50 Million More Jobs by 2020

China plans to create more than 50 million jobs in urban areas during the 13th FiveYear Plan period （2016-2020） while limiting the urban registered unemployment rate to within 5 percent， in a bid to solve prominent problems such as a mismatch between workers quality and competence and the needs of social and economic development， according to a recently released plan on employment promotion by the State Council.

Data show that during the 12th FiveYear Plan period （2011-2015）， China had increased the number of jobs by 12 million annually for five consecutive years with the accumulative added jobs exceeding 64 million. However， under the new economic normal， some employment problems have become even more pressing.

The plan detailed that China should improve peoples skills and entrepreneurial abilities so as to help them to secure employment. China should also constantly optimize its human resource structure， and effectively ameliorate the shortage of technical talents. To meet these goals， China will make efforts in the following areas： creating more jobs through economic development； realizing more employment opportunities by encouraging people to start a business； ensuring steady employment opportunities to key groups such as college graduates， migrant workers， and workers laid off as the countrys overcapacity is cut back； and improving laborers overall quality.

Rising Mobile Internet Users

According to a report recently released by the China Internet Network Information Center（CINIC）， as of December 2016 about 695 million Chinese people had used their mobile phones to access the Internet. The annual rate of increase has now exceeded 10 percent for three years in a row and the countrys total netizen population grew to 731 million. Its believed that mobile Internet development is prompting the constant changes in consumption modes and commercial activities.

The booming mobile Internet industry is the main reason for the growing number of netizens. Chinese people surfing the Internet via cell phone accounted for 95.1 percent of the total netizen population in 2016， rising from 90.1 percent in 2015. In addition， the number accessing the Internet via desktop computers and laptops has declined.

The report also showed the growing popularity of apps for mobile online shopping， ordering take-outs， and online education programs which all saw an expansion in scale. In 2016， Chinese netizens used Internet-based government services more often than offline service centers and hotlines. Government information was disclosed to the public in an increasingly mobile， immediate， and transparent manner， according to the report.

The development degree of different regions in the Internet sector is closely associated with their economic development， as the provincial regions heading the Internet popularization list are mainly clustered in East China and those provincial regions at the bottom of the list are mainly concentrated in the Southwest. In addition， Chinas rural netizen population saw a sustained increase. However， a big gap still exists between rural and urban areas in terms of Internet popularization， which currently stands at 69.1 percent in urban areas， and 33.1 percent in rural areas.

New “Green Card” Policy

China will update its “green card” policy this year to make life easier for foreign residents， a source at the Ministry of Public Security confirmed on February 6， 2017.

With improved security features， the permanent resident permit is expected to guarantee more rights equal to those of Chinese citizens， which will affect everything from buying railway tickets to checking in at hotels， and purchasing property.

Also on February 6， a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms called for further efforts to make sure “green card” holders could enjoy all rights related to residency.

“The current green card is designed for entry and exit at the borders，” said a Ministry of Public Security division chief who requested anonymity. “However， the new card will be more commonly accepted in daily life. A foreign permanent resident could， for example， apply for a drivers license using only his or her green card.”

China began issuing permanent resident permits in 2004. The Chinese “green card” is among the most difficult to obtain in the world due to the high requirements involved. From 2004 to 2013， only 7，356 foreigners were granted the card.

However， China has been easing its residence and entry policies for foreigners since September 2015. Last year， 1，576 foreigners became permanent Chinese residents， an increase of 163 percent over 2015， according to the ministry.

Activity

Philharmonic String Sextet Vienna

Date： March 10， 2017

Place： National Center for the Performing Arts

Price： RMB 80/120/200/260/320/400

The Philharmonic String Sextet Vienna was founded in 2015 by six young members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The musicians devote themselves not only to classic sextets composed by Johannes Brahms， Antonin Leopold Dvorak， and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky， but also to modern works. The members also play in the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic Ochestra， and are active in various chamber music groups.

Body Rhapsody

Date： March 11， 2017

Place： Shanghai Star Theater

Price： RMB 150

Puppeteers Hugo Suarez and Ines Pasic de Suarez transform different parts of their bodies into lively characters to present poetic moments of everyday life with pathos and laughter. Over the years， they have performed at art festivals and TV shows across Europe， America， and Asia and have won favor with global audiences.