Tianjin - Chinese investors rush into local government bonds



Tianjin (pronounced ‘tee-en-jin’), is a sprawling metropolis in northern China, located at the mouth of the Haihe River where it enters the Bohai Gulf. The city has a population of over 15 million residents and serves as the gateway to Beijing, located 120 kilometers to the north-west.

History:

Tianjin has a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. During the Sui Dynasty, it was known as Zhigu, and during the Qing Dynasty, it was an important trading center under the name of Tianjin. In 1860, during the second Opium War, the city was occupied by British and French forces. It was later returned to Chinese control and emerged as a major center of commerce and transportation.

Geography:

Tianjin is located on the east coast of China, covering an area of 12,938 square kilometers (roughly the size of Jamaica). It is situated at the eastern end of the North China Plain, an alluvial plain that stretches from the Yellow River in the north to the Yangtze River in the south. The terrain is primarily flat, with an average elevation of 3 meters above sea level.

Culture:

As a gateway to Beijing, Tianjin has developed its own unique culture and cuisine. The local cuisine is renowned for its steamed buns (baozi), dumplings (jiaozi), and its sweet and sour dishes. The city is also known for its traditional music, called Jingju, or Peking Opera, which dates back to the 18th century.

Attractions:

Tianjin has a number of attractions for visitors to explore. The city’s historic district, known as the Five Avenues, features a collection of European-style buildings, reflecting the city’s colonial past. Other notable landmarks include the Tianjin Eye (a giant Ferris wheel overlooking the river), the Tianjin Museum, and the Shuishang Park.

Transportation:

Tianjin is a major transportation hub, with an extensive network of highways, railways, and airports. The Tianjin Binhai International Airport is located 13km east of the city center and serves as a hub for both domestic and international flights. The city is also connected to Beijing via high-speed rail, with trains departing from Tianjin Railway Station to Beijing South Station every few minutes.

Economy:

Tianjin is one of the fastest-growing cities in China, with a robust economy that is driven by manufacturing, shipping, and finance. The city is home to a number of multinational companies, including Motorola, Toyota, and Samsung. The Port of Tianjin, located on the Haihe River, is one of the busiest ports in the world, handling over 14 million containers annually.

Education:

Tianjin has a number of prestigious universities, including Nankai University, Tianjin University, and the Tianjin Medical University. The city’s educational system is highly regarded, with a focus on science and technology. The city is also home to a number of research institutes, including the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology and the Tianjin Institute of Metrological Testing Technology.

Overall, Tianjin is a bustling metropolis with a rich history and vibrant culture. Its strategic location and robust economy make it a key player in China’s rise as a global economic superpower. Whether you are interested in exploring its historic landmarks or sampling its culinary delights, Tianjin has something for everyone.


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Social Class Is the Silent Killer in Beijing’s Heatwaves

Diplomat

23-05-16 12:17


Areas in and around Beijing, the Chinese capital, are most vulnerable to heatwaves, according to separate reports by Greenpeace East Asia and the journal Nature. The reports agreed that areas with the weakest infrastructure, particularly those outside of Beijing itself, were most at risk during bouts of extreme heat. Heatwaves can be especially deadly for vulnerable communities not familiar with hot weather, who lack access to air conditioning and public cooling systems. Elderly people are particularly at risk. The warnings come ahead of a possible El Niño year in 2023, during which the World Meteorological Organization has warned there may be an increased likelihood of extreme temperatures. To protect communities, experts have called for active planning and political initiative to create a coordinated response to climate crises, something they say is currently lacking in China’s emergency services.

https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/social-class-is-the-silent-killer-in-beijings-heatwaves/
China’s developers keep investment powder dry even as home sales improve

South China Morning Post

23-05-16 23:00


Sales of homes in China increased by 11.8% in the first four months of 2019, up 7.1% for Q1, leading ING's Iris Pang to speak of "bottom fishing activities in the home buying market." Of the housing market, National Bureau of Statistics spokesman Fu Linghui said, "demand has been released quickly," with the Yangtze River Delta area, Greater Bay Area and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region particularly active. Moody's revised its outlook for Chinese property to stable from negative thanks to better sales and funding for developers.

