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VOL. XXVIII No. 12 December 2016 Rs. 20.00 2

Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, paid a visit to the Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, met with the Chinese former NSG Shivshankar Menon and discussed Sino- Delegation attending the 1st China-India Think Tank India relations. Forum

Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui attended “Beautiful Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui met with Deputy China”tourism promotion programme. Director of the Standing Committee of Hubei Provincial People’s Congress Wang Jianming.

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On Nov. 20, 2016, Chinese setbacks around the world. Pacific and the world at large, and President Xi Jinping urged members called on APEC members to of the Asia-Pacific Economic Speaking at the 24th APEC leverage the Asia-Pacific’s role as a Cooperation (APEC) to stay Economic Leaders’ Meeting here in growth engine and work for an committed to taking economic Peru, Xi highlighted the APEC’s role i n n o v a t i v e , i n v i g o r a t e d , globalization forward with vigorous as a pioneer, leader and trailblazer of interconnected and inclusive world measures, despite increasing economic cooperation in the Asia- economy.

4 News From China l December 2016 APEC Summit

At the high-level gathering of development. Calling on APEC members to APEC economic leaders, Xi urged take more collective and individual the APEC economies to stay “Instead of coming to a stop a c t i o n s t o i m p l e m e n t t h e committed to taking economic because of the temporar y Connectivity Blueprint for 2015- globalization forward, increasing difficulties, we need to continue our 2025 adopted in Beijing and openness in the Asia-Pacific i n v o l v e m e n t i n e c o n o m i c p r o m o t e c o n n e c t i v i t y i n economy, breaking bottlenecks in globalization. What is important is to infrastructure, institutions and regional connectivity and blazing combine it with our respective personnel flows, Xi underlined the new trails in reform and innovation. development practices, strive to need for a multi-dimensional ensure equity and justice, and steer it connectivity network and a well- Currently, the world economy towards a more inclusive and connected Asia-Pacific community. still finds itself in profound mutually beneficial direction,” he adjustment, with weak recovery and said. China is making progress with more divergent growth, said Xi, the Belt and Road Initiative. adding that economic globalization On the building of a Free Trade Featuring extensive consultation, has encountered setbacks, as Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), joint participation and shared evidenced by sluggish international which was launched at the 2014 benefits among partners in the trade and investment and rising APEC meeting in Beijing, Xi hailed region, Xi said the initiative will protectionism. the smooth completion of the contribute to enhanced connectivity collective strategic study this year, in the Asia-Pacific, and pledged to Citing the blueprint for strong, saying it marked a new phase in seek synergy in development sustainable, balanced and inclusive FTAAP development. strategies and cooperation initiatives world economic growth produced with relevant parties. by the G20 Hangzhou Summit in “We need to stick to our agenda September, the Chinese president and take more effective actions to The Belt and Road Initiative said it embodies the spirit of realize the FTAAP at an early date, refers to the Silk Road Economic partnership to jointly rise to thus bringing about an Asia-Pacific Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime challeng es as well as the economy with greater openness,” Silk Road initiative proposed by Xi in c o m m i t m e n t t o c o m m o n said the Chinese president. 2013. The initiative brings together

News From China l December 2016 5 APEC Summit countries in Asia, Europe and Africa Development, and the country will meeting. via overland and maritime networks. pursue a development path of innovation, coordination, green, Also on Nov.20 , President Xi, Xi recalled that China has given openness and sharing to continue to along with other economic leaders, priority to opening up to the Asia- make contributions to the global and a t t e n d e d a d i a l o g u e w i t h Pacific over the past 25 years since it the Asia-Pacific development. International Monetary Fund joined the APEC, and pledged to Managing Director Christine work with other parties to increase The APEC economic leaders Lagarde who gave a briefing on openness, pursue regional economic agreed to build an open economy in global economic situation. integration and connectivity, the region, oppose protectionism, advance reform and innovation, and advance the FTAAP process and Xi expounded China’s view on jointly write an exciting chapter of boost connectivity, thus injecting the world economy and reaffirmed Asia-Pacific cooperation. new impetus into the Asia-Pacific the country’s resolve to boost and global growth. reform and its confidence in the The economic leaders’ meeting prospects of development. continued in the afternoon and They also agreed that the President Xi gave a speech calling on outcomes of the previous meetings the APEC members to boost should be earnestly implemented The APEC meeting, hosted by sustainable, inclusive, green and and future cooperation be well Peruvian President Pedro Pablo interconnected development. planned for the sake of the long- Kuczynski, took place On Nov.19 term prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. and Nov.20 in Lima, capital of Peru, He said that China had released under the theme of “Quality its plan for the implementation of A declaration was issued after Growth and Human Development.” the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable the annual economic leaders’ CHINA RENEWS CALL FOR FTAAP AS ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION FALTERS Lima, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) — economy in the Asia-Pacific,” he told This year’s meeting comes China on Saturday renewed its call global business leaders. against the backdrop of a sluggish for pushing forward the building of global recovery, lack of growth a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific The FTAAP process was momentum, backlash against (FTAAP), as protectionism has launched at the 2014 APEC globalization, weak trade and dented global trade and economic Economic Leaders’ Meeting in investment, and growing global integration. Beijing with the endorsement of a challenges that cloud economic roadmap. A “collective strategic outlook. The FTAAP “is a strategic study” was conducted subsequently, initiative critical for the long-term as agreed by the APEC members, “The Asia-Pacific is under prosperity of the Asia-Pacific,” and the result should be reported to similar pressure and is grappling Chinese President Xi Jinping said the economic leaders by the end of with such challenges as the while delivering a keynote speech at 2016. fragmentation of regional economic the Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation,” Xi said. Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit Xi arrived in Peru on Friday to in Lima, Peru’s capital. attend the annual APEC Economic In his speech, Xi called on the 21 Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled for APEC member economies to “We should firmly pursue the Nov. 19-20 in Lima, and pay his first promote an open and integrated FTAAP as an institutional state visit to the Latin American economy, enhance connectivity to mechanism for ensuring an open country. a c h i e v e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d

6 News From China l December 2016 APEC Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. development, boost reform and globalization is a “double-edged Beijing and this year’s G20 summit innovation to create more internal sword” with skepticism these days, held in September in eastern driving force, and promote win-win the leader of the world’s second Chinese city of Hangzhou. cooperation to forge strong largest economy said he nonetheless partnership. believes that economic globalization “The FTAAP will lead to more is in keeping with the law of investment opportunities in and “For any regional trade economics and delivers benefits to all. outside China. China is opening its arrangement to gain broad support, gate and helping the developing it must be open, inclusive and “We need to actively guide countries in fields such as beneficial to all,” he said, adding that globalization, promote equity and transportation and infrastructure,” “closed and exclusive arrangement is justice, and make globalization more Carlos Galvez Pinillos, president of not the right choice.” resilient, inclusive and sustainable, so Peru’s National Association of that people will get a fair share of its Minerals, Petroleum and Energy, The president said that the benefits and will see that they have a told Xinhua. APEC members must energize trade stake in it,” he said. and investment to drive growth, PROMISE ON CHINESE make free trade arrangements more The president also called for ECONOMY, WORLD’S open and inclusive, and uphold the implementing the consensus and OPPORTUNITIES multilateral trading regime. outcomes of the 2014 APEC Acknowledging that economic Economic Leaders’ Meeting in In his speech, Xi reassured

News From China l December 2016 7 APEC Summit global business leaders on China’s “China’s investment climate will economy. economic growth and opening-up be more open, favorable and strategy, saying that the country will transparent, thus allowing foreign Also Saturday, Peng Liyuan, wife carry out supply-side structural companies to share in China’s of Xi, visited Museo Larco, a reform, accelerate the shifting of growth opportunities,” he said. museum offering one of the largest growth model, promote innovation- displays of ceramics in Lima, driven development, and replace old The president cited that in the together with the spouses of some growth drivers with new ones. next five years China will import 8 other APEC economic leaders. trillion U.S. dollars of goods, China will also boost high- introduce 600 billion dollars of Founded in 1989, APEC, standard, two-way opening-up to foreign investment and invest 750 grouping 21 members, now deliver win-win outcomes, and push billion dollars overseas, and Chinese accounts for 39 percent of the global for shared and green development tourists will make over 700 million population, 60 percent of the global to make life better for its people, he outbound visits. economy and 46 percent of the said. global trade. “All this means a bigger market, “China’s economy has a more capital, a greater variety of Peru previously hosted the promising future, and China’s products and more valuable APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting development will present great cooperation opportunities for in 2008. China had also hosted the opportunities to the world,” he countries around the world,” Xi said. meeting twice — in 2001 in noted. Shanghai, and in 2014 in Beijing. In his speech, Xi also briefly China’s economy grew 6.7 reviewed the interaction between Mario Mongilardi, president of percent in the third quarter of 2016, China and the APEC forum since it the Lima Chamber of Commerce, holding steady with the first and the became its member 25 years ago. hailed Xi’s speech as an encouraging second quarters and strengthening m e s s a g e t o t h e b u s i n e s s hope that the central government After the APEC CEO Summit, communities of the 21 APEC will achieve its annual GDP growth the Chinese president, along with members. target of 6.5 percent to 7 percent. other APEC leaders, held dialogue with representatives of the APEC “The president of China made “We will give greater access to Business Advisory Council, an extraordinary speech today. He foreign investment and continue to exchanging views on the FTAAP, laid out the bases for the future set up high-standard pilot free trade economic integration in the Asia- growth of the world economy,” he zones in China,” the president said. Pacific, connectivity and the Chinese said. CHINESE PRESIDENT XI'S APEC SPEECH PUTS CHINA, ASIA-PACIFIC IN GLOBAL "VANGUARD"

Mexico City Nov. 20 (Xinhua) reactivate the global economy, m e s s a g e t o t h e b u s i n e s s — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s APEC participants and scholars communities of the 21 APEC keynote speech at the Asia Pacific have said. members. Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit on Saturday in Lima, Mario Mongilardi, president of “The president of China made Peru, placed China and the region at the Lima Chamber of Commerce, an extraordinary speech today. He the forefront of a joint effort to believed Xi sent an encouraging laid out the bases for the future

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growth of the world economy,” China must energize trade and 6.7 percent. This rapid economic Mongilardi told Xinhua in an investment to drive growth, and will growth will benefit Latin America, interview following the summit. make free trade arrangements more especially in areas such as mineral open and inclusive. and energy resources, said another It was made clear that China’s A P E C p a r t i c i p a n t , A l va r o program of reforms will allow the Martin Monteverde, president Barrenechea, corporate affairs participation of foreign companies of the National Confederation of manager for Chinalco in Peru. in the Chinese market, which would Private Entrepreneurial Institutions, offer other APEC members said after the summit that Xi’s speech More than 30 percent of all potential access to over 1.3 billion showed China’s willingness to work foreign investments in Peruvian consumers, said Mongilardi. with others to develop the economy. minerals came from China so far. Xi said that in the next five years China “He (Xi) also announced that Xi said it is estimated that in the will invest 750 billion dollars China would reach out to the world next five years China will import overseas. This means that all Latin with very important investments eight trillion U.S. dollars of goods, American countries will benefit and open its market up to foreign and introduce 600 billion dollars of from China’s opening its market up investments. It fills us with optimism foreign investment. This will provide to foreign investments, Barrenechea to see that China, one of the world great opportunities for Latin said. powers, believes in the market, A m e r i c a n c o m p a n i e s, s a i d believes in competition ... as a Monteverde. Jose Picasso, chairman of mechanism for development,” Peruvian mining company Volcan, Mongilardi said. Xi said that in the first three regarded Xi’s speech as the best at quarters this year, China’s gross the summit. At the summit, Xi said that domestic product (GDP) grew by

News From China l December 2016 9 APEC Summit

Xi’s speech showed that China is different parts of the world, such as evidence of “the transfer of the geo- willing to open up its market and Latin America, where “China has economic center towards the narrow down the polarization of committed to the development” of Pacific.” wealth. China’s development will be the region in the coming years, said an impetus for the development of Delgado. It also signals an awareness of the Asia-Pacific region, Picasso said. the disadvantages that have afflicted “With Latin America’s potential smaller economies in the traditional At a time when much of the rest and the support of the Chinese global economic order, Adrianza of the world is suffering from government, I think it is possible for said. economic slowdowns, the Asia- the region to overcome difficulties,” Pacific region is enjoying steady such as lack of development, Xi’s speech “gives us an idea of growth, said Xi, and as such it must infrastructure and investment, and the willingness on the part of lead the way and take strong and “to reactivate the world economy,” China’s current leadership to pursue coordinated actions to energize the he said. an understanding with economies world economy and create new that are much smaller than China’s,” opportunities for global growth. “I believe China wants to create he said. all of the conditions for the free Luis Delgado, a professor of movement of capital, and in that way Established in 1989 as a forum social studies at the state University strengthen the dynamism of the to promote free trade throughout of Carabobo in northern Venezuela, world economy,” he added. the Asia-Pacific region, the 21- said “the speech marks the route the member APEC is becoming an Chinese government is proposing to In that sense, the 2016 APEC increasingly important mechanism reactivate the world economy,” and meetings in Lima may mark a turning to address economic issues not only indicates “how the Asia-Pacific point in the global economic within the region, but also around region can be the vanguard in the balance, he said. the world. reactivation of the world economy.” “The historic context and APEC has played an important Xi’s message also places China historic significance of this process role in advancing trade liberalization at the forefront of that effort, mark a relocation of the world’s geo- and facilitation, promoting because it “revindicates the free economic center, which was in the economic integration and boosting market, but it does so from a Atlantic, to the Pacific, and in the connectivity. comprehensive perspective,” which midst of this, China plays a leading calls for “growth that must be role,” said Delgado. The Asia-Pacific region, which a c c o m p a n i e d b y h u m a n is vital to global peace and development schemes,” said Venezuelan economist and development, accounts for 40 Delgado. political analyst Vladimir Adrianza, percent of the world population, who teaches at the Bolivarian around half of world trade, and 57 In addition, the Asian giant has Military University of Venezuela in percent of the global GDP already taken the lead to do so in Caracas, agreed that Xi’s speech is COMMENTARY: CHINA PROPOSAL SHINES ON GROWTH OF ASIA PACIFIC

