Switzerland

• Neighbors criticize Swiss skiing decision in fight against pandemic (China Daily)

Foreign Policy

• China has right to develop Yarlung Zangbo River, to stay in touch with India, Bangladesh: Chinese FM (Global Times)
• China ready to share development opportunities with Russia: Chinese premier (People's Daily)
• Meng Wanzhou Gets Phone Call From Chinese Ambassador to Canada (Caixin)
• Cooperation and shared benefits between China and S.Korea surely overweigh disagreements on kimchi origin: FM spokesperson (Global Times)
• China's tweet about Australia's war crime in Afghanistan further reveals hypocrisy of Australian politicians (People's Daily)
• China-EU decoupling not an option but Beijing must step up on markets, human rights, virus: German envoy (SCMP)
• Defense chief's Nepal visit signals resilient friendship (Global Times)

Domestic Policy

• Xi announces major victory in poverty alleviation (Xinhua)
• Agricultural Province's Former Governor Installed as Commerce Ministry Party Chief (Caixin)
• China's ageing population: how the gravity of greying will affect nation's plans to boost economy (SCMP)
• China to step up RCEP trade pact implementation (Xinhua)
• Chang'e 5 lands on moon, starts surface operations (China Daily)
• Chinese vice-premier urges unremitting efforts in HIV/AIDS fight (Xinhua)
• After Devastating Summer Floods, China to Pump 100 Billion Yuan Into Reservoir (Caixin)
• Li urges SCO countries to advance integrated growth (China Daily)
• CPC leadership reviews regulations on military political work, united front, Party members' rights (Xinhua)
• Cover Story: The Fight Over China's Law to Protect Personal Data (Caixin)

Beijing

• National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments completed for Beijing 2022 (Xinhua)
• BRI Green Development Institute launched in Beijing (China Daily)

Tibet

• Tibet improves drinking water safety for rural resident (People's Daily)

Xinjiang

• US to block import of cotton goods produced by China's leading supplier in Xinjiang (SCMP)
• Former Xinjiang deputy governor expelled from CPC for corruption, disloyalty, superstition (Global Times)

Hongkong

• Sentence of Joshua Wong, fellow HK secessionists rings bell for HK youngsters (Global Times)
• HKEX Launches Platform to Promote Disclosure on Green Bonds (Caixin)

Macau

• Macao to study legislating national security supporting laws (Global Times)

Taiwan

• US-Taiwan economic dialogue another show, expert says (China Daily)

Economy

• Reforms among SOEs a priority during 14th Five-Year Plan (China Daily)
• China Defines Banks That Are 'Too Big To Fall' (Caixin)
• China tightens export rules for sensitive tech, boosts power to retaliate against foreign sanctions (SCMP)

DPRK

• Top DPRK leader holds meeting to discuss Party Congress preparations (Xinhua)

Mongolia

• Speaker holds online meeting with provincial authorities (Montsame)
• EU and Mongolia discuss bilateral relations in development cooperation (Montsame)
• Strict-lockdown extended by 10 days in capital city and two aimags (Montsame)

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Neighbors criticize Swiss skiing decision in fight against pandemic (China Daily)
2020-12-04
French Prime Minister Jean Castex says random border controls will be introduced to stop people traveling to neighboring Switzerland to ski this winter, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Skiing, and more specifically the travel and apres-ski socializing, have been identified as contributors to the initial spread of the virus in Europe earlier this year. France, Germany and Italy have decided to shut their resorts this Christmas, with France hoping to reopen towards the end of January, but Switzerland is staying open, a decision which has proved sharply divisive. "The goal is to avoid French citizens getting contaminated. That will be done by performing random checks at the borders," Castex said on national television. The President of the Italian Health Council, Franco Locatelli, called the Swiss decision "disappointing" and said if necessary, people returning to Italy from Switzerland may have to be placed in quarantine. There has been anger in ski resorts on the border between France and Switzerland. In the French town of Chatel, the town hall has been fl ying the Swiss fl ag in protest at what major Nicolas Rubin told local radio was the government's failure to consult locals about the decision. "We've got a problem with the French government which shuts the slopes a month before Christmas while our Swiss neighbors keep theirs open," he told French radio. Over the last seven days, Switzerland has seen a surge in cases, with a reported 310 cases per 100,000 of population. By contrast, in Italy the figure is 281, in Germany it is 148 and France, 116. One of the most popular Swiss resorts, Verbier, is expecting 45,000 visitors for new year. Eloi Rossier, mayor of the municipality of Bagnes, in which it is situated, admitted there was an "extremely important" and "undeniable" economic aspect to the decision to stay open, but he was confident risks could be minimized. "It's not skiing that's dangerous for transmitting the virus, but the stuff that comes after skiing, the apres-ski," he said. "Here we have taken extremely strict measures to limit the risks." One of the most significant outbreaks at the start of the pandemic early in 2020 occurred at the Austrian resort of Ischgl, where it is believed skiers from up to 45 countries may have been infected. In September, a consumer group launched legal action against the Austrian government over the outbreaks at resorts in the western Tyrol. This Christmas, Austria will allow skiing to take place but only in limited numbers, and with anyone coming from abroad having to spend time in quarantine. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he hoped it would be possible "for a large part of our population to go skiing at least for the day". ^ top ^

China has right to develop Yarlung Zangbo River, to stay in touch with India, Bangladesh: Chinese FM (Global Times)
2020-12-03
It is China's legitimate right to develop the hydropower of Yarlung Zangbo River, Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday, noting that China will stay in touch with India, Bangladesh through existing channels. "Over the years, China has conducted sound cooperation with India and Bangladesh in flood reporting, flood control and disaster reduction, emergency response and other aspects. China will continue to stay in touch with India, Bangladesh through existing channels," said Hua Chunying, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry. China has always taken a responsible attitude toward the development and utilization of cross-border rivers and has implemented a policy of combining development and protection, Hua noted. She stressed that any project will be scientifically planned and demonstrated, with full consideration for the impact on the downstream area and the interests of the upstream and downstream. "The development of the project is still in preliminary planning and demonstration phase, and there is no need to read too much into it," Hua noted. The Chinese Embassy in India also released an official announcement on Wednesday in response to concerns in India raised by China's plan to build a large hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River, as the river passes through Southwest China, India and Bangladesh.  ^ top ^

China ready to share development opportunities with Russia: Chinese premier (People's Daily)
2020-12-03
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday expressed to Russia China's willingness to share development opportunities, expand two-way opening-up, and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation to strive for more achievements in various aspects of bilateral cooperation. That came as Li co-chaired the 25th regular meeting with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin via video link. Li said China and Russia, as the biggest neighboring countries of each other, have been following a policy of good-neighborliness based on mutual respect with an eye on realizing mutual benefits and win-win results. He hailed the two countries' cooperation amid COVID-19, as well as the sustained and high-level development of bilateral ties led by the two countries' leaders. Despite the withering global economy and sluggish trade and investment, Li said China and Russia made renewed progress in multiple fields. It is indicated by closer bilateral trade, the blooming development of emerging business forms, steady advancement of major projects of strategic importance in energy and other sectors, and new outcomes in the Far East and subnational cooperation. All these speak volumes about the strong complementarity and massive potential of bilateral cooperation, the premier added. "China is willing to work with Russia in drawing on the past achievements and experience of cooperation to inject new impetus into the sustained and sound development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," said Li. After listening to the relevant work reports delivered by the two sides, Li and Mishustin highly appreciated the effective and pragmatic work done over the past year, hailing the sound momentum in exchanges and cooperation between the two countries at multiple levels in various fields. Li pointed out it serves the interests of not only the two countries but also the world that the two countries make joint efforts in upholding the international order with the United Nations as the core and championing multilateralism and free trade. The premier said China is ready to increasingly align the Belt and Road Initiative with Russia's development strategies and strive for breakthroughs in trade, energy, agriculture, and other areas of cooperation. He added that China would also accelerate cooperation in areas such as joint manufacturing, peaceful utilization of nuclear resources, the digital economy, and medium and small-sized enterprises. He also called for enhanced cooperation in education, youth, tourism, and the Winter Olympics to consolidate the popular foundation of friendship. Mishustin commended Russia-China relations amid COVID-19 and said Russia is willing to work with China to fight the pandemic and enhance cooperation in the research and development of vaccines and medicines. He added that work will be done to get two-way trade and investment back on the track of growth as soon as possible, cement cooperation in industry, agriculture, transportation, energy and infrastructure, tap the potential in the digital economy and other new growth areas. Mishustin congratulated China on the successful landing of Chang'e-5 spacecraft on the near side of the moon late Tuesday and said Russia is willing to accelerate space cooperation between the two countries. He called on the two sides to enhance cooperation in basic and applied sciences, deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between local governments, and strengthen strategic coordination under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to promote the further development of bilateral ties. Li and his Russian counterpart also announced the passage of a joint communique and several bilateral cooperation documents. ^ top ^

