胡錦濤主席開始訪美之旅

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) attends a welcome banquet hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama (R) at the White House in Washington, the United States, Jan. 19, 2011.

據新華社電，國家主席胡錦濤當地時間周二抵達美國首都華盛頓，開始對美國進行為期四天的國事訪問，以促進雙邊關系。此行是胡錦濤作為中國元首第二次到訪美國。中方官員表示，胡錦濤將和美國總統奧巴馬共同繪制兩國在新時期合作的藍圖。兩國領導人將于周三在白宮就共同關注的問題展開廣泛而深入的討論。

杭州圖書館對乞丐開放

《青年時報》報道，2003年起，杭州市圖書館開始實行對所有讀者免費開放，包括乞丐。圖書館對讀者的唯一要求是把手洗干凈再閱讀。杭圖辦公室主任劉麗東說，所有人都可以在這里看書、休息或者聽音樂，只要行為舉止不出格，不大聲喧嘩。對于乞丐和無家可歸的人來說，杭圖給他們提供了一個不必流落街頭的避難所。

整容行業成事故重災區

中國新聞網報道，衛生部周三推出醫療美容業新規定，從本月起對全國醫療美容服務機構進行清查整頓。規定的具體內容尚未公布。中國每年約有300萬人次接受整形整容手術，而因毀容毀形引起的投訴達兩萬起。衛生部副部長馬曉偉稱，中國醫療整形美容手術例數每年翻倍，但僅有小部分的機構有合格資質。

煙草行業利稅超6千億元

新華社消息，2010年我國煙草行業實現工商利稅6050億元，比去年增長17%。國家煙草專賣局局長姜成康說，2010年煙草系統上繳國家財政4990億元，比2009年增長21%。

President Hu Jinto begins U.S. visit

Chinese President Hu Jintao landed in Washington D.C. Tuesday to begin a four-day state visit to the United States in which he hopes to strengthen the bilateral relationship, Xinhua reports. This marks Hu's second visit to the US as president. Chinese officials say he and Obama will map out a blueprint for China-US cooperation for a new era. The two leaders are expected to have in-depth discussions on major topics of mutual interest when they meet Wednesday at the White House.

Hangzhou library allows beggars in

Hangzhou Library has permitted full and free access to the public -- including beggars -- since 2003, the Youth Times reports. The only rule is to have clean hands before reading. Library office director Liu Lidong said all are welcome to read, rest, or listen to music as long as visitors act respectfully and adhere to the quiet decorum. For beggars and homeless individuals, the library offers a sanctuary from the streets.

New rules for cosmetic surgery

The Ministry of Health Wednesday issued new regulations for the cosmetic surgery industry and will begin examining cosmetic surgery institutions beginning this month, Chinanews.com reports. It is unknown what those regulations are. Every year, 3 million Chinese go under the knife, while complaints have risen to 20,000. Vice Minister of Health Ma Xiaowei said cosmetic surgeries double every year, though only a small number of institutions are qualified to perform operations.

Tobacco paid 605 bln yuan in taxes in 2010

China's tobacco industry paid 605 billion yuan in taxes last year, up 17 percent from 2009, Xinhua reports. Also, the industry handed more than 499 billion yuan in profits to the government in 2010, up 21 percent from the year before, said the head of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration Jiang Chengkang.

(China.org.cn January 21, 2011)