China
China’s Pearl River Delta Development: A game changer for Hong Kong
Some leaders in the region have warned that the Pearl River Delta is becoming less important to China’s economy and may even lose its power in China’s economic development.
“Hong Kong government has to think out of the box and take initiative to lead Hong Kong to break the bottle neck in economy development,” said Dr. Fang Zhou, Research Director of One Country Two Systems Research Institute (OCTSRI), a non-government public policy think tank in Hong Kong, at a seminar organized by Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in November 2016.
In the seminar, Dr. Fang shared with the audience his insights into the development of Pearl River Delta region and the implications to Hong Kong, and how the city can be taken to the next level.
According to Dr. Fang, China’s 13th Five-Year Plan outlined several regions as the country’s major regional development engines, such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta region and also One Belt One Road.
But Greater Pearl River Delta, China’s long-time economic development engine in the past 20 years, is not included in this blueprint of China’s economy development for the following five to ten years.
Greater Pearl River Delta consists of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong Province.
Therefore some leaders in the region have warned that the Pearl River Delta is becoming less important to China’s economy and may even lose its power in China’s economic development.
“Such sense of crisis is not unfounded,” said Dr. Fang, citing Hong Kong’s GDP share of China’s GDP as an example. “In 1995, Hong Kong’s GDP was about 25% of China’s GDP, but in 2015, its GDP has shrunk to 2.7% of that of China.”
As the most dynamic region in China, Greater Pearl River Delta region, particularly Hong Kong, has long served as the bridge between China and the world, conveying trade and investment flows both ways.
“But that role has diminished in recent years as China has opened its borders and plugged itself directly into the global economy,” said Dr. Fang. “Obviously, Greater Pearl River Delta region, including Hong Kong, is less important now than in the past.”
To stay ahead of the game, Guangdong province has implemented a series of reforms, such as upgrading its economic industrial structure and enhancing urban infrastructures, aiming to maintain its economic status in China.
For example, Guangdong province used to be the world’s factory, but facing rising labor costs and intense global competition, it is upgrading its economy from a labor-intensive and high-energy consumption manufacturing industry to high-tech industries, such as telecommunications, biomedicine and new energy industries.
Meanwhile, an intercity rail transport network featuring three circular and eight outbound routes will be built by 2020. The network will connect all Pearl River Delta cities and create a “one-hour intercity circle”.
According to Dr. Fang, Guangdong province is also forging closer cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao through policies such as developing Lok Ma Chau Loop into a higher education area with supplementary R&D facilities and connecting Hong Kong and Macao via infrastructure constructions, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Express Line between the airports of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
As the transportation between Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta region is getting more convenient, Hong Kong will be expecting more visitors from mainland China. In light of this, Dr. Fang suggested that Hong Kong should be prepared to respond to these changes and challenges by adjusting its urban planning effectively.
He went on to share that in the past decades, Hong Kong’s urban development direction was mainly towards the south of Kowloon, but now as the connection between Hong Kong and mainland China is getting closer, the urbanization need in the north of Kowloon is imperative as well.
So for example, he suggested that Hong Kong government can build more shopping centers in New Territories near the border of Shenzhen to cater for shoppers and tourists from the mainland, leading them to explore the north of Kowloon and helping to ease the over-crowdedness on Hong Kong Island.
According to the statistics of the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, due to the rising number of mainland visitors to Hong Kong, the gross proceeds of the retail industry had grown by 1.3 times between 2002 and 2011; however, the retail floor space had increased only by 30% during the same period, leading to the rise of rents and commodity prices.
“Obviously, retail is one the major economic activities of Hong Kong and the demand far exceeds the supply. However, the government didn’t take sufficient measures to address the problem in the past decade. This has not only caused a lot of missed business opportunities for Hong Kong, but has also led to the discontent among Hong Kong people towards mainlanders,” said Dr. Fang.
