Cartoon

Watching China's year for history

When future historians reconstruct the long history of China, they will likely circle 2017 as a year of significance. I've seen it all this year, and attended or even participated in the major events. I've conversed with Chinese leaders and experts, and searched for meaning.

Island expansion is discernibly reasonable

Worrywarts upset themselves by worrying about troubles of their own imagining, and trigger mass hysteria if they find receptive ears for their fears. This is what keeps happening with China's so-called island building in the South China Sea.

Aviation industry taking off

China's first large amphibious aircraft, the AG600, completed its maiden flight in South China's Guangdong province on Sunday, making China among the few countries capable of developing a large amphibious aircraft.

Institutionalized supervision needed for long-term environmental health

THE FOURTH BATCH of Central Environmental Protection Inspection teams started informing eight provincial-level regional governments of the results of their inspections on Friday. A total of 6,471 people are being held accountable in 335 environmental pollution cases that are under investigation by the judicial and supervision authorities. Guangming Daily commented on Sunday:

Tailored rural revitalization efforts

AFTER THE ANNUAL CENTRAL ECONOMIC Work Conference concluded on Wednesday, Wang Xiaoyi, a senior researcher on social studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, commented on its significance in an article published by China Youth Daily:

Govt websites are a means to serve the public

THE BEIJING municipal government recently said that most of the official websites of its agencies and departments would be shut down, but this would not involve any online service being cut. Beijing News comments:

Hot words

China's first domestic amphibious aircraft

Cartoon

The world economy's risky recovery

One year ago, I predicted that the most distinctive aspect of 2017 would be uncertainty, fueled by, among other things, Donald Trump's election as president of the United States, and the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union.

Global complacency will be tested in 2018

After years of post-global financial crisis despair, the broad consensus of forecasters is now quite upbeat about prospects for the global economy in 2018. World GDP growth is viewed as increasingly strong, synchronous and inflation-free. Exuberant financial markets could hardly ask for more.

China, EU can improve ties if they focus on cooperation

Zhang Ming, China's new ambassador to the European Union arrived in Brussels in early October. One month later, after European Council President Donald Tusk received his credentials, Zhang officially began his diplomatic mission in Brussels.