BIZCHINA / Weekly Roundup

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-24 10:14

Mars mission

Chinese scientists will conduct an exploration of Mars along with the ongoing lunar mission.

"In the coming five years, China will, on the basis of its moon probes, plan deep-space exploration, focusing on lunar and Martian exploration," says Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration.

Sun's remarks at the 36th Scientific Assembly of Committee on Space Research in Beijing appeared to be the first time a Chinese official has announced that the nation's space programme would include Martian probes.

Sun did not elaborate on that part of the mission plan.

Income gap reduction

The Chinese Government is pushing a reform in the "interest of the broadest masses" to reduce income gaps and redress social inequity.

In its latest effort to ensure that the country's pay and distribution system work in a "scientific, rational, fair and just" fashion, the government has vowed to increase the income of low earners, expand the moderate-income population and readjust the earnings of the top bracket.

The pay and distribution reform is important to building a harmonious society, agree officials from the ministries of personnel, finance, civil affairs, and labour and security.

The reform has aroused widespread attention since the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China discussed it in May.


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