Connect with us

Technology

Global Times: ‘When China develops, the world benefits’; foreign envoys, companies express optimism in Chinese economy

Published

on

BEIJING, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As China’s ongoing two sessions project a positive, stabilizing message to the world, a number of foreign companies, institutions and envoys have expressed their upbeat view on China, with some announcing new investments in recent weeks to bank on China’s vast market and the country’s pledges on further opening up.

The annual national “two sessions,” a highly anticipated event on China’s political calendar, are being held in Beijing. On March 5, China set an annual GDP growth target of around 5 percent for 2025, according to the Government Work Report delivered to the National People’s Congress (NPC) for deliberation.

A slew of other economic targets were also unveiled, with the deficit-to-GDP ratio being set at approximately 4 percent while the surveyed urban unemployment rate was targeted at around 5.5 percent.

Achievable targets

Salvador Moncada, Honduran ambassador to China who was among foreign envoys attending the NPC opening session this year, told the Global Times he believes the Chinese government must have carefully considered the GDP growth target and that he is confident that China will achieve this goal in the current economic environment.

“It would be a pretense for me to judge a number that has been, I’m sure, carefully calculated and can be accomplished given the circumstances,” said the Honduran ambassador, adding that the 5 percent growth will contribute significantly to global growth.

In the Government Work Report, “high-quality development” was mentioned multiple times. In the view of Peru’s Ambassador to China Marco Vinicio Balarezo Lizarzaburu, “China has entered a new phase of high-quality development.”

“When China develops, other countries such as Peru also benefit,” Balarezo said, noting that China has established the first Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational education program, in Peru and the workshop is training local workers who understand lithium batteries and new-energy vehicles (NEV) manufacturing technology to provide a workforce for future bilateral cooperation in green industries.

Evaluating China’s GDP growth target, Khalil Hashmi, Pakistani Ambassador to China, told the Global Times that he is confident the 2025 target will be met.

“We know that for a large and mature economy like China with nearly $18 trillion GDP, it is no longer possible to grow at double-digit. I think among the major economies, 5 percent growth is very significant and this is almost double the average of other mature economies,” he said.

The Pakistani ambassador explained that he thinks the 5 percent goal is achievable because the right micro economic policies and monetary policies are in place.

“There is a high degree of optimism and confidence that economic growth and economic growth target of 5 percent is certainly achievable,” Hashmi said, noting that appropriate macro-economic and monetary policies, fiscal and foreign trade policies, and investment priorities have made him optimistic about China’s economic outlook.

The targeted increment of China’s GDP in 2025, which will be equal to that of a mid-sized economy, will continue to contribute to the global economy which has yet to fully recover from the pandemic, Tian Xuan, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and associate dean of Tsinghua University’s PBC School of Finance, told the Global Times.

Tech innovation in focus

The Government Work Report has offered insights on China’s development with a strong focus on technology and innovation, foreign analysts and envoys pointed out.

Fostering sci-tech innovation has become a key buzzword in the Government Work Report, according to media reports. Also, the country has announced that it will allocate a greater share of science and technology expenditures to basic research.

“There will be more focus on tech innovation. The meeting pledges to bolster tech innovation by improving market ecosystem, and increase support for AI applications and new generation of intelligent terminals (NEVs, AI-enabled phones and PCs, and humanoids) … We think tech animal spirits may return,” Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said in a statement sent to the Global Times.

China has become a powerhouse of innovation, with a strong and comprehensive ecosystem that includes hardware, software and AI, Airbus China CEO George Xu told the Global Times on Sunday.

In particular, the booming low-altitude economy will further boost China’s general aviation market, and benefit the development of the helicopter market, the general aviation industry and its overall ecosystem, Xu said.

Dassault Systèmes, a French software multinational, has been closely monitoring policies related to China’s high-quality development and technological innovation goals, with a focus on advancing the digital economy, green and low-carbon transformation, and the deep integration of frontier technologies like AI, industrial software, and the real economy.

“In 2025, China will remain the global core engine of innovation and industrial modernization, and Dassault Systèmes maintains strong confidence in the long-term development of the Chinese market,” Zhang Ying, managing director of Greater China with Dassault Systèmes, told the Global Times on Sunday.

“Biomedicine is of great interest since this is now an area of priority and innovation is occurring in the areas of generating new molecules guided by AI, clinical trials and integration of traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine,” said Moncada, Honduran Ambassador to China.

Investing in China

In recent days, foreign investors have increasingly turned their attention to the burgeoning opportunities in AI and robotics in China.

In a sign of such an interest, about 100 foreign institutions have been researching China’s A-share listed companies since February, conducting surveys of more than 60 listed companies, domestic financial newspaper the Shanghai Securities Journal reported in February.

Multiple foreign financial institutions and their analysts have drawn great confidence in their prospects in the Chinese market from the ongoing two sessions.

These happened as pleasant surprises pop out in a succession since the start of 2025, from DeepSeek’s chatbot to UniTree’s humanoid robot, according to Tian.

“For many multinational companies, China is and will remain an important market. China is too big to be missed – as a critical source of revenue and profitability,” Denis Depoux, global managing director of Roland Berger, a German business consulting firm, told the Global Times.

China today is not only a manufacturing powerhouse but also a global innovation powerhouse, Depoux said.

Many companies also translated their bullish outlook into investment actions.

Global investors have bought up $2 billion of Chinese stocks in January, as well as $8.1 billion worth of debt purchase, according to a report from the Institute of International Finance on February 18.

At the start of 2025, Morgan Stanley announced that Morgan Stanley Futures (China) Co, a wholly owned subsidiary, had officially commenced business to provide brokerage services for China’s onshore commodity futures. Standard Chartered Securities China said its Shanghai branch had obtained a license to conduct securities and other businesses in China.

On March 3, US hotel giant Marriott International opened its 600th property in Greater China with the opening of the 289-room The St. Regis Shenzhen Bao’an, as the company “continues to focus on development opportunities” in China, according to a press release the hospitality provider sent to the Global Times.

Singapore-based Singapore Perennial Holdings opened up China’s first wholly foreign-owned, third-grade general hospital, in North China’s Tianjin Municipality on February 26. The 500-bed hospital, developed and equipped at a cost of 1 billion yuan ($138 million), is positioned to tap the rising and diversified medical care demand by Chinese citizens.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-when-china-develops-the-world-benefits-foreign-envoys-companies-express-optimism-in-chinese-economy-302398103.html

SOURCE Global Times

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Great Place To Work names Invisors on the 2026 Best Workplaces for Women List, Ranking no.65

Published

on

By

Invisors named a UK’s Best Workplaces for Women™!

GLASGOW, Scotland, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Invisors, a Workday Services Partner has officially been recognized as one of UK’s Best Workplaces for Women 2026™, in 65th place out of the 350 ranked organisations.

Invisors’ values and culture are among the reasons women at our organisation say it is a great place to work. Discover how the team brings this philosophy to life at invisors.com/company-overview.

The 2026 UK’s Best Workplaces for Women list is made up of employers whose people have told Great Place To Work® UK they work for a place that is inclusive and equitable for all. The 350 companies on the list are committed to ensuring a reasonable balance of women and men across the organisation; removing barriers to women’s career advancement; and creating workplaces where all employees, regardless of gender, can flourish.

“I’m incredibly proud to see Invisors recognized as a Top Place for Women to Work. This award reflects the culture we’ve built together—one that values inclusivity, flexibility and empowerment. It’s a place where people are supported to bring their whole selves to work, grow their careers and strive for excellence every day.” Jennifer Donnelly-Corbett, EMEA Manager, HCM and Absence at Invisors.

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work UK says:

“This year’s UK’s Best Workplaces for Women list celebrates businesses making a genuine difference day to day, not just in what they say, but in how people experience work. What matters most is that this recognition comes directly from women working in these organisations, who tell us they feel supported, valued, and able to grow.

Our research demonstrates that these organisations creating high-trust environments deliver stronger results, whether in financial outcomes, impact, or service delivery, alongside greater agility and resilience in the face of change.

Congratulations to Invisors for creating an environment where inclusion is clearly felt in practice.” 

Matt Smith, Managing Director, Global HR Operations, Invisors “Being named as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women list is an achievement because it reflects what our people actually experience, not just what we aspire to. We’ve worked to build an environment where career growth and success aren’t something women have to fight for — it’s built into how we operate. This recognition is a great step in the journey, not the finish line, and we’re committed to keeping that bar high as Invisors grows within the UK.”

About Invisors

As a certified Workday Services Partner, Invisors helps clients leverage their organisational data to make better-informed business decisions through the deployment of Workday. Invisors’ success is measured by their clients’ ability to achieve their big-picture vision. From initial deployments to ongoing projects, Invisors is dedicated to elevating perspectives and transforming results. To learn more, visit invisors.com

About Great Place To Work®

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, helping organisations to create exceptional, high-performing workplaces where employees feel trusted and valued. The UK’s Best Workplaces for Women™ enables these outstanding organisations to celebrate their achievements, build their employer brand, and inspire others to take action. For more information, visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/great-place-to-work-names-invisors-on-the-2026-best-workplaces-for-women-list-ranking-no65-302833539.html

SOURCE Invisors

Continue Reading

Technology

Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC, Makes It Easy to Shop for Used Vehicles Online

Published

on

By

RALEIGH, N.C., July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC, helps shoppers browse used-vehicle inventory, compare options, and complete key steps of the buying process online for a faster, more convenient shopping experience.

Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC, is simplifying the used vehicle shopping experience by offering convenient online tools that help drivers browse inventory, compare options, and begin the purchasing process from the comfort of home.

With a user-friendly website, shoppers can explore an extensive selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs that fit a variety of budgets and lifestyles. Detailed vehicle listings provide important information, including photos, key features, specifications, pricing, and availability, allowing customers to make informed decisions before visiting the dealership.

The online platform also makes it easy to narrow vehicle choices using search filters for make, model, body style, price range, mileage, model year, and other preferences. These features help shoppers quickly find vehicles that meet their individual needs while saving valuable time.

In addition to browsing inventory, customers can use several digital shopping tools to streamline the buying process. Visitors can estimate monthly payments, value a trade-in, complete a finance application, and schedule a test drive online. These resources allow shoppers to prepare for their dealership visit with greater confidence and convenience.

Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC, regularly updates its online inventory, giving customers access to fresh vehicle selections as they become available. Whether someone is searching for a dependable commuter car, a family-friendly SUV, or a capable pickup truck, the website provides an efficient way to explore available options before stepping into the showroom.

The dealership remains committed to delivering a straightforward, customer-focused buying experience by combining a wide range of high-quality used vehicles with digital tools that simplify every stage of the shopping journey.

Drivers looking to begin their search can visit Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC, or browse the current inventory online to compare vehicles and take advantage of convenient shopping resources before visiting the dealership in person.

About Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC

Auction Direct USA in Raleigh, NC, offers a diverse inventory of quality used cars, trucks, and SUVs to meet a wide range of driving needs and budgets. By combining a customer-focused approach with convenient online shopping tools, the dealership helps make finding and purchasing a used vehicle simple, efficient, and enjoyable.

Media Contact: Tony Kicinski, 844-678-8048, tonyk@auctiondirectusa.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/auction-direct-usa-in-raleigh-nc-makes-it-easy-to-shop-for-used-vehicles-online-302834031.html

SOURCE Auction Direct USA

Continue Reading

Technology

FLAGSTAR BANK, N.A. ANNOUNCES $250 MILLION SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

Published

on

By

Board of Directors Authorizes Repurchase of Up to $250 Million of Outstanding Common Stock, Reflecting the Bank’s Strong Capital Position and Commitment to Long-Term Shareholder Value

HICKSVILLE, N.Y., July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Flagstar Bank, N.A. (NYSE: FLG) (the “Bank”) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a common stock repurchase program under which the Bank may repurchase up to $250 million of its outstanding common stock over the next 12-month period.

Commenting on the repurchase program, Joseph M. Otting, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, “We are pleased to announce our stock buyback program, which reflects the meaningful progress we have made in executing our strategic plan, the strength of the balance sheet, and Flagstar’s long-term growth prospects. We have consistently maintained capital levels well above regulatory requirements, and we believe that returning capital to our shareholders through a share repurchase program represents a compelling and disciplined use of our excess capital at this time.

“We remain deeply committed to serving our customers and communities and we are confident that this program — alongside our continued investment in our people, products, systems, and technology — will deliver sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders.”

Repurchases may be conducted through open-market purchases, which may include purchases under a trading plan adopted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-1, or through privately negotiated transactions. The timing and exact amount of any share repurchases will be subject to a variety of factors, including the availability of stock for repurchases, the Bank’s capital position and financial performance, regulatory considerations, and general market conditions. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Bank to acquire any specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time without prior notice. Any future stock repurchase programs would be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and other various factors, including the Bank’s liquidity, capital position and financial performance, accounting and regulatory considerations, and general market conditions.

Flagstar Bank, N.A.

