Beijing - China on Thursday confirmed that officials held more talks with envoys of the Dalai Lama, but again accused the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader of supporting recent anti-Chinese riots.

Du Qinglin, head of the Communist Party's United Front Work Department, met envoys Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen in Beijing, the department said in statement released via state media.

Du told the envoys that the Dalai Lama should "openly and explicitly promise and prove it in his action not to support activity to disturb the Beijing Olympic Games," the official Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

Taipei - Taiwan, in its latest move to ease tensions with China, on Thursday removed the ban on local officials' visiting the mainland.

The ban was removed in line with the pro-China policy of the new president, Ma Ying-jeou, who is calling for more exchanges with China to seek cross-strait peace.

From now on, city mayors and county magistrates can visit China for city- and county-related exchanges, if they submit applications one week before the trip.

Currently city mayors and magistrates can only go to China to attend international conferences, and must submit application for the trip to the National Immigration Agency three weeks in advance.

Also on Thursday, Taiwan eased its ban on Taiwan funds investing in Hong Kong/Macau and Chinese stock markets.

Beijing - The opening of three new subway line

London, July 2 : The morals of Chinese soldiers are being corrupted by the plethora of saunas, karaoke bars and dance halls that have sprung up around their remote base, an officer has complained. 

The officer, who gave his name as Li Xianghui, said that his troops were being bewitched by the “luscious voices” emanating from clubs at Dandong, located on the sensitive border with North Korea.

In a letter to the top Communist Party mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, Li said the base was built in a remote location to avoid distraction and that the “illegal entertainment venues” were affecting the “mental stability” of his troops.

New Delhi, July 2: China has expressed resolute opposition to connecting Tibet-related issues with the Beijing Olympic Games due to be held in August.

Beijing - Eighteen miners are confirmed dead in a collapsed shaft in north-west China, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.