HAIKOU, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese tropical coastal city of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, boasted a total of 1,367 registered yachts in 2023, local authorities have revealed.

Last year, 230 yachts were newly registered in the resort city, according to the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.

Statistics show that in 2023, yachts in Sanya sailed 161,100 times and received nearly 1.08 million tourist visits, up 67.2 percent and 82.8 percent year on year, respectively, both hitting record highs.

Over the years, Sanya has adopted a series of measures to boost the high-quality development of the yacht industry, such as building a digital service platform for yacht tourism. ■

BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday said the United States has been stepping up control over chip export to China and going after China's semiconductor industry in the name of national security, which is out-and-out economic bullying.

Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing, noting that the U.S. semiconductor export controls against China amount to discriminatory practices that violate the most-favored-nation principle stipulated in Article 1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

The spokesperson said blacklisting China's telecom equipment companies and prohibiting Chinese-made telecom equipment from entering the U.S. market in the name of protecting cyber security violate the principle of general elimination of quantitative restrictions stipulated in Article 11 of the GATT.

Noting that the ban also contravenes stipulations in the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement, Mao said despite its rhetorical emphasis on international rules, the United States habitually ignores and breaks existing rules.

"The United States uses national security as a pretext to restrict chip export to China, but the measures it has taken clearly go beyond the realm of national security and have gravely hindered the normal trade of ordinary chips for civilian use," Mao said.

Taking the Nvidia RTX 4090 as an example, Mao said it is a consumer graphics card for video game enthusiasts. But the company has been forced to pull this product off the Chinese market due to U.S. export controls.

"The United States has been asking certain countries to join itself in curbing Chinese companies. This has nothing to do with security. This is pure economic coercion," Mao said.

Mao said that all of the above shows that the United States is going after Chinese chip industry neither for national security reasons nor as part of a legitimate competition.

"This is unilateral bullying without principles or bottom lines that essentially denies emerging markets and developing countries the right to a better life for their people," she said.

Stressing that the U.S. behavior is taking a serious toll on the stability of the global industrial and supply chains, Mao said it poisons the atmosphere for international cooperation and fuels division and confrontation. This selfish move will inevitably backfire. ■

BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for advancing the Party's self-reform and winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

After persistent anti-corruption efforts over the past 10 years of the new era, an overwhelming victory has been achieved in the fight against corruption, with the gains fully consolidated, Xi said.

"But the situation remains grave and complex," Xi noted.

"We should be fully aware of new development in the fight against corruption and the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption," Xi said, urging more efforts to win the tough and protracted battle.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting.

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, presided over the meeting. ■

Despite the rising tide of deglobalization and protectionism, China has remained committed to high-standard opening-up to boost foreign investment, providing opportunities to global businesses.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's cargo and container throughput at ports logged robust expansion during the first 11 months of 2023, official data showed.

The country's cargo throughput at ports totaled 15.51 billion tonnes during the period, up 8.4 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Specifically, foreign trade cargo throughput at the ports rose 9.6 percent over one year earlier, according to the ministry.

In the same period, China's ports handled 280 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, climbing 4.9 percent year on year. ■

BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Fixed-asset investment (FAI) in China's transport sector expanded 3.2 percent year on year in the first 11 months of 2023, official data showed.

The total investment stood at 3.6 trillion yuan (about 506.84 billion U.S. dollars) during the period, according to the Ministry of Transport.

In breakdown, the FAI in roads went up 1.2 percent year on year to 2.6 trillion yuan.

The investment in China's waterways came in at 182.9 billion yuan, jumping 23.7 percent compared with one year earlier, the data revealed. ■

NorthStandard’s unique ‘ECDIS Training Assessment’ platform launches today, unveiling its new Get SET! digital product portfolio, harnessing pioneering technologies to improve safety and reduce operating costs.

The NorthStandard ‘ECDIS Training Assessment’ (ETA) platform is the first example of a new portfolio of products to help optimise bridge team management and uphold best practice in vessel operations.

The ETA platform is an essential component of NorthStandard’s Get SET! portfolio, introducing a range of innovative Safety & Efficiency Technologies (SET) devised to harness the transformative power of vessel-based technology in improving crew situational awareness and operational expertise.

In response to industry concerns over electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) usage, NorthStandard’s Loss Prevention team, in collaboration with the UK Hydrographic Office, have developed ETA - an online continuous professional development tool for deck officers. The multiple-choice assessment enables crew members to identify any weaknesses or gaps in their ECDIS skills allowing self-evaluation and further learning on their personal or company devices. Anonymised at the crew user level the digital tool also generates a consolidated fleet-wide report to help shipowners to evaluate their deck officers’ ECDIS proficiency and identify areas for training development and focus. Company level data is not available to NorthStandard unless a member chooses to share.

