Silver threads, golden gloves

It is early winter, and the sound in the air is an incessant whirring of sewing machines.

Quotable

"The steel industry's downstream business will see slower development next year. The ship-building industry, in particular, may see negative growth, which will lead to flat steel consumption in 2014."

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

From civil servant to business guru

When Chen Jianhua left his job as a civil servant 15 years ago to start a glove-making business, he never thought he would become the largest sports glove manufacturer and exporter in Jiaxiang county, one of the world's major sports glove production areas.

Shoemaker puts best foot forward

Huajian Group plans to make Ethiopia the hub for the global footwear industry and create more than 100,000 jobs locally in the next 10 years.

One man's vision of unity

Former T-shirt trader has invested millions to set up China's first Africa center.

Sinopec drills deep into Africa

As Africa becomes increasingly important in the global energy structure, with growing proven reserves of oil and natural gas, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp has big plans for the continent.

CPI eases to new low

China's November consumer price index eased to a three-month low of 3 percent year-on-year from 3.2 percent in October, amid relatively weak demand, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Dec 9.

GDP growth could rise slightly next year

But unpredictable factors at home and abroad could keep growth at this year's level, economists say

New golden goose for nest eggs?

Yang Qian, a retired woman in South China's Guangdong province, started a new hobby after spending 22,000 yuan ($3,600; 2,660 euros) to buy into Yu'E Bao, a fund product co-developed by Alipay, the online payments provider arm of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, and Tian Hong Asset Management Co.

China's top three e-retail export hubs identified

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Shanghai are ranked as the top three e-retail export hubs in China, says a report released on November 27 by eBay Inc.

Organic is the watchword for tea growers

After a winding 40-minute drive along a zigzag country road, you climb through a lane lined with osmanthus bushes that give off a sweet scent, and finally reach the green-tea plantation of Jin Linsheng, glistening with morning dew and embroidered with thousands of spider webs.