Shanghai speeds up efforts to build itself into sci-tech innovation center with global influence

By Liu Shi’an, Huang Xiaohui, People’s Daily

A humanoid robot developed by a company in the Zhangjiang AI Robot Valley, Shanghai has gained new capabilities. Apart from walking rapidly and avoiding obstacles, it is now able to wave its two robotic arms freely, recognize different scenes and learn. The robot may perform many professions in the future.

“Previously, such technological upgrades would take at least three to five years. Now, with the training by AI large models, the robot has upgraded in just half a year,” said Gu Jie, founder of Fourier Intelligence, the developer of the humanoid robot.

According to Gu, the rehabilitation robots developed by the company have been commissioned in more than 2,000 medical institutions.

Speaking of the changes in Zhangjiang, Gu, who has been running a business there many years, said: “More and more multinational companies and innovative companies are settling in Zhangjiang, making it easy for us to seek all kinds of talent, upstream and downstream companies, and application scenarios.”

In recent years, Shanghai, strengthening its efforts to build itself into a source of technological innovation, has followed a development pattern driven by both technological innovation and institutional innovation, accelerated its stride toward becoming a globally influential science and technology innovation center, and achieved a significant leap in its comprehensive scientific and technological strength as well as overall innovation efficiency.

Shanghai has made a series of major scientific and technological breakthroughs in domestically-produced large aircraft, domestically-built cruise ships, deep space exploration, and deep-sea endeavors. It has also achieved many “firsts” in somatic cell monkey cloning and single chromosome eukaryotic cells.

Shanghai continues to lead the nation with a high-value invention patent ownership of 50.2 per 10,000 people. The framework of building Shanghai into an international science and technology innovation center has basically been done, and Shanghai is now accelerating efforts to strengthen its functions.

The construction of upgrades of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF), a key sci-tech infrastructure to reveal the mysteries of the microscopic world passed the national inspection and acceptance in Shanghai on May 15. which will greatly improve the experimental research capabilities of the light source.

“The SSRF is like a ‘scientific research aircraft carrier’, bringing together a group of top scholars and outstanding teams from home and abroad. At present, we are intensively conducting preliminary research on next-generation light source facilities to pursue brighter and stronger light beams,” said Zhao Zhentang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the SSRF.

Shanghai has consolidated its foundations and built platforms to become a source of innovation. The city’s R&D investment intensity has increased from 3.4 percent in 2014 to 4.4 percent in 2023. Focusing on fields such as photonics, life sciences, and artificial intelligence, Shanghai is accelerating the construction of clusters of major scientific and technological infrastructure. Twenty relevant facilities have been built, are under construction, or are planned. Besides, Shanghai is home to more than 80 high-end national scientific research platforms.

The driving force comes from reform. Focusing on the key links concerning innovation entities such as universities, research institutes, enterprises, new R&D institutions, and scientific and technological talents, Shanghai issued and implemented 18 measures for streamlining administration and delegating powers to push forward in-depth reforms of the sci-tech system, and further stimulate the innovative vitality of the society.

“The new measures have given greater motivation to scientific researchers, and the long-term stable investment mechanism allows researchers to settle down and make long-term commitments,” said Zeng Xiaoqin, dean of the Office of Research Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

A good innovation ecosystem attracts talents from all directions. Currently, more than 800,000 professionals work in Shanghai’s three leading industries: integrated circuit, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence.

In 2023, the three industries reported total output of 1.6 trillion yuan ($220.54 billion), and that of strategic emerging industries accounted for 43.9 percent of the total output of industries with annual revenue of 20 million yuan or more from their main business operations.

At present, Shanghai has more than 500 innovation and entrepreneurship carriers, which are incubating nearly 30,000 enterprises and teams. Besides, the city is home to more than 24,000 high-tech enterprises. There is one listed company per square kilometer in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park.

Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, noted that Shanghai will strengthen its efforts to build itself into a source of scientific and technological innovation. It will unswervingly pursue new quality productive forces and core competitiveness through scientific and technological innovation, and strive to achieve new breakthroughs in the construction of a globally influential science and technology innovation center.

Chinese providers of AI-driven large models reduce prices for better AI development

By Wang Junling

Recently, leading Chinese companies in the large model sector, including ByteDance, Baidu, Alibaba Cloud and Zhipu AI, have announced significant reductions in the prices of their generative artificial intelligence (AI) large models and related services.

Many of these companies have lowered their prices by more than 50 percent, and some products have even seen price reductions exceeding 90 percent.

“I often encounter problems when programming, and at such times, large models are a great source of inspiration. The price reduction of large models offers people with more choices and lowers the threshold for usage, thus significantly improving work and learning efficiency,” said Feng Yepeng, a computer science student at a university in Beijing.

Luo Yiran, who works in network operations in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province, said that the user experience of domestic large models has been continuously improving in recent years, meeting her practical needs such as seeking inspiration for planning and collecting background information.

In her opinion, it is a positive trend to reduce prices in a timely manner as application scenarios continue to expand.

In participating in this “price reduction trend”, large model service providers have their own considerations.

Some hope to explore more application scenarios.

Shen Dou, executive vice president of Baidu and chief of Baidu AI Cloud Group, said that the development of AI needs support from new development paradigms and new technological tools. By reducing the price of certain products and making some core large models free, Baidu is minimizing the cost of trial and error in its innovation, Shen explained.

“Price is just one factor that consumers consider when choosing large models. Compared to price, they consider the models’ effectiveness, application scenarios, and successful cases more important. Through price reductions, we hope to quickly explore and replicate more potential application scenarios for large models,” Shen said.

