PLAN throws weight behind Bill seeking to establish Chemical Institute

… Showers encomium on Senate leadership

A rights group, Partners for Legislative Agenda of Nigeria (PLAN) has thrown its weight behind the bill before the National Assembly which seeks to establish the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, establishment bill 2022 with number SB. 1084.

PLAN strives to ensure that the tenants of democracy are adhered to and its dividends felt by the masses and the development of Nigeria via positive legislation by the legislative arm of government.

The CSO in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Malllam khalifa Adamu Bello and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja explained that the support is predicated on national interest and development in view of the inherent benefits contained therein.

“The research institute which the bill seeks to establish, will provide a globally competitive and environmentally friendly research, development and innovation in the processing and conversion of indigenous raw materials into valuable chemicals and petrochemical products for the development of chemical, biochemical and man-made fibre technologies for industrial applications in Nigeria. Hence, it will place Nigeria at par with countries like Singapore and others in the production of chemicals and petrochemical products which are essential to our lives and living”, the statement emphasised.

It further noted that the institute when established will enhance economic activities for the population, industries and the nation at large.

“The benefits of the proposed institute cannot be over emphasized, especially in the use and development of local content; employment generation; conversion of agricultural; mineral and other raw materials into useful chemicals; processing of commercial grade chemicals to laboratory grades; the derivation of secondary chemicals from petrochemicals, coal, solid minerals and other materials; the production of functional polymers and engineering plastics, characterization and utilization; processing of natural and man-made fibres; establishment and operating chemical testing laboratories for industrial application; and production and development of chemical catalysis, chemical process, design, modelling and simulating, pilot plant fabrication and design of chemical analytical instruments and quality control amongst many others.

“In view of the above, and in the interest of Nigeria, Nigerians and the generations yet unborn that we call on the Senate under the stewardship of Senator Ahmad Lawan, to hasten the process for the passage of this bill.

“It is without doubt that the leadership of the National Assembly ably led by Distinguished Senator Ahmad Lawan as chairman and Senate President and the entire 9th assembly has been a pro- people’s assembly undoubtedly.

“Posterity will judge the entire members of the 9th assembly fairly and wonderfully well for the interest of the nation and its masses they have at heart, this is because of the attention and commitment they give to such human and developmental bills since their inception.

“We wish to also commend a senator per excellence, a senator with value both in character and service, most Distinguished Senator Umar, Sadiq Suleiman representing the good people of Kwara North senatorial zone, for sponsoring such a bill, which intends to develop the nation and place Nigeria amongst the top advanced countries in chemical research, technology and management. While we congratulate the Senator for the bill’s successful passage of the first reading, we equally call on other Senators to emulate Senator Umar, Sadiq Suleiman, in putting up bills meant to develop the citizenry. We call on him to further write his name in history and sand of time by seeing to the logical passage and assent to the bill”, the statement added.

Nasarawa Assembly passes 2023 budget into law, jerks its up by N357.8millon

“… passes two bills into second reading…”

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has passed the 2023 appropriation bill of N149, 3billion into law against the initial N148.9 billion presented by Gov. Abdullahi Sule to the House for consideration and approval.

Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House announced the passage of the bill into law during the House proceedings in Lafia today.

Balarabe Abdullahi said that the passed budget, if assented to by Gov. Sule would accelerate economic growth and developmemt, thereby improving on the standard of living of the people of the state.

The Speaker urged the state government to ensure full implementation of the budget.

He also urged managements of Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs) to adhere strictly to budgetary provisions in the interest of peace and development.

” A Bill for a Law to Authorize the Issue Out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State( Appropriation) on the sum of N149, 315, 944, 207.62k for the Services of Nasarawa State Government to Complement for the Period Commencing From 1st January, 2023 and Ending 31st December, 2023.

” N90, 619, 580, 459.56 as Recurrent Expenditure and N58, 696,363,748.06k as Capital Expenditure.

” The 2023 appropriation bill is read for the third term and passed, ” he said.

The House modified slightly the 2023 Budget of 148.9billion where Nasarawa State House of Assembly got upward review of 179.8 million naira, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Service Commission 45 million naira and Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia 40 million naira with 375 million deducted from the budget of State Waste Management and Sanitation Agency thus jerking up the budget to 149.3 billion naira with increase of 357.8million.

