Category: South Africa

BEIJING, March 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CGTN publishes an article detailing how China prepared itself for economic growth in 2025 through a combination of targeted stimulus measures and high-level policy frameworks.

China’s economy has shown a remarkable surge since September last year, with multiple data, such as a strong GDP performance in the fourth quarter, indicating a robust start for 2025.

This momentum, extending through the Chinese New Year, was driven by a series of stimulus measures and top-tier policy designs that aimed at tackling the structural challenges within the Chinese economy and creating new engines for economic growth.

However, it unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying headwinds, as a shifting global landscape amplifies pressures on China’s economic stability.

As adverse impacts from the changing external environment intensify, China’s economic operation still faces difficulties and challenges, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote in an article.

At the same time, the Chinese economy is underpinned by a stable foundation, abundant strengths, strong resilience and vast potential, and the supporting conditions and fundamental trend for long-term growth have not changed, according to the article, published on Qiushi Journal on Saturday.

Navigating these dual realities — balancing external risks with domestic opportunities — lies at the heart of China’s 2025 strategy, especially as this year not only marks the culmination of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) — a strategic blueprint that has guided the nation’s efforts to achieve high-quality development, advance technological innovation, and foster sustainable economic reforms — but also sets the stage for the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which will shape China’s next phase of growth amid evolving global and domestic challenges.

Harmonizing market efficiency with proactive governance
In his article, Xi stressed that it is essential to coordinate the relationship between an efficient market and a well-functioning government, and the government must act decisively when necessary while also knowing when to refrain from intervention.

China’s recent policy moves have exemplified this focus. In January, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s top economic planner, released a guideline for building a unified national market, aiming to encourage all localities and government departments to accelerate their integration into the unified national market and actively support its development.

This guideline is expected to help lower market transaction costs, create a favorable market environment for technological innovation and business development, and strengthen competitive advantages.

Such structural reforms align with a growing consensus among economists that China’s economic evolution hinges on fostering innovation and productivity over short-term fixes — a shift exemplified by the unified market initiative’s focus on systemic efficiency.

“Deregulating key industries, encouraging private sector participation and attracting foreign investment in high-tech and green energy sectors will be instrumental in driving this transformation,” Matteo Giovannini, a finance professional at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and a Non-Resident Associate Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, wrote in an op-ed published on CGTN.

“Restoring confidence among private enterprises will also be critical, as these firms are key engines of job creation, technological advancement and economic dynamism.”

‘Resilient and adaptable’
Xi’s article on Qiushi also addressed other key points, including the relationship between total supply and demand to ensure smooth economic circulation, which to a large extent reflected the main tasks outlined by the tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference held in December last year.

Those tasks, apart from driving a dramatic rebound for the Chinese economy, also laid a positive foundation for its 2025 trajectory. Experts have pointed out the adaptability and resilience rooted in China’s economy, expressing optimism following the Central Economic Work Conference.

Amid current challenges facing the global economy, it is rare for an economy like China’s, which is already in a stage of high-quality development, to sustain an annual GDP growth that meets the target, said Michael Borchmann, former head of the European and International Affairs Department of the federal German state of Hesse.

Official data shows China’s GDP in 2024 increased by 5 percent from 2023, topping 134.9 trillion yuan ($18.77 trillion).

“This not only shows that the Chinese economy is extremely resilient and adaptable, but also reflects the steady expansion of domestic demand and the results of industrial transformation.” he said.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-01/How-did-China-lay-a-good-foundation-for-2025-economic-development–1BnOlAz4mti/p.html

Contact:
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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9387367

LONDON, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI-Media, global leader in AI-powered captioning and translation solutions, is proud to announce its recent collaboration with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to provide cutting-edge captioning services for their cricket fixtures. With their first season successfully completed, this partnership marks a significant milestone in enhancing the accessibility and inclusivity of cricket matches for all spectators.

