The People's Liberation Army recently carried out a live-fire assault exercise on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, intending to improve its troops' combat capability on such locations, according to the military. The exercise was conducted by a ground combat brigade of the PLA Tibet Regional Command this month and involved scenarios such as rapid deployment, multiunit joint strike and anti-aircraft defense, a news release from the PLA said. Before the exercise, the brigade mobilized all of its members and equipment and took six hours to transport them from the barracks to the drill zone at an altitude of 5,000 meters on the plateau. As soon as soldiers arrived at the drill zone, they were ordered to occupy fronts of the "enemies" but were then countered by strong firepower. They summoned artillery forces to suppress the "enemies" and sent assault teams to take out bunkers. Air defense units used twin-barrel anti-aircraft guns to bring down aerial targets. Videos published by the military showed soldiers used flamethrowers, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns to strike bunkers while various types of heavy weapons were employed in the exercise, including mortars, self-propelled howitzers, multiple rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles. The exercise effectively tested the brigade's joint strike capability on plateaus, according to the news release. Earlier this month, PLA Daily, the military's flagship newspaper, reported that a ground combat brigade of the Tibet Regional Command conducted a live-fire war game at an unidentified area with an altitude of 5,100 m. The report said the brigade has new types of weapons after a structural reform this year, improving its combat capability so that it is stronger than before. Photos in the report showed Type-96 main battle tanks appeared in the exercise and fired on targets. Whether the two exercises were performed by one brigade or two separate brigades remains unknown. Qin Zhen, executive editor of Ordnance Knowledge magazine, said that the recent exercises have displayed the strong combat capability of the PLA's plateau units. He added that in recent years the Chinese military developed a number of lightweight weapons such as a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle and a new light tank to meet requirements of mountain operations. Xiao Ning, editor-in-chief of Weapon magazine, said the new light tank features strong firepower, advanced armor and good mobility, so it is suitable for deployment on plateaus. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a Defense Ministry spokesman, confirmed at a news briefing in late June that a new type of tank was being tested on plateaus in Tibet. Chinese media reported that the light tank is equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension system that ensures good maneuverability and survivability in mountainous regions, noting its main weapon is a 105-mm gun that is able to fire shells and guided missiles. customise fidget spinnerwristbandrubber bracelets cheapcool wristbands
Government to grant more powers to pilot free trade zones to conduct reform Cranes load and unload containers at a busy port within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. [Photo/Xinhua] As one of the major aspects of further opening-up, the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone has attracted a large number of international industry leaders to set up operations there, providing substantial help to their development in the country. During the ongoing 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping reiterated the importance of free trade zones in a report delivered at the opening session. Xi said the government will grant more powers to pilot FTZs to conduct reform, and explore the opening of free trade ports. Meanwhile, the government will adopt policies to promote high-standard liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, significantly ease market access, further open the service sector, and protect the legitimate rights and interest of foreign investors. All businesses registered in China will be treated equally, Xi said. As one of the first foreign banks to set up within the Shanghai FTZ, Citibank China has witnessed a number of pioneering and innovative policies in the financial sector over the past four years, according to Pei Yigen, country head of treasury and trade solutions for the bank. These innovations have helped with further opening-up in the financial market of Shanghai, and even nationwide, he said. We are delighted to see that a growing number of multinational companies have set up their Asian accounting and financial centers in Shanghai, and more specifically in the Shanghai FTZ. Last year, Citi China overtook all other domestic and foreign banks with operations in the Shanghai FTZ in terms of the settlement volume of cross-border capital pool business. It also took up 49 percent of the total market value of the cross-border centralized collection and payment business in the zone. The establishment of the Shanghai FTZ has provided a new path for foreign banks in China, Pei said. We are able to come up with more innovations in our businesses and products. Over the past four years, we have helped many multinational companies to enhance the function of their regional headquarters by moving their regional and even global renminbi capital center to Shanghai. We would like to contribute more to the real economy with the platform provided by Shanghai FTZ. World-leading automation technology provider Festo, which is headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, has its Chinese operation located in the Shanghai FTZ. According to Thomas Pehrson, the company's general manager in China, the many reform policies in the zone, especially in the customs sector, have largely reduced its burden and enabled the company to deliver the products and services globally with lower cost. Benefiting from reform and innovations in the Shanghai FTZ, Festo is planning for adjustment in our business in the Asia-Pacific region, he said. Festo China's automation manufacturing plant located in the Shanghai FTZ will shift its focus from manufacturing to research and development, as well as delivery. The existing production center and R&D center in China will be expanded into Festo's Asia-Pacific logistics center and customized production center, he added.
