The Nation Newspaper

Tag: china

  • Chinese firm set to develop Inland Container Depot in Edo

    Chinese firm set to develop Inland Container Depot in Edo

    A Chinese firm, China Harbour Engineering Company (Nig.) Ltd, has indicated its readiness to go into partnership with Atlantique Marine Engineering Services, Edo Inland Container Depot,  known as AMES-Edo ICD on export.

    Mr Jason Wang, who led a seven-man delegation of the firm to the state on the invitation of Edo Government, dropped the hint on Friday in Benin.

    Wang and his team also visited the Gelegele seaport, the operational base of the AMES-Edo Inland Container Depot to assess the work done so far.

    Wang said he was impressed and that his firm would look at possible ways of collaborating and partnering with AMES-Edo to drive the project to its earliest conclusion and begin full operation.

    “We are impressed with the work done here so far. China Harbour Engineerng Company ( Nig.) Ltd will look at possible ways of collaboration to drive the project to its earliest conclusion,” he said.

    He said the team was in the state as a follow up to  Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s business visit to the company in China about three weeks ago where an MOU was signed by the state government and the company to develop the Gelegele Seaport.

    READ ALSO: Gelegele Seaport: China Harbour arrives Benin, commences work on project

    Dr Charles Akhigbe, Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of Atlantique Marine and Engineering Services, AMES, the promoters of the AMES-Edo inland container depot, said the organisation was confident that the proposed inland container depot would reduce the cost of export of agricultural produce and increase government’s GDP.

    Akhigbe disclosed that the port was just three steps from final approval for full operations to commence.

    He said  the project would create not less than 3,000 jobs for youths and provide the platform for exchange of knowledge between government and foreign investors.

    He also said that the container depot would emerge as the pioneer full-fledged inland container depot in Southern Nigeria to commence operation and would immediately serve the need of haulage services.

    According to Wang, the company has already commenced negotiation with the Federal Government to build modern railway lines as a primary mode for long distance haulage of cargo, noting that 75 per cent of Nigeria’s total export passed through Edo.

    “Discussion is ongoing with the Nigeria Railway Corporation to use BOT PPP mode to construct 110km short spur line from Agbor to Edo inland container depot.

    “For now the inland container depot will operate 100 per cent by road but in the next 6-10 years, 40 per cent will go by road while 60 per cent will be by rail.

    “The phases one and two of the inland container depot would accommodate 12, 000 units of 40ft TEUs and 8,000 units of 40ft TEUs with a maximum of 25,000 TEUs at any given time,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo Governor on Business Bureau, Mr. Edward Osayande, said the governor was committed to industrialising the state by encouraging public private partnership.

    He said the inland container depot was the central plank of the state government’s effort at creating jobs through industrialisation.

    He also stressed the need to bring the Gelegele Seaport, AMES-Edo inland container depot and Edo Industrial Park together to drive development in the state.

    NAN

  • China, South Korea top markets for digital buyers

    Searching for shoppers online? Look in China and South Korea, where the percentage of internet users who make purchases digitally is the highest in the world, according to GlobalWebIndex data.

    More than eight in 10 web users in both countries had made a recent digital purchase, the Q2 study found. By comparison, the level among those in the US was 77 percent

    China’s market also showed a notable consistency across all age, gender and income groups, GlobalWebIndex found.

    The data varies from some other sources, including eMarketer, which puts China’s digital buyer penetration level considerably lower, at 72.8per cent. Similarly, the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) estimate 68.5 percent.

    That said, China is clearly a hotbed of digital commerce activity. A PwC study released in May found that consumers in the country were much more likely to be frequent digital buyers. For example, 45 percent of respondents said they shopped via mobile weekly, compared with the worldwide average of 11per cent. Just seven percent of the Chinese respondents said they never shopped via mobile, whereas the global response was 38 per cent.

  • Monkeys have been successfully cloned in China

    Monkeys have been successfully cloned in China

    By Moses Emorinken

    Just when we thought we had seen the heights of innovations in science and technology, scientists in China have successfully cloned two monkeys.

