Owing to a lack of funding, experience and resources, it is really difficult for young entrepreneurs to operate their businesses at the beginning . . . But they are well-educated, passionate, innovative and eager to learn, which also offers them advantages."

Bao Chunlei, a researcher at the Institute of Labor Science

"When a country gets more developed economically, its consumers tend to go for high-end activities."

Robert Koepp, director of the Economist Corporate Network consultancy, who added that skiing and other snow sports were typical examples of high-end activities.

"Lu is likely to attract like-minded talent globally to join the company, which will assist Baidu's further growth."

Zhang Mengmeng, an analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, said search engine giant Baidu Inc's recent appointment of former Microsoft Corp executive Lu Qi as president and chief operating officer was a major push to help the company gain an edge in its latest profit driver - artificial intelligence.

(China Daily European Weekly 01/20/2017 page24)