Archive for ‘China alert’

« Older Entries  |   Newer Entries »
29/01/2019

China says U.S. should bear consequences of Venezuela sanctions

BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States should bear responsibility for the consequences of its sanctions on Venezuela, China said on Tuesday, after Washington imposed sweeping restrictions on Venezuelan state-owned oil firm PDVSA.

The latest U.S. sanctions announced on Monday appear to be aimed at pressuring President Nicolas Maduro to step down and to build on the momentum that has mounted in recent weeks against him at home and abroad.

Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who proclaimed himself interim president last week with U.S. backing, and who is supported by most Western countries, says Maduro stole his re-election and must resign to allow new, fair polls.

China has said it opposes unilateral sanctions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said historical experience showed foreign interference “only makes situations more complicated”.

“The relevant country’s sanctions on Venezuela will lead to the deterioration of conditions of people’s lives,” Geng told a regular news briefing in Beijing, referring to the United States.

“They should bear responsibility for the serious consequences from this,” he said.

China has lent more than $50 billion to Venezuela through oil-for-loan agreements over the past decade, securing energy supplies for its fast-growing economy.

Venezuela’s Maduro rejects election deadline

But the financing dried up as the South American country’s economy began spiralling downward in 2015, pressured by plummeting oil prices.

The Trump administration had long held off targeting Venezuela’s oil sector for fear that it would hurt U.S. refiners and raise oil prices for Americans. White House officials had also expressed concern about inflicting further hardship on the Venezuelan people.

Source: Reuters

Posted in China alert, consequences, sanctions, Uncategorized, US, Venezuela | Leave a Comment »

29/01/2019

Myanmar’s stalled China-backed Myitsone dam project strained bilateral ties — now it could be scaled back or moved

  • The chairman of Myanmar’s investment commission cited several problems, including an earthquake fault line and a catchment area ‘twice the size of Singapore’
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 29 January, 2019, 4:51pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 29 January, 2019, 5:13pm

COMMENTS:  

A top Myanmar investment official on Tuesday suggested alternatives such as scaling back or relocating a stalled Chinese-backed dam project that has strained ties between the neighbours.

Myanmar angered China in 2011 when its former quasi-civilian government suspended the US$3.6 billion Myitsone hydropower dam in the country’s north amid environmental concerns.

Asked about the dam at an investment conference, Thaung Tun, chairman of Myanmar’s investment commission, listed several problems, from an earthquake fault line running under the project site to a large catchment area affecting residents.

“Catchment area would be twice the size of Singapore. This would mean that a lot of villages will have been displaced from their accessible land. That is the issue,” Thaung Tun told reporters at the conference in the capital Naypyidaw.

Thaung Tun listed several alternatives, including scaling back the dam, moving it to a different location, or offering the operator an alternative project. He did not say if the government had a preferred option.

A lot of villages will have been displaced from their accessible land. That is the issue
THANG TUN

Spearheading these efforts is a commission launched by Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, which came to power in 2016, to review the dam. Myanmar also began informal talks with Beijing and dam operator Yunnan International Power Investment, a unit of State Power Investment Corp.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has previously said it would “maintain communication” with Myanmar over the project.

Finding a solution is critical for Suu Kyi, who has benefited from Beijing’s support at the United Nations following a 2017 army crackdown that drove 730,000 Rohingya Muslims out of Myanmar.

Myanmar also needs Beijing’s help in peace talks with several ethnic armed groups operating along northern and eastern borders with China.

Thaung Tun said original plans for the dam were not “thought out” and failed to consider the impact on the community and the environment.

The dam in the northern state of Kachin is very unpopular. Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) lost a seat in Kachin by-elections last year and party officials have voiced concern about their popularity in ethnic minority areas ahead of the 2020 general election.

What does China’s “Belt and Road” have to do with Myanmar’s meth problem?

China’s Yunnan province, the planned destination for about 90 per cent of the dam’s electricity, now has a power surplus, Thaung Tun said.

“There’s no need for this dam now,” he said.

On Monday, Nobel laureate Suu Kyi opened the first government-led investment conference by calling on global investors to put their money in Myanmar, seeking to offset the negative impact of the Rohingya crisis and slow pace of economic reforms.

