CiCM 20th December 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

China-Korea multimodal transport trial operation was launched: A trial operation vehicle carrying e-commerce export commodities left Weihai Port in China and boarded the Weihai-Incheon passenger and freight liner headed for South Korea. After reaching Incheon port, these commodities will be further carried to Incheon airport and then to Europe and the US on the same day. The initiative, which is a part of the multimodal transport agreement between China and South Korea in February 2023, intends to streamline logistics and cut costs by about 30%. In comparison to the current “sea + air” model, the trial run is expected to speed up the procedure by about five hours. The partnership is anticipated to boost cross-border transportation efficiency and promote a more secure and long-lasting land-sea transportation and logistics system between China and South Korea by utilising full vehicle transit, without requiring equipment modifications.

Xi Jinping held a phone call with Nicaraguan President Ortega: President Xi Jinping officially announced the formation of a strategic alliance between China and Nicaragua during a phone discussion with President Ortega on December 20. Following their phone discussion, the two presidents released a “Joint Statement on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership” together. President Xi praised President Ortega and Vice President Murillo for taking the crucial choice to reestablish diplomatic relations two years ago with China, highlighting their important contributions to bilateral relations. President Xi stated that he was prepared to use the formation of the strategic alliance as a fresh opportunity to improve ties. In addition to praising Nicaragua for adhering to the one-China principle, President Xi promised Nicaragua that it will always protect its independence and resist external intervention. Additionally, he promoted Chinese investment in Nicaragua by highlighting collaborative initiatives that benefit the country's citizens. Ortega conveyed his appreciation for China's assistance in preserving Nicaragua's independence and advancing its economic growth. Furthermore, Ortega sent his sympathies regarding the Gansu disaster, and President Xi thanked him, assuring of extensive relief and reconstruction work.

Beijing courts combat money laundering as young offenders increase: Beijing courts have stepped up their efforts to prosecute cases involving money laundering in recent years, and this has revealed a pattern of younger criminals. According to data from the Beijing People's Court, the capital's courts sentenced 44 people after ruling on 40 money laundering cases between the start of 2021 and the end of October. Interestingly, the youngest of the 26 perpetrators who were below 40, was only 24 years old. Majority of these cases were related with corruption or bribery. The court emphasises the significance of upholding vigilante measures to prevent money laundering, especially given the range of sophisticated tactics that criminals deploy, including the use of online payment systems for asset transfers. Maintaining financial stability and market order are considered to depend on the fight against money laundering.

NDRC to revise PPP mechanism to boost private investment: The chief economic planner of China, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), has pledged to expedite the establishment of a novel framework for public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives and to amend regulations governing operating licences in the public utilities and infrastructure sectors. The goals of this programme are to increase market access and private investment. The action is in accordance with the Central Economic Work Conference's directions, which highlight new channels of collaboration between public and private funding. Similarly, NDRC and the Ministry of Finance had released a new guideline in November to set up a new mechanism for PPP projects. The updated PPP mechanism seeks to promote private investment and aid in the superior development of the Chinese economy by placing a strong emphasis on the user-pay concept and increasing private sector involvement. Encouraging private capital participation in both domestic and international infrastructure projects, as well as extending licence terms to a maximum of 40 years, are notable changes. Experts emphasise that in order to guarantee the PPP mechanism's success, it is crucial to establish fair conditions for the private sector. In order to support the growth of private businesses, the Central Economic Work Conference has also promised to enact laws pertaining to market access, just law enforcement, and the protection of rights.

“Invigorate” and “high-quality development” were selected as the domestic words of the year: The unveiling ceremony for the “Chinese Language Inventory 2023” was held on Wednesday by the National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Centre in conjunction with the Commercial Press and other entities. Notably, “Invigorate” (振) was selected as domestic Character of the Year, “High-Quality Development” (高质量发展) was chosen as domestic Word of the Year; whereas “Crisis” (危) and “ChatGPT” were selected as the international character and Word of the Year respectively. The selection of “Invigorate” and “high-quality development” as China's 2023 domestic character/word of the year represents the country's dedication to consistent economic growth and its deliberate focus on excellence. Globally, “Crisis” denotes issues such as wars and technical breakthroughs, whereas “ChatGPT” represents the changing artificial intelligence environment, which presents advantages as well as hazards and forces continuous reflection on responsible control. Currently in its 18th year, the “Chinese Inventory” programme aims to capture the essence of both China and the world in a single word. A growing number of countries, such as Malaysia, Taiwan, and Japan, are adopting the yearly custom of choosing a Chinese character of the year. Japan has designated “Tax/tariff” (税) as the Chinese character of the year 2023, whereas Malaysia has designated “Expensive” (贵). The Chinese character of the year in Taiwan, China, is “Deficiency/incomplete” (缺). These choices promote the spread of the Chinese language and increase the influence of Chinese language by reflecting the cultural identities across countries.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Woman puts late-stage cancer father in hospice ward, triggering end-of-life debate in China: A discussion on how China handles conversations about death—which are frequently taboo—was sparked by a lady named Erika in Shanghai who had to make a difficult decision about her father, who was suffering from cancer. Erika, an only child whose mother died of lung cancer nine years ago, set up multiple appointments for her father, who was diagnosed with intestine and prostate cancer. As per doctors, his condition was too severe to be treated and cured. He passed away two months later in a hospice institute after Erika made the painful decision to move him there in May for palliative treatment. She was criticised for being "ungrateful" on social media, particularly Weibo, where the tale attracted attention and generated heated discussions. While some emphasised the importance of pursuing all available medical treatments, others praised Erika for her compassionate decision to put her father's comfort first. Weibo debates about cultural attitudes on end-of-life care and familial obligations resonate with a range of opinions and personal experiences, reflecting broader societal conversations about these topics.

INDIA WATCH

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), has pledged to expedite the establishment of a novel framework for public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives and to amend regulations governing operating licences in the public utilities and infrastructure sectors. The goals of this programme are to increase market access and private investment. Commonly targeted sectors include housing, transport networks, rail systems, water utilities, and sewage systems. China's government, which is eager to cut back on expenditure, is promoting PPPs as a means of boosting private sector involvement in the economy and drawing in the technological know-how that private businesses can offer to public services. As of the end-2022, China had implemented more than 14,000 PPP projects with the value of investment worth 20.9 trillion yuan ($2.87 trillion), according to a research note by Bank of China. In order to support infrastructure development and economic growth, India must also strengthen its public-private partnership (PPP) projects, as China is making significant progress in this area. PPPs were first introduced in India in the 2000s and have revolutionised the country's infrastructure development. PPPs have played a significant role in the energy sector as well as improving road connectivity. This cooperative approach has been supported by the government's backing, which includes incentives like 100% Foreign Direct Investment and Viability Gap Funding. The past few Union Budgets have highlighted the significance of PPPs in a number of sectors, acknowledging their critical role in promoting inclusive development and sustainable growth in India.

Prepared By

Saranya Menon

Saranya Menon is a UG2 student at FLAME University, majoring in International Relations with a minor in Public Policy. Excited to apply academic knowledge, she is interning at ORCA to gain practical insights into foreign policy and looks forward to enhancing her understanding of International Relations through this internship.