Weekly review of China's social and economic developments amid COVID-19 control

Amid further containment of COVID-19, China is powering ahead in bringing business and life back on track. The following are the latest facts and figures: -- China's platform economy has grown to over 2.39 trillion U.S. dollars as of early April despite the COVID-19 epidemic's negative impact.

Digital marketplace firms each with over 1 billion U.S. dollars market value in China have increased to 193 by the end of 2019.

-- Shanghai's foreign capital inflows rose 4.1 percent year on year to about 6.46 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of 2020.

A total of 15 regional headquarters of multinational companies and seven foreign-funded RD centers were established in Shanghai in the Jan-April period, raising the total numbers to 735 and 468 respectively.

-- German carmaker Volkswagen on Friday announced plans to invest 2 billion euros (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in China to develop its electric vehicle business in the country.

-- Construction has begun on 40 key projects in the city of Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The projects cover a variety of areas, including infrastructure, public services, culture and tourism.

-- A Chinese surveying team safely descended to the Mount Qomolangma base camp at an altitude of 5,200 meters at 8:50 p.m. Thursday, after completing the mission of remeasuring the height of the world's highest peak.

The mission marked a crucial step in China's mission to survey the mountain, which scientists believe will enhance human knowledge of nature and help boost scientific development.

-- Shanghai Customs said imported soybeans via China's Shanghai port has totaled 297,000 tonnes since the beginning of this year, up 54.5 percent from the same period last year.