China
London Bankers Meet Your New Chinese Bosses
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Wang Qishan, China’s vice premier, left, and George Osborne, U.K. chancellor of the exchequer, pose for a photograph during the UK-China Economic and financial dialogue on September 8, 2011 in London, England. More In Banks London Bankers Meet Your New Chinese Bosses Asia Today: Bank Profits in China; Europe’s Debt Woes Hong Kongers Irate Over HSBC Job Cuts Now This Is Happening: A Bank Funding Crisis in China? Can’t Get a Bank Loan? Chinese State Owned Companies Happy to Help Out Originally posted on Deal Journal : Now is not a good time to be an investment banker. M&A activity has fallen off, the IPO market has slowed, banks are announcing layoffs and bonuses should be down significantly this year. For bankers in London facing layoffs, there might be a savior. China. Deal Journal colleague Matt Turner reports: It appears Chinese banks believe that their moment to descend on London is fast approaching. Over the past two years, several have quietly built up their portfolios of prime office real estate, often close to the Bank of England building in the City of London. To date, these offices have only housed a small number of executives who have been relocated from China to London to gather information on the market and their competitors. However, there are now signs that this “information gathering” stage may be coming to an end. The phoney war is over. This month, one senior investment banker told Financial News that a Chinese firm had enlisted headhunters to look into the practicality of hiring several hundred investment bankers. The bank’s domestic peers are understood to be close to following suit. Earlier this month, Wang Qishan, the vice-premier of the People’s Republic of China who is credited with helping Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs enter the Chinese market, arrived in the UK to hold talks with chancellor George Osborne. The two agreed to work together to develop London as an offshore trading hub for the renminbi. Industry sources pointed out the Chinese authorities were unlikely to allow western banks a clear run at this nascent market. It is clear the Chinese banks have the firepower to make a significant impact on the London market – and they have already amassed the office space to house many more staff. Click here to read the full story. – Stephen Grocer
- Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
- Wang Qishan, China’s vice premier, left, and George Osborne, U.K. chancellor of the exchequer, pose for a photograph during the UK-China Economic and financial dialogue on September 8, 2011 in London, England.
Originally posted on Deal Journal:
Now is not a good time to be an investment banker. M&A activity has fallen off, the IPO market has slowed, banks are announcing layoffs and bonuses should be down significantly this year.
For bankers in London facing layoffs, there might be a savior. China. Deal Journal colleague Matt Turner reports:
It appears Chinese banks believe that their moment to descend on London is fast approaching. Over the past two years, several have quietly built up their portfolios of prime office real estate, often close to the Bank of England building in the City of London.
To date, these offices have only housed a small number of executives who have been relocated from China to London to gather information on the market and their competitors.
However, there are now signs that this “information gathering” stage may be coming to an end. The phoney war is over. This month, one senior investment banker told Financial News that a Chinese firm had enlisted headhunters to look into the practicality of hiring several hundred investment bankers. The bank’s domestic peers are understood to be close to following suit.
Earlier this month, Wang Qishan, the vice-premier of the People’s Republic of China who is credited with helping Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs enter the Chinese market, arrived in the UK to hold talks with chancellor George Osborne. The two agreed to work together to develop London as an offshore trading hub for the renminbi. Industry sources pointed out the Chinese authorities were unlikely to allow western banks a clear run at this nascent market.
It is clear the Chinese banks have the firepower to make a significant impact on the London market – and they have already amassed the office space to house many more staff.
Click here to read the full story.
– Stephen Grocer
Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, China in 2009 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income.
One demographic consequence of the “one child” policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world.
The country’s per capita income was at $6,567 (IMF, 98th) in 2009.
Available energy is insufficient to run at fully installed industrial capacity, and the transport system is inadequate to move sufficient quantities of such critical items as coal.
Technology, labor productivity, and incomes have advanced much more rapidly in industry than in agriculture.
China has acquired some highly sophisticated production facilities through trade and also has built a number of advanced engineering plants capable of manufacturing an increasing range of sophisticated equipment, including nuclear weapons and satellites, but most of its industrial output still comes from relatively ill-equipped factories.
The market-oriented reforms China has implemented over the past two decades have unleashed individual initiative and entrepreneurship, whilst retaining state domination of the economy.
The ministry made the announcements during a press conference held in Xiamen on the upcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum and the 14th China International Fair for Investment and Trade.
According to the ministry, China’s ODI grew by 1.1 percent from a year earlier to $56.53 billion, which includes investment of $47.8 billion in non-financial sectors worldwide, up 14.2 percent year-on-year.
China is expected to have 200 million cars on the road by 2020, increasing pressure on energy security and the environment, government officials said yesterday.
China’s challenge in the early 21st century will be to balance its highly centralized political system with an increasingly decentralized economic system.
Since the late 1970s, China has decollectivized agriculture, yielding tremendous gains in production.
In terms of cash crops, China ranks first in cotton and tobacco and is an important producer of oilseeds, silk, tea, ramie, jute, hemp, sugarcane, and sugar beets.
Hogs and poultry are widely raised in China, furnishing important export staples, such as hog bristles and egg products.
China is one of the world’s major mineral-producing countries.
China’s leading export minerals are tungsten, antimony, tin, magnesium, molybdenum, mercury, manganese, barite, and salt.
