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☆ Eyeing U.S. election, China considers over $1.4 trillion in extra debt over next few years, Reuters reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The 6-trillion-yuan worth of debt would be raised over three years including 2024, said the sources, adding the proceeds would primarily be used to help local governments address off-the-books debt risks. Local governments would be allowed to raise that amount on top of their usual annual issuance quota, which mainly funds infrastructure spending. The quota stood at 3.9 trillion yuan this year and 3.8 trillion in 2023. The latest move is aimed at enhancing local governments' ability to manage land supply, and alleviate liquidity and debt pressures on both local governments and property developers, they added. Special-purpose bonds are a tool for off-budget debt financing used by Chinese local governments, with the proceeds raised typically earmarked for specific policy objectives, such as infrastructure expenditures.

Persons: Stringer, Donald Trump, it's, Tommy Xie, Trump, Kamala Harris Organizations: Afp, Getty, National People's Congress, Reuters, Information, NPC, Greater, Greater China Research, OCBC Bank, U.S, Trump, Republican, Democratic Locations: Chongqing, China, Beijing, Greater China

☆ Apple returns to top 5 smartphone ranking in China with iPhone 16 as Huawei battle ramps up
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Huawei trailed Apple in third place with 15.3% market share, IDC data showed. However, the company's smartphone shipments in China grew by 42% year-on-year, as it continues to stage a revival in the world's largest smartphone market. Apple stood at second position by market share in the third quarter, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). In the second quarter, Apple was knocked out of the top five ranking in China by market share. Canalys said Apple was fifth place by market share in China.

Persons: Apple, Tim Cook, Vivo, Xiaomi, Canalys Organizations: Apple, Huawei, IDC, International Data Corporation, Apple Intelligence, Oppo, CNBC Locations: Chongqing, China, Cupertino, U.S

In yet another incident, crowds of angry drivers gather outside an apartment complex, demanding justice for a fellow delivery driver said to be bullied by security guards there. They’re among the many episodes of explosive confrontations across China involving delivery workers widely circulated on Chinese social media, showing people stretched to the breaking point. As China’s economy grapples with a raft of setbacks, from a protracted property crisis to a lack of consumer spending, delivery workers are taking a beating. That eats into delivery workers’ income as their pay is usually tied to a commission based on the price of the order. In 2019, a delivery driver died after he was hit by a tree knocked over by strong winds in Beijing, according to state media Global Times.

Persons: “, ”, Jenny Chan, Chan, they’ve, Greg Baker, Morningstar, Alibaba, ’, Lu Sihang, Lu, China’s, Gary Ng, ” Ng, Pedro Pardo, Workers.cn, Yang, Justin Robertson Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Polytechnic University of Hong, Getty, iiMedia Research, CNN, China New Employment Research Center, Research, China Labour Bulletin, Polytechnic University, Global Times, Chongqing Broadcasting Group Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, China, Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, AFP, Chinese, Hunan

The Dui Hua Foundation, which monitors prisoner rights in China, estimates there are about 200 Americans detained here, more than in any other foreign country. All four were representing Americans who had been detained in China for at least eight years. “We continue to push for the release of other wrongfully detained Americans,” Miller said. “I was very excited and happy and hopeful for him and his family,” Wells Sr. said. Wells Sr. said he and his wife, Cynthia, speak with their son once or twice a month, in calls limited to 10 minutes.

Persons: David Lin, Mark Swidan, Kai Li —, “, Lin, ”, Joe Biden, Chris Smith, Jeff Merkley, Li, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, Biden, Nelson Wells, Nelson Wells Jr, Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle Hunt, Li’s, Harrison Li, Katherine Swidan, ” Wells, ” Hunt, Alice, Alice Lin Wells Jr, Hunt, Wells Jr, —, Wells, We’ve, Nelson Jr, Dawn Michelle, Matthew Miller, Antony Blinken, ” Miller, Cynthia, GoFundMe, James Zimmerman, Zimmerman, ‘ I’m, ’ ” Janis Mackey Frayer, Jennifer Jett Organizations: U.S, Congressional, Commission, Hua Foundation, State Department, White, ”, NBC News, Chinese Foreign Ministry Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, United States, Russia, Washington, Chongqing, Chinese, Guangdong, Louisiana, Chicago, Hong Kong

☆ China state planner lays out further actions to boost economy but no new plans for major stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Two women sit on the sidewalk of Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge, decorated with Chinese national flags, on October 3, 2024 in Chongqing, China. National Day Golden Week is a holiday in China commemorates the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. But he stopped short of announcing any new major stimulus plans, underwhelming investors and weakening the rally in the mainland Chinese markets. China will speed up special purpose bond issuance to local governments to support regional economic growth, the senior NDRC official said. Zheng said ultra-long special sovereign bonds, totaling 1 trillion yuan, have been fully deployed to fund local projects, and he vowed that China will continue to issue ultra-long special treasury bonds next year.

