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21 May, 4 tweets, 5 min read
#Suzhou #China now... ImageImageImageImage
More #Suzhou #China now... ImageImageImageImage
Retro shop: #Suzhou last night. #China ImageImageImageImage
Not a bad day in #Suzhou today. 苏州今天天气很好。 #China ImageImage

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More from @StephenMcDonell

Stephen McDonell Profile picture
23 May
A regular journalist experience in #China: I went to #Suzhou this weekend to play footy. After checking into a hotel my journalist visa obviously triggered the ‘warning journalist’ buzzer inside Big Brother’ HQ. The hotel staff then asked me: “Why are you here”? [cont]
“Err to play football”, I say. Later another call, this time the hotel manager. She says she’s checking again for the police why I’m in the city. “To play football,” I say again. What about the other foreigners staying in the hotel? Again I answer: “Football”. [cont]
Then another call. This time it’s the Exit-Entry police. “Why are you in #Suzhou”? A: “To play football”. Q: “Not to conduct interviews”? A: “No”. Police then say: “Because if you were here to conduct interviews you would have to first register with us”. [cont]
Read 11 tweets
Stephen McDonell Profile picture
7 Mar
The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s annual, highly-controlled press conference starts in about 10 minutes. #China facing massive global challenges but, with only screened questions permitted, no guarantee that any decent questions will be allowed at all.
Unfortunately due to the high volume of Communist Party sponsored/encouraged troll attacks in recent times I’m limiting who can respond to this thread. I’m sorry to impose this on normal people out there with genuine questions but until @Twitter fixes this it’ll be happening more
Due to #coronavirus restrictions Wang Yi’s annual NPC press conference will, for the second year in a row, be done remotely. He will be at the Great Hall of the People and a selection of approved journalists will ask questions from a media centre in another part of #Beijing.
Read 38 tweets
Stephen McDonell Profile picture
5 Mar
National People’s Congress underway in #Beijing. Because of the #coronavirus we are not inside the Great Hall of the People for the opening session for the second year in a row. #China Image
Unlike last year as the #coronavirus took off, the Chinese Government has set an official economic growth target for this year of 6%+ GDP growth. Budget deficit (as a percentage of GDP) is also down on last year, as #China prepares to emerge economically from the #covid emergency
Though people will be looking at renewable energy targets etc, in terms of big news at the rubber stamp session, it'll be remembered for introducing changes to #HongKong's electoral system making an already rigged voting procedure even more impossible for the pro-democracy camp.
Read 8 tweets
Stephen McDonell Profile picture
4 Mar
Tomorrow (Friday) National People’s Congress opening in #Beijing: nearly 3,000 delegates will gather to rubber stamp new measures/laws approved by the Communist Party. Watch out for changes to #HongKong’s electoral system making it even harder for anyone but pro-Beijing camp.
Also to watch out for: if #China’s leaders set a GDP target for the coming 12 months. Last year - given the #coronavirus emergency - there was no target (actually understandable really).
Climate and other environmental challenges could also get a mention, especially as they relate to economic changes. New 5-year plan to be unveiled. #China’s post-#covid relations with the world also critical, especially with new #US administration.
Read 4 tweets
Stephen McDonell Profile picture
16 Feb
If you want a little snapshot of how moronic the Communist Party’s attacks on the BBC have become in #China you need look no further than the comments below this offering. In short the BBC has some evil filter to - wait for it - make sunny China look more grey. Because... ?
For anyone who is actually genuinely interested in this...
From a BBC Chinese language producer...
Read 4 tweets
Stephen McDonell Profile picture
16 Feb
None of this true really. The speed v flying depends on distance:: quicker than planes for regional cities. High speed trains in #China are never (I do mean never) late. No traffic jams. For getting work done onboard/making deadlines they crap on all other transport +comfortable.
I’d say distances up to 1000 kms high speed trains beat all other forms of transport on time alone. Their introduction in #China has revolutionised transport, massive benefits for smaller satellite cities connecting to larger cities re economic development, commuting, convenience
Cost is a more complicated calculation but you can’t just add it up in terms of ticket price needed to cover infrastructure. The considerable economic benefits from having the service need to be in the mix. For cities/towns up to 1000kms apart in #China it’s changed life/economy.
Read 5 tweets

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