The Chinese mainland is turning to more partners around the world to launch the next phase of yuan internationalization, with each partner selected to play a role.

China has a new status its government doesn't want — world's biggest trader. Trade data from both governments indicate China passed the United States last year in total imports and exports by a margin of US$3.866 trillion to US$3.822 trillion. That is about US$44 billion, or just over 1 percent of China's total.

Chinese telecommunications company Huawei said on Monday it had not worked with an institute in Singapore on any projects in the specialist field of an American engineer who died mysteriously last year shortly after leaving the institute.

China on Saturday said retail sales jumped nearly 15 percent on-year during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, as consumers splurged on jewelry, clothes and food.

India and ASEAN have been tipped to benefit from China's struggle to keep foreign direct investors (FDIs) in the country, according to the China-ASEAN Business Council Chinese Secretariat.

China's trade growth surged in January but much of the increase was driven by the traditional Lunar New Year holiday.

China's inflation eased in January ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday but vegetable prices spiked higher amid unusually cold weather, data showed Friday.

China's auto sales rose 46 percent in January to a monthly record on strong demand for SUVs in pre-Lunar New Year shopping, an industry group reported Friday.

German automaker Daimler unveiled plans Friday to boost its position in the fast-growing Chinese market by acquiring for 640 million euros a 12-percent stake in the country's fifth-biggest car group.

China said Friday it had approved British bank HSBC's sale of its stake in insurance giant Ping An to a Thai conglomerate for US$9.4 billion, ending speculation that the deal was on the verge of collapse.