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☆ China's hype video for its lunar base showed what looked like a NASA Space Shuttle lifting off, which it then realized and tried to fix
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China's new teaser for its lunar base appeared to show a NASA Space Shuttle taking off. The Space Shuttle was later blurred out in a state media version of the CGI video. AdvertisementA new concept video showcasing China's planned lunar base appeared to feature a NASA Space Shuttle lifting off from the facility — a detail that was then omitted in a later broadcast of the clip. Related storiesIt's unclear if showing a Space Shuttle was intended by China's space administration, but the spacecraft using a Chinese base in 2045 would be nearly impossible. Beijing says it plans for its international lunar base to be built jointly by other countries as a collaborative effort.

Persons: —, CNSA, It's, Artemis Organizations: NASA Space Shuttle, Shuttle, Service, China National Space Administration, Research, American, NASA, Space, Orbiter, Getty, Orion Spacecraft, Elon, SpaceX, International Space, Space Shuttle, Business Insider Locations: China, Beijing

BEIJING (AP) — China’s national congress is wrapping up its annual session Monday with the usual show of near-unanimous support for plans designed to carry out ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's vision for the nation. This year's weeklong event, replete with meetings carefully scripted to allow no surprises, has highlighted how China’s politics have become ever more calibrated to elevate Xi. A key item due to be put for a ritual vote on Monday are revisions of the “Organic Law of the State Council,” China's version of a cabinet, that direct it to follow Xi's vision. The Organic Law of the State Council is being revised for the first time since it was adopted in 1982. The revision calls for the State Council, above all, to “uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China."

Persons: Xi, —, Li Qiang, ” Neil Thomas, ” Thomas, Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Mao Zedong, ” Organizations: BEIJING, —, Communist Party, State Council, Asia Society Policy Institute, Communist Party of China Locations: China, China's, U.S

☆ Libyan leaders agree to form new unified government
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Three key Libyan leaders said on Sunday they had agreed on the “necessity” of forming a new unified government that would supervise long-delayed elections. The leaders are the president of the Presidential Council (PC) Mohamed Menfi, the head of High State Council (HSC) Mohamed Takala, who are both based in Tripoli, and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) in Benghazi. In a joint statement, the three leaders also called on the UN Mission in Libya and the international community to support their proposals. Dbeibah has vowed not to cede power to a new government without national elections. Last week, Central Bank governor Sadiq Kabir wrote to parliament asking it to approve a new unified government and a national budget over GNU extent spending.

Persons: Mohamed Menfi, Mohamed Takala, Aguila Saleh, ”, General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, ” Menfi, Menfi, Abdulhamid, Dbeibah, Sadiq Kabir Organizations: Reuters, Presidential Council, High State, UN, Arab League, Government of National Unity, GNU, Central Bank Locations: Libya, Tripoli, Benghazi, Cairo, UN, NATO

☆ Chinese regulators ask large banks to step up support for Vanke, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An aerial photo is showing a residential area that is currently under construction by China Vanke in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, on Jan. 17, 2024. Chinese regulators recently met financial institutions to discuss state-backed property developer China Vanke where they asked large banks to enhance financing support and asked private debt holders to discuss maturity extension, two sources said. The sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the financial institutions were asked to make progress quickly, and that the State Council — China's cabinet — is coordinating effort related to supporting China Vanke . The sources, who all requested anonymity due to sensitivity of the matter, did not specify when the requests had been made by regulators to various financial institutions. The National Administration of Financial Regulation and the State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the council, did not respond to requests for comment.

Persons: China Vanke, —, Banks, Vanke Organizations: State, National Administration of Financial, Information Office Locations: China, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu

☆ Tighter control and high-tech push: Key takeaways from China’s biggest annual political event
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The event, held largely without Covid restrictions for the first time in years, is a rare chance for the world to glimpse into an increasingly opaque political system under Xi. Here are the major takeaways from the gathering:Tightening controlThe closing day of the National People’s Congress legislature on Monday was missing a key event – a press conference conducted by the Chinese premier. High-tech pushAn overarching theme of the gathering was a push to focus China’s economic model on technology innovation and transform the country into a high-tech powerhouse. That included a boost to China’s annual budget for science and technology by 10% to an unprecedented 370.8 billion yuan ($51.6 billion). Two high-ranking posts in China’s cabinet previously occupied by Li and Qin remain open.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong’s, Xi, Li, ”, Washington, Wang Yi, who’d, Qin Gang, Li Shangfu, Qin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, of, National People’s, State Council, Observers, Chinese Communist Party, ”, National People’s Congress, Foreign Locations: China, Beijing, Hong Kong, United States

China's central bank governor said there was room to further cut banks' reserve requirements, and pledged to utilize monetary policy to prop up consumer prices. BEIJING — China's central bank governor said there was room to further cut banks' reserve requirements, and pledged to utilize monetary policy to "mildly" prop up consumer prices. This is part of Beijing's broader economic policy "adjustments" so the economy can hit its growth target of around 5% for the year, while adhering to a 3% fiscal deficit. For investors in the near term, the primary concern remains how much China's policymakers are focused on ensuring growth. "If China's economy encounters unexpected shocks in the future, or the international environment undergoes unexpected changes, we still have tools in reserve in our policy toolbox," he said.

