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Train brings goods from China to Thailand and back to China for first time

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A train carrying goods and produce between China, Laos and Thailand – and back to China – has made its first journey along the newly completed Lao-China railway.

 

The train carrying frozen food and about 280 tons of fresh vegetables on 19 cars left Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province on Feb. 7, traveled through Laos and arrived in Bangkok 55 hours later, Lao National Television reported. On its way back through Laos to Kunming, the train carried durians and other Thai produce. 

 

A centerpiece of China’s Belt and Road Initiative of state-led lending for infrastructure projects to tie countries across Asia to China, the railway is aimed at offering land-locked Laos the promise of closer integration with the world’s second largest economy. The train trip from Kunming to Bangkok is believed to be 20 percent faster than a comparable trip made by truck. 

 

The railway opened in early 2022 but the Chinese government’s zero-COVID policy and its requirement that all imported goods be fully checked meant that the kinds of fruits and vegetables allowed in were greatly limited.

 

More shipments from Thailand to come

 

Now that China has reopened its borders, the new railway should see more shipments from Thailand to China, a Thai trade official told Radio Free Asia’s Laos Service. 

 

“A lot of Chinese goods are coming to Thailand; China produces a lot of goods,” the official said. “Of course, they will ship their goods to Thailand. On the way back, they’ll get something from Thailand.”

 

A Lao trade official, who like other sources requested anonymity for safety reasons, told RFA that there were no goods from Laos on the train to China. The country just doesn’t have enough goods to export yet, the official said. 

 

Most Lao farmers “grow fruits and vegetables only for consumption in the family or sell in the country, not for export,” a Laotian farmer told RFA. “Of course, the shipping by train is fast and convenient. But for Laos, we just don’t have enough produce to export to China.”

 

One Vientiane resident noted that Laos imports a lot of vegetables and currently only exports cassava, rubber and minerals by train to China.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

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Business

Russia’s Booming Economy is Straining a Vital Trading Route with China

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Russia’s railway industry is experiencing a significant downturn, with a nearly 30% investment cut and a 5% freight volume decline, complicating trade with China amidst the economic impacts of the Ukraine war.


Downward Trend in Russia’s Railway Industry

Russia’s railway industry is currently experiencing a significant downturn, largely due to the impacts of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to MMI Research, this sector is facing its biggest slowdown since the Great Financial Crisis, with freight volumes dropping by 5% in the first 11 months of 2024. The war-driven economy has hindered trade, particularly with China, which heavily relies on rail transport.

Investment Cuts and Economic Consequences

Investment in Russia’s railways is set to decrease by almost 30% next year, dropping to 890 billion rubles (approximately $8.5 billion). This reduction is attributed to high interest rates, currently at a record 21%, which further complicate financing options. The state-owned Russian Railways is reconsidering future investments, indicating potential cuts by another third through 2030.

Challenges Affecting Trade with China

The decline in rail capacity poses significant challenges for Russia’s trade with China. As Western sanctions push Russia to diversify its trade routes, rail transport has become increasingly vital for moving goods. However, supply bottlenecks, exacerbated by the need to transport war-related materials, threaten to disrupt this crucial trading relationship further.

Source : Russia’s overheated economy is squeezing one of Moscow’s key trading channels with China

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Business

Democrat Claims Musk is Undermining Spending Bill Due to China Restrictions – The Hill

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A Democrat claims Elon Musk influenced the reduction of a spending bill due to its restrictions on China, suggesting his actions impacted the legislation’s progress and funding allocation.


Allegations Against Musk

A prominent Democrat has accused Elon Musk of deliberately sabotaging a significant spending bill in response to China-related restrictions. This accusation comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly regarding technology and trade policies. The claims suggest that Musk’s influence is affecting critical legislative processes, raising concerns among lawmakers about foreign influence in American politics.

Implications for Legislation

The potential ramifications of Musk’s alleged actions could be significant. As a major player in the tech industry, his decisions can sway public opinion and impact the economy. Lawmakers fear that if influential figures like Musk oppose necessary legislation, it might hinder efforts to address vital issues such as national security and economic stability.

Political Reactions

The controversy has sparked debates among both Democrats and Republicans, highlighting the intersection of technology and politics. Many are demanding greater transparency and accountability from tech giants. As the situation unfolds, lawmakers may need to reassess their strategies to ensure that essential legislation moves forward uninterrupted.

Source : Democrat accuses Musk of tanking spending bill over China restrictions – The Hill

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China

Dissolving a Company in China: A Comparison of General Deregistration and Simplified Deregistration

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China promotes simplified deregistration to enhance its business environment, offering a faster process requiring fewer documents than general deregistration. Companies must meet eligibility criteria, resolve issues, and can choose procedures based on their situation, ensuring compliance for both options.


In addition to the general deregistration procedures, China has been promoting simplified deregistration as one of the key measures to enhance its business environment. This article highlights the differences between the general and simplified procedures, explains the eligibility criteria, and clarifies common misunderstandings about these processes.

Foreign investors may decide to close their business for multiple reasons. To legally wind up a business, investors must complete a series of procedures involving multiple government agencies, such as market regulatory bureaus, foreign exchange administrations, customs, tax authorities, banking regulators, and others. In this article, we outline the company deregistration process overseen by the local Administration for Market Regulation (AMR), comparing the general and simplified procedures.

Before 2016, companies could only deregister through the general procedure. However, on December 26, 2016, the Guidance on Fully Promoting the Reform of Simplified Company Deregistration Procedures was released. Effective March 1, 2017, simplified deregistration procedures were implemented nationwide. Since then, there have been two options: general procedures and simplified procedures.

Companies must follow the general deregistration process if any of the following conditions apply (hereinafter referred to as “existing issues”):

Companies not facing the above issues may choose either the general or simplified deregistration process.  

In summary, simplified deregistration is a faster process and requires fewer documents compared to general deregistration. Companies that meet the criteria typically would typically opt for simplified deregistration. Those that do not meet the criteria may choose this route after resolving outstanding issues. For companies with unresolved issues but seeking urgent closure, they can first publish a deregistration announcement. Once the announcement period ends and all issues are addressed, they can proceed with general deregistration. Some companies may question the legitimacy and compliance of simplified deregistration. This is a misconception. “Simplified” does not mean non-compliant, just as “general” does not imply greater legitimacy. Both processes are lawful and compliant. The AMR provides these options to enable companies ready for closure to complete the process efficiently while granting those with unsolved issues the necessary time to address them after publishing the deregistration announcement. Companies can select the most suitable process based on their specific circumstances.

 


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 ChinaHong KongVietnamSingapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support.

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