French President Nicolas Sarkozy, after meeting with the Dalai Lama:
"The world needs an open China, and China needs a strong Europe. Tibet is a part of China and the Dalai Lama is not calling for Tibetan independence. We should approach these matters calmly."
President Hu Jintao, on difficulties for the Communist Party posed by the financial crisis:
"Whether pressures can be turned into a driving force and the challenges turned to opportunities … is a test of our ability to control a complex situation, and also a test of our party’s governing ability."
Vice Premier Wang Qishan, speaking to US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson at the US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing:
"We hope the US side will take the necessary measures to stabilize the economy and financial markets, as well as to guarantee the safety of China’s assets and investments in the United States."
Lou Jiwei, chairman of China Investment Corporation, speaking at a conference in Hong Kong:
"I don’t dare to invest in financial institutions now. The policies of the developed nations on these institutions are not clear … What if they go bust? I will lose everything."
Columnist Gideon Rachman, writing in the Financial Times:
"It would be a historic irony if the Chinese Communist party was thrown into crisis, not by the collapse of communism in 1989 – but by the convulsions of capitalism in 2009."
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