NEW AIRCRAFT MODEL: AC311 multi-purpose helicopter, the first light civilian helicopter developed and manufactured in China, makes its successful maiden flight in Tianjin on November 8 (LIU HAIFENG)

Cleaner Air

Pollution levels in many Chinese cities improved last year, as the quality of the overall environment remained "stable," according to a survey released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on November 8.

Figures show that an average 66.7 percent of days surveyed in 655 cities last year saw fair and good levels of air quality. Water quality in 89.84 percent of urban groundwater areas reached acceptable standards, up 4.44 percentage points year on year.

Also, more than 63 percent of domestic sewage in urban areas was properly disposed of last year, up 8.03 percentage points year on year. Further, some 72 percent of urban garbage was treated, up 1.04 percentage points.

However, the survey also noted 14 cities where pollution levels left much to be desired.

These cities include Taiyuan, capital of north China's coal-rich Shanxi Province, due to its poor water quality, and Urumqi, capital of northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, noted for only having "slight" improvements in traffic noise pollution.

Nursing Home Shortage

A senior civil affairs official admitted that China is running short of nursing homes for the seniors as its society rapidly ages.

The total number of beds in existing nursing homes stands at 266,200, equal to 1.59 percent of the total number of seniors, said Dou Yupei, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs, at a meeting in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on November 7.

The ratio was lower than in developed countries—5 to 7 percent—and developing countries—2 to 3 percent—Dou said.

Of the 167 million seniors in China, 11.4 percent were older than 80 years at the end of 2009 and most of them are not able to live independently, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Safer Road

Traffic accidents have become the biggest threat to the safety of Chinese middle and primary school students, causing over 20,000 casualties every year, said the China National Committee for the Well-being of Youth in a press release on November 5.

To decrease traffic accidents involving middle and primary school students, the committee has launched a nationwide educational campaign on students' road traffic safety.

The campaign, aimed at enhancing students' awareness of road safety, will be conducted through exhibitions and training for students in middle and primary schools, their parents, teachers, police and all traffic participants across the country.

Farmers' Will

The State Council, the cabinet, said on November 10 that the forced eviction of farmers from their homes must be stopped and avoided during rural land maintenance.

The rural land maintenance campaign should bring about higher incomes for farmers and not go against farmers' will, the State Council said at a meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, according to a statement released after the meeting.

Emphasis must be placed on farmland maintenance that aims to improve the ratio of high output farmland in rural areas, the statement said.

Strict measures should be taken to protect farmland and boost its efficiency, the statement said, calling for integrated land maintenance that involves farmland, irrigation systems, roads, forests and villages.

Moreover, the statement said government officials and related staff will be held accountable for violations.