BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Xinhua News Agency Tuesday released a set of new indicators to track the country's economic and social development.
The new indicators, compiled by China Economic Information Service (CEIS), an affiliate of Xinhua, will assess China's weather service, business climate, green development, targeted poverty relief and local tourism development.
Specifically, they include the China Meteorological Development Index (MDI), which is jointly compiled by CEIS and Development Research Center of China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
The index evaluates how meteorological services contribute to economic development, disaster prevention, damage reduction and climate issues, Yu Xinwen, CMA deputy administrator, said at a ceremony marking the launch of the index.
China's MDI stood at 163.25 in 2016, 63.25 percent higher than the 2011 level, according to the CEIS.
"China is now becoming a leader in the field of meteorology, which is also reflected by the MDI," Yu said.
He mentioned the Fengyun-4A satellite, the first of China's second-generation geostationary orbiting weather satellites, which was put into operation Monday, and will enable China to become a leader in developing geostationary orbiting weather satellites.
Based on a survey jointly conducted by the CEIS and Chinese bike-sharing giant ofo, the CEIS also released a report on developing a green commuting index.
Zero-carbon commuting was the most popular way of commuting among people interviewed in 25 Chinese cities. They preferred walking and cycling to clean energy vehicles or carpooling, the report showed.
Following the report, the CEIS will release an index reflecting green commuting practices in major Chinese cities, including service supply, policy support, and choices of residents.
An index assessing targeted poverty reduction in the city of Tongren in southwest China's Guizhou Province and an index reflecting tourism development in the city of Datong in Shanxi Province were also launched, as well as a report on Chinese agarwood business climate.
The release of the new indices and reports will further replenish the CEIS index product mix, which together provide a comprehensive picture of China's social and economic landscape.
On Tuesday, the CEIS also signed a cooperation agreement with a group of research institutes on developing an index on China's desertification controls.
The CEIS will also work with China Han Great Group and Shangtex Holding on a price index of traditional Chinese medicine and an index on fashion weeks worldwide.
The CEIS currently provides a number of indices and research reports that track commodity price trends, financial indicators and other industrial developments in both domestic and global markets.
