China morning round-up: Illegal workers
China's police agency vows to crack down on illegal foreign workers across the country, Thursday's newspapers report.
Shanghai Daily says Vice-Minister of Public Security Yang Huanning told the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Wednesday that the crackdown will include improving visa policies and strengthening border controls.
People's Daily says police agencies across the country have investigated some 20,000 incidents of foreigners illegally entering, living or working in mainland China.
Those working without a proper visa were mainly involved in foreign language education, acting, housekeeping for expatriates and labour intensive industries, it said.
Beijing News says Mr Yang said the police ministry would set up repatriation facilities in regions that have large numbers of such illegal foreign workers.
A front page commentary in the People's Daily Overseas Edition said it was the right time for European countries to "deepen" their co-operation with China as Chinese leaders conducted a series of high-profile visits in the region.
In the wake of the tours by Mr Wen and Politburo member Dai Bingguo, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang will also embark on a visit to Russia, Hungary, Belgium and the European Union headquarters in Brussels, the commentary said.
In the South China Sea, the Global Times says the ongoing stand-off between Chinese and Filipino vessels over the disputed Scarborough Shoal "bubbled up" on Wednesday, as the Philippines and the US began a joint military drill.
"China did not start the current stand-off in the South China Sea. We would not like to see more tensions in that region," Cui Tiankai said. China was still committed to resolving disputes in the region through dialogue and diplomacy, he said.
A People's Daily report filed from the Philippines claims local residents do not agree with politicians' approach to the conflict.
And a commentary from the same paper attacks "some countries'" attempts to "internationalise" the South China Sea dispute as a "strategically short-sighted" act.
This is the first time that the relic has been shown outside mainland China. Gyaltsen Norbu, the Beijing-backed 11th Panchen Lama, is in Hong Kong to bless the relic.