IN BRIEF (Page 18)

JD eyes move into online insurance

Competition in China's fast-growing online insurance industry is intensifying as the nation's internet giants are investing heavily in the lucrative sector.

UN event ponders sustainable growth from sharing economy

GENEVA - Didi Chuxing, a major ride-sharing company from China that provides transportation services for hundreds of millions of users, was used to illustrate the concept of the "sharing economy" during a UN event in Geneva early this week.

Marriott, Alibaba to launch new booking portal

The joint venture formed by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba and the world's largest hotel group Marriott International eight months ago will put an exclusive booking portal online next week, said Marriott in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Beidou system to expand into HK

Hong Kong marks the first stop on the road to expanding the Chinese mainland's self-developed Beidou Navigation Satellite System into a worldwide network, said a top executive of the company.

British art exports to China surge 350 percent in 2017

Art exports from the United Kingdom to China rose more than 350 percent in 2017, according to newly released figures from the UK tax authorities.

Education company employs more tech

Chinese online education company Zuoyebang aims to incorporate more technology into its products this year to benefit not only students from major Chinese cities but third and fourth-tier ones as well.

TV firms rush into AI-ready sector

Watching television in the digital era has just got a lot easier. Chinese TV manufacturers have ushered in the era of intelligent TVs as more and more affluent consumers are pursuing a smarter, high-end lifestyle.

Hainan plan gives related firms a boost

Share prices of Hainan-related companies rallied on Monday in response to President Xi Jinping's speech on Friday supporting the building of the whole island into a pilot free trade zone and a free port with Chinese characteristics.

Hanergy unveils next generation thin-film tile

Hanergy Thin Film Power Group Ltd launched the second generation of its flagship product Hantile, a thin-film rooftop PV product, in Beijing on Sunday.

Online fashion retailer eyes US public offering

BEIJING - Meilishuo, a Chinese online fashion retailer backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd, is in talks with several investment banks about a US initial public offering that could value the startup at about $4 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

UK firms seek Chinese partners

British airlines and retailers are finding Chinese business partners to make the most of increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting the United Kingdom.