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09/10/2019

China Focus: Xi’s trip to India, Nepal to inject new impetus into ties

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming trip to India and Nepal is expected to inject new impetus into China’s relations with the two countries, an official said here Wednesday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced earlier in the day that at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bandari, President Xi will attend the second informal meeting with Modi and pay a state visit to Nepal from Oct. 11 to 13.

This will be Xi’s first overseas trip after the grand celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui told a press briefing.

Xi’s trip will inject new impetus into China-India and China-Nepal relations, even China’s relations with South Asia, Luo said, adding that Xi’s trip will also open up new space for strengthening regional connectivity and economic and trade cooperation, set up new platforms for enhancing mutual trust and friendship among regional people, and make new contributions to world peace and prosperity.

China and India, both as developing countries and emerging economies, are the only two major countries in the world with a population of more than 1 billion, Luo said, stressing that China-India cooperation will not only benefit the development of the two countries, but also help promote world multipolarization and economic globalization, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Since the first informal meeting between Xi and Modi in Wuhan last year, China-India relations have entered a new stage of steady growth, with cooperation and exchanges being carried out in various fields and differences being properly managed, Luo said.

In Chennai, Xi will have an in-depth communication with Modi on issues that have overall, long-term and strategic significance on bilateral relations, set the tune and guide the direction for future development of the ties, and speak to the world in unanimous voice, so as to inject positive energy into the world full of uncertainties.

Regarding Xi’s visit to Nepal, Luo said that Xi will be the first Chinese president to visit the South Asian country after an interval of 23 years.

Nepal, as a friendly neighbor, also serves as an important partner of China in terms of carrying out the Belt and Road cooperation, Luo said.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have treated each other on an equal footing with mutual respect and support, said Luo, adding that China and Nepal have become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between countries that are different in social system and size.

“This historic visit will definitely exert historic influence,” Luo said.

He said that Xi will attend the welcome ceremony and banquet hosted by President Bandari, meet with Bandari, hold talks with Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and jointly witness the signing of cooperation documents with him.

Xi will also meet with co-chairman of the Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, and leaders of the country’s Federal Parliament and other political party leaders, Luo added.

Leaders of the two countries will make new plans for the development of bilateral relations, ushering in a new era of fast development for China-Nepal relations, Luo said.

This will also consolidate political mutual trust and foundation of public opinions for friendship between the two countries, push forward high quality construction of the Belt and Road, speed up building an interconnectivity network across the Himalayas, and inject new impetus into pragmatic cooperation in various areas between the two countries, Luo said.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, Belt and Road (B&R), Belt and Road Cooperation, Chennai, China-India relations, China-Nepal relations, Chinese foreign ministry, Chinese President Xi Jinping, diplomatic ties, economic globalization, Federal Parliament, grand celebration, Himalayas, India alert, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, multipolarization, Nepal, Nepal Communist Party, Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bandari, overseas trip, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, South Asia, South Asian country, Uncategorized, Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, Wuhan | Leave a Comment »

09/10/2019

Technology, not China, can be blamed for regional job losses in developed countries, IMF finds

Competition from China is not the primary reason for regional job losses in rich countries, new IMF research finds
Study finds technological advancement is bigger driver of unemployment, undermining populist argument China is stealing manufacturing jobs

The IMF said automation displaced more jobs in rich countries than China’s growing productivity. Photo: SCMP

Automation rather than market competition from China can be blamed for regional job losses suffered in developed countries, including American rust belt states, according to new research by the International Monetary Fund released on Wednesday.

“Increases in import competition in external markets associated with the rise of China’s productivity do not have marked effects on regional unemployment,” the Washington-based fund said in an academic paper. “Only technology shocks tend to have lasting effects, with even larger unemployment rises for vulnerable lagging regions.”

The paper, which looked at regional disparities within advanced countries, undermines a key argument pushed by US President Donald Trump in the ongoing trade war

between Washington and Beijing – that China has been stealing American technology and jobs.

Although the research did not mention Trump, the IMF said the argument that market competition displaced jobs was flawed as imports from China could only cause job losses in the near term and such impact “quickly abates”.

The US goods trade deficit with China hit a record of US$419.2 billion in 2018, which the Trump administration has blamed for a decline in US manufacturing jobs.

