Quotable

"Railway construction investment is a practical way of supporting the job market and has an immediate impact in supporting the country's growth."

Zhao Jian, a professor of railway development at Beijing Jiaotong University, said accelerating railway construction will help China increase demand for steel, cement and other heavy industries, while absorbing overcapacity.

"The PMI continued its recovery momentum at a faster pace. That suggests the overall trend for the economy is to stabilize from its downturn."

Zhang Liqun, an economist at the Development Research Center of the State Council. The Chinese economy may have touched bottom last month as manufacturing activity reached a nearly two-year high, suggesting that government support policies are having the desired impact.

"The idea is to make electric cars much more cost-efficient than petrol-fueled cars."

Li Caihua, deputy director of the price department of the National Development and Reform Commission. China launched a favorable pricing directive for electric cars, bringing the country one step closer to the widespread adoption of the vehicles.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/08/2014 page18)