Jlaw
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2013
- Messages
- 9,693
- Reaction score
- -22
- Country
- Location
China Economy Forum
- Thread starter EagleEyes
- Start date
A ‘China Town’ in Northern Tajikistan
China is quietly developing a strong presence in this Central Asian country.
By Alessandra Colarizi
October 20, 2015
Dushanbe has invited China’s Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd. Company (TBEA) to take part in the construction of Saikhun, the first new city to be built in Tajikistan since its independence, Azernews reported last April. The new city is to be built on a 14,000-hectare desert land near Khujand, the country’s second-largest city in the Sughd province (northern Tajikistan), and will have 19 residential areas, 17 schools, 31 kindergartens, 40 sports centers, 140 shopping and services centers, a transport terminal, and other social facilities. It is also said to provide housing and jobs for some 250,000 people in nearest future helping to reduce the number of Tajik citizens working abroad and lessen Tajikistan’s dependence on remittances as an engine of growth.
TBEA is a leading Chinese producer of transformers, wire and cable, high-voltage electric aluminum foil, and solar energy equipment with experience in the construction of high-rise buildings, hotels, schools, sports, and other social facilities. The Chinese company was also asked to consider energy projects in the Sughd region.
This would be a big deal in itself, but it gained even more prominence after the announcement of a similar project last month. As Khovar Information Agency reported, in the near future a large residential project will begin in Khujand called “China town.” This will be the first project featuring foreign construction companies to be carried out in Tajikistan. The project, being undertaken by a Chinese state-owned construction company with the support of the Tajikistan national and regional authorities, will include 15 high-rise buildings for 1,200 families, schools and a number of social facilities. The construction work is expected to take up to five years.
Under a bilateral agreement, the construction company is obliged to provide housing for those persons whose houses are located on the project site. But local people fear that the area will see massive Chinese immigration, becoming a “China town” in the true sense. To date, the presence of Chinese workers has generated relatively few concerns in Tajikistan. Some estimates put the number of Chinese workers at between 7,000 and 10,000, relatively lower compared to comparable figures in neighboring countries. Consequently, although the local population has expressed some unease, the issue has yet to engender the fears seen in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, according to a Crisis Group report.
However, this could change rapidly as Beijing looks west for its One Belt One Road strategy, which aims to enhance interconnectivity among Eurasian countries and export China’s industrial overcapacity. Tajikistan lacks natural resources but possesses strategic importance since it shares borders with Afghanistan, a sanctuary for Islamic fundamentalism and drug proliferation. Moreover, now that Chinese investors are tiring of persistent uncertainty in Kyrgyzstan after it joined the Kremlin-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Tajikistan is becoming more attractive to Beijing, according to EurasiaNet.org. And the Sughd region holds particular appeal.
“Khujand is Milan; the rest of Tajikistan is Sicily,” said Christian Bleuer, research fellow at the Australian National University. “In Khujand you can find a reliable and professional business partner. There is an old industrial and economic base. People are educated, skilled and cosmopolitan. Khujand is close to large population centers and to lucrative markets. People in Khujand have 3000 years of trade experience. A contract will be honored by a Khujandi.” China is definitely in southern Tajikistan, but the north is far more attractive. “The Chinese projects in the south have more of the characteristic of the Chinese government building ties and influence (and are tied to big Chinese bank loans). Chinese projects in the north are more independent so Chinese businessmen see a good investment opportunity,” explained Bleuer.
In 2006, a Chinese company commenced the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanok highway project (DKC), financed by a $296 million loan from the Chinese government. Today, the highway serves as a vital trade artery, connecting capital Dushanbe to the economically vital Sughd province and the Ferghana Valley. It is a sign of things to come.
Alessandra Colarizi is an Italian sinologist, translator and freelance writer. Her research interest is focused on China-Central Asia relations and the New Silk Road.
A ‘China Town’ in Northern Tajikistan | The Diplomat
China is quietly developing a strong presence in this Central Asian country.
By Alessandra Colarizi
October 20, 2015
Dushanbe has invited China’s Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd. Company (TBEA) to take part in the construction of Saikhun, the first new city to be built in Tajikistan since its independence, Azernews reported last April. The new city is to be built on a 14,000-hectare desert land near Khujand, the country’s second-largest city in the Sughd province (northern Tajikistan), and will have 19 residential areas, 17 schools, 31 kindergartens, 40 sports centers, 140 shopping and services centers, a transport terminal, and other social facilities. It is also said to provide housing and jobs for some 250,000 people in nearest future helping to reduce the number of Tajik citizens working abroad and lessen Tajikistan’s dependence on remittances as an engine of growth.
