Chinese standards in foreign languages to raise cooperation

China recently released the translated versions of 75 important national standards related to agricultural production, transport and logistics, and intelligent manufacturing to enhance trade and international cooperation.

The foreign language versions have been approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation, it was announced in a notice on Friday.

In the agricultural production sector, the foreign language versions of two national standards for soybeans and wheat will facilitate international exchanges and cooperation in the food industry.

This will also help increase the supply of high-quality soybeans and wheat, and promote joint efforts to build an international ecosystem for food trade cooperation.

Regarding transport and logistics, the foreign versions of two national standards in the rail transportation field, such as the General Technical Specification for Railway Passenger Cars, aim to boost China's exports of rail transportation equipment and enhance the integration and interoperability of related technologies.

The foreign language versions of national standards in the realm of intelligent manufacturing will expedite the global promotion of China's experience in digital transformation. This will provide valuable insights for the adoption of digital technologies in traditional industries worldwide, according to the administration.

Guidelines released to better regulate early years care

The National Health Commission released on Saturday trial guidelines on the early development of children under 3 years old for primary-level health institutions to help caregivers develop better parenting practices.

The guidelines recommend township-level health centers, community health service centers and county-level maternity and child care institutions, to guide caregivers in nurturing children's brain and neural development through companionship, emotional communication and behavioral interaction.

This approach is intended to enhance children's physical, language, cognitive and social interaction skills, the guidelines said.

The institutions are advised to assist families with children under 3 years old in creating a nurturing environment. This involves offering a variety of toys and books, as well as facilitating opportunities for children to play with peers and in natural settings.

The guidelines caution against the use of televisions, computers, mobile phones, tablets and gaming consoles as substitutes for interactive playmates.

The guidelines stressed the importance of assessing caregivers' parenting behaviors and mental health status to identify potential risks. Child healthcare providers are encouraged to offer tailored counseling and guidance to help caregivers address negative behaviors and improve the overall parenting environment.

China retains crown as world's largest trading nation

China has maintained its position as the world's largest goods trading nation for the past eight years, the country's customs regulator said on Friday.

The nation's total goods imports and exports surpassed 43 trillion yuan ($6 trillion) for the first time last year, up 5 percent year-on-year, according to Sun Meijun, Party chief of the General Administration of Customs.

In 2024, the administration introduced and implemented 16 measures aimed at further optimizing the business environment at ports and facilitating trade for enterprises throughout the year, Sun said at a national customs work conference.

Tariff reductions and various types of tariff preference measures were enforced, resulting in a total tax reduction or refunding of 282.9 billion yuan, Sun said.

Last year, 111 types of agricultural products from 62 countries and regions were authorized for import into China, 14 ports were newly opened or took further opening-up measures, and seven bonded logistics centers were established, according to Sun.

While pushing forward with existing policies and measures, the customs administration will introduce special measures to promote foreign trade, she added.

Specifically, Sun said authorities will boost the preparation work in the transition of the Hainan Free Trade Port into an independent customs operation; research to offer a new round of supportive policies for the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin; and boost the capacity and quality of ports in Northeast China and the Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions.