"The challenges facing Africa are not reducing but increasing because we are a developing continent. So we require deeper partnerships with countries like China that have the economic means."

Olusegun Akinsanya, the regional director of the Institute of Security Studies and former Nigerian ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. Most African conflicts relate to resources, and there will be less competition for wealth if the continent achieves higher industrialization, he said.

"I will donate 200,000 yuan ($32,000) if the head of our local environmental protection bureau dares to swim in this polluted river for 20 minutes."

Jin Zengmin, an entrepreneur in Zhejiang province, complaining on his micro blog about the heavy industrial pollution at a river in his hometown of Ruian.

"I hope to be remembered as a good person who did something in his hometowns of Shanghai and Houston to make things better."

Yao Ming, former NBA star and newly chosen goodwill ambassador for the Texan city, speaking at the Asia Society Texas Center on Feb 15 before his ambassadorship was announced. Yao once played for the Houston Rockets.

(China Daily 02/22/2013 page2)