Beijing - The number of deaths in road traffic accidents fell to just over 200 per day in China in 2008, down 10 per cent from the previous year, the government said Sunday.

Police nationwide recorded 265,204 accidents that resulted in 73,484 deaths and 304,919 injuries last year, the Ministry of Public Security said a report posted on its website.

The number of road deaths was down 10 per cent from 2007, falling to just over 201 per day after peaking at nearly 300 per day about five years ago.

The number of accidents recorded last year dropped by 19 per cent from 2007, the ministry said.

Estimated losses from traffic accidents totalled 1.01 billion yuan (148 million dollars) last year, down 16 per cent.

Beijing, Dec. 31 : Chinese President Hu Jintao has offered six proposals to promote the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relationship.

In a speech to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mainland''s "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" here on Wednesday, Hu said the mainland is willing to discuss with Taiwan proper and reasonable arrangement for Taiwan''s participation in international organizations, as long as this does not create a scenario of "two Chinas" or "China and Taiwan."

Beijing - China on Wednesday agreed to begin issuing licences for third-generation, or 3G, high-speed mobile telephone networks, state media said.

The State Council, or cabinet, said it took the decision because "conditions for handing out the licenses were mature," the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The issue of 3G licences is expected to spur an investment spree and fierce competition for customers between three major network operators next year.

Beijing, Dec. 31 : China''s economy is unlikely to rebound quickly in 2009, and there is further room to loosen the monetary policy, an official from a top government think tank said.

"It will take a while for enterprises to absorb their stock and the economy will continue to decelerate in 2009," Fan Jianping, chief economist of the State Information Center, was quoted by the China Securities Journal, as saying.

Fan said deflationary pressure would appear in 2009. Producer price index is likely to have negative growth in the first half, while consumer inflation may remain low.

Beijing, Dec. 31 : China has expressed deep concern over strained relations between India and Pakistan.

"As a neighbour of both countries -India and Pakistan - we hope that the two sides would solve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation, improve their relations and jointly commit to peace and stability in South Asia," The Daily Times quoted the Chinese Foreign Office spokesman Qin Gang, as saying.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of China, He Yafie, on his recent visit to Pakistan, informed Pakistan of China's stance on the recent developments in the region, Qin added.

He said that Islamabad has also expressed its willingness to work together with India and China to fight terrorism in the region.

Beijing, Dec. 31 : The compensation fund for victims of a tainted milk scandal will pay for medical costs the sickened incur until they reach 18, affected families said Tuesday.

The notice of the latest pledge to victims and their families was in the name of 22 dairy companies whose products were found contaminated with melamine. Parents of victims in Hebei, Henan and Jilin provinces told China Daily yesterday they received the notification.