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Here’s a roundup of key developments across the Middle East for the week of May 3–9.

Middle East weekly: Chinese firms gain ground in the Gulf, Saudi PIF opens second China office, and more

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Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

KrASIA

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Al Shasia

Photo of Tan Dai, president of Volcano Engine.

ByteDance, a Chinese internet company, uses machine learning to recommend engaging videos, news, and social content (via TikTok and Douyin).

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

China

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

East Asia

What guides machine-led insights? Uncover AI applications, language models, and decision-making systems transforming sectors worldwide.

Artificial Intelligence

What lies beyond familiar frontiers? Investigate emerging tech—like quantum computing and AI—transforming traditional sectors.

Deep Tech

Foundation and Large Models

Volcano Engine’s market share grew in 2025, even as more competitors entered the market.

How ByteDance’s Volcano Engine holds nearly half of China’s MaaS market

Cheng Zi is based in China, covering technology- and business-related events. She works with her colleagues at 36Kr Global to provide coverage in both English and Chinese.

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Cheng Zi

Photo shows Kong Wan Sing, founder and CEO of JustCo.

How do markets shape wealth creation? Study portfolio diversification, asset classes, and strategies balancing growth and risk.

Investment

When do companies invite public investment? Understand listing criteria, underwriter roles, and regulatory steps defining initial offerings.

Why do firms join forces? Investigate synergy goals, valuation methods, and negotiations driving corporate consolidation.

Merger &amp; Acquisition

What happens after acquisitions close? Examine deal structures, operational improvements, and exit strategies molding corporate outcomes.

Private Equity

What fuels startup ecosystems? Review funding rounds, investor strategies, and market insights guiding entrepreneurial growth.

Venture Capital

Japan

Singapore

Southeast Asia

Thailand

Vietnam

Bringing you the latest updates on funding and investment activity across the Asia Pacific.

Deals in brief: JustCo files for SGX listing; Thailand’s Konvy raises Series B funding; 12 China investments; and more

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

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Sudo Lim

KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories, alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

News | KrASIA

Tencent's gains from investments in 2020: USD 120b

Tencent, a Chinese tech conglomerate, invests in gaming, social media, and cloud services, supporting entertainment and connectivity worldwide.

In 2020, Chinese internet titan Tencent gained some USD 120 billion through its shareholdings in companies it invested in, said a report by The Information on Tuesday. That's six times more than the firm's own expected net income for the year.

KEY STAT | Tencent makes USD 120 billion from investments in stock rally

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Julianna Wu

What sets the bar for convenience? Examine on-demand platforms, subscription models, and personalization transforming consumer expectations.

Consumer Economy

How do clicks replace aisles? Explore global marketplaces, payment solutions, and technology accelerating online retail’s growth.

E-commerce

What changes the way we shop? Review fresh inventory management, dark stores, and logistics driving door-to-door grocery services.

Grocery Delivery

How do platforms deliver on immediacy? Analyze ride-hailing, instant deliveries, and gig models meeting consumer needs fast.

On-demand Services

How do stores adapt to digital shifts? Explore e-commerce integration, inventory analytics, and omnichannel strategies for modern shoppers.

Retail

Groceries worth RMB 25.3 billion (USD 3.9 billion) were ordered on the JD-Daojia platform and delivered home in 2020, an increase of 107% year-on-year (YoY), according to the earnings release of its owner Dada Group (Nasdaq: DADA) on Tuesday.

On-demand retail firm Dada says GMV on JD-Daojia doubled in 2020

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Song Jingli

Pinduoduo revolutionizes e-commerce with social group buying, connecting budget-conscious shoppers to discounts on a broad range of products.

Pinduoduo

Chinese e-commerce firm Pinduoduo on Monday formed a strategic alliance with major home appliance maker Midea to customize washing machines, with a target to sell 1 million units per year.

Pinduoduo and Midea to customize washing machines, plan to sell 1 million units

India’s tech landscape blossoms with e-commerce startups, fintech innovations, and IT services shaping a growing digital consumer base.

India

Meta oversees social networks (like Facebook and Instagram), messaging apps, VR platforms, and digital ads, connecting billions across continents.

X (Twitter)

Less than a fortnight after India changed its Information Technology Rules asking social media companies to be more transparent with government authorities, Twitter has said it’s looking for an executive to liaison with India’s government officials.

Twitter is looking for a liaison officer in the wake of India's new IT rules

Twitter is looking for a liaison officer in the wake of India&#8217;s new IT rules

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Avanish Tiwary

Kuaishou, best known for its short video platform, drives user-generated content, influencer marketing, and community engagement through shareable clips.

Kuaishou

What powers tomorrow’s roads? Explore EV adoption, charging infrastructure, and battery advances sparking the shift toward sustainable transport.

Electric Vehicles

What happens when viewers join in real time? Explore live streaming platforms, audience interaction tools, and brand opportunities in instant video.

Live Streaming

How is the way we move evolving? Explore developments in autonomous transportation, electric vehicles, and more efficient urban transit.

Mobility

Beijing-based short video and livestreaming app Kuaishou (HKSE: 1024) for the first time brought electric vehicles to its e-commerce platform on Monday, teaming up with SGMW, the joint venture of SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and GM China.

Kuaishou now sells EVs via livestreaming

E-scooter maker Niu's overseas sales increase, Q4: 197%

Chinese smart electric scooter manufacturer Niu Technologies (NASDAQ: NIU) sold 12,879 units in the fourth quarter of 2020 internationally, almost tripling its volume from a year earlier, while the domestic market also recorded a 35% year-on-year increase, the company said in its earnings report on Monday.

KEY STAT | E-scooter manufacturer Niu triples overseas sales in Q4

What happens when banking goes virtual? Study no-branch platforms, biometric authentication, and seamless financial services.

Digital Banks

How does finance become frictionless? Examine digital banking, payment innovation, and lending platforms redefining financial access.

Fintech

Indonesia

WeLab plans to bring its wealth management platform to Southeast Asia, starting with Indonesia.

Hong Kong fintech firm WeLab bags USD 75 million from Allianz X to form partnership

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Tech in Asia

What fits the world in your pocket? Track device innovation, OS ecosystems, and connectivity shaping smartphone usage.

Smartphones

How does information move at light speed? Review 5G rollouts, fiber networks, and connectivity standards advancing global communication.

Telecommunications

Philippines

China-backed Dito Telecommunity kicked off commercial operations in the Philippines on Monday, marking a major milestone for President Rodrigo Duterte's goal of shaking up the country's long-standing telecom duopoly.

China-backed telco launches service to take on Philippine duopoly

As part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei, you can read selected content from Nikkei Asia on KrASIA.

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Nikkei Asia

Xpeng Motors builds intelligent EVs equipped with advanced infotainment systems, autonomous features, and sleek electric mobility designs.

Xpeng Motors

Xpeng Motors' doesn't expect the global chip shortage to disrupt its production, providing an opportunity to close the gap on its rivals.

Xpeng Motors looks to ramp up production and emerge unscathed from global chip shortage

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