According to Xinhua on December 12th, 2007, the Office of Chinese Language Council International (OCLCI) issued the first Chinese language proficiency benchmarks for foreigners - the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages. It is a five-step comprehensive and systematic measure of the ability to communicate in Chinese Language, and is the first reference standard to assess the fluency of foreign learners of Chinese.

While we are expecting the coming of a new year in a month time, we shall not forget that 1 December is the World AIDS Day. Below is the UNICEF World Aids Day Concert 2007 from YouTube.

In 1988, the World Health Organization (WTO) declared 1 December the World AIDS Day.

The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

[ AIDS ] a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles  This definition of [ AIDS ] is from Google. 

According to China Daily on Oct. 24, “the European Union leads the United States as a destination for Chinese students“. The number of Chinese students studying in EU universities given by Jan Figel, the European Commissioner for Education, Training and Youth, was a record high of 120,000 in 2006. And, “the European Union is planning a “blue card” to lure highly skilled migrants by offering financial and housing benefits, and cutting red tape”.