In the paper, the IMF classified a region as “lagging” if two conditions were met – initial real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was below the country’s median in 2000, and the region’s average growth between 2000 to 2017 was below average.

Labour productivity tended to be lower and employment in the agriculture sector higher in lagging regions, the IMF said. Within the United States, per capita GDP in the state of New York is 100 per cent higher than in Mississippi, parts of which are considered within the rust belt.

While increases in import competition tended to reduce labour force participation after one year, this impact faded quickly and did not have significant effects on regional unemployment on average, IMF analyst Weicheng Lian said.

The impact of technology was more far-reaching, however, with researchers pinpointing it as the main driver of rising unemployment in lagging regions.

Automation pressures

translate into a decline in the cost of machinery and equipment, leading to more persistent rises in unemployment and declines in labour force participation in lagging regions, compared with less vulnerable regions, the study said.

Lian said that poorer regions tend to specialise in agriculture and manufacturing industries rather than high productivity service sectors such as information technology, communications and finance.

“We find that a negative technology shock … raises unemployment in all regions that are more vulnerable to automation, but lagging regions are particularly hurt,” she said.

Posted in Beijing, blamed, China alert, countries, developed, finds, IMF, job losses, Labour productivity, manufacturing jobs, Mississippi, New York, regional, rust belt, Technology, Uncategorized, US President Donald Trump, Washington | Leave a Comment »

09/10/2019

US imposes China visa restrictions over Uighur issue

Uighur protesters demonstrating in the US in February — Image caption Protests calling for Uighur freedom have been happening all year

The US has said it will impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials accused of involvement in repression of Muslim populations.

It follows the decision on Monday to blacklist 28 Chinese organisations linked by the US to allegations of abuse in the Xinjiang region.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Chinese government had instituted “a highly repressive campaign”.

China has dismissed the allegations as groundless.

In a statement, Mr Pompeo accused the Chinese government of a string of abuses against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz Muslims and other minority Muslim groups.

These included “mass detentions in internment camps; pervasive, high-tech surveillance; draconian controls on expressions of cultural and religious identities; and coercion of individuals to return from abroad to an often perilous fate in China”.

China has rebuffed the US moves.

“There is no such thing as these so-called ‘human rights issues’ as claimed by the United States,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday.

“These accusations are nothing more than an excuse for the United States to deliberately interfere in China’s internal affairs.”

Media caption The BBC visits the camps where China’s Muslims have their “thoughts transformed”

Visa restrictions are to be imposed on Chinese government and Communist Party officials, as well as their family members.

“The United States calls on the People’s Republic of China to immediately end its campaign of repression in Xinjiang, release all those arbitrarily detained, and cease efforts to coerce members of Chinese Muslim minority groups residing abroad to return to China to face an uncertain fate,” the US statement said.

The US and China are currently embroiled in a trade war, and have sent delegations to Washington for a meeting about the tensions later this week.

What is the situation in Xinjiang?

China has been carrying out a massive security operation in Xinjiang, in its far west, in recent years.

Human rights groups and the UN say China has rounded up and detained more than a million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in vast detention camps, where they are forced to renounce Islam, speak only in Mandarin Chinese and learn obedience to the communist government.

But China says they are attending “vocational training centres” which are giving them jobs and helping them integrate into Chinese society, in the name of preventing terrorism.

Media caption The BBC’s John Sudworth meets Uighur parents in Turkey who say their children are missing in China

There have been increasingly vocal denunciations from the US and other countries about China’s actions in Xinjiang.

Last week, Mr Pompeo alleged that China “demands its citizens worship government, not God” in a press conference in the Vatican.

And in July more than 20 countries at the UN Human Rights Council signed a joint letter criticising China’s treatment of the Uighurs and other Muslims.

Who are the Uighurs?

Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims. They make up about 45% of the Xinjiang region’s population; 40% are Han Chinese.

China re-established control in 1949 after crushing short-lived state of East Turkestan.

Why is there tension between China and the Uighurs?

Since then, there has been large-scale immigration of Han Chinese and Uighurs fear erosion of their culture.

Xinjiang is officially designated an autonomous region within China, like Tibet to its south.

