FORMER PREMIER PubLIShES MEMOIR

Former Premier Li Peng released an autobiography that has become a national bestseller. The book recounts Lis life and career from his birth in 1928 to 1983 when he was named vice premier. The tome contains 16 chapters with 480，000 characters and more than 130 photos.

Li worked in the power industry after graduating from the Moscow Power Institute in 1955. He served as Chinese premier in 1987-98. He retired in 2003 after completing a five-year tenure as chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress， Chinas top legislature.

In the book， Li， the son of Li Shuoxun， an early leader of the Communist Party of China who was killed in 1931， also recalls his interactions with the founders of the Peoples Republic such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. It clears up， too， a long-circulated rumor that he was Zhous adopted son. One chapter of the book is dedicated entirely to Lis marriage and family.

In its preface， Li said that he will write another memoir drawing on his experiences from 1983 through to the present day.

Decades Later， a Fateful Decision

China Newsweek June 30

Since 1984， when China made the decision to expand its reform program from rural to urban areas at the Third Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China， the country has accelerated its transition to a market-based economy.

Back then， Chinese citizens actively responded to the countrys decision. For example， a group of young economists held a meeting on the Mogan Mountain in east Chinas Zhejiang Province， exchanging views on the countrys policies； Lenovos co-founder and former Chief Executive Liu Chuanzhi， a researcher at the time， gave up his so-called “iron rice bowl” and started a business； writers elected their own chairman of the China Writers Association； and a cultural craze took hold. Citizens from all walks of life were looking for new solutions to the issue of how to enable the countrys growth.

Today， 30 years later， China is showing more respect for individual rights and has blended into the greater international society， becoming the second largest economy in the world. The young economists who once held discussions on the Mogan Mountain have become the countrys decision makers； entrepreneurs who founded companies have achieved worldwide fame； and literature， too， has paid more attention to the individual and the human condition.

Faced in 2014 with choices as stark as three decades ago， China will still choose reform， this time expanded from the economy to an all-round transformation. Perhaps there are lessons from 1984 that can inspire and promote innovation for the next round of reforms.

Where Is the Baby Boom？

Caixin Magazine June 23

Chinas stance on family planning was softened half a year ago， allowing a couple to have a second child if either of them is their familys sole offspring.

The strict family-planning policy， in place for over 30 years， has had a visible impact on society and the economy. Facing a continually decreasing fertility rate and working-age population， the government expects this new policy to stimulate the total number of childbirths in the country. It also intends to guard against a possible massive birthrate rebound in a short period of time. In order to avoid a 21st century baby boom， local family-planning departments are continuing to use strict approval procedures to control the speed of second births and trying to persuade qualified couples to delay conceiving a second child.

However， a review of the new policys implementation across China shows that peoples willingness to have a second baby has not been as eager as expected. Instead， challenges have emerged from a large number of as-yet-undefined rights， such as those couples who meet the requirements of the new policy but have already given birth to a second child， and thus face huge fines； unwed mothers whose children are unable to obtain permanent household registra-tions； and parents who have lost their only child， asking for compensation from the government. Though these families， who are unable to benefit from the new policy， have different appeals， they have one thing in common： demanding equal reproductive rights.

In the past 30 years， the Chinese Government has taken strict measures， including charging high fines for parents violating the family-planning rules and denying their children the right to permanent household registration， in order to control population numbers. As new reforms unfold， the once infallible family-planning policy is being reexamined by the whole of society. Except for those benefiting from the new policy， though， can other groupsdemands for relaxation of the childbirth guidelines be satisfied？

Time to Fight Fire With Fire

Changjiang Daily July 8

Within just minutes， the destinies of those riding a bus in the downtown area of Hangzhou， capital of east Chinas Zhejiang Province， on July 5 were irreparably changed when the vehicle caught fire. Thirty-two people inside were injured， 24 among them critically.

Police investigations found that the 34-year-old man responsible for the fire lit flammable liquid and poured it on the bus. His motives remain unclear. He is among those severely injured and is being treated at a local hospital. Though there have been no reported deaths， the injured are destined to suffer huge physical and psychological tolls for the rest of their lives， particularly those suffering serious burns.