Most local government officials in the US still welcome Chinese-invested projects despite a rise in trade tensions this year, a Chinese chamber of commerce leader said this week as potential investors weigh up economic benefits and geopolitical risks. City leaders want Chinese investment to help stimulate their local economies, especially in manufacturing projects that are hard to source elsewhere, said Ni Pin, chairman of the China General Chamber of Commerce branch in Chicago. “There are a lot...

At the World Economic Forum’s “Summer Davos” meeting in Tianjin last month, Premier Li Qiang said that China is evolving into a “mega-sized consumption powerhouse”. This was more than a rhetorical flourish. It marked a reaffirmation of Beijing’s long-standing ambition to change its growth model, placing domestic demand, rather than exports or real estate, at the heart of the economy. This vision is not new. Policymakers have been talking about rebalancing for over a decade. But the timing of...

China expects to add a record 500 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy capacity to its national grid this year as the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) increases demand for electricity to power computing centres. According to a report from the State Grid Energy Research Institute on Friday, over a quarter of that new capacity – or a record 140GW – will come from wind power, a source of energy that US President Donald Trump has suggested China does not use. “They make about 95 per cent of...

Yum China Holdings, the operator of KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in mainland China, will further embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operating efficiency and profitability and allow its store managers to focus on customer service. The firm, which introduced its Q-Smart AI-powered assistant in June, was expected to help reduce waste, improve quality and save labour costs, chief technology officer (CTO) Leila Zhang said in an interview. The AI-powered system could help with staff...

After graduating from Fudan University’s prestigious MBA programme this year, Dong Wenxin wants to keep in touch with his fellow students. The 30-year-old figured many former students probably felt the same way – eager to reconnect even when scattered across China. Living in Shanghai, a major global port city with regular cruise ship departures, gave him an idea. Dong saw business potential in organising group trips that would bring former students back together for quality time at sea. Over the...

US President Donald Trump issues quite a few executive orders. So many, in fact, that one could be forgiven for not keeping up with them all. But amid the rapid-fire policy changes that have come to characterise his administration, one arrived last month that could have drastic implications for the world’s drone market – and China’s role in it. The order, signed June 6, requires government agencies to prioritise using home-grown unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) “to the maximum extent permitted by...

After finishing her master’s degree in education last December, Harley Hu began looking for a full-time job in the United Kingdom. The search proved to be far more gruelling than she had expected. “I sent out maybe 200 or 300 CVs,” the 25-year-old told the Post. “It took half a year to find something stable.” After six months of juggling part-time work as a Chinese language tutor, Hu has now secured a full-time role in teaching. But the job only provides a temporary respite, as her employer does...