Chinese enterprise contributes to Tanzania port construction

By Huang Peizhao, Shen Xiaoxiao, People’s Daily

The Dar es Salaam Port of Tanzania, located on the west coast of the Indian Ocean, handles more than 90 percent of the country’s foreign trade. It also serves as a sea gate and economic channel for many countries in East Africa.

However, the busyness was once a burden for the port due to its aging facilities and narrow berths.

Thanks to an expansion project, the port has regained vitality and is now always bustling. Container tractors, cranes, forklifts and other port equipment are shuttling back and forth, fully-loaded vessels are arriving one after another, while cargo handling is in an orderly manner.

Over a year ago, seven berths of the port were upgraded by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and put into operation, upon which the port’s cargo handling capacity has been increased by 26 percent to about 17.65 million tons per year.

The upgrade has enabled large vessels with a load-carrying capacity of up to 70,000 tons to dock at the port, while the port could only accommodate vessels with a capacity of around 20,000 tons in the past.

Bian Liang, head of hydraulic engineering projects of CHEC in Tanzania, told People’s Daily that the port has significantly improved its operational efficiency and cargo handling capacity since the upgraded berths were put into use.

The upgrade not only meets Tanzania’s demand for cargo transport, but also promotes the foreign trade of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other landlocked countries in Africa, Bian noted.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the expansion of the Dar es Salaam Port is of important significance for improving the port’s comprehensive efficiency and promoting regional economic development. It will drive Tanzania’s socio-economic development, and facilitate the foreign trade of landlocked countries in East Africa, she added.

Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen reported that the project has greatly expanded the cargo handling capacity of the port and consolidated the port’s position as an important harbor in East Africa. It said the expansion will make positive contributions to economic and social development, and trained many professionals for the local community.

A Tanzanian woman surnamed Joyce had been working for the CHEC for five years. She was in charge of human resources for the expansion project of the Dar es Salaam Port.

During the years she worked on the project with her Chinese colleagues, she not only became a professional in human resources, but also gained a deeper understanding of port construction. Last year, Joyce was hired as a regular employee by the Tanzania Ports Authority due to her outstanding performance.

She said the infrastructure cooperation between Tanzania and China plays an important role in promoting the people-to-people bond between the two countries, adding that her working experience in CHEC is a valuable professional asset.

It is reported that the second-phase project of the Dar es Salaam Port has commenced to further expand the port’s handling capacity and better facilitate the economic development of East Africa. The project includes dredging, wreck salvage as well as procurement and installation of navigation equipment.

Shan Jifeng, who heads the second-phase project, said that the heavy-duty self-propelled rake suction dredger Tong Xu independently designed and built by China has been employed for dredging this time, strictly following high-standard environmental protection measures. According to him, the work of the Chinese team has won high recognition from the Tanzanian side.

The expansion project is a miniature of China assisting Tanzania’s infrastructure construction and socio-economic development.

Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam, noted that Tanzania’s development couldn’t be achieved without China’s support.

Many modern infrastructure projects in Tanzania were built under China’s assistance, and the Tanzania-China cooperation has become a powerful engine driving Tanzania’s development, he explained.downLoad-20230404105744

China’s sincere hope to promote security, stability in Middle East

By Zhai Jun

Saudi Arabia and Iran, since making great achievements in their talks in Beijing, have made new strides in improving bilateral relations in accordance with the identified roadmap and timetable laid out in their Beijing agreement.

On April 6, the foreign ministers of the two countries met in Beijing and signed a joint statement, with which the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

It turned a new page in Saudi Arabia-Iran relations and encouraged goodwill for reconciliation between nations in the Middle East. It has provided an important example for countries to resolve conflicts through dialogues and consultation, and a successful practice for implementing the China-proposed Global Security Initiative (GSI) and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Their resumption of diplomatic relations has been broadly welcomed by Middle East countries and the international community.

As a reliable mediator with good faith, China has earnestly fulfilled its duties in hosting the talks. It has won the full trust of both Saudi Arabia and Iran, and has been highly appreciated by countries and peoples of the region.

The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Hotspot issues keep flaring up and the prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges.

The Middle East sees a variety of regional hotspot issues with complex conflicts. China, working with countries in the Middle East to practice the GSI and promoting the resumption of Saudi Arabia-Iran diplomatic ties, has demonstrated its sense of responsibility and brought good news to the world in turmoil.

The Beijing talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran fully proved that mutual respect, dialogue and consultation are the fundamental solution to resolve disputes. Facts have shown time and again that war and sanctions only create more conflicts and turbulence, and only mutual understanding and accommodation lead the way to inclusive solutions.