Another example is the coordination among the airport authorities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Macao. According to Dr. Fang, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Zhuhai Airport and Macao Airport have all started their constructions of new runways or terminals to enlarge air traffic capacities. Most of the constructions will be finished by mid 2020s.
By then, the air traffic among these airports will be more congested and the competition among them will also be fiercer. Hence, to fully utilize the capacities of these airports and meet the growing demand of air traffic services, Dr. Fang suggested that coordination and cooperation is the key.
He further pointed out that the runways in Shenzhen Airport and Macao Airport are vertical from north to south, whereas those of Hong Kong International Airport are horizontal from west to east, which would lead to more congested air traffic and unhealthy competitions in the region. So it is necessary for the airport authorities in these cities to coordinate with each other in advance in order to ensure the efficiency of air space and maintain a healthy competition.
“Airports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao are all close to each other geographically,” Dr. Fang said. “If we had planned and better coordinated when the airports were under construction in 1990s, we would’ve made better use of our resources in air traffic.”
“If Hong Kong government can take the initiative to seize the opportunity to cooperate with other major Pearl River Delta cities now and in the future, Hong Kong’s role as a super connector in the region will be more vital and special, which undoubtedly will also enhance the city’s competitive strength and bring Hong Kong to the next level,” Dr. Fang concluded.
By Fang Ying, Senior Writer, Chinese Business Knowledge@CUHK
This article is republished with permission by China Business Knowledge at Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School. You can access the original article here.
China
Guide for Foreign Residents: Obtaining a Certificate of No Criminal Record in China
Foreign residents in China can request a criminal record check from their local security bureau. This certificate may be required for visa applications or job opportunities. Requirements and procedures vary by city. In Shanghai, foreigners must have lived there for 180 days with a valid visa to obtain the certificate.
Foreign residents living in China can request a criminal record check from the local security bureau in the city in which they have lived for at least 180 days. Certificates of no criminal record may be required for people leaving China, or those who are starting a new position in China and applying for a new visa or residence permit. Taking Shanghai as an example, we outline the requirements for obtaining a China criminal record check.
Securing a Certificate of No Criminal Record, often referred to as a criminal record or criminal background check, is a crucial step for various employment opportunities, as well as visa applications and residency permits in China. Nevertheless, navigating the process can be a daunting task due to bureaucratic procedures and language barriers.
In this article, we use Shanghai as an example to explore the essential information and steps required to successfully obtain a no-criminal record check. Requirements and procedures may differ in other cities and counties in China.
Note that foreigners who are not currently living in China and need a criminal record check to apply for a Chinese visa must obtain the certificate from their country of residence or nationality, and have it notarized by a Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.
Foreigners who have a valid residence permit and have lived in Shanghai for at least 180 days can request a criminal record check in the city. This means that the applicant will also need to currently have a work, study, or other form of visa or stay permit that allows them to live in China long-term.
If a foreigner has lived in another part of China and is planning to or has recently moved to Shanghai, they will need to request a criminal record check in the place where they previously spent at least 180 days.
There are two steps to obtaining a criminal record certificate in Shanghai: requesting the criminal record check from the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and getting the resulting Certificate of No Criminal Record notarized by an authorized notary agency.
This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.
China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.
China
China Unveils Plan to Upgrade Industrial Equipment
China unveiled a comprehensive action plan for upgrading industrial equipment, with a focus on driving technological innovation and economic growth. The plan, released on April 9, 2024, aims to enhance competitiveness and sustainability within the manufacturing sector through extensive investment and regulatory support.
China announced an ambitious action plan for industrial equipment upgrading, which aims to drive technological innovation and economic growth through extensive investment and regulatory support.
On April 9, 2024, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and six other departments jointly released a notice introducing the Implementation Plan for Promoting Equipment Renewal in the Industrial Sector (hereafter referred to as the “action plan”).
Finalized earlier on March 23, 2024, this comprehensive action plan addresses critical issues related to technological innovation and economic development. It reflects China’s proactive stance in enhancing competitiveness and sustainability within its manufacturing sector. The initiative underscores the recognition of industrial equipment upgrading as a top policy priority.
