China and South Korea FTA Will Bring New Opportunities

On February 25,2015,China and South Korea have initialed their free trade agreement(FTA),the end of the FTA negotiations,according to a brief statement on the Ministry of Commerce(MOC)website.The China-South Korea FTA is a high-level and comprehensive one that also includes investment and services trade.What’s in the FTA?According to the information from     

Decline of US Investment in China Should Not Be a Trend

At the routine press conference of the Ministry of Commerce ,(MOFCOM)on May 17, it was released that the investment from the US to China from January to April witnessed decline.During the period, 475 companies were set up, down by 3.85% year on year and the real investment amount was US$1028 million, decreased by 28% year on year. On June 15, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) officially released the utilization of foreign investment in China from January to May in 2011.According to Yao Jian, the spokesman of MOFCOM, the investment from US to China from Januaryto May continued to be in decline, with the total investment for the past five months in 2011 as USS1285 million, down by 24.12% year on year.In contrast, in the same period, the investment from ten Asian countries (regions) including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and South Korea reached US$41,236 billion, an increase of 29.28% year on year, and the investment from 27 EU countries amounted to US$2,929 billion, an increase of 9.02% from the previous year.     

ROK, China Strive for Mutual Economic and Trade Benefits

The President of the Republic of Korea （ROK） Roh Moo-hyun announced that Korea fully recognized China＇s market economy status. Roh＇s announcement was made during a joint press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was on a state visit to ROK in November. China is now the largest trading partnet of ROK, with trade volume between the two countries expected to reach 100 billion US dollars this year. The two leaders agreed that the bilateral trade volume should be doubled to 200 billion US dollars by 2012. A significant milestone having been reached between the two countries, what kind of impact can be expected to follow from the events in regards to the bilateral economic and trade relations between China and ROK？ With such questions in mind, China＇s Foreign Trade reporters interviewed Kim Ha-joong, Ambassador of ROK to China.     

South Africa Continues to Be China's largest Trade Partner in Africa

In 2005, the trade volume between China and South Africa grew 23% year-on-year to 7.27 billion U.S. dollars, making South Africa remain China's largest trade partner in Africa. China is willing to enhance technology transfer and investment cooperation with South Africa in textile, agriculture, mining and medicine,said Chinese Vice Minister     

BULLETIN

Biz-China Use of Foreign investment in West China increases The increase of actual use of foreign investment in China's western regions exceeded the nation's average by 128 percentage points in the first two months this year,said an official of the ministry of commerce on April 6. During the first two months,4,372 foreign investors came to China and the actual use of foreign investment rose 75 percent to US$18.1 billion.The western regions' actual use of foreign investment was US$1.393 billion,more than double over the     

Increasing orUnderselling ?

The downgrade of sovereignty credit rating of the United States causes new concerns on US treasury bonds.According to the report issued recently by Treasury Ministry of United States,China as the largest oversea holding country of US treasury bonds continues to buy US treasury bonds,with an increase of 5.7 billion US dollars in June,marking the third month in line.Till now,China has US treasury bonds up to a new record of 1,165.5 billion US dollars,which amounts to 26％ of the oversea holding US treasury bonds,based on market estimation,followed by Japan (20％),UK (8％),Brazil (5％)and Russia (3％).However,in sharp contrast to China,other countries are underselling us treasury bonds,particularly Russia.Data shows that since October 2010,Russia has been selling US treasury bonds for eight months in line,up to 38％ of their holdings.Now Russia only holds 111 billion US dollars of US treasury bond.Why the countries take totally different attitudes towards to US treasury bonds? Tne reporter interviewed the experts from China and Russia for more details.     

Learn from South Korea——Experiences to Cope with Weakening Export to China

Great importance has been attached to Sino-South .Korea trade relationship by the South Korean gov-ernment for the simple reason that China remains its biggest trade partner. Benefited from China＇s fast economic growth, export from South Korea to China has been rapidly growing with an average annual rate of 30.24% in the past three years. It can not be denied that China＇s appe- tite is undoubtedly one of the most important driving forces that fuels South Korea＇s economic growth. Unfortunately, with the advent of the financial turmoil, trade volume be- tween the two countries has been greatly sliding down since the end of 2008. To deal with the sour situation, a series of measures were timely released by the South Korean govern- ment to resolve the problem. Among these measures, some of them deserve our attention and bring us valuable experiences.     

ROK, China Strive for Mutual Economic and Trade Benefits

The President of the Republic of Korea(ROK) Roh Moo-hyun announced that Korea fully recognized China‘s market economy status. Roh‘s announcement was made during a joint press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was on a state visit to ROK in November. 　　China is now the largest trading partner of ROK, with trade volume between the two countries expected to reach 100 billion US dollars this year. 　　……     

Investment Opportunities in Jeju Island

<正>According to Chinese customs data,the scale of bilateral trade between China and South Korea has exceeded US＄200 billion for the first time. Recently,a repor...     

Strategic Opportunities for Chinese Enterprises to Go Out

According to recent statistics,by the end of 2011,the total foreign direct investment of Chinese businesses had added up to 382.3 billion U.S dollars.Foreign direct investment flow of 2011 reached 65.1 billion U.S dollars,including 60.07 billion of overseas investments in the non-financial sector.Statistics of 2010 showed that Chinese foreign direct investment flow was the largest among developing countries and the fifth largest of all the countries in the world,exceeding the investment amount of such traditional investment powers as Japan and Britain for the first time.     

