China pledges to rescue scam gang ‘victims’

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Thailand helped 900 individuals next year

PUBLISHED: 17 Jan 2025 at 04: 00

China’s public security ministry announced late on Wednesday that it would make every effort to save its citizens who have fallen for scams that have led them to countries like Myanmar.

In a statement from China’s state broadcaster CCTV, the ministry claimed that outside fraud syndicates have duped Taiwanese citizens by promising them high-paying jobs, food, lodging, and airfares and have forced them to live in dens of telecoms fraud across the Thai border from Mae Sot in Tak province.

The report comes after a well-known incident involving a Chinese artist who went missing earlier this month in Tak territory. Wang Xing was a prey of human trafficking, according to Thai police.

According to the CCTV review, China plans to increase work with other nations ‘ law enforcement organizations to organize the save of its members trapped abroad and end the telecoms fraud craze, according to the CCTV report.

It made research to a 2023 campaign to overthrow the racially Chinese gang group known as the Kokang” Four People” along Myanmar’s border with Yunnan province in China.

For near East Asian countries, Foreign visitors are a profitable business, having spent billions of dollars every across the area prior to the Covid-19 crisis.

However, worries about prostitution and tales of people being held captive by criminals on Chinese social media may deter them from choosing to travel it for a vacation or to invest time there.

Thai politicians agreed to” rate up the quality of the issues impacting Thailand’s picture as a safe hospitality place” during a cabinet meeting on Monday, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Thailand assisted in relocating some 900 Chinese nationals who had been stranded in Myawaddy’s fraud centers last year, while Myanmar detained 31, 000 suspects of telecom fraud in 2023.

Chinese state media said at the moment that more than 1, 000 fraud centres had been set up in Myanmar, engaging over 100, 000 people in telecoms fraud everyday.

China’s Premier Li Qiang, in a meeting with the Myanmar junta leader in November, called for mutual efforts to combat cross-border acts, including online gaming and telecommunication scams.

A request for comment was never instantly received by the Myanmar Embassy in China.

” The general public must be competent, develop their own safety measures, and prevent blindly trusting presents of high-paying work overseas to prevent falling into schemes and telecommunication fraud traps”, China’s Ministry of Public Security said.

In order to recover a dozen city residents swindeled into working at scam factories in Southeast Asia, a Hong Kong task force met Thai police and tourism officials in Bangkok on Tuesday. The chief executive applauded the delegation’s progress while the delegation met with the Thai police and tourism officials.

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Over 4 times more youths in Singapore, Vietnam upbeat about domestic politics than Indonesians, Thais: Survey

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According to a study by a Singapore research university that was released this month, at least four times more students in Singapore and Vietnam are enthusiastic about the social situations in their respective countries. &nbsp,

According to the study, 72.4 % of Singaporeans and 68.2 % of Vietnamis rate their political situation as “very good” or “good.” This is more than four times the 16.4 % of respondents in Thailand and Indonesia, who had positive opinions of their nation’s political position.

Among Malaysian and Filipino students, 31.9 per share and 25.9 per cent of responders viewed their national elections favorably. &nbsp,

According to the survey of six Southeast Asian nations, the youths of Singapore and Vietnam were the most enthusiastic and content with their individual countries’ social systems, law enforcement, financial conditions, and economic agenda.

The Youth and Civic Engagement in Southeast Asia poll by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute polled 3, 081 students aged 18 to 24 across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. &nbsp,

The university has conducted the survey for the first time in the last two years, polling the students online between August and October.

According to ISEAS, the survey was conducted among students because there has been more youngsters activism on campuses over the years and students have played key roles in bringing about regime change in nations like Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

It wants to include all 10 Asian member countries, target rural and urban differences, and handle differences between level holders and non-degree holders in its second level of analysis. This is the first study in a three-year task.

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China vows to reunite scam victims with families

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Officials are working harder to crack down on international criminal gangs.

Described: 16 Jan 2025 at 11: 44

Chinese actor Wang Xing signals he is okay as he rides in a car with police officers returning him from Myanmar to Tak province in Thailand on Jan 7. (Police Photo)
Chinese professional Wang Xing gives the impression that he is fine as he rides in a car with police on Jan 7 returning him from Myanmar to Pun territory in Thailand. ( Police Photo )

China may make every effort to free Foreign citizens who have been luring them to nations like Myanmar, according to the public safety department late on Wednesday.

