August the first 83 years ago saw the first battle between Communist and Nationalist forces in China's civil war. That was the date the People's Liberation Army was founded. But what's the PLA up to today? BON's Tom Spender finds out.

Every five years since 1953 China's Communist Party leadership has come together to discuss and approve a plan for economic development over the next five years. The 12th Five-Year Plan begins in 2011 and this year the Party's Central Committee met in Beijing from October 15 to 18 discuss economic strategy. The key official objectives for the period include driving economic growth higher through domestic demand and achieving a more equal income distribution. But what do ordinary Chinese people feel are the most important tasks for the next five years? Our researcher Stella Chen Went out on the streets of Beijing to find out.

Ties between America's and China's economies are already under pressure, following the tire import duties announced last September. The additional preliminary duties on Chinese wire decking have further inflamed tensions.

Wire decking reinforced with structural supports is designed for industrial and other commercial storage rack systems.

The U.S. Commerce Department says that from 2006 to 2008, wire decking imports from China increased nearly 50 percent, topping more than 300 million dollars in 2008.

The potato dates back thousands of years. While it's not native to China, the two have a history of more than 400 years old. The Chinese government is now eying the crop as crucial to its development and is hoping to develop a strain with Chinese characteristics. Susan Tart explains.

The Kami Iron Ore Project, officially called the Kamistiatusset iron ore project, is strategically located next to the mining towns of Wabush, Labrador City and Fermont. The Project will require approximately two years of construction, and once operational, the Project is expected to produce 8 million tons of concentrate per year for 16 years.

Microsoft will invest more than 48 million dollars over the next three years to set up a research and service center in Wuxi in Jiangsu Province on China's east coast.  Expected to create 600 jobs within three to five years, the new center will open next year.