China's Xinhua News Agency has selected the top 10 news stories in China in 2004.

In the sequence of occurrence time, the list goes as follows:

-- The first document of the year issued by China's central authorities, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, raised farmers' incomes.

The government work report, passed at the full session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in March, spelled out measures in this regard, including gradually lowering agricultural tax rate and rescinding this tax in five years.

Thanks to the pro-agriculture policies, grain output and farmers' income have increased and the amount of arable land has remained stable.

-- The CPC promulgated three regulations to beef up internal discipline, a mark the CPC has entered a new stage in Party building.

-- Amendments to China's Constitution, including explicit clauses on protecting human rights and private property, were passed at the full session of the NPC in March.

-- The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued two documents in March and November, urging all local departments to strengthen work in the ideological and ethical education of college students and minors.

-- A number of major corruption cases were disclosed in an audit report submitted to the 10th meeting of the NPC Standing Committee on June 23. The officials involved have been seriously dealt with.

-- China achieved a historic breakthrough at the 28th Olympic Games, ranking second in the gold medal count with 32 gold medals. It also won 17 sliver and 14 bronze medals.

-- The Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, held from Sept. 16 to 19, made the call to improve the governing capability of the Party and named President Hu Jintao chairman of the CPC's Central Military Commission.

-- China began the legislative process of making an anti-secession law. The draft of the law was submitted to the 13th meeting of the NPC Standing Committee, which opened on Dec. 25. Members of the committee said such a law was necessary and timely.

-- China reaped the initial fruits of macro-economic control. China's national economy stayed on the track of healthy, sustained and steady growth. The total volume of China's imports and exports exceeded 1 trillion US dollars in 2004, making China the world's third largest trading nation.

-- After a series of major accidents in quick succession, including the tourist stampede incident in a Beijing park and major mining accidents and an air disaster in other areas, China explored ways to improve safety and to punish officials responsible.

Source: Xinhua