Quotable

"We'd like to take this opportunity to promote Chinese culture to other ethnic groups, not just within the Chinese community."

Ming Tat Cheung, chairman of the Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto, talks about the different activities that will be held to celebrate Chinese New Year in Toronto.

"The 40-odd years of China-US interactions have repeatedly proved that leaders' meetings have been a forceful driver in promoting bilateral relations."

Zhou Wenzhong, who served as Chinese ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2010, talks about meetings between the top leaders of the two countries. Zhou said the presidents of the two countries may meet on the sidelines of three international conferences this year.

"Community health is more effective and cheaper, and could play a vital role in preventing diseases, especially non-communicable ones."

John Beard, director of the World Health Organization's department of Ageing and Life Course, suggested that China shift its focus from hospitals to community-based healthcare to cope with its aging population. Beard also called on people to rethink the role of the elderly. He said the elderly present challenges as well as opportunities to a society, adding that "old people are actually very useful resources".

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/31/2014 page3)