Party to help people realize dream

The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation calls for the collective efforts of the people under the guiding force of unity. And the Communist Party of China is the core force leading and uniting people of all ethnic groups to build socialism with Chinese characteristics in the country, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

China faces the unprecedented challenge of leading 1.3 billion people toward modernization. The Party is the vanguard of the people on the road to building socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and people's prosperity and happiness is an integral part of that dream.

The Party has always put people above everything else, and the improvement of people's well-being has been and will always be its goal. China's economic model has to be transformed and the problems that arise because of the deepening strategic reforms need to be addressed in a prudent manner. The Party shoulders the responsibility of finding a consensual way of tackling these challenges.

But the unprecedented challenges also offer opportunities. China is getting closer to realizing the dream of national rejuvenation, and never before has the Party been in greater need of people's united efforts to advance a cause. Needless to say Party members, especially leading cadres, have to put in their best efforts to realize the dream. The 4 million grassroots Party organizations and the 82 million Party members must uphold the principle on which the CPC was founded: public good.

Just as Party chief Xi Jinping has said, the Party must supervise its own conduct and run on strict discipline, preserve its political integrity and resolutely fight against corruption. Only in this way can the Party live up to its glorious tradition and unite the people to realize the dream of national rejuvenation.

Put Apple on trial to find truth

Legal evaluation is a better way than a media trial to judge Apple's "discriminatory" after-sales service in China, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

A recent China Central Television consumer protection program claimed that Apple's marketing practices in China were unfair, For example, it gives shorter warranty periods compared with other countries, uses refurbished parts for repairs and avoids after-sales obligations. Some media outlets have used the CCTV program to say that the US tech giant's market strategy in China is "arrogant" and it has violated the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests.

Such negative news reports would come as a shock for any other company, but Apple seems least bothered because of its brand value. While many enterprises treat their customers as gods, most Apple products' consumers do the opposite - they consider Steve Jobs as god - and thus ignore the harsh terms imposed by the company.

So it came as no surprise when Apple responded to the critical media reports by saying that it offered "unique consumer experience" in China and has "never violated" any Chinese law. Of course, the media labeled its response arrogant, too.

Moreover, the China Consumers' Association has also said that some of Apple's provisions violate the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests. If this is the case, legal proceedings should be started against Apple to end the controversy, and the company should be fined if found guilty and declared scrupulous if not.

(China Daily 04/01/2013 page9)