Choosing the silk road for success

2013-07-26 09:07

By introducing time-honored Song brocade to the outside world, the Saint Joy brand can see itself becoming the Hermes of the Chinese silk industry.

Industry cuts cloth to measure up

2013-07-26 09:07

Challenges always present opportunities and the impetus for companies to improve or transform, believes Zhang Ziyan, the president of Jiangsu Guotai International Group, a major Chinese trading enterprise.

Realities of urban development

2013-07-26 09:07

Urbanization, with all its advantages, has also created challenges for policymakers, and prominent among them is the resettlement of people from areas that are earmarked for redevelopment.

Mixing things up a little

2013-07-26 09:07

Looking at the new urban complex that is poised to redefine the Shenzhen skyline, it is hard to imagine that it stands on what was once flower and bird markets.

So much to choose from

2013-07-26 09:07

Increasing sophistication is walking hand in hand with urbanization to retail counters all around China. As well as creating millions more consumers with rising incomes, rapid urban expansion is also creating far more demanding and discriminating consumers, and in the process, creating new opportunities for foreign brands.

Big moves for small peddlers

2013-07-26 09:07

Britain's folding bike, the Brompton, has embarked on a sturdy little trail across China hoping to provide a convenient commuting and recreation option for the country's upwardly mobile urban population.

Getting it right on site

2013-07-26 09:07

"Location, location, location", the mantra of homebuyers and sellers, is equally paramount when it comes to setting up shop - and is especially so as China's urbanization drive continues to present retailers with various opportunities for expansion and development.

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