China's debt outlook downgraded as economy slows
The Moody's credit rating agency warns of "broad downside risks" as the country faces a need for stimulus.Source: BBC News - China | 6 Dec 2023 | 4:52 am(NZT)
Forest City: Inside Malaysia's Chinese-built 'ghost city'
Built during the Chinese property boom, Forest City is a stark reminder of the crisis in the sector.Source: BBC News - China | 5 Dec 2023 | 6:20 pm(NZT)
COP28: Should India and China benefit from a climate damage fund?
Despite being major polluters, India and China argue they have vulnerable populations that need help.Source: BBC News - China | 5 Dec 2023 | 11:11 am(NZT)
Couple's property ordeal captivates Chinese internet
Their struggles mirror the dashed hopes of so many people confronting a slowing economy.Source: BBC News - China | 5 Dec 2023 | 1:12 am(NZT)
How is Edinburgh Zoo transporting two giant pandas?
Complex arrangements have been made to safely send Edinburgh's two giant pandas back to China.Source: BBC News - China | 4 Dec 2023 | 6:26 pm(NZT)
Hong Kong: Protest leader Agnes Chow jumps bail
The activist is in Canada and is under investigation for breaching the national security law.Source: BBC News - China | 4 Dec 2023 | 3:06 pm(NZT)
Youth the target as Sanya aims to be international tourist destination
A group of young foreign tourists went on a fantastic journey to Sanya, a popular coastal destination in south China’s Hainan Province. The exhilarated youngsters were fascinated by the picturesque scenery, vibrant local culture, eco-friendly traveling environment and the delectable culinary delights that Sanya has to offer. They appreciated the city’s breathtaking beauty and experienced its splendid culture as part of the program “Travel The World, Stay In Sanya,” hosted by the Sanya Tourism Board and co-hosted by Shanghai Daily from September 8 to 10. Sanya’s development has been put on the fast track under the master plan to build Hainan Island into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century. The Sanya Tourism Board has also been making efforts to attract a younger demographic, resulting in the growing popularity of the tourist paradise amongst the younger generation. In the first half of 2023, the tropical city reaped an overnight tourism revenue of 47.53 billion yuan (US$6.5 billion), posting a significant annual increase of 80.5 percent. Of the total revenue, 47.283 billion yuan was generated domestically, representing an 80.54 percent year-on-year gain; overseas overnight travelers spent US$35.579 million, up 59.62 percent from a year earlier. Sanya, as one of the most popular domestic travel destinations for Chinese tourists, has become a trend-setting destination with the construction of a free trade port, the benefits of tax-free policies, continuous improvement of infrastructure, and various theme activities hosted by the tourism board. According to the Sanya Tourism Big Data Platform, young travelers aged between 18 and 35 accounted for 37.2 percent of the total inbound passengers at Sanya Airport in 2022 – the highest percentage among all age groups. The trend of younger travelers in the Sanya tourism market has become more pronounced this year. In May, the contribution of travel spending by Generation Z accounted for 38.1 percent of the total, ranking first among all age groups. Albert Yip, director general of the Sanya Tourism Board, stated that the board will continue to leverage the advantages of Internet platforms, big data, and high traffic to help develop Sanya into a younger and more international city, as well as an international tourist destination. In response to market changes, the board has launched a series of unique events, such as the Strawberry Music Festival, Good Travel Festival, Sanya Coffee Festival, and the “Youth Wonderland” Sanya City Walk, aimed at attracting young tourists and unlocking the full potential of the city’s tourism market. In a bid to continuously enhance Sanya’s international image and attract more international tourists, the tourism board has made best use of the 59 countries’ visa-free policy within the free trade port, and implemented various measures such as expanding international air routes, organizing overseas promotion events, and attracting more international sporting event IPs, which have already shown initial results. This year, Sanya not only resumed air routes to China’s Hong Kong, and international destinations such as Seoul, Jakarta, Hanoi, Almaty, but also the cruise route between Hong Kong and Sanya. Tourism promotion events were held in Russia and South Korea, and it has also introduced many international sports events such as the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) golf tournament. In order to deepen its image as a youthful and international city, Sanya has launched the “Visit Sanya At Ease” platform which includes a pre-payment compensation mechanism, to ensure that tourists can enjoy a safer and more reliable travel experience in the city. The rapid development of tourism in Sanya is just a microcosm of its continuous development. The city is being built as an international tourism destination and a high-tech