Besides, some companies hope to release market potential through price reductions.

Through its self-developed Tongyi AI model family, Alibaba Cloud has built a matrix of foundational models and industry-specific models. Senior expert Zhu Xunyao of Alibaba Cloud noted that the price reductions aim to make large models affordable for more ordinary users and small- and medium-sized enterprises, therefore accelerating the release of potential in the market of AI application.

Zhu said that for Alibaba Cloud, the cost for users to use large-scale models mainly lies in the computational resources consumed during model inference, which is significantly lower on the public cloud compared to private deployment.

“We have greatly reduced the cost of model inference based on a series of key technologies and products we have developed. The technological dividends, economies of scale, and cost advantages brought by the public cloud has boosted our confidence in lowering prices and seizing the market,” Zhu said.

Behind the price reductions lie the efforts and hopes of many large model providers and even internet companies to empower work and life with AI.

Zhang Peng, CEO of Zhipu AI, believes that the development of AI technology has entered a new stage. However, he said, there is still a significant gap between the improvement of the technology curve and enabling more people to benefit from the powerful productivity of AI. There is still much work to be done in effectively utilizing the capabilities of large models to help people in their work, learning, and daily lives, he added.

Wang Peng, associate researcher with the Institute of Management of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, noted that with the continuous development and optimization of large model technology, the marginal time and resources required for model training are gradually decreasing.

In particular, algorithm improvements, computational efficiency enhancements, and declining hardware costs have made it possible to reduce the price of large models, Wang said.

From this perspective, the underlying reasons for the current wave of price reductions for large models in both domestic and international markets are generally similar. Major manufacturers aim to promote the popularization and application of AI technology through price reductions.

“On the one hand, price reductions make large model services more affordable, effectively expanding the market size and user base. On the other hand, significant price reductions in the short term will intensify market competition and prompt large model providers to continuously improve service quality to retain users,” Wang said.

Over time, inefficient or underfunded businesses may be eliminated, while distinctive but difficult-to-scale businesses may be merged, Wang added.

Experts generally believe that the large model industry needs to explore diverse application scenarios, focus on data quality and privacy protection, diversify revenue sources, and improve user feedback mechanisms, so as to achieve healthier and more sustainable development.

Local currency settlement strengthens mutual benefit in foreign trade

By Lin Zihan

Recently, a Chinese-made aircraft leased by Indonesia arrived in Jakarta. It marked China’s first cross-border leasing of a homegrown aircraft settled in offshore Chinese yuan.

As China reaches agreements with more trading partners and strengthens the use of local currencies in international trade and financial transactions, cross-border transactions between China and other countries are expected to enjoy greater convenience. This will provide new opportunities for the cooperation on bilateral and regional trade and investment.

Cai Qingfeng, a professor at the School of Economics, Xiamen University and deputy dean of the university’s Belt and Road Research Institute, said that the use of local currency settlement aligns with the growing trade between China and the relevant countries and regions, reflecting the increasing demand for trade.

“China has become a main trading partner of over 140 countries and regions, with its total trade in goods ranking first in the world. China has maintained the largest trading partner of ASEAN for years. It is also the largest trading partner of Africa and second largest of Latin America,” said Cai.

He said China has close economic and trade relations with major economies around the world, and its economy is deeply integrated into the global industrial, supply and value chains.

“This provides a broad range of application scenarios and practical demand for promoting local currency settlement,” said Cai.

China and relevant countries have achieved fruitful results in the bilateral local currency settlement arrangements.

In September 2021, the People’s Bank of China and Bank Indonesia announced the launching of a cooperation framework for promoting the use of local currencies for settlement of bilateral trade and direct investment between China and Indonesia.

This made Indonesia another Belt and Road partner country to establish a bilateral local currency settlement agreement with China, following Vietnam,Laos, Russia, and other six countries.

In early 2023, China and Brazil signed a memorandum of cooperation to phase in the yuan clearing arrangement in Brazil. Brazil announced that it would conduct bilateral trade settlement with China using a local currency.

In March 2023, Chinese and French companies completed the first cross-border yuan-settled trade of liquefied natural gas.

“Local currency settlement, driven by the demand for economic and trade exchanges, is a mutually beneficial choice that aligns with the interests of both parties,” said Zou Jingxian, associate professor at the National Academy of Development and Strategy, Renmin University of China.

China has close economic and trade ties with Belt and Road partner countries and other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Zou said, adding that the demand for trade provides a solid foundation for promoting cooperation in local currency settlement between China and its foreign partners.

“Using local currency settlement can streamline the exchange process, reduce the economic and time costs of transactions, and provide convenience for cross-border trade. At the same time, local currency settlement helps avoid the exchange rate risks caused by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar, thus reducing exchange losses and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves,” said Cai.

“Using local currency settlement will encourage Brazilian companies to actively participate in the Chinese industrial chain, especially in areas such as electric vehicles, clean energy, biotechnology, and precision agriculture,” said Marcos Pires, director of the Institute of Economics and International Studies at Brazil’s Sao Paulo State University.

From a financial perspective, local currency settlement can generate a significant amount of Brazilian real and Chinese yuan capital, thus driving direct investment, Pires added.

According to data from the People’s Bank of China, China’s cross-border receipts and payments in Chinese yuan totaled 52.3 trillion yuan in 2023, growing 24.2 percent year on year.

In particular, cross-border yuan payments for trade in goods accounted for 25 percent of the total cross-border payments for trade in goods in both domestic and foreign currencies during the same period, an increase of 7 percentage points compared to 2022.

