National economy recovers better than expected in Jan.–Feb.

The CRRC Qiqihar Railway Vehicle Group Shenyang Company, with a history of 97 years, secures maintenance orders in the first half of 2022 which totals 8,640 national railway freight cars of various models, making a historic breakthrough. The picture shows workers with the Shenyang company stepping up production in the workshop on Feb. 9. [Photo/VCG]

On March 15, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to introduce China's economic performance in the first two months of 2022. From January to February, the national economy recovered better than expected. Industrial production expanded, with high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing sectors posting stellar performance; the service sector continued its rebound trend with modern services posting marked growth; retail sales picked up, and the sales of consumption upgrading commodities were active; the growth of fixed-asset investment accelerated, and investment in high-tech manufacturing increased rapidly; the import and export of goods grew rapidly, and the trade structure continued to improve; the employment situation was generally stable, and the unemployment rate was basically stable; consumer prices rose moderately, while industrial producer prices fell year-on-year.

China's cyberspace regulator to step up protection of minors

A police officer from the Cyber Security Brigade of the Public Security Bureau of Hai'an City, Jiangsu Province explains the safe use of mobile devices in the cyberspace to pupils of the primary school affiliated to the Municipal Teacher Development Center. [Photo/visual.people.cn]

An official with the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Clean and Healthy Cyberspace Initiative launched in 2021 went smoothly in the past year. Speaking at the press conference held by the State Council Information Office on March 17, the CAC official said that China will continue to strengthen the protection of minors in cyberspace, with a focus on anti-addiction measures and efforts to curb online malpractice and create a cleaner online environment for minors.

For this purpose, the CAC official said that priorities will be given to the clean-up of pornographic and violent content and other online content that may seriously affect the physical and mental health of minors.

He went on to say that the CAC has recently started to solicit public opinion on a draft regulation to safeguard minors in cyberspace. The draft includes issues such as the protection of minors' personal information and anti-addiction measures.