Veterans' pensions and campus bookstores addressed

Several ministry-level departments, including those responsible for veterans affairs, education and industry, have responded recently to issues of public concern.

10% pension increase for disabled veterans

China will increase pension allowances and subsidies for groups such as disabled veterans and families of martyrs, according to a notice released on July 24.

The notice, jointly issued by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, said pension allowances for disabled soldiers, police officers, state officials, and militia members as well as family members of martyrs and deceased soldiers will increase by 10 percent from Aug 1－Army Day.

After the adjustment, the yearly pension allowances for veterans disabled in war will be 88,150 yuan ($12,827) and the amount for those disabled while on duty will be 85,370 yuan. Living subsidies for Red Army veterans will also be raised.

It is the 26th time China has increased pension standards for disabled veterans since 1978 and the 29th time it has increased those for Red Army veterans and families of deceased soldiers in the same period of time.

The previous adjustment was made in August last year.

Universities urged to embrace bookstores

Every college or university in China should have at least one physical bookstore on campus whose variety of books and size should suit the school's characteristics, the Ministry of Education said in a guideline released on July 24.

Despite progress in recent years, some campus bookstores still faced operational difficulties due to the challenges posed by digital reading and online booksellers, the guideline said.

It said colleges and universities should consider bookstores in their overall campus construction plan and provide them with space to operate in an appropriate location. They are also encouraged to offer bookstores concessions and exempt them from rent and utilities charges.

Campus bookstores should conduct various kinds of cultural activities such as reading clubs and academic salons to build themselves into multifunction venues, it said.

The guideline also encouraged college and university libraries and publishers to share information and resources with the bookstores to better meet the needs of students and academic staff.

New casting capacity banned in key areas

The construction of new casting capacity, except for high-end, more environmentally friendly projects, will be forbidden in key areas in 11 cities and provinces including Beijing and Shanghai in an effort to improve China's air quality, according to a notice released on July 25.

The notice, jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said the key areas should forbid the construction of new casting projects.

Related departments and organizations should strictly carry out regulations and not provide services such as the supply of land and the approval of environmental impact assessments to such projects, it said.

The notice listed several requirements concerning the construction and operation of high-end casting projects, including the installation of efficient collection and processing devices to deal with all particulate matter generated.

CSRC clarifies role of overseas representatives

The China Securities Regulatory Commission has revised measures dealing with the administration of representatives of overseas stock exchanges in China and expanded them to cover representatives of overseas futures exchanges.

The new measures are based on ones focused on representatives of overseas stock exchanges in China that took effect in 2007.

According to the new measures, representatives of overseas stock and futures exchanges in China will be established through after-event record-filing instead of approval, as previously required.

A notice released by the CSRC on July 26 said the measures also clearly defined the scope of activity for the representatives as "engaging in nonprofit activities such as liaison, investigation and survey".

The measures also specified and clarified the legal liabilities the representatives will face if they violate any law or regulation in China.