Governor Sule’ s Lobbying Tactics and Public Discontent: Nasarawa State in Focus

In the political arena of Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule’s efforts to secure favour at the Supreme Court have sparked both intrigue and discontent among the curious populace generally. The recent maneuvres of the governor, particularly his invitation to his emerging political soul mate and guardian angel Vice President Kashim Shettima to commission a mere 4:3Km which is being approximated to 5km, road, terminating around a pruvate facility in which the engineer is alleged to have an interest is what has ignited a wave of criticisms, raising eyebrows and pertinent questions among the concerned citizens of the state.

Expressing their dismay in a press statement on Friday, Yusuf Muhammed, leader of the Concerned Citizens of Nasarawa State, articulated the sentiments of many, questioning the grandiosity of inviting a high-ranking official like the Vice President for such a seemingly modest project completed after 4 years in office.

“How can a vice president come to commission a five-kilometer internal road after four years of Governor Sule’s tenure while other state governors are inaugurating flyovers and hundreds of kilometers of roads?” Yusuf inquired, underscoring the perceived disparity in infrastructural development efforts in areas that need them urgently.

The discontent voiced by the group was further fueled by their recollection of previous incidents. They referenced the Bus Terminal project, initially celebrated during its commissioning by the then president, Muhammadu Buhari, only to witness the buses vanish as soon as the former president left the venue, leaving behind an empty shell of unfulfilled promise and there are many. Only a few in areas where he has interest get some form of below quality attention.

“Such occurrences have exacerbated public scepticism regarding the governor’s initiatives, intention, and their eventual fruition.”

Amidst these grievances, the group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to watch what is happening behind his back and the unbridled meddling going at the various courts which is engraving a huge mark on the conscience of the nation and a dent on the judiciary and its consequential effects on governance and democracy. No gainsaying that participatory governance thrives when justice is served and the masses are being defended that hope can be produced, delivered, and sustained. Now, for Nasarawa, all eyes of watchers of the nation’s progress are gazed at the Supreme Court to correct injustice and deliver a judgment solely based on merit, emphasizing the need to protect the choice of the people in order to guarantee continued interest in civil rule.

The situation has shed light on a larger debate surrounding the governor’s intentions and the trajectory of Nasarawa State’s development. While the governor’s efforts to attract high-profile figures for endorsement could be perceived as a strategic political move, the discontent brewing among the populace even within his party raises questions about the state’s priorities and need for profitable and equitable distribution of developmental projects.

The unfolding events in Nasarawa State serve as a microcosm of the intricate interplay between political maneuvres, public expectations, and infrastructural development.

As the state gears up for crucial legal decisions, the spotlight remains on Governor Sule’s actions and the public’s hopes for a fair and just outcome that aligns with the state’s best interests. Our interest is not in inviting a vice president to commission a project worthy of the attention and commissioning by a local government Councillor, a local community leader, or they like

I will hit the ground running as governor, Shaibu tells Edo South leaders

Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, a strong contender in the upcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries for Edo 2024, today met with Edo South Senatorial leaders in Benin City.

During the meeting, Shaibu expressed his gratitude to the senatorial leaders for their attendance and stressed the importance of unity within the party as they prepare for the elections. He emphasized the need for a young leader like himself who can bravely speak truth to power and resist intimidation from the Federal government. Shaibu vowed to rescue Edo state and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from imminent collapse.

He acknowledged that the PDP was once a party of strong leadership but lamented that this leadership had been eroded over time, creating a gap within the party. Shaibu highlighted his leadership qualities and experience in government. He assured the party leaders that if elected, he would not repeat the mistakes of previous administrations and would work tirelessly to bring back the party’s lost prestige in government.

Shaibu promised the gathering that his administration would hit the ground running from day one. He revealed that his team was already working on various projects to make an immediate impact. One of his primary goals would be to initiate a rail project connecting the entire state to Benin. He also outlined plans to decongest traffic in the city center by constructing bridges. Shaibu emphasized that he leads by example and would actively engages with the people.

In terms of security, Shaibu pledged to collaborate with traditional rulers to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state. He stressed the importance of a robust community policing system.

