Chinese President Hu Jintao has left Beijing to pay a state visit to Austria and attend the sixth Group of Twenty (G20) summit, which is scheduled to be held in the southern French city of Cannes from Nov. 3 to 4.

During his stay in Austria, Hu JIntao will hold talks with his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer and meet with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and the Speaker of the Parliament Barbara Prammer.

The two sides will sign seven intergovernmental framework agreements, covering economics and trade, environmental protection, water conservancy, education and culture.

 

Chinese premier expresses sympathy with Thai flood victims, announces more aid 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra to express sympathy with the flood victims of the Southeast Asian nation and provide fresh aid.

In the phone conversation, Wen Jiabao said Beijing has decided to provide more assistance to Thailand after previous aid. 

The premier said China is closely following the developments in flood-hit Thailand. 

He urged the two nations to join hands to face the common challenges, safeguarding and promoting common interests.

 

29 killed in coal mine in central China's Hunan 

The death toll in a coal mine gas explosion in central China's Hunan Province has risen to 29 as the last trapped worker was found dead this morning .

A total of 35 miners were working underground as the mishap happened yesterday in the Xialiuchong Coal Mine in the city of Hengyang. Of them, six have been rescued and sent to hospital for treatment, according to the rescue headquarters. 

Head of the State Administration of Work Safety and governor of Hunan Province have reached the site to direct the rescue operation and investigate the blast.

 

6.5-magnitude quake hits northeast of Taiwan 

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake jolted sea area off northeast Taiwan today according to Taiwan's meteorological department.

Residents in Taipei did not feel the quake. There is no immediate report of casualties.

The quake was measured as 5.7 magnitude on the Richter scale by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

 

China's safety authority urges efforts to prevent road accidents 

China's work safety authority has called for intensified efforts to prevent road traffic accidents after a car crash killed 12 people in northwest China last Sunday.

The Work Safety Commission of the State Council, or China's Cbinet, asked local authorities to learn from the accident, raise residents' road safety awareness, take action against vehicles ferrying passengers illegally, and step up road-safety inspections, especially in accident-prone areas.

It says drivers will be severely punished for offences such as drunk driving, speeding and driving while tired.

 

China International Forum on Climate Change opens in Beijing 

The 2011 China International Forum on Climate Change opened in Beijing today to discuss ways to balance economic and environmental priorities, develop green industry and construct low-carbon cities.

The forum was attended by more than 200 officials, scholars and entrepreneurs from China and European countries.

Delegates are expected to suggest new ways to curb greenhouse gas emissions and develop carbon-trading markets in the hope of providing insights for next month's climate talks in Durban, South Africa.

 

Death toll rises to 582 in quake-hit Turkey 

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that hit southeastern Turkey rose to 582 and the number of injured was over 4,100.

Nearly 187 people have been rescued, but chances of finding more alive decreased after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey six days ago. 

Search and rescue operations are underway at nine sites in Ercis, which suffered the most serious damage with scores of buildings collapsed. 

The Chinese government has pledged to send one million U.S. dollars of aid to Turkey while the Chinese Red Cross has already donated 50, 000 dollars for the survivors.

 

China to properly fine tune macro policy, price control continues

China says it will make proper fine tuning on its macro policy, keeping it "more targeted, flexible and forward-looking," and continue measures to control consumer prices.

China's State Council, or Cabinet says the government should maintain control of the intensity, pace and focus of economic regulation and grasp the changes in economic development trend.

It says strong measures should be continued to keep consumer prices stable, and price subsidies should go to the needy timely with a moderate increase.

 

China funds tuition for college students serving in army 

Starting from the fall semester 2011, China will fund tuition for college students who suspend their studies to serve compulsory military service, in a bid to encourage them to serve in the army.

According to an official document issued recently by finance and education ministries and General Staff Headquarters of People's Liberation Army, China will fund each college student tuition of up to 6,000 yuan (around 948 U.S. dollars) for each academic year. 

The document says the policy initiative will help improve military recruits' quality and boost the national defense and PLA's modernization drive.