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Tag: chinese

  • Chinese develop pesticide to reduce contamination

    Chinese develop pesticide to reduce contamination

    Chinese researchers have developed a new pesticide with nano slow-releasing technology that can increase efficiency and decrease pollution in the soil.

    A team led by Wu Zhengyan of the Hefei Institute of Physical Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said this on Thursday.

    Zhengyan said soluble starch was used as a template and porous calcium carbonate micro spheres as carriers to make a nano-controlled release pesticide.

    It can control the migration of pesticide molecules in the environment, reducing pesticide loss and damage to environment.

    The results were recently released in an academic journal published by the American Chemistry Society called the ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering.

    Read Also:  Chinese scientists develop new flu vaccine

    Zhengyan said China’s agriculture industry relies heavily on the use of pesticides, using an estimated more than one million tonnes annually.

    However, only 30 per cent of pesticides have an effect on crops and the rest are simply washed away.

    Conventional farming, therefore, requires several rounds of pesticide spraying each day, which not only raises the cost, but also causes serious environmental contamination and excessive pesticide residue.

    Zhengyan says the pesticide release technology is environmentally friendly and cost efficient, providing a good solution to bottlenecks in China’s agriculture industry.

    NAN

  • 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

  • Fake products: Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Chinese men

    Fake products: Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Chinese men

    The absence of an interpreter on Wednesday stalled the arraignment of two Chinese nationals, Mr Zhoung Li Xin and Mr Zhoung Guomin at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s ( SON ) accused the two of marking some unapproved products as genuine.

    The accused persons had demonstrated to the court that they could only speak in their native mandarin.

    The charge had claimed that Zhoung Li Xin and Mr Zhoung Guomin placed an “ABB” mark on receptacle containing products marked as Chiko and Toyou.

    The Prosecution therefore alleged that the accused persons committed an offence under Section 378 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 89 Law of the Northern Nigeria.’’

    Mr Joseph Olofindare, Counsel to SON, said the defendants’ actions of making false mark on products and making such products to be believed to be of a particular quality was a breach of the law.

    He said the alleged action was with the intent to defraud the innocent public.

    “Likely punishment is three years imprisonment with or without fine’’, he said.

    On why an arrangement was not made for an interpreter for the defendants, Olofindare said it was his conviction that the defendants could speak English language.

    “We are aware that the defendants spoke English before now, but they denied speaking or understanding English when we got to the court.

    “At the appropriate time that will be sorted out and the interest of justice which we are concerned with will be served.

    “The interest of SON is to get rid of foreigners with the intention of bringing substandard items that may have negative impact on the citizens.

    “The mandate of SON is to move against that and to ensure that all the perpetrators are brought to book’’, Olonfindare said.

    On his part, Mr Amaechi Muonagor,  Counsel to the defendants, said his clients were not aware the case was coming up as they were served with the court process on the evening of December 19.

    He also said there was no preliminary arrangement for an interpreter.

    According to him, the prosecution has the false impression that the defendants could speak and understand English language.

    “We were prepared for the trial any way, except that there was no interpreter to interpret the language of the court to the defendants.

    “I normally communicate with them through an interpreter but what happened was that we did not liaise with SON to provide an interpreter because of the short notice to appear in court’’, he said.

    He said however, that the defendants were presently enjoying administrative bail.

    He said it was the right of the defendants to be heard in the language they understand, adding that the prosecution and the defendants’ counsel had agreed to interface to make that happen.

    The presiding Justice Sadiq Umar, had earlier ordered the parties to ensure the defendants were provided with an interpreter to facilitate the trial.

    However, no date was fixed for the commencement of the trial.

    NAN

  • SNEPCo sponsors Nigerian, Chinese suppliers to boost Nigerian content

    More than 20 Nigerian and 60 Chinese suppliers have met in Shanghai in China on how to boost the capacity of indigenous vendors in the oil and gas industry.

    The event was sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).

    Coming shortly after the fourth edition of the Global Nigerian Forum in Aberdeen, Scotland, the  event, offered the Nigerians an opportunity to engage their Chinese counterparts on issues, such as transfer of technology and cost leadership.

    In his opening speech, the General Manager of Shell China Strategic Sourcing Development, Ding, Hiu Kwong said local content development is global, and not limited  to Nigeria, adding that Shell will continue to focus on safety, quality and cost reduction in China, as part of efforts to imp

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)  Monitoring and Evaluation Director, Tunde Adelana, commended Shell Companies in Nigeria for pioneering the collaboration between Chinese and Nigerian suppliers. He challenged the Chinese to establish their presence in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and compete with the other international companies that are taking the lead in major projects.

    Adelana, who represented NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Simbi  Wabote, said Shell has done well in local content development in Nigeria.

