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Chinese language – Japan’s tourism recovery pins hope on China

mandarinbjcn — Tue, 31 May 2011 07:59:21 +0000

Tourists from China stand outside a Laox Co shop in the Akihabara district of Tokyo.Chinese shoppers in Akihabara outspend all other overseas shoppers, according to thelocal tourism body, parting with more than four times more cash than their UScounterparts. The district’s stores are hiring Mandarin and Cantonese speakers andputting up two-meter tall billboards to bolster tourism. [Photo/Agencies]

SHANGHAI - Japan, keen to rebuild its tourism industry, is expecting the number of Chinese visitorsto level off within six months after steep decreases since March, a senior official from Japan’stourism authorities said.

The country’s national and local governments will pull together to dispel the gloom in its inboundtourism sectors, which is set to be responsible for 2.2 percent of Japan’s gross domestic productand 2.3 percent of employment this year.

By making a strong presence at the Eighth World Travel Fair in Shanghai last week, tourismexecutives from nearly 20 Japanese organizations vowed to restore the confidence of the Chinesemarket, which comprises the second-largest tourist inbound source.

As fears of a nuclear leak caused by the March 11earthquake and tsunami refused to disperse, many foreigngovernments urged their citizens to stay away from Japan,dealing a heavy blow to its thriving tourism industry.

Katsuaki Suzuki, director of Japan National TourismOrganization’s (JNTO) Shanghai office, said the government,among other endeavors, prioritized updating the latestdetailed and accurate information about travel in Japan todismiss people’s concerns.

“Most of Japan’s regions are unaffected by the disaster, andwe invite you to see the present condition of Japan by yourselves,” Suzuki said.

Suzuki said the representative offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong serve to sendpromotional activities to leading travel agencies. Latest events have included a 20 percentaccommodation discount in Tokyo and discounted travel passports tailor-made for foreign visitors,according to JNTO’s website.

Receiving 1.41 million Chinese visitors last year, Japan has set an ambitious target of regaining itspopularity by the outset of next year, Suzuki added.

A mere 352,800 foreigners arrived in Japan in March, 50.3 percent fewer than the same month in2010 and the largest decline ever recorded, according to the Japan National Tourism Board.

The catastrophic nuclear leak at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant has left northeast Japan thehardest hit area. Shuhei Sakamoto, director of the region’s tourism promotion organization, said itwould invite Chinese media and tourism professionals to visit Japan from September.

“We wish you to observe first-hand how Japan is still a unique and attractive travel destination and,by word of mouth, pass this information to the public,” Sakamoto said.

Southwest island Kyushu, while less exposed to the nuclear radiation, still saw a precipitous drop inthe number of visitors.

To reinvigorate the local economy, governors of the seven prefectures on Kyushu island will visitChina’s National Tourism Administration in Beijing and Shanghai Municipal Tourism Bureaus, saidYang Lin, assistant manager of the overseas division of the Kyushu tourism promotion organization.

Ishihara Susumi, its tourism chief, has made reassurances about safety in an open letter tooverseas tourists and invited people to enjoy the cherry blossom season.

“We continue to welcome visitors from all over the world with an unchanging spirit of hospitality,” theletter read.

The UN World Tourism Organization has downplayed fears about traveling to and from Japan asradiation levels at the country’s airports and ports are ”well within safe limits”.

However, Fumihiko Sugino, director of Japan-headquartered Meitetsu World Travel Inc in Shanghai,said his company witnessed a downward spiral in business as travelers canceled bookings rightafter the incident.

“All reservations for hotels and shuttle buses are called off, and not a single deal was made inMarch (after the quake),” Sugino’s assistant told China Daily.

Despite the sizable hit, Sugino remained optimistic for recovery as the first group of 40 Chinesepassengers landed in Japan on April 29.

Suzuki also forecast a rosy prospect for a quick rebound.

“Very much like the 2003 SARS pandemic that panicked international travelers to China, therebound showed blowout growth. We hope it is the same case with Japan this time,” Suzuki said.