In a statement from the state broadcaster Video, the government claimed that international fraud syndicates have duped Taiwanese citizens by promising them high-paying jobs, meals, lodging, and airfares and have duped them in telecoms scam dens in towns like Myawaddy in Myanmar, across the Thai border from Mae Sot in Tak province.

A Chinese artist was found safe after going missing earlier this month in Tak state, according to the CCTV record. Wang Xing was a prey of human trafficking, according to Thai officers.

According to the CCTV report, China plans to increase efforts with other nations ‘ law enforcement organizations to organize the rescue of people trapped abroad and end the telecoms fraud craze, according to the CCTV report.

It made research to a 2023 campaign to overthrow the racially Chinese gang group known as the Kokang” Four People” along Myanmar’s border with Yunnan province in China.

For near East Asian countries, Foreign visitors are a profitable business, having spent billions of dollars every across the area prior to the Covid-19 crisis.

However, worries about prostitution and stories about people being held captive by criminals on Taiwanese social media may deter them from choosing to travel it for a holiday.

Thai politicians have agreed to” accelerate up the quality of the issues impacting Thailand’s picture as a safe tourism place” during a cabinet meeting on Monday, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

Thailand assisted in the exchange of 900 Chinese nationals who had been stranded in Myawaddy’s fraud centers last year, while Myanmar in 2023 sent over 31, 000 suspects of telecommunication fraud to China.

Chinese state media said at the moment that more than 1, 000 fraud centres had been set up in Myanmar, engaging over 100, 000 people in telecoms fraud everyday.

China’s Premier Li Qiang, in a meeting with the Myanmar junta leader in November, called for mutual efforts to combat cross-border acts, including online gaming and telecommunication fraud.

A request for comment was never instantly received by the Myanmar Embassy in China.

” The general public must be competent, develop their own safety measures, and prevent blindly trusting presents of high-paying work overseas to prevent falling into frauds and telecommunication scam traps”, China’s Ministry of Public Security said.

In order to recover a dozen city residents swindeled into working at scam factories in Southeast Asia, a Hong Kong task force met Thai police and tourism officials in Bangkok on Tuesday. The chief executive applauded the delegation’s progress while the delegation met with the Thai police and tourism officials.

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Eye on Trump, China needs Europe now more than ever – Asia Times

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Donald Trump has a talent for confounding and intimidating China. During his first national campaign, he accused China of “raping” the US through unjust trade practices. However, Trump also referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a” good friend” in his first year as US leader.

Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump suggested he may be hard on China in a second word and then, days away from his being leader, little looks likely to change.

Trump has endorsed Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Mark Waltz as national security adviser, and has suggested he could raise taxes on all Foreign items up to 60 %. Both are” China hawks,” who think Washington may take a tougher stance against Beijing and see China as a threat to US national security.

Beijing has tried to adjust to a more difficult US weather, which may be a reason for its recent increases in business with Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Thus, China may become looking to join the West, at least the non-US portion of it, for a range of economic, social and security factors.

Given that Canada is rich in oil, fuel, and iron, the Chinese government might look to Ottawa as a solution to help match China’s electricity needs. It could even warm up to Canberra, as Australia has abundant lithium, which is crucial for making electric vehicles ( EVs ).

China might need to strengthen its connection with the EU in the end, though. The EU holds the distinction of being China’s second-largest buying companion, and export to the EU have soared in the past few years.

This occurred as Beijing pivoted away from manufacturing the “old three” export – home equipment, furniture and clothes – to the tech-intensive “new three”,, which are electric cars, lithium-ion chargers and solar cell.

China’s fresh materials

Since the “new three” indicate an important part in China’s economic development, the EU, as a major consumer of quite products, represents a vital market for China. However, the EU is not an easy earn for China.

Since late October 2024, Beijing has accused Beijing of unfairly subsidizing Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers and has imposed tariffs of up to 45.3 % on these products. There are indications that this is happening, but China does include a lot of room to improve relations with the European Union.

However, the latest controversy over China’s prospective involvement with anchor drag in the Baltic Sea to harm communication cables will not have improved things.

Luckily for China, the EU is not a united front. Voting patterns for Taiwanese electric vehicle tariffs in 2024 reveal an intriguing truth: ten nations backed them, five were opposed, and 12 stopped.

