I have the same problem with creating an account with MIUI. I have been trying now for 6 weeks with no reaction, either by phone or using pc. I just don’t believe it is to do with the connections to and from China. I have as a radio ham 4 Baofeng transceivers and received for two of them firmware from Baofeng in China, worked flawlessly. I think that Xiaomi just wants to sell cell-phones nothing more. I will never buy another one!!!