Plan for cross-Strait tech cooperation approved

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has approved a plan aiming to turn Dongguan in South China's Guangdong province into a hub for cross-Strait cooperation on technological and industrial innovation.

The plan lays out 12 key tasks to promote cooperation to build a modern industrial system and create a common market across the Taiwan Strait, according to a National Development and Reform Commission official.

Dongguan is one of the regions in the Chinese mainland with the highest concentrations of Taiwan companies and Taiwan investment, the official said. The city has more than 3,800 Taiwan companies, and is home to about 50,000 Taiwan compatriots, according to the official.

It is also a hub for advanced manufacturing in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and has been working with Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan companies to further implement an innovation-driven development strategy, the official said.

The plan is a demonstration of respect and care for Taiwan compatriots, and sends a clear signal on deepening cross-Strait cooperation on innovative development, the official also said.

Flu vaccinations urged for most of population

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guideline for flu vaccination, suggesting that everyone aged six months and above who is not at risk of harm should get vaccinated against flu.

The updated guideline suggested high-risk people or those who need special attention get vaccinated promptly, including medical workers, people aged 60 years and above, people who have one or more chronic conditions, children, and pregnant women.

The center said health institutions nationwide should start giving flu vaccinations as soon as possible.

Pregnant women can get inoculated with inactivated flu vaccines at any stage of their pregnancy, it added.

The center said it will keep updating the guideline according to the progress of research both at home and abroad.

Ministry moves to stabilize key industries

In an effort to keep up the steady growth of China's industrial economy, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments have issued work plans to stabilize the performance of 10 key industries.

The 10 industries include steel, nonferrous metal, petrochemicals, building materials, automobile and electronic information manufacturing.

"If we stabilize (the growth of) these key industries, we will basically stabilize (the growth of) the industrial economy," said ministry official Tao Qing at a news conference earlier this month.

The ministry will work with other departments, local authorities and industry associations to implement the work plans, and will conduct research to come up with more measures to improve the industrial economy, Tao said.