Nigeria Times

By Wang Zheng, People’s Daily

China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is accelerating its shift from rapid expansion to higher-quality growth, driven by breakthroughs in key technologies such as intelligent driving systems and advanced batteries.

In early March, Chinese companies unveiled a new round of innovations in the core technologies underpinning smart, connected NEVs.

On March 4, Chinese technology giant Huawei launched the world’s first dual-optical-path imaging-grade 896-line LiDAR system under its Qiankun intelligent driving solution. 

Compared with conventional 192-line LiDAR, the new system offers four times the resolution and addresses a long-standing industry challenge — wide-angle sensors that capture the full scene but miss details, and telephoto sensors that capture details but sacrifice field of view. 

This breakthrough enables vehicles traveling at 120 km/h to reliably identify small obstacles, such as 14 cm-high stones, from 120 meters away.

The following day (March 5th), BYD, China’s leading new energy vehicle manufacturer, unveiled the second generation of its Blade Battery. The upgraded battery delivers what the company calls a breakthrough flash-charging experience: under normal temperatures, it can charge from 10 percent to 70 percent in just five minutes and from 10 percent to 97 percent in nine minutes. 

Even at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the charging process takes only about three minutes longer than under normal conditions. The new battery also increases energy density by five percent and supports a driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

From LiDAR systems for intelligent driving to next-generation power batteries, Chinese companies have achieved fresh breakthroughs in key technologies for smart NEVs in the first quarter of 2026.

How can China’s NEV industry further accelerate its transformation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030)?

China’s 2026 government work report emphasizes building a modernized industrial system and create new forms of smart economy. Automotive experts noted that China’s auto industry is entering a critical stage, shifting from scale expansion toward higher quality and efficiency. Leveraging its industrial chain strengths and economies of scale, the sector is expected to optimize product structures, refine industrial layouts and strengthen brand value.

According to Wang Jianqing, chief master technician at the vehicle assembly plant of Dongfeng Trucks, a subsidiary of Chinese automobile group Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the industry is moving toward greater intelligence, greener technologies and deeper industrial integration.

He stressed the importance of strengthening fundamental research, investing in cutting-edge technologies, and enhancing industry resilience to support this shift.

Vehicles equipped with the Geely’s Qianli Haohan intelligent assisted-driving system have delivered notable performance results. Recent data shows that the system has accumulated over 110 million kilometers of assisted-driving mileage, equivalent to circling the Earth about 2,750 times, while its active collision-avoidance function has prevented 225,000 potential accidents.

“Safety is the core of any intelligent driving system,” said Li Chuanhai, president of the Geely Automobile Research Institute. He said that in 2026, Geely plans to introduce Level-3 high-speed autonomous driving and Level-4 low-speed autonomous functions where regulations permit, while steadily advancing the deployment of Robotaxi vehicles.

China’s push toward higher levels of autonomous driving gained regulatory momentum in late 2025. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted China’s first Level-3 autonomous driving vehicle permits, marking a transition from technological testing to the early stages of large-scale commercial application.

Feng Xingya, chairman of GAC Group, a major Chinese automaker, has urged the establishment of a nationally unified standards and evaluation system for autonomous driving. He proposed opening key testing scenarios such as highways and urban expressways to support testing and commercialization of Level-3 autonomous driving for consumer vehicles, while expanding pilot applications of Level-4 autonomous driving in logistics and mobility services.

Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Holding Group, another major Chinese automobile manufacturer, has emphasized the importance of data security in intelligent driving systems. He suggested establishing standardized procedures for data collection, transmission and use, ensuring privacy protection while enabling large-scale Level-3 deployment.

Inside a vehicle assembly plant of mobility technology company Magna International in Graz, Austria, engineering teams from China and Europe are conducting intensive adjustments around production rhythms, process validation and quality inspection. The preparations are aimed at the mid-March rollout of the Aion UT, produced by GAC Aion, an NEV brand of GAC Group.

Following the earlier production of the Aion V, the Aion UT will become the second GAC model to be manufactured locally at the plant.

According to Ma Haiyang, an executive of GAC Group, cooperation with Magna International allows the company to integrate more efficiently with Europe’s mature engineering systems and local supply chains, accelerating the implementation of localized production.

“GAC is steadily advancing local research and development, procurement and manufacturing,” Ma said. “By developing products according to European standards, we aim to better understand and meet the needs of the European market and provide high-quality products and services for local consumers.”

China exported over 7 million units of automobiles in 2025, with NEV exports reaching 2.615 million units, more than doubling year on year and highlighting the industry’s growing international competitiveness.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Limited overseas operational capacity and risks related to global industrial and supply chains continue to test Chinese automakers as they expand abroad.

