China Economy Forum

[S10]

Physical retail is a dying industry. When I was in China last year, everyone was doing their purchase online. I think the delivery industry might be a good investment if you're looking for growth.

 

[TaiShang]

China Develops Web-Based Platform to Sell Russian Goods

21:37 22.05.2016Get short URL
52921480

In the Chinese city of Heihe, Heilongjiang Province, an online platform for the sale of Russian goods has been established.

Russia-China Business Forum Expects 150,000 Chinese Companies to Work

“On this platform it will be possible to communicate online, make deals, monitor the progress of transactions essentially ensuring trade security,” General Director of the company ‘Epindo’ Jing Quan said.

On the promotion of Russian goods in China, the company has already spent 20 million yuan ($3.1 million).

The internet platform was created in O2O segment — online-to-offline, the main purpose of which is to attract clients from Internet to the real stores.

According to estimates by the Chinese side, this business model is set to ensure close contact between exporting products from Russian exporters to the Chinese importers.

Jing Quan, said that in the future, a large online B2B platform will be established to supply food products from Russia.

According to online publication Ruposters, on April 8, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia on behalf of President Vladimir Putin prepared a draft for a Russian analogue of the Chinese Alibaba service.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20160522/1040060292/china-internet-platform.html#ixzz49RpPXDG6

 

[Jlaw]

Samsung considers partnering with Chinese companies in semiconductors

Samsung Electronics employees work at the company's chip fabrication line in Korea in this file photo. / Korea Times file

By Kim Yoo-chul

Samsung Electronics is considering partnering with leading Chinese semiconductor companies to increase its sales and market share in the less-volatile and more profitable logic-chip business.

The world's biggest memory chip maker wants to sharpen its technological prowess to move away from heavy dependence on conventional memory chips, which have been commoditized because of massive capacity expansion by Chinese manufacturers.

"China is a land of opportunity; however, it is also a real threat for Samsung," an official who is familiar with the matter told The Korea Times, Friday. "It's no surprise that Samsung Electronics wants to form strategic partnerships with Chinese companies focusing on logic chips. Working-level discussions are under way."

The Chinese market is valued at $150 billion to $170 billion for semiconductor chips annually, accounting for more than 40 to 50 percent of the world's total chip consumption.

But the scale of Samsung's chip business in China has not been that big compared with its international competitors.

China accounted for 15 percent of the total sales that Samsung generated last year, the lowest portion among the "top 9" list, according to data from Capital IQ.

Broadcom earned 60 percent of its sales last year from China, followed by Qualcomm, NXP, Texas Instruments and Micron Technology with 53 percent, 51 percent, 45 percent and 41 percent, respectively. China accounted for 24 percent of the total sales SK hynix in 2015.

"It seems doubtful that China's support for joint projects will allow Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to gain better access to the Chinese market; however, having strategic partnerships mean increased opportunities to raise the business," the official said.

Good bet

In a report, Friday, Bernstein Research said it believes that GlobalFoundries _ Samsung Electronics' business partner in logic chips _ is "discussing with China," because the firm has nothing to lose in the Chinese market.

"Samsung Electronics derives negligible sales from China, so what if Samsung offers to partner with a Chinese company, and maybe together with GlobalFoundries too? Hard to know how such a combination would happen as many details have to be worked out," Bernstein's senior analyst, Mark Li, said in the report.

In logic chips, used to control computing systems, unlike memory chips, which are mainly used to read and write the data in devices, Samsung competes with Taiwan's TSMC.

The foundries' workload is dictated by speedy technological change because the increased consumer appetite for digital devices means chips should be thinner yet do more and use less power.

TSMC is building advanced fabrication lines in the Chinese city of Nanjing; however, Li stressed that because TSMC is responsible for solely handling the spending for the build-up amid a desire from China to reduce its dependency on the Taiwanese firm, the situation may benefit Samsung.

"China has no equity stake," Li said. "We do know the competitive landscape could be very different should that come true."

Samsung Electronics has been consistent in converting lines to logic chips to expand the output of mobile processors. But its global share in the logic-chip business was fourth last year, said IC Insights, a market research firm.

"If Samsung ties up with Chinese companies for logic chips, then it could significantly boost its share in China with a diversified portfolio," the official said.

Samsung Electronics is the biggest foreign investor in China. It runs a massive memory chip fabrication line in Wuxi, while the company makes logic chips at its plants in Korea and Austin, Texas.

