News » China » Shanghai issues first free plates for new energy vehicles

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• Shanghai issues first free plates for new energy vehicles
• China to modify plan to open up mobile telecom sector
• World economy to strengthen modestly in 2013: IMF
• China issues 30 billion yuan in seven-year T-bonds
• New measurement may reshape China-US trade ties
• CPC vows penalties for excessive spending
• Beijing to tighten vehicle emission regulations
• China intensifies punishment for wage defaults
• Xi's anti-corruption resolution arouses public expectations
• Restraint on power key in curbing corruption
• China's cabinet to solicit opinions on gov't report
• CPC keeps up corruption fight
• China urges treatment of Korean Peninsula tensions
• China urges Philippines to avoid complicating disputes
• Cameron promises referendum on EU membership
• Jiang Zemin requests to move down protocol order
• CPC disciplinarians vow penalties for excessive spending
• China's cabinet to solicit opinions on gov't report
• China plays constructive role in resolving Myanmar conflict: FM
• Tibet has 77 mobiles per 100 people

Shanghai issues first free plates for new energy vehicles Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST SHANGHAI - Shanghai resident Qian Jun didn't have to spend a single penny on a license plate for his newly-bought battery electric vehicle (BEV). The electric car cost him 140,000 yuan (22,498 U.S. dollars) in total, including a vehicle purchase tax and car insurance. Normally, a domestic BEV costs buyers 200,000 to 300,000 yuan. Shanghai is now offering financial subsidies for purchases of BEVs on top of central and local government funding, helping car buyers to save more than 100,000 yuan each. The municipal government issued regulations to encourage private purchase and use of new energy vehicles at the end of last year. Free car plates for new energy vehicles are one of the incentives. "The performance of this electric car matches that of a petrol vehicle with a 1.8-liter engine," said Xu Weihan, who is in charge of BEV sales at Tzgev Limited, a company specializing in new energy vehicles. Qian said his average daily commute is around 20 km, adding that he only has to charge his car's battery once every four or five days. The monthly electricity bill for his car is about 60 yuan, far less than the money one normally pays for gasoline. "I mainly charge the car at work, since there are charging posts near my company," Qian said. Shanghai now has over 1,000 charging posts, most of which are located in the city's Jiading district, where Qian lives. The city is planning to build 50 battery switch stations with 5,000 charging posts over the next three to four years. "Electric vehicle technology has become more mature and people now have to pay much higher prices for license plates. This has led to more people coming to ask us about electric vehicles," Xu said. The average bid for a plate in Shanghai soared to a record high of 75,332 yuan during a monthly auction that ended on Saturday, an increase of 5,986 yuan compared with last month. "Environmental protection could be another reason for the popularity of electric vehicles," Xu added. Dangerous levels of air pollution in some Chinese cities have been blamed on increased vehicle emissions resulting from a greater number of cars hitting the streets in recent years.

China to modify plan to open up mobile telecom sector Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST BEIJING - The government is considering adjusting a plan that will allow privately-owned companies to enter the mobile telecommunications sector, a government official said on Wednesday. Zhang Feng, director of the telecommunications development department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said at a news briefing that the ministry is reviewing opinions collected from the public and will improve the plan based on its review. In early January, the MIIT created a pilot plan that will allow Chinese-funded private companies to buy basic mobile telecom services from the country's major operators, add their own services and then sell the services to customers through their own brands. Private companies will not have to build mobile telecoms infrastructure, but only set up a customer service system and other supporting networks if necessary, the plan said. The ministry said the pilot program aims to allow private capital to further enter the telecom industry and give full play to the flexibility and creativity of private firms, as well as promote market competition and improve mobile telecom services. The plan was published online on January 7, with public opinions to be solicited until February 6. At present, China's mobile telecom sector is dominated by the state-owned companies China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

World economy to strengthen modestly in 2013: IMF Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday that the world economy stands poised for a gradual upturn in 2013 with output rising by 3.5 percent. The estimate marks a modest uptick from 3.2 percent in 2012, but was slightly lower than the IMF's last projection. "Global growth is projected to increase during 2013, as the factors underlying soft global activity are expected to subside," the IMF said in its updated World Economic Outlook, a twice-yearly flagship report. The 188-member institution said policy actions have lowered acute crisis risks in the euro area and the United States. But in the euro area, the return to recovery after a protracted contraction is delayed. Advanced economies were expected to grow at a rate of 1.4 percent in 2013, a 0.2 percentage point downward revision from the projection made in October 2012. The IMF expects economic activity in the euro zone, which is still a large source of downside risk to the global outlook, to contract by 0.2 percent in 2013. The U.S. economy is forecast to advance 2 percent in 2013 on the assumption that the spending sequester will be replaced by back-loaded measures. Growth in emerging market and developing economies is projected to accelerate from 5.1 percent in 2012 to 5.5 percent in 2013 as supportive policies have underpinned much of the recent acceleration in many economies. China's growth rate is expected to pick up to 8.2 percent in 2013 from 7.8 percent in 2012. The IMF cautioned that weaknesses in advanced economies will weigh on external demand, as well as on the terms of trade of commodity exporters. "If crisis risks do not materialize and financial conditions continue to improve, global growth could be stronger than projected," the IMF said. "However, downside risks remain significant, including renewed setbacks in the euro area and risks of excessive near-term fiscal consolidation in the United States. Policy action must urgently address these risks," the IMF said.

