Broadcasting Time: 08:00 AM, GMT:+8:00, 2008-06-18

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China Aims to Rebuild Medical System in Quake Zone by Year-End 
   
China has pledged to rebuild the medical care system in its southwest areas hit by the May 12 earthquake by the end of this year.

Health Minister Chen Zhu announced the timetable as he spoke at a meeting in Beijing attended by health department heads from across the country.

According to the reconstruction schedule, basic medical care services are to be available by the end of July, with modern buildings and basic equipment to be ready in all quake-hit areas to offer indoor care by the end of December.

As of Tuesday noon, the death toll of the earthquake reached 69,172. Hospitals has so far treated some 96,000 injured people, of whom nearly 80,000 had been discharged. 
 
Health Ministry to Intensify Supervision over Olympic Preparation 
   
China's Health Ministry says supervision and inspection over preparations for the Beijing Olympics will be intensified as the games are fast approaching.

According to the ministry, supervision teams will be sent to cities of Beijing, Qingdao, Tianjian, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, all hosts of Olympic events.

The ministry says by the end of June, local health administrations should carry out thorough inspections on water and food safety and complete evaluations of food prepared for the Games before athletes arrive at the Olympic village.

Bumper Harvest of China's Summer Grain within Reach  
   
China is on it`s way to a fifth consecutive bumper crop of summer grain.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, with 85% of the crop already harvested, this year's total will definitely surpass the 115 billion kgs weighed in last year.

Summer crops usually account for about 23 percent of the nation's annual grain output.

Chinese Vice President Makes Five-Point Proposal to Develop Relations with DPRK 
   
China`s Vice President Xi Jinping on a visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has made a five-point proposal to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.

To mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Xi proposed to observe 2009 as "China-DPRK Friendship Year.

Other points included maintaining visits by high ranking officials, deepening cooperation in agriculture, industry, transportation and infrastructure construction in the border areas as well as the promotion of bilateral cultural exchanges.

To protect the interests of both countries, the Chinese vice president also proposed to strengthen bilateral coordination and cooperation in the six-party talks on the DPRK nuclear issue within the framework of the United Nations.