Category Archives: China

Business, China, Chinese circle, culture, Energy, Environment, Exchange, Green-tech, Indepth, Life, News, Opinion, Sport, World News

Long live to Sino-Swedish relations

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Today marks the 66th anniversary of Sino-Swedish relations. In China, when a person becomes 66 years old, we will give a grand celebration with food and wine.

Similar, the relations between China and Sweden is worthwhile to celebrate too.

Recalling the past 66 years,  a lot has happened between the two countries.

Sweden was the first western country that established diplomatic relatlions with China.  That was May 9, 1950.

According to historical documents, Norway, Danmark, Finland and Sweden all recognized China in January.  But due to Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai’s diplomacy of cleaning up the house first, they decided to accept Swedish offer first and established diplomatic relations with Sweden on May, 9, 1950.

So the former Swedish to China Ambassador said Sweden was chosen to be the first one to establish relations with China. Then Denmark, Finland and Norway established relations with China.

The consideration likely involves the history between China and Sweden. As early as 1700 century, Sweden had sent Gothenburg Ship to China to buy the tea, porshelin and silk. The trade caused a wave of China heat.  Even Queen Lovisa was a fan of China.

China Pavillion in Drottningholm was the typical evidence of this craze. It was Lovisa’s gift from the king when she was 33 years old.  Inside the pavillion there are a lot of Chinese books. The most impressive thing was the echoing room on the second floor.

Sometimes I feel the down to earth manner and the honesty Swedish people own are the trace of Chinese virtues. Honesty and down to earth are also the virtues Chinese seek.

In the 19th century, Sweden was the first country that signed a business agreement, but didn’t openly invade China or rob China like the other eight western  power.   But the two sides did sign agreements to divid the antiques people unearthened in Beijing Suburbs. That is why people today can see a whole lot of precious antiques dating back to Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasty in Fareastern Antiquities Museum.

Swedish explorer Sven Hedin explored a lot along the silk road. Many Swedish like to have adventures in China. Ericsson established its office in Shanghai at the end of 19th century.

Meanwhile, Chinese also visited Sweden.  Liang Qichao, one of the six Gentlemen who presented a proposal to the Qing Emperor but faced severe punishment escaped to Sweden and lived here for a year.

When New China was established, General Geng Biao who was also vice premier then became the first ambassador to Sweden.  New China sent quite a few generals abroad to become the first ambassador.

DSC_9023Sino-Swedish relations have been so good that they sometimes can criticise each other. But they remain good friends.

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf visited China many times. Crown Princess Victoria had her training in China for a month.

Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Sweden in June 2007. President Xi Jinping visited Sweden in 2010 when he was vice president.   Premier Wen Jiabao visited Sweden in 2012.

Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of CPPCC visited Sweden in June 2014.

While about 500 Swedish companies operate in China, many Chinese companies come to Sweden to invest. Volvo car owner now is Chinese Geely. Saab was also bought by Chinese from Shandong province.

Many Chinese investors bought houses in Sweden and like to contribute to Swedish economies.

Meanwhile, Swedish companies are also seeking opportunities in China.

In terms of culture, a new Chinese Culture Center will be established right in the center of the Stockholm City.  It is a good present for the 66th anniversary of Sino-Swedish relations.

What will be the future like?  In fact, from what I observed, more and more tourists, especially ordinary tourists are visiting Sweden. This is a sign that the Chinese are getting richer and richer. They can spend money from their own pocket to go abroad. They can afford it and they are allowed to do this.  There is no lofty slogan going on, but there is still a lot happening on the ground.

In my opinion, it is these down to business kind of relations that can be more sustainable if the embassy can allow this to happen. More freedom to move and more permission to visit,  it will be good for both sides, for the common people to exchange and do business.

Without such freedom, without such permission, it is difficult to really get the business booming.  Without exchange of people, we cannot talk about exchange of culture and business.

Sweden has advantage in environmental technology and practices, design, water and air and green energy while China is in need of green food, green tech and green energy.

DSC_9577Recently the exchange of Ice Hockey becomes frequent too. Several activities have taken place.  It is hoped more and more exchange activities will take place with the support from both government and businesses.

Business, China, News

China “deserves big credit” for efforts to tackle climate change: Britain’s ex-Labour leader

