"Fixed-asset investment remains the key to stabilizing the world's second-largest economy at present, but its marginal effectiveness is weakening."

Li Xuesong, deputy director of quantitative and technical economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Weak external demand and slack domestic investment could drive China's economic growth down to 7 percent next year from about 7.3 percent this year, the country's leading think tank warned on Dec 15.

"The robust growth of China's outbound direct investment will not change in the short term. The economic situation demands that domestic companies deploy more people and resources to fuel their growth in overseas markets."

Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. ODI by Chinese enterprises could exceed inbound foreign direct investment for the first time this year as companies have diversified their activities around the world from infrastructure projects to technology and brands.

"Chinese consumers believe domestic brands represented good value for money, but foreign brands, such as Apple and Samsung, are still viewed as being 'stylish' and 'innovative'."

Huang Can, senior research analyst at Mintel. In recent years, a growing number of Chinese technology products have been put on the market featuring innovative solutions at more competitive prices than those of foreign rivals.

(China Daily European Weekly 12/19/2014 page18)