Persons: Zheng Shanjie, Zheng Organizations: National, Reform, Golden, CSI Locations: Chongqing, China, People's Republic of China, Shanghai

☆ China-linked security breach targeted U.S. wiretap systems, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People observe the scenery near Chinese national flags displayed for National Day celebrations on October 3, 2024 in Chongqing, China. National Day Golden Week is a holiday in China commemorates the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. U.S. broadband providers had their networks breached in a cyberattack tied to the Chinese government that targeted wiretap requests, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The cyber breach, carried out by the Chinese hacking group known as Salt Typhoon, poses serious national security risks, the WSJ reported. Read The Wall Street Journal's article here.

Organizations: Wall Street, WSJ Locations: Chongqing, China, People's Republic of China, Western, U.S

☆ Young Chinese are 'retiring' in the countryside as China's unemployment woes grate
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesFed up with China's employment situation, young people on the mainland are retreating to the countryside. China's youth unemployment rate in August hit a new record of 18.8%, the highest since the new system of record-keeping began in December. Young Chinese transplanting rice seedlings in a field. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesBut China's young "retirees" have pushed back against criticism that they are too picky or have given up. Such accusations, while unfair, are understandable in Chinese societal culture and context, said Hang Seng Bank China's Wang.

Persons: Gen, Wenzi Dada, Chung Chi, Chung Chi Nien, That's, Chung, Dan Wang, Wang, Keyu Jin, Wenzi, Gen Z Organizations: Visual China, Getty, CNBC, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hang Seng Bank, London School of Economics, Hang Seng Locations: Chongqing, China, Guizhou, Wenzi, Yunnan, Sichuan —, Shanghai, Hang Seng Bank China

☆ China's auto stocks rise unfazed by U.S. proposal to ban Chinese car parts
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rows of new energy vehicles are parked at Changan Automobile's vehicle distribution center in Chongqing, China, on January 14, 2024. Shares of Chinese automakers climbed Tuesday, shrugging off a U.S. government proposal to ban certain types of vehicles equipped with car parts from China and Russia, amid a broad rally after Beijing announced policy easing. The Joe Biden administration has cited national security risks for its latest measure aimed at curbing Chinese auto industry's influence and reach in the U.S."Cars today have cameras, microphones, GPS tracking, and other technologies connected to the internet. U.S. proposal to ban Chinese auto parts may not have a direct negative impact on the Chinese auto industry as the sales volume of Chinese auto exports to the U.S. markets are "very small" and limited, Wu said. Additionally, Chinese parts companies have already set up factories in South America, which can be exported directly to U.S. markets under the U.S.-Mexico Tariff Agreement, he added.

Persons: shrugging, Li, Nio, Leapmotor, Joe Biden, Gina Raimondo, Ivan Wu, Pan Gongsheng, Wu Organizations: Beijing, Guotai, People's Bank of China Gov, U.S, China Automobile Dealers Association Locations: Chongqing, China, U.S, Russia, Hong Kong, South America, Mexico

☆ Goodbye Louis Vuitton. China’s Gen Z leans into ‘dupe economy’ as growth prospects stall
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mainly a print model, Zheng used to rake in 30,000 yuan ($4,230) a month when she began working two years ago. Some are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, while others are inspired by the original design and offer morecolors or textures. The popularity of this product category is soaring as consumer confidence in China nears a historic low, according to analysts. Shoppers are sitting on the sidelines due to a combination of falling stock prices, capital flight and “tepid” wage growth, the economists said. A Hong Kong court ordered the liquidation of the Chinese property giant on on January 29.

