Tag: china

Why the Chinese are loving Bollywood movies

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Indian movies seem to be the flavour of the decade in China. The Salman Khan starrer Bhajrangi Bhaijan reportedly earned more than Rs 200 crore in China. Secret Superstar starring Aamir Khan, whose movies have been doing well over the past few years in China, is said to have made close to Rs 150 crore and counting.

As revealing as the numbers may be, they do not tell the real story of the Chinese audiences’ romance with the magic masala of Bollywood. Their affinity for Bollywood has been a slow and gradual process.

Experts say the Chinese have accepted Indian movies as part of the mainstream. And perhaps there is nothing more mainstream than the Chinese cab driver, especially the ever-so-friendly and all-knowing Beijing cabbie. “Are you Indian?” is the first question, as you get comfortable in a Beijing cab to take on the city’s comatose traffic.

Before the response reaches the last repetitive assurance in the positive, in case the missed the first two “dui…dui…dui (yes, yes, yes),” the cabbie has broken out in song. This is not just any famous Bollywood tune, but the one and only “Awara Hoon…”. They will then tell you that it is a very old song noting with dismissive certainty that “kids now a days won’t know it”. Nevertheless, the cabbie is always delighted if you can change his opinion by singing along.

Break of a Few Years

That said, the cabbie might not be entirely wrong. There was a hiatus in this cinematic tryst between 1994 and 2011 when few Indian movies released in China. This generation of Chinese moviegoers became more in sync with movies produced in the West, especially Hollywood, unaware of an eroding connect with Bollywood.

China imposes a quota system that limits the number of ‘foreign made’ movies released in the Chinese Mainland at 68. These include Hong Kong-made movies too, but nowadays many of them are co-produced —  a solution to avoiding the quota cap.

However, Prasad Shetty, who is in the business of bringing Indian movies to China, says since 2014, there has been a steady stream of movies from India coming into the Mainland.

“We are hardly a hundred days in to this year, and already three Indian movies are making waves in China. This includes Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Secret Superstar and Hindi Medium, which will open in April,”

— Prasad Shetty, film distributor in China

So, what is the secret sauce?

“There is none,” insists Mr Shetty. “It is all about the content. If it is a good movie and there is a connect with the local culture, it will certainly work. Even an independent movie will work if there is a cultural connect. There is no Chinese formula; even Hollywood hasn’t been able to break it. For example, the latest iteration of the Star Wars franchise did not do very well in China. Last year, a Spanish movie did very well here as did a Thai movie. It is all about how the audience can connect with the movie.”

He also believes that the Chinese movie market is one of the most accepting markets in the world when it comes to good cinema. He adds that Aamir’s social work and involvement in TV projects like Satyamev Jayate have not gone unnoticed here.

Meanwhile, movies such as Secret Superstar have also connected with the Chinese millennials. Twenty eight-year-old Beijinger, Ms Jiang says, “I think the movie is inclusive, as it touches on issues like women rights, domestic violence, and motherly love. The movie is very encouraging since the pursuance of dreams is the overarching theme. It resonates well with me, as I struggle between my work schedule, and taking care of my one-year old child.”

She adds that she also liked Aamir Khan’s Three Idiots because “we have similar problems with our education system here, and it was so funnily put, not like some boring documentary, which is how education is usually approached on screen”.

Perhaps there is a secret sauce …

For movie fans in China, it is no longer just the magic masala of the dreamy silver screen that keeps them coming back for more Bollywood, but also messages of meaning and hope that walk out with you from the cinema.

Danny Geevarghese is a journalist based in Beijing.

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China imposes tariffs on 128 US products including meat, fruit

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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China says it’s rolling out new tariffs on US meat, fruit and other products as retaliation against taxes approved by President Donald Trump on imported steel and aluminium.

The Chinese finance ministry said in a statement that the new tariffs will come into effect on Monday. The announcement follows warnings Chinese officials have made for several weeks in an escalating trade dispute with the United States.

China’s Customs Tariff Commission is increasing the tariff rate on eight imported US products, including pork, by 25%. It’s also imposing a new 15% tariff on 120 imported US commodities, including fruits.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The tariffs mirror Trump’s 25% charge on imported steel and 15% hike on aluminum. Trump’s tariffs are partly a response to complaints that Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India to have 478 million internet users by June 2018, says report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The number of mobile internet users in India is likely to reach 478 million (47.8 crore) by June 2018, a report jointly published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and KANTAR-IMRB said.