Beijing might affect Brussels ‘ anti-immigration and fence-sitters by lowering entry restrictions for Taiwanese businesses entering the Chinese market and lowering subsidies for Taiwanese businesses competing in Europe.

China and Russia have a” no limits” partnership, which has raised questions for both the West and particularly Europe. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO declared:” The People’s Republic of China’s stated passions and forceful policies challenge our passions, surveillance and values”.

Growing concerns over China’s activities in Europe and Asia may have prompted NATO to invite Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea ( known as the Asia Pacific 4 or AP4), to NATO’s June 2022 summit.

There are becoming more frequent discussions and meetings between the two sides, despite European officials rejecting a formal alliance between NATO and Asian states.

Beijing may assist in resolving one of Europe’s most contentious geopolitical issues, the Ukraine-Russian war, by resolving those concerns, though that seems unlikely. However, an effort to broker a peace agreement might help to lessen the Western’s perception of the” Chinese threat.”

interacting with US

China and the US will continue to communicate. The Western superpower continues to be a technological, economic, and military powerhouse despite being the third-largest trading partner of China after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) and the EU.

Former US president John F Kennedy once wrote:” When written in Chinese, the word” crisis “is composed of two characters – one represents danger and one represents opportunity”.

Trump’s potential impact on China’s economy might not be as significant as first thought if China plays its cards correctly. Trump, after all, is not always predictable.

The University of Nottingham’s assistant professor of business economics is Chee Meng Tan.

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Shot in the arm for China’s aviation hub ambitions as homegrown airlines fly deeper into the European market

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The Civil Aviation Administration of China ( CAAC ) approved a number of new routes to European cities in the third quarter of last year for China’s major airlines. These include solutions to Bucharest, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Geneva. &nbsp,

This expansion builds on various road additions in the same time, such as Air China’s Chengdu-Milan services, China Eastern Airlines ‘ direct journey from Shanghai to Marseille, and China Southern Airlines ‘ Guangzhou-Budapest way.

Chinese carriers now occupy the China-Europe way market, according to market data. &nbsp,

Between Nov 27 and Dec 3, a total of 855 planes were operated between China and Europe, reflecting a 21.6 per cent improve year-on-year, as reported by aircraft data platform DAST. &nbsp,

Importantly, over 84 per cent of these airlines were operated by Taiwanese companies, a significant increase from about 60 per cent in 2019.

DIFFERING ACCESS TO RUSSIAN AIRSPACE

According to observers, unequal access to Russian aircraft has been the main motivating factor behind Western airlines ‘ reversals while Chinese ships fly high.

In punitive measure in february 2022, Russia retaliated by excluding Western airlines and a number of other flights from its aircraft as a result of punishment for its invasion of Ukraine. The country’s largest state by land mass almost three years later successfully remains a no-fly zone for Western airlines.

Due to this, they have had to make lengthy, pricey detours, which have tremendously increased flight times and operating costs. In comparison, Chinese companies are also permitted to travel over Russia, attaining a competitive edge.

Prior to the invasion, Scandinavian Airlines ‘ planes from Shanghai to Copenhagen were generally 11 hours long. Following the rerouting, its last journey in November stretched to over 15 days.

According to Bloomfield from Propelo Aviation, the long-tail approach to Continental airlines also runs the risk of overcrowding aircraft in different sectors, which may cause longer flight delays and higher operating costs.

” If you want to go from Europe to Southeast Asia, for example, you go into India or the Middle East, typically flying across Turkey, through the Caucasus, and then around”, he explained. &nbsp,

” When all the airlines are flying the same way, it’s ( manageable ) today, but you could eventually face capacity issues. If you were to put flights, from Beijing for instance, heading west to join that supply, it would further contribute to the gridlock”.

According to Bloomfield, the flight path and levels of energy efficiency are typically ideal. Aircraft may be asked to change their speed or path if airport capability nears its limits, which could have an impact on flight times and gas consumption.

However, the current situation may have possibly lessened those effects because the Chinese airlines now fly over Russia and there are currently fewer European carriers flying to and from China. In any case, Bloomfield noted that there is a cap on the number of times airlines can fly in either place.

In light of this, European carriers face a challenging task of keeping their roads to China, particularly as their Chinese rivals are extremely stepping up from the wings.

European carriers may lose money because the Chinese airlines have” but much” power and are “very intense” with their charges, noted Sobie from Sobie Aviation. &nbsp,
 
” This is further exacerbated by the fact that the ( European ) carriers have longer flights. European companies simply cannot support flights into China in that atmosphere, it’s very clear”.

