Nigeria Times

By Qiao Dong, People’s Daily

Qinghai Lake, the largest inland saltwater lake in China, has been expanding in size continuously for the past 20 years. The latest satellite remote sensing found that the lake’s w r surface had reached 4650.08 square kilometers, a year-on-year increase of 28.1 square kilometers.

The recovery of the lake surface area is attributed to the local ecological restoration efforts and ongoing management and protection of the water ecosystem in recent years.

“Over the past 20 years, the warming and increased humidity on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has led to higher average temperature and rising rainfall in the Qinghai Lake basin,” said Sun Jianqing, an official with the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration.

“More importantly, we have been beefing up ecological restoration and comprehensive sand and water management of the Qinghai Lake basin. The water quality in the main area of Qinghai Lake has consistently remained good over an extended period,” Sun added.

According to Shi Derong, an engineer at the grassland station in Haiyan county of Haibei Tibetan autonomous prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai province, Qinghai Lake’swater level had experienced a reduction due to grassland degradation, land desertification, and river flow interruption.

To combat desertification, Qinghai adopted a sand control approach that focusedprimarily on preventing sand expansion while boosting afforestation. The province has restructured its tree species and successfully tested a range of practical technologies appropriate for high-cold sandy areas. Over 500,000 mu (33,333 hectares) of desertified land to the northeast of Qinghai Lake has been treated, with the overall coverage rate of grassland vegetation reaching 60 percent.

The continuous flow of streams into Qinghai Lake also provides a constant source of energy for the lake’s expansion.

The Buha River, originating from the Qilian Mountains, is the largest tributary of Qinghai Lake and accounts for over 50 percent of the lake’s water inflow.

Currently, China has approved a plan to establish a national park at Qinghai Lake. As part of the park’s development,the headwater regions of inflowing rivers, ecologically fragile areas such as glaciers and permafrost, habitats of rare species, as well as the lake area, will all be incorporated into core protection zones.

Over the past few years, the size of the Buha River basin has been on a steady increase, with the water quality consistently rated as excellent. How did local authorities manage to enhance the water quality while increasing the water volume?

A management system composed of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration, its branch offices and protection stations has been established in Qinghai Lake. Additionally, six protection stations have been put in place. carrying out special operations and daily patrols and monitoring to protect the water ecology.

Increasing biodiversity

Recently, an outdoor video monitoring platform run by the Protection and Utilization Administration of Qinghai Lake Scenic Area captured a real-time footage – hundreds of overwintering swans walking back and forth in groupsnear a bird islet.

It is learned that during the establishment of the national park, three comprehensive observation stations have been set up at the Chinese national level and under the administration of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Besides, a research platform has been established with the concreted efforts of several parties. Over 300 ecological monitoring stations for water, soil, air, and wildlife have alsobeen set up to supervise 24 major bird habitats, 13 Przewalski’s gazelle activity areas, and 28 key ecological protection areas.

Today, Qinghai Lake has seen its ecological environment improved and biodiversity rapidly restored. The naked carp population has recorded a nearly 46-fold growth.A total of 281 bird species have been identified in the region, with an impressive 606,000waterfowl making it their permanent home. Additionally, the number of the Przewalski’s gazelle in the Qinghai Lake basin has risen from fewer than 300 in the early stages of conservation to over 3,400.

“Our ecological conservation efforts are manifested in ‘three improvements and three reductions’ – we have increased the areas of wetland, the coverage of high-density vegetation, and the overall ecological function, while reducing the areas of sandy, bare, and saline-alkali land within the protected zone. At the same time, within our protected zone, the functional land under protection remains unchanged,” said Sun.

Booming ecological tourism

In Ha’ergai township of Gangcha county on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake, mushroom-shaped hotel buildings are favored by many tourists. There is also a rescue station for Przewalski’s gazelleand a science museum close by.

In recent years, the Qinghai Lake scenic area has upgradedits tourism infrastructure, including transportation, service facilities, and parking lots, while also providing a wider range of ecological tourism productsto enrich visitors’travel experiences.

