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Chengdu emerges as magnet for foreign businesses, professionals

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By Wang Yongzhan, People’s Daily

Chengdu, a key city in southwest China’s Sichuan province, has become a magnet for foreign businesses and investors, thanks to its rich cultural heritage, convenient location, and strong pro-business environment. Today, more than 4,000 foreign-invested enterprises are based in the city, and over 100,000 foreigners live and work there.
When Dutch national Robert was asked why he settled in Chengdu, he instantly cited the local expression: “Ba shi,” meaning “ideal comfortable.”
In 2008, while attending university in the Netherlands, Robert met his future wife, Chen Ruze, a Sichuan native. After graduating and beginning careers, the couple visited Chen’s hometown Zigong in 2013, extending their trip to Chengdu
Known for its long history and vibrant culture, Chengdu ranks among China’s most compelling cities for international visitors. Robert found himself captivated not only by the city’s famous landmarks but also by quintessential local scenes – citizens dancing in public squares or leisurely drinking tea in traditional teahouses – all epitomizing the city’s signature unhurried lifestyle.
In early 2015, the couple moved to Chengdu permanently. Robert began learning Chinese and adapting to local customs. “Here, you can enjoy both tradition and modernity – historic sites, pandas, Sichuan opera, exhibitions, hot pot, teahouses. There’s always something new to experience,” he said.
Around the same time, Chengdu unveiled its plan to become an international exchange center, rolling out policies to attract overseas professionals and international students. “After conducting thorough market research, we decided to start a company to help foreign talent find jobs in China,” Robert said.
In 2016, Robert founded the company eChinaCareers. The following year, the company moved into an industrial park built for international talent in Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone, benefiting from subsidized rent policies. “We primarily help international schools and foreign enterprises in China with talent acquisition,” explained Chen Ruze.
In 2023, the company relocated to the nearby International Talent Hub, which is also in the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone. The company continued to enjoy rent-free space.
Leveraging the platform of International Talent Hub, the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone aims to become a major hub for human resources services in central and western China and a vibrant zone for young global innovators and entrepreneurs.
Chengdu’s international appeal has grown significantly in recent years. According to Ctrip’s 2024 Chinese travel destination heatmap, Chengdu ranked as the top destination for foreign tourists in China. A wide range of talent programs and streamlined mechanisms for attracting overseas professionals have helped Chengdu earn repeated recognition as one of the best Chinese cities for talent and a top destination in the eyes of expats.
This environment also creates opportunities for eChinaCareers, which has helped tens of thousands of foreign professionals find jobs. “More and more foreigners are coming to Chengdu and falling in love with it,” said Robert, adding that his company now also helps local talent explore international opportunities.
At a Chengdu production facility of Australian medical device company Cochlear, general manager of Cochlear China Li Xinyu was inspecting the latest batch of cochlear implants.
In September 2017, Cochlear approved plans to build a production base in Tianfu New Area, Sichuan. It would become the company’s sole overseas manufacturing site for cochlear implants. With an investment of about $87 million in buildings and equipment, the Chengdu facility officially began operations in 2021.
“Chengdu has an advanced transportation network and serves as a key node along the Belt and Road,” Li explained. “The components we use can be shipped here quickly and cost-effectively by rail or air.”
Soft infrastructure also plays a role. “At every stage of project development and operations, we received robust multi-level support,” Li said. After the project was approved, the local government in Tianfu New Area provided tailored one-on-one assistance with incentive applications. “With institutions like the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, the city offers a deep talent pool, and dozens of top hospitals present huge potential for cooperation.”
Chengdu’s logistical advantages have strengthened since operations began. “Dual international airports enable efficient distribution across China and Southeast Asia,” said Li. With support from customs and other agencies, clearance time for shipments has dropped from two weeks to just one day, significantly reducing logistics costs.
With convenient transportation and an open, business-friendly environment, Chengdu continues to attract foreign investment. In 2024, the city’s international airports handled over 87 million passengers and more than 1 million tons of cargo. In the first four months of this year, Chengdu brought in $656 million in foreign direct investment, ranking first among all cities in western and central China.

