News in Brief

CHINESE MEDIA

China’s import expo yields record-breaking deals,boosts global economy

The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE),the world’s first national-level import-themed expo,saw a total of 78.41 billion U.S.dollars’ worth of tentative deals reached for one-year purchases of goods and services,setting a record high.

The figure represents an increase of 6.7 percent from that of last year,Sun Chenghai,deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau,told a press conference.

Making its first complete return to in-person exhibitions since the onset of COVID-19,the event ran from November 5 to 10 this year,attracting representatives from 154 countries,regions and international organizations.More than 3,400 enterprises from 128 countries and regions took part in the business exhibition,showcasing 442 new products,technologies and services.

The unparalleled amount of contracts inked and the great enthusiasm of international exhibitors demonstrate once again that the CIIE,as a platform for high-level opening-up,as well as an international public good shared by the world,is a strong propeller for global economic growth.

Registration for the seventh CIIE has begun,with nearly 200 enterprises signing up to participate next year and an exhibition area of more than 100,000 square meters booked in advance,according to the CIIE Bureau.

China Jiangsu Culture Trade Expo kicks off in Kuala Lumpur

Over 100 exhibitors representing textiles,ceramics and food sectorsparticipated in the China Jiangsu Culture Trade Expo 2023,which kicked off here on November 17.

The three-day expo hosted six major exhibition subjects: cultural specialties in east China's Jiangsu Province,digital service,traditional Chinese medicine (TCM),gastronomy and tourism,international education and intellectual property services.

See Chee Kong,senior director of services sector development of the Malaysian Ministry of Investment,Trade and Industry,said that Malaysia is fully committed to working with China to further deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Malaysia is one of the closest partners for Jiangsu in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Until 2022,Malaysia had invested in nearly 1,000 enterprises in Jiangsu,and Jiangsu had invested in 156 projects in Malaysia.

Chinese-invested airport expected to help revitalize Cambodia’s tourism industry

Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI)in northwest Cambodia’s Siem Reap province was officially inaugurated on November 16,raising hope for the recovery of the kingdom's tourism industry.Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the inauguration ceremony,which was attended by more than 1,000 people.

Speaking at the event,Hun Manet said the airport was launched as Cambodia and China celebrated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and China marked the 10th anniversary of the BRI’s inception.

Hun Manet said the airport will give a big boost to the tourism sector in Siem Reap and local residents will directly benefit from it.

With a 3,600-meter-long runway,the SAI is currently Cambodia’s biggest airport and is the main gateway to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park,one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

Lao gov’t,Chinese enterprises hold 7th exchange meeting

The seventh exchange meeting between the Lao government and Chinese enterpriseshas been held in the Lao capital Vientiane.

The meeting held on November 14 was attended by Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy,Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Chang,Chinese enterprises,and related parties from both sides.The meeting aims to reflect on the conveniences,difficulties and proposals of Chinese enterprises doing business in Laos.Wang emphasized in his speech that he hopes all parties can brainstorm and speak freely on implementing the highest-level consensus and promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road,making suggestions to effectively solve the problems faced by Chinese-funded enterprises,and promoting the healthy and stable economic and trade cooperation between China and Laos.

20th World Congress of Chinese Medicine opens in Manila

The 20th World Congress of Chinese Medicinekicked off on November 14 in the Philippine capital Manila,under the theme of "Health for all: integration of traditional medicine into universal health care."Zheng Qiming,chairman of the Philippine TCM and Acupuncture Association Inc.,said the event will promote academic exchanges and experience sharing,which will not only advance the scientific research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but also improve the status of TCM globally.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian expressed his hope that China and the Philippines will work together to further promote cooperation and exchanges in the field of medicine and health,promote mutual learning between TCM and Philippine traditional medicine,and contribute to improving the health and well-being of the Chinese and Philippine people and building a global community of health for all.

VOICES

“China is offering opportunities to foreign enterprises by allowing them to access its large market and the country’s decision to open its market and implement the Belt and Road Initiative reflects a coordinated effort to connect the world to the global economy.”

— Phumtham Wechayachai,deputy prime minister of Thailand,toldChinaDailyon November 14

“China is our neighbour,an important country and has matured in terms of its economic vibrancy,and we would benefit immensely as we continue to engage with it.”

— Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimsaid during a question-and-answer session at the University of California,Berkeley,on November 14

“We need to have cooperation among all of us (because) the world is global,and the problems are global.So,if we work individually,not coordinating all together,it’s going be hard to do things.”

— Carlos Kuriyama,director of the APEC Policy Support Unit,said on the sidelines of a media briefing on the APEC Regional Trends Analysis report on November 12

US$10billion

Trade in goods between Cambodia and China toppedUS$10 billionin the first 10 months of 2023,up 4.6 percent year-on-year,according to figures released by Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise(GDCE).

