Switzerland

• President Xi to attend WEF Davos Agenda: spokesperson (Xinhua)
• A Swiss army knife to fix global problems (People's Daily)
• Swiss supreme court explains removal of arbitrator in Sun Yang case (China Daily)

Foreign Policy

• Xi calls for closer exchanges with Laos (People's Daily)
• China calls for efforts to advance political process, improve security and humanitarian situation in Syria (Xinhua)
• Moscow ties with Beijing built on trust, Lavrov says (China Daily)
• 'No best, but better' on public health crisis response: Chinese FM on interim report on WHO COVID-19 response (Global Times)
• 'BFF prices' but no corruption: Manila defends Philippines' deal with China's Sinovac for CoronaVac vaccine (SCMP)
• Visit to Southeast Asian countries boosts solidarity against pandemic, development cooperation: Wang Yi (Xinhua)
• Trump's Onslaught on China Inc. Leaves Key Decisions for Biden (Caixin)

Domestic Policy

• China moves to stop arbitrary charges on businesses (Xinhua)
• Senior lawmakers hear reports on law deliberations (People's Daily)
• Variant of coronavirus found in capital; Hebei cases down (China Daily)
• Alibaba's Jack Ma Resurfaces After Three Months, Sparking Stock Rally (Caixin)
• China's Communist Party warns cadres it's on the corruption warpath (SCMP)
• Two sessions form may be similar to last year, postponement unlikely: NPC deputies (Global Times)
• WHO experts under quarantine in Wuhan say they are 'well taken care of' (Global Times)
• Xi Jinping on Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (Xinhua)

Beijing

• Xi stresses advancing Beijing 2022 preparation with perfection (Xinhua)

Shanghai

• Shanghai, other coastal regions vow to achieve peak CO2 emissions ahead of national schedule (Global Times)

Guangdong

• Shenzhen to issue 20m in digital money in pilot project (China Daily)

Tibet

• More plateau runoff may not quench downstream thirsts (China Daily)

Xinjiang

• US declares China has committed genocide in its treatment of Uygurs in Xinjiang (SCMP)

Hongkong

• HK electoral reform inevitable, with policymakers suggesting a political scrutiny mechanism for candidacy (Global Times)

Macau

• Macao authority cracks mortgage loan scam involving bank workers (Xinhua)

Taiwan

• China to impose sanctions on U.S. officials acting badly on Taiwan question: spokesperson (Xinhua)

Economy

• China's Economy Isn't 'State Capitalism,' Banking Regulator Says (Caixin)
• RCEP to take effect by end of this year (China Daily)
• With 2.3% Growth, China Likely to Be Only Major Economy to Expand in 2020 (Caixin)

DPRK

• DPRK deputies discuss economic plan, budget at Supreme People's Assembly (Xinhua)

Mongolia

• Deputy PM, Health Minister announce to resign following peaceful protest (Montsame)
• India to supply vaccines to Mongolia (Montsame)
• Foreign Minister meets UN Resident Coordinator (Montsame)

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President Xi to attend WEF Davos Agenda: spokesperson (Xinhua)
2021-01-19
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Davos Agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Jan. 25 from Beijing via video link, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing that Xi will attend the meeting and deliver a special speech at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF. In January 2017, Xi addressed the opening session of the WEF annual meeting, systematically expounding China's views and propositions on economic globalization, and voicing strong support for economic globalization, Hua said. Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading globally at present, the world economy is in deep recession, and global challenges are emerging one after another, Hua hoped and believed the upcoming WEF meeting would help build global consensus, rebuild global mutual trust, boost global cooperation, and contribute to solving the pressing global issues facing the international community. China has always been committed to upholding and practicing multilateralism, promoting the construction of an open world economy, making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, and promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, she added. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, China will continue to contribute its wisdom and strength to global cooperation against COVID-19, world economic recovery, meeting global challenges, and improving global governance, Hua said. ^ top ^

A Swiss army knife to fix global problems (People's Daily)
2021-01-18
"I cannot help thinking how wonderful it would be if an exquisite Swiss army knife could be made for our world affairs. When there is a problem, we can use the knife to fix it." When Chinese President Xi Jinping presented that analogy in his keynote speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva in 2017, the world was facing a fork in the road between multilateralism and isolationism, openness and protectionism. Xi, in the speech, also elaborated on his vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, pointing to the direction in which China was determined to work with the rest of the international community to forge a more prosperous future for all. Four years later, Xi's penetrating vision is more relevant for today's highly interconnected and deeply troubled world. The gravity of choosing between the notion of a shared future and the zero-sum Cold-War mentality has grown all the more apparent. And the world's need for a multi-functional tool to tackle daunting global problems has turned ever more urgent. The revelation of the COVID-19 pandemic is as clear as it is compelling. In face of the attack by an unknown virus, the inevitable reality that the fate of all countries on this planet is bundled together can speak for itself. A real Swiss knife demands true craftsmanship to make. To forge such an instrument of common good for humanity's better and shared future, the world should come together in the first place. As pressing problems like the pandemic, climate change and terrorism are global in nature, turning inward and hiding behind ideological entrenchment will only allow the deadly pathogen to kill more people, melting glacier to vanish at a faster pace and terrorists to stage more attacks against innocent civilians. Therefore, nations of the world should foster even stronger networks of partnership for the long-term security and general welfare of the people on this planet. Pursuing win-win cooperation instead of zero-sum confrontation is equally essential. In this age of globalization, no country can either preserve or promote its own interests without considering those of others. Win-win cooperation for shared benefits is the only viable solution. To be more specific, dialogue and consultations between different countries can avoid conflicts; dynamic global free trade without barriers can spur economic growth; exuberant cultural exchanges can bridge misunderstandings; low-carbon and green growth can re-balance the relationship between the environment and the human society. Democratizing international relations and improving global governance is also imperative. Modern history has witnessed mankind's progressive pursuit for a fair and equitable international order. That relentless odyssey has been coded in the texts of the Peace of Westphalia, the Geneva Convention, and the landmark UN Charter. To carry this task forward, countries around the world, big or small, should manage global affairs collectively and write the world's rules of the road together so as to avoid the dominance of the globe by just one or several major powers. Over the years, to turn the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind into reality, China is not only an advocate, but also a practitioner. It has been a keeper of the spirit of international solidarity. To beat the roaring outbreak, China cares about more than itself. It has provided anti-pandemic aid to over 150 countries and 10 international organizations, and sent medical expert teams to 34 countries, the largest humanitarian operation China has carried out since 1949. China has also been a champion for shared benefits and win-win cooperation. Its flagship Belt and Road Initiative has over the years brought real benefits like jobs to people and investment for economies in those countries. In addition, China has long been a staunch supporter for multilateralism and the international system with the UN at its core. It is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. It has eliminated extreme poverty across the country, well implementing the top goal in the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda ahead of time. China has also pledged to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, a boldly responsible move to curb global warming. In some ways, a multi-functional Swiss army knife solution mirrors the complexity of the problems it is designed for. As the world is undergoing transformations rarely seen in a century, the human race needs to have such a tool in its hand. By rallying global solidarity, stimulating cooperation and revamping global governance, China's vision to build a community with a shared future for mankind will be proved equal to the convoluted tests of the times. ^ top ^

Swiss supreme court explains removal of arbitrator in Sun Yang case (China Daily)
2021-01-16
The Swiss supreme court has explained the reason it referred back Sun Yang's case, saying tweets by the president of the panel of arbitrators at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) - the Italian Franco Frattini - had exhibited possible bias against Chinese people.The court said Sun appealed the case last April to the Swiss Federal Tribunal to annul the award rendered on Feb. 28, 2020, and submitted an application for review on the award. The court upheld Sun's appeal as it found the tweets of Franco Frattini about animal protection issues, which had repeatedly used violent expressions, exhibited possible bias against China. "In his tweets, the arbitrator castigates a Chinese practice of dog slaughter and denounces the consumption of this meat at a local festival in China," the Federal Supreme Court said on Friday local time. "Some expressions refer to the skin colour of certain Chinese people he targets," it added. "In addition, the arbitrator also made the said remarks in tweets after his appointment as president of the panel of arbitrators deciding in the Sun Yang case." "Admittedly the referee himself concedes that certain words have sometimes gone beyond his thought. To say that the words 'yellow face' are 'awkward', as the respondent foundation maintains, is however, an understatement," the court said. It explained that even if Frattini's remarks were put in their context, "it must be admitted that the applicant's apprehensions as to the possible bias of the arbitrator in question may be regarded as objectively justified." As a result, the request for review is allowed by the court and the award under appeal is set aside. The case has now been sent back to CAS, which must hear it again with a different panel of judges, and the sanctions imposed on Sun were automatically lifted after the court's December decision. The CAS had handed Sun an eight-year ban in February, 2020 after finding him guilty of refusing to cooperate with sample collectors during a visit to his Hangzhou home in September 2018. ^ top ^

