Home > Top News: Xi leaves for visits to U.S., Ireland, Turkey Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping left Beijing Monday to pay official visits to the United States, Ireland and Turkey. Xi is scheduled to visit the three nations from Feb. 13 to 22. Premier Wen urges economic reforms Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged to use further reforms to solve problems with China's economic structure, unfair income distribution and corruption. Chinese VP's US visit to build partnership Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's upcoming trip to the United States is aimed at building a cooperative partnership between the two nations, an official said on Thursday. CPI rises 4.5% in January China's consumer price index rose 4.5 percent year-on-year in January, the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday. The growth rate was the highest in three months, accelerating from 4.1% in December and 4.2% in November. Chinese, U.S. VPs discuss bilateral ties via phone Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping discussed bilateral ties with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden during a telephone conversation on Tuesday. China's VP to visit US, Ireland,Turkey Vice President Xi Jinping is scheduled to pay official visits to the United States, Ireland and Turkey from Feb. 13 to 22, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. China boosts financial support for affordable housing China on Monday vowed to expand financial support for affordable housing projects this year as the government continues its efforts to bring housing prices back to reasonable levels. Wen stresses unwavering reform, rural democracy Wen Jiabao has pledged to unwaveringly push forward opening-up and reform in the face of current challenges and difficulties, while calling for protection of farmers' rights to vote to improve rural community administration. Senior leader encourages moral model poll Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun on Friday called on the organizers of a leading moral model poll to further contribute to the country's initiatives in building socialist core values. Tightened supervision to ensure food safety The Health Ministry vowed to "blacklist" food that is mixed with non-edible ingredients or food additives. China's commerce ministry to send work team to Libya China's Ministry of Commerce is to send a work team to Libya to exchange views on China's participation in the African country's post-war reconstruction. 25 Chinese workers held by Egyptian locals freed Egyptian locals have freed the 25 Chinese workers they held on Tuesday in Arish, North Sinai, an official with the Chinese embassy to Cairo said early Wednesday. China regrets WTO ruling on raw material exports Chinese officials regret that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has upheld its ruling against China in a raw materials export case, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday. Chinese president congratulates AU summit Chinese President Hu Jintao hailed the African Union (AU) as one of the most influential regional organizations in the world on Sunday as the bloc opened a summit in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Political bias concerning China human rights "deeply rooted": media Prejudice resulting from differences between political systems has become deeply rooted in interpretations of China's human rights situation, according to an editorial in the Sunday edition of the People's Daily. Chinese railway readies as post-holiday travel rush begins Chinese railway authorities said Saturday that the country's railway system has geared up for the upcoming post-holiday travel rush in addition to snow and rainfall in the southern regions. South China to embrace snow, rain as millions begin to return Snow and rain will fall on most parts of China's southern regions in the next three days as the week-long Spring Festival holiday nears its end and millions of people start returning to work in the cities. Rain, snow to persist in south China China's meteorological authority said Thursday that the country's northern regions will continue to have sunny weather for the coming 24 hours, while the south will have more rain and snow. China, Israel mark 20th anniversary of bilateral ties Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday exchanged congratulatory messages with their Israeli counterparts Shimon Peres and Benjamin Netanyahu on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. President Hu joins public to celebrate New Year Chinese President Hu Jintao visited grassroots urban and rural areas in Beijing on Sunday, the eve of Spring Festival, extending greetings to the people and celebrating with them Lunar New Year.