DREAM TICKET:  A man shows four Olympic tickets from the third batch for the domestic audience, which went on sale on May 5. Tickets were sold out for venues in Beijing in two days     (Photo by XINHUA)

Dialogue with Dalai

Chinese Central Government officials and private representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama agreed to hold another round of contact at an appropriate time when they met in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, on May 4.

The meeting was held between Central Government officials Zhu Weiqun and Sitar (who uses only one name) and the Dalai Lama's two private representatives Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen.

The two representatives, who arrived in Shenzhen on May 3, expressed their views on Tibet and said they would report truthfully what had been discussed at the meeting to the Dalai Lama, sources told Xinhua.

Zhu and Sitar answered the questions raised by the two representatives patiently and exchanged views with them on future contact and consultations.

Deadly Bus Fire

The cause of a bus fire in Shanghai which killed three people and injured 12 others was flammable material being carried on the bus by a passenger on May 5 morning, police said. The case is being investigated further, they added.

The fire broke out at 9 a.m. when the bus was in Huangxing Road in Yangpu District, in northeast Shanghai.

The fire was put out within half an hour. Firefighters estimated there were about 50 passengers on board the route 842 bus.

Lending a Hand

The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, a non-governmental organization, has called for donations from across the country for cyclone victims in Myanmar.

Through an appeal posted on China's major news portal Sina.com, the foundation urged the nation to help the victims by donating cash or relief materials like food and medicines.

The foundation had gathered relief materials worth $500,000, including food and clothing for children, according to Tang Houhu, an official with the foundation.

China's Foreign Ministry announced on May 6 China would offer $1 million worth of aid, including relief materials worth $500,000. The Red Cross Society of China has also offered $30,000 in disaster relief aid to the Myanmar Red Cross Society.

No HFMD Panic

The recent outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) will not affect the Beijing Olympic Games, Ministry of Health Spokesman Mao Qun'an said at a press conference jointly held by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.

There has been no unusual pattern in the HFMD outbreak so far, said Mao. Except in Fuyang City in eastern Anhui Province, the number of people with HFMD has been similar to last year.

The number of HFMD cases reported in China totaled 15,799 as of May 6, according to Xinhua. By the morning of May 7, the viral epidemic had led to 28 deaths nationwide.

Olympic Visa Policy

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said on May 6 that China's recent visa policy arrangements did not mean the suspension of multiple-entry visas and due arrangements have been made in line with the practices of previous Olympics.

He said arrangements have been made to ensure a safe environment but added that the issue of all multiple-entry visas will not necessarily be suspended.

According to a recent statement from the Foreign Ministry's Consular Department, the requirements can include providing invitation letters, certificates of relatives, proof of reserved accommodation and/or round-trip air tickets, based on applicants' differing situations.

China has not stopped issuing multiple-entry visas to those who meet the requirements, it said. It also suggested that foreign nationals apply for visas in their country of citizenship or residence to ensure a smooth entry into China.