Few countries cherish statistical data quite like China, where figures are regularly used instead of detailed commentary to explain economic trends, developments and cycles. But Friday's Shanghai Daily newspaper led with two figures that reveal a great deal about the sense of national expectation that Chinese leaders are trying to engender.
"800 days to go, not that we are counting" was Shanghai' Daily's lead
headline – along with a story about Hong Kong pop star Edison Chen, who
is quitting show-business after photos he took of himself and famous
female partners during sex were plastered across the newspapers and the
internet. The countdown figure refers, however, to the timeline until
the 2010 World Expo opens in Shanghai.
To add some balance, a side box gives face to this year's major global
sporting event – which seems to be the only one if you happen to live
in China – the Beijing Olympic Games, which begin in 168 days time. And
counting.
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