travel | CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

04/12/2014

Visas for travel: Common sense comes to India | The Economist

RED TAPE is the bane of frequent business travellers. Many places in the world require arduous and expensive visa applications for even the most routine travel. I have two passports just so I can juggle concurrent applications when necessary. But the best policy, for business travellers and tourists alike, is a less-restrictive visa regime. The Schengen Area has proven a huge boon to European travellers; this blog has long supported making it easier for people to travel abroad.

Now there’s some good news. India, a nation notorious for bureaucracy and red tape—not to mention the long queues outside its diplomatic missions of people hoping to visit the country (see picture above of India House in London)—has dramatically loosened its visa policies. Travellers from 43 nations, including Germany, Japan, Russia and America, will now be able to receive visas upon arrival. There are, unfortunately, some restrictions:

You have to apply online four days in advance, pay a $60 fee, and upload a passport photo and a scan of your passport.

It only works for the international airports in nine cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Goa.

It is valid for 30 days, and you can only get two per year.

Narendra Modi‘s government has referred to the changes as being for a “tourist visa”. But the announcement makes clear the visa can be used for a “casual business visit”, and many Gulliver readers may decide that’s good enough for them.

The new policy is far from perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction and one that travellers should applaud. It will “send out a clear message that India is serious about making travel to the country easy,” Mahesh Sharma, the country’s tourism minister, said in a statement. That’s an encouraging attitude. If Mr Modi’s government can pull off more changes along these lines, travellers—and the Indian economy—should benefit greatly.

via Visas for travel: Common sense comes to India | The Economist.

Posted in Economics, India alert, Tourism, Trade | 1 Comment »

Tags: AirAsia, Bangalore, Business travel, business travellers, Chennai, European travellers, frequent business travellers, Hyderabad, India, India House, Kolkata, Schengen Area, travel, Visa (document), visa applications

31/08/2012

* Beleaguered official faces netizens online

China Daily: “A senior work safety official’s grin at the site of a deadly traffic accident in Shaanxi province has become a nightmare haunting him.

Yang Dacai, 55, head of the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Work Safety, was seen to be grinning in a photo taken after he arrived at the scene of a deadly traffic accident on Sunday in Yan’an, Shaanxi. Thirty-six people were killed when a sleeper bus rammed into a truck carrying a tank of methanol and caught fire.

The photo triggered an online wave of criticism among netizens.

The criticism grew louder when photos of Yang wearing five different watches, including Rolex, Mont Blanc and Radar, were posted online.

Many bloggers questioned how he could afford the costly timepieces and called for a corruption investigation.

On Wednesday night, Yang went online and apologized for the “relaxed” grin, saying that he was just trying to cheer people up after a long trudge to the accident site.

And he defended his innocence regarding the watches, saying he had “used legal income” to buy them over the past 10 years and he had reported the situation to the Party’s disciplinary organization.

Despite this, the Party Discipline Inspection Commission of Shaanxi has started an investigation on Yang, who would be punished if he is found to have violated disciplines or committed corruption, cnwest.com, an online news portal of Shaanxi, reported on Thursday.”

via Beleaguered official faces netizens online |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

The Internet is continuing to ‘liberate’ Chinese citizens and cede power from (minor) officials.

See also: * How China’s 300m microbloggers are shaking the system (chindia-alert.org)

50 Die in 3 Accidents Within 3 Days in China (theepochtimes.com)

Posted in China alert, Good news, social media | 2 Comments »

Tags: cars, China, corruption investigation, Mont Blanc, party discipline, Rolex, Shaanxi, Sleeper bus, Traffic collision, transportation, travel, Yang

29/08/2012

* In China, Sons Fight Railways Ministry Over Crash

NY Times: “Henry Cao has stark memories of the moment the high-speed train he was riding rear-ended another last summer in the eastern city of Wenzhou: the pleasantly hypnotic rocking that gave way to a jolt he likened to an earthquake, followed by blackness and the sensation of falling as the car plummeted 100 feet off a viaduct.

Henry Cao, left, and his brother, Leo, at the site of a train crash that killed their parents and injured Henry in Wenzhou last year.

“We were flying like rag dolls,” he said.