Meng Wanzhou Gets Phone Call From Chinese Ambassador to Canada (Caixin)
2020-12-02
China's ambassador to Canada made a phone call Monday to Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.'s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, reiterating that China will earnestly urge Canada to release her as soon as possible and ensure her safe return to China. "Justice is in the heart of people — justice will surely come," Ambassador Cong Peiwu told Meng. She was arrested in December 2018 at Vancouver International Airport on a U.S. warrant charging her with bank fraud in representing Huawei to get around U.S. sanctions on Iran. As Meng's extradition case proceeds in Canada, she remains under house arrest at her Vancouver home. Meng's arrest is seen as a result of U.S.-China rivalry as Huawei has been a key target in the U.S. campaign against China's technology ascendancy. Last year, the Trump administration added Huawei to the U.S. "Entity List," cutting it off from American suppliers. Meng, daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, accused the U.S. government in a court filing of using her as a bargaining chip and misleading the Canadian government about evidence in the case. The extradition case is expected to continue until at least April 30 next year. ^ top ^

Cooperation and shared benefits between China and S.Korea surely overweigh disagreements on kimchi origin: FM spokesperson (Global Times)
2020-12-02
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said she wasn't aware that China and South Korea netizens are involved in an imbroglio over the origin of kimchi, after some Korean netizens accused China of appropriating their side dish. A China-led application to International Organization for Standardization (IOS) for paocai, the Chinese version of pickled cabbage, ignited the feud with protectors of kimchi culture on South Korean social media, who accused China of attempting to "steal the culture," according to media reports on Tuesday. Issuing the international standard for the paocai industry, which was led by Sichuan's Meishan Market Supervision Bureau, was the sixth food standard formulated by China under the ISO framework, according to the China Market Regulation News. The South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs seems to have tried to ease tensions by acknowledging that kimchi and paocai use different preserving methods and have their unique flavor, the Korea Herald reported on Monday. "Are there any disagreements on this? I'm not aware of it," Hua said when asked about the social media paocai-kimchi clash. She emphasized that cooperation and shared benefits between China and South Korea surely overweigh that. Many Chinese netizens were also puzzled by the "bitterness" of South Korean netizens, saying kimchi and paocai are two different types of food. ^ top ^

China's tweet about Australia's war crime in Afghanistan further reveals hypocrisy of Australian politicians (People's Daily)
2020-12-01
When both the Australian society and the rest of the international community are sending strong condemnation to Australian soldiers who allegedly committed war crimes in Afghanistan, some Australian politicians, on pins and needles, accused China after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted a satirical cartoon featuring an Australian soldier murdering an Afghan child on Monday. According to a recent report released by the Australian military, some Australian soldiers were allegedly involved in murder of innocent civilians and prisoners during their mission to Afghanistan. The severe crimes committed by these Australian soldiers in Afghanistan are irrefutably evident and undeniable. The report, released by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) on Nov. 19, said a total of 25 current or former Australian special forces soldiers had taken part in unlawful killings across 23 separate incidents and covered up what they did. The findings of the report were based on a four-year inquiry into the misconduct of Australian forces in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016. In total, 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners were killed and another two were cruelly treated, said the report. What the report revealed is astonishing and appalling. In some cases, elite Australian troops shot adult men and boys in groups, blindfolded them and slit their throats, and forced new recruits to shoot prisoners for "practice." Such cruel acts seriously violated international conventions and betrayed human conscience. They have sparked strong condemnation in Australia and the rest of the world. Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia, said in a statement that those who are responsible for these crimes, and any efforts to conceal them, must be brought to justice. The families of those victims must be compensated for their unjust loss, he added. Australian newspaper The Australian called the cruel acts "the most shameful page in Australian military history." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the report as truly shocking, saying the unlawful killing by Australian soldiers has undermined Australia's international standing. There were also voices made to support China's stand after Australia made groundless accusations against China to divert attention. Some internet users pointed out that Zhao's tweet was an accurate expression based on the Australian report and the war crimes committed against the Afghan civilians by Australian soldiers. What the Australian government should do now is to reflect on its misconducts and hold the perpetrators accountable, make a former apology for the Afghan people, and make a solemn promise to never commit such horrible crimes again. However, out of utter discomfiture, some Australian officials only shifted the blame to China, which fully revealed their hypocrisy. It seems like they believe those who killed innocent Afghan civilians and prisoners are guiltless, while it is wrong to condemn the crime. Some Australian politicians have always posed as so-called human rights defenders, but what they worship is only double standards. They should reflect on themselves and think more about what measures shall be taken to stop their country from violating human rights and justice, from interfering in other countries' internal affairs in the name of human rights issues, and from engaging in political manipulation. The lives of the Afghan people deserve to be respected. Australia owes an explanation to them and the world. It's hoped that Australia can face the problem, rather than trying to divert attention or play the blame game. ^ top ^

China-EU decoupling not an option but Beijing must step up on markets, human rights, virus: German envoy (SCMP)
2020-11-30
A decoupling between China and Europe is not a policy option for Germany, but Beijing should ensure equal footing for market competition and address concerns about human rights, Germany's ambassador to China, Clemens von Goetze, said. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, von Goetze called on Beijing to engage in open dialogue with Europe about Hong Kong while deepening cooperation on global issues, including the coronavirus pandemic and climate change. China reached out to European leaders after the United States election as hopes surged across the Atlantic for better US-Europe bilateral relations during the upcoming presidency of Atlanticist Joe Biden, which may in turn lead to more coordinated pressure on Beijing. "The EU and Germany have and do pursue policies both towards the US and China that are based on our own German and European interests and values," said the ambassador, who has served as Berlin's envoy in Beijing since September 2018. He said the US was a key partner on economy, security and values for Germany, but relations with China also mattered. "Also with China, we have developed close and good relations over the past 40 years and it is rather clear that for Germany and Europe a decoupling between China and Europe is not in our interest," he said. "Together with China, we want to work on common solutions for global challenges like fighting climate change and shaping global trade relations. That is our position and will continue in that way." After the US election, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart Heiko Maas published a rare joint opinion piece in The Washington Post that the EU and the US should consult each other to coordinate an approach to China on human rights, digital infrastructure and fair trade. Beijing – from President Xi Jinping to Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Beijing's envoys in the bloc – has assured the European Union that it will still be a key partner and that China supports the EU to seek strategic autonomy. Despite the close economic engagement, Beijing has faced difficult bilateral challenges with the European Union and its member states since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. China's pandemic-control narrative and combative diplomacy fuelled a backlash in the bloc and conflicts have escalated over the national security law in Hong Kong and alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. "Our bilateral relations are always embedded in our membership of the European Union. Germany acts also in solidarity and in close coordination with the European institutions and with our European partners," von Goetze said. Germany, which holds the presidency of the European Union for the second half of the year, has criticised China's deteriorating human rights record during bilateral dialogues and at the United Nations Assembly. He said the two countries differed in political systems and values and such differences should be discussed in "an open manner". "We have repeatedly addressed issues over Hong Kong and Xinjiang, together with our European and international partners," he said. "This is not only something that concerns our German-Chinese relations, but Europe as a whole." The national security legislation in Hong Kong, effective on June 30, has met a growing backlash in the West which deems it detrimental to autonomy of the city. The disqualification of opposition members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council is "a further severe blow to the political pluralism and freedom of opinion" in the city. "Our objective remains to keep the principle of 'one country, two systems' with autonomy for Hong Kong, with political pluralism and the freedom of opinion guaranteed, and that China keeps the obligations made in this respect. And we will continue to engage in that direction," he said. Von Goetze called for China to open market access and level the playing field for European companies, which are key issues in bilateral investment treaty talks. Beijing and Brussels held the 34th round of the bilateral talks, and the next round is scheduled for the second week in December, although both sides remain committed to concluding the deal by the end of 2020. "Whether the deal can be reached by the end of the year depends on the political will of both sides to find the necessary common ground," he said, adding that a level playing field for European companies should be guaranteed. "That is why we have to insist that the Chinese market is as open for European companies as the European market is for Chinese companies, that they are not disadvantaged in competition and that they have the same chance to participate in public tenders as Chinese companies. These are essential points and that's exactly what we want to achieve in the negotiations." Germany released its Indo-Pacific guidelines in September, making it the second European country after France to join the Indo-Pacific strategy, seeking a stronger presence and diversified engagement in the region. German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said this month that China was a "system challenge" and Germany would send a frigate to patrol in the Indo-Pacific next year and German officers would be deployed on Australian avny units. The ambassador said Germany took a holistic approach to the region, including engaging in military cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries and continuing to hold regular excursions in the region. "We have not yet worked out the exact route for the frigate and there will be navy ships coming on a regular basis and they will take different routes and operate on their own," he said. Von Goetze said he also saw "strong interest" in working jointly with China and the US to fight climate change. "If the US would rejoin international efforts to fight climate change, that's most welcome. But I don't see that this contradicts the ongoing cooperation between Europe and China. We have to gain as much support worldwide as possible to fight climate change," he said. ^ top ^