By the end of 2023, the coverage of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System has expanded to 182 countries and regions worldwide.

Zou stated that the Chinese yuan enjoys strong international credibility. China’s comprehensive strength, responsible monetary policies, steady economic growth, and ample foreign exchange reserves, among other factors, serve as reassurances for other countries to accept and use the currency.

She further pointed out that for a currency to be widely used in settlement and clearing, an efficient payment system is indispensable. Currently, China is at the forefront globally in areas such as mobile payments and the use of digital currency.

Cai noted that promoting local currency settlement cooperation between China and other countries and regions benefits the diversification of the international monetary system, mitigating the negative impacts of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policies and exchange rate risks on global economic fundamentals.

“Local currency settlement cooperation between China and relevant countries and regions will further unleash global economy’s potential for trade and investment,” said Cai. He noted that promoting local currency settlement cooperation will continuously create favorable conditions for trade and investment between China and its Belt and Road partner countries. This will strengthen economic ties between China and relevant regions, and facilitate investment and trade within those regions.

China has been the most firmly and actively committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue

By He Yin, People’s Daily

The Ukraine crisis has shown no sign of stopping and generated more spillovers. The conflict could further escalate. The pressing priority is to cool down the situation and accumulate conditions for ceasefire.

China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. It has been working vigorously to facilitate talks for peace all along. China’s objective and just position, and its constructive role have been widely recognized by the international community.

China’s position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent, which is to promote peace talks. Since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping has had in-depth exchanges with world leaders including Russian and Ukrainian leaders. He has put forward four key principles, four things that the international community should do together and three observations, which have become China’s fundamental approach to the political settlement of the crisis.

China has released a paper stating its position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, in which it proposed 12 important principles including respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, and resuming peace talks.

China has delivered to Ukraine many shipments of humanitarian aids, and sent its special representative many times to mediate among the countries concerned. Instead of being an onlooker, China has always held an objective and just position, playing an important role for peace.

The world needs to make more objective, balanced, positive, and constructive voices on the Ukraine crisis, and find the most extensive common ground for restoring peace.

China and Brazil recently jointly issued the “Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis.” The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on pushing for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and calling for the deescalation of the situation, and reached six common understandings.

They called on relevant parties to observe three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no provocation by any party. They believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. All parties should push for the deescalation of the situation, increase humanitarian assistance, oppose the use of nuclear weapons, oppose attacks on nuclear power plants, and protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

As of 12 June, 103 countries from five continents have responded positively to the “six common understandings” in different ways, of which 55 countries have confirmed their accession or are seriously studying the way of accession. Russia and Ukraine also affirmed most of the contents of these six common understandings.

This once again illustrates that these six common understandings meet the common expectations of the majority of countries. China believes that the more countries that support these six common understandings, the closer the day of the political settlement of the crisis will be, and the brighter the prospects for peace will become.

Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis. As the largest geopolitical conflict in Europe since World War II, the prolonged Ukraine crisis not only exacerbates the suffering of the people in both countries but also poses unpredictable risks and challenges to the region and the world, which are not in the interest of any party involved.

History has proven time and again that at the end of the day, conflicts can only be resolved through negotiation. All parties concerned should intensify diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and put an end to the fighting in a responsible manner. Both sides of the crisis should be encouraged to engage in dialogue. The earlier the talks start, the sooner peace will arrive.

China has been the most firmly and actively committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue and will not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope.

China encourages and supports all initiatives and efforts in the world that are conducive to easing the situation and achieving peace. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. China’s position on the peace conference is fair and just, driven by a genuine desire to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The Ukraine crisis has complex historical and practical causes. To resolve the crisis, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.

Ukraine’s sovereignty and security should be upheld, and Russia’s legitimate security concerns should also be respected. Europe’s peace and stability should be defended. The same goes for other countries.

The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly.

Only by abandoning the Cold War mentality, promoting equal dialogue and negotiation among all parties, and addressing their legitimate concerns properly, can a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture be built, and long-lasting peace and stability in the region achieved.

China opposes certain countries using the Ukraine crisis to shift blame, smear third parties, incite a “new Cold War,” and force other countries to take sides. This approach not only fails to resolve the current crisis politically but also risks repeating the mistakes of camp-based confrontation.

No matter how complex the situation is, parties must not give up dialogue and negotiation. No matter how acute the conflict is, political settlement must be pursued. All relevant parties should prioritize peace and humanitarian crisis, direct their resources and endeavors towards diplomatic efforts aimed at stopping the fighting, and jointly promote a political solution to the Ukraine crisis at an early date.

China will keep upholding an objective and just position, build consensus for ending conflicts, and pave the way for peace talks, so as to contribute Chinese wisdom to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Amnesty International Goofed!

The statement credited to Amnesty International (AI) on the 10th of June, 2024, on the alleged treatment meted to Nigerian girls who had escaped from Boko Haram and the ones captured by the Nigerian Armed Forces to safety in order to reintegrated them to their communities is false, unethical, unprofessional, worrisome and cannot stand the test of time.

Infact, the aspersions cast by AI on these efforts by the Nigerian military with the recent report accusing the Nigerian military of illegally detaining the girls and young women who had escaped from Boko Haram captivity because the military believes they supported the Islamist insurgent group should be trashed as lies from the pit of hell orchestrated by AI to smear the hard-earned reputation of the Nigerian Armed Forces once more in their usual tradition.

