DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ After U.S. fentanyl deal, China warns against selling chemicals used in narcotics
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An undated handout picture released by Guardia di Finanza shows tools that were seized as a part of an operation against fentanyl trafficking from China to U.S., in Piacenza, Italy. In a circular issued on Thursday, the office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission also cautioned against the risk of running into the "long-arm jurisdiction" of foreign law enforcement agencies. The United States has long sought China's cooperation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other drugs, often with lethal results. Under the agreement, China will go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors, a senior U.S. official said. U.S. officials say small chemical businesses in China make precursor chemicals that are shipped to Mexico to produce illicit fentanyl.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Miral Organizations: Guardia, Finanza, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, China National Narcotics Control, United, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Piacenza, Italy, Rights BEIJING, United States, San Francisco, Mexico

New home prices in October dropped 0.3% month-on-month after a 0.2% dip in September, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. Once a key engine of economic growth accounting for around a quarter of China's economic activity, a regulatory crackdown since 2020 to curb debt has tightened liquidity and raised default risks for developers, delaying many projects. Out of 70 cities, 56 reported declines in monthly prices last month, marking the most cities number since October 2020, up from 54 in September. TWIST AND TURNSHouse prices in three major cities Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou all fell month-on-month in October. For existing home, NBS data showed 67 cities posted month-on-month price declines in October, up from 65 in September.

Persons: Ma Hong, Ma, Liu Aihua, Zhang Dawei, Zhang, Liangping Gao, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Authorities, Zhixin Investment Research Institute, Nomura, HK, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou

☆ China's property sales extend declines, weighing on outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Property sales by floor area fell 20.33% year-on-year against a 19.77% fall in September, according to Reuters calculations based on data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Sales fell 7.8% year-on-year in January-October, compared with a 7.5% slide in the first nine months of 2023. Property investment fell 16.7% from a year earlier after an 18.7% slide in September, according to Reuters calculations. New construction starts measured by floor area fell 23.2% year-on-year, after a 23.4% slump in the first nine months. Funds raised by China's property developers were down 13.8% year-on-year after a 13.5% fall in January-September.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Ping, Liangping Gao, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bureau of Statistics, Authorities, Bloomberg, Reuters, HK, Ping An Insurance, Thomson Locations: Zhengzhou, Henan province, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ China's Jan-Oct property sales fell 7.8% y/y, investment down 9.3%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Property sales by floor area in China fell 7.8% year-on-year in January-October, compared with a 7.5% slide in the first nine months of 2023, suggesting China's property sector is yet to emerge from its slump. Property investment in the first 10 months of 2023 fell 9.3% from a year earlier, after dropping 9.1% in January-September, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released on Wednesday. New construction starts measured by floor area fell 23.2% year-on-year, after a 23.4% slump in the first nine months. Funds raised by China's property developers were down 13.8% year-on-year after a 13.5% fall in January-September. (This story has been corrected to change sales fall percentage to 7.8%, from 6.8%, in the headline and paragraph 1)Reporting by Liangping Gao, Ella Cao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Liangping Gao, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bureau of Statistics, Thomson Locations: Zhengzhou, Henan province, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ China, Pakistan navies hold drills days after Russia's historic Andaman exercise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

At a naval base in Karachi on Saturday, the Chinese and Pakistani navies kicked off the exercise in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea in drills that include anti-submarine operations. The exercise will end on Nov. 17. During the exercise, China and Pakistan will conduct joint maritime patrols for the first time, the People's Liberation Army Daily reported on Monday. New Delhi has carefully preserved its longstanding relations with Russia, including cooperation in defence, even as its ties with Washington have grown steadily stronger. China was also not mentioned in the joint statement, even though an Indian government official said ahead of the talks that China would be one of the "key focus points".

