Solar-power pilot projects planned

China is planning to launch new pilot projects before the end of the year to promote domestic use of photovoltaic power generation. The Ministry of Finance said in a statement that the government encourages the experimental application of new technologies and products to promote technological advancement.

Ceremony marks Sun's birthday

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Monday commemorated the 146th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, the father of the country's democratic revolution and a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China. The commemoration ceremony was held at Zhongshan Park in downtown Beijing.

China works on tech transfers

China and Britain have joined to facilitate agricultural technology transfers to low-income countries with the launch of a program at the second Africa-Britain-China Conference on Agriculture and Fisheries, held in Beijing on Monday. The program will support the sharing of experience in agricultural development with low-income countries to improve agricultural productivity.

Charity platform set for Sina Weibo

Sina Weibo, the popular Chinese social website often compared to Twitter, is to allow nearly 1 million verified users to start charity programs by posting messages on an updated charity platform. The new version of Sina Micro-charities enables verified micro-bloggers to publish information for people in need of help, including themselves.

Shanghai

5 missing after fishing boat sinks

Five people are missing after a fishing boat sank off the coast, rescuers said on Monday. The vessel, Suqiyu 03349, sank 130 nautical miles northeast of the mouth of the Yangtze River at 11:16 pm on Sunday, the Shanghai Maritime Search and Rescue Center said. Four of the nine people on board were rescued by nearby vessels, but the other five remain missing.

Tianjin

30 white storks poisoned, 3 die

More than 30 Oriental white storks were poisoned near the Dagang Reservoir in Tianjin on Sunday. By 5 pm that day, three white storks were confirmed dead and 15 were saved and sent to a rescue station nearby. There are only 3,000 Oriental white storks in China. The volunteers said they found at least eight bags of agricultural chemicals near the white storks' foraging area.

Hebei

Qing Dynasty tombs go digital

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and Historic Scotland, have launched a digital preservation project for the Eastern Qing Mausoleum, to present the mausoleum in 3-D. The tombs, in Hebei province, were the final resting place of some of the Qing Dynasty's (1644-1911) best-known emperors and empresses, including Emperor Qianlong (1711-99) and Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908).

Guangdong

Reform to address airspace rules

China plans to relax its ban on the use of lower-altitude airspace next year, Ma Xin, an official from the State Air Traffic Control Commission, said in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on Monday. The reforms to open up that airspace will accelerate next year and the applications that must be filled out for general aviation procedures will be simplified.

Jiangsu

Star-studded cast for TV gala show

A star-studded cast for its New Year's Eve gala has been unveiled by Jiangsu Satellite TV. Pop stars including US-born heartthrob Wang Lee-hom, veteran singer Wakin Chau and South Korean singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong will perform. Jiangsu Satellite TV hosted its first New Year's Eve gala in 2008.

Hong Kong

TCM cooperation gets a boost

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong will receive more support from the Chinese mainland in areas such as staff training, to better promote TCM in the global market, Wang Guoqiang, vice-minister of health, said on Sunday. An agreement on cooperation will be signed shortly, allowing Hong Kong practitioners to access TCM resources on the mainland.

Macao

30 brands to attend Yacht Fair

The 2012 China Macao International Import and Export Yacht Fair will kick off on Friday, bringing together over 30 yacht brands from more than 20 countries. The fair, jointly hosted by the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, Nam Kwong Group and China National Machinery Industry Croup, is the second one to be held in Macao.

Latin City parade to take place

A Latin City parade through Macao will be held on Dec 20 to observe the 13th anniversary of the special administrative region, the city's Cultural Affairs Bureau said on Monday. Artists from more than 20 countries - including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Colombia, Peru and Brazil - and 40 local groups will perform in the parade attended by thousands of people.

Yunnan

Renewable-energy forum opens

The China-ASEAN Forum on New Technologies of New and Renewable Energy was held in Kunming, Yunnan province, on Monday. The development of new and renewable energy has become one of the priorities of China's international science and technology. China's energy demand increases at an average annual rate of 3.8 percent.

China Daily - Xinhua