XINING -- Planners have mapped out a 400-million-yuan ($61 million) development plan to turn a red rock basin in China into a Mars scientific research base and eco-tourism site. Liu Xiaoqun, from the moon and deep-space exploration department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), said on Tuesday that a planning meeting was held in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Qinghai province to determine the development of the Mars simulation base. "As China's only Mars science and recreation base, we hope it will focus on the scientific theme of space exploration," he said. The red rock area in Qaidam basin in western Qinghai has been called the most "Martian" place on Earth, with its natural features, landscape and climate all similar to those on the red planet. The government of Haixi and the Chinese Academy of Sciences signed an agreement in November last year to build the base, and they have since begun discussing the project's location. A number of CAS scientists have participated in the planning of the Mars simulation base in Haixi. Liu said the base is expected to consist of a "Mars community" and a "Mars campsite." The campsite will have a number of experimental module-like accommodations. It will be built as a one-stop base for experiential learning in aerospace, astronomy, geography and new energy. China has started an unmanned Mars probe project and plans to launch a Mars probe around 2020. "The building of the Mars simulation base has both scientific and ecological significance. It can improve public awareness of space exploration while bringing economic benefits to Haixi," said Zhang Biao, vice mayor of Delingha city, Haixi. children's wristbandsrubber bracelet makerdebossed wristband1 inch wide rubber bandsmake your own rubber bracelet
Wang Sanyun, former Party chief of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and a former senior national legislator, has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for bribery, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country's top watchdog, said on Friday. Wang seriously violated political discipline and responded passively or resisted the Party's major policies and decisions, the watchdog said. Further, it said, he was derelict in his duty, lost his political conviction and engaged in "superstitious activities". The CCDI said in a statement that Wang had also violated Party rules on building a clean government and often entered private clubs; and he was found to have abused power on behalf of others for job promotions and project bidding. He also accepted large bribes, it said, and allowed certain people to serve in official posts regardless of their own violations of Party discipline. According to his resume, Wang served as deputy secretary of the Guizhou, Sichuan, Anhui and Fujian Party committees before being promoted to Party chief in Gansu. In a three-episode anti-corruption documentary aired earlier this month on China Central Television, Wang expressed regret for his actions. He told anti-graft officials during the episode that, while serving as the Party chief in Gansu, he was devoted to accumulating money for his retirement. The episode alleged that he abused power by steering engineering work to his relatives, and used his authority to benefit many company bosses who paid bribes of cash, real estate, expensive jade, calligraphy and paintings. When a team from the central government inspected Gansu in November 2016, Wang asked his relatives to conceal and transfer his illicit assets in fear that his crimes would be exposed, the statement said, adding that he also forged a house trading contract and pretended that bribes were loans. According to the CCDI, his qualification as a member of the 18th CPC Central Committee was revoked, and information collected will be transferred to judicial authorities for further investigation. The decision to expel Wang from the Party will be officially approved at the next plenary meeting of the Central Committee, the watchdog said. The CCDI began investigating Wang in July. He was removed from his legislative post on Sept 1. Since November 2012, when the country's new leadership was elected, more than 160 high-ranking officials at provincial and ministerial levels or above have been subject to graft investigations. Xinhua contributed to this story.