Persons: Gongsheng, Huang Shouhong Organizations: People's Bank of, State, CNBC Locations: BEIJING, People's Bank of China, China

BANGKOK (AP) — China’s leaders launched a barrage of new policies this week to prop up languishing financial markets and rekindle growth in the world’s second-largest economy. The moves to support lending and spending with billions of dollars of fresh cash gathered pace when the central bank cut bank reserve requirements and issued new rules to encourage banks to lend more to property companies. HOW IS THE CHINESE ECONOMY DOING? The Chinese economy grew at a 5.2% annual pace in 2023, exceeding the government's target, and many indicators including factory output and retail sales show signs of improvement. The moves to put more money into the economy and encourage bank lending might not go far enough, many analysts said.

Persons: —, Premier Li Qiang, ”, It's, Pan Gongsheng, ” Stephen Innes Organizations: State Council, Economic, People's Bank of China Gov, Management Locations: BANGKOK, United States, China, Premier, Davos, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ A local government in China faked signatures on nearly 2,000 traffic tickets amid a $10 trillion debt time bomb
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A local government in China faked signatures and fingerprints in nearly 2,000 traffic tickets last year. AdvertisementA local government in northern China was busted for faking signatures on nearly 2,000 traffic tickets, China's State Council, the country's cabinet, announced on January 19. In total, the bureau faked signatures and fingerprints on 1,964 of the 2,099 traffic tickets it issued last year, according to the State Council statement. China's State Council did not state the motivations behind She County's forgery. The incidents come as China's cash-strapped local governments have nearly nearly $10 trillion in so-called local government financing vehicle, or LGFV, debt.

Persons: Cash, —, Xu, didn't Organizations: Provincial, Service, Council, Authorities, State, Bloomberg Locations: China, Hebei, Hebei province, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ China is weighing measures to prop up its stock markets, could reportedly mobilize $278 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China is considering a rescue package backed by offshore money to stave off a slump in its struggling stock markets, according to Bloomberg News. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said Chinese authorities are aiming to get about 2 trillion yuan ($278 billion), primarily through offshore accounts of Chinese state-owned companies to help stabilize the market by purchasing stocks onshore through Hong Kong markets. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell nearly 14% in 2023, making it the worst performing major Asian stock market. The Bloomberg report comes a day after Chinese Premier Li Qiang said during a state council meeting the country will be rolling out measures to stabilize its stock markets. "We must take more powerful and effective measures to stabilize the market and confidence," Li said, according to state media.

Persons: Premier Li Qiang, Li Organizations: Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, China Securities Finance Corp, Huijin Investment Ltd, China's CSI, Premier Locations: China, Hong Kong

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan on Sunday condemned what it said were “fallacious comments” by China following the self-governing island's presidential and parliamentary election the previous day. The verbal sparring did not bode well for the future of Taiwan's relations with China under the winner, President-elect Lai Ching-te, or for China's relations with the United States. The institute is the de-facto U.S. Embassy, since the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and says that it should not even have a foreign ministry or any official relations with foreign governments. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement that "the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair.

Persons: bode, Lai Ching, Stephen Hadley, State James Steinberg, Tsai Ing, China's, ” Lai, Tsai, ” Chen Binhua Organizations: —, Sunday, Former National Security, State, American Institute, U.S, Embassy, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's Foreign, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan Affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Kuomintang, Nationalist Party, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, Taiwan Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, — Taiwan, China, United States, U.S, Taipei

Around 2 p.m. (1300 GMT), Queen Margrethe II will sign her abdication and about an hour later her eldest son will be proclaimed King Frederik X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in the heart of the Danish capital. Margrethe, 83, will become the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace. Margrethe is abdicating 52 years on the day after she ascended the throne following the death of her father, King Frederik IX. In the late afternoon, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens amusement park plans to celebrate the new king and queen with the biggest fireworks show in the park’s 180-year history.

