Craig Hill Media and Consulting
China Trade Mag (Chinese Trade and Business)
On-line survey reports more than half all apartments empty in major cities
More than half the apartments in Beijing and Shanghai are empty, the China Daily reports, quoting an online investigation of 100 Chinese cities by news website Sina.com. Hainan rated over 70 percent empty, Beijing 66 percent and Shanghai 51 percent, based on counting the number of apartments with no lights at night time, on more … Continue reading
China to develop internet search engine in competition to Google
China’s news that it is developing its own state-run search engine is not the country’s first such project, but this time around they are supported by China Mobile Communications and Xinhua News Agency. China Mobile has the world’s largest number of mobile subscribers, guaranteeing an instant and enormous audience on the mobile front. Xinhua, China’s … Continue reading
China and Switzerland going strong after 60 years
Central Committee Political Bureau Member Liu Qi hopes hopes the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland provides an opening for the two countries to to increase mutual political trust and assistance. Liu, speaking at a reception in Beijing, added that China sees significant value to increasing friendly relationships with Switzerland, one of … Continue reading
Chinese Vice Premier campaigns for mutual agreements with other developing countries
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has called for other developing countries to extend mutual support with China, and for countries assisted by China to work towards attaining shared benefits. The call was made in Beijing at an exhibition to showcase China’s international aid efforts, this year marking the 60th anniversary of the nation’s international aid … Continue reading
Collapse of joint China-US venture highlights need for advisory partners
The apparent collapse of the joint-venture China-US construction of the world’s largest solar power plant has underscored the perils that can be faced by foreign companies trying to break into the lucrative Chinese market. It also highlights the need for foreign companies to enlist business advisory firms with proven track records in assisting foreign companies … Continue reading
China exempts service outsourcing companies from business tax
China’s Ministry of Finance has announced on its website that it will offer an exemption from business tax for offshore service outsourcing companies, in an apparent bid to win business from India and other countries. The exemption, in place from July 1 2010 until December 31 2013, assists firms which specialize in information technology outsourcing … Continue reading
China strengthens monopoly in rare-earth minerals
Chinese state-owned Baotou Steel Rare-Earth High-Tech Co and Jiangxi Copper Corp, two of China’s largest rare-earth miners, have announced a unified pricing system, according to the China Daily. China supplies 95% of the world’s rare-earth oxides, so therefore Baotou and Jianxi will virtually control the market, good news for China as it can control use … Continue reading
Chinese officials call for intellectual property trade deficit reduction
Ministry of Commerce official Wu Guohua, speaking at the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Summit in Beijing, has called for the creation of indigenous brands to ease China’s disturbing intellectual property trade deficit. Wu further stated that it is crucial for China to bring into being indigenous brands, pointing to the large amounts spent on foreign … Continue reading
China quantity bubble fears as speculators leave apartments empty
A recent media story, which power companies denied, claimed that almost 65 million power meters in urban China had registered zero consumption over a six month period, which raised a theory that there are enough empty apartments in China to house 200 million people. However, the true figures will probably never be known, because there … Continue reading
Rio Tinto’s record profit aided by China’s resource demand
Mining giant Rio Tinto has posted a record first-half profit, driven by iron ore sales to China, with net earnings up 260 per cent to almost US$6.4 billion. Rio has announced plans to spend about US$13 billion over the next 18 months, displaying its confidence in Chinese demand, even though China has started the process … Continue reading
“Made in China” brands emerging in luxury goods market
Billionaire investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft founder Bill gates have revealed they are fans of Chinese suit maker Trands, and Buffet believes China is the future of fashion. Trands, based in Dalian in China’s northeast, is one of several up-and-coming Chinese brands taking on Gucci, Armani and Prada. Chinese sales of luxury goods grew by … Continue reading
Civilian high-tech projects benefit from China removing tariffs and value-added taxes
Major civilian high-tech projects will benefit from China’s decision to scrap import tariffs and value-added taxes (VAT) on key imports used in these ventures. The Ministry of Finance, Customs Department, made the announcement today, stating that the tariffs and VAT had not been imposed since July 15, and the move was designed “…to promote the … Continue reading
Craig Hill Media and Consulting 