Quotable

"We will open up a universe of knowledge about China to allow people to explore and to define their own course of study."

John Holden, associate dean of Yenching Academy at Peking University, which has launched a graduate program with offerings like a menu for students to choose from according to their own needs

"The shortest direct flight between China and the US takes 11 hours while the longest takes 16 hours. The Pacific Ocean does not prevent people from visiting each other."

Li Jinzao, chairman of the China National Tourism Administration. The two countries launched the US-China Tourism Year 2016 at a ceremony in Beijing on Feb 29, aiming to enhance the travel experience, increase travelers' cultural understanding and expand the appreciation of natural landscapes.

"It showed that the passion to start up their own businesses among college students or current employees has increased sharply in China, not necessarily that China is taking the lead."

Yuan Wei, director of the National Survey and Research Center at Renmin University of China, which studied startup activities in 21 Chinese cities last year and showed the number of new businesses per 100,000 people far surpassed comparable figures in the United States.

(China Daily European Weekly 03/04/2016 page2)