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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by CE at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit (English only) (with photo) 
    Honourable Wang Yong (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), Honourable Zhuang Rongwen (Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China), Honourable Zheng Yanxiong (Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Honourable Ren Xianliang (Secretary General of the World Internet Conference), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Good morning. I’m delighted to welcome you to Hong Kong, and the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.
     
    And I am honoured to say that the Asia-Pacific Summit, taking place over these next two days in Hong Kong, marks the first time the World Internet Conference has held an international summit outside Mainland China.
     
    That, ladies and gentlemen, is a testament to Hong Kong’s rising role as an international innovation and technology hub. It also reflects our deepening integration with our country’s national development.   
     
    That will become abundantly clear over these next two days. Like the World Internet Conference itself, this Summit offers high-level dialogue for the global internet community – for you – the nearly 1 000 professionals here from 30 countries and regions.
     
    You are senior government officials and business leaders, industry association heads, academics and researchers and professionals from different disciplines. And you’re here to expand your international connections, create business opportunities and help build the interconnected digital future.
     
    Hong Kong’s rise as an I&T hub has been fast-tracked by our vibrant economy, which is powered by free trade and boasts the world’s third-largest financial centre. It helps, too, that Hong Kong has long been a key business conduit between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
     
    And it all comes together under our unique “one country, two systems” framework.
     
    This cardinal governing principle gives Hong Kong the best of both worlds: access to the vast opportunities of the Mainland market, while maintaining the advantages of our unmatched connectivity of our common law system, free flow of information, capital, goods and people. This unmatched connectivity has brought you here.
     
    There are many good examples. A shining example is the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster, which ranks second, globally, in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index. It shows how, with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we can converge Hong Kong’s excellent research and development and world-class, international business environment, with the innovative prowess of the Mainland’s technology industry.
     
    We are building Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which straddles the small river that separates Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The Hong Kong Park within this Co-operation Zone smartly embodies the virtues of the “one country, two systems” principle and cross-boundary co-operation.
     
    Last month, I attended the topping-out ceremony for the Park’s first three buildings – two wet laboratories and a talent accommodation complex. The Park will enter its operational phase this year, with the first tenants – from life and health technology, artificial intelligence, to data science and other pillar industries – moving in.
     
    The development of another five buildings is in full swing. We have earmarked some US$500 million to expedite the Park’s two-phase development.
     
    We need, of course, strategic companies and talent to take full advantage of the Park’s opportunities – and other of Hong Kong’s far-reaching prospects. And we’re getting them. Under the enhanced talent admission regime we rolled out in 2022, we have already approved more than 300 000 talent admission applications. Over 200 000 of them, i.e. two-thirds, have already arrived here.
     
    Meanwhile, over 80 strategic enterprises from around the world in the booming industries of life and health technology, AI and data science, fintech and more, have joined us. They will invest over US$6 million and create over 20 000 jobs here in the coming years.
     
    The Park is situated in the Northern Metropolis, an entirely new economic engine for Hong Kong. The Northern Metropolis, which makes up one-third of Hong Kong’s area, straddles our land boundary with Shenzhen.
     
    I’m confident that our collaborative efforts with Shenzhen, and throughout the Greater Bay Area, will see the rise of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone as a world-class I&T hub, creating a critical source of new quality productive forces for the country.
     
    AI is central to Hong Kong Park’s research and development. It’s no less central to Hong Kong’s future.
     
    In December last year, the first phase of Cyberport’s AI Supercomputing Centre became operational. Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship, Cyberport is home to more than 330 start-ups specialising in AI and big data.
     
    Hong Kong is determined to maximise AI’s immense potential for new industrialisation, and to further society’s digital transformation.
     
    We have, for example, set up funding schemes to help local manufacturers switch to smart manufacturing and strategic industries to establish smart production facilities here in Hong Kong. 
     
    And our HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, amounting to nearly US$1.3 billion, channels market capital to invest in industries of strategic importance, including AI and robotics. 
     
    There’s more.  We aim to establish, by the next financial year, the Hong Kong AI R&D Institute, having reserved nearly US$130 million to get it up and running. The Institute will spearhead Hong Kong’s R&D and drive AI-based industrial applications.
     
    AI will also promote smart government. Not only driving document digitalisation and automation, and payments and business processes, but, more important, how we go about making policy and delivering public services.
     
    All that, and much more, will fuel discussion and debate at today’s main forum and the three sub-forums taking place tomorrow.
     
    This Summit matters. Co-operation matters. Especially during these challenging times to geopolitics and trade relations. Hong Kong champions free trade and multilateralism. We believe in teamwork and offer a range of welcoming programmes for investors, companies, researchers and other strategic talent. Hong Kong welcomes all business interests from those who are keen to pursue development with us. In this global city, we will make a decided difference for you, and your future.
     
    I am grateful to the World Internet Conference for hosting the Asia-Pacific Summit here in Hong Kong. Grateful, too, to our Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and other government offices for organising this high-profile global event.
     
    I wish you all an inspiring Summit, and the best of business, and health, through this endlessly challenging, but promising, year.
     
    Thank you.
    Issued at HKT 12:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 3 services

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 3 services 
         The affected service points are Prime View Garden, Siu Hong Court, Shan King Estate, Sam Shing Estate, Leung King Estate and Fu Tai Estate in Tuen Mun; Kingswood Country Club and Tin Ching Estate in Tin Shui Wai; and Sheung Tsuen Park, Wang Chau, San Tin, Long Shin Estate and Fairview Park in Yuen Long. For enquiries about Mobile Library 3 services, please call 2450 1857.
     
         Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension period. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM extends warm wishes on occasion of Odia New Year, Vishu, Puthandu and Bohag Bihu

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 9:21AM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today extended warm wishes on occasion of Odia New Year, Vishu, Puthandu and Bohag Bihu.

    In separate posts on X, he wrote:

    “Best wishes on the Odia New Year!”

    “Happy Vishu!”

    “Puthandu greetings to everyone!”

    “Bohag Bihu wishes to you all!”

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fatal traffic accident in Kowloon City

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Kowloon City today (April 14), in which a man died.

    At 5.37am, a public light bus (PLB) driven by a 74-year-old man was travelling along Boundary Street towards Kowloon City. When approaching the junction of Waterloo Road, it reportedly knocked down a 62-year-old man who was riding a bicycle.

    Sustaining head injuries, the man was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 6.54am.

    The PLB driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

    Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.

    Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9023.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Missing man in Kwai Chung located

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    A man who went missing in Kwai Chung has been located.

    Wu Hoi-sing, aged 70, went missing after he left his caring home on Lei Muk Road on April 12 morning. Staff of the caring home then made a report to Police.

    The man was located in Cheung Shan Estate, Tsuen Wan in the small hours yesterday (April 13). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Easter festive period

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Easter festive period 
    The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 225 000, 202 000 and 164 000 passengers respectively.
     
    To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks.
     
    Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
     
    To avoid congestion and longer-than-usual waiting times for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The busy times at boundary control points are available on the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk 
    For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
     
    Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to the reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
     
    About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, starting from March 31, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
     
    In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
     
    Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
    Issued at HKT 10:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit – Main Forum on the Digital Intelligence Future (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by FS at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit – Main Forum on the Digital Intelligence Future (English only)
    Professor Francis Gurry (Vice-Chairman of the World Internet Conference), (Secretary General  of the World Internet Conference, Mr Ren Xianliang),  (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Qi Bin), (Chief Engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Ms Sun Weimin), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    It is a great pleasure to join you all at the Asia-Pacific Summit of the World Internet Conference. The WIC has long served as a vital platform for global dialogue, enabling policymakers, business leaders, scholars and innovators to come together and explore the digital challenges and opportunities of our time, and to find new ways of working together. It is an honour for Hong Kong to host this event for the first time.

    The global digital landscape

    The Internet stands as the most transformative force of connection of our time.  It is also a story of continuous reinvention, from static content in Web 1.0 to social media, e-commerce in Web 2.0, and to the age of Web 3.0 underpinned by blockchain technologies. Coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), this next-generation Internet is once again transforming the way we live and do business. AI-powered tools are enabling governments and businesses to deliver smarter and more responsive services. Decentralised finance and tokenisation, for example, are substantially reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of financial and business transactions.

    The digital era today has created significant opportunities for new entrants.  Consider the DeepSeek Moment. While global headlines often focus on the AI rivalry between the two great nations, it also reminds us of the innovative prowess and agility of startups, and the multiple pathways to technological progress. It has opened up a future where development will not be decided simply by size or resources, but also by creativity and the courage to pursue visionary ideas.

    Despite the enormous progress, equitable digital access remains a global issue.  Today, nearly one-third of the world’s population – or some 2.6 billion people – are still offline. For these communities, the absence of digital access means fewer opportunities for education, economic advancement and social inclusion.

    Governments and regulators worldwide are also facing mounting challenges such as cybersecurity, data privacy and complexities of cross-border regulatory arbitrage. For example, it is estimated that cybercrime could cost the global economy over US$10 trillion in 2025 alone.  This amount, ironically, exceeds the GDP of most nations. Yet, across jurisdictions, governance frameworks are still struggling to keep pace with the speed of technological change.

    Currently, a more urgent concern is digital fragmentation. The trade war initiated by the United States is likely to extend beyond tariffs.  We can foresee more barriers, “larger yards” and “higher walls”, which could stifle innovation and jeopardise global technological progress.

    Hong Kong’s vision

    Ladies and gentlemen, now allow me to turn to Hong Kong.  How can we navigate these complex global dynamics to foster a more inclusive and interconnected digital environment?  I hope our perspectives and experience can contribute to the current discussions on global digital development.

