Beijing Review

Smooth Freight Transport

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ethos and enhance its cultural strength, said the document jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

More resources will go to thorough surveys of ancient books across the country, improved storage facilities and security measures, as well as the restoratio­n of endangered ancient books, including those in ethnic-minority languages, it said.

The document also promised greater efforts to compile and publish ancient books, as well as to digitize them. Libraries and archives are encouraged to open their collection­s and digital resources to the public.

Efforts will also be made to raise public awareness at home and abroad, and to encourage more people to read ancient books.

The deadline for contributi­ons has been extended to March 31, 2023, said the circular released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which noted that the policy does not apply to travel agencies contributi­ng the surety in the form of bank guarantees or insurance, or those whose surety has been frozen by court order.

China requires travel agencies to contribute a surety for travel service quality, which is used to compensate tourists who have suffered from substandar­d services or to pay for emergency aid to members of tour groups whose personal safety is in danger.

China has called for all possible efforts to be made to ensure the smooth transporta­tion of medical and COVID-19-prevention materials, daily necessitie­s, and postal and express deliveries, Xinhua reported on April 12.

Local authoritie­s are prohibited from blocking or closing expressway­s, ordinary roads, waterways or ship locks without authorizat­ion, according to a circular issued by the State Council COVID-19 Response Inter-agency Task Force.

The circular noted that expressway services areas, ports, docks, railway stations and airports must not be shut down without authorizat­ion.

It further said that freight vehicles and passengers of these vehicles must not be arbitraril­y restricted.

The document urged for the establishm­ent of material transfer stations in hard-hit areas for the transit of emergency supplies.

Traffic permits recognized across the country should be issued to vehicles carrying important supplies, the circular said, urging to ensure the operations of postal and express delivery vehicles.

It also said free nucleic acid testing services should be offered to truck drivers and ship crew members, and that they should be provided with basic living services when stranded due to the pandemic.

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