Leave a comment

by Xinhua Writer Zhang Jianhua
LONDON, May 3 (Greenpost) — China “deserves big credit” for its efforts to develop clean energy and work with other countries to tackle climate change, said Ed Miliband, former leader of the Labour Party in Britain.
“I am very impressed by China’s leadership on this issue, and when I look at what China is doing, and I think it is quite an amazing initiative that it is taking,” Miliband said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Miliband was leader of the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015. He previously served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, a cabinet post, from 2008 to 2010 under the then-prime minister Gordon Brown.
After resigning from party leadership last year, the politician has continued his role as a member of the Parliament and strived to build a cross-party coalition of lawmakers, businesses, trade unions and NGOs to campaign for tougher environmental policies and legislations in Britain.
Speaking of China’s newly released 13th Five-Year Plan, a national blueprint emphasizing “green development,” Miliband said it is “incredibly ambitious” and “a very important contribution” to tackling climate change.
“China has powered ahead of the renewable energy, but all of the evidence of the 13th Five-Year Plan is that it wants to power ahead ever further,” he said.
“China is planning to invest more in clean electricity generation in the next 15 years than the whole of Europe’s electricity generation, so this is an amazing effort on clean energy,” he added.
The former Labour leader noted that there is “big potential” for UK-China cooperation on climate change and other environmental issues.
The two countries, he said, could learn from each other on renewable energy “where China is obviously driving ahead electric cars.”
“There are all kinds of ways we can collaborate, and one area that I am interested in us collaborating on is Carbon Capture and Storage, so-called CCS, which is a big issue because it’s a way to make some traditional fissile fuel consumption clean. Capturing the carbon is going to be very important as we all lower our emissions,” he further elaborated.
Illustrating the “common but differentiated responsibilities,” a key principle in international environmental law, Miliband said that China and the UK can collaborate on “a wider point” of tackling inequalities in global climate governance.
“We can’t hope to tackle the climate change challenge without a commitment to tackling inequalities — inequalities between countries, and inequalities within countries… that seems to me to be the central part of tackling these challenges,” he stressed.
On broader international cooperation, Miliband pointed out that the most important thing is to begin with mutual understanding, as “every country faces compelling constraints and particular national circumstances.”
“I must say one of the things I welcome most of all has been the cooperation that the presidents of the United States and China have led in terms of their cooperation. The countries are so important to the future that the United States and China cooperating together is incredibly important,” he said.
In April, more than 170 countries signed the Paris agreement, a milestone in the fight against global climate change. The document was adopted last December with no objection by the 196 Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in France.
It sets a goal of keeping global average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and aims to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Miliband said the Paris agreement marked “the beginning of the beginning,” but it needs more ambitious actions to win “the race against time.”
“Paris is an important milestone, but we look at the science, the rising temperatures, and the way our countries are being affected by immediate issues like air pollution, and we recognize the urgency of moving forward,” he explained.
“We are in a race against time. While there is a lot more ambition from all countries, the science is in a way urging us to be even more ambitious, because it is telling us how difficult and how challenging the situation is,” he warned. Enditem

Business, China, Chinese circle

Broader tax overhaul to pep up China’s economy

Leave a comment

BEIJING, May 4 (Greenpost) — As China waves goodbye to business taxes (BT) with one hand, it is welcoming a fairer business environment with the other.
As of May 1, China now follows a value-added tax (VAT) system, which is set to pep up the broader economy.
Starting on Sunday, the BT-to-VAT transition, which began in 2012 in certain industries, was applied to the remaining four sectors — construction, real estate, finance and consumer services.
Construction and real estate will be subject to 11 percent VAT, while a 6-percent levy will be imposed on finance and consumer services.
VAT is a tax calculated by the difference between a commodity’s price before taxes and its production cost, while BT was a levy on gross revenues. Tangible goods have been subject to VAT for some time, but the levy on services was BT: A crude system that often results in double taxation.
The BT-to-VAT transition has proven to reduce the tax burden of enterprises, most of which are small companies. During it test phase, it had reduced the tax burden of companies by 641.2 billion yuan (99 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2015.
These newly-encompassed sectors had a combined BT scale of 1.9 trillion yuan, accounting for some 80 percent of all BT across the board and involving over 11,000 taxpayers, according to data from the State Administration of Taxation.
By 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 1.36 million VAT invoices had been issued to 147,000 taxpayers across the country, involving 25.86 billion yuan.
Authorities estimate that now VAT has been applied to all sectors, businesses will make savings of more than 500 billion yuan.
Besides, other links in the production chain will also benefit from the overhaul. The unified VAT system will create a fairer environment for businesses as the government seeks to tap growth momentum in the relatively underdeveloped service industry.
China’s service sector is increasingly picking up the slack of manufacturing as the government tries to shift to a more sustainable growth model.
In the first quarter, the service sector grew 7.6 percent year on year, outpacing a 2.9-percent increase in the primary industry and 5.8 percent in the secondary industry. It accounted for 56.9 percent of the overall economy, up 2 percentage points from a year earlier, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
The government is also looking to the broader reform to stimulate mass innovation and create an amicable climate for private enterprises, which play a central role in job creation.
China’s economy expanded 6.7 percent year on year in the first quarter, slowing further from the previous quarter.
In the face of continued economic headwinds, China has made supply-side reform an economic priority, and tax cuts to lower the cost of business are a major policy option.
To cover the tax reductions for enterprises, the government has decided to increase its deficit-to-GDP ratio to 3 percent this year from 2.3 percent last year.
The government deficit for 2016 is projected to be 2.18 trillion yuan, an increase of 560 billion yuan over last year.  Enditem

