BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhuanet) -- All Chinese citizens age 16 and older will receive new version ID cards by 2008, said State Councilor Zhou Yongkang at Thursday's teleconference on the issuance of the second edition ID cards.

    The issuance of the new ID cards is part of the government's efforts to modernize the country's population management and information network. The move will further protect the rights of citizens, said the official, who is a member of both of the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

    Zhou told departments concerned to improve their service by simplifying the procedure and preventing corruption. Enditem