Source: The BBC

Posted in 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China alert, chinese government, East Turkestan, ethnic Kazakhs, Han Chinese, human rights groups, imposes, islam, Kyrgyz Muslims, Mandarin, Mike Pompeo, Muslim, People's Republic of China, restrictions, terrorism, Tibet, Turkey, Turkic Muslims, Uighur, UN, UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Uncategorized, US, US Secretary of State, Visa, xinjiang region | Leave a Comment »

09/10/2019

India’s Modi to host China’s Xi at summit with ties strained by Kashmir

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at an informal summit this week, the Indian foreign ministry said on Wednesday, their talks coming at a time of strained ties over the disputed region of Kashmir.

The meeting in the southern Indian city of Chennai on Oct. 11-12 is aimed at enhancing the rapport the leaders built when they met in the Chinese city of Wuhan last year to help stabilise ties after a standoff in another contested section of their long border, far removed from Kashmir.

But India’s decision in August to withdraw special status for Kashmir drew sharp condemnation from Pakistan and its old ally, China, which took the matter to the U.N. Security Council.

During a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing on Wednesday, Xi said that he was watching the situation in Kashmir closely, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi said that the right and wrong of the situation was clear and India and Pakistan should resolve the dispute via peaceful dialogue, according to Xinhua.

India says its revocation of the special status of Muslim-majority Kashmir, which was accompanied by a crackdown on dissent by the security forces, is an internal matter aimed at developing the Himalayan territory, which is also claimed by Pakistan, more quickly.

India will make clear that any change to its Jammu and Kashmir state is an internal affair if the Chinese side were to raise the matter in the forthcoming talks, a government source said.

China’s close security ties with Pakistan have long been a matter of concern in New Delhi and in recent years India has drawn closer to the United States to help balance China’s rising weight across the region.

“The forthcoming Chennai Informal Summit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to continue their discussions on overarching issues of bilateral, regional and global importance and to exchange views on deepening India-China Closer Development Partnership,” the Indian ministry said in a statement.

“OMINOUS SIGNALS

China, which has been criticised by the United States for its treatment of members of Muslim ethnic minorities, said it believed India and Pakistan must refrain from taking unilateral action in Kashmir and has expressed concern over human rights violations there. India has dismissed those concerns.

Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese studies at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, said it was important for the nuclear-armed neighbours to stabilise relations as both dealt with domestic and regional issues.

“The second informal meeting as such is significant given these ominous signals at bilateral, regional and global levels,” he said.

Xi will also make a state visit to Nepal at the end of his India visit, the first by a Chinese president in 22 years, the Nepali foreign ministry said.

China has deepened ties with India’s neighbours, building ports and power stations in an arc stretching from Bangladesh to Sri Lanka and Pakistan as part of its grand Belt and Road energy and infrastructure plan.

Ahead of Xi’s trip to India, China invited Pakistan’s Prime Khan for talks and said it supports Pakistan in safeguarding its independent sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between India, Pakistan and China. India rules the populous Kashmir Valley and the Hindu-dominated region around Jammu city, while Pakistan controls a wedge of territory in the west, and China holds a thinly populated high-altitude area in the north.

During Xi’s visit, Modi is expected to raise economic issues, including India’s $53 billion trade deficit with China in 2018/19, and the smaller presence of Indian companies in China compared with that of other major economies.

Source: Reuters

Posted in Bangladesh, Beijing, Belt and Road (B&R), Chennai, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Himalayan territory, India alert, India-China Closer Development Partnership, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, informal summit, Jammu and Kashmir, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Kashmir, Nepal, Nepali foreign ministry, New Delhi, Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sri Lanka, U.N. Security Council, Uncategorized, United States, Wuhan, Xinhua News Agency | Leave a Comment »

08/10/2019

China’s leading robot maker improves lives of the elderly

SHENYANG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — China’s leading robot maker, SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd., said it has been developing robots that can provide better services for the aged.

Based in Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, SIASUN’s products have been utilized in nursing institutions, medical institutions and hospitals for the elderly.

So far, the company has created more than 20 kinds of robotic products, including intelligent robots for daily care, intelligent beds, semi-automatic bed chairs and walking aids.

The enterprise said robots could assist the elderly in daily care, which would increase efficiency and reduce the labor intensity of nursing staff.

“With the increasing aging population, there is a huge market and room to grow for rehabilitation robots for the elderly in China,” said Li Xuewei, general manager of SIASUN’s medical and health robot division.