Abdullahi thanked Honourable members for their commitments in ensuring the speedy passage of the bill into law.

He also appreciated Heads of Ministries, Agencies and Departments ( MDAs) for giving standing committees their cooperation while defending their budgets.

He directed the clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for Gov. Sule’s assent.

He assured the executive arm of the House readiness to continous to effectively synergize with them for the overall development of the State.

Hon Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the passage of the bill into law.

Hon Abel Bala, the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motion.

The House unanimously passed the 2023 appropriation bill into law.

It would be reported that on Nov. 22, 2022, Gov. Abdullahi Sule presented 2023 budget of N148, 958, 122, 525.05 to the assembly for consideration and approval.

In a related development, the House passed two bills into second readings, they include

A Bill for A Law to Amend the Nasarawa State Area Courts Law 2022 and for Other Matters Related Therewith

The Speaker said,” I commit A Bill for A Law to Amend the Nasarawa State Area Courts Law 2022 and for Other Matters Related Therewith to the House Committee on Judiciary to work on its and report back to the House after 3 weeks on resumption from our recess,” he said.

” I committee A Bill for A Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency Charged with the Responsibility of Tackling Poverty, Ensuring Equitable Distribution of Resources and Economic Growth in the State and for Other Matters Connected Therewith to the House Committee on Women Affairs in conjunction with House Committee on Public Account to work on the bill and report back to the House after two weeks on resumption from our recess,” he said

Hon Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House while moving motions for the two bills to scale second readings said that it was to enhance effective dispensation of justice as only professional legal practitioner, who have been call to bar would be a Judge of Area Courts and the other bill was to tackle poverty, hunger and ensure equitable distribution of resources in the state.

Hon Abel Bala, the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motions.

The House unanimously passed the two bills into second readings.

Group Commends DSS for Indicting Emefiele over Terrorism and Economic Crimes Charges

…insist on his arrest and prosecution

The Center for Security and Terrorism Prevention (CSTP) has commended the Department of State Security Services (DSS) for what it described as a thorough and professional investigation that culminated into the indictment of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the chief sponsor of terrorism in the country.

In a press release signed and made available to journalists by the National Coordinator and Secretary of CSTP, Comrade Abiodun Jakande and Onuh Ogbonna respectively in Abuja at the International Press Center, the group described the investigation as timely and wondered why it took the DSS so long to discover what was so obvious.

“We are delighted with the findings of this investigation by DSS. It is no longer news that the CBN is complicit in the wave of terrorists activities going on in the country. It is curious that with all the regulatory frameworks put in place to prevent money laundering, terrorists continue to operate with the most sophisticated weapons purchased with the naira. How else can this be possible if not with the connivance of someone who is highly connected and has the power to make the banks turn a blind eye?,” the statement queried.

The group equally expressed mix feelings over the inability of the CBN and commercial banks to trace and track huge sums paid as ransom to terrorists and kidnapers operating within the country, adding that ordinarily, there are provisions for reporting withdrawals and deposits in excess
of certain amounts.

“It is strange and suspicious that very large amounts of money have been changing hands between kidnapers and their abductors and family members without the CBN lifting up a little as finger. If Mr. Emefiele were not involved even remotely with these shady deals, he would have performed his oversight function and investigate such transactions because they outrightly qualified to be termed suspicious. His inaction is complicit and he must be held accountable”, the statement added.

While dismissing the court order restraining DSS from arresting the CBN Governor, CSTP insist that the DSS should re-strategize and appeal the ruling as there will be no hiding place for any criminal especially those enjoying the largesse and privileges of public office.

“It is unacceptable that the DSS should hold back on an issue of national security like this on an account of a restraining order. We insist that an appeal should be entered and Emefiele should be made to resign and face the wrath of the law for using his good office to sponsor terrorism and other financial crimes against the Nigerian State. Those worried about the state of the economy should have advised him to steer clear of criminal acts instead of trying to cover him up now” the statement warned.