Beijing, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) — championed by China, shines a light Pacific Economic Cooperation Against a backdrop of fragmented on the outlook of the Asia-Pacific (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima, regional economic cooperation and region. Peru, President Xi Jinping called on sluggish recovery, the latest proposal the 21 APEC member economies to to boost economic growth, In a keynote speech at the Asia- strive for an open and integrated

10 News From China l December 2016 APEC Summit

economy, and enhance connectivity global trade and economic Pacific region and an institutional t o a ch i e ve i n t e r c o n n e c t e d integration. mechanism that will ensure an open development. economy in the region. Meanwhile, connectivity and Xi also suggested boosting interconnected development are key The FTAAP process was reform and innovation to create drivers that will support economic launched at the 2014 APEC more internal driving forces, and integration and continued vitality in Economic Leaders’ Meeting in called for win-win cooperation to the region, while reform and Beijing with the endorsement of a forge strong partnership. innovation are the internal forces roadmap. Subsequently, a “collective that will spur development for strategic study” was conducted, as Such a four-point proposal member economies. agreed by APEC members, and the features directions that will help results should be reported to drive economic development and Actually, China is not only laying economic leaders by the end of regional cooperation in Asia Pacific. out a theory, but is following its 2016. words with actions. Economic integration and In addition, China has played a openness, which have underpinned The nation is actively pushing positive role in the improvement of development in China and the Asia- forward the building of a Free Trade connectivity in the region through Pacific region over the past 25 years, Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), a such mechanisms and channels as are of special significance as strategic initiative critical for the the Belt and Road Initiative, the protectionism threatens to dent long-term prosperity of the Asia- Asian Infrastructure Investment

News From China l December 2016 11 APEC Summit

Bank, the Silk Road Fund and stage in its mission to build a tourists will make over 700 million South-South cooperation. moderately prosperous society in all outbound visits. respects. Supply-side structural China became a member of the reform and its pursuit of innovative, These projections bear out that APEC forum 25 years ago. The past coordinated, green, open and shared China’s development offers quarter century has seen China act as development, among other aspects, opportunity to the Asia Pacific and a contributor and active participant. have all warranted confidence in and the world at large. expectation of China’s growth. The past few decades also show Matching words with actions, that shared prosperity can be In the next five years, China will China can be expected to stride achieved as member economies import 8 trillion U.S. dollars of along the Asia-Pacific region into a open up to each other. goods, welcome 600 billion dollars new phase of development. of foreign investment and invest 750 China has entered a decisive billion dollars overseas, and Chinese XI, OBAMA AGREE TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY, STEADY GROWTH OF CHINA-U.S. TIES

12 News From China l December 2016 APEC Summit

On Nov. 19, 2016, Chinese bilateral ties and reached broad Xi said. President Xi Jinping and his U.S. consensuses, especially their joint counterpart, Barack Obama, met in decision to build a new type of Thirdly, he noted, the two Lima and agreed to maintain healthy China-U.S. major country relations countries have stuck to managing and steady development of bilateral that has guided the two countries to sensitive issues in a constructive way relations. achieve significant progress in with mutual respect, avoiding bilateral ties, Xi said. misjudgment, and more thinking in Meeting on the sidelines of the each other’s shoes, so as to prevent 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Summing up the two countries’ the escalation of disputes. Cooperation (APEC) Economic experience in developing bilateral Leaders’ Meeting, Xi spoke highly relations over the past more than China and the United States of the U.S. president’s endeavor in three years, Xi told Obama that the bear great responsibilities and have developing ties with China. two countries firstly have a good broad common interest in grasp of the general direction of safeguarding world peace and It was the third meeting this year bilateral ties, with cooperation being stability, and promoting global between Xi and Obama, and the their only correct choice. development and prosperity, said Xi, ninth in over three years, recalled the adding that a long-term, stable and Chinese president. Secondly, China and the United healthy growth of China-U.S. ties States have actively expanded serves the fundamental interest of The two heads of state have practical cooperation and pursued both peoples and is widely expected conducted multiple in-depth win-win and multi-win outcomes, by the international community. exchanges of views on issues of which benefited not only the two strategic and overall significance in countries, but also the world at large, Xi said he has had a phone

News From China l December 2016 13 APEC Summit conversation with Donald Trump United States and China have jointly to both peoples and the international after Trump was elected the next dealt with challenges and effectively community at large. U.S. president. managed differences, while bilateral consultation and cooperation Obama told Xi that he has The Chinese president said he is mechanisms have yielded rich underlined the importance of U.S.- willing to work with Trump to results, said Obama. China relations to Trump, and expand cooperation in various fields stressed that there should be a at bilateral, regional and global The two sides have carried out smooth transition of bilateral ties levels, and manage differences in a cooperation on such issues as amid the U.S. presidential change. constructive way, so as to realize promoting global growth, reaching non-confrontation, mutual respect, an agreement on the Iranian nuclear The U.S. side is ready to develop win-win cooperation, and greater issue, and addressing the Ebola a more sustained, fr uitful progress for China-U.S. ties from a outbreak in West Africa, he said, relationship with China, said new start point. highlighting their key roles in driving Obama. forward international efforts in Recalling his close contact with dealing with climate change. The leaders of the world’s two Xi in recent years, Obama said he largest economies also made an in- and Xi have forged a candid, friendly C a l l i n g t h e U. S. - C h i n a depth exchange of views on major and constructive relationship and relationship the most significant global and regional issues of increased mutual trust. bilateral relationship in the world, common concern. the U.S. president said a constructive In more than three years, the U.S.-China relationship is beneficial XI, PUTIN MEET ON ASIA-PACIFIC FREE TRADE, CHINA-RUSSIA TIES

On Nov. 19, 2016, Chinese should be reported to the economic framework in a bid to promote the President Xi Jinping on called for leaders by the end of 2016. bloc to contribute more to regional joint efforts by China and Russia to and global economic growth. push forward the process of the Xi and Putin are currently in Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific Lima, Peru’s capital, attending the Echoing Xi’s remarks, Putin said (FTAAP). annual Asia-Pacific Economic Russia and China should strengthen Cooperation (APEC) Economic coordination and collaboration in Xi told his Russian counterpart Leaders’ Meeting and related events. APEC and other multilateral Vladimir Putin at a bilateral meeting mechanisms. that both sides should fully Delivering a keynote speech at implement the consensus reached at the APEC CEO Summit earlier As for China-Russia all-round the 2014 APEC Beijing meeting and Saturday, Xi called for concerted strategic coordination, Xi said that it other meetings in recent years. efforts to advance the construction has not only promoted both of the FTAAP, noting that it is a countries’ development but also The FTAAP process was strategic choice concerning the long- strengthened the force of world launched at the 2014 Beijing meeting term prosperity of the region. peace and justice. and a roadmap was endorsed. A collective strategic study on the Holding talks with Putin on the China stands ready to work with F T A A P w a s c o n d u c t e d sidelines of the meeting, Xi Russia to continue high-level close subsequently, as agreed by the underlined the need for China- contact, enhance mutual support APEC members, and the result Russia cooperation under the APEC and consolidate political and

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strategic mutual trust in the Exchange Year and other important high and new technology, the upcoming year, stressed Xi. people-to-people and cultural Russian president stressed that exchanges. Russia is looking forward to working The Chinese president called on w i t h C h i n a t o s t r e n g t h e n the two neighboring nations to Putin, for his part, said the high- collaboration between the Belt and enhance synergy of their national level relationship between Russia Road Initiative and the EEU. development strategies, and further and China is very significant for integrate the construction of the global peace and stability, noting The two heads of state also made Belt and Road Initiative and the both sides should maintain close in-depth exchange of views on other Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). contact. international and regional issues of shared concern, agreeing to safeguard He also expressed hopes that Hailing good momentum of peace and security in Northeast Asia, both countries will successfully bilateral economic ties and Central Asia and other regions organize the China-Russia Media achievements they have scored in neighboring their two countries.

News From China l December 2016 15 China India Relations China India Relations XI EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO INDIA'S PRESIDENT OVER TRAIN ACCIDENT On Nov. 23, 2016, Chinese On behalf of the Chinese The deadly train derailment President Xi Jinping extended government and people, and in his occurred in India’s northern state condolences to his Indian own name, Xi expressed his deep of Uttar Pradesh on early Sunday. counterpart Pranab Mukherjee over condolences to the victims of the Over 500 passengers were on board a recent train accident in northern disaster, as well as sympathy to the the train when the accident India that killed at least 146 people families of the victims and the occurred. and injured more than 200 others. wounded. CHINESE PREMIER SENDS CONDOLENCES TO INDIAN PM OVER TRAIN DERAILMENT Beijing, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) — 146 people. causing major casualties. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday sent his condolences to In his condolence message, Li On behalf of the Chinese Indian Prime Minister Narendra said he was shocked to hear that a government, he offered his deepest Modi over a train derailment train derailed in India’s northern condolences to the victims and their accident in India’s northern state of state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, families. Uttar Pradesh which killed at least AMBASSADOR LUO ZHAOHUI SENDS A CONDOLENCE LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU ON THE PASSING AWAY OF SMT. JAYALALITHAA

On December 6th, Ambassador The condolences letter reads as unfortunate demise of Smt. Luo Zhaohui sent a condolences follows: Jayalalithaa Jayaraman, former Chief letter to the Government of Tamil Minister of Tamil Nadu. I’d like to Nadu on the passing away of Smt. Government of Tamil Nadu, hereby express my deepest Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil condolences to the Government and Nadu. I was shocked to hear the people of Tamil Nadu.

16 News From China l December 2016 China India Relations

Smt. Jayalalithaa was a prominent leader will soon summon up under would further enhance its friendly political leader in India. I pay sincere the new leadership of Tamil Nadu. cooperation with China. respect to. Her irreplaceable contributions to the development of Tamil Nadu and China share a Sincerely Yours, Tamil Nadu will be long remembered tradition of friendly relations, by history and people. harmonious atmosphere between Luo Zhaohui two peoples and frequent Ambassador of the People's I'm firmly believing that people commercial exchanges. I sincerely Republic of China to India of Tamil Nadu who just lost a great hope that Tamil Nadu and Chennai AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH THE CHINESE DELEGATION ATTENDING THE 1ST CHINA-INDIA THINK TANK FORUM On December 9th, Ambassador To hold such a forum is a significant Prof. Wang expressed thanks Luo Zhaohui met with the Chinese consensus reached by the two for the embassy’s long term care delegation attending the 1st China- countries’ leaders, which would play a n d s u p p o r t t o C A S S ’ s India Think Tank Forum led by a positive role in promoting bilateral communication and cooperation Prof. Wang Weiguang, the President communication and cooperation, with Indian think tanks. With the of Chinese Academy of Social and the sound and stable joint efforts of both sides, the 1st Sciences, at Ambassador’s residence. development of the bilateral China-India Think Tank Forum is DCM Liu Jinsong, Minister relationship. The embassy will assist held successfully in which the Counselor Cheng Guangzhong and CASS to facilitate the follow-up scholars of the two countries Minister Counselor Li Bijian work of the first forum, especially conduct sincere communication attended the meeting. the related work of the second and benefit a lot. CASS will forum to be held in China next year, maintain close communication Ambassador Luo welcomed the in an effort to promote the with the embassy and jointly make delegation, and said that the think institionalization of China-India the second forum to be held in tank communication is an important think tank communication. China a success. part of the China-India relationship. CHINA, INDIA COULD BENEFIT FROM PHARMA TIES by Wang Dehua China and India are the world’s Now, with changes in the supply raises the need for China and India two largest manufacturers of bulk pattern of bulk drugs around the to think about how they should drugs, a key raw material for world, companies in the U.S. and maintain their own advantages and producing pharmaceutical drugs. E u r o p e h a ve a l s o s t a r t e d how to break development Currently the two countries competing with the Chinese and bottlenecks in the bulk drug cooperate and compete in the field. Indian markets. This situation industry. In terms of market size,

News From China l December 2016 17 China India Relations the combined population of China and India surpasses 2.5 billion – (As the global manufacturing center of huge markets that no country can pharmaceutical products shifts towards India and afford to ignore. China, the two countries should seize the opportunity Today, more and more Chinese and work together to become world-class companies see India as a first step pharmaceutical giants amid Asia's rise.) toward going global. A record for overseas acquisitions by Chinese pharmaceutical firms was broken by Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group when it announced the purchase of 86.08 percent of Indian drug-maker Gland Pharma for up to US$1.26 billion in July. This was also the largest acquisition of an Indian asset by a foreign firm this year.

