Stamp Expo

From April 10 to April 16, the China 2009 World Stamp Exhibition was held in Luoyang City, Henan Province, About 3,000 exhibition frames were on display, including 200 non-competitive and 2,800 competitive specimens.

The exhibition was jointly sponsored by the State Post Bureau, the China Post Group and the All China Philatelic Federation and the Henan Provincial Government.

Health Reform

China unveiled a three-year plan for health care reform on April 7. The measures are expected to lay a solid foundation for equitable and universal access to essential health care for all in China by 2020.

Under the 850-billion-yuan plan for 2009 to 2011, the government promised universal access to basic health insurance, introduction of an essential drug system, improved primary health care facilities, equitable access to basic public health services and pilot reform of state-run hospitals.

Charm Award

On March 28, the You Bring Charm to the World - The World’s Most Influen-tial Chinese Awards 2008 ceremony took place at Peking University in Beijing. Selected as outstanding Chinese individuals engaged in a variety of fields, 11 honorees accepted awards. Louis Cha, one of the most influential modern Chinese novelists, known by his pen name, Jin Yong, was awarded the “You Bring Charm to the World Award for Lifetime Achievement.”

Wedding Expo

From March 27 to 29, the 2009 China International Wedding Exposition was held at the Beijing Exhibition Center. About 1,000 companies and brands participated in the exposition, displaying various wedding commodities. This year’s expo was the largest to date.

Film Awards

Launched in 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) is a pioneering program honoring filmmakers for outstanding achievements in the field of Asian cinema. The Third Asian Film Awards was held in Hong Kong on March 23.

This year, Japanese actor Masahiro Motoki and Chinese actress Zhou Xun took the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, respectively.

GM China

General Motors Corp recently stated that it expects to double its sales in China to two million units over the next five years as it continues to expand its product offering and capacity, despite the company’s diminished position in the United States.

GM plans to introduce 30 new or revamped models in China in five years, including five vehicles each under its Buick and Chevrolet brands by 2011.

Polo Praised

On June 3, the A Gift to Marco Polo exhibition will open at Venice International University, Italy. Jointly organized by Venice International University, Institutions of Chinart, and Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art, nine Chinese artists will participate in the exhibition. Through their works, the nine will pay their respects to Marco Polo and honor his affection for the East and China.