➲ Simpler forex rules

According to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, China began a trial program for simplifying the procedures for passing foreign currencies between banks and companies in the trading of goods. Effective from December 1, the new rules don't require verification for information about prepayments for goods, payment cancellations or delays.

➲ Aid to Africa

China has delivered food donations worth 443.2 million yuan ($70 million) to the Horn of Africa, which is suffering from severe drought and famine, said Lu Shaye, head of the Department of African Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Lu, it is the single largest grain donation to foreign countries ever delivered by the Chinese Government. After China's Yushu and Zhouqu were hit by natural disasters, many African countries immediately expressed their deep sympathy and compassion, and supported China's relief efforts in various ways.

➲ Helping SME debt

China's eastern city of Wenzhou announced recently that it has launched a series of financial reforms to help tackle the debt crisis of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The city will set up 100 micro-finance firms, two to four private capital management companies, and a private financing register center to transform the city into a private capital distribution center, according to a statement issued by the city government. These measures will help make private lending transparent and legal, the statement said.

➲ IPR fight

China is to establish an office to facilitate the crackdown on infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR) and counterfeit products, the State Council said in November. China faces an arduous task fighting IPR infringement as well as the production and sale of fake products, so greater administrative and law enforcement efforts are needed, according to a statement issued by the State Council. The office will be set up under the Ministry of Commerce.

➲ Forestry cooperation

China spent a total of $1.5 billion worth of foreign loans and grants on its forestry sector by the end of 2010, said the State Forestry Administration. By the end of 2010, China had launched 21 forestry projects in 23 provincial regions with assistance from foreign financial organizations. Institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank provided technical assistance on aspects of environmental improvement, bio-diversity protection and poverty reduction. China started international cooperation on forestry development in 1985.

➲ Emission curb plan

China's State Council approved a plan in November to contain greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to realize a 17-percent fall in CO2 emission per unit of GDP by 2015. To realize the goal, China should actively develop and promote low-carbon energy, while accelerating the establishment of a calculation system for greenhouse gas emissions, said a statement released by the State Council. Government institutions and social groups will be asked to take initiatives to advocate a green, healthy lifestyle and economical consumption, according to the statement.

➲ Diamond demand sparkles

Empresa Nacional de Diamantes (Endiama), the fifth-largest diamond producer in the world, said recently that China's demand for the precious stones will steadily increase in spite of rising prices. The national diamond company, based in Angola, said that the Chinese market had accounted for up to 40 percent of its exports annually on average over the past three to five years. The company is also seeking Chinese partners to help explore, produce and distribute the gemstones.

➲ Smart TV growth

The smart TV industry will enter a fast-growth phase in China. Thirty-seven percent of TV buyers said they have plans to purchase smart TVs, compared with 10 percent last year, according to the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce's smart TV report released in November. The association said Chinese companies such as Hisense Group Corp. and TCL Corp. have developed good smart TV technologies, and Japanese brands such as Sony are not competitive enough.

➲ Lenovo more competitive

Lenovo Group, the largest Chinese PC maker by market share, plans to increase investment and effort in those consumer markets where it doesn't yet have a strong share, including the United States and Europe, said new Chairman and CEO, Yang Yuanqing, in November. Lenovo is the world's second-largest PC vendor, with a record market share of 13.5 percent between July and September, according to International Data Corp. The company attributed the growth to previous acquisitions and surging sales in overseas markets.

400 Tons

China's estimated gold demand in 2011

8.3%

China's October foreign trade drops

 12.4%

Jan-Sept Chinese companies' overseas investment in non-financial sectors up

4.8%

Expected economic growth in the Central Africa's CEMAC bloc

8.8 Million Tons

Estimated grain harvest in Morocco 2011