Party chief and President Xi Jinping pledged on Friday to clear up two kinds of pollution — political and environmental — that have caused the most public concern. Xi's promise came as he joined discussions with lawmakers from Jiangxi province. He called for particular efforts to tackle officials' improper behavior at grassroots level, amid China's sweeping anti-graft campaign that has cracked down on both "tigers" and "flies"— powerful leaders and lowly officials.
The European Union's commissioner for climate action and energy has said "climate diplomacy" will be at the heart of Europe's relationship with China throughout 2015. In an exclusive interview ahead of the ongoing two sessions, Miguel Arias Canete also said the EU was "ready to work" with China to tackle global warming.
Pollution has a negative effect on innovation in China. Some of the country's most brilliant talent wants to work in the United States to escape from smog, and it is increasingly difficult to hire top-notch talent from the US. It is concern about the environment rather than pay that affects their decisions.
China plans to develop national legislation to fight corruption, according to a report delivered by top legislator Zhang Dejiang Sunday. The anti-graft legislation should be introduced as quickly as possible and the system of sanctions and prevention improved with the goal being a mechanism which means "officials dare not, cannot and do not want to be corrupt," according to the decision.
A political adviser called for regulation and supervision to protect women from being discriminated against in employment during the ongoing two sessions. Zhen Yan, former vice-chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said gender discrimination still exists in the labor market. "Some companies say openly that only male candidates will be employed or preferred. The situation worsened after the country adjusted the one-child policy. Many companies do not hire women for fear of having to give maternity leave," Zhen said at the sideline of the two sessions.
