Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing called on governments at all levels on December 24 to focus on free blood donation work to ensure the "sustainable, stable and healthy " development of this the sector.

In a letter addressed to a national free blood donation commendation conference in Beijing, the vice-premier, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, have always paid great attention to encouraging blood donations.

The law on blood donations, which was passed by the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, in 1997 indicates that blood donations have been put on a legal track in China, he noted in the letter.

At the conference, 48 cities and prefectures, 13 work units, and 611 individuals were commended for their contributions in this field.

More than 200,000 soldiers on active duty have donated blood voluntarily since the law took effect on October 1, 1998.

The conference was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross Society of China, and the General Logistic Department of the People's Liberation Army.