No matter how complex the issues are or how thorny the challenges may be, the international community, especially influential major countries, should steadfastly facilitate talks for peace, play good offices and mediate in light of the needs and will of the countries concerned, and support relevant parties to build trust, settle disputes and promote security through dialogue in accordance with the principle of mutual respect.

The Beijing talks fully demonstrated that independence, solidarity and cooperation are the only ways to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Some external major powers have long been engaged in acts to stoke conflicts, create divisions and divide and rule in the Middle East, which has created turbulence in the region and suffering of the people.

Many developing countries in the world share similar experiences with countries in the Middle East. There is no so-called “vacuum” in international politics, and developing countries have the will and ability to take the initiative for their peace and development.

Facing external interference, developing countries should further uphold independence, solidarity and cooperation, as well as promote peace through unity, pursue stability through self-reliance, and achieve development through cooperation.

The Beijing talks fully proved that only by upholding the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security can universal security and common security be achieved.

Humanity is an indivisible security community. Be it in the Middle East or other regions, the path to security is never a one-way road, but a lane that comes in two directions featuring mutual understanding.

Parties concerned should take each other’s legitimate and reasonable security concerns seriously, establish platforms for security dialogue with the participation of all parties involved, and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, so as to achieve lasting security that is firmly established.

The Beijing talks fully proved that abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the fundamental guideline for handling inter-state relations.

The purposes and principles of the UN Charter embody the deep reflection by people around the world on the bitter lessons of the two world wars. They are humanity’s institutional design for collective security and lasting peace.

The various confrontations and injustices in the world today did not occur because the purposes and principles of the UN Charter are outdated, but because they are not effectively maintained and implemented.

The international community should firmly uphold the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the UN Charter, follow the rules such as sovereign equality and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and seek impartial and reasonable solutions that are acceptable to all parties.

China is a good friend and partner of countries in the Middle East. It does not have self-interests and does not seek to put up exclusive blocs in the region. China is dedicated to the political settlement of hotspot issues with a sincere hope to promote security and stability in the Middle East.

In recent years, China has put forward a five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East, a four-point proposal for the political settlement of the Syrian issue, and a three-route vision for the implementation of the two-state solution to the Palestinian question to build a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture in the Middle East. These efforts are consistent with China’s practice of promoting the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as the spirit of the GSI.

China will, as always, demonstrate its sense of responsibility as a major country, uphold justice and support countries in the Middle East in pursuing strategic independence, strengthening solidarity and coordination and shaking off external interference.

It will keep supporting Middle East countries in independently exploring ways to solve hotspot issues that are suited to regional realities through dialogue and consultation. It will work to promote security and stability in the region, encourage developing countries to pursue solidarity and cooperation, and push the international order in a fairer and more reasonable direction.

Cultural digitalization makes progress at Sanxingdui Ruins site

By Song Haoxin, People’s Daily

The Sanxingdui Ruins site in Guanghan, southwest China’s Sichuan province, are dubbed as one of the world’s greatest archaeological findings of the 20th century. Every new excavation at the site would trigger an archaeology craze across China. The Sanxingdui Museum has thus become the hottest museum in Sichuan province.

Earlier this year, new findings were once again reported at the Sanxingdui Ruins site. A bronze kneeling statue holding a Zun-vessel over head unearthed at the No.3 sacrificial pit and a bronze mythical beast found at the No.8 sacrificial pit were virtually combined under the assistance from 3D scanning technology.

The two cultural relics, buried in two different pits, finally “reunited” with each other after more than 3,000 years and now constitute a larger bronze artifact, which is unprecedented even in the world.

The successful virtual combination of the two cultural relics was a result of the application of digital 3D model technology. It marked another innovation in China’s technical approaches to cultural relics conservation and studies, as well as a typical example of the cultural digitalization development of the Sanxingdui.

“We employ digital technologies when archaeological excavation starts,” said Zhu Yarong, deputycurator of the Sanxingdui Museum, adding that the museum aims to vitalize cultural relics through digital technologies and creative protection methods.

According to her, the inter-discipline cooperation during the archaeological excavations at the Sanxingdui Ruins site represents a new model of future archaeological development. The integration of a new generation of digital technologies and archaeology is important to archeological development, she added.

A tourist surnamed Chen from Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi province, recently visited the Sanxingdui Museum and watched a mixed reality (MR) movie about the Sanxingdui culture, the first of its kind launched by the museum.

