by Xinhua writer Huang Xin

    HANGZHOU, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office invited foreign journalists to inspect a pharmaceutical factory on Friday morning in the third such publicity exercise this year aimed at restoring confidence in its drug industry.

    Five journalists were present for the tour round a factory owned by Chiatai Qingchunbao Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd in the coastal city of Hangzhou, the country's third largest producer of pharmaceuticals with an industrial output of 38.5 billion yuan last year.

    Wu Ningyi, vice director of the Zhejiang Food and Drug Administration, told reporters his administration had already signed letters of commitment with 183 companies to ensure the safety and quality of pharmaceuticals.

    "We have initiated an annual reporting system requiring pharmaceutical companies to publicize information on product quality," said Wu, "and 75 supervisors were sent to local 'high-risk' companies such as blood and vaccine producers to monitor every production step closely.

    Standing in front of the airtight workshop used for the distillation of herbal extracts, Feng Gensheng, president of Chiatai Qingchunbao, said, "The factory has designated 15 technicians to supervise the work. The sources, specifics and processing procedures of the herbs are put on record. Everything here is open to the media, except the formulas."

    "If the herbs are found to be substandard on three occasions, the factory will cancel contracts with the supplier," said Wang Yongbin, one of the supervisory technicians.

    Correspondent with Al Jazeera Nasser Abdul-haq said, "The production conditions and sanitation supervision here are fairly good.

    "Chinese medicine production has met international standards. I've been to several food production factories in China, they are also well organized."

    Lotus Fan, a researcher with the Beijing bureau of McClatchy, said, "From what I've seen here, the supervision of medicine safety and quality is impeccable."

    Chinese industries have been battered by a raft of reports detailing substandard products ranging from drugs to toys.

    In the wake of the product safety scandals, the Chinese government responded by introducing a new recall system this summer, embarking on a four-month-long nationwide product quality campaign and offered intensive training courses to domestic toy manufacturers.

    A total of 626 criminal cases involving the production or sale of substandard food, drugs and farm produce were filed during the campaign, with 774 suspects brought under control, according to the State Council.

    At the end of last month, China's cabinet approved, in principle, a draft law on food safety to address the "weak points" in food production, processing, delivery, storage and sales.

    Ahead of the approval, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued a joint statement, vowing to strengthen cooperation in food safety, promote food trade and protect consumers' rights and benefits. (One U.S. dollar equals to 7.4 yuan)

    (Xinhua correspondent Quan Xiaoshu contributed to the story)