Trip welcomed

China has received information that the U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wishes to make a trip to China to negotiate economic and trade issues, according to a Ministry of Commerce (MOC) statement issued on Sunday.

The statement quoted an unnamed spokesperson for the MOC as saying China welcomes this information. Meanwhile, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Saturday called on the United States and China to resolve trade tensions through rules-based multilateral* institutions.

New astronaut selection

China on Monday launched a new selection process for 17 to 18 astronauts for space station missions.

“They will be the third group of China’s selected astronauts. After comprehensive training, they will participate in a mission for China’s space station,” said Yang Liwei, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office. The astronauts will include pilots as well as engineers and payload* specialists.

Universtiy president

Shi Yigong, a biologist* and academician* of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been named the first president of Westlake University, a private university with aspirations to become one of the world’s top research institutes.

The president was appointed by the board of directors on Monday. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Chen Ning Yang was named honorary chairman of the board. Located in the East China city of Hangzhou, Westlake University was developed from the Westlake Institute for Advanced Studies. It will focus on research in natural and medical sciences, and technology.

Underground warehouse

The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, will build a new underground warehouse to protect relics in a controlled environment with custom humidity and temperature settings, according to Shan Jixiang, curator of the museum.

Shan said that the new warehouse, which covers 8,285 square meters, will be equipped with better waterproofing measures. (SD-Agencies)