Analysts believe that Fosun is targeting more than just the Indian market through its acquisition of Gland Pharma. India leads the world in generic drugs and its industry is quite internationally oriented. Acquiring Gland Pharma could help Fosun crack other overseas markets. population base means that the take precautionary measures to number of drug applications is avoid repeating the mistakes and This move could allow China to remarkable. Through massive f a i l u r e s o f s o m e I n d i a n learn from India and could also market operations, India could turn pharmaceutical companies in their prompt China to open up its China into a promising market, overseas expansion. For example, pharmaceutical industry. China is which would help raise its Indian generic drug-maker Ranbaxy still in the process of transitioning production capacity. Meanwhile, Laboratories Ltd has suffered major from a planned economy to a market China could boost its capability in setbacks in the US market in recent economy and excels in production generic drugs and the development years. The US drug regulator cost control. However, India is an of original drugs by learning from recently discovered that Ranbaxy’s English-speaking country which has and cooperating with India. India is Mohali manufacturing site failed been engaged with the international known for its rapidly-developed standards checks and, as a result, pharmaceutical industry longer than s p e c i a l i z e d d o w n s t r e a m imposed an import alert on the China. As such, India has a range of pharmaceutical products, while facility. Ranbaxy had previously pled experience and expertise in China is seeing its basic upstream guilty to drug safety charges and paid marketing and sales in global pharmaceutical products grow out US$500 million in civil and medical markets. India also slightly quickly. Pharmaceutical companies criminal fines in a settlement with outperforms China in generic drugs from both countries could take the US Department of Justice in as well as research and development advantage of the complementary 2013. capability. As for benefits to India, development of the two markets and China offers a huge and rapidly prosper together. As the global manufacturing growing market for generic drugs. center of pharmaceutical products The sheer volume of China’s At the same time, Fosun should shifts towards India and China, the

18 News From China l December 2016 China India Relations

two countries should seize the This article was originally Asian Studies at the Shanghai opportunity and work together to published on globaltimes.cn. The Municipal Center for International become world-class pharmaceutical author is the director of the Studies. giants amid Asia’s rise. Institute for Southern and Central SELLING CHINESE SMARTPHONES IN INDIA by Gao Yuan Chinese smartphone makers are since 2015. that India was a few quarters behind seeing India as their second home, China in terms of demand.” after demand at home has fallen to a T.Z. Wong, a Singapore-based record low. smartphone analyst at research On the third day of Diwali, company Canalys, explains why. India’s biggest festival in mid- Chinese smartphone vendors, “Chinese brands see the Indian November, the nerve-cracking such as Vivo, Lenovo Group Ltd, market as the biggest gold mine after sounds of firecrackers left the city’s Xiaomi Corp, Meizu Telecom China,” Wong said. “The two narrow alleys sleepless all night long. Equipment Co., Ltd. and others, are markets are very similar for the However, for Sadiq Kumar, who aggressively expanding in India vendors. The only difference being runs a 10-square-meter electronics

News From China l December 2016 19 China India Relations

store in a 300-year-old bazaar in the to was a vivo Y27L, a 4.7-inch, or 120 taking the iPhone-quality device, the densely populated Paharganj area of millimeters screen Android phone store also offers made-in-China New Delhi, selling smartphones, made by Guangdong-based Vivo smartphones priced as low as 4,000 power banks and memory cards Communication Technology Co rupees. That’s a price most people from China, the “festival of Ltd. could accept. brightness” spells for tune. “Business has been very good these The handset is selling at rupees A Huge Market days,” said Kumar, standing behind a 13,980 in Kumar’s store. It is counter full of mobile phones made c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e 4 G India’s emerging appetite for in China. His booth is sandwiched communications network, which smartphones is spurred by the between a store selling knock-off remains a new and expensive service country’s gigantic population of Adidas bags and a shop peddling 50- for many in India. more than one billion, second only rupee slippers. to China. Increasing middle-class Kumar introduces Vivo incomes have pushed online Inside the booth, where nothing smartphones every time to buyers shopping to the forefront, with filtered the street’s noise and who are looking for a 4G device. But electronic devices being one of the firecracker fumes, Kumar, in his 40s, if the buyers think twice about best-selling items. reached out to a glass display cabinet behind him and put a white smartphone case on the counter. China accounts for nearly 30 percent of the global “This is our star product. It is as handset shipments today, and the country's share good as the iPhone 6,” he said, may shrink roughly by a fourth by 2019 as pointing at a silver Vivo logo on the case. shipments from India, Indonesia and other emerging markets grow. The device Kumar was referring

20 News From China l December 2016 China India Relations

This is nearly a rerun of China’s Sluggish smartphone demand in Unique User Demands situation five years ago when the China is bringing down year-on-year trend of getting touch-screen worldwide shipment growth rate to But there still seems to be a place phones kicked off. Starting in the 9.8 percent this year, the first single- for cheap and cheerful feature early 2000s, China became the digit performance on record, mobiles, even though an entry-level epicenter of global smartphone International Data Corp (IDC) smartphone can cost as low as 5,500 brands. It consumed the most warned earlier this year. rupees ($82). To explain this, you devices, helping Apple and Samsung only have to talk to people from the take a lion’s share of the market and China, the world’s largest business community. profits. electronics market, is responsible for nearly 30 percent of the global In India, some iPhone users still Wang Ying, a smartphone handset shipments today, and the keep a trusty Nokia in their pockets. market researcher at Beijing-based country’s share may shrink roughly In Delhi, the highly decorative industry advisory company Analysis by a one fourth by 2019 as trucks are everywhere on the International, said that a slowdown shipments from India, Indonesia crowded roads where smells of in the Chinese market is inevitable as and other emerging markets grow, freshly baked garlic naan are luring first-time smartphone buyers are IDC said. tourists. Also common are the dwindling rapidly. With a population that is charming ring tones from Nokia’s predicted to surpass China’s, India feature phones. Because of limited "With fewer new buyers, looks ripe for a smartphone charging stations and erratic power vendors have to persuade existing invasion. Indeed, the latest must- supply, people switch between users to buy updated products for have handsets can be seen on the smartphones and feature phones to replacement, something that is not busy streets of the country’s major save battery time. This rather unique so easy," Wang said. cities. user demand is stunting the

News From China l December 2016 21 China India Relations development of smartphones, growing startups, with Vivo and operating officer of Lenovo’s Asia leaving manufacturers in a dilemma. Xiaomi leading the charge, are Pacific division, said. Only hours already busy in India, while earlier, he was poring over the latest Should they roll out small screen traditional electronics giants such as shipment figures. Lenovo said it will smartphones, which use less power, Lenovo and ZTE Corp may use a expand its product roll out at Croma or concentrate on pamphlet-size different strategy. in 2016. The company will be mobiles, which are becoming directly taking on Samsung and increasingly popular? Part of the Different Strategies in Marketing other market leaders to become a top solution could be portable power tree smartphone vendor in the packs. They will play a crucial role in A few kilometers south of country. the years to come, while more Kumar’s shop, middle-class energy-saving smartphones will no shoppers are buying Sony cameras Today, only Samsung Elec- doubt be launched by the main and Hewlett-Packard laptops at an tronics Co’s Galaxy series, HTC players. electronics store in Connaught Corp’s 60,000-rupee pamphlets and Place, a major commerce and Microsoft Corp’s Windows phones But then, the battle for financial center in New Delhi. with colorful cases are popular supremacy in India’’s mobile market Lenovo devices are the only handset products at thousands of Croma is becoming distinctly competitive. bearing a Chinese logo waiting for stores in New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Domestic brands such as Micromax buyers at the Croma outlet, an Bangalore and many smaller cities. Mobile and Lava International Ltd electronics chain store under the Chinese brands are also rare in are locked in a fight with Chinese Indian multinational conglomerate Mobiliti World, another brick-and- rivals Xiaomi Corp, Meizu Tata Group. mortar consumer electronics store Technology Co Ltd and LeTV chain. Holdings Co Ltd. They are slugging Amar Babu is convinced that he it out for dominance in the middle has the recipe for success to make Beijing-based Xiaomi has a end of the sector, or mobiles that Lenovo a major player in India’s different strategy. It has been cost less than $200. Another rapidly expanding smartphone avoiding the brick-and-mortar route, Chinese giant in India, the Lenovo market. As chairman of the group’s relying instead on the online e- Group, is taking on global operation in India, he feels that the commerce retailer Flipkart.com. powerhouse Samsung Electronics Chinese company has the edge when Xiaomi’s “everything goes online” Co Ltd in the mainstream market, it comes to high-quality products, strategy saves costs with the large where smartphones can cost up to technological innovation and rural population also being potential $500. It is impossible to predict who affordable prices.The numbers buyers. Karthik J, senior market will win the smartphone wars. Still, certainly look good for Lenovo, the analyst at IDC, said online sales are as long as Chinese companies world’s No. 1 PC manufacturer. In impressive in India. “Online retailers continue to roll out competitive the third quarter of 2015, Lenovo such as Flipkart, Snapdeal, and products, they will be in with a shout. shipped a record 2.7 million Amazon are driving shipments of smartphones to India with a market the Chinese vendors, who have been Despite intensifying share of close to 10 percent. aggressively trying to capture the 4G competition, the country remains smartphone market in India,” the most tempting market in the This made the Beijing-based Karthik said. world. A total of 28.3 million giant the fourth biggest smartphone smartphones were shipped to India manufacturer in terms of shipment The sector is incredibly in the third quarter, a 21.4 percent in the country behind Samsung competitive with a list as long as your surge compared to a year ago, Electronics Co Ltd, and domestic arm vying for market share. Included according to IDC. Large-screen brands Micromax and Intex. in the mix are Chinese companies smartphones priced around rupees such as ZTE Corporation, Xiaomi 10,000 are the best-selling devices in "The first milestone was Inc, Oppo Electronics Corp and India, it added. The skill sets of crossed... we are expecting even Vivo Mobile Communication Chinese manufacturers and local faster growth here," Babu, who is Technology Co Ltd. All of them buying habits fit well. Quickly also vice-president and chief have spent heavily on marketing.

22 News From China l December 2016 China India Relations

And Vivo Mobile Communication Technology Co Ltd is making the biggest waves.

The previously unknown smartphone maker created a splash by becoming a title sponsor for the high-profile Indian Premier League, a cricket tournament that is watched across the globe. Indians love cricket, so Vivo’s move looks pretty shrewd. As for how much the company spent on the deal, is difficult to say. Vivo’s predecessor, the soft drink giant PepsiCo, forked out a whopping 3.97 billion rupees back in 2013 to secure sponsorship rights. It seems Vivo is making a very expensive point.

Lenovo’s early investment in “brand building” has helped the company stay ahead of most of its rivals. “We started to do brand building on phones about two and half years ago,” Babu said. “Nobody knew Lenovo made phones back then. The next step is to increase offline sales.”

More than half of the company’s smartphone sales are generated online. But that is changing as Lenovo has about 7,000 traditional outlets. The group is also in talks with Indian electronics store chain Croma to sell a wider range of devices across the country.

Local Manufacturing - A Key an assembly facility in India. share in India a top priority during the summer as the company goes In May, Xiaomi, partnering with Lenovo’s Babu was sitting in an head-to-head with Samsung. T a i w a n - b a s e d c o n t r a c t empty dining room at a Four Seasons manufacturer Foxconn, opened its hotel in downtown Mumbai as he "Getting the latest technology, f i r s t ove r s e a s s m a r t p h o n e talked about his team’s outstanding such as 4G, into the products will manufacturing plant near the performance and the company’s help to grow sales even more," Babu southern Sri City in Andhra Pradesh. online to offline marketing strategy. said. Lenovo’s K3 Note, a 4G Lenovo quickly followed, kicking One goal was finally within reach Android smartphone which costs off handset production in the port after Chen Xudong, who heads 9,999 rupees ($150), was the best- city of Chennai. In October, another Lenovo’s global smartphone selling mobile in its class in India red hot maker, OnePlus, also opened operation, made double-digit market during the third quarter of 2015,

News From China l December 2016 23 External Affairs a c c o r d i n g t o c o n s u l t a n c y positive about sales next year,” Babu Narendra Modi in 2014, has also Counterpoint Technology Market said. “Even if we do not increase our helped spur companies to take Research. With a 5.5-inch (139 market share, Lenovo will still advantage of potential tax breaks millimeters) screen, the stylish produce 25 million phones in the and incentives. The campaign, which pamphlet-size device hit a sweet next 12 months just to feed India’s encourages both overseas and spot in terms of specifications and growing demand. In the next three domestic companies to manufacture price, Counterpoint said. Part of the to four years, the market is expected products in India, unlocking the allure is its 4G capability after India’s to double from this year’s industry country’s human power, opened a major telecom carriers, such as figure of 120 million,” he added. door for Chinese smartphone Bharti Airtel Ltd, rolled out the vendors to the upper streams of the service less than a year ago. Most of In the third quarter of 2015, Indian smartphone market. Lenovo’s brands target the Lenovo reported worldwide mainstream market, which revolves smartphone shipments of 18.8 Lau from Vivo said the around a price range between $150 million units, putting the company in company expected to sell one and $250. the global top five. “We are beating million smartphones in India by the our numbers every time,” Babu said end of 2015. "It was a good call for Lenovo about the market in India. because 70 percent of India’s "Making devices in India will smartphone sales are generated by Many Chinese vendors are also help the vendors lower expenses as devices priced below $300," Babu planning manufacturing projects in labor costs in Chinese factories said. India. “All our handsets are made in continue to rise," Wong from China and then shipped to India. Canalys said. In addition, Prime Earlier this year, Lenovo opened Making products locally will help Minister Modi’s ambitious plan of a smartphone assembly plant near reach our Indian customers faster lifting Indian cities from pre-colonial the port city of Chennai. It also and be more effective,” Pete Lau, alleys into well-established smart makes PCs. By setting up a chief executive of the Shenzhen- cities also offer a new area for manufacturing base in India, the based Vivo said. Chinese IT companies to explore. company has managed to keep costs low – a major advantage in a cut- A “Make in India” campaign, (The author is a business reporter of throat business. “I am very, very launched by Prime Minister China Daily) CHINA EXPORTS EIGHT-INCH CHIPS TO INDIA Changsha, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) — India to make the electric trains more modules. China’s leading locomotive maker, energy-efficient. CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co. Ltd., The IGBT chip is a key has made the country’s first bulk The China-made chips are technology of modern electric export of eight-inch chips to India. currently used on the 7,200-kilowatt appliances. It can be used in electric locomotives that power everything from high-speed rail to The company, based in China’s high-speed trains. the aerospace and aviation Zhuzhou City in central China’s industries. Hunan Province, said on Tuesday CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co. that it exported eight-inch insulated Ltd. built the world’s second eight- The Chinese locomotive maker gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) chips inch chip production line in 2014, expects the chips to have huge that will be used for upgrading the which has reached annual output of export potential. transformers of 100 locomotives in 120,000 chips and 1 million IGBT

