Quote ... Unquote
'I don't care if the new Thai NPL (non-performing loan) standards are the same as that followed in Hong Kong . . . if delinquent but still hard-pressed borrowers get short lucky breaks - probably some small bailout money from mums to repay loans - should they all be taken off the NPL lists?' Thailand's central bank policy department director Kiatchai Sophastienphong.
'It is the litmus test. Either Vietnam confirms its potential as a serious player in the regional oil, gas and power industry or it spirals into irrelevance.' A diplomat on a deal involving BP, Statoil of Norway and the Natural Gas Corp of India to explore a field of the Vietnam coast.
'We are going to get married [to Korea First Bank] and it will be a perfect and respectable marriage.' US investment firm Newbridge Capital managing director Weijian Shan.
'I do buy things that I need, although I spend more time choosing what I buy. I have worries about what's going on in the economy, but I cannot repress my appetite for shopping forever.' Japanese sales clerk Masako Oshima.
'More than 40 million people in the region have been pushed back in to absolute poverty, reversing much of the gains in poverty alleviation.' Philippines President Joseph Estrada.
'The results show Boeing is emerging from the turbulence. We have both hands firmly on the controls.' Boeing chief financial offer Debby Hopkins on her company's unexpectedly good first-quarter results.
'I am what I am, New Zealand is what New Zealand is, our virtues and values are transparent and people know where we are coming from . . . I have been approached to match certain deals and I refused. It's not the New Zealand way, it's not my way . . . It is not the way I handled things in New Zealand politics . . . mind you, I lost.' New Zealand's choice for the top World Trade Organisation post, Mike Moore.
'Things look pretty stable now, but one worries what happens if [former prime minister Noboro] Takeshita passes from the scene. And what happens, if, after throwing all this money at the economy, it doesn't turn around? Takeshita is the 'shadow shogun'. He's not just a political mentor, he's the puppeteer.' A political analyst on Japan's economy.
'Japan has no fiscal leverage, no monetary leverage and the only thing they can do is structural reforms, but that doesn't help anyone in the short run.' A diplomatic source.
'If your father is a policeman you don't have to be a policeman as well. If your father is a lawyer, you don't have to necessarily become a lawyer. People ask me that only because of who my father is.' Singapore Telecom chief executive Lee Hsien Yang, son of former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
'I think it is tremendous fun to run a company like this.' Mr Lee.