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3220754/chinas-developers-keep-their-investment-powder-dry-even-home-sales-improved-first-four-months-2023
US-sanctioned Huawei sharpens focus in home market with local government deals

South China Morning Post

23-05-17 14:30


Huawei has signed cooperation agreements with local governments in Sichuan, Guangzhou and Tianjin, pledging to support smart port, computing resource and telecom infrastructure. 5G, artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies will reportedly be employed to help Tianjin's digital transformation. Similarly, Huawei has signed a strategic cooperation deal with Sichuan province, which involves expanding local data storage capacity. These initiatives also reflect how China's biggest tech companies are following directives from China's leadership to strengthen job creation across the country in the wake of the pandemic.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3220916/us-sanctioned-huawei-sharpens-focus-home-market-through-new-strategic-cooperation-pacts-local
China plans to set up regional AI ‘highlands’ and related tech platforms

South China Morning Post

23-05-18 14:30


China is to create regional artificial intelligence (AI) "highlands" to promote research and development. China's Minister of Science and Technology, Wang Zhigang, made the announcement at the opening of the 7th World Intelligence Conference. China, currently the world's second-largest economy, is promoting AI development and applications with the development of censor-compliant home-grown alternatives to major foreign services such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. Chinese tech firms including Baidu, Alibaba Group Holding, SenseTime and iFlyTek have launched domestic services. The new AI facilities will include governance guidance and ethical norms.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3221053/china-plans-set-regional-ai-highlands-and-related-technology-platforms-beijing-pushes-bridge-hi-tech
Xiongan is Xi Jinping’s pet project

Economist

23-05-18 12:47


Xi Jinping, China's supreme leader, has recently visited the site of Xiongan New Area, a satellite city 100km south of Beijing, praising the progress of what he sees as his pet project. The development, once completed, will cover an area three times the size of New York City, and Xi plans to move many non-essential government departments and state-owned enterprises from Beijing to the area. However, some experts question whether Xiongan will be comparable to Shenzhen, China's first special economic zone, or to Shanghai's glittering financial district, Pudong. Critics say that those areas were granted much more freedom to create a market-oriented environment that would attract foreign and domestic businesses. Xi has expressed the desire for Xiongan's aspirations to be similar to Shenzhen's, but he also sees it as part of his aim to create "common prosperity", which has spooked entrepreneurs and investors. Incentives such as tax breaks, bonuses, or guarantees of educational opportunities for the children of people who move from Beijing or Tianjin are being discussed to encourage people to relocate to Xiongan.

https://www.economist.com/china/2023/05/18/xiongan-is-xi-jinpings-pet-project
China’s use of Russian port to ship goods is ‘symbolic’, but hurdles remain

South China Morning Post

23-05-19 12:30


China's northeastern province, Jilin has been granted access to the Russian Port of Vladivostok, meaning the port becomes a domestic Chinese port for Jilin and goods will be shipped by rail or truck to the port with no tariffs incurred. Given Russia's current dependence on China as a trade lifeline, the agreement is indicative of deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow. However, poor infrastructure at the port and land checkpoints could curtail the effects of the agreement, with further cooperation required on both sides, analysts warned. The agreement shows Russia and China's efforts to strengthen the connectivity between the countries, they added.

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3221170/chinas-use-russian-port-ship-goods-domestically-symbolic-closer-ties-hurdles-remain
BYD Rejects Rival’s Allegations of Breaching Emissions Rules

Bloomberg

23-05-25 06:17


Chinese automaker BYD has denied Great Wall Motor's allegations that the gasoline engines in the Qin Plus and Song Plus plug-in hybrids failed to meet national emissions standards. Great Wall had lodged a complaint with local regulators and said it was waiting for a response. In response, BYD said it opposed any form of unfair competition. The tests on the engines, which had travelled up to 670kms, were conducted by the Tianjin branch of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center at the request of Great Wall, which also purchased and provided the vehicles.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-25/byd-rejects-rival-s-allegations-of-breaching-emissions-rules?srnd=next-china
C919: Chinese-built passenger jet completes first flight

Deutsche Welle

23-05-28 07:29


China has celebrated the maiden commercial flight of its domestically produced passenger jet, the C919, by taking 130 passengers on a journey from Shanghai to Beijing. The plane, developed by state-owned Commercial Aviation Corp of China, is set to compete with similar jets produced by Airbus and Boeing. The C919 has received around 1,200 orders, mostly from domestic airlines. However, it is unlikely to win orders abroad until it gains regulatory approval from the US or Europe. Multi-aisle widebody jet the CR929 is also being developed by Commercial Aviation Corp of China, in collaboration with Russia.

