3月，全国两会召开，新型政党制度、高质量发展等成为热门词汇；党和国家机构改革方案出炉；脸书用户数据泄露事件引发各界关注；中美贸易战话题引发热议，中朝领导人历史性会面。

人才评价 talent evaluation

The General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, have jointly issued a guideline on reform of the talent evaluation system. It calls for improved talent evaluation standards, innovative talent evaluation methods and accelerated reform of talent evaluation in key fields.
中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅联合印发了有关人才评价机制改革的指导意见，要求健全人才评价标准、创新人才评价方式，加快推进重点领域人才评价改革。

《意见》指出，人才评价（talent evaluation）是人才发展体制机制的重要组成部分，是人才资源开发管理和使用的前提。当前，我国人才评价机制仍存在分类评价不足、评价标准单一、评价手段趋同、评价社会化程度不高、用人主体自主权落实不够等突出问题，存在唯学历、唯资历、唯论文等倾向（preferring diplomas, seniority and academic papers over actual contributions），亟需通过深化改革加以解决。

《意见》中提出的人才评价机制改革基本原则是，坚持党管人才原则（Party leadership over talents）、坚持服务发展（development-oriented）、坚持科学公正（reasonable and fair）、坚持改革创新（focusing on reform and innovation）。

《意见》提出了四个方面的改革举措，分别是：

分类健全人才评价标准
improving talent evaluation standards in different fields

改进和创新人才评价方式
upgrading and innovativing talent evaluation methods

加快推进重点领域人才评价改革
accelerating reform of talent evaluation in key fields

健全完善人才评价管理服务制度
improving the management and service system of talent evaluation

新型政党制度 a new type of party system

President Xi Jinping Sunday called the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) "a great contribution to political civilization of humanity."
习近平指出，中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度是“对人类政治文明的重大贡献”。

习近平指出，中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度作为我国一项基本政治制度，是中国共产党、中国人民和各民主党派、无党派人士的伟大政治创造，是从中国土壤中生长出来的新型政党制度（a new type of party system growing from China's soil）。

新型政党制度新在哪儿？

新就新在：

它是马克思主义政党理论同中国实际相结合的产物，能够真实、广泛、持久代表和实现最广大人民根本利益、全国各族各界根本利益，有效避免了旧式政党制度代表少数人、少数利益集团的弊端；
It combines Marxist political party theories with China's reality, truly, extensively and in the long term represents fundamental interests of all people and all ethnic groups and fulfills their aspiration, avoiding the defects of the old-fashioned party system which represents only a selective few or the vested interest;

它把各个政党和无党派人士紧密团结起来、为着共同目标而奋斗，有效避免了一党缺乏监督或者多党轮流坐庄、恶性竞争的弊端；

It unites all political parties and people without party affiliation toward a common goal, effectively preventing the flaws of the absence of oversight in one-party rule or power rotation and nasty competition among multiple political parties;
它通过制度化、程序化、规范化的安排集中各种意见和建议、推动决策科学化民主化，有效避免了旧式政党制度囿于党派利益、阶级利益、区域和集团利益决策施政导致社会撕裂的弊端。

It pools ideas and suggestions through institutional, procedural, and standardized arrangements and develops a scientific and democratic decision making mechanism. It steers away from another weakness of the old-fashioned party system, in which decision making and governance, confined by interests of different political parties, classes, regions and groups, tears the society apart.
它不仅符合当代中国实际，而且符合中华民族一贯倡导的天下为公、兼容并蓄、求同存异等优秀传统文化，是对人类政治文明的重大贡献。

预算审查监督 review and supervision on budget

A guideline issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has outlined how Chinese legislatures' review and supervision concerning expenditure budget and relevant policies will be enhanced.
中共中央办公厅印发了有关人大预算审查监督向支出预算和政策拓展的指导意见。

《意见》指出，实施人大预算审查监督重点向支出预算和政策拓展（strengthening the people's congresses' review and supervision over expenditure budget and policies），是依法加强和改进人大预算审查监督工作（review and supervision on budget）的内在要求，是建立和完善中国特色社会主义预算审查监督制度的重要举措（an important measure to establish and perfect the budget review and supervision system with Chinese characteristics）。

《意见》提出，按照党中央改革部署要求和预算法、监督法规定，人大对支出预算和政策开展全口径审查和全过程监管，主要内容包括：支出预算的总量与结构（the total amount and structure of expenditure budget）、重点支出与重大投资项目（key expenditures and major investment projects）、部门预算（budgets of various Party and governmental departments）、财政转移支付（the implementation of transfer payment budgets）、政府债务（government debts）。

品质革命 quality revolution

2018年政府工作报告提出：

全面开展质量提升行动，推进与国际先进水平对标达标，弘扬工匠精神，来一场中国制造的品质革命。
Taking steps in all sectors to improve quality, we will work toward meeting the highest international standards, encourage the spirit of workmanship, and ignite a revolution in the quality of Chinese-made goods.

