China and Japan Promote Third-Party Market Cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an official visit to China from October 25-27,as China and Japan jointly announced on October 12. China and Japan have expressed their joint intention to vigorously promote cooperation in third-party markets. Why? What is the meaning and role of this cooperation? Δ President Xi Jinping meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing on Oct. 26th. Li Tao / Xinhua Firstly, both China and Japan are countries with relative excess in endowment of production factors such as capital and production capacity. After the domestic economy develops to a certain stage, it is no longer able to rely on continuous large-scale domestic investment to obtain endogenous development, as is seen in periods of rapid economic growth. Motivation must rely on improving management and technology, especially through the core technologies of major industrial sectors to gain new development momentum, relying on technological innovation as a new impetus for economic development. Secondly, most of the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are developing countries, and some are emerging industrial countries in the process of catching up. They are emerging from poverty, with their economies just preparing to take off or just beginning to take off. In this stage, there is an urgent need for capital and technology. In particular, it is more necessary to build […]

Oct 28, 2018

Communication and Coordination Key in Continuing Strong China-EU Relations

There is much that unites China and Europe. Whilst Donald Trump’s isolated, “America First” strategy has hurt countries economically, it has created possibilities to strengthen and build new relationships. China and the European Union’s (EU) is one relationship that has matured greatly over the last few years. Trade now averages at over €1 billion a day, and both see eye to eye on a range of issues, from climate change to multilateralism, free trade to reform in the World Trade Organisation. “Solid Foundation, Enormous Potential and Bright Prospects” Chinese Premier Li Keqiang successful visit last week to Europe, where he visited Belgium, the Netherlands, the latter which signed trade deals reaching US$10 billion and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), was another chance to reaffirm the strong values that Europe and China hold. Δ Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L) arrives in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) “Cooperation between Asia and Europe has a solid foundation, enormous potential and bright prospects,” said Premier Li in his speech at the ASEM summit. On multilateralism, Premier Li spoke of Europe and Asia’s joint responsibility to “lead the way” in keeping multilateral institutions alive, as well as adhering to and reviewing a rules-based system, such as those offered by the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the Netherlands, Li’s keynote speech at the business forum […]

Oct 26, 2018

Full Steam Ahead on the China-Europe Express Route

Wherever you are right now, there is a high probability something around you was imported from China. You might be using some electronics, in a shopping mall, or driving your car (hopefully not whilst reading this) but no matter what, there is a very big chance you are close to something made from there. This isn’t a new phenomenon of course. China is the number one exporting country in the world, exporting more than $2,157,000 million worth of goods in 2017 alone. Yet how these goods are being transported to European shopping malls, supermarkets and homes, is new. Last month, the China-Europe Express, sometimes referred to as the China-Europe Freight Train, reached a significant milestone, when it clocked its 10,000th journey from Wuhan, in central China, to Europe. Previously, goods from China had always arrived into Europe in the back of a freight plane or stowed in the bow of a ship. The reason for this was simple, air freight was significantly quicker than train and ship freight was a lot cheaper. Yet now, more and more trade between China and Europe is being done along the Belt and Road (B&R) using freight trains, which is reducing costs and increasing delivery speed. From Yilin to London, Xi’an to Hamburg Since 2013 B&R has been connecting China with the rest of […]

Sep 26, 2018