Retail goods grow significantly
A senior official from the Ministry of Commerce stated the economic policies to boost consumption have been very effective. Subsidies to encourage the sales of electronic appliances and cars have proven successful and the total revenue generated from retail sales of consumer goods have risen by 15% year-on-year.

China's ties with Canada "to thaw"
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will start what his country's media says is his "most important foreign visit" when he arrives in China today (Dec 2nd). Harper is hoping to reenergize stagnated ties with Beijing and hopefully inject vitality into the Canadian economy. Chinese experts said that, despite the shadow cast by Ottawa's high duty on Chinese steel imports, the visit is likely to show Canada's goodwill and could be a turning point in the relationship between the two countries. This is Harper's first visit to China since he took office in 2006.

GD's Expressway to Increase by 2010
The Guangdong Traffic Department yesterday (Dec 1st) announced that the construction of the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao bridge will begin this month. In addition, the third phase of Guangzhou-Zhuhai expressway will also commence. More from our reporter Li Hui: According to Cai Qiwen, the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Traffic Department, by 2010 33 expressway projects will be launched. He also said, currently the number of roads connecting other provinces is far from sufficient, and the pace of construction should be accelerated. Regarding the Guangdong's construction plan over the next few years, Cai said,
"Since last year, we have been spending 360 billion yuan into the road and water transportation. The money comes from the fiscal revenues from the related cities, fuel tax and from the financial institutions."