During a joint Australia-China business forum on April 26 in Beijing, a prominent Chinese leader announced that the country plans to take a more active role in Australia's economy. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang announced that China wants to play a key role in the construction of Australia's infrastructure. In construction sector Li Keqiang pointed to port and rail construction in Australia as potential areas that China could have greater involvement in. The Australian government is also planning an expansion of its National Broadband Network and Keqiang believes Chinese construction companies could play a role in the project. Australia is also in dire need of key transport infrastructure, with the existing network unable to cope with the rapid increase in export demand for the country's mineral resources. "We would encourage capable and responsible Chinese companies to take part in Australia's construction sector," said Mr. Keqiang. China's construction companies and equipment manufacturers have built up a presence overseas, predominantly in developing countries where, backed by cheap funding from Chinese banks, they are building much needed infrastructure. But despite Australia's need for infrastructure, China's involvement in the sector may still face some roadblocks. Chinese construction companies operating in the developing world often bring in their own labor, causing some tension in the local communities in which they operate. Many countries are now turning to China, which has accumulated huge foreign exchange reserves ($ 3.05 trillion- I qr., 2011.), and which quite willing to invest in various projects abroad. However, many appreciate such an active economic expansion not only as a cost-beneficial cooperation, but also as a sharp increase in China's political influence in these countries and in the world at large.

The 4th regional specialized "Construction and Interior 2011" exhibition organized by the "Prom Expo" will be conducted from April 29 to May 1 in sports & concert complex after K. Demirchyan. According to organizers, exhibition is of interest not only among local, but also among international construction companies. Businessmen from Iran, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Russia have also been invited to participate in the exhibition. Commercial director of the "Prom Expo" Vahagn Mirijanyan told Armenpress: "Overall 160 businessmen will participate in the event. There are representatives of some international companies that are interested in Armenian market or have already started their activities in republic. But the main purpose of exhibition is promoting and presenting the potential of local producers". Also mention that recently passed another construction exhibition "CAUCASUS BUILDING & RECONSTRUCTION EXPO 2011" showed significantly reduced interest in such kind of presentations, however, let's hope that all interested parties will show more interest in this exhibition. Expo Has Opened "Construction and Interior 2011" exhibition has opened today. There were about 100 companies taking part in expo, which number was slightly more than in previous CAUCASUS BUILDING & RECONSTRUCTION EXPO 2011. However the number of participant companies is reducing from year to year, meaning that firms are searching alternative ways of promoting their new products & services.

World's highest hotel Ritz-Carlton opened in Hong-Kong. The hotel housed in International Commerce Centre, city's tallest skyscraper and offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbor. With 312 guest rooms, the hotel is situated on 102-118 floors. Inside, the Ritz-Carlton Hong- Kong exudes a chic, modern vibe in the restaurants and lobby areas, with a lot of sparkling decor and chandeliers, the main color themes being black, brown and beige. Visitors can expect to find facilities that include the highest bar in the world, and a top-floor pool that will feature a 19-metre ceiling-mounted LCD screen which swimmers can watch while enjoying the warmth of the heated water. The Ritz-Carlton will also be one of the most expensive places to stay in a city already packed with luxury hotels, with the rack rate starting at $770 a night for a deluxe room. A presidential suite price is reaching for $ 12.8 thousand. According to hotel management, they are taking luxury to new heights in every sense. As reported by experts, clients aren't happy living at extreme height, but Hong-Kong's hotel owners don't have other choice. The land is very expensive, so it is more profitable to build super high skyscrapers, than low-rise buildings. The highest hotel in the world was Park Hyatt so far, which is situated on 79-93 floors of Shanghai World Financial Center. But the highest hotel title Ritz-Carlton can lose in 2014, when the J-Hotel opens near the top of the 632 meter Shanghai Tower in mainland China. Watch Hotel PhotoTour

As reported by Regnum news agency, according to A-Realty Group real estate agency, the cost per square meter in the center of Moscow is reaching half a million rubles ($18,000). The average price per square meter in the center has reached 412 thousand rubles ($14,800) in April and an average cost of luxury apartments has already run up to 56 million rubles ($2,000,000). In total, there are 2.6 thousand flats offered for sale in the center of Moscow today. Average price per square meter for economy-class apartments is 197 thousand rubles ($7,000) in the center of Moscow, for business-class apartments - 258 thousand rubles ($9,250), and for luxury apartments is 475 thousand rubles ($17,000). The price for studios (with an average area of 34.4 square meters) in city center is 7.7 million rubles ($280.000) and one-bedroom apartments are sold for 13.4 million rubles ($480,000), while an average area of these flats is 54 square meters. Two-bedroom apartments in Moscow cost 18.8 million rubles ($670,000), and an average area of these apartments is 76 square meters. Overview of real estate market in the categories of the cheapest and the most expensive apartments shows that the cheapest apartment is sold for 5.4 million rubles ($193,500), and the most expensive one for 923 million rubles ($33,000,000). Apartments in luxury new developments are offered by 714 thousand rubles ($25,550) per square meter. The most expensive luxury apartment is proposed for 1 million 112 thousand rubles ($39,800) per square meter.

Hong Kong is the most expensive territory in the world to buy house. According to Bloomberg referring to research of Savills Plc. real estate company, in 2010 Hong Kong prices for housing property was 55% higher than in London. According to research, prices in Moscow were 7.4% up, and in New-York 15% down than in Britain's capital. As Savills pointed out, growth in property prices in Hong Kong contributed to rather low interest rates, property shortage and the rush of wealthy buyers from China. According to another research by Centaline Property Agency Ltd., property prices in Hong Kong jumped by 55 % in 2010, and this drive would continue the next 1-1,5 years. To improve the way in property market Hong Kong government plan to build about 20 thousand new homes annually and increase property tax. As reported by m-2.ru, today the average price for the130-200 square meters apartment in Hong Kong is about US $ 21,000 per 1 square meter (US $1930 for square feet).