資訊

01. China’s investment in U.S. in new year expected to grow fast

January 1, 2017 (Xinhua) — China’s direct investment in the U.S. is expected to grow fast in 2017, but political realties pose major downside risk to it, according to a research report by a U.S. consulting firm. Chinese companies invested a record of US$ 45.6 billion in the U.S. in 2016, tripling the amount in 2015, said the Rhodium Group in its recent report. Although merger and acquisition remain the primary Chinese investment in U.S., greenfield investment is continuing fast expansion, the report said.

02. More market-oriented reforms needed in 2017

January 2, 2017 (Xinhua) — China should step up reforms to let the market play a decisive role in the economy and accelerate its structural shift in 2017, a central bank advisor said. Despite signs of stabilization in 2016, China’s economy still faces downward pressure as its restructuring process is not yet finished, said Huang Yiping, member of the central bank monetary policy committee and an economist at Peking University. The Chinese government should set a more flexible target for economic growth in 2017, he said, suggesting a GDP growth target range of 6 to 7 percent, compared with 6.5 to 7 percent in 2016.

03. China’s 2016 forestry sector output hits US$ 930b

January 6, 2017 (Xinhua) — China’s forestry sector saw its output rise to 6.4 trillion yuan (about US$ 930 billion) last year, up from 5.9 trillion yuan in 2015, according to a national conference on forestry. China has become the world's biggest producer, trader and consumer of forest-related products, with foreign trade in the forestry sector standing at US$ 136 billion in 2016, according to the conference. Output of the forestry sector grew from 409 billion yuan in 2001 to 6.4 trillion yuan in 2016, more than a 15-fold increase in 16 years. China aims to bring its forestry sector output to 7 trillion yuan by 2017 and 9 trillion yuan by 2020.

04. China’s SOE poverty relief fund to invest US$ 722 million in 2017

January 7, 2017 (Xinhua) — A fund launched by China’s stateowned enterprises (SOE) aims to invest 5 billion yuan (US$ 722 million) in impoverished areas this year, according to a board meeting on Friday. The poverty-relief fund, launched in October 2016, enlisted 51 SOEs to raise initial funding of about 12 billion yuan, which will increase to 100 billion by 2020. The fund is run by the State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC) as part of the country’s plan to deploy market forces in the fight against poverty.

05. Expanded financial services coming to innovation companies

January 9, 2017 (Chinadaily) — Shougang Fund, a subsidiary of China’s major steel maker Shougang Group, signed a strategic partnership agreement with SPD Silicon Valley Bank, or SSVB on Sunday, to offer expanded financial services for more innovation companies. The two sides have set up an innovation investment fund in Zhongguancun, Beijing’s “Silicon Valley”. They will select suitable innovation startups and then provide financial support through the investment and loan linkage mechanism.

06. Investment banks boost stakes in Chinese JVs

January 10, 2017 (Chinadaily) — Morgan Stanley and UBS Group AG have reportedly engaged in discussions about increasing their holdings in their China securities business, reflecting growing confidence in joint ventures in the Chinese mainland, according to a Bloomberg report. Morgan Stanley would raise its stake to 49 percent, the maximum allowed under current regulations, and the plan is still subject to regulatory approval. UBS has been holding talks since last year with several shareholders about buying their stakes in its mainland securities joint venture. The talks are still progressing.

07. Four companies to provide ICT services for China-Laos railway

January 11, 2017 (Xinhua) — China-Laos railway is the first overseas route connecting the railway system in China, using Chinese technology, equipment and investment. Four companies on information and communication technology (ICT)— Laos-China Railway Company, Lao Telecom, Lao Asia-Pacific and Huawei —have joined hands to supply the ICT system for the China-Laos railway construction project. The ICT service for the railway project will require an investment of more than 30 billion Lao kip (over US$ 3.67 million). The ICT system will provide Internet services and mobile phone signals along the China-Laos railway construction project in the next five years.

(Source: Xinhua.net)

08. Trade with China helps 2.6m US jobs

January 12, 2017 (Chinadaily) — Trade with China supports some 2.6 million jobs in the United States, including jobs that Chinese firm have created directly in the US, according to a report released on Tuesday by the US-China Business Council. And as the Chinese middle class grows rapidly over the next decade, likely exceeding the entire US population by 2026, US companies will have opportunities to tap into a new and lucrative customer base that can further boost employment and economic growth. The report shows that nations trading closely with China outperform those with less integrated trade ties, and the trend will continue.