Nigeria Times

By Huan Xiang, Meng Xianglin, Gong Ming, People’s Daily

The 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s first import-themed national-level expo, being held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, is seeing its “circle of friends” continuously expanding, playing a more and more important role in international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange, and open cooperation.

International attendees to the event told People’s Daily that CIIE’s upgrades and expansion created valuable opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and advancing common development, making economic globalization more inclusive and open.

This year, the Business & Enterprise Exhibition will maintain its massive scale of over 360,000 square meters, hosting 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions, both numbers surpassing those in the previous year. Notably, 297 Fortune Global 500 and industry-leading companies are participating in the event, marking a new record. A total of 186 exhibitors and organizations are joining the expo for the seventh consecutive time.

“The CIIE not only fosters further openness of the Chinese market but also creates broader opportunities for global cooperation across diverse fields,” said Paul Hudson, CEO of French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

“Our company has been deeply rooted in China for over 40 years, making China one of our primary markets. We greatly value the scale and pace of innovation in China and look forward to continuing our support for China’s healthcare development to benefit more people,” Hudson said.

Japanese company Kao Corporation has participated in all seven sessions of the CIIE. It has launched multiple products in the Chinese market that debuted at the expo.

“The CIIE has become a vital link for Kao in connecting with the Chinese market,” said Takeyasu Masaru, chairman and president of Kao (China) Holding Co Ltd. “The expo showcases China’s commitment to sharing its vast market opportunities with the world. We look forward to continuing to expand our ‘circle of friends’ through this open platform.”

“To move forward with China is to move forward with the future and opportunities,” said Pontus Erntell, president and chief sustainability officer of Ikea China. The Chinese market, with its enormous size, vitality of innovation, and favorable business environment, provides strong support for the growth of numerous multinational companies, he added.

CEO of Singapore’s Nipsea Group Wee Siew Kim noted, “The number of exhibitors at this year’s CIIE has reached a new high. As a first-time exhibitor, we are excited about the ‘CIIE effect’ and eager to collaborate for mutual success, sharing opportunities from both China and the world.”

The Innovation Incubation Special Section of this year’s CIIE has made improvement in both its size and quality. For the first time, it will focus on the four main themes of digital economy, green and low-carbon solutions, life sciences, and manufacturing technology. A range of exhibits representing the forefront of new quality productive forces will make their global or China debut at this section.

Philips is showcasing new products in areas such as ultrasound, image-guided therapy, and personal health care, with several items making their Asia or China premiere. CEO of Royal Philips Roy Jakobs said, “China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, with its innovation speed and capacity continuously advancing. The resilience of China’s economy, potential of the Chinese market, and advantages in the industrial chain and talent pool make China highly attractive for international companies to invest and grow.”

“In the past six years, we have showcased over 260 innovative products and cutting-edge technologies at the CIIE, including several first launches of new products and solutions,” said Gu Chunyuan, chairman of ABB (China) Limited. He added that China’s active drive for industrial upgrading and energy transition has provided new growth opportunities for the company.

This year’s expo sees the participation of 37 least developed countries, with the organizers providing over 120 free exhibition booths. The African product zone at this year’s CIIE is significantly expanded, and a sub-forum titled “Sustainable Development of Global South and China-Africa Cooperation”has been hosted. These efforts aim to open new doors of opportunity for least developed countries and other developing nations.

“The CIIE offers a platform for the least developed countries to showcase their products, attract investment, and integrate into global value chains, helping boost their international visibility and expand trade,” said director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Gerd Muller. 

Since the 1st CIIE, UNIDO has consistently supported the event, which mirrors the two sides’ strong partnership in areas such as South-South cooperation and trade facilitation.

“As one of this year’s guest countries of honor, Tanzania has brought a range of new products, including specialty agricultural goods and handcrafted items, to further unleash our development potential and showcase our cultural heritage,” said Latifa M. Khamis, director general of Tanzania Trade Development Authority.

“The CIIE offers developing countries greater access to global markets and shared growth opportunities. It is crucial for us to achieve sustainable development and advance poverty reduction,”Khamis added.

