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2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be launched on 1st February in Kaohsiung

KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 28 January 2022 – The streets and night skies of Kaohsiung will be bathed in light as the city stages the 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival, with this year’s event drawing on both tradition and modern innovation to mesmerise visitors to the city.

 

The Flying Phoenix lantern will light up Kaohsiung in 2022 Taiwan lantern festival. 

 

The festival, which will run for 28 days from February 1, will for the first time provide a model for collaboration between artisans who use time-honoured methods to construct traditional lanterns and cutting-edge artists from around the world.

Spread throughout the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts at Weiwuying and the city’s Love River Bay district, the festival will provide interactive experiences for visitors to learn about how traditional lantern art can be passed down to modern generations at the same time as harnessing advanced exhibition technology, such as high-speed, low-latency 5G for remote artistic displays.

Historic roots


First staged in 1990, the annual lantern festival is inspired by traditional folk celebrations on the fifteenth day of the first month, according to the lunar calendar, and to mark the end of the Lunar New Year. For centuries, people from China have marked the arrival of the New Year by carrying paper lanterns through their darkened streets, with the designs becoming far more elaborate and adventurous in recent years.

This year, Kaohsiung will be aglow with works by artists keen to put forward their own interpretations of light.

Signature Lantern


The event’s signature work is a cross-border collaboration that brings together lantern designer Benson Lu and renowned calligrapher Dong Yangzi. Together, they have created a work that transforms the Chinese character “feng,” which means phoenix, into an illuminated pheasant that is native to Taiwan spreading its wings atop a mountain.

Lighting up Kaohsiung, the Flying Phoenix lantern will use the aesthetics of lighting to communicate the message of effective urban governance, and increase awareness of Kaohsiung City around the world.

The 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival


The artists and organizers of the festival hope visitors will be able to put the difficulties of the last year behind them, at least temporarily, and enjoy an occasion that will be a unique feast for the senses.

Fitch affirms CIFI’s ‘BB’ rating and outlook stable; removes CIFI from UCO list

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 28 January 2022 – CIFI Holdings (Group) Co. Ltd. (“CIFI” or the “Group”, HKEx stock code: 884), a leading real estate developer and investor in first-, second- and robust third-tier cities in China, is pleased that Fitch Ratings has issued a report to affirm CIFI’s long-term foreign and local -currency issuer default ratings at ‘BB’; the Outlook is ‘Stable’. In addition, CIFI has been removed all the ratings from Under Criteria Observation (UCO) by Fitch Ratings.

 

Fitch’s report points out that CIFI’s business and financial profiles remain commensurate with a ‘BB’ credit profile. Fitch believes CIFI’s above-average financial flexibility is supportive of the rating despite its higher leverage of 50% compared with peers’ 40-45%.

 

The Stable Outlook reflects Fitch’s belief that CIFI has strong liquidity and continued access to capital-market financing in both onshore and offshore markets to refinance its maturities in 2022. Fitch believes CIFI’s leverage to fall to 45%-50% in 2022-2023 from an estimate of around 50% in 2021 due to a slowdown in land acquisition and a continued ramp-up of its investment properties.

 

Fitch also believes CIFI’s quality land bank, with more than 85% in tier 1-2 cities, will make it more resilient in the downturn and can sustain two-three years of development and a sales scale above RMB 220 billion in 2022-2023.

 

Mr. Lin Zhong, Chairman of CIFI, said “We welcome Fitch to affirms our rating which is the capital market’s recognition of our business development and financial strength. The management flexibly deploy our capital to proactively manage the Group’s debt structure and portfolio. We strive to enhance our capability to withstand the risks of both the industry and the economic cycle. All these efforts can ensure the Group’s healthy financial position and sustainable business development in the long term.”

 

About CIFI (Group):

Headquartered in Shanghai, CIFI is one of China’s top real estate developers. CIFI principally focuses on developing high-quality properties in first-, second- and robust third-tier cities in China. CIFI develops various types of properties, including residential buildings, offices and commercial complexes.

To learn more about the Company, please visit CIFI’s website at: http://www.cifi.com.cn

#CIFI

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Deputy Mayor Orders Ban on Firecrackers in Vientiane Capital

Authorities in Laos crack down on firecrackers

Authorities in Vientiane Capital have issued an order prohibiting the import, sale, and usage of firecrackers without authorization.

Wells Singapore Expanding Amid Rising Demand From Local Market

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 28 January 2022 – Wells Singapore is revealing its expansion plans amid strong growth and increasing demand from the local market. On top of its expansion, the water dispenser and purifier company is also preparing to launch a series of new products that aim to enhance user experience and elevate home designs.

