China, Beidou - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Shanghai

Explanation:
China started trial operations of world's biggest automated container terminal at Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai, the country's commercial hub.

The terminal is located at south of Donghai Bridge, phase 4 of Yangshan Port and covers 2.23 million square metres and has a 2,350-metre shoreline.

The automated management system is also used at port to maintain safety and efficiency.

Key Facts

• The project uses automated handling equipment designed and manufactured in China. The machinery used in loading and unloading, including bridge crane, automated guided vehicle (AGV) and rail-mounted gantry crane, are all made in China by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company.
• Initially, automated terminal will have capacity to handle 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and later it will be expanded to 6.3 million TEUs at later stage.
• The automated terminal not only increases the port's handling efficiency, but also reduces carbon emissions by up to 10%.

ANSWER: Disabled

Explanation:
The High Level Inter-Governmental Mid-Point review meeting of Asia and Pacific Decade for Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022 was held in Beijing, China.

A number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region had participated in it. Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The meeting was organised by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in cooperation with China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF).

Its main objective was to review progress made by member States during Decade at mid-point in 2017 with regard to Incheon Strategy to make right real for persons with disabilities in Asia and Pacific.

It also discussed future policy action for building disabilities-inclusive societies in region, bearing in mind synergies between 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Incheon Strategy.

It also finalised declaration to address gaps and challenges in empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The Incheon Strategy provides Asian and Pacific region and world with first set of regionally agreed disability-inclusive development goals. It has been developed over more than two years of consultations with governments and civil society stakeholders.

ANSWER: London

Explanation:
The PRC or People's Republic of China launched its first freight train to London (UK) with the aim to improve trade ties and strengthen connectivity with Britain and Western Europe.

The train departed from Yiwu West Railway station in eastern Zhejiang province of China. It will travel for 18 days over 12,000 km before reaching London.

The train will also pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France, before reaching London.

It is carrying goods produced in Yiwu. London is the 15th city in European region added to China-Europe freight train services.

Success of the train will give impetus to China's One Belt and One Road Initiative, an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with Africa and EU along ancient trade routes.

One Belt and One Road Initiative: Know More

• Also known as the Silk Road Economic Belt
• Called the Belt and Road, One Belt, One Road (OBOR) or Belt and Road Initiative
• It is a 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road.
• The initiative is a development strategy and framework put in place by Chinese leader XI Jingping
• It focuses on connectivity and cooperation between China and Eurasia.
• Comprises two components namely Silk Road Economic Belt (land based) and Maritime Silk Road (ocean going).
• It was unveiled in Sept and Oct 2013 (SREB and MSR respectively).

ANSWER: Huachuan No. 1

Explanation:
This dock called Huachan No.1 enables the navy to return damaged ships to fighting capability in short time and was designed for being taken into combat zones. Dock can handle cruisers, submarines and destroyers but not aircraft carriers. This low cost technology is extremely innovative.

ANSWER: Haryana

Explanation:
Haryana is expecting a spike in foreign investments from China following 8 MoUs being signed with top companies to establish a USD 10 billion industrial park and smart cities in the state during CM Khattar’s trip to get more investors. MoU was signed with which top Chinese companies Wanda Group, China Land Development Company Private Limited, and ZTE Corporation.

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Amidst deepening demographic crisis of a shrinking workforce and old population, China the world’s second largest economy has junked its controversial one child policy. Chinese lawmakers have now allowed couples to have 2 children ending the 3.5 decade old policy that prevented close to 400 million births in the nation. The new law was passed by the 159 strong National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which is a top organ of China’s parliament. China facd a demographic crisis with severe labour shortages leading to reversal of the law.

ANSWER: Han

Explanation:
Archeologists have unearthed a record number of gold coins and plates equalling 378 in total from a 2000 year old Han dynasty tomb in east China. New discovery includes 20 thin plates about 22 cms long and 10 cms wide. Gold coins weighing 250 grams were unearthed from tomb of the first Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) in Nanchang, east China’s Jiangxi province. Tomb dates back to the Western Han dynasty 206 BC to 24 AD and thought to belong to Liu He, grandchild of Emperor Wu.

ANSWER: Tie Tong

Explanation:
The larges wireless carrier in China, China Mobile on 27th November 2015 has indicated that it will acquire sister company Tie Tong’s fixed line telecom business for USD 4.99 billion to boost its business presence in China. CMTie Tong which is the wholly acquired subsidiary of China Mobile has agreed to acquire fixed line telecom business from Tie Tong.

ANSWER: 13

Explanation:
Scientists in China have discovered the meaning of as many as 13 different Panda vocalisations during a 5 year study of the language. They have studied the calls made while mating, when pandas are unhappy and how baby pandas indicate the are hungry. Scientists of China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda will now develop a Panda Translator using voice recognition software.

ANSWER: Two

Explanation:
Bowing to pressures of an ageing society and a lowered workforce, China has eliminated the one child policy. The Chinese Communist Party has allowed couples to have two children which is an advance over 2013 ruling. This is applicable only for couples where one of the parents was a single child. One child policy is meant to lower the population. As per UN estimates, close to 440 million persons in China would exceed 60 by 2050 indicating a massive decline in the labour pool. In the previous year, the working population fell between 15 to 59 by 3.71 million. A question remains if rising living costs will lead to families having more than one child. State media has noted that of 30,000 families which could benefit from the 2013, rules, only 6.7 percent have applied for a second child.