With a pair of MR goggles, Chen saw ancient citizens of the kingdom of Shu praying around a sacred tree and a three-legged crow flying in the sky. Besides, in the earphones she wore, there was also a virtual tour guide explaining the history of cultural relics at the Sanxingdui Ruins site.

This brand new model of museum visiting, which enables visitors to watch cultural relics in a movie, can better present the splendid Sanxingdui culture to visitors.

It’s not rare in China to present cultural relics in 3D pictures with augmented reality and MR technologies, said Zhang Song, an employee with the Sanxingdui Museum. What’s different at the Sanxingdui Museum is that virtual scenarios are mixed with reality so that visitors can not only see 3D pictures of cultural relics, but also have immersive experiences in a world of mixed reality, Zhang explained.

“Apart from archaeological excavation and conservation, it’s also important to make the value of cultural relics known to all through technologies,” Zhang told People’s Daily.

Since 2016, the Sanxingdui Museum has implemented three projects of digital cultural relics conservation, during which it collected high-precision data of most of its cultural relics and set up a management platform of digital resources. So far, these achievements have been widely applied by the museum in display, cultural relics conservation, tour guide services, cultural communication and the development of cultural products.

Every cultural relics at the Sanxingdui Ruins site has a QR code that records its identity and whole life cycle from its excavation to repairing, which lays a data foundation for future utilization and development of relevant cultural products, Zhang said.

The possibility of combining fragments of cultural relics is estimated based on their colors, textures and cross sectionsafter the fragments receive 3D scans, which significantly improves work efficiency, Zhang noted.

Digitalization is an important way to vitalize cultural resources. Earlier this year, Sichuan province issued an action plan on promoting cultural digitalization, which centered on seven aspects such as connecting the province to a national database of Chinese culture, building cultural digitalization infrastructure and building a cultural data service platform, and listed 22 major tasks including utilizing the results of cultural resource censuses, establishing a provincial data system and setting up an interaction platform of cultural data.

An expert told People’s Daily that the efforts made by the Sanxingdui Museum to advance cultural digitalization not only demonstrated the strong impetus of Sichuan province for cultural digitalization, but also has made new business forms that combine culture and technology a key driver of growth in the culture industry.

Thanks to the integration of virtual reality, digital animation, online cultural, entertainment and tourism services, as well as cultural data processing and storage services, the market of Sichuan’s digital cultural industry represented by the Sanxingdui Ruins site will keep growing in the future.

Chinese modernization conceived in China, opportunities it brings belong to world

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“China will provide new opportunities for global development with new accomplishments in Chinese modernization, lend new impetus to humanity’s search for paths toward modernization and better social systems, and work with all countries to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.”

The above remarks were made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a congratulatory message to the Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World held at the Meet-the-World Lounge in Shanghai on April 21.

The event, along with the previously held special forum “Understanding China – GBA Dialogue” in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, both focused on the opportunities brought about by Chinese modernization to the world.

Attendees to the two meetings believed that Chinese modernization is conceived in China, and the opportunities it brings belong to the world.

Realizing modernization is a relentless pursuit of the Chinese people since modern times began, and it is also the common aspiration of people of all countries. Over the past 100 years and more, China has found by itself a path to modernization, and created a new form of human advancement. Ample facts have proved that there is no fixed model of, or single solution to, modernization. Any country can achieve modernization, as long as the path suits its conditions and answers the need of its people for development.

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called Chinese modernization a gift to the world. Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara said that the modernity of China is an inspiration and proof to all that every country has its unique and viable options to anchor its development pursuit.

The modernization of China will be a stronger boost for global economic recovery and open up a broader path to the common development of all countries.

Over the past decade, China has contributed more to global growth than all the G7 countries combined. Today, China is the main trading partner of over 140 countries and regions, making $320 million direct investment around the world each day and attracting over 3,000 foreign businesses every month. With over 1.4 billion people on course toward modernization and common prosperity, China will create more opportunities for global development.

The international community believes that China is the biggest hope in revitalizing global economy, and hopes to take the opportunities brought by the country’s high-quality development and higher-standard opening-up.

The Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative proposed by China have built important platforms for countries to achieve common progress and prosperity. British scholar Martin Jacques noted that Chinese modernization in essence is providing opportunities to the world, especially developing countries.

The modernization of China will open up bright prospects for human progress and provide a more viable pathway to a clean and beautiful world.

China takes people’s free and well-rounded development as the ultimate goal of modernization. The well-rounded development of people means not only material abundance but also cultural-ethical enrichment.

