Chinese ocean scientific research vessel Haiyang-6 set out Monday on a 240-day expedition in the Pacific Ocean, with five foreign trainees on board.

The five young scientists from Burkina Faso, the Cook Islands, Ghana, Mexico and Papua New Guinea will work together with Chinese scientists and be trained on the job, said He Gaowen, chief scientist of the expedition.

The vessel departed from China’s southern province of Guangdong, heading for the Western Pacific to conduct deep-sea geological surveys for climate change, biological and environmental research.

The surveys will help China in international efforts to utilize seabed resources and test the latest deep-sea technology.

The vessel has on board a remote-control underwater vehicle “Haima,” (sea horse) to sample cobalt-rich seabed crusts and other materials.

Beijing’s energy efficiency ranks first across China and the city has made significant achievement in reducing air pollution.

The Chinese capital’s energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP stood at 0.338 ton of coal equivalent in 2015, a reduction of 19.5 percent from 2011 and an annual reduction of 5.3 percent in four years.

According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, the total energy consumption reached 68.526 million tons of coal equivalent in 2015, registering an annual increase of 1.7 percent from 2011. This is 3 percentage points lower than that of the “11th Five-Year Plan period” (2006-2010).

The sharp reduction of industrial energy consumption plays a main role in slashing energy consumption in the entire city. As Beijing keeps shedding its non-capital functions, high energy-consuming industries and manufacturing enterprises have been relocated or closed down. Meanwhile, as Beijing prevents a list of industries from being newly launched, industries that are involved in the list reduce their production, and hence the reduction of their energy consumption.

Additionally, as Beijing implements the “Clean Air Action Plan,” major coal-fired power plants have changed their energy source from coal to gas. The city’s industrial enterprises see their energy consumption decrease by 3.2 percent annually, taking 1.2 percentage points off the city’s annual energy consumption.

President Xi Jinping called on compatriots in Hong Kong on Monday to join hands with the whole nation to “grasp the opportunities of the country’s development” and further implement the one country, two systems principle.

Xi commented while visiting an exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing on achievements since the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

Concerted efforts are expected in exploration and innovation, with the goal being to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and to ensure a better future there, he said.

Multimedia presentations at the museum featured memorable moments in Hong Kong, including its return, and its reinforced role as an international financial center and rising star in the building of the Belt and Road.

Speaking of the past 20 years, Xi said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with the strong support of the central government and the mainland, has witnessed comprehensive development in a variety of fields and has made achievements recognized by the world.

The great vitality of one country, two systems has been demonstrated, Xi added.

Experience during the two decades has proved that one country, two systems is not only the best solution to the Hong Kong issue, but also the best institutional arrangement for long-term prosperity and stability after the return of Hong Kong, Xi said.

The nation should further implement one country, two systems in an unswerving, all-out and accurate manner, and act in strict accordance with the country’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR to better promote Hong Kong’s development, Xi said.

From Thursday to Sunday, Xi will be in Hong Kong to attend a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return.

During his stay in Hong Kong, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will also witness the inauguration of the fifth administration of the HKSAR.

As he toured the exhibition on Monday, he shook hands with both Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chief executive of HKSAR, and Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the incoming chief executive.

Other Chinese leaders including Premier Li Keqiang also toured the exhibition on Monday.