“品质革命（quality revolution）”一词首次出现是在2016年5月11日国务院常务会议上，指一系列为了增加消费品种类、提升商品品质、创建知名品牌而进行的改革，旨在满足人们不断升级的消费需求。

做细做实中国制造，就要让品质成为从日用品到高精尖领域等各行各业共同追求的目标，对产品生产到售后的每一个环节都高标准、严要求（every industry link from production to after-sales service should live up to a high standard），一把尺子量到底；做大做强中国“质”造，就要加快培养技能型劳动者大军（a skilled labor force should be cultivated），“向人才要红利”，更要让工匠精神渗入每件产品、每道工序，凡事不做则已，做则做到极致完美；做高做精中国“智”造，就要重视科技创新（focus on technological innovation），摒弃抄袭仿造，专注研发属于自己的、名副其实的原创高附加值产品（develop original high added-value products）。

两会 Two Sessions

5日上午9时，十三届全国人大一次会议开幕，国务院总理李克强作政府工作报告。政府工作报告中首次出现的这五个新表述值得留意：

新表述1：高质量发展 high-quality development

[报告原文]

"按照高质量发展的要求，统筹推进'五位一体'总体布局和协调推进'四个全面'战略布局，坚持以供给侧结构性改革为主线，统筹推进稳增长、促改革、调结构、惠民生、防风险各项工作"；
Heed the requirement that development must be high quality; coordinate efforts to pursue the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy; continue to regard supply-side structural reform as our main task; coordinate all work to maintain stable growth, promote reform, make structural adjustments, improve living standards, and guard against risk.

"上述主要预期目标，考虑了决胜全面建成小康社会需要，符合我国经济已由高速增长阶段转向高质量发展阶段实际"；
The above targets take into consideration the need to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and are fitting given the fact that China's economy is transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development.

"国有企业要通过改革创新，走在高质量发展前列"；
Our SOEs should, through reform and innovation, become front-runners in pursuing high-quality development.

"进一步拓展开放范围和层次，完善开放结构布局和体制机制，以高水平开放推动高质量发展"。
China will further expand the scope and raise the quality of its opening up; the structure, layout, institutions, and mechanisms for opening up will be improved, and we will use high-standard opening up to generate high-quality development.

新表述2：现代化经济体系 modernized economy

[报告原文]

"要着力解决发展不平衡不充分问题，围绕建设现代化经济体系，坚持质量第一、效益优先，促进经济结构优化升级。要尊重经济规律，远近结合，确保经济运行在合理区间，实现经济平稳增长和质量效益提高互促共进。"
We will devote attention to addressing unbalanced and insufficient development. Centering on developing a modernized economy, we will put quality first and give priority to performance, and promote economic structural improvement and upgrading. We must respect objective economic laws, consider both long-and near-term needs, ensure the economy performs within a reasonable range, and achieve a situation in which steady economic growth and improvement in quality and performance reinforce each other.

新表述3：三大攻坚战(防范化解重大风险、精准脱贫、污染防治) three critical battles against potential risk, poverty, and pollution

[报告原文]

"抓好决胜全面建成小康社会三大攻坚战。要分别提出工作思路和具体举措，排出时间表、路线图、优先序，确保风险隐患得到有效控制，确保脱贫攻坚任务全面完成，确保生态环境质量总体改善"；
We will ensure success in the three critical battles against potential risk, poverty, and pollution, battles that are important for decisively bringing to completion the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We need to adopt targeted approaches and specific measures, draw up timetables and roadmaps, and set well-defined priorities. We will make sure risks and potential dangers are effectively controlled, make sure poverty alleviation is fully accomplished, and make sure there is an overall improvement in the quality of the environment.

"优化财政支出结构，提高财政支出的公共性、普惠性，加大对三大攻坚战的支持，更多向创新驱动、'三农'、民生等领域倾斜"；
We will improve the structure of budgetary spending, making sure that more financial allocations are used for the public good and universal benefit, increasing support for the three critical battles against potential risk, poverty, and pollution, and weighting spending toward innovation-driven development, agriculture, rural areas, and rural residents, and the improvement of living standards.