The crash killed 40 passengers, injured 191 and shook the nation’s confidence in its ambitious high-speed rail system. Mr. Cao, 33, a Chinese-American importer from Colorado, barely survived; he lost a kidney and his spleen, and head injuries have left him mired in a perpetual daze, unable to stay awake for more than an hour or two. His parents, naturalized American citizens taking him on a triumphant tour of their native land, were killed.

As Mr. Cao has struggled to recover over the past year, he has found himself drained by a different sort of battle: trying to wrest compensation from the Ministry of Railways, an unbending government behemoth unaccustomed to dealing with determined foreign citizens.

This month Mr. Cao returned to China for the first time since the accident. He and his brother, Leo, came to collect their parents’ remains and to press negotiations with the ministry. “They know how to wear you down,” said Leo Cao, 30. “First they let you scream and yell, then they stall you, and finally they tell you vague and empty words. Now they say, ‘You’re lucky you’re getting anything.’ ”

Their painful and politically fraught odyssey has highlighted the workings of an omnipotent ministry that employs more than two million people and rivals the Chinese military in size and influence. The experience has been disorienting for the Cao brothers, who left China as adolescents two decades ago. “This place is not how I remember it,” said Henry Cao, speaking faintly as his eyes flickered and lost focus. “Everyone is rushing around to make money. Life here is cheap.”

The ministry, which runs its own court system and is largely impervious to oversight, has long been dogged by accusations of corruption. A former rails minister, Liu Zhijun, who was fired five months before the accident, is expected to go on trial next month for charges of taking millions of dollars in bribes and other unnamed “disciplinary violations.”

Zhang Kai, a lawyer who represented a passenger sentenced to three years in prison for slapping a train conductor, described the ministry as a “monster left over from the planned economy era” that resists reform or challenges to its authority. “It is common knowledge that the ministry is responsible for generating maximum profits while supervising itself,” Mr. Zhang said.

In a report released in December, government investigators placed the blame for the Wenzhou accident on flaws in signaling equipment. Investigators say the ministry bypassed safety regulations in its haste to create the world’s largest high-speed railroad network.”

via In China, Sons Fight Railways Ministry Over Crash – NYTimes.com.

China censors anniversary of high-speed rail crash (telegraph.co.uk)
12 of China’s railway lines have major safety issues: report (wantchinatimes.com)
Railways minister to be tried before 18th National Congress: Duowei (wantchinatimes.com)

Posted in China alert, Illegal practices, Justice, Rule of law | Leave a Comment »

Tags: China, Chinese American, High-speed rail, Ministry of Railways, transportation, travel, Wenzhou, Zhang Kai

27/08/2012

* Car plate applicants exceed 1m in Beijing

China Daily: “A record 1-million-plus people in Beijing competed for fewer than 20,000 registration certificates qualifying them to buy cars through a lottery system on Sunday.

With a fixed number of car registrations issued each month and a lengthening waiting list, many potential car buyers are losing hope.

Some 1.05 million qualified applicants entered the registration lottery in August – 110,000 of them for the first time – and only 19,926 registrations will be issued, the city office in charge of the lottery system said on Saturday.

One in every 53 applicants will get the registrations, 80 percent fewer than in January last year, when Beijing introduced the lottery system to cap new car ownership at 240,000 a year.”

via Car plate applicants exceed 1m in Beijing |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

https://chindia-alert.org/economic-factors/greening-of-china/
Surviving in the restricted Beijing car market (wantchinatimes.com)
Beijing Plans to Levy Congestion Charges to Ease Traffic Jams – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
Is owning a car a fading dream in China? (wantchinatimes.com)

Posted in Affluence, China alert, Consumer, Economics, Transport | 1 Comment »

Tags: Beijing, Business and Economy, car registrations, cars, China, congestion charges, Motoring, transportation, travel, Vehicle registration plate

12/08/2012

* Pakistani Hindu pilgrims allowed to cross into India after detention

BBC News: “Pakistan officials have allowed a group of Hindu pilgrims who were detained at the border to cross into India.

More than 200 Pakistani Hindus were held at the Wagah crossing near Lahore after local media reported that they intended to emigrate.

Although the group had valid pilgrimage visas, it was rumoured they planned to remain in India because of growing attacks against minorities in Pakistan.

They were allowed to pass after they assured officials they would return.

A spokesperson for the pilgrims, Santosh Puri, told the BBC the group had assured the authorities that “this is a pilgrimage” and no one intends to emigrate.

