"The central bank's monetary policy will scarcely target asset prices, though it will keep a close watch on the stock and housing markets."

Ma Delun quoted in the China Securities Journal

"China's rising inflation, weak domestic demand, excess liquidity and massive trade surplus are its growing pains."

Yi Gang, showing resolution to fight against inflation and reverse negative interest rates

"Imitating foreign models blindly in medical reforms will only lead to mistakes."

Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang, saying at a national conference that China's medical and health development will "follow a path with Chinese characteristics"

"Many people had to reduce their expenditures on other commodities to buy houses earlier than they originally planned."

Li Peilin, Director of the Sociology Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explaining that people's strong desire to buy their own houses in China has curbed consumption of other commodities and reduced consumption's share of the national gross domestic product to a 10-year low of 36 percent in 2007

"Among people who have knowledge of products from China, as a result of their profession, I think there is general acceptance that the overwhelming majority of the products are safe and of good quality and good value."

Richard O'Brien, Director of International Programs and Intergovernmental Affairs under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, at a press conference in Beijing on January 4

"If you improve the quality of life, but it doesn't show up in more material consumption, it doesn't show up in gross domestic product, and you'll be criticized."

Joseph Stiglitz, 2001 Nobel laureate in economic sciences, talking to Agence France-Presse in a phone interview. The U.S. economist has been named by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to head a panel to find a new method of economic calculation that will include quality-of-life factors

"A much sharper U.S. slowdown is a real risk that could weaken medium-term prospects in developing countries."

Uri Dadush, Director of the World Bank's Development Prospects Group and International Trade Department, speaking on January 8 while unveiling the development lender's annual report on global economic prospects