"坚决打好三大攻坚战，要围绕完成年度攻坚任务，明确各方责任，强化政策保障，把各项工作做实做好。"
Fighting three critical battles. To fulfill our key annual tasks, we need to make everyone involved clear about their responsibilities, strengthen policy implementation, and ensure that every element of work is done to good, solid effect.

新表述4："三大变革"(质量变革、效率变革、动力变革) change in quality, change in efficiency, and change in growth drivers

[报告原文]

"坚持以供给侧结构性改革为主线，统筹推进稳增长、促改革、调结构、惠民生、防风险各项工作，大力推进改革开放，创新和完善宏观调控，推动质量变革、效率变革、动力变革"。
Continue to regard supply-side structural reform as our main task; coordinate all work to maintain stable growth, promote reform, make structural adjustments, improve living standards, and guard against risk; work hard to reform and open up further; explore new ideas on and improve macro regulation; promote a change in quality, change in efficiency, and change in growth drivers.

新表述5：乡村振兴战略 rural revitalization strategy

[报告原文]

"大力实施乡村振兴战略。科学制定规划，健全城乡融合发展体制机制，依靠改革创新壮大乡村发展新动能"；
Making strong moves in the rural revitalization strategy. Plans will be well designed and the institutions and mechanisms needed to achieve integrated urban-rural development will be improved. We will rely on reform and innovation to build powerful new growth drivers for rural development.

"我们要坚持走中国特色社会主义乡村振兴道路，加快实现农业农村现代化。"
We will continue to pursue a Chinese path to socialist rural revitalization, and work faster to achieve agricultural and rural modernization.

政德 political virtue

President Xi Jinping on Saturday underlined a "clean and upright" political ecology and urged leading officials to uphold rule of law. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, compared political ecology to natural ecology that can be easily polluted and, if damaged, will cost a huge price to be rehabilitated, at a panel discussion with deputies to the 13th National People's Congress from southwestern municipality of Chongqing.
3月10日，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平参加十三届全国人大一次会议重庆代表团的审议时提出，要形成风清气正的政治生态，并要求领导干部坚持法治。他强调，政治生态同自然生态一样，稍不注意就容易受到污染，一旦出现问题再想恢复就要付出很大代价。

习近平指出，形成风清气正的政治生态（clean and upright political ecology），是旗帜鲜明讲政治、坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导的政治要求（an essential requirement for safeguarding the authority and centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee），是持之以恒正风肃纪、推动全面从严治党向纵深发展的迫切需要（an urgent need for ensuring full and strict governance over the Party），是锻造优良党风政风、确保改革发展目标顺利实现的重要保障（a vital guarantee for fulfilling reform and development targets）。

在讲话中，习近平提出4个“要”，将风清气正政治生态的路径阐释得入木三分。

——要加强教育引导（strengthen education and guidance），注重破立并举，抓住“关键少数”，推动各级领导干部自觉担当领导责任和示范责任（leading officials should demonstrate leadership and set an example），把自己摆进去、把思想摆进去、把工作摆进去，形成“头雁效应”。

——要坚持法治、反对人治（uphold rule of law, oppose rule of man），对宪法法律始终保持敬畏之心（hold in awe of the Constitution），带头在宪法法律范围内活动（exercise their duty within the boundaries of the Constitution and laws），严格依照法定权限、规则、程序行使权力、履行职责，做到心中高悬法纪明镜、手中紧握法纪戒尺，知晓为官做事尺度。

——要牢固树立“四个意识”，严格遵守党的政治纪律和政治规矩（abide by political rules），坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导（safeguard the authority and centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee），确保党的路线方针政策和党中央决策部署不折不扣得到贯彻落实（absolutely implement the Party's lines, principles and policies, and decisions by the CPC Central Committee）。

——要既讲法治又讲德治（uphold both rule of law and rule of virtue），重视发挥道德教化作用，把法律和道德的力量、法治和德治的功能紧密结合起来，把自律和他律紧密结合起来，引导全社会积极培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，树立良好道德风尚，防止封建腐朽道德文化沉渣泛起（promote core socialist values and prevent relapse of negative elements in traditional values）。

习近平还在讲话中系统阐释了“政德”的核心要义，即明大德、守公德、严私德。

——明大德（setting the political virtue），就是要铸牢理想信念（stay firm with their political ideals and convictions）、锤炼坚强党性（enhance Party consciousness），在大是大非面前旗帜鲜明（make a clear stance on key issues），在风浪考验面前无所畏惧，在各种诱惑面前立场坚定，这是领导干部首先要修好的“大德”。

