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Be practical on the 'golden decade'

With Chinese President Xi Jinping about to embark on a state visit to the United Kingdom, British and Chinese officials are talking of a "golden decade" in bilateral relations. Ties have improved in recent years and economic interests have converged. However, the advancement is fragile, with uncertainty still surrounding whether the promised economic benefits of closer relations will materialize.

China still a strong driver of global economy

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the world economy and the recent considerable fluctuations in global stock, foreign exchange and commodity markets, China has been maintaining steady growth, injecting confidence into the global economic recovery as an important locomotive of world growth.

Public wants a national smoke-free law

A generation ago, smoking was common across the world. People smoked in restaurants, bars and workplaces - as you see in many parts of China today. Even if you didn't smoke, you were often forced to breathe the second-hand smoke of others. Many countries have now moved to fix this problem, in light of the unequivocal scientific evidence of the harms caused by exposure to tobacco smoke.

Visits spark thaw in frozen ties of wary neighbors

Although still divided over historical issues and territorial disputes, China and Japan are trying to mend their relations.

China pips Japan for Indonesian project

CRIC and local consortium to build, operate Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway line

Yum Brands set to feel the pinch as sales decline

Underwhelming results in China have prompted fast food operator Yum Brands Inc to slash its annual growth forecast from 10 percent to low single-digit negative.

Alibaba to buy all of Youku Tudou in cash

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is taking full control of Youku Tudou Inc, a leading Internet video company in China, in a move to further push into the digital entertainment industry.

IBM to give access to software codes

IBM Corp will allow the government access to its software codes in a bid to get an entry into the billion-dollar government procurement market, a senior executive said.

IN BRIEF (Page 6)

Securities regulator cracks the whip on insider trading

Hefty penalties imposed on 10 individuals, two barred for life in cases amounting to $15.8m

Greater convergence likely between offshore, onshore bond trading

Recent data are pointing to greater convergence between the onshore renminbi bond market and the much smaller offshore market, which means overseas investors would have to pay greater attention to issuers' credit developments in the onshore market.