But Samsung does have an Achilles heel: it competes in some product areas such as mobile phones with potential foundry clients, raising the question of whether firms would feel comfortable handing over their technology to a rival.

Do you really trust people who eat fermented cabbage 3 times per day?




Huawei sues Samsung for IPR infringement


Source: Xinhua 2016-05-25 15:15:48

SHENZHEN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. has filed lawsuits against Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. for infringement of intellectual property rights, the Chinese firm said Wednesday.


The lawsuits were filed with courts in California, the United States; and Shenzhen City in south China, with infringement claims over telecom patents and software, Huawei said.

The lawsuit came at a time when domestic smartphone makers like Huawei and Xiaomi are upsetting the market apple cart, which until now has been dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung.

Huawei said it is entitled to seek damages from companies that use its patents without proper licensing. The company said in a statement that it is committed to fair, reasonable and indiscriminate licensing of its mobile telecom patents.

Ding Jianxin, head of Huawei intellectual property division, said the company had signed licensing agreements with dozens of companies.

Huawei said it had spent 9.2 billion U.S. dollars, or 15 percent of the company's 2015 revenue, on research into new technology, products and wireless telecom standards.

Huawei has filed more patents than any other companies in the world, with 3,898 entries by 2015, according to data compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

According to tech consultancy Gartner, Samsung and Apple are the world's top two smartphone makers, with a combined marketshare of 38 percent. Huawei is third with 8.3 percent, followed by two other Chinese brands Oppo and Xiaomi.

 

[cirr]

Do you really trust people who eat fermented cabbage 3 times per day?




Huawei sues Samsung for IPR infringement


Source: Xinhua 2016-05-25 15:15:48

SHENZHEN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. has filed lawsuits against Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. for infringement of intellectual property rights, the Chinese firm said Wednesday.


The lawsuits were filed with courts in California, the United States; and Shenzhen City in south China, with infringement claims over telecom patents and software, Huawei said.

The lawsuit came at a time when domestic smartphone makers like Huawei and Xiaomi are upsetting the market apple cart, which until now has been dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung.

Huawei said it is entitled to seek damages from companies that use its patents without proper licensing. The company said in a statement that it is committed to fair, reasonable and indiscriminate licensing of its mobile telecom patents.

Ding Jianxin, head of Huawei intellectual property division, said the company had signed licensing agreements with dozens of companies.

Huawei said it had spent 9.2 billion U.S. dollars, or 15 percent of the company's 2015 revenue, on research into new technology, products and wireless telecom standards.

Huawei has filed more patents than any other companies in the world, with 3,898 entries by 2015, according to data compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

According to tech consultancy Gartner, Samsung and Apple are the world's top two smartphone makers, with a combined marketshare of 38 percent. Huawei is third with 8.3 percent, followed by two other Chinese brands Oppo and Xiaomi.

I happen to love Korean food including kimchi。

China Investment Fund Makes Offer for German Chipmaker Aixtron

Aixtron’s board has accepted offer, which requires shareholder and regulatory approval

A Chinese investment fund has made a takeover offer for German chip maker Aixtron SE. PHOTO: REUTERS

By MONICA HOUSTON-WAESCH

Updated May 23, 2016 7:20 a.m. ET

FRANKFURT— Aixtron SE shares surged Monday after Chinese entrepreneur Zhendong Liu made a takeover offer for the German chip maker, valuing the company at €670 million ($751 million), the latest in a series of acquisitions fueled by China’s appetite for European expertise.

China’s Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP, 51%-owned by Zhendong Liu and 49%-owned by Xiamen Bohao Investment Ltd., offered €6 per Aixtron share, Aixtron said. The German unit conducting the takeover is called Grand Chip Investment GmbH.

The deal comes on the heels of a bid by Chinese home appliance makerMidea Group last week for German robotics specialist Kuka AG valued at over $5 billion, the biggest inbound China deal in Germany to date. It also follows a $43 billion bid for Swiss seed and chemical company Syngenta AG by China National Chemical Corp. in February.

At midday, Aixtron shares were trading up 16% at €5.56. DZ Bank said a takeover would be “a kind of relief” for Aixtron, which needs financial resources to deepen research and development. Equinet noted the deal would likely strengthen Aixtron’s goals in Asia, while maintaining the existing setup at production facilities.

Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund is financed by the state fund Sino IC, which manages assets of around $20 billion and targets acquisitions in the semiconductor industry, a person familiar with the deal said.

The Aixtron offer is a 50.7% premium on the three-month weighted average share price, and both the executive and supervisory boards support the offer, it added. The voluntary public offer is for all of Aixtron’s shares outstanding, including those represented by American depository shares.

Last year, Aixtron’s revenue came to €197.8 million, but the company suffered a loss before interest and taxes of €26.7 million, narrower than the loss of €58.3 million in 2014.

Aixtron said Chief Executive Martin Goetzeler and Chief Operating Officer Bernd Schulte would remain in position following the takeover, and its technology hubs in Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. wouldn't be affected.

The offer depends on a minimum acceptance rate of 60%, as well as regulatory approvals.

“Aixtron and FGC view the transaction as an opportunity to grow and to expand the company and its workforce—the transaction isn't directed toward cost or staff reductions,” the company said.

 

[Jlaw]

I happen to love Korean food including kimchi。

Better lay off that stuff. It causes stomach cancer

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204471/

http://www.oprah.com/health/Does-Kimchi-Cause-Cancer-Nutrition-Advice-From-Dr-Katz

 

[cirr]

China’s Lithium-Ion Battery Production Tripled In 2015

May 24th, 2016 by James Ayre

China’s lithium-ion battery market is booming thanks to government support for electric vehicles, according to a new report from CCM (a major market analysis firm for the country’s chemicals, agriculture, food, and life sciences, markets).



The report revealed that in May 2016 alone, around RMB2.6 billion (~$400 million) was put into the country’s lithium-ion battery sector — most of the funds originating from Tianqi Lithium, Ganfeng Lithium, and GEM CO.

The growth of the Chinese electrochemical energy storage market over the past 5 years has notably eclipsed the global average, the report also notes, with a CAGR (2010–2015) of 110%. That’s roughly 6 times higher than the global figure. The lithium-ion battery market accounted for about 66% of that market.

“In 2014, China produced 5.43 billion Li-ion batteries, with a CAGR of around 40% and accounting for about 70% of the total output in the global, according to CCM’s new report Market and Development Trend of Li-ion Battery in China, 2016–2020,” Green Car Congress writes.

“The output of Li-ion battery exceeded 5 million for the first time in 2014 and reached 5.6 million in 2015, up by 3.13% year-in-year. As for the capacity, in 2015, the domestic output of power Li-ion battery increased to 15.7 GWh, triple than that of the last year. With the price of upstream raw materials increasing coupled with rising sales volume of the downstream products, most listed Li-ion battery companies have recorded great growth in both its revenues and net profits, CCM said.”

Many major companies have been investing in the country’s lithium-ion battery industry — Samsung SDI and LG Chem amongst them. As growth continues, local investment levels

 

[cirr]

So, what’s the big idea?

By Zhu Shenshen

June 6, 2016, Monday

WHETHER the subject is health, traffic control, consumer shopping, security, robots or self-driving cars, the Big Data Expo held last month in the Guizhou Province capital of Guiyang had something for everyone.

The emerging importance of the technology revolution in daily life was underscored by the appearance of Premier Li Keqiang at the expo. China’s top leaders rarely attend such industry exhibitions.

“China should better use the huge volume of data, just like using water and electricity,” Li said in a keynote speech opening the event. “It’s the key to national economic development and close to daily life.”

China is supporting big data technology and services as a part of a national strategy to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation — key elements in pursuing a modern growth path.

The formal name of the expo was China Big Data Industry Summit and China E-commerce Innovation and Development Summit.

The industry is as sprawling as the expo title.

China’s big data industry is expected to grow by 50 percent annually over the next five years. By 2020, China’s data volume will make up about 20 percent of the global total, covering industry, finance, education, healthcare, urban management and car-making, government officials said.

China’s explosive growth of data in recent years is largely due to a huge user base in telecommunications, banking, e-commerce and online social services. Its information economy grossed over 18 trillion yuan (US$2.8 trillion) in 2015, with e-commerce transaction volume totaling more than 20 trillion yuan.

Li’s optimism about the future of the industry was echoed by business executives from overseas IT giants like Qualcomm, Dell and Microsoft and from domestic dot-com firms like Tencent and Baidu. All harbor high hopes of exploiting the market potential of big data.

So what exactly is big data?