24 News From China l December 2016 External Affairs External Affairs CHINA, ECUADOR LIFT TIES TO COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Nov. 17, 2016, China and In his talks with Ecuadorian The two countries established a Ecuador agreed on Thursday to lift President Rafael Correa, Xi, who strategic partnership in Correa’s bilateral ties to a comprehensive arrived in Ecuador Thursday second official visit to Beijing in strategic partnership. afternoon, said Ecuador is an 2015, and Ecuador is now a major important country in Latin America. destination for Chinese investment The decision was announced and financing in Latin America. during Chinese President Xi Despite a long distance between Jinping’s state visit to Ecuador, the them, bilateral ties between China In April this year, Ecuador was first of its kind since the two and Ecuador have witnessed hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake, countries established diplomatic substantial development in recent and China was one of the first relations 36 years ago. years. countries to supply humanitarian aid

News From China l December 2016 25 External Affairs immediately after the quake. both sides. for Ecuador’s presidency of the Group of 77 next year, saying that Xi noted that since 2015, China will continue to support China is willing to maintain close mutually beneficial cooperation Ecuador in exploring a development cooperation with the G77 in between the two sides have seen path that suits its own conditions, multilateral affairs. rapid development in a wide range and will actively take part in of areas, with the scale of E c u a d o r ’s p o s t - e a r t h q u a ke China is also willing to work collaboration continuing to increase. reconstruction work, he said. with Ecuador to boost overall cooperation with Latin America and Bilateral ties have since been China is willing to reinforce push for greater development in greatly enriched and have been practical cooperation with the China-Latin America relations, he picking up momentum towards Ecuadorian side in all areas, added. comprehensive development, he comprehensively step up the added. integration of interests of both Ecuador is the first leg of sides, expand people-to-people President Xi’s three-nation Latin The Chinese president said exchanges, and open up brighter American tour which will also take China-Ecuador relations have now prospects for the development of him to Peru and Chile. This is his entered a key phase where bilateral ties, Xi said. third visit to Latin America since he cooperation between the two took the presidency in March 2013. countries is of greater importance to He went on to pledge support CHINA, PERU AGREE TO PROMOTE BETTER, FASTER GROWTH OF TIES On Nov. 21, 2016, Chinese Xi told Kuczynski that he hopes and overall planning for bilateral ties, President Xi Jinping and his the visit will deepen the two run their cooperation mechanisms Peruvian counterpart, Pedro Pablo countries’ traditional friendship, well, fully implement their joint Kuczynski, agreed to promote better promote all-round dialogue and action plan for cooperation in 2016- and faster development of the two cooperation, and boost the China- 2021, and strengthen synergy of countries’ comprehensive strategic Peru comprehensive strategic development strategies so as to partnership. partnership, so as to bring more obtain real results of their benefits to the two peoples. consensuses. The consensus was reached during in-depth talks between the Recalling Kuczynski’s visit to He stressed that both countries two heads of state after a red-carpet China in September, the Peruvian should treat industrial capacity welcoming ceremony hosted by president’s first foreign visit since he cooperation as a new engine for their Kuczynski in front of the was sworn in on July 28, Xi said they economic ties and strive for early presidential palace. held fruitful talks and agreed to push harvest of major projects. forward bilateral relations into a new Invited by Kuczynski, Xi arrived phase. The two sides can also further in the Peruvian capital of Lima reinforce cooperation in mining attend the annual Asia-Pacific The coming five years are a industry, energy and infrastructure Economic Cooperation (APEC) significant time for national construction, as well as explore new Economic Leaders’ Meeting and pay development of both countries, the cooperation fields such as his first state visit to the Latin Chinese president said, urging the environmental protection, clean American country. two sides to weigh top-level design energy and information connectivity.

26 News From China l December 2016 External Affairs

Calling on both countries to In addition, Xi advised both Xi congratulated Peru on the upgrade their free trade agreement sides to constantly expand success of the APEC Economic signed in 2009 in a bid to inject new exchanges in culture, education, Leaders’ Meeting, noting that the vitality into two-way trade, Xi said science and technology, healthcare, substantial results of the meeting the Chinese government will sports, media, colleges and contained Peru’s contribution and continue to encourage capable universities, think tank and other Latin America’s wisdoms at large. enterprises to invest in the Latin areas, as well as strengthen tourism American country. cooperation. He said China stands ready to

News From China l December 2016 27 External Affairs work with Peru and other APEC Kuczynski said, adding that Pacific. member economies to earnestly Chinese investment in mining implement the meeting’s results, industry, energy, hydropower, Following their talks, Xi and constantly push forward the process transportation and infrastructure Kuczynski witnessed a signing of building a Free Trade Area of the are welcomed. c e r e m o n y o f c o o p e r a t i o n Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), and jointly documents, including an inter- forge an open economy in the region. The Peruvian president also governmental joint action plan for voiced hope that both countries will cooperation in 2016-2021, and deals Hailing the sustained growth of strengthen ties in education, culture in trade and economy, mining bilateral relations, Kuczynski said and tourism and create more i n d u s t r y, i n d u s t r i a l p a r k s, Peru is looking forward to further favorable conditions for people-to- information connectivity, economic enhancing ties with China since both people exchanges. technology, quality inspection, share similar historical experiences, environment and other fields. same aspiration for national Peru appreciates China’s development, and huge potential for support for the country in hosting Accompanied by Kuczynski and cooperation in the economic and the APEC meeting, Kuczynski said, his wife, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan cultural fields. stressing that Lima is ready to work paid tribute to the monument of with Beijing in boosting trade and Peru’s independence heroes earlier Peru is willing to upgrade its investment liberalization as well as in the day. free trade agreement with China, opposing protectionism in the Asia-

28 News From China l December 2016 External Affairs CHINA, CHILE LIFT TIES TO COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Santiago, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) — American countries in developing Two-way trade amounted to China and Chile agreed on Tuesday ties with China. 31.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, to lift bilateral ties to a nearly five times as much as in 2005 comprehensive strategic partnership Chile was the first country to when the FTA was signed. as Chinese President Xi Jinping paid establish diplomatic ties with China his first state visit to the Latin in South America, as well as the first China’s first RMB clearing bank American country. Latin American country to sign a in Latin America was opened in bilateral accord with China on the Chile in June this year, setting up a In his talks with Chilean latter’s accession to the World Trade platform to upgrade financial President Michelle Bachelet, Xi Organization, and to recognize cooperation between China, Chile compared China and Chile to true China’s status as a market economy. and the rest of Latin America. friends who could touch each other’s heart from the other end of the It was also the first Latin Citing a high level of mutual world, and commended Chile for American country that signed a free political trust between the two taking the lead amongst Latin trade agreement (FTA) with China. countries, their mutually beneficial

News From China l December 2016 29 External Affairs and win-win economies, and opportunity to deepen cooperation two countries have signed a number increasingly closer multilateral with China in various areas, while of quarantine agreements on cooperation, the Chinese president breaking new g rounds for cherries, blueberries and avocados. said China-Chile ties have entered a cooperation. new era of maturity and stability. China has become an important An upgrade of the FTA market for Chilean cherries, He said both countries are in a between Chile and China will give blueberries, apples, grapes and a key phase of development, and are trade and economic cooperation variety of seafood such as salmon. dedicated to seeking further between the two countries a strong Chinese products with good quality development through deepening boost, she said, adding that Chile and competitive prices are also reforms. welcomes Chinese enterprises to popular among Chilean consumers. increase their investment in the Latin Chinese-made cars have taken up a From this new starting point of American country. considerable share of the Chilean bilateral ties, Xi said, they should auto market. actively strive forward to ensure that The Chilean president stated China-Chile relations could that her country is willing to join the Meanwhile, the joint statement continue to spearhead China’s ties China-initiated Asian Infrastructure said the two countries also agreed to with Latin American countries. Investment Bank as soon as intensify high-level contacts, as well possible, and to conduct closer as exchanges between their China is willing to work with coordination and cooperation with governments, legislative organs and Chile to improve the top-level China on international affairs. political parties and at local levels. design for bilateral ties, improve their FTA, broaden investment A joint statement issued after They will firmly support each cooperation, strengthen sci-tech and the talks between the two presidents other over the choices of their innovation cooperation, lay a solid affirmed the elevation of China- respective development path and foundation of public support, and Chile ties to a comprehensive major issues concerning their lift their strategic coordination, he strategic partnership. interests, it said. In particular, the said, adding that the Chinese side Chilean side reiterated its one-China supports its enterprises in seeking a The two countries also agreed to policy, and pledged support for spot in Chile’s infrastructure and start talks on an upgrade of their peaceful development of cross- clean energy industries. FTA as soon as possible, it added. Taiwan-Strait ties and for China’s reunification. He also noted that tourism According to the joint cooperation between China and statement, the two heads of state The statement acknowledged Chile is conducive to people-to- s p o k e h i g h l y o f t h e the guiding role of a joint action plan people and cultural exchanges accomplishments achieved over the signed by the Chinese and Chilean between the two countries, and past 10 years since the FTA of the governments in 2015 on bilateral urged the two sides to enhance two sides went into effect, adding exchanges and cooperation. communication and coordination that they will instruct relevant within multilateral institutions. departments of the two countries to The two sides agreed to For her par t, Bachelet commence the upgrade talks as soon strengthen the docking of their welcomed Xi’s visit to Chile, saying as possible, so as to further deepen development strategies, expand the country will further cement and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation in such fields as mining, friendly ties with China, and expand and trade ties. ag riculture, manufacturing, political dialogues as well as trade information communication, and economic links. Currently, Chile is China’s infrastructure, clean energy, and second largest source of wine small and medium-sized enterprises, Chile, she said, is willing to take imports, with bottled wine exports so as to boost industrial integration, the elevation of bilateral ties as an to China up 46 percent in 2015. The i n c r e a s e t h e i r e c o n o m i c

30 News From China l December 2016 External Affairs c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s , r e a l i z e Chinese culture in Chile, and expand prosperity, according to the joint c o m p l e m e n t a r i t y o f t h e i r personnel exchanges and tourism statement. advantages, and achieve reciprocal cooperation. and win-win results, it said. After their talks, the two The two nations also agreed to presidents witnessed the signing of a China and Chile will, the maintain close coordination in number of cooperation agreements statement said, deepen financial global economic governance, on trade and economy, agriculture, cooperation and take full advantage climate change, ocean conservancy quality control, culture, education, e- of their currency swap agreements, and the implementation of the 2030 c o m m e r c e , i n f o r m a t i o n the RMB Qualified Foreign A g e n d a f o r S u s t a i n a b l e communication and finance. Institutional Investors (QFII) quota, Development, deepen the China- and the RMB clearing arrangement Latin America comprehensive Xi also laid a wreath at the in Chile, so as to drive bilateral trade cooperative partnership, and Bernardo O’Higgins monument in and investment. s t r e n g t h e n d i a l o g u e s a n d Santiago on Tuesday afternoon. cooperation between China and the Both sides agreed to take events Pacific Alliance. Chile is the last stop of Xi’s like the China-Latin America three-nation Latin America tour cultural exchange year and the Chile Meanwhile, they agreed to which has already taken the Chinese week as opportunities to expand j o i n t l y p u s h f o r w a r d t h e president to Ecuador and Peru. He cooperation in such areas as culture, construction of the Free Trade Area also attended the 24th Asia-Pacific education, antarctic sur vey, of the Asia-Pacific, enhance regional Economic Cooperation (APEC) astronomy, earthquake response and connectivity, build up open Economic Leaders’ Meeting in disaster mitigation, facilitate an early economies, so as to make greater Lima, the capital of Peru. establishment of the center for contributions to world stability and CHINESE PREMIER CALLS TO DEEPEN HEALTHCARE REFORM WITH MORE COURAGE, WISDOM

Shanghai, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) — vowing to find a Chinese way to “We will forge ahead with the Premier Li Keqiang said Monday addressing the worldwide challenge next stage of reform with greater that China will deepen healthcare of healthcare reform, said Li. courage and wisdom,” he said. reform to cover both urban and rural residents with universal health Currently, the average life He said changes will be seen care. expectancy in China is 76.3 years old. across public hospitals, with many The maternal mortality rate has administrative barriers broken and Li made the remarks during a dropped to 20.1 per 100,000, and the better cooperation among hospitals speech in the eastern Chinese city of infant mortality rate has decreased to of all levels and types. Shanghai at the opening ceremony 8.1 per 1,000. of the Ninth Global Conference on China will improve the medical Health Promotion (GCHP). This means China’s averages insurance system to cover the whole beat many middle- and high-income population, reform the medicine China began its most recent countries, said the premier. supply system and better motivate round of healthcare reform in 2009, medical staff, the premier said.

