Reform of governance

BEING CLEAN, INNOVATIVE AND UNDER THE rule of law is what the Chinese government must try to become through its own reform, according to Premier Li Keqiang. Only in this way will the government improve its credibility and executive capability, Li said in his Government Work Report.

Budget Law and local needs

Huang Jianchu, a senior member of the Budgetary Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, recently shared with reporters his idea of strengthening local People's Congresses' supervision of local government debts to avoid risks.

Tokyo's disoriented agenda

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempt for constitutional revisions-which he is determined to achieve-is primarily meant to amend Article 9 of Japan's Constitution, which defines three major guiding principles: sovereignty lying with the people, fundamental human rights and pacifism.

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Market economy buttressed by rule of law

Since taking office a year ago, the new Chinese leadership has placed reforms at the top of its agenda, pledging to build a socialist country under the rule of law. This is a strategically important goal for China and requires accelerating the building of a market economy that is guided and governed by the rule of law.

A year of deepening reform

There are some who may have raised their eyebrows at China's growth target of around 7.5 percent for 2014.

A stronger China for peace

Now it is official.

Military spending justified

China plans to raise its defense budget by 12.2 percent to 808.2 billion yuan ($132 billion) in 2014, according to a budget report to be reviewed by the national legislature on Wednesday. In 2013, China spent 720.2 billion yuan on national defense, a 10.7-percent increase on the previous year.

A tale of three countries' debts

The world is keeping a close watch on the Ukrainian crisis and intensified tensions between the United States and Russia. Ukraine was already facing a crisis when ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich visited China and Russia in December. The main purpose of Yanukovich's visit to the two countries was to seek financial help to avoid a sovereign debt crisis.

Letters

Result of good move awaited

From the Chinese press

Support smoking ban in public

New stage in anti-corruption fight

For a country that still needs to overcome a series of institutional difficulties and obstacles to comprehensively deepen reforms, China must launch a resolute and deeper anti-corruption campaign to dig out both high-ranking "tigers" and low-level "flies".