Business, China, Chinese circle

China Voice: No need to overreact to China’s overseas NGO law

Leave a comment

    BEIJING, May 4 (Greenpost) — Some people appear to have misunderstood China’s new law on overseas NGOs.
They seem to have failed to notice anything beyond the law’s restrictive provisions. News flash: There are few laws that only forbid, and this is not one of them.
When the new law takes effect in January, overseas NGOs will walk out of the shadow they have long stood in. Those with solid reasons to operate in China will have a legal identity, a clear code of conduct and protection of their rights and interests from the government and legal system. They will also be subject to supervision, just like their domestic counterparts are.
One issue that drew much concern is the involvement of the police in the registration and regulation processes.
China is hardly the only country in the world to place trust in law enforcement and, as lawmakers have repeatedly pointed out, the police have the resources and expertise to deal with foreigners. Rather than this being the “hostile setup” espoused by certain parties, it is a pragmatic arrangement to ensure an efficient and professional service.
The police have not been handed unrestricted power, and systems will be in place to assure accountability and, should they fail in their duty, suitable punishments.
When comparing previous drafts of the law, which went through three readings, it is clear that great effort has been made to develop a balanced and comprehensive law.
Gathering opinions from different parties including foreign NGOs that already operate in China, the top legislature made notable changes through every reading.
For instance, the adopted law removed a provision in the original draft that limited foreign NGO offices on the Chinese mainland to one, and deleted the five-year operational limit on representative offices. Restrictions on staff and volunteers were also lifted.
The draft had required a permit for NGOs that wanted to operate temporarily on the mainland. In the adopted law this has been changed to a compulsory report with the regulator 15 days before the program begins.
The Ministry of Public Security has promised to work out detailed protocols and publish this code of conduct as quickly as possible so that overseas NGOs will have enough time to prepare for registration.
China is still in the process of modernization, not only economically but also in governance. It is in its best interest to have a dynamic NGO sector, which features both domestic and foreign entities. From education, environmental protection to poverty relief, NGOs have an important part to play.
The law may not be perfect but it is a good beginning. It is likely that problems may emerge as it is enforced but, with the support and cooperation of NGOs, these problems can be properly addressed.
The law was drafted to give NGOs a more stable and positive environment in which to work in China. It will be a mutually beneficial relationship, better than letting the good and bad mix into the grey. Enditem

 

Business, China, News

China to crush cyber fraud service providers

Leave a comment

BEIJING, May 3 (Greenpost) — China will launch a nation-wide campaign to eliminate online services and materials that help fraudsters, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Tuesday.
During the campaign, which will run until September, police will search for services such as those that offer the account-stealing Trojan virus; information exchange or information on hacking; trade of ID and bank account information; and falsified certification, among others.

The MPS, said cyber scams and cyber theft had become rampant in recent years, and offenders often go online to obtain the tools needed.

Moreover, police will also remove information pertaining to cyber fraud off the Internet.  Enditem

 

 

 

Business, China, Chinese circle, World News

Sanya, Xiamen and Kunming were top three tourist destinations during May Day

Leave a comment

   BEIJING, May 3 (Greenpost) — China’s main tourist destinations welcomed record numbers of visitors during the long weekend for May Day. 

A total of 1.58 million visits were recorded Saturday to Monday at 26 monitored tourist attractions in Hubei Province, up 12.18 percent year on year, while the number of visitors to Chengdu in southwest China surpassed 8.2 million, up 6. 2 percent year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

In Beijing, the number of visits to 11 monitored parks and a garden museum on the second day of the holiday hit a single-day record of 750,000, according to the city’s park management center.

The Beijing Zoo, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace were the most popular spots in the city.
The number of domestic and overseas tourists in Shaanxi Province during the three-day holiday hit a record 20.89 million, up 29.21 percent year on year, generating about 8.5 billion yuan in revenue (1.3 billion U.S. dollars), up 30.83 percent year on year, according to the provincial government.

In Shandong, the number of tourists surpassed 30 million for the first time, up 11.3 percent year on year. Tourist income reached 24.38 billion yuan, up 15.2 percent year on year, according to provincial tourist authorities.
The southern Chinese city of Sanya saw 128,600 visitors, with those from abroad up 52.11 percent year on year, according to the city’s tourist authority.
Sanya, Xiamen and Kunming were the top three tourist destinations in China during the holiday, said the CNTA on its website. Enditem

Source Xinhua

Business, China, Chinese circle, culture, Exchange, News

President Xi holds talks with Lao Leader to enhance ties

Leave a comment

    BEIJING, May 3 (Greenpost) — President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit on Tuesday.
This is Bounnhang’s first visit to China since he became General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party in January and was elected president of Laos in April.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee, said the visit showed the Lao side attached great importance to Laos-China ties. He called on both sides to seize opportunities to improve bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation.

The traditional friendship between the two countries is their shared treasure, Xi said, stressing that China was ready to work with Lao new leadership to build a community with a shared future.
Xi called on the two socialist countries to enhance high-level contact, maintain a high level of political mutual trust, improve exchanges between the two ruling parties and promote mutual learning in governance.

The two sides can integrate their development strategies, strengthen pragmatic cooperation, expand people-to-people exchanges and enhance collaboration on security affairs, according to Xi.
The Chinese president also hoped the two countries will further coordinate in international affairs, including cooperation between China and ASEAN.

Echoing Xi, Bounnhang said he believed this visit will improve high-level mutual trust and that the new leadership of Laos will continue to push forward relations between the two parties, the two countries and the two peoples.

