Cooperation between film, food industries promoted

The China Film Administration and the Ministry of Commerce have issued a notice encouraging collaboration between the movie and restaurant industries to boost consumption.

The departments said they encourage production companies to make more movies showcasing food culture. They will support companies and associations in both industries to establish a cooperation mechanism to develop dishes, banquets, restaurants and trips inspired by movies.

Different regions are encouraged to launch events to promote both movies and dishes, it said, suggesting parties including movie companies, restaurants and payment settlement institutions to carry out special events, offering restaurant discounts for moviegoers or movie ticket discounts for diners.

The administration and the ministry also said they support movie festivals, movie weeks and premieres by taking advantage of local resources and cooperating with restaurants to promote traditional local food.

Consumption of whole grains encouraged

Seven central government departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, have issued an action plan to promote the consumption of whole grains to improve dietary health and reduce food waste.

The plan asks relevant authorities to develop the whole grain industry according to their own conditions. It set a goal that by 2035, the public awareness of the importance of whole grains will be increased significantly, and that whole grains will take up a significantly larger proportion of the food they consume.

Also by that year, there should be a richer supply of high-quality whole grain products, and a dynamic balance should be reached between the supply and consumption of whole grain food, it said.

The plan asks local authorities to make vigorous efforts to promote the public's awareness of, and encourages institutes and universities to publish their research on, the nutrition and health effects of whole grains.

Efforts should be sped up to formulate national standards for whole grain products, the plan said, emphasizing the need to strengthen quality control and set up a certification system to ensure the safety of the products.

Hospitals to be made more child-friendly

The National Health Commission, together with five other departments, has issued a guideline to improve hospitals' friendliness to children.

Those who design, plan and renovate hospitals should take into account children's perspectives, and make spaces in hospitals more interesting and colorful to reduce children's unease.

Hospitals should expand corridors, waiting and resting areas for child patients' guardians, and set up game and reading zones for children.

Hospitals should also ensure that their spaces are equipped with facilities to reduce safety risks for children, the guideline said. Children's handrails should be installed along passages, and floors should be made with nonslip and soft material, it said.