Defense chief's Nepal visit signals resilient friendship (Global Times)
2020-11-29
Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe paid a working visit to Nepal, being the highest ranking Chinese official to visit the plateau country after China's top leader visited Kathmandu in October 2019. When Wei met President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister and Minister for Defense KP Sharma Oli, they discussed economic cooperation amid the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and military exchanges. Wei noted that China firmly supports Nepal to safeguard its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will continue assisting Nepal's military development, contributing to regional peace and stability. Wei also discussed the international and regional situations and bilateral diplomatic and military relations with Nepal's Chief of Army Staff General Purna Chandra Thapa. The visit amid the ongoing pandemic offers an opportunity for the two countries to communicate face to face and signifies the friendly ties between the two neighbors, which will boost mutual trust between the two countries and the two militaries, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Sunday. Nepal is still fighting the coronavirus and the Chinese military had offered help. In May, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force sent protective outfits, medical masks and thermometers to the Nepalese military. India was closely watching Wei's visit as it always does on China-Nepal interactions. Wei's visit came at a time when India and China are in the midst of a border standoff, with Indian media reporting the visit as China drawing Nepal to its side. Wei's trip came days after Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Nepal from Thursday to Friday. Indian officials have paid frequent visits to Nepal since late October, including Samant Goel, chief of India's Research and Analysis Wing. Sources from India's intelligence department told the Washington Post that India's high-level visits "worried Beijing," propelling the latter to dispatch a high-ranking defense official to rebalance India's influence on Nepal. Indian media The Print called Wei's visit as yet another attempt by China to lure Nepal away from India. But interaction between the Chinese and Nepalese militaries has been a tradition. Wei received General Thapa in Beijing in June 2019. Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokhrel attended the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing in October 2019, during which the two defense ministers signed a 150 million yuan ($22.8 million) deal on Chinese military assistance. The two militaries have held joint special forces drills for three consecutive years. India is groundlessly accusing China of inflaming the border issue and stoking anti-India sentiment in Nepal when India itself has territorial disputes with Nepal in Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura. Nepal has called to settle the border issues via diplomatic channels based on history and evidence. China is also concerned about the rift within Nepal's ruling party and its attitude toward the strategic alliance between India and the US. Qian noted it is not surprising that India wants to make a fuss over the border issue. "Wei's visit to Nepal will reiterate the support for Nepal's national interests and territorial sovereignty. China and Nepal are strategic partners," Qian said "As a major country and neighbor, China is bound to give Nepal moral and diplomatic support." Wei's visit is also a warning for anti-China hardliners in India who do not reflect on themselves but seek to sow discord between China and Nepal and provoke trouble, Qian said. ^ top ^

Xi announces major victory in poverty alleviation (Xinhua)
2020-12-04
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said Thursday that China has accomplished its poverty alleviation target of the new era as scheduled and achieved a significant victory that impresses the world. Through eight years of sustained work, China has lifted all rural poor population under the current standard out of poverty and nearly 100 million poor people have shaken off poverty, Xi made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. China has removed all poor counties from the poverty list, and eradicated absolute poverty and regional poverty, Xi said. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has put poverty alleviation in a more prominent position, adopted significant measures with originality and speciality and fought the largest and most vigorous battle in human history against poverty, Xi said. The significant victory in poverty alleviation has provided a solid foundation for achieving the first centenary goal and greatly enhanced people's sense of gain, happiness and safety, Xi said. During the poverty alleviation efforts, the CPC Central Committee has upheld the concept of putting people first and taken ensuring a moderately prosperous society for the poor and people of all ethnic groups as the starting point and final goal, Xi said. At present, the country still faces acute problems caused by unbalanced and inadequate development as well as onerous tasks of consolidating and expanding poverty alleviation achievements, said the meeting. The meeting called for efforts to keep the existing supportive policies, financial support and assistance basically stable. China should improve the monitoring and assistance mechanism to prevent people from falling back into poverty and continue to track the development of counties, villages and people that have been lifted out of poverty, the meeting noted. The meeting stressed efforts to ensure steady employment and enhance vocational skills training for people who have been lifted out of poverty, amid moves to strengthen cooperation between the eastern and western regions to boost employment. China will work to beef up follow-up support for relocated people to ensure that they can settle down, stay employed and steadily get rich, according to the meeting. With the existing social security system providing basic support, the country will also help families with semi-able-bodied members find jobs nearby so as to ensure their basic livelihood, the meeting noted. ^ top ^

Agricultural Province's Former Governor Installed as Commerce Ministry Party Chief (Caixin)
2020-12-03
Wang Wentao (王文涛), former governor of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, has been made party chief of the ministry of commerce, replacing Zhong Shan who has reached the retirement age for ministerial level official of 65, according to a statement released by the commerce ministry on Wednesday. Wang, 56, became governor of Heilongjiang in 2018 after seven years as the deputy provincial level official in China's eastern provinces including Shandong and Jiangxi. He graduated from the department of philosophy at the elite Fudan University in Shanghai in the 1980s, and later worked at a local aerospace university for about 13 years before entering politics at the city's Songjiang district government. Wang became the latest appointment in the ministerial level reshuffle at the State Council, China's cabinet, this year, with a total of seven ministries' top party officials being replaced by a younger generation of politicians. His arrival at the commerce ministry also comes as Beijing is preparing to engage with a new incoming U.S. administration after former Vice President Joe Biden won the presidential election last month. Biden said in an interview with the New York Times that he won't make any immediate decisions regarding the U.S.-China phase one deal and U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese imports by the outgoing president Donald Trump's administration. U.S. demands for China to buy a greater quantity of agricultural products form a significant part of the trade deal. ^ top ^

China's ageing population: how the gravity of greying will affect nation's plans to boost economy (SCMP)
2020-12-03
China's elderly population is on pace to surpass the total population of the United States in 15 years as Chinese baby boomers are set to retire, threatening President Xi Jinping's pursuit of common prosperity and his goal to catch up with other nations in terms of economic well-being. The nation's senior citizens, defined as those aged 60 and above – the threshold for male workers to claim pensions – will rise to 300 million in five years, up from 254 million last year, according to an estimate by Civil Affairs Minister Li Jiheng. And the greying trend will continue, with the number expected to jump to 400 million by 2033 and peak at 487 million by 2053. Considering mainstream estimates that the national population will peak around 2030, this is likely to result in one out of every three or four Chinese being senior citizens in the middle of the century. "The tide of greying brings huge challenges and impacts to our economic and social development," Li wrote in an article included in a recently published book that comprehensively outlines the nation's five-year plan for 2021-25 and its 2035 development blueprint. "Forward-looking thinking and strategic planning are needed to push forward policy arrangements for issues such as childbirth, childcare, education, retirement, pension, income distribution and services." Li's warning came as the country is conducting its seventh once-a-decade population census, which will provide a clearer picture of the demographic structure and welfare of senior citizens when the results are released early next year. The ageing issue has been discussed among policymakers and academics in China for years, and from various perspectives such as implicit pension deficits, labour force participation, productivity and inequality. The situation in Japan, one of the most aged countries in the world, is often cited as a warning because of some similarities in terms of its export-driven growth model, debt-fuelled boom and demographic structure. Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for the Asia-Pacific region at investment firm Natixis, warned that population ageing will further weigh on China's potential labour input, and thus weaken its current competitiveness. However, there is still some leeway to mitigate the impact. "The economic transformation towards more capital and skilled-labour-intensive activities will help buffer such a shock, but this needs more efficient organisation of the factors that would enhance labour productivity," she wrote in a note on Tuesday. Beijing already altered its one-child policy, introduced in the late 1970s, five years ago, allowing couples to have two children. But birth rates remain far below expectations. Li explicitly said that the current birth rate has already dropped below the government's warning line and must be lifted to "an appropriate range" to offset the nation's declining labour force. Rather than a potential relaxation of the two-child policy, Beijing's decision makers have expressed a greater willingness to tap into the "longevity dividend", including a gradual postponement of the retirement age along with more investment in elderly care. Li noted that there are now only about 7.75 million beds in the country's 204,000 elderly care facilities – far below demand. "Our concerns about the inadequacy of public health facilities and the fragility of the social security system have intensified in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic, which highlighted substantial weaknesses in these systems," investment bank Credit Suisse said in an 85-page thematic report released on August 24. The upside is that upcoming retirees – who grew up in a time of great optimism as living standards improved in line with China's open-door policies that started in the late 1970s – are likely to be more willing to spend, and that would complement the current efforts to boost domestic consumption. Citing a survey of 1,500 middle-aged and elderly consumers in 59 cities, the investment bank said the 245 million boomers, defined as those born in the 1960s, are wealthier and more willing to spend on leisure and high-quality health care services than current retirees. "The travel, entertainment and fitness industries look set to benefit the most," it said. ^ top ^

