Asia Economic Weekly 亚洲经济周报 Issue No. 11 (2014.03.21-2014.03.28) Highlights: China and the European Union officially launched the negotiation for bilateral investment agreement in January, marking significant steps in system construction of economic and trade cooperation. President Xi Jinping has started the visit to four European nations and EU headquarters recently and it is no doubt that the important visit, which may record in the history of China-European relations, would have positive impact on the negotiation for China-EU investment agreement. Research and Training Institute Boao Forum for Asia 博鳌亚洲论坛研究院 1 【Weekly Review】 International Business Daily: It’s Time to accelerate negotiation on China-EU Investment Agreement China and the European Union officially launched the negotiation for bilateral investment agreement in January, marking significant steps in system construction of economic and trade cooperation. President Xi Jinping has started the visit to four European nations and EU headquarters recently and it is no doubt that the important visit, which may record in the history of China-European relations, would have positive impact on the negotiation for China-EU investment agreement. 【Economic Developments】 China: HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to an eight-month low China: 2014 central budget to be used in seven ways Japan: FY 2014 budget to hit a record high Japan: To set up limits-relaxed national strategic special zones Japan: To approve new rules on arms export and ease arms export ban 2 Japan: IPO fundraising hits 7-year-high in 2013 South Korea: Per-capita gross national income (GNI) exceeded US$26,000 in 2013 South Korea: The producer price index (PPI) slid 0.9 percent in February Hong Kong: Exports decline for second month year-on-year Taiwan: Unemployment rate edged down to 4.05 percent in February Vietnam: GDP grows 4.96 percent in Q1 from a year ago Russia: Capital outflow seen about $70 billion in Q1 U.S.: Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index slipped to 55.5 in March Euro zone: Current account surplus rose to a record high in January U.K.: Signs of balanced economic growth been emerging 3 【Trade & Investment】 China: Trade in international services saw a deficit of 58.5 billion yuan in February China, Africa: Trade totaled $200 billion in 2013, hitting a record high China, Europe: Reach an agreement on anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe into wine South Korea: To build giant casino, meant to 'appeal primarily to Chinese' 【Regional Cooperation】 U.S., E.U.: Progress made in free trade talks but no substantive outcomes China, Netherland: Build the first food security system together South Korea: Urged North Korea to repay loans, which more than $960 million with capital and interest 4 South Korean Deputy Prime Minister: Optimistic about progress of talks on free trade between South Korea and China 【Authoritative Forecasts】 IMF: China support as wellspring for global economic growth World Bank: China’s experience of urbanization is paid attention to by the other countries Goldman Sachs: Downgrade its GDP forecast for China to 7.3 percent Ernst & Young: Chinese enterprises should take the initiative to meet the carbon emissions trading ADB: Express concern about Japanese economy Institute of the Wall Street: Cautious about the gold market this year Australia media: Chinese economy would still surpass US before the end of 2020 Fitch: Downgraded the outlook for Russia's credit rating to negative and keep AAA credit rating on the U.S. 5 6