Science and Tech

Report: Climate Change Could Hamper China’s Rise

Jan. 20 – The effects of climate change could seriously damage the Chinese economy in the near future, according to the Chinese government’s latest research into the phenomenon. Both food and water supplies are threatened with critical shortages, while an increase in flooding and drought could ravage vulnerable areas.

The 710-page “Second National Assessment Report on Climate Change” was published last year, but only recently entered the public domain. Authored by teams of government-supervised scientists, the report builds on an initial assessment conducted in 2007 to provide evidence and forecasting which will shape, rather than set, government policy. Continue reading →

China, UK Announce Joint Scientific Research Projects

Joint investments will flow smart grid and stem cell projects

Jan. 20 – During his two-day visit to Beijing this week, the U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said that the United Kingdom had signed deals with China to conduct joint research on stem cells and smart grids. A total of GBP6.8 million (US$10.52 million) will be injected into these projects.

Both the UK and Chinese sides plan to invest around GBP3 million to support the research work on smart grids being carried out by the Research Council’s UK Energy Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Continue reading →

Posted in FDI and Foreign Trade, Science and Tech | Tagged China UK Investment, China UK Investment on Smart Grids, China UK Investment on Stem Cells, George Osborne Asia Visit, London Offshore RMB Center, UK Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne | Leave a comment

China Sets New Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals

By Vivian Ni

Jan. 18 – In its newest “12th Five-year Plan on Greenhouse Emission Control (guofa [2011] No. 41),” China has set its new goals of reducing carbon emissions in the next five years and called for pilot programs that aim to promote a low-carbon economy.

New goals
The newly released Plan aims to reduce China’s carbon intensity – the amount of carbon emitted per unit of GDP – by 17 percent by 2015, compared with 2010 levels. Energy consumption intensity by GDP will also be reduced by 16 percent during the same period. Continue reading →

Posted in Economy and Politics, Legal and Regulatory, Manufacturing, Regulatory Update, Science and Tech, Technology | Tagged Carbon Tax, China Carbon Dioxide Emission, China Carbon Emission, China Carbon Emission Right Exchange, China Carbon Trading, China Greenhouse Emission, China New Energy, China New-energy Vehicles, China Non-fossil Energy, EU Emission Trading System | Leave a comment

Shenzhen Rolls Out New BYD E-Taxis

Photo: Rani Bongiovanni, Dezan Shira & Associates

Shenzhen BYD E6 taxi

Dec. 13 – Shenzhen has begun integrating electric vehicles into its public transport with the recent commercial introduction of local auto-maker BYD’s vehicles appearing on the city streets. An initial fleet of some 300 e-taxis are now plying the roads. Named the E6, the vehicle offers enough space for five passengers and has a range of some 160 kilometers. Plans are currently being put into place to convert all of Shenzhen’s public vehicular transport to electric – including buses and all taxis – over the next five years. Continue reading →

Posted in Automotive, Business, Markets, Oil & Petroleum, Science and Tech, South China, Technology | Tagged BYD, China Auto, China Electric Vehicles, Shenzhen, Shenzhen E-Taxi, Shenzhen Public Transportation, Warren Buffett | 1 Comment

Beijing to Inject RMB1.5 Bln into Zhongguancun’s Modern Service Industries

Nov. 10 – A massive scheme is currently being laid out to develop modern service industries in Zhongguancun – the technology hub situated in northwestern Beijing often referred to as “China’s Silicon Valley.” Following the central government’s promise to inject some RMB1.5 billion into the area’s modern service sectors within the next three to five years, Beijing’s local government recently announced the key service sectors that will likely enjoy the use of the government funds.

According to the “Management of the Pilot Supportive Fund for Modern Service Development in Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone (NIIDZ) (jingcaijingyi [2011] No.2352)” issued by the Finance Bureau of Beijing on November 2, the supportive fund – consisting of both the central government fund and Beijing’s matching local government fund – will mainly be utilized in the following service sectors: Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Finance, Tax and Accounting, Legal and Regulatory, Regulatory Update, Science and Tech, Technology | Tagged Beijing Zhongguancun, China Development Zones, China E-Commerce, China Information Technology, China Modern Logistics, China Modern Service Industry, China Private Equity Funds, China Subsidies, China Subsidized Loans, China Technology Services, China's Sillicon Valley, Finance Bureau of Beijing, Zhongguancun | Leave a comment

China Renewable Energy Industry Report: Nov. 2

Nov. 2 – This is a regular series of relevant industry news from around China.

Solectria Renewables to open plants in China, India
U.S. photovoltaic inverter maker Solectria Renewables LLC has announced plans to open plants in China and India with capacity of 300 megawatts and 200 megawatts, respectively.

The company said that the expansion of its manufacturing activities into the two countries had been prompted by the significant growth opportunities they offer for commercial and utility photovoltaic projects.

Solectria Renewables’ president Phil Vyhanek stressed that no jobs would be shifted out of North America as a result of the plans and that the company continued to expand its manufacturing operations in Massachusetts and Ontario.

Chief executive James Worden noted that the company had lifted its North American capacity to 1 gigawatt in the current year and said that the expansion into India and China was a strategic move designed to put the company “at the forefront of the three most dynamic solar economies in the world.” Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Business, FDI and Foreign Trade, Markets, Science and Tech, Technology | Tagged China Biofuels, China Gogreen, China Hydropower, China Nuclear Power, China Renewables, China Solar Power, China Wind Power, Hanas, Renewable Energy Asia, Samba Energy, Solectria China, Three Gorges Dam, Vestas | Leave a comment

Shenzhen Introduces Favorable Policies to Promote E-commerce Development

Oct. 28 – Shenzhen was approved by China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce to be the first e-commerce model city in September 2009, following the State Council’s issuance of “Certain Opinions on Accelerating the Development of E-commerce (Guobanfa [2005] No. 2)” in 2005, which provided general guidance for the development of e-commerce in China.

To further the development of the e-commerce industry, the Market Supervision Administration (MSA) of Shenzhen Municipality spearheaded the reform in the registration of companies in the e-commerce sector. These changes are codified in “Several Measures on Servicing the Healthy and Rapid Development of the E-commerce Market” (Shenzhen Municipality Jianzhuzi [2010] No. 16, “Measures”), issued by the MSA on June 7, 2010. The Measures permit e-commerce companies to register without establishing an address and meeting capital requirements. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Finance, Tax and Accounting, Legal and Regulatory, Regulatory Update, Science and Tech, Technology | Tagged China Corporate Establishment, China E-Commerce, China Ministry of Commerce, National Development and Reform Commission, Setting Up in China, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Incentives | Leave a comment

China Renewable Energy Industry Report: Oct. 18

Oct. 18 – This is a regular series of relevant industry news from around China.

Japanese scientists see huge solar potential in Himalayas
According to Japanese researchers the Himalayas could become one of the hot spots for solar power development in the future.

A team of researchers have found that some of the coldest and highest places around the globe have better solar resource than some deserts. The Andes and Antarctica are among the other cold regions with solar power potential, according to the research. Continue reading →