The Nation Newspaper

Tag: china

  • China lifts 13.9 million people out of poverty each year

    China lifts 13.9 million people out of poverty each year

    China lifted 13.91 million people out of poverty each year from 2012 to 2016 according to a report from the State Council on Tuesday.

    Similarly, the annual per capita income in impoverished rural areas has grown to 10.7 per cent every year.

    The report on poverty relief work was submitted for review at a five-day bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which opened on Monday.

    “The State Council has always put a lot of effort into poverty relief.

    “The government work reports in the past four years all promised to lift at least 10 million out of poverty,’’ said Liu Yongfu, Director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

    As of the end of 2016, there were 43.35 million people in China living below the country’s poverty line of 344.30 U.S. dollars of annual income as constant with 2010 prices, accounting for about 3 per cent of China’s population.

    About 775,000 officials have been sent to impoverished areas for poverty relief work, said the report.

    China has set 2020 as the target year to complete the building of a “moderately prosperous society,’’ which requires the eradication of poverty.

    To achieve the target, China needs to bring more than 10 million people out of poverty every year, meaning nearly one million people per month or 20 people per minute.

  • Nigeria, China to tackle low quality products import

    Nigeria, China to tackle low quality products import

    China and Nigeria have agreed to put in place measures to tackle importation of substandard products into the country.

    China and Nigeria Chamber of Commerce (CCCN) President, Ye Shuijin, stated this yesterday, while addressing reporters in Abuja. He insisted that most of the imported fake products were not made in China.

    He said the Chamber and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have some agreements to check influx of substandard products into the country.

    “Most of the substandard products that came to Nigeria are not from China because the Chinese government has well structured standards in place for its products.

    “China products are of high quality, nonetheless the Chinese government is already cooperating with Nigeria to promote importation of quality products to Nigeria,” he said.

    The quality of imported products, such as iron rods, bulbs, sockets, cables and fittings have always been allegedly traced to China.

    SON raised an alarm last year that 40 per cent of electrical and electronic appliances imported into Nigeria “are substandard and have caused disasters with destruction to lives and property.”

    It was also observed that all manner of uncertified food items are dumped in the country.

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), also said Nigeria spent N212.73 billion to import agricultural products in the last quarter of last year.

    The Chamber chief therefor stressed the need to guide  importers to do the right thing and not to import substandard products to Nigeria.

    Shuijin urged the importers and the consumers to be vigilant and reject any noticed substandard products for the development of the economy.

    The president said the chamber and the Chinese government always encourage investors from China to invest in the manufacturing sector and help in the development of the economy.

    He said Nigeria, because of its population, has the market which he said was an added advantage to attract investors into the country.

    Shuijin assured that more Chinese investors would be willing to invest in Nigeria.

  • Nigeria, China to tackle importation of substandards products to Nigeria.

    Nigeria, China to tackle importation of substandards products to Nigeria.

    The China and Nigeria have agreed to put in place measures to tackle importation of substandard products into the country.

    President of China and Nigeria Chamber of Commerce (CCCN),  Mr Ye Shuijin, made the disclosure Tuesday, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

    He also insisted that most of the imported fake products were not made in China.

    He said that the chamber and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had some agreements to check influx of substandard products into the country.

    “Most of the substandard products that came to Nigeria are not from China because Chinese Government has well structure standards in place for its products.

    “China products are of high quality nonetheless Chinese government is already cooperating with the Nigerian government to promote importation of quality products to Nigeria,” he said.

    The quality of imported products like iron rods, bulbs, sockets, cables and fittings have always a source of worries in the country.

    SON raised an alarm in 2016 that 40 per cent of electrical and electronic appliances imported into Nigeria “are substandard and have caused disasters with destruction to lives and property.”

    It is also observed that all manner of uncertified food items are dumped in the country.

    The National Bureau of Statistics also said Nigeria spent N212.73 billion to import agricultural products in Q4 2016.

