Launch of carrier a momentous milestone

China's first carrier, CNS Liaoning, was rebuilt from a former Soviet cruiser. Its first totally home-built aircraft carrier, which was launched on Wednesday, relies on China's own research and technologies and it marks a new milestone in the modernizing of the Chinese navy.

Promoting innovation in space science

China has always known that only through innovation in space science and technology can it become a space power. In the past year, scientists and engineers have made major breakthroughs in the technology needed for space exploration.

China is not in a 'social division' trap

Editors' note: Does China face the challenge of "weak social mobility"? This has become a hot topic of discussion, even though social mobility in China is better than in many other countries. Three experts share their views with China Daily's Wu Zheyu. Excerpts follow:

Falling commodity prices big challenge for poor countries

Almost three years into the sharp drop of global commodity prices, economic conditions have become very difficult for many of the world's 60 poorest countries - a group the International Monetary Fund refers to as "low-income developing countries" (LIDCs).

US welcome to join Belt and Road Initiative

At a forum held in New York on Monday, China's Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai invited Washington to join the Beijing-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Short pain for long-term gain

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 43.62 points, or 1.37 percent, to close at 3,129.53 on Monday, the sharpest drop in more than four months, amid damped market sentiments following a series of tightened measures by regulators.

Plan to support tourist towns must not spark speculation

ON APRIL 1, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development together with China Construction Bank jointly issued a notice on providing financial support to promote the development of "small towns with their own characteristics". Beijing News comments:

Chokehold should be on big polluters

DURING THE LATEST ROUND OF INSPECTIONS by the central environmental protection authorities, the local governments in Beijing, and Puyang in Central China's Henan province were found to have shut down service providers ranging from supermarkets to breakfast restaurants that contribute little to airborne pollution, instead of tracking down the heavy polluters. West China Metropolis Daily commented on Monday:

Lazy official puts people's lives at risk

AN OFFICIAL in Poyang county water conservancy bureau in East China's Jiangxi province refused to deal with a dangerous bridge in a remote mountain village with the excuse that he did not have a government car, and so was unable to get to the site. Legal Daily comments.

Cartoon

Initiative promotes 'go global' policy

Editor's note: Three researchers share their views with China Daily's Cui Shoufeng on the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 and 15 in Beijing, which will be attended by 28 heads of state and government leaders. Excerpts follow:

'Buying American' and losing America

US President Donald Trump recently signed the "Buy American, Hire American" executive order, which seeks to crack down on fraud and abuse of the skilled worker (H-1B) visa program. And at the headquarters of Snap-on, a tool company in Kenosha, Wisconsin, he signed the second part of the order, which calls for US government agencies to give preference to domestically produced goods and for a 220-day study of US trade agreements that grant foreign companies the right to be treated as domestic companies.