- Foreign trade ranked world No.1

According to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, in 2013, the volume of China's commodity trade reached $4.16 trillion, a figure which looks set to top the United States and place China first globally. This is another significant achievement after China became the world's second largest economy.

- Yuan appreciated unilaterally

In 2013, the renminbi's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar hit a record high, and the yuan appreciated 3 percent throughout the year, three times the appreciation in 2012. This contrasted against the depreciation of currencies of the other emerging economies and the overall slowdown of China's economic growth.

- Banks faced cash crunch

Cash crunch was among the key buzzwords of China's economic development in 2013. As China tightened its money supplies, large commercial banks also needed to borrow money. The interbank-offered rate hit record highs in late June.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)