SLEEPLESS IN BEIJING The Main Press Center for the Beijing Olympics formally opened on July 8 and will follow a 24-hour operation schedule between July 25 and August 27 for media crews from around the world

Goodwill To Dalai

During the meeting with the Dalai Lama's representatives, Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the Dalai Lama should openly and explicitly promise not to support activities to disturb the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, not to support plots to fan violent criminal activities, not to support and concretely curb the violent terrorist activities of the Tibetan Youth Congress and not to support any arguments and activities seeking "Tibet independence."

The Central Government agreed in principle that the next round of contact may be held before the end of the year.

World Heritage Addition

Two more Chinese properties were inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization during the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in Canada.

The 21 members of the committee agreed to add Sanqing Mountain in Jiangxi Province and Tulou, the unique residential architecture of Fujian Province, to the World Heritage List, bringing the total number of Chinese properties on the list to 37.

A Tulou building usually consists of an earth outer wall and internal wooden framework. Built from the 11th century to the 20th century in the mountainous areas across Fujian and neighboring provinces, the Tulou buildings were aimed at meeting the requirements of a whole clan living together. They also served other functions such as defense.

Poverty Reduction

The number of Chinese people in extreme poverty dropped from 250 million in 1978 to 14.79 million in 2007, according to national statistics on rural poverty.

The research, jointly conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Council Leading Group Office on Poverty Alleviation and Development, showed people with enough food and clothing but on a low income declined from 62.13 million in 2000 to 28.41 million in 2007.

The number of people brought out of poverty in China between 1990 and 2007 accounted for more than 70 percent of the global figure.

Tickets for Students

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and the Ministry of Education started to distribute Olympic tickets allotted for schools involved in the Olympic education program nationwide on July 8.

Following the practice of previous Olympics, BOCOG is offering elementary and secondary schools under the program up to 1 million tickets, or 14 percent of the total ticket pool, at low prices of 5 yuan ($0.70) to 10 yuan ($1.40) per ticket. Opening and closing ceremony tickets are not included in the special ticketing program.

To ensure sound arrangements for student accommodations and transportation, 10 high schools in Beijing have been designated as hosts to offer affordable services.

BOCOG and the Ministry of Education have also issued a special invitation to 65 teachers and students from earthquake-hit areas in Sichuan Province to attend the Olympics as part of the program.