The Nation Newspaper

Tag: china

  • China opens Lagos visa centre

    China opens Lagos visa centre

    China has opened a new visa application centre in Victoria Island, Lagos to make visa procurement easy for Nigerians.

    The centre, located at Church Gate Building, became fully commenced operations from Thursday, September 21, 2017.

    According to the Console General of the People’s Republic of China, Chao Xiaoliang, the visa application centre was opened to improve the service standard for applicants.

    Speaking to newsmen at the unveiling, Xiaoliang said: “From henceforth, all ordinary passport holders wishing to visit the People’s Republic of China are requested to apply for visas at Lagos, China Visa Application Centre.

    “I completely believe that the centre in cooperation with VFS will surely increase the efficiency and quality of Chinese Visa processing and provide better service to applicants.”

    He however added diplomats and official passport holders or applicants applying for Hong Kong/Macao Special Administrative Region visa/entry permits are to submit their applications directly to the Chinese embassy.

    Xiaoliang also added this tremendous step would strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

    ”The ties between China and Nigeria have been strengthened in trade, investments, Infrastructure, culture, science, technology, and others.

    “I have been working in Nigeria for more than one year and I have always felt at home.  This is mostly because of the hospitality of Nigerians.

    “The yearly number of Chinese visa issued to Nigeria citizens has grown very rapidly in the past as a result of increased personal exchange. It is indeed a welcomed development.

    “We have limited resources and facilities and over the past years we have seen visa applicants sweating under the sun shine.

    “We have been trying hard to improve our service and make it more comfortable for visa applicants while waiting for their interviews or to submit applications.

    “The centre is entrusted to receive visa applications on behalf of the embassy and we have a duty to oversee their operation,” he said.

    The envoy reiterated that the decision to approve or disapprove visa applications still resides with the embassy.

    He added that successful applicants are also expected to pick their passports from the centre.

    urces and facilities and over the past years we have seen visa applicants sweating under the sun shine.

    “We have been trying hard to improve our service and make it more comfortable for visa applicants while waiting for their interviews or to submit applications.

    “The centre is entrusted to receive visa applications on behalf of the embassy and we have a duty to oversee their operation,” he said.

    The envoy reiterated that the decision to approve or disapprove visa applications still resides with the embassy.

    He added that successful applicants are also expected to pick their passports from the centre.

  • Chinese tennis needs to ‘grow up’, says Li Na

    Chinese tennis needs to ‘grow up’, says Li Na

     

    While china and the Chinese continue to be a force to beat in Table Tennis, two Grand slam winner Li Na believes her country unfortunately is nowhere to be found in Lawn tennis.

    Li Na appears to have set the bar extremely high for her compatriots who have laboured in vain to match her trail-blazing achievements.

    The contrast was laid bare at last week’s Wuhan Open, where Li received a rock-star welcome during a brief appearance, but none of the Chinese players went beyond the third round.

    Following her rapturous reception in Wuhan, her home city, Li said she was disappointed that China hadn’t found a new star to love since she stepped off tour in 2014.

    “Actually, I didn’t like (that) people always remember me,” said Li, who won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014. “That means Chinese tennis didn’t grow up.”

    ”(When) I decided to retire, I was thinking next day (new Chinese winners) would come,” she added.

    Hopes were high when Peng Shuai reached the 2014 US Open semi-finals, shortly after Li’s retirement, and Zhang Shuai won her second Guangzhou Open title this year.

    Wu Yibing also became China’s first boys Grand Slam singles champion at last month’s US Open. But nobody has consistently challenged at the highest levels.

    In Wuhan, five Chinese women were in the main draw but Wang Qiang was the only one to reach the third round – the best ever performance by a home player in the tournament.

    Peter McNamara, Wang’s Australian coach, said the high expectations created by Li’s career were a problem for Chinese players.

    “I think it’s very intimidating having such a great player and champion who did raise the bar to a level that’s pretty hard to get to,” he said.

    “I never bring it up, about trying to reach her heights.”

    Li was always a special case for Chinese tennis, as she took the maverick step of breaking away from state control to forge her career on her own terms.

    The 35-year-old said that modesty, a typical trait of Chinese culture, could be holding players back. Peng is currently the top ranked Chinese player at 24, with Zhang at 26.

    “They always say ‘Oh, I’m not so good’ but for the sport you have to show all of the world (you are good),” Li said.

    Li Na of China poses with the trophy following her victory over Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the women’s singles final at the 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament

    World number one Garbine Muguruza also said she found Chinese players “very respectful on the court… very quiet”, in contrast to Li, who she described as having great “intensity”.

    Chinese tennis success has mainly come from women, with Wu’s victory in New York an anomaly. While there are five Chinese women in the top 100 and 11 in the top 200, the top Chinese man is 220-ranked Wu Di.