The AI report as captioned ‘Help us build our lives’ stated that the Nigerian government has failed to uphold their human rights obligations to protect and adequately support these girls and young women. It accused the Nigerian military of detaining and abusing female survivors of Boko Haram in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions without access to medical care or legal representation.

The report also highlighted the abuses and violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by Boko Haram and the Nigeria authorities. It highlighted the unique experiences of girls and young women who were forced to marry, subjected to sexual violence and domestic servitude.

After critically examining the contents of the Report by AI and its antecedence over the decades against the Nigerian state and military, the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ) is compelled to issue the following statement.

That since the present leadership took over the mantle of the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF) headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, the military image has blossomed on a positive trajectory, a narrative both local and internationally due to their stomping all over the country, the new sense of urgency, direction, patriotism, transparency, rules of engagement that was brought into the fight by the new leadership. The enormous improvement in military accoutrements such as equipment, gadgets, ICT infrastructure, fire power and the overall capabilities, the exotic names given to military operations/exercises all over the country, the string of successes recorded by various military formations and commands culminating in the recapture of the Boko Haram elements, bandits leaders and criminal elements has diminished their fighting ability and power all helped to turn around the image of the Nigeria military across the globe.

Since 2023, Nigerians and indeed the international community have given a pat on the back to the Nigeria’s military for their national sacrifice to keep the country in unity and peace in spite of the daunting challenges faced not only at the war front but in also reducing criminality across the length and breadth of the country.

However, one major factor that has held the Nigerian military force down in spite of their enormous efforts to defend her territorial integrity and safe guard the lives and property of Nigerians is the negative narrative of the amnesty international that have pervaded Africa since the last decade of which Nigeria is not an exception due to its negative framing and consistent bias reportage. Unfortunately, AI has failed to acknowledge in its report the on-going fair trial and conviction of culpable members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect and the release of those not found guilty. The number of persons released, re-oriented, de-radicalized and re-integrated with the larger community which is running into millions to date and they are accommodated in a place relatively safer with enough space while providing the detainees with social amenities and three square meals daily has also been left out of the report.

The AI report on the 10th of June, 2024, according to fact finding mission and pool conducted by Nigerians is a systematic campaign of calumny against the Nigerian military and a calculated narrative that have kept even the best of cynics astounded including the international community. “This could be corroborated by inherent lopsidedness in AI’s portrayal of Nigeria, its involvement in local politics and taking side with terrorists and other belligerent groups, to cause internal disorder, which no country can tolerate. The Guild therefore reiterates that the military in this new dispensation has maintained an open-door policy and has been cooperating with all stakeholders in ensuring that the Nigerian armed forces remain one of the best and a proud institution for all Nigerians”. For AI to be making spurious allegations, especially without been substantiated and cogent reasons given, apart from those adduced by the AI itself for the reason best known to it and its collaborators is disturbing and unethical of an international organization that is supposed to stay clear of local politics and to be seen as maintaining neutrality in its reportage of the countries it operates.

Emphasizing that “incessant negative report on Nigeria in general and the armed forces in particular by AI in condemnable by all well-meaning Nigerians who have seen and appreciate what the military and other security agencies have done to decimate Boko Haram terrorists and contain other criminal elements.

“As much as the military welcomes comments, criticism and observation that could help the institution to grow higher for the interest of our nation, the activities of the AI to say the least, is far from being noble, AI has negative mission in Nigeria”, the Guild asserted.

The military has operated within the strict guidance of the rules of engagement and the code of conduct for troops, according to the GOCMEJ, what needs to be clear is that we have observed a consistent attack pattern on the institutions charged with the mandate to protect the nation against every form of insecurity. The AI has consistently with other agents worked against our nationhood, tried fruitlessly to incite the populace against the military through various malicious publications in the past and “In spite of their distractions, Nigeria has forged ahead and decimated Boko Haram and the military has worked assiduously to improve on its civil-military relations, the result of which is manifest in the unparalleled support, accolades and encouragement received from Nigerians today”. It is appalling that “this position seems to have disappointed AI and their allies, adding that, it is sad that when our national security institutions are gaining traction, these agents after fabricating their reports, sits back and push Nigerians to make the reports known to the public to give it a national colour of some sort”. It is very despicable indeed.

Nigerians must rise up and stand against this subtle and increasing national framing and reportage, for we all have a role to play in this direction. “Our national Institutions must be strengthened, it is our responsibility to do so, no one can love Nigeria better than Nigerians, we only ask the media, to shine their eyes”.

Consequently, after our investigations, we found that the Defence Headquarters have made concerted efforts for years to reach out to AI but all to no avail. The deliberate falsehood peddled by AI could cast the nation and its security apparatus in bad light. The frequent accusations and counter accusation of the military by the human rights body, is becoming appalling and worrisome and Nigerians are beginning to think that AI has an axe to grind or has clandestine plots against the military class. Amnesty International does at mean well for Nigeria going by their previous antecedents and reputation of denigrating the armed forces anytime they make gain against the forces of evil to incite the Nigerian public and international community against the military.

The Guild is emphatic and reiterates for the upteempt time, that the Nigerian people looks at the AI as an organization established to embark on an orchestrated campaign of calumny against the Nigeria military and undermine the laudable achievements against insurgents which have formed the narratives over time, that have happened over the years. Nevertheless, looking at some of the critical allegations of AI on most of the nationalistic operations carried-out by the military, it seems that the AI are not interested in a united and indivisible nation like ours, but are out to denigrate the institution of the military and stop the funding by the western nations knowing full well that the same report from AI had stopped the funding during the Obama’s era.

