Nigeria Times

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.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Recently, the Philippines has repeatedly stirred up trouble in the South China Sea, continuously infringing on China’s sovereignty, making provocative moves in the waters of Ren’ai Jiao in China’s Nansha Qundao, and spreading disinformation to smear China.

As a country from outside the region, the United States not only encouraged and supported the Philippines’ provocative moves, but also distorted facts and made irresponsible accusations against China, irresponsibly escalating tensions in the region.

The Philippines, bolstered by the support of extraterritorial forces, has brushed aside China’s goodwill and restraint, and has repeatedly challenged China’s principles and red line. This is extremely dangerous and poses a serious threat to regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao, and their adjacent waters. This was established in the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter.

The Philippines promised to tow away a warship illegally “grounded” at Ren’ai Jiao 24 years ago. But 24 years on, the warship is still there.

Over the course of this year, the Philippines has gone back on its words and kept sending government and military vessels into the waters of Ren’ai Jiao to supply construction materials for the large-scale repair and reinforcement of the “grounded” warship and permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao.

These moves gravely violated China’s sovereignty and went against international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

It has been the Philippines who is breaching the common understandings with China and heightening tensions in the South China Sea. It is the Philippines who has attempted to change the current status of Ren’ai Jiao and make it a fait accompli, and it is the Philippines who has on every occasion courted external forces to put pressure on China. This is an undeniable fact that cannot be changed no matter how the Philippine side tries to manipulate it.

In response to the Philippines’ provocations, the China Coast Guard (CCG) responded in accordance with laws to safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty. The CCG’s operations were reasonable, legitimate, and professional.

China firmly opposes the Philippines’ attempt to occupy Ren’ai Jiao and has made clear its solemn position to the Philippine side at various levels and through multiple channels, putting forward proposals for properly managing the situation.

It is against the principles of international law and legally untenable for the Philippines to cite the “award” of the South China Sea arbitration, which is illegal, null and void, to claim that Ren’ai Jiao falls within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and deny China’s sovereignty over it.

China will continue to do what is necessary in accordance with domestic and international laws to resolutely respond to provocative moves that infringe on China’s sovereignty and defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

At the same time, China has been committed to enhancing communication with the Philippines with sincerity and goodwill to properly handle the tension. China hopes that the Philippines will make the right choice, and seriously honor its commitment to properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation.

The Philippines relies on the United States as an extraterritorial force to cause trouble and provocation in the South China Sea.

The United States has been inciting and supporting the Philippines attempts to repair and reinforce its warship that was deliberately “grounded” on Ren’ai Jiao. The United States even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philippines, and repeatedly sought to threaten China by citing the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Instead of honoring its commitment to not taking a position on the South China Sea, the United States blatantly emboldened the Philippines’ violation of China’s sovereignty, confounding right with wrong and deflecting blame. It has been acting as a scaremonger on security issues that stokes confrontation and antagonism. This seriously violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and gravely jeopardizes regional peace and stability, which is extremely irresponsible and dangerous.

Rigoberto Tiglao, former spokesperson for former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said in a recent article that the irrationality of the Philippines is a testament to the power of U.S. propaganda. He noted that the United States demonizes China as a threat to countries in the region such as the Philippines, saying “It was so easy for the U.S. to brainwash us.”

The United States has repeatedly attempted to stir up trouble in the South China Sea through the Philippines, to undermine China’s relationships with regional countries and enlist their support in its geopolitical strategy to contain China.

The United States once pulled strings behind the scenes when the political drama of the so-called South China Sea arbitration was staged, and now it is actively drawing in the Philippine government, intensifying military deployments around the waters in the South China Sea, and conducting so-called joint patrols, exercises, and training with its allies in the region. Through these actions, the United States has again and again sent erroneous signals to the Philippines under the guise of so-called “security commitments.”

Thoughtful people in the Philippines can see through the U.S. ploy of binding and instigating the Philippines to serve as cannon fodder in order to maintain the U.S. hegemony.

Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, noted that the U.S. efforts to draw in the Philippines are escalating tensions, divisions, and conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, which not only threatens regional peace and stability, but also exacerbates militarization in the Philippines and the entire region at large.

The collusion between the Philippines and the United States has led to the escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, which goes against the trend of the times and does not serve the overall interests of regional countries.

China has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines. However, China will never accept any threats, coercion, or groundless accusations and attacks.

China unswervingly upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. If the Philippines misjudges the situation, continues to act recklessly, and even collaborates with ill-intentioned external forces to continue causing troubles, China will respond firmly and resolutely defend its rights in accordance with the law.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Dec. 20 held a phone conversation with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. The two heads of state announced the establishment of strategic partnership between China and Nicaragua.

The two sides believe this move is in the common interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is conducive to the common development and prosperity of the two countries.

China and Nicaragua will take it as a new starting point to make new progress of China-Nicaragua ties and set an example of solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results.

Since the resumption of relations two years ago, the two sides, with a sense of urgency, have promoted a leap-forward development of China-Nicaragua relations. Facts have fully proved that the decision made by the Nicaraguan government to resume diplomatic relations with China, based on its national interests and the will of its people, is indeed correct.

The establishment of the strategic partnership on the occasion of the second anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries will surely become an important milestone in the history of China-Nicaragua relations.

The two heads of state agreed that the two sides will further give play to the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and dialogue, continuously strengthen strategic cooperation, deepen political mutual trust and stick to the right direction of China-Nicaragua relations.

Over the past two years, China and Nicaragua have achieved positive progress in political mutual trust, practical cooperation and multilateral coordination. The two sides have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.

China is ready to be a reliable friend of Nicaragua, and will continue to firmly support Nicaragua in safeguarding its national independence and national dignity, and also backs Nicaragua in rejecting external interference.

China stands ready to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Nicaragua in international affairs, and work with Nicaragua to oppose hegemonism and power politics, promote the development of a more just and rational international order, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

The Nicaraguan side said it highly values its friendly relations with its great brother China, firmly abides by the one-China principle, supports China’s grand cause of reunification and supports global cooperation initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi.

Nicaragua is ready to work with China to continuously deepen bilateral friendly relations, strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose external interference and power politics, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Pragmatic cooperation between China and Nicaragua has been rapidly advancing in various fields, bringing benefits to the people of both countries.

In 2022, the bilateral trade volume reached $760 million. China is Nicaragua’s second-largest trading partner and second-largest source of imports. Nicaragua is China’s important economic and trade partner in Central America and an important participant in the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and Nicaragua signed a free trade agreement in August this year, which will come into effect on Jan. 1 next year. It is a landmark achievement of cooperation between the two countries.

By implementing the free trade agreement, both countries will achieve a high level of mutual openness in areas such as goods trade, service trade, and investment market access. Practical cooperation between them will also continue to expand and deepen.

According to Nicaraguan Minister of Development, Industry and Trade Jesus Bermudez, the Nicaragua-China free trade agreement will bring tangible benefits and set an example for cooperation between Central American and even Latin American countries with China.

As developing countries, China and Nicaragua share a common commitment to people-centered development and should work together to promote their respective modernization.

China is willing to share the opportunities brought about by Chinese modernization with countries including Nicaragua, and work with them to create a brighter future for global modernization.

The Nicaraguan side highly appreciates China’s efforts to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, and believes that Chinese modernization provides a new choice for humanity to realize modernization and offers Chinese solutions and strength to address common challenges faced by humanity.

Both countries will continue to enhance exchanges and cooperation between departments at all levels, strengthen policy coordination, and learn from each other’s governance experiences.

In recent years, Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and other Central American and Caribbean countries have established or resumed diplomatic relations with China, carrying out pragmatic cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

This fully demonstrates that establishing diplomatic ties with China conforms to the trend of the times and the will of the people. The establishment of strategic partnership between China and Nicaragua after two years of their resumption of diplomatic relations will enable more members of the international community to clearly recognize the general trend and make correct decisions in line with the trend of the times.