CNAD-#113- China's ???????????????????Updates about ????+(??????????????????????????????????????????)

Everyday Briefing: 2024-07-13

????China Internal??

??China has allocated over 1.8 billion yuan (about 255.49 million US dollars) to disaster relief efforts since the start of the flood season, according to Xu Xianbiao, deputy head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. The country has also arranged tonnes of supplies and mobilized tens of thousands of rescue personnel to flood-affected regions. Measures to ensure people's safety and minimize losses include deploying inspection teams to flood-prone areas, enhancing monitoring and early warning systems, and bolstering rescue and disaster relief work. However, China still faces a critical situation regarding flood control and relief as the peak period of intense rainfall approaches. China's Ministry of Emergency Management and other government departments have sent 13,000 disaster relief items to Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province in southwest China. The items include emergency kits, folding beds, and quilts. The ministry emphasizes the importance of ensuring reservoir safety during the flood season and urges local authorities to conduct thorough inspections. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters maintains a Level-III emergency response to flooding in Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hunan, and a Level-IV response in Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Hubei, Sichuan, and Chongqing.

??Shanghai Municipality has issued China's first e-visa, marking a significant move towards promoting electronic visas. A Singaporean man, Chung, arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport with an e-visa issued by the Government Affairs of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. The e-visa digitalises traditional paper visas, allowing applicants to enter and stay with their passport and electronic visa. The National Immigration Administration piloted the issuance of e-visas in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Shanghai FTZ). The Shanghai Public Security Bureau now issues e-visas for visitors, business, talent, work, and personal affairs. An e-visa is valid for a single entry, with an entry validity of 15 days and a stay period of 30 days.

??Science and Technology??

??China's largest natural uranium production project, developed by China National Nuclear Corporation, has begun construction in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The project, part of the China Atomic Energy Authority's nuclear industry development plan, will feature green, economical, intelligent, and efficient operations. The advanced mining process will use carbon dioxide and oxygen leaching, achieving zero emissions of water, gas, and solid wastes. The project will integrate advanced technologies like automation, remote control, and big data analysis for intelligent operation analysis and precise mining. Once completed, the project will enhance China's capacity for natural uranium supply and improve the independent innovation capability of the natural uranium industry. Natural uranium is crucial for China's nuclear industry development and national security.

??Chinese firm Moja EV Kenya has started rolling out public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to promote green transport in the country. The 80 KW DC fast charging stations aim to improve the convenience of motorists relying on electricity. Moja EV Kenya plans to have 100 charging stations across the country by the end of the year. The stations will charge electric vehicles to full capacity within 15-30 minutes, reducing downtime and increasing driving range. Kenya has implemented supportive policies to incentivize EV charging infrastructure deployment, with charging stations receiving preferential electricity tariffs.

?? Windrose Technology, a Chinese electric long-haul truck start-up, is partnering with Europe to develop electric heavy trucks. The company plans to establish its European headquarters and first factory in Belgium, creating around 3,000 local jobs. Its assembly plant in Antwerp is expected to produce 10,000 electric trucks annually by 2027. The European Union is focusing on expanding electric transportation to become climate-neutral by 2050, making Europe a significant market for electric heavy trucks. Han believes that addressing global carbon dioxide emissions through electrification in Europe is crucial. The company is considering localizing its supply chain in Europe and leveraging local production capabilities, with plans to construct a battery factory. The company's electric heavy truck completed a 3,100-km single-trip road test in May across Europe.

???A joint scientific expedition team has successfully drilled a lake sediment core in Nam Co, the world's highest saltwater lake in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, reaching a depth exceeding 400 meters. The project, which is of great significance in the country's lake drilling and paleoclimate study, has gathered information about rocks, soil, vegetation, rivers, and human activities in the catchment. The lake is an enclosed lake that gathers information about climate and environmental changes on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau over the past one million years. The expedition, launched in early June, is a joint effort by an ITP research team, scientists, and drilling technicians from Germany, Switzerland, Britain, and the United States. The collected lake sediment cores will be transferred to and scanned at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP) for further analyses.

