HONG KONG -- John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), recently led a trade delegation to Qatar and Kuwait, achieving fruitful outcomes and strengthening Hong Kong's ties with both countries.
During the five-day trip, 59 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements covering trade, investment, financial services, technology, law, aviation, customs, and tourism were reached. These agreements further reinforced Hong Kong's relationship with the Middle East while fostering economic and cultural exchanges with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. (Hong Kong-Middle East-Cooperation, ROUNDUP)
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RAYONG, Thailand -- China's carmaker Changan opened its Thailand plant on Friday, as its 28.59 millionth vehicle rolled off the assembly line in the factory, marking a milestone in the company's global expansion.
As the first overseas vehicle factory of Changan Automobile, the factory is located in Thailand's eastern Rayong Province, with a total investment of approximately 10 billion Thai baht (about 300 million U.S. dollars). (Thailand-China-Auto Plant)
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BANGKOK -- Industry leaders from six global automotive giants convened here to discuss the future of electric and hybrid vehicles (xEV), highlighting opportunities for innovation and identifying crucial challenges for Thailand.
Senior executives from Chinese, Japanese, and European carmakers attended the symposium co-organized by Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) on Wednesday, sharing insights and strategies on developing the industry and integrating the Southeast Asian country into the global supply chain. (Thailand-EV)
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VIENTIANE -- The China-Laos Railway transported about 156,000 tons of cassava in the first four months of 2025, marking a 43 percent increase compared to the same period last year and underscoring the railway's growing role in facilitating Lao agricultural exports.
As of May 14, the railway had transported 5,750 containers of cassava, totaling 156,000 tons, according to a report released by the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. on Thursday. (Laos-Railway-Agriculture)
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SEOUL -- South Korea's government on Friday saw an increased downward pressure on the Asian economy due to the U.S. tariffs imposition and a delayed recovery in domestic demand.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance said in its monthly report, called Green Book, that the South Korean economy recently had been under increased downward pressure on the back of the worsened external conditions, caused by the U.S. tariffs imposition. (South Korea-Economic Pressure-US Tariffs) ■
