China's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector remained flat at 51.4 percent in November, according to data released on November 30.

The figure was the same as October, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) showed. Manufacturing PMI has stabilized after rising for four consecutive months, showing a steady upward trend in manufacturing. A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 percent indicates contraction.

Zhao Qinghe, a senior NBS statistician, attributed the strong PMI to expanding production, and confidence boosted by government measures to stabilize growth and restructure the economy, as well as large-scale enterprises' active performance.

The PMI for China's non-manufacturing sector stood at 56 percent in November, down from 56.3 percent for October, according to the NBS and CFLP.

The non-manufacturing PMI tracks service, construction, software, aviation, railway transport and real estate among other sectors.

CFLP Vice Chairman Cai Jin said construction and information services are becoming increasingly active, and the non-manufacturing sector is absorbing more labor.

Disney's JV

The Walt Disney Co. (TWDC) and Shanghai-based BesTV New Media Co. Ltd. on December 4 announced plans to set up a joint venture in China to tap into the country's fast-developing digital industry and market.

The new venture will use the technical expertise, professional skills, experience and marketing strategies of Disney and BesTV together. It will operate a digital technology consulting business focusing on BesTV and Disney-related services, products and content on China's mainland, BesTV said in a statement.

BesTV will own 51 percent of the joint venture, while the remainder will be owned by TWDC Shanghai Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of TWDC.

Shanghai-listed BesTV, a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group, has 18 million IPTV subscribers with its businesses in China, southeast Asia and eastern Europe.

Duty-Free Shopping

Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, will start providing duty-free shopping from 2015 as the city tries to build itself up as a trade hub in Central Asia. Duty-free shops will open in a plaza covering 100,000 square meters, local authorities said on November 30.

Visitors to Kashgar will be allowed to buy duty-free goods with valid plane tickets and travel agreements, according to the administration of Kashgar Economic Development Zone.

In a policy package released in 2011, the State Council said it supported Kashgar to set up a special customs regulation zone.