??China Unveiled??

????A seminar on "Ibn Battuta and China" was held at the Chinese Culture Center in Morocco, where experts and scholars discussed the contemporary value and significance of Ibn Battuta's travelogue, "The Rihla." Chinese Ambassador to Morocco, Li Changlin, paid tribute to Battuta's visits to Morocco in the 14th century and praised the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. The seminar reflected the enduring charm of "The Rihla" and the dialogue between civilizations through the spread of classic literature. Nasser Bouchiba, chairman of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco, called on Arab scholars to learn from Battuta's philosophy and deepen comprehensive cooperation with China.

????Kerry Brown, a professor of Chinese Studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London, has urged Britain not to fear changes in China. He believes it is not in their interest to be defensive and stop working with China in areas like the environment. Brown leads one of the most influential China study centres in Europe, which serves as a bridge for people in both countries to understand each other. He emphasized the need for high-level contact between the two countries and fostering more people-to-people interactions among businesspeople and students. Brown released a new book to explore the history of interaction and power shifts between the UK and China after observing a significant deterioration in bilateral relations following the COVID-19 pandemic. He suggested that the UK should focus on domestic development to meet economic and decarbonization targets and have a clear and pragmatic relationship with China.

??Business China??

??China's aviation sector recorded nearly 350 million passenger trips in the first half of this year, a 23.5% year-on-year increase, according to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Domestic routes saw a 16.4% increase, while international routes saw a 254.4% increase. The civil aviation market's freight transport volume also surpassed 4.17 million tonnes, up 27.4% year-on-year. The surge in foreign travel was attributed to measures introduced since January to facilitate entry into China for business, education, and tourism. Xu Qing, deputy head of the transport department of CAAC, predicts that domestic passenger transport will continue to grow in the second half of the year and international passenger transport will recover further.

China's civil aviation sector is predicted to handle around 133 million passenger trips during the summer travel rush, with an average daily air passenger trip of 2.15 million, a 10% increase from the same period in 2019 before the pandemic and moderate growth of 5% from the same period last year. The top five destination cities for domestic flights are Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Kunming, with small cities and towns with unique scenery also becoming more popular.

???? China's Chery has become the best-selling brand in the Turkish market during the first half of 2024, selling 34,501 cars. Germany's Volkswagen followed closely behind with 30,680 units sold. Chery's sales in June reached 7,511 vehicles out of 61,972 imported cars, indicating its strong market presence. The Turkish automotive sales between January and June saw a 7.3% increase year-on-year, reaching 462,955 cars. SUVs were the most preferred vehicle type, accounting for 54.8% of total sales, with 253,667 units sold in the first half of 2024. The Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association reports a surge in interest in Chery's cars.

???? China-Guinea-Bissau has boosted its fishery sector and infrastructure, contributing to the development of the Western African country. The China-supported Alto Bandim Fishing Port project, completed in May 2023, has significantly benefited the local population, particularly in Bissau. The port has introduced modern fishing techniques and created jobs and training opportunities, attracting many fishermen and hiring over a thousand locals. China and Guinea-Bissau have reached a strategic partnership, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo pledging to continue their cooperation. Xi welcomed high-quality agricultural products from Guinea-Bissau to the Chinese market and encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in the country, helping to transform its resource potential into development momentum.

???? Chinese oil firm China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has donated a second batch of computer equipment to the University of Juba in South Sudan. The donation includes 25 computers and 15 UPS equipment for the School of Computer Science and Information Technology. CNPC is committed to improving South Sudan's education and will continue to work with the university to ensure smooth crude oil transportation through Port Sudan. The university's vice-chancellor, Robert Mayom Kuoirot, commended CNPC and other Chinese firms for their support in critical economic and development sectors. He also highlighted the need for cooperation with CNPC to provide practical training for university students in geology, minerals, and environmental science. The relationship between South Sudan and China has remained resilient since its independence in 2011. More than 500 South Sudanese nationals have attended capacity-building training and seminars in China.

