Top leaders elected

A new generation of top Chinese leaders took the stage on November 15 in one of the world’s most important power transitions*, taking the helm* of the ruling party of the world’s second-largest economy and most populous country.

Xi Jinping was elected as general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), leading the seven-seat Political Bureau Standing Committee.

China cuts fuel prices

China would cut retail gasoline prices by 310 yuan (US$49) and diesel by 300 yuan per ton starting from November 16, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planner, said on November 15.

The move follows two consecutive increases but is the fourth such cut this year. It was made in response to recent fluctuations* in crude prices on the global market, the NDRC said on its Web site.

Private planes get space

China will further open low-altitude airspace to private planes next year, with communications and surveillance* facilities already built to ensure flight safety.

Ma Xin, an official with the State air traffic control commission, said communications and surveillance facilities aimed at ensuring low-altitude flight safety have been constructed in Changchun and Guangzhou, as well as on Hainan Island, and there are maintenance stations in Shenyang, Shenzhen, Hainan and Zhuhai.

Piracy regulations mulled

China is considering whether to step up its fight against intellectual piracy* by lowering its threshold for prosecuting people who sell pirated audio-video products.

Shops or street vendors who sell as little as two pirated discs could be sentenced to jail under proposed revisions to the Copyright Law, Liu Binjie, chief of the National Anti-Piracy Office, said while attending the 18th National Congress of the CPC in Beijing.

(SD-Agencies)