    The CCCG boss therefor stressed the need to guide the importers to do the right things and not to import substandards products to Nigeria.

    Shuijin urged the importers and the consumers to be vigilant and reject any noticed substandard products for the development of the economy.

    The president said that the chamber and the Chinese government always encourage investors from China to invest in the manufacturing sector to help in the development of Nigerian economy.

    He said that Nigeria because of its population had the market which he said was an added advantage to attract investors into the country.

    Shuijin gave the assurance that more Chinese investors would be willing to invest in Nigeria.

  • China defends Pakistan after Trump criticism

    China defends Pakistan after Trump criticism

    China on Tuesday, defended its ally, Pakistan after U.S. President Donald Trump said that U.S. could no longer be silent about Pakistan’s “safe havens” for militants.

    Trump had warned saying that Pakistan had much to lose by continuing to “harbour terrorists”.

    Trump on Monday committed the U.S. to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan, signalling he would dispatch more troops to America’s longest war and vowing “a fight to win”.

    Trump insisted that Afghan Government, Pakistan, India and NATO allies stepped up their own commitment to resolving the 16-year conflict, but he saved his sharpest words for Pakistan.

    Senior U.S. officials warned that security assistance for Pakistan could be reduced unless the nuclear-armed nation cooperated more in preventing militants from using safe havens on its soil.

    Critics said that Pakistan sees militants such as the Taliban as useful tools to limit the influence of old rival, India.

    Pakistan, however, denied allowing militants refuge on its territory, saying it took action against all groups.

    Asked about Trump’s speech, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Pakistan was on the front line in the struggle against terrorism and had made “great sacrifices” and “important contributions” in the fight.

    “We believe that the international community should fully recognise Pakistan’s anti-terrorism.

    “We are happy to see Pakistan and the U.S. carry out anti-terror cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and work together for security and stability in the region and world,” she said.

    The spokesperson told a daily news briefing that China and Pakistan considered each other “all-weather friends” and had close diplomatic, economic and security ties.

    “We hope the relevant U.S. policies can help promote the security, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region.”

  • Nigeria, China to implement pacts

    Nigeria and China have set in motion, the  processes that will ensure the implementation of important agreements signed between both countries, visiting Chinese Vice Information Minister, Guo Wein, has said.

    He spoke at a Media Dialogue and dinner held in his honour in Abuja.

    Wein said: “The purpose of my visit to Nigeria is the implementation of important agreement which was reached by the Chinese and Nigerian presidents, on the development of strategic partnership.

    “The relation between Nigeria and China is strategic and evergreen in economic partnership and cultural exchanges. Since diplomatic relation was established 46 years ago, the two countries has achieved so much.

    “Since China reformed and opened up it’s social productivity, the social system has improved significantly.

    “The similarities between Nigeria and China is that, while China is the largest population in the world, Nigeria has the largest population in Africa.”

    On fostering Nigeria, China relationship, the Chinese Vice Minister said his country will partner with the Nigerian media, to ensure that the stories of both continental Giants are objectively relayed to the entire world.

  • China says it will defend interests if US harms trade ties

    China says it will defend interests if US harms trade ties

    China said it would take action to defend its interests if the United States damaged trade ties between them.

    The Ministry of Commerce stated this on Tuesday, after US President, Donald Trump, authorized an inquiry into China’s alleged theft of intellectual property.

    Trump’s move, the first direct trade measure by his administration against China, comes at a time of heightened tension over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, though it is unlikely to prompt near-term change in commercial ties.

    U.S Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, will have a year to check whether to launch formal investigation of China’s policies on intellectual-property, which the White House and US industry groups say are harming US businesses.

    The United States should respect objective facts, act prudently, abide by its World Trade Organization pledges, and not destroy principles of multilateralism, an unidentified spokesman of China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

    “If the U.S side ignores the facts and disrespects multilateral trade principles in taking actions that harm both sides’ trade interests, China will absolutely not sit by and watch.

