Quotable

"It is good that more countries are willing to adopt the yuan as a reserve currency as our economy grows. Of course it means some homework for us, including reducing administrative controls on our financial market making it more market-oriented and gradually making the yuan a convertible currency."

Zhou Xiaochuan, People's Bank of China Governor. Policymakers from Beijing welcomed plans by the European Central Bank to consider adding the yuan to its foreign-currency reserves.

"I think one day China and the US will have a free-trade agreement."

Carlos Gutierrez, former US secretary of commerce. He said China and the United States can work together to reach a free trade agreement in order to remove roadblocks to their economic ties.

"Joining hands with China;s leading online platform will become a trend for international clothing brands."

Wang Xiaoxing, an analyst with Analysys International. To date, there are more than 4,000 international brands from 45 countries on Tmall.com, China's largest brand and retail platform.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 10/17/2014 page18)