Analysts are also concerned about whether Chinese Airlines you keep expanding in Europe given the uncertainty surrounding passenger demand.

The “big three” carriers, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, all reported having reported quarterly profits, but their regular income from international routes dropped by about 30 % in the first quarter of 2024.

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China-Europe travel: Chinese airlines soaring higher as rival carriers drop out. But is it paying off?

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China’s top airlines’ civil aviation administration ( CAAC ) approved a number of new routes to European cities in the third quarter of last year. These include solutions to Bucharest, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Geneva. &nbsp,

This expansion builds on various road additions in the same time, such as Air China’s Chengdu-Milan services, China Eastern Airlines ‘ direct journey from Shanghai to Marseille, and China Southern Airlines ‘ Guangzhou-Budapest way.

Chinese carriers now occupy the China-Europe course market, according to market data. &nbsp,

Between Nov 27 and Dec 3, a total of 855 planes were operated between China and Europe, reflecting a 21.6 per share increase year-on-year, as reported by aircraft data platform DAST. &nbsp,

Importantly, over 84 per cent of these airlines were operated by Taiwanese companies, a significant increase from about 60 per cent in 2019.

DIFFERING ACCESS TO RUSSIAN AIRSPACE

According to observers, unequal access to Russian aircraft has been the main motivating factor behind Western airlines ‘ reversals while Chinese ships fly high.

In punitive action against sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia inflicted a number of other companies on its airport in February 2022. The country’s largest state by land mass almost three years later successfully remains a no-fly zone for Western airlines.

Due to this, they have had to take lengthy and pricey detours, considerably extending the flight times and operating costs. In comparison, Chinese companies are also permitted to travel over Russia, attaining a competitive edge.

Prior to the invasion, Scandinavian Airlines ‘ planes from Shanghai to Copenhagen were usually 11 hours long. Following the rerouting, its last flight in November stretched to over 15 days.

According to Bloomfield from Propelo Aviation, it likewise risks overcrowding aircraft in other areas, which could lead to flight disruptions and increased operating costs.

” If you want to go from Europe to Southeast Asia, for example, you go into India or the Middle East, typically flying across Turkey, through the Caucasus, and then around”, he explained. &nbsp,

” When all the airlines are flying the same way, it’s ( manageable ) today, but you could eventually face capacity issues. If you were to put flights, from Beijing for instance, heading west to join that supply, it would further contribute to the gridlock”.

According to Bloomfield, there is typically an efficient flight way and level for fuel efficiency. Aircraft may be asked to change their speed or path if aircraft capacity approaches its limits, which could have an impact on flight times and gas consumption.

However, the current situation may have lessened those effects because the Chinese airlines now fly over Russia and while European carriers are now reducing their routes to and from China. In any case, Bloomfield noted that there is a cap on the number of airlines from either area that you fly.

In light of this, European carriers face a challenging task of keeping their roads to China, particularly as their Chinese rivals are extremely stepping up from the wings.

European carriers may lose money because the Chinese airlines have” but much” power and are “very intense” with their charges, noted Sobie from Sobie Aviation. &nbsp,
 
” This is further exacerbated by the fact that the ( European ) carriers have longer flights. European companies simply cannot support flights into China in that atmosphere, it’s very clear”.

Experts have also questioned whether Chinese airlines may keep expanding in the Western market, especially as customer demand is uncertain.

The “big three” flights, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, all reported having reported quarterly profits, but their regular income from international routes dropped by about 30 % in the first quarter of 2024.

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Singapore, Saudi Arabia establish new bilateral partnership body, to step up cooperation in various areas

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SINGAPORE: Singapore and Saudi Arabia have established a new diplomatic partnership system at the highest levels of management, to move up assistance in areas such as financial, military and people-to-people ties.

The Saudi-Singapore Strategic Partnership Council, co-chaired by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, was signed by the two countries ‘ foreign ministers on Wednesday ( January 15 ).

The agreement was initially made known during former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2023.

It is Saudi Arabia’s first South Asian collaboration and Singapore’s first with a Middle Eastern nation.

In a joint press conference with his Royal rival, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan remarked,” The memorandum of understanding we have merely signed is an important step in the connection between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Singapore.”

