"The most important aspect of the middle-class is their cultural backgrounds, that is, they share similar lifestyles, values and tastes. But so far in China, the concept of a middle-class is based exclusively on income."

- Li Chunling of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, arguing that less than 5 per cent of China's population could be categorized as middle-class according to the standards of Western countries. Most of these live in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province.

"Copyright royalties on records come to about 10 per cent if they are put through traditional marketing channels, but we can get 50 per cent through the Internet."

- Song Ke, CEO of a music website, explains why - in a trade losing 95 per cent of potential profits to piracy - Chinese music producers are turning to the Internet.

"In China, someone dies every five minutes in a traffic accident, while another five are permanently disabled. More than 100,000 people die in traffic accidents every year, more than in any other country in the world."

- Zhai Zhongmin, official of Beijing Police, at the first national seminar on traffic safety.

"No 'city planning' is the best planning for the old buildings in the city."

- Hua Xinmin, an advocate for the protection of old lanes, suggesting the government should provide funds for owners of old houses to undertake renovations themselves.