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Officials stated that consular teams across multiple countries worked closely with airlines, airport authorities and host governments to organise departures and ensure that travellers were able to leave safely. The effort covered Chinese tourists, business travellers and temporary workers who had been present across several Gulf states when concerns about travel disruptions intensified.

Authorities described the return of more than 10,000 citizens as part of a broader emergency response mechanism that allows embassies and consulates to provide rapid assistance to nationals overseas. Diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat and other regional capitals coordinated with Chinese carriers and international airlines to arrange flights and secure transit permissions, ensuring orderly departures from major regional airports.

Embassy staff reportedly maintained continuous communication with travellers through consular hotlines and digital messaging platforms, offering guidance on documentation, airport procedures and available transport routes. Officials also worked with host governments to facilitate safe passage to airports and ensure travellers received assistance where needed.

Chinese diplomatic representatives emphasised that governments across the Gulf region extended cooperation during the operation, helping to maintain stability at airports and allowing evacuation plans to proceed without major disruptions. Aviation authorities in the region assisted with flight scheduling and airport logistics, enabling large numbers of travellers to depart over a relatively short period.

The spokesperson noted that consular protection remains a central responsibility of the foreign ministry and its overseas missions. Chinese embassies regularly issue safety advisories to citizens abroad and maintain contingency plans for large-scale assistance operations when circumstances require urgent coordination.

Travel between China and the Gulf has grown significantly during the past decade, driven by tourism, trade and energy cooperation. The United Arab Emirates in particular has become a major destination for Chinese tourists and business travellers, supported by visa-on-arrival policies and expanding air connectivity between Chinese cities and Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Tourism authorities in the Emirates have highlighted the importance of Chinese visitors to the hospitality and retail sectors. Before the global pandemic disrupted international travel, Chinese travellers represented one of the fastest-growing visitor segments to Dubai, contributing strongly to hotel occupancy and shopping activity across the city.

Saudi Arabia has also expanded tourism cooperation with China as part of broader economic diversification plans. Initiatives linked to the kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme have encouraged tourism flows, cultural exchanges and investment partnerships, drawing increasing numbers of visitors from Asia.

Oman has similarly sought to attract Chinese tourists and investors by easing visa procedures and promoting cultural heritage destinations, while maintaining strong commercial ties with Chinese energy companies involved in infrastructure and industrial development.

Consular officials said the return operation involved travellers from multiple Gulf states as well as other nearby countries where Chinese citizens had been working, studying or travelling. Embassy staff helped verify identities, issue emergency travel documents where necessary and assist those who required medical or logistical support before departure.

Airlines operating between the Gulf and East Asia played a central role in transporting travellers. Carriers from the region, alongside Chinese airlines, expanded seat capacity on several routes and adjusted flight schedules to accommodate additional passengers returning home.

Officials indicated that the successful movement of thousands of travellers reflects increasing coordination between diplomatic networks, aviation authorities and emergency management agencies. Governments have developed more structured protocols for assisting nationals overseas following earlier crises that highlighted the need for rapid response capabilities.

Chinese authorities have emphasised that citizens travelling abroad should remain attentive to official travel advisories and maintain contact with embassies and consulates when circumstances change. Digital registration systems have also been introduced to allow travellers to inform diplomatic missions of their presence in foreign countries, improving the ability of officials to provide assistance if required.

By R. Suryamurthy Few economic variables carry the political volatility of oil prices in India. When global crude rises, inflation anxieties spread quickly across households, transport costs ripple through supply chains, and governments scramble to contain the political fallout. Yet the latest oil shock — triggered by tensions involving the US-Israel-Iran war— has exposed a […]

The article Oil Volatility Before Polls Exposes India’s Political Windfall Trap On Fuel Taxes appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

As one of HKPC’s key annual initiatives promoting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and talent development, the job fair attracted over 2,000 tertiary students, fresh graduates and job seekers from across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The event brought together more than 50 leading enterprises, organizations and government departments, offering over 10,000 quality job opportunities in key areas of new productive forces such as AI and STEAM. The event successfully established an efficient two-way talent matching platform and demonstrated HKPC’s commitment to implementing a talent-driven development strategy through concrete action.

The Job Fair also served as a core event funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission’s “New Productive Forces Talent Programme”. The event received strong support from more than 30 organisations, including the Hong Kong Talent Engage, the Labour Department, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Quality and Talent Migrants, as well as various tertiary institutions. The opening ceremony was held in the morning, with officiating guests including Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Technology Officer of HKPC; Miss Rosalind CHEUNG, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes) and Ms. Karen FUNG, Chief Marketing Officer of HKPC.

At the opening ceremony, Dr Lawrence CHEUNG emphasised: “This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan and represents a golden opportunity for Hong Kong to leverage its strengths and align with national strategies. We must seize this opportunity to attract talent from around the world and develop new productive forces with Hong Kong characteristics. This Job Fair not only serves as a bridge connecting job seekers and enterprises but also provides an important platform to showcase how new productive forces can lead Hong Kong’s future development. Over the past two years, the “New Productive Forces Talent Programme” has organised a series of courses and technology study tours, and trained more than 1,000 participants.”

