Food safety first

Comments on "Premier: Food safety a top priority" (China Daily, July 26)

With strict laws and strict enforcement, China will surmount this food safety problem. It should also apply to non-food China-made products.

Happy billion

On China Daily website

Premier Wen is right: China has to do much better and meet higher standards to satisfy the world.

A nationwide system can help guarantee the highest quality of foods; I am sure all concerned about China's reputation will answer Wen's call for the strictest application of safety measures.

I don't have any qualms about eating anything from China - I haven't had a stomachache for decades.

I hope China eliminates the small number of violators so as not to give anyone a reason to point the finger at us.

Right

On China Daily website

Health concerns

I am an overseas Chinese living in the US. I just returned from Beijing two weeks ago and I am very concerned about the general health of the people in the city and the lack of awareness of how important general health is to the future of the Chinese society.

I think China Daily should take a leadership role to alert and educate the public of such important social issues. The Olympics provides an excellent opportunity to address these issues. I am a 74-year-old retired businessman and without any illness or handicap: I look and feel like a man half my age. Perhaps you could use me as a role model.

Dian

Via e-mail

Balance of power

There is a belief that men in northern China have a dominant position within their families because the harsh winters turn them into tough characters. However, there might be other reasons as well.

A recent survey said that people who live in cities are able to earn higher incomes, which gives them more prestige and power than a lower-earning spouse, and they are more likely to take part in discussions and decision making.

Shanghai men, however, seem to be managed and driven by their wives to make big money and so in those pairings the woman does exert some power.

But it is the reverse in the country. The survey involved 100 married couples in which the spouses were an average of 40 and had been married for about 12 years. It said relationship problems could not be resolved without the spouse's cooperation, and that money and housework were the top two disagreements.

Luo Renji

Beijing, via e-mail

Readers' comments are welcome. Please send mail to Letters to the Editor, China Daily, 15 Huixin Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029 China. Send faxes to (86-10) 6491-8377. Send e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you.

(China Daily 07/27/2007 page11)