News From China l December 2016 31 External Affairs

Organized by China and the Titled “Promoting health in the including leading politicians, from World Health Organization, the Sustainable Development Goals: more than 120 countries and regions conference is being held in Shanghai Health for all and all for health,” participated in the conference. from Nov. 21 to 24. some 1,200 representatives, CHINA PLEDGES TO COOPERATE WITH LAOS ON DEVELOPMENT Beijing Nov. 28 (Xinhua) — Great Hall of the People in Beijing. efforts to promote it. China is willing to work on development planning and strategies Li called on both countries to The China-Laos railway, a key with Laos to cooperate in major take a leading role in major projects, project of the Belt and Road areas, including railways and such as railways as well as economic initiative, has a length of 414 km, development zones, Premier Li and development zones, to advance with over 60 percent as bridges and Keqiang said Monday. cooperation on production and tunnels, linking the Mohan-Boten investment. border gate in northern Laos with Li made the remarks during capital Vientiane. talks with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun said the Laos-China Thongloun Sisoulith, who is on a railway is of great importance to Construction started in late four-day official visit to China, at the Laos, and his country will spare no 2015, and the project will take five

32 News From China l December 2016 External Affairs

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) holds talks with Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2016 years with a 37.4 billion yuan (5.4 Laos is a good neighbor, and that Next year will mark the 50th billion U.S. dollars) investment. China would continue its friendly anniversary of ASEAN. policy towards Laos and firmly Chinese Vice Foreign Minister supports Laos in its development China firmly supports the Liu Zhenmin told reporters after the path, to jointly safeguard regional construction of the ASEAN talks that the Chinese government is peace, stability and prosperity. Economic Community and committed to forging ahead with the ASEAN’s central role in regional project. This year marks the 25th cooperation, Li said, adding that anniversary of the establishment of China will participate in ASEAN During the talks, Li also dialogue between China and commemorative events. encouraged China and Laos to ASEAN. enhance cooperation and share China hopes Laos will continue experiences in several areas, Holding the ASEAN presidency to work for the steady and healthy including agriculture,processing this year, Laos successfully held the development of China-ASEAN agricultural produce, poverty- East Asia leaders’ meeting, and relations, the premier said. reduction, finance and defense. played a positive role in cementing China-ASEAN relations, Li said. Calling China “a sincere friend On the political front, Li said and brother of Laos,” Thongloun

News From China l December 2016 33 External Affairs hailed the sound development of integrate development strategies ministers witnessed the signing of Laos-China relations. with China and deepen cooperation cooperation deals on economy and in infrastructure, finance, agriculture trade He said Laos is willing to use this and development zones. year’s 55th anniversar y of Thongloun arrived in China on diplomatic ties with China to better After the talks, the two prime Monday, at Li’s invitation. WANG YI: 2016 IS AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR CHINA'S DIPLOMACY TO TACKLE DIFFICULTIES AND GAIN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

On December 3, 2016, Foreign Foundation for International international situation, we tackled Minister Wang Yi attended and Studies. difficulties and gained further addressed the opening ceremony of development under the firm the Symposium on International Wang Yi said that 2016 is an leadership of the Central Committee Developments and China’s important year for China’s of the Communist Party of China Diplomacy in 2016 hosted by the diplomacy to tackle difficulties and (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping as China Institute of International gain further development. Facing the core. We have not only effectively Studies (CIIS) and the China the complicated and ever changing maintained a favorable external

34 News From China l December 2016 External Affairs environment for development efforts to maintain the steady foreign The righteous stance of China has amidst the chaotic international relations with major countries. In the received understanding and support situation, but also comprehensively year of US presidential election, we from nearly 120 countries and over improved China’s status, influence managed to move forward China-US 240 political parties from different and institutional rights against the relations towards a sound and steady countries. changing international system. development along the right course. China-Russia comprehensive S e v e n t h , w e g a v e d u e Wang Yi pointed out that in s t r a t e g i c p a r t n e r s h i p o f considerations to domestic affairs 2016 China’s diplomacy was more coordination was upgraded to a and launched new measures to serve proactive, more enterprising, more higher level. In terms of diplomacy the reform and opening up. We have confident, and more mature. We towards Europe, we played a held four global promotions for have promoted the major-country concerto with Central and Eastern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, d i p l o m a c y w i t h C h i n e s e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s . We Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous characteristics in an all-round strengthened the cooperation Region, Shaanxi Province and manner, achieving a series of confidence of the BRICS member Sichuan Province successively. important outcomes that Chinese states. are proud of and all countries Eighth, we blazed new trails and admire. Fourth, we expanded our improved China’s diplomatic theory diplomatic layout towards the whole system. At the G20 Hangzhou First, we bravely took our duty world, and enlarged the friend circle Summit, President Xi Jinping to lead the reform of global of developing countries. The global systematically stated the outlook on governance system. We successfully partnership network focusing on global economic governance and the held the G20 Hangzhou Summit, developing countries has been pattern of governance, mapping out leading the development direction basically shaped and continuously the “Chinese roadmap” in of world economy and global improved. This year we established promoting the reform of global governance. We promoted the new partnership with another 7 economic governance system. APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting countries and upgraded partnerships held in Lima to inject new impetus with 11 countries, most of which are Wang Yi stressed that as for into the construction of the Free developing countries. China’s development, 2017 will be a Trade Area of the Asia Pacific significant year, during which we will (FTAAP). We demonstrated our F i f t h , w e m a d e n e w embrace the 19th National Congress willingness to take on responsibility breakthrough in joint construction of the Communist Party of China on the climate change issue as a of the “Belt and Road” initiative (CPC) and the 13th Five Year Plan major country. with active alignment. Over 100 will be advanced in a comprehensive countries and international and in-depth manner. Under the Second, we seized opportunities organizations have showed their leadership of the CPC Central to maintain the big picture of willingness to actively support and Committee with Comrade Xi stability and cooperation in participate in the initiative and China Jinping as the core, we will enhance neighboring areas. The relationship has signed cooperation agreements service awareness, increase strategic between China and the Philippines on co-building the “Belt and Road” coordination, step up efforts in has been relived and the South China with 40 countries and international implementation, consolidate the Sea issue was brought back to the organizations. active and favorable strategic right path of dialogue and s i t u a t i o n a n d e x p a n d t h e negotiation. We stepped up our Sixth, we voiced for just international space of mutually exchanges and cooperation with grounds and firmly safeguarded the beneficial cooperation, so as to important neighbors and tried our sovereignty rights and interests over provide strong support to the best to maintain the stability of the South China Sea. We resolutely successful holding of the 19th CPC neighboring environment and responded to the so-called award National Congress and the building regional situation. over the South China Sea arbitration of a moderately prosperous society p r o v o k e d b y t h e f o r m e r in an all-round way, as well as make Third, we made proactive administration of the Philippines. more contributions to the cause of

News From China l December 2016 35 Chinese Economy world peace and development. international cooperation summit cooperation with neighboring forum on the “Belt and Road” countries. We must continue the in- We must serve the successful initiative to inject strong impetus depth participation in global holding of the 19th CPC National into in-depth alignment of governance and promote reform of Congress with all efforts, summarize development strategies of all global governance system. We must General Secretary Xi Jinping’s countries and revitalization of the be more proactive in serving thoughts on diplomacy and the world economy. We must make the domestic development and create diplomatic practices since the 18th 9th BRICS Summit a success, clarify more beneficiary environment for CPC National Congress thoroughly, the direction of the BRICS local reform and development. We make political and theoretical mechanism and forge an important must continue the construction of preparations for the holding of the platform of the South-South overseas livelihood projects and 19th CPC National Congress from cooperation with international make every efforts to safeguard the the diplomatic perspective and influence. We must put efforts in legitimate interests and rights of create a favorable external consolidating a favorable external Chinese citizens and enterprises environment. We must make environment and deepen relations overseas. meticulous preparation for the with major countries and friendly

Chinese Economy CHINA'S ECONOMY GRADUALLY STABILIZING: ECONOMIST

36 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy

Beijing, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) — between 6.5 and 7 percent for 2016. Wang also warned that China Supported by supply-side structural should particularly pay attention to reform and positive changes in Wa n g n o t e d t h a t t h e risks in the real estate sector and the economic dynamics, China’s government has been successful in financial industry. economy is heading toward turning domestic consumption and stabilization, a Chinese economist the service industry into key drivers He pointed out that low said Tuesday. of economic growth, while investment returns in the real traditional sectors such as the coal economy and easy credit have Despite headwinds at home and and steel industries, after triggered excessive growth in abroad, China’s economic growth restructuring and transition, are property prices in China’s first-tier has remained in a reasonable range witnessing new growth momentum. cities and some second-tier ones and this year, paving the way for further attracted too many financial stabilization, said Wang Yiming, However, he said next year resources to the real estate sector. deputy director of the development China will still face a complicated research center of the State Council. external environment with a slow Meanwhile, the over-reliance on recovery in global economy and credit expansion to support growth In an exclusive interview with weak trade, while domestically there has pushed up leverage ratios in the Xinhua, Wang said the Chinese is still pressure for an economic banking system, he added. It also has government’s supply-side structural slowdown. brought trouble to less profitable r e f o r m h a s l i f t e d m a r k e t enterprises with high debt and expectations and confidence, eased To help the economy bottom higher non-performing loan ratios deflation in the domestic production out, China should stick to the to commercial banks. system and improved industrial strategy of making progress while profits. maintaining stability and adopt a He said the government should policy mix that moderately expands move to prevent these risks from China’s GDP grew 6.7 percent domestic demand, presses ahead accumulating and spreading and in the first three quarters of 2016, with supply-side structural reform gradually release them while pushing steady with the first half and within and stabilizes market expectations, forward structural reform, said the government’s target range of he said. Wang.

News From China l December 2016 37 Chinese Economy ECONOMIC WATCH: CHINA'S ECONOMIC DATA STEADY, RESTRUCTURING ONGOING

Beijing, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) — A Industrial output, officially percent in November and robust list of key economic data released called industrial value added, which profit gains of large firms. Tuesday including industrial output is used to measure activity of and fixed-asset investment pointed designated large enterprises with Industrial enterprises above the to stabilization and restructuring annual turnover of at least 20 million designated size reaped profits of 5.3 progress in the Chinese economy. yuan (2.9 million U.S. dollars), grew 6 trillion yuan in the first ten months, percent in the first 11 months representing an increase of 8.6 China’s industrial output compared with the previous year. percent from the previous year, and expanded 6.2 percent year on year in the growth pace quickened by 0.2 November, with the growth rate 0.1 “The structure of China’s percentage points from the first nine percentage point higher than industrial output continues to months. October, largely buoyed by fast- improve,” said NBS spokesperson developing high-tech, electronic Mao Sheng yong at a press Power generation, a key equipment and automobile sectors, conference, citing annual industrial barometer for measuring economic the National Bureau of Statistics output growth of the high-tech activity, rose 7 percent in November (NBS) said Tuesday. manufacturing sector reaching 10.6 from a year earlier, confirming the

38 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy growth momentum of the world’s consumer goods grew 10.8 percent “T he Chinese economy second largest economy. year on year in November, continues to hold steady with more accelerating from the 10 percent positive changes emerging,” said The trend was supported by a increase posted for October, with Mao, adding that China needs to slew of other key economic data online sales surging 26.2 percent push forward with reforms, released Tuesday. from January to November year on including supply-side structural year to 4.6 trillion yuan. reform, and foster new growth China’s fixed-asset investment drivers amid a world economy beset rose 8.3 percent year on year to 53.9 China has been transitioning to a by instability. trillion yuan in the first 11 months, service and innovation-driven with the growth rate unchanged economy from an export-reliant one “November activity data from the January-October period, in recent years, with the economy surprised the market on the upside, while private sector fixed-asset expanding at a steady 6.7 percent in as the economic recovery gained investment, which accounts for the first three quarters this year. momentum,” said Julia Wang, HSBC more than 60 percent of the total, economist. expanded 3.1 percent in the first 11 Tuesday’s data was released months, accelerating from 2.9 prior to this year’s annual Central It is widely expected that the percent in the first ten months. Economic Work Conference, an Chinese economy will register important economic event that annual growth of around 6.7 Real estate investment rose 6.5 maps out economic priorities and percent, within the government’s percent year on year in the first 11 reform plans for the upcoming year. target range of 6.5 to 7 percent set at months, cooling from the 6.6 the beginning of the year. percent registered during the Despite a troublesome start, Januar y-October period, as weakness in the yuan, capital “With the economy having just measures rolled out by the outflows reaping havoc on financial emerged from a period of deflation, government to rein in house prices markets, an overheated property and with the recovery still looking quite began to take effect. market, and headwinds from home uneven, policy support should remain and abroad, the Chinese economy is in place until the recovery becomes Moreover, China’s retail sales of ending 2016 on a firm footing. more broad-based,” Wang said.

