Quotable

"My China dream is that China and the United States will continue to cooperate, like 'crossing a river in the same boat' (as the ancient Chinese saying goes). I hope China will continue to develop."

Ezra F. Vogel, an expert on China and former director of Harvard University's East Asian Research Center, commenting after accepting the title of professor of public policy research emeritus at South China University of Technology on April 1.

"I just hope I can return to my writing desk as soon as possible. I still consider myself an ordinary citizen. Presenting quality works is my duty and best way of giving back to society. I'm no superstar."

Mo Yan, the 2012 Nobel laureate in literature, saying during the Second China-Australia Literary Forum in Beijing on April 2 that he doesn't want to be invited for various functions and also doesn't like people to come to his hometown to bother his family.

"Land is limited, and one day can be sold out by local governments. It is the property tax that is the 'iron rice bowl'."

Fan Gang, an economist and former adviser to China's central bank, saying house property tax could adjust the supply and demand of the property market and also increase the local governments' income. If the government works out the property tax rule, it will help maintain the stability of the property prices, he said.

(China Daily 04/05/2013 page2)