➲ Passenger Jet Deal

A Chinese aircraft manufacturer has signed a deal to deliver a turboprop passenger jet to Cameroon, the sixth African country to use the China-made aircraft, the company said recently. The agreement to deliver a Modern Ark (MA)-60 aircraft was signed by the Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co., the Aviation Industry Corp. of China and the Air Force of Cameroon in northwest China's Xi'an City, where the manufacturer is based. The MA-60 aircraft was offered to Cameroon on grant, and two more such aircraft were being considered to be bought on loans, the economic and commerce office of the Chinese Embassy to Cameroon reported.

➲ Broadband Development

China will accelerate the development of broadband Web access in a bid to shore up the country's economic and social development, according to a statement issued on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It said that China aims to have more than 250 million broadband users by the end of 2015, with Internet access speeds in urban and rural areas reaching 20 megabits and 4 megabits, respectively.

➲ Income to Rise

Emerging economies such as China and India can boost the average individual income of their citizens by as much as 40 percent to 50 percent by 2030 by once again pursuing vigorous economic reforms, according to a report by Standard Chartered Research recently. "We believe that the key for China over the next decade or two is boosting household incomes," the report said. "Strong wage increases in recent years have helped." As the size of the country's labor force continues to expand at a slower pace, China's competitive advantages will be diminished, the report said.

➲ Financial Reform Plan

The People's Bank of China, the central bank, released a financial reform plan for the 2011-15 period recently. The plan includes reforms regarding the marketization of exchange and interest rates and the convertibility of the yuan under the capital account, as well as plans to encourage more private capital to enter the financial sector. Government intervention regarding small-scale financial activities will be reduced, and the government's role will be further clarified during the reform process. Authorities will encourage private capital to participate in the reform of banks, securities firms and insurance companies, as well as guide private capital to expand investment in financial organizations.

➲ Finance Micro Enterprises

A competition by the Shanghai branch of the Postal Savings Bank of China was unveiled in the city in October, as the bank seeks to help exceptional small and micro enterprises with financial support. The winner of the competition will receive a loan of 20 million yuan ($3.18 million). Other qualified contestants can get loans according to their business proposals.

1.9%

China's inflation up in September

60,000+

Chinese tourists visited South Africa in the first half of 2012 

$2 Billion

IMF, World Bank debt relief for Guinea

29.1 Million Tons

China's 2013 non-State crude oil import quota