Liu Guangyuan makes remarks during briefing session for consul generals, foreign business chambers and selected media. But one diplomat calls event ‘very awkward’ and says China and West are ‘just talking past each other’.

Readers discuss China’s democracy forum, protection for domestic workers in Hong Kong, career support for elite athletes and the controversial death scene of a cat in a Chinese drama.

Chinese president says changes needed to global governance to better represent developing countries.

Beijing is trying to portray is system as more representative and effective than the US model, but grass-roots voters and candidates complain of being silenced.

Democracy’s struggles are internal, not geopolitical. It needs to clean up its act, not pick fights with autocrats, writes Debasish Roy Chowdhury.

Chancellor makes the request during the latest of her consultations with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.