innovative hub in the context of the Hainan Free Trade Port, and it has achieved fruitful results. Sanya has not only attracted tourists from home and abroad, but also many foreign young professionals who have chosen to work and live in the city. Sanya’s sound and international business environment has enticed numerous foreign investors, including Ulrich Akos from Hungary. Akos relocated to Sanya two years ago, and will open Dinner In The Sky, an international-brand restaurant , at Haitang Bay in October. “I really like the climate of Sanya. It is China’s No. 1 tropical destination,” Akos said. He gave a thumbs-up to Sanya’s business environment. “The number of foreign investment and foreigners visiting the city is growing. The local government is supportive,” Akos noted. “I would encourage my partners and friends to come here, invest, and build new projects because I think it is a perfect place for this.” Russian Anastasiia Korytova has been working as an event planning manager for more than three years. “Sanya’s climate is very pleasant. It has one of the highest air quality ratings in China, which I greatly appreciate. And we have a wide range of flora and fauna,” said Anastasiia. Obtaining a work permit and visa is extremely simple, she pointed out. “I believe Sanya is a truly ideal place to live and work because of its excellent environmental conditions and attractive policies.” The Sanya Tourism Board said the event was not just a trip, but also a brand-new try-out of its marketing campaign, with the voice of young tourists from around the world heard to promote the international tourist resort and tourist-friendly city globally. Albert, the director general, said that the board hopes to act as a bridge between the city and the international community. “We welcome friends from all over the world to come to Sanya for tourism, investment, and entrepreneurship, to stay in Sanya and to build Hainan’s free trade port together,” Albert stated.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 10 Oct 2023 | 6:04 am(NZT)
It’s visa-free as Chinese get VIP Thai welcome
THAILAND extended a warm welcome to the first batch of visa-exempt flights from China yesterday, marking the launch of the nation’s fresh initiative to reinvigorate its Chinese tourist market. Approximately 341 visitors from Shanghai landed at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday morning, greeted with flowers and applause by the newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and several senior Thai officials. “This marks a promising first day for Thailand as we welcome Chinese tourists under the new visa-free entry policy,” he said at the airport’s welcoming ceremony. The Southeast Asian country recently announced its decision to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists from yesterday until the end of February 2024, in line with Srettha’s commitment to enhancing Thailand’s economy through tourism. “We are confident that this scheme will significantly boost the economy,” he said. According to latest data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, from January 1 to September 17 this year, Thailand recorded over 2.34 million Chinese tourists, approximately 37 percent of the same period in 2019. With the help of the scheme, authorities hope to double the current number, anticipating between 4.01 to 4.4 million Chinese visitors for the entire year. “Knowing that Thailand has lifted visa requirements for Chinese visitors, my mother and I made a quick decision to visit Thailand for a few days,” 25-year-old Tian Yumeng told Xinhua. The stimulus visa scheme, effective just ahead of China’s Golden Week in October, has prompted airlines to gear up for expanding China-Thailand routes, increasing flight frequencies, and introducing new connections between favored Thai destinations and second-tier Chinese cities, according to TAT. On the same day, flights from China’s Kunming, Changsha, and Nanning and landing in the Thai capital Bangkok and other popular tourist cities, such as Chiang Mai and Phuket, were also greeted with Thai-style welcome ceremonies.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 26 Sep 2023 | 5:00 am(NZT)
Zhang, Wu: Rivals yet partners
CHINA’S top-two ranked male tennis players Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing will partner each other for the first time. The duo is paired in the doubles competition at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Shanghai native Zhang is 60th in the ATP rankings, while 98th-ranked Wu hails from Hangzhou, where he has received overwhelming support from his hometown folks over the past two days since the Games officially kicked off. At Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Center, they eased past Chinese Taipei pair Ho Chenjui and Wu Tung-Lin 6-3, 6-0 in the first round on Sunday, and defeated the Qatari duo Alharrasi Mubarak and Naif Mashari 6-3, 6-4 in the second round yesterday. “After yesterday’s match and today’s singles, I feel more relaxed,” said Zhang. “I found form a bit late today, thankfully he (Wu) was leading the pace.” “We’re used to playing singles, and we don’t have a lot of time