The relation between China and the neighboring country

Now is a good time for Bhutan and China to establish diplomatic relation and bring some progress and development to that part of the world.



January 31, 2019

A cultural event held in the presence of newly appointed Chinese consul general to Kolkata, Zha Liyou
As China seeks to intensify engagement with Bhutan, a country it does not have diplomatic relations with, Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui is visiting Thimphu again, starting Tuesday.

China’s Bhutan outreach poses a significant foreign policy challenge for India in the neighbourhood, not least because the new government in Thimphu is likely to look at Beijing more and more as a potential partner in its efforts to diversify its economy.

Luo will be accompanied by a cultural delegation from China which will perform on the occasion of the Chinese Spring Festival.

Bhutan’s new government headed by PM Lotay Tshering of the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party wants to reduce the mountainous country’s excessive reliance on hydropower which it exports to India. In its election manifesto, the DNT had mentioned the fact that India’s share of trade with Bhutan accounted for 80 per cent of Bhutan’s total trade.

“We acknowledge the central role of hydropower sector in our economy, however, since it is a climate sensitive sector and considering possible geo-climatic hazards in future, it would be unwise to hinge the country’s economy solely on a single sector,” the DNT manifesto had said, adding that hydropower offered limited employment opportunities to the youth.

China was quick to have sensed an opening last year in terms of more trade opportunities when in July, just before Bhutan’s National Assembly was dissolved, not just Luo but also China’s vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou visited Thimphu. Kong had discussed the boundary issue with Bhutan leaders then and also invited Bhutan to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and share China’s “development dividend”. Bhutan is the only Indian neighbour to have resisted the temptation so far to join BRI.

During Tshering’s visit to India last month, his first overseas as PM, his counterpart Narendra Modi had announced that India will provide grant assistance of Rs 4500 crore for Bhutan’s 12th Five Year Plan, and a transitional Trade Support Facility of Rs 400 Crore over a period of five years to strengthen bilateral trade and economic linkages. Tshering had also invited Modi to Bhutan, but the Indian PM is yet to undertake that visit.

India though has to remain mindful of how China’s engagement with Bhutan plays out in the territorial and boundary domain. India’s own ties with China have improved remarkably since the 2017 Doklam dispute with Luo himself declaring that Sino-Indian ties are currently passing through one of the best phases in history.

Fruit, jade, motorcycles... As trade expands in Ruili, a county on the China-Myanmar border, about 49,000 people cross the border via this bustling county everyday
A peaceful and productive border town between China and Myanmar
Notice they facilitate and streamline guest worker coming to china for work. all they need is finger print on the terminal. allowing neighbor to share China's prosperity .Compare that to contentious and human tragedy on the border elsewhere

A new border crossing between China and Vietnam open

China and Vietnam officially opened a new cross-border bridge on Tuesday linking the city of Dongxing in China and the city of Mong Cai in Vietnam. The bridge is expected to boost border logistics and trade and promote connectivity under the Initiative.

The US has just blocked Turkey from the F-35 program. Most analysts are focusing on the opportunity for Russia in this. But I believe the greater opportunity is for China. Relations between China and Turkey are cold because of the Xinjiang issue. But Pakistan is very close to both countries, and can help bridge the gap. Russia is a historical rival of Turkey. I think that China will have a much better time with Turkey in the long run if they can mend their fences.

Mohsin77 said:

The US has just blocked Turkey from the F-35 program. Most analysts are focusing on the opportunity for Russia in this. But I believe the greater opportunity is for China. Relations between China and Turkey are cold because of the Xinjiang issue. But Pakistan is very close to both countries, and can help bridge the gap. Russia is a historical rival of Turkey. I think that China will have a much better time with Turkey in the long run if they can mend their fences.

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Turkey's politician needs to calm down and stop using Xinjiang as a political tool during election year. They are just being used by US and western media to malign China.

OIC official findings are as below.

See Page 5 of "Resolution No.1/46-MM on Safeguarding the Rights of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-OIC Member States" as adopted by The Council of Foreign Ministers under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Abu Dhabi on March 1 and 2, 2019. It states:

"20. Welcomes the outcomes of the visit conducted by the General Secretariat's delegation upon invitation from the People's Republic of China; commends the efforts of the People's Republic of China in providing care to its Muslim citizens; and looks forward to further cooperation between the OIC and the People's Republic of China."

Dolcevita said:

Turkey's politician needs to calm down and stop using Xinjiang as a political tool during election year. They are just being used by US and western media to malign China.

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I don't think that's the reason. Turkey isn't in the mood to do the US any free favors these days. Turks take their ethnic connections with the Turkic Uyghurs very seriously, as well they should. But this is creating a problem in this case, which can and should be solved.

