When taking a bus, Chang Fengyan keeps the habit of giving her seat to senior citizens, pregnant women, the sick and the disabled.

"I was taught to do that in my childhood. I believe helping people in difficulty is a virtue of Chinese people that we should all carry on," said Chang, a university teacher in her early thirties in Beijing.

But some people do not follow her example. It's common nowadays to see young people holding on to their seats ignoring the presence of weaker people standing nearby.

Chang and her friends worry that if nothing is done soon, many traditional Chinese virtues will gradually be forgotten.

Many people share their concerns, and the Chinese central government is aiming to take steps to consolidate ethical behavior.

Sept. 20 is designated the national day for promoting sound moral standards.

The Central Commission for Guiding Ethic and Cultural Progress also issued on Thursday a set of guidelines to promote ethical and cultural progress among Chinese citizens, pointing out six areas of work.

The document speaks highly of China's successful fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in the first half of this year, saying it exhibited the excellent moral outlook of the Chinese people.

It said many problems still exist and need to be addressed, including the re-emergence of prostitution, gambling and drug taking in some areas, less emphasis on honesty in business dealings, money worship, corruption and bribe taking.

"These phenomena do not conform with China's rapid economic and social development, China's rising role in the world and the goal of building an affluent and balanced society," say the guidelines.

The document calls on the whole nation to make more efforts in carrying forward and cultivating the ethos of the nation, make moral education a constant part of people's daily life and work and guiding people to develop sound conduct and habits with a set of incentive and monitoring mechanisms.

According to the guidelines, leading mass media organizations should exert concerted efforts to create an atmosphere conducive to promoting ethical and cultural progress. Major websites, including Xinhuanet.com, people.com.cn and cctv.com, will open pages on moral education by the end of the year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2003)