Xi emphasizes rule of law

China's top political leader Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of rule of law. Xi called for scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and for everyone in the country to abide by the law, while presiding over a seminar of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Saturday. A socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, with the Constitution as the "commander" has taken shape in the country, Xi said.

Chinese-developed engine almost done

Chinese scientists will soon complete an indigenous, large aircraft engine that can equip the Y-20, the country's first domestically developed strategic airlifter, Chinese media quoted a military expert as saying on Sunday. Qiao Liang, a professor at the Air Force Command Institute of the People's Liberation Army, told Science Times that the prototype of the Y-20 is equipped with four Russian D-30 turbofan engines.

Landfill threatens drinking water

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has launched an investigation after media reported that a landfill near Miyun Reservoir is threatening the city's main source of drinking water. The bureau said on its micro blog on Sunday that the results of the investigation will be released soon. The landfill, with an estimated area of 3,000 square meters, is full of unsorted waste such as batteries, dead chickens and medicine bottles.

Migrant workers invited to gala

Four migrant workers were invited to a high profile gala on Saturday evening, which used to be mainly reserved for distinguished intellectuals. Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli attended the event organized by the Communist Party of China Central Committee to mark the Lantern Festival. New guests at this year's show included representatives from different sectors and model workers.

Ships continue patrolling islands

Chinese marine surveillance ships continued regular patrols in the territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands on Sunday, the State Oceanic Administration said. The ships included Haijian 50, Haijian 15, and Haijian 26, according to an administration statement. Haijian means marine surveillance in Chinese.

Gold output rises 11.66 percent

China produced 403.1 metric tons of gold in 2012, up 42.1 tons or 11.66 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Among the total, 341.8 tons came from mines, while 61.3 tons were byproducts of nonferrous metal smelting, the ministry said. Gold producers were responsible for 380.79 billion yuan ($60.57 billion) in output, up 33.91 percent. Their profits rose 4 percent to 35 billion yuan.

China pays homage to late executive

A senior executive of China's largest oil and gas producer who died in December was honored for his contributions to the country's oil exploration efforts, the national trade union said. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions announced on Saturday that it will posthumously award Sun Bo, the former vice-president of China National Petroleum Corp, the national labor medal. Sun died at 52, from a sudden cerebral hemorrhage.

Gansu

2 dead after eating poison

Two people died and two were hospitalized after eating food poison on Friday in Gansu province, local news portal daxibei.com reported on Sunday. At around 6 pm on Friday in Nangou village in Xihe county, four of Li Hong-yan's family members were poisoned. Li's father and wife died soon after they were sent to the county hospital. Li and his son were given emergency treatment in another hospital. Only Li's daughter was spared from the incident.

Shanghai

License plate auction sets record

Average prices for Shanghai license plates hit a record high for the eighth consecutive month. The average price shot up to 83,571 yuan ($13,000), 8,239 yuan more than January. The city made 9,000 car plates available for February's auction, the same as the previous month. This was the lowest number since April 2012, but the number of bidders rose 18 percent to 24,651.

Yunnan

ASEAN rail link becomes operational

A railway that links Yunnan province with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations became operational on Saturday after seven years of construction, railway authorities said. The railway between Yuxi and Mengzi is part of the eastern line of the planned Pan-Asia Railway network. The 141-km railway has a designated maximum speed of 120 km per hour. The line replaces a track that was 100 years old.

Zhejiang

Suspected arsonist arrested after fire

Police in Zhejiang province have arrested a suspect who allegedly set fire to a residential house for revenge, killing eight and injuring 17 others, local police said on Sunday. An initial investigation found that the fire was arson. Lin Binwei, 26, a resident of Zeguo township of Wenling city, has been arrested, the Wenling public security bureau said at a press conference. The fire broke out early on Saturday morning, killing eight people.

China Daily-Xinhua