China to strengthen poverty alleviation work

The General Office of China's State Council, the Cabinet, and the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee issued a circular recently, calling for more progress in the nation's poverty alleviation work.
Poverty alleviation work that targets old revolutionary base areas, ethnic regions, border areas and poverty-stricken areas has made great progress since it was started 24 years ago, the circular said.
Future tasks are to focus on ensuring adequate food and clothing for people in need and helping them out of poverty via improving their capabilities for development on their own.
It is necessary to continue efforts in reducing poverty through development, and to make great efforts in advancing and enhancing infrastructure construction, improving the capacities to offer basic services, and cultivating key agriculture-based businesses, so as to ensure a comprehensive, coordinating and sustainable growth in developing the economy and society of the targeted poor regions, said the circular.
Party and government departments, state-owned enterprises, key state research institutions, military and armed police forces should participate in the work, while large private enterprises and social organizations, too, are encouraged to devote themselves to the work, the circular said.
Source: Xinhua
China, France launch regular parliamentary exchange mechanism

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Bernard Accoyer, speaker of French National Assembly, in Paris, capital of France, July 8, 2010. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Legislative bodies of China and France launched their regular parliamentary exchange mechanism on Thursday, vowing to further push forward the Sino-French comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), and Bernard Accoyer, speaker of the French National Assembly, jointly declared the beginning of the first meeting of Sino-French Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.
Wu said the launch of the high-level meeting between the two legislative bodies signals the Sino-French parliamentary exchanges were promoted to a new stage.
Accoyer said the regular parliamentary exchange mechanism could serve as an important platform for both nations to exchange views on mutual concerns and promote bilateral cooperation in politics, technology, new energy and environmental protection.
Ahead of the meeting, Wu and Accoyer held talks on bilateral ties and parliamentary cooperation.
Accoyer said France attached great importance to Wu's visit as Wu is the first Chinese top legislator that visited France in 13 years.
France regards China as a strategic partner, expecting to expand all-round strategic cooperation with China, boost coordination on international issues, through joint efforts against global financial crisis, climate change and other challenges, he said.
Wu said his ongoing visit to France is aimed to build a closer relation between the Chinese NPC and the French National Assembly. He stressed that China will hold more dialogues and communications with France to enhance political mutual trust and boost the Sino- French economic cooperation.
Earlier on the day, Wu held talks with French Senate President Gerard Larcher. The two leaders agreed that parliamentary exchange plays an important role in developing the Sino-French ties and enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples.
Source: Xinhua