Voices

“My current visit to Egypt， on the instructions of President Xi Jinping， is to show Chinas firm support for the Egyptian government and people， and to express Chinas sincere desire to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Egypt，”

said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on August 3. Before the talk he conveyed President Xis message to President Sisi. Wang Yi added that Egypt is a major regional country with global influence， and that China has always regarded Sino-Egyptian relations from a strategic long-term perspective. Improving relations with Egypt is conducive to promoting multi-polarization of the world and democratization of international relations， as well as to a more balanced distribution of international power.

“It is really an honor to be given the award as a Chinese translator. I think it not only shows that my translation works are recognized by the world， but also that Chinese literature has attracted more attention globally，”

wrote Xu Yuanchong， 93， in a letter to the awards ceremony after receiving the 2014 Aurora Borealis Award from the International Federation of Translators （FIT）. Xu is the first Asian scholar to win the prize since its establishment in 1999.

In the address of the Outstanding Translation of Literature， the committee of the FIT said： “We need effective communication in these international circumstances. Professor Xu Yuanchong dedicates himself to facilitating communication between Chinese， English and French.”

Mr. Xu added that translation is his lifelong greatest joy. He is still working at the age of 93.

China Newsweek

Issue No. 26， published on July 21， 2014

Riding the Wave of Yangtze River Economic Belt Development

The Yangtze River Economic Belt is becoming a hot political and economic term. Premier Li Keqiang has mentioned it on several occasions this year， and it also featured in the 2014 government work report. On the stock exchange， meanwhile， Yangtze River Economic Belt concept stock has hit the daily limit， so bucking the trend. Relevant provinces and municipalities are putting their hands to the plow to contrive plans that capitalize on the economic belts strategic development. Integrated development of the Yangtze River region is part of the central authorities efforts to build new economic growth engines.

The National Development and Reform Commission requested the 11 provinces and municipalities in the region to draft general reports focusing on economic transformation and upgrading. They are also required to write reports on integrated transportation， industrial transformation， newtype urbanization， opening-up， and eco-environment and coordination mechanisms.

The planned Yangtze River Economic Belt will provide great opportunities for regions along it， in particular the large province of Hubei on the rivers middle reaches. Throughout Chinas staggeringly rapid development over the past decades there has been a dearth of outstanding performances from Wuhan， its capital， and flourishing commercial center of bygone days. The new strategic development brings hope of the citys revitalization and of carving out its niche in the new era.

As the 11 provinces and municipalities along the Yangtze River flex their muscles to make the most of integrated development of this region， competition among them is also looming. This raises the question of how to coordinate their related programs and projects， and hence the necessity for a scientific and reasonable mechanism for the distribution of benefits.