——守公德（maintaining good public virtue），就是要强化宗旨意识，全心全意为人民服务（commit themselves to serving the people whole-heartedly），恪守立党为公、执政为民理念，自觉践行人民对美好生活的向往就是我们的奋斗目标的承诺（deliver the promise of striving for the people's needs for a better life），做到心底无私天地宽。

——严私德（strictly guarding the individual virtue），就是要严格约束自己的操守和行为。所有党员、干部都要戒贪止欲、克己奉公，切实把人民赋予的权力用来造福于人民。要把家风建设摆在重要位置，廉洁修身，廉洁齐家，防止“枕边风”成为贪腐的导火索（don't let pillow talk lead you down to corruption），防止子女打着自己的旗号非法牟利（don't let your children engage in self-dealing using your name），防止身边人把自己“拉下水”（don't be dragged into the "muddy water" by people around you）。

快应用 fast app

The top 10 Chinese smartphone vendors, including Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and Xiaomi Corp, joined hands on Tuesday to promote technical standards for "fast apps," which are designed to compete against Tencent Holdings Ltd's mini programs.
3月20日，华为、小米等国内十大智能手机厂商联合推出“快应用”技术标准，以对抗腾讯旗下的小程序。

快应用（fast app）是基于手机硬件平台的新型应用生态，用户无需下载安装APP便可以即点即用。从产品特性来看，快应用与微信小程序高度相似。与小程序内置于微信不同的是，快应用直接与手机操作系统关联（directly linked to the mobile operating systems of phones）。

快应用技术标准确定后，开发者在一处上传的某个快应用可在10家厂商的手机上线，形成统一的快应用门户（fast app portal）。除了标准化的发布流程、完善的开发者文档、工具及论坛支持外，未来，快应用开放平台还会开放开发者服务支持，如消息推送（push notifications）、帐号接入（acount access）、支付接入（payment）、数据服务（data services）等。

特长生加分政策 preferential policy of bonus points

The ministry will stop giving bonus points to students who have exceptional sports ability, who have won academic Olympiads or science and technology competitions, who are named "provincial-level excellent students" or those who have performed "righteous and courageous deeds", according to a statement posted on its website.
教育部网站的信息显示，将全面取消体育特长生、中学生学科奥林匹克竞赛、科技类竞赛、省级优秀学生、思想政治品德有突出事迹等全国性高考加分项目。

特长生加分政策（preferential policy of bonus points）是指针对拥有体育、文艺等方面专长的学生（students with special talent in sports or artistic field），经过专业部门的测试后，在高考成绩之外给予一定的加分。

2011年教育部、国家民委、公安部、国家体育总局、中国科协等五部门联合发文规范和调整部分高考加分项目。截至2014年5月，31个省份均已正式出台高考新政，其中高考加分政策大规模调整，大幅减少全国奥赛科技类加分、体育特长生加分和地方性加分项目，其他加分项目分值普遍由20分降至10分内。

特长生加分项目取消以后，如何才能进入心仪的大学呢？答案是，参与大学的自主招生（independent college admission）。

Currently, 90 universities have allocated 5 percent of their enrollment slots to independent admissions designed for students with special talents. They admit more than 20,000 students every year.
目前，全国有90所高校将百分之五的招生名额留给参加自主招生的特长生，每年录取的特长生超过2万名。

中央广播电视总台 central radio and television station

近日，中共中央印发了《深化党和国家机构改革方案》，并发出通知，要求各地区各部门结合实际认真贯彻执行。方案提出：组建中央广播电视总台。

The reform involves restructuring dozens of central departments. Among them, a notable move is the establishing of a central station for radio and television, which will bring together the current China Central Television, China National Radio and China Radio International.
改革方案涉及多个中央国家机构的重组，其中值得注意的是，将整合中央电视台(中国国际电视台)、中央人民广播电台、中国国际广播电台，组建中央广播电视总台。

中央广播电视总台（central radio and television station）的主要职责是，宣传党的理论和路线方针政策（publicize the theories and policies of the Party），统筹组织重大宣传报道，组织广播电视创作生产（organize major journalistic events and the production of radio and television products），制作和播出广播电视精品（produce and broadcast high-quality works of radio and television），引导社会热点，加强和改进舆论监督（strengthen the media's supervision），推动多媒体融合发展，加强国际传播能力建设，讲好中国故事（enhance the capability of international communications to tell good China stories）等。

