These vehicles, whose task is to educate people about pregnancy, reproduction and adult sexual life, will begin in north China's Hebei Province and in Beijing and Tianjin municipalities.

According to Xiao Shaobo, director of the science and technology department of the SFPC, the experts will lecture local farmers on birth control, women's health and prenatal and postnatal care. They will also offer free consultations and provide free contraceptives.

"With the arrival of the Spring Festival, they will also hand out traditional new year paintings and verses written on scrolls to local residents for their celebrations," Xiao said.

Initiated by China Population News (CPN), the promotional vehicles will tour the country for about a year.

CPN's director Xi Xiaoping said that there are still many "unknowns" in reproductive health, relating to physiology, psychology, morality, emotions, ethics and other social aspects. Reproductive health projects and industries will have an important role to play in the future.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2003)