BEIJING

Premier to attend economic roundtable

Premier Li Keqiang will attend the Fifth "1+6" Roundtable with the heads of six major international economic organizations via video in Beijing on Nov 24, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday. Also slated to participate are World Bank Group President David Malpass, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Trade Organization Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff, International Labor Organization Director-General Guy Ryder, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Secretary-General Angel Gurria and Financial Stability Board Chairman Randal Quarles, he said. The participants are expected to exchange views on topics including the global economic situation, post-COVID-19 economic governance and China's growth during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Zhao said.

China issues orange alert for blizzards

China's meteorological authority on Wednesday issued an orange alert for blizzards in northeastern areas and advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. Snowstorms will hit parts of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Hebei provinces and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, according to the National Meteorological Center. Authorities should strengthen inspection and maintenance of roads, railways and power and communications lines and should also work to ensure that public transport not be disrupted, the center said. China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe weather, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

HUNAN

34 hurt in explosion, fire at Miluo restaurant

Thirty-four people were injured in an explosion and fire at a restaurant in Miluo city, Hunan province, around noon on Wednesday, according to the local government. The injured were sent to hospital for treatment, one of whom had a more severe injury. A gas tank that was cracked open was found at the scene, local police said. The local firefighting department and the police are jointly investigating the cause of the incident.

China Daily - Xinhua