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China Travel – E-car buyers to ‘skip license-plate draw’

mandarinbjcn — Mon, 30 May 2011 07:58:06 +0000

Visitors to Beijing’s Olympic Green on May 14, 2011, check out a clean-energy caron show for Science and Technology Week. [Photo/China Daily]

Beijingers who buy electric cars, or e-cars, could avoid having to take part in the license platelottery, a spokesman for a Chinese automaker said on Sunday.

The central government has already announced plans to introduce subsidies to encourage driversto switch to clean energy models, which will likely be boosted by municipal authorities.

However, during a display at the Olympic Green as part of the 17th Beijing Science and TechnologyWeek, Zhang Yuzhao of Beijing Automotive (BAIC) said e-car buyers will not have to rely on luck toget a registration.

“People with Beijing hukou (permanent residency) will nothave to enter the (license) lottery,” he told METRO whilepromoting his company’s electric-powered Foton Midi.

“Owners of 100-percent e-cars are not subject to the(monthly) restriction policy.”

METRO was unable to confirm the information with the city’stransport bureau before going to press.

At 300,000 yuan ($46,170), the Foton Midi is more than twicethe price of the gasoline-powered model, although Zhangargued: “With the subsidies, consumers will pay only 180,000 yuan. After running for 90,000 km, theowner saves so much money that it’s like the car is free.”

His calculation is based on the fact electricity is currently priced at 0.76 per kilowatt. However, othercosts include regularly replacing the battery.

“I think the car is a little expensive,” said Lu Xiaowei, a 26-year-old securities analyst who wasbrowsing BAIC’s booth. “Anyway, electric vehicles are the future of city transport.”

Gao Mei, a 35-year-old senior high school teacher, added: “It’s a bargain with governmentalsubsidies and the easy access to license plates, but I still have concerns of whether the relatedinfrastructure (charging stations) will be put in place soon. Until that has happened, I won’t buy one.”

BYD, another Chinese car company, plans to launch its E6 model in the capital in July, with pricesstarting at 300,000 yuan, according to a service worker at its Pengtian’ao branch.

“The company is still waiting on polices concerning governmental subsidies before sales,” said Li,who gave only his surname. “Lots of people are calling every day, asking about prices and functionsof the E6. As long as the restriction on gasoline car purchase exists, the car will definitely sell well.”

Beijing is now building its first batch of three battery swap stations and 16 charging stations, whichare slated for completion this year, China Automotive Review reported.

It is also applying to become the sixth pilot city to subsidize buyers of new energy vehicles, followingin the steps of Shenzhen, Changchun, Hangzhou, Hefei and Hangzhou.

China Business – China’s land ministry urges regulating demolitions

mandarinbjcn — Sun, 29 May 2011 07:57:03 +0000

The Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) has issued a notice asking local departments to monitor forced demolitions and evictions in a bid to protect the people’s interests.

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18.63b yuan recovered from illegal land-use in 2010

The notice said local land departments should map out emergency programs to cope with possible land dispute emergencies to avoid suppressing the public in a “simple and rude” way, which might result in malicious and mass incidents, the notice said.

Also, heads of the local land departments should be held accountable in carrying out the central governments’ policies and cooperate with local governments and departments to improve relocation compensation or resettlement policies, the notice said. Supervision should also be stepped up and proper compensation should be given to rural residents, whose homes are demolished, and more efforts should be made to tackle the rural residents’ relocations and their life difficulties, the notice said.

Also, reasonable requests from members of the public should be properly answered, the notice said.

The Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) has issued a notice asking local departments to monitor forced demolitions and evictions in a bid to protect the people’s interests.
Related readings: China to complete registration of collectively-owned land Third party assessment to improve land-use inspection work China salvages $2.8b in land misuse; 8,600 probed 18.63b yuan recovered from illegal land-use in 2010
The notice said local land departments should map out emergency programs to cope with possible land dispute emergencies to avoid suppressing the public in a “simple and rude” way, which might result in malicious and mass incidents, the notice said.Also, heads of the local land departments should be held accountable in carrying out the central governments’ policies and cooperate with local governments and departments to improve relocation compensation or resettlement policies, the notice said. Supervision should also be stepped up and proper compensation should be given to rural residents, whose homes are demolished, and more efforts should be made to tackle the rural residents’ relocations and their life difficulties, the notice said.
Also, reasonable requests from members of the public should be properly answered, the notice said.

