Brasília, 4 (Agência Brasil - ABr) -The vice minister of Justice of China, Fan Fangping, visited the Papuda penitentiary yesterday to observe the operation of the Working Prisoner Assistance Foundation (Funap) which rehabilitates prisoners. According to the Federal District secretary of Public Security, Athos Costa de Faria, Fangping was greatly interested in using Brazilian prison programs in his country.

"China is presently reforming its prison system which is why the vice minister is observing programs in other countries. He was impressed by the clean installations and their layout at Papuda. And, mainly, with the various activities we allow inmates to participate in as part of their rehabilitation," reports Faria.

In Papuda, 500 prisoners are in workshops, working as carpenters, bakers, or making clothes or sports equipment. Another 700 prisoners have jobs in government agencies. All of them receive a salary and get a day off their sentences for each three days worked. (AB)