Quotable

"It's good for both companies. Competition between the two companies has hurt both of them in terms of profitability as there's been some irrational pricing."

Henry Guo, managing director at Summit Research Partners LLC, comments on online travel company Ctrip.com International Ltd and its rival Qunar Cayman Islands Ltd's agreement to a share swap and partnership. Ctrip will own roughly 45 percent of Qunar. Baidu, which owns 20 percent of Qunar, will take a 25 percent stake in Ctrip. The deal will create China's biggest online travel service.

"It will defeat other smart cities worldwide."

Yan Jiehe, the founder of China Pacific Construction Group Co Ltd, has unveiled plans to build a 250 billion yuan ($39 billion; 36 billion euros) "smart city" of 250,000 residents, in Shanwei, Guangdong province. He says the city will have cutting-edge technology, including top-class universities. It is expected to be completed within a decade and will focus on the education, vocational training and medical care sectors.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 10/30/2015 page18)