Persons: Admiral Tributs, Admiral Panteleyev, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Ryan Woo, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russian Pacific Fleet, United, People's Liberation Army, Indian, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Myanmar, India, United States, Karachi, China, Pakistan, Moscow, Russian, United, Russia, U.S, New Delhi, Ukraine, . New Delhi, Washington, San Francisco, Beijing, Melbourne

☆ China, Pakistan Navies Hold Drills Days After Russia's Historic Andaman Exercise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Admiral Tributs, Admiral Panteleyev, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Ryan Woo, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russian Pacific Fleet, United, People's Liberation Army, Indian, Beijing Locations: BEIJING, Myanmar, India, United States, Karachi, China, Pakistan, Moscow, Russian, United, Russia, U.S, New Delhi, Ukraine, . New Delhi, Washington, San Francisco, Melbourne

☆ China's consumer prices dip back into decline amid limp demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Reuters) - China's consumer prices swung back into contraction and factory-gate deflation persisted in October as domestic demand struggled, weighing on the outlook for any broader-based recovery in the world's second-largest economy. The headline figure was dragged by a further slump in pork prices, down 30.1%, speeding up from a 22% slide in September, amid an oversupply of pigs and weak demand. Consumer prices slipped into deflation in July and returned to positive territory in August but were flat in September. "The data shows combating persistent disinflation amid weak demand remains a challenge for Chinese policymakers," said Bruce Pang, chief economist at Jones Lang Lasalle. "We expect China's economy to grow by 5.0% in 2023, in accordance with the target set by authorities, followed by 4.0% growth in 2024 and 2025," said Moody's on Thursday.

Persons: China's, Bruce Pang, Jones Lang Lasalle, Gao, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Sam Holmes Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Jones, Authorities, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, West

☆ China urges G7 to stop 'inciting confrontation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A two-day G7 foreign minister meeting held in Tokyo ended on Wednesday and mainly called for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to allow in aid and help the release of hostages. "China will resolutely counter any smear campaigns from external forces," the embassy said, adding it strongly protested against other countries' intentions to curb China with regards to Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen, of the democratically governed Taiwan island, said she would continue to work with G7 members toward a free and open Indo Pacific. Critical comments on Taiwan and Hong Kong have long riled Beijing, which considers such criticism as outside interference in its domestic affairs. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China considers as part of its territory, is the most sensitive issue.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Melanie Joly, Tsai Ing, Hong Kong, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard, Bernadette Baum Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Canadian, France's, Hong, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, BEIJING, China, Japan, Tokyo, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Hong

☆ China expected to achieve 2023 GDP growth target -c.bank governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People's Bank of China (PBOC) Vice Governor Pan Gongsheng speaks at a news conference in Beijing, China March 3, 2023. FollowBEIJING, Nov 8 (Reuters) - China is expected to achieve its annual gross domestic product growth target of 5% this year and will maintain prudent monetary policy to revive real economic growth, the central bank governor was quoted saying by state media on Wednesday. Beijing has set an economic growth target of around 5% for this year. China is scrambling to revive growth after a brief post-COVID-19 bounce faltered amid a protracted property market slump and local government debt risks. Economic indicators released on Tuesday showed imports unexpectedly swung to growth in October while exports contracted at a quicker pace.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, Florence, Pan, Liangping Gao, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, Tom Hogue, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights Companies Shenzhen Securities Times Co, Securities Times, Thomson Locations: People's, Beijing, China, BEIJING, Pan

☆ China warns against maritime 'camp' confrontations but stops short of naming US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during the opening ceremony of the diplomatic symposium at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on October 24, 2023 in Beijing, China. The Philippines, Japan and the United States have complained about what they say is growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Last month, China and the Philippines traded barbs over a collision in the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked the passage of Philippine ships. Beijing has been especially critical of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, which identifies China as an aggressor in the region, including the South China Sea, undermining international maritime law including freedom of navigation. China will continue to fulfil its obligations under international maritime laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Wang said, again without referring to Washington.

Persons: Wang Yi, Ken Ishii, Wang, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Rights, Economic Cooperation, United Nations Convention, UNCLOS, Thomson Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, Philippines, Japan, South China, Philippine, Manila, Hainan, U.S, Asia, Washington

☆ IMF upgrades China's 2023, 2024 GDP growth forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People wait to board trains at the Shanghai Hongqiao railway station ahead of the National Day holiday, in Shanghai, China September 28, 2023. GDP growth could slow to 4.6% in 2024 because of continued weakness in China's property sector and subdued external demand, the IMF said in a press release, albeit better than its October expectation of 4.2% in the IMF's World Economic Outlook (WEO). The combination of the downturn in the property sector and local government debt crunch could wipe out much of China's long-term growth potential, economists say. Local debt has reached 92 trillion yuan ($12.6 trillion), or 76% of China's economic output in 2022, up from 62.2% in 2019. China should also develop a comprehensive restructuring strategy to reduce the debt level of local government financing vehicles (LGFVs), she said.