Bounnhang thanked China for its support to Laos’ holding the ASEAN’s rotating chair this year.
Speaking highly of China’s development, Bounnhang said he believed China will continue to contribute to peaceful regional and world development.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a series of cooperative documents. Enditem

 

Business, China

Beijing to release frozen pork to ease market pressure

Leave a comment

 Beijing to release frozen pork to ease market pressure     Beijing’s pork prices have been rising since the Lunar New Year due to tight supply, with raw pork prices surging 50.6 percent month on month in April, according to the Beijing municipal government.     The decision, which comes into effect on Thursday and will last until July 4, will see 50,000 kg of pork sold cheaply to 121 major supermarkets on a daily basis. The government will also provide subsidies of up to 9 yuan (1.4 U.S. dollars) per kilogram of pork sold to encourage vendors to decrease prices.     The government will encourage slaughterhouses to increase the pork supply through subsidies, with 20 percent more pigs to be slaughtered during the 61-day period.
It is the first time the Beijing government has allocated reserve pork to the market since a “life necessity reserve mechanism” was launched in 1992 to create reserve systems to stabilize prices of key goods.  Enditem

Business, China

German firms upbeat on Chinese market growth: report

Leave a comment

    BEIJING, May 3 (Greenpost) — German firms in China are still optimistic about their local sales growth despite the economic slowdown, a report showed Tuesday.
About 90 percent of the surveyed 189 German firms, based in China, planned to continue business in China despite the economy seeing the weakest quarter-on-quarter expansion in the first quarter since 2011, according to the report released by the German Chamber of Commerce in China.
Over one third of the surveyed German firms have taken steps such as rolling out new products and services to adapt to market changes, the report showed.
Meanwhile, most German firms look forward to the opportunities brought about by China’s development plan for the next five years. Over half of the surveyed firms regard China’s growing sales market to be their biggest opportunity as more Chinese firms upgrade their systems and equipment.
“One important area of business we see from the 13th Five-Year Plan is the focus on innovation — this carries the potential for ample Sino-German business cooperation,” said Alexandra Voss, North China executive director with the German Chamber of Commerce in China.
China is Germany’s largest trade partner outside Europe. There are more than 5,000 German companies in China. Sentiment is high among the firms as they have been encouraged by China’s efforts in the areas of environmental protection and innovation, according to the report.
They also expected more agreeable market environment thanks to continuous opening up and easier market access, the report said.  Enditem

Business, China, Exchange

China to simplify approval process for gold imports, exports

Leave a comment

BEIJING, May 4 (Greenpost) — China will test a new policy that aims to make the import and export of gold a lot easier, according to a statement jointly issued by the People’s Bank of China and the General Administration of Customs.
The new policy, set to be tested from June 1, will allow gold companies to clear customs up to 12 times with one permit, the statement said.
Previously, gold companies had to apply for a permit for every import or export consignment.
The new measure will simplify the approval procedures and improve the gold trade environment, according to the statement.
The policy will be tested in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao and Shenzhen.
China remains one of the world’s biggest consumers of gold, with total consumption amounting 985.9 tonnes last year. Gold output stood at 450.05 tonnes in 2015, according to data from the China Gold Association.  Enditem

 

Business, China, Exchange, World News

Uber, Alipay allow tourists abroad to pay fares in Chinese yuan

Leave a comment

BEIJING, May 4 (Greenpost) — Chinese tourists will be able to pay for Uber rides in Chinese yuan through Alibaba’s mobile payment services when travelling outside China, Uber said on Tuesday.
Uber and Alipay teamed up earlier this year to offer yuan payment options for Uber rides in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The option has been expanded to more than 400 cities in 68 countries and regions in which Uber operates.
China has emerged as the world’s biggest source of outbound travellers. This has prompted Chinese bank card association China UnionPay and mobile payment services such as Alibaba’s Alipay to work with retailers and merchants in popular destinations to offer the option of paying their bills in Chinese yuan, rather than in the foreign currency.
Uber also wants to tap China’s travel boom by encouraging Chinese tourists to book rides using its service in foreign countries.
Previously, Chinese riders had to pay Uber fares in U.S. dollars.
Uber rival Didi said last month that it has allowed Chinese tourists using its mobile app to access ride-hailing services through its partner Lyft in the United States, with bills payable through mobile payment services from China’s Alibaba and Tencent.  Enditem

 

Business, China, Chinese circle, Exchange, Indepth, News, Opinion, World News

South China Sea Islands belong to China: Li

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, May 4(Greenpost)– Overseas Chinese leaders in Sweden Wednesday gathered at the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm to discuss the situation in the South China Sea.

DSC_9412Li Junfeng, Charge D’affair at the Chinese Embassy said at the gathering that he has heard some western reports proposing such questions such as South China Sea Islands are so far away from Chinese mainland, how can that belongs to China?

“The territories and jurisdictions are not decided by how far it is away from the mainland. Hauwaii sits far away from the American mainland, but no one can deny that it belongs to America.  In fact, South China Sea Islands belong to China since ancient times. China is the first to discover, name and develop these islands. Chinese government exerted its sovereign rights over these islands. Chinese government has published the names of these islands in 1935, 1947 and 1983. ”

During the Japanese invasion and occupation of China in the 1930s, the islands were temporarily occupied by the Japanese. But after the Second World War when Japanese was defeated by the Atomic Bombs thrown in by the Americans, China took back these Islands with the observance of the United States and the International Communities. It was well recognised by the International Communities.

There were no disputes before the 1970s. However,  after the 1970s, the Philippines illegally occupied eight small islands through four military actions causing the South China Sea dispute.

In 1999, the Philippines sent a ship to an island there and left there. When the Chinese side went to ask them to leave, the Philippine side said they lost a screw in the ship. They would leave later when they get the ship repaired.  But that was an excuse. Since then they never left.

