IN BRIEF (Page 5)

Hard to tilt the balance back toward the north

Editor's note: China's resource-rich north took the lead over the south in multiple economic development indicators before the launch of reform and opening-up, but the balance gradually tilted the other way and has accelerated in recent years. A post published on the WeChat account of Qin Shuo, a financial commentator, says:

Pension system needs pressure release plan

One of the most visible upsides of the country's remarkable growth is the graying of the population. Chinese people are living longer and healthier lives than ever before, which is good news for them. But as it is putting increasing strain on China's pension system, it is a headache for the government.

Low-income families may require help if food prices continue to rise

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX rose 2.3 percent year-on-year in March, with food prices, which increased by 4.1 percent, the major reason for the surge, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. China Daily reporter Li Yang comments:

Kids must not be slaves to fashion

ON WEDNESDAY, a mother who was criticized for kicking a young girl in a shop in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, said she "was anxious". China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

16+1 platform is unifying, rather than divisive

The"16+1" cooperation mechanism, which brings together 16 Central and Eastern European countries and China, is an effective multilateral platform that meets the participants' different development needs and dovetails their varied development agendas.

Cartoon

WTO reform should benefit all members

Editor's Note: The United States has repeatedly called on the World Trade Organization to cancel China's and some other members' developing country status and the special and differential treatments that come with it. Does the US' demand serve the WTO's interests and goals, and how should the organization's reform be carried out? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

A new energy frontier called 'Polar Silk Road'

Research and exploration in the Arctic are fundamental to understanding and tack-ling climate change issues. With the melting of Arctic ice, the polar region could provide an opportunity to better understand the effects of global warming.

Confucius Institute can help eliminate cultural ignorance and illiteracy

For a journalist, not being able to understand what an interviewee is saying is truly awkward. My latest experience, however, is one of both embarrassment and excitement.

China and EU show strength of their fruitful partnership

China and the European Union reaffirmed their shared commitment to further cementing their partnership and safeguarding free trade and multilateralism in a joint statement released on Tuesday at the conclusion of the China-EU Summit in Brussels, which Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended.

Robust economy gets vote of confidence

Giving a vote of confidence in the world's second-largest economy's momentum of expansion, the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for China's GDP growth this year to 6.3 percent on Tuesday, up from 6.2 percent in its January prediction.