Source: SCMP

Posted in China alert, Myanmar, Myitsone dam project, scaled back, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

29/01/2019

Chinese vice premier arrives in Washington for economic, trade consultations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived in Washington D.C. on Monday afternoon for the upcoming high-level economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, leads a delegation with members from major economic sectors of the Chinese government.

The delegation members include Governor of the People’s Bank of China Yi Gang, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Ning Jizhe, Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Luo Wen, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun, as well as Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen.

 

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, economic, trade consultations, Uncategorized, vice premier, Washington | Leave a Comment »

29/01/2019

Chinese, Vietnamese presidents exchange greetings ahead of lunar new year

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday exchanged greetings with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on the coming lunar new year.

Xi said the year 2018 marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

During these 10 years, China and Vietnam adhered to carrying forward the Sino-Vietnamese traditional friendship, strengthening exchanges and boosting mutual trust, Xi said.

The two countries supported each other, extended a helping hand to each other, enhanced political guidance to the bilateral relationship, and jointly promoted the development of their socialist causes, Xi said.

China and Vietnam have deepened pragmatic cooperation in various areas, and realized mutual benefit and win-win, he said.

Xi pointed out that the two sides should make a blueprint for the development of bilateral relations with a broader vision, strengthen high-level exchanges, promote development strategies docking, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Xi also noted that the two countries should work to increase the sense of well-being and happiness of the two peoples through cooperation, so as to cement and pass down the friendship between China and Vietnam.

He said the Spring Festival is a fresh beginning, and he firmly believes that the bilateral relations will achieve new, greater development with joint efforts of both sides.

In his message, Trong said that in 2018, the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership achieved fruitful results under the guidance of leaders of both parties and countries, and with the efforts of departments at all levels in the two countries.

He expressed willingness to work together with Xi to strengthen guidance to the departments at all levels, build on what has already been achieved in bilateral cooperation, increase high-level visits and exchanges, and consolidate political mutual trust.

Trong also pledged to promote cooperation in various fields to gain substantial progress, so as to bring the relations between the two parties and the two countries to a higher level.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, greetings, lunar new year, presidents, Uncategorized, Vietnam | Leave a Comment »

29/01/2019

China to expand marketing channels of farm produce from poor areas

BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) — China will expand marketing channels of agricultural goods produced in poor regions in a bid to help with the country’s poverty eradication campaign, an official statement said Tuesday.

China will encourage wholesalers, e-commerce companies and supermarkets to establish stable and long-term cooperative relationships with impoverished villages with the potential to develop the agricultural sector, according to a plan released by 10 agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce.

The country will also support direct purchase of farm produce from poor regions by universities, hospitals, canteens of public institutions and trading platforms, the plan said.

Logistics in the poor areas should be improved, while cold chain facilities should be established at the production bases of agricultural goods to support better storage, the plan said.

Tuesday’s plan came after the release of State Council guidelines earlier this month that encourage the consumption of goods and services provided by people living under the poverty line.

The battle against poverty is one of the “three tough battles” that China must win to build a moderately prosperous society by 2020. To achieve the goal, the country needs to lift around 30 million poor residents in rural areas out of poverty between 2018 and 2020.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, farm produce, marketing channels, poor areas, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

29/01/2019

Chinese State Councilor meets Sudanese presidential envoy

CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-SUDAN-MEETING (CN)

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Sudanese presidential envoy Faysal Hassan Ibrahim Ali in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sudanese presidential envoy Faysal Hassan Ibrahim Ali in Beijing Monday.

Faysal updated the situation in Sudan, saying that the situation is fully under control and people’s livelihoods had returned to normal.

The Sudanese side appreciated China for its assistance to Sudan in maintaining national peace and stability, as well as promoting economic development, Faysal said.

“As strategic partners, China and Sudan always understand and support each other,” Wang said, adding that China will firmly continue to support Sudan to follow the development path suited to its national conditions, maintain social stability and resolutely oppose external forces interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs.

