"China's new investment company should focus more on securing strategic resources and technology, not solely on financial markets."

Zhong Wei, Director of Finance Research Center of Beijing Normal University, suggesting China's future forex investment plan

"Luo is a very capable person who'd played a very active role spearheading reforms in China's financial service industry."

Yu Yongding, an adviser to the central bank, who specializes in monetary policies

"U.S. traders are wise and we have no grounds for suspicion."

Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, criticizing some U.S. lawmakers' proposal for a 27.5 percent increase in import tariff on Chinese goods at a March 12 press conference in Beijing

"Serving France, and serving peace, is what I have committed my whole life to."

French President Jacques Chirac, saying he would find new ways to serve his country after leaving office in a televised address on March 11

"It's not good for the rich world, and particularly not good for Europe, to have so many people in Africa living in misery and trying to flee here, even potentially becoming a breeding ground for terrorists."

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, urging developed nations to increase aid to Africa or risk the continent turning into a "breeding ground for terrorists" in a March 9 interview in Congo

"The train is great for us, and for the local population it is beneficial."

Luosang Caiwang, head of Saikang Travel in Lhasa, quoted by an AFP report on March 11 as saying that Tibet's economy and society in general have benefited from the opening of the railway linking the former remote region to China's wealthy and developed eastern seaboard

"The trip cleared the air. It created a positive environment for our future relationship."

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, expressing optimism toward the implementation of the February agreement of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue after visiting Pyongyang on March 13-14

"Workers are abused fairly systematically. This is not a question of bad employers. It's built into the structure of the program."

Mary Bauer, Director of the Immigrant Justice Project for the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, accusing the U.S. "guest" worker program of nullifying worker rights