Nigeria Times

By Han Shuo, Liu Zhonghua, Fang Min, People’s Daily

The second “Jinbo” China-Europe freight train carrying exhibits to the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) arrived in Shanghai, China from the German port city of Duisburg on Oct. 29. The first “Jinbo” train of this year arrived in Shanghai on Oct. 11.

“Jinbo” is short for CIIE in Chinese. Since the first “Jinbo” China-Europe freight train was launched in 2021, a new channel has been opened for European enterprises participating in the CIIE. This year, three “Jinbo” trains were planned, which were expected to carry 210 twenty-foot equivalent units of exhibits with total worth of over 350 million yuan ($47.92 million).

As a signature project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Europe freight service reaches 217 cities in 25 European countries and regions. It had made a total of 78,000 train trips as of the end of September. The close collaboration between the service and the CIIE further enlarges the “CIIE effect” and makes global trade more unimpeded. It is a witness to China’s efforts to share opportunities and strive for common development with the rest of the world.

In recent years, thanks to the deepening cooperation between China and Europe, the number of China-Europe freight trains has steadily increased. European chemical products, machinery equipment, powdered milk, cosmetics, and other goods are transported to various destinations along the China-Europe rail routes from Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany and Malaszewicze in Poland. In Duisburg alone, there are over 100 Chinese logistics and e-commerce companies.

On Sept. 21, the first “Jinbo” train for the sixth CIIE departed from Duisburg, carrying exhibits with a value exceeding 16 million euros ($17.16 million). Among these exhibits were nearly 270 types of products from French cosmetics giant L’Oreal.

“The ‘Jinbo’ train is very convenient. Previously, our goods had to be transferred before they were shipped to Shanghai. Now, the goods can go directly to Shanghai, and the customs clearance is also very fast,” said Fabrice Megarbane, president of L’Oreal North Asia Zone and CEO of L’Oreal China.

As a six-time exhibitor at the CIIE, L’Oreal has made a new record in the number of products showcased this year.

“The goods transported through the ‘Jinbo’ train are not only exhibition items but also products that will soon be sold,” said Megarbane, adding that L’Oreal needs to be well-prepared for the approaching “Double 11” online shopping festival in China.

He emphasized that the seamless connection between the China-Europe freight service and the CIIE ensures fast transportation and good sales. L’Oreal hopes that more goods would be transported to China through China-Europe freight trains, and looks forward to bringing more debut products and cutting-edge technologies to the Chinese market.

Portuguese household cleaning brand Mootaa attended the CIIE with most of its exhibits shipped from Madrid, Spain via the China-Europe freight train.

“The advantage in time efficiency was our primary consideration for choosing the China-Europe freight train. Compared to maritime transport, the China-Europe freight service cuts the transportation time by half, which can help us quickly build the supply chain, improve inventory turnover efficiency and save operating costs,” said Zhou Jun, president of Mootaa Greater China.

The “Jinbo” trains have covered a distance of over 11,000 kilometers, passing through countries such as Poland, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan, with approximately 60 drivers from multiple countries participating in the service.

“Since 2021, we have been collaborating with Chinese companies to provide dedicated train services for the ‘Jinbo’ train,” said Frank Schulze, managing director of DB Cargo Transasia. He further added that railway transportation is highly environmentally friendly, reducing 95 percent of carbon dioxide emissions compared to air transport and 80 percent compared to trucks.”

On Oct. 6th, the first “Jinbo” train of this year entered China via Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and went through customs procedures upon arrival at the Alashankou port. The customs, railway, and other departments at the port opened a 24-hour green channel for the train.

After the train arrived in Shanghai, the Shanghai Railway Station and other relevant authorities set up dedicated windows for customs declaration, providing companies with advice on classification and taxation, and implementing paperless customs clearance to ensure the swift inspection and release of goods.

“Benefiting from the optimized customs supervision service and the tailor-made intermodal solution of the ‘Jinbo’ train, exhibits can be showcased at the CIIE in a faster and more environmentally friendly manner,” said Megarbane.

From intelligent vacuum—jetting flushing combination systems and motor parts to European specialty foods like wine and olive oil, and consumer goods like cosmetics and glassware, the “quality imports” brought by China-Europe freight trains are increasingly diverse. Numerous high-quality Chinese goods are also sold to the world through return trains.

“The China-Europe freight trains have achieved remarkable results. We have more and more train routes, and the goods transported are also becoming increasingly diverse, such as automobiles, auto parts, electronic products, etc. This is of great significance for promoting China-Germany trade exchanges and strengthening industrial cooperation,” said Schulze.

By Yu Yichun, Zhao Yipu, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Nov. 5.

Xi said China will always be an important opportunity for global development, firmly advance high-standard opening up and continue to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.

