Day: January 23, 2025

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China’s Middle East Envoy Meets Palestinian, Israeli, Emirati Leaders

Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, met with Palestinian and Israeli leaders as part of a wider trip to the region. He met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Eden Bar-Tal, the Israeli foreign ministry’s director general. Zhai reportedly expressed support for the recently ...

Bank Boosts African Trade Hub

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank opened its first account to handle cross-border settlements for an African consulate. The bank’s branch in Changsha opened the account for the Malawian consulate in Hunan Province. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The Chinese government has designated Hunan as ...

China, Sri Lanka to Fast-Track Hambantota Refinery

China’s state-owned oil company Sinopec signed an agreement with the Sri Lankan government to accelerate the building of a $3.7 billion oil refinery in the port city of Hambantota. The agreement includes fast-tracking unresolved issues around water access, land allocation, and taxes. The deal will be the largest single ...

BYD Tops Singapore’s Car Market in 2024, Surpassing Toyota as EV Sales Surge

BYD (Build Your Dreams) has become Singapore’s top-selling car brand, surpassing Toyota for the first time in 2024. The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant registered 6,191 cars, a 337% increase from 2023, when it sold 1,416 cars.

China’s $7 Billion Durian Imports in 2024 Fuel Vietnam-Malaysia Rivalry, Thailand Top Exporter

China’s durian imports hit a record $7 billion in 2024, solidifying its position as the world’s largest durian market. However, competition is heating up as Vietnam and Malaysia challenge Thailand’s dominance. According to customs data, China imported more than 15 ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

Confusing Developments in “Development”

This week I’m in Brussels, where I took part in a workshop on how the EU should shape its development strategy in response to China’s global influence.
I have joked in the past that it feels like I’ve attended this same ‘EU, Africa, and External Development Partners’ conference for ten years straight. 

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China Lodges Protest With Afghanistan Over Mine Worker Killing

China said Thursday it had lodged "solemn representations" with Afghanistan's Taliban government over the killing of a Chinese mine worker in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. "The Chinese side urgently lodged solemn representations with the Afghan side, demanding ...

China and Indonesia Are Linking QR Payments, and It’s Bigger Than You Think

China and Indonesia are launching a partnership to connect their QR code payment systems, shaking up the way cross-border payments work. China’s UnionPay International and Indonesia’s Payment System Association (ASPI) have teamed up to bring their QR code payment ...

China, Thailand, and Myanmar Join Forces to Crack Down on Online Scam Centers

Officials from China, Myanmar, and Thailand met in Kunming, China, on Tuesday agreed to join forces and conduct a joint operation to crack down online scams, online gambling, and growing number of telecommunication fraud centers operating out of Myanmar. According to China’s national broadcaster, CCTV, the ...

Rubio Affirms ‘Ironclad’ U.S. Commitment to Philippines

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States, under President Donald Trump, remained committed to the Philippines' defense as tensions simmer with Beijing in the South China Sea. In a call with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo, ...

Does China Control the Panama Canal, as Trump Claims?

By Juan José Rodríguez U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to seize the Panama Canal over alleged undue Chinese influence may really be aimed at limiting Beijing's growing diplomatic and economic presence in Latin America, experts say.

Indonesia Eyes Leadership in EV Battery Standards

Indonesia is setting its sights on becoming a global benchmark for electric vehicle (EV) battery material processing, aiming to align its production methods with the highest international standards. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) last Tuesday, Anindya Bakrie, Chairperson of ...