China to step up RCEP trade pact implementation (Xinhua)
2020-12-03
The State Council, China's cabinet, has made arrangements to step up implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). More work should be done to uphold free trade and open up new space for win-win cooperation, according to a statement released Wednesday after a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang. The meeting, urging domestic work to ensure RCEP implementation, called for coordinated efforts to promote the opening-up of trade in goods and services, investment and other fields, along with higher standards and rules for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, intellectual property protection, e-commerce, as well as economic and technological cooperation. As much as 90 percent of intra-regional trade in goods will be made tariff free when the agreement get implemented. To properly implement the RCEP, the meeting urged measures for tariff reductions, simplified customs procedures, as well as unified and mutual recognition of product standards. The meeting also demanded efforts to honor China's commitments on the foreign-investment negative list and all-round protection of intellectual property rights. The meeting, which was held Tuesday, also passed the draft rules on government inspections. ^ top ^

Chang'e 5 lands on moon, starts surface operations (China Daily)
2020-12-02
At the climax of a landmark mission, China's Chang'e 5 robotic lunar probe has started gathering lunar rocks and soil after landing on the moon late on Tuesday night. Chang'e 5 is expected to work for about two days in a region to the north of Mons Ruemker, a mountain overlooking a vast lunar mare called Oceanus Procellarum, or the Ocean of Storms, on the western edge of the moon's near side. After the surface operations are completed, it will bring about 2 kilograms of lunar samples back to Earth in mid-December, 44 years after the last substances from the moon were returned to Earth, according to the China National Space Administration. As the landing procedures began as scheduled at 10:57 pm, the lander-ascender combination of the 8.2-metric ton Chang'e 5 started its 7,500-newton-thrust engine to reduce its flying speed and began to descend toward the moon from about 15 kilometers above the lunar surface. ^ top ^

Chinese vice-premier urges unremitting efforts in HIV/AIDS fight (Xinhua)
2020-12-01
Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan has called for unremitting efforts in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in order to improve people's health and well-being. Sun, who is also head of the AIDS working committee of the State Council, made the remarks as she visited Beijing Youan Hospital on Tuesday, which marks the 33rd World AIDS Day. Sun stressed the need to prioritize HIV/AIDS prevention, while combining prevention with treatment, and called for adopting coordinated measures, such as publicizing related knowledge to enhance public awareness, HIV testing and treatment. She urged the development of plans for fighting HIV/AIDS in key areas, with a view to reducing the prevalence of the disease within three to five years. China has made notable progress in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment over the past five years, with HIV transmission through blood transfusion basically eliminated, while mother-to-child transmission has reached an all-time low, Sun said. She added that more than 90 percent of AIDS patients have received medical attention and the overall HIV/AIDS epidemic situation remains at a low level. Noting the new challenges in the fight against the disease, Sun underscored the importance of prevention and control at the source, expanding HIV/AIDS screening, achieving sci-tech breakthroughs in prevention and treatment, and enhancing training for community-level medical personnel. ^ top ^

After Devastating Summer Floods, China to Pump 100 Billion Yuan Into Reservoir (Caixin)
2020-12-01
China will invest 100 billion yuan ($15.2 billion) to reinforce reservoirs across the country over the next five years to enhance China's flood prevention capabilities, the Ministry of Water Resources announced Monday. China has more than 98,000 reservoirs in total, and the ministry has been strengthening those deemed unsafe for over a decade. Some 66,000 have been reinforced, with 16,000 left to go, the Xinhua News Agency reported last year. This summer South China experienced some of its worst flooding since 1998, and the reservoirs were vital in preventing it from being even more severe. However, the flooding also served to highlight the need to step up efforts to improve unsafe reservoirs. Ruan Limin, director of the department of operation management at the Ministry of Water Resources, said at Monday's press conference that the safety of reservoirs in China has been greatly improved after rounds of reinforcement projects led by the state. In the last 20 years, the dam failure rate in China has stood at 0.45%, lower than the world-recognized low dam's failure rate of 1%, and in general a condition that is thought to be manageable. ^ top ^

Li urges SCO countries to advance integrated growth (China Daily)
2020-12-01
Premier Li Keqiang called upon the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to proactively foster new drivers of growth in areas such as the digital economy, promote high-quality development and pursue a green economic recovery. Li made the remark at the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was held via video link on Monday. The SCO meeting, hosted by India, came on the heels of the organization's 20th meeting of the Council of Heads of State, which was held via video link on Nov 10. The premier highlighted in his remarks the need to further consolidate the foundation of integrated development of the SCO, saying that it is important to adhere to openness and cooperation and to improve the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the region. The SCO must work to ensure that industry and supply chains are unimpeded and to establish a network of fast lanes for essential travel within the region, he said. He urged better alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of various member countries to promote high-quality connectivity in the region. The leading role of scientific and technological innovation must be amplified so as to spawn the growth of more new industries and business models, he said. Li also recalled joint efforts by SCO member states to make a joint response against the COVID-19 pandemic and to work together in safeguarding the regional development and stability. Going forward, Li said, the organization must prioritize efforts to create a safe and stable development environment and continue to conduct joint drills on counterterrorism and cooperation on eradicating extremism. The SCO must bolster its governance capacity on data security and safeguard regional peace and stability, he said. China supports the national reconciliation process of Afghanistan and will help the nation achieve stability and development at an early date, he added. Li urged the organization to explore new room for cooperation in areas such as health, culture and sports and to expedite cooperation in the research and development of vaccines and pharmaceuticals. He reiterated China's pledge to make its COVID-19 vaccines a global public good once they are ready for use so as to contribute to the availability and affordability of vaccination. China will continue to pursue two-way opening-up and investment, develop an open world economy and ensure the smooth flow of global industry and supply chains, he said. The country will unwaveringly follow a path of peaceful development, adhere to an opening-up strategy featuring win-win outcomes and remain committed to sharing opportunities with the world during its own development, he added. Together with other leaders from SCO member states, Li signed a joint communique and approved a raft of cooperation agreements covering areas such as trade and the economy. All parties at the meeting also agreed to jointly fight various forms of terrorism, safeguard the peace and stability of the region and bolster people-to-people exchanges in areas regarding youth and culture, according to a news release after the meeting. ^ top ^

CPC leadership reviews regulations on military political work, united front, Party members' rights (Xinhua)
2020-11-30
The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee met on Monday to review regulations on the political work in the armed forces, the Party's united front work and safeguarding Party members' rights. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting. The political work is the lifeline of the people's armed forces, which can only be strengthened, not weakened, according to a statement issued after the meeting. The statement highlighted the role of amending regulations on political work in the armed forces, noting that it could strengthen the Party's leadership over the military political work and promote the full implementation of the strategy of enhancing the military's political loyalty in the new era. Such measures would help ensure the armed forces are always under the absolute Party leadership and always capable of effectively fulfilling designated missions in the new era, thus contributing to the cause of delivering the Party's goal of building a strong military in the new era and building a world-class military in all respects, the statement said. The military should abide by the fundamental principle of absolute Party leadership over the armed forces, said the statement, adding that the practice of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission assuming full responsibility for military affairs should be entirely enforced. It called for efforts to educate members of the armed forces through Xi's thinking on strengthening the military to make sure the military stays absolutely loyal, pure and reliable. The CPC Central Committee has always attached great importance to the united front and related work, the statement said. Amending the Party's regulations on the united front work is a major task for the CPC Central Committee to exercise full, strict and rule-based governance over the Party, and an important measure to consolidate and deepen the principles of Party and state institution reform concerning the united front, it added. The statement emphasized that it is necessary to strengthen the Party's centralized and unified leadership over the united front work, and carry out the united front work more scientifically with higher standards and improved institutions. It called on Party committees at all levels to study and fully implement the regulations to advance the cause of the patriotic united front continuously. To bring to date and revise the regulations on safeguarding Party members' rights is conducive to fully reflecting the strengths of the Party leadership system and letting all Party members rally closely around the CPC Central Committee, so as to work together to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, the statement noted. It added that Party members who exercise their rights must fulfill their obligations, assume responsibilities and obey the disciplines. Party organizations at every level should strengthen the organization and leadership for the enforcement of the regulations in order to ensure all measures are earnestly implemented and encourage their members to play an exemplary role in the new journey, the statement said. Efforts should also be made to guide Party members on carrying out democratic oversight to create an honest and upright political environment, taking a resolute stand against all instances of malpractice and corruption and all acts that may shake the Party's foundation or hinder the Party's cause, it added. ^ top ^