to practice doubles,” Wu noted. “So we’ve done our best with very limited time. “I think doubles involves taking more responsibility. It’s not only about yourself, you have to talk to each other, get to know what you’re going to do in each situation.” As a Hangzhou native, Wu’s home advantage is incomparable, with family, friends and relatives attending his matches. “Not only my parents, but my cousins, my parents’ cousins, and my best friend, they all came to watch me play,” he pointed out. “With them beside me, I can really release myself.” As China’s top professional players, Wu and Zhang have spent most of their time travelling around the world for competitions over the past two years. “It’s been a long time since the last time my father watched me play,” said Wu, who was in tears when greeting his relatives after their doubles victory on Sunday. Wu secured his first ATP Tour title in Dallas, Texas, in February, while Zhang performed better in the second half of the year, overtaking Wu to become China’s top-ranked male player. “I’m also dreaming of becoming a tour-level champion. It’s always been a goal for me,” Zhang pointed out. “We try to improve each other. I try to push him, and he tries to push me. You cannot be alone, it’s too boring and you lose motivation.” Zhang has a very busy schedule in Hangzhou, playing in the singles, doubles, and the mixed doubles. In the latter part of the Games, he might be playing three matches a day. He beat Ammar Faleh A Alhogbani of Saudi Arabia 7-5, 6-2 in the second round of the men’s singles yesterday. Zhang was down 0-3 in the first set, but rallied to victory. Earlier in the day, Wu saw off Indonesia’s Justin Barki 7-5, 6-1 in another second-round encounter.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 26 Sep 2023 | 5:00 am(NZT)
China’s gold rush continues at Asiad
HOST China snapped up more gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games yesterday. A shooting world record fell to Chinese teenager Sheng Lihao in the men’s 10-meter air rifle with his 253.3 points surpassing teammate Yu Haonan’s 252.8 from Rio de Janeiro four years ago. “I had good luck in the final. I did quite well today, I was basically smooth,” said the 18-year-old, a Tokyo Olympic silver medalist. After winning all seven gold medals in the pool on the opening day, China dominated again, spearheaded by breaststroke world champion Qin Haiyang. The Shanghai swimmer added the Asian Games title to his collection with the second-fastest swim this year. Qin clocked a Games-record time of 57.76 seconds to win the 100 breaststroke. Fifteen-year-old Chen Ye won the men’s gold medal in the skateboarding park finals. It was the Chinese team’s first skateboarding gold at a large-scale global competition. At Qiantang Roller Sports Center, Chen and Japan’s Kusaki Hinano, also 15, won men’s and women’s golds. Zhang Liang became the most successful Asiad rower. Zhang won the men’s single sculls to add to his double sculls gold from Sunday and now has five Asiad titles from four editions.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 26 Sep 2023 | 5:00 am(NZT)
Xi to attend opening ceremony
CHINESE President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou and hold a welcoming banquet and bilateral events for foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony, on September 22 and 23, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced yesterday. The foreign leaders attending the opening ceremony in the Zhejiang Province capital are: King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah of Kuwait, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda of Nepal, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of Timor-Leste, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea and Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of Malaysia Johari bin Abdul.Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 22 Sep 2023 | 4:00 am(NZT)
Smart & green opening ceremony set for Asiad
TORCHBEARERS in the virtual and physical worlds will jointly light up the cauldron for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou tomorrow, organizers said yesterday. “A green, digital and intelligent Asian Games will leave lasting memories for people. The shows, transportation and related services have been ready for the event,” said Li Yiqing, spokesperson for the Asian Games opening and closing ceremonies operations center. The 12-day Hangzhou Asiad torch relay, covering 11 cities in Zhejiang Province, concluded on Wednesday. “The cauldron fueled by methanol will be lit by torchbearers at the opening ceremony, which is also a practice of hosting a green Games,” Li noted. “Advanced technologies, including digital fireworks, glasses-free 3D and augmented reality, will provide the audience with a unique experience to feel local Chinese culture in Hangzhou,” said Sha Xiaolan, chief director and producer for the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony of an international sports event has always been a major platform to present the host country’s culture. For Hangzhou, the elements of sweet osmanthus, the Qiantang River, and Autumn