IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Boeing says China market is taking off

Boeing says China is now the most dynamic market for international flights, and is very positive about the outlook for the growth of the country's long-haul market, due to strong domestic and overseas travel demand, and a rising middle class. The plane manufacturer lifted its forecast for China, and said the nation was likely to become the first country with an aviation market exceeding $1 trillion in the next two decades. It is estimated Chinese airlines will purchase 6,810 planes valued at $1.025 trillion in the next 20 years.

Peru's firms peruse extra growth in China

Roberto Vargas, sales director of Agricola Norsur, a fruit supplier from Peru, has made his first visit to the Chinese mainland in the hope of increasing the export of mandarins and blueberries to China. "Currently, our company exports around 100 tons of mandarins to China a year, and we hope to increase the amount to up to 1,000 metric tons next year. I'm also looking forward to exporting 1.5 to 2 million kilograms of blueberries to China in the next three to four years," he said. As a member of 25 Peruvian companies, associations and chambers of commerce, his firm attended a face-to-face meeting with 50 Chinese companies in Beijing on Sept 13, which was organized by the Chinese government and Bank of China Ltd, to discuss opportunities for business cooperation and investment.

Diamonds lose sparkle as China demand slows

Growth of diamond sales isn't expected to accelerate any time soon as demand from China continues to slump, according to the president of the World Diamond Council. Global sales of polished diamonds used in jewelry will increase 4 percent a year until at least 2019, according to Andrey Polyakov, who is also a vice-president of Alrosa PJSC, Russia's biggest diamond miner. This is in line with Alrosa's estimates for average annual polished sales growth in the past decade.

Subaru to recall vehicles over airbag flaw

Subaru is to recall 13,336 vehicles from Chinese mainland due to defective airbags, the country's quality watchdog said on Sept 13. The recall, set to begin on Jan 16 next year, affects Legacy cars made between Feb 2, 2004 and May 18, 2009, Outback vehicles manufactured between Jan 28, 2004 and May 21, 2009 and Tribeca cars made between June 22, 2006 and June 17, 2011, according to the website of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Chile hopes China has a taste for cranberries

Chile is looking to boost its cranberry exports to China, according to the country's ambassador to Beijing, Jorge Heine. "Cranberries have been one of the great successes of our fruit exports," Heine wrote in a recent article headlined "Betting on our super fruit in China." While Chile has only cultivated the fruit since the 1980s, it is already the leading exporter of the fruit in the southern hemisphere, said Heine. "With its counter-season production, Chile is the major supplier to the US and European markets (and) since 2012, it has also been exporting to China," he said.

FIFA-Alibaba talks' goal is role in world football

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's sports unit says its discussions with FIFA on becoming a top-level sponsor of the World Cup hinge on more Chinese involvement in the world's most-watched sporting event. Alibaba Sports Group Chief Executive Officer Zhang Dazhong confirmed the talks with FIFA. If it makes the multi-million-dollar commitment, Alisports, as the company is known, would become FIFA's second Chinese sponsor after Dalian Wanda Group Co pledged its support in March to the scandal-plagued football governing body until 2030. "We are discussing with FIFA about the sponsorship issue," Zhang said. "What we hope is that there will be more matches to be held in China and the country can participate more to boost the Chinese football market."

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/16/2016 page24)