Now the Philippines claimed that they occupied the island since then. But the Chinese side holds that the Philippines action was illegal. He criticised the Philippines action of illegally occupying some islands.

He also said that China insists on solving the dispute through peaceful negotiations and ASEAN countries should work together for a common prosperity in the region.

“China believes in that saying: Relatives from far away is not as useful as a neighbour which lives nearby.  Let alone China and the Philipines share similar oriental culture. Sooner or later, the friendly relations between the two countries should be resumed, and that should be the right track,”  said Li.

“China has never changed its stance of leaving dispute aside and achieving common development,” said Li.

His stance was supported by the Chinese in Sweden.

DSC_9433James Wang, President of the Chinese Federation of Industry and Commerce in Sweden said South China Sea Islands belonged to China since ancient times. It is hard to believe that other countries claim them.  China has the full right to protect its own territories.

DSC_9437Peiqun Ye, Executive Director of Swedish National Federation of Chinese Associations said as China grows stronger, the dispute will be less. He hopes that in a couple of years, the situation will change for the better.

DSC_9439Liran Yang, former chairwoman of Stockholm Chinese Cultural Association said all the women of the Chinese origin or second generation should exert their influence by giving true explanation of Chinese history and evidence that China owns the South China Islands.

DSC_9429Yuli Wang, Vice President of the Swedish Chinese Federation of Industry and Commerce said he doesn’t rule out the possibility that some people are jealous of China’s develepment over the past years and want to disturb the peaceful environment China enjoys.

Jisheng Wang, honorary Chairman of Swedish Chinese Federation said China has no doubt to hold its bottom line about the South China Sea Islands which belonged to Chinese since ancient times.

“The Philippines has been colonised many times by other invaders, but with China, similar to other parts of China, the Philippines used to pay tribute to the Chinese. It is right not to recognise the Philippines’ unilateral action about the South China Sea Islands,” said Wang.

About 20 Chinese leaders of various associations in Sweden attended the talk and expressed support for China’s stance on the so-called South China Sea issue.

For Chinese it is not an issue, but other countries around the South China Sea began to claim some islands and even occupy them illegally.

DSC_9395Li Junfeng said the Philippines claimed Huangyan Island and other smaller islands belong to them. But the fact is that according to the Paris Treaty signed in 1898, The Washington Treaty signed in 1900, British and American Treaty in 1930, the Philippines’ western border lies in 118 degree in longitude.  And Huangyan and other Islands lie in the west of 118 degree in longitude. After the Philippines got independent, its national law recognizes the relevant treaties about its territories.

In 2013, the Philippines sued China to the International Arbitration Tribunal in the Hague. China accused the Philippines went against their promises of solving the problems through bilateral negotiations.

It is hoped that the current Philippine presidential election will vote out the Aquino government so that the South China Sea issue calms down.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Walström said at least the South China Sea area is in peace. In deed, China has actually played a great role in stablizing the Asian situation and bringing prosperity in the region with the focus on  booming economic development.

Many people in China actually think the government was not tough enough in dealing with the dispute. But many wise Chinese drew the lessons of American invasion of Iraq.

It is easy to enter into a war, but it is difficult to withdraw from the war.  “Man can say that they won the war but lost the peace,” said Li.

He said hegemonism doesn’t work because China is still a developing country and China needs a peaceful environment for economic and social development. Some super powers have taken impulse actions and created a lot of enemies for themselves. That is not good for a harmonious world.

China still embraces the idea of building a harmonious world with its neighbours and all the people who love peace.

 

Business, China, Life, News, 人物专访, 儿童文学, 北欧广播, 北欧电视, 华侨华人, 头条要闻, 瑞典新闻, 瑞典生活, 科技教育, 美图欣赏

瑞典国王卡尔十六世.古斯塔夫今日庆祝70大寿

Leave a comment

北欧绿色邮报网报道（记者陈雪霏）－－瑞典国王卡尔十六世.古斯塔夫今天将在斯德哥尔摩市中心的王宫隆重庆祝他的70大寿。

根据瑞典皇室的安排，瑞典国王70大寿的庆典从4月25日就陆续开始了。首先是4月25日进行了波罗的海研讨会，只有邀请的客人可以参加。4月26日在皇家教堂瑞典军乐团举办了一场音乐会。4月28日和29日，国王在皇宫接待了政府和有关部门和组织的庆贺。4月29日，瑞典皇家艺术学院在瑞典皇家歌剧院举办了庆祝活动。瑞典北欧博物馆，斯德哥尔摩音乐厅，瑞典皇家歌剧团在北欧博物馆为国王庆祝生日。

4月30日10点开始，瑞典皇家军乐团将在王宫外面进行演奏。国王将乘马车环王宫一周。 届时将有很多公众观看。
盘点瑞典国王在过去十年里的变化，真是成果丰硕。
先是大公主王储维多利亚大婚，然后是二公主玛德琳大婚，最后菲利普王子大婚。维多利亚和菲利普都是和百姓家儿女结婚，二公主找了美国金融男子。
如今大公主已经儿女双全，二公主玛德琳也是一双儿女，菲利普王子和夫人索非亚刚刚前不久喜得贵子。
瑞典皇家真是人丁兴旺，幸福满满！以下是国王一家人的名字：
  • Konung Carl XVI Gustaf (f. 1946)
  • Drottning Silvia (f. 1943)
  • Kronprinsessan Victoria (f. 1977)
  • Prins Daniel (f. 1973)
  • Prinsessan Estelle (f. 2012)
  • Prins Oscar (f. 2016)
  • Prins Carl Philip (f. 1979)
  • Prinsessan Sofia (f. 1984)
  • Prins Alexander (f. 2016)
  • Prinsessan Madeleine (f. 1982), gift med herr Christopher O’Neill (f. 1974)
  • Prinsessan Leonore (f. 2014)
  • Prins Nicolas (f. 2015)
  • Prinsessan Birgitta (f. 1937)