Xi calls for closer exchanges with Laos (People's Daily)
2021-01-22
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Laos to further intensify high-level contact, cement strategic communication and deepen experience exchanges on party and state governance. Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee. On behalf of the CPC as well as the Chinese government and people, Xi congratulated Thongloun on election as general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee. The successful convention of the 11th LPRP Congress, which put forward a series of new approaches to and new measures on party and state governance, is of great significance to continuously pushing forward the development of Laos' socialist cause, Xi said. He said he is confident that under the leadership of the new LPRP Central Committee headed by Thongloun, all LPRP members and all Lao people will unite as one and strive to realize the goals set at the 11th congress. China and Laos are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, Xi said, adding that upholding the leadership of the Communist party and adhering to the socialist orientation are the essential features of bilateral relations. Noting that the China-Laos relationship is now at its historical best, Xi also pointed to the combined impact of profound changes unseen in a century in the world and the global COVID-19 pandemic. The two sides, he suggested, should steadily advance the construction of such large projects as the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the China-Laos Railway, and push for more achievements in bilateral Belt and Road cooperation. Xi also called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as culture, youth and tourism, and continuously enrich the cultural content of the China-Laos community with a shared future. China, he said, will continue to support Laos' efforts to fight the pandemic, and stands ready to actively consider aiding Laos with a batch of COVID-19 vaccines. China is willing to work with Laos to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote common development and prosperity, added the Chinese leader. Xi also wished Thongloun new greater achievements in the new important post. For his part, Thongloun expressed his deep gratitude to Xi for talking with him over the telephone shortly after the successful 11th LPRP Congress, saying that it fully demonstrates the great importance Xi attaches to Laos-China relations and the profound bond and traditional friendship between the two parties, two countries and two nations. The 11th LPRP Congress achieved a series of important results, Thongloun said, adding that the party will adhere to the line of principled comprehensive reform, lead the Lao people to a succession of new victories, and lay a solid foundation for promoting socialist construction in Laos. Laos sincerely appreciates the valuable support and assistance China has provided in various stages of Laos' development, including in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said the LPRP chief. Laos, he added, will continue to push forward the implementation of the action plan on the Laos-China community with a shared future, strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as building the Belt and Road, and promote friendly exchanges at all levels. He said Laos firmly believes that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core, the Chinese people will surely make new achievements in building a modern socialist country in an all-round way and realize the set goals as scheduled. In the conversation, Xi and Thongloun jointly announced the official launch of the China-Laos Friendship Year program, which will feature a series of celebrations to further cement public support for the China-Laos friendship. ^ top ^

China calls for efforts to advance political process, improve security and humanitarian situation in Syria (Xinhua)
2021-01-21
A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for efforts to advance the political process in Syria and improve the security and humanitarian situation in the war-torn country. Ten years have passed since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis. A political solution at an early date and the resumption of peace and tranquility in the country are the common wishes of the Syrian people and the universal expectation of the international community, Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told a Security Council meeting. He called for efforts to promote the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process. The fifth session of the Constitutional Committee will convene in Geneva next week. China hopes that the Syrian government and the opposition will work under the framework of the committee and use dialogue to resolve differences, broaden consensus, and promote substantial progress in relevant work, he said. The constitutional committee's work must remain independent and free from outside interference. The international community should create favorable conditions for dialogue between the two parties in Syria and provide encouragement and guidance instead of willfully putting pressure on one single side, he said. Zhang also called for efforts to stabilize the security, economic and humanitarian situation in Syria. Unilateral coercive measures against Syria must be removed at an early date as the economic and humanitarian difficulties in Syria, to a large extent, are the results of the economic blockade and other unilateral coercive measures. Unilateral coercive measures severely undermine Syria's economic base and hinder Syrians' access to medical supplies and services, he said. ^ top ^

Moscow ties with Beijing built on trust, Lavrov says (China Daily)
2021-01-20
Russia and China have built a trusting relationship, and together the two countries have the ability to counter foreign threats, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. "We really have a very close strategic relationship with the People's Republic of China," he said during his annual news conference held online. "We can talk endlessly about Russian-Chinese cooperation that embraces a very wide range of spheres, almost all spheres of human activity, and the activities of states," he said in response to a question from a Chinese media outlet. Speaking of cooperation on international platforms, Lavrov outlined the collaboration of both countries within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS, and the Eurasian Economic Union, or EAEU, pointing to the process of greater alignment between the EAEU and the Belt and Road Initiative. Commenting on the recent extension of the Russia-China agreement on mutual notification for launches of ballistic missiles and carrier rockets, Lavrov emphasized that this allows both countries to contribute to ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region. "I believe that this reflects the trusting, forward-looking nature of Russian-Chinese relations and our mutual focus on ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region, where some of our other colleagues, in particular the United States, are trying to escalate tensions, both by conducting military activities with an open bias against China and a focus on isolating Russia," the minister said. Mutual military exercises by Russia and China seek to increase the combat readiness of the two countries, but it is not aimed against any third country, Lavrov said. He pointed out plans by the United States to deploy missile defense systems and intermediate-range missiles in Japan and South Korea as potential threats to Russia. "If we speak about the military situation in the region, then yes, we engage in joint work, including on military exercises. Russian-Chinese drills are nothing particularly new. They already happened several times on the ground, both in bilateral format and within the SCO. This time, the drills happened with the air forces," said Lavrov, stressing the exercises aim to heighten the combat readiness of aviation that guards both the Russian and the Chinese borders. He also hailed the importance of the Russia-China Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation. "This is probably a topic of the greatest relevance today, which is designed to give impetus, new qualities to our trade and economic cooperation," he said. "In contrast to many countries, we have managed to prevent a large decline in trade turnover amid the pandemic. It is showing steady development." The minister emphasized that since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, both countries have cooperated closely on a range of matters including the provision of mutual humanitarian assistance and cooperation on vaccine development. He also said Russia will not "chase "the US military out of Syria or engage in hostilities, but it does engage in a dialogue with Washington. "Yes, we have contacts with the US in the military－not because we recognize the legitimacy of their presence there, but simply because they have to act within certain boundaries," Lavrov said. He blasted what the US did in Syria as "a blatant violation" to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, adding "Washington's line on blocking shipments of humanitarian aid to the Syrian Arab Republic via all possible means of blackmail and ultimatums, is a violation of this resolution as well". ^ top ^

'No best, but better' on public health crisis response: Chinese FM on interim report on WHO COVID-19 response (Global Times)
2021-01-19
In response to questions related to an interim report that said China could have done better in January to stop the COVID-19, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said that for China, there is always "no best but better" on a public health crisis response, and every country in the world should strive to do better. "What I want to address is we should do better, not only China, but also the US, the UK, Japan and any other country, on the public health crisis. There's always no best, only better," Hua told a press conference on Tuesday. Her comment came after an independent panel interim report said on Monday that China could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January to curb the initial COVID-19 outbreak. As the first country to raise the global anti-epidemic alarm, even if the information was not comprehensive at that time, China immediately insisted on early detection, early reporting, early isolation, early treatment, which won time for anti-epidemic and reduced infections and deaths, Hua noted. And China's response to the outbreak has been recognized by global scientists and medical experts, and has fully assessed the anti-epidemic work and summed up the experiences and deficiencies, Hua stressed. If China strives to do better, it does not mean, like some Western media reports said, that China has not done enough, according to the Chinese official. The country has always been sticking to "there's no best, only better," to make improvements in its governance, which has become a major factor for the country's continuous progress, she said. The facts and the numbers don't lie, and the timeline of China's COVID-19 response is crystal clear, Hua added. Hua also shared the views of Wu Zunyou, a senior expert from China's CDC, on China's response to the outbreak at the early stage, who told the media previously that authorities made the decision of shutting down the Huanan Seafood Market within a few hours with about 40 cases reported, and only took a week to isolate the virus, which has become a new record for detecting a new infectious disease. From isolating the pathogen to applying diagnostic reagents for clinical diagnosis, it took only a few days, and authorities decisively imposed a full lockdown on Wuhan after three weeks when about 500 cases were reported.  ^ top ^

