Elevators to be installed in suitable residences

In conjunction with six other central government bodies, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has issued a notice calling for renovation of aging urban residential communities.

As part of the requirements, local authorities have been tasked with helping to install elevators in apartment buildings that currently do not have any.

Authorities should conduct feasibility studies based on factors such as the structural safety of the apartment buildings and the desire of residents for elevators, to determine which buildings are suited to installation.

When a building has been determined as suitable, authorities should engage with residents in a patient and detailed manner and guide them to discuss and reach an agreement on how best to design and install elevators, how to finance installation, as well as how to keep them maintained.

The notice also tasked authorities with guaranteeing the residents' rights to know about, to participate in and to supervise the process, and to make sure that after installation, elevators are properly maintained and operate over the long term.

China works toward CPTPP membership

China is working to press ahead with the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and is consulting with signatory countries in accordance with required procedures.

A full and in-depth analysis, assessment and study of all the articles in the trade agreement has been conducted, Yang Tao, head of the Ministry of Commerce's comprehensive affairs department, told a recent news conference.

Accordingly, China has already sorted out measures that may need to be taken and has identified laws that may need changing, Yang said. The country intends to remain in communication with CPTPP signatory countries regarding participation in the trade pact.

China applied to join the CPTPP in September 2021 and advocates regional free trade arrangements that are open, transparent and mutually beneficial, and has continued to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, Yang said.

More measures taken to safeguard wheat harvest

All-out efforts have been made to minimize the impact of continuous rainfall in late May that coincided with the wheat harvest, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.

The rainfall affected 1.86 million hectares (27.9 million mu) of crops, most of it in Henan province, according to Pan Wenbo, head of the ministry's Department of Crop Production.

The rainfall has had a limited impact on other major wheat-producing provinces, such as Shandong, Anhui, Hebei and Jiangsu, which have all seen an increase in the summer grain harvest, Pan said.

This summer's harvest is 1.275 million metric tons less than last summer, and represents a 0.9 percent decrease.

Pan said that this slight drop will have a limited impact on the grain market, as China had seen an increase in its wheat harvest for four consecutive years from 2019 to last year, and so the country has abundant stocks of wheat.