    Our digital strategy is founded on the principles of openness and global connectivity. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, we champion the free flow of data and information – just as we do with goods and capital – as a cornerstone of our competitiveness and status as a free and open economy.

    To seize new opportunities brought by the digital economy and address the associated challenges, we need a comprehensive and forward-looking strategy. That’s why, over the past two years, the HKSAR Government has put in place a concrete action plan, covering such areas as digital infrastructure and governance, digital transformation, cross-boundary flow of data and talent development.

    A key part of this strategy is to enhance economic inclusiveness through digitalisation. For example, we are supporting SMEs in their digital transformation.  At the same time, we have strengthened the sharing of data held by government departments with financial institutions, on a consent basis, to enhance the efficiency of credit assessments.

    Another strategic objective is to unlock the full value of data. Hong Kong’s unique position as a convergence point for both Mainland and international data gives us a distinct advantage. This will help us not only in developing data-driven industries such as AI and health tech but also a data trading market in Hong Kong.

    As we enter the “AI+” era, we will develop AI as a core industry for Hong Kong by the deep integration of AI across industries.  Our efforts  focus on five key fronts: computing power, algorithms, data, capital and talent.  With our international connectivity, we also aim to position Hong Kong as a global hub for AI exchange, promoting dialogues, research collaboration and thought leadership.

    A shared future in cyberspace

    Ladies and gentlemen, looking forward, we believe there are several key priorities that must be addressed at the global level to ensure the healthy and inclusive development of the Internet.

    The first is digital governance. As emerging technologies become more powerful and pervasive, our regulatory frameworks must evolve accordingly, addressing issues such as cybersecurity, data privacy and ethical use of AI.  In Hong Kong, we advocate for a balanced, pro-innovation regulatory approach, putting in place appropriate safeguards while encouraging innovation.  Our approach to Web 3 and digital assets is a good case in point.

    The second is bridging the digital divide. For many developing economies, digital access is a powerful enabler for inclusive growth – improving education, expanding financial inclusion and enhancing public service delivery. I’m glad to report that in Hong Kong, many of our startups have developed innovative and robust solutions in these areas.  They are eager to share their technologies with emerging economies.

    The third is talent development. In the age of AI, digital literacy is no longer optional – it is essential. This imperative goes beyond formal education and calls for partnerships between the public and private sectors. In Hong Kong, we are working closely with leading tech companies – including Tencent, Alibaba, Lenovo, SenseTime, and startups at Science Park and Cyberport – to deliver technology training and share their entrepreneurial experience with students. Our aim is to cultivate the interest of the next generation and prepare them for a dynamic and innovation-led future.

    Concluding remarks

    Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges and opportunities of the digital age transcend borders. In this era of rapid technological transformation, what we need is more dialogue, sharing and co-operation so that we can drive the development in Internet, AI and other emerging technologies for the common good of humanity.

    On that note, I wish this Summit every success, and I hope each of you will find the discussions ahead insightful, productive and inspiring. Thank you very much.
    Issued at HKT 16:36

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President, Vice President, Prime Minister and other Dignitaries offer Floral Tributes to Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his 135th Birth Anniversary, at Parliament House Lawns, in New Delhi today

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 12:42PM by PIB Delhi

    The celebrations of the 135th Ambedkar Jayanti were organized on April 14, 2025, by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF), on behalf of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, near the statue of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the Parliament House Campus.

     pic.twitter.com/KHgxwed29p

    The event began with floral tributes by the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla,  Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment (SJ&E) and Chairman (DAF), Dr. Virendra Kumar, along with other  dignitaries including Ministers, Parliamentarians and other invited guests in the morning.

    Thereafter the event was opened for the public, where a huge number of people paid their tributes at the feet of the life-size statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Prerna Sthal in Parliament House Lawns. During the event, Buddhist chants were performed by Buddhist monks, while artists from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting performed songs dedicated to Babasaheb Ambedkar. 

    Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti is annually celebrated by the DAF to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of the visionary social reformer, jurist, economist and politician, who was the chief architect of the Constitution of India. Dr. Ambedkar championed the cause of marginalized communities. His thoughts on social justice, equality, and democracy still continue to inspire generations. 

    The event was also graced by MoS (SJ&E), Shri B.L. Verma, Secretary (D/o SJ&E), Shri Amit Yadav, and other senior officers of the Ministry and DAF.

    Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF)

    The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation was constituted to disseminate the message and ideologies of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In 1991, a Centenary Celebration Committee of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was constituted and was headed by the then Prime Minister of India. This committee decided to set up Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF). On March 24, 1992, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF), an autonomous body was established under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to disperse programmes and activities for furthering the visions and thoughts of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar on a pan-Indian scale.

    Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM)

    The Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM) is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the life, work, and contributions of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was a renowned social reformer, orator, prolific writer, historian, jurist, anthropologist, and politician. The DANM museum houses a collection of personal belongings, photographs, letters, and documents related to Dr. Ambedkar’s life, including his education, social reform movements, and political career. There are also audio-visual exhibits to showcase his speeches and interviews.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM pays tribute to Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar on his birth anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 8:14AM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar on his birth anniversary today. He remarked that Babasaheb’s principles and ideals will give strength and momentum for creation of a self-reliant and developed India.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND LOK SABHA SPEAKER PAY FLORAL TRIBUTE TO BABASAHEB DR. BHIMRAO AMBEDKAR AT HIS STATUE AT PRERNA STHAL IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE COMPLEX ON HIS BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

    Source: Government of India

    PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND LOK SABHA SPEAKER PAY FLORAL TRIBUTE TO BABASAHEB DR. BHIMRAO AMBEDKAR AT HIS STATUE AT PRERNA STHAL IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE COMPLEX ON HIS BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

    UNION MINISTERS, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, FORMER MEMBERS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES ALSO PAY TRIBUTES TO BABASAHEB DR. BHIMRAO AMBEDKAR

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 3:17PM by PIB Delhi

    President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu; Vice-President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar; Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes at the statue of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at Prerna Sthal in Parliament House Complex on the occasion of his birth anniversary, today.

    Several Union Ministers, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge; Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi; Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh; Chief Minister, Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta; Members of Parliament, former Members of Parliament and other dignitaries also paid tributes on this occasion.

    Later, Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla; Union Ministers, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh, Chief Minister, Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta; Members of Parliament and former Members of Parliament paid floral tributes at the portrait of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Secretaries-General of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Shri Utpal Kumar Singh and Shri P.C. Mody, respectively, also paid floral tributes to Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

    Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had a profound impact on India’s social and political landscape, leaving an enduring legacy. Renowned as a champion of social justice, he is revered for his substantial and diverse contributions to Indian society. Dr. Ambedkar’s significant achievement lies in his role as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, where he played a pivotal role during the debates in the Constituent Assembly. He is respected as the driving force behind the Constitution of India, ensuring its principles of inclusivity and justice.

    The portrait of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was unveiled in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (erstwhile Parliament House) by the then Prime Minister, Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh on 12 April, 1990.

    Earlier, paying rich tributes to Dr. Ambedkar, Shri Birla in a post on social media platform X said, “Tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution, the country’s first Law Minister, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar ji on his birth anniversary. Babasaheb remained dedicated to equality, freedom, justice and fraternity throughout his life. Coming from a humble background, he used education as a medium to bring the desired changes in the society. As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly, he drafted the world’s best legislative document ‘Constitution of India’. As we celebrate 75th years of the adoption of the Constitution, Babasaheb’s philosophy becomes even more relevant. His ideas inspire us to remain united against all forms of injustice, exploitation and oppression. Dr. Ambedkar’s life, dedicated to the upliftment of the underprivileged class and the empowerment of the Nation, will continue to inspire millions of countrymen for ages.”

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stone of development projects in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stone of development projects in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana

    Viksit Haryana for Viksit Bharat, this is our resolve: PM

    Our effort is to increase the production of electricity in the country, lack of electricity should not become an obstacle in nation building: PM

    PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Yojana started by us can reduce electricity bill to zero by installation of solar panels : PM

    Our effort is to increase the potential of the farmers of Haryana: PM

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 3:12PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana today. Extending his greetings to the people of Haryana, he paid homage to the sacred land of Haryana, acknowledging it as the origin of Maa Saraswati, the abode of Mantra Devi, the site of Panchmukhi Hanuman Ji, and the blessed Kapalmochan Sahib. “Haryana is a confluence of culture, devotion, and dedication”, he described. He also conveyed his heartfelt wishes to all citizens on the 135th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, highlighting Babasaheb’s vision and inspiration, which continue to guide India’s journey toward development.

    “Yamunanagar is not just a city but a vital part of India’s industrial landscape, contributing significantly to the economy with its industries ranging from plywood to brass and steel”, said Shri Modi, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the region, mentioning the Kapal Mochan Mela, the sacred land of Rishi Ved Vyas, and the site of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s weaponry. He shared his personal connection with Yamunanagar, recalling his frequent visits from Panchkula during his tenure as Haryana’s in-charge. He expressed gratitude for the dedicated workers he collaborated with and acknowledged the enduring tradition of hard work and commitment in the region.

    Underlining that Haryana is witnessing the double speed of development under the Union and State governments for the third consecutive term, the Prime Minister emphasized the commitment to a developed Haryana as part of the vision for a developed India. He highlighted the government’s dedication to serving the people of Haryana and fulfilling the aspirations of its youth by working at greater speed and scale. He pointed to the development projects launched today as a testament to this commitment and extended his congratulations to the people of Haryana for these new development initiatives.

