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China’s Z.ai raises revenue target 25% after US$5 billion cash injection
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China’s Z.ai raises revenue target 25% after US$5 billion cash injection

The AI firm said its computing power bottleneck was no longer a ‘primary constraint’ thanks to its fresh US$5 billion war chest Chinese artificial intelligence developer Z.ai has raised its year-end annual recurring revenue (ARR) outlook by 25 per cent to US$3 billion, as the firm indicated its fresh US$5 billion war chest had helped clear its computing capacity bottlenecks for the time being. The updated ARR projection, up from a previous estimate of about US$2.4 billion, was disclosed during an investor call on Wednesday, according to a transcript seen by the South China Morning Post. Z.ai’s ARR – a key metric projecting a firm’s monthly subscription income over a 12-month period – had reached US$1.8 billion so far this year, executives said during the call. “In the short term, computing power supply is no longer the primary constraint on the company’s rapid revenue growth,” they added.

China mulls bid for Apec free-trade area to taunt US, tantalise Asia
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China mulls bid for Apec free-trade area to taunt US, tantalise Asia

Anticipated push for the FTAAP, covering all 21 Apec members, will burnish China’s reputation by casting the US as an obstacle, analysts say China is increasingly expected to push for a trade agreement binding a wide swathe of the Pacific Rim, including the US, when it hosts a forum of major Asia-Pacific economies in November, but a real deal may be hard to secure as Washington is likely to resist, according to analysts. The anticipated push for the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), covering all 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, would – even if unsuccessful – earn Beijing goodwill from other Pacific Rim countries because it would be proposing action to cut export costs, they said. “It should be high on the agenda especially given [US President Donald] Trump’s anti-international trade position and his constant tariff threats,” said Chen Zhiwu, chair professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong.

Former director of leading Chinese museum jailed 3 years after art-selling scandal
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Former director of leading Chinese museum jailed 3 years after art-selling scandal

Xu Huping found to have abused his position at Nanjing Museum and taken bribes, including money and property, state media says A former director of a state-owned museum at the centre of a rare high-profile art scandal was sentenced to three years in prison, Chinese state media said on Wednesday. Xu Huping was found to have abused his position at the Nanjing Museum in eastern Jiangsu province and taken bribes, including money and property, for helping others secure projects and business collaborations. He was sentenced to prison for three years and fined 200,000 yuan (US$29,800), according to state news agency Xinhua.

Hong Kong leader pledges building maintenance reforms after fatal Tai Po fire
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Hong Kong leader pledges building maintenance reforms after fatal Tai Po fire

Government will conduct a legal study on criminalising bid-rigging in major building maintenance works and submit a proposal to the Legislative Council this year Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to overhaul the city’s building maintenance regime and improve emergency response as part of the government’s response to last year’s fatal Tai Po fire, while authorities study criminalising bid-rigging and plan to submit a proposal later this year. The measures were outlined in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address on Wednesday, amid pressure on the government to strengthen oversight of renovation works after the city’s deadliest fire in decades at Wang Fuk Court, where all eight blocks were covered in scaffolding. He said the government would conduct a legal study on criminalising bid-rigging in major building maintenance works and submit a proposal to the Legislative Council this year. The government would also introduce “pre-qualified lists” of consultants and contractors to help owners select professionals for renovation works.

Hong Kong’s first five-year plan: Key economic and trade priorities
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Hong Kong’s first five-year plan: Key economic and trade priorities

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has unveiled its first five-year plan for economic and social development (2026-2030) on Wednesday. Here are the key priorities shaping the Hong Kong's next chapter — swipe to explore the details.

Graphics: What stood out in China’s economy in August?
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Graphics: What stood out in China’s economy in August?