International personages participating in the expo told People’s Daily that Xi’s letter once again demonstrated to the world China’s firm determination to expand opening up and promote common development, and charted the course for the CIIE to better promote win-win cooperation.

First held in 2018, the annual expo has leveraged the strengths of China’s enormous market, fulfilled its platform function for international procurement, investment promotion, people-to-people exchanges and open cooperation, and made positive contributions to creating a new development pattern and promoting world economic development, Xi said in the letter.

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Roy Bhila told People’s Daily that the CIIE, a world-class economic and trade fair, plays a positive role in deepening global economic and trade cooperation, promoting enterprise innovation and advancing global development.

American multinational conglomerate 3M Company has participated in the CIIE for six consecutive years. It has introduced multiple innovative products to the Chinese market through the expo.

Edward Kaleta, senior vice president of 3M Company, told People’s Daily that the CIIE is an open and cooperative platform, and China’s policy of opening up has brought tangible benefits to companies around the world.

Bruno Chevot, president of Danone China, North Asia and Oceania, noted that China’s efforts to build a new development pattern and promote high-quality economic development have brought positive impacts on global economic cooperation and trade development, and provided constant opportunities for foreign-invested enterprises in China.

“President Xi’s letter conveyed to the world China’s commitment to win-win cooperation, showing the country’s determination to maintain the high-level opening up. This has further strengthened our confidence in deepening our presence in the Chinese market,” said Mike Hwang, president of Amorepacific China. Having participated in the CIIE for six consecutive years, the company has witnessed the increasing openness of China, Hwang said.

“President Xi’s emphasis on China’s firm commitment to high-level opening up has filled Danish businesses with confidence in developing in the Chinese market,” said Michelle Chen Moeller, consultant for global market development at Confederation of Danish Industry.

China is an important trade partner of Denmark, and over 20 Danish food companies participate in this year’s CIIE, seven of which exhibit for the sixth consecutive time and five for their debut.

“Seeing the immense opportunities and unlimited potential of the Chinese market, more and more Danish companies are participating in the CIIE,” Moeller said.

As one of the first foreign pharmaceutical companies to enter the Chinese market, Pfizer has witnessed the rapid development of the Chinese market and pharmaceutical industry, president of Pfizer Global Biopharmaceuticals Business China Jean-Christophe Pointeau said.

According to Pointeau, China has continually worked to improve the drug review and approval process, boosting more innovative products to reach the market. He added that the active participation of American companies in the CIIE reflects the positive impact of the expo in promoting openness and cooperation.

“The letter from President Xi has convinced us that China’s door will always remain open to the outside world. All economies should actively participate in the process of economic globalization, promoting development through openness and seeking win-win cooperation,” noted Richard Kozul-Wright, director of UNCTAD’s globalization and development strategies division.

Given the sluggish recovery of the world economy, both developed and developing countries need a more open Chinese market and the new opportunities brought by China’s new development, he said.

Xi said in his letter that he hopes the CIIE will better serve as a window for fostering a new development pattern that creates new opportunities for the world through China’s further development, and as a platform of high-standard opening up that allows China’s enormous market to be shared by the world.

He also expressed the hope that the expo will play a greater role in providing shared international public goods and services that facilitate an open world economy and let the world benefit from win-win cooperation.

This struck a chord with Michael Gelchie, chief executive officer of Louis Dreyfus Company, a Netherlands-based agricultural merchant and processor. He told People’s Daily that the company has been continuously deepening its cooperation with Chinese partners over the past 50 years of its development in China, noting that China plays a significant role in the global economy and has enormous market potential.

“We hope to actively integrate into the Chinese market and jointly explore cooperation opportunities,” he added.

“Last year, when we participated in the expo for the first time, we experienced the positive spillover effect of the CIIE, where exhibits turned into commodities. This year, we have expanded our booth area by five times,” said Jin Fangqian, vice-president of Gilead Sciences and general manager of its China operations.

He said that China is committed to providing a more stable and high-quality business environment for foreign companies to create more market opportunities, which has further strengthened the confidence of foreign enterprises in expanding their presence in the Chinese market.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

All countries involved in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation are equal participants, contributors and beneficiaries.

When addressing the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China will work with all parties involved to deepen Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation and usher this cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development. What he said has been widely responded and supported.

In the world today, which is undergoing transformation and turmoil, and changes unseen in a century, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) upholds the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, advocates for extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and has fostered broad Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation.

Over the past decade, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have joined the BRI and signed more than 230 cooperation documents. The third BRF was attended by representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations, which once again highlighted the theme of win-win cooperation and common development.

The BRI has entered a new phase of high-quality development, and cooperation partnerships need to be continuously deepened to generate greater collaborative efforts. China aims to form with relevant parties closer partnerships in health, connectivity, green development, opening up, inclusiveness, innovation and clean government, and inject a constant stream of momentum into the high-quality development of the BRI.