    China, in its aggressive bid to become the leader in science and technological innovation, have resurfaced with another groundbreaking creation – the cloning of monkeys in methods similar to the first cloned animal by scientists in Scotland in 1996 – Dolly the sheep.

    The genetically identical long-tailed macaques born in Shanghai last month, called Zhong Zhong (8 weeks old) and Hua Hua (6 weeks old), are the first primate clones produced.

    In times past, there have been scattered successes in the cloning of mammals like mice, sheep and cattle; however, the cloning of monkeys which is the closest primate to human had proven unsuccessful. Most of the failed experiments produced poorly formed monkeys or cloned monkeys that died moments after their birth.

    The cloning of these identical monkeys, which is the biggest breakthrough in science at the moment have generated a groundswell of public opinions, praises and condemnation in every quarters.

    We are tempted to reason that the implication of this scientific success is that human cloning is now theoretically possible; one that might be perfected in few years to come.

    For the open-minded and science enthusiasts, it is a welcomed development; for the cultural and religious, it means crossing the line in the limits of God’s expectations for man. To them, man has begun to play God, which is a very sad development.

    According to Muming Poo, a co-author, who directs the Institute of Neuroscience at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, “the technical barrier is now broken. In principle [this method] can be applied to humans”.

    Although the reason behind the monkey cloning program might not sit well with many in the scientific community who have raised concerns about animal ethics, Muming Poo however said that the cloned animals are to produce animal models useful for medicine, for human health; there is no intention to apply this method to humans.

    According to him, the ultimate goal is to clone monkeys on a large scale for use as test subjects because of their similarities to humans. These monkeys will be given specific diseases before they are born; this way, they can be used to test various treatments.

    It is not surprising that China is becoming a forerunner in science and technology, as it has almost doubled the number of its local universities in ten years and is heavy on state-funded research incentive programmes.

    China is poised to overtake the US and Europe in innovations in science and technology. Its aim is to become the number one innovator by 2030 and the undisputed leader in global science and technology by 2049.

  • China -Nigeria bilateral trade stood at $12.3bn in 2017

    China -Nigeria bilateral trade stood at $12.3bn in 2017

    China says its bilateral trade with Nigeria in 2017 stood at 12.3 billion dollars.

    Deputy Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Lin Jing told our reporter that the trade figure recorded was from January to November 2017.

    Lin added that the figure also represented a 30 per cent increase compared to the same period of 2016.

    “The bilateral trade is a very important mechanism to boost our economic relationship.

    “We do not have the total trade volume for the whole year, but for the total volume from January to November, bilateral trade stood at 12.3 billion dollars.

    “That represents more than 30 per cent of increase compared to the same period of 2016; we believe that by maintaining our normal trade volume, our overall economic relation and cooperation will be boosted and give impetus to our overall relationship.”

    Nigeria and China established formal diplomatic relations in Feb. 1971.

    The envoy, however, said both countries, in 2005, established strategic partnerships to promote relations in several areas and enhance continued people-to-people exchanges.

    He said such strategic partnership was fostered as a result of Nigeria’s importance to China.

    “Nigeria is the biggest Chinese investment destination in Africa, the second largest export market and the third largest trading partner of China in Africa,” he said.

    Agreements by both countries following the strategic partnership paved way for Chinese investment and development opportunities in Nigeria.

    Lin reiterated the Chinese Government’s commitment to exhaust its efforts to promote development programmes in Nigeria.

    He said plans were underway to transfer some of China’s industrial capacity to Nigeria

    “There is also a concept initiated by my ambassador called made in Nigeria with China.

    “I think this is a very good concept; there are many private investors in China, they have expertise, experience and surplus industrial capacity.

    “They need to find the market. All these conditions we will make use of to see whether we can try something successful here.”

    He further said that China’s relationship with Africa would boost economic activities, generate income and enhance foreign investment.

    “We have friends in Africa and we want to further cement our friendship and we believe that by supporting each other we are going to have bigger win win scenario.”

