Nigeria Times

By People’s Daily reporters

China implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on a trial basis starting from Dec. 1, to further boost people-to-people exchanges, high-quality development and high-level opening up.

According to the National Immigration Administration, the number of people entering China from the six countries has been continuously increasing. A total of 59,600 entries from the six countries were recorded in the first 10 days after the visa-free policy took effect, with the daily average increasing 42.07 percent compared with that of Nov. 30. Among them, 26,300 entries were visa-free, accounting for approximately 44.14 percent of the total.

The visa-free policy has brought tangible benefits to facilitate economic and trade cooperation, promote tourism and enhance people-to-people exchanges, said people from the six countries.

“This is really good news,” said Schmidt, a sports goods distributor from Bavaria, Germany, at the recently held ISPO Munich, the leading international sports trade fair.

Schmidt often travels to China to attend trade fairs. In the past, applying for a visa would take some time and effort.

“With China’s implementation of the new visa-free policy, it has become much more convenient for us to participate in exhibitions and visit clients in China,” Schmidt told People’s Daily.

What Schmidt feels is quite typical in the European business community. Mario Boselli, President of the Italy China Council Foundation, who recently attended the sixth China International Import Expo in Shanghai, noted that the new visa-free policy indicates that China’s door is opening wider. He stressed that both Italian and Chinese entrepreneurs should seize the opportunity, enhance communication and dialogue, and achieve win-win cooperation.

“This is obviously a beneficial measure that provides great convenience for individuals from relevant countries to engage in business, tourism, and family visits in China. It demonstrates China’s determination and confidence in upholding reform and opening up,” said Huang Yue, president of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in the Netherlands.

According to Huang, China’s visa-free policy has attracted widespread attention in the Netherlands and quickly became a hot topic on social media platforms.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Following China’s announcement of an expansion of its visa-free transit policy, Malaysia also granted visa-free travel to Chinese citizens.

On Dec. 1, 1,113 visa-free entries to China were made by Malaysian nationals, the largest number among the six countries on that day.

Ronald Gan Yong Hoe, president of Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Malaysia, said that this policy greatly benefits Malaysian small- and medium-sized enterprises by reducing the economic and time costs of visa application. The policy will also promote business exchanges and trade cooperation, he added.

According to a report by the Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung, China’s unilateral visa-free policy for the six countries demonstrates China’s open attitude, which deserves appreciation. Italian newspaper La Repubblica said that European business operators widely welcome this new policy.

European countries are important sources of inbound tourists for China. According to statistics released by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Germany, France, and Italy all ranked among the top 20 major sources of international tourists for China in 2019.

Liu Guosheng, general manager of a well-known travel agency in Germany that operates the tour business to China, told People’s Daily that China’s announcement of the visa-free policy has sparked strong attention in the German tourism industry.

It is widely believed that this policy is unprecedented and will effectively boost the enthusiasm of German citizens to travel to China, Liu said. Currently, there has been a significant increase in relevant inquiries and bookings, with multiple tour groups planning to visit China.

Qi Xiaoyu, deputy head of the Association Chinoise des Agences de Voyages en France, noted that since the announcement of the visa-free policy, travel agencies in France have seen a significant increase in inquiries. Many people immediately booked flights to China for spur-of-the-moment trips.

French netizens commented and shared this good news on social media platforms. Some said that they would visit the Great Wall soon.

Spanish writer and investment consultant Julio Ceballos, who has lived and worked in China for 17 years, said the new policy, which has been warmly welcomed by business people and those in the tourism industry, will promote tourism to China, facilitate people-to-people exchanges, enhance business cooperation, and expand cultural exchanges.

“The reciprocal visa exemption is a precious gift celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, and it will bring substantial convenience to the people of both countries,” said Ronald Gan Yong Hoe.

He further stated that this policy would provide a more convenient and extensive pathway for cultural and people-to-people exchanges, help strengthen trust and understanding between the two peoples, and build a closer Malaysia-China relationship.

