In a more sustainable gear

China's 7.7-percent GDP growth in 2013 has been in the spotlight, as it is the slowest in more than a decade.

Cultivate Iran progress

The nuclear deal with Iran reached last November in Geneva was eight years in the making, so carrying it out will require maintaining sincerity and trust, says a Xinhua News Agency commentary.

Toward food secure China

China's food security is being challenged by a mix of factors, including rising demand, rapid urbanization, scarce natural resources and agricultural labor, and greater risk of food safety and environmental problems. To address food security concerns, China had resolved to meet the bulk of its grain demand domestically. But this policy is now being revisited, suggesting a considerable increase in the already rising food imports. The No 1 Central Document released on Sunday reiterated the importance of improving the food security system while ensuring food safety.

Syria looks to Geneva for peace

The second Geneva conference on Syria is scheduled to begin, after months of delay, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Jan 22. Of late, some hopeful signs of a resolution to the Syrian crisis have emerged. For instance, the ongoing process of destroying Syria's chemical weapons and the broad agreement within the international community to end the conflict through peaceful means are strong examples of productive global cooperation. But despite that, it is still unclear whether the Geneva conference, or Geneva II, can yield any positive results.

From the Chinese Press

Celebrate true spirit of festival

Cleaner political environment

China has scored eye-catching achievements in absorbing foreign capital over the past decades and it is now one of the largest foreign capital recipients in the world. However, improvements are yet to be made to expand the country's space for the inflow of foreign capital, so as to raise the quality and make the inflow sustainable. Looking at other countries shows the inflow of foreign capital is closely related to how clean a country is. The cleaner the political system, the more foreign investment a country will absorb. The more corrupt the political system, the less foreign investment a country receives.

Cartoon

Scandal shows IPOs a free-for-all

The Aosaikang IPO debacle has revealed the extent of problems in the Chinese stock market, which apparently caught the watchdog agency by surprise.

Sustainable mindset needed

That Beijing presented its rules on air pollution control to its legislative body for approval on Saturday is a sign that the capital is throwing down the gauntlet to smog, the biggest blight and shame on this ancient and modern metropolis.

No substance to spy proposals

President Barack Obama's long-awaited speech on overhauling the United States' controversial intelligence community had little substance, says a Xinhua News Agency commentary.

A different stage for reforms

Thirty-five years ago, then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping launched the reforms that have changed China so remarkably. Now the country is launching a new round of reforms. What is the difference between now and then? "There are many," said Ezra F. Vogel, a professor of emeritus at Harvard University and author of Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China, which was published in 2011.

Better Iran ties are good for the US

The Joint Plan of Action, an agreement signed by Iran and P5+1 countries, the five permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany, on Nov 24, 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland, comes into effect on Monday. According to the plan, Iran will temporarily freeze parts of its nuclear program in exchange for decreased economic sanctions. This has laid the foundation for further negotiations.