Funds issued for nationwide work-relief programs

The National Development and Reform Commission recently issued 5 billion yuan ($689 million) in central budget investment for job creation projects this year.

The investment will be used to support 1,008 work-relief programs, which are expected to recruit 123,000 rural residents and other lower-income earners and pay them more than 1.71 billion yuan in remuneration, the commission said.

The funding will mainly go to 832 less-developed counties.

It will be used to support the construction of more than 3,500 kilometers of roads, improving the conditions of 1,000 hectares of farmland, and building more than 1,600 km of embankments and ditches.

The commission has issued more than 14 billion yuan in central government funding for work-relief programs for 2025.

Three-year plan to bolster self-reliance in copper

China plans to promote the high-quality development of the nation's copper industry over the next three years.

The plan, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and another 10 central government departments, sets the goal that by 2027 the resilience and safety of the country's supply chain for copper production should be significantly improved.

The country should strive to increase the amount of domestic supply of copper mine resources by five to 10 percent, and further boost its ability to recycle copper by 2027.

By then, the country should witness breakthroughs in key technologies centered on the green and efficient development of copper resources, and nurture a number of high-quality companies in the copper industry, the plan said.

In a statement issued to explain the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said China has become the largest manufacturer and consumer of copper products in the world, and the country has kept improving its copper smelting technologies and the layout of its copper industry.

But the country faces insufficient supply of copper resources, and needs to further improve the structure of its copper industry, the ministry said, adding that the plan aims to speed up the high-end, green and intelligent development of the industry.

More support arranged for scenic train trips for seniors

A joint action plan has been issued by nine central government departments to increase the number of specialized scenic train journeys aimed at senior tourists.

By 2027, the country should form a system of train journeys for senior tourists that cover a variety of routes across the country, said the plan, jointly issued by departments including the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and China State Railway Group.

It added that the number of trains offering the rides and the number of tourists taking the rides in 2027 should increase significantly from 2024.

The plan said the country supports private companies and other market entities in participating in the development and operation of the train journeys.

It also called for strengthened financial support for the development of train journeys for senior tourists, with more travel routes and a diversified supply of train ride packages.

Authorities should formulate standards for renovating trains to make them more age-friendly, as well as for services provided to senior consumers on the trains, the plan said, adding that authorities should also guide tourist destinations in improving the age-friendliness of their equipment and services.