Plans to build a search engine by China Mobile Communications and Xinhua News Agency mark at least the second time China’s state-run media have tried to enter the online search market.
Xinhua, in a news story about itself, said Thursday it signed a framework agreement with China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile carrier by subscribers, to launch a search joint venture. It will “make full use” of Xinhua’s position in media content and China Mobile’s user base, Xinhua said, suggesting the venture will also promote Xinhua news articles.
The move comes after the People’s Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, in June launched a beta search engine, dubbed “People’s Search” in Chinese. The search engine has a snappier and perhaps more capitalistic English name, Goso, which might sound to a bilingual listener like “go search,” since the sound “so” means “search” in Chinese. (The newspaper’s online portal also offers a Chinese microblog service, called “People’s Microblog.”)
China Mobile Ltd., the carrier’s Hong Kong-listed branch, confirmed its parent company signed the agreement but declined to give details.
Xinhua, China Mobile and People’s Daily may dream of dethroning Baidu and Google as the biggest players in China’s search market. But that seems unlikely. Baidu took 70% of the revenue in China’s online search market in the second quarter, while Google took 24%, according to research firm Analysys International.
The People’s Daily search engine has gone largely unnoticed. Xinhua may not fare any better, though the ability to push services to China Mobile’s more than 554 million mobile subscribers will give the joint venture a better chance in mobile search. Xinhua did not say if it would focus on mobile search technology.
Then again, Xinhua’s story cast the deal as a national errand as much as a business venture. The cooperation is meant to “better serve the work of the Party and the nation and to practically protect national interests…and to expand the reach and the ability in and outside China of the country’s mainstream media to guide public opinion,” Xinhua said.
To excite consumers, the new partners will need a better marketing spin.
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/08/13/the-chinese-state-enters-online-search/
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Week 131 SUMMARY
CHINA
Political Front:
Chinese Defense Minister has emphasized greatly on the need to enhance military capabilities. A total of 12,000 soldiers and officers from China's air defense force have been scheduled to conduct a five-day military exercise in two provinces. In a move to reduce a burgeoning population, the Beijing People's Congress has advocated a restriction of low-wage workers in the capital through closures of small businesses.
Geo-strategic Front:
More than 700 Chinese enterprises registered in Indonesia, have been contributing a lot to Indonesia's economy and society. China has asked Singapore to adhere to one China policy. Police in China and France have dismantled a network that tried to smuggle Chinese migrants into Italy and Spain on boats. China has expressed deep condolence to the victims of floods in Pakistan. China has been assisting Ethiopia in health sector. China has urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States to treat its concern and position seriously on the ROK-U.S. military drills in the Yellow Sea. China has firmly opposed any remarks and actions that violate its sovereignty over Xisha Islands and adjacent waters in the South China Sea. Chinese foreign Minister held meeting with Cuban leaders and discussed their bilateral relations. China has shown willingness to boost trade ties with Vietnam and South Korea. Meanwhile China and Argentina seem keen to enhance cooperation in tourism sector. China and Iran have pledged to carry through cooperation projects and seek mutual benefit.
Economic Front:
China's manufacturing activity continued to grow at a slower pace last month as the government took measures to curb the risk of overheating and adjust the economic structure. Retail sales of China-made autos rose 17.18 percent year on year to 1.056 million units in July. China has removed tariffs and value-added taxes on core equipment, components, and raw materials imported and used in civilian high-tech projects since July 15. A government think tank has recently revealed that China's economic growth would continue to cool in the third quarter as the government reduces stimulus measures, thus lowering inflation expectations. The tourism sector in East China's Shandong Province generated 127.7 billion Yuan in the first half of this year, a growth of 24.5 percent on the same period last year. China’s shares remained fluctuating last week. Chinese central bank has pledged financial support for development of western regions.