Local residents are benefiting from the improved ecological environment. Sources say that the Protection and Utilization Administration of Qinghai Lake Scenic Area has adopted a collaborative approach to develop ecological tourism within the 12 approved scenic spots, featuring the participation of companies, cooperatives, and the public. This innovative model has contributed to local job creation, benefiting more than 20,000 residents in the eight neighboring townships.

“Over 60,000 people are living within the proposed boundaries of the national park at Qinghai Lake. We are planning to provide people in local communities with sharesin cooperatives, which will encourage their participation and allow them to benefit from the park’s development. In this way, we canpursue a well-coordinated approach in ecological protection and high-quality development,” said Ma Tiancheng, deputy head of the Protection and Utilization Administration of Qinghai Lake Scenic Area.

By Wang Junling

Starting from Jan. 1, 2025, provisional import tariffs, lower than the most-favored-nation rates, have been applied to 935 Chinese commodities as part of an annual tariff adjustment plan recently issued by the Customs Tariff Commission of China’s State Council.

Experts said thatlower provisional tariffs have been implemented for some raw materials, drugs, equipment, and components. Besides, China has adjusted the import tariff rates and items on certain goods in an effort to boost imports of high-quality products, expand Chinese domestic demand, advance high-level opening up, and promote high-quality development.

The tariff adjustments were implemented in three aspects. First, to foster new quality productive forces through scientific and technological innovation, cycloolefin polymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, and automatic transmissions for special-purpose vehicles such as fire trucks and repair vehicles can enjoy lower import tariffs.

Second, to enhance people’s well-being,China has cut tariffs on sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, viral vectors for CAR-T tumor therapy, and nickel-titanium alloy wires for surgical implants.

Third, to promote green and low-carbon development, ethane and some recycled copper and aluminium raw materials also see their import tariffs reduced.

According to Fan Min, deputy head of the information and market department of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, ethane, cycloolefin polymers, and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers are important basic materials for China’s petrochemical industry. The tariff cuts can promote the application of green and low-carbon manufacturing processes and drive the development of high-tech, and high-performance products in downstream industries, Fan added.

Demonstrating China’s commitment to high-level opening up

The tariff adjustments also demonstrate China’s sense of responsibility as a major trading nation under the current international economic situation.

In 2025, China will continue to offer zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to the 43 least developed countries (LDCs) with which it has diplomatic relations in a bid to support their development and foster mutual benefits.

At the same time, China will continue to apply preferential tariff rates to certain products from Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar in accordance with the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement and its exchange of notes with ASEAN member states.

“Starting Dec. 1, 2024, China has given all the LDCs with which it has diplomatic relations zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. In 2025, China will continue to implement this unilateral opening-up policy,” said Cui Fan, professor with the University of International Business and Economics.

At the same time, conventional tariff rateswill be applied to certain products from 34 countries and regions under 24 free trade and preferential trade arrangements in 2025, up from 30 countries and regions under 20 free trade and preferential trade arrangements as compared to the 2024 tariff adjustment plan. These changes signify an expanding “circle of friends” in China’s foreign trade, Cui noted.

As the first annual tariff adjustment plan after the adoption of the law on customs duties, this plan represents China’s commitment to steadily expanding institutional opening up, unilaterally opening its doors wider to LDCs, and expandingthe globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas. It also demonstrates China’s proactive efforts to promote high-quality development via high-standard opening up, said Cui.

“China has adopted a flexible and targeted approach in tariff adjustment. It has reduced provisional import tariffs on key equipment and components, drugs, medical equipment, and energy products. Besides, the country has also adjusted or eliminated import tariffs on products for which it has a certain level of production capacity and competitiveness,” said Gao Lingyun, a researcher with the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Gao noted that these adjustment measures are contributing to China’s efforts to expand opening up and promote industrial upgrading.

Supporting measures keep unfolding in different regions

Relevant departments in China have introduced a range of supporting measures. For instance, on Dec. 29, 2024, China’s General Administration of Customs announced a new round of 16 measures to promote the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and boost imports of high-quality products.

One measure involves working with local governments to push forward the pilot program for a “white list” of imported materials for biopharmaceuticalsresearch and development in the region to support regional synergy.

Another measure is to set up a pilot program in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province, for a positive list management system of imported daily consumer goods.

