PEOPLE & POINTS

"Since the Chang'e program was approved two years ago, fundamental development has been achieved in all five related systems ranging from the satellite, the rocket, tracking and control, ground applications and the launch center." Sun Laiyan, Director of the China National Space Administration, introducing China's first lunar exploration project at the eighth International Lunar Exploration Working Group Conference in Beijing     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"It shows their commitment by a democratically elected government to holding the peace, to holding this cessation of violence, their willingness to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions."     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"We need to have a firm, constructive, appropriate, but prudent, response [to North Korea's nuclear test]. There has to be some punitive actions, but also I think these actions have to be appropriate." Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"The Vatican should sever so-called 'diplomat- ic relations' with Taiwan and stop interfer- ing in China's internal affairs in the name of religion. China is sincere about improving ties with the Vatican and has made unremitting efforts in this regard."     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"Today's announcements are tangible results that flow from the historic decisions taken by Libya's leadership to renounce terrorism and weapons of mass destruction." U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, announcing the U.S. decision to restore full diplomatic relations with Libya and remove the country from a list of terrorism sponsors     

PEOPLE & POINTS

正RENOWNED SCHOLAR DIESYang Jiang,a well-known Chinese writer,translator and foreign literature scholar,passed away in Beijing on May 25 at the age of 105.Proficient in English,French and Spanish,Yang made a name for herself in the field of translation.Her translation of Don Quixote into Chinese from its original Spanish has been generally regarded as the best version to date.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>RAGS TO RICHESZhou Qunfei,Chairwoman of Lens Technology,is expected to become the richest woman in China with the upcoming IPO of her company,which primarily supplies firms such as Apple and Samsung with protective screen glass,among other products.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>CYBERSPACE REGULATORLu Wei has been elected to the inaugural Coordination Council of the NETmundial Initiative for advancing Internet governance worldwide.He is the only member representing governments and intergovernmental organizations in Asia and Oceania in the agency.Lu,55,is minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China,which is in charge of China’s     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>CHINA’S RICHEST MANLi Hejun,a clean energy entrepreneur who runs the Beijing-based Hanergy Holding Group Ltd.,has replaced e-commerce tycoon Jack Ma as China’s richest man with a net worth of 160 billion yuan($26 billion),according to the Hurun Global Rich List 2015 released in early February.Li came fifth among the wealthiest in China in 2014.This year,his for-     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>FOOTBALLER BECOMES UNAIDS AMBASSADOR Chinese soccer star Shao Jiayi was appointed a national goodwill ambassador by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS)on April 27.According to a press release from UNAIDS,Shao is expected to promote the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 in China.He will encourage young people to become leaders in the response to AIDS and to help end the stigma and discrimination associated with people livingwith HIV.The 35-year-old Shao currently serves in the Chinese Super League.Previously,he enjoyed an extensive career in Germany and has represented China in the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and in Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup tournaments."Football is a powerful platform for engaging young people and raising their awareness of the importance of preventing HIV,and also forspeaking out in support of everyone who faces stigma and discrimination,"Shao said.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>‘CHINA’S MR.OLYMPICS’DIESHe Zhenliang,former vice President of the International Olympic Committee(IOC),passed away in Beijing on January 4 at the age of 85.IOC President Thomas Bach asked for the Olympic flag to be flown at half-mast for three days in tribute to him.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

正RISING STARChinese hurdler Xie Wenjun stunned a star-studded track by winning the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a personal best of13.23 seconds at the 2014 Diamond League Shanghai meet on May 18.He finished third in the last Shanghai meet in 2013.Xie,23,claimed his second International Association of Athletics Federations(IAAF)event title in less than a week when he     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"The walls of isolation and the aid embargo are cracking." Ziad Abu Amr, Foreign Minister of the new Palestinian coalition cabinet, predicting the end of the European aid boycott that has left the Palestinian economy reeling, after taking office on March 17     

PEOPLE & POINTS

Embattled Leader Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, since his election in 2000, seems to have gotten used to diverting the heat from his own political maladies by provoking the Chinese mainland with pro-independence moves, such as drafting a "new constitution" for the island. But the wily politician may find his antics won't achieve their desired effect this time.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

'Decadent' Official When Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Zhihua surveyed the protection and renovation of ancient architecture in the downtown area with other municipal leaders on June 6, he had no idea his fate would soon take a sudden turn. Only three days later, the 57-year-old official was asked to meet with investigators about the alleged corruption case against him and was officially dismissed from his post on June 11 for having "a decadent lifestyle." Liu's case highlights the efficiency of the disciplinary organs and the     

PEOPLE & POINTS

Late Apology Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a formal apology in the House of Commons on June 22 to Chinese Canadians who suffered from a "head tax" beginning in 1885 and Canada's adoption of the Chinese     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"If asked, [I would] have rejected it." Kotaro Hirota, 67, on the enshrinement at the Yasukuni Shrine in the late 1970s of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Koki Hirota. who was convicted as a World WarⅡClass A war criminal     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"The extent and timing of any additional firming that may be needed to address these risks will depend on the evolution of the outlook for both inflation and economic growth, as implied by incoming information." Statement of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee on August 8, in keeping its target for the federal funds rate at 5.25 percent and halting an unbroken stretch of interest rate hikes for more than two years     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"We must avoid any confusion between Islam, which is of course a respected and respectable religion, and radical Islamism, which is a totally different form of behavior and which is of a political nature." French President Jacques Chirac, when asked about Pope Benedict XVI's mid-September remarks on Islam