Continuously deepening Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation helps foster greater consensus for cooperation. As the world enters a new phase of instability and transformation, global challenges continuously emerge. What the world needs the most is cooperation.

As Xi said, win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all. Countries should all treat each other as friends and partners, respect and support each other, and help each other succeed. As the saying goes, when you give roses to others, their fragrance lingers on your hand. In other words, helping others is also helping oneself. Viewing others’ development as a threat or taking economic interdependence as a risk will not make one’s own life better or speed up one’s development.

The BRI not only brings tangible and substantial achievements, but also fosters a profound understanding that win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all. This understanding is sowing more seeds of cooperation worldwide, continuously deepening Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric said the BRI draws wisdom from Chinese traditional culture that has a history of more than 5,000 years, and is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. It has become an important platform for mutually beneficial cooperation and an important opportunity for countries around the world to achieve common development. Chile highly values and will continue to actively participate in the cooperation.

Continuously deepening Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation helps foster stronger momentum for development. The BRI transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development. It has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation. Indeed, the BRI represents humanity’s joint pursuit of development for all.

The original intention of Belt and Road cooperation is to achieve common development. At a critical moment when the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is hindered and the North-South divide continues to widen, the Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation continue to promote connectivity, mutual benefit, common development, cooperation and win-win outcomes. This will help foster a development paradigm featuring benefits for all, balance, coordination, inclusiveness, win-win cooperation and common prosperity, and assist more countries in achieving sustainable development goals.

“With the contributions of the BRI, we can turn the infrastructure emergency into an infrastructure opportunity, supercharge the implementation of the sustainable development goals, and deliver hope and progress for billions of people and the planet we share,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The third BRF has further consolidated the consensus on Belt and Road cooperation, further enriched Belt and Road cooperation, and broadened the bright prospects of Belt and Road cooperation. It marked another important milestone in the process of Belt and Road cooperation.

The historical trend of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit is unstoppable, our people’s aspiration for a better life remains strong as ever, and the desire of all countries to achieve common development and prosperity is overwhelming.

As long as Belt and Road countries remain steadfast in their commitment to cooperation and common development, and continuously deepen Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation, they will make sustainable achievements that benefit their posterity.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will put forward the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, demonstrating China’s leading role in global AI governance.

In recent years, AI technology has advanced rapidly with increasingly wider applications. As one of the most disruptive emerging technologies, AI has brought tremendous dividends to socio-economic development, but it is also accompanied by risks and challenges.

The international community has been highly concerned about the legal, ethical, and humanitarian aspects triggered by this technology, as well as the complex and far-reaching impacts it has brought on international politics, economy, military, and society.

In the face of the unpredictable risks and complicated challenges posed by AI, the international community urgently needs to strengthen AI governance, capitalizing on strengths and avoiding shortcomings, avoiding harm, so as to steer the development of AI in a positive direction.

As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out, the world needs to “approach this technology with a sense of urgency, a global lens, and a learner’s mindset.” Countries should coordinate efforts, set boundaries, and work tirelessly to promote AI for the benefit of humanity.

As a responsible AI power, China has always attached great importance to the governance of AI. China insists on the equal emphasis on development and security, and continuously strengthens research on AI-related legal, ethical, moral, and social issues.

Guided by the principles of prudence, inclusiveness, and adherence to bottom lines, China is gradually establishing and improving relevant laws, regulations and institutional systems to ensure the healthy, orderly, and secure development of AI. The country aims to provide strong support for and inject positive energy into the global development of AI.

The Global Initiative for AI Governance clearly outlines China’s proposals on the development, security and governance of AI. It adopts a systematic approach that emphasizes both development and security, upholds a people-centered approach in developing AI, adheres to the principle of developing AI for good, and upholds the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit in AI development.

The initiative opposes drawing ideological lines or forming exclusive groups to obstruct other countries from developing AI. It calls for efforts to bridge the AI divide and ensure that the AI dividend benefits all nations, making the development of AI beneficial for human civilization.

The initiative emphasizes the importance of security, controllability, privacy protection, fairness, and non-discrimination. It reflects the main concerns of all parties regarding AI security and proposes specific goals and measures such as joint governance and intelligent governance.

These actions are not only in line with the needs of technological development but also help prevent and resolve potential security risks. The initiative aims to ensure that AI technology truly contributes to global development and empowers the better life of humankind.

The initiative calls for increasing the representation and voice of developing countries in global AI governance, and ensuring equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal rules for all countries in AI development and governance. It says efforts should be made to conduct international cooperation with and provide assistance to developing countries, and develop AI governance frameworks, norms and standards based on broad consensus with full respect for differences in policies and practices among countries.