In a subsequent sharing session, Mr. Brian WONG, Chief People and Culture Officer of HKPC, delivered a presentation titled “HR as the AI Change Agent: Driving Enterprise-wide AI Transformation.” He pointed out that the success of corporate transformation in the AI era hinges on whether human resources (HR) can effectively play the role of change drivers. He shared several practical strategies, including how to cultivate AI engineers and talent in related fields. He emphasised that a company’s talent strategy should not be limited to technical skills training but should also focus on nurturing high-level thinking and innovative capabilities in talent, driving the company to adapt to rapidly changing markets and achieve robust transformation.

HR Leaders Praise Platform Value; Strong On-site Talent Matching

This year’s Job Fair featured a strong lineup of exhibitors, including Huawei International Hong Kong, Alibaba Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Services Limited, The Bank of East Asia, EY and PwC, as well as government departments such as the Labour Department. Job opportunities covered key roles such as AI Consultant, Digital Transformation Specialist, Solutions Engineer and Digital Marketing Officer. Dedicated graduate programmes and internship opportunities were also offered, meeting the employment needs of a wide range of talent while providing companies with an important platform to recruit high-quality professionals in emerging technology sectors.

The atmosphere at the venue was vibrant, with many companies arranging on-site interviews, enabling job seekers to enjoy a seamless “one-stop interview” experience. HR representatives from participating companies highly praised the effectiveness of the event. Mr. Ryan Tang, Head of Personal Banking & Wealth Management Technology, Bank of East Asia, said: “The Job Fair attracted many professionals with experience in AI and technological transformation. I was very pleased to interact with them on site. Some candidates possess skills that match the bank’s needs, effectively strengthening our core talent pool.” Ms. Erica Kwan, Head of Business Development and Marketing, HSM Industrial Solution Company, said: “This Job Fair has improved our efficiency in recruiting digital and technical talent, enabling job seekers to connect more precisely with professional pathways in new industrialisation and become an important driving force for Hong Kong’s new productive forces.”Ms. Natalie Yuan, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of First Resume, remarked: “Job seekers on site showed a strong desire to enhance their job-hunting skills in the era of new productive forces. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with HKPC in the future to help talent strengthen their competitiveness.” Job seekers also widely noted that the event not only brought together a large number of quality job opportunities but also allowed them to communicate directly with company representatives and receive free career support, helping them better understand the talent requirements of emerging technology sectors and plan their future career development paths.

AI-Powered Services Enhance the Job-Seeking Experience

To help job seekers stand out in the competitive job market, the Job Fair continued to provide a wide range of free and comprehensive career support services. Among them, complimentary professional headshot photography remained one of the most popular services, helping many participants obtain professional photos suitable for job applications. At the same time, AI-powered CV optimisation, AI mock interviews, and one-on-one CV consultation services were also highly welcomed by participants. Multiple industry seminars and practical workshops were fully booked, covering topics such as “Applications of AI in Recruitment”, “AI Career Opportunities in the Finance and Technology Sectors”, and “100 Days of AI Transformation: Entering the Finance and Technology Industries”. Industry experts shared valuable job-hunting skills and insights into industry trends. In addition, the Job Fair introduced a new “Start–up Zone“, allowing job seekers to engage directly with local startup entrepreneurs and broaden their innovative thinking. The founder of the startup CanTone said, “This event allowed more people to learn about our entrepreneurial vision, and it also helped us recruit student interns, enhancing our startup’s competitiveness.” The “Maker Workshop“ also attracted many participants, who operated equipment such as 3D printers and laser engraving and cutting machines under the guidance of professional instructors, experiencing the appeal of innovation and technology manufacturing and further stimulating their interest in exploring the field of new productive forces.

HKPC has long been committed to cultivating talent with strong competitiveness for the Greater Bay Area. Through the integrated model of “job matching + career support + industry exchange”, the Job Fair not only helps enterprises address their talent needs but also enables job seekers to seize the opportunities presented by the development of new productive forces and achieve high-quality employment.

In the future, HKPC will continue to build diversified talent exchange and matching platforms while further enhancing the talent development ecosystem in the field of new productive forces.

Photo Captions:

1. Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Technology Officer of HKPC, delivered welcome remarks at the opening ceremony of the “New Productive Forces” Job Fair 2026, noting that the Job Fair not only connects job seekers and enterprises but also showcases how new productive forces can lead Hong Kong’s future development.
2. Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Technology Officer of HKPC (Middle) and Miss Rosalind CHEUNG, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes) (Right) and Ms. Karen FUNG, Chief Marketing Officer of HKPC (Left), officiate the opening ceremony of the “New Productive Forces” Job Fair 2026.
3. Guests of honour, supporting organisations, representatives from institutions and associations witnessed the grand opening of the “New Productive Forces” Job Fair 2026.
4. The Job Fair attracted a large crowd and brought together more than 50 leading enterprises, organisations and government departments, offering over 10,000 quality positions in key areas of new productive forces such as AI and STEAM.