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Foreign

BREAKING: Trump Orders Investigation into Reported Christian Killings in Nigeria

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By: Fabian Apechihin

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has directed lawmakers to launch an immediate investigation into reports of widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria, describing the situation as a “Christian genocide.”

In a statement released Friday evening via his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed grave concern over the violence, blaming radical Islamist groups for what he called a “mass slaughter.”

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.

The U.S. President announced that he is designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing alarming figures of killings within the country compared to global totals.

“When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria — something must be done! I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me,” Trump stated.

He added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” pledging that his administration remains ready “to protect Christian populations around the world.”

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Defence/Security

Polish MEP Raises Alarm Over Killings of Christians in Nigeria

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By: Fabian Apechihin

Polish Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Dominik Tarczyński, has once again drawn global attention to what he described as the ongoing persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria.

In a post on his verified 𝕏 account on Monday, Tarczyński shared an image of a blood-stained Nigerian flag alongside a viral video showing a pastor conducting a burial ceremony for victims of violence.

In the video, the pastor lamented the frequent killings, saying:

“We are tired of performing burial every day, and they expect us to remain silent. It has become an order, and the Nigerian government came out to deny the massacre, saying there is no genocide of Christians in Nigeria. United Nations, you’re watching me. The American Parliament is aware of what we are doing now. My special request is to President Trump to save our lives in Nigeria. They are killing more Christians. If they say they kill Muslims, the Muslims are killed by who? Muslims are killed by Muslims.”

Tarczyński’s post quickly went viral, sparking widespread reactions and renewed calls for the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to combat banditry and terrorism.

However, the Federal Government has repeatedly rejected claims of a religiously targeted genocide. In a recent statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described such allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”

Idris maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges are complex and not driven by religious motives, warning that framing the fight against terrorism as an anti-Christian campaign could deepen existing social and religious divides.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting all Nigerians, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and called on international partners and media outlets to “refrain from narratives that distort the country’s security realities.”

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Foreign

Two Dead After Cargo Plane Skids Off Hong Kong Runway Into Sea

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By: Fabian Apechihin

Two airport security officers were killed early Monday after a cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport, struck their patrol vehicle, and plunged into the sea.

The incident involved Emirates flight EK9788, a Boeing 747 arriving from Dubai around 03:50 local time (19:50 GMT Sunday). The aircraft veered off the north runway, crashed through perimeter fencing, and collided with the patrol vehicle, pushing it into the water. Both occupants of the vehicle died, while the plane’s four crew members survived.

According to officials, the plane ended up partially submerged, making it one of Hong Kong Airport’s deadliest aviation accidents in years. Two other runways remain operational as investigations continue.

Airport operations executive director Steven Yiu said the patrol vehicle had been travelling on a service road outside the runway’s perimeter at a “safe distance” when the plane suddenly turned off course.
“Normally, the plane is not supposed to turn towards the sea,” Yiu said during a press briefing. He emphasized that the patrol car “definitely did not enter the runway” and that the aircraft had not sent a distress signal before landing.

Divers later recovered the bodies of the victims—two men aged 30 and 41—about five meters from the shore and seven meters underwater. One was confirmed dead at the scene, and the other died in hospital.

Hong Kong’s transport bureau expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the event as “deeply saddening.”

Emirates confirmed the accident, saying the cargo plane “sustained damage on landing in Hong Kong.” The airline noted there was no cargo onboard and that the aircraft had been wet-leased—meaning operated with crew and insurance—from Turkish carrier ACT Airlines.

Firefighters reached the scene within two minutes, rescuing all four crew members who had escaped via the aircraft’s emergency slides. Photos from the crash site show the plane broken in half, with part of its fuselage submerged in water.

Authorities are now searching for the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders (“black boxes”). A police spokesperson said criminal investigations have not been ruled out.

The affected runway will remain closed pending the outcome of the investigation. At least 11 incoming cargo flights were cancelled on Monday, according to airport authorities.

This is only the second fatal aviation accident at Hong Kong International Airport since it relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998. The previous one occurred in 1999, when a China Airlines jet crash-landed during a typhoon, killing three people.

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