It generally refers to so-called “data sets” that are so large and complex that traditional data-processing systems can’t handle them. The term includes such elements as data capture, analysis, sharing, storage and transfer. Big data can produce new correlations that assist in functions such as spotting business trends, preventing disease or combating crime.

Data volume is expected to double every two years globally, thanks to the popularity of smart devices like smartphones, and high-tech gadgets like drones, self-driving cars and other Internet of Things devices, according to Qualcomm President Derek Aberle.

Social media popularity and technology upgrades have created an era of “data explosion,” said Pony Ma, chairman of Tencent, which operates the 600-million user WeChat platform.

“China is playing a major role in this era of digital globalization. Internet Plus, big data and cloud computing,” Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive of the United States-based IT giant that bears his name, said at the expo event. “Together, they have become the new engine of China’s future economic growth.”

Dell signed a cooperation deal with Guizhou-based Wind Cloud to provide cloud services to small and medium-sized companies in China. It’s part of the Texas-based company’s plan to invest US$125 billion in China in the next five years

Cloud computing, data analysis and intelligent technologies will help China complete a “digital transformation” from its past reliance on traditional manufacturing, said Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, who also visited Beijing and Shenzhen last week on his China tour.

Microsoft signed a deal with smart device maker Xiaomi on Offices and other cloud-based services during Nadella’s visit.

Big data development will boost research in artificial intelligence, which requires advanced analysis technology, said Robin Li, chairman of Baidu. China’s biggest online search engine is currently working on research for self-driving cars.

Meanwhile, China Telecom and Nielsen announced a deal last week to cooperate in big data, offering guidance to shoppers by tracking purchasing habits.

Various big data applications and products were displayed at the Big Data Expo in Guiyang, which occupied 60,000 square meters across six halls.

The Xiao I robot, developed by a Shanghai startup firm, was a hit during the show, “communicating” with Premier Li and other visitors through voice recognition and machine-learning functions.

SAP, Foxconn and several domestic firms all displayed real-time traffic analysis systems that can be used in sports stadiums and on roads to control crowds and ease traffic jams.

Foxconn is also testing the waters of car-sharing services in Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and other major cities. Its system charges users an hourly rate and allows them to return cars in various locations.

It all requires advanced and complicated data analysis.

Smart wristbands and watches operating on Intel chips were displayed at the Intel booth at the expo. They transmit nutrition and healthcare advice to wearers through data analysis.

Big data technologies will improve daily life and narrow digital gaps, the premier told his expo audience.

That has special meaning in China, where there remain many under-developed regions, like Guizhou in the southwest. The new technologies, Li said, could provide exciting business opportunities for a city like Guiyang.

Guiyang established the Global Big Data Exchange in 2015, the first of its kind in China. By March, data transactions at the exchange, which has a base of 300 companies, reached more than 60 million yuan.

The weather and environment of Guiyang make it an ideal site for data centers in energy consumption, water supply, labor costs and data safety, said officials from Dell and Qualcomm.

Concerns about security leaks did occupy discussion at the expo. Industry experts called for more measures to ensure the privacy of information in the nation’s big data strategy.

“Big data is a double-edged sword,” said Qi Xiangdong, president of Qihoo 360, the country’s biggest Internet security services provider. “It can be huge business, but also increases risks.”

For example, big data can allow users to remotely control ovens and washing machines at home via smartphones. However, if someone accesses your information on the cloud, the home machines can be reset to your disadvantage, Qi added.

Current regulations on the collection, storage, management and use of data are inadequate, according to some Expo attendees.

The law does not clearly define the value and property rights of data in some areas, which could allow data collectors to hide their true motives, said Lu Wei, secretary-general of the Internet Society of China.

Illegal activity online can include data abuse, infringement of privacy, fraud and theft of confidential information, experts said.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/business/Benchmark/So-whats-the-big-idea/shdaily.shtml

 

[bobsm]

China-made graphene bulb to debut in UK
Updated: 2016-05-24 07:12

By Cecily Liu in London(China Daily USA)

Groundbreaking product carries the potential to brighten the lighting industry and widen the commercial applications of the carbon substance

When President Xi Jinping visited BGT Materials Ltd based in the University of Manchester in October, he was shown the world's first graphene light bulb, which was manufactured in China.

The light bulb's global launch will begin in the United Kingdom this month, carrying with it the potential to change the lighting industry.

The UK-registered BGT claimed its graphene bulb has a longer lifespan and entails relatively cheaper production costs, and could emerge as a strong rival to the popular LED lights.

