Shift to a more sustainable world has begun

Ask anyone for their abiding memory of 2015 and they will most likely recall a negative one.

The world economy's labor pains

The ongoing global economic slowdown, which began in 2008 with the financial crisis in the United States, could set a new endurance record.

Proper law can streamline e-loan platforms

A series of scandals involving online financing platforms, including Fanya Metal Exchanges, Ezubao and Dada Group, have come to light in recent times. These former online financing services are under investigation, and investors risk not getting back their assets worth hundreds of billions of yuan.

Japan's record defense budget unsettling region

The record-high defense budget Japan's cabinet approved on Thursday is heavily geared toward expanding the role of the country's Self-Defense Forces and broadening the cooperation between Japan and the United States.

Inquiries over the use of lottery revenue laudable

It is good to know that the top legislators are "indignant" at the chaos surrounding government-run lottery revenues.

Government duty of care

Financial and other aid to parents who have lost their single child for one reason or another is an obligation the government should never shirk, as their misery has resulted from the fact that it is the State policy that allowed them to have only one child.

Narrowing widening income gaps ought to be focus of tax reform

THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES HAVE RECENTLY PUBLISHED A PLAN on tax reform that echoing the public calls for a personal income tax system that aims at collecting more from those with high incomes. That's still unfair because those in the so-called high-income group are still wage earners, while those getting profits from properties can easily evade tax, says a Southern Metropolis Daily:

Policies to protect villagers' interests overdue

THE ANNUAL CENTRAL RURAL WORK CONFERENCE, held on Thursday and Friday in Beijing, is reported to have discussed the issue of compensation for villagers when their arable land is requisitioned. Beijing News says it hopes that a new policy will protect farmers' rights and end the chaos caused by local officials and realty developers requisitioning arable land at low cost, says an editorial on Beijing News:

Treating officials to banquets no longer proper

AN ENTREPRENEUR in Hefei, capital of Central China's Anhui province, donated 1,200 yuan ($185.6) each to 30 poor students in a local school. However, the school asked each child to spend 200 yuan on a banquet for the entrepreneur, the school officials and local government officials. The school principal later told reporters that he returned the money. Yangtze Daily asks when will the old practice of holding banquets for officials be curbed?

Hot words

Make up for deficiencies

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AIIB to benefit Asia and beyond

The historic launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's operations in the coming weeks has been highly anticipated - and rightly so.