China's environment minister said he "felt guilty" and "wanted to reproach himself" as widespread air pollution has harassed people's lives, an official statement said Saturday.

Like other tourists from the Chinese mainland, Mr Zhang had to go to the bank frequently to exchange cash when staying in Taiwan about a year ago.

Five human H7N9 avian flu cases were reported in East China's Shandong and Jiangxi provinces as well as the central province of Hunan on Saturday, local authorities said.

The US intelligence released a report on Friday, making public its assessment of alleged Russia's interference in the US presidential election last year.

China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels conducted a patrol in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands on Sunday, according to the State Oceanic Administration website.

China's securities watchdog said it will attach greater importance to risk prevention in the stock market in 2017.