    Expressing pride in his government’s commitment to advancing the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Shri Modi highlighted Babasaheb’s belief that industrial development was a pathway to social justice. He noted that Babasaheb identified the issue of small landholdings in India and emphasized that Dalits, lacking sufficient agricultural land, would benefit the most from industrialization. He shared Babasaheb’s vision that industries would provide greater employment opportunities for Dalits, improving their standard of living. He also acknowledged Babasaheb’s significant role in India’s industrialization efforts, working alongside the country’s first Industry Minister, Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, to drive progress in this direction.

    Remarking that the synergy between industrialization and manufacturing was also recognized by Deenbandhu Chaudhary Chhotu Ram Ji as the foundation for rural prosperity, the Prime Minister highlighted Chhotu Ram Ji’s belief that true prosperity in villages would come when farmers enhance their income through small industries alongside agriculture. He further noted that Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji, who dedicated his life to the welfare of villages and farmers, shared a similar vision, emphasizing Charan Singh Ji’s perspective that industrial development should complement agriculture, as both are pillars of the economy.

    Emphasising that the essence of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ lies in fostering manufacturing, Shri Modi underscored the government’s focus on manufacturing, as reflected in this year’s budget announcement of ‘Mission Manufacturing’. “The mission aims to create maximum employment opportunities for Dalit, backward, underprivileged, and marginalized youth, provide them with essential training, reduce business costs, strengthen the MSME sector, equip industries with modern technology, and ensure Indian products are world-class”, he stated. Underscoring the importance of uninterrupted power supply to achieve these goals and highlighting the significance of today’s event, he announced the commencement of work on the third unit of the Deenbandhu Chaudhary Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant, which will benefit Yamunanagar and Haryana. The Prime Minister noted that Yamunanagar produces half of India’s plywood and is a hub for manufacturing aluminum, copper, and brass utensils. He added that petrochemical plant equipment from Yamunanagar is exported to several countries. He emphasized that increased power production will benefit these industries and support ‘Mission Manufacturing’.

    Underlining the critical role of electricity in building a developed India, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s multifaceted efforts to enhance power availability, including initiatives like One Nation-One Grid, new coal power plants, solar energy projects, and the expansion of the nuclear sector. “Increasing electricity production is essential to ensure that power shortages do not hinder nation-building”, he stressed recalling the frequent blackouts before 2014 under previous dispensation’s rule, stating that such crises would have persisted if Congress had remained in power. He noted that during those times, factories, railways, and irrigation systems were severely affected. He shared that over the past decade, India has nearly doubled its electricity production capacity and now exports power to neighboring countries. He highlighted the benefits of their government’s focus on electricity production for Haryana, which currently generates 16,000 MW of power. He also announced the goal of increasing this capacity to 24,000 MW in the coming years.

    Highlighting the government’s dual approach of investing in thermal power plants while empowering citizens to become power generators themselves, Shri Modi mentioned the launch of the PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Yojana, enabling individuals to install solar panels on their rooftops, eliminate electricity bills, and even earn by selling surplus power. He noted that over 1.25 crore people across the country have registered under this scheme, with lakhs from Haryana applying to join. He expressed satisfaction with the scheme’s expansion, which is fostering a growing service ecosystem. He emphasized that the solar sector is creating new skills, generating opportunities for MSMEs, and opening numerous avenues for youth employment.

    Prime Minister underscored the government’s focus on ensuring adequate electricity and financial resources for small industries in smaller towns. He mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government provided financial assistance worth lakhs of crores to support MSMEs. He further said that the definition of MSMEs has been revised to allow small industries to expand without fear of losing government support as they grow, while mentioning the introduction of special credit cards for small industries and an increase in credit guarantee coverage. He noted the recent 10-year milestone of the Mudra Yojana, under which ₹33 lakh crore in collateral-free loans have been disbursed. He emphasized that over 50% of the beneficiaries of this scheme are from SC, ST, and OBC families. He expressed the government’s commitment to enabling small industries to fulfill the big dreams of India’s youth.

    Lauding the hard work of Haryana’s farmers, which contributes to every Indian’s plate, the Prime Minister emphasized that the governments at Center and state stands as a steadfast partner in the joys and challenges of farmers. He highlighted efforts to empower Haryana’s farmers, noting that the state government now procures 24 crops at MSP. He shared that lakhs of farmers in Haryana have benefited from the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, with claims exceeding ₹9,000 crore under the scheme. Additionally, he mentioned that ₹6,500 crore has been disbursed to Haryana’s farmers through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, further supporting their livelihoods and growth.

    Underlining the Haryana government’s decision to abolish the colonial-era water tax, relieving farmers from paying taxes on canal water, Shri Modi noted that over ₹130 crore in outstanding dues under this tax have also been waived. He emphasized the efforts of the Union and state government in providing new income opportunities for farmers and livestock owners. He mentioned the Gobardhan Yojana, which enables farmers to manage waste and generate income by producing biogas from cow dung, agricultural residues, and other organic waste. He shared that this year’s budget includes the announcement of 500 Gobardhan plants across the country. He highlighted the foundation stone laying of a new Gobardhan plant in Yamunanagar, which will save ₹3 crore annually for the municipal corporation. “Gobardhan Yojana is also contributing to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, furthering the mission of cleanliness and sustainability”, he further said.

    Prime Minister underlined Haryana’s rapid progress on the path of development, mentioning his earlier visit to Hisar, where direct flight services to Ayodhya Dham were inaugurated. He also announced the new bypass for Rewari, which will ease traffic congestion in markets, intersections, and railway crossings, allowing vehicles to bypass the city smoothly. He noted that the four-lane bypass will reduce travel time between Delhi and Narnaul by an hour and congratulated the people on this achievement. 

    Emphasising that for them, politics is a medium of service—service to the people and the nation, Shri Modi stated, “our party delivers on its promises, as evident in Haryana”, where the government is fulfilling commitments made after being elected for the third term. He contrasted this with opposition-ruled states, citing betrayal of public trust. He pointed to the struggles faced by people in Himachal Pradesh, where development and welfare projects have stalled. In Karnataka, he highlighted rising costs of essentials like electricity, milk, bus fares, and seeds under current dispensation’s rule. He mentioned public dissatisfaction with the incumbent government in Karnataka, as seen on social media, and noted allegations of corruption, with even close associates of the Chief Minister acknowledging Karnataka’s ranking as number one in corruption.

    Shri Modi criticized the current government in Telangana for neglecting its promises to the people and focusing on bulldozing forests, causing harm to nature and wildlife. He contrasted two models of governance and described his party’s model as genuine and dedicated to building a developed India, while the opposition’s as deceitful and focused solely on power. He highlighted the ongoing efforts in Yamunanagar as an example of his party’s commitment to progress.

    Reflecting on the significance of Baisakhi and the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Prime Minister honored the memory of the patriots who sacrificed their lives and highlighted the cruelty of the British regime. He emphasized another aspect of the massacre—the unwavering spirit of standing for humanity and the nation, exemplified by Shri Shankaran Nair. He further shared that Shankaran Nair, a renowned lawyer and high-ranking official in the British government, chose to resign and raise his voice against the atrocities of foreign rule. He fought the Jallianwala Bagh case single-handedly, shaking the foundations of the British Empire and holding it accountable in court. He described Shankaran Nair’s actions as a remarkable example of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” showcasing how a man from Kerala stood against British power for a massacre in Punjab. He remarked that this spirit of unity and resistance was the true inspiration behind India’s freedom struggle and remains a driving force in the journey toward a developed India.

    The Prime Minister concluded by urging everyone to learn about Shankaran Nair’s contributions and emphasized the Union and state governments continuous efforts to empower the pillars of society—poor, farmers, youth, and women. He expressed confidence that collective efforts will lead Haryana toward development.

    The Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Union Ministers, Shri Manohar Lal, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar were present among other dignitaries at the event.

    Background

    Boosting power infrastructure in the region along with the vision of electricity reaching the last mile, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 800 MW modern thermal power unit of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant at YamunaNagar. This unit, spread across 233 acres, worth around Rs 8,470 crore, will significantly boost Haryana’s energy self-sufficiency and provide uninterrupted power supply across the state.

    Taking forward the vision of GOBARDhan, i.e. Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan, Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of a Compressed Biogas Plant in Mukarabpur, in YamunaNagar. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 2,600 metric tonnes and will help in effective organic waste management, while contributing to clean energy production and environmental conservation.

    Prime Minister also inaugurated the 14.4 km Rewari Bypass project, worth around Rs 1,070 crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. It will decongest Rewari city, reduce Delhi–Narnaul travel time by around one hour, and boost economic and social activity in the region.

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2121577) Visitor Counter : 59

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with President of Kansai University

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, was received by Dr. TAKAHAYASHI Tomoyuki, President of the Kansai University, during his visit to their Senriyama Campus.

    During the discussion, Dr. Kao shared that education is a priority area under the ‘Heart- to- Heart Partners Across Generations’ pillar, as outlined in the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation titled ‘Trusted Partners’ along with its implementation plan.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with President of Kansai University appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Singapore lowers 2025 GDP forecast amid global trade hit from US tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Monday revised down its full-year GDP growth forecast for 2025 for the country to a range of 0.0 to 2.0 percent, citing the far-reaching impact of sweeping U.S. tariffs on global trade and economic activity.

    The previous forecast projected growth of between 1.0 and 3.0 percent.

    In a statement, the ministry said the regional economic outlook will be weakened by falling external demand, in part due to the broader repercussions of the tariffs on global trade flows and growth. “Business and consumer sentiments will also be dampened, thereby crimping domestic consumption and investments in many economies,” it noted.

