Opportunities are still aplenty in the nation

China likely became the world's biggest trader in goods for the first time last year, overtaking the US for all of 2013. While this is no doubt a creditable achievement, it also has far-reaching implications on other economies.

The steady expansion of China's trade, particularly after the global financial crisis of 2008, has been a major factor in shoring up global growth, especially after major economies such as the eurozone and Japan reported double- and triple-dip recessions.

China's robust trade numbers also kept its economy on a strong footing and helped sustain full year economic growth at 7.7 percent. According to customs data, for the full year, exports grew by 7.9 percent to $2.21 trillion, while imports rose 7.3 percent from a year earlier to $1.95 trillion.