Quotable

2013-07-19 09:17

"Education is one of the most important investments within a family, particularly for mid- and high-income customers who expect high returns for sending their children overseas. We've created the index to show that colleges ranking at the top do not necessarily guarantee a handsome payback. Other factors such as tuition fees, living costs and employment prospects have to be considered as well."

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

2013-07-19 09:17

Hope of solar solution brightens horizon

2013-07-19 09:17

Beijing and Brussels are expected to reach a compromise this week on the price of China's solar panel exports to Europe after two rounds of tough negotiations.

Economic slowdown 'due to rebalancing'

2013-07-19 09:17

China's economy grew by 7.6 percent year-on-year in the first half, a marked slowdown in comparison with near double-digit growth recorded two years ago.

Investment falters as industrial activity flags

2013-07-19 09:17

China's investment growth decelerated further in the second quarter amid flagging industrial activity, and it may remain at a low ebb, economists say, as a massive stimulus is not on the cards.

Turning point on labor

2013-07-19 09:17

The road to sustainable urbanization in China depends largely on the structural shift from manufacturing-fueled growth to the development of a knowledge economy, for which education and training plays a central role.

Making the right choices

2013-07-19 09:17

China should strengthen its investment in vocational education to tackle the challenge of skills mismatch in its urbanization process, says Charles Cao Quin, vice-principal of Warwickshire College.

Special schools raise skills standard

2013-07-19 09:17

A lack of skilled technicians in China has prompted many Western businesses to set up their own training centers in China.

Happy hours for the van people

2013-07-19 09:17

Wang Xing runs a small rural inn near Guangzhou, Guangdong province. He's kept the original farmer's house look and serves dishes made from wild vegetables to attract city residents on weekends. "Happy hours at the farmer's", as the business is known, has made him happy too - and it's brought him much more money than growing crops.

Shanghai green light piques others' interest

2013-07-12 08:49

Approval for a free-trade zone in Shanghai has inspired confidence and created a sense of urgency in some other coastal cities, notably Tianjin and Shenzhen, which harbor similar ambitions and have equally expansive plans.

Yangtze River Delta region expects boost

2013-07-12 08:49

For example, there is offshore trading. The purchase of goods, mainly industrial intermediary materials, from an overseas source for use in factories in another overseas market is made possible by the zone, traders say.

Health is wealth

2013-07-12 08:49

Though China's rapid urbanization is putting a huge strain on the country's healthcare resources, it is also creating opportunities for foreign healthcare providers to sell products and services or provide training for their Chinese counterparts.

Blending East and West

2013-07-12 08:49

Human resources, training sectors in China can benefit from healthcare cooperation with overseas firms

Quotable

2013-07-12 08:49

"That was a lesson for us that if you want to be successful in China, you have to focus on China - China's needs and China's customers. So we need a change."

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

2013-07-12 08:49

Eye on the future

2013-07-12 08:49

China's dream of universal healthcare by 2020 is expected to create huge opportunities for foreign healthcare companies in rural China.

A big tick for tight controls

2013-07-12 08:49

Focusing on what is truly important at the big end of business and deciding business direction according to clients' needs are central to the core values of Mike Cavanagh, co-chief executive officer of JPMorgan's Corporate and Investment Bank.

Wisdom from oracles of shopping

2013-07-12 08:49

As more Chinese consumers become aware of the wider range of shopping choices available to them, some business people are seeing a market for independent advice that can help shoppers decide where to spend their money.

Why the customer remains king

2013-07-12 08:49

If you think the adage "the customer is always right" is a no-brainer, you may be surprised to know how many businesses have not learned that lesson and how seriously not doing so damages their long-term profitability.

New frontiers, no easy money

2013-07-12 08:49

State auto groups in China used to sit back and harvest the easy money from joint-venture brands, but as the domestic market cools and their ambitions grow, international markets have become a greener pasture.