Li said service robots for the elderly and the disabled, such as nursing and rehabilitation robots, would be in high demand in the near future.

As a leading enterprise in China’s robotics industry, SIASUN’s products have been exported to more than 30 countries and regions.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in China alert, elderly, improves, leading, lives, medical and health robot divisio, robot maker, Shenyang, SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

07/10/2019

China to brace for heavy rains

BEIJING, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) — Parts of southern and western China will be swept by heavy rains, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Southern part of of south China will experience heavy rains or rainstorms Monday, with heavy downpours in some areas, said the NMC.

Parts of Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Basin, as well as southern Shaanxi province will have heavy rains or rainstorms from Monday to Tuesday.

China’s western areas will be gripped by continuous rainfalls until Saturday, with the cumulative precipitation in parts of Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hubei provinces and Chongqing Municipality topping 180 mm.

The NMC warned against potential geological hazards that may be caused by lingering rains.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in brace, China alert, Chongqing Municipality, geological hazards, Heavy rains, hubei province, National Meteorological Center (NMC), shaanxi province, Sichuan Basin, sichuan province, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

07/10/2019

Xinhua Headlines: China achieves best world championships results in 20 years over National Day holiday

The Chinese legion at the World Athletics Championships celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in style — staging their best performance at the world championships in 20 years in Doha.

By Sportswriters Ma Xiangfei, Wu Junkuan and Liu Ning

DOHA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) — For the first time in history, the World Athletics Championships spanned almost the entirety of China’s National Day holiday.

More coincidentally, the year 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which gave added meaning to the Chinese delegation’s quest in Doha.

And the Chinese legion celebrated the holiday in style — staging the country’s best performance at the 10-day world championships in 20 years with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals.

“The race had a special meaning for me because it was held just before China’s National Day,” said former world record holder Liang Rui, who led a one-two finish for China in the women’s 50-kilometer race walk.

“This victory is a birthday gift from me for my homeland,” she said after finishing the race at dawn on September 29.

Liang Rui of China celebrates after the women’s 50km race walk at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Jia Yuchen)

At the same time, many Chinese back home were busy preparing for a huge nationwide celebration on October 1 in a festival atmosphere similar to that of the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year.

One day later, when China was counting down to a grand military parade and mass pageantry at Beijing’s iconic Tian’anmen square, Olympic gold medalist Liu Hong and her teammates Qieyang Shijie and Yang Liujing swept the 20km race walk podium in Doha.

“Even before we came here, the team was confident of retaining the 20km title before the National Day, and the only question was who would win it. Every one of us wanted to win the gold medal, to pay tribute to our country,” said 32-year old Liu, who returned to action in early 2019 after more than two years of maternity leave.

“This is the third time I have won at the World Championships. I am very pleased that I won this time because tomorrow will be the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Winning all three medals, this achievement is our gift to our motherland,” she said.

China’s Liu Hong (2nd L), Qieyang Shenjie (2nd R) and Yang Liujing (1st R) compete during the women’s 20km race walk final at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

Hours before first light was shed on a sleepless Beijing on October 1, Xie Zhenye had written a piece of athletics history when he became the first Chinese man ever to qualify for the 200m final at the world championships.

“Yes, I created some history. I did my best today and I am proud of myself, especially on this day,” said the 26-year-old, who qualified as the third fastest runner in the 200m semifinals.

Xie eventually finished seventh in the final on Tuesday night, when 6,000km away China was deep in sleep after the National Day culminated in spectacular firework displays in the heart of the capital city.

The Asian record holder said he took valuable experience from Doha, and already has his sights set on next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

“I believe I have gone through the most difficult process, running in the strongest heat group and in the inside lane in the final. I took this as a test and a learning opportunity for next year’s Olympics,” he said.

“Everyone in the team was trying to keep it steady this year because our bigger goal is Tokyo.”

China’s Xie Zhenye (R) competes during the men’s 200m final at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

As the National Day celebrations drew to a close, many Chinese people began to enjoy their holiday by traveling around the country. In the first four days of the seven-day holiday, the country received a total of 542 million domestic tourists and recorded 452.63 billion yuan (63.6 billion U.S. dollars) in domestic tourism revenue.

