"The steel industry's downstream business will see slower development next year. The ship-building industry, in particular, may see negative growth, which will lead to flat steel consumption in 2014."

Li Xinchuang, head of the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, saying China's growth in steel demand will decline from 6.3 percent this year to 3.2 percent next year, due to the country's economic transformation efforts and steps to clean up the environment.

"Whatever your beliefs are about how feasible the economic reform is, the likelihood of serious economic reform substantially increased after the Third Plenum."

Barry Naughton, economics professor at the University of California, San Diego, saying China watchers should expect "significant movement" from the government in the next six months as the country begins implementing planned reforms detailed in the Third Plenum document. Naughton says the measures outlined by the Third Plenum have dispelled any skepticism that China watchers had about the meeting of China's top leaders.

"China remains our top investment destination, although we don't exclude the possibility of investment in Southeast Asia to take advantage of the labor force."

Li Chengchun, vice-president of Samsung Electronics (Suzhou) Semiconductor Co Ltd, saying despite rising costs in recent years, China's eastern region remains a strong attraction for foreign investors, thanks to its well-developed industrial facilities and infrastructure, as well as easy access to the domestic market.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 12/13/2013 page18)