  • China shuts down North Korean companies

    China shuts down North Korean companies

    China has told North Korean companies operating in its territory to close down as it implements United Nations sanctions against the reclusive state.

    The companies will be shut by early January, the BBC reports.

    Joint Chinese and North Korean ventures will also be forced to close.

    China, Pyongyang’s only major ally, has already banned textile trade and limited oil exports.

    The move is part of an international response to North Korea’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test.

    The UN Security Council, of which China is a member, voted unanimously for fresh sanctions on September 11.

    China’s commerce ministry said it had set a deadline of 120 days from the passing of the resolution for any North Korean companies within its borders to close.

    North Korea is politically and economically isolated, and the vast majority of its trade is with China.

    Beijing has traditionally been protective of its neighbour, but has sharply criticised its nuclear tests and escalating rhetoric.

    Earlier this year, it clamped down on its purchase of coal from Pyongyang and on seafood and iron trade across the border.

  • Niger creates Department of Oil and Gas

    Niger creates Department of Oil and Gas

    The Niger Government has approved the creation of a Department of Oil and Gas under the state Ministry of Mineral Resources.

    Alhaji Mudi Mohammed, the state Commissioner for Mineral Resources, told newsmen  in Minna on Thursday that the approval was given by Gov. Abubakar Bello at  the weekly State Executive Council meeting.

    He said since the state was  prospecting for  oil and gas  in Bida and Zungeru Basin, there was need for the creation of a department that would oversees the production process in line with the Federal Government’s  mandate.

    Mohammed also said  the department would be responsible for coordinating the exploration, development and deployment process to attract  investors.

    He further  said that the department would liaise with the Federal Government on the exploration and development of  the oil and gas sector in the state.

    According to him, the Bida Basin had been blocked into 17 oil blocks, with Main Land Oil and Gas Company already applying  for two blocks–Oil Prospecting License 501 (OPL) and OPL 517.

    The commissioner added that a Chinese Company had visited the sites and taken  samples to China  for assessment.

    He also said the  state government in collaboration with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation would soon visit the Kutigi and Gulu exploration sites.

  • Macron to address terrorism, climate at UN

    Macron to address terrorism, climate at UN

    French President Emmanuel Macron will give his first address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, with terrorism and climate change as his top priorities.

    Elysee officials were tight-lipped about the likely contents of Macron’s speech ahead of his travel.

    But his agenda included a security-focused meeting on Monday evening with fellow heads of state from the Sahel region of West Africa, where French troops are supporting local forces against militants.

    Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May, as well as Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni would host a meeting on preventing terrorist use of the internet.

    The French president, who took office in May, would also open a summit on a French-backed proposal for global pact on environment, aimed at creating binding international code of environmental law.

    French officials say Macron will also discuss the Syrian conflict with leaders of the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council – Britain, China, Russia and the U.S.

  • China opens visa application centre

    The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Abuja has opened a new visa application centre for prospective Nigerians who wish to visit the country.

    Another centre would also be opened in Lagos, Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria  Mr. Lin Jing said.

    Jing, who briefed reporters yesterday in Abuja, said the centre,  located at Churchgate Plaza, Central Business District, will open tomorrow.

    He also announced a new visa application fee of N31,250 as against the N14,000, which included service fees and VAT.

    He explained that the application centre is a commercial entity and independent of the Chinese embassy.

    He urged prospective applicants to be patient with the new development.

    “From Wednesday, all ordinary passport holders wishing to visit the People’s Republic of China are requested to apply for visas at Abuja China Visa Application Centre,” the envoy said.

    He said diplomatic and official passport holders or applicants applying for Hong Kong/Macao Special Administrative Region visa/entry permits are to submit their applications directly to the Chinese embassy.

  • China plans nationwide use of bioethanol by 2020

    China plans nationwide use of bioethanol by 2020

    China plans to use bioethanol gasoline nationwide by 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration ( NEA ) said on Wednesday.

    “The plan was unveiled as the country is pushing the use of biofuel, which is renewable, applicable, tech-savvy and environmental-friendly. It is an ideal alternative to fossil fuel,” a senior NEA official said.

    Ethanol fuel, known as E10, contains 10 per cent of ethanol.

    It is commonly used worldwide since it is believed to cut carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions and help ease the energy supply bottleneck.

    More than 40 countries and regions consume about 600 million tonnes of ethanol fuel every year, accounting for around 60 per cent of the world’s annual gasoline use.

    China is the world’s third-largest bioethanol producer and uses nearly 2.6 million tonnes a year.

    Gasoline blended with ethanol accounts for one-fifth of its annual gasoline consumption.

    According to the plan, China aims to build an advanced liquid biofuel system and put into operation a demonstration facility that will be able to produce 50,000 tonnes of cellulosic ethanol per annum by 2020.