https://www.dw.com/en/c919-chinese-built-passenger-jet-completes-first-flight/a-65756381
Country's first domestically produced passenger jet makes maiden commercial flight

Guardian

23-05-28 05:28


China’s first domestic passenger jet, the C919, has taken to the skies on its inaugural commercial flight, in what Beijing considers a key step towards competing with western rivals such as Boeing and Airbus as China’s reliance on the US wanes. The C919, built by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China with many foreign-sourced components, will operate between Shanghai Hongqiao and Chengdu from Monday. COMAC is planning to produce 150 aircraft annually within five years. Airbus will double production capacity in China, building the second final assembly line for the A320 in Tianjin, where it hopes to ramp up assembly to six planes monthly.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/28/chinas-first-domestically-produced-passenger-jet-makes-maiden-commercial-flight
Chinese tech hub Shenzhen pushes action plan to boost AI computing resources

South China Morning Post

23-05-31 11:30


The Shenzhen municipal government in China is boosting the city’s computing resources to support the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Shenzhen will build a digital platform to coordinate the deployment and use of computing assets, including those needed for developing and training large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Its initiative to make better use of computing resources reflects China’s urgency to accelerate development in AI, following US trade sanctions that have prevented mainland firms’ access to the latest semiconductors and chip-manufacturing equipment.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3222467/chinese-tech-hub-shenzhen-pushes-action-plan-boost-citys-computing-resources-ai-development-amid
Alibaba adds ChatGPT-like functionality to meeting assistant app

South China Morning Post

23-06-02 00:30


Alibaba is incorporating its language model, Tongyi Qianwen, into meeting assistant Tingwu and its DingTalk office collaboration platform as part of broader efforts to develop generative AI in China. The upgrade has been released in public beta testing and enables more complex tasks such as summarising of audio and video content with greater accuracy, the firm said. Alibaba's DingTalk president Ye Jun previously demonstrated how the platform could use the technology to create articles based on simple prompts. Tencent and Baidu are among other major Chinese AI firms vying for dominance in the sector.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3222594/alibaba-adds-chatgpt-style-ai-meeting-assistant-app-wider-roll-out-plans-including-dingtalk
China’s high-speed trains are overwhelmed by poop: study

South China Morning Post

23-06-01 22:00


High-speed rail’s popularity in China is producing high amounts of human waste on trains, which is threatening to overload the sewage treatment facilities of the railway network, say researchers commissioned by the government. The team found that some waste treatment facilities were already out of service and that levels of organic compounds indicative of human waste were hundreds or even thousands of times higher than in general domestic waste water, particularly during public holidays. New waste treatment devices combine multiple sewage treatment processes into a single unit, said the team and can be remote-controlled or operated independently by AI.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3222641/chinas-high-speed-trains-are-overwhelmed-poop-study-says
CIA chief made secret visit to China in bid to thaw relations

Financial Times

23-06-02 13:36


US Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns held secret discussions with Chinese officials in November, in a clandestine visit by one of President Joe Biden’s most trusted officials. This comes as the White House tries to restart communications with Beijing, following a difficult period prompted by the suspected presence of a Chinese spy balloon over North America. During the tour, Burns met with officials of China’s intelligence agency, according to an anonymous US official. It was the highest-level visit by a Biden administration official to China to date.

https://www.ft.com/content/5fdfed4f-7270-455f-ac33-fedbef887423
Sriracha chicken wings recipe

Telegraph

23-06-03 12:00


Sriracha, the increasingly popular, sauce used to spice up various dishes, is just one of the hundreds of Nam priks – Thai sauces served as condiments to spice up a dish. Sriracha was popularised in California by a Vietnamese producer. Different brands of sriracha have different amounts of acidity and heat, so it may be necessary to adjust the seasonings slightly to balance the flavours. Food journalist Susan Jung provides her recipe for sriracha chicken wings.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/recipes/0/sriracha-chicken-wings-recipe-susan-jung/
China is more authoritarian than ever – but I still love it

Telegraph

23-06-06 10:00


China has become increasingly authoritarian over the past 20 years, as well as increasingly affluent. And while it is a crucial and unique aspect of the country's identity, it is not a subject commonly discussed with visitors, according to an article in The Guardian. Websites are blocked, there is high-tech surveillance – using face recognition – imposed to keep tabs on the population, and critical voices have been silenced; Tibet remains unfree, and in Xinjiang, the population is oppressed. Hong Kong is now no longer free, and there is a growing clamour to reclaim Taiwan.