In addition, implementation of some reforms was stalled by fears of social dislocation and by political opposition, but by 2007 economic changes had become so great that the Communist party added legal protection for private property rights (while preserving state ownership of all land) and passed a labor law designed to improve the protection of workers’ rights (the law was passed amid a series of police raids that freed workers engaged in forced labor).
Since the 1980s China has undertaken a major highway construction program.
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London Bankers Meet Your New Chinese Bosses
Business
China’s Golden Rooster Film Festival Kicks Off in Xiamen – Thailand Business News
The 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival began in Xiamen on Nov 13, featuring awards, cultural projects worth 31.63 billion yuan, and fostering international film collaborations.
2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Opens
The 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival commenced in Xiamen, Fujian province, on November 13. This prestigious event showcases the top film awards in China and spans four days, concluding with the China Golden Rooster Awards ceremony on November 16.
The festival features various film exhibitions, including the Golden Rooster Mainland Film Section and the Golden Rooster International Film Section. These showcases aim to highlight the achievements of Chinese-language films and foster global cultural exchanges within the film industry.
On the festival’s opening day, a significant milestone was reached with the signing of 175 cultural and film projects, valued at 31.63 billion yuan ($4.36 billion). Additionally, the International Film and Television Copyright Service Platform was launched, furthering the globalization of Chinese film and television properties.
Source : China’s Golden Rooster film festival opens in Xiamen – Thailand Business News
China
Italy and China New DTA Set to Take Effect in 2025: Important Changes and Implications
Italy ratified an upgraded Double Tax Agreement (DTA) with China, effective in 2025, to reduce tax burdens, prevent evasion, and enhance investment. The DTA introduces modern provisions aligned with international standards, targeting tax avoidance and improving dispute resolution for Italian businesses.
Italy recently ratified the upgraded Double Tax Agreement (DTA), which will finally take effect in 2025. This agreement was signed in 2019 and was designed to reduce tax burdens, prevent tax evasion, and promote Italian investment in China.
On November 5, 2024, Italy’s Chamber of Deputies gave final approval to the ratification of the 2019 Double Tax Agreement (DTA) between Italy and China (hereinafter, referred to as the “new DTA”).
Set to take effect in 2025, the new DTA is aimed at eliminating double taxation on income, preventing tax evasion, and creating a more favorable environment for Italian businesses operating in China.
The ratification bill for the new DTA consists of four articles, with Article 3 detailing the financial provisions. Starting in 2025, the implementation costs of the agreement are estimated at €10.86 million (US$11.49 million) annually. These costs will be covered by a reduction in the special current expenditure fund allocated in the Italian Ministry of Economy’s 2024 budget, partially drawing from the reserve for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the parliamentary debate, Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli emphasized the new DTA’s strategic importance, noting that the agreement redefines Italy’s economic and financial framework with China. Cirielli highlighted that the DTA not only strengthens relations with the Chinese government but also supports Italian businesses, which face increasing competition as other European countries have already established double taxation agreements with China. This ratification, therefore, is part of a broader series of diplomatic and economic engagements, leading up to a forthcoming visit by the President of the Italian Republic to China, underscoring Italy’s commitment to fostering bilateral relations and supporting its businesses in China’s complex market landscape.
The newly signed DTA between Italy and China, introduces several modernized provisions aligned with international tax frameworks. Replacing the 1986 DTA, the agreement adopts measures from the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project and the OECD Multilateral Instrument (MLI), targeting tax avoidance and improving dispute resolution.
The Principal Purpose Test (PPT) clause, inspired by BEPS, is one of the central updates in the new DTA, working to prevent treaty abuse. This clause allows tax benefits to be denied if one of the primary purposes of a transaction or arrangement was to gain a tax advantage, a move to counter tax evasion through treaty-shopping.
| This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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Business
China’s New Home Prices Stabilize After 17-Month Decline Following Support Measures
China’s new home prices fell for the 17th month in October, declining 0.5% from September, but slowing, indicating potential market stabilization amid supportive measures. Second-hand home prices showed mixed trends.
Decline in China’s Home Prices Stabilizes
China’s new home prices continued to decline in October for the 17th consecutive month, although the drop showed signs of slowing. Recent support measures from Beijing appear to be inching the market toward stabilization, as evidenced by a lighter decline compared to earlier months.
Monthly and Yearly Comparisons
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, new home prices across 70 mainland cities fell by 0.5% from September, marking the smallest decrease in seven months. Year-on-year, prices dropped by 6.2%, slightly worse than the September decline of 6.1%. In tier-1 cities like Beijing and Shanghai, prices decreased by 0.2%, a smaller fall than 0.5% in the previous month.
Second-Hand Home Market Trends
Second-hand home prices in tier-1 cities experienced a 0.4% increase in October, reversing a 13-month downward trend. Conversely, tier-2 cities observed a 0.4% drop in second-hand prices, while tier-3 cities faced a similar 0.5% decline. Overall, recent trends indicate a potential stabilization in China’s property market.
Source : China’s new home prices slow 17-month decline after support measures kick in
- China’s Golden Rooster Film Festival Kicks Off in Xiamen – Thailand Business News
- Italy and China New DTA Set to Take Effect in 2025: Important Changes and Implications
- China’s New Home Prices Stabilize After 17-Month Decline Following Support Measures
- U.S. national debt is its Achilles’ heel, but China sees it as an opportunity
- Business Update: Southern Sun Reports Earnings Growth; China Stimulates Property Market – News24
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