From the Chinese press

Confident display of culture

Meeting the challenge to compete

The 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2011-15) is of key importance to China's overall plan for technological innovation and industrial upgrading. An innovation-driven strategy is essential for determining whether China can finish the planned task of industrial adjustment and reform.

Taxing consumers less

Why has the rate of growth of China's tax revenue long outgrown the rate of growth of people's income levels?

Cartoon

Tests for skilled workers

A reform plan unveiled recently by the Vice-Minister of Education Lu Xin will divide the national college entrance examination into academic and vocational paths, with the former designated for academically inclined candidates and the latter for technically inclined ones.

South Korea can close gender gap

Over the last half-century, South Korea has made considerable economic progress, with per capita income increasing from a mere $80 dollars in 1960 to more than $22,000 last year. But its potential for sustained growth is faltering, owing to the imminent decline of its working-age population - projected to fall by 25 percent by 2050 - and rising competition from China and other emerging economies. In order to improve its prospects, South Korea must pursue economic reform and restructuring, with an emphasis on maximizing its human-capital resources - especially women.

US should change approach to DPRK

Leaders from more than 50 countries and international organizations are attending the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague from March 24 to 25, with the focus on nuclear security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism.

The road to public finance reform

Four months ago, the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted the decisions on China's reforms in the new stage of its socio economic development. Such vision was endorsed by the National People's Congress earlier this month. I was impressed at the comprehensiveness and clarity of the envisaged reforms.

Letters

Seeing is believing

From the Chinese press

Protect quotidian cultural heritage

Nuclear security a priority

Four years ago, under the initiative of US President Barack Obama, the first Nuclear Security Summit was held in Washington D.C., which set in motion the nuclear security summit process.

Cartoon