'BFF prices' but no corruption: Manila defends Philippines' deal with China's Sinovac for CoronaVac vaccine (SCMP)
2021-01-19
Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biontech will sell its Covid-19 vaccine to the Philippines at "Best Friends Forever prices", Philippine officials have claimed as they denied allegations by senators that corruption in the procurement process was leaving the country short-changed. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque and the Philippine government's "vaccine tsar" Ricardo Galvez both defended the price the country was paying for the CoronaVac vaccine as similar to that being paid by other Asian nations, with Roque denouncing suggestions to the contrary as "fake news". Their intervention came after comments on Twitter by Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday morning, in which he suggested corruption was to blame for sharp fluctuations in the prices being offered to countries in the region. The Philippines is among the worst hit countries in Southeast Asia, having recorded more than 500,000 infections and nearly 10,000 deaths. Lacson had claimed that the vaccine was being sold to Thailand at US$5 per dose, to India for US$14 per dose and to the Philippines for US$38 per dose. He said the difference reminded him of an old story about how corruption was committed in Southeast Asia, "under the table, on the table, and including the table". Lacson's insinuation did not sit well with Roque, who told radio station DZBB hours later that prices being quoted on social media – including one for as much as 3,600 pesos (US$74) – were "fake news". Roque said the price offered to the Philippines was "not far from" the 650 pesos (US$14) per dose being asked of Indonesia but stopped short of specifying the exact amount. Roque said: "Unlike in capitalist countries where the price is dictated by the market, China can change the price of its vaccines. They don't care. It depends on which country is buying. "That is the reason China does not want us to announce the price of the vaccines because it may anger other countries that are not their BFF [Best Friends Forever] and purchased the vaccines at a higher price." The Philippines plans to buy 25 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine and is in discussions with various other vaccine makers. The country, population 108 million, plans to vaccinate between 60 million and 70 million people over the next few years. Galvez in an interview with ABS-CBN online on Monday said the CoronaVac price would "not be higher than 700 pesos" per dose but added that the exact figure was confidential because the supply agreement had not been signed. The comments come amid a senate inquiry into the Philippines' vaccination programme. Last week Lacson had told the committee that those behind the programme had "apparently showed preference" for CoronaVac and that this might "fuel speculation that corruption is involved". However, Galvez told ABS-CBN that he and finance undersecretary Mark Joven had been negotiating directly with Helen Yang, Sinovac's senior director of global strategy and business development, and that the price had been set long before the senate hearings took place. The former Armed Forces chief said it "hurt his feelings" to hear insinuations of kickbacks. "I'm also honest. We treasure honour more than our lives," Galvez said. "The president is very, very candid on this and told us, if something wrong happens, I will cut off your head." Galvez said he was in contact with the Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and that due to the envoy's "intervention" the price had come down by US$4. But the assurances of Roque and Galvez failed to impress Lacson, who on Monday delivered a lengthy speech at the Senate in which he said the figure of 3,600 pesos had appeared in a price list submitted by the Department of Health to the Senate finance committee chair Juan Edgardo Angara. In this price list, dated December, Sinovac was priced at 3,629.50 pesos for two doses, including taxes, making it the second most expensive of six vaccines under consideration. Prices for the other vaccines, also based on two doses, were 4,504 pesos for the Moderna vaccine; 1,220 pesos for Gamaleya; 854 pesos for any vaccine under the World Health Organization-sponsored Covax programme; 620 pesos for AstraZeneca; and 366 pesos for Novavax. In his senate speech Lacson also suggested President Rodrigo Duterte's government had shown "undue preference" for Sinovac and claimed Galvez had contradicted himself by saying he had been negotiating with Yang of Sinovac. Lacson said Galvez had previously claimed negotiations were purely on a government-to-government level, while Yang was an executive of a private firm. Sinovac applied to the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorisation last week. Yang told CNN Philippines on Friday a "term sheet" had been signed between Sinovac and the Philippine government. As soon as emergency authorisation is granted, "a binding commercial agreement" would be signed, she said. The Philippines has already approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use. However, the government will refrain from vaccinating seniors in light of reports that 23 elderly people died after getting the vaccine in Norway. Meanwhile, Roque said Duterte would "not hesitate to be the first to receive the vaccine" to encourage Filipinos to be vaccinated. Vice-President Leni Robredo had challenged Duterte to be jabbed first "to boost public confidence" after he had said he would no longer be first but rather, among the last. Emergency use applications filed by AstraZeneca and Gamaleya are pending. On Saturday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit to the country that China would donate 500,000 vaccine doses. ^ top ^

Visit to Southeast Asian countries boosts solidarity against pandemic, development cooperation: Wang Yi (Xinhua)
2021-01-18
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday had an interview with media after concluding his trips to Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines. Last January, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Myanmar and reached an important consensus with Myanmar on building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, giving new meaning to the millennia-old "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, Wang said in the interview. The choice of Myanmar as the first stop of this year's first visits to the surrounding areas aims to fully implement the outcomes of Xi's visit and make solid progress in building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, Wang said. Noting Myanmar's new government is about to be established, Wang said his visit also sends a clear message that China is willing to deepen communication and strengthen coordination with Myanmar, and will support the smooth administration of Myanmar's new government. The two sides, Wang added, have reached a consensus in principle on the action plan of building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future and formulated a series of concrete ideas and measures for all-round cooperation between the two countries in the next stage. On building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, Wang emphasized that fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic with solidarity is the community's priority task, constructing the economic corridor is the community's important practice, supporting each other's core concerns is the community's prominent feature and promoting regional cooperation is the community's responsibility. Asked about his expectations for China-Indonesia cooperation in the post-pandemic era, Wang said China and Indonesia are both large developing countries and important emerging economies. Against the backdrop of profound changes in a century and global pandemic, the cooperation between the two countries has strategic significance and world influence, Wang said. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Xi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo have had three phone conversations, exchanging strategic views on fighting the pandemic and developing cooperation, Wang said, adding that the purpose of his visit is to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and determine the path of deepening cooperation. The two sides, Wang said, have agreed to set up "three models" for emerging major countries and South-South cooperation, namely a model of vaccine cooperation, a model of joint construction of the Belt and Road and a model of safeguarding multilateralism. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei and the 30th anniversary of the China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) dialogue relations. Asked about ties between China and Brunei, Wang said the double 30th anniversaries coupled with Brunei's assumption of the rotating chair of ASEAN provided a crucial opportunity for the two countries to deepen cooperation comprehensively. Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state from both countries, China and Brunei are steadily pushing forward major projects cooperation, such as the Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd's oil refinery and petrochemical project as well as the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor project, with the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative being the main line, and have expanded mutual benefit and converged interests and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, Wang said. In the face of COVID-19, both countries have achieved significant results in their joint response to the pandemic and have realized positive economic growth, he said. On the occasion of the double 30th anniversaries, Wang said China and Brunei have agreed to deepen regional cooperation, expressing his hope that Brunei could give play to the role of the ASEAN chairmanship, push China-ASEAN relations to a new level, and guide East Asia cooperation to focus on East Asia, development and regional integration. Recalling his trip to the Philippines, Wang said China and the Philippines are friendly neighbors, and enjoy a long tradition of helping each other. In the face of the pandemic, both countries have offered support to each other in the first place, demonstrating friendship and brotherhood, he said, adding that China has announced to donate a batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines and encourages Chinese companies to seek vaccine cooperation with the Philippine side. According to Wang, China and the Philippines announced during the visit the launch of a fast passage for necessary personnel exchanges between the two sides, signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation, and the Bank of China Manila was officially established as the renminbi (RMB) Clearing Bank of the Philippines, providing impetus for economic recovery and boosting confidence of both sides. He added that China will continue to participate in the Philippines' "Build, Build, Build" program and actively advance bilateral cooperation on major projects to lay a better foundation for the long-term development of the Philippines. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations, the visits aim to seize the opportunity together with the leadership of the four countries and the ASEAN secretary-general to forge a higher level of strategic partnership between China and ASEAN and build a closer China-ASEAN community of shared future, said Wang. At present, the regional and international situation has entered a period of turbulence and change. Both China and ASEAN countries believe that to ensure lasting peace and prosperity in East Asia, real multilateralism must be supported and practiced. At the same time, the countries should also be on guard against all kinds of pseudo-multilateralism, Wang said. ^ top ^

Trump's Onslaught on China Inc. Leaves Key Decisions for Biden (Caixin)
2021-01-16
A year ago today, President Xi Jinping asked the U.S. to treat Chinese companies "fairly" in a letter read out at the White House to mark the signing of a landmark trade deal between the world's biggest economies. At the time, President Donald Trump's actions against China Inc. had mostly been aimed at tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., which had become a global leader in the race to set up 5G networks across the world. And even though it was blacklisted, Huawei enjoyed an ample supply of the radio chips critical to maintaining its dominance. Now, with Trump set to leave office next week, dozens of strategic Chinese companies find themselves in U.S. crosshairs after a year that saw relations nosedive as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Besides closing loopholes on Huawei, effectively knee-capping its smartphone business, the Trump administration took a wide range of actions to thwart China's efforts to dominate high-tech industries that will drive growth over the next few decades. The profile of the companies targeted, including in the latest developments on Thursday, is staggering. They include China's three biggest telecom firms, its top chipmaker, its biggest social media and gaming players, its top two smartphone makers, its main deepwater energy explorer, its premier military aerospace contractor, its leading drone manufacturer and its primary commercial planemaker. At risk is China's ability to produce everything from 5G networks to a passenger jet to compete with Boeing Co. and Airbus SE. While the scope of Trump's unprecedented actions has roiled markets, the full reckoning of their impact largely hinges on President-elect Joe Biden. His incoming administration will have the power to either keep the restrictions in place, remove them or tighten them further on companies such as Xiaomi Corp., an Apple Inc. competitor hit this week for alleged ties to China's military — an allegation it denies. […] The decision was followed by a series of similar moves from U.S. providers of funds, derivatives and investment products as the ban took effect on Jan. 11. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co. delisted about 500 warrants and callable bull/bear contracts in Hong Kong, the world's largest market for structured products. State Street Corp.'s $13 billion Tracker Fund of Hong Kong bled $470 million in a single day — the most since it was founded in 1999. On Friday, Xiaomi sank 10% after being named on the military list, the worst day since its Hong Kong debut in July 2018. Other firms on the list include state-owned planemaker Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, which is central to China's goal of competing with Boeing and Airbus. Besides the list of military companies, Trump's Department of Commerce has maintained a separate but connected list of Chinese firms that need specific permission to access U.S. technology. In December, the department said it was blacklisting chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., drone maker SZ DJI Technology Co. and more than 60 other Chinese companies "to protect U.S. national security." China National Offshore Oil Corp., the country's third-biggest oil company, was added to the Entity List on Thursday. It said it noticed the development and would continue to monitor it. Unless Trump takes action on Xiaomi or other companies placed on the military list before next Tuesday, it will be up to Biden to determine whether to restrict the company from accessing key components from the U.S. While Biden hasn't tipped his hand on which Trump actions he could rescind, most of the current administration's tougher stances against China have received bipartisan support in Congress. Kurt Campbell, tipped to become Biden's Indo-Pacific coordinator, said the administration would initially seek to build consensus with allies on China after dealing with a host of domestic issues, according to the South China Morning Post. He said the two countries could take confidence-building steps, such as reversing tit-for-tat moves on expelling journalists, easing visa restrictions and reopening closed consulates. "It's possible the sanctions could be lifted in a grand bargain, perhaps as part of a trade agreement that would give the president political cover for easing back on recent actions," said Nicholas Turner, a lawyer at Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Hong Kong who specializes in economic sanctions. China, for its part, isn't sitting still. The Foreign Ministry on Friday vowed to protect the rights of Chinese companies, with spokesman Zhao Lijian saying Trump's moves amounted to "unilateralism, double standards and bullying." Over the past few years, China has enhanced its toolbox to hit back at the U.S. even though it has mostly held fire. It created an "unreliable entities list" and passed a new export control law that could potentially be used to restrict rare earths vital for key technologies. Last week it issued new rules that would allow Chinese courts to punish global companies for complying with foreign sanctions — a move that could theoretically force businesses to choose between the U.S. and China. Xi has also appeared to abandon hope that relations with the U.S. would improve under Biden, with a renewed push to gain self-sufficiency in key technologies. China's public, meanwhile, is getting used to the constant barrage and see the U.S. lists "as a certificate of achievement for Chinese companies," said Chen Xi, an adjunct associate professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University. "The Biden administration won't be dealing with these issues anytime soon once he is sworn in, because it is beneficial for him to use such lists and sanctions as a bargaining chip with China," Chen said. "In the long run, Chinese companies will strengthen their self-dependence in core technology, while global firms may find themselves losing an important market." ^ top ^

