Open for business

2012-11-16 11:23

Even though the majority of Chinese people still drink instant coffee that can be made for 1 yuan (16 US cents; 0.13 euros) per cup, some of the world's most expensive coffee machines are available in the Chinese market.

Quotable

2012-11-16 11:23

"In a very short period of time we have seen a marked increase in the number, and value, of payments companies are sending to China through the renminbi."

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

2012-11-16 11:23

On your mark, get set, sell

2012-11-16 11:23

Call it marketing gamesmanship or chalk it up as a simple and honest approach to consumers, but Lenovo, the Chinese electronics multinational, is leading the pack in China by pushing for more environmentally conscious certifications.

Gateway to Europe

2012-11-16 11:23

Though it lags Germany and the UK in the investment stakes, France is fast emerging as the destination of choice for Chinese investors in a host of sectors.

Bank breaks out

2012-11-16 11:23

The world's largest bank by market value, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, is accelerating its European expansion by tapping into new business areas such as private and investment banking.

Getting the best of rivals is a delicate operation

2012-11-16 11:23

For Christophe Papillon, leading a Chinese company to compete with some of the big names in the medical equipment industry is a demanding task, and selling Chinese products in France can be even more challenging.

Clouds of doubt darken trade outlook

2012-11-16 11:23

As the European Union has lowered expectations for its economy, China's trade relationship with its largest trading partner looks gloomy for the rest of this year, and all of next, analysts say.

Crunch cereal deal

2012-11-16 11:23

This month, with the gobbling up of Britain's iconic Weetabix brand, Chinese food companies can be said to have planted their feet under the dinner table of the international market.

Giving China's wine-bottling ways a twist

2012-11-16 11:23

The use of screw caps in the wine industry has in recent years gained a wider acceptance throughout the world. From reds to whites to sparkling wines, companies are slowly turning away from putting a cork in.

Making it all work in the real world

2012-11-09 10:05

Mechanical engineering student Wu Xiangbo was looking forward to his first part-time job, hoping to gain some practical experience along with the extra cash. "Ideally, I wanted some job related to my major in manufacturing," says the 22-year-old vocational training college student in Jinan, capital of Shandong province in East China.

Practically speaking

2012-11-09 10:05

No matter how loud they talk tactics on the baseball field, there's a good chance the Tongji University team won't be understood by their opponents.

Quotable

2012-11-09 10:05

"We hope we can work on some good railway projects in the UK."

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

2012-11-09 10:05

Thumbs up for hands-on experience

2012-11-09 10:05

Mariane Cavalli, principal and chief executive of Warwickshire College, says she first considered the possibility of establishing a British further-education college in China four years ago while chatting to a business contact in a restaurant in China with poor customer service.

Sweet spot for investment

2012-11-09 10:05

The glitzy skyscrapers and bustling shopping districts in Beijing and Shanghai are no longer the only barometers of foreign direct investment in China. That baton has instead passed to the western regions of China, where cities with better infrastructure and an abundant talent pool are stealing a march over their bigger peers.

Stepping out of the shadows

2012-11-09 10:05

Stable, supportive financial environment draws foreign financial service firms to Chengdu

Navigating shipping success

2012-11-09 10:05

Shipping and oil conglomerate Maersk, consultancy firm Accenture, logistics major DHL, ecommerce major Amazon and cement company Lafarge are as different as chalk and cheese when it comes to their respective lines of business in China.

Siemens gets lowdown on getting smart

2012-11-09 10:05

Researchers at Siemens China produced their first "In China, for China" protective relay to market in April, and priced it 40 percent cheaper than the global version.

For Steinway, it's rhapsody in red

2012-11-09 10:05

Zhang Yuan, a 26-year-old Beijing resident who has been playing the piano for about 10 years, was on the verge of drooling over the Steinway in front of her. There was an ancient dragon logo on one side of the body. On the other were Chinese calligraphy carvings. The music stand took on the shape of a traditional Chinese fan, while the stool looked like a table for the guqin, a seven-string Chinese zither.