The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China promotes the respect for the diversity of civilizations, and advances the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations. It advocates the importance of inheritance and innovations of civilizations, and of enhancing international cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

Chinese modernization will add new vigor and vitality to the profound Chinese civilization, and contribute more Chinese wisdom to global peace and prosperity and to human progress. China, focusing on the harmony between humanity and nature in planning its development, readily takes on its responsibility of protecting the environment and tackling climate change, and leads the world on many counts such as the scale of artificial afforestation. It will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society of the United States John L. Thornton hailed that Chinese modernization is very compelling, enduring and inspiring, adding that he sees it as a guide to higher-level human development.

The modernization of China will bring more certainty to world peace and stability and boost the force for peace and justice.

China is the only country in the world that pledges to “keep to a path of peaceful development” in its Constitution. China is the top contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the only country among the five Nuclear-Weapon States that has made the promise of no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

The Global Security Initiative put forward by China has pointed out the right direction of pursuing common and universal security. China has taken an impartial stance and pushed for peace talks in order to reduce the pressure and lower the temperature around the Ukraine crisis. Facilitated by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations. Following a path of peaceful development, the country has made important contributions to fostering a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

As the biggest developing country, China always keeps in mind the greater good of the whole world. While pursuing its own development, it is also injecting more positive energy into world peace and creating more opportunities for global development. China is ready to work together with all parties to promote diverse ways of modernization and create an even brighter future for our planet.

Dialogues, consultation have strength in resolving conflicts

By Huan Yuping, People’s Daily

Saudi Arabia and Iran recently signed a joint statement in Beijing, with which the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations.

Since they held talks in Beijing in March, the two sides have made new strides in improving bilateral relations in accordance with the roadmap and timetable laid out in their Beijing agreement.

The improved ties between the two countries are believed to be a significant matter of the evolving international relations today, which not only opened a path for peace and stability in the Middle East and set an important example for countries to use dialogue and consultation to resolve their conflicts and differences, but also demonstrate how major countries should responsibly resolve international hotspot issues and safeguard world peace.

The international community gave high recognition to the important results achieved in the Beijing agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, believing that the agreement marked an important step of turning conflicts in the Middle East into reconciliation.

The major diplomatic breakthrough is constantly releasing its positive influence, creating new opportunities for the political resolution of regional hotspot issues. “Ice-breaking dialogues” have frequently made the headlines in the Middle East.

This fully proves that the Middle East, a region torn by wars and turbulence, aspires to peace and security. The will and capability of countries in the region to safeguard peace and security through enhancing solidarity and coordination are on a rise.

Ezzat Saad, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, noted that people in the Middle East have long suffered from wars and they long for peace. Seeking peace and development has become a mainstream voice of regional countries especially in the recent years, the director added.

Countries in the Middle East should keep the future and destiny of the region firmly in their own hands, which is conducive to the peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large.

However, the reaction of a few major countries to the improved ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran is completely different from that of most countries in the world. In an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, aired Washington’s “frustration” at being left out of regional developments after Riyadh moved to restore ties with Iran and Syria, according to The Wall Street Journal. He reiterated that Iran and Syria are still under heavy sanctions from the United States.

The U.S. “frustration” is not surprising at all. German daily newspaper Junge Welt said that Washington is not seeing any benefits from the improved ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the Beijing agreement between the two countries will make it more difficult for the United States to implement the “divide and rule” tactics in the Middle East.

The United States has long taken the Middle East as a strategic chessboard, on which regional countries are all viewed by it as chess pieces. Stoking tensions and creating divisions, it is a major source of turbulence in the Middle East.

A recent article published on The Guardian about the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq noted that the “war on terror” provided political cover for the further pursuit of supremacy, and the political system planted in Iraq by Washington has intensified divisions and made it practically ungovernable.

The international community is highly alert to the U.S. practices of stoking conflicts and benefiting from them. Its awareness of maintaining strategic independence is rising. The improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran well proves this. The more solidarity the countries in the Middle East have, the less space there will be for external forces to pursue offshore balance, divide and rule, and maintain hegemony and private interests.

On a renowned question-and-answer website, a user asked why China was able to broker a truce between Saudi Arabia and Iran while the U.S. failed to do such a thing. An answer winning a lot of upvotes noted that China likes peace but the U.S. doesn’t want it.

Military force is not a solution, and zero-sum game can never bring lasting peace. Upholding dialogues and strengthening communication holds the key to resolving differences. Only results achieved from equal consultation are the most sustainable.

Following the Beijing agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a foreign media outlet pointed out that dialogues are the most powerful weapon, which helps achieve peace better than however many troops. All relevant parties have seen the new hope to resolve international hotspot issues from the Chinese philosophy and actions that prioritize dialogues, diplomacy and peace.