Persons: Queen Margrethe, King Frederik X, Frederik, Denmark's, Margrethe, didn’t, Mette Frederiksen, Joachim, Thomas Larsen, King Erik III Lam, King Frederik IX, Gorm the, Danes, Queen Mary, Mary’s, Christian, Mary Organizations: Danish, Court, Royal Stables Locations: COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Copenhagen, Christiansborg, Margrethe, Danish, Europe, Australian, Amalienborg

☆ China skeptic Lai Ching-te wins Taiwan's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te (left) gestures beside his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim during a rally outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei on January 13, 2024, after winning the presidential election. The outcome of the presidential election on Saturday riled Beijing, which has repeatedly labeled Lai as a "stubborn worker for Taiwan independence" and a dangerous separatist. Annabelle Chih | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesDPP's Lai — Taiwan's current vice-president — won more than 40% of the popular vote in Taiwan's eighth presidential election. DPP is the first party to win the presidential office three times in row since direct presidential elections were introduced in 1996. This year, 71.9% of all eligible voters cast their ballots for the presidential election, according to preliminary data from Taiwan's Central Election Commission.

Persons: Lai Ching, Hsiao Bi, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Lai, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Annabelle Chih, DPP's Lai, Taiwan's, —, Beijing's, Hou, Ko Wen, Chen Binhua, Chen, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Ko, Wei, Ting Yen Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, AFP, Getty, TAIPEI, Saturday, Beijing, Chinese Communist Party, DPP, KMT, Chinese Communist Party officials, Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwan's, Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council, CNBC, Franklin, Marshall College, Taiwan's DPP Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Taiwan —, Republic of China, Xinhua, United States

☆ 'Taiwan is China's Taiwan': Beijing says Taiwan's ruling party is not representative of popular opinion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI — China dismissed the outcome of Taiwan's Saturday elections, saying its ruling Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream public opinion after it failed to win a majority in the presidential and legislative votes. "Taiwan is China's Taiwan," Chen Binhua, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Saturday after DPP's Lai Ching-te emerged as the winner of the self-governing island's presidential contest with more than 40% of the popular vote. "This election cannot change the basic pattern and the development of cross-Strait relations, nor can it change the common desire of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to draw closer," Chen added, according to a CNBC translation of a report from Xinhua, the official state news agency.

Persons: Chen Binhua, DPP's Lai Ching, Chen Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council, CNBC Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Xinhua

☆ China ministry seeks more fever clinics to combat respiratory illness surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Parents take their children to see a doctor at the pediatric emergency department of a hospital in Shanghai, China, November 14, 2023. Recently, Shanghai seasonal change, A influenza and mycoplasma pneumonia high incidence. China's health ministry on Sunday urged local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics as the country grapples with a surge in respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since easing COVID-19 restrictions. National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng said on Sunday the surge in acute respiratory illnesses was linked to the simultaneous circulation of several kinds of pathogens, most prominently influenza. Cases among children are appearing especially high in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning province, where hospitals are warning of long waits.

Persons: Mi Feng, Mi Organizations: Sunday, World Health Organization, China, Program, WHO, Health, State Council, State Locations: Shanghai, China, Wuhan, Beijing, Liaoning province

☆ China Grapples With Respiratory Illness Spike; WHO Says No Unusual Pathogen Found
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Andrew Silver and Nicoco ChanSHANGHAI (Reuters) - China called for vigilance on Friday as a surge of respiratory illness hit schools and hospitals and the World Health Organization, which has asked the government for disease data, said no unusual or novel pathogens had been detected. "At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it may be a new variant of COVID," he said. "I hope that people will not be biased because of the pandemic ... but look at this from a scientific perspective." "It's not that bad, there are more children falling sick now but it's mainly an issue of protection," she said. (Reporting by Andrew Silver and Nicoco Chan in Shanghai and the Beijing Newsroom; writing by Brenda Goh; editing by Robert Birsel)

Persons: Andrew Silver, Nicoco Chan, Bruce Thompson, Emily Wu, Feng Zixun, Brenda Goh, Robert Birsel Organizations: World Health Organization, State Council, State, WHO, Program, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Beijing Locations: Nicoco Chan SHANGHAI, China, Beijing, Liaoning, Wuhan, Shanghai

SHANGHAI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - China called for vigilance on Friday as a surge of respiratory illness hit schools and hospitals and the World Health Organization, which has asked the government for disease data, said no unusual or novel pathogens had been detected. The State Council said influenza would peak this winter and spring and mycoplasma pneumoniae infection would continue to be high in some areas in future. "At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it may be a new variant of COVID," he said. "I hope that people will not be biased because of the pandemic ... but look at this from a scientific perspective." "It's not that bad, there are more children falling sick now but it's mainly an issue of protection," she said.