“The number of mobile internet users increased by 17.22 per cent from December 2016 to reach 456 million users by December 2017,” said the report titled “Mobile Internet in India 2017.”

The report attributed the popularity of mobile internet in the country to its affordability. Widespread use of smartphones, tablets and computers have led to an increase in the number of people getting access to the internet.

“Expenditure on voice has been steadily decreasing from 2013; and with the popularity of VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and video chatting, the expenditure on voice services has decreased drastically in recent times,” the report said.

“This, in turn, means that there is a rise in proportion of data expenditure in comparison to voice (services) expenditures for most users,” it added.

The report estimated that urban mobile internet users rose 18.64 percent year-on-year, to 291 million, while the number of rural users rose 15.03 percent, to 187 million in December 2017.

These numbers are expected to rise in the near future with the rise in mobile payments on platforms such as PayTM,  and growth of online marketplaces such as Amazon and FlipKart.

The study, however, predicts a slowdown in internet penetration in urban India where penetration is at 59 percent already. Growth is expected in rural areas where mobile internet penetration is at 18 percent.

The difference in internet penetration mirrors other economies such as China, where internet users are divided by large regional discrepancies.

For example, while more than 75 percent of Beijing has access to internet connectivity, only 30 percent of the population of the South-Western province of Yunnan has internet access.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Key moments in North Korea-China relationship

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s surprise visit to China makes clear that Beijing, the North’s only major ally and chief provider of energy and trade that keeps the country’s broken economy afloat, will have a major role in any effort to rein in the North’s nuclear program.

A look at key moments in relations between North Korea and China:

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October 1949: North Korea and China establish diplomatic relations.

October 1950: China intervenes in the Korean War and engages in combat with U.S.-led forces, saving North Korea from defeat. The war ends in 1953 with an armistice.

November 1958: North Korea founder Kim Il Sung visits China, shortly after China withdraws troops from the Korean Peninsula. He successfully requests economic aid in meetings with Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Kim goes on to visit China and the former Soviet Union many times through the 1960s while maintaining a balancing act between the competing communist powers and consolidating his leadership at home.

April 1982: Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping visits North Korea to attend celebrations of Kim Il Sung’s 70th birthday. Kim visits China five months later to discuss his plans to pass his leadership to his son, Kim Jong Il, and also reassure Beijing that the North wouldn’t tilt toward the Soviet Union once he’s no longer in power.

August 1992: China establishes diplomatic relations with South Korea, complicating its relations with the North.

May 2000: Kim Jong Il, who took power in 1994 after his father’s death, makes the first of his eight visits to China as the North Korean leader. The trip was reportedly aimed at consulting with the Chinese leadership weeks before Kim’s summit with then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, which opened a temporary era of rapprochement between the rivals. Kim, rumored to have had a fear of flying, traveled to China on a green-and-yellow armored train that was also used by his son this week.

August 2003: North Korea joins first round of six-nation nuclear talks in Beijing, which include China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States. The talks continue periodically over the next several years before stalling.

December 2011: Kim Jong Un takes power after the death of his father.

May 2013: Senior North Korean official Choe Ryong Hae visits China as Kim’s special envoy and meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

October 2015: Senior Chinese official Liu Yunshan visits the North and attends a military parade with Kim.

March 2018: Kim visits Beijing for a meeting with Xi, weeks after the announcements of his planned summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Asian shares mixed as tech losses weigh in muted trading

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Trading in Asian stock markets was mixed on Thursday as tech-sector losses on Wall Street weighed on investor sentiment. Trading in some markets was muted ahead of the Easter weekend.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4 percent to 21,121.17 after a sharp drop in the yen made shares cheaper for foreign buyers. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.2 percent to 2,424.49. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.3 percent to 29,939.72 while the Shanghai Composite in mainland China gained 0.1 percent to 3,123.67. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.3 percent to 5,770.70. Shares rose in Thailand and Singapore but fell in Indonesia.

TECH PRESSURE: Amazon, Netflix and other consumer-focused tech companies suffered losses that outweighed gains in other sectors. Investors continue to wrestle with the possible implications of negative headlines swirling around tech sector names. Amazon slid on a report that President Donald Trump was musing about going after the e-tailer with antitrust or competition laws while Tesla tumbled after Moody’s downgraded the electric car maker’s credit rating.