    “It will inevitably adopt all appropriate measures, and resolutely safeguard China’s lawful rights.”

    The ministry said that the U.S should “treasure” the cooperation and favourable state of China-US trade relations, and warned that any US action to damage ties would “harm both sides’ trade relations and companies”.

    “China is continuously strengthening its administrative and judicial protections for intellectual property,’’ the ministry added.

    China’s policy of forcing foreign companies to turn over technology to Chinese joint venture partners and failure to crack down on intellectual property theft has been long-standing problems for several US administrations.

    Trump administration officials have estimated that theft of intellectual property by China could be worth as much as 600 billion dollars.

    Experts on China trade policy said the long lead time could allow Beijing to discuss some of the issues raised by Washington without being seen to cave to pressure under the threat of reprisals.

  • China earthquake death toll rises to 20, with 431 injured

    China earthquake death toll rises to 20, with 431 injured

    The death toll from the earthquake that struck China’s south-western Sichuan province rose to 20, with 431 injured, local authorities said on Thursday.

    Eighteen people suffered serious injuries, according to the local government website.

    Twelve bodies have been identified. They include two local residents and at least six tourists, who were visiting Jiuzhaigou national park, the epicentre of the quake some 285 kilometres north of Chengdu.

    The 720-square-kilometre mountainous park, a UNESCO world heritage site known for its karst scenery and waterfalls, was closed when the quake struck at 9:19 pm on Tuesday (1319 GMT), it said.

    Tremors from the earthquake were felt in Beijing, more than 1,200 kilometres away.

    The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude-6.5 quake, while state media cited a magnitude-7.0 quake.

    Chinese monitors have detected multiple landslides but no major building collapses, it said.

    The top-level national emergency response continued amid ongoing aftershocks on Thursday, involving at least four helicopters, 90 vehicles, hundreds of soldiers, medical personnel and more than 1,200 rescuers, state television China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

    More than 60,000 people, mostly tourists, had been evacuated with help from tourist buses and private vehicles,by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, it said.

    Some 10,500 people have been moved from damaged buildings to emergency shelters, CCTV said.

    Sichuan province dispatched over 1,300 armed police, 1,108 firefighters, 55 sets of heat sensors and 30 sniffer dogs.

    More than 800 workers were combing villages searching for anyone still trapped, according to the provincial quake relief headquarters.

  • Sri Lanka signs port deal with China

    Sri Lanka has signed a $1.1bn (£837m) deal with China for the control and development of the southern deep-sea port of Hambantota.

    The deal had been delayed by several months over concerns that the port could be used by the Chinese military, the BBC reports.

    The government has given assurances that China will run only commercial operations from the port, on the main shipping route between Asia and Europe.

    Sri Lanka’s government said money from the deal would help repay foreign loans.

    Under the proposal, a state-run Chinese company will have a 99-year lease on the port and about 15,000 acres nearby for an industrial zone.

    The plan envisages the eviction of thousands of villagers but the government said they would be given new land.

    China has pumped millions of dollars into Sri Lanka’s infrastructure since the end of a 26-year civil war in 2009.

    Hambantota port, overlooking the Indian Ocean, is expected to play a key role in China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, otherwise known as the new Silk Road, which will link ports and roads between China and Europe.

    The initiative is being keenly watched by regional trade rivals including India and Japan.

    Opponents of the project said they feared the area being turned into a Chinese colony. There were also concerns that the Chinese navy could use the port as a base.

  • $5b pledge from China for FTZ

    The Oyo State government has secured $5 billion from China to develop its newly established Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said.

    The governor spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, while receiving an Industrial Policy and Strategic document from a delegation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNIDO team was led by Mr Jean Bakole, the representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Office Hub.

    NAN reports that the Industrial Policy Document was developed by Oyo State government with the approval and collaboration of UNIDO.