Graphene's ability to dissipate heat quicker than other materials will also give manufacturers more flexibility in designing lighting systems.

BGT, which contracts out manufacturing to suppliers in China, estimates sales of its product will reach 300,000 to 500,000 bulbs this year. The company said it would disclose more details like price at a later stage as they are confidential now.

It is expected that an 80-watt graphene bulb might be priced 5-6 pounds ($7.2-8.7) in the UK against 20 pounds for an LED bulb in the same range.

Graphene is one of the most interesting inventions of modern times. As a thin layer of pure carbon, it is tougher than a diamond, yet very lightweight and easily conducts electricity and heat. It has been used for a wide variety of applications, from strengthening tennis racket to building semiconductors.

Graphene was first isolated from the graphite mineral at the University of Manchester by Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov in 2004. The achievement earned them the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010. Owing to its short history, its commercial potential is yet to be unlocked.

It is used by the Austrian sports equipment firm Head to strengthen tennis rackets. Italian firm Vittoria uses graphene to strengthen bicycle tires.

Thanks to Xi's visit, the University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute has signed deals with two Chinese entities - telecommunications major Huawei Technologies Corp and the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials.

The NGI-BIAM deal focuses on using graphene for transport. For its part, BIAM has brought Aviation Industry Corporation of China into the project.

"The level of interest from Chinese companies keen to work with us really took off since the state visit, and we received many enquiries," said James Baker, graphene business director at the NGI.

The cooperation project with Huawei currently focuses on research into graphene's thermal management properties, which can be useful to enhance Huawei's products.

The cooperation with BIAM and AVIC is to conduct research on how to incorporate graphene into materials used in the aviation and other transport sectors.

Robert Young, a professor of polymer science and technology, who leads the NGI's cooperation with BIAM and AVIC, said the use of graphene in the transport industry can lead to significant benefits.

"Graphene is a strong lightweight material and in the transport industry it's important to save weight and become fuel-efficient," Young said.

China has already invested heavily and made it a strategically important new material in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), which sets out the country's development objectives for the period.

China has also established five graphene industrial parks to accelerate the industrialization of the material. The parks are located in Changzhou, Wuxi, Ningbo, Qingdao and Chongqing. Currently, 70 percent of graphene's raw material, graphite, is found in China, giving Chinese graphene manufacturers a big advantage.

According to statistics from the UK's National Physical Laboratory, China has applied for 47 percent of the world's total graphene patents, and is currently the world's biggest applicant country.

All these efforts are aimed at unlocking the country's huge graphene market potential. The Beijing-based market intelligence firm Research In China estimates that China's graphene market will grow to 200 million yuan ($30.7 million) in 2018, compared with the global market of $65 million. In comparison, the global market in 2015 was only worth $24.4 million.

"China's high-tech manufacturing industry, ability to invest heavily in the graphene sector and its abundance of highly qualified graphene industry talents all contribute to its advantages in the graphene industry," said Young.

More @ http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2016-05/24/content_25445693.htm

 

[cirr]

China Shipbuilding changes course to high-end specialist vessels

in Shipbuilding News 25/05/2016

China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, one of the country’s two major shipbuilding conglomerates, plans to integrate six of its shipyards into three. It will focus more on building high-end vessels as the industry remains in choppy waters amid waning global demand.

Officials at the State-owned company said the plan is to simplify its management structure and make itself more proficient in building ships such as very-large crude and ore carriers, bulk carriers, and cement and cattle vessels, which will allow it to diversify its options and broaden its customer base.

With a workforce of about 150,000 employees, CSIC operates more than 50 industrial subsidiaries and 30 research institutes, and has exported various types of vessels to more than 70 countries.

China State Shipbuilding Corp, the country’s other State shipbuilding concern, has more than 50 subsidiaries and research institutes.

CSIC’s three major subsidiaries are Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co, Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co and Qingdao Wuchuan Heavy Industry Co.

Three major shipyards are involved in the restructuring, Shanhaiguan shipbuilding Industry Co, Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co, and each will be allocated specific types of building contract.

Sun Bo, CSIC’s president, said he expected the global shipbuilding market competition to remain fierce long-term, as the industry suffers from falling demand and overcapacity remains high.

More than 30 major shipyards filed for bankruptcy in the past two years, according to the Beijing-based China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry.