Cover Story: The Fight Over China's Law to Protect Personal Data (Caixin)
2020-11-30
[…] A string of high-profile data breaches in recent years has strengthened public calls for the government to pass a unified law safeguarding the personal information of citizens. In the first seven months this year, more than 8,000 apps and 478 companies were penalized by regulators for violating data collection rules. The state's use of the burgeoning new technology is also seen as a major problem. Earlier this month, internet regulators cited 35 mobile apps for violating personal data collection rules, including several operated by local government agencies. In response, China's top lawmakers are reviewing a draft law on personal data protection. It would be the first such legislation in the country to regulate collection of personal data including online shopping records and biometric features. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) released the draft Personal Information Protection Law Oct. 21 seeking public comment after completing the first of the three reviews of the legislation. The eight-chapter law would provide overarching protection for China's 940 million internet users, who are increasingly concerned about their data security as new technologies powered by big data continue penetrating every aspect of social life. The draft law includes a section defining the state's role in personal data collection, requiring government agencies to follow the same consent principles as businesses, with exceptions for certain conditions specified by law and regulations. China's State Council has been studying legal protection of personal information since 2003, but it wasn't until 2017 that work on a unified piece of legislation formally started. Currently, several statutes share responsibility for privacy protection, including an official Standing Committee decision on protecting online data, a Criminal Law amendment, the Cybersecurity Law and the newly passed Civil Code. The draft law defines personal information as that which is "recorded by electronic or other means in relation to identified or identifiable natural persons, not including anonymized information." Significantly, it would enshrine the principle of informed consent, meaning that all entities that handle personal data would have to clearly inform individuals in advance of how they plan to use the information and request explicit consent of individuals or their legal guardians before doing so. The document also sets severe penalties for violations that are comparable to those of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which is seen as the toughest privacy and security law in the world. Caixin learned that this sparked debate among companies in the tech and advertising sectors, which argued that strict rules will hurt business growth. Meanwhile, some legal experts expressed concern that the document still lacks specifics and details that may impede implementation. A person close to the legislative work said there is still time for the new law to be revised and lawmakers are trying to strike a balance among protection of personal privacy, business growth and the public interest. "In the future, data flow is not only an asset but also a responsibility in both business and legal aspects," said Deng Zhisong, a senior partner of Dacheng Law Offices in Beijing. There have been cases showing that the issue can be a matter of life or death. In 2016, a high school student in Shandong province died of a heart attack after being swindled of nearly 10,000 yuan (about $1,500 at the time) by phone scammers who illegally obtained her personal information. The case exposed a failure by local educational authorities to protect personal information and sparked a public outcry for legal action. Chinese net users have found that they are surrounded by expanding volumes of highly personalized online content. A brief search of certain products on major e-commerce sites may lead to a series of pop-up ads for similar goods. "The one who knows me best is not myself but the internet giants," said one online shopper. Behind the scenes is advanced data analysis technology that's widely used by internet companies to create a portrait of each user for highly targeted marketing. By gathering vast amounts of user data, tech giants like Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings can precisely profile users and predict their demands based on daily spending, travel and interests and use the information to direct users to goods and services they are more likely to buy. The new data protection law may change that by setting stricter requirements on what information companies can collect from users and how they can use it, several industry sources said. According to the draft law, data collectors must inform individuals about why their personal data would be collected and how the information would be used and obtain explicit consent in advance. Individuals would have the right to request corrections or deletions under the draft measure, and entities handling personal information would not be allowed to collect more than they need to complete stated tasks or to refuse a product or service if an individual declines to give consent or later withdraws it. Such requirements are "very tough" for companies, internet sector representatives argued at a November meeting to discuss the new law, Caixin learned. They said the requirements are difficult to implement and would add to companies' compliance costs, hurting their revenue from advertising. The draft grants an exemption to the consent rules when data is anonymized, meaning identifying particulars are removed. However, internet company sources said it would still hurt their marketing operations as anonymized information will make it impossible for companies to target users with customized content. "The days of easy access to vast user data are past," one industry expert said. With stricter rules on data collection to protect privacy, internet companies will face greater tests for their data analysis technology, the expert said. An advertising industry source said the proposed rules are too strict and lack specifics. "There are indeed messes in the industry as data usage has lacked regulations for a long time," he said. "But it won't be simply fixed by one general rule." […] He Yuan, a data legislation expert at Shanghai Jiaotong University, said the legislation needs to specify the legitimate rights of companies in data collection to leave room for businesses to grow. "The whole new economy is built on the basis of data, and personal information is the most valuable part," He said. "The draft law emphasizes privacy projection but without enough words on how the information can be used." "Government agencies managing public affairs and services collect a huge amount of personal data, but at the same time, they are rule makers and regulators," said Zhang Xinbao, a legal expert who participated in drafting the law. Zhang said there still needs to be further detail on requirements for government bodies. Several members of the NPC Standing Committee suggested further specifying rules on government departments, including clearer requirements on the scope of data collection, the procedures to follow and the period of data storage. Wang Xixin, a law professor at Peking University, said the section on data collection by the state should be expanded into a stand-alone chapter to include more-detailed requirements. Government agencies need to seek a balance between data management efficiency for the public interest and protection of individual's privacy, Wang said. The draft law also stipulates the use of surveillance systems and personal identification devices in public areas, requiring that such data be used only for public security purposes and not be shared with other parties without individuals' consent. The regulation is seen as a long-awaited response to the expanding use of facial recognition technology. Hangzhou's Guo said the draft legislation represents "an improvement" but needs to go further as the wording is vague enough to be manipulated. He suggested that lawmakers introduce a licensing system and more-detailed requirements on the use of facial recognition in public venues. The draft law proposes to slap a maximum fine of 50 million yuan ($7.42 million) or the equivalent of as much as 5% of revenue from the previous year on those that illegally handle personal information, among the toughest penalties in the world. "The heavy penalty sends a signal of tough oversight and reflects the urgent needs of privacy protection," said Chen Yu, partner of King & Capital Law Firm. However, the severe penalties drew objections from businesses as many said they worried that the draft may offer local authorities excessive room to impose punishment. Some industry sources and legal experts said the draft document doesn't provide a clear explanation of which department should lead enforcement of the law. According to the draft, oversight of privacy protection would be shared by several central government agencies as well as local government departments, which could lead to overlapping supervision, experts said. Some experts said China should follow the EU in creating a single regulatory agency to take on overarching oversight. But others said the creation of a unified regulator would be difficult in practice as it would require a massive government reshuffle. Fang said a more feasible way for China would be to set up a regulatory body to take unified responsibility in setting rules and standards and to supervise local authorities in enforcement. "There are over 20 central government agencies that have privacy protection duties, and each of them has local branches down to county level," said Wang Rong, a data policy expert at Tencent Research Institute. "Giving them great law enforcement power will create a battlefield of interests." ^ top ^

National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments completed for Beijing 2022 (Xinhua)
2020-12-03
The National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments has been completed ahead of Beijing 2022, according to the Beijing Major Projects Construction Headquarters Office on Thursday. Located in Shunyi District of Beijing, the National Ice Sports Arena for People with Impairments consists of a paralympic ice hockey competition training hall, wheelchair curling training hall and comprehensive building which includes an athlete apartment, dining room, medical rehabilitation, scientific research and an education room. Two pieces of 30m X 60m ice surface are set up in the arena. At present, ice making has been completed and the national curling team will train here. Designed and constructed according to the highest standards of domestic barrier free facilities, the arena meets all requirements of the International Paralympic Committee. After the Beijing Winter Olympics, the training center will be transformed into a multi-functional venue, and carry out sports games, cultural performances, and commercial promotion activities. ^ top ^

BRI Green Development Institute launched in Beijing (China Daily)
2020-12-02
As the latest effort to promote green development under the Belt and Road Initiative, China and its international partners launched the BRI Green Development Institute in Beijing on Tuesday. As a high-level international think tank, the institute aims to promote joint research on green development, climate change, biodiversity protection and green finance, said Zhou Guomei, executive director-general of the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, addressing the inauguration ceremony. In addition to facilitating exchanges on green technologies, the institute will also guide enterprises to attach more importance to environmental protection and enhance environmental management, said she, also the institute's executive director. She said the institute will provide all-around support to the BRI International Green Development Coalition with an international team. Launched at the Second Belt and Road Forums for International Cooperation in April 2019, the coalition aims to advance global consensus, understanding, cooperation and action of a green Belt and Road Initiative. "We want a dialogue as to what is the best environmental practice and how it can be achieved," said Erik Solheim, former executive director of the UN Environment Programme and also convener of the coalition's advisory committee. He said he also expects the institute to play a role in promoting the Green Light System, which was launched by the coalition in late 2019. The system aims to explore the formulation of guidelines on the assessment and classification of BRI projects and provide guidance for stakeholders to further recognize and address ecological and environmental risks in overseas investment. He said he also expects the institute to help "promote all the fantastic practices from China". "Over the last few years, China has developed first-class experience in many environmental fields," said he, citing several examples, including a river chief mechanism. China first appointed local government officials as river chiefs in 2007 to address pollution woes of a blue algae outbreak in Taihu Lake, Jiangsu province. The system has been extended across the country in June 2018. Under the system, leading officials of different levels of government are appointed as river chiefs to ensure strong enforcement of environmental policies and enhanced coordination of different government bodies in water body management. In Jiangsu, the system has made amazing changes in water quality in many of the lakes and rivers along the Yangtze and beyond, he said. ^ top ^

Tibet improves drinking water safety for rural resident (People's Daily)
2020-12-02
From 2016 to 2020, Tibet Autonomous Region invested 4.3 billion yuan (about 657 million U.S. dollars) in drinking water projects, improving 17,581 rural water projects. Now, clean drinking water has become a reality for around two million residents. ^ top ^

