Infrastructure

What is the difference between a state-level new area, a special economic zone, a development zone, a high-tech zone, and a free trade zone? Greater Bay Insights explains The Greater Bay Area (the area linking Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in mainland China around the Pearl River Delta including Guangdong and Shenzhen) was conceived as an integrated economic and commercial hub, designed to make doing business in the region …

One year on from the National Security Law, how well is China balancing its desire to incorporate Hong Kong fully into the Greater Bay Area (GBA) with allowing the city to remain the financial capital of Asia? Writes Joe Cash The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) provoked considerable conversation when introduced by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) in June 2020. Spooked by its seemingly sudden introduction, foreign business leaders …

A new policy offers a boost to high-tech industries like semiconductors and AI in Pudong, Shanghai, in what could be a golden opportunity for British businesses and investors On 15 July 2021, the Community Party of China Central Committee and the State Council issued a set of guidelines supporting the high-level reform and opening up of Pudong New Area in Shanghai, and to make it a pioneer of “socialist modernisation.” …

The Greater Bay Area’s response to the need for high-quality basic research institutions is to build them, with four clusters of scientific institutions in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Cuiheng now emerging – here’s what to expect When it comes to technology, Guangdong is known for designing, building and selling things. However, there is a step before all of that in the tech industry’s value chain, and it is a step …

Stephen Morgan’s new book charts China’s extraordinary growth over the past four decades, examining issues of sustainability, ageing and urbanisation alongside traditional indicators of economic growth. But will a lack of innovation hold them back? Paul French finds out more Stephen L. Morgan is Professor of Chinese Economic History at the University of Nottingham and Associate Provost for Planning at the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China. He was seconded to …

Paul French interviews Geoffery Gresh – author of ‘To Rule Eurasia’s Waves: The New Great Power Competition at Sea’ – about the Maritime Silk Road, transparency and the UK’s potential role Geoffrey F. Gresh’s ‘To Rule Eurasia’s Waves: The New Great Power Competition at Sea’ (Yale University Press) is a sweeping study of the situation concerning the vital sea lanes running from Asia to North America, Europe and the UK. …

UtterBerry’s AI-enabled tech has already helped organisations like the London Underground in the UK, and has been making headway in China too. Founder Heba Bevan discusses the challenges and opportunities of exporting her company’s smart sensors to the China market Data is already playing a significant role in reshaping our world, from small things like the smartphones we carry around in our pockets to the ambitious development of Internet of …

Earlier this month, China’s leadership published its proposal for the 14th Five Year Plan, which will serve as a blueprint and scorecard for economic policy in the coming 5 years. As expected, technological self-reliance and the new Dual Circulation Strategy are top of the agenda. Further opening up and the liberalisation of China’s service sector remain important goals. CBBC’s Torsten Weller gives his analysis Unusually, the proposal does not include …

Last month, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued a circular which outlined new measures to reform and open up its service sector. Here’s what it included: The circular included eight pilot tasks and 122 measures to promote innovation in the service industry, and 16 measures to remove bureaucratic hurdles for new market entrants. Most importantly, it also included 26 measures to facilitate the entry of foreign service providers. The sectors …

Following the release of China’s new draft energy law, Ben Wetherall of ICIS – a market intelligence company providing independent analysis to the world’s biggest international oil and gas companies – gives his take and explains what it means for China’s gas sector. China’s draft energy law is really a consolidation of lots of other things that were already in place or that had already been developed. So for example, …