rdsession of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Feb.26,2020.

From：en.humanrights.cn

China resolutely opposes groundless accusations on Xinjiang-related issues:Chinese envoy

A Chinese envoy in Geneva on Feb.26 categorically rejected certain Western countries’ accusations against China on Xinjiang-related issues.

Chen Xu,China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva,said at the ongoing 43rdsession of the UN Human Rights Council that the Chinese government has received more than 1,000 diplomats,officials of international organizations,journalists and religious leaders who visited Xinjiang,and they all concluded that what they have seen in Xinjiang is quite the opposite of what is presented by some Western media.

From：Xinhua

Chinese academics share views on human rights progress at UN session

Chinese scholars shared their views on China’s progress in human rights and developments in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the sidelines of the 43rdsession of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Feb.27,2020.Meanwhile,some countries at the international event continue to slander China’s Xinjiang policies.

Five academics,including three from Xinjiang,were on hand to share their personal stories and research on China’s progress in human rights protection from their perspectives on anti-terrorism,protecting ethnic culture,and novel coronavirus prevention efforts.

From：GLOBAL TIMES

Experts shed light on China’s human rights progress

Chinese human rights experts gathered in Geneva,Switzerland,on Feb.27 to discuss the progress China has made with human rights protection amid lingering terrorist threats and the sudden novel coronavirus outbreak.

The conference,a sideline event at the 43rdsession of the United Nations Human Rights Council,invited five scholars to share their observations and experience on China’s human rights development,including system construction,the fight against terrorism,research in ethnic group language and culture,as well as measures taken to control the virus outbreak.

From：chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese scholars share view on human rights protection at UN session

A group of scholars from the China Society for Human Rights Studies on Feb.27 shared their views on issues related to human rights protection on the sidelines of the ongoing 43rdsession of the UN Human Rights Council.

At a side event titled “Progress of Human Rights in China,” they introduced the country’s human right protection system,the history,culture and religions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,as well as China’s efforts to protect human rights in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

From：Xinhua

China and like-minded countries call on UN rights chief to heed voice of developing countries

China on Feb.27 delivered a joint statement on behalf of the like-minded countries (LMG) during the on-going 43rdsession of the UN Human Rights Council,calling on the UN rights chief to continue to heed the voice of developing countries.

The LMG commends UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet for underscoring dialogue and cooperation with states,and hopes that the High Commissioner will continue to heed the voice of member states,in particular the developing ones,and advance all categories of human rights in a balanced way.

From：Xinhua

March 2020

Support urged for grassroots employees

A meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on March 2 underlined the key role of communities in epidemic control and prevention and rolled out steps to beef up support and care for community workers.

The meeting of the leading group of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on coping with the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak called for unrelenting efforts in containing the contagion,with efforts to step up control and prevention at community level.

From：China Daily

UN acknowledges China’s leading role in utilization of renewable energies:Diplomat

China on March 2 appreciated the comprehensive and pragmatic report submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe,clean,healthy and sustainable environment.

The report introduced good practices of environmental protection in more than 170 countries,including China,according to Liu Hua,Special Representative for Human Rights of the Chinese Foreign Ministry,at the interactive dialogue held at the 43rdsession of the Human Rights Council.

From：Xinhua

Seminar on immigrant children’s rights held in Geneva

The permanent mission of China in Geneva and the permanent mission of Venezuela in Geneva held a seminar on immigrant children’s rights at the Palais Des Nations,Geneva on March 2.The seminar focused on the infringement of the rights of immigrant children in the US and called on the US to fulfill its obligations under the international human rights law.

From：en.humanrights.cn

Photo exhibition on Xinjiang launched in Geneva during UN Human Rights Council session

More than 100 pictures and videos presenting a beautiful,open,and richly-endowed Xinjiang were on display on March 2 inside the Palais Des Nations during the 43rdregular session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The exhibition — “Home： Glimpse of People from Various Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang” — has three divisions with respective themes of peace and stability,cultural prosperity,and religious harmony.