 亲爱的读者一般到这里就够了，如果您想练习英语或者是检察一下是否我的翻译有误，可以接着看英语原文。

 以下是生日活动庆典安排和有关链接：

MONDAY APRIL 25

1. Seminar on the Baltic Sea – The Royal Dramatic Theatre, Arrival outside

Photo position (still photo, TV/web cameras, reporters)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 18.15, the Royal Dramatic Theatre’s Royal Entrance

Aftonbladet (3), Bild & Kultur (1), Expressen (3), IBL (2), KulturSthlm (1), Stella Pictures (2), SVT (3), Sveriges Radio (1), TV4 (3), TT Nyhetsbyrån (2)

ARD (4)

TUESDAY APRIL 26

2. The Armed Forces Music Corps performs a concert – The Royal Chapel

Photo pool, reporters
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 17.30, West Vault

Aftonbladet (1 still photographer, 1 reporter), Bild & Kultur (1 reporter), Expressen (1 still photographer, 1 reporter), IBL (1 still photographer), Stella Pictures (1 still photographer), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1 still photographer), TV4 (1 reporter)

ARD (1 reporter)

THURSDAY APRIL 28

3. Reception for authorities and organizations – The Royal Palace

Photo pool only (still photo)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 9.30, West Vault

IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

FRIDAY APRIL 29

4. Reception for authorities and organizations – The Royal Palace

Photo pool only (still photo)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 9.30, West Vault

IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

5. The royal artistic academies congratulate The King – The Royal Swedish Opera, Arrival of guests

Photo position (still photo, TV/web cameras, reporters)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 14.15, main entrance, the Royal Swedish Opera

Aftonbladet (3), Expressen (3), IBL (2), Stella Pictures (2), TT Nyhetsbyrån (2), TV4 (2)

Agentur Schneider Press (1), ARD (3), ddp (1), Getty Images (1), Monarchy Press (1), NRK (2), Nunn Syndication (1), Royal Press Europe (1), Royal Press Photo (1)

The royal artistic academies congratulate The King – The Golden Foyer, The Royal Swedish Opera

Photo pool, reporters
Ladders NOT allowed

Aftonbladet (1 reporter), Bild & Kultur (1), Expressen (1 reporter), IBL (1 still photographer), Stella Pictures (1 still photographer), Svensk Damtidning (1 reporter), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1 still photographer)

6. The Royal Swedish Opera and Stockholm Concert Hall will give a concert – The Nordic Museum, Arrival of guests

Media position (still photo, TV/web cameras, reporters)
Ladders allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 17.45, the Nordic Museum

Aftonbladet (3), Bild & Kultur (1), Expressen (3), IBL (2), Stella Pictures (2), Svensk Damtidning (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (2), TV4 (3)

Action Press (1), Agentur Schneider Press (1), alex&er’s Images (1), ARD (3), Billed Bladet (3), Bunte (2), ddp (1), E-press Photo (1), Getty Images (1), Hussein Royal Collection (1), Monarchy Press Europe (1), Newspix International (1), NRK (2), Nunn Syndication (1), People Picture (1), Rex Schutterstuck (1), Royal Portraits Europe (1), Royal Press Europe (1), Royal Press Photo (1), Se og Hör (2), UK Press Ltd (1)

The Royal Swedish Opera and Stockholm Concert Hall will give a concert – The Nordic Museum, Inside

Photo pool only (still photo)
Ladders NOT allowed

IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

SATURDAY APRIL 30

7. Te Deum thankgsgiving service – South Vault, The Royal Palace, Arrival of the guests

Photo position: Stairwell in South Vault
Ladders NOT allowed
Dress code: Dark suit
Checkpoint A – Media to gather at 8.00, the entrance to Museum Tre Kronor

Upper level (TV/web, still photo)
Aftonbladet (1), Expressen (1), IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), SVT Nyheter (1), SVT Året med Kungafamiljen (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1), TV4 (1),

Abaca (1), Action Press (1), Agentur Schneider Press (1), alex&er’s Images (1), Antena 3 (1), ARD (1), Associated Press (1), Billed Bladet (1), Broadview (1), Bunte (1), ddp (1), dpa (1), E-press Photo (1), Monarchy Press Europe (1), Newspix International (1), NRK (1), NTB Norge (1), Nunn Syndication (1), People Picture (1), Rex Shutterstuck (1), Royal Portraits Europe (1), Royal Press Europe (1), Royal Press Photo (1), Se og Hör (1), UK Press Ltd (1), XINHUA (1), YLE (1) ZDF (1)

Lower level (photo pool – still photographers only)
Aftonbladet (1), Expressen (1), Getty Images (1), IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

Te Deum thanksgiving service – The Royal Chapel

Photo pool only (still photo)
Ladders NOT allowed
Dress code: Dark suit
Checkpoint A – Media to gather at 8.00, the entrance to Museum Tre Kronor

IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

A limited number of media companies will be allocated a seat for one reporter each at Te Deum thanksgiving service, by special invitation of the Swedish Royal Court.

8. The Swedish Armed Forces’ celebration – The Outer Courtyard

Media position (still photo, TV/web cameras, reporters)
Ladders allowed
Checkpoint B – Media will be let into the media positions at 10.00 on the Outer courtyard

Aftonbladet (3), Bild & Kultur (1), Expressen (3), IBL (3), KulturSthlm (1), Stella Pictures (3), Svensk Damtiding (1), Sverigs Radio (1), SVT Nyheter (3), SVT Året med Kungafamiljen (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (3), TV4 (3)

Abaca (1), Action Press (1), Agentur Schneider Press (1), alex&er’s Images (1), Antena 3 (3), ARD (3), Associated Press (1), Billed Bladet (3), Broadview (3), Bunte (1), ddp (1), dpa (1), E-press Photo (1), Getty Images (1), HER og NÅ (1), Hussein Royal Collection (1), Iltalehti (2), Monarchy Press Europe (1), Newspix International (1), NRK (2), NTB Norge (1), Nunn Syndication (2), People Picture (1), Photomedia (1), PPE-Agency (1), Rex Shutterstuck (1), Royal Portraits Europe (1), Royal Press Europe (1), Royal Press Photo (1), Se og Hör (2), UK Press Ltd (1), XINHUA (1), YLE (1), ZDF (2)

9. Choral tribute – Lejonbacken, The Royal Palace

Photo position (still photo, TV/web)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint C – Media to gather at 11.30, outside the South Vault, on Slottsbacken

Aftonbladet (1 still photographer), Expressen (1 still photographer), IBL (1 still photographer, 1 video), Stella Pictures (1 still photographer, 1 video), SVT Året med Kungafamiljen (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1 still photographer, 1 video), TV4 (1)

Media that have not been given a position in the photo pool on Lejonbacken may photograph from public areas in front of the Lejonbacken terrace.

Departure of the cortège – Mynttorget

Photo position (still photo, TV/web)
Ladders NOT allowed

Aftonbladet (1 still photographer), Expressen (1 still photographer), IBL (1 still photographer, 1 video), Stella Pictures (1 still photographer, 1 video), SVT Året med Kungafamiljen (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1 still photographer, 1 video), TV4 (1)

Media that have not been given a position in the photo pool may photograph from public areas.

10. Lunch at City Hall – Arrival of guests

Media position (still photo, TV/web cameras, reporters)
Ladders allowed
Checkpoint D – Media to gather at 12.20 at the gates to City Hall park, Ragnar Östbergsplan 5/Norrmälarstrand. Late arrivals will not gain access to the photo position.

Aftonbladet (3), Bild & Kultur (1), Expressen (3), IBL (2), Stella Pictures (2), Svensk Damtidning (1), SVT Nyheter (3), TT Nyhetsbyrån (2), TV4 (2)

Abaca (1), Action Press (1), Agentur Schneider Press (1), alex&er’s Images (1), Antena 3 (3), ARD (3), Associated Press (1), Billed Bladet (3), Bunte (1), dpa (1), E-press Photo (1), Getty Images (1), Hussein Royal Collection (1), Iltalehti (1), Monarchy Press Europe (1), Newspix International (1), NRK (2), NTB Norge (1), Nunn Syndication (1), People Picture (1), PPE-Agency (1), Rex Shutterstuck (1), Royal Portraits Europe (1), Royal Press Europe (2), Royal Press Photo (1), UK Press Ltd (1), XINHUA (1), YLE (1), ZDF (2)

Lunch at City Hall – Blue Hall

Photo pool only (still photo)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint E – Media to gather at 12.45 at the City Hall reception, Ragnar Östbergsplan 1

IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

11. Reception for the Riksdag, the Government and the county governors – The Royal Palace

Photo pool only (still photo, TV/web)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint – Media to gather at 15.00, West Vault

IBL (2), Stella Pictures (2), TT Nyhetsbyrån (2), TV4 (1)

12. Banquet – The Royal Palace, The King and Queen greets the guests

Photo pool only (still photo)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint A – Media to gather at 17.30, the entrance to Museum Tre Kronor

IBL (1), Stella Pictures (1), TT Nyhetsbyrån (1)

Banquet – The Royal Palace, Guests arrive to the Hall of State

Photo pool only (still photo, TV/web)
Ladders NOT allowed
Checkpoint A – Media to gather at 17.30, the entrance to Museum Tre Kronor

Aftonbladet (1), Expressen (1), IBL (2), Stella Pictures (2), TT Nyhetsbyrån (2), TV4 (1)

Kungafamiljen

Det Kungl. Huset utgörs av

  • Konung Carl XVI Gustaf (f. 1946)
  • Drottning Silvia (f. 1943)
  • Kronprinsessan Victoria (f. 1977)
  • Prins Daniel (f. 1973)
  • Prinsessan Estelle (f. 2012)
  • Prins Oscar (f. 2016)
  • Prins Carl Philip (f. 1979)
  • Prinsessan Sofia (f. 1984)
  • Prins Alexander (f. 2016)
  • Prinsessan Madeleine (f. 1982), gift med herr Christopher O’Neill (f. 1974)
  • Prinsessan Leonore (f. 2014)
  • Prins Nicolas (f. 2015)
  • Prinsessan Birgitta (f. 1937)

