FILM MOGUL&ART COLLECTOR

wang Zhongjun， Chairman of the Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Media Corp.， reportedly bought vincent van Goghs masterpiece Still Life， Vase With Daisies and Poppies at Sothebys New york on November 4 for $61.8 million. This painting was produced in June 1890， one month before the artist attempted to take his own life.

Wang was born in November 1960 in a military family. He joined the army in 1976. After leaving the army， he studied in the United States from 1989 to 1994 and got a masters degree of mass media at State University of New york. In 1994， Wang Zhongjun and his younger brother Wang Zhonglei co-founded Huayi Brothers， which has since evolved into one of Chinas largest private entertainment groups engaging in film， TV， music and other businesses.

Wang Zhongjun， who has been a fan of painting and art since childhood， has a reputation as an influential art collector.

Will Ebola Be Transmitted to China？

Caixin Century Weekly October 27

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is continually worsening. The World Health Organization predicts that by December， new cases can be expected to reach up to 10，000 per week.

The Ebola virus is one of the most dangerous to be identified in human history. The recent outbreak in West Africa is not the pathogens first. In 1976， the first ever Ebola outbreak， in Zaire， now the Democratic Republic of the Congo， killed 280 people.

This time around， more than 14，000 cases， including those suspected， probable and confirmed， have been reported in a number of countries including Guinea， Liberia， Sierra Leone， Spain， the United States， Nigeria and Senegal. Of this total， more than 5，000 sufferers have so far died.

At present， Africa is no longer an isolated continent. The Ebola outbreak in Africa concerns the whole world including China. Economic ties between China and African countries are growing increasingly closer， with 1 million Chinese living and working in Africa and 100，000 Africans living in south Chinas Guangdong Province alone.

As the Ebola virus continues to spread in Africa， is there a risk that the virus may be transmitted to China？ Chinese experts believe that chances for the virus to become widespread in China are slim. In addition， the countrys disease prevention and control system has improved since the SARS outbreak in 2003. However， China should remain vigilant given the unpredictability of the virus.

Taking Root in Cities

Oriental Outlook November 6

The household registration system， or hukou， is regarded as a vitally important element of a persons life in China. The system， which was formed during the era of the countrys planned economy， has played an important role in controlling population migrations. However， as Chinas economy and society undergo ever more profound reforms， the negative impact of the system has become increasingly obvious. Although China has attempted to reform the system many times in the past 30 years， the speed and efficacy of such reforms have fallen short of the publics expectations.

In July， the Central Government published a document on the further reform of the hukou system， putting an end to the dual household registration system that divided the nation into rural and urban populations.

According to statistics for 2013 published by the National Bureau of Statistics， 289 million people lived away from their registered place of residence， among which 245 million were migrant people. Chinas Migrant Population Report for 2013 published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission showed that in 2012， the average age among members of the migrant population was 28. The younger generation of migrants was reported to have moved to cities at an earlier age and to live further away from their hometowns in comparison to previous generations. They have also displayed a clear preference for settling in big cities.

Against this backdrop， the goals of the recent spate of hukou system reforms are twofold： to promote the transformation of the migrant rural population to urban residents and to establish an entirely new registration system.

Dont Play With Your Phone While Driving

Xinhua Daily Telegraph November 3

As smartphones become widely used and social networking platforms such as Twitter-like micro-blogging service Weibo and instant messaging tool WeChat gain popular traction， many drivers have gotten into the habit of checking their Weibo or WeChat or even taking photos with their phones while driving.

In recent years， drivers who use their phones while driving have caused many traffic accidents. However， there are no laws governing behaviors such as driving while looking at ones micro-blog or WeChat.

Designating such behaviors as a crime would greatly help to reduce traffic accidents. However， it is highly possible that such an initiative would meet with difficulties in reality. For example， as many drivers use Global Position System （GPS） applications on phones while driving， offenders may defend themselves by claiming that they were not looking at social networking platforms but at their GPS. This poses a considerable challenge for the drafting and implementation of any related legislation.

Every driver should be responsible for the safety of themselves and their passengers and be encouraged to avoid reckless behaviors. If dangerous driving practices continue， the legislature will have no option but to enact new laws to ensure road safety.

DESIGNER FOR APEC LEADERS

luo Zheng， a prominent fashion designer in China， has become a focus of the fashion world as one of the designers of outfits for APEC economic leaders， who held their annual meeting in Beijing in early November. This years outfits were widely applauded for successfully combining traditional Chinese elements with modern fashion concepts.

Luo was born in June 1970 in Beijing. She graduated from Shenzhen University in 1991. Five years later， she created her own fashion brand and became chairwoman and design director of her own clothing company in Shenzhen， south Chinas Guangdong Province.

Luo has been known as a talented designer in the fashion circle. She was honored as one of Chinas top 10 fashion designers in 2002. She has also won awards by global fashion brands like U.S. brand Nautica， and was invited to design for French brand Louis vuitton.

“Efforts must be stepped up to advance market-oriented reforms， and a final push may even be needed to give impetus to them at an appropriate time.”

Lu Feng， a Peking University professor in economics， stating Chinese President Xi Jinpings latest elaboration on the“new normal” theory has served to build consensus for bolder economic reforms

“The official will be held accountable even after he goes to other posts， retires， or quits his job.”

Yuan Shuhong， deputy head of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council， noting that China is to set up a lifelong accountability system for officials in a recent interview with China Radio International

“The new arrangement will facilitate the introduction of yuan-denominated investment products by financial institutions in Hong Kong and enhance its position as an offshore yuan business center.”

Norman Chan， Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive， commenting on the central banks decision to abolish the daily 20，000 yuan （$3，260） conversion cap for Hong Kong residents

“Monetary policy in China is clearly geared toward the long term， and China has the benefit of large reserves and a growing economy， with a vigilant central bank. I think all the ingredients are there to address the potential market volatility.”

Christine Lagarde， Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund， speaking in Beijing on November 12