BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, or Cabinet, agreed in an executive meeting on Wednesday to speed up the reform and development of the inland Chongqing municipality.

    China has four municipalities: Beijing, Tianjin in the north, Shanghai in the east, and Chongqing in the southwest.

    "Local authorities are required to accelerate the overall development of rural and urban areas and promote environmental protection and natural resources conservation, to turn Chongqing into an important growth pole in western region," according to the meeting, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

    Local governments should help people in the Three Gorges area to develop local pillar industries, modern agriculture and improve rural production and living conditions, according to the meeting.

    The city should also step up construction of a new district in its north and a newly-approved bonded zone and carry out regional economic cooperation.

China issues decree ending three tax, fee regulations

    BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council, or cabinet, issued a decree signed by Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday abolishing three tax and fee regulations.

    The provisional regulation governing urban real estate tax, promulgated in 1951, is abolished as of Jan. 1, 2009. Full story