US to block import of cotton goods produced by China's leading supplier in Xinjiang (SCMP)
2020-12-03
The US government said on Wednesday it would begin blocking the import of all cotton products made by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), citing concerns that the sprawling, quasi-military entity in northwest China is responsible for widespread use of forced labour. The new ban will apply not only to cotton products made by the XPCC and its affiliates but also garments made by other entities – including those outside China – that use raw cotton harvested by the XPCC in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The XPCC is responsible for about a third of China's cotton production and is deeply enmeshed in supply chains across the country and beyond. Textile industry experts say that it is effectively impossible to source textile goods from China without some kind of involvement of the XPCC. Under the new measures, any products entering the US that authorities determine contain cotton produced by the XPCC will be seized at the border and released only if the importer can provide conclusive evidence that forced labour was not used in the production of the goods. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, law enforcement officials acknowledged the new order would pose significant challenges to US firms that will have to make drastic changes to their supply chains. But, the officials argued, companies had been "on notice" for some time, following a string of warnings and previous actions by the government. "China's systemic abuse of forced labour in the Xinjiang region should disturb every American business and consumer," acting head of the Customs and Border Protections (CBP) agency, Mark Morgan, said. "Forced labour is a human rights violation that hurts vulnerable workers and introduces unfair competition into global supply chains." The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has previously denied the existence of forced labour in Xinjiang. The CBP's move builds on measures it took in September to ban the import of cotton, hair products and computer parts from a number of companies based in Xinjiang. At the time, US officials vowed to enact further restrictions on goods sourced from the region. Officials said that the US was considering further action, including a region-wide ban on all cotton goods sourced from Xinjiang. Each year, the US imports more than 500 million garments containing XPCC cotton, according to estimates by the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC), an apparel industry watchdog. Officials sought to distinguish between the two measures on Wednesday, stressing that the Treasury targeted "money" where the CBP targeted "products". Moreover, the CBP's action potentially casts the net wider, given that it covers goods sourced outside of Xinjiang that use raw cotton harvested by XPCC farmers. "As our technology gets better, we're going to be more effective at identifying those types of garments and products," said, Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The latest action addressing human rights concerns in China comes as Congress assembles a cluster of legislation meant to put pressure on Beijing over its policies in Xinjiang. With little time left before the end of the session, any bills that do not pass must be reintroduced once the new Congress begins in early January. Two bills targeting China's exports to the US have already passed the House of Representatives, but have not yet moved forward in the Senate. "This is the strongest economic challenge to the Chinese government's human right abuses in the [Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region] to date, and a step towards restoring the rights of Uygurs and other Turkic and Muslim peoples across the region," the group's executive director, Scott Nova, said of the latest action in an emailed statement. But Nova said that the ultimate efficacy of the order would hinge on the rigour with which it is implemented, pointing to a view held by some advocacy groups that the CBP's enforcement of previous Withhold Release Orders (WROs) – as the bans are known – has lacked transparency. The latest WRO against XPCC-linked cotton products follows the Treasury Department's designation in July of the entity on a sanctions list, seizing any US-held assets and generally prohibiting US companies from dealing with it. Those sanctions went into full effect on Monday. One of them, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, would ban companies from importing any goods from Xinjiang unless the companies could prove they were not produced using forced labour. The other, the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act, would require publicly traded companies in the US to notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if any of their imports were connected to forced labour in Xinjiang. A third bill would ban US exporters from selling any goods to China that might be used by authorities there to suppress human rights. It passed as an amendment to the House version of the annual national defence bill, but it is unclear if it will be included in the final bill. The legislative push has been resisted by lobbying efforts to soften the bills from some US corporations that have business interests in Xinjiang and the rest of China. Records show that Nike, Coca-Cola, the Gap and the VF Corporation, an apparel giant which owns The North Face and Timberland, have all lobbied against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Congressional aides say those efforts are unlikely to stop passage of all the measures – the issue of Uygur human rights has found widespread bipartisan support on Capitol Hill – though it is possible the bills may be altered before a final vote. Following its introduction earlier this year, the House version of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was amended to remove a list of 20 companies reportedly implicated in the use of forced labour in their supply chains. Among those companies struck from the bill's language were Nike, Patagonia, Coca-Cola, Calvin Klein and Adidas. Representatives ended up approving the bill by an overwhelming 406-3 vote. ^ top ^

Former Xinjiang deputy governor expelled from CPC for corruption, disloyalty, superstition (Global Times)
2020-11-30
Former Xinjiang deputy governor Ren Hua has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from her position for corruption, defying organizational reviews and engaging in superstitious activities, according to China's top disciplinary watchdog. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced on Monday that it had completed investigations into Ren's serious disciplinary problems. The investigations suggest that Ren lost her belief, abandoned her original mission, and was not loyal to the CPC. Ren also defied organizational reviews and engaged in superstitious activities. The CCDI added that Ren accepted invitations to banquets and extravagant consumption arrangements that could have affected her ability to carry out official duties impartially, frequented private clubs, and accepted gifts and gratuities, violating the central authority's requirements. Ren used public power as a tool for personal gain, to seek benefits for others in business operations, engineering contracts and land transfers, and illegally accepted huge amounts of money and property. Ren, 56, had been an official in Xinjiang since 1986. Ren's qualification as a delegate to the Ninth Party Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was terminated, her illegal income has been confiscated, and her case has been transferred to the procuratorial authorities for examination and prosecution according to law. ^ top ^

Sentence of Joshua Wong, fellow HK secessionists rings bell for HK youngsters (Global Times)
2020-12-02
The sentences given on Wednesday to three high-profile Hong Kong secessionists, including Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, were termed by observers as an "alarm-ringing" lesson for the city's youngsters, some of whom have been poisoned by the rioters' bad influence. Hong Kong secessionist Joshua Wong Chi-fung was sentenced to 13.5 months in prison on two charges related to the siege of the Hong Kong police headquarters in June 2019. Fellow secessionist Agnes Chow received 10 months, and Ivan Lam seven months. The three former leaders of the now-disbanded secessionist social group Demosisto admitted to inciting people to join an unauthorized assembly on June 21, 2019, which carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment. They received their sentences in court on Wednesday. Wong faced three charges and entered guilty pleas to two counts of organizing and inciting others to take part in an unauthorized assembly. He was acquitted of the charge of participating in an unauthorized assembly. Video of Agnes Chow crying after the sentencing went viral on social media, with many netizens saying she was shedding "crocodile tears to win sympathy." One netizen asked "Don't you label yourself a revolutionary? Well, revolution requires blood and courage. Isn't it too cheap to shed tears for a 10-month sentence?" Tang Fei, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said that the sentences of the three represent an "alarm-ringing" lesson for some of the city's youngsters, who have been poisoned by their bad influence. Those rioters, especially Joshua Wong, have been calling on people to take to the street and inciting secessionism for so long, without being punished. Now the legal punishment imposed on them will also deter youngsters who want to follow in their footsteps, according to Tang. "The verdict shows progress in Hong Kong's judicial practice, which has shown a tendency toward over-light sentencing, but is now showing legal deterrence to secessionists," Tian Feilong, a Hong Kong affairs expert at Beihang University in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "Hong Kong judges are beginning to realize the importance of public order, and they are no longer simply allowing rioters to undermine the rule of law," Tian said. The expert said he hoped that the sentences given to the three would serve as a "watershed" moment for the rule of law in Hong Kong to return to the track of legal rationality, so that those who break the law will be held accountable, and Hong Kong will return to the normal state of governance in accordance with the law. In November, the three entered guilty pleas to a number of charges related to the June 2019 siege, which experts said could be "another political performance." Also on Wednesday, Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, owner of the notorious Apple Daily, together with his two sons and seven senior officials of Next Digital Media, reported to the police. They are expected to face charges related to conspiracy to defraud and illegal assembly. The arrest, however, stirred controversy in Western media outlets, which described it as the latest blow to the city's political opposition. Joshua Wong himself vowed on Twitter after his arrest that "it is not the end of the fight." Fan Peng, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Political Sciences, told the Global Times that the secessionists are likely to trot out their jail experience later for political capital, where they can use it for hype. "But their attempt will only be like an ant trying to topple a giant tree. As Hong Kong is rapidly returning to rationality, any attempt to shake the city's hard-won stability will be discarded and despised," said Fan.  ^ top ^

