cities

www.mlive.com — The government will allow so-called "qualified farmers" to become official residents in cities, Chen Xiwen, head of the agricultural affairs office under the State Council, said at a press conference Monday. Rural migrant workers who qualify will enjoy benefits including social security coverage, government- subsidized housing and education for their children, Chen said.

www.askmen.com — A senior Chinese public health official says the tenfold growth in the number of syphilis cases over the past decade in China has been driven by the country's rapid economic growth. XiangSheng Chen says prostitution, worker migration from the countryside to cities, and poor health care systems means cases are now increasing 30 percent a year.