Social Front:
The Chinese government has begun to ask for public opinion on a set of draft regulations on the management of foreign labor service cooperation agreements, which aim to protect workers sent overseas. The United Nations assistant secretary general and director of the U.N. Development Program's Regional Bureau for Asia-Pacific, dubbed China as the biggest role model of countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Experts have called on the Chinese government to carry out a survey on Chinese residents' housing conditions in a bid to guide cooling-down measures for the property market. Flood-triggered disasters have killed more than 1,450 Chinese this year, with another 669 missing. Millions of low-income residents in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have received a huge boost as billions of Yuan in government funds have been handed out to improve living standards. China has successfully launched its fifth orbiter into space as a part of its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network.
HONG KONG & MACAU
Political Front:
Macao's anti-graft chief has led a delegation to visit his counterpart in Hong Kong, where they explored closer cooperation between the two places on the fight against corruption.
Economic Front:
Trade between the Chinese mainland and Macao in the first half of the year rose 9.3 percent year on year to reach 1.07 billion U.S. dollars. Macao's gaming revenues continued its streak of rapid growth in July 2010, as the monthly figure rose by 70 percent year-on-year to 16.3 billion patacas (2.04 billion U.S. dollars). A total of 778 new companies were incorporated in Macao in the second quarter of 2010, an increase of 18.4 percent over last year.
Social Front:
Personal ownership of mobiles among Asia's youth had increased from 60 percent in 2008 to 64 percent in 2010, while that of Hong Kong jumped from 82 percent to 87 percent of youth owning a mobile, the highest among all surveyed regions.
Political Front:
Chinese Defense Minister has emphasized greatly on the need to enhance military capabilities. A total of 12,000 soldiers and officers from China's air defense force have been scheduled to conduct a five-day military exercise in two provinces. In a move to reduce a burgeoning population, the Beijing People's Congress has advocated a restriction of low-wage workers in the capital through closures of small businesses.
Geo-strategic Front:
More than 700 Chinese enterprises registered in Indonesia, have been contributing a lot to Indonesia's economy and society. China has asked Singapore to adhere to one China policy. Police in China and France have dismantled a network that tried to smuggle Chinese migrants into Italy and Spain on boats. China has expressed deep condolence to the victims of floods in Pakistan. China has been assisting Ethiopia in health sector. China has urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States to treat its concern and position seriously on the ROK-U.S. military drills in the Yellow Sea. China has firmly opposed any remarks and actions that violate its sovereignty over Xisha Islands and adjacent waters in the South China Sea. Chinese foreign Minister held meeting with Cuban leaders and discussed their bilateral relations. China has shown willingness to boost trade ties with Vietnam and South Korea. Meanwhile China and Argentina seem keen to enhance cooperation in tourism sector. China and Iran have pledged to carry through cooperation projects and seek mutual benefit.
Economic Front:
China's manufacturing activity continued to grow at a slower pace last month as the government took measures to curb the risk of overheating and adjust the economic structure. Retail sales of China-made autos rose 17.18 percent year on year to 1.056 million units in July. China has removed tariffs and value-added taxes on core equipment, components, and raw materials imported and used in civilian high-tech projects since July 15. A government think tank has recently revealed that China's economic growth would continue to cool in the third quarter as the government reduces stimulus measures, thus lowering inflation expectations. The tourism sector in East China's Shandong Province generated 127.7 billion Yuan in the first half of this year, a growth of 24.5 percent on the same period last year. China’s shares remained fluctuating last week. Chinese central bank has pledged financial support for development of western regions.
Social Front:
The Chinese government has begun to ask for public opinion on a set of draft regulations on the management of foreign labor service cooperation agreements, which aim to protect workers sent overseas. The United Nations assistant secretary general and director of the U.N. Development Program's Regional Bureau for Asia-Pacific, dubbed China as the biggest role model of countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Experts have called on the Chinese government to carry out a survey on Chinese residents' housing conditions in a bid to guide cooling-down measures for the property market. Flood-triggered disasters have killed more than 1,450 Chinese this year, with another 669 missing. Millions of low-income residents in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have received a huge boost as billions of Yuan in government funds have been handed out to improve living standards. China has successfully launched its fifth orbiter into space as a part of its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network.