“Many shipyards in China have excess capacity in conventional shipbuilding, but not in building complex and high value-added ships,” said Sun.

“Adjusting our product structure, therefore, is a key element (of the integration).”

Dong Liwan, a shipbuilding industry professor at Shanghai Maritime University, said after building cheap bulk carriers and tugboats for more than a decade, it appears CSIC is hoping the shift in focus will allow its smaller shipyards to attract more buyers from new sectors.

“Even though this restructure cannot effectively cut production capacity, under current declining market condition it means these subsidiaries can build more profitable ships and avoid having idle docks,” said Dong.

Already the primary contractor for China’s navy, CSIC created four finance companies last year, including CSIC Capital Co Ltd, to inject more cash into the operation and improve cash flow.

It also set up an industrial fund with an initial capital of 10 billion yuan ($1.53 billion) to further invest in fields such as offshore engineering products, power, electronic information and intelligent equipment, and underwater defense.

He Jingtong, an economic policy professor at Nankai University in Tianjin, said mergers are an effective method of cutting surplus in oversupplied industries.

“So I am not surprised to see more restructuring going on this year, as the government deploys more resources into State-owned enterprise reform.”

Source: China Daily

 

[ahojunk]

When China sneezes, Asia & Australia catch a cold....

--------
China Now Rivals U.S., Europe as Growth Engine for Asia Exports

• Asian currency swings also increasingly influenced by China
• But region’s bond markets still driven by moves in U.S.

China is now an equal or even bigger driver of export growth in neighboring economies than the U.S. and E.U combined, marking a significant shift in the economic pecking order since the 2008 global financial crisis.

That’s according to research by Deutsche Bank AG economists who weighed up the influence of the U.S. and China over the rest of Asia through the prism of export growth, as well as the currency and bond markets.

In Taiwan and Indonesia, for example, the growth of China’s gross domestic product dominates the U.S. and European Union’s as a source of export demand. In other economies, the trading giants are equally important.

“This is noticeably different from the pre-crisis years when China was much less important –- bordering on irrelevance -– as an engine of growth in the region," Deutsche analysts led by Asia-Pacific Chief Economist Michael Spencer wrote in a note.

After a rocky start to the year, China has been aided in its growth prospects by a record surge in credit in the first quarter. Key indicators for May are expected to show that the economy is continuing to find its footing and growth is on track to hit the Communist Party’s goal of 6.5 percent to 7 percent for 2016.

IMF Upgrades

The International Monetary Fund in April upgraded its China growth forecasts by 0.2 percentage point for this year and next, following signs of “resilient domestic demand” and growth in services that offset weakness in manufacturing.

Beyond the pace of GDP growth, China’s currency gyrations are also increasingly important across the region. While the dollar still drives volatility in most Asian currencies, the yuan is as least as important for fluctuations in the ringgit and won and is growing in significance for other exchange rates, except the peso.

“Asia is far from being a ‘yuan bloc’, but idiosyncratic shocks to the yuan cannot be ignored,” according to the Deutsche analysts.

The People’s Bank of China surprised traders this week by setting the reference rate at weaker-than-expected levels, helping send the currency to its biggest declines in four months versus a trade-weighted basket that includes the yen and the euro.

More Predictable

The rate’s fixing had become more predictable since early February after the PBOC pledged greater transparency and the yuan increasingly tracked moves in the dollar against major currencies. That was after a sudden weakening of the yuan in January fueled fears of a devaluation and triggered global market turmoil. During the subsequent three months, the central bank adopted a more market-based system to set the rate and said the basket would play a bigger role.

Where the U.S. still dominates, however, is in the bond markets: moves in Treasury yields continue to steer Asian bond trading. And even if Asia central banks don’t match rate tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve, financial conditions in the region may tighten if U.S. yields increase.

"We find only weak evidence that fluctuations in Chinese yields have any impact on other countries’ bond markets,” the analysts said.

 

[cirr]

Mon Jun 13, 2016 6:39am EDT

Airbus finalizes deal to build helicopter plant in China

Airbus Helicopters (AIR.PA), the world's largest supplier of commercial helicopters, finalised an agreement on Monday to build an assembly line in China as part of a deal to sell 100 H135 helicopters to a local consortium.

The helicopter sale is worth 700 million euros ($788 mln) at catalog prices, but the value of the deal rises to 1 billion euros when support and initial industrial investment are included, an Airbus Helicopters spokesman said.