HKEX Launches Platform to Promote Disclosure on Green Bonds (Caixin)
2020-12-02
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (HKEX) launched its Sustainable and Green Exchange (STAGE) Thursday as Asia's first multi-asset sustainable investment product platform, supporting fast-growing global demand for sustainable finance. The STAGE platform currently is only an online product repository, providing information on issuers' sustainable investment products, rather than an exchange where such products are traded. "STAGE will connect market participants, issuers and investors, providing a one-stop shop for reliable green data and products, helping to drive growth potential, transparency and access to Asia's exciting green and sustainable financial market," said Wilfred Yiu, HKEX's head of markets. The launch of the platform will support the Hong Kong government's commitment for the city to become the green finance hub of the Greater Bay Area, an ambitious national plan promoted by Beijing aimed at developing Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong province into an integrated technology, business and finance hub by 2030. Globally, more than $30 trillion are invested in the sustainable finance market, but less than 1% of that is in Asia. Hong Kong's green bond cumulative volume reached a record $26 billion last year, driven by a jump in issuances from China, according to the research unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). As of the end of September, 59 sustainable and green bonds from 32 issuers, as well as two environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs), were listed on the HKEX. Issuers with products that meet international standards or principles and provide post-issuance reports annually are invited to join STAGE to display their products. So far the platform features 29 sustainable-themed products from 10 issuers, including four Chinese mainland issuers and six Hong Kong issuers. The four mainland companies are Shanghai-based property developer CIFI Holdings (Group) Co. Ltd., state-owned banks China Construction Bank Corp. and Bank of China, and Industrial Bank Co. Ltd. The HKEX invited the 32 issuers to join the STAGE platform, but some chose not to do so for now because their bonds are about to mature, or some issuers are not fully prepared to meet disclosure requirements or are concerned about the cost of disclosure, said Grace Hui, HKEX's head of green and sustainable finance. Issuers included on STAGE must provide additional voluntary disclosures on sustainable investment products, such as reports on the use of proceeds, as well as annual post-issuance reports, the HKEX said. Hui said the HKEX is actively encouraging all regional issuers of green and sustainable products to consider application for inclusion on STAGE, including non-Hong Kong-listed products such as some mainland-listed ESG-related bonds that have been included in the bond connect, a market access system that allows investors from mainland China and overseas to trade in each other's respective bond markets. ^ top ^

Macao to study legislating national security supporting laws (Global Times)
2020-12-02
The Macao Special Administrative Region will study the optimization of the national security supporting laws, and consider bringing legislation soon, the Macao Secretary for Security said on Monday. Wong Sio Chak, Macao's Secretary for Security, revealed on Monday that he will work closely with the administrative legal field to study and optimize other supporting laws for national security, and will push forward the legislation in a timely manner according to the overall plan, China Central Television reported. In 2021, the security sector will adopt more forward-looking and decisive governance measures, and actively assist the Macao SAR Government in promoting the construction of a national security system, so as to build more solid security for the sustainable development of Macao, Wong said. At the plenary session to debate the 2021 policy on security held by the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR, Wong put the overall national security chapter at the top of the agenda. In early 2021, the internal operational mechanisms needed to enforce national security and support the operations of the National Security Council and the Cyber Security Incident Alert and Emergency Response Center will be continuously improved in order to bring timely optimization of the organization and allocation of resources for the creation of a mechanism that meets the requirements of modern counterterrorism work. Wong also vowed to continue to organize national security education activities, and continue to convey national security information to young students through youth training programs, campus promotion, thematic experiences and exchange activities to cultivate their national sentiment and sense of social responsibility; strengthen ties and cooperation with law enforcement agencies in South China's Guangdong Province and Hong Kong SAR to prevent infiltration and intervention by external forces and sabotage by terrorists; and take precautions and responses to ensure the smooth holding of the 7th Legislative Assembly election. The national security law in Hong Kong SAR took effect in July, which brought the year-long turmoil in Hong Kong to an end and generally restored social stability in the region.  ^ top ^

US-Taiwan economic dialogue another show, expert says (China Daily)
2020-12-01
A recent economic dialogue held between the US and Taiwan is nothing more than show and will do no good to the island, said Tang Yonghong, the deputy director of the Taiwan Research Center at Xiamen University. The so-called "Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue" was held from Nov 20 to 21, following Taiwan's exclusion from the recently-signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which is the world's largest free trade deal. Tang believed the US and Taiwan chose the time to hold the economic dialogue out of their political and economic considerations. It is in their interests to collude with each other to contain the Chinese mainland, with economic dialogue being a tool to reach their common goal, Tang said. The island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has for years sought to expand external space for Taiwan's economic development as the island, an export-oriented economy with a small home market, relies on global resources and markets to support its development, Tang said. The Chinese mainland is the biggest importer of Taiwan's products and also its No 1 business partner. But over the years, Taiwan has been pushing the "new southbound policy" in an attempt to decouple Taiwan's economic connections with the mainland, Tang said. While the "new southbound policy" has not achieved desired results, Taiwan's economy will suffer more from its exclusion from the RCEP - considering its trade with RCEP members account for 59 percent of the total, according to Tang. By holding the so-called "Taiwan-US Economic Dialogue", Taiwan aims to ultimately sign a "bilateral trade agreement" and "free trade agreement" with the US to seek new growth areas for its economy and reduce its reliance on the mainland's market, Tang said. He said the "Memorandum of Understanding" signed between the two sides during the dialogue, which involves the reshaping of supply chains, the COVID-19 pandemic, and scientific and technological cooperation, will offer a quasi-framework for carrying out dialogues in the short term, whereas no deep or substantial results have been produced and it will not be conducive to Taiwan's economy in any way. The US, by conducting economic dialogue with Taiwan, intended to play the "Taiwan card" and use Taiwan as a pawn to contain the mainland, Tang said. Even if Tsai Ing-wen's administration had opened up the Taiwan market to US pork and beef, it would not be easy for Taiwan to reach a two-way economic agreement with the US, he said. Tang said Taiwan authorities should return to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and integrate its economy with the mainland by promoting the normalization of cross-Straits economic relations and trade liberalization. It could only shake off economic woes by integrating its economy with the mainland and then expanding its economic ties with RCEP members, he said. ^ top ^

Reforms among SOEs a priority during 14th Five-Year Plan (China Daily)
2020-12-04
China will push corporate reforms at 8,000 State-controlled enterprises during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period to further optimize asset structures and improve market-oriented operating mechanisms, said the country's top State asset regulator. Total assets associated with these reforms are worth 1.3 trillion yuan ($198.12 billion). The campaign is conducive in fundamentally solving outstanding issues among State-owned businesses and helps the country pursue high-quality growth over the long run, said Weng Jieming, vice-chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. Unlike centrally administrated State-owned enterprises, which are large groups within the jurisdiction of the central authorities, State-controlled firms refer to all enterprises owned partly or outright by all levels of government across the country. "Even though reforms will involve a large number of companies, and some are also facing historical debt and other operational issues, the government will clarify approval procedures, asset evaluations, tax payments and land disposals for their corporate reforms in the next stage," Weng said. He added that all corporate reforms among centrally administered SOEs along with 96 percent of the country's State-controlled enterprises supervised by provincial-level State-asset regulators to date have been completed. Since central SOEs completed their corporate system reforms, their scale, earning strength and operational efficiency have all significantly improved in recent years, said Liu Xingguo, a researcher at the Beijing-based China Enterprise Confederation. Total assets of China's central SOEs amounted to 63.4 trillion yuan by the end of 2019, growing 16.12 percent from 2017, while their net profits reached 1.4 trillion yuan, an increase of 32.32 percent over 2017, government data showed. Under new government policies announced in October, major SOEs will be encouraged to sell significant stakes to outside strategic partners during a three-year action plan for SOE reform, which will run through 2022. The plan is designed to implement measures outlined by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in late 2017 to push SOEs to adapt to market-oriented and law-based rules and norms in the new era as soon as possible and assume greater responsibility in an open and innovative environment. The government encourages publicly listed SOEs to introduce strategic investors by offering them 5 percent or more equity to participate in corporate governance as active shareholders. China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd, a unit of China Southern Airlines, has taken a mixed-ownership reform path after the parent firm brought in three new investors last week. Following the move, the registered capital of China Southern Airlines General Aviation Ltd will grow from 1 billion yuan to more than 1.34 billion yuan. The company currently operates 25 general-purpose aircraft, including 16 S-series heavy helicopters, the airline said in a statement. Despite the new investors, Shanghai-listed China Southern Airlines is still the largest shareholder in the company with a 57.9 percent stake. SOE Reform Development Fund Management Co Ltd holds 14.1 percent, China Southern Power Grid Industrial Investment Group Co Ltd 10 percent, China Southern Airlines Capital 10 percent and a Zhuhai-based company 8 percent. Pang Xiaogang, vice-president of State Grid Corporation of China, said that mixed-ownership reform has been actively and steadily carried out over the past several years, and the role of State-owned capital has been further diversified. Since 2013, China has completed mixed-ownership reform at more than 4,000 firms, with more than 1.5 trillion yuan of non-State capital involved, the SASAC said. China's SOEs saw their aggregate net profit after taxes rise 62.7 percent on a yearly basis in October, while operating revenue climbed 7 percent, the Ministry of Finance said last week. SOEs reported 49.68 trillion yuan in revenue between January and October, growing 0.2 percent over the same period of last year, while net profit totaled 1.93 trillion yuan after taxes, down 11.4 percent year-on-year, the ministry said. ^ top ^

