China Direct

2012 China Regional Cities Programme Q1

 

[Image courtesy of www.ukti.gov.uk]

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) recently released the dates for the next phase of its Regional Cities Programme in China.

The schedule of the missions is as follows: Zhengzhou and Wuhan (20-22 February 2012), Nantong and Yancheng (27-29 February 2012), Kunming (23-24 February 2012), Chongqing (05-06 March 2012), Hangzhou and Ningbo (07-09 March 2012), and Foshan and Shunde (28-29 March 2012).

These missions will offer an excellent introduction to these cities and the opportunities that they offer.

Participants in the missions will enjoy:

     • Access to high-level officials
     • Business workshops
     • Knowledge about specific opportunities

Please click here for full details on the mission to Nantong and Yancheng and here for the mission to Hangzhou and Ningbo.

UK company Ineos announces project deal with Sinopec in Guangdong province

 

[Image courtesy of www.ineos.com]

Last month, CBI member INEOS licensed its Innovene PP process to the Sinopec Maoming Company for the manufacture of polypropylene homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers at Sinopec's planned manufacturing facility in Maoming in southern China's Guangdong province.

Scheduled to open in 2013, Sinopec's new plant will serve the South China markets, including the Pearl River delta region, and bring Sinopec's total capacity based on INEOS Technologies Innovene process to 1.2 million tons of polypropylene. Sinopec is the largest polypropylene producer in China, and produces a range of premium and specialty products using the Innovene PP platform.

INEOS Technologies has now signed four PP licenses in China this year.

Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Technologies, said, "We are delighted that Sinopec has selected INEOS as their partner for their new Maoming polypropylene project, and look forward to working with Sinopec to ensure the success of the new facility. The repeat business from a customer with the stature of Sinopec is a testimonial to the overall excellence of the technology and the support INEOS Technologies provides to its licensees. INEOS has now licensed approximately 1.7 million tons of capacity in China in 2011."

Please click here to read the full press release by INEOS.

UK design Company Arup builds its reputation with ICC award at MIPIM Asia

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.arup.com]

CBI member Arup recently announced that the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong, to which it provided full engineering services, was voted as the gold winner at the MIPIM Asia Awards 2011, a scheme which recognises outstanding real estate projects in the Asia Pacific region.

Boasting stunning views of Victoria Harbour, ICC is the tallest building in Hong Kong and set new benchmarks for tall building construction in the city. The main structural skeleton is formed from a high modulus concrete inner core wall. Arup engineered the design of the innovative self-compacting high modulus concrete with special volcanic tuff aggregate.

Arup also had a major involvement in five other projects which were recognised at MIPIM Asia Awards 2011 for their innovative, technical, environmental, and architectural qualities:

• Shanghai International Cruise Terminal, which Arup designed the district cooling system for, was awarded silver in the Best Mixed-use Buildings Category.

• Hong Cheng Plaza in Guangzhou, to which Arup was the structural, geotechnical, and façade engineer, received silver in the Best Chinese Futura Projects Category. Olympia 66 in Dalian, to which Arup provided structural and geotechnical consulting services, received bronze.

• Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, to which Arup was the multi-disciplinary engineer, won silver in the Best Central and Western Asia Futura Projects Category.

• Shanghai Wheelock, which Arup developed a preliminary structural design for, won bronze in the Best Business Centre Category.

Please click here to read the full press release by Arup on the recognition it received at the MIPIM Asia Awards 2011.

Earlier this year, Guangzhou International Finance Centre (IFC), engineered by Arup, won the Best Tall Building Award for the Asia and Australasia Region from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) for its outstanding design and construction.

Arup engineers from Hong Kong, London, and Shenzhen worked together to provide full engineering design services for Guangzhou IFC, a highly innovative tower with striking visual impact.

Please click here to read the full press release by Arup on the recognition received by Guangzhou IFC.

Michael Kwok, Arup's Project Director, said, "Guangzhou IFC is another success story of global collaboration between Arup offices to deliver a world class project. We are proud that the depth and breadth of our expertise helps to shape Guangzhou's skyline, and continues to make a positive impact on the built environment."

 

European Business in China - 2011/2 Position Paper launch

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.euccc.com.cn]

Yesterday, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) released its 2011/2012 Position Paper, which provides an overview of the views of many European companies doing business in China.

The Position Paper is the product of six months of consultation, which involved hundreds of companies and individuals from European businesses operating across China.

The report includes chapters on a wide range of sectors, including aviation, construction, information and communication technology, logistics, maritime transport, travel, banking & securities, insurance, private equity, etc.

The report also includes chapters on numerous cities and regions across China, including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, the Pearl River Delta, Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin.

Highlights from the 2011/2012 Position Paper include:

     • China's strategic importance for global companies is rapidly increasing.
     • Key goals outlined in China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) such as upgrading the industrial 
       sector, developing the service sector and encouraging innovation and green development match the 
       strengths of European companies in managerial know-how, the provision of services and green 
       and advanced technology.
     • The Position Paper brings together a significant number of recommendations for both Chinese and 
       European policymakers.

