College President

(XINHUA)

Li Peigen, former president of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, ended his nine-year tenure recently.

Li, 66, a member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1980s. As a popular president, he was given the nickname Uncle Gen by students, which he pleasantly accepted.

In his departure speech, he said he should have done more to nurture the university's academic atmosphere, improve students' education on citizenship and improve the payment and working conditions for faculty.

Honorary Citizen

(XINHUA)

Former NBA star Stephon Marbury was granted Honorary Citizenship of Beijing on April 2 for leading the Beijing Ducks to their second consecutive Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title.

The two-time NBA All-Star has found his footing in Beijing after first joining the CBA Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons before moving to the Beijing Ducks in 2011.

"Thank you Beijing for the key to the city. I'm truly blessed and favored for your love and respect. I will always give nothing but my all on and off the court in Beijing," Marbury said on his official microblogging account.

"Those who are truly concerned with the future of Taiwan need to think of what's beneficial to Taiwan's economic development. Free trade is a global trend and Taiwan should not be marginalized."

Justin Yifu Lin, former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, saying the cross-strait service pact will benefit Taiwan

"This is an opportunity for Chinese enterprises to develop our own operating system, which should be Internet-based and support a triple play service."

Zeng Jianqiu, a professor of the School of Economics and Management of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, commenting on Microsoft's termination on extended support for Windows XP

"Former coal mine owners have become modern agriculture trailblazers with their capital, technology and marketing skills."

Guo Weidong, a senior research fellow at the Shanxi Academy of Social Sciences, commenting on coal miners' enthusiasm in investing in modern agriculture

"Chinese travelers' passions for outbound tourism are insatiable."

Jiang Yiyi, Director of Institute of International Tourism Development of China Tourism Academy, commenting on her academy's new statistics that show Chinese people's outbound travel trips increased 18 percent to reach 98 million in 2013 and could reach 114 million this year

"Chinese writers' rising international recognition is partly attributed to the overall economic development of the nation. More and more people around the world resort to contemporary literature as a gateway to Chinese culture."

Acclaimed Chinese writer Bi Feiyu, on the sidelines of London Book Fair 2014 held from April 8-10