Alcohol Maker

(CFP)

Ji Keliang, Board Chairman of China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co. Ltd., has become the center of dispute because of his remarks about price increases for his company's nationally known brand of alcohol as the government is making efforts to stabilize commodity prices.

"From January 1, the price of Moutai alcohol has increased by 20 percent. It sounds like a big increase as the government is tackling inflation and doing everything they can to stabilize commodity prices, but the price rise is good for all concerned, including the government, as the government will gather more tax income since the profit of the company will increase," said Ji during an interview. His comments attracted criticism from the public as soon as it was released.

Ji was born in east China's Jiangsu Province. After graduating from Wuxi Light Industry Institute, the predecessor of today's Jiangnan University, he went to the Moutai factory to work in 1964. He became director of the small factory in 1983 and turned it into today's listed alcohol giant.

Charming Violinist

(CFP)

Sheng Zhongguo, the famous Chinese violinist, held a concert, with his wife Hiroko Seta, a well-known Japanese pianist, in Shanxi Province on April 16. Seta expressed her gratitude during the concert to Chinese people for their help in the wake of the recent Japanese earthquake.

Dubbed "the most charming Chinese violinist," Sheng was one of China's first few violinists to win international stardom.

Sheng, 60, was born in Chongqing. He began to learn violin at the age of 5 with instruction from his father and made his debut at 7, winning acclaim as a child prodigy. He attended the affiliated secondary school of the Central Conservatory of Music, attaining that class' highest grades in 1954 and was sent to the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory of Music in Moscow to learn from world-famous violinist Leonid Kogan in 1960. Returning home in 1964, Sheng gave a series of performances both at home and abroad.

Sheng's masterpiece, the Chinese concerto Butterfly Lovers, is one of the most classic editions in history and he has played it the most abroad of any Chinese musician. Sheng now holds more than 100 concerts each year domestically and abroad, and he has racked up a total of more than 10,000 concerts. He and his wife have held series of concerts together since 1987.

Fujian's New Governor

(CFP)

Su Shulin, former Chairman of China's oil giant Sinopec Corp., has been appointed the acting governor of China's southeastern Fujian Province, replacing his predecessor, Huang Xiaojing.

Su, 49, graduated with a master's degree in management from Harbin Engineering University in 1999. He became board chairman and general manager of Daqing Oilfield Co. Ltd., the Heilongjiang-based subsidiary company of PetroChina Co. Ltd., from 1999 to 2003, and director of PetroChina Co. Ltd. from 2002 to 2006. He was the chairman of Sinopec Corp. and general manger of Sinopec Group from 2007 to 2011.

"We are trying to ensure the salaries of workers are increased 15 percent annually and are doubled in the next five years."

Yang Zhiming, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, during the national labor relations work meeting on April 18 in Beijing

"Great volatility of massive cross-border capital flow brings heightened risks in terms of inflation and asset bubbles. Loose monetary conditions build up inflationary pressures in both advanced and emerging market economies."

Yi Gang, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, calling for the IMF to work on the management of cross-border capital flow and global liquidity at an IMF meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 18

"The talks are aimed to remind firms to abide by the country's laws and regulations and prevent collusive price increases."

Zhou Wangjun, deputy director of the pricing department at China's National Development and Reform Commission, defending that talks with firms on stabilizing prices are not a form of administrative intervention

"I commend China Shipping for its long-term commitment to the Los Angeles economy and the environment."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as China Shipping Container Lines Co. Ltd. announced the completion of a major phase of its terminal expansion project at the Port of Los Angeles on April 18

"China made contributions in the area of infrastructure development in Kenya. The quality of projects completed is perfect."

George Saitoti, Kenya's Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, at Kenya's presidential roundtable during the Ninth Africa Investment Forum held in Dar es Salaam on April 18

"This new warning highlights the need for the United States to take better control of its fiscal destiny if it is to avoid higher borrowing costs and maintain its central role at the core of the global economy."

Mohamed El-Erian, CEO of the Pacific Investment Management Co., commenting in New York on Standard & Poor's threat to downgrade the United States' prized AAA credit rating