Neighbors' deals signal focus on development

The 30 Sino-Philippine operative projects worth $3.7 billion on poverty reduction, announced after a meeting between Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng and Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez in Beijing on Monday, mark further progress in improving bilateral relations since October when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing.

People-oriented urbanization

Urbanization will be a main engine for sustainable economic development in China, and urbanization will also promote the restructuring of China's economy, as it boosts consumption, investment and development of the service sector.

Ways have to be found to narrow widening social security fund gap

AT A RECENT SESSION OF THE GUANGDONG PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, the provincial legislature, representatives from several cities with relatively poor economic conditions complained about the widening gap in the social security fund. With society aging, the number of elderly residents receiving pension payments has grown at a much faster rate than the number of young people paying taxes. That is a problem not only for Guangdong, says a comment on Beijing News:

Cities can do more to assimilate newcomers

IN THE EYES OF MANY, the phenomenon of "leftover youngsters" is not new as generations of ambitious young adults from rural areas have chosen to explore the life-changing opportunities offered by cities, and, unavoidably, some struggle on their own before finally settling down. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Monday:

Cartoon

Key reforms to help unleash growth potential

China's economy grew 6.7 percent year-on-year in 2016, its slowest growth in 26 years. Yet still within the government's target range set for the year, official data showed Friday.

China can take free trade baton from US

That President Xi Jinping's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the first by China's head of state, has drawn worldwide attention testifies to the sharp rise in China's international status and its growing voice in international affairs.

Food safety laws must be well enforced

THREE BEIJING franchises of the Han Li Xuan Korean barbecue chain were found to be using duck meat for what they claimed was geese, pork, and corned beef. The food and drug authorities in Beijing ordered the three restaurants to stop operations and have sent a request to the related provincial administrations to check the details of the meat supply companies before proceeding further with their investigation. The Legal Evening News commented on Monday:

Transatlantic alliance is likely to experience biggest shift for decades

An Italian band refused an invitation to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th US president on Friday in Washington and some European representatives did not turn up. Meanwhile European TV viewers were left constantly shaking their heads as Trump delivered his inauguration speech.

Foreign exchange scrutiny to prevent speculative outflows

Since the beginning of 2017, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange has strengthened the regulations on individuals' purchase of foreign currency. According to the regulations, Chinese individuals that intend to purchase foreign currency have to provide detailed information of how they intend to use the foreign currency when applying; purchasing foreign currency to buy property overseas and invest in foreign countries are prohibited.

Backpedalling will not facilitate rebuilding of American greatness

From his reportedly self-written inauguration speech to the goodbye-everything-of-the-past policy statements, Donald Trump, now the 45th President of the United States, has shown his administration will be going off the beaten track.

Local leaders must be held accountable for air pollution

LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES and other parties concerned will be held accountable for poor performance in curbing air pollution, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection on Friday. Beijing News commented on Sunday: