US may have scuppered Abe's bid to attract more tourists

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to increase the number of tourists to the country to 40 million by 2020. To reach that goal, Japan is mulling allowing more international flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The planned route passes through an area where the US Yokota Air Base handles air traffic control.

CNOOC lifts natural gas supplies

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) said on Friday that it would bolster its liquefied natural gas storage facilities to ensure adequate supplies of the clean fuel to northern parts of the country this winter.

Wanda launches retail expansion

Amid the huge growth in online shopping in the country, the commercial property arm of Dalian Wanda Group says it is betting big on new retail, and aims to have 300 plazas by 2019.

Beijing boosts healthcare industry

The revenue of Beijing's healthcare industry is expected to reach 250 billion yuan ($36 billion) by 2020, as the city boosts the industry's innovation capacity and integration with the high-tech research sector, local authorities said on Friday.

IN BRIEF (Page 5)

Repurchases gain traction on bourses

Share repurchases surged in mainland stock markets with a sizable growth in the number of such transactions on an annual basis, data from information provider Wind Info showed on Friday.

Tencent ranked as top Chinese brand

British multinational advertising and public relations company WPP unveiled its top 100 Chinese brands ranking on Wednesday evening in London, in an effort to acknowledge Chinese firms' growing reputation on the international stage.

Alibaba steps up battle with Meituan-Dianping

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced on Friday the consolidation of two of its food review and delivery-related businesses, intensifying a battle with Tencent Holdings Ltd-backed rival Meituan-Dianping for dominance of the Chinese market.

Pence's speech revealed why ties off-course

Editor's note: US Vice-President Mike Pence vehemently attacked China in his speech at the Hudson Institute on Thursday last week. A post on the speech by Shen Dingli, professor of international studies with Shanghai-based Fudan University, has gained much attention. Excerpts:

Australia and Japan should not let ally lead them astray

In the trilateral relationship between the United States, Japan and Australia, ties between Tokyo and Canberra tend to be the weakest link. Under the encouragement of the United States, however, that link is becoming stronger, with the US making continuous efforts for its two allies to strengthen their strategic partnership.

Chinese researchers must adopt a more long-term perspective

JAPAN'S TASUKU HONJO, a professor of immunology of Kyoto University, won the 2018 Nobel Prize in medicine, together with the James Allison, a professor of immunology with the University of Texas of the United States, for their research that has revolutionized the treatment of cancer last week. Xinhua News Agency comments:

Foreign companies know where bread is buttered

There have been many reports about foreign investment closing up shop in China and fleeing to other emerging markets. For as Sino-US trade frictions continue to chill the investment environment, doomsayers are quick to point out any signs they perceive portending a coming winter for the Chinese economy. In their eyes, China is fast losing its allure as the world's top magnet for foreign investment.