Looking forward: China's major events in 2008
Updated: 2008-01-02 19:01
Also from Tuesday, a milestone corporate income tax law took effect. The law set a unified income tax rate for domestic and foreign companies at 25 percent. This came after years of criticism that the original dual income tax mechanism, intended to attract foreign investment, was unfair to domestic enterprises.
The anti-monopoly law, which aims to ensure fair competition, will take effect on Aug. 1. Lawmakers said the statute will improve market regulation and provide a better environment for domestic and foreign investors.
New labor law means better image but at higher cost
Policies to cushion impact of new corporate income tax law
Anti-monopoly law not to affect foreign investment
Launch the Shenzhou VII spacecraft
China's third manned space mission is scheduled to be launched in 2008. Compared with the previous two manned space flights, the upcoming Shenzhou VII space mission, which includes a space walk, is more complex. The crew is also scheduled to perform extravehicular work such as installing equipment and tightening screws.
There are 14 astronauts undergoing extensive training for this project and learning to cope with any contingencies. The Shenzhou VII is expected to carry three astronauts in 2008 on a Long March 2F carrier rocket that is being tested now.
China launched its manned space program in 1999. It successfully sent Yang Liwei, the country's first astronaut, into orbit on the Shenzhou V spacecraft in 2003. Yang spent about 21 hours in orbit.
Two years later, astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a Chinese record five-day flight on the Shenzhou VI. All astronauts returned safely.
China rocketing ahead in space program
Hu Jintao to visit Japan
Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit Japan this spring, which will be the first visit by a Chinese President to Japan in a decade, since former President Jiang Zemin's journey in 1998.
Hu's trip was scheduled by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who concluded a China visit last week.
In 2008, the two countries will mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Meanwhile, youth exchange programs will be promoted to observe the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth in 2008.
Long-term, stable and friendly relations are the common goal of people in both countries and the responsibility of their leaders.
Full coverage: Japanese PM Visits China
Improve people's livelihood
The government promised to establish a cooperative health care network covering all rural residents by the end of 2008. Also, by the end of 2010, it will extend the medical insurance system for employed urban residents, aiming to provide safe, effective, convenient and low-cost public health and medical services to the entire population.
China would also set up an independent system for the production, procurement and distribution of basic drugs, and also a government fund to allocate more subsidies to rural cooperative medicare and urban insurance.
Medical reforms started in 1992 with the aim of creating a multi-faceted system to satisfy different types of public demand.
China will continue to spend more on education in 2008 and expand free nine-year compulsory education among rural and urban children.
The government has also vowed to curb rising housing prices to help urban low-income families, by expediting the low-rent housing system and improving the affordable housing system.
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