BEIJING, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Here are the key quotes from Chinese President Hu Jintao's speech here on Monday at the opening of China's five-yearly Communist Party Congress, the country's most important political event:

-- 'Development patterns will be significantly transformed... we must continue to deepen reform and opening up.'

-- 'Our economic growth is realised at an excessively high cost in resources and the environment. There remains an imbalance in development between urban and rural areas, among regions and between the economy and society.'

PARIS, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - The launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial moon, sparked reactions ranging from wonderment at the exploit to near-hysteria in the United States at the implications of Soviet dominance of space.

Here is a selection of quotes from this key event of the 20th century:

- 'A greater defeat for our country than Pearl Harbor': Edward Teller, father of the US hydrogen bomb

- 'What is at stake is nothing less than our survival': Senator Mike Mansfield

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - Quotes from the UN summit on climate change Monday.

- 'The time for doubt has passed ... What we do about it will define us, our era, and ultimately the global legacy we leave for future generations.' -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, opening the summit.

- 'Today, I heard a clear call from world leaders for a breakthrough on climate change in Bali. And I now believe we have a major political commitment to achieving that.' -- Ban, in a closing summary of what the summit had achieved.

SYDNEY, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) - Millions of words are written and spoken every year at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, but only a few of them stick in the public consciousness.

Below is a sample of memorable statements from this year's APEC talks in Sydney, some of which might just make it into future quotation dictionaries:

MISSPOKEN AND MISHEARD:

- 'Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit -- APEC summit.'

SEOUL, Aug 31, 2007 (AFP) - South Korea's agreement with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, which led to the freeing of 19 hostages, has ended a six-week crisis and been generally welcomed in Seoul.

South Korea said it promised to withdraw its 210 soldiers by the end of the year, as previously scheduled, and to ban missionary groups from going to the Islamic nation.

Amid rumours reported by a Japanese newspaper of a ransom payment, the presidential office said nothing else was discussed in its direct talks with the insurgents.