News From China l December 2016 39 Chinese Economy CHINA FOCUS: CHINA'S MARKET ECONOMY BENEFITS DOMESTIC, FOREIGN FIRMS

Although China’s market huge market to let every Chinese Shenzhen-based firm producing economy status is yet to be woman have a lipstick,” said local skincare brand “Mininurse” recognized by some of the world’s Stephane Rinderknech, L’Oreal and Magic Holdings International, a major economies, executives of China CEO. Hong Kong-listed Chinese facial multinationals and China’s domestic care company. companies attribute their rapid China on DEC.11 marks the growth to China’s market reform. 15th anniversary of its accession to Rinderknech said that since the WTO, ending its 15 year entering China in 1997, L’Oreal has French cosmetics manufacturer protection period to prepare the witnessed rapid growth. China L’Oreal has been a witness to the market for global competition. surpassed France to become the country’s economic transformation second largest market for the brand from a centrally-planned to a free Rinderknech said the company in 2015. market economy in the past 15 years has benefitted as China’s economy as China became a WTO member. opened up, and the country slashed China has been a favored its import tariffs. destination for foreign investment “In the next 15 years, L’Oreal The company acquired two since entering the WTO 15 years will strive to tap deeper into China’s Chinese cosmetic firms in 2014, a ago.

40 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy

In 2015, foreign capital in China The Newland Group based in both foreign producers and Chinese reached 126.3 billion U.S. dollars, 2.7 eastern China’s Fuzhou, capital of firms like Newland. times greater than 2001. During the Fujian Province, is an export- first ten months of this year, foreign oriented firm founded in 1994. “A b o u t 3 0 p e r c e n t o f capital reached 666.3 billion yuan in components in our electronic China, year-on-year growth of 4.2 X u H a n , m a n a g e r o f products depended on the imports percent, amid a sluggish global international business department of foreign products. The zero-tariff economy. of Newland’s computer subsidiary, lowered our production cost,” Xu said the company started by doing said. Alongside attracting foreign processing trade for German-made money, China’s WTO entry has also chips in the 1990s. In 2001 the He said Chinese firms today are helped Chinese products go global. business earned the company 8 fully aware that “no towering trees million U.S. dollars, making the can grow in a greenhouse Mei Xinyu, a researcher with the company an important exporter in environment.” Ministry of Commerce, said that Fujian. China’s cargo trade export volume “China’s experience tells the was 266.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2001, “As an IT exporter, Newland world that trade protection only accounting for 4.3 percent of the used to enjoy the country’s support creates a greenhouse in which global volume. While in 2015, the policies, including export subsidies people cannot learn to adjust their figure exceeded 2.27 trillion U.S. in the form of a tax rebate. However, clothes as the temperature changes,” dollars, accounting for 13.8 percent five years after the country entered Xu said. of the global volume. the WTO, the government called off the protection measures to push F r o m a s s e m b l i n g a n d Mei said that China has fully domestic firms and confront global processing products for foreign stood by its WTO commitments in market competition,” Xu said. companies to developing its own such terms as tariff-reduction and products, Newland has become the opening of the service trade In 2001, China granted zero China’s leading exporter of POS sector. China has lowered its tariff tariffs to imports of IT parts such as machines, and is the third largest from 15.3 percent to 9.8 percent. computer chips. This has benefitted POS machine supplier in Europe.

News From China l December 2016 41 Chinese Economy CHINA FOCUS: "IMPULSIVE" RURAL CONSUMERS TARGETED BY E-COMMERCE PLAYERS

Beijing Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — Less the report. For electronics, rural But e-commerce in rural areas is than a generation ago, rural Chinese consumers made the same choices as dependent on network penetration needed to wait until market day, once those living in cities. and whether people have spare or twice a week, to go shopping. money to spend. Now they simply go online. Cyberspace has granted rural residents the same access to bargains Half of all online transactions The Internet lets rural Chinese as people in the city, said Li Yongjian, made by China’s rural residents in make purchases beyond the confines an online economy expert at the 2015 were in coastal regions such as of their geography. On the Singles’ Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Day shopping spree this year, rural Guangdong, only 1 percent came consumers bought 70 percent of “China’s rural areas will generate from remote provincial regions such large freezers and 50 percent of huge potential in consumption in the as Qinghai, Tibet,and Gansu. widescreen televisions and drum future,” Li said. washers sold on JD.com, according M i n i s t r y o f C o m m e r c e to a report released by the company China has 191 million rural statistics in 2015 showed the value in December. Internet users as of June, accounting of China’s rural online market for 27 percent of all web users, almost doubled year-on-year to 353 Apple was the top selling mobile according to a China Internet billion yuan (51 billion U.S. dollars), brand in rural areas, followed by Network Information Center report and is expected to almost double Huawei and Xiaomi, according to released in August. again this year.

42 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy

People in the cities joke that up 100,000 Taobao village centers, service center in northwest China’s Singles’ Day ought to be known as while JD.com has enrolled over Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. the hand-chopping festival, that is 300,000 extension agents to teach “Fresh goji berries go bad easily and that only by chopping their hands villagers to shop online. must reach consumers within three off can they prevent themselves days; only one company was willing from shopping too much. However, Mobile devices play a vital role in to take our orders.” data suggests that rural consumers motivating rural consumers to go are even more impulsive with online. The proportion of online China has close to 95,000 spending than urban shoppers. transactions made through handsets delivery stations in rural areas, in rural areas is 5 percentage points covering 70 percent of its towns and Forty-nine percent of rural higher than in first-tier cities. And counties. But there are still villages consumers, in contrast to the overall when any new trend appears, rural hard to reach, and the cold-chain average of 36 percent, are willing to consumers follow those living in logistics system that is essential to buy types of items online they have cities. transport fresh food is lagging never bought before, and they are behind market demand. less susceptible to negative online Local delicacies, for example, reviews and more willing to try out are in vogue among online “E-commerce in rural areas new things, according to the report. consumers in both rural and urban should concentrate on personnel areas, despite white-collar workers training and brand building. They Huge opportunities make the still being the main online should also develop a comprehensive rural market a new battlefield for e- consumers. tracing system to guarantee good commerce players. As of 2015, e- produce quality and delivery commerce giants including Taobao, The major hurdle is delivery. services,” said Mo Wenjian, who runs JD.com and Suning have opened an online company delivering fresh 250,000 online service centers in “Our farmers this year wanted food from northeast China’s Jilin 1,000 counties across China. to sell fresh goji berries online at 10 Province. “Otherwise, it will be yuan per jin, but the delivery fee difficult to continue to promote sales Alibaba aims to further invest costs 80 yuan,” said Guo Jing, who is and reach demanding customers.” 1.6 billion yuan in three years to set in charge of a local e-commerce

News From China l December 2016 43 Chinese Economy SPOTLIGHT: CHINA'S CONSTRUCTIVE, LEADING ROLE IN WTO HIGHLIGHTED ON 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACCESSION

Beijing, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) — both domestic and global growth, School of Economics, has said. Officials and scholars from different experts said prior to the 15th parts of the world have lauded the anniversary of China’s WTO The accession has removed constructive and leading role China accession marked on Sunday. many barriers for Chinese products has played in the World Trade to enter the global market, he said. Organization (WTO) since its GROWTH IN DOMESTIC accession to the global trade ECONOMY Keith Rockwell, director of the organization 15 years ago. WTO’s Information and External China’s entry into the WTO has Relations Division, told Xinhua in an China’s accession to the world’s played a significant part in its interview that the accession has largest trade bloc has been a story of economic development, Portanskiy considerably lifted China’s trade. all-win results, which made Aleksey Pavlovich, a professor with unprecedented contributions to Russia’s National University Higher “We’ve seen China’s exports

44 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy increase eight and a half times and China and the rest of the world, has Business and Economic Law imports up by seven times. We’ve been a major contributor to Initiative. seen inward foreign investment into invigorating the sluggish world China soar over hundred billion U.S. economy and a game changer to China’s 15 years’ membership in dollars in each of the last five years. reshape the global economic WTO not only marks the most rapid China is now actually investing more landscape, experts said. economic development phase of and more overseas as well,” the this ancient oriental nation, but also WTO spokesman said. “If you look at the figures it’s features the period when China quite impressive. Obviously, China shares its prosperity with the rest of A c c o r d i n g t o J a m e s has been a big contributor to global the world, said Gerishon Ikiara, Laurenceson, deputy director of economy,” said Paul Sheard, lecturer of international economics Australia-China Relations Institute executive vice president and chief at the University of Nirobi. at University of Technology Sydney, economist at Standard & Poor’s China’s share of world trade last year Global. “The world economy had been reached 14.6 percent, making it by led by developed economies for far the world’s largest trader. “For countries like Australia, many decades. The growing getting improved access to China is economy of China is gradually “If you look at those sectors of crucial as the Chinese market is reshaping the global economic the Chinese economy that are the incredibly important. The WTO has landscape,” Ikiara said. most efficient, they are those that are been a starting point for Chinese- most exposed to international Australian relationships as well for LEADER IN trade,” Laurenceson said. trade agreements. We now have a INTERNATIONAL ARENA free trade agreement between China CONTRIBUTOR TO WORLD and Australia,” said Lisa Toohey, Before China joined the WTO, ECONOMY associate professor of international there had been fears that cases trade law at the University of New against China would be so many that China’s inclusion into the WTO, South Wales and member of the the system could not cope with. which has facilitated trade between university’s China International

News From China l December 2016 45 Chinese Economy

“Those fears were completely has lowered its tariffs by a large “Sometimes we lose track of overblown and China has been very margin, and has made achievements that,” he said. active as a third party in the WTO, in the construction of the market which means that it comes and economy system, observers said. China’s economic development, observes on the disputes, but it particularly since it joined the WTO, hasn’t been active particularly as a China played a very major role in has been one of the most litigant,” Toohey said. the WTO, a lot of countries, remarkable phenomena in the 21st companies and consumers have century, said Portanskiy, the Russian “China has been a good benefited from the increasingly scholar. international citizen in terms of opening of the Chinese market, complying with WTO decisions,” Nicholas Lardy, senior fellow at the “So far, China has been one of she said. Peterson Institute for International the most influential members of the Economics, told Xinhua. trade bloc,” he said. China, since joining the WTO, CHINESE ECONOMY FACES OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES: ECONOMISTS

New York, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) — slowdown, economists and experts Chinese Capital Markets held by the The Chinese economy boasts a lot told a forum on Friday. New York University’s Centre on of opportunities to move forward U.S.-China Relations, they also saw despite concerns of a growth At the sixth Conference on the great growth potential in China

46 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy following the expansion of the China has 35-year track record of labor from high productivity to low country’s middle class. near double-digit growth rate productivity sector, structurally, your indicated the country’s potential. aggregated productivity growth is “We see the tremendous growth going to slow down,” she said. in middle class. We have enough However, economists taking sense of optimism that we will part in the forum also pointed out Zhang said the Chinese continue to invest in this economic that demog raphic chang es, government has fewer obstacles in engine in the next 10 to 20 years,” structural shift and reform of the opening up the service sector said Matthew Nimitz, advisory state-owned-enterprises (SOEs) compared with the industrial sector, director with the General Atlantic would pose challenges to China’s because the service sector is LLC. future economic growth. expanding so fast that the pie is growing. He noted that Chinese Zhang Longmei, an economist companies are becoming more in the International Monetary “If you open the service sector competitive as time goes by, adding: Fund’s Asia and Pacific Department, up to private firms, the SOEs can “That phenomenon demonstrates said China faces a downward still gain in a growing market. But in their creativity.” pressure on productivity as it the old sector, it might be a zero sum relocates laborers from the industrial game between SOEs and private Paul Sheard, executive vice sector to the service sector. companies because the pie is not president and chief economist of going to be larger,” she said. S&P Global, noted that the fact that “In the process of reallocating

News From China l December 2016 47 Chinese Economy CHINESE LEADERSHIP CAPABLE OF COPING WITH ECONOMIC CHALLENGES: RUSSIAN EXPERTS

Moscow, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — targets this year’s economic growth The deceleration of the Chinese The skillful Chinese leadership will at 6.5 percent to 7 percent with an economy as a whole is due to the fact help China deal with all risks and annual average growth rate of at that China is restructuring its reach its planned targets, despite least 6.5 percent through 2020. economy in a global way, said Alexey multiple economic challenges facing Maslov, head of the Oriental Studies the country, Russian experts said. The slowdown in the Chinese Department at the Russian Higher economy will occur, as the policy School of Economics Research The year of 2016 is the first year related to the new normal implies University. of China’s 13th five-year plan with a that the Chinese economy will not goal of comprehensively building a grow as fast as before, Andrei To achieve the goals, it has to moderately prosperous society by Ostrovsky, deputy director of the change the nature of the economy, 2020. Institute of the Far East under the which is “painful and difficult,” Russian Academy of Sciences, told Maslov added. The Chinese government Xinhua in a recent interview.

48 News From China l December 2016 Chinese Economy

After 15 years of rapid growth, situation in China, which cannot be “The country’s decision to allow he said, major Asian countries all solved in a simple way, he said. families to have a second child will slowed down and had to restructure only bear fruit 20 years from now their economies to keep them afloat, One of the biggest problems in when the newborns reach the while China has been growing for an China today is the environment, working age,” Ostrovsky said. even longer time. Ostrovsky said, adding that the damage to the environment has For Maslov, he believed that In fact, Ostrovsky said, the reached a critical state after the issue there is a necessity for China to pace of China’s economic growth has been ignored for dozens of years invest abroad in order to support its — 6.7-6.8 percent a year — is quite due to the necessity of maintaining internal market. high, significantly higher than that rapid economic growth. of many other countries in the The Belt and Road Initiative world. Other challenges include the designed for infrastr ucture shortage of labor as China’s construction in countries of Asia, But there are also more complex population has been rapidly aging, Europe and even parts of Africa is problems related to the current he added. aimed at reaching this goal, he added.