For Chery Holding Group, globalization means integrating more deeply into local markets. “Our global strategy is to be rooted where we operate and contribute to local development,” said Yin. He noted that Chery’s project in Spain has not only enabled localized vehicle production but also created more than 1,500 local jobs. 

“During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we hope to replicate this model in more parts of the world,” Yin said. “Our goal is to ensure that our products and pricing are acceptable to local consumers, our business models are welcomed by local governments and societies, and our development approach remains environmentally sustainable.”

By He Yin, People’s Daily

In today’s world, rising unilateralism and protectionism are severely undermining global development. 

The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026 released by the World Economic Forum warned that the current level of global cooperation remains insufficient to address major economic, security and environmental challenges. 

Amid this landscape, the international community looks to China as a positive force for global development by advancing greater openness, inclusiveness, and shared opportunities.

Over the past year, in the face of mounting headwinds from protectionism, China has stayed committed to expanding opening up. 

Its partnership network has grown increasingly diverse. The country recorded trade growth with more than 190 countries and regions and the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises rose by 19.1 percent. 

“Made in China” products maintain globally popularity, with high-tech exports increasing by 13.2 percent. Exports of “new trio” products — electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products — surged by 27.1 percent. 

Knowledge-intensive service trade demonstrated steady growth, while travel service exports expanded rapidly. Inbound tourist visits rose by 17.1 percent, and visa-free facilitation has made “China travel” a global trend. 

Through the efficient flow of commodities, personnel and information, China continues to share its development opportunities with the world.

China’s institutional opening up has steadily enhanced the quality of its engagement. From the launch of island-wide special customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port to futher efforts to enhance institutional opening up in pilot free trade zones, a series of measures has effectively fostered a new system for a higher-standard open economy. 

A market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, and a transparent, stable and predictable institutional framework, have become key pillars that underpin the continued confidence of foreign companies and investors in China. A recent report by KPMG shows that 94 percent of multinational corporations intend to keep investing in the Chinese market.

China’s opening up is increasingly generating strong momentum for the world. 

A national exhibition matrix, including the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services and the China International Consumer Products Expo, has taken shape, linking global demand and facilitating international cooperation. 

High-quality Belt and Road cooperation continues to deepen and deliver tangible results: Kenya’s Konza Technopolis, dubbed African Silicon Savannah, is rising rapidly and is expected to accelerate the country’s digital transformation; Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational workshop program training talents overseas, have seen their teaching standards integrated into Nicaragua’s national vocational education system and promoted across the country. The China-Laos Railway has achieved remarkable progress in cultivating local talent, with local employees accounting for more than 67 percent of the workforce on the Laos section. 

“Hard connectivity,” “soft connectivity” and “people-to-people connectivity” are moving forward in parallel, comprehensively improving the quality and effectiveness of practical cooperation and injecting strong impetus into common development.

With new plans laid out in the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will advance high-level opening up with even richer substance. 

China will continue to expand proactive opening up, stabilize and upgrade foreign trade, expand two-way investment cooperation, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. 

China is forging stronger bonds of open cooperation. It will further expand trials of opening up in sectors like value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals. It will guide enterprises in optimizing global resource allocation and support the sound, orderly, and well-regulated growth of the “cross-border e-commerce plus overseas warehouses” model. It will also advance the Smart Customs cooperation partnership. As these initiatives take deeper root and deliver tangible results, China’s opening up will continue to generate strong momentum.

China remains committed to providing all nations with greater and fairer access to the benefits of development. At a time when hegemonic practices undermine international cooperation and the global openness index continues to decline, China has firmly chosen to uphold multilateralism and open cooperation and to safeguard and develop an open world economy. China will remain an “oasis of certainty” in an uncertain world. 

As the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins, China will promote the negotiation and conclusion of more regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements and work actively toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). 

Under the new circumstances, China will firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, participate comprehensively and deeply in the reform of the World Trade Organization, and work with all parties to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Any attempt to channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks is simply impossible and runs counter to the trend of history. China will always work with other countries to expand the “cake” of economic globalization and share it more equitably. 

Through open development, countries can complement each other’s strengths and share opportunities; and through deeper integration of interests, they can achieve common development and mutual success.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

During recent China’s “two sessions,” the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, and top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, how the country will elevate the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation as it advances high-level opening up has become a major focus of international attention. 

In an increasingly turbulent global landscape marked by economic uncertainty, China’s capacity for long-term stability makes it an increasingly vital destination for international business.

