China bans wild animals from official dinners

BEIJING - China's central authorities on Sunday published a regulation that explicitly ruled out dishes containing shark fins, bird nests and wild animal products in official reception dinners.

The document, jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, is to regulate the use of public funding on receptions by local authorities to receive visiting Party or governmental officials.

Shark fins, bird nests and products of rare wild animals are popular materials in luxury dinners in China.

The regulation said cigarettes and up-market liquors are not allowed to be served at official dinners.

Moreover, officials below provincial level should not live in suite rooms on their business trips, it said.

Local hosts are also banned from giving cash, negotiable securities, souvenirs or local products as gifts for the officials.

According to the document, the new rules are to promote frugality, oppose extravagance and enhance the anti-corruption efforts among Party and governmental authorities.