Nigeria has suffered greatly over the decade based on AI reports on human rights violations and others including the initial refusal of America and its allies to sell critical military weapons to the country to fight the insurgency few years ago. As the AI has advertised itself more as aligning into the agenda of non-state actors, than the interest in protecting the dignity, rights and the rule of law, of law-abiding citizens in a country that has accorded them so much hospitality and respect.

Analysts, pundits and discerning Nigerians posit that protecting the human rights of Nigerians has been the signpost of the Nigerian military in all its operations. The brash and crude force applied by the military soldiers in internal assignments have been replaced with amiable, friendliness with host communities which has brought to the fore the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the military to its host communities in critical areas of needs and operations. The Nigerian military have followed international best practices and rules of engagement during war as the military is determined at sustaining its constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of the nation, as well as, commitment to aid the civil authority to bring about peace and security of the country. Therefore, the 10th June, 2024, report of AI should be disparaged, condemned, discountenanced and dismissed by well-meaning Nigerians as’ lies from the pit of hell’ and a propaganda tool to frame reportage against our national institution.

We therefore call on the military hierarchy not to be distracted by the AI’s report but to remain steadfast and focused on its constitutional assigned mandate and the Guild therefore, overwhelmingly, Pass a Vote of Confidence on the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF),for it’s repositioning and rebranding efforts in making the Nigerian Armed Forces 21st century compliant.

The Guild further maintained that the several commentaries against the Nigerian military are unnecessary, distractive, unfair and doesn’t represent the true disclosure on re-orientation, de-radicalization and re-integration of Boko Haram inmates and estranged wives/captives. The amnesty report smacks of bias and is capable of undermining the results from the hard-fought war by the military against insurgents, demoralizing the Nigerian Armed Forces personnel in the performance of their constitutional mandate.


Signed.

Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele

President,

Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ)

Ighodalo is capacity, competence personified – Abhulimhen

The candidate of the of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the soon to be conducted Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo has been described as the only one who embodies the qualities of capacity, competence, character and experience amongst other candidates.

A chieftain of the party, Chief Ehizokhale Abhulimhen who spoke on the heels of a community mobilisation activity on Saturday in Illeh, Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government area of Edo State told everyone in the community that the PDP candidate is way out of the league of anyone on the ballot as far as the election is concerned.

Describing him as having a distinguished career in the corporate world, and has proven himself time and again as a leader with solid mental and moral qualities that set him apart from the crowd. “As the chairman of various boards of banks and multinationals such as the Dangote Group, Okomu Oil, Sterling Bank, including establishing and running one of Nigeria’s largest law firms, Dr. Ighodalo has demonstrated unparalleled competence and efficiency with strategic vision and sound judgment driving positive outcomes for decades. Under his leadership, organizations have thrived, achieving sustainable growth and profitability even in the face of challenges.”

According to him “As governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ighodalo brings an amazing wealth of experience and expertise to the table. His expertise as both an economist and a lawyer with a solid background in corporate governance has equipped him with a unique perspective on addressing complex economic challenges – a quality that is particularly crucial in the current economic turmoil facing Nigeria as a whole and Edo State in particular.

“With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Dr. Ighodalo is well-positioned to steer the state towards a path of sustainable development and prosperity. As a matter of fact, as a leader in the corporate world, Dr. Ighodalo’s track record speaks for itself. This he will replicate as governor.

“As edolites file out to elect their governor come September, 2024, two options are before them. They will choose between a man that Is ready to lead like Dr. Asue Ighodalo or settle for a mediocre with barely any education or exposure to his name, nor any pedigree and who brings nothing to the table and who has gone missing in action, hiding from the people he wants to lead. As a people, we have seen what it means to enthrone a half baked mediocre. The people of Edo State will surely choose competence and capacity to deliver. The last two Governors from Esan extraction were all Professors. The Esans have a knack for putting forth their very best. They can’t lower the bar and in following this age long tradition, they have put forth Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a distinguished Esan son.”

He insisted that the people of Edo State look towards the future, rest assured that Dr. Asue Ighodalo is the leader they need—a visionary, a strategist, and a beacon of integrity who will lead with wisdom, courage, and grace.

“With his unparalleled competence and unwavering moral compass, Dr. Ighodalo is poised to make a lasting impact on the state and its people, ushering in a new era of prosperity and progress for all, he added.

Gov Alia, Speaker drag to cour over refusal to investigate Chief Judge

As repeated efforts by Civil Society Organisations and other interests groups in Benue State to compel the state government to investigate the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambwase over allegations of gross misconduct have failed to yield results, Optimum Media Limited, has taken the Executive Governor of Benue State, the Attorney General of Benue State, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, and the Benue State House of Assembly to court.

The case which is currently pending before the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Makurdi Judicial Division, holden at Makurdi with suit number FHC/MKD/CS/56/2024 has been fixed for hearing on the 2nd of July, 2024.

Justice Maurice Ikpambwase, the current Chief Judge of Benue State has been variously immersed in scandals and allegations ranging from nepotism, bribery and corruption, money laundering, interference in judicial processes and other unwholesome acts that are in conflict with the legal profession and his exulted position as a Chief Judge.

From acknowledged and stamped court documents seen by our correspondent, the plaintiff is seeking amongst other things, an order of mandamus to compel the defendants to investigate the Chief Judge of Benue State, Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese, over allegations of judicial misconduct, abuse of office, gross disobedience to a valid court judgment, and financial mismanagement.

In the said court documents, the plaintiff’s lead counsel, Uwem U. Umoanwan, Esq., argued that the application is brought pursuant to Section 14(1) (2) and (3) of the Federal High Court Act 2009, Section 293, 36 (1), 6 (6) (A & B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honorable court.