“China is willing to continue to provide support and assistance with in its capacity to Sudan,” Wang said.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, presidential envoy, State Councilor, Sudan, Uncategorized, Wang Yi | Leave a Comment »

29/01/2019

Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to non-Communist parties, personages

CHINA-BEIJING-XI JINPING-NON-COMMUNIST PARTIES-PERSONAGES-SPRING FESTIVAL-GREETING(CN)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends a gathering and extends Spring Festival greetings to leaders from non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personages without party affiliation in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2019. Wang Yang and Han Zheng, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the gathering.(Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday attended a gathering in Beijing and extended Spring Festival greetings to leaders from non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and personages without party affiliation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expressed his hope that they will make new and greater contributions to the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Senior officials Wang Yang and Han Zheng attended the gathering.

Gao Yunlong, chairman of the ACFIC, addressed the gathering on behalf of the central committees of non-Communist parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation.

Xi said China has kept its economic growth within a reasonable range during the past year, noting that institutional reforms of the Party and the state have been comprehensively promoted along with other reforms, and China’s level of opening-up has seen constant improvement.

The year 2018 was the first year since new leaders of non-Communist parties and the ACFIC were elected, Xi said, noting that central committees of non-Communist parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation have actively offered advice and suggestions and provided important references for the scientific decision-making and effective policy execution of the CPC Central Committee.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi expressed gratitude for their work including the active role played in poverty alleviation.

Noting that pursuing progress while ensuring stability was the underlying principle of the current and future work of the Party and the country, Xi urged to pursue progress while ensuring stability in both economic and social development.

He called on non-Communist parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation to unite the people in promoting reform and development, adding that they should follow closely the policies and decisions made by the CPC Central Committee while giving full play to their expertise and wisdom.

Calling investigation and research the foundation of making correct decisions, Xi said that more investigations and research should be made in addressing prominent issues in the work of the Party and the country, including forestalling and defusing major risks, carrying out targeted poverty alleviation and preventing and controlling pollution.

Xi also called on the ACFIC to fulfil the CPC Central Committee’s requirements on supporting the growth of private businesses and help to implement policies of promoting the development of medium-sized, small and micro enterprises and private investment.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, greetings, non-Communist parties, President Xi, Spring Festival, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

28/01/2019

Sandro-owner SMCP eyes growth and investment in China

PARIS (Reuters) – SMCP, the group behind fashion brands Sandro and Maje, will keep up investments in e-commerce and new stores in China this year and expects sales to grow strongly, countering a simmering Sino-U.S. trade war, the French company’s CEO said.

The retail group – whose affordable luxury brands, which also include Claudie Pierlot, sell dresses in the 200 to 400 euro range – had doubled annual revenues in the past four years to 1 billion euros, with a rapid expansion of its shop network and after breaking into markets such as China

Investors are on edge over signs Chinese shoppers might start spending less on high-end brands due to the Washington-Beijing trade spat, which has already hit their overseas purchases as the yuan falls.

Business in Hong Kong, for instance, a magnet for Chinese consumers, was “a little softer” as a result of currency swings, SMCP’s Chief Executive Daniel Lalonde said in an interview.

But he added that the group was still investing in mainland and greater China, which makes up the bulk of its sales in Asia Pacific, SMCP’s third-biggest region after its French home market and the rest of Europe.

“From our perspective, everything is still intact (in China). Any slowdown in our business is related to the comparison base (…) and we still expect to grow that market over 20 percent in 2019,” Lalonde said. “We’re still confident on the region.”

SMCP, controlled by Chinese retail group Shandong Ruyi, earlier on Monday reported a 8.1 percent increase in fourth-quarter sales at constant currencies, which came in at 276.1 million euros (239.4 million pounds), in line with forecasts.

World markets slip on China worries; dollar steady ahead of trade talks

Momentum in Asia Pacific slowed from the previous three months, but mainland China was particularly strong, the group said.

In France, SMCP had to shut some stores on successive Saturdays in November and early December along with its rivals due to anti-government “yellow vest” protests, costing the firm 4 million euros in lost revenue, Lalonde said.

Its French sales fell 1.9 percent at constant currencies in the fourth quarter, less than expected by some analysts and helped by a spike in online sales.

SMCP’s shares jumped more than 4 percent in early trading but were down 4 percent by 1218 GMT, with European shares more broadly in negative territory following underwhelming industrial data from China.

