China-experts and international commentators have their eyes and ears set on an important year-end economic conference happening in Beijing over the next few weeks.

The China model could lead to more varied views on what works and doesn’t in economic development.

Recently, the Trump administration notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that the United States opposes granting China market economy status at the WTO, an opinion also supported by the European Union. Under the World Trade Organization (WTO) terms, China should have graduated last year to market-economy status.

Recent studies have inspired headlines such as “China and U.S. ‘neck and neck’ in foreign assistance spending”. Contrasted against the Trump administration’s apparent contempt for longstanding American support for global development promotion, such headlines seem yet further evidence of China’s emergence as a leader of global economic governance and influence.

In the past decade, China has increasingly been perceived in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as a country which could bring economic benefits to the region through developing trade relations, growing inflow of Chinese investment and recently also through infrastructure projects.

Lossmaking “zombie” companies comprise a smaller share of China’s overall corporate debt than widely assumed, according to new International Monetary Fund research highlighting the broad challenge facing policymakers as they seek to control rising debt.

Gas-supply shortages are hitting north and central China as Beijing tries to accelerate a shift away from coal rather than miss environmental targets this year.

The Chinese government hopes to create “a sincerity culture” and raise “honest mentality and credit levels of the entire society” through the Social Credit System. However, this system may evolve into a large-scale political tool. The system can be used to ensure citizens, private companies, public officials, and state institutions abide by the rules.

Donald Trump's administration has put its main programme for bolstering economic relations with China on ice.

China's official manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for November was at 51.8; Economists in a Reuters poll expected official PMI to come in at 51.4 in November, slower than 51.6 in October.