China Steps up Efforts to Cleanse Reputation

SHANGHAI — In recent weeks, Beijing has begun its most concerted global public relations offensive since the outbreak of SARS, the severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Diplomats and government officials are holding news conferences on food and product safety. They are showing contrition in high-level talks with Western officials and offering tours of government safety laboratories to foreign journalists.

But China has also struck back at critics who have called Chinese goods shoddy or dangerous, and highlighted problems with the exports of other nations.

And, in its latest move to respond to a series of recalls and product safety scandals, Beijing introduced a new food and toy recall system last week and announced a “special war” to crack down on poor-quality products and unlicensed manufacturers.

Marshaling an army of inspectors, the government said it had already begun nationwide inspections of farms, groceries, restaurants and manufacturing operations in an effort to root out fake and substandard goods.

Read the full New York Times story here.

And after a summer of food and other recalls, Chinese product safety will be high on the agenda when President Bush meets Chinese President Hu Jintao in Sydney, Australia, this week at the APEC summit.

Listen to the full NPR story here.