China advocates the Global Security Initiative (GSI), calls on countries to adapt to the profoundly changing international landscape in the spirit of solidarity, and champions the win-win mindset to address the complex and intertwined security challenges, so as to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts and improve global security governance. The Beijing agreement just marked a successful practice of the GSI.

Major countries shoulder special responsibility for world peace and stability. They should always use their resources and strength to promote dialogues and reconciliation, rather than the other way around.

Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram said the Beijing agreement heralded the birth of the Chinese solution based on peace and understanding, adding that China is committed to seeking common ground while putting differences aside and to safeguarding common interests. It said the Chinese solution was obviously fairer and better for handling international and regional issues compared with U.S. approaches of seeking interests by provoking troubles and wars. Factors of instability, uncertainty and insecurity are increasing in the international situation. The reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran told the world that constructive dialogues and peace talks are the best approach to resolving conflicts and promoting peace. No matter how complex the issues are or how thorny the challenges may be, equal-footed dialogue on the basis of mutual respect will lead to a mutually acceptable solution. To resolve differences and conflicts through

First Set of Armed Aviation Security Personnel Graduate

The Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has recorded another milestone in the aviation industry, with the passing out of the first set of arms-bearing Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel on Friday.

In a statement Saturday by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Affairs, Dr. James Odaudu the Minister while describing the achievement as unprecedented in the promotion of national security, noted that he was sure that all the graduands received the best training and are well equipped with the morals, the discipline and values that are expected from the training they received.

Advising the newly graduated armed security personnel at a ceremony in Abuja, the Minister said, “This should come to you as a clarion call to work within the precepts of the training. This training that you have received is expected to commit you to the level of dedication that is expected in ensuring that the nation of Nigeria will not only be proud but also reap the benefits of this well-organised training.

The minister recalled the Turkish Airline incident in 2016 where some aggrieved passengers overpowered AVSEC officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and gained access to the tarmac.

Sirika also cited an incidence at the Sokoto Airport where some political supporters forcefully entered the tarmac, stressing that these actions were clear security breaches which would have been forestalled by the AVSEC personnel if they were armed.

He assured the personnel that uniforms, armoury and other things that would enable them to discharge their responsibilities of securing and safeguarding airline officials, passengers and other airport users have been made available.

He warned that the aim, intention, training or the purpose of the arms was not to harass or intimidate innocent airport users, but to protect them, and that no misdemeanour on their part would be taken lightly. The civility of civil aviation, he said, must be upheld at all cost.

“In acceptance to be trained as aviation security personnel, you must realize that it is a privilege to serve your country at this level as the aviation industry is one place where adherence and commitment to rules and standards are applied strictly to the letter.”

The Minister also warned that the government will not tolerate conflicts with other security operatives at the airports and that what is required is collaboration and synergy between them for the safety and security of airport users and infrastructure.

“For us, our focus as a government has been to ensure that we are secure and safe at our airports. Aviation is not just about building terminals because safety is one of the most critical aspects,” Sirika noted.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the development of the sector, with particular focus on safety and security, which has culminated in the realisation of the project and other legacy achievements in the industry.

China strives to advance ecological progress with green, intelligent technologies

By Shi Ling, People’s Daily

Many regions across China have employed big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other digital and smart technologies in ecological conservation, blazing a new trail of advancing ecological progress.

For instance, Ningbo in east China’s Zhejiang province has built a digital twin platform that is able to simulate floods in its Yongjiang River, which helps improve the city’s capability in risk control and management.

In a nature reserve in Shishou, central China’s Hubei province, water temperature, dissolved oxygen rate, food intake of finless porpoises as well as other relevant data are collected by an intelligent ecological conservation system, so as to better protect the animal.

Northwest China’s Shaanxi province has launched a digital platform for rural ecological governance, which features rural environment monitoring, visualized geographical information service and other functions.

Digitalization and green transition are two major trends in today’s world. The two, mutually reinforcing, will create a multiplying effect.

According to a recently released plan on building a digital China, to make positive achievements in digital ecological progress is an important goal. The plan proposes to build a green and intelligent digital ecosystem, which sets new requirements for a new generation of digital technologies in assisting ecological governance.

Only by strengthening sci-tech development and expanding the application of digital technologies can ecological environment be constantly improved and high-quality development advanced.

Ecological governance is a systemic project. Digital technologies support the whole process of ecological governance by making targeted identification and real-time tracking of environmental data a regular practice, so as to systematically and timely resolve ecological problems.

