Thousands of delegates are due to arrive in Beijing this weekend for China’s most high-profile political gathering, a closely observed series of meetings that will lay out the government’s policy blueprint for the year ahead. The event, known as the “two sessions”, begins on Monday as China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC) convenes alongside a separate but parallel meeting of the country’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The nearly 3,000 NPC delegates can amend the constitution, enact new legislation, approve the government budget and…
Day: March 1, 2024
Sierra Leone leader’s visit to China shines a light on Xi Jinping’s challenge to the West
Sierra Leone is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, representing the interests of African countries, while China is a permanent member of the council with veto power. Africa has long argued that the present global governance system disproportionately favours the West. “China has always regarded the development of solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of its foreign policy,” Xi was quoted as saying in a statement released after the talks. 06:32 China’s Belt and Road, 10 years on China’s Belt and Road, 10 years…
US Lawmaker Flags Surge in Tax-Free Imports From China
washington — A key U.S. lawmaker highlighted Friday the “shocking” rise in imports under a trade exemption for small packages, amid heightened scrutiny on Chinese-founded online retailers Shein and Temu. Both platforms, known for selling items at low prices, have been said to use a rule that allows products to enter the country duty-free via shipments valued at less than $800. Some 1.05 billion shipments entered tax-free under the provision known as the de minimis exemption in 2023, said Mike Gallagher, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on…
Ford vans seen in Kim Jong Un’s entourage
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency released at least two photos of vans used in Kim Jong Un’s motorcade that appeared to be made by Ford Motor Co., suggesting that Pyongyang has again evaded U.N. sanctions. One Feb. 29 photo of a groundbreaking ceremony shows Kim walking on a red carpet lined with soldiers at attention with the black passenger vans in the background. Another shows the four of the vans bearing the Ford logo on the front driving behind a luxury black sedan. The vehicles appear to be…
China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: Hong Kong delegates to raise ways to keep city unique, help mainland companies go global
The Hong Kong delegates have prepared hundreds of proposals to raise at the meetings, many centred on ideas to attract more mainland tourists, strengthen cross-border integration, and how the city can help mainland companies go global. Proposals on Hong Kong competitiveness “The keyword is unique,” said CPPCC Standing Committee member Henry Tang Ying-yen, who is chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and a former chief secretary. “If Hong Kong became another Shanghai, Hong Kong would no longer be unique and would become a burden to the central government.…
China urged by foreign chambers of commerce to take firmer hand with private sector support
Foreign chambers of commerce in China have repeated their now-familiar call for action from Beijing to back its pro-business rhetoric – part of a larger effort to rekindle investment – even after the August unveiling of a 24-point plan to support overseas firms. Chambers that took part in a round table discussion hosted by Deputy Minister of Commerce Ling Ji specifically requested traceable implementation of policies in reference to the omnibus package, announced amid Beijing’s charm offensive to prevent an exodus of foreign capital. “European businesses look forward to a…
Apple dealers in China sell iPhone 15 Pro Max at US$160 discount, as rivals like Huawei lure away high-end consumers
Apple-authorised retailers are offering steep discounts on the latest iPhone series in China, in a fresh round of promotions aimed at reviving sales there, as the Californian tech giant faces stiff competition from domestic brands, such as Huawei Technologies. The top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max, launched last September, is selling for 8,849 yuan (US$1,230) on Alibaba Group Holding’s e-commerce platform Tmall and rival JD.com, roughly 1,150 yuan cheaper than the original price. Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post. The discounts are part of the platforms’ sales…
China economy gaining momentum despite calls for hardline US stance: senior diplomat
“The stabilising momentum in China-US relations should not be disrupted by domestic politics.” Friday’s statement, one of several over the past year by Beijing officials aimed at boosting investor and consumer confidence in China’s struggling economy, was released amid a slew of headwinds. Qian knocked detractors who voice “concerns and doubts” about China’s economic development and who use such phrases as “struggling for momentum”, “lack of drive” and “dragging down the world”. “This is further from the truth,” he said. “The ship of China’s economy is breaking turbulent waves of…
Vietnamese police detain journalist Nguyen Vu Binh, family say
Authorities in Hanoi have detained a journalist and long-time critic of the Vietnamese government, a relative told RFA Vietnamese on Friday, in the latest sign of the squelching of dissent in the communist-ruled nation. Police took Nguyen Vu Binh, 55, into custody on Thursday. He was then briefly brought home to pack some clothes and his house searched on the basis of a warrant, the relative said. His family was informed that he was being arrested but not provided any documents, before Binh departed with the police. The reason for…
Junta troops abduct 40 relatives of Muslim camp residents who fled conscription
Junta troops in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state have beaten and abducted 40 family members of Muslim displaced camp residents who escaped being conscripted into military training, sources said Friday. At around 1 pm on Tuesday, a group of around 80 junta troops and police arrived at the Kyauk Ta Lone camp for internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in Rakhine’s Kyaukphyu township and forcibly gathered 107 mostly ethnic-Rohingya Muslims between the ages of 18 and 35 at the camp’s food warehouse, after collecting their personal information. Junta personnel told the captives…