Officials face rating on loans

The ruling party's move to make local government debt a major criterion in the evaluation of government officials demonstrates the central government's deep worry over ballooning local debt and represents its latest efforts to put a lid on excessive borrowing.

Dagong follows a personal path

Scholars don't easily turn into businessmen. Luckily, Guan Jianzhong, the chairman of Dagong Global Credit Rating Co Ltd, is still able to give one-hour talks about his papers - those already published and those to be published.

Captain navigates a new career

Wolfgang Muller takes a 10-hour "commuter flight" every two weeks - all the way from Vienna.

With more traveling on holiday nation weighs options

For tourism, winter may not be as popular as summer or spring but it is the time when a series of festivals and holidays are celebrated. The festive atmosphere creeps in as early as late November, when Santa Claus' signature red hat and gift bag start to appear in the store windows and tinsel-laden Christmas trees stand tall in shopping malls, heralding a new wave of sales campaigns.

What they say

2013 is a year of changes, renewal and progress for China and for Singapore Airlines. As we enter the 28th year of operations in this country, we continue to invest in new products and services demanded by the Chinese customers. With the year drawing to a close, we pause to count our blessings and remember the good things in life, especially the bonds of friendship and family that matter most. The year's end is a time of family togetherness and celebration. I wish all readers of China Daily a peaceful and restful time.

Options & tips

For those who want to pick the road less traveled for holiday trips, here are some options:

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

EPO bid to bridge legal systems and languages

China and Europe are continuing to strengthen ties in intellectual property, a senior European official told China Daily in late November.

Sino-French seminar: Local market savvy and joint R&D crucial

Against the backdrop of globalization, innovative companies must combine global competence in R&D with an understanding of local markets, said officials and entrepreneurs from France and China at the 19th French-Chinese Economic Seminar held last week.

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China-Sweden: Good partners

Dec 10 marks the formal awarding of the annual Nobel Prizes in science and literature in Stockholm, capital of Sweden, for the 118th anniversary of the awards established by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel in 1895.

Getting to the opportunity of future first

Building a successful global empire requires a fine-tuned plan to take advantage of business opportunities cropping up in today's fast-paced markets. Kairos Future, a new player in the Chinese market, has a profound understanding of this.