Month: May 2019

Raft of policies introduced to help realize high-quality development

East China’s Zhejiang province has started to witness the initial fruits of 31 measures drafted by the provincial authorities to boost the private sector in a bid to realize high-quality development.

The private sector has always been the hallmark of Zhejiang’s economy. Around one-tenth of its population are private business owners and one out of every 29 people own a private enterprise.

The measures, which were announced in December, included a financing guarantee corporation to support the funding of small and micro-sized enterprises to bolster their liquidity. The province also established a financing fund to ensure the sound and steady development of listed private enterprises in the province.

Commercial banks in Zhejiang, for instance, have taken innovative measures to help private companies with good prospects get through hard times by exploring an interbank consultation mechanism under the guidance of local banking and insurance regulators.

“Take us for example, we have benefitted a lot thanks to the high-efficient tax exemptions at both the national and provincial level,” Tu Hongyan, chairwoman of Wensli Group, a leading Chinese silk brand, told China Daily.

The Hangzhou-based silk and textile product maker, which pumps an annual 30 million yuan ($4.3 million) into technological R&D and design innovation, recently purchased high-efficiency smart facilities to enable it to launch a series of new designs such as augmented reality silk scarves and smart silk-covered notebooks, which are getting a warm reception.

“The government has always supported the construction of innovation platforms of private enterprises, and these supportive measures greatly eased the economic burden of Wensli,” Tu said.

In Wenzhou, where private enterprises accounted for 99 percent of the city’s total, the government was called to provide a more efficient and sound business environment since the latter half of last year.

“It is the highly efficient administrative feedback and quality services in Wenzhou that prompted us to move our headquarters from Zhuhai in Guangdong to the high-tech zone of Wenzhou in the latter half of 2018,” said Xia Yanming, president of AM Systems Group, a leading enterprise resource planning software developer and supplier.

“All these measures are designed to solve private enterprises’ real-time difficulties, and help them break through their growth bottleneck for healthier development,” said Wen Jianrong, vice-director of the province’s reform and development commission.

Statistics from Zhejiang provincial bureau of statistics showed that in the first quarter, the province registered a year-on-year rise of 13.6 percent in the revenue of its digital economy’s core industrial added value, with 17 traditional sectors such as textile, garments and chemistry registering a year-on-year rise of 9.1 percent.

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While governments in China have jumped on the bandwagon to offer information online to the public, a lack of regular updates and more timely responses to users’ comments show there is room for improvement, a report said on Monday.

The 2019 China Open Data Index, compiled by Fudan University, said that as of March, 82 local governments on the mainland have built online platforms providing public access to government data, a sharp increase from 18 in 2017.

Shanghai, which was the first to set up such a platform in 2012, tops the list of provincial-level governments for the third year, followed by Zhejiang and Guizhou. Guizhou’s capital city, Guiyang, has led all the prefecture-level cities since 2017.

The amount of data sets, or collections, available for download rocketed from less than 8,400 in 2017 to nearly 63,000 over the same period, covering areas such as judicial verdicts, business registrations, food and drug examinations and air quality. The total volume of the data surpassed 11.9 billion entries.

Despite the rapid growth of open data services provided by governments, the report also noted that most of the platforms were established as if they were one-time projects, rather than ongoing services. Less than 10 percent of them have had data updated in the last two years and few responded to users’ comments and inquiries.

As data is valuable only when it is used, the report suggests more input from governments is imperative to boost public use of government data and maximize the open data service.

With 70 experts from different government agencies, companies and universities on its advisory committee, the annual report of China Open Data Index, which was launched in 2017, evaluates each government’s open data policies, the user-friendliness of the data platform, the quality and quantity of the data, and its utilization.

 

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Modern Sky is one of the largest indie record companies in China. Founded in 1997 by former rock singer-songwriter, Shen Lihui, as a way to distribute both his own and his friends’ music, the company is now home to over 100 indie bands, and also promotes one of the country’s most popular outdoor music events－the Strawberry Music Festival, which was launched in Beijing by the company in 2009 and has since expanded into dozens of Chinese cities.

