Charity Fan

(CFP)

Niu Gensheng, founder of Mengniu Dairy Group, one of the leading dairy product manufacturers in China, has resigned from the post of chairman of the board of directors of the group.

Niu said he planned to engage in charity work in the future. Meanwhile, he will keep the post of non-executive director of the group and continue to participate in the group's strategic planning.

Niu, 53, founded Mengniu in 1998 and turned the company into a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed dairy giant. After being a successful entrepreneur, Niu dedicated himself to charity work.

Up to now, Niu has donated all his personal shares of Mengniu Dairy Group. He set up the Laoniu Foundation in 2004 to help people in need. In 2006, he resigned from the post of president of the group, which allows him to devote more time to charitable undertakings.

Model Worker

(REN YONG)

Guo Mingyi, a worker from the Anshan Iron and Steel Group in northeast China's Liaoning Province, has become a role model for all Chinese workers because of his virtues of selfless devotion and enthusiasm for his work. A film about Guo will premiere on June 28.

Guo, 53, is also known for his generosity in assisting colleagues and supporting students from poor families. Since 1994, he has donated about 120,000 yuan ($18,182) to more than 180 persons. He has worked more than 15,000 hours of overtime over the past 15 years.

"I do this because some people need help, and there should be someone to give them a hand," Guo said.

Fallen Minister

(CFP)

Li Yuan, former Vice Minister of Land and Resources of China, was expelled from the Communist Party of China and public employment.

It's widely reported by the media Li may be involved in a corruption case and may have violated Party discipline. An investigation into Li's case has been going on for more than six months.

Li, 64, became vice minister of land and resources of China in April 1998 and deputy Party secretary of the ministry in October 2004. He retired from those posts in 2008. After retirement, he became deputy director of the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He has been an independent supervisor of PetroChina Co. Ltd. since May 2008.

"To make distribution open, fair and equitable, all procedures in granting an affordable housing unit should be made public on the Internet and subject to supervision from the media and people."

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, calling upon local governments to step up efforts to build and fairly distribute high-quality affordable housing, at a meeting in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, on June 11

"China's railway development will not slow down in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15). Railway planning for the five years aims to put 30,000 km of new lines into operation."

Hu Yadong, Vice Minister of Railways of China, talking about the country's railway construction in an interview with China Daily, in Beijing on June 13

"China's economy will continue to be a 'bright spot' for global growth and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintains its forecast for China to grow around 9.5 percent for both this year and next."

John Lipsky, Acting Managing Director of the IMF, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency in Beijing on June 9

"China has become a strategic trade partner for Latin America and the Caribbean. There are many opportunities to achieve exports and investment agreements in fields such as mining, engineering, agriculture, infrastructure, science and technology."

Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, presenting a report during Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Santiago, Chile, on June 10

"We don't believe a unilateral solution can help peace. I believe peace can only be reached with a common effort, that is, with negotiations."

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 13, rejecting unilateral solutions in the Middle East peace process