Persons: Aly, IMF's, Gita Gopinath, Gopinath, LGFVs, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Edmund Klamann, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, China's, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Gopinath

☆ WeWork China will not participate in WeWork's strategic reorganisation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People are seen outside the building of Wework's co-working space during the National Day Golden Week holiday, in central Beijing, China October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 7 (Reuters) - WeWork China will not participate in the strategic reorganisation of WeWork (WE.N) in the United States and Canada, it said on Tuesday. WeWork China is not a branch or unit of WeWork (WE.N), it said in a statement on WeChat, adding the company has independent operations and management capabilities. "Any operating conditions of WeWork in other regions around the world will not have any impact on WeWork China," it added. Reporting by Ella Cao, Albee Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stringer, Ella Cao, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, SoftBank, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, Canada, WeWork China

☆ Australia's Albanese retraces historic Beijing walk on visit to mend ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during the bilateral meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 07 September 2023. Albanese, who arrived on Saturday, was due to meet President Xi Jinping later on Monday, their second face-to-face talks in a year. At the Temple of Heaven, Albanese posed for a photograph at the circular Echo Wall, the same spot where Australia's then prime minister, Gough Whitlam, stood in 1973, a year after the two countries established ties. China and Australia for decades built a relationship on trade, with China becoming Australia's biggest trading partner with its purchases of Australian food and natural resources. 'PROMISING SIGNS'But Albanese took steps to stabilise relations after he became prime minister in May last year and met Xi on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Indonesia in November.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Joko Widodo, BAGUS, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Australia's, Gough Whitlam, " Albanese, Xi, We've, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel Organizations: Australia's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, Australian, Beijing's, Twitter, Huawei Technologies, South China, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights BEIJING, China, Beijing, Australia, Australian, Wuhan, Pacific, United States, Britain, South, Japan, South Korea

☆ China's He Lifeng named to key post in Central Financial Commission
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A Chinese vice premier, He Lifeng, has been appointed head of the office of the Central Financial Commission (CFC), which is responsible for running day-to-day affairs of a new regulator tasked with overseeing a vast financial sector. 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. The appointments, announced by the central bank's Financial News publication, underscore how the ruling Communist Party has taken direct control of supervising the financial sector. He has also been appointed director of a key ruling Communist Party economic body, the Central Finance and Economic Affairs Commission, replacing Liu He. In 2014, He was named vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, the state planning agency, before taking full control in 2017.

Persons: Lifeng, Florence, Xi Jinping, Liu He, Xi, Ziyi Tang, Kevin Yao, Ryan Woo, Edwina Gibbs, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Central Financial Commission, Financial Work, Financial, Communist Party, Central Finance, Economic Affairs Commission, Xiamen University, National Development, Reform Commission, Thomson Locations: China, EU, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Rights BEIJING, Quanzhou, Fujian province, Xiamen, Tianjin

☆ China industry minister: industrial economy stabilises, NEV shines in Jan-Sept period
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - China's industry minister said the country's industrial economy stablised and recovered in the first three quarters of 2023 and the new energy sector, such as electric cars, shined. "In the fourth quarter, we are confident the industrial economy will keep the recovery momentum," said Jin Zhuanglong, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, in an interview with China state television CCTV. China's industrial output in September grew 4.5% from a year earlier, matching the pace in August, as policy support measures stabilised some parts of the world's second-largest economy. Overseas markets remain an important growth area, although an EU probe into China-made EVs may put a damper on exports. Reporting by Jason Xue and Ryan Woo; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jin Zhuanglong, Jin, Jason Xue, Ryan Woo, Michael Perry Organizations: China's, Industry, Information Technology, Overseas, EU, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China

While freezing temperatures are not uncommon for the time of year, the sudden change is unusual. A few days ago, uncharacteristically warm weather saw parts of northern China post record high temperatures exceeding 30C. Winter this year, however, could be warmer due to a moderate El Nino, Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of China's National Climate Centre, told a press conference on Friday. El Nino is a natural climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. But statistics showed that winter temperatures could fluctuate greatly during El Nino, Jia warned.