    China launched corn-to-ethanol pilot programmes in 2004 as part of efforts to cut emissions and advance new energy.

    China banned the use of grain for ethanol production in 2007 to ensure sufficient food supply, and biofuel manufacturers have since turned to sweet potatoes, sorghum and straw stalks instead.

    The country later lifted the ban in 11 provinces including Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces in the northeast, Henan and Hebei provinces in the north, Anhui, Shandong.

    It lifted the ban also in Jiangsu provinces in the east, the central province of Hubei, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the southwest.

    Guangxi is the first Chinese locality to commercially produce ethanol with cassava instead of grain.

    The latest plan is also part of the effort to ease oversupply of aging corn.

    The plan echoes the country’s decision to consider a timetable to phase out production and sales of fossil fuel cars to cut emissions, reduce pollution and save fossil fuel energy.

  • Nigeria to host African Tourism in 2018

    Nigeria to host African Tourism in 2018

    Nigeria will host the 61st meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa ( UNWTO) conference in Abuja from June 4 to June 6 next year.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed announced this on Tuesday in Chengdu, China, at the 60th meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Tourism.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the African Ministers of Tourism held the meeting on the sideline of the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly, holding in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of Southwest China.

    Mohammed who led Nigeria delegation to the UNWTO General Assembly expressed gratitude to his colleagues for the support given to Nigeria in winning the bidding to host UNWTO CAF.

    He reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria towards successful hosting of the conference and realisation of its objectives.

    “I wish to assure you that the ministry, with full support of the Presidency and members of the National Assembly are committed towards ensuring successful hosting of the 61st meeting of the UNWTO CAF.

    “Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, has been designated by the Nigerian Tourism Master Plan as a Conference Capital.
    The choice of the city is part of government’s efforts at promoting Abuja as a conference destination within the sub-region,’’ he said.

    The minister said that the meeting which will attract wide range of delegates from around the world will provide unique opportunity for global visibility for Nigeria as a key player in tourism development.

    He said it would also afford Nigeria the opportunity to showcase its rich cultural assets.

    Mohammed assured that the meeting would follow the traditional pattern of an inclusive, participatory and active dialogue that encouraged conversation and enable delegates to have more time and space for networking and discussion.

    He commended Mr Taleb Rifai, the outgoing Secretary General of the UNWTO for his stewardship, characterised by innovative ideas, strategic thinking and efforts to increase the credibility and visibility of the organisation.

    He also congratulated Dr Walter Mzembi, the out-going Chairman of CAF and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism on the successful completion of his term. (NAN)

  • 64 students bag Chinese govt scholarship

    64 students bag Chinese govt scholarship

    The dream of 64 students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, studying Mandarin at the Confucius Institute, has been fulfilled with their winning a scholarship to advance their study in various universities in China.

    Speaking at the send-off zin their honour, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, said the scholarship was part of the opportunities inherent in the partnership between the Chinese government and the university, which started in 2008.

    He said: “Today, we are celebrating excellence. We are no longer in the stage of advocacy; we have made a statement with our partnership with China. UNIZIK has become a school where you can learn Chinese language to qualify for higher level of scholarship to achieve the dream you have set for yourselves.”

    To make the school the centre for learning foreign languages, the VC noted that efforts were being made to introduce Spanish and German in addition to French and Chinese being taught in the school.

    According to Prof Ahaneku, the school’s aim is to use languages as a  tool to solve unemployment, adding that there was the need to explore foreign languages to give students opportunities.

    He advised the beneficiaries to be disciplined and portray good examples of the institution during their stay in China.

    The Deputy VC (Administration), who is the Country Director of the Confucius Institute, Prof Carol Arinze-Umeobi, hailed the VC for supporting the goals of the institute as a world-class school to learn Mandarin. She urged the beneficiaries to be of good conduct.

    UNIZIK Confucius Institute Director Prof Wang Bo said he was elated by the number of enrolment and induction at the institute yearly, since the partnership was signed. He noted that there was an increase in the number of scholarship beneficiaries compared to previous years.

    Bo disclosed that three of the beneficiaries were offered full scholarship by the Chinese government to study for their Master’s degree in a Chinese university, while the rest were offered scholarship by the Confucius Institute to obtain their Master’s degree in Mandarin.

    He praised the VC for providing the institute’s basic needs to ensure more students are offered scholarship to China.

    One of the beneficiaries, Joy Illodibe, said her decision to study Chinese language caused a disagreement with her parents, who regarded it as a waste of time. She said her joy knew no bound when her parents decided to support her choice of career.

    Another beneficiary, Joshua Emenike,  a graduate of History and International Relations, said he was privileged to be among the recipients. He recalled the challenges  he faced while studying at the Confucius Institute, noting that he almost gave up because of clashes of lectures.

