"The [college entrance exam] reform will proceed in a gradual manner and cannot be completed overnight. One proposal is insufficient to solve all the problems."

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, calling for widespread discussion of Yang's proposal

"Poor people have a deep affection for the exam."

Dai Jiagan, Director of the National Educational Examination Authority, saying that the college entrance exam has been seen as a life-changing opportunity for most students despite the inherent faults

"I think it will be regarded as a very significant event."

Chief Executive of Barclays John Varley, predicting the London-based third-biggest British lender will gain "unprecedented" access to the Chinese market after it agreed on July 23 to sell new shares worth up to 9.8 billion euros to China Development Bank, which would make the state-owned Chinese policy bank its biggest shareholder

"When I closed the book I was overjoyed and

devastated-overjoyed at the story, and the way

it had played out, but devastated that the tale was complete."

Melissa Anelli, Webmaster of the Potter fan site at www.the-leaky-cauldron.org, saying she felt it was like saying farewell to a long-trusted friend after finishing the

759-page seventh and final volume in the Harry Potter series, which reached bookshelves on July 21 and is now the fastest-selling book in history

"It is a blatant move toward ‘Taiwan independence,' to split [Taiwan from China]."

Wang Guangya, China's UN Ambassador, commenting on Taiwan authorities' bid for UN membership under the name of Taiwan, which was rejected by the world body on July 23 in accordance with the one-China policy

"It's their mindset that has to change, not our

constitution."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, branding Britain's demand for Russia to amend its constitution to extradite a main suspect in the poisoning incident involving Alexander Litvinenko as "a vestige of colonial thinking" on July 24

"We do not want our efforts to be undermined by any ill-conceived action from any quarter that is inconsistent with the principles of international law."

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam, saying on July 23 that Pakistani security forces are responsible for antiterror operations and demanding the United States to refrain from any military action on its territory against suspected Al Qaeda members