China issues 30 billion yuan in seven-year T-bonds Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST BEIJING - The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced Wednesday that it will issue 30 billion yuan (4.78 billion U.S. dollars) in seven-year book-entry treasury bonds. The issuance marks the ministry's third issuance of book-entry treasury bonds this year, according to a statement posted on the MOF's website. The interest rate for the bonds is fixed at 3.42 percent. Interest will be paid annually on January 24, while the last half-year's interest and the principal will both be paid upon maturity on January 24, 2020, the ministry said. The bonds will be sold from January 24 to 28 and become tradable on exchange markets starting January 30, according to the statement.

New measurement may reshape China-US trade ties Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST BEIJING - A new method for calculating global trade flows may not change an overall trade imbalance between the world's two largest economies, but it will likely help reshape the trade relationship between them. In a joint study, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) break with conventional measurements of trade, which record gross flows of goods and services each time they cross borders. It seeks instead to analyze the value added by a country in the production of any good or service that is then exported. The OECD-WTO initiative, as WTO director general Pascal Lamy has put it, is designed to "ensure that trade statistics do not lie," or "lie as little as possible." One headline finding suggests that the much-discussed U.S. trade deficit with China would be much smaller than people thought when measured on a value-added basis. The novel trade-flow calculation method is mostly a technical issue, but has real-world consequences as trade figures always guide policy formulation. Traditional measures of trade flows fail to reflect the complexities of global commerce, and the result is a distorted picture, one that leads to ill-informed policy decisions if viewed in isolation. Take the most illustrated iPhone case. The traditional measures classify the iPhone as an wholly "Chinese" export to the United States, even though it is entirely designed and owned by a U.S. company and nearly all the component parts have been produced in several Asian and European countries. China's contribution is the final step -- assembling and shipping the handsets. When the cost of an iPhone is factored into China's trade surplus with the United States, it is highly misleading as only about 4 percent of the full value was retained in China, according to an Asian Development Bank Institute report. Under the flawed measures, the United States has a big trade deficit with China. This assumption has been the basis for some U.S. politicians' anti-China sentiment and responses to China's currency policies and its allegedly unfair trade practices. Under the new count, however, the U.S. trade deficit with China would shrink by 25 percent in 2009. On the other hand, the U.S. deficit with Japan, the Republic of Korea and other nations supplying intermediate goods to China is bigger. The revision is certainly a significant fact that U.S. policymakers should have beaten into their heads before they are allowed to discuss China-U.S. trade imbalances. Although this would not be enough to eliminate trade disputes between the two countries, it offers a complementary view and may shed a different light on trade measures imposed against China.

CPC vows penalties for excessive spending Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:01 AM PST BEIJING - The disciplinary arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC) issued a communique on Wednesday, vowing severe penalties for lavish banquets and tours fueled by public funds amid continued pressure against corruption. CPC members should "be frugal and shun extravagance and waste," said a communique released after the plenary meeting of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) held from Monday to Tuesday. Authorities should strictly manage the construction of office buildings and reception venues for CPC or government organs, as well as standardize the use of vehicles and officials' overseas trips, it added. The CCDI will also supervise officials at various levels in order to eliminate ostentatious and bureaucratic meetings and reports, it added. The CCDI will faithfully carry out bureaucracy and formalism-fighting guidelines introduced at a December 4 meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the communique said. The commission will set down rules to ensure the proper use of the guidelines and punish violators, the communique said, adding that tips from the public will be handled earnestly. Party members should "work hard on improving their work style, stay in close touch with the people and resolutely curb hedonism and extravagance," the document said. Anti-corruption efforts at the local level will be intensified so as to prevent corruption-related problems that affect the public, it said. The CCDI will implement a mechanism requiring officials to report their personal affairs, as well as conduct checks to verify important information, according to the communique. The Party will continue its high pressure on corruption this year, stressing both punishment and prevention, it said. Cases of officials abusing power, neglecting duty, bribing, embezzling public money and leading a corrupt lifestyle will be seriously dealt with, the document said. Cases of corruption in key fields and commercial bribery cases will be seriously dealt with, it said. Work styles infringing upon public interests and outstanding problems will be rectified in public service sectors such as finance and telecommunications, as well as education, healthcare, agriculture, land acquisition, demolition and fields concerning law enforcement and lawsuits, it added. It also vowed more efforts to handle problems in construction projects and those concerning market intermediary agents. The communique further called for enhancing education on anti-corruption, upholding integrity and building a clean and honest political environment. All CPC members should strictly abide by the CPC Constitution, it said. The CCDI will improve political discipline among CPC members and strictly punish violators in order to safeguard the authority of the CPC Constitution, according to the communique. Procedures and rules regarding leadership changes should be observed to ensure the corruption-free reshuffling of leaders, it said. The CCDI will use strict discipline to foster disciplinary supervisors who can satisfy the general public, according to the communique. Disciplinary organs at multiple levels should accept supervision from CPC organizations, the people and media institutions in order to build themselves into a loyal and upright disciplinary force that serves the people, it said. All disciplinary bodies should work to maintain unity within the Party. They should put the Party's political discipline first and intensify supervision over how it is exercised. Great efforts should be made to address pressing concerns of the people and oppose "the belief in and use of privileges," it said. The entire Party should resolve to curb the spreading of corruption and wage a long-term war to gradually eradicate the hotbed that breeds corrupt behavior. A total of 4,698 county-level cadres or higher-level cadres were punished by the CPC's discipline watchdogs in 2012 and 961 cadres at the county-level or above have been transferred to judicial organs, CCDI figures show. Among them are Bo Xilai, former member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Liu Zhijun, former minister of railways, Huang Sheng, former vice governor of east China's Shandong Province, and Tian Xueren, former vice governor of northeast China's Jilin Province. Their cases have been transferred to judicial organs. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, vowed Tuesday to unswervingly fight against corruption and keep power reined within the "cage of regulations" when he delivered a speech at the CCDI plenary session. "No exception will be made when it comes to Party disciplines and law," he said. "Cases will be investigated completely and no leniency will be meted out no matter who is involved." The two-day plenary session passed a work report delivered by Wang Qishan, secretary of the CCDI and also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, on behalf of CCDI standing committee. Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the meeting.

Beijing to tighten vehicle emission regulations Posted: 23 Jan 2013 09:17 AM PST Beijing is planning to implement a harsher emission standard for motor vehicles starting next month in an effort to curb the city's air pollution, municipal environmental authorities said Wednesday.

China intensifies punishment for wage defaults Posted: 23 Jan 2013 09:16 AM PST A judicial interpretation that went into effect on Wednesday aims to defend migrant workers by preventing their employers from defaulting on their wages.

Xi's anti-corruption resolution arouses public expectations Posted: 23 Jan 2013 09:14 AM PST Chinese leader Xi Jinping's latest resolution on fighting corruption has triggered heated discussion among experts and the public.

Restraint on power key in curbing corruption Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:47 AM PST Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, used very powerful and vivid language at a high-profile meeting Tuesday to show his resolve to fight corruption.

China's cabinet to solicit opinions on gov't report Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:04 AM PST The State Council, or China's cabinet, will send a draft version of a government work report for 2013 to multiple central and provincial-level government departments to solicit their opinions.

CPC keeps up corruption fight Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:04 AM PST The Communist Party of China (CPC) will continue its high pressure on corruption, stressing both punishment and prevention, according to a communique issued on Wednesday.

China urges treatment of Korean Peninsula tensions Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:04 AM PST Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for comprehensive treatment of tensions over the Korean Peninsula as he met Kim Moo-sung, special envoy of Republic of Korea (ROK) president-elect Park Geun-hye.

China urges Philippines to avoid complicating disputes Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:04 AM PST China urged the Philippines to avoid taking any action that could complicate the South China Sea issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

Cameron promises referendum on EU membership Posted: 23 Jan 2013 05:26 AM PST British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday said he would hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership, if his Conservative Party wins the next election, expected in 2015.

Jiang Zemin requests to move down protocol order Posted: 23 Jan 2013 05:26 AM PST Jiang Zemin, former general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has asked the CPC Central Committee to group him with other retired comrades in the leadership's protocol order in the future, according to a statement by relevant authorities.

CPC disciplinarians vow penalties for excessive spending Posted: 23 Jan 2013 02:25 AM PST The disciplinary watchdog of the Communist Party of China (CPC) issued a communique on Wednesday vowing severe penalties for lavish feasting and tours fueled by public funds.

China's cabinet to solicit opinions on gov't report Posted: 23 Jan 2013 03:49 AM PST The State Council, or China's cabinet, will send a draft version of a government work report for 2013 to multiple central and provincial-level government departments to solicit their opinions.

China plays constructive role in resolving Myanmar conflict: FM Posted: 23 Jan 2013 02:04 AM PST China has played a constructive role in resolving the conflict in Myanmar, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Wednesday.

Tibet has 77 mobiles per 100 people Posted: 23 Jan 2013 02:04 AM PST For every one hundred people in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region there are 77.5 mobile phones in use, regional authority statistics showed Wednesday.

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