By Sheng Yulei, People’s Daily

At the Meilin Global Products, a bonded shopping center in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, a wide range of premium products from all over the world just dazzled shoppers.

Zadul Turson, the operator of the bonded shopping center, just returned from a business trip to Hong Kong. The long journey didn’t consume too much of his energy. He told People’s Daily, “We need to seize the opportunity. I plan to open some 30 duty-free shops next year, so as to bring more duty-free products to communities.”

The “opportunity” he said was the recent establishment of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Whether a policy is favorable is evidenced by the market. In an international trade center of the Xinjiang Xiyu Light Industry Base, over 500 parking spaces were already occupied.

An executive of the Xiyu Light Industry Base noted that the second phase of its cloud-based warehouse has been built this year, and over 300 merchants will settle in. It marked the third upgrade of the Xiyu Light Industry Base.

A Kazakh truck driver who has been transporting goods across the China-Kazakhstan border for seven years told People’s Daily that more and more of his friends have come to China for trucking because they want to “prosper together.”

Projects have yielded fruitful results and logistics channels have become more efficient. What is this promising land relying on to create a new chapter in investment and business development?

The prosperity of Xinjiang, an important trading hub, in the old days, is displayed in a cultural exhibition hall of the Bakti port in Tacheng.

Historically, Xinjiang has long been a key hub for trade and logistics between Asia and Europe. Geographically, it is adjacent to eight countries and is located in the heart of the Eurasian continent. In advancing high-level opening up, Xinjiang has unique geographical advantages. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has provided an excellent opportunity for Xinjiang to turn from a borderland in northwest China to a “thriving regional center.”

Economically disadvantaged regions must capitalize on historic opportunities and dedicated effort to spur transformational development. In recent times, Xinjiang has embodied a spirit of industriousness and bold experimentation. By spearheading construction of a central hub of the BRI, the autonomous region has secured substantial gains.

Since the launch of the China-Europe freight service, Xinjiang’s Alashankou port has witnessed the passage of over 30,000 trains, with the efficient operation of a “24/7” appointment-based customs clearance mechanism. The Horgos highway port has implemented a 24/7-passage-for-traded-goods trial, where vehicles only need to place an electronic card on a reader after declaring, and the clearance process can be completed in just 20 to 30 seconds. From 2013 to 2022, Xinjiang’s total import and export value increased from 170.81 billion yuan ($23.96 billion) to 246.36 billion yuan.

The train whistles and the rolling wheels of trucks exactly mirror the surging vitality injected into Xinjiang’s economic development through deepening reform and opening up.

Pursuing transformation and upgrading, Xinjiang is seeking momentum from innovation. In a workshop of the Xinjiang Branch of Chinese automaker GAC Group, vehicles are rolling off the production line. At the gate of Sany Tacheng Wind Power Equipment Co., trucks loaded with wind turbine blades are ready to depart.

In the first three quarters of this year, Xinjiang’s total foreign trade volume increased by 47.3 percent year-on-year. Among them, the exports of electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar batteries surged by 61.5 percent from a year ago. These three items have replaced mechanical and electrical products, clothing, and footwear as the new hits of Xinjiang’s foreign trade, which reflects the high-quality development of the autonomous region.

This also suggests that in order to give play to the late starter’s advantage, it is necessary to adapt to the trend of high-end, intelligent, and green development, seize the enormous opportunities brought by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and strive to shape new advantages on the new track.

At the sixth China International Import Expo, a Xinjiang-themed promotion event attracted wide attention, which told the world that Xinjiang is no longer a remote corner but a core area and a hub.

As long as Xinjiang leverages its unique geographical advantages, and harnesses the strength of openness and collaboration, it will definitely achieve even greater development.

By Cui Yan, People’s Daily

Juncao, which literally means “mushroom and grass” and can be used to grow edible mushrooms, has a strong capability to fix and store carbon.

Recently, a Juncao program was launched in Yancheng, east China’s Jiangsu province to explore an integrated resource recycling model and set up an experimental base covering over 10 hectares.