HSK – PICC P&C eyes global top 5

mandarinbjcn — Sat, 28 May 2011 07:56:15 +0000

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Wang Yincheng, president of the PICC P&C, said Saturday that in order to achieve this goal, the company seeks to increase annual premium volumes to 300 billion yuan ($46.15 billion).

“It means that PICC P&C needs to maintain a double-digit growth rate in annual premiums,” he said.

The company, which ranked No 8 in the global non-life insurance market in 2009, witnessed a 192.3 percent jump in its 2010 net profit to 5.21 billion yuan year on year, while sales revenue increased 28.8 percent to 154.31 billion yuan from one year ago.

China’s economy is growing rapidly, which provides an excellent external environment for the development of China’s non-life insurance industry, said Wang.

PICC P&C’s parent company, the People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China (PICC), is also seeking to launch an initial public offering, and the group will unveil the list of its strategic investors in one to two months, said Wu Yan, president of PICC.

The strategic investors are domestic enterprises, and the total investment scale will be about 10 billion yuan, he said.

China’s largest general, non-life insurer, PICC Property and Casualty Limited (PICC P&C), is striving to become one of the top five global insurers by premium volume in the next five to ten years, according to a top official of the company.
Related readings: China Unionpay, Ping An sign strategic co-op agreement China’s insurance premiums hit 462b yuan in Q1 MetLife plans multiple listing Life insurance to keep growing in China
Wang Yincheng, president of the PICC P&C, said Saturday that in order to achieve this goal, the company seeks to increase annual premium volumes to 300 billion yuan ($46.15 billion).”It means that PICC P&C needs to maintain a double-digit growth rate in annual premiums,” he said.
The company, which ranked No 8 in the global non-life insurance market in 2009, witnessed a 192.3 percent jump in its 2010 net profit to 5.21 billion yuan year on year, while sales revenue increased 28.8 percent to 154.31 billion yuan from one year ago.
China’s economy is growing rapidly, which provides an excellent external environment for the development of China’s non-life insurance industry, said Wang.
PICC P&C’s parent company, the People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China (PICC), is also seeking to launch an initial public offering, and the group will unveil the list of its strategic investors in one to two months, said Wu Yan, president of PICC.
The strategic investors are domestic enterprises, and the total investment scale will be about 10 billion yuan, he said.

learn mandarin – ‘No discrimination’ over China contracts

mandarinbjcn — Fri, 27 May 2011 07:54:36 +0000

A public procurement sign in Chinese beside the gate of a wholesale market inYichang, Hubei province. [Photo/China Daily]

SHANGHAI - Set amid lush foliage, and only a short stroll from the Bund, the city’s landmark,HASSELL China’s headquarters building in Shanghai looks more like a tranquil resort than an officecomplex.

The relaxed atmosphere inside the spacious open office, well lit by natural light beaming through tallglass windows, belies the hectic pace of a flourishing design studio run by Australian designer PeterDuncan.

An old China hand, Duncan, managing director, Asia, of the Australian design firm, has beenworking in China for more than 20 years. Although he has built many connections in this ”highlyrelational” society, he admits, his Chinese has remained ”elementary”.

His connections, nevertheless, have helped open doors,enabling him to land many government projects. “I don’t seediscrimination against the foreign in government tenders,” hesaid.

That is a reassuring statement to many foreign suppliers andcontractors who are keen on securing a share of the hugegovernment procurement pie.

A recent study by the European Union Chamber ofCommerce in China estimates that China’s publicprocurement totals $1 trillion, or 6.8 trillion yuan, a year - about 20 per cent of the total economy.

But the report adds to rising complaints from major trading partners that foreign companies arebeing treated unfairly in China’s huge and rapidly growing public procurement market.

Efforts by foreign companies to secure Chinese government supply contracts are actively supportedby their respective governments. For instance, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited China in2010 and market access was number one on her list of discussion topics with the Chineseleadership.

Duncan and some other foreign business people who have been working closely with their Chinesepartners and clients have a rather different perception. They say they suspect the perception of”unfairness” stems from a misunderstanding of the rules and the less obvious nuances of doingbusiness in a different culture.