China moves to stop arbitrary charges on businesses (Xinhua)
2021-01-22
A State Council executive meeting has stressed resolutely stopping arbitrary charges on businesses, demanding the orderly collection of taxes and fees. The meeting, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, urged efforts to ensure that no undue burdens are placed on businesses and people. It stressed supporting and serving market entities, especially medium, small, and micro-sized businesses, and further stimulating their vitality. China rolled out a series of measures to cut taxes and fees and temporarily lower or waive employers' contributions to social security schemes last year, according to the meeting. The measures played a key role in ensuring the steady operation of market entities and keeping the fundamentals of the economy stable, the meeting said. An inspection of the arbitrary charges on businesses will be carried out nationwide, and law enforcement in transportation, taxation, emergency and other fields will be standardized, said the meeting. The meeting urged efforts to review and standardize fee charges in key areas, strengthen oversight of charges at sea ports, and speed up the revision of laws and regulations on administrative penalties for price violations. It stressed streamlining procedures for social insurance payments, expanding contactless services, and ensuring the elderly and the severely disabled can make payments conveniently. ^ top ^

Senior lawmakers hear reports on law deliberations (People's Daily)
2021-01-21
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) held a meeting of its Council of Chairpersons on Thursday to hear reports on the deliberation of several bills, including draft laws and law revisions. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting. Li Fei, chairman of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee, reported on the deliberation of draft revisions to the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention and the Administrative Penalty Law, a draft coast-guard law and a draft decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court. Zhang Yesui, chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, reported on the deliberation of a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons between China and Belgium, and an extradition treaty with Morocco. Yang Zhenwu, secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee, reported on the deliberation of reports on deputies' proposals. He also reported on bills related to deputy qualifications and personnel matters. The meeting decided to submit the draft bills to the ongoing session of the NPC Standing Committee for review prior to voting. ^ top ^

Variant of coronavirus found in capital; Hebei cases down (China Daily)
2021-01-21
Two of the recent COVID-19 patients found in Beijing's Daxing district were carrying the highly transmissible variant of the novel coronavirus first detected in the United Kingdom, Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Wednesday. Also, the residential community where cluster infections were reported was designated a high-risk area, Pang said at a news conference. The finding on the two cases has been confirmed by the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Pang said, adding that the source of the two infections was suspected of having been imported. Variants detected in the UK and South Africa, which epidemiologists have found to be more transmissible than previous versions, have become the predominant strains in some regions. That means prevention and control of such strains is more difficult, Feng Zijian, deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. Beijing reported seven new local COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, and six of the patients live in the Ronghui community in Daxing district. Of the 11 new confirmed cases reported in Beijing in the past three days, 10 were from the Ronghui community－now the capital's only high-risk area－and one was from Shunyi district. The Shunyi patient was a close contact of a confirmed patient in Daxing. As of Wednesday, there were six high-risk areas around China. "The cluster infection occurred in three families and the virus has further spread among colleagues and friends," Pang said. "It has reminded us that people should not get together during the epidemic period and should continue to be cautious, given the infection risk." One of the confirmed patients in Daxing is a 9-year-old schoolchild, the grandson of another confirmed patient. All 1,081 students and teachers of his school were relocated to 17 hotels for centralized quarantine and medical observation on Tuesday. The Daxing government started mass nucleic acid testing for all its residents on Wednesday. Residents are required to stay in Beijing unless it is necessary to leave. All educational institutions are closed and students must stay at home. Recent outbreaks in Beijing and in Hebei, Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces have shown trends such as cluster infections that are spread rapidly and cover a large area, and most originated with contamination of imported frozen goods or through people arriving from overseas, Wang Bin, inspector of the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention of the National Health Commission, said on Wednesday. Mi Feng, a health commission spokesman, said on Wednesday that China added 757 locally transmitted confirmed cases in the past week, and the number of close contacts under medical observation has reached a 10-month high. "Most of the clusters happened in rural areas, which shows that we still face a complicated virus control situation," he said. Jilin reported 46 new local cases and seven asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, increasing the tally to 133 confirmed cases and 57 asymptomatic carriers detected after similar carriers returned from neighboring Heilongjiang, said Zhang Yan, deputy director of the commission. Among the total, 144 were in some way connected to a single infected person, said Zhang, adding that more than 60 percent are over 60 years old and the oldest person is 92. Improvement has been seen in Hebei, where, in the past four days, there has been a decrease in the single-day reports of new confirmed COVID-19 patients. "The increase in the cases in Hebei has been clearly contained after resolute measures were taken such as mass nucleic acid testing and centralized quarantine," Feng from the China CDC said. ^ top ^

Alibaba's Jack Ma Resurfaces After Three Months, Sparking Stock Rally (Caixin)
2021-01-20
China's most famous businessman, billionaire Jack Ma, surfaced at an online conference Wednesday, months after his disappearance from the public eye fueled speculation that he may have run afoul of the law. The outspoken founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. spoke at an annual online event promoting the achievements of rural teachers Wednesday, according to video of the event seen by Caixin. Ma himself started out as an English teacher before going on to found Alibaba, which is now one of the world's most valuable companies with a market value of nearly $700 billion. The news of Ma's reappearance sparked a rally in the company's Hong Kong-listed shares, which rose nearly 9% in Wednesday trade. Sources close to the company told Caixin that the video was authentic and that the conversation was originally broadcast live. It wasn't clear where Ma was when he made the 48-second video, in which he appears seated with his hands clasped in front of him. The video also contained brief footage of Ma touring an elementary school in Tonglu county, which is part of the bigger city of Hangzhou where Alibaba is based, dated Jan. 10. "Jack Ma participated in the online ceremony of the annual Rural Teacher Initiative event on January 20," the company said in a brief statement, without elaborating. Ma disappeared from view after publicly chastising top regulatory officials in October. The 56-year-old executive is known for his outspokenness, and similarly blunt remarks two years ago led to a public uproar when Ma spoke fondly of the slavish culture of working 12-hour days, six days a week, known as "996," at many Chinese tech companies. This time some had speculated that Ma may have gone too far by openly criticizing government regulators trying to rein in the freewheeling ways of Alibaba's Ant Financial affiliate and other privately backed fintech companies. Ma's criticism had come just days before the abrupt suspension of Ant's estimated $34.5 billion blockbuster IPO in Shanghai and Hong Kong that was potentially set to become the world's largest ever new listing. As of early December, Ma was reportedly "advised by the government" to stay in the country, Bloomberg reported late last month, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter. Some speculated that Ma might even be under arrest. Following his latest outspokenness, Ma and other top Ant Group executives were called in for a dressing down on Nov. 2. Draft regulations were launched to rein in the growing power of online finance platforms, which were often criticized for being subject to far less oversight than traditional financial institutions like banks and insurance companies. Although Ma has no official position at either Ant Group or Alibaba, he is the "ultimate controller" of the fintech company, according to the company's IPO prospectus, and still had a 4.8% stake in the e-commerce giant as of July 2. According to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires List, Ma is currently the world's 19th wealthiest person with a fortune estimated at $60.7 billion. Following his controversial remarks, Ant Group Chairman Eric Jing last month heaped praise on China's financial watchdogs in his first public speech after the IPO was halted. Jing said the firm was working closely with regulators and doing its best to deal with the aftermath of the listing suspension, and said regulation would guard against the risks that arise from rapidly growing fintech companies like his own. Most recently, regulators have launched a separate antitrust probe into Alibaba, following years of criticism that China's tech titans have been allowed to grow too big and too powerful. ^ top ^