This appeal is reflected in the numbers: more than 70,000 foreign-invested enterprises were established across China in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 19.1 percent. This trend underscores a clear and consistent reality: China remains, and will continue to be, an attractive, secure, and promising market for foreign investment. 

Partnering with China means embracing opportunity. Believing in China reflects optimism about the future. And investing in China is, ultimately, an investment in tomorrow.

Stability breeds long-term confidence. France’s Schneider Electric has been present in the Chinese market for nearly four decades. From an initial team of just 10 employees, the company has grown to establish five R&D centers, an AI innovation laboratory, and 30 factories and logistics centers across the country. It is China’s developmental stability that has enabled such long-term planning and sustained growth. 

Schneider’s experience exemplifies a shared commitment to long-termism. China’s own consistent, long-range development approach increasingly shapes the strategic outlook of foreign enterprises operating there. By aligning with China’s five-year plans, monitoring policy signals, and assessing industrial prospects, many foreign companies are translating the conviction that “investing in China is investing in the future” into concrete action.

Stability also nurtures fertile ground for innovation. China is firmly advancing scientific and technological innovation, while new quality productive forces are taking shape at a faster pace. As a result, more and more foreign enterprises regard China as a “gym” where they can strengthen their innovative capacity and competitiveness. 

Germany’s Volkswagen has accompanied China’s automotive industry through decades of growth. Today, the company works closely with Chinese partners in mutual learning, joint innovation, and collaborative research. The combination of China’s speed and German experience, as well as Chinese wisdom and German craftsmanship, is injecting new momentum into the development of the new-energy vehicles industry.

Stability carries the aspirations of entrepreneurs. China’s expanding opening up continues to attract entrepreneurs from around the world. Statistics show that in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province, more than 30,000 foreign merchants are active every day, and the number of registered foreign-invested market entities has exceeded 11,000. Yiwu, known as the “world’s supermarket,” has also become a vibrant international community marked by diversity and integration. 

Danish entrepreneur Simon Lichtenberg has run a business in Shanghai for more than 30 years. He has also actively participated in consultations organized by grassroots legislative outreach offices, offering suggestions on the draft revision of the Company Law.

His story illustrates how a safe and friendly environment, together with an open, inclusive and harmonious social and cultural atmosphere, further strengthens foreign investors’ confidence in building their future in China.

The growing scale of investment and the upgrading of cooperation models reflect foreign investors’ deepening understanding of the opportunities China offers. From recognizing the enormous potential of China’s market to appreciating the institutional strengths behind its unique appeal, many in the international business community increasingly see China as an irreplaceable partner. 

The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to coordinate foreign investment attraction and outbound investment to cultivate new strengths in international trade and two-way investment cooperation, make greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment, and promote international industrial and investment cooperation. The stability of these policy directions, rooted in practical experience, will continue to unleash new momentum for future development.

Together, China and foreign enterprises have written a story of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, forming an important chapter in the history of economic globalization. 

As the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) begins, China will remain committed to opening up, cooperation, and win-win outcomes. By steadily expanding institutional opening up, China will create an even more enabling environment and broader space for foreign enterprises, while continuing to provide new opportunities for the world through its own development.

By People’s Daily reporters

China achieved a significant milestone in 2025, with total electricity consumption exceeding 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time. This figure surpasses the combined electricity use of the United States, Germany, Japan, and India. Power consumption serves as a clear indicator of China’s economic trajectory.

Innovation and Green Transition Drive Manufacturing Power Demand

At present, Dishang Kenny, a garment company in Weihai, east China’s Shandong province, is racing to keep up with a surge in orders. On the factory floor, automated cutting machines slice through fabric with precision, automated guided vehicles shuttle materials across floors, and intelligent hanging systems assist workers with sewing.

“Since resuming work after the Spring Festival holiday, our electricity load has remained high, with power consumption rising about 15 percent year on year,” said Zhu Lihua, chairman of Dishang Group, the parent company of Dishang Kenny. 

According to Zhu, after adopting a digital management system, the company’s production efficiency has improved by more than 30 percent compared with traditional operations.

As traditional industries accelerate their move toward higher quality, emerging industries pursue innovation and the green transition gathers pace, the rapid growth of new quality productive forces is pushing up electricity demand in the industrial sector.

In Wuhu, east China’s Anhui province, industrial robots undergo their final tests before deployment at the manufacturing and delivery center of EFORT Intelligent Robot Co, Ltd. Robots twist, stretch and wave their arms as engineers carry out performance checks.