Persons: Zheng Jiewen, Zheng, “, ”, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Laurel Gu, Lulu, dupes isn’t, Nomura, Xinxin, Greg Baker, Nicole Hal, “ I’ve, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Prada, Reuters, Shoppers, Barclays, Hong, Getty, Goldman Locations: China, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Asia, Japan, Chongqing, Beijing, AFP, Europe, “

☆ Ireland now needs to decide what it will do with 13 billion euros in back taxes from Apple
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesA landmark ruling from the European Union's top court means Ireland will receive 13 billion euros ($14.4 billion) in unpaid taxes from Apple — a windfall that Dublin had spent several years fighting to avoid. In a decision the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said was final, the EU's top court on Tuesday ruled that Apple must pay Ireland billions of euros in back taxes. For years, Ireland consistently argued that the iPhone maker should not have to repay unpaid taxes to the country. The decision comes at a time when Ireland is in the unusual position of running a budget surplus of several billion euros, partly due to the strength of corporate tax receipts. Shoppers and staff are seen inside the Apple Store, with its sleek modern interior design and prominent Apple logo on September 10, 2024 in Chongqing, China.

Persons: ECJ, Margrethe Vestager, Apple, Johanna Geron, Aidan Regan, there's, Simon Harris, Sir Keir Starmer, Brian Lawless, Robert Dever, Dever, Alex Cobham, Cobham, Cheng Xin Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Apple, Court of Justice, European Union, Reuters, Irish, University College Dublin, CNBC, Ireland's Finance Ministry, Ireland, U.S, England, Masons, Tax Justice Network, UN, Shoppers Locations: Wicklow, Dublin, Ireland, Brussels, Belgium, Farmleigh, Republic of Ireland, Chongqing, China

☆ American fast-food giants are going big on a China wager, betting they can get the country's new middle class to love them back
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

An expansion rate surpassing America'sKFC, run by Shanghai-headquartered Yum China, has historically enjoyed the lion's share of the country's fast-food cravings. Hopes for a new middle class in ChinaCities in China are unofficially grouped into tiers according to their status, size, and wealth. Chinese KFC has nearly doubled its menu itemsExpanding during a sluggish economy might make sense for fast food brands, which are often classified as recession-proof as consumers downgrade their spending. Advertisement"Now, they are doubling down further on this strategy by expanding into the inland regions of China, especially Tier Three and Tier Four cities with a growing middle class," they told BI. Yum China has also been expanding aggressively in the country's burgeoning coffee scene, establishing a popular spin-off called KCoffee.

Persons: —, It's, McDonald's, Shaun Rein, Rein, Allison Malmsten, Malmsten, Cui Nan, Wang Gang, Jonathan Bernstein, Bernstein, Kung Fu, Daxue, it's, They've Organizations: Service, Thursday, Business, McDonald's, Tier, China Market Research Group, KFC, LONG, Future Publishing, Getty Images, China, US, Yum China, Daxue Consulting, Publishing, China News Service, Getty, Analysts, Yonder Consulting Locations: China, Kentucky, Weibo, Hangzhou, China's, Shanghai, China Cities, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanyang, Suqian, Jiangsu, London, Asia, Shanghai thronged

☆ China economy: Young people in China aren’t spending on romance. That’s a problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“The Qixi Festival is not as robust as previous years. Couples attend a kissing contest during the traditional Qixi festival in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province, on August 13, 2013. “The only part of the world where consumer confidence remains very low is China,” L’Oreal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus told analysts on an earnings call late last month. Lower-than-expected growth in the global beauty sector this year is largely a consequence of low consumer confidence in China, he added. People take photos at a bus stop decorated with flowers during Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day, on August 22, 2023 in Chongqing, China.

Persons: China’s, Louis Vuitton, ”, forlornly, Huang Jinkun, Alfred Wu, Lee, “, Yeap Jun Rong, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Stringer, De Beers, That’s, Niulang, Nicolas Hieronimus, Joanne Wilson, didn’t, ” Mercedes, Ola Kaellenius Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Weibo, CNN, Qixi, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore, Volkswagen, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Getty, Diamond, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Global, WPP, China News Service, Mercedes, ” Mercedes Benz Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shenyang, Liaoning province, Beijing, China's Liaoning province, AFP, Chongqing

☆ China’s summer of devastating floods shows steep challenge as it grapples with extreme weather
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Joyce Jiang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Villagers clean rubbish after torrential rains caused flooding in Meizhou, Guangdong province of China on June 19. John Ricky/Anadolu/Getty ImagesA man drives through a muddy street in the aftermath of flooding from heavy storms in Meizhou, Guangdong province last month. “All my hard work for a year has come to nothing.”A road is flooded following heavy rainfall in Jiangxi province on July 4. China’s government has mounted a top-down effort to revamp how the country responds to extreme weather in recent years after 2021 floods in Henan’s Zhengzhou killed more than 300 people. But there have been past issues of misappropriation of state recovery funds, for example following the deadly 2021 floods in Zhengzhou.

