China to further implement a visa-free policy for six countries，namely Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg starting from March 14 (GT)
2024-03-07

Stairway to haven: Phuket villa steps draw curious visitors after Swiss man kicks Thai doctor (SCMP)
2024-03-06

Chinese automakers stand out at Geneva (China Daily)
2024-03-04

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FM blasts US failure to honor its pledges (China Daily)
2024-03-08

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: what Foreign Minister Wang Yi had to say about US relations, Taiwan and wars in Ukraine and Gaza (SCMP)
2024-03-07

Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefs the media: Highlights (China Daily)
2024-03-07

China will continue to support UNRWA's work in Gaza, says envoy (Xinhua)
2024-03-06

China slams US' citing mutual defense treaty to back Philippine provocations in South China Sea (GT)
2024-03-06

Chinese envoy urges Israel to cease discrediting "two-state solution" (Xinhua)
2024-03-06

‘Two sessions’ 2024: Premier Li Qiang vows China’s ‘new type’ of diplomacy will pursue equality and order (SCMP)
2024-03-05

Sino-US economic interdependence to stay; 'decoupling' seen 'impossible' (China Daily)
2024-03-05

China, Indonesia pledge to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation (Xinhua)
2024-03-01

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Xinjiang to open up further to world despite West's smearing (China Daily)
2024-03-07

Xizang set to build world's largest national park by 2025 (China Daily)
2024-03-06

Xi Focus: Xi calls on political advisors to build consensus for Chinese modernization (Xinhua)
2024-03-06

Law revision to enhance governance, supervision (GT)
2024-03-06

‘Two sessions’ 2024: Xi Jinping says while China pursues ‘new productive forces’, it must avoid economic bubbles (SCMP)
2024-03-06

China accomplishes major targets of 2023 (Xinhua)
2024-03-05

Counter-Espionage Law improves security for foreigners and foreign business (China Daily)
2024-03-04

A deep dive into Xi Jinping's stewardship of whole-process people's democracy (Xinhua)
2024-03-03

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Hong Kong tables Article 23 national security legislation with life imprisonment for treason, insurrection and sabotage offences (SCMP)
2024-03-08

Bloomberg admits error as Hong Kong gov’t slams ‘false reports’ of social media ban in new security law (HKFP)
2024-03-07

Exclusive: Chinese mainland, HKSAR to deepen cooperation to create more new growth drivers: national political advisor from HK (GT)
2024-03-06

Hong Kong, Macao acclaiming Individual Visit Scheme expansion to encompass Xi'an and Qingdao (GT)
2024-03-06

China to continue to implement principle of patriots administering Hong Kong, Macao (Xinhua)
2024-03-05

NPC spokesperson affirms full support for HK's legislation of Article 23 (China Daily)
2024-03-04

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China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: foreign supporters of Taiwan independence warned they will ‘get burned for playing with fire and taste a bitter fruit’ (SCMP)
2024-03-07

Fatal boat incident puts DPP authorities at risk if it is not handled properly (GT)
2024-03-06

Chinese Premier Li Qiang raises threat of ‘external interference’ in Taiwan during first ‘two sessions’ work report (SCMP)
2024-03-05

Taiwan businesses highly optimistic about mainland economic outlook, ready to invest more in 2024 (GT)
2024-03-04

Chinese defense ministry refutes validity of 'Taiwan Strait's median line' (China Daily)
2024-03-01

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China’s LGFVs Are Seeing Wave of Bond Plans Vetoed by Regulators (Caixin)
2024-03-08
China’s local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) are finding it a lot harder to issue bonds, as authorities step up efforts to curb risks from the debt-laden sector in a slowing economy. Regulators terminated applications for 53 new LGFV bonds with a combined 75.2 billion yuan ($10.4 billion) in the first two months of the year, the highest for the same period since 2021 when S&P Global Ratings began compiling the data. That compares with 11 vetoed deals worth 17.2 billion yuan a year ago. The regulators reviewing LGFVs’ bond plans include the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, as well as the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors, China’s interbank market watchdog. The trend started in July after Beijing prioritized addressing financial risks including surging local government debt, before reaching a peak in the fourth quarter. The month-on-month momentum eased in February when China was shut for a week-long public holiday. “This points to the continued regulatory tightening since the fourth quarter last year and we haven’t yet seen any signs of relaxation,” said Laura Li, a managing director at S&P, referring to the last two months’ terminated bond deals. “This suggests that it is increasingly difficult for low-quality, low-rated LGFVs, including those from affluent provinces such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang, to issue bonds in future.” Policymakers face an uphill battle in tackling the LGFV sector’s $9 trillion debt pile, at a time when the world’s No. 2 economy is plagued by an ailing housing market, a key revenue source for regional authorities. As a result, authorities are shifting the burden of financing growth stimulus to central government, including the planned issuance of a 1 trillion-yuan ultra-long special sovereign bond this year, the fourth such sale in the past 26 years. Meanwhile, Beijing kicked off a debt swap program worth more than 1 trillion yuan in late September, allowing local governments to replace their so-called hidden debt for bonds carrying lower interest rates. LGFVs need to pay back a record 4.65 trillion yuan of maturing local bonds this year. Most of the proceeds from LGFVs’ new bonds now go on repaying old debt, said Wang Chen, co-founder of Belt & Road Origin (Beijing) Tech Co., a credit risk analysis provider. Between January and February, LGFVs’ total bond issuance stood at 781 billion yuan, down about 4.6% on year, according to data from Zhongtai Securities Co. Ltd. Among the 636 LGFV notes issued in January, 97% are intended for refinancing or repayment, according to a report by CSCI Pengyuan Credit Rating Co.

China trade: exports start 2024 with better-than-expected 7.1% increase in January-February period (SCMP)
2024-03-07

Festival travel sets several records (China Daily)
2024-03-07

China has further room to reduce RRR with ample monetary policy reserves: PBC governor (GT)
2024-03-07

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: securities regulator comes out swinging at first press conference (SCMP)
2024-03-06

China to promote trade-in programs, expand service consumption: minister (Xinhua)
2024-03-06

‘Two sessions’ 2024: risks ahead but China’s economy to stay on long-term, tech-led course (SCMP)
2024-03-05

China pledges proactive fiscal policy, prudent monetary policy in 2024 (China Daily)
2024-03-05

China targets economic growth of around 5 pct in 2024 (Xinhua)
2024-03-05

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DPRK top leader urges ramping up actual-war drills, war preparations (Xinhua)
2024-03-07

China and North Korea’s ‘friendship year’ need not be bad news for US allies (SCMP)
2024-03-05

DPRK denounces large-scale U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise (Xinhua)
2024-03-05

DPRK lambasts Blinken's "power politics" rhetoric (Xinhua)
2024-03-01

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Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene received Minister for Digital and Transport of Germany (Gogo Mongolia)
2024-03-07

Consultative Meeting Held between Mongolia and Japan Authorities for Foreign Relations, Security, and Defense Affairs (Montsame)
2024-03-06

Mongolia Collaborates with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on Anti-Corruption Efforts (Montsame)
2024-03-05

China provides emergency aid to Mongolia hit by harsh winter (Xinhua)
2024-03-04

ADB, Mongolia sign agreement to improve access to quality education (Xinhua)
2024-03-04

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Embassy of Switzerland