AI-Media began working with the ECB to create a tailored workflow delivering live captions on LED displays at cricket stadiums across the UK to ensure accessibility during England internationals. Using AI-Media’s Encoder Pro (HD492) and AI-Live platform, the bespoke workflow ensures seamless audio input and live captions for cricket events. By leveraging AI-Media’s expertise in Topic Modelling, the ECB enhanced the accuracy of their captions and now easily self-manages their LEXI usage through a dedicated Cloud account. This tailored workflow highlights AI-Media’s ability to integrate cutting-edge technology with customer-specific needs for reliable, high-quality captions.

The resulting captions were prominently displayed in all four corners of the cricket grounds on LED screens for specific pre-match and interval announcements. This setup ensured that all attendees, including those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, could fully engage with the live match experience. AI-Media and ECB are now working towards expanding this service to all fixtures.

“We are thrilled to support the ECB in making cricket more accessible and enjoyable for all fans,” said James Ward, Chief Sales Officer at AI-Media. “Our advanced captioning technology and tailored workflow solutions demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the live sports experience through innovation and inclusivity.”

For more information about AI-Media and its services, please visit AI-Media.tv

About Ai-Media:

Founded in Australia in 2003, AI-Media is a pioneering technology company specialising in AI language and captioning workflow solutions.
As a global leader, AI-Media provides high-quality AI-powered live and recorded captioning and translation technology and solutions to a diverse range of customers and markets worldwide.
For the first time in February 2024, AI-Media unveiled groundbreaking data showcasing the superiority of its AI captioning product, LEXI, over traditional more expensive human workflows.
With deep industry experience and sophisticated AI technology to create solutions which streamline and simplify processes, AI-Media empowers leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies globally to ensure seamless accessibility and inclusivity of their content.
AI-Media (ASX: AIM) commenced trading on the ASX on 15 September 2020.

About ECB:
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is dedicated to making cricket the most inclusive sport in the country – improving lives, connecting communities, and inspiring a new generation to engage with the game. With a focus on delivering high-performance international and domestic cricket while promoting widespread participation, the ECB continually seeks innovative partnerships to enhance the sport’s reach and impact. In collaboration with Ai-Media, the ECB is leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide greater access, richer storytelling, and real-time insights that resonate with fans across all levels – from grassroots to the highest echelons of professional cricket. This partnership underscores the ECB’s commitment to modernising cricket, ensuring it remains a dynamic force for good both on and off the field.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f2a792f-ff39-4d09-a09f-015d6ab52292

Media Contact

Fiona Habben

Head of Global Marketing, AI-Media

[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9385775

Jointly developed, globally available solution combines Zoom’s seamless AI-first collaboration experience with Mitel’s enterprise-grade telephony reliability and resiliency through a single application

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) and Mitel, a global leader in business communications, announced the global launch of a unique hybrid cloud solution that integrates Zoom Workplace and Zoom AI Companion with Mitel’s flagship communications platforms, including its leading telephony solutions. This marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the companies announced in September 2024.

Today, organizations are navigating the adoption of emerging technologies like AI while maintaining security, business continuity, and flexibility when modernizing business communications. This new solution is designed to meet the growing enterprise demand for hybrid unified communications (UC) deployments by offering a “best-of-both-worlds” approach that empowers organizations to deliver mission-critical communications capabilities alongside exceptional collaboration functions to enhance business productivity.

The multi-phased rollout will see Zoom’s AI-first solution integrate seamlessly with existing Mitel software and devices, starting now with global availability for Mitel’s OpenScape Voice and OpenScape 4000 platforms. This will be expanded to include MiVoice Business solutions in the coming weeks, as well as MiVoice 5000 and MX-ONE solutions before the end of 2025. Device portfolios like the OpenScape CP and the Mitel 6900 Series are now Zoom Phone certified, with the full list of certified models available here. Certification of Mitel’s OpenScape SBC is also complete, enabling compatibility with Zoom’s Bring-Your-Own-PBX (BYOP) and Bring-Your-Own-Carrier (BYOC) direct routing capabilities. Mitel Border Gateway (MBG) certification will follow in the weeks ahead.