    The Petroleum Association of Nigeria (PETAN) Vice Chairman Geoff Onuoha said Nigerian companies were keen on developing partnerships and effective collaborations for better service delivery lauded Shell “for the tenacity and commitment in pioneering a game changing initiative”.

    Onuoha, who is the NAPIMS Group General Manager, represented by Alexander Chukwu, said: “We expect to see the birth of new joint ventures and collaboration between Nigerian and Chinese suppliers.”

    He advised the delegates to look beyond the event and take advantage of the opportunity to deploy technologies and solutions that deliver quality services and reduce cost.

    SNEPCo’s Nigerian Content Development Manager, Austin Uzoka, said there were many areas in which Nigerian and Chinese suppliers could collaborate in the oil and gas company and that Shell would continue to provide the required opportunities within its resources.

    The Nigerias also visited some companies, among them, Neway valves, the world largest valve manufacturer, Sulzer Pumps, Hilong and MSP Drillex facilities, to deepen their appreciation of best practices.

    The Chinese suppliers, on their part, obtained guidance on business development and capital investment in Nigeria.

    SNEPCo’s Contracting and Supply team tracked the cost opportunities and work to embed them as part of an overarching cost reduction drive and faster supply chain transactions.

  • Oyo, Chinese firm sign MoU for 38km light rail

    The Oyo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), to build a light rail system in the state.

    The 38-kilometre rail begins at the Toll-Gate/Sanyo axis of Ibadan, the capital, through Queen Elizabeth Way (at Dandaru, Mokola) and terminates at Ojoo axis.

    The project is to be executed on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between the state and CCECC.

    While the company is sourcing 85 per cent, the government will provide 15 per cent funding for the project, to be completed in 12 months.

    But the duration, according to the agreement, begins the day the company secures the facility to execute the project.

    At the signing at the Governor’s Office, Agodi in Ibadan, the government assured residents that the project will address the perennial traffic congestion and boost commercial and economic activities.

    Commissioner for Works and Transport Mr. Wasiu Dauda, who addressed reporters after the signing, which was attended by members of State Executive Council (Exco), said the Chinese company would secure loan for the project.

    The commissioner added that a key requirement for the facility was signing of the agreement between parties.

    He said: “The state government is embarking on the project because, if you get to some areas, the traffic congestion is beyond imagination. But if someone is coming from Lagos and going to Ojoo, he would only alight at the Toll Gate. He needs not board another cab, but just enters into the light rail to save time and resources.

    “The company will source for 85 per cent of the fund and Oyo State will pay the balance of 15 per cent. The project will greatly ease the problem of traffic congestion. It is a PPP initiative. We are optimistic that in another four to five months, the company should be able to access the loan facility. Part of the requirements to getting the loan is the signing of the agreement between the company and the state government.

    “The light rail will begin at the Toll Gate/Sanyo, down to Dandaru and to Ojoo. It will cover about 38 kilometres. The project will massively reduce traffic congestion within the city and boost commercial and economic activities.

    “The duration of the project will be 12 months, with effect from the day they are able to get the loan to execute the project.”

    CCECC’s Executive Director Jack Lyao said: “You know CCEC is a very big company, especially in Nigeria. We major in railways, roads, buildings and bridges. Even in railways, we have done so many in Abuja, Lagos and others.

    “We are eager to hand over a very profitable project for Oyo State. Once we receive the payment, we will set the commencement date. After then, we will set 12 months to deliver the project.”

  • 2018 FIFA World Cup ticket sales resumes on Thursday

    2018 FIFA World Cup ticket sales resumes on Thursday

    Ticket sales for the world’s biggest football event, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will resume on Thursday on a first-come first-served basis.

    A total of 622,117 tickets were successfully allocated to subscribers, even though this was subject to payment being made later.

    This was also at the conclusion of the first window of sales phase from Oct. 1 to Oct. 12.

    According to a report by the FIFA Media Office on Tuesday, some 3,496,204 tickets had initially been requested with many ticket products and matches being heavily oversubscribed.

    This requires the allocation of tickets through a random selection draw process carried out in the presence of a public notary.

    During this process FIFA also identified a number of ticket applications which were not eligible to enter into the random selection draw.

    For example, ticket applications for team-specific ticket series — for teams that are no longer able to qualify — as well as ticket applications that violated the household restrictions.

    This is in the category of applying for a maximum of four tickets for up to seven matches.

    From the total number of applications, majority have come from Russia, and based on results of the Random Selection Draw process 57 percent of tickets were allocated to Russian fans.

    Tickets allocated to international fans account for 43 percent of the total number of allocated tickets.

    The US, Chinese, German, Brazilian, Israeli, English, Finnish, Mexican and French fans all rank in the top ten in this category.

    During the upcoming sales period, which starts on Thursday and end on Nov. 28, fans will be able to purchase tickets in real time on FIFA.com/tickets.

