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Editor's Note Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor Editor's note

Editor's Note

Solid accomplishments in dealing with concrete matters were highlighted in the CCTV Magnificent Ten (2005) awards announced on December 28 in Beijing (see our "Cover Story," page 14 of this issue).

The awards were given to innovative, forward-looking individuals who have used their managerial skills and senses of social responsibility to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing Chinese society.

And the message given in these awards seems clear; those who think Chinese people can only copy and not innovate…well…stay tuned.

As residents of Beijing, we take particular note of the suggestions made by Magnificent Ten "Public Good" award winner Liao Xiaoyi, director of the Global Village environmental-advocacy group of Beijing.

Beijing’s leaders are struggling to cope with some of the world's most challenging urban and rural environmental and transportation problems. With its preparations for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games (see our Olympics section on page 26) and to improve Beijing's socio-economic environment, the municipality is completely renovating its infrastructure, working to ensure supplies of water and electricity and to improve its transportation networks. It is training people to tackle these problems.

New subways are on the way, and improved taxis and public buses are now seen on city streets. More are on the way. But one thing is evident in all these activities: There is no "one size fits all solution" to any of the city's pressing problems.

So it was no small thing that environmental issues were discussed in such a prestigious forum as the Magnificent Ten awards. With new ideas, fresh thinking and reasonable approaches and solutions, could we ask for more? Can it do anything but help improve Beijing’s bottom line and the lives of those who live and work here?

But now, it's time to lighten up a bit and enjoy our lives in Beijing. We are very much looking forward to the upcoming Spring Festival and we hope you are too. Gongxifacai!

Editor