A small article in today’s China Daily reported a startling number that revealed the true depths of China recession – giving investors pause for any near-term recovery in the country’s blistering economic growth of years past.

China’s President Hu Jintao just concluded on a victorious trip Havana on Tuesday – expanding a trade pact that could divert commodities from open spot markets.

China’s stimulus package proves that the global infrastructure boom is not dead, says Justice Litle. And that’s big news for base metals like copper. These are essential for construction, and will soar as the world attempts to rebuild its economy. That makes strong base metal producers a bargain now.

While the Bush administration clings to trickle-down economics, the Chinese government has embarked on an aggressive ground-up program – creating tens of thousands of jobs, to stimulate its economy.

Despite the historic trade agreement signed earlier today between Taiwan and China, Taiwan’s TSEC weighted index (^TWII) closed down 2.43%. It seems that fears of global recession trumped this historic economic breakthrough. This turn of events now presents investors with the question: Is it time to get into ^TWII?

China’s economy is slowing. But the country is still investing heavily in the future says Irwin Greenstein. He says the post-Olympic malaise will soon be replaced with massive construction and infrastructure projects that will last decades. Irwin thinks these are the trends that long-term investors cannot afford to ignore.