From：Xinhua

China relocates 9.3 million poor people to more inhabitable areas

China has relocated 9.3 million poor residents to more inhabitable areas over the past four years,the country’s top economic planning body said on March 4.

Among them,9.2 million residents have shaken off poverty,the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement on its website.

From：Xinhua

China improves health education services for migrant workers

Chinese authorities have been improving health education services for migrant workers to strengthen their awareness and ability of epidemic prevention amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak,an official said on March 7.

As China organizes transportation for migrant workers to return to work,multiple measures will be taken including body temperature monitoring before traveling,said Yang Wenzhuang,an official with China’s National Health Commission.

The return of migrant workers should be arranged in accordance with the different risk levels of various regions,Yang said,stressing that migrant workers do not need to pay for health certificates or tests and no extra financial burdens should be placed on them.

From：Xinhua

Xi extends solicitude to females fighting epidemic on Int’l Women’s Day

President Xi Jinping extended sincere solicitude to women fighting COVID-19 at frontline and in other fields on March 8,the International Women’s Day.

Xi,general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission,also expressed holiday greetings to women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life in the country.

From：Xinhua

Chinese envoy calls for ending human rights politicization

The 43rdsession of the UN Human Rights Council held a general debate on human rights situations on March 10.

To ensure all people enjoy human rights is a common ideal for humanity,and the Chinese people have been working hard towards it,said Liu Hua,Special Representative for Human Rights of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From：en.humanrights.cn

Report indicates narrowing income gap between men,women in China

The overall salary of working women in China is 17 percent lower than that of men,but the income gap is rapidly narrowing,according to China Women’s News on March 12,citing the latest report on the employment status of Chinese women.

The report,jointly released by cnwomen.com.cn and a leading human resource service provider zhaopin.com,showed that the income gap between men and women has been narrowed from last year’s 23 percent to 17 percent based on this year’s survey data.

From：Xinhua

Xinjiang to lift remaining 42,000 households out of poverty in 2020

Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will eradicate absolute poverty in 2020 by lifting the remaining 165,800 people from 42,000 households out of poverty and taking 10 counties off the poverty list,according to a press conference on March 12.

The region will continue to promote a series of policies and measures,including poverty alleviation through industries,employment transfer and relocation of people from inhospitable areas,to ensure the employment and stable income of the impoverished group,it said.

From：Xinhua

China issues report on human rights violations in U.S.

China on March 13 issued a report on the human rights violations in the United States.

Titled “The Record of Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2019,”the report said the facts detailed in the document show that “in recent years,especially since 2019,the human rights situation in the United States has been poor and deteriorating.”

The report was released by the State Council Information Office based on published data,media reports and research findings.

From：Xinhua

Chinese government allocates 117 billion yuan for epidemic control

Chinese governments at all levels have allocated a combined 116.9 billion yuan(16.7 billion U.S.dollars) of funds for epidemic prevention and control as of March 13,a finance ministry official said on March 14.

While continuing efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus,the Chinese government has rolled out a raft of measures to cushion the impact of the epidemic on the economy,Fu Jinling,an official at the Ministry of Finance said a press conference.

From：Xinhua

China tightens border quarantine against infectious diseases

People infected with quarantinable infectious diseases or suspected epidemic victims who refuse to receive isolated observation or fail to truthfully fill out their health declaration forms at border checkpoints,such as international airports,in China,could face criminal penalties,according to a guideline made public March 16.

The guideline was jointly released by the Supreme People’s Court,the Supreme People’s Procuratorate,the Ministry of Public Security,the Ministry of Justice and the General Administration of Customs amid the country’s efforts to strengthen quarantine measures to guard against imported COVID-19 cases.

From：Xinhua

China to deepen the reform of government functions,enhance employment stability

China will deepen the reform of government functions,foster new drivers of growth,cultivate new forms of industry in the digital economy and keep employment stable,the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on March 17.

From：Xinhua

Xi Jinping chairs leadership meeting on epidemic control,economic development

Xi Jinping,general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee,on March 18 chaired a leadership meeting to analyze the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic prevention and control as well as the economic development at home and abroad.