By Li Jiabao

Following the reconstruction efforts post-earthquake, Eloy Alfaro International Airport in the Ecuadorian city of Manta has been successfully restored to operational capacity, reconnecting Manta with the world.

In Mexico, the section 2A of the Mexico City Metro Line 1 has been renovated, promising locals a more comfortable, intelligent, and convenient transit experience.

In Antigua and Barbuda, the newly expanded St. John’s Harbor is poised to bolster the country’s ambitions of emerging as a key regional shipping hub.

These transformative infrastructure projects, supported by Chinese investment, are commonly seen in Latin American countries.

Driven by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), investment cooperation between China and Latin America is flourishing across various sectors. Latin America is the second-largest destination for Chinese overseas investment, while China is Latin America’s third-largest source of foreign investment.

Infrastructure is a focal point in China-Latin America investment cooperation. According to incomplete statistics, as of September 2023, China had undertaken over 200 infrastructure projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, building thousands of kilometers of roads, railways, and light rail; more than 100 schools, hospitals, and sports venues; nearly 100 bridges and tunnels; dozens of airports and ports; and over 30 power stations and energy facilities, creating close to a million jobs in the region.

In recent years, China-Latin America investment cooperation has been upgraded in quality, with new highlights emerging in sectors such as green energy, digital economy, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and cross-border e-commerce.

Chinese companies are rapidly increasing their green investments in Latin America. According to a report by the Brazilian government-led research organization Institute of Applied Economic Research, between 2019 and 2022, the photovoltaic power capacity invested by Chinese companies in Latin America quadrupled, rising from 363 MW to 1.4 GW. Similarly, the wind power generation capacity funded by Chinese firms doubled, increasing from 1.6 GW to 3.2 GW.

Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity in Latin American markets, with several Chinese automakers accelerating their investment in countries like Brazil and Mexico.

Additionally, lithium mining – a crucial resource for EV batteries – has become a key area for China-Latin America cooperation on energy transition, drawing more and more Chinese investors to the lithium-rich “lithium triangle” region of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.

In the realm of digital economy, Huawei and other Chinese tech firms are advancing 5G infrastructure in Latin America and developing data centers and cloud computing facilities as part of the region’s digital foundation.

Some Chinese telecommunications and e-commerce companies are promoting “smart city” and “digital village” initiatives. So far, multiple Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms have entered Latin American markets.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. Over the past decade, friendly cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries has flourished within this framework, providing a solid foundation for investment partnerships.

Statistics show that by the end of 2022, China’s direct investment stock in Latin America and the Caribbean reached $596.2 billion, nearly seven times higher than that at the end of 2013.

Earlier this year, a report by the Inter-American Dialogue think tank highlighted the evolving focus of Chinese companies’ investments in Latin America – from mineral extraction to large-scale infrastructure construction, and now increasingly to innovation sectors, including information and communication technology, renewable energy, and other emerging industries.

Jorge Heine, former Chilean Ambassador to China and professor at Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, noted that this investment approach aligns closely with Latin America’s urgent need for economic transformation, with China poised to play a key role in injecting the region with much-needed development momentum.

“China and Latin American countries are both developing nations. Their shared interests and mutual needs drive investment cooperation,” said Yuan Dongzhen, deputy director of the Institute of Latin America and professor at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Yuan believes that China’s strengths in infrastructure, manufacturing, new energy, and digital technology position the country well to support Latin American countries’ economic transition and reindustrialization through investment partnerships. This aligns with Latin American countries’ aspirations to attract foreign investment and boost their economies.

Gonzalo Gutierrez, secretary-general of the Andean Community, noted that China’s direct investment in Latin America and the Caribbean is widely welcomed, as it plays a crucial role in generating employment and stimulating economic development in the region.

“Today, the collective rise of the ‘Global South’ is a defining feature of a changing world order. Seeking peace, pursuing development, and promoting cooperation are common aspirations for countries in the Global South,” said Yuan.