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. China's August economy was marked by two key growth drivers: booming emerging industries and surging foreign trade, according to official data released by the country's National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. In August, value‑added of high‑tech manufacturing and digital product manufacturing above designated size rose by 16.7% and 15.7% year on year respectively. New growth drivers contributed over 60% to industrial output growth. The production index for information transmission, software and IT services climbed by 9.6%, contributing more than 20% to the growth of services production index. Supported by these gains, production remained stable: industrial enterprises above designated size registered 5.2% growth in value‑added, while the services production index increased by 4.1%. China's foreign trade in goods totaled 4.65 trillion yuan (about $692 billion) in August, up 19.8% year on year. Exports reached 2.73 trillion yuan, up 18.6% and imports 1.92 trillion yuan, up 21.7%.

Witness the Pinglu Canal open to navigation!
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Witness the Pinglu Canal open to navigation!

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. A new canal, a new sea route. The Pinglu Canal opens a faster gateway to the sea for China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwest China's cargo. Click for more!

Chinese films seek a bigger stage in North America
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Chinese films seek a bigger stage in North America

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Editor's note: Zhang Jing is the editor-in-chief at the Maclmlen Studio. This article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN. It has been translated from Chinese and edited for brevity and clarity. Chinese films are gaining momentum in overseas markets, with North America emerging as an important testing ground for their global appeal. From science fiction blockbuster The Wandering Earth II to the animated hit Ne Zha 2 and family drama Dear You, a growing range of Chinese productions are reaching international audiences. The recent screening of Dear You in Edmonton, Canada, offered another example of how Chinese films are connecting with overseas viewers. Set against the backdrop of China's Chaoshan region, the film explores family bonds, migration and memories through the tradition of qiaopi, letters and remittances sent home by overseas Chinese migrants. Although rooted in a specific cultural setting, the film's themes of family, separation and identity have wider appeal.

Hong Kong’s first five-year plan signals a new path for future growth
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Hong Kong’s first five-year plan signals a new path for future growth

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Editor's note: Zhang Hongsheng is deputy director of the China Academy of Digital Trade, Zhejiang University and an associate professor at the School of Economics, Zhejiang University. The article is translated from the original Chinese and reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. A view of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. /VCG The release of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's first five-year plan marks an important milestone in the city's development. Its significance goes beyond extending the policy horizon from one year to five years. More importantly, it represents a change in development thinking, moving from responding to circumstances as they arise to taking a more proactive approach in preparing for the future. The global economic landscape is changing rapidly. Geopolitical tensions, supply chain adjustments, artificial intelligence and the green transition are reshaping competition among cities.

Nanning and Guilin take center stage at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo
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Nanning and Guilin take center stage at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo is set to open in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from September 17 to 21, with the tourism exhibition taking place in Guilin. Nanning serves as an important gateway for China-ASEAN cooperation, while Guilin draws millions of visitors from around the world each year. What makes these two cities stand out? Check out the graphic.

Chinese mainland welcomes Taiwan to Pinglu Canal opportunities
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Chinese mainland welcomes Taiwan to Pinglu Canal opportunities

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. The Pinglu Canal is the backbone and core project of China's New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Now, with its opening to navigation on Wednesday, goods from China's western inland provinces can be transported to sea, with the shipping distance shortened by over 560 kilometers and logistics costs reduced by up to 30 percent. The project was envisioned some 100 years ago by revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen. A spokesperson from the Chinese mainland relayed reactions from the Taiwan business community and welcomed Taiwan compatriots to share opportunities brought by this new project.

Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis tests new path for urban growth
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Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis tests new path for urban growth

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. Editor's note: This article was translated from the original Chinese and first published on MNA. It reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has never lacked ambition when it comes to urban development. The greater challenge has been finding ways to turn long-term plans into complete communities that support both economic activity and daily life. The Northern Metropolis represents an attempt to address that challenge. Located in the northern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region near Shenzhen, the development area is being positioned as a new space for innovation, industry, housing, and regional cooperation. It is also a test of whether Hong Kong can move beyond traditional approaches to land development and create a more integrated model of city building. This is why the Northern Metropolis features prominently in Hong Kong's first five-year plan for economic and social development (2026-2030).