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Overseas investors to be given wider access

Many expect the draft of the new Foreign Investment Law, released by the Ministry of Commerce on Jan 19, to remove major barriers for foreign investors granting them easier access to the Chinese market. In this context, institutional innovations in the draft to improve foreign investment in the country are worth noting.

Be ready to fight potential risks from P4 lab

The opening of China's first laboratory for level-4 pathogens (or P4) in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, recently is seen as a great achievement for the country. P4 refers to microbiology laboratory safety procedures to handle level-4 pathogens, that is, the most virulent viruses that have a high risk of person-to-person infection, of which Ebola is one.

Look at Tibet growth without tainted glasses

The Human Rights Watch annual report misinterprets the Chinese government's supportive policies in the Tibet autonomous region as acts to pauperize the Tibetan people by making them dependent on State subsidies. In fact, those who prepared the report have deliberately overlooked that the Chinese government's program has improved public services, including medical care and elder care, and alleviated poverty and created jobs in the region.

US military spending will never be enough

The US national debt clock near Times Square was ticking in the $16-trillion range when I left New York two years ago. On Tuesday, it had crossed $18.102 trillion. This means that each of the 319 million Americans owes a debt of more than $56,000.

Two sides to the tax amendment coin

The highlight of the draft amendments to the Taxation Administration Law is the introduction of taxpayer IDs for individual citizens.

Officials must abide by law

Given that a country's prosperity, progress and its social harmony and stability are inseparable from a sound legal system, the Communist Party of China has made it a historical political responsibility for it to establish the rule of law for the country, says a People's Daily editorial.

Trade unions must represent workers, not local authorities

THE ALL-CHINA FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS recently published 10 cases of companies violating workers' rights. It especially criticized Foxconn, the largest device manufacturer in the world and one of the main iPhone and iPad manufacturers, for "arranging extra hours for workers" over long periods, which resulted in psychological problems, even suicides. Comments:

Risk review for gold as liquor additive

THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING COMMISSION recently published a draft document on its website, suggesting it intends to allow the addition of powdered gold foil to products. The move aroused debate because traditional Chinese medicine believes gold, as a heavy metal, is harmful to health if eaten. An anonymous member of the staff said a liquor company had urged them to do so, but as yet there has been no official explanation. Comments:

Raising public awareness of GM safety

CHINA WILL raise public awareness of the safety of genetically modified, or GM technology, according to the No 1 Central Document issued by the Party and the State Council on Feb 1. Comments:

Hot words

Corruption of people around officials

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