Source: Reuters

Posted in China alert, growth, Investment, Sandro, SMCP, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

28/01/2019

President Xi Jinping visit to Macau confirmed as security chief issues stern warning against illegal activities threatening China’s security

  • Chinese leader’s visit to celebrate 20th anniversary of former colony’s reunification
  • Security services meanwhile are focused on anniversaries of Tiananmen Square and Falun Gong crack downs
PUBLISHED : Monday, 28 January, 2019, 9:35pm
UPDATED : Monday, 28 January, 2019, 9:35pm

COMMENTS: 1 

Li Chunsheng, head of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, also disclosed that a communication centre for police forces in the Greater Bay Area would be set up in an islet called Qi’ao in Zhuhai by October, which would handle the security details and operational command for Xi’s trip.

Speaking at a meeting in Guangzhou, where dozens of officials from the city of Maoming discussed the annual report delivered by the provincial governor Ma Xingrui, Li gave a stern warning on a series of threats to China’s political security in 2019, indirectly citing a number of anniversaries, including that for the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989.

“In October, a Greater Bay Area police communication centre will be set up in Zhuhai,” Li said. “[Xi] will come and join the celebrations for the 20th anniversary in Macau, where he will deliver an important speech.”

Li was speaking hours after Ma Xingrui, Guangdong’s No 1 official, also said the province would team up with Hong Kong and Macau this year on building joint laboratories to study cutting-edge technologies needed by local industries.Ma said the province had chosen the development of the Greater Bay Area – a plan to create an international innovation and technology hub in partnership with Hong Kong and Macau – as its top priority for 2019.

Yet such a centre, and the cross-border collaboration of police forces, were not the top priority for him and his peers in 2019, according to Li, who has been overseeing public security in Guangdong for six year.

“We must resolutely defend the country’s political security,” Li said. “Among all types of security, the political security is the most prominent and its two essential parts are the security of our socialist system and the security of the Chinese Communist Party’s regime.”

After a bad month, Xi’s ‘bottom-line thinking’ could help in Hong Kong

Li said to defend the security of the party that centres around Xi, and to defend the socialist path were the top priority for public security authorities in 2019, which he described as “a politically significant year”.

“It’s the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, it’s the 20th anniversary of Macau’s handover, and of course, it’s the anniversary of a series of incidents, which took place 20, 30 and 10 years ago,” Li said, without naming the specific incidents.

“The hostile forces inside China have long marked this year as an important time to implement their plan – which is a vain attempt – to overthrow our system.”

Other than the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989, in April 1999, thousands of members of the Falun Gong spiritual group gathered outside the Communist Party’s headquarters in Beijing to protest against violent treatment by the police, which prompted former president Jiang Zemin to outlaw the group and punish its believers.

Li said Guangdong’s provincial party chief Li Xi had recently organised a special meeting and rolled out eight operation plans to strike “illegal activities that will jeopardise political security”, including strengthening control over universities, the social sciences sector, and the internet.

When asked by the Post on the sidelines of the meeting if Guangdong police would more severely crack down on people who tried to get rid of the internet blockage in mainland China, Li said the police would be targeting the “hostile forces” and “illegal activities that will threaten our system, society and public security”.

“It’s not contradicting the integration [with Hong Kong and Macau],” Li said.

Source: SCMP

Posted in China alert, China’s security, illegal activities, Macau, President Xi, security chief, stern warning, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

28/01/2019

Political advisors call for enhanced protection of intellectual property rights

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) — China’s political advisors on Monday called for more efforts to enhance the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and put forward their suggestions at a bi-weekly consultation session presided over by top political advisor Wang Yang.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said a better understanding of IPR in its creation, protection and application on the Internet was needed to better enforce protection measures.

A total of 18 political advisors and experts, including Zhou Qunfei, founder of touchscreen maker Lens Technology and Pony Ma, founder and CEO of Tencent, raised suggestions on IPR protection, legal guarantees and corporate responsibilities while another 180 left suggestions on a mobile application platform.

The political advisors spoke of the need to strengthen IPR protection as a discipline in the university, set up a talent pool and build a professional and international IPR protection team.

They also proposed to put more efforts in the publicity and education work of IPR protection and improve people’s IPR protection awareness.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, IPR, protection, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries  |   Newer Entries »
CCChang

Law of Unintended Consequences

continuously updated blog about China & India

ChiaHou's Book Reviews

continuously updated blog about China & India

What's wrong with the world; and its economy

continuously updated blog about China & India