The factory will be located in the Sino-German Ecopark in the coastal city of Qingdao, and is expected to start operations in 2018 with a capacity of 36 units a year, the company said.

The deal, first outlined last October, was signed during a visit to China by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

China is opening up its low-level airspace to civilian aircraft, and the global aviation industry is laying the groundwork for a boom beyond private business jets with the purchase of helicopters that is likely to include fleets of air ambulances.

The light twin-engined H135 is already used in China for medical services and police surveillance.

Airbus Helicopters sees demand for 3,000-5,000 helicopters in China over the next 20 years.

"With the further opening up of the Chinese skies and the increasing growth in the civil and parapublic segments, China is gearing up to be the biggest market for helicopters in years to come," Norbert Ducrot, head of Airbus Helicopters China and North Asia region, said in a statement.

The 100 helicopters are expected to be assembled in China over the next 10 years, the company said.

The Chinese purchasing consortium comprises China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS), Qingdao United General Aviation Industrial Development Company (Qingdao United) and CITIC Offshore Helicopter Co Ltd (000099.SZ).

Industry analysts said Merkel's visit was not expected to lead to major new deals for Airbus jets.

Airbus got a boost in May by finalizing an order for 60 A320neo-family aircraft with China's Spring Airlines (601021.SS), according to airline industry sources, but the name of the carrier has not yet been officially disclosed.

Airbus declined comment.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-china-orders-idUSKCN0YZ0M0

NXP Selling Products Unit for $2.75 Billion to Chinese Group

Ian King

June 13, 2016 — 7:20 PM EDT

Updated on June 13, 2016 — 8:28 PM EDT

NXP Semiconductors NV, which last year merged with Freescale Semiconductor, is selling its standard products business to a group of Chinese investors for $2.75 billion, furthering that country’s efforts to acquire chip assets and reduce imports.

China’s Beijing Jianguang Asset Management Co. and Wise Road Capital Ltd. will be the new owners of the business, NXP said in a statement on its website. The unit, which had revenue of $1.2 billion in 2015, will transfer about 11,000 NXP employees to a new company that will be called Nexperia.

The world’s most populous nation is seeking to buy up semiconductor capabilities to strengthen its domestic industry and replace imports that have sucked almost as much cash out of the country as oil purchases. China’s push to acquire overseas expertise has faced obstacles as government regulators in the U.S. have expressed concern about the transfer of technology that could be used by the military.

NXP, based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, said selling the division, which makes diodes, transistors and other basic parts used in cars, industrial equipment and consumer electronics, will free up capital to allow it to invest in more complicated semiconductors. Shares of NXP, which trades on Nasdaq, rose 1.6 percent in extended trading.

China Push

Beijing Jianguang, part of China Jianyin Investment Ltd., was established to invest businesses in the semiconductor, information technology, networking, data service, cloud computing and telecommunications industries, according to the statement. Wise Road Capital is a global private equity fund with a similar mandate, and also invests in renewable energies, smart cities and advanced manufacturing.

China has been trying to free itself from a heavy reliance on foreign technology, with semiconductors seen by the nation’s political leadership as vital to national security. State-affiliated groups, most notably Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd., have sought out semiconductor investments to get into everything from chip designs for mobile phones to large-scale manufacturing.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ts-business-for-2-75-billion-to-chinese-group

 

[JSCh]

EBRD, Silk Road Fund agree to cooperate
By Svitlana Pyrkalo
15 Jun 2016

MoU signed by EBRD First Vice President Phil Bennett and Silk Road Fund President Wang Yanzhi​

Memorandum of Understanding paves way for joint projects with fund set up to support China’s Belt and Road Initiative

A cooperation agreement has been reached between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Silk Road Fund, established to implement China’s Belt and Road initiative, inspired by the ancient Silk Road connecting China and Europe.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today in Beijing, China, was a further step forward in the Bank’s cooperation with China which became the EBRD’s 67th shareholder on 15 January this year.

In the MoU, the Silk Road Fund and the EBRD agree to boost cooperation at an institutional level and to inform each other of any potential co-investment opportunities in their common regions of operations.

Phil Bennett, EBRD First Vice President, said at the signing: “Today’s Memorandum is a new step in an already close working relationship with the Silk Road Fund which we regard as a key partner in China and potentially in the EBRD countries of operations. Our regions have a funding gap of about US$ 400 billion a year for necessary infrastructure investments. A joint effort by all stakeholders is needed to bridge that gap and we see working with partners like the Silk Road Fund as the most efficient way forward.”

