China will exempt all students in rural areas from various fees in nine-year compulsory education this year, Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili said on Thursday.

China also offered the same exemption for students in rural areas of western China last year and the exemption policy will be expanded to the central and eastern regions, said Chen at a conference on compulsory education expenditure.

Beginning this new semester in spring, the central and eastern regions will exempt all students in rural areas from fees in compulsory education including primary school and junior high school, Chen said.

To reform the compulsory education expenses system is an important decision of the central government, and this policy is fundamental in giving priority to developing education and promoting education fairness, she added.

Chen urged local governments and officials to earnestly implement the new policy by allocating enough funds for compulsory education before the new semester starts.

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2007)