Beijing is concerned that Hong Kong may need help from mainland Chinese companies in developing large cross-border projects amid a public deficit, analysts have said, after its point man on city affairs met local officials ahead of the annual budget address. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), on Sunday…
China has summoned the Panamanian ambassador to complain about the country’s decision to pull out of the Belt and Road Initiative. Assistant foreign minister Zhao Zhiyuan said on Friday that Beijing “deeply” regretted the decision, according to the foreign ministry. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said he had given the required 90-day notice of withdrawal,…
The launch of DeepSeek has unsettled the world’s belief that it “could contain China”, said Deutsche Bank, calling the emergence of the artificial-intelligence (AI) technology the country’s “Sputnik moment”. By characterising the start-up’s achievement as a significant turning point for the country, the bank goes further than Marc Andreessen, the influential Silicon Valley venture capitalist,…
Panama has officially informed Beijing of its decision to withdraw from China’s massive infrastructure and investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative, the country’s leader announced on Thursday. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said he had instructed diplomats at the Central American country’s embassy in Beijing to submit the required 90-day notice of withdrawal from…
The pausing of USAID, which has been targeted by President Donald Trump‘s ally Elon Musk, could see China and Russia could step in to exert their geopolitical muscle. The halting of the U.S. development program has prompted speculation that China could fill the vacuum through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing’s massive infrastructure investment…
Hong Kong’s education minister has said authorities would not raise tuition fees for non-local university students significantly despite the government’s fiscal deficit, so top candidates would not be deterred. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin told a radio programme on Saturday that having the best students come to Hong Kong was important in maintaining the…
Tencent Holdings-backed online lender WeBank is leveraging its new Hong Kong subsidiary to tap the city’s expanding Web3 market, according to a company executive, as the financial hub continues its pursuit to establish itself as a virtual asset hub. WeBank Technology Services, launched this month, plans to be “deeply involved” in developing the city’s Web3…
Tencent Holdings-backed online lender WeBank is leveraging its new Hong Kong subsidiary to tap the city’s expanding Web3 market, according to a company executive, as the financial hub continues its pursuit to establish itself as a virtual asset hub. WeBank Technology Services, launched this month, plans to be “deeply involved” in developing the city’s Web3…
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American rock band OneRepublic is expected to make a rare appearance on China’s Lunar New Year gala – the country’s most-watched television programme. State broadcaster CCTV said on Monday that OneRepublic was included in its fifth – and final – rehearsal of the Lunar New Year gala, indicating the band would appear on the annual…