Hashtag: #HKPC

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical , assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org/en.

Driving R&D Translation and Sector Collaboration; Elevating Hong Kong as a Global Life & Health Innovation Hub

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 March 2026 – The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today officially launched its new “Future Life & Health Tech Centre”, unveiling a suite of R&D achievements and application technologies across life sciences, medical technology, future food, biotechnology and modernisation of Chinese medicine. With a clear focus on accelerating R&D, pilot-scale development, smart manufacturing and commercialisation, the Centre aims to serve as an industry accelerator for life and health technology in Hong Kong, supporting the commercialisation of research outcomes from lab to market and driving the development of new productive forces.

Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC, said, “Life and health technology is a fast-rising focus for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development. The Government’s 2026–27 Budget also outlines several initiatives to accelerate I&T development, with a primary focus on life and health technology. HKPC is committed to supporting the Government’s strategic development in this field by delivering forward-looking innovative technologies and services. Through the ‘Future Life & Health Tech Centre’, we will leverage AI, smart manufacturing, pilot platforms and cross-border collaboration to speed up the commercialisation of research outcomes, fostering Hong Kong as an international life and health innovation hub.”

An integrated platform from R&D to market adoption

Positioned as an end-to-end enabler across the full value chain, the “Future Life & Health Tech Centre” provides systematic support from research and pilot production through to scaleup and market adoption. It includes platforms for active ingredient efficacy validation, microencapsulation and controlled release, AI health monitoring model development, dosage form optimisation for Chinese medicine, future food technologies, medical device pilot capabilities and smart microfactory demonstration. The Centre serves as a bridge between universities and research institutes, healthcare providers, local enterprises and Greater Bay Area resources, facilitating upstream, midstream and downstream collaboration for life and health technology.

Exhibition Highlights Showcasing Diverse Applications in Life and Health Technology

According to HKPC’s “Hong Kong Life and Health Industry Development Study”, the sector’s long-term success hinges on technology-driven innovation and efficient industrialisation. The Centre showcases the following innovations:

1. Medical Technology and Diagnostics

• Veterinary recombinant plasmid DNA vaccine injection technology: Enhances plasmid DNA uptake to boost antibody production and immune response while improving safety; supports animal vaccine R&D.
• Innovative Porous Silica Capsule Technology: Delivers precise, sustained release of drugs or antibacterial agents; tested to eliminate over 95% of harmful microorganisms. HKPC co‑developed a customised hybrid process and smart production equipment for APEL to establish a “Smart Micro‑factory”, translating research into industrial application.
• Modernisation of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Combines modern dosage form development with zebrafish model validation. A TCM-based hydrogel patch is undergoing drug registration, with approval targeted for Q3 2026.
• AI Scalp Health Diagnosis System: Built on HKPC’s open AI platform “HKPC Picasso,” it utilises high-resolution imaging and multimodal data to detect scalp conditions and instantly generate personalised health reports.

2. Future Food and Functional Nutrition

• Bioprotective Coating Technology for Preservation on Fresh Produces: A food-grade coating that reduces moisture loss, oxygen exposure and microbial growth to extend shelf life and enhance supply chain efficiency.
• Microencapsulation and Controlled Release Technology for Functional Food: Embeds active ingredients within a carrier system to protect sensitive substances, enhance bioavailability and enable precise release control.
• AI-enabled Liquid Chilling Tunnel System: A two-stage chilling solution that reduces cooling time by over 60% and boosts efficiency by 90%. An AI vision system automatically identifies products and optimises chilling cycles, ensuring food safety, process stability and full data traceability. The technology has received multiple international honours, including the Gold Medal at the 2017 International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.

HKPC emphasised that the “Future Life & Health Tech Centre” will act as a key platform for innovative research, pilot-scale development and industrial-scale commercialisation. Moving forward, HKPC will work closely with the Government, academia, healthcare organisations and industry partners in Hong Kong and other cities of the Greater Bay Area to strengthen the innovation ecosystem for life and health technology—supporting Hong Kong’s development as an international life and health innovation hub and advancing new industrialisation.

Photo Captions:

1. Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, outlines the vision and strategy of the “Future Life & Health Tech Centre” and introduces a range of cutting-edge R&D outcomes in life and health technology.
2. The “Future Life & Health Tech Centre” showcases medical technology and diagnostic innovations, including the “Veterinary recombinant plasmid DNA vaccine injection technology” and the “Modernisation of Traditional Chinese Medicine”.
3. The “Future Life & Health Tech Centre” features future food technologies, including the “Bioprotective Coating Technology for Preservation on Fresh Produces” and “Microencapsulation and Controlled Release Technology for Functional Food”.

Hashtag: #HKPC

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical, assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org/en.

By Nantoo Banerjee The all-out war in West Asia, involving the US-Israel combine and Iran and covering 10 countries in the region, is expected to have a big economic backlash on India. At stake are India’s $120-billion trade in this region, huge oil imports, overall balance of payments, inflow of external investments, foreign repatriation and […]

The article Iran War Is Likely To Hit Indian Economy Hard appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).