China highlights data and ‘digital silk road’ in new plan to drive innovation as US tech rivalry intensifies

The plan was released by the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Data Administration (NDA), and excerpts were made public on the NDA’s WeChat account on Monday. China’s new data agency plans fast track to powerful national computing network The NDA is supervised by the NDRC, China’s top economic planner, and was inaugurated … Read more

China finds foreign support for Xinjiang policies as region seeks to boost economic ties

The event coincided with Eid ul-Fitr, the Muslim festival that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Xinjiang is home to 25.85 million people, 14.93 million of whom are members of ethnic minority groups, including the Muslim Uygurs and Kazakhs. EU sees 200% surge in Xinjiang imports despite human rights concerns Beijing has … Read more

Why Russia might be warming to China’s belt and road plans in Central Asia

Addressing the Boao Forum for Asia in the Chinese island province of Hainan, Russian deputy prime minister Alexey Overchuk said the Kremlin and Beijing had discussed the possibility of “improving connectivity” between the initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a Russian-led effort to create an EU-like common market. China-Russia ties set to deepen with … Read more