CSTP noted with concern the deep rooted issues of dollar racketeering, stamp duty money diversion and employment scams in CBN, insisting that with the level of rot in CBN under Emefiele, he must be made to answer for his crimes no matter how long it will take.

“Emefiele has certainly taken his penchant for criminal diversions and profiteering too far. From dollar racketeering to employment scams and unwholesome investments into commercial banks, he has shown no regards for his office. To think that he can get away with these crimes is disturbing. He must be held to account for the trillions of naira earned from stamp duties and criminal deductions from commercial banks from which he partakes in sharing the booty”, the group threatened.

CSTP in the statement demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari “sacks Emefiele immediately to show Nigerians that he’s truly an anti-corruption crusader and to support Emefiele’s arrest and prosecution so that terrorism will finally be crushed in Nigeria”. The statement equally charged all patriotic Nigerians “to take to the streets and protest against Emefiele’s continued stay in office”

IPOB: Group writes US, UK others over Peter Obi’s alleged links with terrorist group

A group , the Concemed Citizens Network, CCN has alerted the United States as well as the United Kingdom Government of alleged links by the Presidential candidate of the labour party, Peter Obi to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The group said Peter Obi  has received tactic support from the IPOB since he indicated interest to contest the 2023 presidential election. 

The CCN in a letter addressed to the US Ambassador in Nigeria said Peter Obi has continued to play to the gallery 

regarding the nefarious activities of IPOB in South East Nigeria despite the wanton destruction of lives and properties. 

The letter signed by CCN President,  Comrade Duru Odoh Chima and Secretary, General, Ajibade Jacobs said South-East Nigeria has constantly come under the IPOB threats which the group said Peter Obi has refused to condemn nor articulate how he intends to tackle the threat posed by the group if elected president in the forthcoming elections. 

“We have it on credible authority that IPOB has tactically endorsed Peter Obi’s presidential aspiration, which is mainly responsible for enlisting some known IPOB sympathizers into his presidential campaign council. 

“On several occasions, Peter Obi has systematically refused to make the IPOB threat to our democracy a campaign focus because the promoters of IPOB are his kinsmen and known financial contributors to his presidential campaign. 

“This is a worrisome trend that would put the country in a precarious situation should Peter Obi be elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The deceitful game played by Peter Obi and his supporters can promote ethnic and religious tension in the country. 

“In several public outings, he attempted to change the narrative concerning the formation and sustenance of IPOB by alluding that it was a creation of governors of states in South East Nigera. This, we gathered from reliable sources, was a part of the deal he entered with the group in return for support during the presidential elections. 

“The overarching objective 1s to attack critical government establishments such as the Nigenan Police and the Independent National Electoral Commussion’s offices to harass and intimidate faithfuls of other parties into submission to voting for Peter Obi in the presidential elections” the group said

The CCN alleged that before the onset of his presidential aspiration under the Labour Party,  Peter Ob: has been a known patron of IPOB.

“He extended logistc and financial support to the group while govermor of Anambra State, It is also a known fact that IPOB has tactically avoided areas that are strongholds of Peter Obi and have launched attacks in the regions that are not his stronghold by intimidatung and harassing those that do not share in the ideology of Peter Obi. 

“Scores of lives have been lost and properties destroyed by the activities of ‘POB. We have it on good authonty that Peter Obi promised to uptum the proscnption of IPOB as a terrorist group by the fedcral government. 

“The recent camage by IPOB is a part of the scnpt endorsed by Peter Obi as an clection strategy to ensure that other political parts do not make imroads in South East Nigeria dunng the elections. 

“The Peter Obi Presidential Campaign has also engaged a massive identification of supporters and patrons of other political parties in South East Nigena to cause bodily harm to them and destroy their businesses, weakening their support and preparations for the general elections. 

“The Ambassador may wish to admit that, ndced, these are trying times in the country and South East region, in particular with the recent dnve by IPOB to make the region unsafe for those that do not support the presidential aspiration of Peter Obi. 

“It is thus our passionate appeal to the United States of America to beam its searchlight on the activines of the Peter Ob: presidential campaign team to unravel the mystery behind the sudden resurgence of the notorious activities of IPOB. 

“In a recent interview on Channels Television, Peter Ob1 was quoted as saying IPOB members live around him and do not constitute a threat to the country. He was quoted saying he would dialogue with IPOB if elected president. 

“This is indeed unacceptable, hence this letter calling on the attention of the United States of America to look ints to unholy alliance between Peter Obi and [POB. Nigeria cannot aflord a president poised w propagate ethno-religious conflict at this critical point of our existence. 

“As critical stakeholders in our democracy, we wish to appeal for the urgent intervention of the United States of Amenca in ensunng that Peter Ob: and his supporters de not plunge Nigeria into a conflict of unimaginable proportions” the group said

China upgrades commercial districts with digital technologies for better experiences for consumers

By Wang Ke, Du Yifei, People’s Daily

China’s Ministry of Commerce recently unveiled the first batch of 12 national demonstration intelligent commercial districts and 16 national demonstration intelligent stores, which mirrored China’s determination to upgrade and transform commercial districts with technology.
Commercial districts across the country have established big data platforms for smart operation, and shopping malls are integrating online and offline retailing. They have constantly upgraded service facilities to build immersive consumption scenarios.
The accelerated application of digital technologies in the sector is bringing new experiences to consumers.
Intelligent commercial districts are an important part of the urban commercial system, as well as a carrier for promoting distribution innovation and fostering emerging consumption.
Intelligent commercial districts, centered on big data platforms and employing modern information technologies, build a smart service system for consumers, merchandising enterprises, operating institutions and government departments.
Such districts are able to obtain relevant data, offer consumption services, guide surrounding traffic and push information. Besides, they also integrate mobile payment, delivery, and public services.
In the northern section of Beijing Road, Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, an intelligent robot is always seen standing outside a smart service center – the “brain” of the Beijing Road commercial district.
The center is not only a big data platform, but also a service platform for merchants and tourists. It provides 179 efficient and convenient government services in public security, civil affairs and human resources.
As one of the busiest commercial districts in Guangzhou, Beijing Road is visited by over 600,000 people per day on holidays. Therefore, finding parking space has always been a headache for citizens.
Under the coordination of the smart service center, parking lots in the commercial district are put into centralized management with inquiry and guidance services. Nowadays, citizens visiting Beijing Road can check available parking spaces on a WeChat mini-program, which saves much time and has improved the utilization of parking lots to over 90 percent.
The construction of intelligent commercial districts enriches smart scenarios and better promotes traditional consumption with digital technologies.
“Many promotion activities have been held in our shopping mall, but we still could not find customers. Digital management well solves the pain points of traditional retailing,” said Wu Shengjun, vice general manager of a shopping mall on West Nanjing Road in Shanghai’s Jing’an District.
The shopping mall records information about 200,000 products from over 500 suppliers in a digital management system it has developed, which presents real-time data on inventory and consumer habits. The system helps the mall adjust the structure of its commodities in a more targeted manner, and thus better meet the demand of customers.
Artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies have built interactive and immersive consumption scenarios and offered convenient public services for many commercial districts. The tech-ish and fashionable commercial districts are bringing new experiences to consumers, and further activating their own development.
In June 2021, the first naked-eye 3D LED display of east China’s Anhui province was installed in a pedestrian zone in the province’s capital Hefei. The LED display has soon become a landmark, attracting huge attention from citizens. On New Year’s Eve of 2021, over 450,000 citizens in the city gathered around to celebrate the New Year.
A shopping mall owned by major Chinese retailer Suning.com Co. in Xinjiekou, a central business district of Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu province, has upgraded its facilities, sales models and consumption scenarios, to offer new interactive experiences for customers. The digital transformation, integrated with technological and fashion elements, has more than doubled the mall’s average monthly foot traffic.
Experts believe that in the future, intelligent commercial districts will continue to bring more convenience to the people, coordinate the demands of market entities, upgrade themselves with modern information technology, and improve their management capacity, to better meet the diversified demands of consumers.

