国内英语新闻:Chinese Vice Premier urges major state firms to improve production safety

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang has called on the country's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises to improve workplace safety and avoid accidents among workers.

Zhang made the comments during an inspection tour in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday to six major state companies, including China Petrochemical Corp., Shenhua Group Corp. Ltd., and China State Construction Engineering Corp.

Further, Zhang urged these businesses to attach great importance to monitoring workplace safety and improving safety management systems.

He asked enterprises to increase input in production safety management, promote research and development, as well as the application of new technologies and equipment that would help improve the safety of workers.

Zhang also demanded efforts be made to improve staff trainings on creating safe work conditions.