组建中央广播电视总台旨在加强党对重要舆论阵地的集中建设和管理（strengthen the Party's leadership over public opinion ），增强广播电视媒体整体实力和竞争力（make the whole TV and broadcasting industry more competitive），推动广播电视媒体、新兴媒体融合发展（the development of the TV and broadcasting industry must be combined with the development of new media）。

贸易战 trade war

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said China doesn't want a trade war with the US or with anybody else, but China is not afraid of it.
中国驻美大使崔天凯表示，中国不希望和美国或任何国家打贸易战，但绝不害怕。

美国总统特朗普22日在白宫签署总统备忘录(signed a presidential memorandum)，依据"301调查(Section 301 investigation)"结果，将对价值600亿美元从中国进口的商品征收关税(impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports)，并限制中国企业对美投资并购。23日，商务部发布了针对美国进口钢铁和铝产品232措施的中止减让产品清单，拟对自美进口部分产品加征关税(consider a tariff increase on imports of some products from the US)，以平衡因美国对进口钢铁和铝产品加征关税给中方利益造成的损失(make up for losses caused by US tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products)。

中国驻美大使崔天凯22日表示中国不希望和美国或任何国家打贸易战(trade war)，但如果有人要把贸易战强加中国，我们会战斗，我们会尽一切力量保护我们合法利益(China will take all necessary measures to defend its rights and interests)，维护全球贸易体系。崔大使表示，他要告诉那些要打贸易战的人："我们一定会反击，我们会报复。如果有人玩厉害的，我们就和他们玩厉害的，看谁更持久。"(We will certainly fight back. We will retaliate. If people want to play tough, we will play tough with them, and see who will last longer.)

数据泄露 data breach

European Union and British lawmakers demanded on Tuesday that Facebook should clarify data breach following revelations that personal data was massively misused for political purposes. Facebook CEO Zuckerberg on Thursday admitted that the social media giant "made mistakes".
社交媒体巨头脸书的大量用户数据被政治利用的消息传出后，欧盟和英国议会20日要求脸书就数据泄露一事作出说明。22日，脸书首席执行官扎克伯格承认公司"犯下错误"。

美国《纽约时报》和英国《卫报》近日曝光，脸书上超过5000万用户的数据被一家名为"剑桥分析"的数据挖矿公司获取(the data of more that 50 million Facebook users were harvested by a data-mining firm named Cambridge Analytica)，并在2016年美国总统大选中被用于针对目标受众推送广告，从而影响大选结果。消息一出，脸书市值蒸发数百亿美元。各方批评脸书无能，呼吁引入法规，加强监管。

扎克伯格22日发声明称：脸书有责任保护用户的数据，如果没有做到，我们就不配为用户提供服务(Facebook has a responsibility to protect its users' data and if it fails, we don't deserve to serve you)。这次事件破坏了脸书和用户之间的信任(a breach of trust)。我们将从事件中汲取教训，进一步巩固平台的安全性(learn from this experience to secure our platform further)。

扎克伯格还表示，针对此次数据泄露(data breach)事件，脸书将对所有存在可疑行为的应用进行全面审查(conduct a full audit of any app with suspicious activity)；禁止服务不同意进行彻底审查的开发者(ban any developer that did not agree to a thorough audit)；禁止服务违规使用用户个人身份信息的开发者等。

婚前协议 prenuptial agreement

According to British media, Prince Harry has decided not to sign a prenuptial agreement before his May 19 marriage to Meghan Markle.
据英媒报道，哈里王子已决定，他和梅根·马克尔5月19日结婚前不会签署婚前协议。

据《每日邮报》报道，哈里王子的一位朋友透露，哈里为证明他对未婚妻的忠诚，拒绝签署可保障其3000万英镑身家的婚前协议(rejected signing a prenuptial agreement to safeguard his ￡30 million fortune)。这位消息人士称："哈里从来没有想过签署婚前协议这些问题，他确定他的婚姻能够长久(He's determined that his marriage will be a lasting one)，所以他不需要签署任何东西。"

此前有流言称，英国王室要求哈里签署婚前协议，以保护其名下财产。梅根与第一任丈夫、美国电影制作人特里沃·伊格森结婚两年后分道扬镳。据报道，哈里王子从生母戴安娜王妃那里继承了约1000万英镑遗产(approximately ￡10 million inheritance from Princess Diana)，除此之外其名下还有约2000万英镑的资产。梅根依靠其演艺事业(acting career)和广告代言(endorsements)，目前身家约500万美元。在英国，婚前协议并不具备法律约束力，但在离婚案中越来越被视作重要参考(prenups are not legally enforceable in the UK, but are increasingly taken into account during divorce cases)。