Flagstar Bank, N.A. is one of the largest regional banks in the country and is headquartered in Hicksville, New York. At June 30, 2026, the Bank had $87.7 billion of assets, $61.2 billion of loans, deposits of $67.5 billion, and total stockholders’ equity of $8.1 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates approximately 340 locations across nine states, with strong footholds in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan region and in the upper Midwest, along with a significant presence in fast-growing markets in Florida and the West Coast.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Language

This press release may include forward‐looking statements by us and our authorized officers pertaining to such matters as our goals, beliefs, intentions, and expectations regarding, among other things: (a) revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, liquidity position, capital levels, risk analysis, divestitures, acquisitions, and other material transactions, among other matters; (b) the future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; (c) our assessments of credit risk and probable losses on loans and associated allowances and reserves; (d) our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; (e) our ability to achieve profitability goals within projected timeframes and to execute on our strategic plan, including the sufficiency of our internal resources, procedures and systems; (f) our ability to execute our capital management strategies, including our ability to complete our current stock repurchase program and to implement future stock repurchase programs; (g) our ability to attract, incentivize, and retain key personnel and the roles of key personnel; (h) our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals, including those related to our recent holding company reorganization, which was completed in October 2025 (the “Reorganization”), our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., which was completed in December 2022, our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction, which was completed in March 2023, and our ability to comply with the heightened regulatory standards with respect to governance and risk management programs to which we are subject as a national bank with assets of $50 billion or more; (i) the impact of the $1.05 billion capital raise we completed in March 2024; (j) the conversion or exchange of shares of our preferred stock; (k) the payment of dividends on shares of our capital stock, including adjustments to the amount of dividends payable on shares of our preferred stock; (l) the dilution of existing equity holders associated with future equity awards and stock issuances; (m) the effects of the reverse stock split we effected in July 2024; and (n) the impact of the 2024 sale of our mortgage servicing operations, third party mortgage loan origination business, and mortgage warehouse business.

Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “should,” “confident,” and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; we do not assume any duty, and do not undertake, to update our forward‐looking statements. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in our statements, and our future performance could differ materially from our historical results.

Our forward‐looking statements are subject to, among others, the following principal risks and uncertainties: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities, credit and financial markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, including associated allowances and reserves; changes in future allowance for credit losses, including changes required under relevant accounting and regulatory requirements; the ability to pay future dividends; the ability to implement future stock repurchase programs, which are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and other various factors, including the Bank’s liquidity, capital position, and financial performance, accounting and regulatory considerations, as well as general market conditions; changes in our capital management and balance sheet strategies and our ability to successfully implement such strategies; our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Reorganization; changes in our Board of Directors and our executive management team; changes in our strategic plan, including changes in our internal resources, procedures and systems, and our ability to successfully implement such plan; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non‐financial institutions; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; changes relating to rent regulation and housing, including recent legislative action in New York City to freeze rents on certain rent-regulated properties; the impacts of tariffs, sanctions and other trade policies of the United States and its global trading counterparts; the outcome of federal, state, and local elections and the resulting economic and other impact on the areas in which we conduct business; the impact of changing political conditions or federal government shutdowns; the imposition of restrictions on our operations by bank regulators; the outcome of pending or threatened litigation, or of investigations or any other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; our ability to comply with heightened regulatory standards with respect to governance and risk management programs to which we are subject as a national bank with assets of $50 billion or more; the restructuring of our mortgage business; our ability to achieve anticipated cost savings and enhanced efficiencies with respect to our balance sheet and expense reduction strategies; the impact of failures or disruptions in or breaches of our operational or security systems, data or infrastructure, or those of third parties, including as a result of cyberattacks or campaigns; the impact of natural disasters, extreme weather events, civil unrest, international military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties and/or are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties with respect to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, which was completed in December 2022, and our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction, which was completed in March 2023: the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transactions will not be realized when expected or at all; the possibility of increased legal and compliance costs, including with respect to any litigation or regulatory actions related to the business practices of acquired companies or the combined business; diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that we may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in or as a result of the transactions within the expected timeframes or at all; and revenues following the transactions may be lower than expected.

More information regarding some of these factors is provided in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10‐K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in other reports we file with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) and voluntarily file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and which are also available on our Investor Relations website. Our forward‐looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those we may discuss in this news release, on our conference call, during investor presentations, or in our securities disclosure filings. All such files are accessible on our website at ir.flagstar.com, on the OCC’s website at www.occ.gov, and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Investor Contact:
Salvatore J. DiMartino
(516) 683-4286

Media Contact:
Jessica Torchia
(248) 312-6451

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flagstar-bank-na-announces-250-million-share-repurchase-program-302833763.html

SOURCE Flagstar Bank, N.A.

Continue Reading

Trending