"Hong Kong's status as an international financial center is irreplaceable due to its unique geographical advantage, a long history of financial management, extensive channels of financial operation, a full-fledged legal system and a rich pool of financial expertise."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in an interview with Hong Kong and Macao reporters responding to a question about whether building Shanghai into a world financial center might threaten Hong Kong's current status

"Military exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan could start from academic exchanges by experts in a mechanism of mutual trust in military security, or from exchanges between retired military servicemen."

Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, briefing a press conference

"Stability and a prosperous life cannot in any way be set off against political rights and freedoms."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in his interview with an opposition newspaper published on April 15

"We have heard beautiful words (from Obama). But the problem is what are the realistic means that could turn these words into a reality?"

Lebanon's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, believes cooperation is possible between Iran and the United States under the Obama administration, although he discounted any hope of an alliance between the adversaries in an April 15 interview with the Associated Press

"I could hardly see or breathe. "

A young Guantanamo detainee, 21-year-old Mohammed el Gharani from Chad, who was given permission to call a relative but instead phoned al Jazeera, a Qatar-based television network on April 14