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Stop Unfairly Awarded Marks being Given towards College Entrance Exam
谁在玩"高考加分俱乐部"

A marine model test will be held in east China's Zhejiang province. The qualifiers of this test will awarded 20 extra marks towards this year's college enrolment examination.

However, from the list of test participants, it's emerged that 13 out of 19 students from a key high school all come from rich families.

Of these, some are the children of governors from local government and city banks.

This incidence has aroused hot discussion among the public, with very few people regarding it as just a coincidence.

The "Beijing News" published an article saying the extra marks system could easily fuel an abuse of power and cause injustice to the vital examination.

The article says 20 marks can easily help a student beat over 4,000 other Zhejiang province competitors.

So many local dignities help their children enjoy huge advantages by giving money to the test organizers. Hundreds of examinees' benefits are damaged by this type of behaviour.

The article points out that related departments should thoroughly probe these occurrences.

Moreover, it suggests the extra mark system should include measures such as hearings to ensure its openness and strictness and to create a fair environment for all examinees.

Mainland, Taiwan Start Largest-Yet Cross-Straits forum

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan Saturday kicked off the largest-yet unofficial cross-Straits forum in Xiamen, a southeastern coastal city faces Taiwan across the sea.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, declared the opening of the forum.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the mass gathering of "brothers and sisters" from both sides of the Taiwan Straits reflected a new development of cross-Straits exchanges.

"It shows the grassroots exchanges between the two sides have scored a new high, and marks a new stage in cross-Straits relations. What's more, the general public have become the main body of the cross-Straits exchanges and the core force to propel the progress of the cross-Straits relations."

Chu Li-lun, vice chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang Party, said people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits share the same bloodline and speak the same language.

He noted closer relations between the two sides have made the Straits "shallower and narrower" than before.

"I believe through our efforts and exchanges like the cross-Strait forum, we will narrow the gap between us, and iron out many of the misunderstandings of each other. Then in the future, both sides will see enormous progress in cross-Strait economy, trade, cultural and educational exchanges."

The week long forum features 18 activities including the centerpiece conference, a trade fair, a cultural week, a tourism forum and a seminar on traditional Chinese medicine.