For example, southwest China’s Fujian province has introduced a cloud platform of ecological big data. The platform monitors marine debris, tracks air quality and features paperless approval of inter-provincial transfers of hazardous wastes. It helps ecological conservation practitioners better spot and address problems.

The massive data and the powerful algorithm of the platform have made efficient monitoring and active forewarning possible for ecological governance. Besides, the platform also has the ability to analyze problems in a science-based manner and address them effectively.

Ecological and environmental problems are in essence the problems of economic development models. To accelerate synergetic digital and green transformation is conducive to building and improving a green and low-carbon circular economic development system.

Thanks to a series of policies implemented over the recent years, many digital tech firms in China have tailored low-carbon development plans. The energy consumption of each 5G base station in the country has been cut by over 20 percent from 2019 when the stations were just put into commercial use. In addition, energy-saving buildings, water-conservation agriculture, carbon-zero factories and other digital applications have effectively lowered the environmental cost of economic development.

It is estimated that industries will reduce their carbon emissions by 12.1 billion tons by 2030 thanks to the application of digital technologies.

The synergetic development of digitalization and green transformation helps lower energy consumption of the whole industrial chain, improve production and energy efficiency, and integrate digital technologies with the real economy, thus leading to higher-quality development.

Green development means not only a transition in production models, but also newer lifestyles. From virtual reality-enabled property tours to paperless contract signing, and from online fitness app to online second-hand trading, digital applications are bringing green and intelligent lifestyles to more and more people. Thanks to digital technologies, green application scenarios are seeping into every aspect of people’s life, including consumption, traveling and home appliances. While promoting energy conservation, carbon reduction and pollution reduction, green applications are also enhancing Chinese people’s awareness for energy saving, environmental protection and ecological conservation.

Digitalization and green transformation are important topics concerning global development, and make a pair of twins that are interdependent and mutually-reinforcing.

China will continue consolidating the foundation for the development of ecological and environmental technologies, expand the application scenarios of digital technologies, lead green transiformation with digitalization and promote digitalization with green transformation, so as to make the country a more beautiful place.

Chinese enterprises make remarkable contributions to South Africa’s industrialization

By Zou Song, People’s Daily

Wide and flat roads, orderly traffic flow, and neatly built factory facilities – these are the most prominent features of the Hisense South Africa Industrial Park, a manufacturing quarter built by Chinese home appliance giant Hisense in Cape Town, North Africa.

“I’ve been working in this industry for nearly 30 years, and this year marks the 10th year for me to work in the industrial park. I’m glad to see the young people gaining better and better vocational skills today,” said Valeri, Workshop Director of Industrial Park Television Factory.

Valeri is about to retire. She had gone through the hardships of factory shutdowns and unemployment. For a time, she had to do some vending businesses to make a living.

After the Hisense South Africa Industrial Park was built in the Atlantis industrial area in Cape Town, the woman immediately applied for a job there.

She started from the most basic position and became a team leader and then workshop director after training. Valeri now has apprentices. The products manufactured by her factory are available in many home appliance shops in South Africa, which makes her proud, Valeri told People’s Daily.

The Hisense South Africa Industrial Park was jointly built by Hisense and the China-Africa Development Fund in 2013 with an investment of $350 million. After years of development, the park is able to produce 400,000 television sets and 400,000 refrigerators on an annual basis today.

Now, Hisense televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators and other home appliance products are sold in over 5,000 shops under 18 major chain stores across South Africa, accounting for 30 percent of the market share in the country. Besides, these products are exported to more than 10 African countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, as well as European destinations including the UK.

More and more factories on the supply chain of the home appliance industry have been built in the Atlantis industrial area because of the influence of the Hisense South Africa Industrial Park. The Atlantis industrial area has become an important manufacturing hub for electronic and home appliance products in South Africa and designated as a national-level special economic zone.

Sizo Nkala, a researcher at University of Johannesburg Centre for Africa-China Studies, told People’s Daily that the Hisense South Africa Industrial Park, attracting more and more Chinese enterprises to South Africa, has contributed to South Africa’s re-industrialization.

While promoting industrialization in South Africa, Chinese enterprises attach high importance on talent cultivation, which helps improve vocational skills of the local workforce.

Many local workers including Valeri have joined vocational training programs launched by Chinese enterprises, and now about 70 percent of the management positions are held by local employees.

Besides, to improve the vocational skills of local young employees, Hisense and a local middle school have jointly established an electronics technology research and development training base, which offers electronic, software and equipment operation courses. So far, the base has trained a total of more than 1,400 people.