I think that Pakistan can facilitate a rapprochement between China and Turkey, by helping both sides find common ground and compromise. China will benefit greatly from Turkey joining its Belt and Road initiative, as Turkey occupies highly strategic geography. Turkey will be able to rely on China as it looks to strike an independent foreign policy from American interests. And Pakistan will regain its lost land bridge to Turkey, via Central Asia, which was broken because of Iran's revolution.

I think there is a lot of potential benefit for all three parties here, and also for the region as a whole.

China need to stop importing coal from "deputy sheriff Australia" Why feed ungrate who bite the hand that feed them


"That's Something China Can't Tolerate": Tensions Erupt As China Slams Australia's "Irresponsible Comments"

It all started in when we reported that a political row had erupted between China and Australia, with Beijing cracking down on imports of coal from Australia, cutting off the country's miners from their biggest export market and threatening the island nation's economy at a time when it and its fellow "Five Eyes" members who have sided with the US by blocking or banning Huawei's 5G network technology.

In the weeks that followed, while Beijing disputed such a draconian export crackdown, China was overtly targeting Australian coal imports with increased restrictions – what Beijing claims were quality checks – that delayed their passage through northern ports. Given Australia has the highest level of income dependency on China of any developed nation as 30.6% of all Australian export income came from China last year, equivalent to US$87 billion (twice the trade volume with Japan, Australia’s next biggest trading partner), and Australia’s coal industry is deeply dependent on its exports to China, which account for 3.7% of Australia’s GDP, this prompted much speculation that Beijing is punishing coal companies as retribution for political acts by Canberra, one of Washington’s closest allies. "The last time Australia was so dependent on one country for its income was in the 1950s when it was a client state of Britain," Sydney Morning Herald’s international editor, Peter Hartcher Hartcher said in March,



To be sure, Beijing had numerous issues that it was smarting over: Australia’s blocking of the Chinese telecoms firm Huawei from building its national 5G network; accusations that China has been involved in spying on its parliament; and the denial of Australian citizenship to billionaire political donor Huang Xiangmo.

And while tensions simmered largely in private for the subsequent two months, they finally boil over in public when a Chinese coal industry official criticized Australia for biting the hand that feeds it at a coal conference in Beijing, in what the Sydney Morgning Herald declared was "a rare public acknowledgement that diplomatic tensions could be the cause of slowing trade."

"You can’t earn Chinese money and then politically make irresponsible comments about China and become unfriendly," said Cui Pijiang, director of the China Coking Industry Association. "I’m afraid … this is something the Chinese government can’t tolerate."

As noted above, since the Huawei scandal erupted in January the Chinese government has denied any ban on Australian coal, and instead blamed the slowdown in unloading of Australian coal at Chinese ports on tougher environmental inspections. But Cui’s comments in a speech at the Global Coking Coal Summit in Beijing, to an audience that included Australian embassy officials, and representatives from BHP, was a rare public articulation that political factors are at least partly behind Australian coal facing extended inspections.

"Although businesses can conduct effective, friendly and reasonable cooperation between the two countries, the political factors have to be considered," he said adding that politics and the economy are always indispensable to each other.

Immediately before his comments, the SMH reported that Cui pointed out the Australian embassy was in the audience, saying Australia was the largest coking coal exporter to China.

What was most stunning to analysts and observers is that what until now was a diplomatic conflict that was only acknowledged in private, spilled out in the public and the audience were stunned by the political attack in a business forum.

One audience member, clearly one who can't put 2 and 2 together and needs everything presented on a silver platter, said: "We’ve all been chasing this phantom of what’s driving this behaviour and this was a much clearer articulation – in an inappropriate forum." While "one audience member" may have been amazed by China confirmation that its behaviour was purely a political retaliation, we can only hope that it was clear to everyone else.

What is ironic is that Chinese steel mills had actually preferred Australia’s higher quality imported coal amid a government crackdown on emissions and implementation of tougher environmental policies. Cui said China consumes 600 million tonnes of coking coal each year and imports 69 million tonnes, but argued China should meet its domestic needs.

Meanwhile, what we said above about how this situation should have been obvious to everyone, well strike that because as the SMH adds, Australian diplomats "have attended a spate of coal industry conferences across Beijing and Shanghai in the past fortnight to try to understand why Australian coal was facing a slowdown and try to determine how long it will last."

And while Australia may now "know" what is behind the boycott of Australian coal, that doesn't mean the situation will get any better; in fact, it is only set to get even worse, as the conference heard that a restriction policy on overall imported coking coal levels would become tougher in 2019.

