INTEL EXCHANGE: Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (right) meets Intel Chairman Craig Barrett in Beijing on April 8. The two exchanged ideas on the international financial crisis, opposing trade protectionism and enhancing international cooperation (PANG XINGLEI)

Senior Care

The country will build four state-level demonstration centers in Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing municipalities and Jiangsu Province this year to deal with its aging population, a Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) official said on April 7.

The centers could function as prototypes for future care of the aged. "We want to turn elderly-care services into an industry in the long run," said Wang Hui with the MCA's Social Welfare and Philanthropy Undertakings Promotion Department.

The ministry will allocate 100 million to 200 million yuan ($14.6 million to $29.3 million) to each development to improve basic facility construction. Wang said the centers will offer more complete services for senior citizens than that which is currently available.

China faces mounting pressure from a growing silver-haired population because of a baby boom in the 1950s. Nearly 160 million people in China are aged 60 and above, 6 million more than there were in 2007. They account for 12 percent of China's population.

Controlling Spending

Government officials in Beijing who hope to take a little trip this year will find there's been a cut in the budget. Government spending on trips will be slashed 20 percent this year in an effort to crack down on officials spending public money on sightseeing tours overseas, a notice on the Beijing Municipal Government's website said.

"Party and government officials must not misuse public funds for overseas tours and must not demand any subsidy or financial assistance from any institution or enterprise," the authorities said.

The departments involved in sending officials on trips should thoroughly inspect the bills submitted by them and report claims to the municipal finance bureau for approval before reimbursing anyone.

Over the past few years the Chinese media have reported a string of scandals involving officials going on overseas trips, spending their time shopping and sightseeing with public funds.

Lhasa's Facelift

Lhasa will spend 1.7 billion yuan ($248 million) building and renovating major projects in an effort to turn itself into an eco-garden city, according to the Lhasa City Construction Bureau.

Tibet's capital city plans to build one city-level park, two medium-sized parks, 20 smaller ones and green spaces on roadsides. Meanwhile, it will also renovate and expand seven urban roads.

Special efforts will also be made to build the greenery view on the northern bank of the Lhasa River and promote the building of the green corridor on the southern bank.

Studio Opens

Daimler Northeast Asia opened a Mercedes-Benz advanced design studio in Beijing, under the leadership of newly appointed director Olivier Boulay.

"As part of our long-term expansion plans in China, we are setting up an advanced-design center to explore the many interesting design trends here, and translate them into ideas which could influence future concept vehicles or elements of production cars," said Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia.

Boulay, who has been a designer for more than 25 years, has created dozens of concept vehicles and production cars for Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche and others. He's also designed airplane cockpits and buildings.

The Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio, China, will be Daimler's fifth in the world, joining Yokohama, Japan; Irvine, California; Como, Italy; and Sindelfingen, Germany.