One of the major nuisances for foreign visitors to China might be gone as the country’s major payment giants, Tencent (operating WeChat Pay) and the Ant Group (operating Alipay) agreed to accept foreign credit cards on their platforms. Up to now, visitors needed to have a Chinese bank account to use those common payment tools in China.Read More →

Just lifting the stringent Covid-19 restrictions in China did not revive its economy as expected. The lockdowns ended in December 2022 and visas were issued in March 2023 again, but the recovery had been lackluster. The aviation industry belongs to those with the most disappointing predictions by June. 22, 2023, as it expects to be back to normal by the end of 2024, hoping for an extension of government support, reports the South China Morning Post.Read More →

Business analyst Shaun Rein visits the US for the first time in four years after Covid-19 lockings in China, and he explains why he has become bearish on the country. Consumer confidence is down at a historic low, and an expected revenge purchase after the lockdowns ended stayed away. Foreign companies are pressured by the US to split off their operations, despite a wide range of international CEOs visiting China last month.Read More →

China’s consumer confidence remains low, even when its largest e-commerce platforms offer massive support, says business analyst Shaun Rein at the Hill. Rein said that consumers were less likely to spend more during 618 as merchants had already been discounting heavily for years because of the pandemic, and deals were not that much better compared to previous months.Read More →

Political analyst and senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations Ian Johnson gives a fast overview of the issues ahead of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visit to Beijing, including the US-China relations, Cuba, Ukraine, Taiwan, and more for CBS News.Read More →

China’s central government surprised this week by supporting its economy by a string of measures including cutting interest rates. Financial analyst Ben Cavender expects more action in the coming months, but meanwhile, foreign investors get jibberish and that might offer great opportunities for other economies like India, he adds at CNBC-TV18.Read More →

China launched its first homemade cruise ship, as this part of the tourist industry struggles to stay afloat. But consumption expert Ashley Dudarenok sees a bright future for cruises from China, as this industry is still in its infancy in a country where many look for alternatives, she tells at state-owned broadcaster CGTN.Read More →