对中国商业来说，近几年在“波澜”与“平静”中发生了许多变化。连锁超市、专卖店和豪华商厦一改昔日“千人一面”的百货店，外在形象已大大改现；与世界商业巨头同台竞技，也使中国商业的经营机制、经营理念得以逐步转轨。进入新世纪，随着“入世”的临近，将率先感受ＷＴＯ规则下公平竞争的中国商业，实际上已经做出或正在进行一场深刻的变革，出现了一些新的发展趋势。本刊从这一期开始，通过一组连续报道，试图对中国商业在今后一段时期的走势作出概略性的展望。 For Chinese businesses, there have been many changes in “waves” and “calmness” in recent years. With the transformation of supermarkets, luxury stores and luxury shopping malls, the external image of the department store has been greatly changed. With the world’s commercial giants competing on the same stage, the business management mechanism and business philosophy in China have been gradually transformed. In the new century, with the advent of “accession to the WTO”, China will take the lead in feeling China’s fair competition under WTO rules. In fact, a profound reform has been made or is under way and some new trends have emerged. This issue from the beginning of this issue, through a series of consecutive reports, trying to make a rough outline of the trend of Chinese commerce in the next period of time.