China’s total overseas non-financial direct investment (ODI) in January-February rose 9.1 percent year-on-year to $22.97 billion, the Ministry of Commerce said.
The amount of money invested in states along the Belt and Road rose 17.6% to $5.52 billion, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying.
As reported, by the end of 2024, the total volume of Chinese ODI increased by 10.5% to $143.85 billion.
Both Russia and China are interested in establishing relations with the United States, US President Donald Trump said on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle on Tuesday.
Asked by the host if it was possible to believe that Putin really wants this, while he is influenced by “his close friend, President Xi of China,” Trump replied that “we have our own discussions with President Xi of China, and he also wants to make a deal and we want to make a deal with him. And we will do that.”
Trump blamed the Barack Obama administration for the rapprochement between Russia and China.
“Obama really forced them together through energy and bad energy policy. And when he did so many different things, he forced (them) into a marriage that should never have happened. Because it’s unnatural. And for one reason: Russia has a huge territory, a lot of land, and China doesn’t have enough land. Russia has a much smaller population than China. And it’s natural, it’s always been a natural hostile situation,” Trump said.
“Maybe they’re friendly now, but we’re going to be friendly with both of them. I think we will be friendly with both. China desperately needs us in terms of trade, but we have to equalize the deficit,” he added.
“I think President Xi would like to reach an agreement, and I think Russia would like to reach an agreement with the United States,” Trump summarized.
The first container of Serbian goods was shipped to China on Friday as part of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, according to the Serbian government website. The container contains products from local companies such as Pionir, Akov, Fruskogorski Vinograd, Vinarija Aleksić, Nutrino, Nash Med, Zarić Rakija, Budimka, and Damar. The transportation was organized by the Milšped company from Krnoševac, near Stara Pazova.
The Minister of Economy Adriana Mesarović noted that this is the result of the hard work of Serbian entrepreneurs, government agencies and Chinese partners, as well as confirmation of the “steel friendship” between China and Serbia. She emphasized that Chinese retailers, importers and distributors have expressed their willingness to accept Serbian products in a market of 1.4 billion consumers.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said that thanks to the Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on July 1, 2024, Serbia became China’s first partner in Central and Eastern Europe with such an agreement. He noted that since the agreement came into force, Serbia’s exports to China have increased by 53.7%, and more and more Serbian wines and dairy products are appearing on Chinese tables.
The free trade agreement covers 10,412 Serbian and 8,930 Chinese products. From the first day of application, 60% of the goods were exempted from duties, and over the next five to ten years, another 30% of products will be exempted from customs duties.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/633
In January-February, China reduced steel production by 1.5% year-on-year to 166.3 million tons, according to the country’s State Statistics Office.
Pig iron production decreased by 0.5% to 140.75 million tons.
The State Statistics Office traditionally publishes economic indicators for January and February together to avoid data distortion due to long holidays to mark the Lunar New Year, which can fall in both January and February.
In January-February, China exported 16.97 million tons of steel, up 6.7% year-on-year, according to the State Customs Administration.
As reported, in 2024, steel production in China decreased by 1.7% to 1.005 billion tons.
The volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the economy of mainland China in January-February decreased by 20.4% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 171.21 billion yuan ($23.87 billion), according to the Ministry of Commerce. The manufacturing industry accounted for 47.82 billion yuan, and the service sector for 120.49 billion yuan.
At the same time, the UK’s FDI in China grew by 87.9%, Germany’s by 54.7%, and South Korea’s by 45.2%, Xinhua cited the ministry’s data.
At the same time, 7,574 thousand new enterprises with foreign capital were registered in the country in two months, which is 5.8% more than their number in the same period in 2024.
As reported, the volume of FDI in 2024 fell by 27.1% to 826.25 billion yuan. This is the largest decline in the history of calculations (since 2008).
Experts club presents the 2024 ranking of all steel-producing countries in the world. The ranking is compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), which updates data for all steel-producing countries on a monthly basis. Below is the production data in million tons, with percentage of production in 2023 in parentheses.
Global steel production continued to perform strongly in 2024, despite fluctuations in demand and the impact of economic factors. China remained the undisputed market leader, producing 1,005.1 million tons of steel, accounting for more than half of the global total. India, which took second place, continues to increase production, reaching 149.6 million tons, while Japan rounds out the top three with 84 million tons, followed by the United States and Russia.
