Resolution on corruption

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has announced measures to tackle corruption, targeting in particular unnecessary red tape, collusion between officials and businessmen, extravagance and waste.

Wen told officials at the annual State Council anti-graft conference on February 9 that there are many obstacles in the drive to build a clean government. A series of major corruption cases have been exposed and there is a "serious" problem of officials abusing their posts or colluding with businessmen to make profits.

"A handful of graft cases involving high-ranking officials have had a very negative impact on society," Wen said. "Waste and extravagance are rampant among officials and some issues concerning common people's immediate interests remain unsolved."

Regulating the use of executive power is one of the main tasks of the government in the coming year, he added.

Olympic preparations

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin inspected Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Olympics, urging city officials to work hard for a "high-level" Games.

Jia, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged the city to integrate international standards with Chinese conditions in preparing for the Games.

"Chinese people have dreamed of holding the Olympic Games for a long time, and the event in 2008 will inspire the entire nation to unite and work hard," he said.

Everyone involved in the preparations should have a high sense of responsibility and urgency, he added, praising the progress of the city's preparations so far.

He also called for more efforts to protect the capital's environment and ease its traffic jams.

Measuring the Great Wall

The State Cultural Relics Bureau has announced a plan to map out the nation's most recognized historical attraction, the Great Wall, over the next four years, to accumulate scientific data to better protect the endangered relic, Beijing News reports.

Thirteen provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, including Beijing, Hebei and Inner Mongolia will join together to conduct the survey.

Fieldwork will begin this April, with the initial results to be announced in the second half of 2008. The survey will include measures of cartographic data and an accurate measurement of how much of the Great Wall remains.

Survey results covering parts of the Great Wall built in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.) and Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) will be revealed in 2009, while full figures for what remains from other historic periods will be released in 2010.