Human Rights Record of the United States in 2013

Editor's Note: The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a report titled "Human Rights Record of the United States in 2013" on Friday. Following is the report's full text.

Respect for right to development

China and the US need to extend their regular exchanges and contacts to manage their differences and avoid misunderstandings

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Courage needed for a country fit to live in

The persistent choking smog that shrouded Beijing and the nearby area for the past week made headlines around the world. The smog, with the PM2.5 reading going above 500, was so bad that it prompted the World Health Organization to declare a health crisis. "Nuclear winter", "uninhabitable" and "life expectancy cut by five years" were just some of the dreadful words filling the media reports.

Set minds on higher things

AT LAST, CLEAR SKY AGAIN AFTER SEVEN smoggy days.

Voices for the people

The annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, starting from next week, are much-anticipated events.

Baucus can bring China to Congress

Senator Max Baucus of Montana was sworn in by US Vice-President Joseph Biden on Feb 21 as the country's new ambassador to China. The decision to nominate Baucus, according to many, was influenced by the US administration's domestic political calculus and the senator's work on US-China trade matters. But Baucus has another asset that should not be overlooked: 35 years of experience in US Congress. He is well positioned to help bridge the gap of understanding and trust between Congress and China, which could lead to more effective US and Chinese policymaking.

Much ado about raising a second child

Five provinces and municipalities have implemented the new family planning policy since the Third Plenum of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee passed it in November, and more provinces and regions will put it into practice later.

Hot words

Spiritual therapy for smog 精神治霾法 (jing shen zhi mai fa)

From the Chinese press

Lessons from Yu'ebao row

A battle that must be won

The severe smog that plagues a broad swathe of China is a warning sign of the country's deteriorating environment. The various environmental problems that have accumulated in the process of the country's accelerating industrialization and urbanization and the increasing constraint of resources mean the Chinese dream of building a beautiful homeland will be remote if these problems are not addressed.

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