Trimming the fat amid lean times

Three dishes, a soup and no booze - it is an incredibly sparse menu for official banquets thrown by a great culinary civilization.

But that is exactly what visiting heads of state in China can look forward to, as Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress, tabled ahead of the annual meeting of the top legislative body earlier this month.

The diet directive is one of the latest signals by a government advocating frugality and saving in this tough economic climate.