China's Communist Party warns cadres it's on the corruption warpath (SCMP)
2021-01-20
China's top anti-graft watchdog is on a publicity blitz, using a number of high-profile cases to warn cadres not to test the leadership's resolve on corruption. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party's top anti-corruption agency, is scheduled to hold its three-day annual conference from Friday and is expected to use the cases to underscore the leadership's determination to end corruption. As part of that campaign, state broadcaster CCTV will also air a four-part TV programme from Thursday documenting 16 cases of "how [we have] enforced discipline and curb corruption... as [we] build China into a modestly prosperous society", the CCDI said on its website on Tuesday. The announcement came a day after the CCDI published a long report of the crimes committed by Lai Xiaomin, former chairman of China Huarong Asset Management, one of the country's four state-asset managers, who was sentenced to death early this month for taking 1.79 billion yuan (US$270 million) in bribes. The report – "Using Lai Xiaomin's case to encourage rectification" – said the commission ordered party bodies of 19 financial institutions to organise "study sessions" with more than 130 senior and middle-ranking managers to "self reflect" by learning from Lai's case. It also said that almost 100 Huarong officials were investigated in connection with Lai's case and 54 who had earned promotion under his reign had since been removed. The commission also sent inspectors to the three other state-owned asset management companies – China Orient Asset Management, China Cinda Asset Management and China Great Wall Asset Management. In the aftermath, the four asset managers closed 56 non-core businesses. Also in the cross hairs is Qin Guangrong, former party secretary of the southwestern province of Yunnan. Qin was sentenced on Tuesday to seven years in jail for taking more than 23 million yuan in bribes. A TV programme broadcast by the anti-graft agency of Yunnan province last week portrayed Qin as a superstitious person who believed that feng shui would bring him good fortune and promotion to a state leader. Qin stepped down in 2014 and became a deputy chairman of the national legislature's legal affairs committee. He surrendered in 2019 after his son Qin Ling was investigated in another corruption case. Liu Changsong, director of Beijing Mugong Law Firm, said Lai's death sentence was Beijing's clear warning to officials in key positions, especially those in the financial industry. "Just imagine, how will the average person, who works day and night to make ends meet, feels when they know Lai Xiaomin gets 1.8 billion yuan by trading power for money," Liu said. "People are, of course, angry. If this is allowed, who would be motivated to work honestly? "China's top leadership certainly don't want those in the most lucrative positions to think that they can get away with serious corruption without facing corresponding consequences." Liu said the stiff penalty for Lai also indicated that the party leadership was determined to root out the rampant corruption in China's opaque financial sector, which was the "economic lifeblood of China's stability". "Those who give bribes are not stupid because they only bribe those who are in power and expect good returns," he said. "Corrupt officials like Lai are the main reason for instability in China's financial industry and the death sentence on Lai can be seen as a sign that [the top leaders] want to clean up the industry and restore order." ^ top ^

Two sessions form may be similar to last year, postponement unlikely: NPC deputies (Global Times)
2021-01-18
Amid a resurgence of sporadic COVID-19 cases in some Chinese cities, deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) approached by the Global Times on Monday said that the form of this year's Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th NPC and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the most important annual political event in China - collectively known as the two sessions - could be similar to last year's. This would mean a limited activity range for attendees and online interviews. They also said that the national two sessions are unlikely to be postponed. After the NPC announced on December 26, 2020 that the two sessions will convene starting from March 5 and March 4 respectively in Beijing, Li Zongsheng, a deputy to the 13th NPC and lawyer from Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, told the Global Times on Monday that the current epidemic situation would not exert great influence over the two sessions. If the incidence of sporadic COVID-19 cases ebbs around the Spring Festival, which falls on February 12 this year, the opening dates for the national two sessions are unlikely to be postponed, Li said. Attendees are likely to only be allowed to move between the meeting places and their designated hotels. Outside activities could only be possible with permission from the related principal, Li said. Media interviews could be conducted online, Li said. Also, the same as last year, attendees are very likely to be told to take nucleic acid tests at least twice before heading for Beijing and after landing in the capital, Li noted. Ma Yide, another deputy to the 13th NPC and law researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the national two sessions would be held as scheduled, as 2021 marks the beginning of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and the main task for the convention is to approve the plan. "Meanwhile, during this year's two sessions, many NPC deputies and CPPCC members will change their terms. If the two sessions were delayed, it would have affected the shift," Ma said. Ma suggested the anti-epidemic measures during this year's two sessions could be relaxed a little from last year, as the country has gained more experiences in dealing with the virus. Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's delegate to the Standing Committee of the NPC, said that this year's two sessions could surely start on time, given the effective epidemic prevention and control measures taken across the country. Separately, some regions that have been hit by COVID-19 outbreaks have vowed to adjust the opening dates of their local two sessions, reduce the duration of the meetings, and strictly control the scale of the meetings to achieve epidemic prevention and control. Central China's Henan Province, which started the local two sessions on Monday, has shortened the meetings to three and one-half days. Previously, the normal length of the two sessions before the epidemic was five to six days. On January 11, North China's Hebei Province decided to postpone the provincial event originally scheduled for January 25. Hebei has continued to report confirmed cases of COVID-19 since January 2 and recorded 769 local cases in total as of Sunday. On January 12, Northeast China's Liaoning Province announced that the fifth session of the 13th Liaoning provincial people's congress would be postponed. Liaoning reported seven consecutive days of zero new cases from January 11 to Sunday, after dozens of cases were recently confirmed in the province. Both the provinces said the specific times of the local meetings will be decided later. The city of Beijing is scheduled to start the fourth session of the 15th municipal people's congress on the coming Saturday and the session will be shortened to four and one- half days. The city said each plenary meeting will be limited to one and one-half hours. The local two sessions in Beijing will be kept under close management and few reporters will attend the meetings after taking nucleic acid tests, Ma said. ^ top ^

WHO experts under quarantine in Wuhan say they are 'well taken care of' (Global Times)
2021-01-18
Some of the WHO experts who came to Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, to study the origin of the coronavirus have shared their quarantine experience on social media, including daily body temperature checks and daily food and necessity supplies, saying they are being "well taken care of." Such active sharing of daily moments on Twitter through photos and videos has also become a major channel of illustrating how the collective quarantine process works in China, analysts said. Foreigners who come into the country during the epidemic have to go through a series of steps and usually undergo 14-day quarantine and health monitoring for another week in some cities like Beijing. Marion Koopmans, head of the viroscience department at the Erasmus MC Rotterdam in the Netherlands, shared a video on her Twitter account on Sunday showing an epidemic prevention and control worker at the collective quarantine site where WHO experts are staying in Wuhan gave a "victory" sign. In the post, the Dutch scientist said, "Morning call for temperature check. We are well taken care of." WHO experts arrived in Wuhan on Thursday and checked in to their designated hotel for quarantine. They will work with the Chinese team to try to find out the scientific answers to the origin of the coronavirus, the WHO previously revealed. Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, also tweeted on Monday morning - the fourth day of quarantine - with a picture of the sunrise in Wuhan and the breakfast he had, which included dragon fruit and coffee. Netizens also left messages on those posts wishing the scientists "good luck." The WHO thanked China for its cooperation in carrying out the WHO-led global investigation into the origin of the novel coronavirus, while stressing that the probe is complex and a final answer will be difficult to reach. ^ top ^

Xi Jinping on Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (Xinhua)
2021-01-16
Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Chinese President Xi Jinping has firmly supported the operation and development of the AIIB, the first China-proposed multilateral financial institution, and has spoken of the institution on many occasions. The following are some highlights of his remarks: -- To address issues emerging in the course of economic globalization, countries should pursue more inclusive global governance, more effective multilateral institutions, and more robust regional cooperation. In this context, the AIIB may grow into a new platform that promotes development for all its members and facilitates the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. -- With more good friends and partners getting on board for higher-quality cooperation, the AIIB has established itself on the global stage as a new type of professional, efficient and honest multilateral development bank. -- The AIIB should commit itself to serving the development needs of all its members and providing more high-quality, low-cost and sustainable investment for both traditional and new types of infrastructure. -- China will continue working with other members to support the AIIB and make it a success, and contribute more to the global response to risks and challenges and the pursuit of shared development. -- The founding and opening of the AIIB will bring about a better investment environment and more job opportunities and trigger greater medium- to long-term development potential on the part of developing members in Asia. This, in turn, will inject impetus into economic growth in Asia and the wider world. -- The AIIB and the existing global development financial institutions will complement each other's advantages. -- The founding of the AIIB proves once again that where there is a will, there is a way. -- The initiative to establish the AIIB is a constructive move. It will enable China to undertake more international obligations, promote the improvement of the current international economic system, and provide more international public goods. This is a move that will help bring mutual benefits and win-win outcomes to all sides. ^ top ^