This initiative represents a strong voice from developing countries calling for equal opportunities, and demonstrates China’s role as a responsible major country in improving global governance.

The initiative provides constructive solutions to the widely concerned issues of AI development and governance, providing a blueprint for relevant international discussions and rule-making. It is another action taken by China to contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

In comparison to the deliberate policies of some Western countries that create “small yard and high fence” and foster an AI divide, this initiative reflects China’s mature experience in AI governance, demonstrating China’s broad-mindedness and unselfishness as a major power.

At a crucial juncture of global AI governance, the China-proposed initiative will effectively build consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and develop open, fair, and efficient governing mechanisms, in a bid to promote AI technologies to benefit humanity.

By Zhang Mengxu, Zhang Penghui, People’s Daily

An event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the U.S. 14th Air Force’s participation in Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was held at the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance against Japanese Aggression on Oct. 30.

The event was hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Nearly 100 attendees from China and the U.S. gathered for the commemoration, including a delegation of Flying Tigers veterans and their descendants brought together by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation and the Flying Tiger Historical Organization, as well as government officials from California.

During the event, the U.S. delegation visited a photo exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the U.S. 14th Air Force’s participation in Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, an exhibition on the participation of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, an exhibition on Chinese military and civilian rescuing American pilots, as well as other permanent exhibitions.

The delegation laid wreaths in front of the statues of the heroes who fought against Japanese aggression. Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen paid tribute to the portraits of Major General Claire Lee Chennault. It happened to be Moyer’s 103rd birthday that day, and the attendees sent their blessings to him.

In 1941, a large group of American young pilots, led by Chennault, established the AVG, also known as the Flying Tigers. They came to China and fought side by side with the Chinese people to resist Japanese fascist aggression. In 1943, the Flying Tigers were incorporated into the U.S. 14th Air Force. During the war, over 2,000 Flying Tigers airmen gave their precious lives. Over the past 80 years, the bond forged between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people in the flames of war has been passed down from generation to generation, remaining evergreen.

In Chongqing municipality, Kunming of Yunnan province, Guilin of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, as well as other places where the Flying Tigers fought, many memorials and museums have been built to tell the touching stories of the solidarity and shared hardships between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese People.

Flying Tigers and their descendants have paid multiple visits to China, and invited Chinese civilians who once helped American soldiers to visit the U.S., commemorating the profound friendship forged during the times when both nations supported each other.

McMullen, 98, once fought against Japanese aggression in Kunming and Chengdu, Sichuan province. He fondly recalled his friendly bond with the Chinese people in the past, saying when their planes were pursued and attacked by Japanese forces, their first thought was to find the nearest Chinese village to make an emergency landing.

He said he had more than once personally witnessed and heard the stories of Chinese people risking their lives to help and rescue Flying Tigers members, and through fighting side by side, the two sides forged a profound friendship.

According to him, the Flying Tigers veterans have always cherished this friendship, and he wants to share this history to help more people understand the spiritual wealth that transcends time and space between the two nations.

The visit led by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation to China was not only a journey to revisit history but also a means to encourage the younger generation of both countries to learn the story of the Flying Tigers and carry forward their spirit, with an aim to ensure that the friendly relations between the two nations are passed down from generation to generation, said Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation.

Over a month ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from Greene, Moyer and McMullen, which greatly inspired them.

Communication and exchange between Chinese and Americans, especially the younger generation, are crucial, Greene noted. The members of this delegation visiting China included not only veterans of the Flying Tigers but also young individuals, who will continue to share stories of the friendly exchanges between the two nations when they return to the U.S..

Jackson Long, 15, was the youngest member on the visiting delegation. He is the great-grandson of the Flying Tigers veteran Clifford Long. The boy is currently attending high school in Pennsylvania.

It was his first time visiting China. He said he used to hear the stories about the Flying Tigers from his elders, but lacked a concrete understanding of what China is really like. Over the past few days, from Shanghai to Beijing, he saw China’s development and felt the enthusiasm and friendliness of the Chinese people. “I will do my best to help those around me understand China better,” he noted.

The Flying Tigers spirit serves as a bond connecting the U.S. and China, reminding the two peoples not to forget the deep friendship forged during the war and to create a bright future of cooperation and mutual benefit, said Nell Calloway, General Chennault’s granddaughter and the CEO of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum. She has been dedicated to promoting U.S.-China people-to-people exchanges over the years.

She told People’s Daily that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world today. Despite the current disagreements and differences between the two countries, the aspirations for peace and a better life are shared by both peoples.

“President Xi Jinping hopes that the spirit of the Flying Tigers can be passed down from generation to generation between the two peoples, and this is also our hope. We hope that both countries can set aside their differences and work together to create a better future for the two peoples,” she said.

