| "A handful of graft cases involving high-ranking officials have had a very negative impact on society. Leaders at various levels of government should take the lead in the anti-graft drive. They should ensure that their family members, friends, and close subordinates do not abuse government influence."
Premier Wen Jiabao, initiating a corruption-cleaning campaign after
Zheng Xiaoyu's scandal was exposed earlier this year
"In response to Zheng Xiaoyu's case, the government should first devise a workable system to regulate its administrative approval procedures and to restrain officials from abusing their approval powers."
Peng Zhongyi, deputy head of the task of the State Council, China's cabinet, force for reforming the administrative approval system
"We are willing to play an even bigger role in China-Africa relations."
China's central bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, pledging increased financial
support to Africa's anti-poverty program and infrastructure development at the African Development Bank's annual general meeting in Shanghai on May 15
"United, we have all the assets, all the force, all the talent to impose ourselves in this new world that is developing before our eyes."
Jacques Chirac, urging France in his final televised address as president on May 15 to remain united and true to values that made it a force in Europe and an advocate for world peace
"The legal, technical, and ecological risks are so great that finding investors, if this is not a political project, will be impossible."
Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko, downplaying U.S.-proposed trans-Caspian gas pipeline after presidents of Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed on pipeline restoration and new construction from Turkmenistan to Russia via Kazakhstan, at a three-way summit on May 12
"Experience has shown us there is potential in working together, but given the very different nature of our original market, those synergies
are limited."
Dieter Zetsche, Chief Executive of DaimlerChrysler, after Daimler agreed on May 14 to inject $1.55 billion, or 1.15 billion euros into Chrysler, in order to exit a nine-year-old merger that had failed to deliver on its promise to create a global automotive powerhouse
"We all want China to open up more, but 20 years of experience tell us that it is a step-by-step process, so we just have to be patient."
P. Victor Visor, CEO of Hachette Filippacchi's Great China, Southeast Asia & Australia division, at the 36th World Magazine Congress in Beijing on May 14-15 | 