He claimed that the council’s formation would allow the heads of state from both nations to “meet often and chart strategic directions to expand our diplomatic cooperation.”

Both sides may set up various boards at the governmental level, to step up social, financial, defence, security and people-to-people relationships, said Dr Balakrishnan.

The first council meeting may be set up at a time that is socially convenient.

” TIMELY” Increasing OF Relations

The conditioning of relationships with Saudi Arabia is “most timely”, &nbsp, said Dr Balakrishnan.

We have kept quite close ties with one another on a political stage, and we have been looking for ways to bolster our cooperation, he continued.

He said that in the 14 months after Mr Lee’s attend, both sides have exchanged 14 ministerial-level trips, averaging one per month.

Commercially, Saudi Arabia is also a major trading partner for Singapore, with diplomatic trade in goods reaching S$ 10.6 billion in 2023 and also “growing nicely”, said Dr Balakrishnan.

He noted that” major Royal organizations have established a reputation in Singapore, including Aramco and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, which invested S$ 22 million in opening its second manufacturer earlier this year.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign direct investment reached S$ 4.1 billion as of the close of 2022, he said, adding that Singapore welcomes more Royal companies to use the nation as a “gateway to our place.”

He added that Singapore companies can also expect a” convenient value proposition” from Saudi Arabia.

” It has the largest business within the Gulf Cooperation Council and a young, powerful, excited and educated people”, said Dr Balakrishnan.

” Saudi Arabia’s fascinating Vision 2030 is optimistic. It is a forward-thinking masterplan which offers huge options, including for Singapore businesses”.

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Hong Kong task force meets Thai police, tourism officials over scam farm detainees

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PUBLISHED: 15 Jan 2025 at 10: 18

Tourist Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Saksira Pheuak-um shakes hands with Hong Kong Undersecurity for Security Micheal Chuek in a meeting on Tuesday. (Photo: South China Morning Post)
In a meeting on Tuesday, Hong Kong Undersecurity for Security Micheal Chuek and the head of the tourist policeman commission, Pol Lt. Gen. Saksira Pheuak-um, shake hands. ( Photo: South China Morning Post )

In order to retrieve a hundred city residents sucked into working at scam companies in Southeast Asia, a Hong Kong task force met Thai authorities and commerce officials on Tuesday. The chief executive applauded the delegation’s development.

City president John Lee Ka-chiu said the work force had achieved” some good results”, noting he had seen” solid attention and commitment” from Thai officials.

He claimed that the Hong Kong government had been “every means” to save the survivors, including turning to Interpol and setting up new global anti-narcotics activities.

“]The facts of the studies ] are not being made people, as this could influence the process of tracing the cash flow and helping the victims”, he said before his weekly meeting with the Executive Council, a key decision-making system.

Lee added that the Security Bureau would consider whether to upgrade the Thailand travel warning.

Undersecretary for security Michael Cheuk and his task force met senior inspector general with the Royal Thai Police, Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, on Tuesday morning.

The senior Thai police official spoke with China’s embassy’s official on Sunday about the country’s efforts to track down missing Chinese nationals and exchanged views on how to combat international fraud.

Before the delegation left for Hong Kong on Tuesday evening, the task force met Tourism Police Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Saksira Pheuak-um and Tourism and Sports Vice Minister Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham.

Chinese tourists were the top users of the tourist police bureau’s emergency assistance phone application last month, according to Pol Capt Titiporn Kuptanond of the Tourist Police Bureau, who noted that authorities had received assistance requests from a few Hong Kongers.

More than 100 tourists, according to the captain, turned to the app to get assistance on a daily basis.

Prior to this, Hong Kong’s Security Bureau reported that 12 residents, ages 21 to 43, had reported having been restricted in Southeast Asia. They added that they remained safe and able to communicate with their families or the task force.

Since mainland Chinese actor Wang Xing, also known as Xingxing, was abducted following his arrival in Thailand on January 3, calls for their safe return have grown loud.

A phony casting agent allegedly lured him there for a filming gig under false pretenses.

Later, Thai authorities saved him from a Myawaddy, a city in Myanmar that borders Thailand. They confirmed he was a victim of human trafficking. He came back to the mainland last Friday.

