Mar. 30 – This is a regular series of relevant industry news from around China.

Solar power
Solar Energy Technology Support Center, a new joint venture technology project, has opened doors at the Hong Kong Science Park. The initiative is part of the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle,” a cooperation agreement between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The first main tenant is the American chemical company, DuPont.

John Chen-chung Deng, Taiwan’s deputy minister of economic affairs said during a two-day cross-Taiwan Strait photovoltaic solar power conference, that by cooperating, Taiwan and China would both benefit as they make more than 40 percent of the world’s solar cells. Deng noted that the global solar cell output in 2008 reached 6,400 megawatt-peak, 12.5 percent of which was contributed by Taiwan and 31 percent by China.

China Solar & Clean Energy Solutions Inc. has named Veronica Jing Chen chief financial officer effective immediately. Prior to joining the company, she had been CFO of China Valve Technology and Origin Agritech. She also served as senior director of finance at iKang Healthcare, director of finance at eLong and finance manager of the North China Region for Eli Lilly Asia Inc China Representative Office.

Qinghai Fengfa Science and Technology has begun building a RMB600 million wind turbine plant in Qinghai province, western China. Initially, the factory will be able to make 2,000 small and medium-sized turbines annually. Following completion of a planned expansion, the plant’s annual manufacturing capacity will grow by 8,000 to 10,000 turbines by 2012

Air transport
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited plans to sell its Wuhan business to China Southern Airlines Limited. The branch booked a loss of RMB1.6 billion in 2008  and served 9.2 million passengers. Details of the deal are still being worked out between the airlines.

China Eastern Airlines expects its aviation repair business to turn profitable this year, generating RMB100 million. It provides services to Spring Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Dutch Airlines.

U.S. Continental Airlines Inc. will launch daily, non-stop flights between New York and Shanghai, China, starting March 25.

Hong Kong International Airport carried 19.7 percent less cargo in February compared to the same period last year. Passenger volume also dropped by 13.7 percent to 3.4 million.

This industry report brief is courtesy of Aii Data Processing.