Shut down zombie firms, compensate staff

Zombie companies, referring to those that need constant bailouts in order to operate or indebted ones, owe their existence for a variety of reasons. Some met their sorry fate after being stripped of their performing assets, while others did so because the central and provincial governments left them to rot after they fulfilled the temporary purposes for which they were established. Still others are paying the price for not fully implementing reform and meeting market demands.

Is the domestic box office boom a lipstick effect?

As frequent data underline the fact that China's manufacturing is slowing, it is convenient and common for almost all the world's economic woes to be laid at its door.

False personal records show lack of integrity

If an official cooks the books of his or her personal record for promotion, can he or she still be trusted? This is a question that the ruling Communist Party of China must consider carefully.

Consumers wooed by better quality

It should shame domestic manufacturers that there are frequent stories in the media about Chinese tourists traveling to Japan and frantically purchasing ordinary goods.

Low cost no excuse for breaking the ban on official banquets

VILLAGE OFFICIALS in Suzhou, Central China's Anhui province, who used some of the donations to help poor students to pay for a banquet for themselves and the donators, were punished recently. This is not an isolated incident, and the higher authorities need to make greater efforts to stop grassroots officials from violating the rules, says People's Daily:

Youngster's luxurious clothes cause of concern

A 14-YEAR-OLD middle school student in Shenzhen in Southeast China's Guangdong province was recently invited to the annual meeting of the local political advisory body as a youth representative. His designer outfit, however, gave rise to instant online discussions about his suitability and intentions. The teenager should not be judged by his clothes nor by his willingness to participate in local political affairs at a young age, says Beijing News:

Hiring partner for the holiday not a good idea

HIRING A "boyfriend" for the Spring Festival holiday is proving a lucrative business for some dating agencies. Some agencies in Henan province, Central China, are charging up to 10,000 yuan ($1,519) for introducing and matching a seven-day "boyfriend" with a young woman looking to convince her parents that she has a prospective husband. Scol.com.cn says:

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Two-child policy alone can't fix aging problem

China has formally introduced a national two-child policy. Most newspaper reports say the move is aimed at addressing the problem of the country's rapidly aging population. In late January, an article in China Daily, headlined "Two-child policy to add 30 m workers", was accompanied by a second-deck headline, "Scrapping one-child policy should help China ease challenges of aging society". The article quoted Yuan Xin of Nankai University, who suggested that the fertility rate would increase to about two children per woman by 2018 (up from about 1.3-1.5 today).

To go, or not to go Dutch, that is the question

For most Chinese people who work far from home, the Spring Festival holiday offers a rare time for a get-together with relatives and friends. This is also a good occasion for promoting social and interpersonal interactions.

Texting while driving: Should it be a crime?

Late last month Leqing court in Zhejiang province sentenced a 22-year-old man to one year in prison with an 18-month reprieve and and ordered him to pay 200,000 yuan civil compensation for accidentally hitting a pedestrian while driving and trying to delete a game app on his cellphone.