Persons: John Ricky, –, Xi Jinping, it’s, “, Tingshu Wang, ”, Hongzhang Xu, Typhoon Doksuri, Li Zhao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Getty, Communist Party, AFP, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, Agricultural Television, Retailers, Workers, CNN Weather, ” Observers, Australian National University, Reuters, Greenpeace East, “ Locations: China, Hong Kong, sweltering Henan, Nanyang, speedboats, Meizhou, Guangdong province, Guangdong, AFP, Guangzhou province, Henan, Hunan, Lake, Henan’s Nanyang, Jiangxi province, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hunan province's Changsha, Chongqing, Hainan, Zhengzhou, breadbasket, Jiangxi, Munich, Greenpeace East Asia, Beijing, –

☆ A first-time flyer in China opened an emergency exit after mistaking it for the bathroom door, local media reported
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

An Air China flight was canceled after a passenger accidentally opened an emergency exit. Local media reported the first-time flyer confused the exit for a bathroom door, citing officials. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA passenger opened an emergency exit after mistaking it for the bathroom door, according to Chinese media reports, which cited local officials. Data from Flightradar24 shows last Thursday's Air China flight from Quzhou in eastern China to Chengdu in the western Sichuan region was canceled.

Persons: — Organizations: Air, Service, Air China, Chongqing Morning Post, Quzhou Airport, Business Locations: Air China, Quzhou, Chengdu, China's, China, Sichuan, Chongqing

☆ China’s deadly flooding moves north prompting top rainstorm alert
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Lex Harvey | Fred He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The region has been battered by heavy rainfall over the last week, causing deadly flooding and landslides that have killed at least 71 people, according to Chinese state media. Southern Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse home to 127 million people, is subject to annual flooding from April to September. Floodwaters immerse a rural road in Chongzuo, southern China, on June 23, 2024. An excavator works at the site of a landslide in Guizhou province, China on June 24, 2024. Local rivers rose a record 4.59 meters (15 feet), according to Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.

Persons: VCG, John Ricky, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Publishing, China’s Meteorological Administration, Flood, Drought Relief, CGTN, Emergency, Reuters, Getty, CCTV Locations: Hong Kong, China, Southern Guangdong province, Guangdong, Hunan, Chongzuo, Chongqing province, Zhejiang, Hubei, Anhui, China’s, Jiangxi, Guizhou province, Changsha, Local, –, Meizhou, Guangdong province, Yuanlin county, Taoyuan county

☆ Chinese cities desperate for cash are chasing companies for taxes — some from the 1990s
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Last year, the soy milk seller made a net profit of only 209 million yuan ($29 million). And it’s still unsure how much it owes in fines, which could be potentially higher than the actual $11.7 million tax bill. Including fines, the company needed to pay a total amount of 480 million yuan ($66 million). The amounts paid vary from 8 million yuan ($1.1 million) to 310 million yuan ($43 million). It said in January that the Shenzhen government had asked for payment of 19.8 million yuan ($2.7 million) in back taxes for 2017 and 20.2 million yuan ($2.8 million) in fines.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Craig Singleton, Frank Tian Xie, ” Singleton, it’s, ” Bohui, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Authorities, Food & Beverage, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Administration of Taxation, “ Police, Taxation, Centers ”, University of South, University of South Carolina Aiken, Ningbo Bohui Chemical Technology, Healthcare, ChinaLin Securities, Yixintang Pharmaceutical Group Locations: China, Hong Kong, Zhijiang, Hubei, Yichun, Jiangxi, University of South Carolina, “, ” Beijing, Ningbo, Qinghai, Golmud, Chongqing, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Sudden container crunch sends ocean freight rates soaring, setting off global trade alarm bells
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

AFP Contributor | AFP | Getty ImagesA perfect storm in global trade is creating a shipping container capacity crunch, fueling a sudden and surprise spike in ocean freight rates. Xeneta ocean freight rates show the rallying spot market and the widening spread between spot and long-term rates. An increase in ocean freight rejections shows the imbalance. Logistics price increases are ultimately passed onto the consumer and the dizzying freight rates during the pandemic were among factors cited by the Federal Reserve as a cause of inflation. The International Chamber of Shipping, which represents major ocean carriers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Emily Stausbøll, Stausbøll, Goetz Alebrand, Alebrand, Judah Levine, Freightos, Levine, Wan Hai, HLS, Drewry, Jonathan Gold Organizations: AFP, Getty, U.S ., Xeneta, DHL, Shipping, Americas, DHL Global, CNBC, Federal Reserve, Orient Star Group, MSC, Chamber of Shipping, Honour, Carriers, Maritime Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, AFP, Asia, U.S . West Coast, U.S, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Panama, Latin America, Europe, Chongqing, East Asia, South America, Africa, U.S . East Coast