Today, Valeri and her family are living an obviously better life than before. She said her job has brought dramatic changes to her family. “We expanded our residence, and I can enjoy my twilight years after retirement,” she told People’s Daily.

A number of residents in the Atlantis industrial area have secured a job near their homes, and many of them have bought their own cars. Since the Hisense South Africa Industrial Park was put into use, it has created around 1,000 jobs for local people and indirectly offered 5,000 jobs.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and South Africa. Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, noted that Chinese enterprises have made constant and remarkable contributions to promoting South Africa’s industrialization. He hopes that the two countries can achieve more fruitful results in their future cooperation.

Ignore the Virus called HURIWA- Group tell Nigerians

A civil society organisation, identified as Brown Table Democratic Group, has tagged HURIWA a virus over publication made by its leadership against the president elect, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement signed by the Executive Director, Maxi Sam Obiora and Com Kunle Alao
National Legal Adviser on Thursday, the group described HURIWA as an organization consistently known for exhibiting cloak and dagger approach to politics, along with some doses of blackmail, arrogance and selfish rigidity.

The statement read; “Our attention has been drawn to an ill-motivated and self-serving news item credited to a self-appointed civil society group and Non-governmental Individual ( NGI) entitled, “Medical Trip: Tinubu shows the tendency of becoming another Buhari, says HURIWA”.

“Our initial reaction to this callous title was to ignore it, bearing in mind that the author of the said story was perhaps, a known political jobber and blackmailer seeking relevance and undue attention from the incoming administration. The same Onwubiko that accuses government officials in the day but glorifies and honours them in the night.

“We do find the statement credited to Onwubiko as despicable, mischievous, opportunistic, defamatory but also baseless, useless, wicked and evil inspired.

“We must remind Onwubiko and HURIWA conglomerate of anything goes, food is ready non- governmental individual, that the era of making spurious claims against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his supporters just to cause some embarrassment to them or achieve some political capital must come to an end. Nigerians will no longer accept HURIWA’s existing culture of character assassination and blackmail of innocent citizens.

“In his characteristic fashion, Onwubiko, one of the men IPOB hold in high esteem within the civil society space for being self-appointed avid defender, has not made us uncomfortable with his latest ranting against the President Elect. We are always excited to read Onwubiko’s IPOB inspired tales in the media space due to his level of lack of objectivity, apt reasoning, professionalism, and fairness. His audacity to always take side has enlisted rogue elements and separatist groups as his ardent supporters.

“Let us unambiguously state that HURIWA the same group acting out a script to blackmail the President Elect has kept mute when Obi traveled out of the country during the Easter period and was involved in high magnitude of controversy with the UK law enforcement agencies. It is the same Onwubiko that is yet to utter a word on the permanent residency of a first grade Nigerian politician in Dubai to the extent that his name is more associated with the Middle East country than his Nigerian home state.

“For an organization consistently known for exhibiting cloak and dagger approach to politics, along with some doses of blackmail, arrogance, selfish rigidity and the inclination to bring down any system that doesn’t rub the back of Onwubiko, this is not a new low on their resume. In fact, it may be an act of wisdom for patriotic citizens to realize the need to distance themselves from a venomous rattle snake which HURIWA represents.

“Onwubiko accused the President Elect on traveling to European soil to either rest or seek for medical attention. The assertion is a clear case of being dishonest and abysmally mischievous. It is on record that even Onwubiko himself usually travels abroad to either rest on normal or medical vacation. A deliberate agenda of preaching what he doesn’t practice! In fact, Tinubu or his handlers never told anyone that he traveled to Paris to seek medical care a few weeks ago.

“We are very much conscious of the subterranean stance against the President Elect by sore losers and their agents of stagnation and decline. We want to assure Nigerians generally that freely gave the mandate to Asiwaju on 25th February, 2023 that we will lawfully fight any further mischief being perpetrated by HURIWA against under any cheap canopy, including using the law courts for enforcement of our fundamental rights.

“Having followed Asiwaju’s political antecedent which is rooted in tenacity, team playing attributes, consistency, hard work, discipline, political astuteness, strong will; qualities which are in short supply among some Nigerian politicians and having noted his politics of which dates back to late Gen. Shehu Yar’ Adua, late Chief MKO Abiola and the era of June 12 struggle for the restoration of democracy in our country, we have seen in him an uncommon democrat whose brand of politics is graced with sincerity and Nigerianness par excellence.

“In view of the observed and act of wickedness exhibited by HURIWA and their sponsors, we shall come out with their atrocities and devious activities over the years to expose their real identity, lies surrounding the soul and spirit of the self centered outfit in order to straighten the records for the benefit of the reading public, who may be misled by the concocted falsehood contained in the publication.