    For Singapore, the MTI assessed that the external demand outlook has “weakened significantly” for the rest of the year, negatively affecting the outlook for outward-oriented sectors. The manufacturing sector is expected to be particularly impacted by slowing global demand. This, along with weakening global trade, will likely weigh on the performance of the wholesale trade sector.

    Similarly, the transportation and storage sector is projected to face headwinds, as reduced global trade volumes drag down demand for shipping and air cargo services.

    The finance and insurance sector could also see softer performance. Weaker trading activity amid heightened risk-off sentiment may depress net fees and commission income across banking, fund management, foreign exchange, and securities trading.

    In addition, the uncertain economic environment is likely to dampen firms’ capital investment plans and constrain credit intermediation activity.

    Payments firms may also experience slower growth, in tandem with subdued business activity and weaker consumer spending, the MTI added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi arrives in Hanoi for state visit to Vietnam

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People welcome General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. Xi arrived in Hanoi on Monday to pay a state visit to Vietnam. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi on Monday to pay a state visit to Vietnam.

    In a written statement upon his arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Xi said he was very pleased to start his fourth state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong.

    On behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and people, Xi extended his sincere greetings and best wishes to the brotherly CPV, the Vietnamese government and the Vietnamese people.

    Noting that this year marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, Xi said the CPV has united and led the Vietnamese people in steadfast pursuit of realizing the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country, respectively.

    Xi added that the Chinese side is pleased to see that living standards in Vietnam have steadily improved, Vietnam’s global and regional influence has continued to grow, and the country has made notable progress in advancing its socialist industrialization and modernization drive.

    Xi expressed his belief that under the strong leadership of the CPV Central Committee led by To Lam, Vietnam will surely pursue the socialist path suited to its national conditions, fulfill the tasks set forth by the 13th National Congress of the CPV, set the stage for the 14th National Congress, and continue to break new ground for the development of its Party and the country.

    General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. Xi arrived in Hanoi on Monday to pay a state visit to Vietnam. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung India Enhances Customer Service with AI-Powered Remote Diagnostic and Troubleshooting Tool

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, has launched its Home Appliances Remote Management (HRM) tool, a next-generation remote diagnosis and troubleshooting solution that significantly reduces service wait times and enhances customer experience.
     
    By harnessing the power of AI-powered remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, Samsung technicians can now resolve issues faster, reducing the need for cumbersome in-home visits. This innovative technology not only enhances customer experience with rapid resolutions and reduced downtime but also sets a new benchmark for the industry, redefining the future of customer care and reimagining the relationship between consumers and their smart home appliances.
     
    “Samsung Service is at the forefront of home appliance diagnostics, leveraging advanced tools to identify issues with pinpoint accuracy. Through its smart diagnostics service, customers can get proactive solutions by troubleshooting and resolving problems remotely, minimizing the need for a technician visit. This breakthrough significantly reduces wait times, ensures faster resolutions, and provides timely updates on product maintenance, ultimately enhancing the customer experience,” said Sunil Cutinha, VP, Customer Satisfaction, Samsung India.
     

     
    HRM enables real-time issue resolution with remote counselling, monitoring, and control features for Samsung smart appliances registered on the SmartThings app. SmartThings is a customer-facing app, which works as an appliance operating tool and captures usage patterns. With this innovation, Samsung continues to lead the way in smart device management, making home appliance maintenance more efficient and hassle-free for consumers worldwide. When a customer contacts Samsung’s support team regarding an issue with their home appliance, the HRM system automatically detects the registered device’s model and serial number through Samsung’s CRM (Customer Relationship Management system). Upon activation, contact center advisors can remotely diagnose, monitor, and even control certain appliance functions post customer consent, providing immediate troubleshooting guidance.
     

     
    How HRM Resolved an AC Cooling Issue
    With summer arriving early in Chennai and temperature rising above 35⁰C, Rohan Luthra’s air conditioner was cooling less efficiently. Fortunately, since Rohan had the SmartThings app installed on his smartphone and the AC was already registered in the app, he received an error notification. Immediately, Rohan requested support through Home Care service in SmartThings and got connected to the contact center advisor. Upon consultation, the advisor diagnosed the issue through HRM’s remote diagnostics, and informed the customer that its microfilter required cleaning and provided a step-by-step guide to Rohan over the phone call, restoring the AC’s cooling efficiency within minutes without the need for an on-site visit.
     
    This real-world example underscores how Samsung’s HRM tool is transforming customer support, making smart appliance maintenance more efficient, proactive, and hassle-free.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: I&T collabs create productivity: CE

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee

    I am delighted to welcome you to Hong Kong, and the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.

     

    And I am honoured to say that the Asia-Pacific Summit, taking place over these next two days in Hong Kong, marks the first time the World Internet Conference has held an international summit outside Mainland China.

     

    That, ladies and gentlemen, is a testament to Hong Kong’s rising role as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. It also reflects our deepening integration with our country’s national development.  

     

    That will become abundantly clear over these next two days. Like the World Internet Conference itself, this summit offers high-level dialogue for the global internet community – for you – the nearly 1,000 professionals here from 30 countries and regions.

     

    You are senior government officials and business leaders, industry association heads, academics and researchers and professionals from different disciplines. And you are here to expand your international connections, create business opportunities and help build the interconnected digital future.

     

    Hong Kong’s rise as an I&T hub has been fast-tracked by our vibrant economy, which is powered by free trade and boasts the world’s third-largest financial centre. It helps, too, that Hong Kong has long been a key business conduit between the Mainland and the rest of the world.

     

    And it all comes together under our unique “one country, two systems” framework.

     

    This cardinal governing principle gives Hong Kong the best of both worlds: access to the vast opportunities of the Mainland market, while maintaining the advantages of our unmatched connectivity of our common law system, free flow of information, capital, goods and people. This unmatched connectivity has brought you here.

     

    There are many good examples. A shining example is the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster, which ranks second, globally, in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index. It shows how, with the development of the Greater Bay Area, we can converge Hong Kong’s excellent research and development and world-class, international business environment, with the innovative prowess of the Mainland’s technology industry.

     

    We are building Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which straddles the small river that separates Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The Hong Kong park within this co-operation zone smartly embodies the virtues of the “one country, two systems” principle and cross-boundary co-operation.

     

    Last month, I attended the topping-out ceremony for the park’s first three buildings – two wet laboratories and a talent accommodation complex. The park will enter its operational phase this year, with the first tenants – from life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI), to data science and other pillar industries – moving in.

     

    The development of another five buildings is in full swing. We have earmarked some US$500 million to expedite the park’s two-phase development.

     

    We need, of course, strategic companies and talent to take full advantage of the park’s opportunities – and other of Hong Kong’s far-reaching prospects. And we are getting them. Under the enhanced talent admission regime we rolled out in 2022, we have already approved more than 300,000 talent admission applications. Over 200,000 of them, ie two-thirds, have already arrived here.

     

    Meanwhile, over 80 strategic enterprises from around the world in the booming industries of life and health technology, AI and data science, fintech and more, have joined us. They will invest over US$6 million and create over 20,000 jobs here in the coming years.

     

    The park is situated in the Northern Metropolis, an entirely new economic engine for Hong Kong. The Northern Metropolis, which makes up one-third of Hong Kong’s area, straddles our land boundary with Shenzhen.

     

    I am confident that our collaborative efforts with Shenzhen, and throughout the Greater Bay Area, will see the rise of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone as a world-class I&T hub, creating a critical source of new quality productive forces for the country.

     

    AI is central to the Hong Kong park’s research and development. It is no less central to Hong Kong’s future.

     

    In December last year, the first phase of Cyberport’s AI Supercomputing Centre became operational. Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship, Cyberport is home to more than 330 startups specialising in AI and big data.

     

    Hong Kong is determined to maximise AI’s immense potential for new industrialisation, and to further society’s digital transformation.

     

    We have, for example, set up funding schemes to help local manufacturers switch to smart manufacturing and strategic industries to establish smart production facilities here in Hong Kong.

     

    And our HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, amounting to nearly US$1.3 billion, channels market capital to invest in industries of strategic importance, including AI and robotics.

     

    There is more. We aim to establish, by the next financial year, the Hong Kong AI R&D Institute, having reserved nearly US$130 million to get it up and running. The institute will spearhead Hong Kong’s research and development, and drive AI-based industrial applications.

     

    AI will also promote smart government. Not only driving document digitalisation and automation, and payments and business processes, but, more important, how we go about making policy and delivering public services.

     

    All that, and much more, will fuel discussion and debate at today’s main forum and the three sub-forums taking place tomorrow.

     

    This summit matters. Co-operation matters. Especially during these challenging times to geopolitics and trade relations. Hong Kong champions free trade and multilateralism. We believe in teamwork and offer a range of welcoming programmes for investors, companies, researchers and other strategic talent. Hong Kong welcomes all business interests from those who are keen to pursue development with us. In this global city, we will make a decided difference for you, and your future.

     

    I am grateful to the World Internet Conference for hosting the Asia-Pacific Summit here in Hong Kong. Grateful, too, to our Innovation, Technology& Industry Bureau and other government offices for organising this high-profile global event.

     

    I wish you all an inspiring summit, and the best of business, and health, through this endlessly challenging, but promising, year.

     

    Chief Executive John Lee gave these remarks at the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit on April 14.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says looking forward to in-depth exchanges with Vietnamese leaders on issues of strategic significance

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that he looks forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with Vietnamese leaders on issues concerning ties between the two parties and countries that have a global impact, determine future direction, and possess strategic significance, as well as on international and regional issues of common concern.

