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Chinese Media Digest – Monday, November 5
Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2012-11-5 17:16:00
Keywords: 18th CPC Congress, Stairs of Love
National Congress to begin on November 8
The 18th CPC National Congress will begin on November 8 in Beijing, decided the Seventh Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday, reported the Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese media pointed out that Party unity, political reform and heightened civic awareness through social media are just some of the issues influencing the Congress, which convenes every 10 years to determine China's future policies.
The Global Times opined that "the unity of the Party is the certainty of China's politics. The more certain China's situation is, the more diversity can exist at various social levels, and the public's confidence toward reforms can be more consolidated."
"A number of unexpected incidents have taken place in the run-up to the Congress. As we move closer to the Congress, more doubts will be eliminated and expectations toward the future will grow. The country will become more mature," the paper concluded.
The Beijing News explained in an opinion piece that although the Congress will determine the direction of China's development for at least the next five years, the nation is currently facing more immediate and severe challenges in political and economic reform.
Over the past decade, Chinese society has made many positive changes, one of which is the development and improvement of civic awareness. In the Internet age, people have become more involved in politics and voicing their opinions than ever before, fulfilling their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
"Stairs of Love" project oversteps with hasty investment
A rural district of Chongqing municipality drew fire in Chinese media for hastily-approved spending after it announced plans for a 2.6 billion yuan ($0.42 billion) tourism project to develop its "Stairs of Love".
The plan was announced just days after 87-year-old Xu Chaoqing, the muse behind construction of the stairs, passed away on October 30.
The site is home of over 6,000 hand-hewn steps made by husband Liu Guojiang, who back in the 1950s eloped with Xu, over 10 years his senior. The two sought refuge from gossiping townsfolk deep into the mountains of Jiangjin district's Zhongshan ancient town, located 96 kilometers north of Chongqing downtown.
Liu spent the next 56 years carving stairs for Xu leading to their mountain home. Liu passed away in 2007.
The district defends the proposed spending, explaining the "Stairs of Love" is only part of the tourism development project.
"The investment also covers the development of many sites, such as Simian Mountain, Zhongshan ancient town and Shuangfeng Temple. "Stairs of Love" is just the most renowned site among them," a spokesman from the Jiangjin district publicity department told the Chongqing Times.
However, the Xinhua Daily Telegraph urged the government to take more factors into consideration before deciding to invest such large amounts of money on tourism.
"Instead of getting caught up in romantic stories, the government should invest public funds into public transportation projects for rural areas," commented Xinhua.
An opinion piece by the Dahe Daily, a newspaper based in Henan Province, said that the best way to memorialize this love story is to highlight the couple's loyalty by remaining faithful to local residents in their spending.
"If the government aims to promote this couple's view on love, they should also provide better infrastructure, charge low ticket prices and do their best to maintain the site's original appearance," it suggested.
The Chengdu Business Daily commented such a hefty investment needs to be cautiously planned, as taxpayers already suspect the investment was hastily approved.
"The government should not approve such development in the heat of the moment, but should make decisions after soliciting public opinion and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the project. This way, the project will be carried out smoothly and achieve its targets in both economic and cultural value," said the paper.
National Congress to begin on November 8
The 18th CPC National Congress will begin on November 8 in Beijing, decided the Seventh Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday, reported the Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese media pointed out that Party unity, political reform and heightened civic awareness through social media are just some of the issues influencing the Congress, which convenes every 10 years to determine China's future policies.
The Global Times opined that "the unity of the Party is the certainty of China's politics. The more certain China's situation is, the more diversity can exist at various social levels, and the public's confidence toward reforms can be more consolidated."
"A number of unexpected incidents have taken place in the run-up to the Congress. As we move closer to the Congress, more doubts will be eliminated and expectations toward the future will grow. The country will become more mature," the paper concluded.
The Beijing News explained in an opinion piece that although the Congress will determine the direction of China's development for at least the next five years, the nation is currently facing more immediate and severe challenges in political and economic reform.
Over the past decade, Chinese society has made many positive changes, one of which is the development and improvement of civic awareness. In the Internet age, people have become more involved in politics and voicing their opinions than ever before, fulfilling their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
"Stairs of Love" project oversteps with hasty investment
A rural district of Chongqing municipality drew fire in Chinese media for hastily-approved spending after it announced plans for a 2.6 billion yuan ($0.42 billion) tourism project to develop its "Stairs of Love".
The plan was announced just days after 87-year-old Xu Chaoqing, the muse behind construction of the stairs, passed away on October 30.
The site is home of over 6,000 hand-hewn steps made by husband Liu Guojiang, who back in the 1950s eloped with Xu, over 10 years his senior. The two sought refuge from gossiping townsfolk deep into the mountains of Jiangjin district's Zhongshan ancient town, located 96 kilometers north of Chongqing downtown.
Liu spent the next 56 years carving stairs for Xu leading to their mountain home. Liu passed away in 2007.
The district defends the proposed spending, explaining the "Stairs of Love" is only part of the tourism development project.
"The investment also covers the development of many sites, such as Simian Mountain, Zhongshan ancient town and Shuangfeng Temple. "Stairs of Love" is just the most renowned site among them," a spokesman from the Jiangjin district publicity department told the Chongqing Times.
However, the Xinhua Daily Telegraph urged the government to take more factors into consideration before deciding to invest such large amounts of money on tourism.
"Instead of getting caught up in romantic stories, the government should invest public funds into public transportation projects for rural areas," commented Xinhua.
An opinion piece by the Dahe Daily, a newspaper based in Henan Province, said that the best way to memorialize this love story is to highlight the couple's loyalty by remaining faithful to local residents in their spending.
"If the government aims to promote this couple's view on love, they should also provide better infrastructure, charge low ticket prices and do their best to maintain the site's original appearance," it suggested.
The Chengdu Business Daily commented such a hefty investment needs to be cautiously planned, as taxpayers already suspect the investment was hastily approved.
"The government should not approve such development in the heat of the moment, but should make decisions after soliciting public opinion and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the project. This way, the project will be carried out smoothly and achieve its targets in both economic and cultural value," said the paper.
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Posted in: Chinese Media Digest