China's military spending is no threat to others

Editor's note: At the first news conference of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress on Monday, a Bloomberg reporter asked about the growth rate of China's military spending this year, saying some in the Asia-Pacific are always concerned over this and viewed it as a threat. Xiakedao, the official WeChat account of People's Daily, comments:

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Innovation will drive economy in the future

Editor's Note: Delivering the Government Work Report to the national legislature on Tuesday, Premier Li Keqiang said the country would do more to boost innovation while laying the emphasis on ethical scientific research. Over the past few years, the fast development of China's science and technology sector has caught the eye of people both at home and abroad. How did China make breakthrough achievements in the science and technology sector? And what direction should the sector take in the future? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

Future of Sino-US ties lies in cooperation

More than 40 years ago China and the United States engaged in "ping pong diplomacy", easing the tensions between the two countries ever since the founding of New China in 1949.

EU's new FDI screening should not target China

The European Union has long projected itself as the most open economy for foreign direct investment. But after Tuesday, when the European Council approved a new screening framework for FDI coming into the EU, that is likely to be less true.

Consumption potential - nowhere near fully tapped

Since last year, "consumption downgrading" has become a catchphrase. Especially when people talk about what they presume is a weakening in domestic demand. They readily point to the fast rise of Pinduoduo, an e-commerce platform for low-price goods, as well as an increase in the sales of pickles and cheap liquor as evidence that Chinese consumers are being more cautious with their money.

Friendly relations foundation for healthy bilateral trade

Canada's largest agribusiness Richardson International has had its license to ship canola to China revoked, after imports from Canada were found to be contaminated with hazardous pests.

Onus on vocational schools to ensure benefits of more admissions reaped

IN THE GOVERNMENT WORK REPORT he delivered to the top legislature on Tuesday, Premier Li Keqiang vowed to accelerate the development of modern vocational education to ease the pressure in the job market and meet the demand for skilled workers and technicians, encouraging more high school graduates, retired soldiers, laid-off workers and migrant workers to apply to study in higher vocational colleges. China Daily reporter Li Yang comments:

Is victory in fight against HIV in sight?

ON MARCH 4, a man in London, became the second person to be "cured" of HIV. Chai Knows, a popular science micro blog account, comments:

China's overseas development aid is crucial support

Editor's note: Some Western media claim that China's foreign loans are a "debt trap" for the recipient countries. In an interview with 21st Century Business Herald, Shen Wei, a researcher with the Institute for International Development Studies in the United Kingdom, argues otherwise. Excerpts:

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Draft law promotes further opening-up

Riding on momentum of 40 years of reform and opening-up, China is on way to establishing a new system of opening-up featuring institutional and systemic openness, as reflected in a draft law on foreign investment.