The program, initiated under the cooperation between Jiangsu province and southeast China’s Fujian province, introduced improved Juncao varieties from Fujian and grew them on mud flats in Yancheng. It serves as a vivid example, replicating successful experiences in achieving China’s “dual carbon” goals.

According to a recent plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, China will launch carbon-peaking pilot projects in 100 cities and zones nationwide to solve bottlenecks constraining the country’s green and low-carbon development.

Resource endowments and development foundations vary across different regions. The carbon-peaking pilot projects aim to stimulate different regions’ initiative and creativity, and accelerate the green transformation of development models by launching pilot tasks, implementing key projects, as well as innovating policies and mechanisms.

The projects aim to explore carbon-peaking pathways for different cities and zones, and provide operable, replicable and promotable experiences for the whole country, thus contributing to achieving carbon peaking and neutrality goals.

These pilot projects are pioneers in achieving “dual carbon” goals. They make attempts to explore and provide solutions for cities or zones facing similar situations.

They are carried out in economically advanced and major energy-consuming provinces, such as Jiangsu, Shandong and Guangdong, as well as in areas rich in traditional and new energy resources including Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi.

The pilot plan determines goals and tasks by considering the geographical features, functional orientations, resource endowments and development foundations of different regions, which will help explore diversified pathways to green and low-carbon transformation.

These projects, starting from certain regions, aim to find the universal principles for and play a role model in achieving carbon peaking and neutrality nationwide.

Many piloted regions have already made positive attempts. For instance, Inner Mongolia has been striving to establish a national ecological carbon sink supply base; factories in Anhui are promoting green manufacturing; offshore wind power generation has become a highlight along the 4,000-kilometer coastline in Guangdong.

In addition to the pioneering efforts to achieve “dual carbon” goals, piloted regions have also deepened reforms in strengthening sci-tech innovation, improving policy mechanisms and enhancing public participation. As a result, a batch of innovative measures and experiences in reforms have been generated.

As the largest developing country, China faces the ambitious target of completing the world’s most dramatic reduction in carbon emission intensity, and realizing carbon neutrality from carbon peaking in the shortest time in global history. In this process, leveraging the role played by these pilot projects can help explore the optimal path at a relatively lower cost.

These pilot projects, carried out in small scopes and at the primary level, are explorations with controllable risks and tremendous space for innovation. They can stimulate people’s pioneering spirit and find rich, effective and differentiated pathways.

The successful experiences gained through these grassroots projects will then be promoted on a larger scale with the country’s governance resources.

The positive interaction and organic combination of top-level design and primary-level exploration has enabled China to form a dynamic cycle that involves initial trials, result analysis and promotion of successful experiences, which lowers risks and improves efficiency.

Statistics show a steady decline in the proportion of coal in China’s primary energy consumption – 68.5 percent in 2012, 60.6 percent in 2017 and 56.2 percent in 2022.

At the same time, China’s new energy vehicle ownership has seen significant annual growth – 220,000 in 2014, 1.53 million in 2017 and 13.1 million in 2022.

These figures mirror the strong momentum of green development in China, the world’s second-largest economy. Guided by the carbon-peaking pilot projects, innovative explorations are taking place nationwide, and a beautiful picture outlined by “dual carbon” goals is unfolding.

By People’s Daily reporters

The central economic work conference was recently held in Beijing. The conference comprehensively summarized China’s economic work in 2023, analyzed the current economic situation and made arrangements for 2024.

International experts interviewed by People’s Daily highly evaluated China’s achievements in economic development, stating that the overall trend of economic recovery and long-term improvement remains unchanged.

They believe that China’s efforts to promote high-quality development will inject more stability and momentum into the global economic recovery.

Confronted with a complex and challenging international situation this year, China’s macroeconomy has logged a continuous and steady recovery against the backdrop of the weakening momentum of global economic recovery, and its high-quality development has been steadily advancing.

In the first three quarters, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year, marking the strongest performance among the world’s major economies.

As the world economy faces downward pressure, it was no easy feat for China to achieve a 5.2 percent GDP growth in the first three quarters, said Enrique Dussel, head of the China-Mexico Studies Center at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

He further emphasized that China has led the construction of a modern industrial system through scientific and technological innovation, vigorously promoted new industrialization, and actively nurtured strategic emerging industries such as electronic information, and these efforts have provided new impetus for the country’s economic growth.

Marsela Musabelliu, executive director of the Albanian Institute for Globalization Studies, recently visited China and was deeply impressed by the country’s economic development.

She said that China boasts a super-large market and the most complete industrial system in the world. Currently, China is accelerating scientific and technological innovation and constructing a modern infrastructure system, including advanced transportation and logistics networks as well as the development of smart cities.

These efforts have facilitated the flow of personnel, goods, and services, further unleashing productivity, she added.

International institutions have recently raised their expectations for China’s economic growth, saying its growth in 2024 is expected to surpass this year’s and China still remains a key engine of global economic growth.

The International Monetary Fund predicted that China’s contribution to global economic growth will exceed 30 percent this year.

Hsia Hua Sheng, a financial expert with Brazil’s Getulio Vargas Foundation, noted that China is accelerating the creation of a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development and expanding high-level opening up.

“China has made remarkable achievements in the fields of green energy, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce. These industries driven by scientific and technological innovation have played a positive role in promoting the sustained and stable growth of the Chinese economy,” the expert explained.

China’s economy has not only achieved surprising growth but also steadily improved in terms of its quality, said Eduardo Regalado, a researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba.

He highlighted that stable policies and continuously unleashed the potential of domestic demand have provided strong support for China’s economic development. China has shown outstanding performance and gained a competitive edge in areas such as green economy and digital economy, particularly the rapid growth of exports in new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, Regalado added.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director of the International Trade Center, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, noted that the development of digital trade has created new business opportunities.

She believed that China’s efforts to promote the development of digital trade have had a positive impact on the world, especially on developing countries. With its rich experience in digital trade, China can provide valuable insights and assistance to enterprises in other developing countries, she remarked.

The central economic work conference stressed that high-level opening up will be expanded, which further enhanced the international community’s confidence in sharing China’s development opportunities.

This year, China has hosted a series of economic and trade events, providing more market opportunities, investment opportunities, and growth opportunities for countries worldwide.

These efforts demonstrated China’s unwavering determination in pursuing high-level opening up and following economic globalization.

The just-concluded sixth China International Import Expo saw a total of $78.41 billion worth of tentative deals reached for one-year purchases of goods and services, setting a record high. The inaugural China International Supply Chain Expo hosted over 360 matchmaking and exchange activities, resulting in the signing of cooperation agreements and intentional agreements worth over 150 billion yuan ($20.99 billion).

Regalado stated that China’s efforts to promote high-level opening up and improve the business environment, as well as share its vast market with countries around the world, have not only provided impetus for China’s economic growth but also brought opportunities for global economic recovery.

Recently, the executive director of the Manchester China Forum Rhys Whalley visited the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He noted that the global economic recovery is currently weak, with rising protectionism and unilateralism.

As an important engine driving global economic growth, China’s economic rebound is boosting confidence in global growth, Whalley said.

By Ding Yiting, People’s Daily

The construction industry is one of the pillar industries of China’s national economy, with a total output value exceeding 31 trillion yuan ($4.34 trillion) in 2022, providing employment for over 52 million people.

However, the construction industry, as it continues to embrace rapid development, still needs to further enhance its quality despite its huge size.

In recent years, the Chinese construction industry has seized the opportunities brought by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, striving to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. As a result, it has achieved continuous transformation and upgrading.

Near Muztagh Ata on the Pamir Plateau in the west of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, there stand a row of container-style houses – the first “zero-altitude astronomical observation station” of China, which was officially delivered in 2023.

Although situated at an altitude of over 4,500 meters with an outdoor oxygen concentration of only about 55 percent compared to the plains, people inside the facility would not experience symptoms of altitude sickness such as headaches or insomnia.