Equinox, the 16th solar term on the Chinese lunar calendar falling tomorrow, will be found during the ceremony. Lu Chuan, chief director for the opening ceremony, said, “Life in Hangzhou makes me feel comfortable. I hope to introduce this charming city and the profound Chinese culture to more people through the opening ceremony. We are embracing Asia and the world.” According to Games organizers, around 50,000 participants will attend the opening ceremony, while more than 1,200 volunteers will be on hand to offer guidance and assistance. The Hangzhou Games will be the most eco-friendly and smartest games ever held, said Vinod Kumar Tiwari, acting director general of the Olympic Council of Asia. “The infrastructures and stadiums designed, are completely eco-friendly. We see almost all of the cars here are electric vehicles. This probably will be a pioneering thing for the next Asiad.”Source: Shanghai Daily: Nation | 22 Sep 2023 | 4:00 am(NZT)
Alibaba Pictures first half revenue soar on back of online promotion and distribution business
Alibaba Pictures Group, the entertainment subsidiary of e-commerce titan Alibaba Group Holding, recorded a 313 per cent year on year jump in revenue for the six months ended June 30 amid aggressive moves to build its infrastructure for the mainland Chinese film industry. “Having laid the foundation for its core business segments over the last two years, the group is expected to advance to a new phase of development,” said Alibaba Pictures chairman Yu Yongfu in a regulatory filing...Source: South China Morning Post - China Business feed | 31 Aug 2017 | 6:00 am(NZT)
Mengniu Dairy’s profits first-half rise 4.7 per cent
China Mengniu Dairy, the country’s second largest dairy, announced that its profits for the first half of the year increased by 4.7 per cent from the same period last year, in line with analysts’ expectations. Mengniu reported profits of 1.13 billion yuan for the six months to the end of June, up from 1.08 billion in the first half of 2016. The profit came primarily from Mengniu’s core activities, liquid milk and ice cream products, which helped compensate for a loss at its...Source: South China Morning Post - China Business feed | 31 Aug 2017 | 3:31 am(NZT)
NetDragon returns to profit on higher online games revenue
NetDragon Websoft, the mainland Chinese online gaming giant, returned to profit in the first half of this year on the back of the Hong Kong-listed company’s record high revenue posted in the quarter ended June 30. “Our games business brought robust growth as we executed our strategy to leverage our successful intellectual property,” said Liu Dejian, the founder and chairman of NetDragon, in a statement on Wednesday. NetDragon is the latest mainland internet company to record...Source: South China Morning Post - China Business feed | 31 Aug 2017 | 1:01 am(NZT)
1,228 arrested in midnight raids as Chinese armed police seek to smash US$54 million pyramid scheme
More than 1,200 people have been arrested on suspicion of having links to a 360 million yuan (US$54.5 million) pyramid scheme in southern China, state media reported. More than 2,100 armed police and local government officials took part in coordinated raids on 300 properties in 27 residential estates in the coastal city of Beihai in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, China News Service reported on Wednesday. Why Ponzi schemes are thriving in China despite crackdowns Wang Naixue, the city...Source: South China Morning Post - China feed | 31 Aug 2017 | 12:51 am(NZT)
SAIC Motor’s near 6pc interim profit rise falls short of expectations
SAIC Motor, China’s largest automaker by sales volume, has posted a lower than expected increase in its first-half profit amid a slowing Chinese vehicle market. Net profit for the six months to June rose nearly six per cent to 15.96 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion), on the back of a 12.9 per cent jump in revenue to 396.4 billion yuan. The interim earnings, or 1.38 yuan per share, slightly fell short of an average forecast of 1.46 yuan a share by four analysts. Underlying profit in the...Source: South China Morning Post - China Business feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 11:16 pm(NZT)
Women with banknotes taped to their bodies tried to carry more than HK$13 million across mainland Chinese border
Two Hong Kong women were on Wednesday arrested at a border checkpoint after mainland Chinese customs officers found more than HK$13 million in foreign currency taped to their bodies and hidden in their handbags, a mainland news agency reported. The women attempted to enter Hong Kong through the Luohu crossing, that links to the Lo Wu immigration control point, during the morning rush hour, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily. Shenzhen customs officers grew suspicious over the women’s...Source: South China Morning Post - China feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 11:12 pm(NZT)
Agricultural Bank sees interim profit grow 3.3pc, as it curbs bad debt
