BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's retail sales of consumer goods grew 10.3 percent year on year in the first 10 months this year, slightly down from 10.4 percent for the first three quarters, official data showed Monday.
Retail sales maintained steady and relatively fast growth during the period, according to a statement of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The growth was partly contributed by booming Internet-based sales, with online sales surging 25.7 percent year on year to 3.93 trillion yuan (about 575 billion U.S. dollars) from January to October.
In October, retail sales grew by 10 percent, 0.7 percentage points slower than September, the NBS said.
The data also showed strong consumption in rural areas last month, with retail sales expanding 10.3 percent, outpacing the 10-percent expansion in urban areas.
Booming retail sales are behind China's stabilizing economy, which grew 6.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2016, steady with the first half of the year, and within the government's target range of between 6.5 and 7 percent for 2016.
by Jian Ping
PALM SPRINGS John Carlson USA Jersey , the United States, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese film "Nightingale," made by a French filmmaker in collaboration with Chinese producers, shows outstanding beauty of China's countryside at the 25th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) in California.
The film was made by French director Philippe Muyl, whose previous film "The Butterfly" was very popular with Chinese audience Joe Pavelski USA Jersey , which led him to produce this new film.
"Nightingale" is a multi-dimensional family story set in modern China, featuring the relationship between a grandfather and his smart but spoiled young granddaugher.
"If someone asked me five years ago if I would make a Chinese film, I would have said 'impossible!'" Muyl told Xinhua. "But I'm glad I did."
"My Chinese producers, writer, and cinematographer were very helpful Jamie Langenbrunner USA Jersey ," said Muyl. "Actually we worked so well together that they told me I must have been Chinese in my previous life," he continued with a chuckle.
Muyl did his research and traveled extensively in China in 2010 and 2011 before writing his script and working with Chinese co-writer Yang Yang.
In "Nightingale," the grandfather takes his granddaughter from Beijing to his home village near Guilin. The journey changes the little girl, as she discovers freedom, new friends and the beauty of the countryside.
"China is a beautiful country James van Riemsdyk USA Jersey ," said Muyl. "But many people in the West don't know it. It would be nice if they were exposed to the beautiful side of China."
Muyl takes the audience on a Chinese road trip through spectacular mountain villages to discover the daily existence of the people and the beauty of nature.
Talking about filmmaking in China, Muyl said he would like to see more support from the government to filmmakers, especially young filmmakers.
He believed a lower cost would draw more people to movie theaters in China.
"At the cost of 12 to 15 euros to watch a film in theater, it's more expensive than the 7-euro ticket in France," he said.In
"Nightingale" will soon be distributed in China.
About 135 Jack Johnson USA Jersey ,000 people from across the United States attend the film festival, one of the largest in North America, every year. The current festival runs on Jan. 3-13.
by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua)-- Chinese flagship airline Air China is launching direct flights between Beijing and Athens this September in cooperation with the Athens International Airport (AIA), one more landmark in the bilateral ties which is expected to help bring people of the two nations closer.
On Wednesday Erik Johnson USA Jersey , an Air China AirbusA330-200 aircraft will land at AIA for the first time directly from Beijing, Chinese and Greek officials told a press conference at the Chinese embassy in Athens on Monday.
The plane with a 237 seating capacity will be from now on connecting Beijing and Athens twice a week, each on Wednesday and Saturday and vice versa without any stopovers.
Since 2011, Air China which opened its offices in Athens back in 2005, was operating a Beijing-Athens line with a short stopover in Munich every Wednesday and Saturday.
The introduction of the direct flights was warmly welcomed by representatives of both sides on Monday as a significant step that will help further advance the Sino-Greek relations Dustin Byfuglien USA Jersey , increase the number of visitors in two-way tourism and promote people-to-people exchanges.
"The long expected launch of direct flights between Beijing and Athens on September 30 will contribute to enhancing the status of Greece as a prominent hub of transport and an attractive destination for Chinese tourists," Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli said at the press conference which was attended by officials from Greek ministries and the tourism industry.
"More importantly it will demonstrate once again to the whole world that with shared commitment and synergy we can make our dreams come true," Zou stressed.
"We are extremely excited to welcome now the direct flight between Beijing and Athens. It is a dream come true and we put great hopes into the development of the China-Greece relations," Athens International Airport CEO Yannis Paraschis told Xinhua.
Despite the difficulties Greece faced during the seven-year debt crisis, it remains a very attractive tourism destination and the AIA has seen between 2013 and 2017 a total passenger growth of 75 percent Derek Stepan USA Jersey , he noted.
In order to welcome more Chinese visitors to Greece for business or leisure, the AIA has made preparations to facilitate and accommodate their needs, Paraschis stressed.