MARKET TAKE: “U.S. tech stocks remained a drag amid the scrutiny over a multitude of issues and it should be of little surprise to see the decline’s extent with a lack of positive news to boost sentiment,” said Jingyi Pan of IG Markets in Singapore. “For Asian markets, however, this gloom may have worn out a little as we anticipate a potentially lackluster session today.”

KOREAS SUMMIT: Tensions over the Korean peninsula eased on signs of progress in the standoff over the North’s nuclear program. The two Koreas began high-level talks Thursday to prepare for a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. This follows a meeting earlier this week between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. A summit between Kim and President Donald Trump is also expected by the end of May, though nothing has been confirmed.

WALL STREET: The benchmark S&P 500 index dipped 0.3 percent to close at 2,605. The Dow Jones industrial average fell less than 0.1 percent to 23,848.42. The Nasdaq composite index slid 0.8 percent to 6,949.23.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude rose 19 cents to $64.57 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost 87 cents, or 1.3 percent, to settle at $64.38 per barrel on Wednesday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 14 cents to $68.90 per barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar eased after making a big jump against the yen to its highest level in three weeks. It was trading at 106.58 yen from 106.84 yen late Wednesday. The euro rose to $1.2328 from $1.2308.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

US F-1 visa issuance to foreign students decline amid immigration rows

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The “America First” concept of U.S. President Donald Trump has left American colleges and universities in a fix as there has been a sharp decline in the F-1 visas issued to international students.

A staunch stand on immigration by the Trump government has reeled the issuance of visas for students who want to pursue their education in the U.S. and a decline of 17% has been registered at the end of September 2017, according to the State Department data.

A downfall in the number of students has hurt the revenue of universities who enroll foreign students in large number and now only 24% of all international students come to the US to study.

Apart from that, on an average the tuition fees have hiked 40% in the last one decade which is adding more pressure on the students as well as the colleges, with students considering other countries such as Canada, Germany and Australia as options for education, where after graduating they can be part of the workforce.

“The United States issued a total of 393,573 F-1 visas in fiscal 2017, down from 471,728 in 2016. The government did not release the total number of F-1 visa applications it receives in a given year or how many applications were rejected” CNN Money said in one of its reports.

The major decline has been seen from countries like India and China which typically account for the largest number of F-1 visas.

“In China specifically, a 2014 change in visa policy allows Chinese students to obtain an F-1 visa for a five-year period instead of one, freeing them from having to renew their visa each year. That change alone could contribute to the recent declines,” said Allan Goodman, president of the nonprofit Institute of International Education, as reported by CNN.

While neither the law nor any regulations regarding foreign student visas have changed, the State Department said it has revised its guidance to US consulates that review and approve the applications. The agency said it now emphasizes that the consulates “must refuse” any applicants if they are “not satisfied that the applicant’s present intent is to depart the United States at the conclusion of his or her study,” CNN reported.

“We believe that studying in the U.S. continues to provide the best educational opportunities in the world, introduces international students to networks that provide benefits and advantages well after their studies conclude, and gives graduates a life-long connection to the U.S,” a State Department official said.

However, there is an uncertainty over the number of complete applications that will be received by the country for admission in the fall season.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India, China trade talks to be held today at Delhi

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India and China will conduct  trade talks today to discuss about ways to boost two-way commerce and reduce trade deficit. Trade ministers and senior officials from both countries will be part of the Joint Economic Group (JEG) meeting that will be held in Delhi.

The meeting comes days after it was reported  that both countries signed 101 trade agreements valued at about $2.37 billion during the visit of a trade group to India organized by China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The meeting also gains significance as it comes on the backdrop of rising tensions between the two countries, and prospect of a looming trade war between China and the US.

As per agency reports, an official has said that Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and his Chinese counterpart Zhong Shanwill will discuss how to balance the trade gap during the India-China Joint Economic Group meeting. Besides, matters related to  investment,  market access matters and other non-trade barriers too may come up during the meet.

Trade deficit in trade with China is a big issue that has concerned Delhi over the years. Though there has been slight decrease in the trade deficit from $75.45 billion in 2011-12 to 51 billion in 2016-17 it is still a big concern. This deficit, that stand currently at $36.73 billion for this April-October fiscal is attributed mainly to  the heavy volume of Chinese exports, particularly manufactured goods targeting telecom and power sectors.

Formed back in 1988, Joint Economic Group (JEG) is a platform where both countries make discussions and decisions regarding bilateral trade.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow