Latest news with #SpringFestival
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Guizhou Upgrades 'Computing Power Capital': Core Zone of 'China Data Valley' Builds New Digital Economy Heights
By GlobeNewswire Published on July 20, 2025, 07:29 IST GUIYANG, China, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 'Guiyang Big Data Hub Reaches Milestone: 1,355 Enterprises Drive Digital Economy Surge with ¥69 Billion Output.' As the flagship project of China's first national big data pilot zone, the Guiyang Big Data Science and Innovation City has achieved remarkable progress in three years. Official data from the Guizhou government shows that by 2024, the park attracted 1,355 enterprises, with big data firms accounting for 60%, achieving annual service revenue of ¥69 billion (a 6.44% year-on-year increase) Breakthrough in Data Assetization Guizhou Data Treasure Network Technology Co., Ltd. recently assisted Wanfenglin Scenic Area in completing the first case of data asset accounting in Guizhou's cultural tourism industry. By integrating merchant operations and tourist consumption data, the company designed multiple data products that not only helped the scenic area secure a 100 million yuan credit line from Guizhou Bank but also contributed to its successful upgrade to a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Zhou Lin, a partner at Data Treasure, stated that this case has spurred more cultural tourism enterprises to engage in data assetization collaborations. Computing Power Empowers the Film Industry The Gui'an New Area Supercomputing Center has provided rendering services for over 100 films, including The Battle at Lake Changjin and The Wandering Earth. Equipped with 1,000 high-performance GPUs and a computing capacity of 300 petaflops per second, the center can reduce rendering tasks that traditionally took 600 years to just a few months. The 2024 Spring Festival blockbuster Nezha: The Devil's Child's Chaos also benefited from the center's computing power. Continuous Optimization of the Business Environment The Science and Innovation City's Enterprise and Talent Service Center has innovated a 'one-network governance' model, resolving 1,489 corporate requests with a completion rate of 98.41%. By establishing a four-tier talent housing system, the zone has developed a unique investment attraction model combining 'computing power + fund' strategies. In 2025, the plan is to attract 445 new enterprises and commence construction on 2.68 million square meters of core-area projects. The zone, currently holding 'Guizhou Software Park' designation, is pursuing national-level recognition while focusing on three strategic clusters: digital economy, advanced manufacturing, and new energy materials. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Gulf Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
China's consumer inflation up 0.1 per cent YoY in June
China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in June, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Wednesday. The CPI in urban regions rose 0.1 per cent year-on-year last month, while that in the rural regions was down 0.2 per cent, according to the data. On a monthly basis, the CPI dipped 0.1 per cent in June, China Daily quoted the data as showing. In the first half of 2025, the country's CPI posted a 0.1-percent decline compared with the same period last year, according to the bureau. The official data also indicated that the producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went down 3.6 per cent year-on-year in June. On a month-on-month basis, the PPI dropped 0.4 per cent in June, according to the data. In the first half of 2025, the PPI dropped by 2.8 per cent year-on-year, the data showed. China to host 200 digital economy, AI training programmes for Global South China's consumer prices fell at a slower pace in March, while the annual decline in factory-gate prices deepened, official data showed on Thursday. The country's Consumer Price Index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, fell by 0.1 per cent year-on-year in March after a 0.7 per cent drop in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). China Daily reported that within the CPI, food prices experienced a year-on-year decline of 1.4 per cent, compared to a decrease of 3.3 per cent in February. Month-on-month, the CPI dipped 0.4 per cent in March, following a 0.2 per cent drop in February. The growth in core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices and is deemed a better gauge of the supply-demand relationship in the economy, rose by 0.5 per cent year-on-year in March after a 0.1 per cent dip in February. Dong Lijuan, an NBS statistician, attributed the month-on-month CPI decline to the abundant food supply due to warmer weather, lower prices of travel-related services in the off-season and declining international oil prices. Dong also highlighted the emergence of some positive signs, such as the narrowing decline in year-on-year CPI and the growth in core CPI, saying policies aimed at boosting consumer demand started to take effect and the impact of the timing difference of the Spring Festival holiday gradually faded. China's Producer Price Index (PPI), which gauges factory-gate prices, dropped by 2.5 per cent year-on-year in March, widening from a 2.2 per cent fall in February, the NBS said. On a month-on-month basis, the PPI dropped 0.4 per cent in March after a 0.1 per cent decrease in February, according to the NBS. Dong said the factory-gate prices declined due to lower prices for domestic petroleum products and certain export-oriented industries, seasonal weakening demand for energy products such as coal, and the declining prices in several raw materials. Meanwhile China will launch the 'Digital South' initiative under the framework of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), offering 200 training programmes in artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy to Global South countries over the next five years, Premier Li Qiang announced during the 17th BRICS Summit. Speaking during plenary sessions held on Sunday and Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Premier Li highlighted key topics including strengthening multilateralism, AI, environmental and climate change, and global health, Xinhua News Agency said. Leaders of BRICS member states, partner countries, guest nations, and representatives of international organisations attended the meetings. The current international economic and trade order, as