China Defines Banks That Are 'Too Big To Fall' (Caixin)
2020-12-04
China's central bank and top banking industry regulator released a set of guidelines Thursday for assessing banks that should be deemed systemically important. The document outlines how systemically important banks should be graded and sets requirements for their information disclosure. Banks with systemic importance will be selected from the country's top 30 banks by assets including policy banks and commercial lenders as well as those that have been previously deemed systemically important, according to the document. Regulators will grade the banks every year and submit a final list to the State Council's Financial Stability Board for approval, according to the document. The latest document fleshes out details for assessing systemically important banks following the release in 2018 of a general regulation for financial institutions with crucial industry influence. Chinese regulators have beefed up supervision of major financial institutions to catch up with international industry standards and contain financial risks. Five Chinese institutions including the four largest state banks and the Ping An Insurance Group are listed as global systemically important institutions. Experts said about 20 banks are likely to be defined as systemically important in China under the latest rules, mostly banks with at least 2 trillion yuan ($305 billion) of assets. ^ top ^

China tightens export rules for sensitive tech, boosts power to retaliate against foreign sanctions (SCMP)
2020-12-01
China's broadly defined export control law came into effect on Tuesday, expanding Beijing's arsenal of countermeasures to trade restrictions imposed by other countries. The law, first drafted in 2017 and approved in late October, bears resemblance to US Export Administration Regulations, including a list of controlled items like sensitive technology, military goods, dual-use items that have both civil and military uses, and a licence requirement for anyone who intends to export or re-export these goods. The regulation is widely viewed as a response to United States' restrictions on Chinese technology firms like Huawei Technologies Co., which has seen access to American technology severed amid a growing tech war between the world's two largest powers. "I see the Export Control Law as a milestone for China because this new law provides [it] with the first comprehensive regulatory framework for restricting exports of military and dual-use products and technology for national security and public policy reasons," said Julien Chaisse, a law professor at City University of Hong Kong. "Virtually all major economies already had similar laws and framework to regulate foreign export control practice in place, so China is filling a major gap and catching up with what has been done in many other places." The new law explicitly allows China to retaliate against a country that violates export controls and endangers national security, although the definition of abuse is not clearly defined. Chaisse said the regulation would allow Beijing to take "radical positions in terms of trade exports" as it was much broader than similar legislation in other countries. For instance, the government would be authorised to restrict exports to foreign companies deemed to threaten China's national security or national interests, he said. It would also require exporters to apply for licenses for export transactions not covered by published control lists that might potentially harm China. Already, there appears to be discussion within China about using the law to retaliate against future US export restrictions. "The new law could pave the way for state-sanctioned export bans on rare earth metals, in what [analysts] described as a 'no chips, no rare earths' tactic, with reference to the US export control abuses against Chinese technology company Huawei Technologies Co.," said a now-deleted article published by state-run tabloid the Global Times in late October, quoting several Chinese experts. While the control list is not yet available, the Ministry of Commerce published an expanded list of Chinese technologies restricted for export at the end of August. The updated list, which should give a clue on controlled items, added two dozen technologies, including lasers and drones, that need government approval for sale overseas. The new law also allows Beijing to impose temporary export controls on goods, services and technologies that are not on the official export control list for up to two years, providing the government with ample flexibility to impose restrictions. It is unclear whether Beijing will use US-style " long-arm jurisdiction " to penalise foreign companies that violate Chinese export controls by selling products that consist of restricted technology. A draft version of Beijing's export control law published in 2017 contained something similar to long-arm jurisdiction, but was removed in the final version because of concerns over its negative impact on China's role in the global supply chain. Importers and end users of controlled items also face greater scrutiny. An end use certification document issued by the destination country is a prerequisite to getting an export license. Companies or individuals that break the law could have illegal gains confiscated and be levied with fines of up to 20 times the value of transactions. Business licences could also be suspended and export permission revoked. ^ top ^

Top DPRK leader holds meeting to discuss Party Congress preparations (Xinhua)
2020-11-30
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s top leader Kim Jong Un presided over a Politburo meeting on Sunday to discuss plans and preparations for the upcoming eighth Party Congress slated for January next year, the Korean Central News Agency reported on Monday. The enlarged meeting of the 21st Political Bureau of the seventh Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) also "examined relevant issues for improving and strengthening the Party ideological work as required by the developing revolution, and approved the organization mechanism issue." The DPRK's eighth Party Congress will be held in January, in which a new five-year economic development plan will be discussed and endorsed after the current five-year plan is completed this year. At the meeting, the country's economic institutions were "harshly criticized" for "not guiding their sectors scientifically... and for failing to overcome subjectivism and formalism in their work," the report said. ^ top ^

Speaker holds online meeting with provincial authorities (Montsame)
2020-12-03
On December 1, Speaker of the Parliament G.Zandanshatar held an online meeting with chairmen of Citizens' Representative Khurals of aimags and the capital city and discussed the winter conditions and measures being taken during the time of heightened state of preparedness amid the COVID-19. The online meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker T.Ayursaikhan, MP and Head of MPP Fraction in the Parliament D.Togtokhsuren, MP and Head of the Standing Committee on State Structure L. Enkh-Amgalan as well as provincial authorities. During the meeting, the participants said that currently, most aimags are at risk of severe winters, with the snow coverage of an average of 6-12 cm thick as of now. The Parliament and the Government need to pay attention to the issue of hay and fodder reserves and financing, sell hay and fodder of the state reserve, and support herders grazing livestock in transhumant areas. The price of bran feed is increasing due to the severe winter. The Speaker G.Zandanshatar called on the meeting participants to collaborate and pay attention to herders in overcoming the winter. During the online meeting, the bill on administrative units of Mongolia and their governing system was discussed and the opinions of the chairmen of the Citizens' Representative Khurals were heard. ^ top ^

EU and Mongolia discuss bilateral relations in development cooperation (Montsame)
2020-11-30
On 24 November 2020, the European Union and Mongolia confirmed their good bilateral relations, and the willingness to further strengthen the development cooperation agenda. The discussion took place in the first Development Cooperation Working Group (informal) in the framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Mongolia, which entered into force in 2017. On development cooperation, the Parties: Discussed lessons learnt from the EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme for Mongolia (2014-2020) covering governance of revenues and employment in the non-mining sector, as well as from positive interventions in other areas such as trade, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), agriculture, value chains development, environment, human rights. Took note of the need to strengthen donors and sectors coordination mechanisms in Mongolia. Reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together towards the reform process in the employment and Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector and public finance management in the context of Budget Support operations. Agreed to continue sectoral policy dialogue with the line Ministries in identifying blending operations in the areas of climate change and green energy as well as in improving business environment and sectoral regulatory framework in Mongolia. Remain engaged to cooperate closely in the context of the EU programming exercise for future cooperation with Mongolia for 2021-2027. The informal Development Cooperation Working Group will be followed by the EU-Mongolia Joint Committee on 3 December 2020 via videoconference. The Joint Committee (chaired alternately by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) is entrusted to ensure the proper functioning of the PCA, set priorities in relation to its aims, and make recommendations for promoting the objectives of the agreement. In 2017 the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Mongolia entered into force. On development cooperation, the PCA commits the Parties to cooperate on sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental) and hold a regular dialogue on development cooperation, in line with their respective priorities and areas of mutual interest. In 2014-2020 a total of EUR 139 million of EU development assistance in the form of grants was allocated for Mongolia. From this amount EUR 65 million have been part of the EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme for Mongolia (2014-2020) on two focal sectors: "Governance of Revenues for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth" and "Support for Better Employment Opportunities". Mongolia has benefited also from a range of thematic and regional EU programmes of a total of EUR 38 million in fields such as trade, sustainable consumption and production, as well as support to civil society and human rights. EUR 36 million grant support from the Asian Investment Facility for blended projects with European development banks in SMEs support, climate change and green energy. ^ top ^

Strict-lockdown extended by 10 days in capital city and two aimags (Montsame)
2020-11-29
At its irregular meeting held today at 5 pm, the Cabinet made a decision to extend the period of strict-lockdown in Ulaanbaatar city, Arkhangai and Selenge aimags, where the spread of COVID-19 still exists, by 10 days, until December 11. However, 18 types of businesses and services are allowed to run their operations, after being registered and getting QR code. Manufacturing or processing businesses such as printing houses, packaging, wood processing and construction material plants, and distribution services, e-trading as well as banking businesses are added to the previously permitted businesses which include food stores and supermarkets, food manufacturers, food distribution, gas stations, fuel suppliers, public toilets, disinfection and sterilization places, livestock fodder suppliers, hospitals, courts and prosecution offices, pharmacies, power stations, communications and media, special services, state-owned organizations of particular and strategic importance, and funeral services. As for the aimags which took the spread of the virus under control, such as Orkhon, Gobisumber, Dornogobi and Darkhan-Uul and other non-infected aimags, the strict-lockdown have been lowered by one stage or to the heightened state of readiness for disaster protection. Businesses and other activities except public events, school and kindergarten and entertainment activities, in those aimags will be able to be carried normally under high infection control. ^ top ^

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