Xi stresses advancing Beijing 2022 preparation with perfection (Xinhua)
2021-01-21
President Xi Jinping has called for advancing preparation work for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games against difficulties and "with greater perfection." Xi, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Wednesday when presiding over a meeting on the Beijing 2022 preparations, following his inspection tours of Beijing and Hebei. Xi inspected the Games' preparation work in Haidian and Yanqing District, both of Beijing, on Monday, and the co-host city of Zhangjiakou on Tuesday. He extended his thanks to athletes, coaches and construction, managerial and working staff, and expressed his best wishes for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. Xi called on conducting the preparation work "with greater perfection," replanning and readjusting all work in accordance with new circumstances while focusing on both epidemic prevention and control and the organization of the Games. Xi said "simplicity, safety and excellence" should be prioritized in the Games' preparations. He also called on guarding against and comprehensively neutralizing all kinds of risks and diligently carrying out the preparation work, including competition organization and services, technological application and cultural activities. As the Beijing 2022 preparations have entered a crucial stage, Xi urged efforts to center around staging the Games as scheduled and comprehensively sort out and implement all preparation work. He required the preparation work to be carried out with respect to six key points: - Completing the construction of non-competition venues and complementary facilities on schedule, and increasing necessary facilities for virus-testing, quarantine and emergencies. - Ensuring quality operation during the Games with an efficient management system in place, and improving coordination and emergency-handling capabilities between regions and sectors. - Advancing competition services by adhering to the principle of a "unified standard for three competition zones," namely, urban Beijing, Yanqing District and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province. - Enhancing communication and cooperation with the International Olympic Committee and other international sports organizations and strictly implementing epidemic prevention and control measures. - Developing winter sports and encouraging participation of more youngsters. - Promoting coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, striving for more achievements in transportation, environment, industry and public services, and proactively planning the post-Games utilization of the venues. "Not only will we host a successful Winter Olympic extravaganza, but also a spectacular Games with unique characteristics," Xi said. Delivering an excellent 2022 Games is a major task of the Party and the country, and it is a solemn commitment to the international community, Xi noted. He also stressed delivering a "fantastic, extraordinary and excellent" Olympics in 2022 with a "green, inclusive, open and clean" approach. Xi emphasized that Beijing 2022 is an event of great significance at the outset of the 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025, calling for the enhancing of a sense of responsibility, mission and urgency during the preparation work. Xi noted satisfying results had been produced over the past five years, thanks to organizers' efficient work, the cooperation of all relevant parties, and close coordination with international sports organizations. Xi called on the Games' organizing committee to adhere to the regulations and institutions, adopt stringent budget management, control the Games' costs, avoid corruption and make the Games as "pure and clean as ice and snow." While visiting the Capital Gymnasium on Monday, Xi said that the CPC Central Committee places great importance on the preparatory work for Beijing 2022, adding that both the Party and the Chinese people have given tremendous support in both material and spiritual terms. After arriving at Taizicheng station on Tuesday, Xi visited the athletes' service hall and observed exhibits, including a rail network map of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the sketch map and sand table of the Olympic competition zone and the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail link. Thanks to the rail link, it took Xi less than 50 minutes to cover the 200 kilometers between the two cities, a trip he flew four years ago when he last inspected the Olympic co-host. Xi hailed the high-speed rail, which marks essential progress in the preparations for the Winter Olympics, as a successful demonstration of China's independent innovation. He pointed out that China has undergone a process from introduction, digestion, absorption and re-innovation to independent innovation, before becoming a world leader in high-speed rail technology. In his Wednesday's speech, Xi said that both competitive and technical strengths are needed to raise the standard of modern sports. Athletes should have the will and determination to fight for national glory and get the best possible results. Xi, a keen fan of winter sports himself, said that he is looking forward to China's first ever Olympic Alpine skiing medal in 2022. Since Yang Yang ended China's Winter Olympic gold drought in 2002, the world's most populous nation has triumphed in speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating and freestyle skiing, but hasn't won a medal in the blue-riband event of Alpine skiing. "Train as hard as possible and work harder on technological innovations, learn from advanced concepts and technology from around the world, and raise the level of training and competition," Xi said. ^ top ^

Shanghai, other coastal regions vow to achieve peak CO2 emissions ahead of national schedule (Global Times)
2021-01-18
Several coastal Chinese cities and provinces including Shanghai, Jiangsu and Guangdong have reportedly announced that they aim to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions before the national schedule of 2030. Shanghai has set a timetable and plans to achieve peak total and per capita CO2 emissions by 2025, five years ahead of China's national timeline, the local authorities said. The city also aims to reduce its total emissions by about 5 percent from the peak by 2035, Cheng Peng, head of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, said at a press conference on Thursday. South China's Guangdong Province and East China's Jiangsu Province also aim to take the lead in curbing CO2 emissions, news portal thepaper.cn reported on Sunday. The two coastal provinces' GDP ranked top and second respectively among all the Chinese mainland provinces in 2019, official statistics showed. China's eastern and southern coastal areas, where Shanghai, Jiangsu and Guangdong are located, are likely to have CO2 emissions peak earlier than other domestic regions, environmental experts predicted. These areas enjoy better industrial structure with fewer heavy-industrial enterprises than northern inland regions, said Huang Dong, a professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and a member of the China Renewable Energy Society. "As China's most developed regions, they have good economic foundations to support local industrial structure optimization, and to deploy more low-energy industries, such as electronic information," Huang told the Global Times on Monday. Good economic performance also enables local authorities in these regions to shift the emphasis to sustainable, eco-friendly development. "Shanghai, for instance, has stricter control in pollutant emissions, and the local government is more enthusiastic about energy efficient tech, such as energy-saving buildings and NEVs (new-energy vehicles)," Huang said. To encourage NEV consumption, Shanghai offered each local NEV purchaser 5,000 yuan ($770) as a charging subsidy last year, on top of existing subsidies. The city's energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP has dropped by 17.07 percent from the level in 2015, the local government said. China aims to have CO2 emissions peak by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, according to the Xinhua News Agency. ^ top ^

Shenzhen to issue 20m in digital money in pilot project (China Daily)
2021-01-20
Shenzhen will issue digital currency worth of 20 million yuan ($3.1 million) as part of a pilot project of digital currency in its Longhua district on Wednesday. This is the third time the city will issue the currency in "red envelopes," worth 200 yuan each to 100,000 digital wallets, via a random draw. In previous rounds, 10 million yuan and 20 million yuan were issued in October 2020 and early January, respectively. The consideration behind the initiative is to reduce people's migration for the needs of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control. The money is from Longhua district government, and qualified applicants can obtain it through a lot-drawing system on their smartphone. ^ top ^

More plateau runoff may not quench downstream thirsts (China Daily)
2021-01-18
As Earth's climate grows warmer, increased river runoff on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is releasing more fresh water, but it may not quench the growing thirst of millions downstream, according to Chinese research published last week. Home to the headwaters of more than 10 major Asian rivers, the plateau－known as the roof of the world－has become warmer and wetter due to global climate change. However, an article published on Tuesday in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change said the additional river runoff due to both increased rainfall and melting glaciers may not meet rising water demands from growing populations in South Asia's Indus and Ganges basins. "A large proportion of the population, which is highly dependent on upstream water resources for their livelihoods, will continue to experience severe water stress even with a wetter climate," said Wang Tao, lead author of the study and a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research. Previous studies have suggested that if temperatures increase by 2 C globally, the plateau could see temperatures rise by as much as 4 C in coming decades. To find out how that would affect water supply, Wang's team, using models for estimated rainfall and glacial melt contributions, found the runoff of seven rivers on the plateau would increase by between 1 percent to 7.2 percent by the end of the century. Although the increased river runoff will provide more water, it will not be able to fully relieve water stress downstream, the study said. In the next eight decades, a declining population in China, together with more runoff generated from the upper Yangtze and Yellow rivers, will increase per capita water consumption and greatly relieve water stress in those river basins. However, a population surge of over 130 million in the Indus and Ganges basins, where people are highly dependent on upstream water resources, will offset the positive impacts of increased river runoff, aggravating the risk of water shortages. Wang said demographic data used in the study came from reports by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The study also stressed the need for policies promoting adaptation in the region. "We recommend measures such as increasing crop use efficiency and dam regulations in these basins to secure future water, food security and environmental sustainability," said co-author Yao Tandong, also the chief scientist on China's second comprehensive scientific expedition to the plateau and head of Third Pole Environment, an international science program on the region. ^ top ^