He added that strengthening investment cooperation between China and Latin America fosters mutual benefit and shared prosperity. As China-Latin America relations enter a new era, the two sides’ investment cooperation will continue to expand into new fields and spaces.

China’s investments in Latin America are characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and more benefits for the people. These investments come with no political strings attached, nor does China impose its will, setting a model for South-South cooperation.

By Yu Sinan, People’s Daily

How powerful is the energy generated when artificial intelligence (AI) collides with scientific research? Recently, the 2024 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were awarded to scientists in AI-related fields, which highlighted AI’s increasingly significant role in scientific research.

Turing Award winner and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Yao Qizhi believes that the future development of AI science will follow two major trends: advancing from narrow AI toward general AI, and enabling interdisciplinary synergies. New technologies and applications, such as embodied AI, AI-driven biomimicry, and AI combined with quantum science, are expected to emerge in abundance.

In recent years, Chinese scientists have been exploring “AI-driven scientific research” across multiple fields, using AI technologies to shorten R&D cycles and reduce costs, accelerating the integration of AI with scientific research.

Electrolytes, often referred to as the “lifeblood” of batteries, are crucial to the development of next-generation batteries. However, the vast molecular combinations of electrolyte materials make it inefficient to screen each one individually.

To address this situation, professor Zhang Qiang and associate researcher Chen Xiang with the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University worked together and led their team to propose a novel “AI-designed lithium-ion battery electrolyte” approach, achieving efficient design and development of advanced electrolytes.

The team developed high-throughput computational methods and software for electrolytes, creating a leading database covering over 250,000 electrolyte molecular structures. It developed a domain-knowledge-embedded large model and software platform for electrolytes, enabling rapid property predictions and precise, targeted design within a molecular space of hundreds of millions. According to Chen, these tools allow researchers to design the most suitable electrolytes based on user requirements.

The deep integration of AI with scientific research is not only elevating the application of AI but also driving a shift in scientific research from an experience-led to a data-driven paradigm.

Li Huihui, a researcher with the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and deputy director of the CAAS National Nanfan Research Institute, has witnessed the transformative impact of AI technologies firsthand.

“Conventional breeding methods rely heavily on experience. They are time-consuming, and have low efficiency when it comes to improving traits that are highly influenced by environmental factors. With AI algorithms, researchers can rapidly predict field performance of crops before breeders conduct field trials, which significantly shortens breeding cycles,” Li explained.

Globally, around 1,750 plant germplasm banks hold over 7 million germplasm resources. Due to limitations in analytical tools, many valuable genetic resources remain underutilized.

“AI-assisted genomic selection can analyze millions of genotypes within weeks, greatly enhancing the efficiency and precision of the breeding process and presenting vast application potential,” Li added.

In recent years, the CAAS has accelerated innovation through the integration of agricultural science and AI technologies, forming interdisciplinary teams in areas such as biological breeding and intelligent agricultural machinery.

Today, Li is leading a team dedicated to developing AI tools like deep learning-based genomic selection models and a whole-process smart breeding platform to enhance the breeding efficiency of staple crops like rice, corn, and wheat.

Currently, in fields like materials research, life sciences, pharmaceutical development, semiconductors, and environmental science, scientists are exploring the use of AI to shorten R&D cycles and reduce costs.

The integration of AI with scientific research relies heavily on technical support platforms. Yang Xiaokang, executive vice dean and professor of the Artificial Intelligence Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, explained that to enable more faculty members to use AI in research, the university partnered with Baidu AI Cloud to create an AI-driven scientific research platform. With the computational power, large model development tools, and other resources provided by Baidu AI Cloud, researchers have achieved a series of breakthroughs across fields such as chemical synthesis, fluid dynamics, urban science, and law.

Take the design of small molecules to combat HIV as an example. Jin Yaohui, chief engineer of the Artificial IntelligenceInstitute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, explained that previously, screening lead compounds took two to three years. With the AI-driven research platform, researchers are able to generate over 250,000 new molecules in less than two minutes and further narrowed down 172 potentially effective molecules within 30 minutes, which greatly enhances the iteration efficiency of molecular design.