Policy Digest: Jan 24

Public security officials tackle 113,000 crimes

Last year, China's public security authorities investigated 113,000 crimes related to food, drugs, the environment and intellectual property rights in collaboration with other government departments.

Their efforts have given people a better sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, the Ministry of Public Security said in a news release published Friday on its website.

Regarding public food safety, the ministry said authorities have severely cracked down on crimes related to the excessive use of food additives and of non-edible substances.

The ministry said it has also prioritized its fight against the production and sale of counterfeit and inferior drugs that target women, children and the elderly.

It has also stepped up the protection of IPR by cracking down on criminal acts in key areas that affect people's lives and health, including products for children, household appliances, automobile parts and construction materials.

And to meet people's needs for a beautiful, natural environment, the ministry said efforts have been made to target crimes related to the exploitation of nature, threats against endangered species and wildlife crimes.

China still world's largest online retail market

China has been dubbed the world's largest online retail market for the 11th consecutive year, with its online retail sales exceeding 15 trillion yuan ($2.09 trillion), up 11 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Figures released by the ministry on its website on Friday showed that online retail sales of physical goods accounted for 27.6 percent of total retail sales of consumer goods.

Chinese consumers showed a conspicuous inclination towards environmentally friendly, wholesome and smart products, with a notable preference for domestic brands, it said.

The country also witnessed a more diverse online service sector last year as online travel, entertainment and catering industries together contributed to 23.5 percent of the overall increase in online retail sales.

In addition, the ministry said that international cooperation in electronic commerce has expanded, with the sales volume of imported goods on major domestic e-commerce platforms exceeding 290 billion yuan ($40.49 billion), thus providing more diverse choices for consumers.

337 ride-hailing providers now operating

China's online ride-hailing companies reached 337 by the end of December, two more than the number registered during the previous month, data from the Ministry of Transport showed on Friday.

By the end of last month, 2.79 million authorized ride-hailing vehicle certificates and 6.57 million driver licenses had been issued, according to the ministry.

Also last month, China saw some 894 million ride-hailing trips, 8.3 percent more than in November.