Iron-Handed Official

(CFP)

Wang Lijun, former Director of the Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau, was voted in as vice mayor of Chongqing Municipality at the 24th Session of the Third Standing Committee of Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, the local legislature, on May 27.

Wang's popularity and good reputation have grown from his outstanding performance in advancing massive crackdown on organized crime during the past three years. With more than 20 wounds to his body, Wang, 52, has been dubbed "hero of the campaign against crime groups."

Wang has busted 377 gang groups, uncovered 4,990 cases linked to organized crime and arrested 5,983 suspects since he was appointed executive deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau in June 2008. Under his leadership, Chongqing police have uncovered more than 230,000 crimes and arrested 95,000 suspects, which has given local residents a much greater sense of security.

Respectable Surgeon

(WANG JIANMIN)

A meeting on the good deeds of Wu Mengchao, famous hepatobiliary surgeon, moved many of the audience into tears on May 16, 2011.

As the first doctor in the country to establish a theoretical basis for liver surgery, Wu is widely called "father of China's hepatobiliary surgeries." His unique liver surgery has been named "Wu's Method." During his 68-year career, Wu guided more than 14,000 operations and performed 196 liver operations in 2010.

Wu is the founder and director of the Shanghai-based Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. He is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Fallen Vice Mayor

(FILE)

Wu Lianqi, former Vice Mayor of the city of Guangyuan in Sichuan Province, has been placed under investigation as he is suspected of "serious violations of discipline."

From May 2005 to September 2008, Wu was Party chief of Jian'ge County in Guangyuan City. It is reported the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake didn't cause much damage to Jian'ge County but Wu managed to add it to the list of 41 worst hit areas by the earthquake. Jian'ge County was included in Sichuan's reconstruction plan and Wu may have violated discipline during the reconstruction.

Since March 2011, three vice mayors in Sichuan Province have been investigated.

"We oppose the oil and gas operations conducted by Viet Nam, which have undermined China's interests and jurisdictional rights in the South China Sea and violated the consensus both countries have reached on the issue."

Jiang Yu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, on May 28, while responding to a lately report about Viet Nam's oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea

"Nations should work to diversify holdings of currencies to make the global financial market safer and tackle the various crises in terms of the international monetary system."

Fan Gang, former adviser to China's Central Bank, at a forum in Shanghai

"The move will ensure foreign employees in China enjoy the same social insurance benefits as Chinese nationals do."

Xu Yanjun, Deputy Director of Social Security Center with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, remarking at a news conference on May 31 on China's planning to include all foreign workers in its social security system starting from July

"It is important to guarantee the funds for nine-year compulsory education in rural areas, increase subsidies for poor students and provide more support for children left behind by parents working in cities."

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong, during a recent trip to northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on May 29

"I can say that the Libyan leader is ready to implement what is in the roadmap by the African Union (AU)."

South African President Jacob Zuma, saying Muammar Gaddafi is ready to carry out an AU roadmap for solving the Libyan crisis at a press conference in Libyan capital Tripoli on May 30