China Focuses on Solar Powers Generation
China is working on three industry standards for solar power
generation, state media reports. The new standards will focus on
the"fundamentals, components and materials, generation systems and
technological design", Li Aixian, Director of the Sub-Institute of
Resource and Environment Standardization of the China National
Institute of Standardization, was quoted as saying. So far, there are
15 national standards for the solar water-heating sector. China sees
itself as one of the leading manufacturers of photovoltaic cells.
However, exports of solar generation products are still subsidised to make them profitable.
Beijing Offers Free Wireless During Olympics
During next month's Olympic Games, Internet users should be able to
enjoy free wireless access as the "Wireless Beijing" project began its
trial phase earlier this week. By 2009, 90 per cent of Beijing should
be equipped with free wireless as the sole provider, CECT-Chinacomm
Communications, is building up to 9,000 access points in public areas
and 150 WiMAX stations. If everything goes according to plan, the
citywide wireless network will be completed in 2010.
Qatar Sells LNG to China
China's National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) has signed an agreement with
Qatargas Operating Co. for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The Chinese will buy two million metric tonnes of LNG per year for the
next 25 years. Earlier in June, CNOOC signed an agreement with Total
Gas and Power Limited (TGP) for one million tonnes of LNG per year
starting from 2010. In April, PetroChina started construction of its first LNG terminal in Dalian.
China Visitors to U.S. Rise 32 Per Cent
While inbound travel to China continues to suffer from the tightened
visa restrictions, and the effects of a weakening U.S. dollar, which is
constraining the American travel market, Chinese outbound travel
appears to be fairly robust. According to figures from the U.S.
Department of Commerce, inbound arrivals to the United States from
China grew by 32 per cent in the first quarter of 2008. This compares
to a five percent rise in visitors from India, and a drop of three
percent for arrivals from Japan.
Chinese Tourists Avoid France
The number of Chinese tourists visiting France has dropped by 70 per
cent, the French Embassy said in a communiqué. The Embassy issued
roughly 2,000 visas a week one year ago, now it is averaging 300 to
400. Chinese state media believes the decrease is "due to difficulties
getting visas and rising airfares". The Shanghai Morning Post concludes
that "the Sichuan earthquake and fluctuations in the stock market have
also forced many people to change their travel plans." France's
Ambassador in Beijing, Herve Ladsous, said he is "concerned by the
damage to France's image" after polls showed that Chinese have a
negative image about France since the Olympic torch relay in Paris was
disrupted.
Number of Credit Cards Doubles
The number of Chinese credit cards has almost doubled within a year, to
reach 104.73 million at the end of March, the People's Bank of China
said earlier this week. Several banks including ICBC and Bank of
Communications offer cards for free and without interest for up to 56
days. In one of the most recent moves, China Merchants Bank announced
this week that it jointly launch a "Think Pad Credit Card" with
Lenovo. While credit card issuing is on the rise, 93.4 per cent of all
card-based operations in China are done with a debit card. Chinese
shoppers spent almost USD120 bn with their credit or debit cards in the
last year according to official figures.
Last update : Sunday, 29 June 2008
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