The plaintiff, therefore, prayed the Honourable Court for “an order compelling/mandating the Executive Governor of Benue State to request an investigation on the Chief Judge of Benue State on the allegation of judicial misconduct, abuse of office, gross disobedience to a valid Court judgement.

“An order compelling/mandating the 4th Defendant/Respondent (Benue State House of Assembly) to cause investigation on the Hon. Chief Judge of Benue State (Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese) on the allegation of judicial misconduct, gross disobedience to a valid Court judgment, abuse of judicial powers and financial mismanagement.

“And for such further order or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”

Similarly, in a sworn affidavit deposed by Collins Obiora, the Managing Director of Optimum Media Ltd., the plaintiff averred that, “a petition was submitted to the National Judicial Council (NJC) of Nigeria dated 30th day of December 2023 on allegation bordering on judicial misconduct, gross disobedience to a valid court judgment abuse of powers and financial mismanagement.
The petition is hereby attached and marked as Exhibit “A”.

“That a petition was also served on the Executive Governor of Benue State by the Benue Diaspora Vanguard (U.S Chapter), against the Hon. Chief Judge of Benue State to call the Governor to investigate the allegations against the Chief Judge of Benue State but since then the executive governor has not taken any action in respect of the petition. The said letter dated 9th February 2024 is hereby attached and marked as Exhibit “B”.

“That since the 1st Defendant/Respondent received the letter dated the 9th February, 2024, mandating him to carry out his statutory duties but failed to do so, this Honourable Court has power to compel/mandate the 1st Defendant/Respondent (the Executive Governor of Benue State) to request an investigation against the Chief Judge of Benue State on the allegation of judicial misconduct, abuse of office, gross disobedience to a valid court judgment.

“That it will be in the overall interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant this application, as same will not prejudiced the interest of the Respondents in any way.

Having met the requirements for the application, the plaintiff urged the Honourable Court “to grant the application and to compel the Executive Governor of Benue State, Attorney general of Benue state, and Speaker, Benue House of Assembly to request an investigation against the Chief Judge of Benue State on the allegation of abuse of office, gross disobedience to a valid Court order, abuse of judicial powers and financial mismanagement”, the statement concluded.

CWAI Names NITDA As Dev’t, Regulatory Agency that Encapsulates Other Sectors

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) established by the NITDA Act of 2007 to regulate standards, guidelines and frameworks for the development and standardization of Information Technology practices in Nigeria, is also clamouring for the actualization of the Bill at the National Assembly for the last five years (since 2021).

The NITDA Bill, first proposed in 2021, seeks to repeal the National Information Technology Development Act No. 28 of 2007, and enact the National Information Technology Development Agency Act.

The amendments in the proposal include provisions for new license categorizations, licensing fees, 1% profit-before-tax levies for companies with revenues higher than 100 million naira, and prison sentences for defaulting parties.

In 2022, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) considered the Bill and moved a step further for its entry to the National Assembly. On December 23, 2022, at the National Assembly, a public hearing was held where stakeholders in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem weighed in on the Bill.

Since its announcement that year, the Bill has generated a healthy amount of controversy surrounding its purpose and compatibility with other technology-related bills, most notably the recently proposed startup bill.

Among the various submissions at the National Assembly are that Section 6(a) of the existing Act provides that NITDA is both a development and regulatory agency in the ICT sector.

However, the argument that NITDA is not a regulator was noted to be incorrect, and a total of thirty-one (31) stakeholders made submissions and presentations on the Bill. But out of this number, seventeen (17) were in support of the Bill, while fourteen (14) were opposed to it.

Those in favour based their support on the reason that the Bill provided for the development of the measures that would adequately regulate digital infrastructure, fast-track Nigeria’s transition into a leading digital economy, foster innovation and creativity, empower businesses in the country, improve the process of issuing and authenticating good character certificates and promote the use of technology in education and other sectors.

The Committee recommended to the Senate that the Bill be passed after considering the comments and opinions of stakeholders therein. The Bill states that the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security was referred to as “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Information Technology Development Agency Act No. 28, 2007 and Enact the National Information Technology Development Agency Act to provide the Administration, Implementation and Regulation of Information Technology Systems and Practices, as well as the Digital Economy in Nigeria and for Related Matters, 2023 (SB1082), having considered the same, report favourably thereon recommended that the Senate pass the Bill as amended,” as stated in the Committee’s report during the second reading.

There was no time that the Bill was meant to usurp the powers of other regulators and make NITDA a super regulator in the ICT industry. A lot of stakeholders also said the Bill has the potential to reverse the gains delivered and made in the digital economy already. However, some stakeholders, on the other hand, agreed that the Bill has a lot of merit and that it would sanitize the industry and bridge the knowledge gap between Nigeria and other developed nations in digital economy.

The Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI), a civil society organization that champions accountability, good governance and transparency in Nigeria, believes that the Bill, if passed into law, has the enormous positive impact to the telecommunication and ICT industry in Nigeria, as it will ultimately lead to increase in the confidence of both local and international investors in the telecom and ICT sector of the Nigerian economy, thereby transforming the development agency to a regulator which will enhance the activities of other sectors concerned like the banking, financial services, insurance, healthcare, commerce education, agriculture, telecommunications, etc.

The role of NITDA under the proposed Act would have no direct conflicts with other regulators in the industry as being canvassed by naysayers. Accordingly, NITDA 2022 Bill will stabilize the regulatory environment in the telecom sector in Nigeria and attract the much needed foreign direct investments as well as domestic investments in the telecom and ICT sector in the country.

