Take trade to higher level

China's $4.16 trillion import and export volume in 2013 means it is sure to replace the United States as the world's largest goods trader. However, it still lags far behind the US in the trade in services. Given that the focus of global economic competition has now shifted from the trade in goods to the trade in services, China should regard boosting its trade in services as an important way of raising its capability of participating in international competition and promoting the transformation of its trade from quantity to quality.

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A step toward common cross-Straits dream

As Chinese New Year celebrations wound down and the Lantern Festival on Feb 14 approached, a historic meeting took place in Nanjing between Wang Yu-chi, the head of Taiwan's mainland affairs council, and Zhang Zhijun, director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Crackdown on prostitution

Prostitution is like prairie grass which isn't killed in a fire.

Forge tradition of frugality

There have been many changes in the way Chinese people spend their Spring Festival holiday in recent years, and not every change has been welcomed by all. But a notable change this year is indisputably praiseworthy, and the change is apt to become the norm, said a commentary in Beijing News.

Govt blogs have work to do

The rise of social media and Web 2.0 technologies has transformed ordinary people's lives and their interactions with governments. Micro blog, WeChat and other social media applications are being increasingly adopted and used by government organizations and officials in China to facilitate communication between the government and the public. According to a recent report by the Office of Public Sentiment Monitoring, People's Daily Online, the numbers of micro blog accounts opened by government agencies and officials have reached record highs.

The rise of realism in emerging Asia

Now that the super-easy monetary policy, dubbed "quantitative easing" (QE), is coming to an end in the United States, some say this is also the end of the emerging markets' growth story. We at Standard Chartered disagree. In fact, the ending of QE ending bodes well for the emerging markets, especially those in Asia, the region most open to trade.

Letters

How to cut pollution effectively

From the Chinese Press

Peak job-quitting season

Flying in the face of reason

One tragedy of World War II was Japan's fascist fanatics driving young pilots into suicidal attacks on US warships. These kamikaze attacks have become synonymous with crazy, reckless behavior.

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China Mobile shows antiquated culture

The prices of the 4G packages offered by China Mobile, one of the major suppliers on the Chinese mainland so far, show that, despite government efforts in economic restructuring, the antiquated corporate culture nurtured in the days of the planned economy is hard to shake off.