2010 Report of Chinese Entrepreneurs' Intention to Invest in ASEAN

As of the end of June 2010, accumulated mutual investment between China and ASEAN already reached 69.4 billion U.S. dollars. Among it, China＇s accumulated non-financial investment in ASEAN was about 9.6 billion U.S. dollars.     

China and South Korea,A Close Economic Connection Leading to Mutual Strategic Cooperation

2008 marks the 16th anniversary of this diplomatic bilateral relationship.In recent years,economic trade be- tween China and South Korea has increased greatly,with an improved complementary structure.Now,China is the largest importer of South Ko- rean products.In 1988,South Korea hosted the Olympic Games successfully,and after 20 years,another Asia country—China,hosted the 29th Olympic Games.Before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,China's Foreign Trade had the opportunity to interview H.E.Mr.Shin Jung- seung,the ambassador who served as the South Korean Foreign Ministry's Coun- selor to China from 1999 to 2001:he is very familiar with China,especially in regards to cultural and economic trade.During the interview, Mr.Shin Jung-seung shared his thoughts with us,focusing on topics such as the bilateral economy developing between these two nations,South Ko- rea's experience hosting the Olympic Games and the con- tinued use of facilities in the post-Olympic period:he also expressed his best wishes for the Beijing Olympics.     

PROMOTE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN SHAANXI

Since the start of the reform and openingdrive, foreign trade and economiccooperation in Shaanxi Province hasmade significant progress. By the end of1995, the province had approved theimplementation of 2,313 items utilizing foreigninvestment, with total investment value ofUS＄6.771 billion, contractual foreigninvestment value of US＄4.94 billion, actualutilization of foreign investment of US＄2.118billion, accounting for 42.9 percent of thecontractual foreign investment value. InJanuary-April 1996, the province approved106 items of foreign direct investment, withtotal investment of US＄308 million,contractual foreign investment of US＄220million and actual utilization of foreigninvestment of US＄116 million.     

Investment Environment in Yantai

Yantai has attracted the attention of overseas economists and politicians for its success in attracting foreign investment and the encouragement it offers investors. Yantai's mode has been praised by overseas experts. Many businessmen have come from Hongkong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea to investigate Yantai and evaluate opportunities. According to Chairman Yin Xixian     

To Give Is to Receive

On June 21,1962,the Korea Trade- Investment Promotion Agency(KO- TRA)was established to promote trade and investment for the South Korean government and increased world coop- eration. We were lucky to interview Kwag Bok-Sun,the Director General of the Korea Trade Center(the Beijing Office of KOTRA),a wise and knowledgeable     

RCEP Will Strongly Stimulate Global Economic Growth

On November 15th,2020,during the fourth summit conference,trade ministers from China,ten ASEAN countries and Japan,South Korea,Australia and New Zealand jointly established the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP).Member countries of RCEP,namely,the 10 ASEAN countries and China,Japan,South Korea,Australia,and New Zealand,represent nearly 30%of the world’s population,gross domestic product,and total trade volume.As such,the signing of RCEP will create the largest trading bloc in the world,with the largest population,the most diversified economic structures,and the greatest potential for development.After eight years of hard negotiations,especially in 2020,when the COVID-19 pandemic disturbed normal international communications,the participating countries managed to fully complete the negotiations on market access,and signed the RCEP as scheduled.After the signing of the agreement,Wang Shouwen,Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of China and deputy China international trade representative,described it as“one of the most important achievements in the past 20 years of East Asian economic integration”.     

Highly regarded medicine——Korean ginseng

<正>Korean ginseng,a medicinal herb,natu- rally exists in only three regions:“Korea”(33. 7-43.1),“Manchuria”(43-47),and the Littoral province of Siberia. The Korean peninsula is the best place to grow ginseng,because ginseng has strin- gent requirements for the plant's growth,and Korea has the ideal temperature zone,plenty of rain in the summer,proper coldness in the winter,etc.     

Textile and apparel turnover at Canton Fair increased

According to the data of the 107th China Import and Export Fair （Canton Fair）, up to May 3, the total turn volume of textile and garments reached 2.408 billion US dollars, 11.7% growth compared to last session, and increase of 20.46% compared to the 105th Canton Fair. The turn volume of garments and accessories is 1.32 billion US dollars, 54.9% of the total volume, 4.6% up compared with the 106th Fair and 25.17% increase compared to the 105th. The fabric and raw materials of textile yarns also increased at turn volume.     

Dr. Alyco SU on China Overseas nvestment Strategy

Dr. Alyce Su, founder of China Queen Capital, specializes in investment management managing portfolios consisted of investment opportunities originated from China＇s growth and internationalization, both outbound and inbound. Hereinafter is her advice on investment strategy in the four countries of BRIGs except China, UAE, South Africa, Europe and Asia.     

New Opportunities in Digital Transformation

Recently,Roland Berger released Foresight 2021,which forecasts China’s industry trends in 2021.The report shows that although China was initially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,due to its effective measures to combat and prevent the pandemic,China’s economy gradually recovered,especially on the supply side,and its exports increased by 21%year-on-year in November 2020.Thanks to labor competitiveness,emerging markets and tariff agreements with other countries in the world,ASEAN has become China’s largest trading partner,and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP),which includes Japan and South Korea has been reached,which will further integrate regional supply chains.