Duncan says that the experience of his company in China can help ease foreigners’ concern aboutthe complicated rules.

As one of the largest planning and design consultancies in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,HASSELL began undertaking projects related to the Chinese mainland from Hong Kong back in theearly 1990s. The catalyst for expanding the business came in 2003 when it established a WhollyForeign-Owned Enterprise and launched the first working studio in Shanghai.

“We won our first government bid through an invited international design contest in 2003,” Duncanrecalled.

Involved in many commercial projects beforehand, HASSELL has gained experience and areputation in architecture interior design and landscape design, and therefore was ”recommendedto take part in the competition”, said Duncan, even if ”we did not know specifically anyone from thegovernment”.

HASSELL, along with other tendering parties, was given three months to fulfill a draft design for thenew town of Ningbo, a fast-growing city in East China’s Zhejiang province.

“Like in all cases, the government always included both international firms and local institutes totake the bid. Still, all we do is focus on our design and not get distracted by anything else,” Duncansaid.

After winning the contest, HASSELL and a consulting company were appointed by the Ningbo UrbanPlanning Bureau to develop urban design principles to guide the expansion of the city to the eastencompassing a new urban core and a surrounding 39-square-kilometer urban precinct.

Duncan can be forgiven for forgetting the exact number of government programs HASSELL hasundertaken over the past eight years. As its large-scale urban planning projects sprawled acrossthe country, Duncan estimates the figure is ”up to hundreds”.

In late 2008, China launched a 4-trillion-yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package that generated a largevolume of procurement projects.

Commerce Minister Chen Deming said 2009 was a year when 55 percent of the 12,439 tenders forprocurement of electromechanical products went to foreign enterprises. “China has followed stricttender rules to ensure a level playing field for both Chinese and foreign companies,” Chen said.

Foreign enterprises’ complaints are mainly focused on issues of intellectual property rights andmarket access, including government procurement and indigenous innovation. Initially, in order tobe considered ”indigenous innovation”, a product must have had a trademark that was owned by aChinese company with full ownership of the product’s intellectual property (IP) in China.

But in April 2010, the country modified the rules so that ”a product would be eligible for indigenousinnovation accreditation as long as the applying party has exclusive rights to the product’strademark in China and is licensed to use the IP in China”, said Wang Zhile, director of the researchcenter under the Ministry of Commerce.

For instance, the Joint Venture Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles Co Ltd (CBRC) wasawarded by Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Co a contract to supply 306 MOVIA metros forShanghai’s Line 9 and Line 7, said Marie-Lucie Spoke, director of Canada China Business Council’sShanghai office.

Another testimony to foreign firms’ engagement in China’s public procurement projects is theQinghai-Tibet Railway, where the diesel locomotives used on the Golmud-Lhasa section were madeby General Electric, and Bombardier Sifang Transportation (BSP) made carriages on some trains.

When asked the secret of winning contracts from the government in China, Zhang Jianwei, presidentof Bombardier China, said Bombardier’s success lies in the excellence of its technology, quality andservice, not in maintaining government relations.

“With our sales, we do not use agents or middlemen. We do not even have a government relationsposition in our China organization,” Zhang said.

Government offers in China also takes the form of co-sponsoring pilot programs.

Criticism of China for allegedly favoring local industry at the expense of foreign companies has gonetoo far, according to Sandy Cutler, chief executive of Eaton, the US industrial conglomerate.

“There might be some political pressures inside China to favor local companies when awardinggovernment contracts, but this is not the same as saying that the climate is acting to discouragecompanies based outside China,” Cutler told the Financial Times.

Tong Zhiguang, former vice-minister of commerce, told China Daily in an earlier interview that ”whatmakes the foreign companies really uncomfortable and unhappy is the growing competitiveness ofChinese enterprises”.

Duncan echoed Tong’s remarks. He believes the Chinese market has created an equal footing forsuccess, and the only difference is perhaps the increased competition.

“I would say the business environment here is even more open than in some other places. Beinghere, working here, the very existence here in China is important. In this intense market, we have towork hard and be wholly focused on our designs,” said Duncan.

learn Chinese online – China’s 2011 trade surplus may drop to $100b

mandarinbjcn — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:53:19 +0000

China’s trade surplus may drop to around $100 billion in 2011, the China Securities Journal quoted a central bank advisor as saying in a Monday report.

