Briefs | Corruption agencies discuss Greater Bay cooperation

Macau’s Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Guangdong Provincial Commission of Supervision held a joint meeting in Guangzhou last week, where the three parties discussed “integrity building” in the Greater Bay Area, according to a statement published yesterday by the CCAC. The three parties agreed that they would strive to develop a corruption-free Greater Bay Area. They agreed to strengthen exchanges in education and publicity initiatives on probity culture and pledged to dedicate themselves to “establishing a clean, healthy, open and transparent government-business relationship”, increasing exchange visits and staff trainings and stepping up efforts in combating cross-border corruption.

Shenzhen, Edinburgh cement city friendship ties

The city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province cemented friendship city ties with Edinburgh in Great Britain last week. The mayors of the two cities signed the agreement in Shenzhen at the 2019 Shenzhen Smart City Forum with International Friendship Cities, planning to cooperate on smart city building. Shenzhen will hold discussions with its friendship cities to take advantage of breakthroughs in science and technology and industry reform and find a way forward in the cities’ future development, said Wang Weizhong, the city’s Party secretary. Shenzhen has solidified friendship city ties with 87 provinces, districts and cities in 56 countries since it first started to create friendship city ties in 1986.

Insurance company helps to fight African swine fever

A major insurance company in Guangdong Province has joined the battle against African swine fever (ASF). The insurance company has allocated materials worth more than 1.4 million yuan (USD200,000) to local companies to help lower the risks associated with raising animals. The materials include disinfectants and vermifuge. Training sessions have been held in Guangdong to increase farmers’ knowledge of ASF and enhance their abilities to defend against the virus. Earlier this month, China asked pork processors and hog dealers to secure certificates to prove that their products are free from African swine fever.