Pakistani rights activists say dozens of Pakistani Hindu families have moved to India to escape killings, abductions and forced conversions in recent years.

According to Indian officials, Pakistani Hindus have often entered India on visit visas, only to settle there permanently.”

via BBC News – Pakistani Hindu pilgrims allowed to cross into India after detention.

Posted in India alert, Neighbour conflict, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Hindu, Hinduism in Pakistan, Human rights, India, islam, Pakistan, Pakistani Hindu, politics, religion, travel, Wagah

09/08/2012

* Defects found on 12 rail lines

China Daily: “Seven of the 12 lines have been put into service, including high-speed passenger railways between Wuhan and Guangzhou and between Zhengzhou and Xi’an, according to the document.

The problems were discovered during routine inspections. The construction defects on the seven lines included cracks and leaks on tunnel arches, tilted communications towers and poorly arranged electronic cables, the Chinese news portal eeo.com.cn reported on Tuesday.

Other problems were found on five lines currently under construction, including one linking Lhasa and Xigaze in the Tibet autonomous region, which is an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway.

The ministry severely criticized some contractors for building with low-quality materials and not using enough iron bars in reinforced concrete.

Media reports quoted anonymous experts as saying the defects might threaten railway safety.

Cracks on the railway tunnel’s arch could cause concrete chunks to break off when a high-speed train passes, destroying the train’s power supply equipment, they said.

A ministry official who spoke to China Daily on the condition of anonymity confirmed the authenticity of the document, saying it was meant to be circulated inside the ministry and to relevant parties.

He said the ministry is paying great attention to quality issues, and has organized regular inspections on railway construction and operations.”

via Defects found on 12 rail lines |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

Good news: in the past such information would not have seen the light of day; bad news: too many defects in a key transport and communications system.

See also:

Posted in China alert, Transport | 1 Comment »

Tags: China, high speed train, qinghai tibet railway, transportation, travel

19/07/2012

* In China, wait leads to standoff with officials

San Jose Mercury News: “The Chinese sometimes display a remarkable tolerance for those who cut in line but such forbearance apparently has its limits when queue-jumpers are government officials.

Thousands of people threw water bottles and blocked traffic at a popular nature preserve in northeastern China on Sunday after word spread that the arrival of top Communist Party leaders was causing an hours-long wait to visit a scenic lake. It was one of a string of brash confrontations in recent months between the authorities and Chinese citizens.

The infuriated crowd surrounded the vehicles carrying the government entourage and refused to let them pass, according to scores of microblog posts sent out by those waiting to ascend Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province. The three-hour standoff drew police officers and soldiers, some of whom reportedly beat recalcitrant protesters.

According to one witness, thousands of people chanted for a refund of the $20 entry tickets and later demanded that the officials leave their besieged vehicles and apologize. “Fight privilege!” the witness wrote.

The accounts, posted on Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like service, were later deleted by the company’s in-house censors but many postings were saved and reposted on overseas websites like Ministry of Tofu and China Digital Times whose servers cannot be reached by Chinese censors.”

via In China, wait leads to standoff with officials – San Jose Mercury News.

Tags: Baekdu Mountain, China, Jilin, politics, Sina Weibo, travel, Twitter, vacation

17/07/2012

* WTO: China discriminates against foreign card companies

BBC News: “The World Trade Organisation has ruled that China discriminates against foreign credit-card and debit-card providers.

A panel of the trade body said China maintains a monopoly on yuan-denominated payment cards which breaks WTO rules. Only one company, China UnionPay, is allowed to process domestic currency transactions. This limits foreign providers such as Visa and Mastercard.

There is a 60-day period in which either side can appeal against the ruling.

The Obama administration first lodged the complaint in 2010.

US companies have been trying to get greater access to the massive China market.

“Today’s win highlights that tackling unfair Chinese trade practices has been a priority of this president”, Jay Carney, White House press secretary

Currently, they can only issue cards in partnership with Chinese banks and China UnionPay.

Visa said in a statement that the company is “hopeful that this ruling will pave the way for international payment companies to participate in the domestic payments marketplace in China”.

The decision by the WTO is being hailed as a “win” by the US government. The trade gap with China has become a campaign issue in the upcoming elections.