This year, however, the company made its first attempt to target children by launching a new label, Modern Sky Kids, in January, and will hold its first child-oriented outdoor music festival－the Strawberry Seeds Music Festival－on Saturday and Sunday.

Marking Children’s Day 2019, which falls on Saturday, the festival will be held at Aranya, a resort in Qinhuangdao, a coastal city in North China’s Hebei province.

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The two-day festival offers two music stages. The Strawberry Seeds Stage will host a lineup of adult stars that include American actor and musician Tim Kubart, who won the Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album for Home in 2016, and Chinese folk singer-songwriter, Ma Di.

Meanwhile, the Future Stage will host younger bands and musicians, including teenage Chinese hip-hop group, Boy Story, who will perform hits like Enough, which has garnered nearly 3 million views on YouTube since being released in September 2017. As well as the music, there will be a variety of activities and programs that will cater to the children such as art and drama workshops.

Min Shuqian’s (1919-2010) career as a painter and educator, which spanned some five decades, exemplifies an evolution in artistic styles in 20th-century China.

A graduate of Hangzhou College of Fine Arts, now the China Academy of Art, Min’s early works show solid training in oil painting techniques under the instruction of many teachers who were educated in Europe. His paintings created from the 1950s through the ’80s show an adoption of the style of Soviet socialist realism. He turned to the genre of classic Chinese ink painting in his later years to produce abstract works transmitting an Eastern elegance.

An exhibition now running at the National Art Museum of China through June 2 marks Min’s centennial with 89 drawings, ink paintings and oil works.

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Shaanxi is taking advantage of the online Silk Road to develop cross-border e-commerce. Honey from New Zealand, coffee from Rwanda, durian from Cambodia, as well as healthcare products from Australia, are now all available through online channels.

He Jian, head of the management committee of the Airport New City of Xixian Area in Shaanxi, said on April 8 that Shaanxi completed its first cross-border e-commerce bonded import business in the Airport New City, building the online Silk Road that connects China’s northwestern inland region with the outside world.

“The Xi’an Xianyang International Airport now has 345 domestic airlines and 67 international airlines that connect 55 countries and regions around the globe. Three expressways, two inter-city railways and four subway lines meet at the airport, forming a multimodal transport center that can distribute cross-border e-commerce goods to anywhere in the shortest time,” He said.

Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that in 2018, China’s cross-border e-commerce retail sales totaled 134.7 billion yuan ($19.5 billion), growing 50 percent on a year-on-year basis. Among them, import sales increased by 39.8 percent year-on-year to 78.6 billion yuan.

As cross-border e-commerce flourishes, it is deepening international cooperation. Under the framework of the BRI, the Ministry of Commerce has been promoting the online Silk Road, and has now inked deals with 18 countries and regions along the BRI, such as Australia, Cambodia and Italy.

“In the future, we will enhance policy support, perfect regulations, and create a more advantageous business environment for cross-border e-commerce, so as to realize the normalization of e-commerce among economies involved in the initiative as well as to promote trade liberalization and facilitation,” said Qian Fangli, deputy head of the ministry’s department of e-commerce.

Guo Tao, commercial counselor at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, said “China is Australia’s largest trade partner, as the country is both Australia’s largest export destination and import resource. In the past, trade commodities between Australia and China were fixed in certain categories. But now, our business is more diversified.”

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that in 2018, trade volume between China and Australia reached $143.1 billion, up 14.1 percent year-on-year.

“With the help of e-commerce, our trade relationship with China is even closer, and cross-border e-commerce is benefiting many Australian brands,” said Guo.

