Briefly

Rates of maternal, infant mortality hit historic low

China's maternal and infant mortality rates have dropped to historic lows, the National Health Commission said on Monday. In 2021, China recorded a maternal mortality rate of 16.1 per 100,000, said Song Li, head of the commission's department of maternal and child health. The mortality rates of infants decreased to 5 per 1,000 and the rate for children under five fell to 7.1 per 1,000, both record lows. Compared to 10 years ago, the maternal mortality rate has dropped by 38 percent, the mortality rate of infants has dropped 58 percent and that of children under five has declined by 54 percent. There are 3,032 maternal and child healthcare institutions, 793 maternity hospitals and 151 children's hospitals nationwide, Song said.

Immigration authority cuts business red tape

China's National Immigration Administration has introduced a series of measures aimed at facilitating the production activities and operation of enterprises with foreign business links. The customs clearance and inspection time for international cargo ships will be shortened. Vehicles carrying important medical, agricultural, energy and livelihood supplies will be prioritized in customs inspections. The handling of paperwork and visa extension applications of relevant foreign personnel has been streamlined. The measures are expected to help enterprises reduce costs, boost production efficiency and further explore the international market, said an official with the administration.