    They will get immediate confirmation of successful applications, subject to availability.

    Football fans were advised to place their order as soon as the sales period opens.

    This is because high demand is expected and the remaining inventory following the random selection draw sales period was likely to sell out very quickly.

    Tickets purchased during sales phases 1 and 2 will be delivered free of charge to fans in the weeks leading up to the tournament.

    Deliveries have been planned to start in April or May of 2018, even though this is subject to change.

    Tickets may be purchased using payment cards of Visa, the Official Payment Services Partner of FIFA.

    Purchases can also be made by other accepted payment methods.

    FIFA’s Head of Ticketing, Falk Eller, said the world football body was already overwhelmed by the positive response from both Russian and international fans so far.

    “’With only a few teams still to qualify, we are again expecting high demand once sales resume on Thursday.

    “Considering such remarkable interest in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia from fans all over the world, we will like to once again stress that the only official, legitimate and user-friendly source to purchase tickets is the FIFA.com/tickets website.

    “Fans who purchase tickets from other sources put themselves at significant risk of missing out on the World Cup, and of course we will not want that to happen.

    “Category 4 tickets, which are exclusively reserved for Russian residents, will not be available for purchase during the upcoming first-come, first-served sales period.

    “This is due to the full allocation of the currently available category four tickets during the previous sales period.

    “FIFA will also make a dedicated allocation of tickets available for disabled people, people with limited mobility and fans classified as obese,” Eller said.

    NAN

  • Chinese journalists: Nigeria safe, peaceful

    Some Chinese journalists visiting Nigeria yesterday described the country as safe and peaceful with hospitable people.

    The journalists under the aegis of the All China Journalists Association are in Nigeria on the invitation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    One of them, Miss Zhang Lu, Editor, China Watch, told journalists in Lagos that contrary to popular perception, Nigeria is safe and peaceful.

    “Previously, what I learnt about Nigeria and Africa is from the television stations and books. But this trip has helped me to know a little bit more about the people, their hospitality and culture.

    “Contrary to what I read in books and newspapers, I think that Lagos and Abuja are nice cities, safer than what I thought previously,” she said.

    She said she enjoyed pounded yam, adding that only the media can truly report the real situation in both Nigeria and China.

    Also, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Zhang Mingxin, said the visit had opened his eyes to fresh opportunities in Nigeria, which would further strengthen the friendship between Nigeria and China.

    Zhang, who is also the Vice Chief Editor, China News Service, said media professionals and information communication were important for cultural exchange between people.

    “The media communication will also help economic development and the MoU we signed with the NUJ will further cement relationship between our countries in the future.

    “Lagos is a beautiful prosperous state,” he said.

    President of the NUJ Abdulwaheed Odusile told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the visit would strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

    That is why the NUJ is hosting their colleagues from China.

    The NUJ national president led the delegation on tour of important and historic places in Lagos in company with some executive members of the Lagos State Council of the union.

    Odusile also told NAN that the visit would improve economic, social and cultural relations between both countries.

    He said the union represented about one million journalists in China, adding that the partnership with the Chinese journalists became necessary to tell the right story about Nigeria.

    He explained that stories about Nigeria were usually told by the western media in negative ways and were not usually fair to Nigeria or Africa in their reportage.

    Odusile said the visit would also help the Chinese journalists form the right impression about Nigeria.

    He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two unions in Abuja before visiting Lagos.

  • Chinese finance minister skips trilateral meeting with Japan, Korea

    Chinese Finance Minister Xiao Jie skipped a trilateral meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Yokohama on Friday due to important domestic matters, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said.

    While the specific reasons for Xiao’s absence were not clear, his non-attendance casts doubt over the outlook for regional cooperation among the north-east Asian powers at an event which is supposed to build deeper economic ties.

    Finance leaders at the trilateral meeting agreed to resist all forms of protectionism, taking a stronger stand than G20 major economies against the protectionist policies advocated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Aso did not elaborate on the Chinese minister’s reasons for not attending, although he said that Xiao did not attend due to “important policy issues” at home.

    However, he said Xiao should be able to join a bilateral Japan-China finance dialogue scheduled for Saturday, in which the two sides were expected to discuss their economic cooperation.

    The trilateral meeting was held on the sideline of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual gathering in Yokohama, eastern Japan.

    The threat of China’s increasing presence in infrastructure finance to Japan’s economic influence in the area was expected to be a topic of debate at the meeting.

    An official at China’s finance ministry’s international department said “we cannot comment” when asked about Xiao’s absence from the meeting.

    The Chinese delegation was represented by its deputy finance minister and a senior official from the Chinese central bank at the trilateral summit.

    Finance officials from the three countries met and issued a resolve to resist protectionism, according to a Japanese Ministry of Finance official.

