国内英语新闻:China stresses efforts to stabilize prices as New Year approaches

BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- With the New Year and China's Spring Festival approaching, China will improve efforts to stabilize prices and ensure abundant supply of essential commodities, according to an official circular issued Sunday.

Cracking down on price speculation and related market manipulation should be high on agenda of governments at all levels, according to the circular issued jointly by the General Offices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, or China's Cabinet.

The circular also urged for improved supervision on the food and medicine market and demanded work concerning water, power, oil, gas and heating supplies to be handled well.

It called on related departments to distribute subsidies for low-income groups in a timely way and make arrangements to help people, especially those in disasters-hit areas, to get through the winter with enough supply of necessities.

Party and governmental organs should abstain from extravagance and embezzlement of public fund must be strictly prohibited, it said, ordering discipline inspection authorities, auditing agencies and finance departments to enhance supervision.

According to the circular, special inspection campaigns will be launched in sectors, including mining, transportation, construction, and fireworks manufacturing, to tighten safety measures and prevent accidents.

Stressing security in passenger transportation, the circular said cargo overloading, using fatigued operators or running unlicensed transportation operations are prohibited.

It further called for efforts to safeguard social order and to combat violent and mafia-style crimes, property embezzlement and economic crimes.