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During last year’s Singles Day, China’s online shopping festival, which falls on Nov 11, Australia was the fourth-largest selling country to China on Alibaba’s T-mall platform. “With the online Silk Road built, our e-commerce trade with China is further enhanced. In the future, Australia is willing to participate more in the online Silk Road, and we are looking forward to working more closely with more cities, such as Xi’an, in China,” he added.

On May 11, the Xi’an Cross-Border E-Commerce International Cooperation Demonstration Zone was established, as the central government works to promote China’s northwestern region to the world, as well as promote reform and opening-up and the transformation of foreign trade.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Qian Keming said that “China’s cross-border e-commerce now covers most regions, and has cultivated numerous influential brands. With the establishment of the 35 cross-border e-commerce international cooperation demonstration zones, China’s cross-border e-commerce is turning into a reality.”

He said the establishment of the Xi’an Cross-Border E-Commerce International Cooperation Demonstration Zone will open a new chapter in Shaanxi’s cross-border e-commerce development. In the future, the government will enhance support to the opening-up of West China, promote cross-border e-commerce among economies involved in the BRI, to build an inland area of reform and opening-up.

“This year marks the sixth anniversary of the proposal of the BRI, and we will continue to adhere to the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, encourage enterprises to develop cross-border e-commerce along the BRI, help countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative develop their digital economy to merge into trade globalization, maintain the multilateral trade system, promote the development of cross-border e-commerce, as a powerful momentum to the BRI construction, and constantly boost smooth trade,” he said.

CHENGDU, China – A mistake from China’s goalkeeper helped Thailand’s U18 national football team beat their Chinese counterparts 2-0 in the 2019 Panda Cup international tournament here on Monday.

After making a few mistakes in the previous match, Chinese keeper Jian Tao was replaced by Huang Zihao for the contest against Thailand. Unfortunately, Huang himself was caught out by a shot from a tight angle by Achitpol Keereerom, who gave Thailand the lead after just three minutes.

Towards the end of the first half, Sitthinan Rungrueang put Thailand 2-0 ahead after finishing off a fast counterattack.

China created a few goalscoring opportunities in the second half but failed to convert any of them, with He Zhenyu notably firing wide of an open goal.

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In the tournament’s other match earlier in the day, South Korea beat New Zealand 4-0.

Caves, beekeepers and stone villages are among the surprising discoveries of a driving trip from the capital through Hebei province, Erik Nilsson discovers.

There were two donkeys outside the restaurant. One was printed on a sign above the street where the other – a real donkey – was being slaughtered.

Talk about fresh food. And the meat was, indeed, delicious.

So, too, was the wild white-flower cliff honey we bought from vendors along the roadside on our road trip from Beijing through Hebei province.

I’d never seen solid honey before. The crystals looked like yellow rock sugar and tasted like marshmallows but with a hint of floral fragrance.

Beekeepers were also selling liquid varieties harvested from hives in crates along the roadside. Our friend got stung when a bee got stuck in his hair during his purchase.

We bought the hunks of honey at Cuandixia village, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) stone settlement that tumbles down a crag in suburban Beijing.

The ancient trade and military post is also known for an abundance of murals printed with Maoist slogans.

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Villagers visit the settlement’s Grand Temple to pray for piety, the Niangniang Temple to pray for pregnancy and the Dragon King Temple to pray for rain and worship the god of heaven.

PARIS – Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai whitewashed Varvara Lepchenko of the United States 6-1, 6-1 to reach the second round of the French Open here on Monday.

Zhang failed in the first round on consecutive occasions in recent clay tournaments, while overwhelming her American opponent in 52 minutes thanks to her dominance concerning win on first and second serve.

Zhang won 81% on first serve, 41 percent over Lepchenko. She also bettered her rival by 40 percent in win on second serve.

Zhang utilized two early breaks to take away five games in a row en route to a 6-1 opening set win.

The 50th-ranked Chinese never looked back in the second set with anothter 6-1.

“I have won quite easily in our recent clashes due to our similar game styles,” said Zhang, adding that the one-sided win should not be exagerated about her current form.