    The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentations by the beneficiaries in Chinese.

    Guests at the event included Deputy VC (Academics), Prof Charles Esimone, the Bursar, Mrs. Joy Ojukwu, and the Director of Information and Public Relations.

     

  • Buhari’s Mambila power project set to take off

    Buhari’s Mambila power project set to take off

    Wednesday, August 30th approval by the Federal Executive Council, FEC for the award of the contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of the 3050 MW Mambila Hydro Electric Power Project reflects President Muhammadu Buhari’s strong commitment to the development of infrastructure in the country.

    After more than 40 years on the drawing boards, the FEC approval for the award of the contract to a consortium of three Chinese Companies, Messrs CGCC-SINOHYDRO-CGOCC Joint Venture represents a milestone in the journey for the realisation of the country’s long-standing dream.

    The landmark infrastructure project will cost the country the sum of US5,792,497,062.00 inclusive of taxes, environment utilization, works, as well as project land acquisition and compensation to about 100,000 people who will be resettled.

    Read Also: Obsolete equipment hindering power distribution, says Fashola

    From 2015 when he took power from the Jonathan-led, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has, in addition to the successful prosecution of the costly war against terrorism and economic sabotage, unleashed a slew of infrastructure projects that would change the face of the country. These projects include railway, roads, airports, housing and agriculture among many others.

    The specific case of Mambilla presents an interesting story, given the many years it has taken to leave the drawing boards.

    As far back as 1972, a preliminary study was carried out by Moto Columbus, and confirmed by an indigenous water resources consultancy, Diyam Consultant led by distinguished Nigerian engineer, the late Malam Salihi Ilyasu which recommended the construction of a hydropower project with a rated capacity of 3,960 MW.

    Check Out: ‘How to move power sector forward‘

    From then till now, various governments made efforts, or to put it in a better way, pretended to be committed to actualising the project. Nothing came out of it. Sham attempts to develop the project on Build-Operate-Transfer, BOT also failed to achieve the commencement of construction.

    A government revocation of a BOT approved by a former President through an anticipatory approval led to a protracted litigation that stalled the project.

    In 2011, the then administration approved the award of contract for consultancy services for the detailed design and project management and supervision of a revised power output of 2,600 Mambila Hydro Electric Power project at the sum of USD 37,220,068,72.

    The major breakthrough in the execution of this project was achieved when President Muhammadu Buhari initiated discussions at the level of the President of the Peoples Republic of China in the course of his State Visit to that country.

    One of the achievements of the visit was the bilateral agreement between the two governments to cooperate on the project and in particular, for the Peoples Republic of China to prioritise Chinese financing of the Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project using Chinese contractors.

    The formation of the Joint Venture by the three companies, CGCC, SINOHYDRO and CGCOC under the guidance of the Chinese authorizes at the request of our government was significant in breaking the deadlock caused by litigation. It also ended needless competitor wrangling.

    Following this development, a series of meetings took place to reduce the cost of the project from the projected USD 6.62 billion to the now agreed sUm of USD 5,729,497,062.00.

    The importance of this project is being counted in its capacity to transform the communities in Taraba State and beyond that, the country as a whole.

    To quote the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola speaking on the Mambila project, “it will have a transformational effect on all of Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

    Read Also: Fashola to probe alleged inflation of Gencos’ invoice

    During its construction and upon completion, and subsequent operation, it will have considerable positive impact on electricity supply nationwide, productivity, employment, tourism, technology transfer, rural development, irrigation, agriculture and food production in the area and beyond.”

    This show-piece infrastructure project by the Muhammadu Buhari administration will therefore chart a new course of prosperity in Taraba, the North-East and the entire country. It will no doubt help the country’s infrastructure. After construction, it will be the biggest single power project in the country.

    Considering what this landmark infrastructure project means to the country’s economy, sociology and politics, it is hard to fathom why the past administrations delayed the Mambilla power project inordinately.

    Although blame for this is shared by governments over this 40-year period, the ones to take the bigger share are the governments during which tenure the oil sector boomed with oil prices as high as US$120.

    That period in question, especially the one preceding President Muhammadu Buhari’s second coming was one of missed opportunities and misplaced priorities. The long overdue investments in power and transport needed to unlock the economy were ignored. Nigeria earned unprecedented Dollar revenues.

    But there is nothing to show for the revenues earned. No major capital project was completed, neither power generation, road development, rail or agriculture benefitted from the windfall earnings. Rather, the administration presided over the diversion of oil revenues on a such a massive scale.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on the other hand has a positive and prosperous vision for Nigeria. A nation in which the natural talent and hard work of the people is being supported by an enabling environment of infrastructural development and policy reforms that will develop a firm future for our nation.