Asian Development Outlook- April 2025
<p>Weak consumption in the People’s Republic of China will partly offset robust domestic demand in South Asia. Disinflation is expected to continue, driven by lower food and energy prices, along
China
-
China's dams in the danger zone
China has more dams than any other country, and many of them are in Sichuan, an earthquake-prone, mountainous region. The majority of them produce hydroelectricity. The region is well-placed to supply power to large industrial cities down the Yangtze valley, and when the dams were built this must have appeared a logical strategy. Now it looks foolhardy. Hundreds of Sichuan's dams have been damaged by the earthquake and could collapse during the coming monsoon season. (Editorial)
-
CDM for the masses
The fight against climate change cannot succeed unless the people of India and China join the effort at a mass level Jotdeep Singh
-
Disagreements derail UN food crisis summit
The world will face high food prices "in the years to come", the UN food summit said yesterday, but failed to agree how the crisis could be eased. The summit, hosted by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, was called to tackle food price rises that have triggered riots in 30 countries, but became embroiled in a bitter dispute over biofuels and export restrictions. Agricultural commodities rose on the news as traders saw no prospect of change in biofuels policies or in the use of trade restrictions by key exporters. Bad weather has also contributed to the recent price rises.
-
China to turn coal into oil
With oil prices at historic highs, China is moving full steam ahead with a controversial process to turn its vast coal reserves into barrels of oil. Known as coal-to-liquid (CTL), the process is reviled by environmentalists who say it causes excessive greenhouse gases. Yet the possibility of obtaining oil.-from coal and being fuel self-sufficient is enticing to coal-rich coun-tries seeking to secure their ; energy supply in an age of increased debate about how long the world's oil reserves can continue to meet demand.
-
We contribute to food security: China
China is a major contributor to the world food security by feeding nearly a quarter of the global population and involving in aid to other countries, said its Agriculture Minister here. "China has managed to feed 1.3 billion people, mostly relying on domestic production, which in itself is a major contribution to the world food security,' Sun Zhengcai told the summit on food. Mr. Sun said China was also committed to contributing to the development of the world food and agriculture.
-
UN decision puts brakes on ocean fertilization
Ocean-fertilization advocates suffered another setback last week as 191 nations agreed to a moratorium on large-scale commercial schemes to mitigate climate change. The agreement, adopted on 30 May at a meeting of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, Germany, calls for a ban on major ocean fertilization projects until scientists better understand the potential risks and benefits of manipulating the oceanic food chain.
-
GM moves away from gas-guzzlers
Far from being a celebration, General Motors' 100th year in business is turning out to be one of the most wrenching in its long history. The Detroit-based company lost its spot as the world's biggest carmaker Toyotalast month, after hanging on to it by the narrowest of margins last year. It also faces the massive task of shifting its focus from the big sports-utility vehicles and pick-up trucks that have dominated its North American product line-up - and its profits - for the past 15 years.
-
Needs of China BRT system different from Delhi's: Dikshit
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit attributed the success of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in China to the discipline of the Chinese. Dikshit, after returning from her week-long visit from China, said, Chinese strictly follow traffic rules and regulations.
-
China working to prevent epidemics among 5 million left homeless by earthquake
Workers in protective suits circled collapsed communities in trucks on Monday, spraying disinfectant on rubble from last month's massive earthquake as part of a government campaign to prevent disease outbreaks among the 5 million left homeless. Providing safe food, drinking water and temporary shelters was a priority following the May 12 earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 people, the Health Ministry said. Bodies discovered in the rubble were being disinfected, ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said in an interview posted on the central government's Web site.
-
Confident" China Rules Out Post-Quake Epidemics
Chin said on Monday it could guarantee there would be no epidemics in the eathquake zone, while some survivors complained their farmland was being bulldozed to make way for temporary housing. Where bodies crushed under buildings in the devastating May 12 tremor could not be cremated, they had been been buried deep underground and far from water sources to prevent contamination, Health Ministry spokesman Mao Qunan said. Camps had been disinfected and people warned of health risks.