“Our production in the first quarter is expected to grow by about 30 percent year on year,” said Zhang Wei, the company’s vice president. Data from State Grid Anhui Electric Power Company show that electricity consumption by robot-manufacturing-related enterprises in Anhui rose 26.15 percent year on year in January and February.

According to Xu Lijin, chairman of Wuhu Robot Industry Development Group, the robot industry is rapidly emerging as a major growth driver in high-end equipment manufacturing as intelligent technologies advance and application scenarios expand.

“Six emerging sectors — including integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, low-altitude economy, new energy storage and intelligent robotics — are expected to reach new levels of output by 2030,” he said. “These industries will become key engines driving growth in electricity demand.”

In 2025, electricity consumption by China’s high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries rose 6.4 percent year on year, three percentage points higher than the average growth rate of the manufacturing sector.

E-commerce and Tourism Spark Surging Power Use

As evening fell, the makerspace district in Lizu village of Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province glowed with lights. Livestream hosts were selling a range of local specialties including tie-dye products and farm produce in studios via livestream.

While consumers placed orders online, express delivery companies rushed to process shipments. On Feb. 26, Yiwu handled 56.3 million parcels in a single day, setting a new record.

“As consumer preferences become more personalized and quality-oriented, new consumption models such as livestream commerce have expanded rapidly. Here, international trade meets rural tourism, allowing the village to share the benefits of development,” said Fang Haolong, Party head of Lizu village.

During the first week after the Spring Festival holiday, electricity consumption in Zhejiang’s internet and related services sector reached 112 million kilowatt-hours, registering double-digit growth. Power use by the express delivery sector rose 5.2 percent, while electricity consumption in information transmission, software and IT services increased 11.9 percent, remaining at a high level.

“Consumption patterns are changing,” said Liu Cong, chairman of the Jiangsu Federation of Industry and Commerce. “Experiential and scenario-based consumption is gaining popularity. Cultural, tourism, performing arts and catering sectors are integrating more rapidly, while new consumption scenarios continue to emerge, stimulating spending and driving growth in related industries.”

Data, Computing Power and AI Fueling Electricity Boom

In Gui’an New Area in southwest China’s Guizhou province, one of China’s largest clusters of hyperscale data centers, construction of the 500-kilovolt Machang power transmission and transformation project, with a total investment of 510 million yuan (about $73.8 million), is entering its final stage.

Once completed, the project will provide 2 million kilowatts of power supply capacity, meeting the electricity needs of 26 large data centers and nearly 300,000 standard server racks.

“What drives AI is computing power, and what drives computing power is electricity,” said an executive of the China Electricity Council. China has made significant progress in building new infrastructure such as AI systems and 5G network, greatly boosting electricity demand in related sectors.

From 2021 to 2025, electricity consumption in the internet data services sector grew at an average annual rate of 35.9 percent.

Meanwhile, as the number of new energy vehicles continues to rise rapidly, China is accelerating the rollout of charging infrastructure nationwide. This not only addresses vehicle energy needs but also supports new consumption scenarios such as road trips and rural tourism.

By December 2025, China had built more than 20 million electric vehicle charging facilities, with the total expected to reach 28 million by the end of 2027. Investment in charging infrastructure has maintained strong growth, driving nearly 50 percent year-on-year growth in electricity consumption within the charging and battery-swapping sector in 2025.

China’s rise as a global electricity powerhouse has unfolded steadily over the past decade. In 2011, China became the world’s largest electricity producer in terms of installed power generation capacity and output, and its per capita electricity consumption surpassed the global average. 

In 2015, the last group of people without access to electricity in China finally got connected to power use. In 2020, every village in China gained access to power supply for productive use. And in 2025, total electricity consumption across the country exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time.

China has built the world’s largest clean power supply system, with an average power supply reliability rate exceeding 99.9 percent. Behind this full-strength electricity supply lies the vitality of countless households — and the steady rise of a nation.

By He Siqi, People’s Daily

Wearing traditional Hanfu clothing, drinking warm water, and enjoying hot pot have become must-do experiences for many travelers to China, while the phrase “becoming Chinese” has turned into a popular online trend. 

In recent months, Chinese lifestyles have gained remarkable popularity abroad, drawing worldwide attention. As the warmth of daily Chinese life travels across seas and mountains, it highlights the vibrant vitality of Chinese culture.

During this year’s Spring Festival, visitors from more than 160 countries and regions traveled to China, exploring over 300 cities nationwide. In 2025, the number of inbound tourist arrivals surpassed 150 million. 

Behind these numbers lies a growing global interest in China. Rather than simply visiting iconic landmarks, many foreign visitors now seek to experience the authentic rhythm of life in China — immersing themselves in local communities and routines. 

