Sound Bites

"It is a matter of great concern to me to ensure that economic development is people-centric and must at all times serve the purpose of improving the quality of life, not just for the privileged few, but for the community at large ... But to realize our full potential, we need to shake ourselves free of the shackles of our colonial past, and to nurture the qualities of confidence and self-assurance to reach out for the stars."

Mahinda Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lanka and chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party

"African parties have a sincere willingness to develop relations with China, as well as Chinese and other Asian political parties. We would like to play a bigger role in promoting Sino-African trade and economic cooperation because we believe our relations with China are built on the basis of mutual respect, which is different from our relations with the West."

Nafie Ali Nafie Ahmed, Sudan's presidential associate and vice-chairman of the Sudan's National Congress Party

"It is difficult, but because China is big, you have no choice but to develop the green economy. Without the green economy, there will be more and more problems. So I think it is a good policy, but you need time. You cannot implement everything, but you should do it now. In the short term, you need political decisions. In the long run, you need education to mobilize people."

Keo Puth Reasmey, chairman of the Disciplinary & Party Council of Cambodia's Funcinpec Party

"The technologies for keeping and serving the green economy are not sufficient enough all over the world. It's not just here; it is across the world. It seems that Asian countries have prioritized green development more than others."

Salih Kapusuz, member of Parliament and vice-chairman in charge of public affairs of the Turkish Justice and Development Party

(China Daily 05/31/2013 page11)