HONG KONG & MACAU
Political Front:
Macao's anti-graft chief has led a delegation to visit his counterpart in Hong Kong, where they explored closer cooperation between the two places on the fight against corruption.
Economic Front:
Trade between the Chinese mainland and Macao in the first half of the year rose 9.3 percent year on year to reach 1.07 billion U.S. dollars. Macao's gaming revenues continued its streak of rapid growth in July 2010, as the monthly figure rose by 70 percent year-on-year to 16.3 billion patacas (2.04 billion U.S. dollars). A total of 778 new companies were incorporated in Macao in the second quarter of 2010, an increase of 18.4 percent over last year.
Social Front:
Personal ownership of mobiles among Asia's youth had increased from 60 percent in 2008 to 64 percent in 2010, while that of Hong Kong jumped from 82 percent to 87 percent of youth owning a mobile, the highest among all surveyed regions.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
• China using currency reserves to retake its place as economic power (6th August) Deutch Wella
In the 19th century China began its slow economic decline. Nearly 200 years later, the People’s Republic is using its abundant currency reserves to buy its way back to economic prominence, raising concerns in the West.
China's fall from and subsequent rise to economic power is a story of extremes. In 1820 the Middle Kingdom accounted for 30 percent of the world's economic product. By 1978 its share had been reduced to just 5 percent. Three decades after Deng Xiaoping opened his nation's doors to the global economy, China has become the world's third-largest economy and its largest exporter.
And China is financing its sprint to the top with swelling foreign currency coffers. An annual 10 percent growth rate coupled with an export surplus of $200 billion (151 billion euros) has allowed the Bank of China to rack up a staggering $2.4 trillion in foreign currency reserves, a significant portion of which is invested in US treasury bonds.
While the financial meltdown in the United States has driven much of the world into a deep recession, China has emerged relatively unscathed and is now using its abundant cash - $50 billion in 2009 - to buy natural resources in the developing world as well as potentially lucrative, but currently ailing Western brands.
China's relationship with Africa has turned into a strategic partnership, demonstrated by a 2006 summit held in Beijing between numerous African countries and China. The Chinese government, through the use of sovereign wealth funds and other state-affiliated instruments, is buying raw materials from desperately poor countries - which are often ruled by autocratic regimes - and offering to build infrastructure in exchange.
And Latin America has also begun to pique China's interest. In 2009, China was the 29th largest investor in Brazil's economy. This year it is on its way to claim the top spot. China is currently helping to develop the oil and manufacturing potential of Latin America's largest and most populous country.
But China is no longer simply buying raw materials from developing nations to fire its manufacture of cheap goods back home. It is now seeking to make the leap into the higher-end markets traditionally dominated by Western brands.
The Chinese automaker Geely recently bought Sweden's Volvo from its US-owner Ford for $1,5 billion. That is less than a quarter of what Ford paid for the brand 10 years ago. China will not just acquire the brand, but also the technical know-how imbedded within Volvo.
As the global economy falters, China continues to grow and is rapidly reclaiming its place as an economic great power.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5862646,00.html
China's fall from and subsequent rise to economic power is a story of extremes. In 1820 the Middle Kingdom accounted for 30 percent of the world's economic product. By 1978 its share had been reduced to just 5 percent. Three decades after Deng Xiaoping opened his nation's doors to the global economy, China has become the world's third-largest economy and its largest exporter.
And China is financing its sprint to the top with swelling foreign currency coffers. An annual 10 percent growth rate coupled with an export surplus of $200 billion (151 billion euros) has allowed the Bank of China to rack up a staggering $2.4 trillion in foreign currency reserves, a significant portion of which is invested in US treasury bonds.
While the financial meltdown in the United States has driven much of the world into a deep recession, China has emerged relatively unscathed and is now using its abundant cash - $50 billion in 2009 - to buy natural resources in the developing world as well as potentially lucrative, but currently ailing Western brands.
China's relationship with Africa has turned into a strategic partnership, demonstrated by a 2006 summit held in Beijing between numerous African countries and China. The Chinese government, through the use of sovereign wealth funds and other state-affiliated instruments, is buying raw materials from desperately poor countries - which are often ruled by autocratic regimes - and offering to build infrastructure in exchange.
