The director-general of the WTO, Pascal Lamy, is visiting Beijing to resume strained global trade talks, China Economy reported. In an interview prior to his arrival, Lamy said developing countries should contribute to the trade talks in order that they can be concluded in the next six to nine months. Delegations from the US, the EU, India and Brazil will meet in Germany next week to talk about possible compromise solutions to the stalled Doha Round, which kicked off in 2001 to promote international trade between developed and developing economies. The talks were suspended due to disagreements over agricultural subsidies and tariffs. Lamy said WTO member states needed to reach an interim consensus on slashing subsidies and tariffs before further talks could take place.

In a report entitled “China's Information Revolution: Managing the Economic and Social Transformation,” the World Bank stressed the importance of information and communication technologies (ICT) in helping China sustain economic growth. 

With yuan appreciation having little impact on China’s growing trade surplus, policy makers are looking to use export tax rebate cuts on textiles and garments to peg back exports. As China Business News reports, the policy could take some of the heat out of calls for further yuan appreciation, but there are no guarantees it will work. Read an abridged translation here.

Not satisfied with losing control over its joint venture businesses in China due to regulatory changes, Warner Bros is selling out to the Shanghai Film Group Corporation.

By reorganizing its asset structure and taking advantage of favorable market conditions, China Tungsten and High-tech Materials Co Ltd. is closer than every to establishing a solid platform for its tungsten resources and operations.

Wyndham Hotel Group, which manages hotels under brands including Super 8, Days Inn, Howard Johnson and Ramada in China, plans to open its first Wyndham luxury hotel in southern Fujian Province in the fourth quarter, International Herald Tribune reported.

Faced with increasing competition and the need to accelerate national expansion, CNPC recently reduced its retail oil prices.  Will this stimulate reduced prices from Sinopec as well?

With the recent entrance of foreign listed firms and Japanese wedding companies, China's wedding industry is expected to see an acceleration in industry consolidation and standardization, especially in first-tier cities.

Wumart Stores Inc. acquired Xinhua Department Store in Beijing in order to enter the mid- to high-end department store arena; however, a lack of management expertise and branding difficulties are presenting stumbling blocks for the retail franchiser.

Wangfujing is making moves to build upon its foundation in Beijing to expand nationwide, and it has implemented changes in senior management, adjusted its planning and expansion model, and begun developing themed department stores in order to reach its goal.