In response, Barrister Nosa Ogieva Okunbor, the Edo South Senatorial leader, expressed sympathy for Shaibu’s position as Deputy Governor and acknowledged the challenges he had faced in the state. He assured Shaibu that the people of Edo South would provide a fair playing field for all aspirants, as their main agenda was the betterment of the Edo state. Okunbor emphasized the need for unity among all the aspirants and their followers, urging them to avoid making derogatory remarks about one another. He instructed local government party chairmen to support Shaibu’s campaign as their common goal was to retain power and elevate the party to new heights.

Another stakeholder Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo at the meeting, including party executives, local government leaders, and other influential figures from the senatorial district, emphasized the pressing need for development in Edo South. They criticized the current government’s lack of progress and called for tangible projects such as health centers, roads, and infrastructures instead of superficial attractions like shopping malls. The stakeholders also stressed the importance of having leaders who resided amongst the people and understood their needs, rather than those who would govern remotely.

The stakeholders urged Shaibu not to forget the people of Edo South if he emerged victorious, asking him to ensure that development reached all 192 wards in the state. They commended Shaibu for his commitment to inclusivity and noted that this was a significant factor in garnering trust and support from party members.

Innovation drives China’s high-quality economic development

By He Yin, People’s Daily

China received about 1.6 million patent applications in 2022, ranking first in the world, according to the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2023 report recently issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

According to WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2023, China ranked 12th globally, with six indicators ranking first in the world. Besides, the 24 world-level science and technology clusters in China also for the first time made China the top in the world in the relevant ranking.

All these figures prove that China, which has joined the ranks of the world’s innovators, is still improving its capability in sci-tech innovation.

Innovation is the primary driving force behind development and the strategic underpinning for building a modernized economy.

Against the backdrop of a sluggish global economic recovery, China’s economy has rebounded and improved. The country is making solid progress in promoting high-quality development and advancing the construction of a modern industrial system. Furthermore, significant breakthroughs have been achieved in sci-tech innovation.

According to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics this August, the new kinetic energy index of China’s economic development (taking 2014 as 100) was 766.8 in 2022, up 28.4 percent from a year ago. The innovation-driven index was 336.3, an increase of 15.5 percent over the previous year. The knowledge capability index stood at 193.4, up 5.9 percent year-on-year.

China boasts the world’s largest talent pool with the most complete categories, with the total number of talent resources reaching 220 million. The number of R&D personnel is expected to surpass 6 million in 2022.

International observers said that China has continuously enhanced its capability in sci-tech innovation to support high-quality development, and promoted a virtuous cycle of academics, innovation, and production.

As innovation-driven development advances and sci-tech innovation continues to empower the real economy, new industries and new driving forces are constantly growing and expanding, thereby enhancing their role in driving economic growth.

From January to October this year, China’s investment in high-tech industries increased by 11.1 percent year-on-year, outpacing overall investment by 8.2 percentage points. The industrial added value of automobile manufacturing grew by 11.3 percent, while the figure in electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing increased by 13.6 percent, compared to the same period last year.

Innovation remains at the heart of China’s modernization drive. The innovation and commercialization of new technologies have become important driving forces for economic development.

Thanks to the innovation and application of advanced technologies, the Chinese economy has constantly opened up new fields and new tracks. A number of industries with long industrial chains, high technology content, and strong driving capabilities have accelerated their development. The rapid growth in China’s exports of new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products in recent years is clear proof of this.

China will continue to be an economy that creates huge opportunities for bilateral cooperation, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing. He noted that China boasts a huge economy with many advantages in areas such as advanced manufacturing and green economy, and also possesses a vast market.

Huge opportunities lie in China’s fertile ground for innovation. Unilever has established its Asian R&D center in north China’s Tianjin municipality; Schneider Electric has inaugurated its automation R&D center in Wuxi, east China’s Jiangsu province; Honeywell has chosen Shanghai as the location for its global automotive parts R&D center; Volkswagen has announced its plan to develop and produce electric vehicles at a new base in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province.

The Chinese market not only offers a large consumer base for multinational corporations, but also serves as a fertile ground for the incubation, roadshow, and promotion of new technologies and models.

More and more heads of multinational companies investing in China believe that many technological innovations originate from China first and then go to the rest of the world. China has become a breeding ground for large-scale application of emerging technologies.

China’s sci-tech innovation not only provides sustained momentum for its own economic growth, but also brings tangible development opportunities to the rest of the world.