However, the author of the article has visited China multiple times, meeting people who he found to be friendly, pragmatic, open, and easy-going. He felt no sense of personal danger, enjoying the quality of local food, the energy of its cities, and the beauty of the countryside. Recent trips to Shanghai have confirmed his experiences: the city’s traffic remains challenging, but it exudes energy and a sense of economic well-being. Shanghai’s opulence and hedonism also evoke memories of another era, the Jazz Age.

While in the city, the author enjoyed some outstanding food, including an 18-course dinner, and enjoyed everything from designer shopping to visits to museums. But when he asked why exhibit labels were not in English, he was told, “This is for Chinese people.” The presence of the Communist Party hangs over everyday life, he adds, with websites blocked and dissenting voices muted.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/china/china-is-more-authoritarian-than-ever-but-i-still-love-it/

China is more authoritarian than ever – but I still love it

Telegraph

23-06-06 10:00


China has become increasingly authoritarian over the past 20 years, as well as increasingly affluent. And while it is a crucial and unique aspect of the country's identity, it is not a subject commonly discussed with visitors, according to an article in The Guardian. Websites are blocked, there is high-tech surveillance – using face recognition – imposed to keep tabs on the population, and critical voices have been silenced; Tibet remains unfree, and in Xinjiang, the population is oppressed. Hong Kong is now no longer free, and there is a growing clamour to reclaim Taiwan.

However, the author of the article has visited China multiple times, meeting people who he found to be friendly, pragmatic, open, and easy-going. He felt no sense of personal danger, enjoying the quality of local food, the energy of its cities, and the beauty of the countryside. Recent trips to Shanghai have confirmed his experiences: the city’s traffic remains challenging, but it exudes energy and a sense of economic well-being. Shanghai’s opulence and hedonism also evoke memories of another era, the Jazz Age.

While in the city, the author enjoyed some outstanding food, including an 18-course dinner, and enjoyed everything from designer shopping to visits to museums. But when he asked why exhibit labels were not in English, he was told, “This is for Chinese people.” The presence of the Communist Party hangs over everyday life, he adds, with websites blocked and dissenting voices muted.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/china/china-is-more-authoritarian-than-ever-but-i-still-love-it/

Thousands evacuated in China's Tianjin after cracks appear near high-rises

Reuters

23-06-09 02:39


Several high-rise buildings in the Chinese city of Tianjin have been evacuated following large cracks in nearby streets caused by underground cavities, according to state and local government reports. The consequences of the “sudden geological disaster” are severe and with experts admitting the situation is very rare. It remains unclear if drilling of geothermal wells has had an impact. The situation adds to a growing sense of concern relating to building safety in China causing the government to impose stricter rules and policies in relation to lax management of properties.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/thousands-evacuated-chinas-tianjin-after-cracks-appear-near-high-rises-2023-06-09/
To ‘rally minds’: China’s gaokao exam tests grasp of Xi Jinping Thought

South China Morning Post

23-06-10 22:00


China's school-leaving exams have tested millions of students on their knowledge of President Xi Jinping's political ideology and quotes in an effort to promote his doctrines among youth. The testing authority's Chinese language papers referenced Xi's political ideology and the spirit of the Communist Party congress. This year's liberal arts exams were also designed to reflect Xi's learned values and included elements such as deeper assessments of the candidates' understanding of party history. In recent months, Xi's selected works have been published by the state-run People's Publishing House as part of a nationwide campaign for studying the political leader's thoughts that was launched by the party leadership in March. While this was not the first school-leaving exam to incorporate political elements, this test was more explicit in its references to Xi's remarks and the 20th national congress in October.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3223659/chinas-gaokao-exam-tests-grasp-xi-jinping-thought-so-students-can-understand-power-truth
Factbox: Top US-China exchanges since Biden took office

Reuters

23-06-12 07:31


US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will travel to China next week for talks aimed at stabilizing the tense relations between the two nations. Blinken is expected to arrive in China on June 18, becoming the highest-ranking US official to visit China since President Joe Biden's inauguration. The talks come after a series of high-level exchanges between China and the US, which includes Biden's call with Xi Jinping, the first trade talks, and the meeting between Blinken and Wang in Munich on the sidelines of a global security conference.

https://www.reuters.com/world/top-us-china-exchanges-since-biden-took-office-2023-06-12/