TBEA is a leading Chinese producer of transformers, wire and cable, high-voltage electric aluminum foil, and solar energy equipment with experience in the construction of high-rise buildings, hotels, schools, sports, and other social facilities. The Chinese company was also asked to consider energy projects in the Sughd region.
This would be a big deal in itself, but it gained even more prominence after the announcement of a similar project last month. As Khovar Information Agency reported, in the near future a large residential project will begin in Khujand called “China town.” This will be the first project featuring foreign construction companies to be carried out in Tajikistan. The project, being undertaken by a Chinese state-owned construction company with the support of the Tajikistan national and regional authorities, will include 15 high-rise buildings for 1,200 families, schools and a number of social facilities. The construction work is expected to take up to five years.
Under a bilateral agreement, the construction company is obliged to provide housing for those persons whose houses are located on the project site. But local people fear that the area will see massive Chinese immigration, becoming a “China town” in the true sense. To date, the presence of Chinese workers has generated relatively few concerns in Tajikistan. Some estimates put the number of Chinese workers at between 7,000 and 10,000, relatively lower compared to comparable figures in neighboring countries. Consequently, although the local population has expressed some unease, the issue has yet to engender the fears seen in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, according to a Crisis Group report.
However, this could change rapidly as Beijing looks west for its One Belt One Road strategy, which aims to enhance interconnectivity among Eurasian countries and export China’s industrial overcapacity. Tajikistan lacks natural resources but possesses strategic importance since it shares borders with Afghanistan, a sanctuary for Islamic fundamentalism and drug proliferation. Moreover, now that Chinese investors are tiring of persistent uncertainty in Kyrgyzstan after it joined the Kremlin-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Tajikistan is becoming more attractive to Beijing, according to EurasiaNet.org. And the Sughd region holds particular appeal.
“Khujand is Milan; the rest of Tajikistan is Sicily,” said Christian Bleuer, research fellow at the Australian National University. “In Khujand you can find a reliable and professional business partner. There is an old industrial and economic base. People are educated, skilled and cosmopolitan. Khujand is close to large population centers and to lucrative markets. People in Khujand have 3000 years of trade experience. A contract will be honored by a Khujandi.” China is definitely in southern Tajikistan, but the north is far more attractive. “The Chinese projects in the south have more of the characteristic of the Chinese government building ties and influence (and are tied to big Chinese bank loans). Chinese projects in the north are more independent so Chinese businessmen see a good investment opportunity,” explained Bleuer.
In 2006, a Chinese company commenced the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanok highway project (DKC), financed by a $296 million loan from the Chinese government. Today, the highway serves as a vital trade artery, connecting capital Dushanbe to the economically vital Sughd province and the Ferghana Valley. It is a sign of things to come.
Alessandra Colarizi is an Italian sinologist, translator and freelance writer. Her research interest is focused on China-Central Asia relations and the New Silk Road.
A ‘China Town’ in Northern Tajikistan | The Diplomat
TaiShang
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2014
- Messages
- 27,848
- Reaction score
- 70
- Country
- Location
Another good counter measure against TPP
Well done!
And now Britain is mulling a China-EU FTA. Will take time but I guess the process will be much smoother and faster than the TPP.
TaiShang
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2014
- Messages
- 27,848
- Reaction score
- 70
- Country
- Location
UK backs yuan’s SDR entry
By Bai Tiantian and Hu Weijia Source:Global Times Published: 2015-10-23 0:28:01
Joint declaration to form ‘global strategic partnership’
Chinese President Xi Jinping views models of satellites with Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat, during a visit to the company's headquarters in London on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Britain supports the yuan's inclusion in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR) of key foreign reserve currencies and backs China's efforts to reach a free-trade pact with the European Union.
China and the UK issued a joint declaration Thursday covering a wide range of issues that aims to build a "global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century."
The two sides pledged joint efforts in fields ranging from yuan internationalization and China-EU free trade to cyber security and climate change, according to the declaration released during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Britain.
The document says that Britain's support for the yuan's SDR entry is subject to meeting existing criteria in the IMF's upcoming review.
"Both sides urge members who have yet to ratify the 2010 quota and governance reforms to do so without delay to further enhance the voice of emerging markets and developing countries," the document read.
