Day: October 28, 2023

They said that settling the border issue – aside from raising concern in New Delhi about Bhutan’s tilt towards Beijing and China’s inroads into South Asia – could have implications for regional geopolitics, and the international system. Bhutan’s top diplomat Tandi Dorji in talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday. Photo: Xinhua Dorji appeared to get a warm reception last week when he visited Beijing for the first official boundary talks in seven years. He met Vice-President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and was given a…

Eight people were injured when two roller coaster trains collided at a theme park in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, on Friday evening. Shenzhen Happy Valley said in a statement on its Weibo account that the theme park was closed for the weekend while a “complete safety check” is carried out. It said the incident happened at 6.27pm on Friday on the Snowy Eagle roller coaster, and that the eight people who sustained injuries were in a stable condition. The statement said anyone who had bought…

After quitting her first job because of the demanding overtime requirement, Yao was stuck at home for three months from September last year under China’s strict zero-Covid policy. All she wanted to do was leave, the earlier the better, she said. The less competitive application process for Malaysian universities was a big part of the appeal. “When nearly all the schools had closed their applications last September, Malaysia’s was still open. I didn’t even need a recommendation letter to get the offer.” 28:19 What happens when China’s most-educated can’t find…

This is not the popular view, I know, but as someone long interested in infrastructure (my first editorial on the subject was published in 1966), I have respect for China’s initiative, despite its initial shortcomings. Building physical infrastructure, whether in the form of highways, railways, ports or power systems, is a very costly undertaking, especially when it crosses borders. Governments and private investors shy away from it. This is why infrastructure has languished as democracy has progressed in post-war America and Europe. Politicians and investors either avoid the subject or…

Now, a growing number of SMEs want to tap into the massive Chinese market – but they lack trade finance. 02:48 Chinese President Xi Jinping unveils 8-point vision for nation’s Belt and Road Initiative at forum Chinese President Xi Jinping unveils 8-point vision for nation’s Belt and Road Initiative at forum At the signing ceremony in Beijing last week, Professor Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of Afreximbank, said the agreement showed the strengthening relationship between China and Africa. “The deal is strong evidence of the rapid growth in cooperation between…

Some Chinese universities have told students not to organise private commemoration activities for former premier Li Keqiang, in an apparent bid to avoid social turmoil. Li – who was premier for a decade until he stepped down in March – died of a heart attack at the age of 68 in the early hours of Friday morning in Shanghai, according to official media. His sudden death has shocked the nation, with many paying tribute to him online after the news emerged. 03:31 ‘People’s Premier’: former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies…