China Economy Forum

[cirr]

China develops motion-sensing virtual reality glasses

English.news.cn 2014-12-21 13:10:53

XI'AN, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has developed new motion-sensing virtual reality glasses that gives game players immersive 3D experiences.

The glasses were developed by the optical research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

A chip installed in the glasses headset helps sense the motions of a wearer, allowing for interaction between the body and a digital situation.

The product will be listed on the world's largest funding platform for creative projects, kickstarter.com, for crowd funding at the beginning of 2015.

China develops motion-sensing virtual reality glasses - Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

[cirr]

China starts building massive new Beijing airport

26 December 2014 12:03

Construction on a huge new international passenger airport in Beijing began today, as booming demand for travel to and from China stretches the capacity of existing facilities.

Beijing’s current international airport is the world’s second busiest, but also one of the most delayed, with fewer than 20% of commercial passenger flights leaving on schedule according to a 2013 report.

The new facility located in southern Beijing is designed to handle 72 million passengers by annually by 2025, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The airport is set to cost 80 billion yuan (about R150 billion) and will be completed in about five years, Xinhua said, adding that it will be able to handle 620 000 flights a year.

Travel demand in China has soared as the country has grown to become the world’s second-largest economy and Beijing’s current international airport in the city’s northeast has begun to reach its capacity limits.

Beijing International Airport was the world’s second busiest airport in terms of passengers in 2013, Xinhua said, ranking behind Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States.

But it is also the world’s most delayed, according to a study last year by US-based air travel information service FlightStats, which said just 18% of flights were on time.

About 42% of departures from Beijing suffered delays of 45 minutes or longer, the survey said.

Xinhua cited aviation authorities as saying that the current airport was unable to handle an additional 300 flights daily and almost 10 million passengers annually due to restraints.

Jet manufacturer Airbus said this month that China would oust the US in 2023 as the world’s biggest domestic air traffic market by passenger numbers, as economic development pushes demand for air travel.

Beijing also has another smaller commercial airport in the city’s southern area. The National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planning agency, approved the airport plan this month, Xinhua said.

Sapa-AFP

China starts building massive new Beijing airport - City Press

 

[TaiShang]

It is the Onion. So, of course, it is a JOKE. But a rather funny one

Chinese Citizens Gather In Beijing Square To Watch U.S. National Debt Clock Strike $18 Trillion

BEIJING—Celebrating the milestone with hugs, jubilant cheers, and singing, over 600,000 Chinese citizens assembled in Tiananmen Square today to watch the U.S. debt clock mounted above the Forbidden City reach the landmark sum of $18 trillion dollars. “You could stay home and watch it on TV, but it’s much more exciting to be here with people from all over the country to celebrate this momentous day,” said Beijing resident Xiao Bu, noting that he always arrives in the early morning to stake out a good location in the square every time America’s debt rises by another trillion. “I remember my father taking me to see the $5 trillion mark so long ago, and now I’m bringing my own children here to take part in the festivities. It’s really a special part of our nation’s culture.” While most revelers left shortly after the rollover, an estimated 100,000 reportedly decided to just wait around in the square until the clock struck $19 trillion.

 

[cirr]

Huaneng Power International puts 1,320 MW generation units into operation

energycentral | Posted: 31 Dec 2014, 09:28

Huaneng Power International, Inc. (HPI)(NYSE: HNP)(HKEx: 902)(SSE: 600011) said that the 2x660 MW coal-fired generation units (a total of 1,320 MW) of the "Closing down smaller generation units and replaced with bigger ones" project of Zhejiang Huaneng Changxing Power Plant has recently put into operation.

The project is the company's first high efficiency ultra-supercritical generation unit project using the domestic 660 MW coal-fired generation unit with the highest specifications, and is also the supporting project in which the company implemented the technology on collaborative governance of flue gas of coal-fired generation units with each of the technological, economic and environmental indicators meeting the designed values.

To-date, the Company's controlled generation capacity has increased from 67,861 MW to 69,968MW, and the equity generation capacity has increased from 61,134 MW to 63,241 MW.

HPI is one of China's largest listed power producers, with controlled generation capacity of 69,968MW and equity-based generation capacity of 3,241MW currently. Its power plants are located in 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. The company also has a wholly-owned power company in Singapore.

 

[cirr]

Hyundai Motor to build two China plants amid slowing economy

SEOUL Tue Dec 30, 2014 3:20am EST

Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking


SEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Co said on Tuesday it would build two factories in China, its first new manufacturing plants since 2012 as the South Korean automaker bets on growth in the world's biggest car market even as the economy slows.

Hyundai said the factories, which will start production in 2016 and 2017, would help it better compete with rivals including Volkswagen and General Motors. Affiliate Kia Motors Corp also said it would expand capacity at one of its three Jiangsu province factories to up to 450,000 vehicles by 2016 from 300,000 now.

The automakers declined to give a value for the investments but Hyundai said the factories - which are capable of producing 300,000 vehicles each - would help it and Kia maintain their market share of over 10 percent in China.