Fenwei Energy Information vice-general manager Sarah Liu said China’s coal imports were 280 million tonnes last year, but the policy would restrict annual imports to 200 million tonnes by 2020. This target was "quite challenging", she said. And as imports of coal fell in 2019, domestic coking coal production would increase, she forecast.

Australia was the top coking coal importer in 2018 at 28 million tonnes, but Mongolia was catching up at 27 million. Russia saw coal imports fall 4.2 per cent last year, but would increase this year, she predicted.

But one place that is sure to benefit from the escalation in trade tensions between Beijing and Canberra, is yet another Latin American nation that is slated to become China's next vassal colony. As S&P Global reports, Clombian thermal coal is proving attractive to Chinese buyers, who are picking up "super cheap" offers from producers and traders with around 1 million to 1.35 million mt of coal on its way to China from the South American exporter, plus additional cargoes to northeast Asian countries including South Korea.

In addition to not being politically charged, one other benefit of Colombia coal is that it is much cheaper: June-arrival Capesize cargoes of Colombian thermal coal are trading at $65/mt CFR China on a 5,500 kcal/kg NAR basis, which is cheaper than equivalent grade Australian cargoes priced at $68/mt.

And with Australian purchase set to collapse - should the nation continue to antagonize Beijing with its pro-US bias - Chinese traders are wasting no time, and one of them is understood to have booked three Colombian cargoes for June arrival, adding up to nearly 500,000 mt, S&P sources.

"There is 1 million mt of Colombian coal on its way to China," said one market source.

Meanwhile, there is a lot of Australian coal also on its way to China, the only problem is that due to the escalating diplomatic scandal, it just can't depart: one market source estimated that about 4 million mt of Australian thermal coal was waiting to enter Chinese ports in May and June.

And while some have have expressed hope that China will lift its restrictions on Australian coal shipments at the end of May, this looks increasingly unlikely, especially after China's foreign ministry on Thursday criticized Australia's telecommunications legislation that allows "backdoors" to be installed.

Australia had barred Huawei from participating in the 5G network because of fears China installed backdoors on Huawei.

"It is baffling how the country concerned could whip up 'security threats' posed by other countries or companies ... while engaging in acts that endanger cyber security themselves," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang, sending a clear message to Australia: if you continue to side with the US on the Huawei - or any other issue - you can keep your coal.

As I said before Malaysia can't afford cancelling the project the penalty is just huge 5 billion dollar
So all those talk of push back is just talk I guess the critic of BRI must be disappointed

China, Malaysia to Resume East Coast Rail for $11 Billion
By

April 12, 2019, 12:55 AM CDT Updated on April 12, 2019, 3:05 AM CDT

• 
  Countries agree to reduce railway project’s cost by one-third
• 
  Mahathir has shown more willingness to revive large projects

The Genting tunnel construction site, part of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Bentong, Malaysia on Feb. 5. Photographer: Joshua Paul/Bloomberg
has struck a deal with Malaysia to resume the East Coast Rail Link project at a smaller cost and scope.

The project will now cost 44 billion ringgit ($10.7 billion) instead of the original 65.5 billion ringgit, according to a Friday statement from the prime minister’s office. Premier Mahathir Mohamad revived talks on the rail link after canceling it earlier as the Southeast Asian country struggled to narrow its budget deficit.

The deal could be a boon for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has seen Asian governments from Myanmar to Maldives reassessing Chinese investments amid concern over sovereignty and large borrowings.

China wants the project to resume quickly, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a Friday briefing in Beijing.


The rail link is meant to connect much of Peninsular Malaysia’s eastern coast, whose economy lags the wealthier western coast, to a major port near the capital Kuala Lumpur. But the project’s cost ballooned as construction went underway, with the finance ministry estimating that the price tag could reach as much as 81 billion ringgit.

Storage silos stand at the Genting tunnel construction site.

Photographer: Joshua Paul/Bloomberg
Reviving Projects
and Malaysia Rail Link Sdn. signed a supplementary agreement for the reduced cost after between the companies and the two governments, according to the statement. The deal covers the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning aspects of the rail link.

“This reduction will surely benefit Malaysia and lighten the burden on the country’s financial position,” the prime minister’s office said in the statement.


The portal to the Genting tunnel stands at the development’s construction site.

Photographer: Joshua Paul/Bloomberg
Mahathir has shown more willingness to revive some infrastructure projects after embarking on spending cuts and a corruption crackdown last year. The government was almost done with its budget review and was ready to look toward state investments to boost economic growth, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said in February.

