China

Space Flight

China plans to launch another manned spacecraft, Shenzhou 10, in early June 2013, according to Niu Hongguang, Deputy Commander in Chief of China's Manned Space Program. The crew, who will enter the Tiangong-1 space lab module, may include two male and one female astronauts, the same makeup as the crew of the June 2012 Shenzhou 9 mission. "They will stay in space for 15 days, operating both automated and manual space dockings with the target orbiter Tiangong-1, conducting scientific experiments in the lab module and giving science lectures to spectators on Earth," Niu said. In the coming mission, Shenzhou 10 will ferry personnel and supplies to Tiangong-1, further testing the astronauts' ability to work and live in space, as well as the functions of the lab module.

China

Economy to Recover

China's economic growth is expected to bounce back to 8.4 percent in 2013 as "recovery has set in the final months" of 2012, the World Bank said in its latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update released on December 19, 2012. The report projected a growth of 7.9 percent for China in 2012, which is 1.4 percentage points lower than the previous year's 9.3 percent and the lowest since 1999. Weak exports and tightening measures in the housing sector slowed down China's economy, it said.

China

Visa-free Transit

Air travelers are set to benefit from the announcement that Beijing will start allowing 72-hour visa-free stays for citizens from 45 countries in 2013. The move will be highly convenient for those who frequently travel to China, as getting a visa can currently take up to two weeks. Starting on January 1, 2013, tourists holding third country visas and plane tickets can apply for transit without visa, or TWOV, in the capital city at Beijing Capital International Airport, the Beijing Municipal Government announced in December. The 45 countries were listed in accordance with the numbers of inbound overnight visitors in Beijing from 2009 to 2011. Foreign visitors are not permitted to leave Beijing to visit other Chinese cities during the 72 hours, and must depart from Beijing. Visitors have to register at a police station with their visas within 24 hours of their arrival, according to government regulations.

China

Fishery Cooperation

The China-Africa Fishery Union was established at the 2012 China-Africa Fishery Forum held on December 11, 2012. The union aims to promote the exploration of fishery resources in China and Africa, bilateral trade and deepen cooperation in the sector.  

Wei Jianguo, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China Center for International Economic Exchange, said that fishery cooperation between China and Africa had huge potential.