The duo said they expect to have a combined China production capacity of 2.7 million passenger and commercial vehicles by 2018.

Hyundai and Kia's expansion plans come a few days after executives at Toyota Motor Corp told Reuters the Japanese automaker was likely to miss its 2014 target due to a faster-than-expected economic slowdown.

The plans announced on Tuesday also provide further evidence that the two automakers are easing an unofficial moratorium on capacity growth imposed about two years ago by Chairman Chung Mong-koo due to quality concerns.

Hyundai said construction of its Hebei province plant, to be located in city of Changzhou, will start in the second quarter of 2015. The factory will be able to produce small vehicles by the second half of 2016 and production will reach full capacity by 2018.

Construction on the Chongqing plant will start in the third quarter of 2015. That factory will make small and mid-sized vehicles as well as vehicles specifically targeting China from the first half of 2017, Hyundai added.

Hyundai currently has three factories in China.

People familiar with the matter said the automaker had initially planned to build just one plant in southwestern Chongqing to tap demand in that part of the country. It, however, increased the number to two after the Chinese government wanted Hyundai to build a plant in northeastern Hebei province as part of a development plan for the area.

 

[ahojunk]

Tibet's economy grew 12% in 2014.

Tibet's GDP is expected to be US$15.11 billion (92.5 billion yuan), maintaining double-digit growth for two decades since 1994, on the back of big investments in infrastructure projects. This is in comparison to China's expected overall GDP of about 7.5%.

China has invested heavily in Tibet's infrastructure such as airports, railway, roads and dams.

Tibet also increased trade with neighbouring Nepal.
.

 

[cirr]

Russia in Talks With China Over Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors Construction

15:29 26.12.2014(updated 16:01 26.12.2014)

Russia and China are negotiating the construction of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station's seventh and eighth units as well as fast neutron reactors. Only a few countries possess fast neutron reactor technology, with Russia leading the world in the field.

VOLGODONSK (Rostov Region), December 26 (Sputnik) — Moscow and Beijing are negotiating the construction of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station's seventh and eighth units as well as fast neutron reactors, the head of a subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom nuclear giant announced Friday.

"We are negotiating the construction of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station's seventh and eighth units. [We are also] in talks to construct fast neutron reactors," President of NIAEP (Atomstroyexport) joint-stock Valery Limarenko said Friday.

Only a few countries possess fast neutron reactor technology, with Russia leading the world in the field. The Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Station is currently preparing to launch the BN-800 fast reactor.

The advanced-design Tianwan Nuclear Power Station was constructed by the Russian Atomstroyexport nuclear service and equipment giant. According to International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) experts, it is among the world's safest operational nuclear power plants.

Tianwan's first and second reactors were launched in 2007.

 

[TaiShang]

Russia in Talks With China Over Fast Neutron Nuclear Reactors Construction

15:29 26.12.2014(updated 16:01 26.12.2014)

Russia and China are negotiating the construction of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station's seventh and eighth units as well as fast neutron reactors. Only a few countries possess fast neutron reactor technology, with Russia leading the world in the field.

VOLGODONSK (Rostov Region), December 26 (Sputnik) — Moscow and Beijing are negotiating the construction of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Station's seventh and eighth units as well as fast neutron reactors, the head of a subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom nuclear giant announced Friday.

"We are negotiating the construction of Tianwan Nuclear Power Station's seventh and eighth units. [We are also] in talks to construct fast neutron reactors," President of NIAEP (Atomstroyexport) joint-stock Valery Limarenko said Friday.

Only a few countries possess fast neutron reactor technology, with Russia leading the world in the field. The Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Station is currently preparing to launch the BN-800 fast reactor.

The advanced-design Tianwan Nuclear Power Station was constructed by the Russian Atomstroyexport nuclear service and equipment giant. According to International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) experts, it is among the world's safest operational nuclear power plants.

Tianwan's first and second reactors were launched in 2007.

The obvious benefit of China Russia partnership.

 

[cirr]

China Focus: Tianjin Development Zone shifts from Manufacturing to Tech

(GlobalPost/GlobalPost)

TIANJIN, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Strolling down the broad streets in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), it's hard to miss the flashy billboards displaying world famous brands such as Coca-Cola and Samsung.

Located at the Bohai Bay in Tianjin, a harbor city in north China, TEDA is a concentration of factories laid out in a style similar to Manhattan, though the skyline lacks highrise buildings and the streets are much quieter.

TEDA is among the first 14 state-sponsored development areas that were established in 1984, six years after China introduced the policy of reform and opening up.

The other areas were established in coastal cities including Dalian and Guangzhou.

Labor-intensive factories were common occupants of those areas when they were established. The first 20 companies set up in the TEDA during the late 1980s included a disposable lighter manufacturer and one that made cosmetics accessories.

For a long time, development area, with about 14,000 enterprises, was a manufacturing center for drinks, electronic devices and car supplies.

However, the picture is fast changing in recent years, as more and more technology companies occupy the space once held by light manufacturers. Now, more than half a million people are employed in the TEDA, including some 4,000 foreign workers.