Additionally, a collaborative mechanism is underway to facilitate grain imports in the region, which will link entry ports, transit ports, and destination customs to enable information sharing, mutual assistance in law enforcement, and mutual recognition of results.

Experts noted that as China continuously expands voluntary opening up and creates more favorable conditions for high-quality imported products, more and moreforeign market players are expected to benefit from its growing import demand.

By Gu Chun, Liu Junguo, People’s Daily

In the tranquil winter of Huangyangjian village, Zhanmao neighborhood, Putuo district, Zhoushan, east China’s Zhejiang province, the aroma of roasted rice wafts through the air at the “Rabbit Market.”

Everything at the market exudes the unique charm, such as traditional mud stoves, clay teapots and bamboo chairs commonly found in the countryside.

The “Rabbit Market” was launched by local resident Xia Ziyu in 2022 upon her return home from working out-of-town. The market specializes in discovering, enhancing, and selling local farm produce.

“Guanyin rice is a specialty of Zhoushan. We have adopted rice roasting technique from Yunnan province to make tea with it,” Xia said, while skillfully stirring the rice, attracting many tourists.

Currently, Xia’s team consists of 21 people, mainly engaged in the commercialization of agricultural products and brand development, and supporting 200 pioneers in rural specialty products in livestream commerce. Last year, Xia was honored as a national young pioneer for rural vitalization.

In Zhejiangprovince, tens of thousands of agricultural innovators have ventured into villages and become a significant driving force for comprehensive rural vitalization.

Agricultural innovators, or farming entrepreneurs, are individuals below the age of 45 who take charge as leaders or stakeholders of farmer cooperatives, agricultural enterprises, family farms, or other agricultural production and operation entities.

The village of Taipingshan in Shangyu district, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province boasts a long history.In 2022, Shangyu native Chen Liefeng, who was running a business in Shanghai, visited the village for the first time and discovered its beautiful scenery, but noticed the absence of agritainment and rural guesthouses.

After researching ancient books, he found that the village has a long history of producing Polygonatum, also known as Solomon’s seal. Chen then signed a cooperation agreement with Taipingshan village and became afarming entrepreneur there. The village contributed its unused forest resources as equity, accounting for 60 percent.

Unlike artificially cultivated Polygonatum, the Polygonatum in Taipingshan is grown using a “natural growth” method, where villagers scatter the seeds in the high mountain forests without using pesticides or fertilizers, allowing them to grow naturally in the wild.

Currently, there are more than 450,000 plants thriving after Polygonatum seeds were sown on over 1,000 mu (667 hectares) of mountain forests in the village.

“We are not pursuing temporary ‘internet fame.’ We sowthe seeds on hundreds of mu of land each year. When they become high-quality Polygonatum, we will achieve sustainable harvesting, which will be the long-term wealth of the village,” Chen said confidently.

With the development of the Polygonatum industry, the number of visitors and tourists has been increasing, and the village now boasts rural guesthouses, tea houses, and dining establishments.

Zhejiang province has launched a project to nurture 100,000 agricultural innovators, providing support in terms of funding, land, technology, and more.

In 2024, Zhejiang has initiated the construction of 100 modern farming entrepreneurparks and 500 bases for the common development of farming entrepreneur, offering a one-stop service including project incubation and skills enhancement, and promoting an entrepreneurship mechanism involving experts, farming entrepreneur teams and farmers.

“With the government’s support, we have successfully established a bamboo weaving workshop. In collaboration with schools, we are actively promoting intangible cultural heritage on campuses. Additionally, we have set up display counters at airports and five-star hotels, leading to a surge in orders,” said Ye Shangjie, a bamboo weaving inheritor born in the 1990s, in an intangible cultural heritage exhibition hall in Xijiang ancient village in Yizhou district, Ningbo.

Rural vitalization hinges on talent. Zhejiang province has set a target to cultivate 100,000  agricultural innovators,by 2025 who will help 1 million farmers increase their income. The province has already nurtured 300 outstanding rural talents, 4,600 leaders in rural industrial vitalization, 81,000 agricultural innovators, and 275,000 “new farmers.” This robust and dynamic rural talent pool is vital in driving comprehensive rural vitalization.