"The impact of the global economic crisis was still amplifying. Companies' profits shrinking, financial income reducing, job situation worsening... Only by building a clean and efficient government can we unite everyone as an entire force to cope with the crisis and get over it."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressing that

"supervision" is one of the key missions in 2009 for government organizations to tackle corruption amid the economic crisis, in a communiqué released by the State Council, China's cabinet, on April 8

"To now enact protectionist measures would be damaging to the world economy and the U.S. economy."

U.S. Senator John McCain in Beijing, appealing to avoid erecting further barriers to trade between the two nations facing global economic crisis, before his meeting with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress

"This is no time for a retreat to protectionism or xenophobia."

Australia's Resources Minister Martin Ferguson backing stronger investment links with China in a April 9 speech to the mining industry in Melbourne, as Australia considers China's $19.5 billion tie-up with Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto Ltd.

"We will not go home empty-handed. We will return with our hands full of democracy. We want to touch it for once. Real democracy, not a fake one."

Former Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra speaking from exile abroad April 8 via video link to anti-government protestors that seek to topple the new Thai Government

"Shame on you!"

An Italian woman in the "tent city" screamed after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's breezy "assurance" that the homeless had all they needed and should see it as "camping trip" was in stark contrast to the experience of many survivors