Around Asia: Apr. 21

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around-asia

Apr. 21 – A weekly look at China and related influential regional news.

India Back on Track as Chinese Ore Demands Provide Growth
Steel output and a revival in the auto, housing and rural infrastructure sectors for Q1 in India point to a turning point for India’s economy, while other steel producing countries have seen a continuing downturn. India’s steel industry production and consumption grew at 1.2 percent and 3.8 percent respectively over the same period last year. (2point6billion.com)

Former Soviet States and China Face TB Epidemic
The World Health Organization has issued a report stating that the spread of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has reached “epidemic” proportions in many ex-Soviet nations and is now widespread in many provinces in China. Data collected during 2002-2007 showed that one in nine patients of the approximately nine million new cases of TB each year failed to respond to at least one anti-TB drug. (Communist Tax Lawyer)

India and China Q1 Investor Confidence on the Rise
Investor sentiments in Asia Pacific, and China and India in particular rose in Q1 2009 according to a report just issued by ING, the Dutch Financial Services Group. India’s index moved up 75 percent in Q1 2009 from Q4 2008, moving from pessimistic to optimistic; and identifying investors in India as currently the most optimistic in Asia. China moved up 20 percent in the same period. (2point6billion.com)

China – India Border Disputes: Arunachal Pradesh or South Tibet?
With news that China has vetoed plans for an Asian Development Bank loan to India for development of the Arunachal Pradesh region, we take a look at why the region is disputed, where it is, and the commodities and economic benefits possession of the area brings. (2point6billion.com)

Test Drive a Virtual Tata Nano Online
Tata Motors, the manufacturers of the worlds cheapest car the Nano, has teamed up with the Indian online gaming portal Zapak to provide a free online game in which a user can customize their virtual Nano, then drive it around Bombay amidst the city’s hustle and bustle. (India Briefing)

Vietnam Seeks US$643 billion in Foreign Loans
The Vietnamese government has announced that it plans to borrow up to US$6.43 billion from foreign governments and banks this year. The loans will pay for new infrastructure in the form of roads, bridges and water supply systems. The government will borrow US$1.1 billion for medium and long-term commercial loans with an additional US$1.73 billion in foreign governments’ official development assistance and soft loans. (Vietnam Briefing)

Chinese vs. Indian Government
Peter Foster of the Daily Telegraph has provided an interesting piece on the state of government in both China and India, with the Chinese coming out of it pretty well in terms of transparency and general public service. The issue over public accountability in government is not one that usually sits well with communist-based systems (and let’s not forget that in much of China, it can still be very fiercely die hard), however Foster makes the case that the new mandarins in Beijing at least are increasingly aware of public opinion, and do react to it. (2point6billion.com)