驱逐外交官 expelsion of diplomats

The United States and its European allies are expelling dozens of Russian diplomats in a co-ordinated response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK.
美国及其欧洲盟友驱逐数十位俄罗斯外交官以协同应对前俄罗斯特工在英国中毒事件。

Expel这个词意思很直接，就是“开除、驱逐、排出”，一般来说，某人被学校或单位开除可以用someone was expelled from school/company。我们这里所说的“俄罗斯外交官被驱逐出欧美各国”完整表达出来就是Russian diplomats will be expelled from the US and dozens of European countries.

3月4日，前俄英双重间谍（double agent）谢尔盖?斯克里帕利及其女儿尤利娅在英国索尔兹伯里被发现失去意识，后期检测发现二人所中为某种神经毒剂（nerve agent）。英国指责俄罗斯与此事有关，俄罗斯坚决否认牵涉其中（Russia denied any involvement）。

目前已有二十多个国家与英国采取一致行动（more than 20 countries have aligned with the UK），宣布将驱逐100多名俄外交官，其中包括：美国、发过、德国、波兰、捷克共和国、立陶宛、丹麦、荷兰、意大利、西班牙等。

Iceland has also announced it is suspending high-level dialogue with Russian authorities, and its leaders will not attend the World Cup, which starts in Russia in June.
冰岛还宣布暂停与俄罗斯政府的高级别对话，同时，该国领导人不会出席6月的俄罗斯世界杯期间的活动。

The UK said earlier this month it would not send ministers or members of the Royal Family to the football tournament.
英国在本月初也表示部长级官员或王室成员不会出席俄罗斯世界杯期间的活动。

对于欧美国家的统一行动，俄罗斯外交部发表声明称，各国驱逐俄外交官旨在加剧紧张局势和对抗。

"It goes without saying that this unfriendly act by this group of countries will not go without notice and we will react to it," its statement said.
俄罗斯外交部在声明中表示：“毫无疑问，我们不会无视这些国家集体采取的不友好行为，并将对此采取回应行动。”

洋垃圾 foreign garbage

The 2018-20 action plan for implementation of the country's reform plan to ban waste imports and the 2018 action plan for inspections on pollution caused by processing imported waste were approved on Monday by the first executive meeting of the newly established Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
生态环境部26日召开第一次常务会议，通过了关于全面落实禁止洋垃圾入境改革实施方案的2018—2020年行动方案，以及进口固体废物加工利用企业环境违法问题专项督查2018年行动方案。

洋垃圾（foreign garbage），指进口固体废物（imported solid waste），有时又特指以走私、夹带等方式进口国家禁止进口的固体废物（banned solid waste smuggled into China）或未经许可擅自进口属于限制进口的固体废物。

2017年7月18日，中国正式通知世界贸易组织，从2017年年底开始将不再接收外来垃圾，包括废弃塑胶（plastic waste）、纸类（paper waste）及纺织品（fabrics）等。

生态环境部有关负责人表示，禁止洋垃圾入境是党中央、国务院在新时期新形势下作出的一项重大决策部署，是我国生态文明建设的标志性举措（a landmark measure for the country's construction of an ecological civilization）。“要坚定不移、不折不扣地落实好这项工作。要着眼于推动高质量发展，统筹考虑行动方案目标任务，全面提升我国固体废物污染防治水平（improve China's capability in solid waste pollution control）。要加强部门间协调沟通，加大信息共享及联动执法力度，建立长效工作机制（a long-term working procedure featuring information sharing and coordinated law enforcement will be established）。要进一步完善监管制度，强化洋垃圾非法入境管控（the border controls on illegal foreign garbage will be intensified），深入实施全过程监管（the entire process in the industry will be inspected），确保各项任务落实到位。”

快递业新规 new rules for the express delivery sector

New rules have been announced for the express delivery sector, demanding companies use eco-friendly, biodegradable and reusable packaging materials.
我国颁布快递业新规，要求企业使用环保、可生物降解、可重复利用的包装材料。