Related readings:

China reports bigger trade surplus

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China to see trade surplus in 2011: Vice Minister

Li Daokui, a member of the monetary policy committee of the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, made the remarks at the 3rd International Business Development Forum held in Beijing on May 14, according to the report.

Li said in the report that the country’s trade surplus is likely to decrease to $120 billion or even $100 billion by the end of the year, compared with 2010′s trade surplus of $180 billion.

Li said that he expects the proportion of China’s trade surplus to its gross domestic product (GDP) to drop below 2 percent this year and suggested that the government should make an effort to reduce the ratio, according to the report.

China’s trade surplus rose to $11.43 billion in April after registering a trade deficit of $1.02 billion from January to March this year, the first quarterly trade deficit in six years, according to the General Administration of Customs.

China’s trade surplus may drop to around $100 billion in 2011, the China Securities Journal quoted a central bank advisor as saying in a Monday report.
Related readings: China reports bigger trade surplus China’s April trade surplus stands at $11b China says not seeking substantial trade surplus with US China to see trade surplus in 2011: Vice Minister
Li Daokui, a member of the monetary policy committee of the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, made the remarks at the 3rd International Business Development Forum held in Beijing on May 14, according to the report.Li said in the report that the country’s trade surplus is likely to decrease to $120 billion or even $100 billion by the end of the year, compared with 2010′s trade surplus of $180 billion.
Li said that he expects the proportion of China’s trade surplus to its gross domestic product (GDP) to drop below 2 percent this year and suggested that the government should make an effort to reduce the ratio, according to the report.
China’s trade surplus rose to $11.43 billion in April after registering a trade deficit of $1.02 billion from January to March this year, the first quarterly trade deficit in six years, according to the General Administration of Customs.

learn Chinese – Hu says to ‘provide convenience’ for EU investment

mandarinbjcn — Wed, 25 May 2011 07:51:24 +0000

Hu made the remarks during talks with visiting European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in Beijing.

“China will continue to provide convenience for investments from EU firms,” said Hu, adding that “the EU should take proactive measures to expand export of high-tech products to China, recognize China’s market economy status and create a loose policy environment for Chinese firms to invest in EU countries.”

During Van Rompuy’s first official visit to China since becoming European Council president, he will also meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping, respectively.

The 27-member bloc is now China’s largest trading partner and second largest export market while China is the EU’s second-largest trading partner.

Related readings:

Vice-premier Li calls for safe global financial system

China’s investment in US to expand in future

China backs Europe amid debt crisis

China says FDI review fair, urges vis-a-vis

Hu said, to push advancement of China-EU relations, the two sides should keep high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic dialogues and policy communication, deepen coordination and cooperation on bilateral and multilateral affairs and work to develop an equal partnership featuring mutual respect, friendship and mutual trust.

Hu called for enhanced cooperation in the fields of trade, finance, innovation, environmental protection and new energy, and efforts to foster new growth areas and to advance the cooperative partnership that features reciprocity, win-win situations and common development.

He also called for increased cooperation and exchanges in the cultural and education sectors to deepen understanding and friendship between the two sides.

“China always treats China-EU relations in accordance with the development of the times and from a strategic perspective,” Hu said. “We will work with the EU to further outline the overall development of China-EU relations and lift China-EU comprehensive and strategic partnership to a new level.”

Hu said China welcomes the EU to play a more positive and constructive role in international affairs, adding that “an economically stable and prosperous Europe is good for both the world and China.”

“Whether in the past, at present or in the future, China will always be a reliable cooperative partner of Europe,” Hu said.

Van Rompuy said the EU would like to work with China to boost bilateral ties and the global economy as a whole in the spirit of cooperation, mutual trust and mutual respect.

He said the EU and China, both economic and political partners, have a lot in common despite differences in terms of development stage and level.

He said the EU will work with China to strengthen cooperation in various fields, jointly keep markets open, avoid protectionism and push the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations to produce outcomes as soon as possible.