Chinese tourism bucks trend in 2022

By Zhao Shan

Recently, China Tourism Academy issued seven reports on Chinese tourism to summarize the performance of the sector this year.
According to the academy, new products and business models have emerged in the domestic tourism market, and niche sub-markets such as study tours, family trips, road trips and camping have seen flourishing development.
A report on domestic tourism said that there was an obvious shrinkage in both the distance of trips and the radius of tourists’ activities at their destinations this year, adding that 81.24 percent of domestic trips were made within provinces.
It said domestic trips this year present features of short time, short distance and high frequency, with new highlights such as mini vacations and hotel-staycations.
New products and business models of domestic tourism are favored by tourists. Driven by the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, outdoor tourism is thriving, especially in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, where the Winter Olympics was hosted. More and more people have joined skiing, camping, hiking, mountaineering, horse riding, grass skiing and rafting to get close to nature.
In summer this year, waterside activities, countryside leisure, and trips for escaping the heat were popular among tourists.
A report on leisure tourism said the national leisure time has been significantly improved, and leisure activities at weekends are becoming regular. Short-distance trips have been frequently made across the country since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and leisure activities were often carried out in places one to three kilometers from homes.
Leisure activities of Chinese people were diverse and prevalent in the life of urban residents. The number of urban residents visiting museums, exhibitions and science museums was on a rise.
Cultural tourism has gained bigger popularity among Chinese residents. More and more museums started exploring new methods to present visitors with individualized and immersive experiences and vitalize history and culture, bringing people closer to culture. During the National Day holiday this year, 93 percent of tourists joined cultural activities.
Consumption scenarios of tourism became diversified. Various activities can satisfy people’s different demands for tourism and leisure, including open spaces such as community gardens, urban pedestrian lanes, urban and suburban parks and national parks, commercial places such as restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centers, wet markets, hotels and B&Bs, as well as cultural venues such as libraries, cultural clubs, museums, art galleries, cinemas, concert halls and cinemas.
The changing demands of tourists gave birth to new business models of leisure tourism. For instance, the Dewey Center Beijing has launched a light show themed on the works by Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet; Jiaxing in east China’s Zhejiang province has built a chocolate-themed town. These new consumption scenarios have created infinite possibilities for the innovation and construction of scenic spots.
Scenic spots in China have also contributed to rural vitalization and played an important role in promoting common prosperity.
In the past three years, tourism bucked the trend in suburban areas in the country. Rural tourism used to depend on local scenic spots, but now villages have become part of the scenery.
The pattern of rural tourism has been changed by consumption scenarios defined by tourists. Every attractive scene in the countryside, be it an idyllic rural resident building, a time-worn countryside passage, or a tavern in the woods, is a great place to go to for urban tourists.

Assent to NYSC-Trust Fund bill will institutionalise Buhari’s achievements – Msuaan

A member of the governing council, Federal Polytechnic Wanune, Mike Msuaan, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund bill to institutionalise his achievements.

Msuaan, who is the North Central Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council spoke at an APC Presidential rally.

According to him, the NYSC Trust Fund will address the challenges bedeviling the scheme.

He said: “I see the Trust Fund law as a very apt one because there was an urgent need to address identified challenges bedeviling the scheme over the years, as nothing can be compared with the paucity of matching funds to discharge the lofty mandate of the scheme.

“It is believed that economic progress achieved by any society is strongly associated with the quality of its human capital and social interaction.”

He said the NYSC is still fundamental to the unity and survival of the entity called Nigeria.

“This scheme has continued to remain the most formidable, organised, and well-composed youth organisation in the country, without deviating from its mandate of integrating and unifying the country as one indivisible entity,” he said.

Msuaan, therefore, urged President Buhari to
assent to the NYSC Trust Fund bill that has been placed before him as his parting present to Nigerian youths.

He reiterated that the bill will further strengthen the responsibility of expelling the erroneous conception and the few misguided expressions about the nobility of the intent of the NYSC scheme, and Nigerian youths in general.

“It is worthy of note that the Trust Fund will help prioritise human capital development and social inclusion as a central anchor of our nation’s development agenda.

“The effect of the Fund Is predictably foreseeable. Nigerian youths are creative, resilient, upwardly mobile, and ambitious.”

