The Bank of China aims to be a major international player by the year 2010. But it faces many challenges, not least of which is the transformation of a large proportion of its international profit - from Hong Kong - into domestic profit in less than 500 days. Sophie Roell reports on the bank's efforts to expand its areas of expertise, introduce tighter controls and achieve real independence.

An island powered for success The combination of American know-how and Asian can-do has turned Taiwan into one of the world's leading producers of computer-related electronics. And, despite the Beijing factor, medium- and long-term prospects are excellent. But the island needs to raise investment in R&D to stay ahead of the competition, as Nicholas Bradbury reports.

Many business travellers favour the international style, seeking certainty and consistency in alien worlds. But comfort and modern conveniences need not imply characterlessness. Gary Marchant reports on Asian hotels that are proud of their past.

For diversity and opportunity look to the markets of central and eastern Europe Showing themselves to be more resilent and different this year, markets in central and eastern Europe are offering foreign investors a wide variety of investment options. Krystyna Krzyzak reports.

Chairman John Reed's successor could be any one of half a dozen managers running the new streamlined Citicorp - Reed is giving nothing away about his favoured choice. But this group is fast changing the culture of the "largest small bank in the world" as it retools its approach to branded products and global coverage. Peter Lee reports.

Indonesia's banking sector is currently in a state of flux. Deregulated in 1988, it expanded beyond expectation, but is now set to consolidate. Tighter regulation, tough economic measures, bad loans and lower bank lending are forcing private banks, in particular, to be more entrepreneurial. By James Sinclair.

Jacques de Larosière ran the IMF, then the Banque de France. Now he's in charge of something halfway between - a development institution favouring private-sector investment, transferring the best of western wealth and know-how to eastern Europe. But should it all have such a French flavour? Jonathan Ford reports.