Van Rompuy also expressed his appreciation for China’s contribution to helping maintain stability in the euro zone and promoting economic recovery in Europe.

Van Rompuy’s China tour followed the second round of China-EU high-level strategic dialogues, which were co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Catherine Ashton, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, in Hungary.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Monday that China will continue to provide convenience of investment for European Union (EU) firms, while urging the EU to expand export of high-tech products and recognize China’s market economy status.
Hu made the remarks during talks with visiting European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in Beijing.
“China will continue to provide convenience for investments from EU firms,” said Hu, adding that “the EU should take proactive measures to expand export of high-tech products to China, recognize China’s market economy status and create a loose policy environment for Chinese firms to invest in EU countries.”
During Van Rompuy’s first official visit to China since becoming European Council president, he will also meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping, respectively.
The 27-member bloc is now China’s largest trading partner and second largest export market while China is the EU’s second-largest trading partner.
Related readings: Vice-premier Li calls for safe global financial system China’s investment in US to expand in future China backs Europe amid debt crisis China says FDI review fair, urges vis-a-vis
Hu said, to push advancement of China-EU relations, the two sides should keep high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic dialogues and policy communication, deepen coordination and cooperation on bilateral and multilateral affairs and work to develop an equal partnership featuring mutual respect, friendship and mutual trust.Hu called for enhanced cooperation in the fields of trade, finance, innovation, environmental protection and new energy, and efforts to foster new growth areas and to advance the cooperative partnership that features reciprocity, win-win situations and common development.
He also called for increased cooperation and exchanges in the cultural and education sectors to deepen understanding and friendship between the two sides.
“China always treats China-EU relations in accordance with the development of the times and from a strategic perspective,” Hu said. “We will work with the EU to further outline the overall development of China-EU relations and lift China-EU comprehensive and strategic partnership to a new level.”
Hu said China welcomes the EU to play a more positive and constructive role in international affairs, adding that “an economically stable and prosperous Europe is good for both the world and China.”
“Whether in the past, at present or in the future, China will always be a reliable cooperative partner of Europe,” Hu said.
Van Rompuy said the EU would like to work with China to boost bilateral ties and the global economy as a whole in the spirit of cooperation, mutual trust and mutual respect.
He said the EU and China, both economic and political partners, have a lot in common despite differences in terms of development stage and level.
He said the EU will work with China to strengthen cooperation in various fields, jointly keep markets open, avoid protectionism and push the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations to produce outcomes as soon as possible.
Van Rompuy also expressed his appreciation for China’s contribution to helping maintain stability in the euro zone and promoting economic recovery in Europe.
Van Rompuy’s China tour followed the second round of China-EU high-level strategic dialogues, which were co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Catherine Ashton, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, in Hungary.

Chinese School – Guangdong leads processing trade innovation

mandarinbjcn — Mon, 23 May 2011 07:48:08 +0000

The General Administration of Customs and Guangdong province signed a cooperation memorandum here on Monday to build a demonstration region in Guangdong for upgrading the processing trade industry.

Related readings:

China’s 2011 trade surplus may drop to $100b

China protests EU first anti-subsidy duties

China looks to increase trade with Latin America

Records expected at auto parts fair

Upgrading the processing trade is essential to deepening China’s opening-up and maintaining China’s international competitive edge, and it is also the earnest need of Guangdong, said Wang Yang, chief of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Yu Guangzhou, minister of the General Administration of Customs, said innovations in customs management will be conducted in Guangdong to facilitate the operations of businesses.

The memorandum said innovative customs regulations will be applied in the demonstration region to encourage high-end equipment manufacturing in the region.

The General Administration of Customs and Guangdong province signed a cooperation memorandum here on Monday to build a demonstration region in Guangdong for upgrading the processing trade industry.
Related readings: China’s 2011 trade surplus may drop to $100b China protests EU first anti-subsidy duties China looks to increase trade with Latin America Records expected at auto parts fair
Upgrading the processing trade is essential to deepening China’s opening-up and maintaining China’s international competitive edge, and it is also the earnest need of Guangdong, said Wang Yang, chief of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.Yu Guangzhou, minister of the General Administration of Customs, said innovations in customs management will be conducted in Guangdong to facilitate the operations of businesses.
The memorandum said innovative customs regulations will be applied in the demonstration region to encourage high-end equipment manufacturing in the region.