For Zhang, recent sluggishness on clay didn’t inflict much pressure on her.

“I just played to my level on clay. Actually it’s because my opponents are quite strong on the surface,” Zhang explained.

“Even if I failed, it would still be a good experience. It’s important to learn about your weak points through consecutive losses,” she added.

Zhang will take on Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, her former doubles partner several years ago, in the second round.

“I know her quite well. She is strong on clay. No matter where she is ranked, I need to focus on myself for every point,” Zhang noted.

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The Real Madrid president says that the club has no interest in the PSG stars

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insists that the club is not interested in signing Kylian Mbappe or Neymar, dismissing much-discussed links to the Paris Saint-Germain duo.

The club is expected to undergo a bit of a rebuild this summer as Zinedine Zidane and co. will look to guide the club back into contention for trophies.

Real Madrid finished third in La Liga this season, well off the pace of Atletico Madrid and Champions Barcelona.

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They also failed to advance past the Champions League Round of 16 after winning three consecutive continental titles as Real Madrid fell to eventual semi-finalists Ajax in stunning fashion.

The Paris Saint-Germain pair of Mbappe and Neymar have both emerged as possible targets for Madrid as the club is expected to spend major money this summer.

Ligue 1 top goalscorer Mbappe hinted he could be tempted by a “new project”, while former Barcelona star Neymar continues to be linked with a return to La Liga.

But Perez says there isn’t interest from his side, just like there wasn’t last year when the duo were linked with the club.

“I haven’t spoken with Zidane about Mbappe or Neymar, nor have I with anyone else,” Perez said during his interview with Onda Cero’s El Transistor.. “Nor have we spoken with Mbappe, nor will we.

“Last year we said we didn’t want them and this year is the same. If we want a player, we’ll speak to their club.”

Former PSG boss and current Arsenal manager Unai Emery said he had to convince Mbappe not to move to Real Madrid during his time with the club, and Mbappe’s league-leading goal tally in Ligue 1 only further rumours of a potential departure.

Current PSG manager Thomas Tuchel, who signed a contract extension with the club this week, said he could not guarantee that the two would return, adding that plenty could change through the summer.

Eden Hazard appears to be Real Madrid’s preferred target, with Perez saying the Chelsea midfielder is one he hopes to bring to Madrid.

Real Madrid may be facing the exit of captain Sergio Ramos as well, although Perez says he will not let the defender move to the Chinese Super League on a free transfer.

The club president was asked about the Chelsea attacker amid talk of a transfer

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is hoping Chelsea star Eden Hazard joins the La Liga giants in the off-season.

Hazard has been linked with Madrid throughout the season and the Belgium international is now reportedly set to swap Chelsea for the Santiago Bernabeu in a €130million deal.

Perez was reluctant to talk about Hazard as Chelsea prepare for the Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku but the Madrid boss hailed the 28-year-old attacker.

“How are we supposed to talk to a club who are playing in a final?” Perez replied during his interview with Onda Cero’s El Transistor.

“We’ve been trying for a number of years to make Hazard a Real Madrid player, but we haven’t achieved it yet.

“I’d really like Hazard to come to Real Madrid and really hope he does. He is one of the best footballers.”

It is set to be a busy transfer window for Madrid, with head coach Zinedine Zidane poised to overhaul a side that finished third in La Liga and bowed out of the Champions League in the last 16.

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The club has once again been linked with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, while it has emerged that Sergio Ramos could be set for a shock departure from the club.

There’s also a decision to make regarding James Rodriguez, who sees his two-season loan to Bayern Munich expire.

Perez, who denied Atletico Madrid’s wantaway star Antoine Griezmann has been offered to Madrid and said the club have not received offers for Gareth Bale, added: “We’re not thinking about players.

“We have to meet with Zidane and see what we want to do. We have to buy and sell. I won’t talk about any player.”