Kungl. Familjen utgörs av Kungl. Huset samt Kungens övriga systrar:

  • Prinsessan Margaretha, Fru Ambler (f. 1934)
  • Prinsessan Désirée, Friherrinna Silfverschiöld (f. 1938), gift med friherre Niclas Silfverschiöld
  • Prinsessan Christina, Fru Magnuson (f. 1943), gift med generalkonsul Tord Magnuson.I Kungl. Familjen ingår även
  • Grevinnan Marianne Bernadotte af Wisborg (f. 1924)
  • Grevinnan Gunnila Bernadotte af Wisborg (f. 1923)
  • 来源，瑞典皇家网站。
Business, China, Chinese circle

News Analysis: Chinese companies’ overseas M&A growing at normal speed

Leave a comment

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) — The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday denied that Chinese companies were on a global buying spree and said the speed of their overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) was “appropriate and normal.”
“It is an overstatement to say Chinese companies are ‘buying out the world’ as such a claim confuses finalized deals with those that are pending approval,” said MOC spokesperson Shen Danyang at a news conference.
In the first quarter (Q1) of 2016, cross-border M&A value rose to 324 billion U.S. dollars, 14 percent higher than Q1 of 2015, while volume dropped 10 percent to 1,202 deals due to the economic slowdown in China, the potential exit from the EU by the U.K., volatile equities markets and the fall in commodities prices, according to the quarterly cross-border M&A index released by international law firm Baker & McKenzie on Tuesday.
Overseas M&A deals by Chinese companies in Q1 was 16.56 billion U.S. dollars, a far cry from the 113 billion dollars cited by some reports, Shen said.
Instead of the rumored 100 billion dollars, Shen said that the worth of overseas M&A deals by Chinese companies last year was 40.1 billion dollars, a mere 6.2 percent of the world’s total M&A market value.
Baker & McKenzie pointed out that outbound deals from China covered a number of sectors including chemicals, business services and consumer goods, revealing a desire to access advanced manufacturing techniques and technological know-how to build global brands.
The biggest deal of Q1 2016 was the takeover of Swiss agrichemical company Syngenta by state-owned ChemChina for 45.8 billion U.S. dollars, as it attempts to boost its agricultural output in light of increased food consumption by the growing middle classes.
Although Chinese companies have increased transnational acquisition in recent years, their M&A and China’s overseas investment were both in the early stages, Shen said.
According to Shen, Chinese overseas investment only accounts for 3.4 percent of the world’s total, while the figure for the United States is 24.4 percent. China trails behind other developed economies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan.
Overseas M&A by Chinese companies create win-win results, he said, citing the acquisition of AMC Entertainment by Dalian Wanda Group in 2012. The deal helped AMC turn losses into profits the same year, and be listed on the New York Stock Exchange the subsequent year, while some 1,100 new jobs were created in the United States.
“We are seeing a shift in Chinese investment from emerging markets to developed economies, and from energy and natural resources to technology and financial services, as Chinese companies target brands, talent and other assets that help increase their competitiveness at home and abroad,” said Zhang Danian, chief representative of Baker & McKenzie’s Shanghai office.
“We expect this trend to continue for the rest of 2016, as China’s economy stabilizes and the country transforms from a low-end manufacturing-led economy to one that focuses on consumption and services,” Zhang added.
Shen proposed more government support for Chinese companies to help them with overseas M&A as they still lack experience of dealing with cultural differences and policy hurdles.  Enditem

 

 

Business, China

China’s FDI to maintain steady growth this year: Commerce Ministry

Leave a comment

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) — Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China will likely sustain steady growth this year, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Tuesday, highlighting robust inflow in western regions and acquisitions.

“It [annual FDI] may not increase very fast but will maintain the growth momentum seen last year and in the first quarter [Q1] of this year,” MOC spokesperson Shen Danyang told reporters.
FDI in western regions posted strong growth in Q1, outpacing the national total with a 42.5 percent jump year on year to reach 21.3 billion yuan (3.3 billion U.S. dollars), he said.
Great potential in the service industry and a relatively low base of comparison contributed to the surge in western regions, Shen explained.
FDI to the Chinese mainland rose 4.5 percent year on year to 224.2 billion yuan in Q1, slowing from 6.4 percent in 2015. But year-on-year growth in March was higher at 7.8 percent, official data showed.
Shen said mergers and acquisitions (M&As) were more active, playing an increasing role in FDI growth.
Investment inflow in the form of M&As rose 32.6 percent year on year in Q1 to 7.8 billion U.S. dollars. It accounted for 22.7 percent of the overall FDI, up from 17.9 percent a year earlier, according to Shen.
M&As by foreign investors remained active in China, he said, counter to a recent report by accounting firm KPMG, which claimed inbound deals fell last year.
The number of foreign-invested M&A deals rose 14.4 percent to 1,466 in 2015, with realized investment soaring 137 percent to 17.8 billion U.S. dollars, Shen noted.
The Chinese government continues to welcome foreign investment through M&As, he said.  Enditem