“Today’s win highlights that tackling unfair Chinese trade practices has been a priority of this president,” said Jay Carney, White House press secretary.

Tim Reif from the US Trade Representative’s office said the ruling would support about 6,000 jobs if it goes through.

However, the WTO did not agree with all the claims raised by the United States.”

via BBC News – WTO: China discriminates against foreign card companies.

Posted in China alert, Economics, free trade, GeoPolitics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: China, China UnionPay, Office of the United States Trade Representative, politics, travel, United States, Visa, World Trade Organization, WTO

14/07/2012

* Wuhan airport to build new terminal

China Daily: “A new terminal will be built in the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport before 2015 to meet increasing passenger demand in Central China’s Hubei province, local media reported on Friday.

The project will cost about 16 billion yuan ($2.5 billion), and will occupy an area of 370,000 square meters with a 3,600-meter long and 60-meter wide runway, the Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

The new runway can guarantee the safe takeoff and landing of the Airbus A380, the report said.

The project, already approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, will start construction before October. The terminal will be built in a flying-phoenix shape, representing local culture.

A parking apron with capacity for 60 planes will also be built, the report said.

According to airport data, more than 12 million domestic and foreign passengers arrived at, or left from, the airport last year, only 1 million less than the airport’s capacity of 13 million.

The airport is expected to receive about 14 million passengers this year.”

via Wuhan airport to build new terminal |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

The current Wuhan airport was only opened in 1995, and a new one is planned for2015 – looking to the future.

London Heathrow was built in 1929 and expanded to its modern configuration after WW2. It is limited by its two main runways. Yet, after years of debate, neither has a decision been made to build a third runway nor has an alternative solution been discussed seriously – there being so many contenders ranging from expanding Gatwick or another nearby airport or even expanding provincial airports like Manchester or Birnmingham; plus a proposed contentious new airport in the Thames Estuary favoured by London Mayor Boris Johnson. Case of looking to the past?

Enough dithering – an estuary airport is the only option (standard.co.uk)
Thames Estuary Airport NOT the right move (kentonline.co.uk)
China looks to lift economy with airport projects (wantchinatimes.com)
Heathrow set for big increase in capacity (independent.co.uk)
Boris Johnson has given his support to plans to build a second runway at Stansted Airport, the Standard can reveal. (standard.co.uk)
Aviation blueprint against Thames Estuary airport (kentonline.co.uk)

Posted in Affluence, China alert, Economics, Infrastructure, Transport | 2 Comments »

Tags: Airbus A380, Airport terminal, aviation, boris johnson, Hubei, hubei province, London Heathrow Airport, National Development and Reform Commission, Runway, thames estuary, transportation, travel, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport

22/06/2012

* China adds more trains for holiday travel rush

Xinhua: “China’s Ministry of Railways said Friday it has put more trains on to ease transportation pressure during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday from June 22-24.

The ministry added 196 provisional passenger trains for the travel rush Thursday, one day ahead of the holiday, 70 more than the eve of last year’s holiday, it said in a statement.

China’s railways are expected to carry 6.75 million passengers on Friday, the travel peak of this holiday, up 4.7 percent from the holiday travel peak last year, the ministry has said.

It estimated a daily average passenger flow of 6.1 million from June 21 to 24, up 5 percent from that during last year’s holiday travel rush.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

The festival commemorates the famous ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Chinese people prepare and eat zongzi, or leaf-packed glutinous rice dumplings, drink wine and race dragon boats on the day.

The festival falls on June 23 this year.”

via China adds more trains for holiday travel rush – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Although the festival commemorates a historic Chinese event – see http://mandarin.about.com/od/chineseculture/a/dragon_boat.htm – over recent years it has become an international sporting event http://www.dragonboatcalendar.com/ . Not dissimilar to the Greek Marathon now an international sport.

Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news, History, international sport, Transport | Leave a Comment »

Tags: ancient chinese poet, dragon boat festival, transportation, travel

CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

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

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Visas for travel: Common sense comes to India | The Economist

* In China, Sons Fight Railways Ministry Over Crash

* Car plate applicants exceed 1m in Beijing

* Pakistani Hindu pilgrims allowed to cross into India after detention

* Defects found on 12 rail lines

* WTO: China discriminates against foreign card companies

* Wuhan airport to build new terminal

* China adds more trains for holiday travel rush

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