Many people also elected to stay at home and relax, allowing them to watch the world championships and hear more good news from Doha.

Defending champion Gong Lijiao, competing in her seventh world championships, retained her shot put title on October 3. The 30-year-old held off a strong challenge from Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd and produced four throws over 19m, grabbing the gold with a throw of 19.55m in the fourth round.

Despite her win, Gong was unsatisfied with her performance and promised to do better in Tokyo.

“I’m so happy to win but the result was well below my expectations,” said Gong, whose personal best is 20.43m.

“I worked out too much in the warm-up before the final and was dripping with sweat. So when the competition started, I felt like I was losing all my momentum, and the air conditioning in the stadium worked against me too,” she explained.

“This is a lesson for me and I will pay more attention to these details in Tokyo. My dream is obviously to win the title then,” said Gong, who already has a silver and a bronze from the Olympic Games.

China’s Gong Lijiao celebrates after winning the title of the women’s shot put final at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

Liu Shiying and Lyu Huihui also brought home a silver and a bronze medal respectively in women’s javelin, although the color of the medal was not the right one for Lyu, a clear favorite before the world championships with a four-month winning streak across 12 competitions.

“I have already competed at two world championships before, winning a silver and a bronze, and I really wanted a gold this time,” she said.

Little did she know that the Chinese team’s achievements in Doha had already made their compatriots proud.

When the women’s 20km walk race medal ceremony was held on China’s National Day on October 1, 2014 Winter Olympic gold medalist Zhang Hong watched three Chinese flags fluttering on the big screen at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The scene could well have reminded her of her days as an athlete, when she raced to the 1,000m speed skating title in Sochi in 2014, becoming the first Chinese Olympic champion in this event.

“I was so proud when I heard the national anthem on October 1. Those athletes who saw the national flags raised in the competition are the best,” said the current International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.

Gold medalist Liu Hong (C) of China, silver medalist Qieyang Shenjie (L) of China and bronze medalist Yang Liujing of China pose for photos at the awarding ceremony of women’s 20km race walk during the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 30, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

Zhang retired after the 2018 Winter Olympics and was elected to the Athlete’s Commission of the IOC. During her visit to Doha as a representative of the IOC, Zhang was informed that she was appointed to the Future Host Commission, which will explore, monitor and encourage interest in future Olympic Games, Olympic Winter Games and Youth Olympic Games.

After joining the IOC, Zhang said she could see her country from another perspective.

“After I became an IOC member, I came to know more about athletes from other countries and regions. I didn’t know how well we Chinese athletes are taken care of until I spoke to others,” she said.

Zhang’s career path could set an example for other Chinese athletes, as China’s top sprinter Su Bingtian was nominated as one of the 15 candidates for the six available seats in the IAAF Athletes’ Commission.

“I met him in Doha the other day and gave him my encouragement. I hope he can be elected,” Zhang said.

Source: Xinhua

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06/10/2019

Xinhua Headlines: China’s Greater Bay Area busy laying foundation for innovation

As China aims to develop its Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub, innovation and entrepreneurship resources are shared in the area to provide more opportunities for young Hong Kong and Macao entrepreneurs.

The provincial government of Guangdong has stepped up efforts to improve basic research capability, considered the backbone of an international innovation and technology hub, by building large scientific installations and launching provincial labs.

by Xinhua writers Liu Yiwei, Quan Xiaoshu, Wang Pan, Jing Huaiqiao

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — Hong Kong man Andy Ng was surprised his shared workspace Timetable was rented out completely only six months after it had started operation in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province.

While studying economics at City University of Hong Kong, Ng set up his first business, developing an online education platform, but soon realized the Hong Kong market was too small. After earning a master’s degree in the UK in 2017, Ng returned to China and chose Guangzhou as his new base.

Timetable is now accumulating popularity and even fans in Dianping.com, China’s major online consumer guide. Ng feels lucky that his business caught the implementation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development plan.

The bay area, covering 56,000 square km, comprises Hong Kong and Macao, as well as nine cities in Guangdong. It had a combined population of about 70 million at the end of 2017, and is one of the most open and dynamic regions in China.