 

As demands of the local market continue to rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Wells will be opening a fourth outlet in the western part of Singapore to add to its store fleet. They currently have a showroom located in Macpherson as well as two outlets in Orchard, on top of their home demo sessions where they bring their products to the customers for free. Customers can look forward to a fresh line of water purifiers as well as new coffee/tea machines that Wells will be adding to their catalogue.

 

Despite the many disruptions to trade activities and supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the water purifier market is on track to bounce back stronger. According to market research, valuation of the ASEAN Water Purifier Market reached SGD$2.02 trillion dollars in 2020, and is forecasted to reach SGD$3.7 trillion dollars by 2026. Singapore, being the 6th largest water purifier market in ASEAN, has seen strong growth over the past year as well. This can be attributed to COVID-19’s impact in creating increased awareness of the significance and benefits of consuming safer and cleaner water. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, Wells has adapted by implementing stricter regulations to their home demo and on-site appointments, allowing them to sustain their staffing and expand their target audience through marketing efforts.

 

Since its establishment in 2019, Wells has worked with several high-profile clients such as OCBC Bank, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Gleneagles Hospital. As consumers become more aware of the health benefits of drinking purified water, Wells hopes to bring their designs and technology to more households, and extend their reach to promote wellness and healthy living to the masses.

 

For more info, please visit: https://www.wellssingapore.com/

#WellsSingapore

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Rail service between Kunming, China and Vientiane, Laos sees significant uptake with road congestion

  • China-Vietnam road border crossing presently experiencing delays by 20-30 days
  • DHL Global Forwarding, the first international forwarder to launch the two-way China-Laos rail service, sees rapid demand with 20-24 hour transit time and costs up to 50% less than airfreight
  • Vientiane and Kunming key as multimodal hubs for China-ASEAN trade

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 28 January 2022 – Heavy road congestions on the China-Vietnam border due to local COVID-19 related situations have resulted in soaring demand for newly launched two-way China-Laos rail services facilitating trade between China and ASEAN. Over 2000 trucks are in the queue on both sides of the main connection Pingxiang (China) bordering Lang S’on (Vietnam), causing delays of up to 20-30 days.

 

The alternative border at Dongxin (China) bordering Mong Cai (Vietnam), which reopened on 10 January, is still experiencing backlogs. Both congestions are expected to continue through to the Lunar New Year.

 

DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international freight specialist division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, and the first international forwarder to launch a two-way rail freight service between Kunming, China and Vientiane, Laos has seen significant uptake with a daily connection in each direction for its service on the newly opened China-Laos railway. The rail service shortens transit time between Kunming and Vientiane to about  20 – 24 hours, compared to 20-30 days with the present congestion through Vietnam.

 

Rail-truck solution between China & Southeast Asia: Key to keeping supply chains  running

“We launched the China-Laos Railway service in December and it was just in time. The backlogs on the road borders between China and Vietnam are not likely to clear before Chinese New Year, and it is really critical during this peak season to have the rail alternative,” said Steve Huang, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Greater China.

 

“Thanks to the two-way rail service between Laos and China, we’ve been able to help customers keep their delivery timelines with limited delays. The service strategically positions Laos, a land-locked country, as a land-linked hub. DHL Global Forwarding has the most extensive road and rail services in the region, and our customers moving goods between China and ASEAN countries now have a strong viable alternative between air and ocean freight,” Thomas Tieber, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Southeast Asia said.

 

Peak season relief: Faster, Cheaper freight from China to ASEAN

DHL’s scheduled service using the new China-Laos Railway is one of the six international economic corridors under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Laos section of the railway is 414-km that connects Kunming (China) to Boten, Laos’ northern border with China, to Vientiane in the south, on its border with Thailand. The route cuts the journey time from Vientiane to the Chinese border to less than four hours, compared to 15 hours by road (in normal conditions). At Boten, the railway will connect with the BRI network at Kunming, China, through another 595-km railway link, providing Laos with a land link to global and regional supply chains.

 

DHL’s scheduled service leveraging the China-Laos Railway runs in both directions between China and ASEAN markets, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, providing an attractive, highly cost-efficient alternative when logistics costs are at an all time high.

 

The two-way service combines trucking from all over China to the hub in Kunming, running through the China-Laos railroad, then onward with DHL’s established road network service and back, with significant cost savings and competitive transit times, providing a viable transportation alternative. Examples of the services include:

  • Chengdu – Bangkok – road/rail services are 78% cheaper and 2 days faster than airfreight
  • Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu – road/rail services are 70% cheaper, same transit time compared to airfreight
  • Shanghai – Singapore – road/rail services are 38% cheaper, 4 days longer compared to airfreight

Note to editors:

Find out more about DHL’s road and multimodal logistics offerings, with its road freight services on the rise in Southeast Asia, and a rail freight service from Xi’an in China to Hamburg and Neuss in Germany, that cut transit time down by over 40 percent. Read more on DHL’s Logistics of Things.

