ZHEJIANG

143 arrested for tax fraud in Shaoxing

Shaoxing police in Zhejiang province have cracked a major tax fraud case with the amount of money involved exceeding 480 billion yuan ($68.6 billion), capturing a total of 143 suspects. The suspects were arrested on charges of issuing false invoices, fraudulently obtaining export tax rebates and illegal foreign exchange trading, the Shaoxing public security bureau said on Wednesday. The police received a tip from taxation authorities in August that a local trading company and other firms had been writing false value-added tax invoices. On Dec 6, Shaoxing police dispatched task forces and captured the suspects in several provinces. So far they have seized a considerable haul of business licenses, tax-control software and blank invoices. The investigation is ongoing.

QINGHAI

Intl Tibetan medicine co-op base launched

China's first international cooperation base of Tibetan medicine was inaugurated on Wednesday in Qinghai province. Based at Qinghai University, the institution aims to promote external exchanges and international cooperation related to Tibetan medicine, according to the university. The base is expected to spread traditional Tibetan medicine in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, cultivate foreign students in the field and increase its international influence.