Weekly Must-Read: China Looks to Saudi Arabia Amid Shifting Sands in U.S. Economic Ties
A recent flurry of political and business exchanges represents Beijing’s highest-level diplomatic engagement with Arab nations since the founding of the People’s Republic of China
# Cover Story #
China Looks to Saudi Arabia Amid Shifting Sands in U.S. Economic Ties
A recent flurry of political and business exchanges represents Beijing’s highest-level diplomatic engagement with Arab nations since the founding of the People’s Republic of China
# Finance #
Ant Group Hit With $984 Million Fine as Years-Long Overhaul Wraps Up
The fintech giant was stung for violations in areas including financial consumer protection, business with banks and insurers, payment and settlement, anti-money laundering, and sales of investment funds
Major Chinese Banks Launch Digital Currency Payments That Don’t Need the Internet
The feature works through special SIM cards that allow users of the lenders’ e-CNY wallets to make transactions even when their phones are offline or dead
# Business #
In Depth: How Aluminum Giant Zhongwang Inflated Sales Through Shady Dealings
Following a U.S. crackdown that hamstrung its exports business, the company came to dominate China’s market for aluminum formworks through dodgy related-party transactions with its biggest customer
In Depth: China’s Ban on Micron Roils Domestic Memory Chip Market
Beijing’s restrictions on the American semiconductor giant have triggered a search for alternatives, with competitors stepping in and domestic companies stepping up
# Tech #
In Depth: Xiaomi to Stay the Course on Chip Design After Rival Bails
Device giant remains determined to design its own semiconductors despite a shrinking smartphone market, amid news Oppo has thrown in the towel
# Economy #
Zero Inflation Shows Demand Remains Weak in China’s Economy, Analysts Say
CPI came in flat while PPI fell 5.4% last month due to falling pork and energy prices
# World #
Chinese Premier Calls for Cooperation in Meeting With U.S. Treasury Chief
Li Qiang calls China’s development ‘an opportunity rather than a challenge’ for the U.S. while Janet Yellen rejects economic decoupling
In Talks With Yellen, China Demands Removal of U.S. Economic Sanctions
Treasury secretary’s visit came amid growing disputes between the two countries over trade, technology transfer and security strategies
# Opinion #
A Shared Understanding of ‘Competition’ and ‘Cooperation’ Will Better Serve China-U.S. Relations
It is crucial for the two countries to mark where both competition and collaboration begin and end to prevent their relationship from spiraling
# Weekend Long Read #
In Memory of the Beloved Translator of China’s Top Leaders
Yan Mingfu, an official Russian interpreter for leaders including Mao Zedong, is remembered a towering, avuncular man who had a way with young people
# The Wall Street Journal #
He Spent $140 Billion on AI With Little to Show. Now He Is Trying Again
Masayoshi Son said he would make SoftBank ‘the investment company for the AI revolution,’ but missed out on the most recent frenzy