The importance of stability both in a political and a social sense can never be overestimated when it comes to economic development and social progress. What is often over-looked by some is that progress in human civilization is always achieved in a society that enjoys a long period of peace.

No one can tell what will be the outcome of the current political and social turmoil that has erupted in some countries in North Africa and Middle East. But what is undeniable is the fact that people in those countries are suffering.

I don't believe that most of the residents in these countries welcome such unrest, it is only those who can fish in such troubled waters.

Some people have sought to provoke a same turmoil in China. These demagogues harboring ulterior motives have used the Internet to instigate illegal demonstrations or protests. They harbor the vain hope that some Chinese people will be beguiled by their hypocritical slogans into taking to streets and they hope to be able to take advantage of the political and social turmoil to realize their own ambitions.

In striking contrast is the Chinese government's successful evacuation of more than 35,800 of its citizens from Libya. The largest such mission ever attempted by this country, employing both the navy and the air force, would have been impossible had political unrest and social upheaval occurred in China at the same time.

This country has not witnessed such momentum in economic growth and social progress in nearly two centuries as it has since the reforms and opening-up were initiated in 1978. This momentum would have been untenable without the relatively peaceful international environment and domestic political stability during this period.

To be frank, people have grievances about a wide range of issues, including healthcare, the soaring property prices, the widening income and wealth disparity, the unbalanced education resources and serious corruption among government officials. Yet, these are nothing but growing pains that can be addressed in a proper manner. It is natural for such problems to arise in such a populous country as China as the economy undergoes the transition from a planned model to a market one.