Malaysia discussed possible fundraising through a yuan-denominated bond sale with China’s support, Lim said at the time. Such an offer would mark the country’s debut Panda bond issuance, after it returned to the Samurai bond market this year for the first time in three decades

The western press hype up the hysteria of debt trap to frighten china's neighbor But any development is good where there is no road now there is one Without road or electricity no commerce or trade can even begin
In Myanmar the china myanmar oil and gas pipeline bring transit fee,foreign exchange, electricity, port, road,jobs and other benefit to Myanmar
Via beijing walker


China’s pipeline project brings 24-hour electricity supply to Myanmar
By Sun Guangyong in Myanmar Source:Global Times Published: 2019/4/16 18:08:40

A wharf on Made Island, the starting point of the China-Myanmar crude oil and gas pipeline, awaits giant oil tankers. Courtesy: China-Myanmar crude oil and gas pipeline project

It was completely dark outside at night when this Global Times reporter visited Kyaukpyu county, Myanmar eight years ago. Now, the city has witnessed tremendous changes thanks to the China-Myanmar crude oil and gas pipeline, a pioneer project of the China-proposed Initiative, local citizens told the Global Times.

The pipeline project serves as the fourth energy import channel after the China-Central Asia pipelines, China-Russia oil pipeline, and the Middle East. As a result, the project has a strategic significance for China's energy diversification and security, said Zhang Qiang, manager of the project of Sino-Pipeline International Company. He noted Myanmar also benefits a great deal from the project.

Filling up

An oil tanker stops at a western Myanmar port in Kyaukpyu county. Three oil delivery pipes are lowered down to unload oil into its 100,000-ton oil storage tank.

That oil will go through the 771-kilometer-long China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline and head to China from Namhkam, Shan State in eastern Myanmar.

In the same way, the natural gas gathered from southwestern Myanmar will go through the China-Myanmar gas pipeline.

"The China-Myanmar crude oil and gas pipeline allows crude oil from the Middle East to bypass the Malacca Straits and go ashore on Made Island, which faces the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean. The oil will eventually arrive in China's southwestern region," Zhang told the Global Times.

He noted that Myanmar requires less than 2 million tons of crude oil and 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to promote local economic development and raise people's standard of living.

Every day, about 602,700 cubic meters of natural gas are supplied from the starting station in Kyaukpyu county and transferred to the local power station.

Inh Malh owns the tallest building in the county. At least half of the 40 rooms in the eight-floor hotel are usually booked, according to him.

"Nobody wanted to visit Kyaukpyu county in the past, because it used to be totally dark at night. Locals didn't want to go outside either. The electricity provided by the government could only be used for two to three hours per day. Private electric lamps cost $30 per month," he said, "Now, the county's economy has improved a lot thanks to the China-Myanmar gas pipeline, because the electricity generated in the power station came from the natural gas transferred via the pipeline."

About 60 percent of the townships and regions in Myanmar are unable to guarantee uninterrupted power supplies. Forty days after the pipeline project went into operation in September 2013, the Kyaukpyu station started supplying natural gas to local power stations. The daily power supply increased from three hours to 24 hours, and electricity charges were also reduced.

"With the natural gas provided by the China-Myanmar gas pipeline, Kyaukpyu becomes the first county in Rakhine State to generate power with natural gas and realize a 24-hour power supply," the head of Kyaukpyu county said.

In addition to Kyaukpyu, the northern Mandalay and central Yenangyaung gas stations can provide about 2.7 million cubic meters during peak hours to ease energy demand.

The 793-kilometer China-Myanmar natural gas pipeline has six stations, and aims to transfer 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. Myanmar's usage comes to less than 20 percent of the total traffic amount.

According to Yuan Yundong, head of the project's production and operation team, the China-Myanmar natural gas pipeline helped Myanmar collect 3.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas as of February, which goes to power stations in Kyaukpyu, Taneekarn and Mandalay.

The pipeline started operating in May 2, 2017. As of February, it has transferred 17.53 million tons of oil to China. The potential traffic amount at the five stations is 22 million tons.

According to the Asian Development Bank, Myanmar's economic growth looks set to be first among the Southeast Asian nations. The China-Myanmar pipeline project solves the problem of Myanmar's downstream market, earns foreign exchange through exports and brings in national revenue.

In terms of employment, statistics show the pipeline project hired more than 2.9 million people and more than 6,000 local people were employed during the construction peak.

What's more, the project provides training for around 800 Myanmar workers, accounting for 80 percent of total employees, in positions ranging from installation worker to welders.

Hn Um, who graduated from the department of mechanics at the University of Yangon, is now a technician at Mandalay station. He previously studied in China's Southwest Petroleum University.

"We learned advanced technology from the training, which is needed not only for running the pipeline but also for our country," he said.