CONGRESS FOR WOMEN: Deputies walk into the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the 11th National Women's Congress of China on October 28 (HE JUNCHANG)

Emission Reductions

Emissions of four major pollutants in China saw a year-on-year decrease of 2-3 percent in the first half of 2013, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Figures in a ministry report released on October 25 showed that Chemical Oxygen Demand, a measure monitoring organic pollutants in water, stood at 11.993 million tons in the first six months, representing a 2.37-percent drop year on year.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide, another major pollutant, dropped 2.48 percent from the previous year to 10.569 million tons.

Meanwhile, the total volume of ammonia nitrogen emissions reached 1.259 million tons and nitrogen oxide emissions totaled 11.675 million tons, registering year-on-year decreases of 2.15 percent and 3.02 percent, respectively.

According to the report, the ministry will issue more regulations on a number of other factors affecting the environment, including price evaluation of coal-fuelled generators and waste emissions limits for construction projects.

Medical Support

China has set targets for training of doctors in order to better serve the country's large rural population, according to a plan made public by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on October 28.

The plan outlines improvements to the country's education and training systems for rural doctors, in a bid to ensure that 60 percent of such doctors hold degrees from secondary technical schools or better by 2015.

In addition, all rural doctors are expected to be qualified as medical practitioners by 2020, under the plan.

The number of rural health workers in China reached 1.2 million at the end of 2010, marking an 18.1-percent increase in comparison with the number in 2000, according to the commission.

Space Training

China is providing training for space professionals from developing economies, enhancing their capacity in satellite operations and space technology applications.

"Hundreds of space engineers and scientists from several countries including Pakistan and Nigeria have received training in China since 2005," said Li Lan, Vice General Manager of the Communications Satellite Division of the China Great Wall Industry Corp., the country's only commercial provider of international launch services and satellite in-orbit delivery.

The latest training was provided to 35 Bolivian space experts, who completed their studies on October 28.

The training was part of the Tupac Katari program signed in 2010 between the Bolivian Space Agency and the China's Great Wall.

Disney in Shanghai

Shanghai will be home to the world's largest Disney store by 2015 when the Shanghai Disney Resort opens to the public.

The Walt Disney Co. China announced on October 25 plans to build the first Chinese Disney store in the city's Lujiazui.

Set to open in early 2015, the 5,000-square-meter store will be located in Shanghai's financial hub, and will feature a retail space and a Disney-themed outdoor plaza area.

Yang Xiaoming, General Manager of Shanghai Lujiazui (Group) Co. Ltd., said that the store's innovative design, product and entertainment offerings will provide the Lujiazui area with a family-friendly destination.