IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Timetable for pricing reform set

The State Council set a time-table for reforms to the country's pricing mechanism on Thursday. China will lift price controls over basically all goods and services in competitive sectors by 2017, according to guidelines released by the State Council. By then, government set prices will only exist for key utility services, such as electricity and water, public-welfare programs and network industries featuring natural monopolies. Six major areas were highlighted, including farm produce and health care.

Elderly care meet to be held in May