China :: Business & Economy

Fengyang, Anhui - Sweetener producer GLG Life Tech Corporation unveiled its first zero-calorie beverage production facility over the weekend in China, following in the footsteps of international food and beverage giants to cash in on Chinese consumers' growing health awareness. The Vancouver-based company invested $25 million in the facility in Anhui province, which will produce more than 30 types of zero-calorie beverages, including vitamin water and fruit juices. The factory is part of GLG's new unit, All Natural and Zero Calorie Beverage and Foods Company (ANOC), a joint venture between GLG and China Agriculture and Healthy Foods Company Ltd. GLG holds an 80 percent controlling stake in the unit. The beverages will use GLG's self-produced stevia sweeteners, which is 300 times sweeter than sugar with virtually none of the calories, and thus without sugar's unhealthy side effects. GLG is the world's leading producer of stevia sweetener, accounting for nearly 80 per...

Analysis & Opinion Inflation, the new civil war in China 2011 to bring recovery, inflation, more euro-pain A Chinese national flag flies outside the Xinhua Gate of the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, the residence of China's top leaders, with World Trade Centre Tower III, a 330-meter-tall skyscraper, the tallest in Beijing in the background in this November 11, 2010 file photo. Credit: Reuters/Petar Kujundzic By Kevin Yao and Chen Aizhu BEIJING | Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:56am EST BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese inflation showed signs of cresting in a manufacturing survey on Thursday, an early indication that the government will be able to stick to its ...

Toys are displayed at a pavilion in south China's Hong Kong. The value of China's exports of toys and parts grew by 30.3 percent to $9.34 billion during the first 11 months of this year, only 3 percent of which went to Brazil. Amid the backdrop of the rising Brazilian currency, the real, against the yuan, Brazil increased tariffs on toy imports from China by 15 percent on Wednesday. It's the third time in eight days that the South American nation has launched a trade-remedy case against Chinese imports. The measure aims to help Brazilian toy manufacturers gain a competitive edge, as China accounts for as much as 90 percent of the nation's total toy imports. However, the move will not hurt Chinese manufacturers too badly, as the industry's export volume to Brazil is still small, said experts. According to the Brazilian Foreign Trade Chamber, the South American country has raised duties from 20 percent to 35 percent on 14 types of toys including dolls, puzzles, tricyc...

Late Chinese leader Mao Zedong is seen on a 100 yuan (15 USD) banknote in this photo illustration taken in Beijing December 9, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Petar Kujundzic Reuters China has raised fresh international trade concerns after slashing export quotas on rare earths minerals, risking action from the United States at the World Trade Organization. China, which produces about 97 percent of the global supply of rare earth minerals, cut its export quotas by 35 percent for the first half of 2011 versus a year ago, saying it wanted to preserve ample reserves, but warned against basing its total 2011 export quota on the first half figures. The U.S. Trade Representative's office was "very concerned" about China's export restraints on rare earths and had raised its concerns with China, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday. A European Commission spokesman said the European Union "notes the latest quota figures and expect...

As China raises rates, don't forget the yuan Late Chinese leader Mao Zedong is seen on a 100 yuan (15 USD) banknote in this photo illustration taken in Beijing December 9, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Petar Kujundzic By Kevin Yao and Simon Rabinovitch BEIJING | Wed Dec 29, 2010 4:57am EST (Reuters) - China was Grinch-like in raising interest rates on Christmas Day, but in fact investors have good reasons to be grateful. The government provided much-needed reassurance that it was determined to rein in price pressures -- and a salutary reminder that more yuan appreciation than the market expects could be in the offing. The key take-away from the rate increase, China's second in just over two months, is that Beijing is softly, softly pulling every tightening lever within its reach. "The central bank will only raise rates in small and steady increments in the coming months," said E Yongjian, an analyst at Bank of Communications in Shanghai. "The yuan will also steadily cli...