Chinese language – China slams EU potato starch imports

mandarinbjcn — Sun, 22 May 2011 07:45:41 +0000

China will impose an anti-subsidy tariff on potato starch imported from the EuropeanUnion (EU), although no starting date for the tariff has yet been announced.

The levy will be China’s first-ever anti-subsidy duty targeting EU potato starch, the Ministry ofCommerce said on Monday.

According to a statement on the ministry’s website, the duty rates will range from 7.7 percent to11.19 percent. France’s Roquette Freres SA will pay 7.7 percent and the Netherland’s Avebe UA willpay 11.19 percent.

“The move is to counter alleged trade-distorting subsidies toEuropean exporters of potato starch, who sell products at anexcessively low price in China,” Zhou Qingfeng, vice-directorat the China Starch Industry Association (CSIA), told ChinaDaily.

The ministry and CSIA launched an anti-subsidy probe on EUimports of potato starch in June 2010, following an anti-dumping investigation initiated in April of the same year.

According to the ministry, the anti-dumping duty rates, whichcame into effect last month, range from 12.6 percent to 56.7 percent.

In addition to its applications in the food industry, potato starch is also widely used in industrialsectors such as textile finishing and paper coating.

“Although China is rich in potato resources, the development of thedomestic potato starch industry is being seriously damaged becauseof competition from EU exporters who have been selling potato starchat below-costs, or at a dumped price in Chinese market,” said Zhou.

According to the CSIA, potato starch imported from the EU was pricedat $430 a ton in China in 2010, accounting for 30 percent of theexporters’ total costs.

“The EU provides several kinds of subsidies to their producers ofpotato starch, so that they can produce a margin even though theysell goods at a price far below the local market price in foreigncountries,” the CSIA’s Zhou said, adding that a reasonable marketprice for potato starch is around $1,800 a ton in China.

At present, potato starch imported from the EU has a market share of40 percent in China, which has seen strong demand for the productand, therefore, has huge potential for the development of theindustry.

Zhou said that by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015)period, China’s demand for potato starch is set to reach 1.2 milliontons annually, double the current amount.

At present, the EU produces 2 million tons of potato starch every year, and 10 percent of that isexported to China. “The development of China’s potato starch industry will rebound if a standardmarket price can be established through the government’s move to regulate the price set by EUexporters, who always have pricing power in the Chinese market,” Zhou said.

China’s new decision comes two days after the European Commission announced on Saturday afinal ruling to impose countervailing tariff rates on Chinese coated fine paper, ranging from four to12 percent, and anti-dumping duty rates of 8 to 35.1 percent.

Yao Jian, a ministry spokesman, said on Sunday that China opposes the EU decision, which, hesaid, violates many principles of the World Trade Organization.

Yao said that both the government and businesses have provided evidence to show that China’scoated fine paper industry works in conjunction with the principles of a free market economy, andthat the government never intervenes in company operations or pricing.

The EU is China’s largest trading partner, while China is EU’s second-largest. Last year, the value ofbilateral trade was close to $480 billion, a 31.8 percent increase year-on-year.

Chinese language – China finds EU members subsidize exports of potato starch to China

mandarinbjcn — Sat, 21 May 2011 07:38:46 +0000

An initial ruling by China’s Ministry of Commerce said Monday that European Union (EU) members have subsidized potato starch exports to China, hurting the interests of China’s domestic industries.

China will impose an anti-subsidy provision of the tariff on potato starch products effective from May 19, the ministry said in a statement on its website. The rate will range between 7.7 percent and 11.19 percent, depending on the subsidy margin, according to the statement.

The initial ruling accused several EU companies, including France’s Roquette Freres and Netherland’s AVEBE, of receiving subsidies.

China launched an anti-subsidy investigation into potato starch imports from the EU on August 30, 2010 at the request of the China Starch Industry Association. This was China’s first-ever anti-subsidy probe into imports from the EU.

China had earlier decided to impose anti-dumping tariffs ranging from 12.6 percent to 56.7 percent on EU potato starch products. The new tariffs were effective from April 19.