    In an attempt to reduce the region’s vulnerability to dollar swings, Japan also proposed forming 40 billion dollars in bilateral currency swap arrangements with Southeast Asian nations that will allow it to provide yen funds in times of financial stress.

    The finance leaders and central bank governors of the three nations said in a communiqué issued after their meeting that they agreed that trade was one of the most important engines of economic growth and development.

    “It will contribute to productivity improvements and job creations.

    “We will resist all forms of protectionism,” the communiqué said, keeping a line that was removed under pressure from Washington from a G20 communique in March when the group’s finance leaders met in Germany.

    China has positioned itself as a supporter of free trade in the wake of Trump’s calls to put America’s interest first and pull out of multilateral trade agreements.

    Japan has taken a more accommodative stance toward Washington’s argument that trade must not just be free but fair.

    ADB President Takehiko Nakao, a former top Japanese currency diplomat, has sought to dispel the view Japan and China are competing for influence.

    He had said on Thursday that his institution sought to cooperate not compete in the region.

    The talks came amid escalating tensions in North Korea, which moderated some of the optimism policymakers held over Asian’s economic outlook.

    While the trilateral meeting’s communiqué said Asian economies were expected to maintain “relatively robust growth”, it warned remaining downside risks meant policymakers would require all necessary tools to achieve strong growth.

  • Niger woos Chinese investors

    In a bid to rejuvenate the state economy, Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has said his administration will partner with Chinese investors in the most critical areas of the state.

    The governor was speaking at the just concluded Nigeria-China Governors’ Investment Forum in Guangzhou, China, assuring investors of adequate security, friendly tax regime and protective legislation in his state.

    In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr. Jide Orintunsin, Governor Bello also said he would like the Chinese to re-energise the small and medium enterprise and reposition agriculture in the state.

    The governor held meetings with a vast spectrum of Chinese investors, seeking their cooperation and investment in infrastructure projects such as energy, highways, railways, airport, agriculture, tourism, youth and women empowerment.

    The governor noted that having the largest arable land mass in the country and with the highest collection of water bodies, Niger State is open to investors, even those in agriculture.

    “Ours is an agrarian state. Our land is fertile for virtually all farm produce, the large collection of water bodies make investment in the agricultural sector of the state a viable and profitable one.

  • Nigeria records highest Chinese outbound visitors to Africa

    Nigeria recorded the highest number of Chinese outbound visitors to Africa in 2016 with a total number of 200,000 visitors to the country.

    The report was released on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the 59th Conference of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa and High Level Meeting on Chinese Outbound Tourists to Africa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, led the Nigerian delegation to the conference.

    According to the report, Nigeria is ahead of other acclaimed tourist destinations like Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and the Gambia.

    It stated that there were 157 million Chinese outbound visitors globally in the year in review out of which 3.2 million came to Africa and 260 billion dollar were spent on the whole.

    Reacting to the report, the minister said that comparatively, it is an indication that the tourism sector is picking up in the country.

    He said with the appropriate policies and legal framework that the government is putting in place, the country will maximise it to advantage.

    Mohammed, however, noted that Africa and indeed Nigeria have a lot to do to develop and promote tourism sector to attract more tourists.

    “Tourism contributes 10 per cent to global GDP but the African share of this is low.

    “When you look at this statistics that of the 137 million Chinese outbound visitors globally, spending about 260 billion dollars only 3.2 billion dollars came to Africa and 200,000 to Nigeria, that is not good enough.

    “Nigeria and Africa need to invest more in promoting tourism and there must be enough messages about the continent to attract tourists,” he said.

    The minister said that one of the objectives of the conference was to promote Africa and see how the continent could benefit more from what China have to offer.

    He added that the ongoing campaign for Africa to take up the leadership of UNWTO would be of huge advantage in improving the tourism sector in the continent.

    NAN reports that the the current UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Riffai, a Jordanian national, is due to stand down from the post at the end of 2017.

    The African Union (AU) has reportedly endorsed the Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Walter Mzembi’s candidature for the post which is being keenly contested by members from other continents.

    Another African, Mr Alain St. Ange, a former Seychelles Minister of Tourism is also a candidate for the exalted office of the UNWTO Secretary General

    In an interview with NAN correspondent covering the conference, Rifai, the outgoing UNWTO Secretary General, said the high level meeting on Chinese outbound tourists to Africa aimed to exchange national experiences and tourism border development.

    Rifai said the conference was organised to create synergy among African countries and promote Africa as tourists destination.

    He commended Mohammed for his passion for the industry and his initiative to bring Nigeria back to the UNWTO fold in 2016 after many years on non participation in the activities of the global tourism body.

    Rifai said the endorsement of Nigeria for the hosting of UNWTO Conference of Africa Tourism Ministers in 2018 is a catalyst for the realisation of the Federal Government agenda to bring tourism to the mainstream.