As two major countries, it is their important responsibility to join hands in tackling challenges, said Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The enduring friendship between the two peoples will infuse continuous momentum into the development of China-U.S. relations, and bring new hope for world peace, stability, and progress, Yang added.

Erik Lutz, Mayor of Pico Rivera, California, told People’s Daily that the friendship between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people is something to be cherished. As a mayor in California, he looks forward to engaging in practical cooperation with China, creating opportunities for growth, continuously developing the friendship between the two nations, and enriching the connotation of their bilateral relationship.

By Wan Yu, People’s Daily

A report titled “Chinese Investment in Africa 2023” was recently released in Beijing. By analyzing over 90 Chinese companies and 20 China-Africa cooperation projects, the report explores the impact of the China-Africa policy framework and existing cooperation models on the African industrial chain.

It particularly emphasizes the role of Chinese enterprises in the development and transformation of the African industrial chain, and highlights the future potential of China-Africa industrial chain cooperation.

The report showcases a wide range of examples to demonstrate the contributions made by Chinese companies to the transformation and development of Africa’s industrial chain in various sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and infrastructure. These examples include a hybrid rice demonstration project in Madagascar, a fiberglass production line set up by Chinese company Jushi in Egypt, the cross-border e-commerce platform Kilimall in Central Africa, the Nairobi-Malaba railway in Kenya, and the 150 MW Noor III Concentrated Solar Power project in Morocco.

Wu Peng, director-general of the Department of African Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry, noted that China is leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to strengthen its alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries.

According to him, the focus is on promoting African industrialization through investment cooperation, enhancing the value-added of African resources, and expanding the share of African manufacturing in the global supply chain.

“The investment and economic cooperation between Africa and China is continuously expanding, with steady growth in bilateral trade volume and a gradual increase in the value-added of African products. This is highly encouraging,” said Arkebe Oqubay, former special adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

He emphasized that China attaches great importance to strengthening clean energy cooperation with Africa and has become one of the main partners of Africa in clean energy development.

Sharing the green and low-carbon practices in industrial parks in Hawassa and other parts of Ethiopia, Oqubay stated that with strong support from Chinese investment, Ethiopia is gradually enhancing its green infrastructure development, and the Ethiopian government actively supports Chinese companies’ investment and projects in the country.

As of the end of 2022, China’s direct investment stock in Africa had exceeded $47 billion, with over 3,000 Chinese companies investing and operating in Africa. In the first half of this year, China’s direct investment in Africa exceeded $1.82 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.4 percent. Chinese companies’ confidence in the African market continues to strengthen, and they are keeping expanding the areas of investment in Africa.

Wang Dong, deputy director-general of the Department of West Asia and Africa Affairs of China’s Ministry of Commerce, noted that Chinese companies’ investment in Africa has expanded from traditional sectors such as construction, mining, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and agriculture to new sectors including trade logistics, digital economy, clean energy, healthcare, green development, and finance, and Chinese companies have also invested in industrial parks and economic cooperation zones in many African countries.

The effects of agglomeration continue to emerge, promoting industrialization and agricultural modernization in Africa, Wang added.

The report highlights that China-Africa industrial chain cooperation has facilitated the transformation and development of African industrial chains through six major models: industrial alignment and capacity cooperation, investment in industrial parks, infrastructure development and strengthening of industrial foundations, technology transfer and talent development, demand stimulation and supply promotion, as well as institutional innovation and practical exploration.

Deputy executive secretary and chief economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Hanan Morsy said both the Chinese and African markets hold immense potential, and the close cooperation between the two sides in the field of trade and economy is fueling the intrinsic growth of Africa.

“The investment by Chinese companies is a focal point of interest for many African countries,” said Ibrahima Sory Sylla, Ambassador of Senegal to China, adding that as African industrialization continues to progress, Chinese investment in the industrial chain is driving the continent’s industrial transformation.

“The FOCAC continues to play a crucial role in promoting investment in Africa, and African countries are looking forward to more investment from Chinese companies,” he noted.

Over the past 10 years since the BRI was proposed, the initiative has received active support and enthusiastic participation from African countries. Africa has become one of the most important partners of China for Belt and Road cooperation, and almost all countries on the continent have joined the BRI. The connectivity cooperation between China and Africa has accelerated, driving the development of the entire industrial chain.

According to Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, the positive development of China-Africa economic and trade relations is mutually beneficial for both parties and crucial for the global economy as a whole. The BRI, along with China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and the African Continental Free Trade Area, complement each other and create a favorable trade environment. This will bring about more market opportunities, help address poverty and other issues faced by Africa, and promote the process of African integration.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

China-U.S. relations recently showed positive signs, including a series of important high-level exchanges and new stories of people-to-people friendship. This is welcomed by both the two countries and the international community.

The healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations not only is in line with the interests of both countries and their peoples, but also meets the common expectations of the international community.

The two sides should adhere to the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, earnestly return to what was agreed by the two heads of state in Bali, work to stabilize the China-U.S. relationship from further deterioration, and bring it back to the track of sound and stable development at an early date.

China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. Whether the two countries can get along well determines the future of humanity. Fifty two years ago, leaders of the two countries, with remarkable strategic vision, made the right choice to seek cooperation between China and the United States, kicking off the process of normalization of bilateral relations. This has not only benefited the two countries, but also changed the world.

The achievements of China-U.S. relations have not come easily and should be cherished all the more. The world is currently undergoing momentous changes unseen in a century, and the international landscape is witnessing significant shifts. The world needs a stable China-U.S. relations more than ever.

As former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said earlier, peace and progress between China and the United States is in the self-interest of each country and of the world.

China’s policy toward the United States is consistent, which is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. China always believes that the two countries should be partners, not rivals, and they should pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, not zero-sum games. It always hopes that China-U.S. relations would become stable and improve, rather than slide into conflict and confrontation.

China always holds that the two countries should break free of competitive and confrontational thinking, take care of each other’s interests and concerns, seek the greatest common ground for exchange and cooperation, and expand the convergence of interests in win-win cooperation.

Both history and reality have repeatedly proved that the two countries both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and thus cooperation is the best choice for them. China and the United States have joined hands in combating terrorism, addressing the international financial crisis, combating the Ebola virus, and leading the achievement of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Through cooperation, they have made significant contributions to the world.

Faced with the increasingly more global challenges today, it is even more crucial for both sides to choose the path of cooperation. Global economic recovery, tackling climate change, and resolving international and regional hotspot issues all require coordination and cooperation between China and the United States.

It is important to see that the world is big enough for the two countries to develop themselves and prosper together. China and the United States, as the world’s two largest economies, account for more than a third of the global economy and nearly a quarter of the world’s population, and bilateral trade accounts for about a fifth of the global total. The interests of both sides are closely intertwined. It is important to recognize and prioritize the common interests that exist between the two nations, as their individual successes present opportunities rather than threats for each other.

The root cause of the difficulties facing China-U.S. relationship over recent years is that the U.S. perception and views of China are seriously distorted. Some people in the United States hold onto a Cold War mentality, using competition as an excuse to encircle, contain, and suppress China. Such actions will only push China and the U.S. towards confrontation and the world towards a new Cold War.

China and the United States are two huge countries with different histories, cultures, and social systems. It is inevitable for them to have differences and competition. However, this should not hinder both sides from engaging in cooperation based on common interests, nor should it be a reason for confrontation and hostility between them.

Competition should not be the keynote of China-U.S. relationship, and the development of this relationship should adhere to certain bottom lines. The one-China principle and the three joint communiques between China and the U.S. are the most important political foundation of the bilateral relationship and must be protected and upheld without interference.

The sound development of China-U.S. relations requires pooling the strength of all sides. The foundation of China-U.S. relations lies among the people, the hope is in the people, the future lies in the youth, and the vitality lies in sub-national areas.

The Kuliang story is a testament to the unwavering friendship between the Americans and Chinese. The U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association in Washington State is dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between American and Chinese youth. The Stilwell family, spanning several generations, has been instrumental in fostering friendly cooperation between the United States and China. The spirit of the Flying Tigers has been passed down through generations, connecting the people of both countries. California has also actively expanded green cooperation with China. These vivid examples demonstrate the profound friendship between the Chinese and Americans and the immense potential for cooperation between the two nations.

China’s efforts to promote dialogue and exchanges at various levels with the U.S. demonstrate the country’s broad vision, long-term perspective, and sense of responsibility that comes with its major country diplomacy.

Amid the changing international landscape, China-U.S. relations are at a critical juncture. The two countries should shoulder their responsibilities to the people, history and the world, follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and promote the stable and positive development of China-U.S. relations. It is hoped that the United States will work with China in the same direction.

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

By Che Bin, Huang Weixin, Huang Peizhao, People’s Daily

In a lush avocado orchard on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Nakuru County, Kenya, more than 2,500 avocado trees stretched as far as the eye could see. Richard Wafula, owner of the farm, was busy harvesting avocados with his workers.

“Soon, approximately 10 containers of fresh avocados will be delivered to Chinese consumers from here,” he said.

China and Kenya signed a protocol to foster bilateral trade in avocados in January 2022. Seven months later, the first batch of fresh avocados grown in Kenya entered the Chinese market, making Kenya the first African country to export fresh avocados to China.

In November 2022, Kenyan fresh avocados made their debut at the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), immediately favored by Chinese consumers. It marked another remarkable chapter in China-Africa win-win cooperation.

