Editor’s Note: New cases of COVID-19 were reported by local authorities in Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou, making these places escalate the prevention and control measures. Besides, Zhejiang is making its headway to create more international cooperation in such fields as government, economy, trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Against the background of globalization and Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral ties are frequently seen in the municipal level in Zhejiang. Today’s coverage will inform you of the news related to the covid-19 prevention and control, international cooperation, and local policies to enhance the assistance with the disabled.

1. Door-to-door services provided to residence area tested positive with coronavirus

East China's Zhejiang province reported six locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and six asymptomatic cases on Dec 7. Massive nucleic acid testing is being conducted in Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing, the three cities that have reported new cases.

In Hangzhou, door-to-door services are provided to those who are not convenient to do the testing outdoor. Preventive medicines are also distributed for free.

2. Ningbo, Nottingham to cement ties

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province and Nottingham in the United Kingdom signed the agreement of the five-year development plan to boost bilateral ties on Dec 6. According to the agreement, the two cities will promote bilateral practical cooperation in such fields as government, economy, trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges from 2021 to 2025.

At the government level, leaders of the two municipal governments are expected to maintain communication on issues of common concern. The two cities' international cooperation departments will have regular work exchanges and make joint efforts to host high-level exchange events between the two countries.

The two will also support business executives to receive training in each other's industrial parks or institutions of higher learning, while cementing links in fields including high-end equipment, new materials, biomedicine, and energy conservation. Support will be put in place to advance exchanges between the two cities in education, sports, and healthcare. Ningbo and Nottingham have maintained close ties since the establishment of a sisterhood relationship between the two in 2005.

3. Maiden flight between Yiwu, Yinchuan launched

Guangzhou-based airline company China Southern Airlines launched its maiden flight from Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province to Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on Dec 3. This marked the establishment of the first-ever direct air passenger route between the two cities.

Among the 84 passengers aboard the maiden flight was Ms. Su, who was born and raised in Ningxia but has been engaged in a foreign trade business in Yiwu for the past eight years. She took the flight to Yiwu Airport to return to her hometown for a family reunion.

Yiwu and Ningxia have close ties in talent mobility, as both of them are the Chinese regions that most frequently interact with Arab countries and hence receive a large number of Arabic translators and speakers. The launch of the direct flight route is expected to further promote economic and trade exchanges between Yiwu and Ningxia.

4. Zhejiang students fly high in national informatics contest

The China Computer Federation published the winner's list of the 2021 National Olympiad in Informatics in Provinces (NOIP) on Dec 3. Held since 1995, the annual contest for senior high school students in China is a means of identifying the top computer knowledge and skills talents.

As many as 200 winners of this year's contest were from East China's Zhejiang province, the highest number among all provinces. Shandong and Guangdong had the second and third highest numbers with 155 and 139 winners respectively.

The Zhejiang winners are from 30 plus senior high schools across the province. Eighty-two winners, or 41 percent of the provincial aggregate, came from nine schools in the provincial capital of Hangzhou. The NOIP winners will go on to represent their provinces in a national final. The top 50 performers of the national final will be selected into the national team to compete in the International Olympiad in Informatics.

5. Zhejiang makes headway in assisting residents with disabilities

The Zhejiang provincial government held a briefing about the province's achievements in improving the welfare of its residents with disabilities over the past five years on Dec 3, which marked the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period, Zhejiang authorities' allocated funding worth 27.5 billion yuan ($4.31 billion) - 83.5 percent more than in the 12th Five-Year (2011-15) period - to assist persons with disabilities. The per capita disposable income for persons with disabilities was 36,000 yuan in 2020, up 57 percent from 2015.

From 2016 to 2020, Zhejiang built 331 provincial-level barrier-free residential communities that have benefited people with physical challenges and the older generation, as well as sponsored the installment of barrier-free facilities in 59,000 households with physically-challenged persons.

6. Dredging festival held at Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou

The dredging festival has been held at the Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Dec 4. During the festival, water will be drained and silt in ponds will be dredged, so as to build a better environment.

Editor: Huang Yan