27日，我国第一部专门针对快递业的行业法规《快递暂行条例》(以下简称《条例》)出台，新规将自5月1日起施行(be set to take effect on May 1)。《条例》规定要加强消费者保护(improve the protection of consumers)、应对包括信息安全和包装废弃物等新问题(tackle emerging problems, including information security and packaging waste)。经营快递业务的企业及其从业人员(enterprises or individuals engaging in express delivery services)出售或泄露用户信息(sell or disclose users' information)，情节严重的将面临最高被处以10万元的罚款(face a maximum 100,000 yuan penalty)。此外，《条例》还规定快递服务企业要在七天内处理投诉问题(deal with complaints within seven days)，否则将受到行政处罚(administrative penalty)。

国家邮政局方面称，《条例》是在我国快递业实现发展的基础上制定的。数据显示，快递业近十年发展迅猛，2017年全国快递业务量完成了400.6亿件，是2007年的33.4倍，年均增长达到42%(average annual growth of 42%)，连续四年业务量位居世界第一(top the world for four straight years in terms of volume)。2017年我国快递业营收达4950亿元(see 495 billion yuan worth of revenue)。

习近平同金正恩举行会谈 Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un hold talks

At the invitation of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), paid an unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday. During the visit, Xi held talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
应中共中央总书记、国家主席习近平邀请，朝鲜劳动党委员长、国务委员会委员长金正恩于3月25日至28日对我国进行非正式访问。访问期间，习近平在人民大会堂同金正恩举行会谈。

The two leaders thoroughly exchanged views on the situation of the world and the Korean Peninsula.
双方领导人就国际和朝鲜半岛形势深入交换意见。

Xi said that positive changes had taken place on the Korean Peninsula since this year, and China appreciates the important efforts made by the DPRK. On the Korean Peninsula issue, Xi said that China sticks to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation. China calls on all parties to support the improvement of inter-Korean ties, and take concrete efforts to facilitate peace talks, said Xi, noting that China will continue to play constructive role on the issue and work with all parties, including the DPRK, toward the thaw of the situation on the peninsula.
习近平指出，今年以来，朝鲜半岛形势发生积极变化。朝方为此作出了重要努力，我们对此表示赞赏。在半岛问题上，我们坚持实现半岛无核化目标、维护半岛和平稳定、通过对话协商解决问题。我们呼吁各方支持半岛北南双方改善关系，共同为劝和促谈作出切实努力。中方愿在半岛问题上继续发挥建设性作用，同包括朝方在内的各方一道努力，共同推动半岛形势走向缓和。

Kim said that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is starting to get better, as the DPRK has taken the initiative to ease tensions and put forward proposals for peace talks. "It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il," he said. Kim said that the DPRK is determined to transform the inter-Korean ties into a relationship of reconciliation and cooperation and hold summit between the heads of the two sides. The DPRK is willing to have dialogue with the United States and hold a summit of the two countries, he said. "The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if south Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace," said Kim. The DPRK hopes to enhance strategic communication with China during the process, jointly safeguard the trend of consultation and dialogue as well as peace and stability on the peninsula, said Kim.
金正恩表示，当前朝鲜半岛形势开始向好发展。我们主动采取了措施缓和紧张局势，提出了和平对话建议。按照金日成主席和金正日总书记的遗训，致力于实现半岛无核化，是我们始终不变的立场。我们决心将北南关系转变为和解合作的关系，举行北南首脑会晤，愿意同美方对话，举行朝美首脑会晤。如果南朝鲜和美国以善意回应我们的努力，营造和平稳定的氛围，为实现和平采取阶段性、同步的措施，半岛无核化问题是能够得到解决的。在这一进程中，我们希望同中方加强战略沟通，共同维护协商对话势头和半岛和平稳定。

沙尘天气 sandy and dusty weather

The Beijing Meteorological Service issued a warning on Wednesday morning on sandy and dusty weather in the city.
北京市气象局3月28日早晨发布沙尘天气预警。

Sand blew in from Mongolia on Monday, affecting an area of 1.5 million square kilometers as of Wednesday noon, including the Inner Mongolia autonomous region; Shanxi, Hebei and Jilin provinces; and Beijing and Tianjin municipalities, the China Meteorological Administration said.
据中央气象台介绍，此次沙尘源自蒙古国，覆盖范围涉及内蒙古、山西、河北、吉林，以及北京、天津等地，影响面积约150万平方公里。

The sand worsened air quality so much in many places that it exceed the ability of equipment to measure it, the administration said.
中央气象台介绍，此次沙尘天气强度大，造成多地空气质量爆表。

监测显示，北京地区28日5时至7时，PM10小时浓度瞬间由282微克/立方米飙升到接近2000微克/立方米，定陵达3157微克/立方米，同时，北京大部PM2.5峰值浓度为180～335微克/立方米，出现混合型严重污染。

