Russian national dies from A/H1N1 flu in Beijing

Chinese premier highlights role of sci-tech amid financial crisis

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has underscored the role of science and technology in promoting the country's sustainable development and weathering the global downturn.

Addressing the science and technology community in Beijing on Tuesday, Wen Jiabao said China should be built into an innovation-oriented country and neo-strategic industries should become the leading force in promoting the social and economic development.

He called on scientists to boost research in such neo-strategic industries as the new energy industry, information networking industry, micro-electronics and nanotechnology, life science as well space and ocean exploration.

Chinese vice premier arrives in Papua New Guinea for visit

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has arrived in Port Moresby for an official visit to Papua New Guinea at the invitation of the Pacific island nation's government.

Papua New Guinea is one of the first Pacific island countries to establish diplomatic relations with China.

President Hu visit to advance links with Malaysia, spokesman

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu says President Hu Jintao's state visit to Malaysia next week will play an important role in advancing relations between the two countries.

Hu Jintao is set to begin his visit to Malaysia Next Tuesday.

He'lll be the first Chinese head of state to visit Malaysia in 15 years.

Russian national dies from A/H1N1 flu in Beijing

A Russian national has died from A/H1N1 flu in Beijing.

Local health authorities confirm the 32-year-old man died Monday afternoon after medical treatment failed.

So far the mainland has reported 7 deaths from the A/H1N1 virus.

More than four million people have been inoculated with the A/H1N1 vaccine as of Tuesday with only about 300 people reported to have adverse drug reactions.

Beijing blood bank sees shortage due to A/H1N1 flu

Beijing's blood bank has seen dramatic decline in storage as fewer people visit the street blood donation buses due to the cold weather and A/H1N1 flu epidemic.

The Beijing Red Cross Blood Center says the storage has dropped to 41 percent of the normal level.

Beijing municipal government adopted a new regulation on blood donation starting Monday, which bans compulsory donation and encourages voluntary donation by citizens aged 18 to 55.

Citizens can use free blood without limits for life after donating 1,000 milliliter of blood, according to the regulation

Godmother" of underworld in SW China gets 18 years in jail

Organized crime boss Xie Caiping, labeled the "godmother of the underworld" in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, has been sentenced 18 years in prison.

She was convicted of organizing and leading a criminal organization, running gambling dens, illegal imprisonment, harboring people taking illegal narcotics and giving bribes to officials.

2 sailors missing, 7 rescued after boat sinks off China

Two sailors are still missing and seven have been rescued as of Tuesday morning after their fishing boat sank off the east China coast.

The boat had nine sailors onboard when it went down on Monday east of Shanghai.

The seven survivors are in stable condition and will remain in rescue boats until weather permits the boats to sail back.

China congratulates Karzai on re-election as Afghan president

China has congratulated Afghan President Hamid Karzai on his re-election and has pledged to continue support for the war-torn country's reconstruction.

China says it sincerely hopes Afghanistan can realize peace, stability and development as soon as possible.

Reprocessing of spent nuclear rods in Yongbyon finished: DPRK

North Korea says the work of reprocessing of its 8,000 spent nuclear rods, a key step to increase its nuclear arsenal, was completed in August.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency reports the reprocessing was part of measures to "restore the Yongbyon nuclear facilities to their original state".

It says North Korea is compelled to "bolster up its deterrent for self-defense" in the face of "increasing nuclear threat and military provocation of the hostile forces."

Czech President Klaus signs Lisbon treaty

Czech President Vaclav Klaus says he has signed Lisbon Treaty, the European Union's reform pact.

The Czech Republic was the last EU country that did not ratified the treaty. With Klaus's signature on Tuesday, the ratification has been completed.

In reaction to the news about Klaus's signing the document, EC President Jose Barroso said Lisbon treaty might take effect in December or January,

Merkel calls on international efforts on climate change

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the international community to take common action to fight against climate change, saying there was "no time to lose."

Merkel told U.S. lawmakers in a speech in Washington that the world needs an agreement on one objective -- global warming must not exceed two degrees Celsius.

She added the world needs the readiness of all countries to accept internationally binding obligations.