China has established sci-tech cooperation with over 160 countries and regions, and signed 116 inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation, creating a new pattern of all-round, multi-level, and wide-ranging open cooperation in the field of science and technology.

China has also signed inter-governmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation with over 80 Belt and Road countries. Together, they have established more than 50 joint laboratories, built over 20 agricultural technology demonstration centers and some 70 overseas industrial parks.

Additionally, China has set up 10 overseas science and education cooperation centers and nine transnational technology transfer centers with relevant countries.

Denis Simon, a distinguished fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies, noted that China’s technological achievements are remarkable and playing an increasingly crucial role in the global innovation landscape. China has become an important participant in cutting-edge innovation on the international stage and a significant contributor to solving global challenges, Simon added.

China will continue to deeply implement the innovation-driven development strategy, integrate sci-tech innovation resources, lead the development of strategic emerging industries and future industries, accelerate the formation of new productive forces, and stimulate stronger advantages and momentum, so as to drive high-quality economic development with innovation.

To work together for China-Vietnam community with shared future that carries strategic significance

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee at the premise of the CPV Central Committee on Dec. 12, local time.

The two sides announced a new characterization of the relationship for the two parties and two countries, working together for a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The announcement sent out a positive signal of solidarity and friendship between the two parties and two countries, as well as their firm commitment to jointly step on the path of socialism and modernization.

It is believed that with the joint efforts of the two sides, China-Vietnam relations will enter a new stage of greater political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer multilateral coordination and collaboration, and more proper management of differences.

China and Vietnam will achieve more progress in their socialist causes, and make new contributions to stability, development and prosperity of the region and the entire world.

China and Vietnam have supported each other in their struggle for national independence and liberation, and learned from each other’s causes of reform and opening up and Doi Moi. The characterization “camaraderie plus brotherhood” well captures the profound friendship between the two countries.

No matter how the global environment has changed, the two parties and countries have worked together to uphold peace and tranquility, pursue development and cooperation, and promote prosperity and progress. They have found a promising path of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi proposed several suggestions, charting the course on building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

To build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, it is important to keep to the right political direction, deepen mutual trust on security, upgrade practical cooperation, increase input to enhance popular foundation, coordinate closely on international and regional issues, and manage differences on maritime issues.

Trong noted that Vietnam stands ready to work with China to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, follow the vision of making progress on six fronts, bolster cooperation across the political, economy and trade, security and people-to-people fields, and develop a paradigm of mutually beneficial cooperation. This serves the common interests of the two parties, two governments and two peoples.

The Vietnamese side said Vietnam is firmly committed to the one-China principle, opposes interference in China’s internal affairs by any forces, and supports the important global initiatives proposed by Xi including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative

The two sides agreed to issue a joint statement on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Both China and Vietnam both see each other’s development as opportunities for their own development. China is now striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization.

During the visit, the general secretaries of the two parties jointly witnessed the documents signed on bilateral cooperation in 30 plus areas, including Belt and Road cooperation, quarantine and inspection, development cooperation, digital economy, green development, transportation, subnational cooperation, defense, law enforcement and security cooperation and maritime cooperation. Such pragmatic cooperation, which is comprehensive, stable and sustainable, will enable both sides to jointly embark on a new chapter of modernization.

China and Vietnam have unique advantages of following the trend of the times, geographic proximity and shared cultural affinity in building a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The two sides should carry forward the traditional friendship forged by older-generation leaders, build a community with a shared future together, and make steady progress in their modernization drives, so as to achieve win-win outcomes and common success, benefit the two peoples, and contribute to regional peace and prosperity.

China’s economic recovery boosts confidence in global growth: experts

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.

China’s construction industry makes new progress in transformation, upgrading

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.

China’s new visa-free policy commended by people from relevant countries

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.

Xinjiang achieves leapfrog development in opening-up

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.

Yuletide: How Tinubu’s Humanitarian, Financial Grants Lifted 3.5 Million Nigerians

Against expectations and projections, the Federal Government’s humanitarian assistance initiatives like the Farmer Money, Trader Money, and Conditional Cash Transfer is said to have made the difference for millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians celebrating yuletide.

Going by reports, it is now evident that President Bola Tinubu with his robust Renewed Hope poverty alleviation and financial grants initiative managed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has within a short period of time changed what could have been a lackluster yuletide celebration for at least 3.5 million Nigerians to an exciting end of year season.