“ECDIS is an excellent navigational aid, but time and again incident reports, in particular those related to groundings, have shown that there are gaps in ECDIS knowledge leading to misuse of important ECDIS safety features.” said Colin Gillespie, Global Head of Loss Prevention, NorthStandard. “As the first-of-its-kind resource for ECDIS, our online ETA platform helps deck officers identify and fill any gaps in their knowledge at both the individual and fleet-wide levels with comprehensive, relevant training using real life scenarios. Instant results provide lesson-based feedback as well as access to further ECDIS training materials.”

Owners can redistribute the assessment to deck officers as often as needed - at no cost to NorthStandard members. “With repeated use over time, ETA helps seafarers to enhance awareness and their skills, keep up to date on any new developments, and ensures ECDIS best practice is always front of mind.”

The full Get SET! Technology portfolio is under wraps until later in the year, although Gillespie commented that situational awareness, enhancing efficiency, minimising fatigue and reducing human error were common themes. One specific area for improving ship-shore collaboration had seen a focus on AI-based navigational hazard detection, he said. At the same time, another sought to eradicate hazards and solve bottlenecks in onboard operations.

“By utilising technology to enable members and crew to operate vessels more safely and efficiently, we help minimise risk at sea and in port, increase operational and financial resilience, boost trading confidence, and nurture maritime talent. Embracing and integrating new technology is no longer a choice; to secure a safer and more resilient future for the shipping industry, it is a necessity.

Nakilat, a global leader in LNG shipping and maritime transportation, is pleased to announce a strategic shipping expansion through a significant vessel acquisition. Nakilat has placed orders with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) of South Korea for the construction of six gas vessels (two cutting-edge LNG carriers with a cargo capacity of 174,000 cubic meters each and four modern Very Large LPG/ Ammonia Gas carriers, with a substantial cargo capacity of 88,000 cubic meters.) These modern vessels are set to be delivered between 2026 and 2027.

The new LNG carriers and LPG carriers will embody the latest technologies, showcasing advanced environmentally friendly and efficient propulsion systems through fuel-saving devices, reinforcing Nakilat's commitment to sustainable and eco-conscious shipping solutions.

Nakilat's Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Abdullah Al Sulaiti, commented on the announcement, saying, "Our investment in these advanced vessels reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional service and environmental stewardship. We strive to meet the increasing demand for safe, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation of gas, contributing to a more sustainable future."

Mr. S.Y. Park, President and COO of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said, "This opportunity will strengthen the ongoing partnership between our two companies for the benefit of our two countries. We affirm our full commitment to contribute the latest technologies and expertise to ensure safer and more efficient transportation. We are proud of our decades-long relationship with Nakilat and look forward to establishing a closer business link that will enable both parties to take the initiative in leading Gas sector.”

Upon delivery, Nakilat's LNG fleet will expand to 71 vessels, and the LPG fleet will grow to 8 vessels with the addition of the 4 new vessels. This latest addition to Nakilat's ever-expanding fleet not only signifies an increase in capacity and flexibility for its esteemed customers but also reinforces the company's pioneering role in the energy transportation sector. Once these vessels are operational, they will further cement Nakilat's position as a global leader in the gas shipping and regasification industry.

About Nakilat

Nakilat is a Qatari Public Shareholding Company which originally listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange in 2005. As a shipping and maritime company, Nakilat provides an essential transportation link in the State of Qatar’s LNG supply chain. Its LNG shipping fleet is one of the largest in the world, comprising of 69 LNG vessels. Nakilat also owns and manages one FSRU and four large LPG carriers. Nakilat operates the ship repair, industrial and offshore fabrication facilities at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan Industrial City via strategic joint ventures: Qatar Shipyard Technology Solutions and QFAB. Nakilat also offers a full range of marine support services to vessels operating in Qatari waters.

About Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries

As a key subsidiary of HD KSOE/HD HYUNDAI, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries has demonstrated remarkable capabilities in shipbuilding since its foundation. Over 1 million people were involved in the construction of the 2,100,000㎡ Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries shipyard, which has been operational since 1992. In addition to the approximately 40 large capacity transport vessels, such as container ships, tankers, LNG carriers, LPG and Ammonia carriers, car carriers, and bulk freighters, manufactured annually, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries also builds semi-submersible drilling vessels and its industrial division produces a variety of cranes and bulk transportation vehicles.