    NAN

     

  • Abia shoe makers go for training in China

    Thirty shoe makers from Abia State will be undergoing further training in China in order to enhance their skills and set up Abia State Automated Shoe factory in Aba.

    The Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, stated that the 30 persons, with majority drawn from Ariaria International Aba, were the first batch of 100 shoe makers from the state that departed on Friday for the Republic of China.

    Upon the return of the trainees from China, the governor said the state would procure the full range of equipment required to set up a modern fully equipped shoe factory in the state.

    He added that the youths would form the nucleus of the workforce in the shoe factory which shall be launched before the middle of the year.

    Ikpeazu disclosed that the shoe factory will enable Abia State consolidate its status as the pre-eminent destination for leather works in Nigeria and shall serve as an enabler of the diligent work the manual producers have been doing over the years.

    The governor stated that the state has been paying its counterpart funds and noted he has unlocked hundreds of millions of dollars in hitherto trapped funds for the development of the state.

  • China waives visas for 53 countries

    China waives visas for 53 countries

    China, on Thursday waived visas for visitors from 53 countries  to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei for up to six days.

    People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said that visitors must enter and exit from one of six ports.

    According to the Economic Times, the waiver goes into effect from Thursday and will impact Germany and other members of the European Union’s passport-free Schengen area, as well as the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Argentina.

    Read also: China runs: Mayweather adopts a panda for £11,000

    Beijing, the capital of China, is a major tourist hub as the home of the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and other important historical monuments.

    Beijing and Tianjin previously allowed visa-free travel for up to 72 hours for certain nationalities.

    The same arrangement continues in 16 other cities, including Shanghai.

    Shenzhen, on the border of Hong Kong, also issues a special five-day visa on arrival for some nationalities.

    NAN

  • Nigeria demands restructuring and expansion of UN Security Council

    Nigeria demands restructuring and expansion of UN Security Council

    Nigeria has demanded an immediate restructuring and expansion of the UN Security Council to correct the injustices meted out against Africa in the composition of the prestigious 15-member body.

    Nigeria’s position was delivered by Amb. Babatunde Nurudeen, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS at the UN General Assembly Debate on ‘Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council’.

    The Security Council is UN’s most powerful principal organ charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, accepting new members to the UN and approving any changes to the UN Charter.

    Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, the authorisation of military action and it is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

    Nurudeen regretted that 72 years after its formation, Africa continued to be marginalised in the representation on the prestigious body in spite of its ability and capacity.

    He stressed that a reformed Council would entail a restructuring and expansion of its membership to take account of, inter-alia, the increased membership of UN and the need to reflect the interests of all the constituent regions.

    The Nigerian envoy said: “Nigeria and other emerging nations continue to demonstrate the capacity to add value to the work, of all the organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council.

    “For that reason, we must now commit ourselves to accelerating the long-overdue reforms of the Security Council. This will no doubt make the Council more equitable, more inclusive and more effective”.

    Russia, UK, France, China, and U.S. serve as the body’s only five permanent members that can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.

    Nurudeen stressed: “Nigeria believes that a reformed Security Council with expanded permanent membership would benefit from the unique experiences and capacities that regional representatives could bring to bear on its work.

    “Nigeria has always expressed its support for the advancement of the intergovernmental negotiations process in an open, inclusive and transparent manner”.

    The Nigerian envoy re-affirmed Nigeria’s very strong adherence to the Common African Union Position on the entire subject of Security Council reform.

    “That is important in order to correct the historical injustice done to the continent and its continued marginalisation over so many years.

    “For that reason, we wish to underscore the overriding need to ensure that the interests of Africa continue to be advanced and safeguarded.

    “African States have offered a coherent, practical and persuasive blueprint for the Council’s reform.

    “We have come up with a common position, which asserts the right of our continent that has for so long been marginalised, and we recognise the legitimate aspirations of other regions to be fully represented in the Council.

    According to him, the clear objective of the reform process is based on the sovereign equality of all Member States and on the need to adhere to the principles of democratisation and inclusiveness in the UN.

