Safety advisory issued for dance, sports training

The Ministry of Education has issued a safety advisory for institutions offering off-campus dance and sports training services for primary and middle school students to prevent injuries.

In the advisory released on the ministry's website earlier this month, the ministry warned against training children without ensuring that proper protection measures are in place.

Children should avoid activities that pose increased health risks, including training on floors paved with glossy ceramic tiles, working out before being fully warmed up or undergoing excessive flexibility training, the ministry said.

It said trainers should not press children's backs with excessive force and advised against backbends for children under age 10.

Furthermore, parents should take into account their children's interests, ages and physical conditions when deciding whether they should take extra-curriculum training or what training courses to take, the ministry said.

They should keep an eye on the health of their children and refrain from letting them continue their training classes if they feel uncomfortable, it said.

FIEs increased in first three quarters of year

China saw an increase in the number of foreign-invested enterprises in the first three quarters of 2023, which is evidence of the restoration of foreign investors' confidence, the State Administration for Market Regulation said.

By the end of September, 684,000 FIEs had registered in China, an increase of 1.5 percent from the end of last year, according to the administration.

A total of 46,586 FIEs were newly established in China during the first three quarters, it said.

The number of newly established FIEs increased significantly in the coastal provinces of Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian during the period.

Those increases provided powerful support for the high-quality development of China's economy, the administration said.

The administration said it will continue to nurture a business environment that is market oriented, law based and internationalized to better serve FIEs in China.

Officials urged to brace for cold disasters

The Ministry of Emergency Management said it has issued a notice asking the National Fire and Rescue Administration and local emergency management authorities to take effective measures to better cope with potential natural disasters caused by low temperatures.

Citing weather forecasts, the ministry said China may experience lower-than-usual temperatures during the latter part of this winter.

Authorities at every level should take responsibility for handling disasters caused by the frigid weather, it said, adding that they should improve their emergency response plans, closely follow any changes in weather and issue alerts in advance.

They should also ensure that traffic runs smoothly and that supplies of drinking water and energy supplies are adequate, the ministry said.