Multiple forums featuring China-France cooperation and exchanges were held in Paris from Thursday to Saturday.
The second China-France forum on global governance was staged on Thursday, gathering over 100 experts from both sides to explore ways to build a multilateral future by deepening global governance reforms.
And a China-France forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges opened on Saturday, with attendees discussing topics on deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges and carrying forward the "China-France spirit."
A symposium themed on "Exchanges and Mutual Learning between the Chinese and French Civilizations: Review and Outlook" was also held on Friday.
More than 100 scholars from the two countries discussed cross-cultural exchanges, and past and future of the mutual enrichment of civilizations
Forums, symposium on China-France exchanges held in Paris
Forums, symposium on China-France exchanges held in Paris
Chinese cities have continued to adjust home-buying policies to further stimulate housing demand and promote a healthy development of the market.
In many of China's major cities, residents and settlers are subject to home ownership quotas, but recently home-buying restrictions have been relaxed, optimized or fully removed.
Zhao Wei, a manager in charge of an apartment project in Shanghai's Fengxian district, said Shanghai's recent relaxation in home buying restrictions has resulted in soared inquiries for their new tower block project. He said that in Shanghai, one of the most effective policies to stimulate the market so far has been allowing single non-local residents to buy homes in suburban areas.
"In February and March, the number of visitors both online and offline to our projects increased significantly. One of our projects in Fengxian District has more than doubled the number of visitors since the series of new housing policies were introduced in Shanghai," he said.
Zhao added that another policy to stimulate demand is on the way, allowing trade-ins for homeowners who still want to exchange their home for a new one.
"One of our projects in Fengxian District still has 28 apartments for sale. We have communicated with the Shanghai Real Estate Association. For those 'trade up' customers who want to improve their living conditions but don't have a quota, they can put their old homes up for sale to get a quota then sign a multilateral agreement to secure a purchase order of new home with deposit. If they are unable to sell their old homes within the agreed period, they can get a full refund of the deposit and the order will be canceled, in this case, no body loses anything," said Zhao.
"In first- and second-tier cities, many new home buyers are already homeowners who want to improve their living conditions - they make up 40 percent to 60 percent or more of the clientele. These people are selling their old homes, mainly targeting first-time buyers who don't own home."said Lu.
These policies are spurring demand for both existing and new homes in an effort to improve liquidity in the market. However, analysts said future policies do more to support young home buyers.
"In cities like Shanghai, Hefei, Chengdu and Hangzhou, home market is based on such a clear logic: these cities relatively have more younger population, which explains why the demand there is robust: young people's need for buying a home is fundamental. So there are also a series of adjustments (to local housing policies) targeting this group of people," said Yan Yuejin, research director of E-house China Research and Development Institute.
Chinese cities adjust home-buying policies to stimulate demand
