YEAR OF THE RAT RACE

It is still three months until the Beijing Olympics – the planned coming out party for a newly globally minded China – but the country has prematurely taken centre stage because of its pumped-up nationalism and muscular policies regarding civil liberties. While many Europeans lament the recent scenes of civil unrest, others are queasy about China taking the leading role on the world’s financial stage. For all the smoke on the streets of Lhasa and the smoke and mirrors in state-sponsored boardrooms, China certainly means business. In this special 21-page report, CNBC European Business examines China’s economy and assesses the opportunities for entrepreneurs hoping to go for gold in years to come.