Coal Mining Safety

Workplace safety in China’s mining industry continued to improve in 2021, with the number of accidents and casualties dropping from the previous year, Xinhua News Agency reported on January 10, citing official data.

The number of coal mining accidents and casualties declined 15.8 percent and 13.9 percent year on year, respectively, data from the National Mine Safety Administration showed.

The average death rate for producing 1 million tons of coal fell by 24 percent from 2020, and no major gas explosions have been reported in the last two years.

Noting the positive momentum achieved in coal mine safety last year, the administration said that the country still faces risks and challenges including intensive mining, and called for striking a balance between development and safety.

Urban-Rural Development.

During the 14th Five

Year Plan (2021-25) period,

China plans to add 6.5 million government-subsidized rental homes in 40 key cities to help an estimated 13 million people in need of affordable housing, Pan Wei, an official with the ministry, said at a press conference on January 11.

Around 219,000 old residential communities built before the end of 2000 in urban areas will be renovated by 2025 to afford more comfort to residents, said Pan.

The ministry also announced plans to repair structurally unsound rural homes or upgrade those in earthquake-prone rural areas, while the housing provident fund, a compulsory savings plan to help Chinese employees afford homes, is expected to cover more people in the workforce.