Chinese Hybrid Rice to Be Popularized Worldwide

The Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of the United Nations has put hybrid rice development and production at the top of its list of solutions to food shortages in developing countries. It plans to popularize hybrid rice on five billion mu (15 mu=1 hectare) of land, increasing the global yield by 500 million tons.

Rice is widely planted in over 120 countries and regions as one of their main crops. Over half of the worlds population depends on rice, but the average output per mu is only around 200 kg worldwide.

Food security has become a deep concern around the globe, but China is ahead of the game, doing research on rice since the 1960s. Yuan Longping, aka “father of hybrid rice,” succeeded in developing three-line hybrid rice in 1974 and later two-line and super hybrid rice. His technologies helped China to increase its yields by 300 billion kg over a two-decade period, and achieve self-sufficiency by the mid-1980s.

Recently about 40 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, South Asia, South America, Africa and North America have introduced and researched hybrid rice, bringing them incredible growth on yield. In the Philippines, for example, hybrid rice produced over three tons per hectare compared with other rice strains.

Large Rescue Amphibious Aircraft in Development

China has started to develop a large fire-fighting/rescue mission amphibious aircraft. The plane will be capable of taking off and landing on either land or water. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) announced the four-engine propeller aircraft will have a maximum take-off weight of 4.9 tons, a maximum speed in level flight of 560 km per hour, and a maximum flying range of 5,150 km.

According to AVIC, it will be used primarily for fire fighting and rescue missions but has a place in marine monitoring and long-distance cargo transportation as well. The prototype is set to be ready for its maiden flight in 2013 and to obtain a civil aviation certificate from Chinas air authority the following year.

The First Low-latitude Spaceport

China is set to construct its fourth spaceport in Hainan Province. Located at 19° N, this island in the far south will become Chinas first launch site based in a low-latitude coastal area.

When completed in 2013, the spaceport will be capable of launching 10 to 12 rockets annually that perform various tasks while meeting a slate of domestic and international requirements. Those include launching large, toxin-free and pollution-free rockets to carry geosynchronous satellites, high-tech polar-orbiting satellites, large-tonnage space stations and other spacecraft for deep space exploration.

Chinas first spaceport was built in Jiuquan in 1958. It was later joined by two other sites in Taiyuan and Xichang. Thus far, the three have launched 100 space missions.

A Nationwide Data-Receiving Network

China will complete the construction of a nationwide data-receiving network for land-based satellite observation next year. The network will cover 70 percent of Asia, and 100 percent of China, increased from the current 80 percent.

As a large-scale national scientific construction project, the network will be comprised of three large satellite data-receiving stations located in Miyun, Kash and Sanya. The Miyun and Kash stations have already been put into operation.

The Sanya station is currently under construction and expected to be completed early next year. It will be equipped with a 12-meter-caliber receiving antenna and other instruments for data receiving, recording and transmission. Together with the other two stations, it will greatly increase Chinas civil earth observation capabilities.

“Snow Dragon” Starts Cruising in Antarctica

On October 11, icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, took a group of 251 scientists, workers and logistics staff from China, Australia and Russia off Shanghai for the countrys 26th scientific expedition to the Antarctica.

As the main Chinese Antarctic support vessel, it is based at Shanghai and provides icebreaking capabilities when re-supplying the two main Chinese Antarctic bases. The team leader of the 26th expedition, Yuan Shaohong, said Xuelong is expected to sail from the East China Sea to the northwestern Pacific on October 13 before crossing the Equator on October 19.

On the voyage, scientists will conduct research on the two stations – Changcheng and Zhongshan. The third station, Kunlun, is under construction at Dome Argus, the poles highest icecap, 4,093 meters above sea level.

In addition, the team will carry out geological and biologic research inland on the continent.

2nd Slate of Astronauts Includes Females

In a selection process for Chinas next slate of astronauts started in May 2009, 45 active pilots (15 female and 30 male) made it to the final round. After a series of physical and mental examinations, the Chinese Air Force has made a final choice of two female and five male candidates.

The first astronaut selection took place 12 years ago. Chinas first man in space Yang Liwei and 13 other male pilots constituted the first slate.

E-business Trading Center Connects China and Central Asia

A China-Uzbekistan commodity exchange platform was launched recently. This web-based entity incorporates modern e-business technologies. The platform has adopted state-of-the-art Internet security products to insure a safe and multi-functional electronic trading system. Connected to banking and customs networks, it has become a complete e-business trading center and settlement matching service system to meet online trading demands.

Developed by the Xin-jiang Kuitun New West Asia Petrochemical Co., Ltd, and authorized by the Uzbek Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange, the platform now connects to over 250 international trading portals, making it possible for Chinese merchants to trade online with businessmen across Central Asia and other regions.

Artificially Bred Sturgeon Born in China

More than 20,000 artificially propagated Acipenser sinensis, better known as Chinese sturgeon, were born in an institution in central Chinas Hubei Province. The first of the successfully bred prehistoric creatures was “born” on October 5. Chinese sturgeon is one of the oldest living things on earth and has existed for more than 140 million years. The species is listed under the state top-level protection.