Simple houses made from straw

YANGLING, Shaanxi - Pierre Eloy believes straw is the ideal alternative to wood in China, a country that lacks timber resources in relation to the size of its population and has therefore been importing vast quantities as its economy has grown rapidly.

Charity briefs

Journalist wins charity award

Disney to promote children's creativity

BEIJING - The Walt Disney Co announced a $1.6million donation to support United Nations Children's Fund and the Ministry of Education in a project aimed at improving the quality of children's education and creativity in China.

The 'greening' of the car industry

BEIJING - For German automaker Volkswagen AG, China is not only its biggest market for high quality cars but also a place where it is investing heavily in a global standard "green" manufacturing base.

Charity briefs

Former watchdog calls for more transparency

Green palette for children's art contest

BEIJING - Yang Ziju was deeply impressed by the scene of antelopes and zebras grazing in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Southeast Kenya during her visit to the east African country in July. The nine-year-old girl won the trip with her painting advocating conservation in a competition under the Chinese Children's Environmental Education Programme.

Digging out new ways to save energy on an industrial scale

SHANGHAI - Ren Wanli, 33, an excavator operator in Beijing, called his family immediately after he won first prize in Operator Idol, an eco-operator contest to find the most fuel-efficient worker in the digger business.

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Tough going for foreign retailers

China continues to be an attractive destination for foreign retailing businesses seeking development, but not all companies who venture into the Middle Kingdom has found that life was easy.

The changing face of the retail market

After joining the World Trade Organization on Dec 11, 2001, China's economy was set to undergo a significant change. Businesses were due to gain access to new export markets and foreign companies would be able to sell their products and services more freely to China's 1.3 billion people.

An expansion plan sparked by confidence

Electronics retailer Media Markt China has only been in the Chinese market for about a year, but it is already planning to expand rapidly throughout the country.

Historic changes, challenges ahead

Minister of commerce: Progress and global benefits since China's accession to the WTO