Aerial photo taken on July 11, 2018 shows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in south China. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

In July 2017, a framework agreement on the development of the bay area was signed. On February 18 this year, China issued the more specific Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. One of its major aims is to develop the area into an international innovation and technology hub.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

The plan proposes that innovation and entrepreneurship resources be shared in the bay area to provide more opportunities for young Hong Kong and Macao entrepreneurs.

An incubator for entrepreneurship, Timetable is home to 52 companies, including 15 from Hong Kong and Macao, such as Redspots, a virtual reality company that won the Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards 2019.

“I persuaded them one by one to come here,” Ng said. “I told them of my own experience that the GBA is a great stage for starting a business with ever-upgrading technologies, ever-changing consumer tastes and a population 10 times that of Hong Kong.”

Timetable is a startup base of the Guangzhou Tianhe Hong Kong and Macao Youth Association, which has assisted 65 enterprises founded by Hong Kong and Macao young people since its establishment in October 2017.

The association and its four bases provide a package of services from training and registering to policy and legal consultation, said Chen Jingzhan, one of the association founders.

Tong Yat, a young Macao man who teaches children programming, is grateful the association encouraged him to come to Guangdong, where young people enjoy more preferential policies to start their own businesses.

“The GBA development not only benefits us, but paves the way for the next generation,” Tong said. “If one of my students were to become a tech tycoon in the future and tell others that his first science and technology teacher was me, I would think it all worthwhile.”

In the first quarter of this year, there were more than 980 science and technology business incubators in Guangdong, including more than 50 for young people from Hong Kong and Macao, said Wu Hanrong, an official with the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province.

INNOVATION HIGHLAND

As the young entrepreneurs create a bustling innovative atmosphere, the Guangdong government has stepped up efforts to improve basic research capability, considered the backbone of an international innovation and technology hub, by building large scientific installations and launching provincial labs.

Several large scientific facilities have settled in Guangdong. China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) operates in Dongguan City; a neutrino observatory is under construction in Jiangmen City; a high intensity heavy-ion accelerator is being built in Huizhou City.

Aerial photo taken on June 23, 2019 shows the construction site of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) in Jiangmen, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Guangdong also plans to build about 10 provincial labs, covering regenerative medicine, materials, advanced manufacturing, next-generation network communications, chemical and fine chemicals, marine research and other areas, said Zhang Yan, of the provincial department of science and technology.

Unlike traditional universities or research institutions, the provincial labs enjoy a high degree of autonomy in policy and spending. A market-oriented salary system allows them to recruit talent from all over the world, and researchers from other domestic organizations can work for the laboratories without giving up their original jobs, Zhang said.

The labs are also open to professionals from Hong Kong and Macao. Research teams from the universities of the two special administrative regions have been involved in many of the key programs, Zhang said.

For example, the provincial lab of regenerative medicine and health has jointly established a regenerative medicine research institute with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a heart research center with the University of Hong Kong, and a neuroscience research center with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

Photo taken on July 24, 2019 shows a rapid cycling synchrotron at the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Guangdong has been trying to break down institutional barriers to help cooperation, encouraging Hong Kong and Macao research institutions to participate in provincial research programs, exploring the cross-border use of provincial government-sponsored research funds, and shielding Hong Kong researchers in Guangdong from higher mainland taxes.

NANSHA FOCUS

Located at the center of the bay area, Guangzhou’s Nansha District is designed as the national economic and technological development zone and national free trade zone, and is an important pivot in building the area into an international innovation and technology hub.

The construction of a science park covering about 200 hectares started on Sept. 26. Gong Shangyun, an official with the Nansha government, said the park will be completed in 2022.

Jointly built by the Guangzhou government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the science park will accommodate CAS research institutes from around Guangzhou, including the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, the South China Botanical Garden (SCBG) and the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion.

Ren Hai, director of the SCBG, is looking forward to expanding the research platforms in Nansha. “We will build a new economic plant platform serving the green development of the Pearl River Delta, a new botanical garden open to the public, and promote the establishment of the GBA botanical garden union.”

Wang Ying, a researcher with the SCBG, said the union will help deepen the long cooperation among its members and improve scientific research, science popularization and ecological protection. “Predecessors of our botanical garden have helped the Hong Kong and Macao counterparts gradually establish their regional flora since the 1950s and 1960s.”

