City's points system for dog owners worth emulating by others

SINCE LAST YEAR, Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, has introduced a system that gives every dog owner 12 points and authorizes the police to deduct them when the dog owner breaks related regulations. Legal Daily comments:

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Trump strategy heightens tensions

Editor's note: After his announcement on July 30 that $113 million would be invested in the "Indo-Pacific" region to develop technology and infrastructure, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday pledged to provide nearly $300 million in new security funding for Southeast Asia. Are these moves concrete steps to implement US President Donald Trump's "Indo-Pacific" strategy, and what will be their impact on the regional order? Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

Deepening reform to counter trade threat

The United States continues to ratchet up its trade threats against China, the latest being the threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese exports, up from the 10 percent mooted previously.

US agriculture says we just can't take any more

In a rally speech in Tampa, Florida, on July 31, US President Donald Trump defended his trade policies, saying, "China and others have targeted our farmers.... And you know what our farmers are saying? 'It's OK. We can take it.'"

Deficits show trade 'win' simply wishful thinking

In yet another display of his ability to elasticize the truth, US President Donald Trump claimed in a tweet on Saturday: "Tariffs are working far better than anyone ever anticipated. China market has dropped 27 percent in last four months."

Washington's approach to agreements abnormal

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said over the weekend that the United States is set to revive sanctions on Iran that were previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal reached between the Middle East country and the so-called P5+1 group of powers.

Cleanup of lending platforms to better serve small enterprises

THE STATE COUNCIL, China's Cabinet, began asking for online lending platforms to rectify their behaviour two years ago, aiming to limit the growing risks. But both the investors and platform owners, blinded by the potentially exorbitant returns from what is a de facto usury business model, have simply ignored the authorities' warnings and continued to expand their funding and lending scale. People's Daily comments:

Policy support required to boost fertility rate

TO COPE WITH its fast-aging society, China changed its family planning policy in 2015 to allow all couples to have two children. But according to the National Bureau of Statistics, China saw 17.23 million newborns last year, 630,000 fewer than 2016. People's Daily Overseas Edition comments:

Necessary to plug environmental impact assessment holes

ENVIRONMENTAL impact assessments are the first line of defense to curb environmental pollution, and public participation is a key part of the EIA system. It is an important measure to protect the public's right to know and supervise the environment. If the public participation is not "real", the environmental impact assessment will be compromised. Beijing News comments:

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Initiative injects vitality into economies

Covering at least 65 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, 63 percent of the world population and about 30 percent of global GDP, the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will further facilitate the access to goods and services for the rising number of middle-class families with steadily increasing incomes in developing countries.