FRIENDLY MASTERS: More and more Western tourists are visiting China. They always receive a warm welcome from hospitable citizens

Responsibility Overshadows Profit

While China suffered from tight refined oil supplies in 2007, it was reported that in the first seven months of the year, 11 percent of the country's total petroleum output was exported. In the meantime, PetroChina and Sinopec, China's two largest oil producers, suspended gasoline and diesel oil supplies to almost all non-state gas stations in south China throughout the year.

Because rising international oil prices are cutting the profit margins of domestic oil sales, domestic oil refiners were motivated to increase oil exports to make more money. Most experts say this is the main factor that is driving up the country's gas prices and causing a domestic petrol shortage.

By doing this, these oil giants are actually making China's trade surplus and overall price increases more difficult to cope with. This will further affect social stability.

State-owned enterprises, monopolies in particular, are supposed to combine their own interests with those of the whole society and shoulder more social responsibilities. It's not acceptable if they only try to get benefits from the government and consumers without undertaking due social responsibilities.

China Youth Daily

Friends Are We

An American newspaper has released an article in which the author said that many foreigners felt quite uncomfortable when being referred to as "laowai" by Chinese people. He explained that being called "laowai" is equivalent to "a taunt or a gibe."

"Laowai" has become an unconscious way to address foreigners, particularly Westerners, in China. In fact, most Chinese never expect that some discord and resentment might emerge from the habitual use of this epithet.

When the country fell victim to foreign aggression in the second half of the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, foreigners were called "yangguizi" (foreign devils). However, how could a friendly term be used to describe the invaders?

China's reform and opening-up in the past 30 years not only keeps China open to the outside world, but also earns China equal footing in the international community. Foreigners have since been referred to as "laowai." As is known to some foreigners, "lao" is a term of respect and intimacy in the Chinese language, which suggests a change in Chinese attitudes toward foreigners: The Chinese are beginning to treat foreigners as equals and accept them as close friends.

Considering this, "laowai" is neither a bad term, nor does it convey a negative meaning. The change in reference to foreigners represents historical evolution and social progress in Chinese society.

People's Daily

Higher Is Better

On December 23, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, began deliberating a legal amendment to raise the country's personal income tax waiver amount from 1,600 yuan (nearly $220) to 2,000 yuan (about $270) a month. It's a well-known fact that migrant and urban blue-collar workers who perform physical labor are among those who earn 1,600 yuan to 2,000 yuan a month.

An increase in the tax threshold would mean that only 30 percent of the working class would have to pay personal income tax, instead of the current 50 percent, according to Minister of Finance Xie Xuren.

But there are still questions about the rationale for raising the waiver amount. On the one hand, prices for basic necessities and food have soared during the past year. If workers' wages are not increased, they will be able to buy less, making their lives more difficult. On the other hand, if wages were increased, more workers would pay personal income taxes. In order for more people to really benefit from the taxation adjustment, the waiver amount needs to be further increased.

Given China's huge regional disparities, different standards for taxable income are also needed in different areas. The 2,000-yuan tax waiver may help those who live in backward areas. But for those who live in big cities, where people earn more but also have to spend more, almost all workers have to pay the tax-even migrant workers who can hardly support their families on 2,000 yuan a month.

Beijing Youth Daily

Transparency Helps

When the State Council worked out the central budget at the beginning of 2007, it allocated 300 million yuan (about $40 million) from the sports lottery income to support senior middle-school students from poor families.

The purpose of the government lottery is to use the money to help citizens in need.

The sports lottery sector has a growing negative image, which has been further damaged by scandals of mismanagement by lottery administrators. As a result, the public has started to doubt the reliability of sports lotteries.

While it's necessary for the lottery industry to produce several "millionaires" overnight, its original and final goal is to use the money it collects to promote public welfare, help groups in difficulties and finance public sports facilities.

At present, due to inadequate supervision and regulation by relevant laws and regulations, many problems have arisen in the sales of sports lottery tickets and the use of lottery funds. But if handled properly, this fund can help make up for the government's limited financial support for public welfare. To this end, it is necessary to make the sports lottery more transparent and place it under more effective supervision.

Dahe Daily