Acting as a beacon for technological companies, China's supercomputer Tianhe-1, one of the world's fastest supercomputers, has been housed in the National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin since 2009.

The supercomputer was used to design a platform to fully digitalize the zone's planning, design, construction and property management.

Meng said Tianhe-1 computes more than 1,000 tasks every day, assisting more than 600 customers.

TEDA is also home to many small and medium-sized technology firms.

In a cafe next to the towering building bearing the name of the center is the office of Orange Family Technology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd, a hi-tech firm whose main product is a watch-sized oximeter, used in medicine to measure blood-oxygen saturation in patients.

The company decided to set up its headquarters in March in TEDA due to its favorable conditions for startups.

According to Wang Jia, an officer of the firm, TEDA provided facilities including premises, electricity and desks for the firm in a bid to attract promising startup companies and help them grow.

"The personal computers are the only properties we own here," Wang said.

Wang's company employs about 20 people, sharing the building with around 100 other high-tech companies.

Official statistics showed that there were 3,755 small and medium-sized technology firms in TEDA by the end of 2013. By November, the figure had reached 4,600.

The changes taking place in TEDA reflect China's upgrading economy and the nation's effort to encourage innovation.

At the 18th National Congress in November 2012, the Communist Party of China (CPC) put forward a strategy for innovation-driven development, stressing the importance of scientific innovation in improving productivity and overall national strength.

 

[Keel]

First e-car solar-powered charging station will be available for public usage in mid-January in Beijing!

 

[TaiShang]

China crude imports surge
Source:Agencies-Global Times Published: 2015-1-7 23:18:02

Tumbling world oil prices sparked a buying spree by China that led to record crude imports in December, according to Reuters estimates on Wednesday that suggest China doubled the oil put aside for strategic reserves in 2014 compared with 2013.

The figures indicate that thanks to the doubling of surplus oil in its system last year, China is much further along in filling up its strategic oil reserves than previously thought.

Yet analysts played down suggestions that Chinese buying could prop up global oil markets, where prices have dropped by more than half since the middle of last year.

***

A good time to boost China's SPRs.

 

[Keel]

The launching of 18-m long "Electric Catfish" e-bus in Beijing with a capacity of approx 150 passengers soon:

 

[Keel]

CNR's 2 DF7G-E locomotives exporting to Estonia

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Xi sets $250 bn investments for Latin America, backs south-south coop

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday said China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will eke out the details of a cooperation plan for the next five years.

Xi was speaking at the two-day CELAC meet that opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday morning.

“I believe that this meeting will achieve fruitful results, give the world a positive signal about deepening cooperation between China and Latin America and have an important and far-reaching impact on promoting South-South cooperation and prosperity for the world,” Xi said.

Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis, Ecuador President Rafael Correa Delgado, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro Moros, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, Mexico’s Minister of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu and ministerial representatives from CELAC member countries are attending the meet.

The 33-member CELAC includes all South American countries and some Caribbean states plus Mexico.
The Chinese President also announced $250 billion in investment in the countries that constitute the bloc over the next 10 years.

The new China-CELAC cooperation plan will cover political security, trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, energy, resources, industry, agriculture and science, Xi said.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has already stated that the cash-strapped country has secured more than $20 billion in investment from China in the run-up to the CELAC meet.

Venezuela is suffering due to the sharp downturn in global crude oil prices. Maduro has already announced his tour to China as critical to seek support and new cash injection to shore up Venezuela’s economy.

China is Venezuela’s largest investor and second largest oil customer. Chinese President Xi Jinping was quoted by state-media as saying China understands the impact of the recent oil price slide on the Venezuelan economy and that China will continue its financial support for the country.

China has also states a new commitment of $7.53 billion in credit lines and loans to Ecuador.

“China-Ecuador ties are developing to reach a historical new high and make new breakthrough. I met President Correa last July in Brasilia and I am delighted to see enterprises, financial institutions and other relevant parties have implemented the consensus reached by us,” said Xi on Wednesday after meeting his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa.

The forum is expected to conclude with the Beijing Declaration, a 2015-2019 China-CELAC Plan of Cooperation, and internal regulations for the forum.

Xi sets $250 bn investments for Latin America, backs south-south coop | The BRICS Post

 

[DoTell]

Tibet's economy grew 12% in 2014.

Tibet's GDP is expected to be US$15.11 billion (92.5 billion yuan), maintaining double-digit growth for two decades since 1994, on the back of big investments in infrastructure projects. This is in comparison to China's expected overall GDP of about 7.5%.

China has invested heavily in Tibet's infrastructure such as airports, railway, roads and dams.

Tibet also increased trade with neighbouring Nepal.
.

Good development there! Sounds like the Tibetans have waken up and want to get rich too I always thought Tibet has potential to be one of the most wealthy regions in China. They very low population density but occupy a vast land that is full of natural resources. Many, many beautiful natural and historical sites can be good tourist attractions. With smart management and policy guidance Tibet is going to take off!