More than 21,600 hazardous bridges in China have been renovated in the past 12 years, said the Ministry of Transport on March 12.

At least 37 bridges collapsed across the country from 2007 to 2012, killing more than 180 people and injuring at least 177, according to earlier reports. A succession of high-profile bridge accidents in recent years has attracted a wave of attention and criticism from the public.

"Bridge construction and safety is an issue of public concern and one of the key tasks of transport departments across the country," said a statement published on the ministry's website.

A total of 43.88 billion yuan ($7.05 billion), including 17 billion yuan ($2.73 billion) from the ministry, was invested in the renovation of 21,610 hazardous bridges from 2001 to 2012, curbing the high incidence of bridge accidents, according to the statement.

Stealth Frigate

The Chinese Navy commissioned a China-developed next-generation stealth frigate on March 12.

The country's first "type 056" stealth frigate, formerly known simply as "ship 582," was named Bengbu at a ceremony in a naval port in Zhoushan, a coastal city in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Bengbu is the name of a prefecture-level city in east China's Anhui Province, and literally means "oyster wharf" in Chinese.

A senior navy general endorsed a PLA flag and naming certificate to the naval unit receiving the frigate.

Type 056 frigates are developed independently by China and expected to be deployed primarily for escort missions and anti-submarine operations.

Gene Bank

Tibet Autonomous Region will start construction of its first genetic resource bank within the year, regional authorities said on March 13.

The bank will help Tibet protect its genetic resources and ensure sustainable conservation, according to the region's Science and Technology Department.

The bank will be used to preserve plant seeds, as well as DNA from animals and microorganisms.

Tibet's biodiversity is abundant, but its environment is relatively fragile, said Li Hui, a researcher with the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The bank will help to ensure the continuation of some species for further study, as well as aid in breeding research for endangered species, Li said.

Tibet is home to more than 9,600 plant species, including 855 species that are unique to the region. It also has 800 species of wild vertebrates, 123 of which are under national-level protection.