The world's factory is turning into an R&D machine -- and fast catching up with America. Beijing is urgently looking for ways of designing its own products rather than manufacturing someone else's. Put another way, it wants to shift from making iPhones to inventing them.

While China is virtually certain to be the world’s biggest trade nation, Yu Xiang points out four key reasons why the country is yet to be the strongest trade nation and urges for the expansion of the US-China trade relationship.

As news that the United States has become the largest recipient of Chinese investment spreads, many Americans are nervous and wonder where that money is going. Interestingly, the U.S. draws a significant amount of private investment from China, which is distinctly different from the country’s investment patterns in the rest of the world.

While China’s refusal of genetically modified corn crops from the United States has gained attention in recent months, Colin A. Carter explains that as China moves from a major corn exporter to importer, it will require more sources of the crop and ultimately approve more biotech corn products.

The international community has praised China’s recent destruction of confiscated ivory as an important step towards reducing poaching in Africa. Robert Rotberg writes that China’s actions can spur further international cooperation and become a leader in anti-poaching initiatives.

2013 has seen three remarkable changes in China-US economic and trade relations, writes Zhou Shijian.

Foreign news agencies have reported that President Barack Obama will likely nominate Senator Max Baucus to be his next envoy to China. If this is true and no change happens, it should be a positive move for the China-US relations, writes Tao Wenzhao.

October’s shutdown of the US federal government elicited responses from Chinese leaders and businesses alike. These responses all seemed to send the same message – the US must get its house in order or China will not be investing in the United States much longer.

After nearly $1.5 million worth of elephant tusks were seized by customs agents in Hong Kong, international attention has turned to the illegal ivory and rhino horn trade in Africa – fuelled by Chinese demand.

Following the purchase of the former iconic landmarks in Detroit by Dongdu International Group, Tom Watkins discusses the need for further Chinese investment across the United States.