IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Space

Yutu gets rolling on the moon

The nation's first lunar rover and the landing craft took pictures of each other near midnight on Dec 15, marking the success of the country's Chang'e-3 lunar probe mission.

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, who both went to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center to watch the photo-taking session, congratulated scientists for the success.

Ma Xingrui, chief commander of China's lunar program, announced lunar probe Chang'e-3 mission a "complete success", after the landing craft and moon rover took pictures of each other.

Yutu, which has a life span of three months, will also conduct geographic surveys, said Sun Huixian, deputy chief engineer of China's lunar exploration program. In ancient Chinese mythology, Yutu is the white pet rabbit of the lunar goddess Chang'e.

Defence

Statement seen as singling out air zone

While the statement issued by the joint ASEAN-Japan summit on Dec 14 did not specifically mention any country, the phrase "freedom of overflight" is understood as an implicit reference to China's recently established air defense identification zone.

The statement said ASEAN and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation regarding air and maritime links, and to recognize the benefits of improved connectivity among the countries.

The countries will "enhance cooperation in ensuring the freedom of overflight and civil aviation safety in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law", it said.

At the summit and on its sidelines, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to generate an understanding of Japan's position on China's air defence zone among the ASEAN countries.

But not all leaders shared his view. Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said that the issue should be resolved through consultations between Japan and China.

Top leaders vow to follow steady path

Top leaders said on Dec 13 following the annual Central Economic Work Conference that China will seek steady economic progress by making more reforms in all areas.

During the four-day meeting, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang called for reform to be spread to every area of economic and social development.

Their commitment to more reforms comes just one month after the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China outlined future reform in up to 60 areas.

The leaders asked all local governments and central government departments to set up a branch organization to specialize in reform in their areas.

The economic work conference vowed to maintain a stable economic situation while achieving reasonable growth, though no specific GDP growth target was announced.

Economy

Sights set on stable growth

China will maintain continuous and stable macroeconomic policies next year, says the head of the country's top economic planning agency.

Xu Shaoshi, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, made his remarks following the statement issued after the four-day Central Economic Conference, attended by top Chinese leaders. The statement said "the core is to seek steady progress and promote reforms and innovations" to soundly manage economic work next year.

Niu Li, an expert with the State Information Center, a think tank under the commission, said stability will be the core objective of the government, although major growth targets have yet to be announced.

Diplomacy

Continuity in DPRK policies expected

Beijing said on Dec 16 that it is keeping watch on Pyongyang and hopes there will not be a "major change" in the latter's policies, as the sudden execution of the country's powerful No 2 in command has brought fear of instability to the region.

Pyongyang assured its neighbor on Dec 16 that its economic policies will not change despite the dramatic case of Jang Song-thaek, who has been labeled by foreign media as the top official driving the direction of the economy.

Observers said that ties between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are unlikely to be affected by a single incident, but Beijing certainly has to watch for the aftermath of Pyongyang's personnel changes.

Jang, the uncle of DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un, used to be the top official entrusted by Pyongyang for high-level visits and economic cooperation with China. He used to lead delegations to China for negotiations on projects, including the joint development of Hwanggumpyong Island, a special economic zone near the Chinese city of Dandong in Liaoning province.

Photo exhibition marks relationship

A photo exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya opened in Nairobi, on Dec 15.

Organized by the Chinese embassy in Kenya and Xinhua News Agency's Africa regional bureau, the opening ceremony was attended by Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology, Fred Matiang'i, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyuan and more than 100 others.

The exhibition, sponsored by Shengli Africa Company of Sinopec Construction Group, has more than 70 photos on display that highlight the 50-year journey Kenya and China have walked together. The photos cover all aspects of political, economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 12/20/2013 page2)