Zhang Jianping, a research fellow at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research of the National Development and Reform Commission, told the Global times on Thursday that UK support is crucial to the yuan's internationalization.
"Just as UK's participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has convinced other countries to join the bank, the other economies, especially of developed nations, may follow suit in terms of SDR if Britain leads the way," Zhang said.
China and Britain also called for an immediate joint feasibility study on a China-EU free trade agreement. The study is aimed at meeting the long-term goal reached at the 17th China-EU leaders' summit in June to pave the way for a comprehensive free trade deal.
Xi won a promise from the EU in March 2014, during his Brussels visit, to consider a multi-billion-dollar free-trade deal with China, a long-held goal for Beijing which still divides Europe.
Despite British Prime Minister David Cameron's strong support, some EU members, including Italy and Spain, are concerned that Chinese products may dominate European markets with cheap, subsidized exports, Reuters reported.
"A free trade agreement is no easy task as the EU has many members, and their situations differ. What China could do is start negotiations with specific countries that have such intentions, such as Germany, the UK and Sweden, and wait for the opportunity to expand the deal to the rest of the EU," Li Chunding, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote in an opinion article on news portal finance.qq.com.
China and the UK have also agreed to conduct a feasibility study on linking the Shanghai Stock Exchange to the London bourse.
Other items on the declaration include establishing a high-level security dialogue mechanism to strengthen cooperation in combating organized crime and cyber theft. Both sides have agreed not to participate in or support cyber theft of intellectual property or trade secrets to gain a competitive advantage.
The two countries affirmed the need to tackle climate change through international collaboration under the framework of sustainable development. Both sides said that the upcoming 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, from November 30 to December 11, is a critical moment in global efforts to tackle the challenge.
Hectic schedule
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Thursday bid farewell to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.
After the farewell, Xi, joined by the Duke of York, visited Inmarsat, a leading provider of global satellite communication services.
Xi was scheduled to join a Confucius Institute conference hosted by the UCL Institute of Education at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
In the evening, the president was scheduled to meet Cameron at Chequers Court for talks and dinner.
Xi is set travel to Manchester on the penultimate day of his state visit.
AndrewJin
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2015
- Messages
- 14,904
- Reaction score
- 23
- Country
- Location
Now I can have cheaper Australian beef! Beef hot pot, beef rice noodle, steak!
TaiShang
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2014
- Messages
- 27,848
- Reaction score
- 70
- Country
- Location
Australian and NZ beef is ten times preferable over contaminated US beef.
At least that's the lesson we learned here in Taiwan.
Keep away from US beef (and other meat types).
TaiShang
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2014
- Messages
- 27,848
- Reaction score
- 70
- Country
- Location
Chinese footwear retailer to buy Hamleys
Source: Agencies | October 23, 2015, Friday |
C.banner International Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong-based women’s footwear retailer, will buy the British toy shop Hamleys in London for around 100 million pounds (US$154.32 million). Queen Elizabeth bought toys for her children from this British toy shop. — Reuters
HONG Kong-listed women’s footwear retailer C.banner International Holdings will buy 255-year-old British toy shop Hamleys for around 100 million pounds (US$154.32 million), a source with direct knowledge of the deal said yesterday.
The deal for the iconic British retailer, known as the oldest toy shop in the world, comes a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed close ties with Britain at the start of a pomp-laden visit that should seal more than US$46 billion of deals.
C.banner will announce the deal shortly, the source said, declining to be identified because the deal is not yet public.
A spokesman for C.banner declined to comment.
Founded in 1760, Hamleys is best known for its landmark shop on London’s Regent Street but has branched out abroad in recent years, opening in Moscow this April.
The British toy shop, where Queen Elizabeth bought toys for her children, has been in foreign ownership since 2003.
@AndrewJin , @cirr ,
Source: Agencies | October 23, 2015, Friday |
C.banner International Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong-based women’s footwear retailer, will buy the British toy shop Hamleys in London for around 100 million pounds (US$154.32 million). Queen Elizabeth bought toys for her children from this British toy shop. — Reuters
HONG Kong-listed women’s footwear retailer C.banner International Holdings will buy 255-year-old British toy shop Hamleys for around 100 million pounds (US$154.32 million), a source with direct knowledge of the deal said yesterday.
The deal for the iconic British retailer, known as the oldest toy shop in the world, comes a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed close ties with Britain at the start of a pomp-laden visit that should seal more than US$46 billion of deals.
