CX Daily: China’s Primary Health Care On The Front Line Against Covid

Chinese vice premier urges regions not to let up in the fight with Covid.

Hospitals /

In Depth: China’s primary health care on the front line against Covid

When the city of Baicheng in Northeast China’s Jilin province had a Covid outbreak in April, Wang Li’s workday started before dawn.

“We’d get up at 3 o’clock every day in order to get to the testing spots at 4:30,” said Wang Li, one of about 40 primary care medical personnel who are responsible for the needs of 30,000 residents. The county-level city often began testing residents for Covid-19 before 7 a.m. to accommodate the schedules of local farmers.

Chart of the Day: Primary care’s shrinking share of patients

FINANCE & ECONOMY

Property /

Exclusive: U.K. bank seeks investors for stalled Chinese-backed London development

A U.K. bank is trying to sell the first phase of a stalled Chinese-backed development at London’s Royal Docks at a low asking price, sources with knowledge of the matter told Caixin.

The real estate project, with an initially estimated investment of 1.7 billion pounds ($2 billion), was launched in 2013 by then-London Mayor Boris Johnson and Hong Kong-based Advanced Business Park (China) Holdings Group Co. Ltd. (ABP), according to ABP’s website. It aimed to transform 35 acres at the Royal Albert Dock in East London into a business hub containing office buildings, storefronts and residential space.

Covid-19 /

Chinese vice premier urges regions not to let up in fight with Covid

As daily Covid cases creep up in some parts of China, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has emphasized that the purpose of recent changes to the country’s virus prevention measures was for precision, not relaxation.

Speaking while on a visit to North China’s Hebei province earlier this week, the health czar urged authorities across the country to up their efforts to prevent cases and plug loopholes exposed in previous outbreaks.

Taiwan /

China warns U.S. of consequences if Pelosi travels to Taiwan

China will take “strong and resolute measures” if U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

China “firmly opposes” House Speaker Pelosi’s reported plan to travel to Taiwan in August, which would have a “severely negative impact” on the political foundations of U.S.-China relations, spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during Tuesday’s regular press conference.

Quick hits /

Chinese banks hold lending rates as PBOC remains cautious

Kissinger warns Biden against endless confrontation with China

BUSINESS & TECH

　Trucks drive across Donghai Bridge in Shanghai on July 18. Photo: VCG

Freight /

China’s road freight hits another Covid roadblock

China’s haulage sector recorded another weekly drop in volumes as flare-ups of Covid-19 revived disruptive roadblocks for truckers.

China’s road freight volume index fell 18.3% year-on-year in the week of July 11, the third consecutive week of decline, according to data from industry information provider G7. The index measures truck traffic volume and the quantity of goods processed in major logistics centers. Week-on-week, the slump was a more modest 1.3%.

Chips /

Geely founder-backed auto chip startup SiEngine raises $148 million

Wuhan-based car chip designer SiEngine Technology Co. Ltd. raised nearly 1 billion yuan ($148 million) in its round A financing from investors led by Sequoia Capital, the company said Tuesday.

Backed by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. founder Li Shufu, SiEngine didn’t disclose its valuation after the fundraising.

U.S. Senate moves forward with chip funding to compete with China

Online dating /

Executives of matchmaking giant arrested in embezzlement probe

Several executives of China’s leading online dating service provider Baihe Jiayuan Network Group Co. Ltd. were arrested for alleged embezzlement, controlling shareholder Fosun International Ltd. said Tuesday.

Fosun’s internal anti-graft department found evidence of criminal activity by the individuals during routine inspections and reported the matter to police, the conglomerate said in a statement, without elaboration.

Long Read /

The Asian financial crisis 25 years on

GALLERY

Scavenging Shanghai’s food service leftovers