    Xi made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

    The Chinese leader added that he also expects to take his visit as an opportunity to work with the Vietnamese side to draw up a new blueprint for the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Offshoring solutions provider Yempo to run 2025 Australia roadshow

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From 12 May to 10 June, industry-leading specialist offshoring solutions company Yempo will be running its 2025 roadshow in Australia, where its story began 11 years ago.

    Yempo is a specialist provider of Philippines-based accounting, finance, and Information Technology (IT) professionals to businesses in Australia, UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Japan. It is led by Australian CEO Michelle Fiegehen, an experienced senior director.

    “Each year, we make it a point to visit clients in Australia to understand how they are doing and how we can serve them better. But this year’s trip is extra special as we celebrate a decade of excellence in providing offshore IT and accounting talent, and we are introducing outsourcing to more businesses in my home country,” said Fiegehen.

    Yempo has received multiple citations in the industry, including the Best Offshoring Solutions Provider from the Global Business Awards in 2023, and the ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems certification. According to the ISO website, implementing the ISO 9001 means that an organisation has “put in place effective processes and trained staff to deliver flawless products or services time after time.”

    Fiegehen, meanwhile, was named one of the Top Emerging Women Leaders of 2024 by the Victory Magazine, APAC’s 10 High-Performing CEOs from the Philippines in 2023, and the Best CEOs of the Year by The CEO Views in 2022.

    Among the company’s satisfied clients in Australia is SDJA Audit Specialists, whose Director Simon Joyce says, “Yempo provides peace of mind, and a one-stop shop from job spec to ad, interview, employment, admin, tech, payroll.​ Its fully integrated model means they are an extension of our local team.”

    In keeping with Yempo’s commitment to giving back to community, clients are also able to contribute to its highly regarded Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which benefits children’s charities and animal rescue foundations.

    Register to meet Yempo’s CEO in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth here or visit yempo-solutions.com today, to learn more about the company’s IT and accounting offshoring services. 

    Contact person:

    Michelle Fiegehen, CEO

    michelle@yempo-solutions.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Big Girls Don’t Cry is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and comical celebration of Indigenous resilience and survival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Case, Lecturer in Musicology, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney

    Stephen Wilson Barker/Belvoir

    With Big Girls Don’t Cry, Gumbaynggirr/Wiradjuri playwright Dalara Williams proves herself to be a formidable talent.

    Cheryl (Williams), Queenie (Megan Wilding) and Lulu (Stephanie Somerville) are three best friends who share a house together in 1960s Redfern, the heart of “Blak Sydney”, after moving from the bush to the city.

    The trio swap outfits, go out dancing, socialise and talk about boys while navigating low-paying jobs, curfews and police brutality. Directed by Ian Michael, Big Girls Don’t Cry sits against a backdrop of political moments from service in the Vietnam War, to the 1965 Freedom Rides, the 1966 Wave Hill Walk Off and the 1967 Referendum.

    Pride and resilience

    The second act sees the girls prepare for the 1966 Aboriginal Debutante Ball at Paddington Town Hall.

    Their excitement and anticipation are palpable.

    The girls prepare for the 1966 Aboriginal Debutante Ball.
    Stephen Wilson Barker/Belvoir

    The ball represents more than just a social event: it is a symbol of pride, resilience and cultural celebration. It serves as a powerful reminder of the community’s strength and unity, showcasing their determination to preserve and honour their heritage amid adversity.

    Meticulous attention to detail in the set (Stephen Curtis) and costume design (Emma White) transports us back to this pivotal moment in history, making it feel both authentic and immersive.

    Each character’s wardrobe reflects their personality. Debutante dresses and accessories add depth to the characters and their stories, making the visual elements not only historically accurate but also emotionally resonant.

    Genuine and moving

    Williams’ darker and more confronting scenes are expertly juxtaposed with love stories and hilarious laugh-out-loud moments, particularly from the exceptional Wilding, who wholeheartedly embodies her fierce and outspoken character Queenie.

    Williams captivates with her nuanced portrayal of Cheryl, balancing strength and vulnerability. Somerville adds a layer of tenderness and hope as Lulu. The chemistry between these three actors is undeniable. Their friendship is genuine and moving.

    Guy Simon’s portrayal of Cheryl’s brother Ernest is a true highlight. While Cheryl strives to keep him out of trouble for his outspoken views, Ernest’s passion for justice and equality is inspiring.

    Guy Simon and Megan Wilding are stand-outs among an exceptional cast.
    Stephen Wilson Barker/Belvoir

    Ernest’s relationship with Milo (Nic English) highlights the solidarity and camaraderie among activists of the time.

    Cheryl’s boyfriend Michael (Mathew Cooper), though physically absent from the group for much of the play, is a constant presence in Cheryl’s thoughts. His letters from Vietnam add a poignant layer to the narrative.

    Officer Robinson (Bryn Chapman Parish) is a chilling reminder of the systemic racism and oppression faced by the Indigenous community. His menacing presence serves as a stark contrast to the warmth and joy shared by the main characters, highlighting the harsh realities of this era.

    By the end of the play, I felt involved in the lives of these characters, and as though I knew them – a credit to Williams’ writing and the phenomenal portrayal by each of the seven cast members.

    Continuing the fight

    The program includes a beautiful and personal reflection by Williams where she describes her family legacy as a major source of inspiration for the play.

    The various interwoven love stories are some of the most heart-wrenching, comical and sweetest moments of the play. But to solely describe it as a romantic comedy is to devalue the power of this work.

    Williams describes how she is from a long line of staunch Blak advocates who have continued to fight for sovereignty. This play is just the latest in her family’s long lineage of demonstrating resilience and survival.

    This play is just the latest in Williams’ long lineage of demonstrating resilience and survival.
    Stephen Wilson Barker/Belvoir

    Williams does not shy away from the reality of being Aboriginal in 1960s Redfern and handles moments with sophistication and grit. Scenes of police brutality and overt racial discrimination are portrayed with a raw honesty that is both confronting and enlightening.

    Big Girls Don’t Cry should be essential viewing as part of ongoing education efforts to truly highlight the reality of life at this time – many such struggles which continue today.

    The play is a powerful and moving tribute to the strength and resilience of Indigenous women. It is a celebration of their lives, their struggles, and their triumphs.

    Williams has crafted a play that is not only entertaining but also deeply meaningful, shedding light on a crucial period in Australian history: a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the past and the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

    While much has changed since 1966, the spirit of resistance and the quest for a better future remain as vital as ever.

    Big Girls Don’t Cry is at Belvoir Theatre, Sydney, until April 27.

    Laura Case does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Big Girls Don’t Cry is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and comical celebration of Indigenous resilience and survival – https://theconversation.com/big-girls-dont-cry-is-a-powerful-heart-wrenching-and-comical-celebration-of-indigenous-resilience-and-survival-254291

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Security education day set for Apr 15

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced that the 10th National Security Education Day will be held tomorrow, marking the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, as well as the first anniversary of the legislation and implementation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

     

    The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will hold the Opening Ceremony & Seminar of the National Security Education Day at the Convention & Exhibition Centre tomorrow morning.

     

    CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech via video link.

     

    Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive and Hong Kong National Security Committee Chairman John Lee extends his very warm welcome and expresses sincere gratitude to Director Xia Baolong for his care, guidance and support for Hong Kong all along.

     

    Mr Lee pointed out that at present, the world is undergoing unprecedented changes at an accelerating pace. With Hong Kong faced with ever-changing national security risks, the Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the “one country, two systems” principle, deepen the understanding of a holistic approach to national security, continuously improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and actively promote national security education across society.

     

    Moreover, he highlighted that the Hong Kong National Security Committee organises the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Day and co-ordinates a series of school and community activities, which help to promote national security education, encourage community-wide participation, and continuously strengthen the community’s awareness and atmosphere of safeguarding national security of their own accord.

     

    “While we strive on all fronts to develop a vibrant economy, advance development and improve people’s livelihood, we must also make every effort to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, so as to contribute more to the country’s opening-up at a higher level,” the Chief Executive added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 6M holiday travellers expected

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Immigration Department said today that around 6.04 million passengers are expected to pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Easter festive period from April 17 to 21.

     

    It also estimates that some 5.05 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on April 18 and April 21, with around 759,000 passengers and 618,000 passengers respectively.

     

    Passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point will see a daily average of about 225,000. Meanwhile, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point can expect to handle about 202,000 and 164,000 passengers respectively.

     

    To facilitate flexible staff deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks, the department noted that it has minimised leave for frontline officers accordingly.

     

    Furthermore, in collaboration with local organisations and Mainland authorities, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.

     

    Passengers can check the expected busy times at boundary control points on the department’s website and find the estimated waiting times at all land boundary control points via its app.

     

    Separately, from March 31, Hong Kong permanent residents, aged at least seven and at least 1.1m tall, and holding a smart identity card and valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, may use e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General meets with Secretary-General of ASEAN-Japan Centre

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon met with Dr. HIRABAYASHI Kunihiko, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, over a working lunch in Osaka.

    During the meeting, Dr. Kao conveyed his appreciation for the ASEAN-Japan Centre’s commitment to bolstering trade, investment, tourism, and people connectivity between Japan and ASEAN, and more recently, in promoting ASEAN’s participation in the World Expo 2025. He also congratulated the AJC on its upcoming 44th anniversary in May, and looked forward to greater synergy with the ASEAN Secretariat.

    The post Secretary-General meets with Secretary-General of ASEAN-Japan Centre appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Grants awarded to community organisations promoting women’s safety

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 11/04/2025

    In a further step towards enhancing the safety and wellbeing of women and gender diverse people in the ACT, the ACT Government has awarded $100,000 in grants to nine dedicated community groups.

    In announcing the grants, the Minister for Women, Dr Marisa Paterson, said that it underscores the government’s commitment to promoting health, safety, and empowerment within our community.

    “These initiatives address critical issues such as domestic violence, financial abuse, and the unique challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” Minister Paterson said.

    “The ACT Government is committed to enhancing the lives of women and gender diverse people in the ACT. We’re proud to support community organisations that are working to empower women and create a safer community for everyone,” said Minister Paterson.

    Among the recipients, SiTara’s Story Incorporated received $10,500 for its EmpowerHER: Breaking Silence, Building Strength program to raise awareness of domestic violence and provide educational resources about financial abuse and coercive control to women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Queanbeyan Multilingual Centre Inc was awarded $7,500 to facilitate the translation of court orders, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds can fully understand legal proceedings.

    The Domestic Violence Crisis Service Inc received $2,000 for the National Day of Remembrance ACT Candle Lighting Ceremony, which honours the lives lost to domestic, intimate partner, and family violence. WaterWombats Aquatic Disability Services Ltd was granted $15,000 for its ACT Women’s Disability Safe and Connected Project, offering coaching, mentoring, psychoeducation, and aqua-yoga to women living with or supporting those with disabilities.

    Sakhi Incorporated was awarded $11,380 to develop a culturally informed handbook promoting women’s safety within the South Asian community. Families ACT (FACT) Inc received $15,000 to establish a First 1000 Days Coalition, focusing on the health and wellbeing of mothers, birth parents, and children during the critical first 1000 days.

    The Forcibly Displaced People Network Ltd was granted $19,900 for a 12-month project aimed at enhancing safety and support for LGBTIQA+ refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in the ACT. Woden Community Service Limited received $10,000 for its EmpowerHER: Art, Resilience and Community project, which will facilitate art workshops for women affected by domestic violence, helping them form community connections and assist with their recovery. Lastly, Beryl Women Incorporated was awarded $8,720 for professional development to enhance the knowledge and skills of its team.

    “These projects align with the four priorities identified in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032: prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing,” Minister Paterson said.

    Quote attributable to Dr. Shamaruh Mirza, Founder and President of SiTara’s Story Incorporated:
    “At EmpowerHER: Breaking Silence, Building Strength, we are dedicated to amplifying the voices of CALD women who face unique challenges in recognizing and addressing domestic violence. This funding is instrumental in enabling us to create impactful podcasts and a documentary, fostering awareness and providing vital resources. We believe that education is key to transformation, and through community-led discussions and showcases, we will empower women to reclaim their narratives and advocate for their rights.”

    Quote attributable to Carol Jennings, Founder of WaterWombats:
    “The WaterWombats Disability Safety in Connection project will focus on delivering support services for women living with a disability or supporting those living with a disability. Small group programs will be delivered for both mental and physical health – which include group education sessions and social connection and physical health initiative in the form of an aqua yoga program. The program currently delivers free family counselling and social work services to attending families. This grant funding enables us to widen the scope of support and services to those in need.”

    – Statement ends –

    Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Full text of Xi’s signed article in Vietnamese newspaper

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, April 14 — A signed article by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping titled “Building on past achievements and making new advances in pursuit of shared goals” was published Monday in the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam as he is traveling to Vietnam for a state visit to the country.

    The following is the full text of the article:

    Building on past achievements and making new advances in pursuit of shared goals

    Xi Jinping

    General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China

    Late spring is full of vitality. As China and Vietnam celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, I will soon pay a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Vietnamese President Comrade Luong Cuong. This will be my fourth visit to this beautiful country since I became General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China. I look forward to renewing friendship with Vietnamese leaders, discussing ways of boosting cooperation, and drawing up a new blueprint for the China-Vietnam community with a shared future in the new era.

    China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbours sharing the same ideals and extensive strategic interests. The profound friendship between the two parties and two peoples, forged decades ago, has grown stronger as we explore a socialist path suited to our respective national conditions and advance our respective modernization drive. Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance serves the common interests of our two countries and is conducive to peace, stability, development and prosperity in our region and beyond. It conforms with the trend of history. And it is the choice by our peoples.

    The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is inherited from our distinctive revolutionary traditions. During modern times, pioneers of Chinese and Vietnamese revolutions together explored a path to national salvation and made important contribution to the Third World’s victory in the struggle against colonialism and imperialism. The historical site of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League in Guangzhou and the site of the office of the League for Independence of Vietnam in Jingxi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region bear witness to the revolutionary friendship between China and Vietnam. President Ho Chi Minh joined and supported the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Yan’an, Guilin, Chongqing and Kunming. China sent military and political advisers in support of the Vietnamese people’s War Against French Occupation. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government and people gave full support for Vietnam’s just War Against U.S. Aggression to Save the Nation. The well-known line: “The friendship between Vietnam and China is so profound because we are both comrades and brothers,” is etched on our shared revolutionary memory.

    The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is based on strong political mutual trust. In recent years, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary To Lam and other Vietnamese leaders and I have visited each other many times, steering the course for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future. Our two parties and two countries have kept close high-level engagement. Mechanisms such as the steering committee for bilateral cooperation, the party-to-party theoretical symposium, the border defence friendship exchange, and the conference on crime control between the two public security ministries are functioning smoothly. High-level mechanisms including the joint committee between the National People’s Congress of China and the National Assembly of Vietnam have been established. The “3+3” strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defence and public security between our two countries has been held successfully. China and Vietnam hold similar positions on many regional and international issues and have engaged in close coordination on them.

    The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is rooted in our fruitful cooperation. China and Vietnam have pursued closer cooperation on industrial and supply chains amid a sluggish global economic recovery. China has been Vietnam’s biggest trading partner for over 20 years in a row, with total bilateral trade exceeding 260 billion USD in 2024. More and more quality Vietnamese agricultural products such as durian and coconut are available to Chinese consumers. Railway connectivity and the smart port development project are being steadily advanced. Solar panels, waste-to-energy plants and other bilateral clean energy projects have boosted electricity supply in Vietnam. The Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line built by a Chinese company makes public transport in Hanoi more convenient. Contributing to each other’s success and pursuing common development, China and Vietnam have set an example of solidarity and cooperation in the Global South.

    The China-Vietnam community with a shared future is advanced by close people-to-people exchanges. Over the years, we have seen ever more people-to-people exchanges that foster increasingly closer ties between Chinese and Vietnamese peoples. Chinese tourists made more than 3.7 million visits to Vietnam in 2024. With the official launch of the Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Zone and the opening of several cross-border road trip routes, visiting two countries in a single day has become possible. Chinese film and television productions and video games are popular among young Vietnamese, and more people in Vietnam are learning Chinese. Many Vietnamese songs are now on hot search lists on social media in China, and many Chinese diners relish pho and other Vietnamese delicacies.

    Today, global, epoch-making and historical changes are unfolding like never before, and the world has entered a new period of turbulent transformation. Despite the headwinds of mounting unilateralism and protectionism, the Chinese economy expanded by five percent in 2024, contributing around 30 percent to the global economy. It remains a key engine of the world economy. China’s new energy sector, artificial intelligence and animated films have come into global spotlight. China will continue to provide more opportunities to the world with its high-standard opening up, and will contribute to the development of all countries with its high-quality development.

    Asia represents a new elevation in global cooperation and development. At a new starting point toward revitalisation of the whole region, Asia faces both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighbourhood diplomacy. We will stay committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. We will continue to pursue the policy of forging friendship and partnership with our neighbours. And we will steadily deepen friendly cooperation with them to advance Asia’s modernization.

    China is going all out to build a great modern socialist country and achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by pursuing Chinese modernization. Vietnam will usher in a new epoch of national development toward the two goals set for the centenary of the party and the country respectively. China always gives Vietnam high priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy. Our two countries should strengthen our efforts on all fronts to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute more to peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and the world at large.

    — We should deepen strategic mutual trust and advance the socialist cause. The two sides should act on the guidance of the leaders. The China-Vietnam steering committee for bilateral cooperation should coordinate our interactions more effectively to boost party, government, military, law enforcement and security cooperation; jointly tackle external risks and challenges; and uphold political security. China is ready to enhance exchanges of governance practices with Vietnam, explore and enrich together socialist theory and practices, and promote the steady development of the two countries’ socialist cause.

    — We should continue win-win cooperation and deliver more benefit to our two peoples. We should create greater synergy between our development strategies, implement well the cooperation plan between the two governments on synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy, and build more platforms for economic and technological cooperation. China stands ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on the three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam and the smart port. China welcomes more quality Vietnamese products in the Chinese market and encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam. Our two countries should step up cooperation on industrial and supply chains, and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as 5G, artificial intelligence and green development to create more benefits for the two peoples.

    — We should strengthen people-to-people exchanges and forge a closer bond between our peoples. This year is the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, and we should use this opportunity to promote people-to-people exchanges in diverse forms. China welcomes Vietnamese visitors to travel across China and encourages Chinese tourists to visit scenic sites in Vietnam. Our two countries should carry out more activities that will bring our two peoples together such as the friendly meeting between youth and festive events in border areas. We should further tap into our revolutionary resources and tell stories of friendship that resonate with our two peoples, so as to pass on the baton of China-Vietnam friendship from generation to generation.

    — We should enhance multilateral collaboration and promote Asia’s prosperity and revitalization. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Our two countries should firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. It is important that we pursue the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative. It is also important that we promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We should work together with the Global South to uphold the common interests of developing countries. Trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere. Our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment. We should strengthen coordination in mechanisms such as East Asia cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation so as to ensure more stability for a changing and turbulent world and inject more positive energy in it.

    — We should properly manage differences and safeguard peace and stability in our region. The successful delimitation of our boundaries on land and in the Beibu Gulf demonstrates that with vision, we are fully capable of properly settling maritime issues through consultation and negotiation. The two sides should implement the common understanding reached between the leaders of the two parties and the two countries. We should make good use of the maritime negotiation mechanism so as to properly manage maritime differences, expand maritime cooperation, and build up conditions for the final resolution of the disputes. We should fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively advance the consultation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. We should be impervious to all interference; bridge differences and expand common ground; and make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

    Standing at this new starting point of history, China is ready to work with Vietnam to build on past achievements, write a new chapter in building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: BNP Paribas SA: ACQUISITION BY BNP PARIBAS CARDIF OF AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS – UPDATE

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ACQUISITION BY BNP PARIBAS CARDIF 
    OF AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS – UPDATE

    PRESS RELEASE

    Paris, 14 April 2025

    After entering into exclusive negotiations on 1 August 2024, AXA and BNP Paribas Cardif signed a Share Purchase Agreement for AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM). The closing is expected in early July 2025.

    In this context, the BNP Paribas Group fully confirms the strategic and industrial interest of the transaction to build a leading platform in asset management that will allow the Group to become the forefront European player in the management of long-term savings assets for insurers and pension funds. This platform will benefit from AXA IM’s leading market position and its team’s expertise specialised in private assets, which will drive further growth with both institutional and retail investors.

    This acquisition aligns perfectly with the Group’s core mission of supporting the economy by mobilising savings to finance future-oriented projects, in the best interests of its clients.

    The ECB has recently expressed its opinion on the prudential treatment for the acquisition of asset managements companies.

    Should this interpretation be implemented and given the current status of the internal analyses carried out by the BNP Paribas Group, the anticipated impact on BNP Paribas Group’s CET1 ratio would stand at approximately -35 bps and the expected return on invested capital of the transaction would be above 14% in the third year and more than 20% in the fourth year. This impact is to be compared with an impact on the Group’s CET 1 ratio of -25 bps and an expected return on invested capital of 18% in the third year, presented at the launch of the transaction.

    As a consequence, under this interpretation, neither the Group’s overall profitability objectives, growth trajectory, nor its equity and CET1 trajectory would be modified.

    Specifically, the launch of the share buyback programme, announced in February 2025, to which the ECB has already given its approval, is maintained. More generally, the Group’s distribution policy in the form of dividends and return to shareholders remains unchanged.

    The conditions agreed to by the Group regarding the prudential treatment to be applied to this transaction will be communicated at the closing of the transaction, following the finalization of ongoing discussions with the relevant supervisory authorities on this topic.

    About BNP Paribas
    Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

    Press Contacts:
    Sandrine Romano : sandrine.romano@bnpparibas.com ; + 33 6 71 18 13 05
    Giorgia Rowe : giorgia.rowe@bnpparibas.com ; + 33 6 64 27 57 96

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  • MIL-OSI: Ageas reaches agreement with Bain Capital to acquire esure and establish a top-3 UK personal lines platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ageas reaches agreement with Bain Capital to acquire esure and establish a top-3 UK personal lines platform

    Ageas and Bain Capital agree GBP 1.295 billion (EUR 1.510 billion) cash transaction for esure
    Combination creates multi-channel motor and home insurer with broad customer appeal across the UK

    Ageas announces today that it has reached an agreement with Bain Capital to acquire esure 1, a leading digital personal lines insurer with strong positioning on price comparison websites (PCW) in the UK. The proposed transaction is fully aligned with Ageas’s strategic priorities for M&A in Europe under Elevate27. It increases Ageas’s European markets presence through the acquisition of a controlled entity, reinforces its positioning in the UK, generates shareholder value from the realisation of synergies and enhances the cash generation of the Group.

    The combination of Ageas UK and esure will create the third largest UK personal lines platform with a balanced and diversified distribution spanning Direct, PCW, brokers and partnerships. The acquisition of esure will enable Ageas UK to accelerate the diversification of its distribution strategy into the important PCW channel in the UK market. Its underwriting footprint will widen Ageas UK’s target customer demographics and enable growth to a top-line of GBP 3.25 billion (EUR 3.8 billion) by 2028.

    Ageas UK has established itself as an accomplished insurer over the past four years by focusing on profitable growth solely in the personal lines business with a specialism in broker distribution, outstanding technical insurance skills and technology, and successfully delivering insurance solutions for its distribution partners and over 4 million customers.

    esure is a leading UK personal lines insurer with a fully digital distribution model through the PCW channel and three popular brands – esure, Sheilas’ Wheels and First Alternative. In 2024, esure had more than 2.1 million policies and GWP of GBP1 billion (EUR 1.2 billion).

    The acquisition of esure creates significant potential for operational synergies and capital benefits to be realised in the medium term. We expect economies of scale in our UK personal lines portfolio and the accelerated implementation of the EIS IT platform, including esure’s complementary claims module, to drive operational efficiencies and cost avoidance for Ageas UK. Continued focus on technology, data and AI is expected to create further competitive advantages. In addition, capital benefits from enhanced diversification and the inclusion of esure in Ageas’s partial internal model are expected to emerge over time.

    Under the terms of the transaction, Ageas will pay Bain Capital a cash consideration of GBP 1.295 billion (EUR 1.510 billion) for esure, respecting a Solvency II target ratio of 150% as at year-end 2024. The Group’s capital position will remain robust with Solvency II ratio expected to decrease by approximately only 10pp thanks to the inclusion of around EUR 1 billion of Own Funds instruments in the financing mix.

    The transaction will be financed through a combination of surplus cash and newly issued senior and hybrid debt and/or equity within the existing authorisations and subject to market conditions. A fully underwritten 2-year bridge facility is provided by BofA Securities and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A..

    The integration of Ageas UK and esure is anticipated to be completed, in all material respects, during the Elevate27 strategic cycle. Entering the next strategic period, we project that the transaction will generate a full cost saving potential in excess of GBP 100 million (c. EUR 115 million) per annum, before tax. On a run-rate basis, this transaction is expected to generate an unlevered return on investment of over 12% for Ageas and an uplift in the Return on Equity of more than 1pp. It will become Holding Free Cash Flow accretive per share of c. 10% as from 2028.

    The completion of the transaction is expected to occur in 2H 2025 and remains subject to regulatory approvals.

    Commenting on the agreement, Hans De Cuyper, Ageas Group CEO, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement to acquire esure. In recent years, Ageas has experienced significant growth in the UK, making it an increasingly important part of the Group. This transaction will allow us to offer competitive value propositions to a wider customer profile via a multi-channel distribution model, positioning Ageas UK as one of the top three personal lines insurers. Acquiring esure also supports our strategic ambitions of re-balancing our Group profile towards businesses with high cash conversion. We remain, of course, committed to our Elevate27 financial objectives, including our commitment to a progressive dividend policy, and will observe the full synergies of this transaction in the forthcoming strategic period.”

    Ant Middle, Ageas UK CEO, said: “esure is a significant addition to the Ageas UK business and aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. As demand for motor and home insurance grows, Ageas will be perfectly positioned to gain market share and become the insurer of choice for our existing and new customers. The combined Ageas and esure franchise will benefit from an outstanding customer offering, through market leading technology and prominent brands, that will drive our expansion into new customer demographics. Under Elevate27, we want to continue to grow our broker and partnerships personal lines business in the UK, and esure will help us to rapidly expand our direct distribution, our customer reach, and our scale overall. esure’s technical capabilities will match Ageas UK’s and will enable us to develop our well-balanced business at greater pace and serve a wider range of customers. We’re really excited for the potential this brings our UK business and wider Group.”

    David McMillan, esure Group CEO, said: “This transaction brings together two highly complementary businesses and creates an even stronger platform for continued innovation, growth and excellent delivery for our customers. Combining Ageas’s scale, financial strength and excellent broker relationships with esure’s strong retail brands, market-leading data capabilities and strength on PCWs, alongside a shared technology platform, will enhance our combined ability to invest in our customer proposition and open up new opportunities for growth. I am deeply proud of what the esure team has achieved to date. We look forward to working alongside the Ageas team to build the UK’s leading personal lines insurer.”

    Luca Bassi, Partner at Bain Capital, said: “We are pleased to have supported esure through its transformation and growth journey. During our ownership, esure has built the leading tech platform in UK insurance and their highly efficient operations have set a new standard for the industry. This transaction is a testament to esure’s strong market position and the state-of-the-art technology platform built under Bain Capital’s tenure, with the business now at record levels of profitability. We are confident that Ageas is the right partner to continue this legacy of success and innovation.”

    BofA Securities is acting as financial adviser and Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP is acting as legal counsel to Ageas in relation to the transaction.

    Fenchurch Advisory Partners LLP and Goldman Sachs International served as financial advisers to Bain Capital and esure. Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP served as legal adviser and Norton Rose Fulbright LLP served as regulatory adviser to Bain Capital and esure.

    Further information:

    For Ageas

    Michaël Vandenbergen, Ageas, michael.vandenbergen@ageas.com, +3225575736

    Chris Sibbald / James Leviton, FGS Global, ageas-uk@fgsglobal.com, +447855955531

    For Bain Capital

    Sean Palmer, Camarco, baincapital@camarco.co.uk, +447591760844

    For esure group

    esure@teneo.com

    For analysts:

    An analyst meeting regarding this transaction will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 am CET (9:00 to 10:00 am UKT). The Teams call can be accessed using the following link: https://ageas.com/en/esure-2025

    Note to editors:

    To support its expansion, in 2024 Ageas UK announced a partnership with Saga, growing its offering to the over-50s segment, which is strategically in line with Ageas’s focus on an ageing population.

    Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.

    esure Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of Motor and Home insurance products through the esure, Sheilas’ Wheels and First Alternative brands. Founded in 2000, esure Group has the scale, heritage and expertise capable of inspiring the trust and confidence of their 2.1m customers, combined with the entrepreneurial mindset and agility of an insurtech. esure Group is focused on using their market-leading technology platform, insights and data, alongside fantastic customer service, to deliver more personalised experiences that meet the evolving needs and expectations of customers.

    Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. The firm has a significant history in Europe, starting with the establishment of a London office in 2000 and expanding to include other European locations, with a focus on private equity, credit and special situations investments. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

    Bank of America Europe DAC (“BofA Securities”) is acting as financial adviser exclusively for Ageas and for no one else in connection with the transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than Ageas for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the transaction or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

    1 Under the terms of the transaction, Ageas will acquire 100% of the issued and to be issued share capital of Blue (BC) Topco Limited, a holding company for esure Group plc and its subsidiaries.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Initiative Uses Behavioural Science to Encourage Bengaluru Metro Adoption

    Source: Toyota

    Headline: New Initiative Uses Behavioural Science to Encourage Bengaluru Metro Adoption

    Bengaluru, April 11, 2025: The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) and the Electronics City Industries Association (ELCIA), in collaboration with Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) and WRI India today launched the “STAMP: Nudging Commuter Behaviour” – a pioneering initiative that leverages behavioural science and technology to encourage commuters to shift from personal vehicles to public transport.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – SMART researchers develop novel UV and machine learning-aided method to detect microbial contamination in cell cultures

    Source: Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)

    • This is the first novel technology that utilises machine learning to analyse unique ultraviolet light “fingerprints” on cell cultures to quickly identify presence of contamination
    • Only requiring a small volume of cell culture for analysis, this method can provide a definitive yes/no contamination assessment within 30 minutes, making it significantly more time- and resource-efficient than traditional sterility tests
    • Delays due to contamination testing in cell therapy products can be life-threatening for critically ill patients who urgently need these treatments.

    Singapore, 14 April 2025 – Researchers from the Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP), interdisciplinary research group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), and National University of Singapore (NUS), have developed a novel method that can quickly and automatically detect and monitor microbial contamination in cell therapy products (CTPs) early on during the manufacturing process. By measuring ultraviolet (UV) light absorbance of cell culture fluids and utilising machine learning to recognise light absorption patterns associated with microbial contamination, this preliminary testing method aims to reduce the overall time taken for sterility testing and, subsequently, the time patients need to wait for CTP doses. This is especially crucial where timely administration of treatments can be life-saving for terminally ill patients.

    Cell therapy represents a promising new frontier in medicine, especially in treating diseases such as cancers, inflammatory diseases, and chronic degenerative disorders, by manipulating or replacing cells to restore function or fight disease. However, a major challenge in CTP manufacturing is quickly and effectively ensuring that cells are free from contamination before being administered to patients.

    Existing sterility testing methods, based on microbiological methods,  are labour-intensive and require up to fourteen days to detect contamination, which could adversely affect critically ill patients who need immediate treatment. While advanced techniques such as rapid microbiological methods (RMMs) can reduce the testing period to seven days, they still require complex processes such as cell extraction and growth enrichment mediums, and they are highly dependent on skilled manpower for procedures such as sample extraction, measurement, and analysis. This creates an urgent need for new methods that offer quicker outcomes without compromising the quality of CTPs, that meet the patient-use timeline, and with a simple workflow that does not require additional preparation.
    SMART CAMP Senior Research Engineer Shruthi Pandi Chelvam using the UV absorbance spectrometer to measure the absorbance spectra of cell culture samples (Photo: SMART CAMP)

    In a paper titled “Machine learning aided UV absorbance spectroscopy for microbial contamination in cell therapy products” published in the journal Scientific Reports, SMART CAMP researchers described how they combined UV absorbance spectroscopy to develop a machine learning-aided method for label-free, non-invasive, and real-time detection of cell contamination during the early stages of manufacturing.

    This method offers significant advantages over both traditional sterility tests and RMMs as it eliminates the need for staining of cells to identify labelled organisms, making it label-free, avoids the invasive process of cell extraction and delivers results in under half an hour. It provides an intuitive, rapid “yes/no” contamination assessment, facilitating automation of cell culture sampling, with a simple workflow that requires no additional incubation period, growth enrichment mediums, and manpower. Furthermore, the developed method does not require specialised equipment, resulting in lower costs.

    “This rapid, label-free method is designed to be a preliminary step in the CTP manufacturing process as a form of continuous safety testing, which allows users to detect contamination early and implement timely corrective actions, including the use of RMMs only when possible contamination is detected. This approach saves costs, optimises resource allocation and ultimately, accelerates the overall manufacturing timeline,” said Shruthi Pandi Chelvam, Senior Research Engineer at SMART CAMPand first author of the paper.

    “Traditionally, cell therapy manufacturing is labour intensive and subject to operator variability. By introducing automation and machine learning, we hope to streamline cell therapy manufacturing and reduce the risk of contamination. Specifically, our method supports automated cell culture sampling at designated intervals to check for contamination, which reduces manual tasks such as sample extraction, measurement, and analysis. This enables cell cultures to be monitored continuously and contamination to be detected at early stages,” said Prof Rajeev Ram, Principal Investigator at SMART CAMP, MIT Professor, and corresponding author of the paper.

    Moving forward, future research will focus on broadening the application of the method to encompass a wider range of microbial contaminants, specifically those representative of Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) environments and previously identified CTP contaminants. Additionally, the model’s robustness can be tested across more cell types apart from MSCs. Beyond cell therapy manufacturing, this method can also be applied to the food & beverage industry as part of microbial quality control testing to ensure food products meet safety standards.

    The research is conducted by SMART and supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s railway cargo transportation volume up in Q1

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s railway network transported 970 million tonnes of cargo in the first three months of 2025, up 3.1 percent year on year, the railway operator said Sunday.

    Daily loading amounted to a total of 179,000 cars, an increase of 4.2 percent year on year, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

    The railway network also facilitated cross-border trade in this period. Notably, China-Central Asia freight trains operated a total of 3,582 services, marking a year-on-year surge of 25.5 percent, the railway operator revealed.

    The China-Laos Railway, which links Kunming in southwest China’s Yunnan Province and the Laotian capital Vientiane, transported 1.51 million tonnes of cross-border cargo in the first quarter of 2025, up 10 percent year on year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese NEVs gain popularity abroad

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China-made new energy vehicles are becoming popular in overseas markets, which is expected to fuel the upward spiral of the country’s vehicle exports.

    In March, NEV makers operating in the country, including foreign ones such as Tesla, shipped more than 143,000 vehicles overseas, up 6.4 percent compared with same period last year, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.

    The continuous rise came when exports of passenger cars fell 8 percent to 391,000 units that month.

    For NEVs, Europe and Southeast Asia are among the top destinations. Last week, BYD introduced its alternative premium brand, Denza, to the European market with a brand launch in Milan, Italy.

    Denza unveiled the Z9 GT station wagon at the Milan Design Week, which ran from April 6 to 13. The model is expected to hit European showrooms in the fourth quarter.

    The model impressed attendees with its signature features, including parking assist, high-speed tire blowout stability control, extreme steering capabilities, a tight turning circle, and intelligent crab walking capabilities.

    Since 2024, the brand has entered several Asian markets, including China’s Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also plans to enter dozens of European countries within the next two years.

    State-owned GAC also made a splash at the Milan Design Week, where the Aion UT made its European debut. The electric hatchback, born in the carmaker’s Milan Advanced Design Center, harmonizes Italian design aesthetics with local market preferences.

    Among other things, it features a 14.6-inch central touch screen, an 8.88-inch digital instrument display, and Level 2 driving assistance.

    Its second-generation Magazine Battery enables fast charging from 30 percent to 80 percent in just 24 minutes. Analysts say the model will take on local European models like the Volkswagen ID.3.

    Thomas Schemera, chief operating officer of GAC International, said: “By empowering production through design, we aim to deliver products with outstanding design, top-tier quality, and pioneering technology — ultimately creating better mobility experiences for European consumers.”

    The growing popularity of Chinese NEVs is expected to boost the country’s total vehicle exports this year.

    The trade conflict between the United States and China won’t have much effect on domestic automakers, as the US is a tiny market for Chinese cars, the CPCA said.

    China shipped a total of 6.41 million vehicles overseas in 2024, a surge of 23 percent year-on-year. The top five countries driving China’s growth in vehicle exports were Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.

    Meanwhile, some carmakers are stepping up efforts to produce vehicles in overseas markets.

    Chery was the first to establish a European manufacturing plant. Located in Barcelona, Spain, the plant will produce Chery’s Omoda 5 SUV, among other models.

    Chery, the partner of British premium carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, is also planning to set up a $1 billion plant in Turkiye, Bloomberg reported in late March, citing the country’s industry ministry.

    It will make EVs and components at the new facility in Samsun, which will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles, said the media group.

    These strategic moves underscore Chinese automakers’ dedication to establishing a robust international presence, leveraging technological innovation, and localized production to navigate the complexities of global trade and meet diverse consumer preferences, said analysts.

    MIL OSI China News –