C.banner will announce the deal shortly, the source said, declining to be identified because the deal is not yet public.
A spokesman for C.banner declined to comment.
Founded in 1760, Hamleys is best known for its landmark shop on London’s Regent Street but has branched out abroad in recent years, opening in Moscow this April.
The British toy shop, where Queen Elizabeth bought toys for her children, has been in foreign ownership since 2003.
@AndrewJin , @cirr ,
AndrewJin
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2015
- Messages
- 14,904
- Reaction score
- 23
- Country
- Location
Just have a look at the size of americano.
Last edited:
JSCh
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
- Messages
- 13,235
- Reaction score
- 2
- Country
- Location
London Metal Exchange strikes deal to give China more input on prices
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Seven Chinese banks and brokers, including Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, have agreed to support an initiative by the London Metal Exchange to encourage greater participation by China in setting prices for metals, The Financial Times reported. Among the goals of the deal are price convergence between Chinese and global markets, greater use of LME-approved warehousing systems and aiding the yuan's internationalization. China currently consumes 40% of global base metals, is the world's largest metals producer and accounts for 20% of business on the London exchange. The country lacks a true international exchange thanks to capital controls that limit market access for foreign investors.
London Metal Exchange strikes deal to give China more input on prices | CER
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Seven Chinese banks and brokers, including Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, have agreed to support an initiative by the London Metal Exchange to encourage greater participation by China in setting prices for metals, The Financial Times reported. Among the goals of the deal are price convergence between Chinese and global markets, greater use of LME-approved warehousing systems and aiding the yuan's internationalization. China currently consumes 40% of global base metals, is the world's largest metals producer and accounts for 20% of business on the London exchange. The country lacks a true international exchange thanks to capital controls that limit market access for foreign investors.
London Metal Exchange strikes deal to give China more input on prices | CER
大汉奸柳传志
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 3,601
- Reaction score
- -24
- Country
- Location
Sales of Luxury Alcohol Rising Again in China - WSJ
Shipments of French brandy to China jumped 42% in the first nine months of the year
Shipments of French brandy to China jumped 42% in the first nine months of the year
TaiShang
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2014
- Messages
- 27,848
- Reaction score
- 70
- Country
- Location
Huawei overtakes Xiaomi as top smartphone vendor
October 23, 2015
Huawei Technologies Co. replaced Xiaomi Corp. as China's top smartphone vendor in the third quarter, according to a tech industry research company.
In the third quarter, Huawei's shipments registered 81-percent year on year growth, while Xiaomi's shipments shrank, Canalys estimated.
"Xiaomi, with its worldwide target of 80 million smartphone shipments for 2015, is under tremendous pressure to keep growing as an international player as it is slowing down in its key home market," said Jessie Ding, a research analyst based in the Canalys Shanghai office.
As domestic shipments wane, Xiaomi is looking to expand overseas. Lin Bin, Xiaomi's president, said at a technology conference on Wednesday that the company is considering selling its higher-end Mi Note and Mi Note Pro models in the United States.
Xiaomi entered the Indian smartphone market in 2014, selling a million handsets.
While Xiaomi has to face off against big names like Apple and Samsung overseas, there is also fierce competition at home.
Already established as an international smartphone maker, Huawei made 52 percent of its smartphone sales revenue overseas last year. The markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America are blossoming.
October 23, 2015
Huawei Technologies Co. replaced Xiaomi Corp. as China's top smartphone vendor in the third quarter, according to a tech industry research company.
In the third quarter, Huawei's shipments registered 81-percent year on year growth, while Xiaomi's shipments shrank, Canalys estimated.
"Xiaomi, with its worldwide target of 80 million smartphone shipments for 2015, is under tremendous pressure to keep growing as an international player as it is slowing down in its key home market," said Jessie Ding, a research analyst based in the Canalys Shanghai office.
As domestic shipments wane, Xiaomi is looking to expand overseas. Lin Bin, Xiaomi's president, said at a technology conference on Wednesday that the company is considering selling its higher-end Mi Note and Mi Note Pro models in the United States.
Xiaomi entered the Indian smartphone market in 2014, selling a million handsets.
While Xiaomi has to face off against big names like Apple and Samsung overseas, there is also fierce competition at home.
Already established as an international smartphone maker, Huawei made 52 percent of its smartphone sales revenue overseas last year. The markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America are blossoming.
Last edited:
Similar threads