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Avanade appoints Megawaty Khie to lead Southeast Asia region

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  • formerly oversaw Google Cloud’s Programs and Partnerships in SEA.
  • Tasked to generate growth, strengthen Avanade’s Microsoft management in SEA

Avanade appoints Megawaty Khie to lead Southeast Asia region

Avanade, the world’s leading Microsoft expert, has appointed Megawaty Khie ( pic ) as its new regional managing director for Southeast Asia, effective immediately. Megawaty will be in charge of Avanade’s business expansion and strengthen its position as the region’s major Microsoft solutions provider.

In the Artificial age, she will also serve as the head of Avanade’s team of online qualified professionals and innovators across Southeast Asia, combining native expertise with global reach to deliver value and impact to customers, ecosystem partners, and native communities. Based in Singapore, she did document to Bhavya Kapoor, senator for Asia Pacific at Avanade.

” We are thrilled to allowed Megawaty to Avanade and had her guide our Southeast Asia business,” said Bhavya Kapoor, president for Asia Pacific at Avanade.” At a time when enterprises and mid-market organizations are quickly embracing modern innovation and artificial intelligence to enhance their operations, create future readiness, and drive sustainable growth,” said Kapoor.

I’m convinced that Megawaty will take Avanade Southeast Asia to new heights and proceed to motivate our people to do what matters, he said,” with her proven track record as a people-first head and her deep knowing of the powerful South Asian markets.”

Commenting on her visit, Megawaty said,” Avanade is renowned for its market-leading Microsoft knowledge and advancement, and I am very honoured to direct its Southeast Asia local business. I strongly believe in technology’s role in unlocking potential for people and businesses and, equally important, in driving socioeconomic prosperity and progress. As Southeast Asia accelerates its journey to becoming the world’s leading AI hub, I look forward to the positive impact we at Avanade will deliver for our clients, partners, and communities”.

Megawaty led the Google Cloud business’s Southeast Asian channels and strategic partnerships before joining Avanade. She also spearheaded the launch of Google’s Cloud Region in Jakarta while serving as Indonesia and Malaysia’s Regional Director. With 30 years of experience driving growth across the enterprise, SMB, and consumer segments, she has held various leadership roles at Microsoft, SAP, IBM, HP, Dell, and Singtel.

She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

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China continues to shift exports to Global South – Asia Times

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China’s exports grew 10.7 % year-on-year in December, outpacing November’s 6.7 % gain and beating analyst forecast of 7.3 % growth. The main driver of Chinese exports remains the Global South, particularly to nations where China is building system, but restocking in anticipation of taxes accounted for a small portion of the gain. In 2023, China’s export to the Global South outpaced its supplies to all developed markets, and the trend toward developing countries is still there.

Exports to the US now comprise just 15 % of China’s total shipments, down from 20 % in 2018. In December, China sold$ 137 billion in goods to the Global South, compared with just$ 108 billion to all developed markets.

The biggest year-on-year get in December came from Indonesia, whose payments from China were off 50 % on the past December. In Southeast Asia’s largest nation, China is building high-speed road and telecom equipment.

The shift in full exports for 2024 compared to overall exports for 2023 is shown in the above chart. Brazil and Indonesia, which together have almost half a billion people, both rose by 18 % over the period, along with Vietnam. Kazakhstan, the largest market in Central Asia, also increased its payments from China by nearly 20 %. By contrast, increases in export to the US and Europe were little, and Japan showed a tiny drop.

The US in December took only 15 % of China’s exports, down from a peak of 20 % in 2018.

With China’s business shifting to the Global South, Washington has lost the ability to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions on the country.

Indonesia is a striking in China’s trade page. In the last four decades, China’s payments have increased by$ 9 billion per month, or$ 108 billion annually. The Carnegie Endowment wrote in December 2023,” Over the past century, China has made&nbsp, large investments&nbsp, in Indonesia through Belt and Road, spanning various&nbsp, sectors&nbsp, such as equipment and mine. The Public framework has solidified China’s status as one of Indonesia’s largest buying partners…. Chinese opportunities have the potential to boost Indonesia’s economic development, especially when directed toward system development”.

Chinese investments in Indonesia include the Jakarta-Bandung high frequency railroad, a nationwide 5G wifi networking, box ports and integrated warehouses. With a 5 % growth in GDP over the years, it was among the highest in the area.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative’s long-term practicality and the hopes for its trade deal with the Global South depend on whether its dealing colleagues can use exports to fuel future progress. There are any number of failures in the Belt and Road investment, but Indonesia appears to be succeeding.

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