Due to a series of measures taken by the central government, the number of fatal accidents in the country had fallen sharply year by year, he said at a national conference in Beijing Tuesday.

The responsibility system for workplace safety had been implemented, said Wu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

However, workplace safety was a long-term and difficult task needing regular bolstering, he said.

Outlining major tasks for the future, Wu said the Law on Workplace Safety was a fundamental rule of production. All enterprises should follow the law strictly and draw up rules and regulations.

Special campaigns to remove hidden dangers would be carried out with the emphasis on coal mines, management of dangerous chemicals and fireworks and other key sectors, he said.

Adequate funds should be allocated to build monitoring systems and devices for safe production, and improve workplace environments, he said.

(People's Daily January 2, 2003)