HKUST also started to build a new campus in Nansha the same day as the science park broke ground. “Located next to the high-speed rail station, the Guangzhou campus is only a 30-minute journey from the Hong Kong campus. A delegation from the HKUST once paid a visit to the site and found it very convenient to work here,” Gong said.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam hoped the new campus would help create a new chapter for the exchanges and cooperation on higher education between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and cultivate more talents with innovative capabilities.

Nansha’s layout is a miniature of the provincial blueprint for an emerging international innovation and technology hub.

“We are seeking partnership with other leading domestic research institutions and encouraging universities from Hong Kong and Macao to set up R&D institutions in Guangdong,” said Zhang Kaisheng, an official with the provincial department of science and technology.

“We are much busier now, because research institutes at home and abroad come to talk about collaboration every week. The GBA is a rising attraction to global scientific researchers,” Zhang said.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in advanced manufacturing, autonomy, Carrie Lam, chemical, Chief Executive, China alert, China's Greater Bay Area, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, collaboration, Construction, cooperation, Department of Science and Technology, development plan, Dianping.com, Dongguan City, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, fine chemicals, Greater Bay Area, Guangdong, guangdong province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Guangdong. China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), Guangzhou, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Guangzhou Tianhe Hong Kong and Macao Youth Association, heart research center, high intensity heavy-ion accelerator, high-speed rail station, HIGHLAND, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Huizhou City, incubator, innovation, innovation and technology hub, institutional barriers, international, Jiangmen City, laying foundation, Macao, marine research, market, market-oriented salary system, materials, Nansha District, neuroscience research center, neutrino observatory, next-generation network communications, online consumer guide, online education platform, open and dynamic region, opportunities, Outline Development Plan, Pearl River Delta, policy, programming, provincial government, recruit talent, Redspots, regenerative medicine, small, South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology,, special administrative regions, spending, teaches children, Timetable, traditional research institutions, traditional research labs, traditional universities, UK, Uncategorized, University of Hong Kong, virtual reality company, won, World, Youth | Leave a Comment »

06/10/2019

China, North Korea vow to strengthen ties hours after US nuclear talks collapse

Leaders exchange congratulatory messages on 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations amid speculation that Kim Jong-un will visit China soon
It comes after Pyongyang’s denuclearisation negotiations with Washington broke off in Stockholm without any breakthroughs

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) may soon visit China again. He last met Xi Jinping during the Chinese leader’s trip to Pyongyang in June. Photo: AFP

China and North Korea on Sunday vowed to continue strengthening their ties that have “stood the test of time”, hours after another squabble broke out between Pyongyang and Washington over the breakdown of their first nuclear talks in eight months.

Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, according to state media in both countries, amid speculation that Kim will soon pay another visit to China.

Observers said the communist neighbours’ warm exchanges and Kim’s possible visit showed Beijing and Pyongyang shared mutual interests and needed each other in their respective geopolitical plans to counter Washington – especially as they both come under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The two countries are said to be preparing for Kim to visit China as early as Sunday, which would be his fifth China trip since March last year and the first since Xi’s state visit to Pyongyang in June.

But given Pyongyang’s denuclearisation negotiations with Washington on Saturday – which broke off in Stockholm without any breakthroughs – China and North Korea may need to reconsider or delay Kim’s visit to avoid criticism of Beijing’s role in the nuclear talks, one expert suggested.

“The triangular ties between China, the United States and North Korea are of immense importance in finding a solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and Beijing’s role in the talks has always been sensitive, especially in the eyes of the US and its allies,” said Wang Sheng, a North Korea specialist at Jilin University.

“While China will almost certainly reiterate its stance to support continued dialogue and talks between Pyongyang and Washington, it may not be a good time for Kim’s high-profile visit just a day after their talks broke down, which would inevitably make it more difficult for China to play a mediating role,” he said.

On Sunday, Xi said the traditional friendship between the two countries had “stood the test of time and changes in the international landscape, growing stronger with the passage of time” and “made important and positive contributions to regional peace and stability”, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Citing his five recent meetings with Kim, Xi said bilateral ties had entered a new era and China would promote “long-term, healthy and stable” relations with North Korea.

