'A' means advancement for tourist spots

There are so many exciting and world-renowned attractions to see in China, such as the Great Wall, the Palace Museum and Mount Huangshan. With 5,000 years of history and civilization, China is home to the second highest number (50) of UNESCO World Heritage Sites; only Italy (51) has more.

Property tax requires cautious approach

Media reports quote the government as saying that levying property tax is now part of its agenda, sparking public concern. The problem is, if property tax is levied without full preparation, it will not achieve the expected goal of increasing revenue. Instead, it could undermine the government's credibility and seriously impede the modernization process of national governance.

West must use G20 to adopt a spirit of cooperation

The leaders of G20 countries and chiefs of international institutions are almost certainly comparing notes ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to be held next month. For example, when I approached an international chief's office seeking his views on the G20 Leaders' Summit, his staff said it was still too early to comment on it because many factors would influence its outcome.

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Essential for govts to timely respond to public concerns

Whether a government timely responds to public sentiments about an event has a bearing on its credibility. A timely and honest response may avert a public crisis, while doing the opposite may provoke one.

Urbanization going astray

According to the latest official data, the number of new urban zones constructed and planned by local governments exceeded 3,500 by the end of May. That is almost two for each county.

Covering up bad news is not the right response by governments

WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT at an enterprise in Dezhou in East China's Shandong province on Wednesday, a local TV journalist tried to report what was happening, but said he was prevented from doing so by a group of men who assaulted him and seized his camera. The version of events given by the local police has aroused widespread doubts, and Xinhua News Agency has called for an investigation by higher authorities to find out the truth:

Criminal penalty for delinquents in question

A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY in Southwest China's Sichuan province severely burnt the face of a 24-year-old woman by throwing gasoline on her and setting it alight, while trying to rob her of her cellphone. The woman was severely hurt, yet the boy did not receive any criminal penalty because of his age. It is time to lower the minimum age for criminal responsibility, comments Southern Metropolis Daily:

New move to make life easier for people

WHEN APPLYING for something from a government department, people are always required to show certificates, for which they have to visit one government department after another in what can become a vicious circle.

The Games' effects on Brazilian economy

Brazil has made great efforts as the host for the 2016 Olympic Games. One year after hosting the FIFA World Cup, this sequencing of events was seen as a unique opportunity to promote needed investment in infrastructure (transportation facilities in particular) as well as a window of opportunity to showcase Brazil's beauty and hence attract a good deal of tourists.

Pirates' league or soccer for the people

As China has resolved to become a superpower in world soccer within a generation, it can pick the best examples and avoid the worst excesses. At base camp it can decide how it wants to reach the peak.

Chance to set things right for world economy

The theme of the 11th G20 Leaders' Summit, "building an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy", will help China better play its role in world economic development as well as encourage it to promote its innovative mechanism to deepen the interconnectivity of and boost the global economy. China has been the main driver of world economic growth but as the host of the G20 summit - scheduled for Sept 4-5 in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province - its global role has acquired greater importance because of the global economic slowdown and dwindling trade, and developed countries, including the United States, inability to use innovation to tide over the economic problems.