Beijing Review

http://www.bjreview.com APRIL 20, 2017 BEIJING REVIEW 7

THIS WEEK

to a statement by the CRRC.
%44%&CNKCPTGEGKXGFKVU³TUV
train order in May 2015, providing
112 train coaches for the Kolkata
subway.
9KVJOQTGEKVKGURNCPPKPIVQ
build urban rail systems, India has
become an important potential
market for Chinese train makers.
The order is expected to be
completed this year, the statement
said.

More FTZ Visitors

A China-Kazakhstan free trade zone
(FTZ) received about 1 million visits in
VJG³TUVSWCTVGTQHCEEQTFKPIVQ
local border inspection authorities.
The Horgos International Border
Cooperation Center on the China-
Kazakhstan border, in northwest
Chinaís Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region, has seen an increasing num-
ber of tourists since 2012. It attracted
a total of 5.43 million tourists in 2016.
Hu Ruifeng with the Horgos city
border checkpoint said the center
launched 12 self-service customs
clearance passages in mid-March,
which allow people to pass through

including traditional sectors such as

credit, liquidity, real estate and local

government debt as well as non-

traditional areas including bonds,

³PCPEKCNRTQFWEVU+PVGTPGV³PCPEG

CPFETQUUDQTFGT³PCPEKCNKORCEV

Chinese lenders saw the ratio

of their non-performing loans fall

to 1.74 percent at the end of 2016,

slightly down from 1.76 percent at

the end of September 2016, accord-

ing to the CBRC.

Top leaders of banking institu-

tions should be in charge of risk

control efforts and there will be

stricter supervision and punishment

for irregularities in the sector,

according to the guideline.

+PVJG³TUVSWCTVGTQHVJKU[GCT

the CBRC imposed administrative

penalties in 485 cases of irregulari-

VKGUKPVJGUGEVQTYKVJ³PGUVQVCNKPI

190 million yuan ($27.52 million).

Improved Tourism

Competitiveness

China has risen two positions to

be 15th in the latest global tourism

competitiveness ranking released by

VJG9QTNF'EQPQOKE(QTWO

9'(QP

April 6.

6JG9'(6TCXGNCPF6QWTKUO

Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks

136 countries and regions across

14 dimensions, revealing how well

countries could deliver sustainable

GEQPQOKECPFUQEKGVCNDGPG³VU

through their travel and tourism

sector.

9JKNGCFXCPEGFGEQPQOKGU

such as Spain, France and Germany

continue to top the rankings, 12 of

the top 15 most improved countries

are emerging markets, with some in

Asia.

ìThe rise of Asiaís giants shows

that the Asian Tourism Century is

becoming a reality,î said Tiffany

/KUTCJKVJG9'(«UEQOOWPKV[NGCF

for the aviation, travel and tourism

industries.

As one of Asiaís giants, China

received nearly 57 million tourists in

2016, which accounted for over 20

percent of international arrivals in

Asia, says the report.

It attributes the improvement

of Chinaís tourism competitiveness

ranking mainly to the countryís

increased international openness,

improved information and com-

munications technology and further

investments in its tourist service

infrastructure.

Chinaís increased prioritization

of its travel and tourism industry

has also supported its rise, says the

report.

XINHUA

XINHUA

in 10 seconds with the help of face

CPF³PIGTRTKPVKFGPVK³ECVKQPFGXKEGU

Covering 5.28 square kilome-

ters, the center opened in April 2012

as a destination for cross-border

shopping. It has more than 40 duty-

free shops selling luxury brands

such as Omega and Versace.

6JGHCEKNKV[KUVJGYQTNF«U³TUV

cross-border FTZ and the biggest

duty-free shopping center in west

China. It allows entry of citizens from

any country with valid passports or

with exit and entry permits.

Banking Risk Control

China will enhance risk control

throughout the banking sector to

GNKOKPCVG³PCPEKCNTKUMUKPOCLQT

³GNFUVJGEQWPVT[«UVQRDCPMKPI

regulator announced on April 10.

Targeted measures will be taken

VQCFFTGUU³PCPEKCNTKUMUKPVJGDCPM

ing sector and stick to the bottom

NKPGQHPQU[UVGOKE³PCPEKCNETKUKU

according to a guideline released

by the China Banking Regulatory

Commission (CBRC).

The guideline outlines detailed

³GNFUHQTGPJCPEGFTKUMEQPVTQN

New Agriculture

Farmers put vegetable pots on machinery equipment in a modern agricultural
park in Ruijin, Jiangxi Province on April 10.
+PTGEGPV[GCTUVJGNQECNIQXGTPOGPVJCURTQXKFGFRQNKE[CPF³PCPEKCN
support to construct modern agricultural facilities to increase farmersí incomes.

Intangible

Cultural

Heritage

An artist shows a kind of brocade

produced by the Tujia ethnic

group in Enshi Tujia and Miao

Autonomous Prefecture of

central Chinaís Hubei Province

on April 9.