 

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 66 billion euros in 2020. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.

#DHL

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Japan Funds Upgrade of Japanese Language Department at National University of Laos

Japan funds Japanese language department at national university of Laos
Ambassador Kobayashi and Prof. Dr. Houngphet Chanthavong

The Japanese Government has provided grant assistance worth USD 92,485 for the Improvement of the Department of Japanese, National University of Laos.

Advanced Colorectal And General Surgery Launches New Website To Provide Medical Advice And Treatments For Colorectal And General Surgery

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 28 January 2022 – Advanced Colorectal and General Surgery has recently launched a new website, https://colorectalsurgery.com.sg/ to provide honest and transparent advice to the general public on how colorectal and other non-invasive surgeries are commonly performed for various medical conditions.

 

Having encountered many patients who seek advice on colorectal and general surgery matters, most of them were confused and did not know how to identify the common underlying symptoms and the available treatments.

 

With the new website, the general public will be well informed and equipped with the necessary medical knowledge on how to proceed with their medical condition before it is too late. The centre also firmly believes that with early detection of symptoms, there can be early intervention and preventative treatment through a wide range of minimally invasive surgery to achieve the best treatment outcomes.

 

The new website will focus on laparoscopic surgery, colonoscopy screening, cyst removals, endoscopy, hernia surgery and other common general surgeries. Besides the standard surgical treatments, there is a comprehensive list of common symptoms that people should watch for if they are unsure of their condition. The website also offers other helpful information, such as the basic costs of different surgeries and the applicable medical insurance.

About Advanced Colorectal and General Surgery

Advanced Colorectal and General Surgery is a Singapore based medical centre led by Dr QM Leong.

Dr QM Leong is a graduate of the University Of London and obtained his membership to the Royal College Of Surgeons Of Edinburgh in 2003. He also received his fellowship from the Royal College Of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2008. His most notable achievement was receiving the prestigious MOH HMDP scholarship to train under Prof Kim Seon Hahn in Korea University for Laparoscopic and Robotic colorectal surgery in 2010.

Dr QM Leong has extensive background knowledge in colorectal and general surgery. And his medical philosophy is, “A good surgeon knows how to operate. A better surgeon knows when to operate. The best surgeon knows when not to operate.”

#AdvancedColorectalandGeneralSurgery

Quanzhou-Moscow CRE Train Service Launched to Boost Trade Relations Between Jinjiang and Europe

QUANZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach – 27 January 2022 – The first CRE train service between Quanzhou and Moscow was launched to boost economic and trade relations between the major economic development zone of Jinjiang and Europe. On January 18, 2022, a CRE train (No. 75010) departed from Quanzhou East Station, loaded with products such as sanitation supplies, bags, shoes and clothing, and handicrafts, etc. for Moscow. According to Quanzhou Municipal Bureau Of Commerce, this is the first CRE train to Europe from Quanzhou, which is the starting point of Maritime Silk Road, and the inauguration of the train route will open new avenues for the foreign trade in Jinjiang, a county-level city of Quanzhou City.

 

The train carried 50 containers weighing about 445 tons, with a total value of about RMB 10.37 million. About half of the products are manufactured by Fujian Province Jinjiang City Foreign Trade Co., Ltd., Fujian Zonsun Import and Export Trade Co., Ltd., and Insoftb (China) Co., Ltd. The non-stop train departing from Quanzhou East Station will cross the border at Manzhouli Frontier Station and arrive at Moscow after a 20-day travel, with a total journey of about 10,960 km. This rail freight service shortens the transportation time by 25 days when compared with maritime shipping time.

 

Jinjiang, at the forefront in terms of foreign trade exports, realized a foreign trade value of RMB 67,359 million during Jan. to Sept. 2021, showing a year-on-year growth of 87.97% and 54.2% compared with 2020 and 2019, respectively. The value of exports to EU was RMB 6,889 million, with a growth of 57.6%, and the number of orders is still rising. The operation of the CRE train (Quanzhou – Moscow) will boost the economic and trade relations between Jinjiang and other countries along the route of “Belt and Road Initiative” and promote Jinjiang Products to march towards the world, the authorities at Quanzhou Municipal Bureau Of Commerce claimed.

 

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.