BEIJING

Political parties meet

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) recently held a symposium to solicit advice from non-CPC members and non-party affiliated personages on the building of a harmonious socialist society.

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the symposium, at which China's non-communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages were invited to give their opinions.

One-China policy reaffirmed

Paulias Matane, governor-general of Papua New Guinea, reaffirmed yesterday that the country's government will firmly adhere to the one-China policy, and this stance will not change.

President Hu Jintao said the Chinese Government is grateful for Papua New Guinea's support for China's reunification.

During a meeting, Hu and Matane agreed to work together to further long-term, stable relations.

Wen on productivity

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday met a delegation from the World Confederation of Productivity Science (WCPS), headed by the organization's chairman Jean Claude Lauzon.

Wen expressed his congratulations on the successful staging of the 14th World Productivity Congress, saying that he hoped the congress could increase exchanges between participating countries. "China is still in its initial stage of socialist construction and will continue to stick to economic construction", Wen told Lauzon.

Official removed from post

Qiu Xiaohua has been removed from his position as director of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) by the State Council, according to an official press release. Meanwhile, the cabinet has appointed Xie Fuzhan as the NBS director, who leaves the position of the deputy director of the Development Research Centre of the State Council, it said.

Olympic quarantine

Beijing Olympic organizers, municipal government leaders and State inspection and quarantine officials yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding concerning inspection and quarantine for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. Li Changjiang, minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, promised to simplify the customs procedures for the entry and exit of Olympic personnel and materials.

Farm produce fair

China's top-grade farm produce will be on display at an international trade fair to be held at the National Agricultural Exhibition Hall between October 16 and 20, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday. The fourth annual China AG Trade Fair in Beijing will also be a venue for buyers to meet retailers. An estimated 250,000 people are expected to visit the hall during the fair.

Tibet

Illegal border crossing

Nearly 70 people attempted to illegally cross the border between China and Nepal in the Tibet Autonomous Region on the early morning of September 30 and one died during a conflict with border control guards, said an official of the related department of the region yesterday. The official said a small squad of Chinese frontier soldiers found the group and tried to persuade them to go back to their home. But the group refused and attacked the soldiers. Under the circumstances, "the frontier soldiers were forced to defend themselves and injured two people," said the source.

GUANGdong

School food poisoning

Fifty-two pupils and teachers from a primary school in South China were hospitalized with food poisoning on Wednesday.

The health bureau of Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, said 50 pupils and two teachers from the school attached to Sun Yat-sen University suffered abdominal pain and vomiting.

A preliminary analysis showed that victims suffered bacterial food poisoning. A bureau investigation found the food poisoning was probably caused by soya milk and red bean cakes that the sufferers ate for a break-time snack. The food was supplied by Guangzhou Hongyi Food Co Ltd.

(China Daily 10/13/2006 page2)