??China's equipment manufacturing sector experienced a profit gain of 11.5% YoY in January-May, driving up the country's overall industrial profit by 3.6 percentage points. Along with aircraft carriers and cruise ships, the sector is known as the "three jewels in the crown" of the shipbuilding industry. However, the raw material manufacturing sector was the major drag, with profits from mining, fossil material processing, and component manufacturing industries suffering major losses. The first five months saw slower growth, with the figure down by 0.9 percentage points to 3.4% YoY. Rising expenses in raw materials, labour, and manufacturing expenses are the direct causes, as the operating cost rate of industrial firms stands at 85.34 per cent, a record high since November 2017.

???China-Foreign Affairs??

???? Bissau's Sino-Guinea-Bissau Friendship Hospital, a vital healthcare facility, has been awarded the "National Medal of Honor for Cooperation and Development" to China's 19th medical team in the country. The Chinese doctors have received numerous thanks for their service, including acupuncture treatments for chronic back pain relief. The director of the hospital, Ramalho Cunda, expressed his admiration for the Chinese doctors' dedication and professionalism. The 20th Chinese medical team, consisting of 16 members, aims to improve local medical conditions, care for patients, and safeguard the health of Guinea-Bissau's people. Guinea-Bissau also has a unique school called the China-Guinea-Bissau Friendship School, which has received donations from the Chinese embassy and companies. The school serves as a platform for educational cooperation and strengthens the friendship between the two countries.

Farmers in Bafata, Guinea-Bissau, have seen their rice production quadruple due to Chinese agricultural expertise. Thanks to the meandering Geba River, the town's good conditions for rice production have helped boost income and enable him to buy essentials like a new motorcycle and children's clothing. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed China's willingness to continue supporting Guinea-Bissau's domestic construction, sending rice experts and medical teams to ensure food security and develop public health. Since 1998, the Chinese Agricultural Technical Assistance Team has been established in the Bafata area, with over 230 experts dispatched. The team has introduced and selected 37 rice varieties in the country, with rice yields increasing from 1.4 tons per hectare to 4.9 tons per hectare in three regions, including Bafata.

?? Around 600 million people in Africa still live without electricity despite the continent's vast renewable energy potential. With the increasing availability of affordable Chinese clean and renewable energy products and technologies, a bright future driven by a green transition is in sight. Africa boasts rich renewable energy resources like solar and wind power, making it ideal for developing the photovoltaic industry. In some remote African villages, photovoltaic panels are used to develop small solar power stations that provide electricity to nearby households, improving living conditions and boosting economic activity. Kenya generates around 87% of its electricity from renewable sources, such as geothermal, hydro, solar, and wind energy. The Garissa Solar Power Plant, constructed by a Chinese company, is the largest grid-connected solar power plant in East and Central Africa.

????Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai, in Beijing, and expressed China's readiness to work with the Pacific island country to jointly build a China-Vanuatu community. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Vanuatu relations and is ready to deepen political mutual trust, promote the high-quality building of the Belt and Road, and enhance friendly cooperation. China hopes to exchange state governance experience with Vanuatu, share development opportunities, and enhance the synergy of development strategies. China is ready to deepen practical cooperation in infrastructure, economy, trade, investment, climate change, and encourage enterprises to invest in Vanuatu. China is committed to equality among all countries and adheres to the principle of combining justice with interests while prioritizing justice.

??Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong met with UNAIDS under-secretary-general Winnie Byanyima in Beijing. Liu highlighted China's importance to health and HIV/AIDS prevention and control, stating that the epidemic is under control but still faces challenges. He expressed willingness to increase cooperation with UNAIDS to improve the health and well-being of both China and the global population. Byanyima expressed appreciation for China's effectiveness in HIV/AIDS prevention and control and expressed willingness to deepen practical cooperation.

