In Brief
Hu welcomes Saudi envoy
President Hu Jintao met Saudi Arabia's special envoy Prince Bandar yesterday and exchanged views on the Middle East and the Gulf, Xinhua said. Bandar is also national security adviser to King Abdullah. Hu called Saudi Arabia 'a reliable good friend and a sincere partner', Xinhua reported. He said: 'We are willing to make joint efforts with Saudi Arabia ... to boost bilateral strategic and friendly ties to a new high.' Staff Reporter
Closer watch on dietary products
The food safety watchdog ordered makers of dietary supplements to tighten the control of raw materials, including reviewing the qualifications and inspecting the production of their suppliers regularly, Xinhua reported. Companies that used substandard raw materials would be seriously punished, it said. Dietary supplements are popular among mainlanders, but their quality has long been an issue. Staff Reporter
