Briefs, November 17, 2012

Promotion for foreign affairs deputy

The deputy director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' information department, Hua Chunying, had been appointed a spokeswoman, Xinhua said yesterday. Hua has worked in the foreign affairs field for 20 years, with particular experience in Europe and Asia. He Huifeng

Politburo to share 'spirit of the congress'

The Communist Party's new Politburo met yesterday to arrange implementation of the spirit of the just-concluded 18th national congress. The meeting was presided over by new party general secretary Xi Jinping . A statement released after the meeting said this is "of great significance in confidently completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, under Xi's leadership". It also said the first political task was "to concentrate the mind of the party, the nation and people of all ethnic backgrounds onto the congress' spirit, and meet the various tasks and goals that have been set". Xinhua

New Japanese envoy to arrive next month

The new Japanese ambassador to China, Kite Masahito, will take up his post late next month, Kyodo said. Tokyo expected Masahito to play a key role in resolving tensions over a territorial dispute in the East China Sea, it said. He Huifeng

Suspended death sentence for ex-mayor

A former deputy mayor of Bayannaoer, Inner Mongolia, Li Shigui, was given a suspended death sentence yesterday in the Baotou Intermediate People's Court for taking up to 16 million yuan (HK$19.7 million) in bribes, Xinhua said. He Huifeng

Publishers caught copying Mo Yan books

Two publishing companies in Beijing have been busted since late last month for illegally printing more than 8,000 pirated books by Mo Yan, the first Chinese national to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Beijing Times said. He Huifeng

Guangzhou awards honour five cities

Five cities were each given US$20,000 at Guangzhou's first International Award for Urban Innovation. The prize recognised innovative efforts to solve social problems from quake reconstruction to aid for addicts. Kocaeli in Turkey, Lilongwe in Malawi Seoul in South Korea Vancouver in Canada and Vienna in Austria were honoured. Fiona Tam