At its heart, this enthusiasm reflects a deep appreciation for China’s profound cultural legacy and an emerging appreciation of the Chinese way of life.

China’s cultural appeal manifests through relatable everyday moments: savoring regional cuisine, experiencing the ancient wisdom of Tui Na massage and Baduanjin, or taking a high-speed train ride, these tangible experiences turn a rich culture into something personal.

Through these small windows, a vivid and multidimensional China comes to life: a country where tradition and modernity intertwine, where ancient civilization coexists with contemporary living, where every individual can act as a cultural ambassador, where people from diverse backgrounds can find an emotional connection, and where each experience builds a bridge linking civilizations.

The global popularity of Chinese lifestyles is rooted in the rich heritage of China’s fine traditional culture. The spirit of relentless self-improvement, the virtue of embracing all things with great moral integrity, and the values of trustworthiness and social harmony have been passed down through an unbroken civilization spanning more than 5,000 years. These enduring cultural nutrients have been deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese society and quietly shape everyday wisdom.

Cultural exchange is reciprocal — a meeting of hearts and perspectives. Rooted in its rich cultural heritage, China is engaging with the world more openly than ever. By expanding unilateral visa-free entry and visa-free transit policies, the country has made spontaneous travel to China a reality. These initiatives serve as practical bridges for cross-cultural dialogue, enabling the world to gain a deeper understanding of China, while also providing fertile ground for Chinese culture to flourish globally.

The growing popularity of the idea of “becoming Chinese” reflects China’s growing confidence and openness. As the country embarks on the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), it is sharing with the world its magnificent landscapes, brilliant culture and long history, as well as the joys of daily Chinese life. 

Through equal dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations, China continues to tell a story of civilization that belongs not only to China, but also to the world. 

By Yang Hao, People’s Daily

At Alashankou Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, China-Europe freight trains shuttled back and forth, carrying goods across borders and linking markets along the route. 

After a day of field research here, Zhong Ying, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a researcher at the Institute of Contemporary China Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, sat down to organize her notes. 

“Proposals require deep understanding of realities and public concerns,” said Zhong, whose work has taken her to border regions including Xinjiang, Xizang, Guangxi, and Yunnan. She conducts on-site investigations with officials, experts, and residents, transforming findings into policy recommendations.

In recent years, her research and consultation work has taken her across Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Xizang, Guangxi, and Yunnan. From border ports to industrial parks, from pastoral areas to demonstration farms, she has conducted on-site investigations and held discussions with officials, experts, and local residents. These experiences have become the foundation of her proposals.

As a CPPCC member representing the ethnic minority sector, Zhong has focused her efforts on promoting high-quality development in ethnic regions by closely integrating her academic expertise with her duties as a political advisor. 

During her research, she found that although Alashankou serves as a key hub in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, its development is constrained by factors such as population size and resource endowments. 

She has therefore proposed leveraging the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone to strengthen infrastructure, enhance its role as a transportation hub, and improve the facilitation of cross-border trade.

“Border areas need to build on their resource endowments and geographical advantages to explore differentiated development paths, so as to achieve a positive interplay between border area development and ethnic unity and progress,” Zhong noted. 

Drawing on her professional background and extensive fieldwork, she has developed a number of well-researched proposals, including those on promoting sound interaction, exchange, and integration among ethnic groups in the context of digitalization, and on accelerating the “East Data, West Computing” initiative to facilitate cross-regional data flows.

Proposals shaped through in-depth field research have received strong attention from relevant authorities, with some suggestions being adopted and translated into concrete policy measures. 

“Government departments have actively responded to public concerns, and the effective implementation of proposals has further strengthened members’ sense of responsibility and engagement,” Zhong said.

For Zhong, transforming academic research into high-quality proposals has long been a consistent pursuit. During the 2025 “two sessions,” she submitted five proposals covering topics such as fostering new quality productive forces, boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand, and advancing high-quality development in border regions — all based on the research projects she had led.

Her schedule remains tightly packed. “Only by grounding proposals in frontline research and aligning professional expertise with the needs and expectations of the people can proposals be both impactful and relevant,” she said.

Proposals are a key means for CPPCC members to perform their duties. In 2025, more than 5,900 proposals were submitted by members of the CPPCC National Committee, over 5,000 of which were filed. Some suggestions have been incorporated into relevant policy documents. 

The overall quality of proposals has continued to improve, and follow-up supervision has become more effective. Over the past year, the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee and its special committees organized 68 supervision activities, producing 85 outcomes. Suggestions from proposals have been adopted in nearly 400 policy measures, special initiatives, and key tasks of departments.