The scope of China’s action plan to upgrade industrial equipment in manufacturing, is extensive, covering various aspects such as:
In line with China’s ambitious goals for industrial modernization and sustainable development, the action plan outlines several key objectives aimed at driving substantial advancements in the industrial sector by 2027.
These objectives encompass a wide range of areas, from increasing investment to enhancing digitalization and promoting innovation, including:
The objectives and key actions proposed in the action plan are summarized below.
This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.
China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at china@dezshira.com.
China
China deepens engagement with new Indonesian president as top diplomat visits Jakarta
China’s top diplomat met the outgoing Indonesian president and his successor in Jakarta on Thursday, as Beijing deepened its engagement with future leader Prabowo Subianto, amid a competition for regional influence with the United States.
The meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was part of a joint commitment to advance the partnership between the two countries, said Prabowo, who visited Beijing in early April after his landslide win in the February general election.
“It is a great honor for me to welcome him [Wang] today. Thank you for the kind reception I received in Beijing a few weeks ago,” Prabowo said, according to an Indonesian defense ministry statement.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had invited Prabowo to visit, and the latter accepting the invitation raised eyebrows in Indonesia because no president-elect had made a foreign visit such as this one without being sworn in. China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner.
Wang, too, mentioned Prabowo’s Beijing trip, according to the same statement.
“We really appreciate and welcome Defense Minister Prabowo’s visit to China,” he said.
“We are committed to continuing to increase bilateral cooperation with Indonesia, both in the defense sector and other fields such as economic, social and cultural.”
Wang is scheduled to go to East Nusa Tenggara province on Friday to attend the China-Indonesia High-Level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism, a process to support more effective bilateral cooperation. His Jakarta stop was the first of a six-day tour that also includes Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.
Prabowo and Wang discussed cooperation in the defense industry and sector, with potential measures such as educational and training collaboration, as well as joint exercises, said Brig. Gen. Edwin Adrian Sumantha, spokesman at the Indonesian defense ministry.
In fact, the ministry statement said that “China is Indonesia’s close partner and has had close bilateral relations, especially in the defense sector, for a long time.”
Of course, China has also invested billions of U.S. dollars in infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative – the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, which began commercial operations in October 2023, is one such BRI project.
The two countries have drawn closer during outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s two terms, and Beijing would like that to continue as the U.S. tries to catch up with China’s gargantuan influence in Southeast Asia, analysts have said.
Indonesia, China call for ceasefire in Gaza
Both Indonesia and China shared the same position on Israel’s devastating attacks on Gaza, said Wang’s Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi.
Israel’s air and ground strikes have killed more than 33,000 Palestinians following the Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which killed around 1,100 Israelis.
“We … have the same view regarding the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza and resolving the Palestinian problem fairly through two state solutions,” Retno told reporters in a joint press conference after meeting with Wang.
“Indonesia will support full Palestinian membership in the U.N. Middle East stability will not be realized without resolving the Palestinian issue.”
For his part, Wang slammed Washington for repeatedly vetoing resolutions calling for Israel to end the attacks on the Palestinian territory it occupies.
“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for half a year and caused a rare humanitarian tragedy in the 21st century,” Wang told the media at the same press conference, according to the Associated Press.
“The United Nations Security Council responded to the call of the international community and continued to review the resolution draft on the cease-fire in Gaza, but it was repeatedly vetoed by the United States.”
The conflict in the Middle East offered a strategic opportunity for China to further expand its influence in Southeast Asia, said Muhamad Arif, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Indonesia.
“China is trying to strengthen its position as a key player in the region,” Arief told BenarNews.
China could present an alternative approach to the conflict in Gaza, he said, which may find approval in Southeast Asia’s largest country, Indonesia, and other Mulism-majority states in the region, such as Malaysia and Brunei.
BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.
Read the rest of this article here >>> China deepens engagement with new Indonesian president as top diplomat visits Jakarta
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