Skip to content

All posts by RWZ - 218. page

CRN: Clear Road Map Needed for Upgrading China’s Economy

China Review News (CRN) recently published a commentary discussing how to realize Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s “Upgrading of the Chinese Economy.” The commentary suggested that Li apparently acknowledged concerns about the low efficiency and the high risks associated with the current Chinese economy. The commentator referred to a large quantity of data to demonstrate the “as-is” version of the economy as well as the “to-be” version, which is based on world leaders like the United States. However, the pathway between the two ends remains uncertain. The author offered some suggestions focusing on areas like financial market reform, research and design, system integration, privatization, high-end manufacturing, and new government policies. The article called for a clearer road map for the “Upgrade.”
Source: China Review News, April 4, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/9/1/2/102491286.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102491286&mdate=0404080734
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Japan’s Prime Minister Visited Mongolia

Xinhua recently reported that Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Mongolia as a step in the “Encirclement of China” strategy. Abe is the first Japanese Prime Minister to have visited Mongolia in seven years. Abe was expected to express a willingness to support the speeding-up of the Mongolian economy. Japan is also planning to speed up the negotiations on a free-trade agreement with Mongolia. Mongolia is a key exporter of coal. It currently exports 90 percent of its coal production to China. Mongolia is eager to expand its international coal market by building a railway that bypasses China. The country has high hopes that Japan can make a significant investment in this 1000-kilometer railway. Japan is also expected to cooperate with Mongolia in other areas like military and health. Abe visited Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia this January. The Indian Prime Minister is expected to visit Japan this May. The Japanese Foreign Minister also visited Australia in January.
Source: Xinhua, March 31, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-03/31/c_124523831.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Media Pounding Heavily on Apple

Hua Shang News recently reported that, in the past couple of weeks, major Chinese media channels have been pounding heavily on Apple’s public image. The report accumulated repeated coverage by People’s Daily and Chinese Central Television (CCTV) on the quality of Apple’s customer service. Xinhua also reported on this topic. Key claims of these media reports are that Apple discriminates against Chinese consumers, has an arrogant attitude, evades taxes, refuses media investigations, and is breaking Chinese warranty laws. The massive media coverage triggered widespread discussions in the Chinese online community which included many different opinions. On March 27, Apple reportedly adjusted its Chinese warranty policies on its official website. Unconfirmed rumors suggested that this was one response to the recently imposed restrictions on U.S. government procurement policies against Chinese communications equipment vendor Huawei.
Sources: 
Hua Shang News, March 30, 2013
http://hsb.hsw.cn/2013-03/30/content_8491052.htm
Global Times, March 30, 2013
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-03/3781547.html
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

CRN: China’s Strategy Seen in the BRICS Leadership Summit

China Review News (CRN) recently published a commentary analyzing China’s new strategy as an emerging world power. The author suggested that, although the “old-fashioned” world powers still enjoy a relatively strong economic base, they are apparently suffering a major slow-down in economic development. The commentary expressed the belief that these “old-powers” are deeply concerned about the emerging countries led by the BRICS group. The U.S. is demonstrating a divide-and-conquer strategy by luring emerging nations like India and South Korea to join the TTP. Although the trade relationship with Russia and India still has a lot of issues, China’s strategy seems to be to engage itself more deeply, nonetheless. The commentary called for taking full advantage of the BRICS framework to work on stronger cooperation among emerging markets for maximized economic and political power as a united body.
Source: China Review News, March 29, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/8/4/3/102484344.html?coluid=1&kindid=0&docid=102484344&mdate=0329000126
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily: China’s Cellphone Internet Usage Higher than EU and U.S.

People’s Daily recently reported on the findings of the "2012 Chinese Urban Communications Behavior Research" published by the Ericsson Consumer Research Center. The research results showed that 87 percent of Chinese smartphone owners used Internet services. This percentage is higher than the high of an 86 percent usage rate for the U.S. and EU developed nations. Chinese users have a higher rate for phone services, web browsing, and Internet gaming. For instant messaging, Chinese customers are drastically more active than EU and U.S. customers. The research also found that Chinese mobile users are more interested in using smartphones than they are in using laptops or tablets to get onto the Internet. The research is part of a global telecommunication study conducted by Ericsson.
Source: People’s Daily, March 23, 2013
http://it.people.com.cn/n/2013/0323/c1009-20888325.html
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Xinhua: Xi Jinping Visited Russian Defense Ministry

On March 23, 2013,  Xinhua reported that new Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Russian Defense Ministry. This was the first time the head of the Chinese government visited Russia’s Ministry of Defense. It was also the first time any head of state paid a visit. The Russian Defense Minister welcomed Xi and guided the tour. Russian President Putin recommended this visit. It was seen as a gesture to demonstrate the close relationship between the two countries. Xi suggested that the military cooperation between the two countries is especially important in the “comprehensive strategic partnership” relationship the two are building. Xi spent quite some time experiencing the live operations of the Russian Federal Combat Command Center.
Source: Xinhua, March 23, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2013-03/24/c_124495586.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

CRN: China to Become Russia’s Largest Oil Customer

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that Russia has decided that, over the next five years, it will double the amount of oil it supplies to China. This will make China Russia’s biggest purchaser of oil. A series of agreements will be signed very soon. Russia’s largest oil producer, Rosneft, is reportedly the primary supplier. In addition to oil agreements, more agreements could be reached during China’s new President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow. Other deals may include arms delivery and natural gas contracts. Anonymous sources also suggested that the oil agreements include loans of over $30 billion to Rosneft. In recent years, Russia has been shifting the focus of its oil exports to Asia. Oil that Russia has been providing to Europe has been on the decline while the market saw a fifteen percent increase this year in oil supplied to the Asia-Pacific region. 
Source: China Review News, March 21, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/7/6/7/102476758.html?coluid=10&kindid=253&docid=102476758&mdate=0321092533
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily: Xi Jinping Will Soon Visit Russia

People’s Daily recently reported that the new Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, said at a press conference that the new Chinese President, Xi Jinping, will soon visit Russia. This will be the first country Xi visits as President. Li suggested that this planned visit itself represents the importance of the China-Russia relationship. Li expressed the belief that the political relationship between the two countries is currently “very good, so that the focus should be on actionable cooperation plans.” Li also suggested that the China-Russia trade volume could easily increase several times more “without a problem.”
Source: People’s Daily, March 17, 2013
http://cpc.people.com.cn/n/2013/0317/c164113-20816833.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend