Plan to bolster development of service outsourcing
The Ministry of Commerce and five other departments jointly released an action plan on Dec 7 to promote high-quality development of the service outsourcing industry.
The plan centers on promoting platform upgrading, innovation-driven growth, enterprise cultivation, market expansion, industry regulation and talent development. It includes 13 tasks, such as building demonstration cities and digital trade clusters.
Last year, Chinese enterprises secured service outsourcing contracts worth 3.05 trillion yuan ($433 billion), with an executed amount of 2.22 billion yuan, according to the Commerce Ministry. These figures represented year-on-year increases of 6.5 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively.
Along with job creation, in its outlook for 2030, the plan aims to foster competitive leading enterprises and clusters in service outsourcing, and the advanced digital, intelligent, green and integrated development of the sector.
Cold weather prevention and response measures enhanced
China's disaster prevention and control, meteorological administration and emergency management authorities have issued a notice to enhance prevention and response to cold waves, gales and fog.
Long-range forecasts indicate that this winter and the following spring will experience significant temperature fluctuations, with frequent cold waves and intense cooling events.
The notice outlines key measures, including implementing targeted strategies based on local conditions, strengthening monitoring, analysis and early-warning services, enhancing coordination and joint efforts for risk control, and organizing the implementation of energy supply guarantee measures.
Efforts should also focus on keeping the public informed of forecasts and warnings for meteorological disasters, along with related emergency response measures, and on raising public awareness of disaster prevention, control, and self-rescue and mutual-aid capabilities, according to the notice.
Grassroots health centers urged to set up specialty departments
A package of targeted measures aimed at strengthening grassroots medical services, prioritizing departments such as pediatrics, gynecology, rehabilitation medicine and mental health, will be rolled out, according to a guideline jointly issued on Dec 11 by six government bodies, including the National Health Commission.
According to the guideline, by 2030, eligible grassroots medical institutions are required to establish at least one specialty department, while others are encouraged to develop such departments based on their specific circumstances and needs.
Medical institutions are encouraged to focus on addressing common diseases, frequently occurring illnesses and chronic conditions.
Each specialty department is required to have at least two practicing physicians, with one holding an intermediate or higher professional title, and a sufficient number of competent nurses and other necessary personnel, according to the document.
Other measures to support these efforts include standardizing department management, enhancing service capability, strengthening healthcare quality control and leveraging medical support.
Rules improved for cleaner, more efficient use of coal
Six government departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, have issued an updated version of energy efficiency standards for the clean and efficient use of coal.
These standards establish clear baselines and benchmarks for energy consumption in 11 areas.
The benchmarks represent advanced energy efficiency standards, while baselines set the minimum acceptable efficiency and emission levels.
New and eligible existing projects are encouraged to aim for benchmark levels, while projects that fall below baseline levels must either upgrade or be phased out.
In addition to the previous focuses, two more sectors — coal-fired power generation and heating, and coal-to-natural gas — are now required to comply with specific energy efficiency standards.
To support the coal industry's transition, the document encourages favorable measures, such as central funds, preferential financing and policy incentives.