US declares China has committed genocide in its treatment of Uygurs in Xinjiang (SCMP)
2021-01-20
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused China of "genocide and crimes against humanity" for the country's treatment of Uygur Muslims in its far-western region of Xinjiang, using his last full day as America's top diplomat to issue a final blow against Beijing. Pompeo's accusations include arbitrary imprisonment of more than a million Uygurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang, as well as torture and forced labour inflicted on these groups, and is consistent with comments President-elect Joe Biden has made. "Since at least March 2017, local authorities [in China] dramatically escalated their decades-long campaign of repression against Uygur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups," Pompeo said. "Their morally repugnant, wholesale policies, practices, and abuses are designed systematically to discriminate against and surveil ethnic Uygurs as a unique demographic and ethnic group, restrict their freedom to travel, emigrate, and attend schools, and deny other basic human rights of assembly, speech, and worship," he added. "Since the Allied forces exposed the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, the refrain 'Never again' has become the civilised world's rallying cry against these horrors." Spurred by deadly measures taken against Jews and other minority communities during World War II, the Genocide Convention was the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948, signifying "the international community's commitment to 'never again' after the atrocities committed" during the global conflict, according to the UN's Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. The convention requires all countries "to take measures to prevent and to punish the crime of genocide, including by enacting relevant legislation and punishing perpetrators, 'whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals'," according to the UN office's website. Pompeo's move further escalates pressure against China's government, which had already been voiced its displeasure both with sanctions Washington has placed on government officials deemed responsible for repressive policies against Uygurs and further reactions by Europe and Britain to reports of these policies. Last week, Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, announced a ban on all imports of Xinjiang cotton and tomato products, even if they are routed through third countries or used in products finished outside the region, which borders Afghanistan and other central Asian countries. A representative of the Chinese embassy in Washington said in response that the forced labour issue was "a political lie concocted by some US politicians and is totally groundless". Other US government measures aimed at halting possible human rights violations in Xinjiang include passage of the Uygur Human Rights Policy Act, which requires greater US scrutiny of potential human rights abuses in the region and demands that Chinese officials deemed responsible for violations be subject to economic sanctions and barred from entering the US. President Donald Trump signed that bill into law in June. Beijing has consistently denied the existence of forced labour camps in Xinjiang, and says that actions rolled out in the region are educational measures to tackle terrorism. The Chinese government is fighting other rules and guidelines aimed at halting at blocking exports of products from Xinjiang. Citing evidence of forced labour in Xinjiang, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recently announced new rules that force government suppliers to switch their supply chains away from Xinjiang, a sweeping directive that applies to all companies around the world that supply the British government. Reports of human rights abuses also became a key source of contention in a tentative investment agreement that Beijing reached with the European Union after promising to pursue the ratification of key global human rights conventions starting this year. S lawmakers of both parties, many of whom have sponsored or supported legislation that restricts companies from sourcing products that might have been produced through forced labour in Xinjiang, praised Pompeo's move. "The United States does not apply these terms lightly," said Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I hope today's designation will motivate the nations, businesses and people of the world to reconsider the ways they entangle themselves with a brutal communist dictatorship that is guilty of committing genocide against its own people." "The State Department said today what we have known for some time," Representative Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from New York, said on Twitter. "China's mass internment camps, forced labour, and forced sterilization of over 1 million [Uygurs] in Xinjiang is genocide." In his account of the alleged brutality, Pompeo's announcement highlighted the treatment of Uygur women. China's internment of nearly one million Uighur Muslims is among the worst abuses of human rights in the world today. The U.S. cannot be silent — we must speak out against this oppression and relentlessly defend human rights around the world (Joe Biden November 18, 2019). He decried "coercive population control measures, including forced sterilisations, forced abortion, forced birth control and the removal of children from their families" in Tuesday's announcement, touching on a recent claim by the Chinese embassy in Washington that Beijing's efforts to deradicalise Uygurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang have benefited women there. A since-deleted tweet by the Chinese mission this month asserted that a recent study by the state-affiliated Xinjiang Development Research Centre showed that "in the process of eradicating extremism, the minds of Uygur women in Xinjiang were emancipated and gender equality and reproductive health were promoted, making them no longer baby-making machines". China's diplomats will likely not be able to change Washington's position after Biden assumes office. In response to reports in August that the Trump administration was planning to label China's treatment of Uygurs as genocide, his campaign representative agreed with the designation. "The unspeakable oppression that Uygurs and other ethnic minorities have suffered at the hands of China's authoritarian government is genocide and Joe Biden stands against it in the strongest terms," Andrew Bates told Politico. "If the Trump administration does indeed choose to call this out for what it is, as Joe Biden already did, the pressing question is what will Donald Trump do to take action. He must also apologise for condoning this horrifying treatment of Uygurs," Bates said. ^ top ^

HK electoral reform inevitable, with policymakers suggesting a political scrutiny mechanism for candidacy (Global Times)
2021-01-21
Though the ongoing session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee has not included Hong Kong-related issues on its agenda, reform of the city's electoral process has been widely discussed among Hong Kong delegates to the NPC, policy advisors and experts on Hong Kong affairs, and some suggest the need to set up a political scrutiny mechanism to make sure 'those who rule Hong Kong are patriotic.' There has been a strong signal for pushing forward electoral reform in Hong Kong, given some people have used the election to make a fuss in the city's political system or let foreign forces interfere in it, which needs to be rectified, a source close to the matter who preferred not to be named told the Global Times in a recent report. When some western media and politicians questioned the recent arrest of 53 activists over the so-called "35-plus" strategy for illegal primary elections, they failed to understand some radical forces in Hong Kong had tried to turn Hong Kong elections into a process of splitting Hong Kong society and paralyze the legal system and administrative functions of Hong Kong. And more experts and representatives from the political sphere called for drawing up and defending a bottom-line for the city's political system, where those who rule and govern the city should be patriots, and today's electoral system needs to be reformed. Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, was quoted as saying in a recent media report that the electoral system in Hong Kong will see "major changes" in order to carry on the principle of "patriots govern the city, secessionists and rioters expelled from the election." The reforms are expected to include a number of different aspects including the qualification of the candidates running for election, qualification of voters, election procedures, balloting activities, election funding and other requirements. "A key focus would be the qualification of candidates. As the electoral officer is only a middle-level officer in the civil service structure, who can't conduct a full-scale political scrutiny over the candidates in order to bar those who are against China and stir up trouble, so it's necessary for the government to set up a mechanism or an department to do so," Lau was quoted as saying in the report on the website of Ta Kung Pao recently. Lau also suggested that the department could be led by high-level government officials, including the office for safeguarding national security of the central government in Hong Kong by following detailed principles and procedures in conducting political scrutiny of candidates. Fixing the loopholes in the electoral system of Hong Kong should make sure that those who are elected as district councilors or LegCo lawmakers genuinely support the Basic Law, pledge loyalty to China and the country's HKSAR, according to observers.  ^ top ^

Macao authority cracks mortgage loan scam involving bank workers (Xinhua)
2021-01-18
The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) of Macao said Monday that it had cracked a case involving several bank workers who colluded with a crime syndicate to defraud mortgage loans. Nine persons, including the mastermind and the core members of the syndicate and several bank workers, allegedly conspired with over 370 borrowers to falsify documents in order to defraud 11 banks into approving 362 fraudulent loan applications, which involved a sum totaling over 770 million patacas (about 96.4 million U.S. dollars), according to the CCAC. The case had been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office upon completion of the investigation, said the CCAC. Following the suggestion of the office, the judge of the Criminal Investigation Court has ordered the application of coercive measures to prohibit the departure of some of the syndicate members. ^ top ^

China to impose sanctions on U.S. officials acting badly on Taiwan question: spokesperson (Xinhua)
2021-01-18
In view of the wrong actions of the United States, China has decided to impose sanctions on relevant U.S. officials who have performed badly on the Taiwan question, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday. Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks when responding to a question on the United States' recent decision to ease restrictions on exchanges between the United States and China's Taiwan region. ^ top ^

China's Economy Isn't 'State Capitalism,' Banking Regulator Says (Caixin)
2021-01-19
A top Chinese financial regulator on Monday hit back at the argument that China's economy can be described as "state capitalism," touting the major role privately owned businesses play in the world's second-largest economy. "They accused China of state capitalism, because China has a strong public sector and its industrial policies distort the market. This is a big misunderstanding," said Chairman Guo Shuqing of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) in a speech delivered to the 14th Asian Financial Forum held in Hong Kong. Before China kicked off its reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s, the country virtually had no private enterprise, but now private business accounts for about 60% of the nation's economy, he said. "If there was so-called state capitalism and state protectionism, how could this be achieved?" Guo asked rhetorically. Criticism of China's industrial policy and preferential treatment of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has long come from some foreign officials. The U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has described China as state capitalist. However, Guo argued that the country's industrial policies have been consistently market-oriented. He pointed out that SOEs are taxed more heavily than private firms. "SOEs have in fact undertaken more social responsibilities. Actually, one of the important drivers for long-term and rapid growth of private and foreign firms is tax concessions," he said. He also denied that banks are funneling subsidies to SOEs. "Chinese banks are among the most profitable banks in the world. This couldn't be possible if they had been providing subsidies to SOEs over the long term," said Guo, who is also the central bank's Communist Party chief. The relationship between SOEs and privately owned and foreign-invested firms has been a hot topic over the past few years. Policymakers have acknowledged the significance of the private sector, especially small businesses, and vowed to do more to level the playing field for all types of companies. But the country's leaders have also said that SOEs should be "bigger" and "stronger," and there have been concerns from some private business owners and experts that SOEs are getting stronger at the expense of the private sector, as privately owned companies find it relatively difficult to get financing and they are effectively locked out of some industries that are controlled by SOEs. Regarding labor issues, Guo said that China's competitiveness is not built on labor exploitation. "In the past 10 years, the income of Chinese workers has grown rapidly. Migrant workers' incomes have doubled," he said. ^ top ^

RCEP to take effect by end of this year (China Daily)
2021-01-19
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement is expected to take effect by the end of this year, enabling more than one-third of China's foreign trade goods to enjoy zero tariffs in the next stage, a senior government official said on Monday. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said the pact will drive the opening-up of services and investments, promote trade facilitation and improve the business environment in the country. China will take the opportunity to expand trade and investment activities in the region, stabilize industrial and supply chains and form new advantages in global economic cooperation and competition. Besides, China will highlight the characteristics of local economic development and fully integrate into the huge market, Wang said. The minister said at a national online training session that the government will systematically introduce articles about the deal on goods, services, investment, rules of origin, Customs facilitation and other areas. Its goal is to assist local governments, industry associations and export-oriented companies to be familiar with RCEP rules. The mega trade deal was signed by China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Nov 15, 2020. The RCEP is also the world's biggest free trade bloc, covering 2.27 billion people, or almost 30 percent of the global population, with a combined gross domestic product of $26 trillion, or about 30 percent of global GDP in 2019, data from the ministry showed. At present, all the signatories are actively pushing for early clearances for the pact. It will come into force and be implemented after ratification by six ASEAN economies and three non-ASEAN countries, said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce. With the signing of the RCEP, China has sealed 19 free trade agreements with other countries and has 26 free trade partners, he said. After the implementation of the RCEP, China's foreign trade volume with its FTA partners will increase from 27 percent to 35 percent, indicating more than one-third of its foreign trade goods will be tariff-free. Wang urged Chinese companies to take advantage of the cumulative rules of origin, because the benefit of the RCEP lies in the adoption of such rules. "When products are exported to other RCEP member states, intermediate goods from multiple member states can be added into the value-added standard, which greatly lowers the threshold of the goods benefits," he said. "Therefore, more goods can have access to tariff reductions." The RCEP will build a solid foundation for China to substantially push forward the China-Japan-ROK free trade process, together with China's announcement of favorably considering joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, said Wang. Zhao Ping, vice-president of the research institute at the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said China must seize this rare opportunity to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic effect and other uncertainties to the regional economy by actively promoting the implementation of the RCEP, sharing the development dividends of the FTA and relying on the regional market and various connectivity facilities to achieve win-win cooperation. Promoting regional economic and trade ties on the RCEP platform will open new frontiers for economic growth in China and provide new impetus to regional and even global economic recovery and growth, Zhao said at an economic forum held by China News Service on Monday. ^ top ^