Richard Tuwei is an avocado farmer from the western Kenyan city of Eldoret whose orchard was originally planted with 1,200 avocado trees. In August 2022, Tuwei’s products were among the first to pass an access review and export fresh avocados to China.

“In the past, when the avocado season arrived, we had to wait for some time before picking because local traders needed time to find buyers. But now, we pick the fruit as soon as it is ripe. The demand in the Chinese market is enormous, and our products have quickly found a ready market. This new opportunity encouraged us to plant an additional 500 trees last year,” Tuwei told People’s Daily.

Kenya is the largest exporter of avocados in Africa. Currently, 30 percent of the country’s avocados are exported to China, and this trend is expected to continue growing in the future. According to estimates from the local agricultural department, avocado exports to China will increase the annual income of local farmers by 30 percent to 50 percent.

The business with the Chinese market has brought tangible changes to the lives of Kenyan farmers. Tuwei told People’s Daily that in the past, he had to borrow money from friends to pay for his children’s tuition. But now, with a stable income from avocado farming, he can comfortably cover his daily expenses, and his life quality has been significantly improved.

Wafula and Tuwei’s Chinese partner is Shanghai-based Greenchain Information Science and Technology (Greenchain). Greenchain has built partnerships with over 500 avocado growers and manages seven farms in Kenya.

To ensure that the fresh avocados meet the standards of the Chinese market, the company has signed cooperation agreements with local growers, which cover the entire process starting from the planting of avocado seeds all the way to the final sale of the fruit. This helps realize order-based cultivation management.

According to Du Gongming, general manager of Greenchain’s African business division, avocado features high economic value and low cultivation costs, and its cultivation boasts mature pest control techniques. After the successful export of fresh avocado to China last year, many Kenyan farmers started switching to avocado planting, hoping for more cooperation with China, he said.

“China has a huge population, which is a crucial asset for any market. We believe that in the future, more farmers will export avocados to China,” said Kello Harsama, principal secretary in the State Department for Crop Development in Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

After the fifth CIIE, Greenchain established a new avocado processing plant, in order to meet the growing demand in the Chinese market. The plant officially started operation in March this year.

“We purchased new equipment, introduced new packaging technology, and built a fumigation laboratory. Everyone is confident about the business development,” said Du.

It takes about 25 days for an avocado to hit the Chinese market from being picked in Kenya. Last August, the first batch of avocados from the African country arrived in China in 4 containers. This year, Greenchain has already shipped over 100 containers of avocados to China, and the number is expected to reach 300 by the end of the year.

“The CIIE has brought obvious driving effects, promoting win-win situations for multiple parties,” Du said.

In the past, China mainly imported avocados from South American countries. Nowadays, African avocados have entered the Chinese market, providing more choices for consumers.

“We are continuously expanding our marketing channels and increasing the sales of Kenyan avocados in the Chinese market,” said Du.

The CIIE debut of Kenyan avocados marked the deepening agricultural cooperation, as well as economic and trade exchanges between China and Africa.

In recent years, under mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, 16 agricultural products from 11 African countries have gained access to the Chinese market, and China has granted zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of products originating from 21 African countries. Today, China stands as the second-largest destination for African agricultural exports.

Greenchain has participated in the CIIE for five consecutive years, and will continue to join the sixth CIIE this year. At that time, African specialties such as pineapples from Benin, chili peppers from Tanzania, and seafood from Kenya will be showcased for the first time at the event.

China-Africa practical cooperation enjoys broad prospects, and the stories of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes between the two sides are to be continued at the CIIE.

By Lin Rui and Liang Xiaojian

The 2023 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road is being held in Beijing on Oct.19. The theme of the 2023 forum is “Strengthening Media Cooperation for a Brighter Shared Future.” Over 130 foreign media executives, senior editors, and journalists from over 110 media outlets in 75 BRI partner countries participated in the forum.

In the autumn of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past ten years, with the combined efforts of all parties, it has evolved from ideas into actions, transforming from a vision into a reality and developing from a general framework into concrete projects. The BRI holds great practical significance as it steadily progresses and endures in the long run. It has charted a path of peace, prosperity, opening-up, green development, innovation, and civilization for the countries involved.

Chinese and foreign guests attending the forum held the belief that media outlets from various countries should collaborate in telling the story of constructing the BRI, fostering universal security, and facilitating increased exchanges and mutual learning.
In addition to the main forum, the event features the Silk Road Prize for Global News and a sub-forum focused on regional cooperation within the BRI. The event was attended by representatives from relevant ministries and commissions of the Chinese central government, major media organizations, scholars, as well as representatives from state-owned and private enterprises participating in the BRI.

The forum, hosted by the People’s Daily, has invited over 1,000 representatives of media and international organizations from over 100 countries since its inception in 2014. The forum aims to foster consensus and gather collective strengths to promote the high-quality development of the BRI.