News From China l December 2016 49 Indians in China Indians in China AN ART VILLAGE IN THE PARADISE

by Anil Azad Pandey, Beijing

China is known for its history and own local flavor with touch of town, in the last week of September. culture. The world famous Great modernity. But here I would like to Situated about one hundred Wall of China and Terracotta specially mention about an art village kilometers away from Chongqing warriors are two of the great I visited recently in the month of city, this is also a famous tourist spot symbols of the ancient civilization. September. I visited Gu Jian shan art in China. Now, this special area is the Although China has developed village (called Yi shu cun in home of dozens of artists, rapidly during the last three decades, mandarin), which is situated at the belonging to different backgrounds, but the way its cultural and historical Chongqing municipality of South- including painters, writers, designers, places have been protected is an West China. architects, musicians and others. example of the country’s love and They found this picturesque respect for them. I have been It is the first art village of destination on the quest for their witnessing China’s progress in Chongqing, which was established in artistic and creative inspiration. various fields during the past few 2011. Far away from hustle and These artists had for a long time years and have got opportunities to bustle of the big cities, we reached dreamt of finding such a place, visit many places. Each place has its the mountainous area of Qi Jiang where they can quietly sit for hours

50 News From China l December 2016 Indians in China and gaze the beauty of nature in the studios. In fact, there are many art these artists have been instrumental search of their artistic work. galleries including European and in changing the lives of common Asian art galleries and museums. people in the nearby villages. We met After they met with the concerned More importantly, these are open to a local farmer who seemed to be very officials regarding the cause, all the visitors for free. happy because his income has gone authorities gave them the nod up since the arrival of these artists in without taking much time and free The artists are not only creating the village. Apart from the villagers, land was provided to them. their art works in this valley, but also school children also visit here and helping the local people. Thus local learn creative works during the Soon after getting the green farmers’ income has risen sharply summer and winter holidays. The signal, they collected money and since they are getting engaged with artists hope that these kids would get raised fund for the construction of artists in many ways including inspired by them and make their the buildings in the art village. Their cooking and cleaning. Moreover, dreams a reality. dream finally became reality in 2011, they are being encouraged to get when all the houses and galleries involved in artistic work, specially Though these artists are busy with were built. painting and designing. As an their creative works, still they have encouragement, famers’ good works plans to organize exhibitions related In all, there are twenty-one houses are also put up for exhibition and to calligraphy, arts, and other and fifteen halls, where the beautiful sale. We can say, on the one hand activities in the future to attract more works of the artists are on display. these people are learning artistic people. Usually, double storey houses are skills from the artists, on the other divided into exhibition halls and they are earning their livelihood. So A painter, Li, who has played a

News From China l December 2016 51 Indians in China

pivotal role in this project said, “ I Although China has many other (Anil Azad Pandey has been working always wanted to find a unique place art villages, but this place has its own with China Radio, Beijing as a Senior where one can think and create characteristics, which provides the Journalist since 2009, prior to China something special. Luckily I ended peaceful environment to the people. worked in New Delhi as a Senior up at this paradise.” He took the I would say, one must visit here to National Correspondent.) initiative, shared the idea with his enjoy the beauty of the nature and friends and got their consent for it. mesmerizing works of the artists. CHINA A TRULY TRAVEL DESTINATION

First time I got the opportunity assignments, teacher training Actually China is a country to visit China was in 2007 when I programs or just for pure traveling which one would like to visit again worked as a translator in a Chinese purpose. So whenever I go to China and again. It is not only about Great company in Shandong Province for I never miss the opportunity to travel Wall in Beijing or Pearl Tower and about a year, then studied in and explore this wonderful country. River Front of Shanghai, but there Shanghai for three years. And from China is such a huge country that are many more places to see in then onwards I have been visiting you can imagine that in my seventeen China. China is a truly travel China almost every year in visits, I have not been able to cover destination which has rich culture connection with my interpretation even the half of China. and history, and its cuisine is exotic

52 News From China l December 2016 Indians in China and people are friendly. China’s world class infrastr ucture, outstanding transportation system, its network of highways and bullet trains crisscrossing throughout the country makes it much more convenient to travel in China.

From ancient cities like Luoyang and Xian to the modern cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen and other popular travel cities like Hangzhou, Suzhou, Qingdao, Chengdu, Xiamen etc. gives unforgettable travel experience. All these cities have something unique or special, like Hangzhou is known for its West lake and Longjing tea which is the most famous variety of green tea in China, Whereas Suzhou is known for its Classical Gardens. There is a saying in China praising the beauty of thes two cities ‘Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth. Apart from these famous cities I also got the chance to visit ancient Chinese water towns around Shanghai. These small water towns with lovely typical traditional architecture and bridges are big tourist attractions. Some of the towns have the history of more than thousand years and local people are still living there. These towns can be called as the museum of Chinese culture and history. Most of the famous old towns are located in the China is a land of mountains Mountain [Huang Shan] of Anhui south of the yangtze river in and hills, one-third of China is province which is known for its Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province such mountainous region. It is known for oddly shaped rocks and hot springs. as Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Wuzhen its famous mountains. There are It is called Yellow mountain because and Xitang.Roaming around in the “The Five Great Mountains” which the area was renamed after the centuries old streets and drinking tea are the most renowned mountains in legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang leisurely or having a ride in a boat is Chinese history. The Sacred Di) in 747 AD. I visited yellow always an amazing experience. Mountains of China are divided into mountain in 2009 when I was Tourists come there to enjoy the several groups like Four Sacred pursuing my master’s degree in charming night view of the historic Mountains of Buddhism and Four Chinese from Shanghai Normal towns when all the Chinese Sacred Mountains of Taoism. But University. The trip was organized traditional red lanterns are lighted the most famous and beautiful by the University. I consider myself on. mountain in China is Yellow really lucky that I got a chance to see

News From China l December 2016 53 Indians in China the sunrise over Huangshan which is haven for the travelers fond of cuisine are famous for their hot- a very popular and highly natural beauty, its places like lijiang, spicy taste and the flavor of Sichuan recommended activity. Dali, Xianggelila etc. are one of the pepper. Sichuan cuisine really suits most exiting places in the country to the Indian taste, Sichuan Hotpot and The two provinces of China explore. Whereas Sichuan province Mapo Toufu [bean curd served in a which I will never forget are Yunnan apart from its natural scenery is more chili-and-bean-based sauce] are my and Sichuan. Both of the provinces known for its lifestyle and cuisine.no favorite and I am sure that most of are located in southwest China and matter where you are in Sichuan you the Indians will enjoy it. are known for their natural beauty will always see teahouses with unique and culture. Yunnan is a unique Sichuan styles. People sitting in I hope that my trips to China will tourist destination due to its rich bamboo chairs around the wooden continue in future as well, and I will ethnic minority cultures, Yunnan has tables, holding special tea wares continue to explore more new places the most ethnic minorities in China exclusively owned by the teahouse of this great country. with 26 nationalities out of a total of and taking a sip of fragrant tea. 56 in China, residing within the Sichuan cuisine is very famous all (Ashish Ahuja, Guest Lecturer, Delhi region. Yunnan province is the over China. The dishes of Sichuan University)

54 News From China l December 2016 Culture & Life Culture & Life CHINA'S GIANT PANDAS: INTERNET SWEETHEART OF 2016

Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2016 shows a giant panda playing at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

Giant pandas are seen at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Oct. 19, 2016.

News From China l December 2016 55 Culture & Life

A giant panda is seen in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, May 11, 2016.

A giant panda is seen in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Dec. 6, 2016.

56 News From China l December 2016 Culture & Life KITE FAIR HELD IN S CHINA'S QINZHOU

Participants fly kites during a kite fair in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 3, 2016. Kites-flying fans from China and abroad took part in the fair on Saturday.

2016-meter long kite is seen during a kite fair in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 3, 2016. Kites-flying fans from China and abroad took part in the fair on Saturday.

News From China l December 2016 57 Culture & Life

Participants fly kites during a kite fair in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 3, 2016. Kites-flying fans from China and abroad took part in the fair on Saturday.

Participants fly kites during a kite fair in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 3, 2016. Kites-flying fans from China and abroad took part in the fair on Saturday.

58 News From China l December 2016 Culture & Life CHINESE CITIES ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COMMUTE BY BICYCLE

A citizen rides a public bicycle in Linfen, north China’s Shanxi Province, Nov. 16, 2016. To save energy and reduce carbon emission, cities of China took measures such as building public bicycle rental system or paving more bicycle lanes to encourage people to commute by bicycle.

A worker passes by a public bicycle rental stand in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, Nov. 8, 2016. To save energy and reduce carbon emission, cities of China took measures such as building public bicycle rental system or paving more bicycle lanes to encourage people to commute by bicycle.

News From China l December 2016 59 Culture & Life

A citizen rides a public bicycle in Linfen, north China’s Shanxi Province, Nov. 16, 2016. To save energy and reduce carbon emission, cities of China took measures such as building public bicycle rental system or paving more bicycle lanes to encourage people to commute by bicycle.

A citizen passes by a public bicycle rental stand in Zhangjiakou, north China’s Hebei Province, Nov. 2, 2016. To save energy and reduce carbon emission, cities of China took measures such as building public bicycle rental system or paving more bicycle lanes to encourage people to commute by bicycle. (Xinhua/Wang Xiao)

60 News From China l December 2016 Culture & Life BEIJING LAUNCHES SMART STREETLIGHTS OFFERING CHARGING SERVICE, FREE WIFI

Twenty “smart” street lights testing. temperature, humidity, wind speed, have been installed on Youanmen wind direction, noise data, air West Street in Beijing, with 18 of The street lights themselves are pressure, and pollution levels. It also them offering charging service for also different from ordinary ones. i n c l u d e s c h a r g i n g s e r v i c e electric vehicles and the other two Using 160 watt LED lights, they give information such as the number of enabled with multiple services a gentle, warm, white glow intended the available charging posts. including free Wi-Fi and video to make passersby feel more surveillance. comfortable. The free WIFI feature is a favorite function among users of the A Beijing News report said that The surveillance cameras on the new smart services. As long as a the highlight of the smart street street lights are able to monitor person remains close to the enabled lights is the vehicle-charging anything that is installed with a speed street lamp, they can surf the web by function, amid the city’s campaign sensor. The camera can sound an logging-on to the free WIFI using on promoting the widespread use of alert if anything installed with one of Wechat. electric vehicles. E-vehicle owners those sensors is moved. are able to book an appointment and A senior manager of the city’s locate the position of the charging An LCD screen has been lighting authority said 100 more post through a smartphone app. The installed on one of the street lights to smart street lights will be installed charging service is currently in display real time information such as across the city’s six Districts.

News From China l December 2016 61 Culture & Life

WINTER SPORTS THRIVE AFTER BEIJING'S 2022 WINTER OLYMPIC BID

62 News From China l December 2016 Culture & Life

Children prepare for a unique outdoor skating rink, created on an competitions during the Beijing experience. They are dressed for upstream section of the Caishi River 2022 Winter Olympics. battle, with thick padded coats, where they train and have fun, has a helmets, and boots with protruding total area of 1,500 square meters and “Ice” opportunities like what blades. They are here to conquer the thick, good quality ice. It was has happened in Yanqing have come ice. adopted as a base for promoting ice along with the Winter Olympics to sports, set up by the school and Beijing and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Winter sports thrive after supported by the district education province, the other venue for the Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympic bid committee and the villag e Winter Olympics, about 220 km government in Yanqing district, from downtown Beijing. The 60 students are taking their Beijing. f i r s t i c e s k a t i n g c l a s s . The world’s top snowboarding [Photo/bjd.com.cn] This is the first ice arena put into event “Air & Style” and a number of use this winter in Yanqing district other high-level international events They slip. They glide. They and is available to the general public. for curling, ice hockey, and figure often fall down. But these 60 There are 10 more projects skating will be held in Beijing, students are learning to skate, and scheduled to be completed that will according to officials from the they won’t let the ice get the better of offer an ice skating experience to an Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau. them. They, like so many others in estimated 3,000 people annually. China, are taking up winter sports As for Zhangjiakou, it will hold out of curiosity and pride after Yanqing district, northwest of international skiing competitions Beijing secured the 2022 Winter Beijing, 90 kilometres away from the such as the FIS Alpine Skiing Far Olympic bid. city center, has showed more passion East Cup, the FIS Freestyle Skiing and received more governmental World Cup, and so on, so as to gather The students come from a local support for ice sports since it experience and to prepare for the school, called the Zhenzhuquan became one of the three venues for 2022 Winter Olympic. Primary School. The natural luge, bobsleigh, and alpine skiing

News From China l December 2016 63 Tibet Today Tibet Today CHINA FOCUS: NEW CARGO SERVICE LINKS TIBET, NEPAL TO BOOST TRADE

Lhasa, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) — and 14 boxcars full of products, days, much shorter than the 20 days Dozens of trucks carrying 19 including shoes, clothes, hats, for sea transport,” said Yao Yanfeng, million yuan (2.8 million U.S. dollars) furniture, appliances, electronics and general manager of the freight worth of goods left the border port building materials, covered the carrier Tibet Tianzhi Import and of Gyirong in Tibet after customs 5,200-km distance between Export Co. Ltd. “The time could be clearance on Friday, continuing the Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong cut further to 3.7 days in the future.” journey to their destination in Nepal. Province, and Xigaze in Tibet. Yao said his company is The new rail and road cargo The trucks are responsible for providing relatively quick delivery service, linking Guangdong, Tibet the remaining 870 km of the journey, service and, despite higher costs, it and Nepal, aims to boost trade with carrying goods to Gyirong and then can meet demand for time-sensitive the South Asian neighbor as China to the final stop in Kathmandu, clients. pushes forward its Belt and Road Nepal’s capital. Initiative. “In the slower winter season, the “The trip between Guangzhou train and trucks will make a round A train carrying eight carriages and Gyirong takes about five to six trip every one or two weeks,” said

