Home > Top News: China to promote graduates' employment The State Council pledged Wednesday to give top priority to the employment of university graduates, reflecting the spread of the global financial crisis and the "austere" job situation. Vice premier: countryside key to boosting demand China's rural areas have the biggest potential in boosting domestic demand, said Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan during visits to the countryside concluded on Tuesday. Hui stresses boosting agricultural development Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said all efforts should be made to ensure stable rural and agricultural development and income increases for farmers. Chinese FM, Rice talk over phone about Mideast crisis Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday talked over phone about the flare-up of the Middle East crisis as well as the Sino-U.S. relations. Hu, Bush talk relations, int'l issues over phone Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday spoke over telephone with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush about bilateral relations and major international issues of common concern. Newspaper: Hu's cross-Straits proposals positive The United Daily News, one of the biggest newspapers in Taiwan, said in an editorial on Friday that the six proposals put forward by Hu Jintao on the cross-Straits relationship are "positive" and "explicit." China ends three tax, fee regulations China's State Council, or cabinet, issued a decree signed by Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Wednesday abolishing three tax and fee regulations. Mainland commemorates major policy change on Taiwan 30 years ago The Chinese mainland commemorated the 30th anniversary of the announcement of Message to Compatriots in Taiwan in Beijing Wednesday with a ceremony attended by three top leaders. Chinese President promotes military values President Hu Jintao, who is also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, wants Chinese soldiers to adopt core military values. Vice premier Li concludes 3-nation visits Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang left Kuwait City for Beijing on Monday evening, concluding his official visits to Indonesia, Egypt and Kuwait. Steady rural, agricultural development focus in 2009 China concluded its two-day central rural work conference Sunday with a pledge to give priority to maintaining stable rural and agricultural development. China drafts first law on social insurance The draft specifies a common right for citizens, urban and rural alike, to pay premiums and enjoy social insurance for medical care, work injuries, unemployment and childbirth. President Hu calls on nation to continue reforms President Hu Jintao has called China's 30-year reforms a new type of "great revolution" and urged the country to press forward. CPC Political Bureau meets on anti-corruption issue CPC Political Bureau held a meeting Friday to study the current state of anti-corruption campaign and to make plans for combating corruption in 2009. China willing to further ties with Egypt Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday that China is willing to further the strategic cooperative ties with Egypt which was established in 1999. Legislature hears cabinet reports on five-year plan The National People's Congress (NPC) heard in Beijing on Wednesday a series of reports including the implementation of the 11th five-year plan and the impact of the world financial crisis. Lawmakers hear report on financial crisis impact Zhang Ping, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) outlined China's current economic situation to the NPC Standing Committee. Lawmakers mull harsher penalties for owners of aggressive animals Chinese legislators are considering imposing harsher penalties on animal breeders and pet owners whose animals attack people under a tort draft. China to establish social security number system The draft of the social insurance law was discussed by the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress on Monday. Details of real-estate stimulus package unveiled The General Office of the State Council on Sunday unveiled more details of a real-estate stimulus package adopted at an executive meeting of the Council last Wednesday.