In a press release signed by the Executive Secretary of CWAI, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, he asserted that from their investigation, the Bill seeks to enact an Act that will empower NITDA to provide for the administration, implementation and regulation of information technology systems and practice in Nigeria, which will automatically transform NITDA from a mere development agency to a regulatory agency in the sector that needs all the support, cooperation of Nigerians and stakeholders.

It is the first of its kind in the annals of history that will bridge the digital knowledge base of the country and impact the growth of the sector holistically in all spheres. The statement further added that the essence and purpose of the Bill is to create an effective, impartial, and independent regulatory framework for the development of the Nigerian information technology sector and digital economy.

Having been convinced about the proactive essence of the Bill, CWAI categorically states that the proposed NITDA Bill is focused on tax startups and in Part VI, Section 16, the Bill provides for the creation of the NITDA Fund, which will be used holistically for the “advancement of digital economy and related purposes,” and nothing more.

CWAI also notes that the skills deficit in human capital that hinders the country from thriving in the global digital economy would be overcome once and for all, as well as this would raise global digital competence in the country in the future, thereby expanding the service sector.

In view of this, CWAI enjoins the tech-ecosystem and techpreneurs to raise their voices and join the clarion call for all hands to be on deck for Nigeria to be able to achieve a large value chain that facilitates youth engagement, entrepreneurship development, the MSME development and women empowerment; which will provide and empower a rich, vibrant local industry of digital training providers with globally recognized standards attainable that can best compete anywhere. Therefore, recognizing and giving NITDA the required stakeholders’ support and engagement to drive this new initiative that will make the actualization of the Bill possible and acceptable to all.

CWAI therefore recognizes that NITDA has consistently driven an information technology policy that is geared towards the enhancement of Nigeria’s global acceptability and certification in the digital economy, where the country’s local, foreign partners and stakeholders are carried along in an effective, efficient and affordable value chain for the growth of the ICT sector and the telecom industry, creating and empowering Nigeria’s digital potentials and creating jobs for millions of youths in the country and the economic diversification for emerging technologies.

CWAI is holistically in support of NITDA’s drive, innovation, and ideas in the formulation of digital policies that will put Nigeria on the global arena and marketplace of the future. CWAI, therefore, advocates for NITDA’s regulatory status so as to accelerate other growing sectors of the economy.

Small county in E China develops billion-yuan bakery industry

By Yang Yanfei, People’s Daily

A small county inhabited by 100,000 people in east China just created this unbelievable miracle – nurturing over 40,000 bakers in the past 30 years and opening 16,000 bakeries across the country. It boasts a bakery industry whose annual output nears 30 billion yuan ($4.14 billion), and has incubated a series of well-known bakery brands such as Bao’s Pastry and Zankee.

As a matter of fact, Zixi county in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, is not very “talented” in developing the bakery industry. It is surrounded by the Dajue Mountain, the western foothills of the Wuyi Mountains. About 80 percent of its land is mountainous terrain.

The initial development of the bakery industry in Zixi county relied heavily on the expertise and influence of local skilled individuals.

Zhang Xiewang is exactly one of them.

Zhang, who once attended relevant skill training sessions organized by the military unit he served in, retired together with his comrade-in-arms Hong Tao in 1987. The two raised about 10,000 yuan and opened the first bakery in Yingtan, Jiangxi province.

After weathering the challenges of starting a new business, their venture began to thrive. Therefore, they ventured back to their hometown, carrying their hard-earned capital, to open more bakeries.

With their success, friends and relatives began knocking on their doors, seeking experiences of running a successful bakery business. The duo welcomed them wholeheartedly, imparting their knowledge and skills without reservations.

In the span of a few years, they had mentored and trained over 100 apprentices, with the parents of Bao Caisheng, founder of the now internet-famous Bao’s Pastry, among their first batch of students.

Ever since, a strong “bakery force” has been gradually formulated and began venturing into all parts of China.

Initially, bakers from Zixi who ventured out primarily operated family-run bakeries, such as husband-and-wife or sibling partnerships, which were relatively easy to establish. However, they subsequently faced a myriad of challenges, including difficulties in securing funding, acquiring baking skills, and generating profits.

“For the industry to thrive, going solo is not viable,” said Xu Quanlong, who had expanded his bakery business to Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Kaifeng in Henan province. At the invitation of relevant departments of Zixi county, he returned home and founded a bakery training center, where he has trained over 10,000 bakers to date.

Zixi county has taken strategic measures to drive the growth of its bakery industry, including inviting successful entrepreneurs who had ventured out to establish training centers in the county, formulating industry standards, and encouraging financial institutions to provide “bakery loans” and other financial products and services to small and micro businesses.

The county has identified the bakery industry as a key driver for developing its local economy. It has even established a dedicated bakery industry development office to systematically implement a series of supportive measures.

“In recent years, branded bakery products have become mainstream in the market. To better embrace this trend, we need to concentrate our efforts,” said Zeng Changhua, head of the bakery industry development office.

In recent years, the county has been exploring a cluster-based development approach for its bakery industry. After “Zixi Bread” was approved as a collective brand in 2018, a bakery technology development company was established in the county to advance brand development and operations.

To support brand building, the county holds bakery industry forums, bakery festivals, and other events on a regular basis, promoting new products and facilitating industry exchanges.

