Chinese e-retail giant Alibaba has released figures claiming its overseas shopping division, Tmall International, saw a ten-fold sales increase between February and November 2014, dubbing it “the year of globalisation”. The company also revealed that it has agreements with five of China’s biggest cities in pilot programs aiming to improve trade. The company claims there are more than 100 international brands awaiting approval on the Tmall platform. Alibaba said the Tmall International Service levels the playing field for Chinese consumers, who until recently had incurred high charges when buying foreign products. Alibaba’s profit-share affiliate, Ant Financial Services Group, also oversaw the foreign expansion of Alibaba’s payment system Alipay this year.