☆ Labor Day isn’t the holiday it once was for China’s workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —Like hundreds of millions of workers in China, Hao Zeyu, an algorithm engineer at an electric vehicle maker, is getting five days off this week for the Labor Day holiday. So, why has a decades-old policy caused so much upset in a country whose Communist Party leadership pays annual homage to International Workers’ Day? Trending topicIn recent weeks, complaints about this year’s Labor Day leave arrangements have exploded on Chinese social media. Tourists visit the Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge during the May Day holiday on May 1, 2023 in Chongqing, China. Labor Day isn’t the only holiday to get the adjusted rest policy.

Persons: Hao Zeyu, Hao, “, ” Hao, ”, Yao, Max Teng, it’s, Yaer Tuerdi, Pang Dong Lai, Yu Donglai, Yu, Teng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Labor, CNN, Communist Party, International Workers, Workers, Weibo, Tourists, China News Service, University of Wellington, “ Workers Locations: China, Hong Kong, Chongqing, United States, United Kingdom, Kentucky, Henan

☆ ‘It Is Desolate’: China’s Glut of Unused Car Factories
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Keith Bradsher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On the outskirts of Chongqing, western China’s largest city, sits a huge symbol of the country’s glut of car factories. The facility, a former assembly plant and engine factory, had been a joint venture of a Chinese company and Hyundai, the South Korean giant. Hyundai sold the campus late last year for a fraction of the $1.1 billion it took to build and equip it. “It was all highly automated, but now, it is desolate,” said Zhou Zhehui, 24, who works for a rival Chinese automaker, Chang’an, and whose apartment looks down on the former Hyundai complex. China has more than 100 factories with the capacity to build close to 40 million internal combustion engine cars a year.

Persons: ”, Zhou Zhehui Organizations: Hyundai Locations: Chongqing, China’s, China

☆ China says it plans to boost these industries. Stocks to play the trend
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"MS' Economics team believes that the announced fiscal package is insufficient to boost the economy as fiscal package remains supply-centric," Wang said. "Policy support for developing advanced production capacity will lead to increased capex in associated value chains like the industrials and IT sectors," the HSBC analysts said. All four stocks are listed in Shenzhen: Inovance — as a seller of factory automation components, Inovance should "benefit from the recovery of the discrete automation market in 2024," the HSBC analysts said. The HSBC analysts expect Innolight to increase its sales of its most advanced product, and introduce an even better product in the fourth quarter. Sanqi Entertainment — HSBC analysts expect this gaming stock can nearly double to 36 yuan a share.

Persons: Steven Sun, Wu Qing, Morgan Stanley, Laura Wang, Wang, Xi Jinping, Michael Bloom Organizations: Beijing, Authorities, HSBC, Finance, Information, Inovance, Naura Tech, Sanqi Entertainment — HSBC Locations: China, HSBC China, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing —, Shenzhen

☆ China doubles down on manufacturing, leaving real estate behind
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

China News Service | China News Service | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China revealed this week it aims to spend more than a billion dollars to bolster manufacturing and domestic tech in a bid to remain globally competitive, while divulging little new support for the struggling real estate market. Industrial support clearly ranked first on Beijing's priority list for the year ahead, according to three major plans released this week as part of China's annual parliamentary meetings. Chinese authorities in 2020 intensified a crackdown on real estate developers' high reliance on debt for growth. Within that second priority, the finance ministry said it would allocate 31.3 billion yuan for improving vocational education. The government work report presented by Premier Li Qiang gave real estate a similar level of prominence.

