Other Briefings
Tianjin port expands to accommodate 30 percent year-on-year growth
The Tianjin Bonded Zone is seeing a lot of construction these days as the port is dredged and streets leading to the zone are dug up to lay cables and pipelines for telephone, electric and gas facilities to feed the new logistic parks under construction. By the end of 2007, according to an article in […]
Conservation efforts look to turn China’s Grand Canal into World Heritage site
The Grand Canal, a 1,800 kilometer-long waterway stretching from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south linking six of China’s river systems – the Yellow, the Huai, the Qiantang, the Wei, the Hai and the Yangtze – is seeing a revival of conservation efforts following the establishment of a national organization to protect the world’s oldest canal […]
China’s African Odyssey
By Andy Scott Part One: The Oilmen Cometh I couldn’t help asking him once what he meant by coming there at all. “To make money, of course. What do you think?” he said, scornfully. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. Foreign governments have been attracted to Africa for more than two centuries, greedily pursuing the continents’ […]
AirAsia launches cheap flights to Shenzhen
AirAsia launched its Shenzhen service today with nonstop flights from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, the first routes into mainland China for the Malaysia-based budget airline founded in 1993. Group Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Tony Fernandes Berhad of AirAsia said, “We have continued to create history by introducing flights to untapped markets as we have always […]
China to stop using corn for biofuel in five years
In an effort to develop biofuel alternatives without harming the general food supply, China is shifting its dependence on corn as the main raw material to sorghum, cassava and sweet potato plants in the next five years. Cassava and sweet potato are both high-yield plants, and while edible, are not a stable food like corn and won’t create […]
New rules for foreigners buying property in Shenzhen come into effect
Foreigners are now limited to buying one home for personal use in Shenzhen. The rule, which came into effect Wednesday, states that all non-mainlanders, including overseas nationals, Chinese citizens resident overseas and residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, will be allowed to buy property only if they sign a guarantee that the house is […]
China taxes oil exports by foreign firms
China will impose a tax on crude oil exports by foreign partners in offshore joint ventures the Ministry of Finance announced yesterday. As reported in China Daily, the tax – a 5 percent tariff on oil exports – will take effect August 1, but existing contracts will be granted a five-year holiday. “The move is aimed at […]
China to allow FDI in defense sector
China will allow foreign investment in its defense sector according to state media Tuesday, as it looks to invigorate a long restricted and dormant sector. Beijing News (via AFP) is reporting that firms producing less-sensitive military equipment and products for broader civil and consumer markets will be allowed to solicit domestic and foreign investors as […]
