beijing

Shanghai planning US$13.8 billion fund of funds in pursuit of ‘several world-class industry clusters’, with eye on AI, biotech and semiconductors

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Shanghai planning US.8 billion fund of funds in pursuit of ‘several world-class industry clusters’, with eye on AI, biotech and semiconductors

The fund will underpin promising start-ups in the fields of artificial intelligence, biotechnology and semiconductors, and is expected to attract more technology firms to Shanghai, the municipal government said in a statement on Friday. The local state-owned assets watchdog will be responsible for the fund’s establishment and operations. It will be the city’s largest government-backed … Read more

UAE prince and Hong Kong, Xi’s policy shift, Singapore ‘Asia’s happiest country’ again: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week

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UAE prince and Hong Kong, Xi’s policy shift, Singapore ‘Asia’s happiest country’ again: SCMP’s 7 highlights of the week

A Dubai prince who made waves after announcing plans to set up a new family office in Hong Kong with a US$500 million investment pledge abruptly postponed its opening scheduled for Thursday. 3. In rare monetary policy shift, Xi tells China central bank to buy treasury bonds With the world’s second-largest economy at a critical … Read more

Xi Jinping’s chief of staff is China’s new internet tsar, sources say

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Xi Jinping’s chief of staff is China’s new internet tsar, sources say

It was established because of concerns raised by Xi and other officials that Beijing’s lack of control over the internet and public opinion expressed online could compromise the party’s rule. Cai’s appointment has not been announced but he took the helm of the commission some time in the first half of 2023, according to one … Read more

China to woo belt and road partners at ‘digital silk road’ forum in April amid an increasingly divided cyberspace

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China to woo belt and road partners at ‘digital silk road’ forum in April amid an increasingly divided cyberspace

China will host a forum next month to promote its digital-economy growth model and facilitate the development of digital infrastructure in partner nations of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing’s plan to grow global trade. The Digital Silk Road (DSR) Development Forum will open on April 16 in Xian, capital of western Shaanxi province, … Read more

‘President did not dare attend’: Taiwan opposition questions Tsai Ing-wen’s absence from Taiping pier ceremony

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‘President did not dare attend’: Taiwan opposition questions Tsai Ing-wen’s absence from Taiping pier ceremony

Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, has come under fire from opposition legislators for not taking the opportunity to uphold the island’s claim over Taiping. “We all know clearly that we have spent NT$1.7 billion (US$53 million) in [renovating] the pier at Taiping and an inauguration ceremony is held there today …. But President … Read more

China’s foreign investment, confidence push gathers speed as top officials highlight ‘win-win opportunities’

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China’s foreign investment, confidence push gathers speed as top officials highlight ‘win-win opportunities’

China’s top leadership has gone all out to revive confidence and lure foreign investment in intensive meetings with foreign business leaders in recent days, setting out the “win-win opportunities ahead”, as Beijing seeks to achieve a seemingly challenging economic growth target for 2024. In a rare move, nearly all top-level officials responsible for economic affairs … Read more

Apple CEO Tim Cook goes on a charm offensive in China amid weak iPhone sales in the world’s largest smartphone market

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Apple CEO Tim Cook goes on a charm offensive in China amid weak iPhone sales in the world’s largest smartphone market

Apple chief executive Tim Cook on Wednesday met Chinese video game developers, a filmmaker and the billionaire founder of BYD in Shanghai, ahead of the company’s new store opening in the city, as the US tech giant goes on a charm offensive amid weak iPhone sales in the world’s largest smartphone market. This marks the … Read more

Chinese state media reporters blocked from deadly blast site near Beijing, raising rare controversy over press controls

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Chinese state media reporters blocked from deadly blast site near Beijing, raising rare controversy over press controls

In another video, reporters were seen surrounded by a group of uniformed police officers telling them to leave the scene. A reporter with China Media Group, of which CCTV is a division, was heard saying “we three reporters are shoved by a dozen people”. The incident sparked controversy and became a trending topic on social … Read more

No risk of war before new Taiwan president takes office but Beijing to keep up coercion drive, island’s spy chief says

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No risk of war before new Taiwan president takes office but Beijing to keep up coercion drive, island’s spy chief says

“Presently we do not see any risky signal that could catalyse a war [in the Taiwan Strait]”, Tsai said when asked to analyse the cross-strait situation after the close of Beijing’s “two sessions” – annual meetings of its national legislature and top political advisory body. Tsai said his bureau had shared intelligence with foreign governments … Read more

Hong Kong CPPCC delegates must be ‘100%’ committed to supporting Article 23 security law, says top state leader on city affairs

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Hong Kong CPPCC delegates must be ‘100%’ committed to supporting Article 23 security law, says top state leader on city affairs

The sixth-ranked Politburo Standing Committee member was referring to security legislation that the city is required to pass under Article 23 of the Basic Law, its mini-constitution. “[Ding said] we must be 100 per cent [committed] in supporting the Article 23 legislation, [it’s] not acceptable with just 99 per cent,” So said, meaning there should … Read more