China launches modified carrier rocket

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - China launched a modified carrier rocket on Wednesday from a commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China. The ZQ-2 Y-1, also called ZQ-2E Y-1, which carried two test satellites into planned orbits, was developed by the private Chinese company LandSpace. It is a two-stage rocket powered by liquid oxygen and methane. It measures 47.3 meters in length, has a takeoff thrust of 282 tons, and can transport up to 4 tons to a 500-km sun-synchronou

November 28, 2024

China extends visa-free stay for Australians to 30 days

SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - China extended its visa-free policy for Australian passport holders from 15 to 30 days on Monday. The updated policy, which starts Saturday, will remain in effect until the end of next year. It covers visits for business, tourism, family gatherings, transit, and exchanges, provided each stay does not exceed 30 days. Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchang

November 27, 2024

China unveils plans to combat food waste

November 26 (AJP) - China has revealed a set of plans to tackle food loss and waste, aiming to establish a comprehensive system by 2027. The plans, released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council on Monday, called for improvements in data collection, standards, and monitoring of food waste, according to the country's state-run Xinhua News Agency. Food loss during production, storage, transport, and processing will be reduced to below internati

November 26, 2024

China cracks down on online platforms' algorithm-based practices

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Chinese regulators launched a coordinated campaign to address key algorithm-related issues on major online platforms. Running from last week to February next year, the initiative will target problems such as repetitive content, unauthorized ranking manipulations, profit-driven practices, and discriminatory pricing based on user data, according to a notice from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The campaign is expected to protect consumer rig

November 25, 2024

China, EU inch closer to agreement on EV tariffs

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - China and the EU are reportedly close to resolving the dispute over tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports, according to multiple German media outlets. German broadcaster n-tv reported that Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, as saying that both sides are working toward an agreement. As of Sunday, neither the European Commission (EC) nor China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) had commented on Lange's remarks.

November 25, 2024

China overtakes Germany and Japan in industrial robot density rankings

SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - China rose to third place globally in industrial robot density, overtaking Germany and Japan last year, according to a report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). While the U.S. landed at 11th globally last year, experts attribute the decline in the US to its intensified tech blockade against China. Rather than curbing China's progress in advanced technology, the policy has hindered America's own manufacturing revival efforts. T

November 22, 2024

China unveils future plans for manned lunar mission

SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - China shared more details about its upcoming manned lunar mission in a video released Thursday by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The video features an animation showing astronauts driving a lunar rover on the moon's surface, with a three-day driving route centered around the landing site during the Human Space Symposium in Shenzhen. It highlights key technologies the mission aims to develop, including manned Earth-to-Moon round trips, short-t

November 22, 2024

Chinese vice premier calls for global cooperation to tackle cybersecurity challenges

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday called for international efforts to address challenges such as the digital divide and cybersecurity risks. The remarks came during his keynote speech at the opening of the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit in Zhejiang Province, China. Ding said China's role in sharing modernization opportunities with the world and contributing to global development. He highlighted the transformative im

November 21, 2024

China's electricity consumption jumps in first 10 months

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - China's electricity consumption increased by 7.6 percent year-on-year in the first 10 months of this year, according to official data released on Wednesday. The data from the National Energy Administration revealed that the country's power usage grew by 4.3 percent, compared to the same period last year in October alone. From January to October, electricity consumption in the primary industries rose by 6.7 percent year-on-year, while the seconda

November 21, 2024