???? China hopes regional countries will remain committed to Asia-Pacific cooperation and promote peace, stability, development, and prosperity, rather than promoting NATO's expansion into the region. China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, emphasized that NATO, a Cold War remnant and the world's largest military bloc, is hyping up regional tensions and creating pretexts to engage Asia-Pacific countries. He emphasized that Northeast Asia, once ravaged by war, values peaceful coexistence, solidarity, and mutually beneficial cooperation. The Asia-Pacific does not need military blocs, major-country confrontation, or clubs pushing for a new Cold War.

China has strongly condemned the NATO Secretary General's provocative remarks against China, which are rooted in Cold War mentality and ideological bias. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that China has become a significant enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine, and that China's joint military exercise with Belarus fits into this pattern. Stoltenberg also criticized China's assertive behavior in Hong Kong and the South China Sea, threatening Taiwan and neighboring countries. China denies the NATO Secretary General's accusations, stating that he has repeatedly attacked China's system, interfered in its internal affairs, and distorted its domestic and diplomatic policies. China has made its position clear on the Ukraine issue and the NATO Summit, and the Secretary General has been playing up the "China threat" narrative and inciting suspicion about China and anti-China sentiments. These clumsy stunts have raised concerns about the risks and challenges NATO, as a vestige of the Cold War, will bring to world peace and stability.

?? China has made significant progress in defense and security cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to a Chinese military spokesperson. China has actively participated in SCO meetings, including those among international military cooperation departments of SCO member states, and reached cooperation intentions on international and regional security issues. The defense departments and militaries of SCO countries have engaged in extensive exchanges in fields such as medicine, transportation, and humanitarian rescue. The Chinese military is committed to deepening defense and security cooperation with other SCO countries to contribute more to world and regional peace and development.

??China's top legislator Zhao Leji attended the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and delivered speeches. He emphasized the long-term friendly cooperation between the legislative bodies of the BRICS countries and their role in deepening the BRICS strategic partnership. This year's forum, held after the expansion of the BRICS membership, reflects the momentum of seeking strength through unity among Global South members. Zhao stressed that the legislative bodies of BRICS should promote openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, consolidate BRICS unity, promote pragmatic cooperation, and promote high-quality development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism. He also emphasized the importance of upholding fairness and justice to safeguard world peace and security, sharing results to promote common prosperity, and openness and inclusiveness to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. He expressed China's willingness to work with BRICS partners and other developing countries to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

????Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Gabonese Minister of Foreign Affairs Regis Onanga Ndiaye, Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rafaravavitafika Rasata, and former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon at the Second High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing. Wang emphasized the Global Development Initiative's response to developing countries' urgent need for accelerated development and expressed gratitude for Gabon's participation in the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. He expressed willingness to work with African countries to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promote the development and revitalization of the African continent. Wang also expressed support for Madagascar's active participation in the implementation of measures to support African industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent development.

??Cultural??Insights ??

??????The 19th Chinese medical team for Malta, led by Feng Hua, delivered a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) lecture to elderly residents at the Siggiewi Day Centre in southern Malta. The team taught attendees how to locate acupuncture points on the body and introduced acupuncture point massage methods. The medical team also gave the elderly black plum tea, mung bean cakes, and mosquito repellent incense bags. Chen Guihua, counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malta, expressed China's willingness to deepen cooperation and exchanges in health and wellness. Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, parliamentary secretary for active ageing, expressed confidence that TCM would become more popular in Malta and look forward to stronger collaboration between the two countries in the health sector and beyond. Despite differences in population and land area, Malta and China are cooperating closely and achieving excellent results.

Stay Tuned with China News Analysis Daily Newsletter: Published and Upcoming Editions this month.

?? CNAD-Policy-Relevant Analysis-Monday Review

?? CNAD-Deep Dive -Weekly Report

?? CNAD-Global Perspectives - Monthly Report

?? CNAD-Engagement and Dialogue

Stay informed and engaged! Feel free to share your insights and thoughts in the comments below.