In the Age of Transformation, China is Moving up the Value Chain
The global value chain has developed to its third stage and is moving into an era of localization, regionalization and diversification. The new round of value chain reshaping will face complexity and uncertainty. China should actively strengthen its position in the value chain and develop towards a mutually beneficial situation with the international community.
The world supply chain and value chain entered a new round of reshuffle. In 2021, the global demand was totally released. In this major reshuffle, many Chinese foreign trade companies have taken the opportunity to secure their positions in the supply chain. Generally speaking, in order to guarantee stable product quality, industrial enterprises are reluctant to move away from their traditional supply channels. However, after the outbreak of the epidemic, it is difficult for foreign suppliers to meet the rapidly growing market demand. Chinese suppliers entered the customer list as an emergency alternative, and showed their strong advantages and stood out in the fiercely competitive international market.
Small and Medium-Sized Financial Institutions Have to Formulate New Development Strategies in 2022
Defusing risks of small and medium-sized banks is one of the critical measures taken by the Fifth National Financial Work Conference. The country’s 4,000 small and medium-sized lenders with total assets of nearly 80 trillion yuan are undergoing a new round of reforms. Cooperation and mutual assistance may be an effective way to cope with the potential crisis. However, after the restructuring, small and medium-sized banks still face strategic choices to survive.
At present, after several years of financial stability maintenance, some major risk events have basically been properly handled. However, there are still many small and medium-sized banks whose risks need to be defused. According to statistics from public disclosure, more than 20 small and medium-sized banks have completed or are undergoing mergers and restructuring since 2020. It is foreseeable that the merger wave of those banks will continue in 2022.
A Mother of Eight Being Chained Outrages the Internet and Causes Public Debate
Recently, a video of a mother chained by the neck in a hut outside the house caused widespread outrage in China’s social media. Many people suspect that the mother of eight children is a victim of human trafficking and abuse. What followed, among huge waves of public anger, was a debate on whether to raise the sentence for purchasing trafficked women.
Trafficking of women and children has always been one of the crimes that China has cracked down upon. Since the early 1970s, there has been a large outflow of rural women in some areas, and the crime of abduction and trafficking of women have been rampant. Since then, the Chinese government has been committed to cracking down on human trafficking. In 2008, China’s long-awaited National Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children went into effect. As China’s first national plan to combat trafficking of women and children, this initiative formalizes cooperation among agencies and establishes a national information and reporting system. Its goal is to “prevent and severely crack down” on crimes of trafficking, and provide care for trafficking victims. The plan saved a large number of victims while there is still more work needs to be done.
The Outlook of China’s Renewable Energy Sector Remains Promising
The industries of photovoltaics solar energy, wind energy, power batteries, and new energy vehicles have become the four largest branches of the renewable energy sector. Which one of them achieves larger-scale development in 2022 will attract public attention.
In 2021, China’s economy will face the downward pressure. The profitability of many industries has shrunk significantly, however new energy-related industries remained robust. The market demand in this sector is strong, and the profitability of enterprises is remarkable. In 2022, which one of these four branches attains greater development will affect the outlook of the whole sector.
