Commentary: Xi and Putin’s no-limits partnership is becoming a one-sided affair

A JUNIOR-XI-JINPING PARTNER

Putin, who is now obviously Xi’s junior partner, is also expected to visit Beijing, indicating that Russia and China have a common goal in mind when it comes to putting an end to the western-dominated international order and limiting US and Western influence in what they both see as their wealthy interest zones across Eurasia.

Russia continues to emphasize its ties to China, in part because it has some other options besides countries that are considered to be international pariahs like North Korea and Iran.

Trade along the New Eurasian Land Bridge, an inland road connection between China and Europe that was once a significant transportation route for Chinese exports to European markets, has been significantly reduced by American sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow’s warfare against Ukraine.

Instead, transportation roads avoiding Russia have become more significant, such as the Middle Corridor, which connects China with the EU via central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. Soviet hopes for closer ties between the BRI and Moscow’s post-Soviet financial consolidation program, the Eurasian Economic Union, have also been dashed by this.

It is significant that Putin was invited to visit Beijing by Xi, but it is also noticeable that this is not just a intergovernmental matter. Putin’s trip to Moscow does, at best, give the Russian president a chance to speak with Xi in the margins of the summit intended to commemorate the BRI— a project that is closely related to him personally— in contrast to his trip there in March.

China also has and pursues different alternatives in its international relations. At the APEC conference in San Francisco in November, there is still a chance that US President Joe Biden and Xi will cross paths. Josep Borrell, the head of the EU’s foreign plan, also traveled to China, perhaps to get ready for an EU-China summit later this year.

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Commentary: To bring back nightlife, Hong Kong needs to upgrade its night markets

REMEMBERING THE ICONIC NIGHT Businesses OF HONG KONG

Instead of starting from scratch, as visitors have argued, resources could be used to modernize Hong Kong’s aging day markets. & nbsp,

With its long history, Temple Street is probably the most well-known evening market in Hong Kong. The state has been urged to make the night market a current tourist destination by the Yaumatei Temple Street Association of Hawkers and Shop Operators.

With its fortune-telling companies, city appearances, and singing stalls, the Temple Street night market had a lot of local flavor, but the food selection was lacking. Additionally, the Hong Kong Hawkers Association acknowledged that foreign visitors are not likely to find the dry goods stable appealing because they primarily sell products made in China.

It will take time to invest in Temple Street to build a thriving day business. Details have not yet been disclosed, but the Hong Kong Tourism Board has stated that it is collaborating with trade associations and authorities organizations to prepare meals markets and colorful events to” enhance the overall feeling of Temple Street.”

Short-term promotion is one way to keep Hong Kong’s economy and entice residents and visitors back into the nightlife of the city.

Halloween celebrations and fireworks displays have been planned by Night Vibes Hong Kong, which is in keeping with the administration’s design. Even so, these monuments have been a yearly occurrence in Hong Kong for at least ten years, leaving locals and tourists wanting more.

Unlike Singapore, Hong Kong does not have an F1 race or Taylor Swift music to promote the town. To revive the town that was once dormant does require more ingenuity.

Award-winning columnist Jacky Leung has worked for numerous Hong Kong TV and radio news channels. Now, he resides in London.

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Commentary: Thailand’s hopes of boosting economy with tourists will take a hit after Bangkok shooting

In recent years, Taiwanese tourists have been crucial to the Thai tourism sector. Prior to the pandemic, there had been a sharp increase in the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Thailand, reaching an astounding 11.14 million in 2019 and generating about US$ 17 billion in hospitality revenue.

However, China’s zero-COVID scheme resulted in a sharp drop in visitor immigrants. In 2020( almost all in January ), the number dropped to 1.25 million, and in 2021, it was just 13, 043.

The Thai hospitality sector sought to fill this void by diversifying its tourist publications.

TRAVELING Hindu VISITORS TO THAILAND

India became a more effective and tempting source of tourists for Thailand during the crisis.

In 2022, the relief of travel restrictions for international visitors signaled a turning point. For the first time, the number of Indian arrivals( 444, 136 ) overtook that of Chinese immigrants( 105, 860 ) during the initial eight months of that year.

Importantly, Thailand developed into a desirable location for Hindu weddings held abroad. These extravagant celebrations, which were frequently held at opulent resorts and cost between 10 million and 30 million baht( US$ 274, 000 to US$ 823,000 ), significantly increased tourism revenue.

The Thailand Indian Wedding Association’s leader, Ram Sachdev, expressed worries to the Nikkei newspaper in 2022 about concentrating only on the quantity of weddings for American tourists more than their caliber. He has argued that Thailand may attract more American wedding guests by offering crucial assistance and subsidies given the number of such events taking place around the world.

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Philippines’ ‘Bongbong’ Marcos drops holiday marking ouster of dictator father

However, the celebration is not mentioned at all in a presidential proclamation declaring breaks for 2024 that was issued on October 11 and released on Friday. According to the right organization Karapatan, the Marcos administration’s removal demonstrated its disdain for” important social activities that pursue fairness, truth, and accountability.” AccordingContinue Reading