Persons: Bruce Thompson, Emily Wu, Feng Zixun, Andrew Silver, Nicoco Chan, Brenda Goh, Robert Birsel Organizations: World Health Organization, State Council, State, WHO, Program, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Beijing, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Beijing, Liaoning, Wuhan, Shanghai

☆ China reports no 'unusual or novel pathogens' after WHO seeks data on respiratory illness outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese authorities reportedly called for vigilance Friday as a spike in respiratory illness continues to pile pressure on health care facilities in the north of the country, despite assurances that no "unusual or novel pathogens" have been detected. The World Health Organization said Thursday that Beijing had responded to its request for data following reports of "clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children's hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning and other places in China." Chinese health authorities said no changes in disease presentation had been reported, according to the WHO. China has been facing a surge in respiratory infections such as influenza and clusters of pneumonia among children, with hospitals particularly in northern China reporting that they are "overwhelmed" with patients. It said that local authorities should "strengthen information reporting on infectious diseases to ensure information is reported in a timely and accurate manner."

Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, China's, Reuters Locations: Beijing, Liaoning, China

☆ What do we know about China's new financial watchdog?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - China's Central Financial Commission (CFC), a new regulator with Premier Li Qiang as its head, held a meeting on Monday and urged stronger supervision of risks in the financial sector as Beijing accelerates efforts to become a "major financial power". The CFC was set up for the top-level design, development and supervision of the financial sector, strengthening "unified leadership on financial work", according to a restructuring plan published by state media in March this year. The CFC has recruited many officials from the central bank and the finance ministry, financial news outlet Caixin reported earlier this month. The appointments indicate that both officials, who are close confidants of President Xi Jinping, will play important roles in shaping China's financial policies. He was also appointed as party chief of a separate Central Financial Work Commission (CFWC), which has been set up to strengthen the ideological and political role of the party in China's overall financial system.

Persons: Li Qiang, Premier Li, Li, Lifeng, Xi Jinping, Wang Jiang, Xia Xiande, Xi, Ziyi Tang, Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Financial Commission, Communist Party, CFC, WHO, THE, Financial Work, China Everbright Group, Analysts, Reuters, National Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, People's Bank of China, prudential, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Lincoln

☆ China's not-so-special economic zone embodies a harsh new reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( David Kirton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

REUTERS/David Kirton Acquire Licensing RightsSHENZHEN, China, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Tony Xiong is among the latest arrivals to the glitzy office towers in the newest part of Shenzhen, built to showcase China's economic miracle. Office workers are not the only ones grumbling about the unattractiveness of Qianhai, a special economic zone where Chinese dreams of global financial might and economic prosperity that once seemed inevitable are now darkened by half-empty skyscrapers and shopping malls as well as barely used motorways. And that's before China's tallest skyscraper of over 1,000 metres and a cluster of other towers are completed. With China entering a new era of sluggish growth, Qianhai may never reach the international status to which it aspires. The Qianhai Authority and China's State Council Information Office did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the local and macro economic challenges.

Persons: David Kirton, Tony Xiong, Qianhai, Knight Frank, Antonio Fatas, Deng Xiaoping's, Xi Jinping, Xi, Zhiwu Chen, incentivised, Witman Hung, I've, Brian Miller, Klaus Zenkel, it's, Bill Deng, Zhang, James Pomfret, Marius Zaharia, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Authority, Communist Party, University of Hong, Qianhai Authority, HSBC, UBS, Standard Chartered, Chamber of Commerce, Greater, Thomson Locations: Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Rights SHENZHEN, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, China's, Qianhai, University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hengqin, Macau, Nansha, South China, Greater Bay Area, . Hong Kong

☆ Exclusive: China orders local governments to cut exposure to public-private projects as debt risks rise, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The guidelines were mentioned in a cabinet document that was circulated among local governments, policy banks and state lenders last month, said the two sources with knowledge of the matter. The move comes after numerous local governments' PPP expenditure hit the upper limit of the threshold in recent years. But the PPP boom has alarmed authorities who say some local governments have used public-private partnerships, government investment funds and government procurement services as "disguised channels" for raising debt. The State Council and the NAO did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments. A portion of the $12.6 trillion local government debt is linked to the PPP projects, as municipalities used these infrastructure-building initiatives as a conduit to raise capital.

