SMOKING VICTIMS: Figures from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that nearly 1.1 billion Chinese people are either smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke. About 356 million people above the age of 15 are smokers, while another 738 are passively smoking. Smoking-caused cancers and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have imposed economic burden of more than 223.7 billion yuan ($35.9 billion) for people at or above the age of 35. (ZHAO YUGUO)

 

China has been working effectively toward goals set by the National Human Rights Action Plan (2012-15), with most quantitative targets being at least half-way to fulfilled in the past two years, a senior official said on December 23, 2014.

"China has made considerable progress in human rights protection," said Cai Mingzhao, Director of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) at an interim review meeting on the action plan.

In 2013, disposable income of urban residents grew 7 percent while per-capita net income of rural residents rose 9.3 percent, and the poor rural population fell by 16.5 million compared to 2012. Community-level self-governance improved, as over 98 percent of village level party committees are now directly elected. Meanwhile, the interests and rights of ethnic minorities, women, children, the elderly and disabled have been better protected, and international exchanges and cooperating in the field of human rights have also progressed, said Cai.

The Chinese Government publicized the National Human Rights Action Plan (2012-15) in June 2012, promising to address challenges and work for the happiness and dignity of every citizen.

The plan is China's second national plan for human rights protection and serves as a policy document for advancing human rights.

China's Keywords

On December 19, 2014, "China Keywords," a multilingual and multimedia platform for understanding China's political discourse, was launched. Currently, the database has recorded interpretation to 77 popular phrases, such as the "socialism with Chinese characteristics," "important thought of Three Represents," "community of common destiny" and "Three Areas of Confidence."

The keywords have been culled from important documents of the Chinese Communist Party and the government and the speeches and works of state leaders.

The program was initiated by the China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and the China Academy of Translation and implemented by the Translators Association of China and the International Communication Research Center at CIPG.

Minority Officials

In a document released on December 22, 2014, the Central Government promised to cultivate and appoint more officials from minority groups and ensure they are given "full trust."

The document gives special attention to the cultivation of intellectuals in ethnically diverse regions, especially those from minority backgrounds.

The guideline also outlines promoting understanding among different ethnic groups and the cultural identity of the Chinese nation.

China officially has 56 ethnic groups speaking more than 80 languages. Ethnic autonomous areas account for 64 percent of the country's total land territory.

A statement after the conference said different regional policies should be applied to border areas, impoverished regions and ecological preservation areas.