Kim also hailed the special relationship between the two countries, which he said had been forged “at the cost of blood” and “weathered all tempests while sharing weal and woe with each other”, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

North Korean mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun meanwhile said in a commentary that bilateral ties with Beijing were “fully in accordance” with the interests of the two sides and would develop “regardless of the international situation”, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

The lavish praise for Sino-North Korean relations comes as a group of working-level officials from North Korea are working with the Chinese side for a possible visit by Kim in the next few days, according to South Korea’s Dong-A Ilbo.

China and North Korea have set aside their differences as both countries come under pressure from US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

North Korea was among the first countries to recognise the People’s Republic of China
70 years ago and Xi has exchanged three messages with Kim in the past month, repeatedly pledging to move closer despite lingering grievances over Pyongyang’s nuclear brinkmanship.

In the face of Trump’s increasingly antagonistic approach, the former communist allies – whose relationship deteriorated over Beijing’s support for the UN sanctions against the North, led by Washington – have set aside their differences to patch up ties in recent months.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang’s first nuclear talks with Washington in eight months ended on Saturday with the two sides offering conflicting assessments of their first formal discussion since the failed Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam in February.

North Korea’s top negotiator Kim Myong-gil expressed his “great displeasure” with the discussions, blaming Washington and urging the Trump administration to correct its course and keep the talks alive or “forever close the door to dialogue”, according to Yonhap.

North Korean negotiator Kim Myong-gil expressed his “great displeasure” with the discussions on Saturday. Photo: AP

But the US State Department issued a rebuke hours later, claiming the negotiators had a “good discussion”. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that the US had put forward “creative ideas” and “a number of new initiatives that would allow us to make progress in each of the four pillars of the Singapore joint statement”.

The two countries were not expected to “overcome a legacy of 70 years of war and hostility on the Korean peninsula through the course of a single Saturday”, she said, adding that Washington would return for more discussions with Pyongyang in two weeks at Sweden’s invitation.

As Trump administration enters survival mode, foreign policy moves are anyone’s guess

Wang from Jilin University said the breakdown of another round of talks had again laid bare the huge gap between the two sides over a long list of issues, from the definition of denuclearisation to their vastly different, often conflicting, demands and interests.

“It’s very likely that Washington has again rejected some of Pyongyang’s key demands in the recent talks, such as providing a security guarantee for Kim’s regime and a range of economic sanctions relief,” he said.

And with North Korea a polarising issue in the looming US presidential poll for Trump as he seeks to score diplomatic points for his re-election bid, it might become even more challenging for the two sides to narrow their differences.

“The breakdown of the talks should not be seen as a failure,” Wang said. “It simply underscores the difficulty of reaching any consensus in the nuclear talks, which still have a long way to go.”

Source: SCMP

Posted in 70th anniversary, Beijing, breakthroughs, broke off, China alert, collapse, denuclearisation negotiations, diplomatic relations, Dong-A Ilbo, geopolitical plans, invitation, Jilin University, Kim Jong-un, Korean Central News Agency, Korean peninsula, North Korea, nuclear brinkmanship, nuclear talks, People’s Republic of China, President Donald Trump, Pyongyang, Sino-North Korean relations, South Korea, speculation, Stockholm, strengthen ties, Sweden, Trump-Kim summit, U.S. State Department, UN sanctions, Uncategorized, United States, US nuclear talks, Vietnam, visit, vow, Washington, without, Xi JinPing, Xinhua News Agency, Yonhap news agency | Leave a Comment »

05/10/2019

China to hold Belt and Road eco-agriculture and food safety forum in November

BEIJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) — The 12th Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum will be held on Nov. 6 in Shanghai, authorities said.

The forum, co-sponsored by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, is scheduled during the second China International Import Expo from Nov. 5 to 10.

Under the theme “Expand food import, enrich people’s lives,” the event aims at enhancing international cooperation in food and farm produce, facilitating the high-quality development of the industry, and providing development opportunities for people from home and abroad.

The forum will invite government officials from China and the world, as well as representatives from international organizations, associations, chambers of commerce and enterprises worldwide.

The first Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum was held in September 2013 as a part of the Euro Asia Economic Forum.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in agriculture and food safety forum, Belt and Road (B&R), China alert, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, China International Import Expo, China International Import Expo (CIIE), Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Euro Asia Economic Forum, Expand food import, enrich people's lives, Shanghai, State Administration for Market Regulation, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

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Chindia Alert: You’ll be Living in their World Very Soon

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