Innovation a solid foundation for competitiveness

Editor's note: Premier Li Keqiang delivered a speech at the National Science and Technology Awards Conference on Monday. Below is the full text:

A change in macro policy tone for this year

The Central Economic Work Conference in December outlined the Chinese government's key economic objectives and policy directions for 2017. The overall message that "stability is the main theme", from "development is the number one task" a year ago, suggests more emphasis on reducing financial risks and less on ensuring growth is at least 6.5 percent. That is in recognition that China's credit growth - almost 17 percent in 2016 - is unsustainable.

BRICS still playing an important role in international affairs

This year, China assumes the rotating presidency of BRICS, the group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This presents a rare opportunity for the bloc to deepen cooperation in a wide range of fields, and thus, help anchor the international organization in a better position to tackle global challenges and uncertainties.

Row reveals weakness of superficial reconciliation

The diplomatic row that has erupted between Japan and the Republic of Korea once again highlights the raw nerve in the region that the current administration in Japan keeps rubbing with its stance on history.

Mainland market upgraded

According to media reports, the number of Taiwan-funded enterprises in Dongguan, South China's Guangdong province, has decreased to about 2,000 from a peak of more than 5,000.

Linfen govt has duty of care to warn residents about SO2 levels

THERE WAS SEVERE SMOG throughout northern China last week. While the air pollution in Beijing received a lot of media attention, the city of Linfen in North China's Shanxi province, where the smog was even worse, received little attention until a micro blog on the dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide in the air pollution caught people's attention. Beijing News comments:

Move to protect children from misusing internet

THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL recently released a draft regulation on protecting juveniles who use the internet. The draft, released to seek public opinions, prohibits the use of force or abuse to lessen teenagers' obsession with the internet. Southern Metropolis Daily said on Monday:

Food safety tests must be done by certified bodies

THE SHENZHEN FOOD and drug administration in South China initiated an investigation into the cooking oil used in the canteens of Shenzhen University after a food quality report suggested that the university was using recycled waste oil. According to the administration, the original tests were conducted by a testing company whose test methods have not yet been appraised and it had arranged for third-party testing organizations to conduct new examinations of the oil used in the university's canteens. Guangming Daily commented on Monday:

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Trump accusing China on phantom grounds

Some of US president-elect Donald Trump's nastiest attacks have been directed at China. He has accused it of "raping" the United States with its trade policies, and of creating global warming as a "hoax" to undermine US competitiveness. Why, then, are many Chinese policy advisers and commentators sanguine about future US-China relations?

Strategies for addressing demographic challenges

As China hopes to resume a high rate of economic growth, the role of demography has become increasingly uncertain and complex.

Infrastructure is the way to a united world

Soon after Donald Trump won the United States presidential election in November, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqun said Washington might now consider endorsing or even joining the AIIB. In fact, cooperation between China and the US is the only way ahead.