Briefs
Too much talk of China's rise, says former minister
National People's Congress spokesman and former foreign minister Li Zhaoxing said the public should refrain from talking too much about China's so-called rise and that they country should keep a low profile on the world stage, the China Youth Daily reports. Zhao Qizheng, former director of the State Council's Information Office, said China insisted it was still a developing country for a reason. Raymond Li
Proposal to move NPC to aid fiscal planning
Ying Zhongqing, a deputy director of the NPC subcommittee for the economy and finance, has proposed that the annual NPC be held at the end of each year instead of in March to aid fiscal planning and waste less public money, the China Economic Daily reports. The NPC approves the annual budget for each fiscal year in March, but the fiscal year starts on January 1. Raymond Li
Mao Zedong's grandson promotes 'red culture'
Mao Xinyu, Mao Zedong's grandson and a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference delegate, has backed Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai's red culture campaign, china.com.cn reports. Mao Xinyu said the singing of revolutionary songs was a good way for the masses to express their voice. Raymond Li
'Reducing civil service would result in chaos'
A former vice-president of the Central Party School, Li Junru, warns ordinary people might have to bear the brunt if the civil service were downgraded, the Nanfang Daily reports. Li said there would be social chaos if the civil service system was not it place. The number of civil servants has grown from six million to 10 million in four years. Raymond Li