well as the multilateral trading system, are under severe strain, and the global economic recovery remains challenging, Li said. He noted that the Greater BRICS cooperation should uphold its founding purpose, meet the needs of the times, safeguard and practice multilateralism, promote the establishment of a fair and open international economic and trade order, and unite the strength of the Global South to make greater contributions to global stability and development. He emphasised the need to open up new blue oceans for economic growth by expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital and green economies, leveraging AI to empower a wide range of industries and benefit countless households, and helping Global South countries enhance their capabilities. As part of this commitment, China will host 200 training programmes in the digital economy and AI for Global South countries over the next five years. Premier Li also invited global participation in the upcoming World Artificial Intelligence Conference, scheduled to take place in China this July. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has announced that the European Union aims to rebalance its economic relationship with China by demanding fair and reciprocal access for European companies to the Chinese market. Agencies
The Star
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Actress Nashi accused of 'faking' records to take gaokao
BEIJING: Authorities in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region have accused an actress of using falsified records to take the country's national college entrance exam, also known as gaokao, in 2008. The actress, identified in Chinese media as Nashi (pic), has garnered significant attention online, with the accusations levelled against her by authorities spreading widely on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Nashi gained popularity for her role as a female general in Creation of the Gods II, which was the third highest-grossing film at this year's Spring Festival. She also features on a TV series, The Litchi Road, which is currently airing. In a recent interview, Nashi stated that she graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy through a commissioned training program designed to develop specialised talent for ethnic and underdeveloped regions. Her subsequent pursuit of a master's degree in Norway, rather than returning to work in Inner Mongolia as required by the programme, sparked public questions on how she was able to break the agreement. A statement released on Saturday by Inner Mongolia's education department stated that a joint investigation found that Nashi had registered for the 2008 national college entrance exam as a graduating student from Hohhot No 8 Middle School. However, officials stated she had never attended the school and had no official student record there — a violation the department described as "suspected fraud in college application materials". According regional rules at the time, students were required to possess valid household registration and verified academic records to qualify for the gaokao. In 2008 Nashi was admitted to the Shanghai Theatre Academy through a government-sponsored programme. This initiative was launched in 2007 under an agreement between Inner Mongolia's cultural authorities and the academy. From 2008 to 2020, the program enrolled students with the understanding that graduates would return to Inner Mongolia to work in their respective fields. Participants, including Nashi, signed contracts agreeing to these conditions. In 2012, after completing her undergraduate studies, Nashi applied to retrieve her diploma and degree certificate to pursue a master's degree in Norway. The request was approved, and she did not return to fulfill her employment obligations in Inner Mongolia, according to the investigation. While her documents were legally returned following a review, the case has raised broader questions about the enforcement of such contracts and the oversight of special training programs funded or facilitated by public resources. Commentators online have characterised the incident as a warning about the potential abuse of the education system. Authorities stated the investigation is ongoing and vowed to hold relevant parties accountable in accordance with laws and regulations. They also pledged to review existing policies and strengthen oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future. - China Daily/ANN
AllAfrica
20-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
Chinese state-owned airlines join price war in national mission
Chinese state-owned airlines have joined an intensifying price war, although unwillingly, amid challenges including local passengers' weakening spending power and rising market competition. Air China, Southern Airlines and Eastern Airlines have been facing huge losses for five years since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020. Although China canceled all epidemic rules in early 2023, the three firms still recorded net losses in the past two years. They carried more passengers last year than in 2023, but had to lower air ticket prices due to rising competition from budget airlines and China State Railway Group, the country's high-speed train operator. The price war is intensifying this year. Many Chinese airlines now offer domestic round-trip tickets at about 200 to 300 yuan (US$28 to US$42), as it is a low season before the summer holidays. Round-trip tickets to remote cities are 80- 90% off, while those to key cities like Beijing are 40-50% off. Budget airlines such as Spring Airlines and Juneyao Air are growing fast in this price war. a unit of the People's Daily, reported in late May that Chinese airlines have started offering significant discounts to customers. For example, a ticket for a round trip between Chengdu and Kunming costs only 222 yuan, and between Chengdu and Haikou, it costs 237 yuan. Kunming and Haikou are famous for their natural attractions. A Chongqing-based writer said air tickets departing from Chengdu are about 70% off on average from the high season. He said a Beijing-Sanya round trip ticket is only 230 yuan, down from 2,000 yuan during the Spring Festival in late January. He said the competition intensifies as Chinese airlines keep opening new routes this year. Citing Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) data, Xinhua reported in March that 38 airlines will open 640 new domestic flight routes this year, connecting key cities such as Chongqing, Changsha and Tianjin with tourism cities in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. The CAAC also allowed 193 local and foreign airlines to add 22,946 new international passenger and cargo flights per week in 2025, or 33% more than in the same period last year. These new routes cover 78 foreign countries, 57 along the Belt and Road. 