By Jiang Nan, Dou Hanyang, People’s Daily

The China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, unveiled on April 1, 2017, is among the third batch of China’s pilot free trade zones (FTZs). Since its founding, the Zhejiang pilot FTZ has embraced rapid development and continuously contributed to the high-quality development of the open economy.

Last year, the Zhejiang pilot FTZ, occupying less than 1/400 of Zhejiang province’s total area, accounted for 6.5 percent of the newly registered enterprises, 9.2 percent of the tax revenue, 20.6 percent of the foreign trade volume, and 18.1 percent of the actual utilization of foreign capital in the province.

At present, the Zhejiang pilot FTZ has adopted a “four-area” development model, with each area having a strategic focus based on its strengths. The Zhoushan area is developing as an oil and gas free trade hub; the Ningbo area focuses on logistics and transportation; the Hangzhou area is emerging as a digital free trade zone; the Jinyi area is dedicated to commerce and trade.

The Yiwu International Trade Market, which is located in the Jinyi area, is the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities. Selling 2.1 million categories of small commodities to over 230 countries and regions, it fuels the development of 2.1 million small and medium-sized enterprises and supports jobs for 32 million people.

The Jinyi area cooperates with some 40 cross-border e-commerce platforms around the world, and is working to continuously improve the support system for digital trade sectors such as cross-border e-commerce. Besides, it is also optimizing its trade models, and has built an official website market “chinagoods.com.”

According to an official, the Yiwu International Trade Market boasts 75,000 business stalls. In the past, purchasers had to go from stall to stall searching for the items they wanted, which was both tiring and time-consuming.

Today, thanks to the efforts to streamline procurement processes, purchases can be made swiftly and thus the trade volume has been significantly improved.

The Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train route, which starts from the Jinyi area, has developed into one of the China-Europe freight train routes with the most operating lines and highest loading efficiency since it was launched nine years ago. Today, with the train service heading west by land, and the Yiwu-Ningbo-Zhoushan corridor going east by sea, goods and commodities are flowing steadily from the Jinyi area to the world.

Over the past three years, the Ningbo area of the Zhejiang pilot FTZ has been continuously promoting trade liberalization and facilitation, further consolidating and enhancing its status as a global cross-border trade hub.

In 2022, the cargo throughput at Ningbo Zhoushan port reached 1.26 billion tons, ranking first globally for 14 consecutive years. The container throughput reached 33.35 million twenty-foot equivalent units, maintaining its position as the third largest globally.

From January to August this year, Beilun district, where the Ningbo area is located, achieved a total import and export volume of 295.4 billion yuan ($40.37 billion).

The Hangzhou area of the Zhejiang pilot FTZ is leading the way in integrating high-standard digital trade rules, exploring the establishment of a comprehensive institutional framework for the development of digital trade, and nurturing digital industry clusters with international competitiveness.

Currently, Hangzhou’s cross-border e-commerce retail export platforms account for two-thirds of China’s total, and its cross-border payment and settlement volume represents 40 percent of the country’s cross-border e-commerce exports.

In the first half of this year, Hangzhou’s digital service trade volume increased by 19.6 percent compared to the same period last year. Knowledge-intensive service trade accounted for over 80 percent of service trade, surpassing the national average.

In the hall of the Zhejiang Mercantile Exchange, a giant electronic screen is eye-catching. The screen displays not only the trading prices of various oil products, but also China’s Zhoushan LSFO (low sulphur fuel oil) bonded bunker price, known as the “Zhoushan price.”

“The market share of enterprises currently participating in Zhoushan’s bonded bunker price reporting has increased to 84 percent in the local bonded bunkering market,” said Lai Xin, chairman of the Zhejiang Mercantile Exchange. He noted that the “Zhoushan price” was officially introduced on June 21, 2021, marking an important institutional innovation achievement of the Zhoushan area.

“This mechanism breaks the monopoly of overseas markets on LSFO pricing,” Lai stated. In the past, China’s domestic oil and gas trading market lacked pricing power, but now with the “Zhoushan price,” it can effectively promote the use of RMB pricing in the bonded LSFO bunkering sector, and gradually increase the international influence of China’s spot price for bonded bunker fuel.

The Zhoushan area continues to build an international oil and gas industry cooperation platform with global influence. This has led to a spillover effect of expanded industrial chains and outward development in refining, storage, shipping and more. Consequently, the Zhoushan area is seeing the rapid emergence of a trillion-yuan oil and gas industry cluster.

Currently, the Zhoushan area is home to 12,700 oil and gas companies. In 2022, its oil and gas trade volume reached 776.123 billion yuan. Over the past 6 years, the accumulated trade volume has exceeded 270 million yuan, with an average annual growth of 64 percent.