“Henceforth, under no circumstances will any offensive publication against the Jagaban, President Elect go unchallenged. Enough is Enough!” It added.

China, Egypt to jointly write more splendid chapter of human civilization

By Shen Xiaoxiao, Han Xiaoming, People’s Daily

In the home of Egyptian translator Mohsen Fergani, a Chinese knot and paper cutting hung on a wall of the living room are quite conspicuous. By the side of them, a certificate of the Award for Outstanding Contribution to China-Arab Friendship Fergani has received is also impressive.

The award was issued to Fergani by Chinese President Xi Jinping when the latter was paying a visit to Egypt in January 2016. Xi met with Fergani and nine other friendly personages, and shook hands and posed for pictures with them after conferring on them the awards.

“I was very honored that President Xi conferred the award on me in person. It was the proudest time of my life,” Fergani recalled the moment, which still excites him today.

The sixth UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, also former foreign minister of Egypt, received the award together with Fergani. The former UN head was in his nineties when receiving the honor. Xi came to him, bended over and shook hand with him, extending greetings to the old friend of the Chinese people.

“This scene made me feel deeper how President Xi cherishes the traditional friendship between China and Arab states,” Fergani told People’s Daily.

On the second day, Xi delivered an important speech titled “Work Together for a Bright Future of China-Arab Relations” at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

“Yesterday, I met with ten old Arab friends who received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to China-Arab Friendship. It is the hard work of generations of friendly people from both sides that has enabled the seedlings of China-Arab friendship to grow into luxuriant and evergreen trees,” said the Chinese President in the speech.

Xi’s mentioning of the ten award receivers touched Fergani and also reminded the latter of his responsibility in promoting the friendship between Arab states and China.

Fergani has long been committed to the studies of Chinese literature and Chinese translation. He has published multiple translated Chinese ancient classics.

His study well reflects his passion and seriousness for translation – various types of books are often placed on his desk and the books piled up on the floor are as high as a meter. Besides, there are short sentences in both Chinese and Arabic neatly written by him on the door to and walls in the study, such as “both authenticity and simplicity are important for translation.”

He has translated a series of Chinese works into Arabic, including ancient classics such as The Analects of Confucius, The Book of Songs, Tao Te Ching and The Strategies of the Warring States, as well as some contemporary literature works.

Fergani received the Special Book Award of China in 2013, becoming the first Arabian winning the honor.

When receiving an interview with People’s Daily, the Egyptian translator cited Xi’s remarks at the opening ceremony of the eighth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum that the Chinese and the Arab civilizations, sharing a long history of mutually-reinforcing exchanges, have all the more reason to draw wisdom and strength from each other in this day and age.

He said Xi’s remarks inspire him to make greater contributions to translating Chinese literature works and promoting cultural exchanges between Arab states and China.

“Chinese literature works are valuable marks left by the Chinese culture over the long course of history. I aspire to better introduce China to Arabian readers and show them the splendid Chinese culture,” Fergani told People’s Daily.

In March 2014, Xi noted in a speech at the UNESCO headquarters that civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. Such exchanges and mutual learning form an important drive for human progress and global peace and development.

Fergani said this impressed him very much. He believes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Xi carries rich connotation, values people-to-people bond and has built a very important platform for cultural communication.

“The ancient Silk Road was once a channel of commerce and civilization exchanges between the East and the West. Today, the BRI is once again facilitating mutual learning and exchanges between different cultures and ideas. Arab states are actively looking eastward to draw wisdom from the Chinese civilization,” Fergani said.

China-Arab states relations are constantly being elevated to new heights today. Fergani told People’s Daily that there has been a “Mandarin fever” in Arab states, and more than 10 universities in Egypt have set up a Chinese language department or offered Chinese courses.

Since Oct. 1, 2022, the teaching of Chinese language has been included in Egypt’s national education system, becoming an optional foreign language course for middle school students. This creates more opportunities for young Egyptians to know more about China.

“The ‘Mandarin fever’ has significantly promoted Chinese culture in Egypt and forged a closer people-to-people bond between the two nations, forming a synergy in building a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era,” Fergani said.

He told People’s Daily that apart from keeping translating Chinese literature works, he will focus more on the training of translators so as to build a bigger translation foundation among young Arabians.

“Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state, the strategic partnership between China and Arab states will achieve long-term and stable development. It is hoped that the two sides can further strengthen communication on literature and art, and jointly write a more splendid chapter of human civilization,” Fergani noted.