For the Silk Road Fund the MoU was signed by Wang Yanzhi, Board Member and President of the Fund, who said: “We are glad that our working relationship with the EBRD is signified with the signing of the Memorandum today. Stretching from central Asia to central and eastern Europe to northern Africa, the EBRD’s areas of operation cover many strategic nodes along the Belt and Road Initiative, and are important investment destinations for Chinese corporates. We look forward to seeing the two institutions co-finance important projects soon and together promote regional and global connectivity for common development.”

The Silk Road Fund is a development and investment fund dedicated to supporting infrastructure, resources and energy development, industrial capacity cooperation and financial cooperation in countries and regions involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The Belt and Road Initiative runs through Asia, Europe and Africa. It is aimed at promoting the orderly and free flow of economic factors; the highly efficient allocation of resources and deep integration of markets; encouraging the countries along the Belt and Road to achieve economic policy coordination and carry out broader and more in-depth regional cooperation of higher standards; and jointly creating an open, inclusive and balanced regional economic cooperation architecture that benefits all.

http://www.ebrd.com/news/2016/ebrd-silk-road-fund-agree-to-cooperate.html

 

[JSCh]

Regulator approves Midea's takeover bid for German firm
Source: Xinhua | 2016-06-16 19:58:48 | Editor: huaxia

GUANGZHOU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China's home appliance manufacturer Midea said Thursday that it has secured approval from German regulator BaFin in its bid to take over robotics maker Kuka.

Midea wants to acquire at least a 30 percent stake in Kuka, and the takeover is to be made through its offshore subsidiary MECCA International (BVI) Ltd.

Midea currently holds a 13.5 percent stake in Kuka, and had offered 115 euros (about 129 U.S. dollars) per share.

According to Midea's statement, the offer starts on Thursday, and will be valid till July 15 if not extended. The result shall be announced before July 20.

If successful, the deal will make Midea Kuka's biggest shareholder.

"This investment aims to improve our intelligent manufacturing ability, and allow us to explore smart home appliances," said Fang Hongbo, chairman of Midea.

One of the world's top four robot makers, Kuka, founded in 1898 and based in Augsburg, has a workforce of 12,000 and its 2015 revenue was nearly 3 billion euros.

 

[bobsm]

China's 4G users total 530 mln
(Xinhua) 20:32, June 21, 2016

BEIJING, June 21 -- The number of 4G users in China stood at 530 million at the end of Q1, exceeding the number of 4G users in the United States and Europe put together, a senior official said on Monday.

China has the world's largest 4G network, covering all cities and major towns, Chen Zhaoxiong, vice minister of industry and information technology told the 2016 China Internet Conference.

China had around 2 million 4G base stations at the end of March, he added.

China's mobile Internet users hit 619 million at the end of last year, accounting for a bit more than 90 percent of the total netizens.

The Internet has become a critical element of China's economic development. The size of the Internet economy amounted to 1.12 trillion yuan (171 billion U.S. dollars) last year.

The conference, which lasts from Tuesday through Thursday, attracted nearly 1,000 attendees from home and abroad.



http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0621/c90000-9075496.html

 

[Beidou2020]

China banking industry assets rise 16.7%

BEIJING - The total assets of China's banking industry reached 208.6 trillion yuan ($32.09 trillion) at the end of March, up 16.7 percent year on year, the country's banking regulator said on Thursday.

Gross liability stood at 192.5 trillion yuan, an increase of 16.1 percent year on year, according to a statement on the website of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

The banking industry continued its credit support to farmers, small firms, and projects related to people's livelihoods during the first quarter.

Outstanding agriculture-related loans amounted to 26.8 trillion yuan at the end of March, up 9.2 percent year on year. Outstanding loans to small firms increased 13.5 percent from one year earlier to 24.3 trillion yuan.

Credit card consumer loans and loans to affordable housing projects soared 20.4 percent and 63 percent, respectively.

Risks in China's banking industry are generally controllable, the statement said.

Commercial banks' non-performing loans ratio rose to 1.75 percent at the end of March, up 0.07 percentage points from the end of December.

The banking sector posted steady profit growth during the first quarter. Commercial lenders raked in 471.6 billion yuan in profits from January to March, up 6.32 percent year on year, according to the statement.