ECONOMIC MIRACLE The 20th anniversary of the founding of the Hainan Special Economic Zone is celebrated on April 26. The special economic zone status has brought prosperity and quick economic growth to China’s second largest island

ZHANG LEI

At least 20 children have died during an outbreak of a lethal intestinal virus in Fuyang City, east China's Anhui Province, in March and April.

The enterovirus 71 had made 1,199 children sick and killed 20 of them by the evening of April 27, the Municipal Government of Fuyang said, quoting statistics from local hospitals and center for disease control, and 341 children remained in hospital for further medical observation, of whom, 27 were said to be in critical condition.

Hospitals in Fuyang started to take in children with fever, blisters, mouth ulcers, and rashes on their hands and feet in early March. Some of the victims were diagnosed with brain, heart and lung damage.

Dialogue with the Dalai Lama

China's Central Government department will meet with the Dalai Lama's private representative in the coming days, reported the official Xinhua News Agency on April 25.

Xinhua quoted an anonymous official as saying, "In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai Lama's side to resume talks, the relevant department of the Central Government will have contact and consultation with the Dalai Lama's private representative in the coming days."

"The policy of the Central Government toward the Dalai Lama has been consistent and the door of dialogue has remained open," he said.

"It is hoped that through contact and consultation, the Dalai Lama's side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks."

Pirated Goods Seized

Chinese customs authorities uncovered 334 million items involving intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements worth 439 million yuan ($62.71 million) in 2007, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in a recently released white paper.

The number and value of items rose 83 percent and 116 percent respectively year on year, according to the White Paper of Chinese Customs IPR Protection 2007.

According to the white paper, counterfeit goods seized by the GAC were primarily clothes, shoes, bags and cigarettes, and 99.8 percent of these fake goods were seized en route to export markets.

Privileged Dogs

Guide dogs for the blind will be allowed into public places such as subway stations and buses starting in July, under a new law amendment made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Lawmakers said the change, in an amendment to the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons, aims to better protect the rights and interests of the blind in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics in September, during which many athletes will bring their canine helpers to the capital.

Currently, ownership of large dogs in Beijing is restricted and they are barred from public places.

Hi-Tech Fair

The 10th China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) will be held from October 12-17. The fair is one of the most famous international hi-tech fairs held in Shenzhen every year since 1999.

This year's fair will include three special exhibitions on new and hi-tech trade achievements, information technology and products and electrical products.

On April 25, the first meeting of the CHTF Organization Committee was held in Beijing. China, as well as Russia, Australia, Canada, Finland and Hungary, will send delegations to take part in the fair. Almost 200 prestigious multinational enterprises, including Microsoft, ABB and SAP have reserved display booths, and some professional institutions from the Republic of Korea and China's Taiwan will take part in the fair too.