Controversial Philanthropist

(CFP)

Chen Guangbiao, one of China's philanthropists, continued his high-profile charity work in earthquake-stricken Yingjiang County in Yunnan Province. He donated 230,000 yuan ($35,000) to people there on March 16, 200 yuan ($30) to each person. His picture with local people lifting the money they received in hand was posted on the Internet.

Chen went to Japan immediately after the country's deadly earthquake occurred on March 11. He claimed that he donated 23 million yen ($284,000) in cash and relief materials. Before the Spring Festival, which fell on February 3 this year, Chen brought 500 million Taiwan dollars ($16.91 million) to Taiwan and personally distributed cash to the poor.

Some people question this high-profile charity. "I want to use my high-profile behavior to stimulate China's rich people," said Chen, in response to people's criticism. Chen, 43, Chairman of a recycling company in Jiangsu Province, has donated more than 1.4 billion yuan ($212 million) to charity projects and promised that he would donate his entire assets, about 5 billion yuan ($758 million), to charity after he dies.

Award-Winning Writer

(CFP)

Bi Feiyu, a famous Chinese novelist and screenwriter, became the winner of the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize for his novel Three Sisters. The award was announced on March 17, 2011. Founded in 2007, the Man Asian Literary Prize is an annual literary award given to the best novel by an Asian writer. Bi was the third Chinese writer to receive this award. He was given $30,000 as part of the award. Three Sisters is a novel set in the 1960s in rural China and tells the stories of three sisters in the "cultural revolution" period.

Bi, 47, was born in Jiangsu Province. He has been awarded a number of literary prizes, including the prestigious Lu Xun Literature Prize. Bi is also an accomplished screenwriter, having collaborated with director Zhang Yimou.

Best Actress

(DUAN ZHUOLI)

Chinese actress Xu Fan was named Best Actress at the Fifth Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on March 21, 2011. Xu won the title for her role in the earthquake epic Aftershock, a heart-rending film directed by Feng Xiaogang, which also won the award for best visual effects at the event.

Xu, 44, was born in Hubei Province. She graduated from the Central Academy of Drama with a bachelor's degree in acting in 1991. Xu was first a dramatic actress and began her career in movies and TV series in 1992. Her representative works include The Dream Factory, Be There or Be Square and Cell Phone.

"China's opening-up policy will remain unchanged, and we will further strengthen, rather than weaken, our policies for attracting foreign investment, advanced technologies, as well as management experience."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, during a meeting with 70 foreign delegates attending the 12th China Development Forum in Beijing on March 21

"Faced with complicated international and domestic conditions, China has put priority on maintaining the general level of consumer prices stable, part of its macroeconomic adjustment."

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, addressing the opening ceremony of the 12th China Development Forum on March 20 in Beijing

"China's efforts to transform its economic development model and expand domestic demand don't exclude foreign-invested enterprises, rather, we need them to play a more active role."

Chen Deming, Chinese Minister of Commerce, during a press conference in Beijing on March 20

"All enterprises running businesses in China and all products that meet certain requirements are qualified to get the subsidies."

Miao Wei, Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology, stressing that China strictly abides by WTO rules in granting price subsidies, at a press conference on March 20 in Beijing

"The major challenge of China's employment market at present still lies in the oversupply of laborers."

Yin Weimin, Chinese Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, at the 12th China Development Forum on March 20 in Beijing

"The security transition process to Afghan forces begins on the first day of the Afghan New Year, on March 21."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, on transferring security from NATO to Afghan forces