BEIJING

Audit law amendment

China's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), will deliberate on the amendment draft of the audit law for first time during a six-day session commencing October 22.

According to the agenda proposed on Friday by the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, during the upcoming session lawmakers will also deliberate on the draft law on quality safety of agricultural products for the first time, and continue to discuss the amendments to laws governing personal income tax, corporations, securities, property and exempting foreign central bank's assets in China from judicial enforcement.

The upcoming session will also discuss and approve the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Extradition Treaty between China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Afghanistan relations

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan said on Friday that the relations between China and neighbouring Afghanistan have entered a new stage of development.

Speaking to visiting Afghan Vice-Defense Minister Mohammad Hamayon Fawzi and his party, Cao noted that bilateral exchanges and co-operation in the political and economic spheres have been restored rapidly and carried out smoothly ever since the new Afghan Government was established.

Cao, also vice-chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission and State councillor, expressed the wish that joint efforts be made to write a new chapter of friendship between the two countries and their armies.

Weapon destruction urged

China strongly urged the Japanese Government to bear its due responsibility and obligation to thoroughly and completely destroy abandoned wartime chemical weapons at an early date, in order to remove the threat and danger to the country.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei made this remark on Friday when he held talks with the visiting Japanese Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office Takeshi Erikawa.

Wu said 60 years have passed since the end of aggression of China by Japanese militarism, yet the chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese troops are still posing a great threat to the Chinese people and the environment.

(China Daily 10/15/2005 page2)