The astronomical observation station uses pressurization and other technologies, which means improving the airtightness of the building and injecting air into the interior, to adjust the indoor key human settlement environment indicators to the low altitude level in the plain area, said Wang Kaiqiang, head of the China Construction Institute of Advanced Technology.

To build this facility, the project team has overcome the challenge of high pressure, Wang noted. “While a regular building needs to withstand a few hundred kilograms of pressure per square meter, the number has to reach over 4 tons for ‘zero-altitude’ buildings,” he explained.

“‘Zero-altitude’ buildings can ensure healthy conditions for people living on the plateau. Currently, the technology has been applied in various scenarios such as hotels and residential buildings, with a cumulative application area of over 2,000 square meters. In the future, with customized and one-stop design services, the market will become even bigger,” Wang told People’s Daily.

In Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning province, a 300-meter-high office building is currently underway. Positioning and measurement technicians working on the top floor of the structure are equipped with a “mighty tool” the size of a stationery box – a high-precision positioning receiver enabled by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) for ultra-high-rise, which is capable of achieving accurate positioning at a height of 600 meters with an error margin of only 2 millimeters.

The accuracy of the positioning measurement in construction is crucial for the overall quality and safety of buildings. In the past, this part of work often relied on instruments such as laser plumb bobs and steel rulers. However, buildings above 300 meters are more likely to be affected by strong winds, turbulence and other influences, and violent building oscillations would lead to cumulative errors.

“In previous years, we have successfully overcome the challenge of high-precision measurement of ultra-high-rise buildings through independent research and development. This year, our third-generation equipment has improved its anti-interference capability and stability, enabling precision measurement at an altitude of over 1,000 meters,” said Zhang Shengliang, a surveying and mapping expert with China Construction First Group.

According to Zhang, this device has been exported and applied in the construction of over 50 ultra-high-rise projects worldwide.

In recent years, China’s construction industry has accelerated its deep integration with advanced manufacturing and new-generation information technology, leading to the emergence of new equipment and continuous breakthroughs in new technologies. By adhering to innovation-driven development, construction companies have constantly expanded the market and improved quality and efficiency.

Another important direction for the transformation and upgrading of the industry is the accelerated development of green buildings and construction methods, which aim to achieve green and low-carbon development of structures throughout their entire lifecycle.

At the construction site of the composite modular construction global R&D center of China Construction Science and Technology Group in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, structures are built like building blocks without supporting templates, tying steel bars. Electromechanical devices, tubes, wires, and curtain walls have all been prefabricated at factories.

“The workload of on-site construction has been reduced to 20 percent of the original, cutting the construction period by half. Additionally, there has been a 70 percent decrease in the emissions of construction waste. The overall cost still remains the same,” said Fan Zesen, deputy general manager of China Construction Science and Technology Group.

The construction becomes greener, and the later operation of such structures is also energy-efficient. According to Fan, the project adopts passive techniques to lower the heating and cooling demands of buildings through various means, thus reducing energy consumption.

Additionally, high-performance energy systems are utilized, which store and flexibly use solar power generated by rooftop photovoltaic panels. With a total area of 1200 square meters, these panels generate 220,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, achieving a renewable energy utilization rate of 50 percent, Fan said.

As of the end of 2022, the total area of green buildings constructed nationwide exceeded 10 billion square meters. In 2022, newly constructed green buildings in urban areas accounted for around 90 percent of all new constructions.

Chinese construction companies have accelerated their process of going global, expanding into new regions and enhancing their presence in the global market.

With a total area of approximately 505,000 square meters, the Central Business District project in Egypt’s new administrative capital is progressing smoothly. The first section of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project in Bangladesh, spanning about 170 kilometers, has been put into operation, which is expected to benefit 80 million people directly.

In 2022, the fulfilled turnover of contracts for overseas construction projects by Chinese companies amounted to approximately $154.99 billion, growing 32.9 percent from 2012.

“The construction industry urgently needs to improve the level of industrialization, digitization and intelligence, shifting from quantity expansion to quality improvement, and embarking on a new path of connotative and intensive development,” said Jing Wan, vice president of the China Construction Industry Association.