Agricultural Bank of China, the mainland’s third-largest lender by assets, has beaten analyst estimates after posting a 3.3 per cent growth in profit for the first half year, and successfully putting a curb on its level of bad loans. The Beijing-based bank’s net profit for the period ended on June 30 was 108.6 billion yuan (US$16.5 billion), compared with 105.1 billion yuan last time. Forecasts had suggested a 2 per cent year on year profit rise. The bank said in its regulatory...Source: South China Morning Post - China Business feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 10:41 pm(NZT)
Beijing may loosen capital controls as yuan hits 14-month high
Both onshore and offshore yuan rose to the highest level in 14 months, which analysts said may herald a loosening of capital controls in the coming months. Onshore yuan rose 0.19 per cent to 6.5838 against the US dollar on Wednesday, marking the highest level since June 24, 2016. Offshore yuan advanced 0.27 per cent to 6.5906 per dollar, the 11th straight day of gains. The currency has gained 2.65 per cent so far this month, the best performance among the 11 most traded Asian currencies. Early...Source: South China Morning Post - China Business feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 10:38 pm(NZT)
China vows to defend its rights on path to peaceful development
China would continue to seek a peaceful development path, but would not give up its “legitimate right” to protect its territory, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying on Wednesday. “We will not give up our legitimate rights. Any foreign country should not expect us to trade our core benefits away, do not expect us to accept any damage to our territorial rights, security or the results of our development,” he said in an interview published by People’s Daily...Source: South China Morning Post - China feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 9:54 pm(NZT)
China, India have ‘huge opportunities to cooperate’ despite recent quarrels
Huge opportunities for cooperation exist between China and India despite their recent territorial disputes, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, leaving the door open for talks between the nations’ leaders at an upcoming summit. On Monday, the Asian giants ended a months-long military stand-off in Doklam, where they share a border with the tiny kingdom of Bhutan. The resolution to “disengage” troops appeared to have been timed to prevent the most serious...Source: South China Morning Post - China feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 9:05 pm(NZT)
Worries over fitness levels as more young Chinese fail military exams
A growing number of young army hopefuls in central China are not making the cut because they fail the physical exam, raising concerns about the national fitness level, according to the military’s official mouthpiece. More than 55 per cent of the 1,233 youngsters who tried out for the army in one unnamed city in Hubei province failed the test in recent weeks – mainly because of vision and weight issues, the People’s Liberation Army Daily reported on Wednesday. But that was...Source: South China Morning Post - China feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 8:47 pm(NZT)
China hints at more government spending to shore up economic growth
China will be “more proactive and effective” in implementing a pro-growth fiscal policy, the country’s two powerful economic ministers said, sending a strong signal that Beijing will loosen its purse strings to offset the impact on growth from its financial crackdown. He Lifeng, the chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the economic planning agency, told the country’s lawmakers on Tuesday that China was on track to achieve its economic...Source: South China Morning Post - China feed | 30 Aug 2017 | 8:45 pm(NZT)
International group praises green revival
A high-level international advisory body applauded China's efforts to improve the environment and suggested a 15-year strategy against pollution in a draft recommendation report on Monday.Source: China Daily > China News | (NZT)
Education, health fees among key concerns
China to legislate on preschool educationSource: China Daily > China News | (NZT)
Beijing, Moscow drill for potential missile warfare
China and Russia kicked off their second joint computer-assisted anti-missile drill on Monday, a move experts said could deter potential missile threats amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.Source: China Daily > China News | (NZT)
Beijing, Moscow drill for potential missile warfare
China and Russia kicked off their second joint computer-assisted anti-missile drill on Monday, a move experts said could deter potential missile threats amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.Source: China Daily > China News | (NZT)
International group praises green revival
A high-level international advisory body applauded China's efforts to improve the environment and suggested a 15-year strategy against pollution in a draft recommendation report on Monday.Source: China Daily > China News | (NZT)
Education, health fees among key concerns
China to legislate on preschool educationSource: China Daily > China News | (NZT)
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