COP15: Countries Reach Agreement To Protect Land, Water Resources

By Abdulhammed Sakariyau Korede

About 190 countries at the United Nations Biodiversity conference, COP15, reached an agreement to protect 30 per cent of the world’s lands and oceans amidst ongoing efforts to protect and reverse declining biodiversity.

The Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, who is leading the COP15 meeting disclosed this on Monday.

His announcement came shortly after a representative of the delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo objected to the text, causing some African nations to protest at the manner in which the outcome was proclaimed.

The passing of the deal comes a day before the end of COP15 in Montreal, Canada, and over a decade ago after parties failed significantly to fulfil COP10’s ambitious targets agreed upon in 2010.

During COP10, governments agreed to strive for ambitious targets by 2020, including halving natural habitat loss, and implementing plans for sustainable consumption and production. But none of these targets were fully met, according to a 2020 UN report.

This year, the UN Biodiversity Conference, billed for 7-19 December, is where negotiators will set new targets and goals aimed at arresting the destruction of nature, due to human activity.

COP15 is expected to lead to the adoption of a new Global Biodiversity Framework, guiding actions worldwide through 2030, to preserve and protect our natural resources.

Heralded as a sweeping deal to protect biodiversity loss, the most significant part of the agreement is the commitment to protect 30 per cent of land and water considered important for biodiversity before the end of the decade.

Meanwhile, scientists have posited that only 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent aquatic areas (marine) are protected currently.

The agreement envisages putting $200 billion toward supporting biodiversity by 2030, with another $500 billion to be possibly raised by phasing out or reforming subsidies, such as those for food or fuel.

The COP15 deal also calls for giving low-income countries far more than is currently provided for their efforts to protect nature. This amount is envisaged to reach at least $20 billion annually by 2025 and might subsequently increase to $30 billion by 2030.

Negotiators also agreed to manage the remaining 70 per cent of the planet to prevent losing areas of high importance to biodiversity and to ensure that big businesses disclose biodiversity risks and impacts from their operations.

China will definitely achieve its Second Centenary Goal: Vietnamese politician

By Yang Ye, People’s Daily

The book “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” mirrors the rich connotation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, such as adhering to the people-centered philosophy, exercising law-based governance on all fronts, and enforcing full and rigorous Party self-governance, said Nguyen Xuan Thang, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
Nguyen Xuan Thang, also Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council of the CPV and Director of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said the book is a masterpiece that reflects Xi’s governance ideas and practices.
The chairman has long been engaged in the theoretical studies of the CPV. He pays close attention to the theoretical innovation made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) during its hundred-year struggle.
He told People’s Daily that the first volume of “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” was published in 2014, and the Vietnamese version of the book was launched by the National Political Publishing House of Vietnam together with China’s Foreign Language Press, on the occasion when Xi paid a state visit to Vietnam in November 2015.
“This book impressed me very much. It systematically and profoundly expounds on the governance experience of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. President Xi has raised a series of new philosophies, ideas and strategies of groundbreaking significance in the book,” he noted.
Nguyen Xuan Thang attaches high importance to the theoretical exchanges between the CPV and the CPC. He has attended multiple theoretical seminars between the two parties and dialogues between the think tanks of the two countries.
He said the book “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” provides important reference for CPV cadres and Vietnamese scholars engaged in theoretical and practical studies, helps its readers deepen their understanding of the CPC and the top leader of China, enhances their knowledge of scientific socialism, and presents to them the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
He spoke highly of the people-centered development philosophy proposed by Xi, as well as Xi’s emphasis on comprehensively deepening reform and opening up as well as carrying forward the fighting spirit.
Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has completed the historic feats of eradicating absolute poverty and finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, he said.
He said Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era not only serves as a guide to action for the CPC and the Chinese people to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese approaches to promoting world peace and development.
“It needs to be emphasized that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era bears important significance to the development of socialism around the world. It makes important contributions to enriching and developing Marxism and sheds light on other socialist countries,” he remarked.
Nguyen Xuan Thang said China has made remarkable achievements in the past 10 years, and he was deeply impressed by the country’s policies ensuring that rural poor people have no worries about food and clothing and have access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing.
“China has achieved its goal of eradicating absolute poverty as scheduled. The 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold all shook off poverty. China has embarked on a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, and is marching toward its Second Centenary Goal. I believe that under the leadership of the CPC, China will definitely achieve this goal,” he told People’s Daily.
He said China made such achievements because the CPC takes the Chinese people’s stance as its fundamental political stance, and because the CPC and the Chinese people always seek truth from facts and make determined endeavor.
Just like Xi says in the book, “The successes of yesterday do not guarantee future successes, and the glories of the past do not guarantee glories in the future.”
China will always ride out the storm with its people and stay heart to heart with them. Taking their priorities as its own and acting on their wishes, China will continue the hard work to turn its people’s aspiration for a better life into a living reality.

