15-minute community life circles to get upgrade, expansion

The Ministry of Commerce, together with eight other government departments, issued a circular in September to further expand and upgrade the construction of 15-minute community life circles and enhance the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

These community life circles are an urban planning concept introduced to ensure residents can access essential daily necessities and services within a 15-minute walk.

According to the ministry, by 2030, China aims to designate 100 pilot cities for comprehensive promotion and establish 10,000 community life circles that are well-planned, fully functional and convenient.

The plan also envisions the creation of 500 "silver streets" catering to senior residents and 500 children's parks.

The document outlines new tasks, calling for all eligible cities to act on a three-year effort beginning this year to extend pilot programs from prefecture-level cities to qualified county communities.

Policy support will be strengthened by expanding facility supply, implementing tax and fee incentives, enhancing financial and insurance support, and linking the initiative with urban renewal, elder care, and modern commerce pilot programs to form synergy.

Aviation administration issues rules for low-altitude tourism

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has introduced two regulatory documents to further enhance and standardize the supervision of the low-altitude tourism sector, according to an announcement on the CAAC website on Friday.

The interim measures for the management of the aerial sightseeing market, comprising 29 articles, set detailed requirements on market access, service standards, pricing, consumer rights protection and supervision, with the aim of improving service quality and operational standards in aerial sightseeing.

The interim measures for the management of the skydiving flight service market, containing 20 articles, provide clear definitions and classifications of skydiving services, while outlining rules on access requirements, safety standards, contracts, prohibition of unfair competition, and regulatory responsibilities, thereby establishing a standardized management framework.

The issuance of the two measures marks an important step by the CAAC to support the safe and high-quality development of China's low-altitude economy.

They are expected to help regulate market order, improve the consumption environment, protect consumer rights and safeguard fair competition, laying a solid institutional foundation for the sustainable growth of low-altitude tourism, the administration said.

Ministry inspects campus food safety, nutrition fund use

The Ministry of Education has launched an inspection to strengthen campus food safety and regulate the use of funds under the Rural Compulsory Education Student Nutrition Improvement Program, according to a notice released on Sept 17.

Teams have been dispatched to relevant provinces to conduct interviews, review documents, carry out on-site checks and participate in school meals.

The inspection focuses on the implementation of responsibilities by education authorities and school management. It also examines canteen operations with particular attention to full-process controls over food procurement, delivery, acceptance, storage, preparation and sample retention.

The review covers the financial management of meal funds, assessing accounting practices and financial oversight, as well as the allocation, use and supervision of nutrition subsidy funds for rural compulsory education students.

Findings will be reported to provincial authorities, and corrective measures will be mandated to ensure problems are remedied and verified through a closed-loop follow-up process.