    “It is undoubtedly a worthwhile process. Therefore, we must muster the desired will that can lead to the achievement of a reformed Security Council sooner rather than indefinitely,” Nurudeen said.

    NAN

  • China runs: Mayweather adopts a panda for £11,000

    China runs: Mayweather adopts a panda for £11,000

     

    Floyd Mayweather’s trip to China hasn’t been filled with the pandemonium he became accustomed to during his time in the ring, but he has certainly taken a leaf out of Mike Tyson’s book.

    As well as enjoying a stroll across The Great Wall of China during his visit, ‘Money’ took it upon himself to make one local resident famous, a Giant Panda living in the Research Base of a breeding facility in Chengdu.

    While enjoying his all-expenses-paid vacation in China, Mayweather paid a visit to the panda-breeding facility, and clearly did more than just take in the sights, as ‘Money’ made the impulsive decision to adopt the panda.

    Of course, Mayweather hasn’t gone full Tyson, who famously owned three white Bengal tigers at one time, by making a purchase and will not be housing it in his £18.9million Beverly Hills castle, but it is certainly a step in that direction.

    Luckily for the panda, whose birth name was Mao Dou, his adoption means his name has been changed to ‘TMT Floyd Mayweather’, while the money-man celebrated their new-found bond from a far at the panda-breeding facility.

    As a member of staff entered the panda’s enclosure, Mayweather was forced to enjoy the special moment from the on-looking walls as he took Selfies with his new friend, before sealing their friendship with an apple – which he hovered over the animal’s head, hanging from a lengthy piece of bamboo.

    However, while he couldn’t take the panda home with him, Mayweather did get to take home a complimentary stuffed toy, which will undoubtedly fit nicely at the foot of his bed inside his Beverly Hills mansion.

    Mayweather revealed he was being paid £2million for his ‘luxury’ trip to the Far East – along with 23 of his friends – where the former Welterweight boxer attended a fan meeting, which also posed some interesting questions.

    During the meeting, Mayweather flat-out denied claims he was planning yet another comeback to the sport, labelling such reports as ‘fake, all lies!’.

    ‘I’m happily retired. I’m not fighting no more, no matter what the price is,’ Mayweather confirmed.

  • China decries U.S. anti-dumping probes

    China decries U.S. anti-dumping probes

    China ’s Ministry of Commerce ( MOC ) on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction with the latest U.S. anti-dumping probes on Chinese general aluminum alloy sheets exported to the country.

    An MOC statement quoted ministry official Wang Hejun as saying “China is strongly discontent with the trade protectionism tendency shown in the U.S. move.”

    The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese general aluminum alloy sheets in a rare “self-initiated’’ tactic.

    The self-initiated trade investigation into imports of Chinese general aluminum alloy sheets marks the first time in the past 25 years that the U.S. government has launched such probes without requests from U.S. companies or industries.

    Read Also: No prisoner transfer agreement between Nigeria, China — Dabiri-Erewa

  • Chinese, African parties meet to promote unity

    Chinese, African parties meet to promote unity

    The Communist Party of China ( CPC ) on Wednesday held a seminar with African political parties to explore the mission and role of parties in building a China-Africa community with a shared future.

    Song Tao, director of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the opening ceremony of the seminar, which was held ahead of an upcoming dialogue between the CPC and other political parties from across the globe.

    Song briefed the attendees on the new thoughts and development strategies decided at the 19th CPC National Congress, including the concept of building a community with a shared future of mankind.

    Song said in the process of exploring paths towards modernisation, China and Africa shall further deepen communication of ideas, draw on each other’s strengths, and continuously promote the development of their respective undertakings.

    He said that acknowledging that political parties exert great influence in the development of countries and their engagement with other countries.

    Song said that the CPC is willing to maintain close relations with African political parties and join efforts to build a China-Africa community with a shared future.

    Over 60 representatives of political parties from some 20 African countries are attending the seminar.

    NAN