Chongqing vigorously develops green finance

By Wang Xinyue, People’s Daily

Green finance enjoys huge potential in improving environment, tackling climate change, and promoting efficient utilization of resources. In recent years, southwest China’s Chongqing municipality has worked vigorously to develop green finance and establish a long-term mechanism synergizing local governments, banks, and enterprises.
Having launched a series of innovative reform measures, the municipality is seeing fruitful economic and ecological results.
Developing green finance is now a priority for many banks in the municipality, and it covers a wide range of fields, from waste incineration to sewage treatment, from comprehensive governance of coastal lines to energy upgrading, and from green transportation credit to rural housing loans.
“Green finance means high-quality assets for banks,” said an executive with the Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank.
As of the end of this September, Chongqing’s balance of green loans stood at 497.23 billion yuan ($71.63 billion), up 40.2 percent year on year and 32.5 percentage points higher than that for all kinds of loans issued in the municipality. Green loans accounted for nearly 10 percent of all loans, and the municipality issued over 35.7 billion yuan of green bonds, 2.7 times higher than those in early 2019.
“It’s hard to imagine that we were still worrying about our project fund a year ago,” said Luo Li, who heads an ecological tea garden project in Dingshi township, Youyang Tu and Miao autonomous county, Chongqing.
In April 2021, the project had just started and needed a large investment. Therefore, capital shortages remained a major problem.
When the project team was at the end of its tether, it was reached by the Bank of Chongqing, which issued loans to the project.
“Identifying green projects is not an easy job. In the past, it was artificial, which was inefficient,” said Tian Pan, an account manager at the Bank of Chongqing.
Now the bank has launched an intelligent system that is able to perform automatic calculation of projects’ environmental costs and benefits, which significantly improves the efficiency of green project identification, Tian told People’s Daily, adding that Luo’s ecological tea garden project was exactly recommended by the intelligent system.
The intelligent system is a big data-enabled comprehensive service platform for green finance developed by the Chongqing Operations Office of the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank.
“Together with the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform and the municipality’s bureau of ecology and environment, we made an evaluation standard for recognizing green projects and enterprises, and developed a smart recognition system based on it, which pushes identified green financing demands to financial institutions,” said Han Xintao, deputy director of the financial research department of the PBC Chongqing Operations Office. The system can better match banks with enterprises, he noted.
As of this September, the system had collected and published information about 1,860 green projects and enterprises at the municipal and county levels. In particular, nearly 1,000 of them had gotten in touch with banks.
Chongqing, as one of the six major traditional industrial bases in China, faces a heavy task of industrial upgrading. Therefore, the municipality has constantly upgraded its mechanisms to encourage financial institutions to optimize the allocation of low-carbon resources and advance the green transition of the real economy.
“I never thought that I could apply for loans with pollution discharge rights, and the interest is lower than that of regular loans,” said an executive of Chongqing Polycomp International Corporation, which manufactures fiberglass, after receiving a pledge loan of 100 million yuan.
The company is recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a “green factory.” It introduces advanced waste disposal technologies to control pollutants.
Upon learning the company’s demand to expand its scale, the Bank of Chongqing reached it and volunteered to provide a pledge loan, which turned the company’s “fixed” pollution discharge rights into flexible capital that helps it reduce energy consumption and improve the ecological environment.
“In the future, Chongqing will keep promoting supply-side structural reform and upgrading its traditional industries. Green transition is an inevitability, and green finance enjoys rich opportunities for development,” said Huang Yingjun, professor with the School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University.