'Do you think the three state-owned airlines don't want to make a profit?' a Shandong-based columnist called Xiao Song says in an article. 'They have their difficulties.' 'Despite losing money, some routes had to be launched for political reasons, such as those to Xinjiang and Tibet, and those to African and South American countries,' he said. He added that budget airlines and state-owned airlines operate their businesses differently. For example: Spring Airlines targets low-cost tourists who travel to remote cities, while state-owned airlines mainly compete in key cities. Juneyao Airlines offers one-day trips for businesspeople at prices lower than those of the high-speed railway. Budget airlines mainly use Airbus A320, which can fly up to 12 hours per day, compared with state-owned airlines' 10 hours. State-owned airlines deploy domestically some of their long-range Boeing 787 planes, which burn more fuel than narrow-body aircraft. State-owned airlines operate less efficiently than private firms. He said these are reasons why budget airlines can make a profit and pay their pilots 15,000 yuan per 90 flight hours, while state-owned airlines lose money and can only offer their pilots 10,000 yuan. He said state-owned airlines now realize these problems and try to provide more low-cost packages. In 2024, the top seven Chinese airlines, including state-owned and private ones, recorded combined revenues of 587 billion yuan, up 13.6%. Spring Airlines was the most profitable, with a net profit of 2.27 billion yuan. In fact, Air China, Eastern Airlines, and Southern Airlines successfully narrowed their net or before-tax losses last year from 2023. The number of passengers carried was 155 million (+23.8%) for Air China, 141 million (+21.6%) for Eastern Airlines, and 165 million (+16%) for Southern Airlines. According to the CAAC, the total number of flight passengers grew 5.8% to 246.8 million in the first four months of 2025 compared with last year. Currently, the central government does not intend to stop the price war or reduce competition in the airline industry. 'The decline in air ticket prices is good news for the tourism market as it can effectively boost the number of tourists and create growth for related industries such as hotels, catering, transportation and retail,' a Yunnan-based writer says in an article. She thinks the trend will also help diversify the tourism market, as new and small tourism sites can emerge. However, Hsieh Chin-ho, a Taiwanese commentator, said the falling prices of air tickets and hotels will worsen China's deflationary problem, which was caused by the burst of the country's property bubbles several years ago. Hsieh said China's consumer price index (CPI) decreased by 0.1% year-on-year in May, and its producer price index (PPI) dropped by 3.3% year-on-year, showing weak domestic consumption. He said a vicious cycle created by weakening consumption and falling property prices could further drag down the Chinese economy – resulting in a lost decade of slow or negative GDP growth, such as was experienced by Japan from the 1990s to the 2010s. Read: China's fast-growing high-speed railway network faces reality
The Star
07-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
China and Myanmar commemorate 75 years of ties with emphasis on bilateral cooperation, support
Dancers perform during a celebration for the Spring Festival. The event aimed to boost China-Myanmar cultural exchange at the China Cultural Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, Jan 24, 2025. - Xinhua YANGON: The 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties was marked with events in Yangon and Mandalay on Thursday (June 5), with a focus on bilateral cooperation and China's ongoing support for Myanmar. In Yangon, a commemorative event was organised to mark the anniversary alongside the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations. Meanwhile, a forum welcoming the diplomatic milestone took place in Mandalay. Hundreds of representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, businesses, think tanks and academic institutions from both China and Myanmar attended the Yangon event, highlighting the longstanding "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries. Myo Aung, chief minister of Mandalay region, said in his speech at the event in Mandalay that over the past 75 years, Myanmar and China have continuously deepened cooperation in various fields such as science and technology, culture, education, sports and health. He added that Myanmar actively supports the joint implementation of major projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor and the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline. U Tin Oo, chairman of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association, said at the event in Yangon that China's Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened global cooperation and promoted common development. He noted that the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism has played a vital role in fostering peace, stability and development in the region. Ma Jia, Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, also addressed the event in Yangon. She said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Myanmar in 1950, bilateral relations have withstood the test of international changes and have always developed steadily. The two sides have worked hand in hand, and the people are close to each other and have helped each other, said the ambassador, adding that she hoped non-governmental organisations of both countries will continue to promote the construction of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future. Gao Ping, Chinese consul general in Mandalay, delivered a speech at the event in Mandalay, saying that no matter how the international situation changes, China has always adhered to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. She added that China considers Myanmar as a good neighbour with blood ties, as a relative, and as a friend, and has always taken the well-being of the two peoples as the starting point and foothold for formulating policies toward Myanmar. - Xinhua