64 News From China l December 2016 Tibet Today

Yao. “In the busy season next year, The trade passage, in line with is planning to build a railway there will be two to three per week market demand in the medium and between Xigaze and Gyirong to and, eventually, we’re aiming for four long term, could help boost shorten the trip. to five trips per week.” economic cooperation between Guangdong, Tibet and South Asia, Yang Guoliang, an official with “Nepal needs Chinese goods,” officials said. the Tibet Autonomous Regional said Liu Denghui of Adam Department of Commerce, said Refrigeration Equipment Co. Ltd. in Luomei, assistant chairwoman Tibet will build and reopen more Shenzhen upon hearing about the of Tibet autonomous regional border ports to expand the trade new trade route. government, said with efficient passage to South Asia. trade transportation, the freight NEW TRADE PASSAGE service could help relocate more The trade passage is a national businesses along the passage, strategy linking China’s economic In May, China opened a rail and bringing growth momentum and heartland with South Asia, said road cargo service between Lanzhou industrial transformation to the Yang. in northwest China and Kathmandu. plateau region. The new service starting from Apart from ports and trade Guangzhou serves as an important Gobinda Bahadur Karki, consul passages, China will build border trade passage between the two general of Nepal in Lhasa, said the economic zones with South Asia, neighboring countries. freight service will help boost said Wang Yanqing of the transport Nepal’s economic growth as well as research institute under the National Guangdong and neighboring bilateral trade. D e ve l o p m e n t a n d Re f o r m regions, known as China’s Commission, China’s top economic manufacturing hubs, are a major MORE INFRASTRUCTURE planning agency. source of imports for South Asia, including Nepal. To further facilitate trade, China

News From China l December 2016 65 Tibet Today

TIBETANS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO TOURISTS

66 News From China l December 2016 Tibet Today

Lhasa, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) — Family.” One guest said she was really Dressed in traditional brocade made to feel at home. “We eat what finery, a young Tibetan woman The stone, clay and wood house they eat every day and do what they welcomes her guests with true features rooms painted in warm do. I feel no distance from their life Tibetan hospitality: Barley wine, colors with Tibetan paintings and at all,” she explained. white silk hadas and her bright smile. textile hangings. As the number of tourists to Her guests, a group of tourists She also turned one of the larger Tibet has increased, Lhasa Tourism from north China’s Inner Mongolia, rooms into a gallery to display her Bureau responded by rolling out will spend one night at Dekyi’s house family’s collection of antiques and measures to support homestays and to enjoy typical Tibetan food and objects d’art, such as musical guesthouses, and now more and spend a night under the rafters of an instruments, agricultural tools and more Tibetan families are opening authentic Tibetan home. art. their doors to tourists.

College graduate Dekyi, 24, “I love to show my guests It is estimated that about 600 chose not to follow her brother and around this room, and tell them guesthouses will open over the next sister, who both work in Lhasa, about these objects and share five years. capital of southwest China’s Tibet stories about my family,” Dekyi Autonomous Region. Instead, she explained. While guesthouses offer returned to Weiba, a tiny village tourists a chance to experience outside of Lhasa, and converted her Dekyi wanted to create a Tibetan culture firsthand, they also family’s two-story courtyard into a comfortable, welcoming space bring more opportunities to homestay, which she called “Lhasa where tourists feel at home. Tibetans.

News From China l December 2016 67 Tibet Today

Dekyi has hosted nearly 700 winter, there was nothing to do. We He said he plans to open a space tourists since her guesthouse only made 20,000 yuan (2,891 U.S. to display Tibetan cultural items, opened in February. dollars) a year. But now, we can make from pottery to thangka to wedding over double that thanks to the rituals. “I have made friends with guesthouse.” people from different countries and “This will give tourists a more know more about the world thanks Kunga, who manages a larger all-round experience of Tibetan life to the stories they shared. They resort-style guesthouse named and customs,” Kunga said. And made this once quiet house lively and “Kyishod Khangsang” in Lunzhub more locals will be able to find jobs our lives more diverse,” she said. County near Lhasa, has created jobs close to home. for his neighbors. For Dawa, 64, who also runs a According to official statistics, guesthouse in Weiba, said his life has He employs 49 people at his about 21 million Chinese and foreign taken a turn for the better since he guesthouse, where tourists can try tourists visited Tibet in the first three opened his doors to tourists in July. on traditional Tibetan costumes and quarters of 2016, up 20.4 percent learn how to make butter tea and year on year. “In the past, my family’s life local food. solely relied on farming and in LHASA CELEBRATES FESTIVAL OF WOMEN'S PROTECTOR

Pilgrims from far away make their pilgrimage to Jokhang Temple on Tuesday.

68 News From China l December 2016 Tibet Today

Lhasa’s ancient Barkor Street “I woke up at 4 am and arrived at Yeshi said she herself did not was filled with the smoke from the Jokhang Temple at 5 am. I am like to participate in asking money burning juniper branches and the pleased to pay my visit to the Pal from men on this event, however, sound of prayers, as thousands Lhamo deity today,” she said. she was not opposed to other girls celebrated the annual Pal Lhamo doing it. festival on Tuesday. The 26-year-old said she made about 500 yuan ($72) from her Yeshi thought it could also be The one-day event is practiced WeChat friends in the first half of considered a women’s day as on the 15th day of the 10th month the day. Tibetans believe the Palden Lhamo according to the Tibetan calendar. deity would come down to earth and According to Yeshi Choedron, the women in Lhasa believe Palden “Tibetan women consider Tibetan women would traditionally Lhamo is their protector. Palden Lhamo, one of the protective not ask for money from men on this deities of the Tibetan Buddhism, as day, and the event has evolved over She said that in the past, the their protector, and the females time. image of Palden Lhamo would be regard it as an important day,” Yeshi carried to the third floor outside the Choedron, an English announcer at “Traditionally, while people Jokhang Temple and then her image the Tibet People’s Broadcasting make offerings to the deities with would be faced south where the Station, explained. cash and offerings, they would statue of the Trizongzan was donate tips for the lower class or the enshrined in a monastery on a small The religious festival has poor,” the 34-year-old said. mountain in the Drub village. become a particular favorite of women in Lhasa, as many young girls Pilgrims pay homage to the Pal It has undergone some changes can ask for money from any men on Lhamo deity and the statue of the today, as the image of the Palden the occasion. King Songtsan Gampo in Lhasa’s Lhamo is now carried to the quarter Jokhang Temple on Tuesday. [Photo yard of the temple, not the third Kalsang Drolma, a waitress in b y P a l d e n floor. Lhasa, said she profited from the Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn] rare religious event. “As far as I know, I heard from

News From China l December 2016 69 Tibet Today the monks saying on this day, there the preservation of the old temple, deity of Jokhang Temple. are so many people offering barley so it is carried to the quarter yard wine to the Pal Lhamo image, there today.” When this was discovered by is so much barley that it is leaking Palden Lhamo, she punished everywhere, it becomes slippery, and According to Tibetan history, Trizongzan by making him stay on the it is little bit dangerous for the the daughter of Palden Lhamo, the south bank of Lhasa River, and the pilgrimages who come to pay their Bal Lhamo deity fell in love with lovers promised to meet once a year homage. Secondly it is not good for Trizongzan, who is also a protective across the river on that special day. TIBET UNVEILS NEW TIBETAN-LANGUAGE INPUT SOFTWARE

Lhasa, Nov. 3 — New Tibetan- language input software was released in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday.

The software was developed by a speech and language laboratory at Tibet University. With Tibetan- language speech and handwriting recognition technology, the software provides more convenient and accurate input methods for Tibetans.

The software can recognize and produce standard Tibetan instantly with an accuracy rate of 97 percent.

Losang Ganden, a teacher at Tibet University, said, “Unlike traditional spelling input software, this software has dramatically improved our efficiency in work and learning.”

In addition to the input software, the laboratory has also developed other Tibetan language-related software, including Tibetan and Chinese language translation software.

Professor Ngodrup, director of the laboratory, said they can provide Tibetan language speech technology services and hope to cooperate with entrepreneurs to boost innovation in T i b e t a n l a n g u a g e - r e l a t e d technology.

70 News From China l December 2016 Tibet Today TIBET DOCUMENTS OF LATE U.S. DIPLOMAT PUBLISHED

Beijing, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) — A senior U.S. diplomat in China in the early 1900s insisted that Tibet was an integral part of China and should obey the central government.

A bilingual edition of William W. Rockhill papers related to Tibet has been published by China Intercontinental Press, the publisher said Sunday.

The scholar-diplomat served as the minister of legation of the United States in China, the highest U.S. diplomatic representative to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), from 1905 to 1909.

The book has many documents relating to Rockhill and Tibet. In addition to his Tibetan travels and studies, it includes important archives and documents about the 13th Dalai Lama’s requesting an audience with Emperor Guangxu, China’s penultimate emperor; and Empress Dowager Cixi, Guangxu’s aunt, in Beijing in 1908.

The book also contains diplomatic telegraphs, letters, minutes of talks, government documents, newspaper clippings, manuscripts and diaries, the publisher said.

in his correspondence with U.S. government. Rockhill traveled to Tibet twice President Theodore Roosevelt and and was a renowned Tibetologist. declared his standpoint to the 13th The book is in Chinese and Dalai Lama on behalf of the U.S. English. He explicitly expressed this view

News From China l December 2016 71 Book Review JOKHANG TEMPLE IN LHASA

BOOK REVIEW Trust in the Theory The views expressed in the book are based not only on the 60 years and more of history of the PRC and its remarkable achievements in the past three decades, also on China’s sorrowful modern history since 1840, its 2,000-year history as a united country, and its remarkable 5,000-year civilization. The topics of the interviews vary widely, from systems, theory, development, and reform, to quality of life, strategy and diplomacy. What they have in common is that both Maya and the interviewees apply independence of thought and of judgment. Their perspectives and the opinions expressed are notable individual. Their arguments, combining both fact and theory, make clear the grounds for China’s confidence in its path, theory and system.

– Dai Bingguo Former State Councilor of China

We hope you will find this book useful. Please email us first to reserve the book providing the serial No. Hope to hear from you in the coming future. Your comments and suggestions on NFC are also greatly welcome. Editor News From China E-mail: [email protected] Address: 50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021 Tel: 0091-11-26116683

72 News From China l December 2016 CCTV

News From China l December 2016 73 CRI CIBN

74 News From China l December 2016 75

Amazing Beijing

The Palace Museum Rating: AAAAA The Forbidden City was the seat of Imperial power for 500 years, and it is now one of China's major tourist attractions. Key Words: World Cultural Heritage Museum Very interesting relics Top Beijing museum Description The Palace Museum was commissioned by the third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yong Le. The palace was built between 1406 and 1420, but was burnt down, rebuilt, sacked and renovated countless times, so most of the architecture you can see today dates from the 1700’s and onward. The Forbidden City was the seat of Imperial power for 500 years, and is now a major tourist attraction in China. Cultural Palace of Working People Rating:AA In the past, the temple was known as the Imperial Ancestral Temple and served as a repository. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, on occasions such as an emperor’s ascending the throne. Key Words:Museum Historical building Place of cultural interest Atmospheric ancient forest Description The Working People’s Cultural Palace lies to the east of Tian’anmen Rostrum, directly opposite Zhongshan Park. The large park stretches from Tian’anmen Rostrum in the south to the Forbidden City moat, and from the East Thousand Bu Corridor before the Imperial Palace in the west to the eastern palace walls-fully one half times the width of the Forbidden City. The park was originally built in 1420 as a large-scale temple.

Ming Tombs Rating:AAAAA Of the 16 emperors ruling China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), 13 are buried in a box canyon at the southern foot of Tianshou Shan (hence the Chinese name Shisan Ling, the 13 Tombs) Key Words: World Cultural Heritage Ancient ruins Place of great historical interest Beautiful scenery Interesting ancient site Description Of the 16 emperors who ruled China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), 13 are buried in a box canyon at the southern foot of Tianshou Shan (hence the Chinese name Shisan Ling, the 13 Tombs). The first emperor of the Ming, Hongwu, is entombed in Xiao Ling, near Nanjing. The location of the second emperor’s tomb is uncertain, while the unfilial seventh emperor, who usurped the throne after his brother was taken by the Mongols, was buried near the Summer Palace among the graves of concubines. Despite these omissions, this is the most extensive burial complex of any Chinese dynasty. 76 Postal Regd. No. DL-SW-16/4034/15-17 R.N.I. No. 47440/88 December 2016

A Glimpse of Chengdu City – Sister City of Bengaluru

Published, Printed and Edited by Press Counsellor Ms. Xie Liyan on behalf of the Press Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021. Tel: 26881249, Fax: 26882024 Printed at A.K. Printers, S-217, Bank Street, Munirka, New Delhi-110067, Ph: 9818114996 Date of Publishing: 24th of every month Posted at Chanakyapuri P.O. on 27th & 28th of every month Chinese Embassy Website: http://in.china-embassy.org E-mail: [email protected] Website of Foreign Ministry of China: www.mfa.gov.cn E-mail:[email protected] www.fmprc.gov.cn

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