Economy/Resources - 145. page

When Xi Jinping spoke at the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of China’s nuclear industry, he told his audience, “The nuclear industry is a strategic high tech industry and an important cornerstone of [China’s] national security.” He further stated that China must adhere to safe and innovative development and to the use of nuclear energy for peace; it must enhance the core competitiveness of the nuclear industry and write a new chapter of glory for the nuclear industry. 

China’s General Administration of Customs reported China’s trade data for 2014. The total import and export volume was 26.43 trillion yuan (US$4.26 trillion), a 2.3 percent increase over the previous year. The trade surplus was 2.35 trillion yuan (US$379 billion), an all-time high.

Exports were 14.39 trillion yuan (US$2.32 trillion), an increase of 6.1 percent over the previous year and also an all-time high. However, the increase rate of 6.1 percent was the lowest in the past five years.

China had a 5.4 percent increase in its trade with the U.S., to 3.41 trillion yuan (US$550 billion) and an 8.9 percent increase in trade with the European Union, to 3.78 trillion yuan (US$610 billion).

Source: Caixin Online, January 13, 2015
http://datanews.caixin.com/2015-01-13/100773846.html

The China Meteorological Administration recently issued its "China Climate Bulletin 2014." According to its report, the smog situation has worsened in China. Last year, there were 61 Smog days in the area of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province, a 70 percent increase over the 36 days in the previous year. On average, the whole nation has 17.9 smog days.

Source: Caixin Online, January 12, 2015
http://datanews.caixin.com/2015-01-12/100773475.html

On January 7, 2015, Xinhua published a photo article titled, “Lake Poyang, China’s Largest Freshwater Lake, Approaches Being Dried Out.” In the brief news article, four photos displayed the dried-out bed of Lake Poyang.

The water level of Poyang Lake at its hydrological station was only 8.11 meters. When the water level is less than 8 meters, it means that the lake has entered its extreme drought season. Currently, Poyang Lake’s water area occupies only 310 square kilometers. In the past, when the water area of the lake was more abundant, it was over 3000 square kilometers.

Source: Xinhua, January 7, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2015-01/07/c_127367345.htm

On January 6, 2015, Xinhua reported that China is becoming or has already become the world’s largest “garbage dump.” The article stated, “This is not exaggerated to scare people.” According to "Shanghai Securities News" (http://www.cnstock.com/), China imported 125 times more plastic waste, 50 times more metal waste and 21 times more paper waste in 2003 than in 1990. Chinese buyers bought this waste for more than twice the price that other countries wanted to offer. After having been recycled, re-processed or re-furbished, it was then returned to the market.

Some experts have said, “The land and water polluted by garbage cannot be restored for 100 years." The article particularly mentioned plastic waste from the United States, medical waste from Britain, chemical waste from South Korea, household waste from Germany, and abandoned agricultural film from Japan.

Source: Xinhua, January 6, 2015
http://www.xinhuatone.com/detail.jsp?con_id=410164&class_id=53