And Latin America has also begun to pique China's interest. In 2009, China was the 29th largest investor in Brazil's economy. This year it is on its way to claim the top spot. China is currently helping to develop the oil and manufacturing potential of Latin America's largest and most populous country.
But China is no longer simply buying raw materials from developing nations to fire its manufacture of cheap goods back home. It is now seeking to make the leap into the higher-end markets traditionally dominated by Western brands.
The Chinese automaker Geely recently bought Sweden's Volvo from its US-owner Ford for $1,5 billion. That is less than a quarter of what Ford paid for the brand 10 years ago. China will not just acquire the brand, but also the technical know-how imbedded within Volvo.
As the global economy falters, China continues to grow and is rapidly reclaiming its place as an economic great power.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5862646,00.html
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
india, china, pakistan
India objects to Sino-Pak road and rail link
NEW DELHI: India has protested to China over a China-Pakistan highway, saying the Karakoram transit passes through a part of territory in Jammu and Kashmir which is ‘illegally occupied’ by Pakistan, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna told parliament on Thursday. “India has clearly conveyed to China its consistent position that Pakistan was in illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 following reports that China was building a rail line and highway in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” the United News of India quoted Mr Krishna as telling the Rajya Sabha. Mr Krishna’s written statement came in response to questions by deputies. He said that India had conveyed its concern to China and asked it to cease such activities. China was regarding Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled between India and Pakistan, Mr Krishna said while answering the questions. He said the government had seen reports to the effect that China was seeking to build a railway line and highway projects in PoK, New Delhi’s name for Azad Kashmir, and it had taken up the issue with them. The government would keep a constant vigil on all developments having a bearing on India’s national interest and take all necessary measures to safeguard it, UNI quoted the minister as saying. Answering a related question, Mr Krishna said India had taken up the reports of China building a dam on the upper reaches of Tsangpo/ Brahmaputra, known as Tsangpo in Tibet, with China during his visit to Beijing in April. China had conveyed that it always had shown a responsible attitude towards trans-border rivers. The Chinese foreign minister had also clarified that the planned construction at Zangmu was that of a small power project and it would not store water or regulate the volume of water. It, therefore, would not have any adverse impact on downstream flows, he added. Mr Krishna said the two countries had established an expert-level mechanism to discuss cooperation on all issues regarding trans-bor-der rivers and it had held four meetings between September 2007 and April 2010.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/news/pakistan/
NEW DELHI: India has protested to China over a China-Pakistan highway, saying the Karakoram transit passes through a part of territory in Jammu and Kashmir which is ‘illegally occupied’ by Pakistan, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna told parliament on Thursday. “India has clearly conveyed to China its consistent position that Pakistan was in illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 following reports that China was building a rail line and highway in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” the United News of India quoted Mr Krishna as telling the Rajya Sabha. Mr Krishna’s written statement came in response to questions by deputies. He said that India had conveyed its concern to China and asked it to cease such activities. China was regarding Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled between India and Pakistan, Mr Krishna said while answering the questions. He said the government had seen reports to the effect that China was seeking to build a railway line and highway projects in PoK, New Delhi’s name for Azad Kashmir, and it had taken up the issue with them. The government would keep a constant vigil on all developments having a bearing on India’s national interest and take all necessary measures to safeguard it, UNI quoted the minister as saying. Answering a related question, Mr Krishna said India had taken up the reports of China building a dam on the upper reaches of Tsangpo/ Brahmaputra, known as Tsangpo in Tibet, with China during his visit to Beijing in April. China had conveyed that it always had shown a responsible attitude towards trans-border rivers. The Chinese foreign minister had also clarified that the planned construction at Zangmu was that of a small power project and it would not store water or regulate the volume of water. It, therefore, would not have any adverse impact on downstream flows, he added. Mr Krishna said the two countries had established an expert-level mechanism to discuss cooperation on all issues regarding trans-bor-der rivers and it had held four meetings between September 2007 and April 2010.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/news/pakistan/
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