“As businesses navigate the connectivity requirements to support hybrid work, they need solutions that unite the benefits of on-prem or single-instance cloud communications infrastructure with Zoom’s industry-leading collaboration experiences, giving them the best of both while future-proofing their organizations,” said Graeme Geddes, chief sales and growth officer at Zoom. “The AI-first solution provided by Zoom and Mitel makes connecting and collaborating seamless and efficient while giving customers the flexibility to migrate to the cloud on their own terms and with their existing Mitel devices.”

“Recent research shows 92% of mid-to-large enterprises are considering hybrid deployments, and for good reason,” said David Petts, chief sales officer at Mitel*. “In today’s rapidly changing workplace, staying connected through video, chat, or voice is more important than ever and a vital part of business continuity planning. Mitel’s strategic partnership with Zoom has produced an offering that provides seamless access to these solutions while enabling compliance and security control in the most demanding use cases, industries, and geographies. With the integration of Zoom’s AI Companion, it’s a winning combination for organizations looking for an elevated collaboration experience that truly fits their overall communication needs.”

Deliver AI-first collaboration tools built for modern work
With the Zoom Workplace app fully integrated with secure Mitel telephony and devices, users can call, meet, and chat from a single solution, including the ability to escalate from a Mitel-powered call directly into a Zoom meeting. Additionally, users can brainstorm ideas, develop content, and kickstart project plans with Zoom Docs, Zoom Whiteboard, Zoom Clips, and more. AI Companion is woven throughout to help users jumpstart content creation, stay focused, prioritize what’s important, and get answers fast.

Maintain control and maximize current investments
With the joint hybrid solution, users can maintain unmatched control over mission-critical activities like release schedules, configurations, updates, system changes, and telephony while leveraging existing investments without isolation. For organizations in specialized industries like healthcare, hospitality, government, and financial services, this means having the ability to continue to leverage existing Mitel-certified vertical integrations along with specialized devices and workflows for frontline workers.

Blend on-prem and cloud capabilities to suit an organization’s unique requirements
The hybrid architecture from Zoom and Mitel provides users with a simple approach to blending on-prem with the right mix of private and public cloud on their terms to meet their unique needs. It gives organizations the flexibility, tools, and resilience they need to future-proof their current systems while maintaining reliability throughout the process. Additionally, using the Zoom Workplace app, users will have access to a consistent modern user experience every step of the way. If UCaaS is ultimately their preferred deployment model, they can easily bring their certified Mitel devices with them.

Jim Lundy, Founder & CEO of Aragon Research, confirms that “The Mitel-Zoom partnership is a game changer, offering businesses a path to hybrid communications with AI collaboration and communications capabilities.”

The joint solution is now available to customers worldwide. Further advanced capabilities are underway as part of the multi-phase partnership plan. For more information about the joint solution, please visit https://www.mitel.com/products/zoom-workplace.

* According to a June 2024 global survey of 1,954 organizations conducted by Mitel and Techaisle.

About Zoom
Zoom’s mission is to provide one platform that delivers limitless human connection. Reimagine teamwork with Zoom Workplace — Zoom’s open collaboration platform with AI Companion that empowers teams to be more productive. Together with Zoom Workplace, Zoom’s Business Services for sales, marketing, and customer care teams, including Zoom Contact Center, strengthen customer relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Get more information at zoom.com.

About Mitel
Mitel is a global leader in business communications, providing businesses with advanced communication, collaboration, and contact center solutions. With more than 70 million users across over 100 countries, Mitel empowers organizations to connect, communicate, and collaborate seamlessly, with the flexibility and choice they need to thrive, both now and for the future. Through proven experience and innovative solutions, Mitel delivers communications without compromise. For more information, go to www.mitel.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Mitel is the registered trademark of Mitel Networks Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Zoom Public Relations
Karen Modlin
[email protected]

Mitel Public Relations
Trever Kerr, Americas
Sandrine Quinton, Europe and Asia
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9385980