The latest of the packages given by the President to provide relief for Nigerians is distribution of a N20,000 grant to over 5,000 vulnerable and People With Disabilities (PWD) in Cross River State through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs; hence this development has got Nigerians thanking the President again for the Yuletide gesture, saying “the money would help them to provide sustainable livelihood for their households.”

Recall the federal government officially launched the conditional cash transfer programme which aims to give 15 million Nigerian households N25,000 for three months.

Earlier in the week, Dr. Edu during the commencement of payment of N20,000 to vulnerable groups in Cross River state as part of measures to reduce poverty revealed that the Federal government’s humanitarian assistance initiatives like the Farmer Money, Trader Money, and Conditional Cash Transfer have benefitted up to 3.5 million Nigerians.

Her words: “The Federal Government has many initiatives such as the Farmer Money, Trader Money, Conditional Cash Transfer in which 3.5 million Nigerians have benefitted across board.
“We also have the End Hunger Programme that will be launched in January, and the Skill Acquisition Programme, among others; all I ask for at the state level is for the state to key fully to the centre.”

It is noteworthy that the revelation by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation that 3.5 million Nigerians benefitted from the federal government’s humanitarian assistance initiatives contradicts a recent report which stated that less than 1% of the poor and vulnerable households have benefitted from the Federal government’s cash transfer program.

Besides the federal government’s commencement of payment of N20,000 to vulnerable groups in Cross River state as part of measures to reduce poverty, the government had announced resumption of payment of arrears to beneficiaries of the N-Power programme a week ago.

Also, the federal government has announced plans to provide N50,000 as non-interest loans to 1.5 million market women under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs dubbed the initiative Iyaloya Funds.

I am a man of ideas, strength, resilience, Shaibu woos Edo Central

Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, continues his consultations ahead of the gubernatorial primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a visit to party stakeholders in Edo Central Senatorial District. The consultative meeting took place at the PDP Secretariat in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area.

During his address, Shaibu praised the late national leader of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, for his unmatched legacy. He expressed his gratitude to the Edo Central PDP leaders for their unwavering support and commitment to the party. Shaibu emphasized the importance of personal relationships and reminded the senatorial leaders of their long-standing connection with him, dating back to his time as a student union leader.

Shaibu stressed the need for a strong and resilient candidate from the PDP to counter the influence of the APC government, particularly their interest in taking over Osadebay’s house in 2024. He highlighted his track record of delivering exceptional results on assignments given to him as deputy governor and emphasized his experience and credentials as qualifications that set him apart from other candidates vying for the position of Governor of Edo State.

Shaibu shared his vision for the future, stating that he is a man of ideas who will not lack the means to propel Edo State forward once he becomes governor. He referenced his successful completion of 49 constituency projects during his time in the Edo State House of Assembly as an example of his ability to bring tangible change to the people.

The deputy governor further expressed his desire to correct the mistakes that have plagued the government and party in the past three years, assuring the people that their demands and expectations are achievable with him at the helm of affairs. He promised to lead from the front and ensure maximum benefits for the people of the senatorial district and the state at large.

Recounting his experience serving his constituents in the Edo State House of Assembly, Comrade Shaibu recounted an incident during his campaigns for a second tenure in the Edo State House of Assembly, where his video showcasing his constituency projects was requested to be taken down by party leadership due to its impact on the electoral fortunes of other party candidates because many could not explain to their constituents why they do not have projects to show like him. He promised that he would do more for the Esan people as they are dear to him, being the only man in government who has recognized their importance by appointing their son, Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamosoe as his Chief of Staff.

In terms of governance, Shaibu highlighted his financial prudence in executing projects and his efforts in unifying revenue collection to eliminate thuggery. He pledged to involve party chieftains in the selection of the state’s executive council members and promised to appoint party leaders and members to board memberships of parastatals in the state.

Archbishop Anthony Okosun, the senatorial leader of the PDP, commended Shaibu’s political credentials and praised his dedication to the success of the party. He urged Shaibu to use his influence to unite the party, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for the party’s success. Okosun also urged all aspirants to compete without enmity.

Shaibu received a warm reception from the senatorial executives and PDP local government leadership in the district.