Monday, June 25 2018 | ASIA TODAY INTERNATIONAL - Reporting the Business that Matters in Asia
TOKYO - China’s Premier, Li Keqiang, says China, Japan and the Republic of Korea should accelerate negotiations to establish a free trade area and reach agreements on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as soon as possible to achieve regional integration.
KUALA LUMPUR - Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has maintained its overnight policy rate (OPR) at 3.25%. The policy statement reiterates a positive outlook on global growth and trade.
HONG KONG – In a comment on Mahathir’s victory in Malaysia’s election, Alicia Garcia Herrero, Chief Economist Asia-Paific of the French banking group Natixis, says the win has been read with suspicion by many analysts. “My take on it is positive,” she says.
BEJING – China’s State newsagency, Xinhua, has reported North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying comrade-like trust and friendship between the elder generations of leaders of the two parties and countries forms the close bond and solid foundation for the traditional friendship between the DPRK and China.
MANILA – International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), the Philippines-headquartered global developer, manager and operator of container terminals across six continents, has reported a 9% increase to US$325.4 million in revenue from port operations for the quarter ended March 31.
BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday announced a plan to "fully incorporate core socialist values in legislation" in the next five to 10 years. The legislation, revision, abolishment, and explanation of laws should embody core socialist values, according to the document, the State newsagency Xinhua reported.
SHANGHAI - Freight forwarder C.H. Robinson today launch its trans-Eurasian rail freight service between China and Europe. The new service offering connects nine origin terminals in China with eight destination cities in Europe.
HONG KONG - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) plans to introduce MSCI All Country (AC) Asia ex Japan Net Total Return Index (MSCI AxJ) Futures, the first regional stock index futures contract for HKEX, from June 11, pending regulatory approval.
JAKARTA - At 5.06% year-on-year, Indonesia’s GDP growth came in lower than expected. Gross fixed investment provided an expected boost to overall growth, rising 7.95% y/y from 7.27% in Q4, but total private consumption (which includes non-profit institutions serving households) posted another quarter of lacklustre growth at 5.01% y/y, broadly unchanged from the previous quarter.
SYDNEY – A delegation led by the Assistant Principal Immigration Officer of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, Choi Chi-yuen, has met university students, professionals and second-generation members of emigrated Hong Kong residents in Australia and New Zealand to detail various talent admission schemes on offer in Hong Kong.
SYDNEY – The Australian medical device company, Compumedics Limited (ASX: CMP), Compumedics has received an AUD2.9 million sales order in China to be delivered over the next 12 months. This will represent a 15% increase in sales over the prior year.
BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the building of world-class universities with Chinese characteristics to nurture people well-prepared to join the socialist cause. China’s State newsagency, Xinhua, reported that Xi made the statement during an inspection tour of Peking University (PKU), ahead of China's Youth Day and the 120th anniversary of PKU, both falling on May 4.
YANGON - In a bid to boost investment, Burma’s regional government of Yangon is embarking on a large-scale roadshow, kicking off with the inaugural Yangon Investment Forum 2018 (YIF 2018) at the Novotel Yangon Max Hotel tomorrow (May 9).
BEIJING - Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said today.
TAIPEI – Accusing China of using “dollar diplomacy”, Taiwan has announced immediate termination of diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic, and has terminated “all co-operative projects and assistance”. Taiwan and the Dominican Republic have had diplomatic relations since 1941.
BEIJING - China is expected to open its longest high-speed railway in a northeastern area neighbouring Siberia, according to the State newsagency, Xinhua.