Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan is making a five-day good will visit to Japan, the first for a Chinese defense minister since 1998. [Photo: xinhua]

Hello and welcome to this edition of CRI Roundup on Saturday, September 1. I'm Paris Lord in Beijing.

Let's take a look at some of the major events that have happened in China and around the globe during the past week...

China and Japan vow to enhance defense cooperation.

China furthers supervision on product quality and food safety.

And the Taliban released all remaining South Korean hostages.

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan is making a five-day good will visit to Japan, the first for a Chinese defense minister since 1998.

The two sides have vowed to continue top-level defense exchanges and enhance cooperation in security consultation, training and other military fields.

Cao Gangchuan has invited his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Komura to visit China in 2008 at both sides' convenience.

China has initiated a four-month long nationwide campaign to perform an all-round supervision and inspection of all China-made products.

Li Changjiang, head of China's quality control watchdog, is fully confident in the campaign.

"The plan is initially set for a four-month period, and it's expected to generate obvious achievements. It demonstrates that we have taken a new step toward product quality and food safety. It will also help prove to the whole world the merits of "made in China" products as well."

The campaign will focus on eight areas, including agricultural products, food processing, consumption in restaurants, products imported and exported, and the public's overall health.

The move is partially believed to be hitting back at the unbalanced reports by foreign media attacking China-made products and food safety problems.

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