The CBI, together with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) , is organising the launch of the Position Paper in London on 22 September, which will be hosted by leading global insurance broker and CBI member Willis Group.

Pleease click here to read the Executive Summary of the Position Paper and here to access the full report.

Checking into the Chinese Hotel Market - latest figures

 
[Image courtesy of www.knightfrank.com]

Leading global real estate and property service firm Knight Frank recently released its Greater China Hotel Report for the first half of 2011.

The report provides an overview and outlook of hotel markets in the following five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau. Highlights include:

     • 2010 marked the beginning of a recovery for China's hotel market.
     • In 2010, revenue per available hotel room in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou 
       rose 34.9% in 2010.
     • In 2010, the total number of overnight visitors across China reached 55.7 million, up 9.4% from 
       2009.
     • In the first half of 2011, the number of overnight visitors across China continued to rise, increasing 
       1.1%.
     • In the first half of 2011, hotel operators continued to strengthen their presence in the Greater China 
       region. Among the five cities covered by Knight Frank's report, Macau was the most active market.
     • In the first seven months of 2011, Beijing received 2.9 million overnight visitors from overseas.

Please click here to access the full report by Knight Frank.

Stop Press: China's 2010 Census - making sense of the results

 

Today saw the release of population statistics collated during Nov 2010's China census.

Headlines:

Population (2010): 1.34 billion

Population (1953): 594 million

Urban: 49.7% (+13.7% 2000 Census)

Aged 60+: 13.3% (+3%)

Aged <14: 16.6% (-6.29% )

Av size of household: 3.1 (-0.34%)

To read the NBS Press Release please click here.

Please refer to China Direct's original article on the 2010 Census on 04 November 2010.

Kindly select 'archives' from the menu above and month/year to access.

China's new cities - economic powerhouses of the future?

 

 
[Image courtesy of McKinsey & Company]

Leading management consulting firm and CBI member McKinsey & Company has issued a report titled, "Urban world: Mapping the economic power of cities," which projects a shift in the centre of gravity of the urban world to emerging markets in the south and the east.

According to McKinsey, 600 urban centres account for roughly 60% of global GDP today.

In 2007, half of global GDP came from 380 cities in developed regions.

However, McKinsey forecasts that one-third of these developed market cities will fall out of the top 600 ranking by 2025, with 136 new cities from developing markets entering the top 600.

China will account for the overwhelming majority of these new economic centres, contributing 100 cities.

Click here to access the full McKinsey report and here to read additional media coverage.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper, Policy Analyst, CBI Beijing, for this contribution

Tesco - continuing to grow in China

 
[Image courtesy of www.tesco.com]

Yesterday, CBI member and UK retail giant Tesco announced that it is setting up a joint venture with a consortium of Asian investors to develop three shopping malls in eastern China in the cities of Shenyang, Xiamen and Fuzhou.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and fellow CBI member Standard Chartered will be among the banks that provide loans to the project.

The project is valued at approximately £170 million ($275 million).

Tesco currently operates 4 Lifespace malls and 93 hypermarkets in the country.

Please read more here.

China Direct would like to thank CBI colleague Richard White (richard.white@cbi.org.uk) for kindly providing this information.

UK architects reach for the sky in China

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.guardian.co.uk]

The rapid growth of China's cities is fueling high demand for British architectural and engineering expertise across the country.

Renowned British architect Sir Terry Farrell is about to finish the 100-storey, 441 metre (1,440 feet) Kingkey Finance Tower in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

Upon completion, the tower will be the tallest skyscraper ever designed by a British architect. Read more here.

Only 50 KM to the west of Shenzhen acclaimed UK architect Zaha Hadid will be at the opening of her latest architectural jewel, Guangzhou's opera house, in early March.

Foster & Partners has already been involved in the design and planning of some of China's most striking buildings including Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 3, the UAE Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 EXPO and ongoing project work at the Cathay Pacific lounges at Hong Kong International airport.

And with CBI members such as Arup, Mott Macdonald, Benoy and Atkins designing and building China's megacities of tomorrow the stage is set for British architects to truly reach for the skies.  

When a Billion Chinese Jump - China & Environmental Issues

 

[Image courtesy of Faber Publishers & Author]

China Direct is delighted to announce the imminent publication on July 14th of Jonathan Watts' first book "When a Billion Chinese Jump".

This unique and unsettling look at China's worsening natural environment and the government's policy responses to its huge environmental pressures is a must-read for businesses, policymakers and China watchers alike.

James Kynge, author of "China shakes the world", describes it as "the book on China and climate change that the world has been waiting for".  

An extract of Jon's book can be read at: http://bit.ly/bkpcIW. 

More information at: http://site.whenabillionchinesejump.com/ (VPN may be required if in the PRC).

China Direct will be linking up with Jon in September and is looking forward to hosting several events with him on this topic of critical importance.

Jon Watts is the Guardian's Asia Environment Correspondent and is based in Beijing.