This is Special English. I’m Ryan Price in Beijing. Here is the news.
The C919, China&`&s first homegrown large passenger plane, has made its debut flight in Shanghai, a breakthrough in the country&`&s innovation and manufacturing drive and a change to the landscape of the global civil aviation market.
The successful test flight of the C919 comes only nine days after the country debuted its first homegrown aircraft carrier in Dalian in northeast China. The development showed the world China’s manufacturing prowess, development of advanced technology and the national ambition to regain past glory.
The flight lasted around 80 minutes at an altitude of 3,000 meters and an average speed of 300 kilometers per hour. Then the plane returned to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, from which it had taken off.
In a letter of congratulation to the C919 project, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, said the successful maiden flight of the C919 marks a milestone for China&`&s aviation industry. The project carries great weight and importance to the country&`&s innovation drive and manufacturing upgrade push.
The letter said it is also a shot in the arm for the ongoing supply-side reform.
This is Special English.
It’ll be free. It’ll be uniquely Chinese. It’ll be an online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia, but without the participation of the public. And don’t expect certain entries to come up in your searches, either.
Scholars and experts hand-picked by Beijing to work on the project say only they will be able to make entries, the latest example of the Chinese government’s efforts to control information available on the internet.
The scholars say truth is their guiding light, and their editing and review process is a rigorous one. If there is a difference of opinion, a committee should figure it out.
A chief editor of the history of science and technology section told The Associated Press that "Of course, science does not come from democratic votes, to convince others you will have to present the most convincing proof".
The effort to compile 300,000 entries that span science, literature, politics and history is being led by the Communist Party of China’s Central Propaganda Department. It guides public opinion through instructions to China’s media, internet companies and publishing industry as well as overseeing the education sector. It has instructed the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, known for its offline Chinese Encyclopedia, to produce it.
Currently, the Chinese Wikipedia is inaccessible on the mainland.