SHANGHAI — Wal-Mart and five other companies have agreed to invest $500 million in 360buy.com, a fast-growing online retailer in China, the Chinese company said. Liu Qiangdong, the founder and chief executive 360buy, announced the investment of about 3.3 billion renminbi on his Chinese Twitter -style microblog last week. On Monday, a spokeswoman for 360buy, Li Jing, confirmed that Wal-Mart was one of the new investors that had pledged a combined $500 million to back the privately owned company, which is based in Beijing. Ms. Li declined to divulge the value of the investment by Wal-Mart, the world’s leading retailer. She said a formal announcement with more details could be made within weeks. Kevin Gardner, a spokesman for Wal-Mart, which is based in Bentonville, Ark., said in an e-mail Saturday that the retailer had made no announcement and did not comment on rumors or speculation. But a big investment in online retailing would not be unusual. ...

The Chinese Government and investors are pouring money for the first time into the animation industry, causing a radical transformation in China's entertainment landscape Chinese Animation The Chinese Government and investors are pouring money for the first time into the animation and film industry, causing a radical transformation in China's entertainment landscape.

By GADY EPSTEIN Mark Zuckerberg and China: How red will he get? Mark Zuckerberg likely learned something about how to play nice with the Chinese government — and make a lot of money while you’re at it — from his meetings in China with the billionaire co-founder of Baidu, Robin Li; the CEO of state-owned telecom giant China Mobile, Wang Jianzhou; the CEO of leading online portal and microblog site Sina.com, Charles Chao; and the billionaire head of Alibaba Group and online retail juggernaut Taobao, Jack Ma. But were these get-togethers a precursor to something bigger, a negotiated entry into the China marketplace? Will Facebook eventually play nice with the Chinese government, ushering in an era of a censored China Facebook? My guess: Yes. Some observers of Zuckerberg’s China-capades have suggested his visit to tech companies mean nothing, that his trip here is strictly personal. I think they’re wrong....

The Chinese firm received an overall funding of $500m from its strategic partners, including Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores has expanded its reach more into the Chinese market by investing in the Chinese online business-to-consumer (B2C) company 360buy Jingdong Mall. A 360buy spokeswoman was quoted by Reuters as saying that the company has received funding of $500m from six strategic partners, including Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has not disclosed its part of investment in the Chinese e-Commerce firm but reportedly showed its eagerness to tap into the pocketbooks of China's burgeoning middle class. Reuters quoted local media reports as saying that 360buy Chief Executive Liu Qiangdong told a press conference last week that the funds would be used to build logistics centres in China. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart launched an e-Commerce site for its Sam's Club warehouse stores in China.

Inflation is running at a reported 5.1% in China, a figure most believe is on the low side. Nonetheless, China has been loath to hike rates out of fear of more "hot money" flowing in. Something had to give, and it did. The markets forced China's hand. China raised interest rates for the second time since mid-October to counter the fastest inflation in more than two years and more moves may follow. The benchmark one-year lending rate will rise by 25 basis points to 5.81 percent and the one-year deposit rate will climb by the same amount to 2.75 percent, effective today, the People’s Bank of China said in a one-sentence statement on its website late yesterday. Premier Wen Jiabao is seeking to slow gains in property values and consumer prices that are making it harder for families to buy homes and pay for food. Bank lending and a wider-than-forecast November trade surplus have pumped more cash into an economy already awash with money. China is tightening after ...

Inflation is running at a reported 5.1% in China, a figure most believe is on the low side. Nonetheless, China has been loath to hike rates out of fear of more "hot money" flowing in. Something had to give, and it did. The markets forced China's hand. Please consider China Increases Rates to Counter Highest Inflation in Two Years China raised interest rates for the second time since mid-October to counter the fastest inflation in more than two years and more moves may follow. The benchmark one-year lending rate will rise by 25 basis points to 5.81 percent and the one-year deposit rate will climb by the same amount to 2.75 percent, effective today, the People’s Bank of China said in a one-sentence statement on its website late yesterday. Premier Wen Jiabao is seeking to slow gains in property values and consumer prices that are making it harder for families to buy homes and pay for food. Bank lending and a wider-than-forecast November trade surplus ...