Building upon its growing reputation, the county established a bakery industrial park. The park has been joined by a meat floss processing plant with a daily output of 100 tons and a premix flour factory with an annual production capacity of 6,000 tons, which are able to serve over 300 bakeries within a 300-kilometer radius. Supporting enterprises producing chocolate, frozen semi-finished goods, and cream have also joined the industrial park.

“The cluster-based development approach enables not only efficient supply but also better cost and quality control,” Zeng said. “With the ability to improve product quality, we are confident in the development of our brand.”

Inside the spacious and well-lit standardized factory buildings of the bakery industrial park, workers have designated roles – some shape the dough, others handle slicing. Under the warm golden glow of the ovens, the bread takes on an enticing color.

In an office, a large screen divided into 16 sections displays real-time footage from various store locations. Computers store data on ingredients, production, logistics, and sales.

“We have a clear record of the circulation of bread right from the production line,” said Qian Haihua, general manager of the bakery technology development company.

By analyzing sales data feedback from different regions, the company can accurately gauge market trends to guide the next day’s production plan and provide basis for product design and development.

“The bakery industry sees rapid product renewal. Our company phases out three to five slow-moving products every month,” Qian told People’s Daily.

Leveraging data support, Zixi’s bakery industry is pioneering an integrated system integrating online platforms, retail stores, customer services and modern logistics to improve the supply chain and service capabilities through intelligent upgrades.

“The bakery business in Zixi has grown from nothing to a big industry. It was initially driven by our fellow townsmen, and later expanded through public services and a conducive institutional environment,” said Zeng.

“Now, with the bakery industry as a backbone, we aim to explore synergies with organic agricultural production, cultural tourism, and other related industries,” Zeng noted.

China’s megacity Shenzhen enjoys fruits of ecological conservation

By Lyu Shaogang, People’s Daily

Nestled amidst towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, located in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, is the only one of its kind located in the heart of a city, offering a tranquil view adorned with lush mangrove trees and graceful birds in flight.

Shenzhen, a densely populated megacity in south China’s Guangdong province, boasts rich biodiversity. It has recorded 2,218 species of wild vascular plants, 651 species of native vertebrates, and serves as a wintering ground for approximately 100,000 migratory birds annually.

In 2022, Shenzhen was awarded the title of “Biodiversity Charming City.” In September 2023, the world’s first international mangrove center was established there.

How can a megacity effectively balance environmental protection and economic development to achieve harmonious coexistence between human and nature? See how Shenzhen has actively pursued a development path that safeguards urban ecological resources and protects urban biodiversity.

In January 2024, a Chinese white dolphin was spotted in Shenzhen’s Yantian port, attracting significant attention.

Chinese white dolphins have high standards for water quality, and their frequent sightings in Shenzhen’s waters demonstrate the effectiveness of the city’s ecological governance.

It’s not just the white dolphins. In the Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, the expansive mangrove forests provide favorable habitats for a variety of bird species and have become an important wintering ground for migratory birds.

The nature reserve is home to 353 species of higher plants, including 20 species of mangroves from nine families. It has recorded 272 bird species, including 60 species under key state protection such as the black-faced spoonbill.

“With a comprehensive system of nature reserves, including marine areas, wetlands, and forests, Shenzhen has effectively protected its most representative ecological resources,” said an official with the municipal planning and natural resources bureau of Shenzhen.

According to the official, Shenzhen is home to 25 different types of nature reserves, including 23 on land and two in the sea.

In 2005, Shenzhen established the basic ecological control line, encompassing half of the city’s land area. Based on this, approximately 24 percent of the land area and 19 percent of the marine area were included in the ecological protection red lines to maximize ecological protection efforts.

Shenzhen’s Dapeng New District has incorporated 73.5 percent of its total land area into the ecological control line since its establishment. Today, embraced by the sea on three sides, Dapeng New District boasts a forest coverage of over 77 percent and is recognized as the most biodiverse area in Shenzhen.

To strengthen biodiversity conservation, it is crucial to protect, restore, and manage ecological resources in line with local conditions.

“The Maozhou River was black and smelly,” said a resident surnamed Li who has been living in Shenzhen’s Bao’an District for over a decade.

Today, the water quality of the Maozhou River has improved, thanks to the upgrading and renovation of old pipeline networks, increasing supervision over unauthorized discharges from companies, and regular monitoring of water bodies. As a result, the river’s biodiversity continues to flourish, with the long-lost blue-tailed shrimp and endangered aquatic ferns coming back.

“While advancing urban development, we collect and protect plant resources, and when appropriate, we help them return to nature and expand their populations,” said Wang Hui, deputy head of the Fairylake Botanical Garden in Shenzhen.

Through ex-situ conservation, the garden has protected 440 plant species under key state protection, as well as 757 rare and endangered plant species.

To create a more favorable habitat for a variety of species, it is important to build social consensus and engage the public in biodiversity conservation efforts.

On the shores of the Dapeng Bay in Shenzhen, a group of people has been dedicated to coral planting, protection, and restoration since 2012.

Wang Xiaoyong, secretary general of the Shenzhen Dapeng Coral Conservation Volunteer Federation in Dapeng New District, has been involved in coral planting for over 10 years.

Through its collaboration with government departments, the federation has established two pilot coral protection areas at sea, successfully planted over 6,000 corals and rescued over 500 fragments of damaged corals in Daya Bay in Shenzhen.

These efforts highlight Shenzhen’s commitment to promoting social participation in ecological conservation.

In recent years, Shenzhen has made significant efforts to build itself into a “city of nature education,” hosting a range of nature education activities to promote public engagement in conservation efforts. The city has 23 nature schools, 49 nature education centers, and 200,000 environmental volunteers.