Quotable

"International trade is a tough business, in particular under the current global economic setting. Chinese intermediary companies and exporters shouldn't sign the contract without sufficient knowledge about what is written on the tender."

Zhao Zhongxiu, a trade professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Zhao faulted an intermediary company for losses in garlic exports rejected by South Korea.

"We should refine supervision of the financial system instead of strengthening monitoring. The government should tighten regulations in some areas while deregulating others."

Wu Xiaoling

"We are more likely to see the fixing being used to take the pressure off the band."

Sacha Tihanyi, a Hong Kong-based currency strategist at Scotiabank. Recent yuan weakness stems from the dollar becoming too strong. China should fully utilize the existing trading range, according to a commentary in People's Daily. The comments suggest an expansion of the band is "unlikely in the near future".

(China Daily Africa Weekly 02/06/2015 page18)