PIANO DUET: Acclaimed Chinese pianist Lang Lang and 9-year-old Johnson Zhongxin Li, who has been supported by an international music foundation named after Lang, perform at the Lang Lang and Friends concert in New York City on June 3 (WANG LEI)

Plastic Bag Ban

A ban on plastic bags launched five years ago has cut consumption by at least 67 billion bags, saving an equivalent of 6 million tons of petroleum, the National Development and Reform Commission said on May 31.

Since the ban was implemented, use of plastic bags has dropped by more than two thirds, said Li Jing, Deputy Director of the commission's Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Department.

China banned the practice of offering free plastic bags in supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores, as well as prohibited the production and use of plastic bags thinner than 0.025 mm starting from June 1, 2008.

Brain Drain

About 87 percent of professionals regarded as top talent in the science and engineering field have chosen to emigrate out of China, News.cn reported, citing sources with the Office of Central Talent Work Coordination Group.

A survey released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows that many personnel in Chinese science and technology sectors, especially in the fields of physics, mathematics and computer sciences, have served in high positions in world organizations.

Nearly 1 million Chinese overseas students returned to China through the Recruitment Program of Global Experts (1,000 Talent Plan), including 20,000 highly qualified overseas professionals.

The report quotes a senior official with the office as saying that China needs more flexible talent development policies and mechanisms to attract more talent coming back.

Reactors Safe

China's 15 operational nuclear power reactors are in safe status, says a government report issued on June 4.

Launched by the Ministry of Environmental Protection as a summary of China's environmental conditions in 2012, the report gave the remarks while elaborating on the country's enhanced efforts regarding nuclear safety and radiation protection.

China has 29 nuclear power reactors under construction, and their construction quality is being well controlled, the report says.

It adds that the country has 19 nuclear reactors that have been built for civil research purposes only, and they are also in good condition.

In October 2012, the ministry publicized a national plan on nuclear security and the prevention and treatment of radioactive contamination for the 2011-15 period and a vision for 2020. The country is aiming to upgrade the security of its nuclear facilities and devices employing nuclear technologies by 2015, according to the plan.

Remote Sensing

Ground stations for a remote-sensing satellite network that covers all of China's territory have been successfully constructed, the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced on June 5.

The network comprises an operation and data processing center, as well as three ground stations in the cities of Beijing, Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Sanya in Hainan Province.

The network can receive, transmit, store, process and distribute remote sensing data from satellites to obtain information on all of China's territory.

It will play an important role in land use, disaster monitoring, research on resources and the environment, according to the academy.