China needs to increase spending and rely more on science and technology to improve its workplace safety, State Councilor Hua Jianmin has said.

The country also needs to make its economic policies more safety-oriented, he said at a State Council meeting on Wednesday which ratified the national workplace safety plan for the 11th Five-year Guidelines (2006-2010).

The meeting also discussed the workplace safety situation in the first half year and what needs to be done in the second half.

Hua noted that the country recorded less workplace accidents and casualties in the first half of this year, but said there are still weak links in the management system.

The State Councilor said all local and central authorities need to pursue a scientific concept of development and give top priority to the safety of people's lives and property.

They also need to keep the pressure on small and unsafe mines, and make sure that those mines that have been shutdown do not resume production.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)