But his hosts did not let him see the secret nerve centre of the Chinese armed forces, in the hills west of Beijing.

ECONOMIST: Up to a point

It has asked Beijing to approve the building of a data centre in China, reports the Wall Street Journal.

BBC: Evernote will set up a data centre in China

In the capital, the files of most privately employed workers are guarded by the Beijing Talent Centre, which is housed inside a former concubines' compound at the Forbidden City.

ECONOMIST: China

At recent talks between the two sides in Beijing, the South wanted the North to consider setting up a communications and visiting centre so that millions of separated families could get in touch.

ECONOMIST: Rumblings from across the razor wire