China's 'new farmers' learn to livestream in rural revitalization
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South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Shanghai's West Bund defies property slump as new CBD attracts MNCs like BMW, Adidas
Shanghai's West Bund, an 11km-long waterfront area in mainland China's financial capital, has bucked the property downtrend plaguing the sector, as companies and retail brands flock to office buildings and malls in the zone. The vibrant area, located on the west bank of the Huangpu River in the southwestern Xuhui district, is emerging as the latest central business district (CBD), with premium office buildings and retail space like Hongkong Land's Westbund Central. The city kicked off the redevelopment of the West Bund in 2010, which involved building world-class residential, commercial, office and entertainment complexes. The area, home to the artificial intelligence (AI) incubator Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Centre (SMC) , which was visited by President Xi Jinping in April, has already attracted multinationals like BMW and Adidas. 'West Bund is well planned as each section in the West Bund has its own theme and industrial goal,' said Jimmy Chu, a senior director with CBRE's Eastern China office market division. 'The location makes the area a bright spot in Shanghai's real estate market.' A file photo from November 2024 shows buildings under construction at the West Bund in Shanghai. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images The first phase of office blocks at Westbund Central, which will be delivered later this year, has been well received by Chinese and foreign companies, and was likely to see a 100 per cent occupancy rate, he added.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Australia juggles its China trade needs with Philippines defence ties
As the Asia-Pacific's power dynamics continue to evolve and shift, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 's visit to China promises to be a test of his country's ability to walk the fine line between economic self-interest and strategic resolve. His trip, which began on Saturday, unfolds against the backdrop of Australia 's deepening security ties with the Philippines , with Canberra stepping up support for Manila's maritime capabilities and increasing participation in patrols and joint military exercises. In April, Albanese's government donated 20 state-of-the-art surveillance drones worth 34 million pesos (US$600,000) to the Philippine Coast Guard, buttressing its maritime domain awareness just days after a near-collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels in contested waters. The donation was part of a broader civil maritime cooperation programme, encompassing vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships, operational training, marine protection and maritime law seminars. Australia plans to double its investment in these initiatives to A$11.5 million (US$7.5 million) from 2025 to 2029. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr display signed documents after upgrading bilateral relations in September 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE Analysts say these moves reflect the pair's expanding ties over time. 'Australia and the Philippines are set to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, with both countries motivated to further enhance the strategic partnership in the years ahead,' said Julio Amador, interim president of the Philippines-based Foundation for the National Interest think tank and founder and trustee of the non-profit policy advisory firm FACTS Asia.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Tech takes centre stage as Chinese students weigh up major choices
Like millions of Chinese students, 18-year-old He Junjie is anxiously waiting to see which university and major will admit him after last month's intensely competitive National Higher Education Entrance Examination, or gaokao. After evaluating his score and studying the universities and programmes he qualified for, He focused on engineering when submitting his applications a few weeks ago. Information and communications technology, as well as vehicle engineering, were the top choices, the young man from east China's Zhejiang province said, because they 'represent the direction of future industrial development'. 'Many of my classmates have also chosen majors related to new technology and engineering, because we think there's quite a lot of demand for such talent in Hangzhou,' He said, referring to the provincial capital that is home to artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek and humanoid robotics firm Unitree Robotics. While international trade and urban planning were among the most popular subjects with students two decades ago, when China joined the World Trade Organization and its property market started to boom, a new wave of technology-focused academic priorities is reshaping higher education. Engineering disciplines related to possible technological advancements have reigned supreme as China's state-driven system funnels students into such fields amid intensified tech competition with the United States.