PM2.5与PM10有何区别

PM2.5是指大气中直径小于或等于2.5微米的颗粒物（particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter），可直接进入人体的肺泡（alveoli of the lungs），也称为可入肺颗粒物。它的直径还不到人的头发丝粗细的1/20。虽然PM2.5只是地球大气成分中含量很少的组分，但它对空气质量和能见度（air quality and visibility）等有重要的影响。与较粗的大气颗粒物相比，PM2.5粒径小，富含大量的有毒、有害物质（toxic and hazardous matters）且在大气中的停留时间长、输送距离远，因而对人体健康和大气环境质量的影响更大。

PM10是可吸入颗粒物（inhalable particulate matter），一般名称上讲可吸入颗粒物指的是PM10，就是说这个空气中颗粒物的直径从空气动力学来讲直径大小是十个微米，是能够吸入呼吸道的，从上呼吸道，通过声门能够到下呼吸道，所以它叫可吸入颗粒物PM10。

此次沙尘是何原因导致？

中央气象台介绍，3月以来，我国北方地区降水偏少（little rain），气温偏高（higher than normal temperature），其中内蒙古中部及华北等地降水偏少三至八成，气温偏高2℃至6℃，加之北方地区地表土壤已基本解冻（with surface soil thawing），气象条件总体有利于沙尘天气的生成。而且本次影响我国北方地区的气旋发展强盛，从蒙古国起源的沙尘天气（sand blew in from Mongolia），随气旋东移发展携带上游的沙尘，一路向西影响到京津冀及东北地区。

沙尘和霾为何会同时出现？

生态环境部中国环境监测总站首席预报员牛莉莉介绍，雾霾和沙尘同时出现并不是偶然现象。之前华北地区26日至28日有PM2.5为主的污染过程，西北方向冷空气携沙尘而来，冷空气原本对于PM2.5是比较有利的扩散条件（the cold air was supposed to be a favorbale condition to disperse PM2.5），然而冷空气同时也带来沙尘，导致沙尘沉降，产生PM10（it brought sand and dust on its way, resulting in higher PM10）。前期不利气象条件生成了PM2.5，同时又传输过来PM10，就同时出现PM2.5和PM10。

中央气象台预计，未来10天，冷空气（cold fronts）和气旋（cyclone）活动较为活跃，新疆南疆盆地、内蒙古中西部、西北地区东部等地多扬沙或浮尘天气（sandy or dusty weather），局地有沙尘暴（sandstorms）。

增值税减税 VAT cut

China will cut value-added tax rates as part of a tax reduction package amounting to 400 billion yuan ($63.58 billion) this year to drive high-quality development, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.
国务院总理李克强28日主持召开国务院常务会议，决定降低增值税税率，以促进高质量发展，全年减税规模将达4000亿元。

增值税（value-added tax，VAT）的主要特点是以销项税（output tax）减去进项税（input tax），让纳税人只为产品和服务的增值部分纳税。

会议决定，从2018年5月1日起：

一是将制造业等行业增值税税率从17%降至16%，将交通运输、建筑、基础电信服务等行业及农产品等货物的增值税税率从11%降至10%。
The tax rate for manufacturing will be lowered from 17 percent to 16 percent, and for transportation, construction, basic telecommunications services and farm produce from 11 percent to 10 percent.

二是统一增值税小规模纳税人标准。将工业企业和商业企业小规模纳税人的年销售额标准由50万元和80万元上调至500万元，并在一定期限内允许已登记为一般纳税人的企业转登记为小规模纳税人。
The meeting also decided to unify the standard for small-scale taxpayers, which raises the threshold of taxable annual sales volume for industrial and commercial enterprises from 500,000 yuan and 800,000 yuan, respectively, to 5 million yuan. Enterprises registered as general taxpayers will be allowed to switch their status to small-scale taxpayers within a given time.

三是对装备制造等先进制造业、研发等现代服务业符合条件的企业和电网企业在一定时期内未抵扣完的进项税额予以一次性退还。
As part of the tax cut package, eligible enterprises in advanced manufacturing, services and electric utilities shall receive a lump-sum refund for their initial input VAT payments yet to be deducted.

实施上述三项措施，全年将减轻市场主体税负超过4000亿元，内外资企业都将同等受益（this round of tax cuts will apply to all manufacturing companies, be they domestic companies, joint ventures or wholly foreign owned companies）。