With 2.3% Growth, China Likely to Be Only Major Economy to Expand in 2020 (Caixin)
2021-01-18
China's GDP grew 2.3% in 2020 as the world's second-largest economy managed a steady recovery from the fallout of its Covid-19 outbreak a year ago, official data showed Monday. The annual growth rate was the lowest since 1976, when the sweeping Cultural Revolution wrecked the economy, but still beat the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) projection for a 1.9% increase. The organization expected China to be the only major economy to expand in 2020. China's full-year GDP came in at 101.6 trillion yuan ($15.7 trillion), the first time it surpassed 100 trillion yuan, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Authorities and economists generally agree that the quick resumption of economic activity after the domestic outbreak came under control in the second quarter, coupled with monetary and fiscal stimulus measures, were the major reasons behind China's recovery. "Our country was early in containing the outbreak, early in resuming work and production, and early in achieving economic growth," NBS head Ning Jizhe said at a Monday briefing. The economic gap between China and the U.S. is becoming smaller, said Feng Xuming, a researcher at state-backed think tank the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Based on the latest IMF projection for the U.S.' GDP, China's economy as a percentage of the U.S.' was likely to have increased to 70.8% in 2020 from 66.7% the previous year, he told Caixin. China's fourth-quarter GDP grew 6.5% year-on-year, accelerating from 4.9% growth in the previous quarter and gaining momentum in the wake of its record 6.8% contraction in the first quarter. The reading beat the median estimate of 6.1% in a Caixin survey of economists. The better-than-expected quarterly growth was partly driven by faster industrial production growth, which was in turn bolstered primarily by a rapid expansion in exports, economists at Nomura International (Hong Kong) Ltd. said in a research note. Value-added industrial output — which measures production by factories, mines and utilities — grew 7.3% year-on-year in the month of December, up from a 7% increase the previous month and beating the median forecast in the Caixin survey for 6.9% growth. Consumption growth was worse than expected as retail sales rose 4.6% year-on-year in December, losing a step after increasing 5% in the previous month. The reading came in below the median forecast for a 5.5% increase in the Caixin survey. Ning attributed the slower consumption recovery to scattered flare-ups of Covid-19 in some regions. For the entire year, consumption was a relative weak point in the economic recovery. Retail sales dropped 3.9% last year, NBS data show. Also on the demand side, fixed-asset investment, a key driver of domestic demand, grew 2.9% last year, accelerating from a 2.6% year-on-year rise in the first 11 months, according to NBS data. The rate was lower than the median forecast of 3.1% growth in the Caixin survey. Infrastructure investment growth slowed modestly. Infrastructure investment, which consists of spending on road and railway construction and is generally led by the government, rose 0.9% last year, decelerating from a 1% year-on-year increase in the first 11 months. Investment in real estate development rose 7% in 2020, picking up a step from a 6.8% rise in the January-to-November period. Multiple economists forecast faster economic growth for 2021, especially in the first quarter given the low base in the same period last year. The IMF projected an 8.2% rise in China's GDP this year. Still, some economists warned about risks. Rising energy and raw material prices, financial risks and fiscal pressure on some local governments, as well as pressure on exporters from a probable slowdown in export growth all pose challenges to China's economy in 2021, Feng said in a Monday note. "The slowdown in income growth among low- and middle-income groups and the decline in their willingness to spend money will continue to hinder the recovery in consumption," he said. As China's policymakers have vowed continuity and stability in macro policies for 2021, some analysts have estimated a modest and flexible exit from stimulus policies amid uncertainties stemming from the global pandemic. ^ top ^

DPRK deputies discuss economic plan, budget at Supreme People's Assembly (Xinhua)
2021-01-18
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held the Supreme People's Assembly on Sunday to mainly discuss the country's future economic path, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday. The KCNA said that the fourth session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) was held in Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang and discussed the country's five-year economic and budget plans. The one-day session decided on its agenda items, an organizational matter, and on thorough implementation of the five-year plan for national economic development set forth at the eighth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, as well as the review of fulfillment of the state budget for 2020 and the state budget for 2021, the report said. The speakers "seriously analyzed and reviewed shortcomings, causes and experience in the efforts for making remarkable progress in the development of the country's economy and improvement of the people's standard of living in the past." They also suggested realistic and dynamic measures for implementing the new five-year plan, the KCNA added. Deputy Kim Tok Hun, the cabinet premier, made a report at the session in which he called for thoroughly carrying out the five-year plan for national economic development set forth at the eighth congress which concluded last Tuesday. He stressed that the cabinet will put the economy on a normal track that makes sustained development, unaffected by any outside influence while maintaining a firm hold on the adjustment strategy and reinforcement strategy together with self-reliance and self-sufficiency, according to the report. He said that they would give priority to the development of key industries including metal industry and chemical industry, which constitute twin pillars of the national economy, and achieve a breakthrough in carrying out the five-year plan in order to keep the overall economy afloat. ^ top ^

Deputy PM, Health Minister announce to resign following peaceful protest (Montsame)
2021-01-20
On the evening of January 19, 2021, a live streaming news video showed a woman who gave birth a day before and her newborn baby being transferred from the Urgoo Maternity Hospital to the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) without any warm outerwear and footwear in cold weather temperature, causing widespread public criticism. She was diagnosed to have COVID-19 earlier that day and was transferred to the NCCD with her baby for quarantine. On the morning of January 20, 2021, today, officials from the National Center for Communicable Diseases and Urgoo Maternity Hospital issued official apology to the mother, the newborn baby and their family. Currently, the mother and the baby are staying at the quarantine facility of the NCCD under treatment together with the father who was also tested positive for the coronavirus and all are in stable health condition, report the NCCD officials. However, citizens have assembled in a peaceful protest at the central square in Ulaanbaatar since the morning of January 20, condemning the government for the action and demanding resignation of State Emergency Commission, responsible for the COVID-19 emergency management, and to hold those responsible for the wrongdoing accountable. As a result, Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh convened an emergency meeting, after which, Deputy Prime Minister Ya.Sodbaatar, who also serves as Chair of the State Emergency Commission, and Minister of Health T.Munkhsaikhan announced that they are submitting their resignation to the Prime Minister. Both ministers were appointed to the position in August 2020 after the new government was formed as a result of the parliamentary elections. Deputy Prime Minister Ya.Sodbaatar said "Despite the fact that it was not my immediate responsibility, I regret that such neglectful people lacking compassion are working for the Mongolian state. I apologize to the Prime Minister, who appointed me to this position, and the people of Mongolia." "I wish to highlight that our team has not made any big strategic mistakes in the past and Mongolia is named as one of five countries who are successfully fighting against the pandemic. I thank for all frontline healthcare workers, professional inspection, police, emergency management organizations, and the government and State Great Khural of Mongolia for the cooperation." Afterwards, Health Minister T.Munkhsaikhan said "We have been striving in our battle against COVID-19 and are managing to overcome the transmission outbreaks with minimum losses. All efforts were made to correct the wrong healthcare system persistent for many years and certain achievements have been reached, as you may see. The irresponsible action of some people must not be the reason to deny the efforts committed by around 57,000 employees in the health sector" and notified to convey his resignation to the Prime Minister. Mongolia's law on government states that the Prime Minister chooses to resign members of the government after presenting the resignation to State Great Hural and the President. In line with the legislation, the Prime Minister will make the final decision, as reported by the Cabinet Secretariat Press Office. ^ top ^

India to supply vaccines to Mongolia (Montsame)
2021-01-19
In his official letter to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mongolian Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh expressed its interest on the COVID-19 vaccine being produced by India. Today, January 19, Ambassador of the Republic of India to Mongolia M.P. Singh paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister and presented a response letter from Mr. Narendra Modi. In the letter, the Indian Prime Minister stated that India has decided to supply the COVID-19 vaccine to Mongolia. Moreover, Mr. Narendra Modi expressed his satisfaction with successful progress of the Oil Refinery Project being funded with the Line of Credit from India. Within the vaccine supply framework, the parties have started an online-training for 150 Mongolian doctors from today. The preparations for transporting, storing and vaccinating are complete and the quantity and supply schedule will be agreed through the diplomatic channel. Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of India, a strategic partner and third neighbor, for its decision to support Mongolia. ^ top ^

Foreign Minister meets UN Resident Coordinator (Montsame)
2021-01-15
On January 14, Minister of Foreign Affairs N.Enkhtaivan met with UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia Tapan Mishra. During the meeting, they exchanged information on establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform for sustainable development and measures to be organized in the framework of the 60th anniversary of Mongolia's accession to the United Nations. Moreover, the sides expressed their respect for the memory of those, who died in the MI-8 helicopter crash in Malchin soum of Uvs aimag 20 years ago or on January 14, 2001 during their participation in the humanitarian mission to conduct a formal UN assessment on the dzud disaster relief. ^ top ^

Embassy of Switzerland