The global fast food chain McDonald's launched a national website in China last week, designed to provide consumers with information on food quality and safety, nutrition and balanced living.

The website, www.Askme.com.cn, is part of McDonald's transparency programme in China, following its establishment of the "open kitchen door" project and nutrition information stations.

Oil reserve facility

The nation's first national oil reserve facility in Zhenhai of East China's Zhejiang Province will begin operation at the end of this year, top economic official Ma Kai said yesterday.

The country will also speed up construction of three other reserves, which should be operating in 2007 or 2008, said Ma minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission.

These projects attempt to avoid interrupting oil supply and adjusting oil prices in a time of scarcity, he said.

GUANGdong

Logistics trade fair

SITL South China 2006, a global logistics trade fair that highlights cargo services, equipment and industry solutions, will be held in Guangzhou from June 28 to 30.

The event is sponsored by UK-based Reed Exhibitions Ltd and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade's Guangzhou branch.

The event is expected to be a networking opportunity for global transport and logistics service suppliers in China.

hunan

Tourism plan

Central China's Hunan Province is trying to build itself into a major tourist destination over the next five years.

According to a work conference of the provincial government on tourism promotion, the province has mapped out a five-year blueprint to attract one million overseas tourists and 95 million domestic tourists per year during the period.

The province, home to scenic mountains in Zhangjiajie, is expecting to earn nearly 110 billion yuan (US$13.75 billion) in annual tourism revenue by 2010, with US$1 billion from overseas tourists and 100 billion yuan (US$12.5 billion) from domestic tourists.

henan

Infrastructure upgrades

Central China's Henan Province has mapped out a blueprint to accelerate infrastructure construction in rural areas in a bid to promote local agricultural development.

This year the province will invest 7.5 billion yuan (US$937.5 million) in road construction, water supply and the development of marsh gas as new energy sources in its rural areas.

According to statistics of the Henan provincial government, 6.5 billion yuan (US$802 million) will be invested in the province's roads.

It plans to link 10,000 villages across the province with 19,000-kilometre roads.

jiangsu

Service industry boost

Nanjing, capital city of East China's Jiangsu Province, plans to invest 21.1 billion yuan (about US$2.64 billion) in its service industry this year, said an official with the municipal government.

The investment will cover 55 projects including trade, logistics, software, finance, tourism and exhibition, with trade and logistics projects accounting for two-thirds of the total, the municipal source said.

The service industry has enjoyed rapid development in the city over the past five years, with added value totalling 111.8 billion yuan (US$13.98 billion) in 2005, up 13.1 per cent over the previous year.

(China Daily 03/07/2006 page10)