Persons: Thomas Peter, NAO, Kevin Yao, Ziyi Tang, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: Central Business District, National People's Congress, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, National Audit, State, State Council, Bank of, Reuters, National Development, Reform Commission, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Bank of China

☆ Morning Bid: Range-bound markets awaits Powell - again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell answers a question during a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., November 1, 2023. At a separate event on Wednesday, European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane said his bank needs to see further progress in dampening inflationary pressure, and companies along with governments need to chip in to prevent more policy tightening. "A decrease in the policy rate is not something that is likely to happen in the short term," he said. The approval paves the way for a powerful rival to blockbuster drug Wegovy in addressing record obesity rates. Ping An subsequently said in a statement to Reuters it had "not been asked by (the) Government to take over Country Garden".

Persons: Jerome Powell, Kevin Lamarque, Ankur Banerjee, Powell, Philip Lane, Patrick Harker, Huw Pill, Eli Lilly's, Ping, Merck KGaA, BOE, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Federal, Committee, REUTERS, Ankur, U.S, European Central Bank, . Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Bank of England, Investors, Novo Nordisk, Reuters, Ping An Insurance, Government, HK, AstraZeneca, Merck, Deutsche Telekom Speakers, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Asia, Guangdong, Ping, Singapore

☆ Exclusive: China authorities ask Ping An to take controlling stake in Country Garden, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ping An has "not been asked by (the) Government to takeover Country Garden. Country Garden declined to comment. Country Garden shares were up 4% in afternoon trade. The insurer had as of Aug. 11 a 4.99% stake in Country Garden, according to Hong Kong stock exchange data. Country Garden had total liabilities of 1.4 trillion yuan ($190 billion) at the end of June.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Ping, Li Qiang, Ping An, Ma Mingzhe, Ma, Peter, Yang Huiyan, Yang, Anne Marie Roantree, Antoni Slodkowski, Don Durfee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Ping An Insurance, Global Mobile Internet Conference, National Convention Center, REUTERS, Ping An Insurance Group, HK, Council, Ping An, Reuters, Government, China, Information, Country Garden, People's Bank of China, Financial Regulatory Administration, Shenzhen Metro, Peking University Founder, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, China's, Guangdong province, Guangdong, Hong Kong, GUANGDONG, Shenzhen, Ping An

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng attends a joint press conference following the 10th China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China September 25, 2023. He, 68, replaced internationally respected Liu He as one of China's four vice premiers during its annual parliament session in March. The full scope of his portfolio had been largely unclear until Sunday when state media referred to him as the director of a powerful Communist Party economic body. "He Lifeng mainly implements policies from the top leader," said a policy adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to Xi. "Now under the leadership of the Party ... there will be closer cooperation among the top economic planner, central bank and the finance ministry."

Persons: Lifeng, Florence, Xi Jinping's, Liu, Xi, Liu He, Li Keqiang, Peng Liyuan, Kevin Yao, Laurie Chen, Joe Cash, Ellen Zhang, Marius Zaharia Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party, Central Financial Commission, Harvard, Investors, State Council, Party, Xiamen University, National Development, Reform Commission, Thomson Locations: China, EU, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, China's, Washington, Europe, Quanzhou, Fujian, Xiamen, Tianjin, Lincoln

☆ China's former premier Li Keqiang has died, state media reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's Premier Li Keqiang waves as leaving the annual news conference following the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People on March 16, 2016 in Beijing, China. China's former premier Li Keqiang died just past midnight after suffering a heart attack while in Shanghai, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported Friday. That sometimes put Li at odds with Hu's successor, Chinese President Xi Jinping. Li also inspired the unofficial "Li Keqiang Index," which uses electricity consumption, rail cargo and bank lending as a proxy on the economy. While premier, Li pushed for promoting trade cooperation between China and other countries, as well as removing restrictions on the flow of people and goods within China.

Persons: Li, Li Keqiang, Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping, Xi, Li Qiang Organizations: National People's, of, State, Communist Party Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai

☆ Exclusive: China's cabinet curbs debt growth in 12 "high risk" regions - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The sources were citing a cabinet document dated late September that was delivered to local governments and state lenders this month. The move by China's cabinet, or the State Council, to contain local government debt has not been previously reported. HIGH-RISK REGIONSThe 12 regions were previously identified as areas with "high risks" of defaulting on debt obligations. The massive piles of debt highlights local governments' financial stress, fuelling concerns of a systemic financial crisis. The bond issuance is widely believed to be part of Beijing's measures to defuse debt risks of LGFVs.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Don Durfee, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Tyrone, Rights, State Council, Council, LGFVs, Communist Party, Reuters, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Central, Hong Kong, China, Rights BEIJING, Liaoning, Jilin, North Korea, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tianjin, Chongqing

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