Europeans bought about 9% of a China Development Bank dim-sum bond and 8% of one sold by Beijing Enterprises Group, Dealogic said.

WSJ: Dim Sum Bonds Get Western Flavor

Perhaps most intriguing was the presence of a Chinese bidder, reportedly China Development Bank, in the race for Dresdner.

ECONOMIST: German banking

There is also a lot of upbeat coverage in The Beijing News, China Daily and other media on a mooted Brics reserve fund, as well as a development bank that will finance infrastructure projects among the five members as well as developing countries.

BBC: China media: Brics as 'global force'

The report credits Mr Zoellick with proposing in 2010 that the bank and government should work on a joint project on challenges to China's longer-term development.

ECONOMIST: The politics of economic reform