Report: China Blocks Use of Intel and AMD Chips in Government Computers

A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
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Report: China Blocks Use of Intel and AMD Chips in Government Computers

A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)

China has introduced guidelines to phase out US microprocessors from Intel and AMD from government personal computers and servers, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
The procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft's Windows operating system and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options, the report said.
According to the FT report, Chinese officials have begun following the guidelines, which were unveiled in December.
They order government agencies above the township level to include criteria requiring "safe and reliable" processors and operating systems when making purchases, the newspaper said.
Intel and AMD did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.
The US has been aiming to boost domestic semiconductor output and reduce reliance on China and Taiwan with the Biden administration's 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
It is designed to bolster US semiconductors and contains financial aid for domestic production with subsidies for production of advanced chips.



Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries

Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries

Saudi Arabia Boosts Strategic Partnership with Indonesia in Mining, Food, Pharmaceutical Industries

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef is leading a high-level delegation from the Kingdom’s industry and mining ecosystem on an official visit to Indonesia from April 15 to 17 to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
The visit aims to attract high-quality investments to the Kingdom and explore mutual investment opportunities in the mining sector and various industrial fields, particularly food, pharmaceuticals, and auto parts, aligning with the objectives of the Kingdom Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and position the Kingdom as a leading global industrial power, SPA reported.
The delegation will participate in high-level strategic meetings with senior government officials from various Indonesian ministries and will also meet with leaders of major Indonesian companies in mining, food, pharmaceutical, and other strategic industrial sectors.

Key meetings in Jakarta will include sessions with the minister of energy and mineral resources and the minister of industry, in addition to discussions with private sector leaders such as the CEO of PT Vale and the chairman of BioPharma.
Indonesia is considered a strategic partner for the Kingdom in Southeast Asia. By the end of 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries reached SAR22.5 billion, with Saudi exports amounting to SAR15 billion and Indonesian imports totaling over SAR7.5 billion.

These figures reflect the strength of economic relations and the mutual interest in expanding areas of cooperation and capitalizing on available opportunities in key sectors. Globally, Indonesia’s exports reached approximately SAR814 billion in 2024, marking a 1.3% annual increase.
Alkhorayef’s visit sets the stage for a new phase in bilateral relations, with both sides focused on building a long-term strategic partnership that supports their local economies and enhances economic integration between the two nations.