Rules to help better ensure data security

China's top industry regulator released a set of implementation rules for data security risk assessment in the industry and information technology sectors on Friday as part of the country's latest efforts to enhance its ability to ensure data security.

The rules, which will take effect on June 1, require important and core data processors to complete a data security risk assessment every year and create an assessment report, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said.

The report should include information such as whether the data is processed in a legitimate, just and necessary way, and the possible adverse impact on data security caused by changes in the security status of important and core data.

It is stipulated that important and core data processors may appoint a third party to conduct the assessments, and the processors should promptly take appropriate measures to eliminate or mitigate any data security risks and vulnerabilities identified.

According to the guidelines for data management in the industry and information technology fields which took into effect on Jan 1, 2023, data is classified into three levels — general data, important data and core data — based on the potential degree of harm caused to national security, public interests or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations if leaked.

NHC says headway made in medical reform

Learning from the experiences of Sanming, Fujian province, in medical reform, county-level regions across the country have found their own ways to offer affordable medical care while ensuring that doctors and other medical personnel aren't losing out, an official with the National Health Commission said on Thursday.

Xue Haining, an official with the NHC, said at a news briefing in Beijing that as a result, the country is making headway in developing closely integrated medical and health consortia at the county level that can provide consistent healthcare services for the people.

In 2019, the commission launched a medical consortia pilot program that aims to establish a triage system led by county-level hospitals and improve the capacity of medical and health institutions at the township and village levels.

The goal is to ensure that common diseases are treated at the city or county level while routine health concerns are managed at the grassroots level, according to the NHC.

Ministry announces 19 new professions

China's human resources authority made public a list of 19 new professions on Friday.

The new professions include network anchor, generative AI system application specialist, cultural and creative product planning and operations engineer, intelligent manufacturing system operations and maintenance administrator, and bioengineering technician, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The ministry also unveiled 29 newly classified types of work, including mobile operating system application designer.

The recognition of these occupations can enhance the sense of belonging felt by people in these positions in the workplace, and these professionals can now also enjoy related national policy benefits, according to a ministry official.

In October last year, the ministry publicly solicited information on new occupations and received more than 430 proposals, more than twice the number seen in 2021.

The new occupation applications mainly involved fields such as business services, manufacturing and information technology, according to the ministry.