In addition, several activities such as a youth academic training camp, pioneer academic seminars and the Asian film week also provided platforms for cross-cultural communication and brainstorming

Clean Milk

Chinese scientists are attempting to keep milk free of chemical residues by using herbal medicines, rather than antibiotics or hormones, to treat bacterial infections in cows and increase their milk production.

A Chinese research team produced zero-residue milk at an experimental dairy farm by using herbal medicines to treat mastitis (an inflammation of the udder) and endometritis (an infection of the uterus), according to Liang Jianping, leader of the team with the Institute of Modern Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The anti-bacterial herbal medicine that the scientists used is extracted from the plant genus madder, according to Liang.

No Restrictions

Beijing will not restrict the purchase of private cars, as was proposed by residents, to help ease traffic jams and stem pollution, a senior official said at a press conference on November 19.

City authorities will not limit the number of license plates issued to reduce car purchases, said Wang Haiping, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

ÒWe need to take into account the overall situation of boosting domestic demand and maintaining steady, rapid economic growth. We need to maintain long-term development of the countryÕs auto industry and citizensÕ expectations to improve their livelihoods after becoming wealthier,Ó Wang said.

Instead, city authorities would rely on boosting construction of the urban mass transit system and other forms of public transport to solve BeijingÕs traffic issues, he said.