Africa Report

More than 3,000 Chinese mainland children were adopted by overseas parents in 2012, according to recent figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Citing adoption registration statistics, the ministry said that a total of 24,635 Chinese mainland children were adopted in 2012. Of the adoptees, 87 percent were adopted by people on the mainland, while the remaining 3,311 children were adopted by Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan residents, Chinese nationals living in foreign countries or foreigners.

China

Rare Disease Alliance

Seventeen medical institutions from 13 provinces recently launched China's first national organization against rare diseases in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. The alliance is committed to establishing treatment centers nationwide, researching cures, spreading awareness and educating the public about rare diseases. The alliance will assist in collecting data on rare diseases, carrying out epidemiological studies and improving treatment. According to the World Health Organization, a rare disease is one that affects a small percentage of the population, ranging from 0.65 to 1 in 1,000. More than 6,000 rare diseases have been discovered so far.

China

Geographic Census

China is set to launch its first national census of geographic conditions between 2013 and 2015, said a State Council circular in March. It said that the census will target natural and man-made elements on the Earth's surface within China's territory. Information will be collected on land features, vegetation, waters, deserts and bare areas, as well as transport grids, residential areas and facilities. Preparations will be completed in the months leading up to June, followed by a 24-month first phase ending in June 2015.

China

Boost for Coal Bed Gas Sector

China will earmark more funds and roll out favorable policies to further exploit its coal bed methane reserves amid increased efforts to step up new energy exploration. The Chinese Government will allocate more money from the central budget and encourage the inflow of private capital for this emerging energy sector, according to an industrial policy released by the National Energy Administration in March. Preferential measures, including helping enterprises find financing and improving gas pricing mechanisms, are also noted in the policy. China plans to complete the construction of two major production bases in the country's central and western regions in 2015, and increase the number to three to five in another five to 10 years.