Persons: REUTER, Tingshu Wang, Doksuri, El, Jia Xiaolong, El Nino, Jia, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore, Robert Birsel Organizations: Business, Rights, El, China Meteorological Administration, CMA, Authorities, El Nino, Climate Centre, 0.5C, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, El Nino, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Mohe, Pacific, El

☆ US destroyer, Canadian frigate transit Taiwan Strait -US military
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. destroyer USS Rafael Peralta and a Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa transited the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement, making their third joint transit in the region since June. Taiwan's defence ministry said the two warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a northerly direction on Wednesday night, adding it monitored the movement and the situation was "normal." The U.S. and Canadian navies made a similar transit in September. In June, the U.S. navy released a video of what it called an "unsafe interaction" in the Taiwan Strait in which a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer. The U.S. destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and Canadian frigate Montreal were conducting a "routine" transit of the strait in June.

Persons: Rafael Peralta, Hoon, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Mou Lee, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Royal Canadian Navy, U.S . 7th Fleet, People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command, U.S ., Montreal, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, U.S, Ottawa, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, China, Canadian, Beijing

☆ China Set for Abrupt Switch From Warm to Freezing Weather in Year of Extremes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Temperatures in northern China are set to plunge as much as 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) after summer-like conditions in the final days of autumn, state forecasters said on Friday, extending a year-long trend of unusual swings in the weather. Parts of northern China posted record high temperatures of more than 30C earlier this week, while also suffering widespread smog. Extreme weather has become more pronounced in China this year, destroying urban infrastructure as well as farmland, leading to hefty economic losses. In the summer, typhoons dumped historic rainfall in parts of inland China less used to tropical storms. Earlier in spring, northern China basked in unseasonal heat with temperatures reaching summer-levels.

Persons: Doksuri, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: National Meteorological Administration, CMA Locations: BEIJING, China, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, Mohe

People wearing face masks wait at an intersection in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD), as the city is shrouded in smog, in China November 1, 2023. The weather in many parts of China had stayed stubbornly warm entering November, with cities in eastern and central provinces such as Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu and Henan still logging temperatures above 30C. In tandem with the warm weather, smog has also shrouded Beijing and its surrounding areas for days. In coming days, temperatures across northern China are expected to drop sharply. Other cities such as Beijing, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Xian and Shijiazhuang will see a sudden decline of 10C to 15C.

Persons: REUTER, Tingshu Wang, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Business, Rights, Beijing Daily, Xinhua, National Meteorological Center, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei province, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Xian, Shijiazhuang

[1/3] The Chinese flag at a gate to the Zhongnanhai leadership compound flies at half-mast in memory of late former Chinese premier Li Keqiang, in Beijing, China November 2, 2023. REUTERS/Mark Chisholm Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - China lowered the national flag at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Thursday amid an outpouring of grief online as the country cremated former premier Li Keqiang, known as "the people's premier" for his down-to-earth, hands-on leadership. "In memory of comrade Li Keqiang, flags were flown at half-mast at Tiananmen Square in the capital," state media said. "Personally, I still feel a bit unreal (about his death) because I feel like he's a good premier and suddenly he's gone. Some businesses such as international coffee chain Starbucks (SBUX.O) turned their app interface black and white in mourning for Li.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Mark Chisholm, Li, Xi Jinping, Han Zheng, Hu Jintao, Gao, Xi, he's, Wan, Zhang Shijun, Liz Lee, Xiaoyu Yin, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party's, Xinhua, Weibo, China's, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Shanghai, Weibo

☆ Biggest Chinese Antarctic fleet sets off to build research station
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Work on the first Chinese station in the Pacific sector began in 2018. China has four research stations in the Antarctic built from 1985 to 2014. The two icebreakers, Xuelong 1 and Xuelong 2, the name means "Snow Dragon" in Chinese, set sail from Shanghai with mostly personnel and logistics supplies on board. The cargo ship "Tianhui", or "Divine Blessings", taking construction material for the station, set off from the eastern port of Zhangjiagang. The mission, China's 40th to the Antarctic, will also cooperate with countries including the United States, Britain, and Russia on logistics supply, state media said.