The meeting also made arrangements for coordinating the epidemic prevention and control with key work of economic and social development.

From：Xinhua

China shares experience on COVID-19 fight with int’l community

Chinese experts and officials have shared their experience on fighting the novel coronavirus with the international community through video conferences.

On March 18,Chinese experts and officials from health and customs departments shared information and experience about COVID-19 in a video conference with officials and healthcare specialists from the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and 24 African countries.

On March 19,officials and experts from about 10 European countries including France,Denmark,Switzerland,Ireland,Portugal and Albania held a video conference with their Chinese counterparts.

From：Xinhua

China urges U.S.to stop politicizing COVID-19

China urged the United States to stop politicizing COVID-19 and stigmatizing China,Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on March 23.

Geng made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a question regarding recent allegations from the U.S.side.

U.S.President Donald Trump told reporters on March 21 that he wished “China would have told us more about what was going on in China.” Meanwhile,the White House is reportedly launching a communications plan across multiple federal agencies that focus on accusing China of orchestrating a cover-up and creating a global pandemic.

From：Xinhua

China hopes U.S.will listen to rational voices,stop stigmatizing China:spokesperson

China hopes some individuals in the United States can listen to the rational voices of the world and at home and stop making wrong remarks that stigmatize China,Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on March 24.

Geng made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a question regarding U.S.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo using the term “Wuhan virus” again in his tweet on March 23,despite China’s strong oppositions against linking the virus with China or a specific Chinese city.

From：Xinhua

Border quarantine rules apply to all nationalities:judicial officials

Any Chinese or foreign citizen or stateless person who impairs frontier quarantine measures while entering or leaving China shall be equally held accountable in accordance with Chinese laws,officials with the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate said on March 24.

Chinese authorities have listed six kinds of behaviors that could constitute the crime of impairing frontier quarantine measures in a guideline,targeting individuals who spread or risk spreading a quarantinable infectious disease identified by the Chinese State Council,including plague,cholera,yellow fever and COVID-19.

From：Xinhua

China hopes U.S.joins int’l community to fight pande mic:FM spokesperson

China hopes the United States can work with China and the international community to jointly cope with the challenge brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and safeguard global public health security,a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on March 25.

Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks at a news briefing in response to the stopping of using “Chinese virus” by U.S.politicians.

From：Xinhua

Xi calls for all-out global war against COVID-19 at extraordinary G20 summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 26 called for a resolute all-out global war against the COVID-19 outbreak as leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) convened an extraordinary summit to coordinate multilateral response to the pandemic.

“It is imperative for the international community to strengthen confidence,act with unity and work together in a collective response,” Xi addressed the summit via video link in Beijing.

From：Xinhua

Xi chairs leadership meeting on COVID-19 response,economy

Xi Jinping,general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee,on March 27 chaired a leadership meeting to analyze the COVID-19 response and economic performance.

The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee made new arrangements on coordinating the COVID-19 response and economic and social development.

It also deliberated on two reports on poverty eradication.

From：Xinhua

Tibet’s anti-poverty feat points to institutional strength:article

China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has basically eradicated absolute poverty,a feat that shows the institutional strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics,according to an article published on March 28.

March 28 marks the Serfs’ Emancipation Day.Sixty-one years ago,more than 1 million people,or 90 percent of the region’s population at that time,were liberated from the feudal serfdom.

By far,Tibet has taken all counties off the poverty list.“Without the right path,there is no way people can get rid of poverty,” said the article by Ding Yong,a professor of Xizang Minzu University.

From：Xinhua

Webinar on human rights protection and epidemic control held

On March 28,China’s eight human rights education and training centers including the Human Rights Research Center of Nankai University and the Human Rights Research Center of Renmin University of China jointly held a webinar on human rights protection amid the COVID-19 outbreak.120 experts and scholars from 30 universities had an animated discussion on topics such as the right to subsistence,the right to know and to express,the protection of vulnerable people and personal freedom and rights equality during the epidemic control.

From：en.humanrights.cn