Persons: Frederic Neumann, Li Qiang Organizations: Seres, China News Service, Getty, Ministry of Finance, HSBC, UBS, National Development, Reform Commission Locations: Chongqing, China, BEIJING, Asia, Beijing, U.S

☆ ‘Two sessions’: China’s key political gathering gets underway as leaders try to repair broken economic confidence
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Xi is under the spotlight as economic pain has sparked growing frustration within China. Xi has also overseen a political shakeup in his own ranks, further marring the start of the new term. Those challenges may not pose a threat to Xi, who is China’s most powerful and authoritative leader in decades. But the two sessions provide an important platform for China’s notoriously opaque government to broadcast its strategy for economic, social and foreign policies and announce key indicators including China’s economic growth target, its budget deficit limit and military spending for the coming year. Analysts widely expect Li to reveal a relatively ambitious growth target of “around 5%,” showing that policymakers are still focused on economic growth, even as challenges pile up.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Chen Gang, Li Qiang, It’s, Xuezhi Guo, Guo, Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Li Shangfu, Li, Qin, Pedro Pardo, Neil Thomas, Premier Li, Asia Society’s Thomas, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Communist, National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute, Getty, of, National People’s, Guilford College, Observers, Washington, Asia Society, Center for Locations: China, Beijing, Chongqing, AFP, Taiwan, China's, Henan, Center for China, Asia

☆ Alibaba Cloud slashes prices by as much as 55% to fuel AI growth in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Alibaba 's cloud business on Thursday said it is cutting prices on a wide range of core cloud products by as much as 55%, in a bid to fuel AI growth in China. The move aims to make "cloud capabilities more inclusive and accessible in the era of AI," Alibaba Cloud said. "As the biggest cloud service provider in China and APAC, we see tremendous growth prospect of China's digital market," said Liu Weiguang, president of public cloud business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. "One is using cloud to support generative AI initiatives. With its massive calls on compute, storage, and networking, generative AI needs cloud to scale.

Persons: Alibaba, Liu Weiguang, Liu, OpenAI Organizations: Alibaba, Holding, Smart, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, McKinsey Locations: Chongqing, China

☆ Spending in Shenzhen: Chinese used to escape to this former British colony. Now Hongkongers are heading in the opposite direction
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Chris Lau | Veronica Lin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Hong Kong CNN —With Hong Kong’s sky-high cost of living, residents like Andy Tsui have been looking for alternative ways to have more fun and spend less. Rather than spending his cash in his hometown of Hong Kong, he’s been crossing the border into mainland China to splurge instead. Such trips are noteworthy because, for much of Hong Kong’s modern history, the traffic has been largely — conspicuously, even — in the other direction. Hong Kong used to be the place where Chinese would escape to, not from. In 2023, just 26 million mainlanders — about half of the 2018 crowd — visited Hong Kong.

Persons: Andy Tsui, he’s, boba, ” Tsui, Justin Robertson, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Hong Kong’s, Hong Kong —, misbehaving, —, ”, Steve Tsang, Hong, Shenzhen’s, Hongkongers, Gilles Sabrie, Hongkonger Eddy Lam, Lam, Cherrie Leung, Qilai Shen, Hugo Sin, “, Gary Ng, John Lee, Tsang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Shoppers, Yuen, Britain, Newspapers, Hong, Hong Kong Immigration Department, China Institute, SOAS University, Huawei, Tencent, Bloomberg, Getty, Sam’s Club, Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Hong Kong, Shenzhen hasn’t, Xinhua, RTHK, SOAS University of London Locations: Hong Kong, China, splurge, Peking, Shenzhen, East, Hong, People’s Republic of China, British, Beijing, London, Bay Area, San Francisco , New York, Tokyo, Kowloon, Coco, Shanghai, “, Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong’s, Britain, Canada, Australia, Bay, ”

☆ China’s spectacular dragon dance is hundreds of years old. Here’s why it continues to dazzle
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Grab your camera and slap on something flame resistant, it’s time to witness one of China’s most incredible displays – the fire dragon dance. Dragon dances have been documented at ceremonial events since the Han Dynasty (202 BCE to 220 CE), while fire dragon dances began appearing in records during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and in the Republican era (1912-1949). Some historians say fire dragon dances date back even further, to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Puzhai Fire Dragon, Fengshun County, GuangdongEntertainers perform a fire dragon dance to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Puzhai town, in China's Guangdong province. Tongliang Fire Dragon, ChongqingVideo Ad Feedback See a dragon dance with molten iron fireworks 00:56 - Source: CNNThe Tongliang Fire Dragon in Chongqing province is undoubtedly one of the grandest fire dragon dance performances of them all.

Persons: ”, Kwok Kam Chau, Kwok, We’ve, Liu Long Organizations: CNN, Republican, Hong Kong Baptist University, China’s, Steel Locations: Fengshun County, Guangdong, Puzhai, China's Guangdong province, Imaginechina, China, Hunan, China’s, Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan province, Huanglongxi, Sichuan, Chengdu, China's Sichuan province, Chongqing, Chongqing province, majestically, Qicaimeng, Guizhou, Dafang County, Guizhou province

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