    Ajimobi said the establishment of the FTZ was part of his administration’s determination to make the state an industrial hub of the nation.

    The governor said 150 investors from China had signified intention to invest in the FTZ, and seven had begun work on the FTZ site.

    He said: “Our administration has not relented in its efforts at infrastructural development of the state, creation of jobs for youths, revenue growth and the protection of well-being of the citizenry.

    “We have evolved several initiatives in all the various sectors of governance and which have been yielding desired results.”

    Ajimobi said his administration’s commitment to industrialisation was evident in a recent ranking, which placed the state among the safest and conducive for doing business.

    The governor said the government was using agriculture as a platform for industrialisation, adding Oyo State was becoming the centre of industrial revolution.

    He hailed UNIDO for selecting the state as the first beneficiary of its collaboration in Nigeria.

    According to him, the opportunity would be fully and judiciously utilised.

    Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives Mrs Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba said the document would, on implementation, be the best in the Southwest, having considered the contributions from internal and external stakeholders.

    Bakole praised the transformation of the Ajimobi administration, saying the UNIDO team was in the state to support government efforts through effective collaboration.

  • Oyo secures $5bn commitment from China – Ajimobi

    Oyo secures $5bn commitment from China – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has stated that his administration has secured the commitment of five billion dollars from China in the development of the newly established Free Trade Zone(FTZ) in the state.

    The governor made the disclosure while receiving an Industrial Policy and Strategic Document from a delegation of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNIDO team was led by Mr Jean Bakole, representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Office Hub.

    NAN reports that the Industrial Policy Document was developed by Oyo State Government with the approval and collaboration of UNIDO.

    Ajimobi said the establishment of the FTZ was part of his administration’s determination to make the state an industrial hub of the nation.

    Ajimobi said that no fewer than 150 investors from china have signified their intention to invest in the FTZ out of which seven of them have already began work at the FTZ site.

    “Our administration has not relented in its efforts at infrastructural development of the state, creation of jobs for the youths, revenue growth and the protection of well-being of the citizenry.

    “We have evolved several initiatives in all the various sectors of governance and which have been yielding desired results,’’ he said.

    He said that the administration’s commitment to industrialization was evident in a recent ranking, which placed the state as one of the safest and conducive for doing business.

    Ajimobi said that his administration was currently using agriculture as a platform of the state’s industrialization, adding the state was now been seen as the centre of industrial revolution.

    He commended UNIDO for selecting the state as the first beneficiary of its collaboration in Nigeria, promising the opportunity would be fully and judiciously utilized.

    Mrs Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba, the State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives said that the document would, on implementation, be the best in the south west region of the country, having considered contributions from internal and external stakeholders.

    Earlier, Bakole commended the transformation efforts of the Ajimobi-led administration in the state, adding they are in the state to support government efforts through effective collaboration.

    “Our main job is to support economic growth and transformation. We are here to see how we could build a roadmap to develop some various sectors.

    “This, we have done, in collaboration with the state,to develop a policy and strategic document being presented here today,’’ he said.

    Bakole, who assumed the position of regional head in Nigeria five months ago, expressed gratitude to the federal government for his warm welcome in the country.

    He said that it was a great opportunity for him to work in Nigeria, which was the leading economy in the African continent.

    “I don’t always compare Nigeria with South Africa because they have different histories. You have shown me various examples and efforts here in Nigeria, which are different from other countries in Africa,’’ he said.

    “I intentionally came into the state from Lagos by road to have a glimpse of the resources the nation was blessed with.

    “On my way, I saw the country was blessed with resources that could aid agro processing and agripreneur development,’’ he said.

    He commended the state government for developing the Ibadan City Master Plan, which he said has shown the state government’s commitment to the transformation of the state.

    Bakole stated that the master plan and the Industrial policy document were developmental documents that would aid rapid development of state through strategic framework and roadmaps.