Persons: China's, Stringer, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Arnhem Space, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, China's, Ross, Pacific, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Arnhem, Zhangjiagang, Amundsen, United States, Britain, Russia

☆ China October factory surveys disappoint, weigh on Q4 momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI fell to 49.5 in October from 50.6 in September, marking the first contraction since July and missing analysts' forecasts of 50.8 by a large margin. A slowdown in Chinese manufacturing will also soften China's imports. Following the release of the gloomy data, China shares (.SSEC) eased 0.15%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (.HSI) fell 0.75%. PMI surveys track business conditions and offer the first monthly snapshot of China's economic performance. New export orders for Chinese manufactured goods have shrunk for four consecutive months amid a relatively sluggish global economic climate.

Persons: China's, Hong, HSI, Bruce Pang, Jones Lang Lasalle, Goldman Sachs, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, Kim Coghill, Lincoln Organizations: P Global, PMI, Manufacturers, London Metal Exchange, Jones, Goldman, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Japan, South Korea, China, Guangzhou

☆ China to cremate 'outstanding' leader Li Keqiang on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Newspapers with the obituary of late former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the front page are displayed, at a newsstand in Beijing, China October 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 31 (Reuters) - China will cremate the remains of former Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, when flags will fly at half mast across the country in mourning for an "outstanding" leader, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Li, a former economist and pro-reform leader who served as the premier for 10 years before retiring in March, died of a heart attack on Friday. Li's death was a huge loss to the Communist Party and the nation, according to an official obituary posted by Xinhua last week. But Li, once viewed as a Communist Party leadership contender, was sidelined in recent years, analysts and diplomats said, as President Xi Jinping tightened his grip on economic policymaking.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Tingshu Wang, Li, Xi Jinping, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Xinhua, CPC, Party, Chinese Communist Party, of, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Shanghai

☆ Hong Kong Finance Chief to Attend APEC Meet, Side-Stepping Dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's financial secretary Paul Chan will attend an APEC meeting on Nov. 15-17 in San Francisco, it said on Tuesday, standing in for Chief Executive John Lee and smoothing over a diplomatically sensitive issue for both Beijing and Washington. Beijing had previously said Lee, who is subject to U.S. sanctions, should attend. The United States imposed sanctions on Lee in 2020 over his role in the crackdown of pro-democracy demonstrations. Earlier this year, a State Department spokesperson said Washington would work with Hong Kong to ensure "appropriate" participation in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting. Hong Kong's statement said Lee was unable to attend due to "scheduling issues" and made no mention of the U.S. sanctions.

Persons: Paul Chan, John Lee, Lee, Wang Yi, Washington, Hong, Chan, Twinnie Siu, Farah Master, Ryan Woo, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Chief, Beijing, Foreign, APEC, State Department, Economic Cooperation Locations: HONG KONG, San Francisco, Beijing, Washington, United States, Hong Kong, Asia, U.S

☆ Marathoners in Beijing go maskless, unfazed by smog
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Participants take part in the Beijing Marathon, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 29, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Runners undeterred by thick smog engulfing the Chinese capital ran the Beijing Marathon maskless on Sunday, many wearing shorts in one of the warmest Octobers on record. Beijing was the fourth most-polluted major city in the world on Sunday, according to Swiss air-quality technology firm IQAir. Beijing's high on Sunday was 19 C (66 F), according to the national weather bureau. The weather bureau forecast weak cold air currents to last the rest of the month before beginning to cool in early November.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Fang Chong, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Han Xiao, Bernard Orr, William Mallard Organizations: Beijing, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing Marathon, Meteorological Centre, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Tiananmen, Haidian, Beijing's, Tangshan, Handan, Hebei

Search resuls for: "Ryan Woo"

25 mentions found