The year of Chinese Dream

In October, the shutdown of the US federal government forced President Barack Obama to cancel a series of trips abroad. In his absence, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali, Chinese President Xi Jinping was de facto the most powerful man in the room, the US "pivot to Asia" ironically reduced to a mere rhetorical posture.

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Women get their rightful place in society

China has made remarkable achievements in promoting women's development and guaranteeing women's human rights since the founding of the People's Republic of China, particularly over the last 35 years.

Smog crisis tries the limits of people's patience

Chinese people have traditionally cherished the virtue of eating bitter, or the ability to endure hardships without complaint. As a befitting sign of their tenacity to achieve a worthy goal despite extreme difficulties, the Chinese character for perseverance is a knife suspended over a heart.

Rejuvenation will benefit world

Editor's note: The International Dialogue on the Chinese Dream was held from Dec 7 to 8 in Shanghai. The following are excerpts of three speeches.

Year of Snowden and his revelations

There is no doubt in my mind that former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden should have been Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2013. So I was quite surprised when the editors announced on Wednesday their choice was Pope Francis. Not because I am not Catholic or even religious. But if the Person of the Year is someone who has done the most to influence the world in 2013 for better or worse, then Snowden should have had no competitor this year.

Next stage in graft fight

The successive moves to fight corruption and extravagance are credible signs that Chinese leaders want substantial changes in officialdom.

Smooth Afghan transition

China concluded a two-day trilateral dialogue with Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday, which embodies the country's commitments to promoting regional cooperation and safeguarding the security of Afghanistan and the region.

Difficult trilateral relations

A special three-day summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is scheduled to start on Dec 13, but Kyodo news agency has already reported that the two sides have reached an agreement on maintaining airspace safety over the high seas and will release a joint statement on the issue. The reported move is widely seen as targeting China's newly established Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea.

The moon is the limit for good reason

The successful launch of Chang'e 3 and its moon rover Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, marks a giant step in China's lunar probe program. Chang'e 3 is expected to land on the moon on Dec 14, after which the six-wheeled Yutu will be lowered in stages to the moon's surface to explore the terrain.

Hot words

Progressive steps to raise retirement age 渐进式延迟退休 (jian jin shi yan chi tui xiu)

From the Chinese press

Ridiculous act of a restaurant