China remained the biggest trading partner of Cambodia,followed by the United States,Vietnam,Thailand and Japan,the report said.

Cambodian Ministry of Commerce’s Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat said RCEP and the CCFTA,which both came into force last year,had given a boost to this growth.

Kin Phea,director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia,a think-tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia,agreed that RCEP and the CCFTA have injected vigorous momentum into the Cambodia-China trade amid global economic slowdown and uncertainties.

9.4 %

Hengyi Industries,the largest joint venture between Brunei and China,signed an Implementation Agreement for the Pulau Muara Besar (PMB) Phase 2 Development Project on November 15,marking another milestone for the flagship petrochemical project.

“Since its commissioning in 2019,Hengyi Industries has been instrumental in strengthening Brunei Darussalam’s energy security and driving Brunei Darussalam’s economic growth,having directly contributed over a total of 4.5 billion Brunei dollars(US$3.3 billion) to the national GDP until 2022,and now holds a significant share of about9.4 percentof the total national GDP,” Haji Awang Halbi,Bruneian minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and second minister of defense as co-chair of the PMB Development Steering Committee,told the signing ceremony held at Empire Brunei.

207,932

At least207,932Chinese tourists visited the Philippines from January to September this year,a Philippine lawmaker said on November 13.

Citing the latest data from the Department of Tourism,Representative Marvin Rillo said Chinese tourists comprise 5.15 percent of the 4,038,379 foreign tourists who arrived in the Philippines during the first nine months of 2023.

Meanwhile,Rillo urged the tourism department to use the so-called “rifle marketing,” which is opposed to "shotgun marketing," in advertising the Philippines as a destination for foreign holidaymakers and a hub for international meetings,conventions and exhibitions.

“Rifle marketing” targets individual markets,whereas “shotgun marketing” aims for the entire global market regardless of specific corners.

Rillo said the Philippine government has earmarked a 1.26 billion pesos (roughly US$22.2 million) budget next year to “sell” the Philippines to prospective foreign visitors.

ASEAN MEDIA

The StarNov 7,2023

Malaysia targets over RM14bil palm oil export to China this year,says Fadillah

Malaysia aims to increase its export value of palm oil to China above RM14bil this year,says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.The Deputy Prime Minister said a visit to China would be arranged to strengthen the trade between both countries,particularly in palm oil.

“China is one of our biggest importers of palm oil,so this will be a trade mission to try to increase our palm oil export.”Fadillah said the proposed visit to China also aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.It was previously reported that Malaysia exported 3.14mil tonnes of palm oil and palm-based products worth RM14.86bil to China last year.

This made China as Malaysia’s second largest palm oil export market last year,accounting for 11.2% of the country’s total palm oil exports.

VNANov 14,2023

HCM City,China’s Yunnan province promote cooperation

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Vo Van Hoan received visiting Chairman of Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Liu Xiaokai on November 14,discussing cooperation between the two localities in the time to come.

Hoan underlined that the Vietnamese Party,Government,and people always value the traditional neighbourliness with the Party,government and people of China.HCM City has set up friendly ties with eight Chinese provinces,he said.Agreeing with Yunnan’s cooperation proposals,he stated that the two localities’ geographical differences present opportunities for them to complement each other in their development process.HCM City is ready to further promote joint activities between the sides’ authorities and people toward soon translating collaboration ideas into specific programmes and projects.

Bangkok PostNov 7,2023

Alibaba and T&B Media Global in

Thai-Chinese Entertainment Partnership

Alibaba Pictures and T&B Media Global are joined by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at enhancing Thai-Chinese cultural exchanges through entertainment.

Mr.Zheng Yong,Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Digital Media&Entertainment Group,along with Dr.Jwanwat Ahriyavraromp,Founder and CEO of T&B Media Global,have unveiled a multitiered strategic partnership and innovative cooperation that is set to redefine the entertainment industry.Simultaneously,the two companies are committed to advancing cultural exchanges and strengthening the close relationship between China and Thailand.The collaboration also focuses on the development of immersive entertainment technologies that promise to bring new and immersive experiences to audiences worldwide.

The announcement of the strategic collaboration was held in Beijing,People’s Republic of China,as part of a continuous effort by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The Straits TimesNov 8,2023

China V-P Han Zheng calls on President Tharman,PM Lee during visit to S’pore

Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on November 8,in his first official visit in his current capacity to Singapore.

He was also hosted to lunch by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and met Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat.

During Mr Han’s meeting with President Tharman,the two leaders welcomed the close and longstanding relations between Singapore and China.

“President Tharman and Vice-President Han also discussed the importance of international cooperation to resolve global challenges,as well as investing in people and institutions,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on November 8.At the meeting between PM Lee and Mr Han,both reaffirmed Singapore and China’s strong bilateral relations,which were upgraded to an “All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership” in April.