CNAD-#86- China's ?????????Updates about ????+(??????????????????) &??????????

Everyday Briefing: 2024-06-16

????China Internal??

???China's National Meteorological Center has issued a yellow alert for high temperatures in several regions, including Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan Basin, and Hainan Island. The center predicts maximum temperatures of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius in some areas, with some even exceeding 40 degrees. The center advises avoiding outdoor activities and taking precautionary measures to protect vulnerable groups.

In the south, China's Ministry of Water Resources has issued a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in four southern regions. Heavy rain is expected to hit Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan, and Guizhou from Friday to Sunday, causing water levels in major rivers to surpass warning thresholds. Some minor regional rivers are predicted to experience severe flooding, while hilly areas are more prone to heavy torrents. Working teams have been dispatched to Fujian and Guangxi to provide flood prevention instruction. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency-response system, with Level I being the most severe response.

Heavy rainfall has affected 51,500 people in Nanping, Sanming, and other cities in east China's Fujian Province, with 27,000 residents evacuated. Over 3,133 hectares of crops were damaged. From June 9 to 14, 386 townships recorded accumulative precipitation of over 100mm, with Huangkeng Township of Nanping City reporting the highest. Local emergency repair staff have helped households restore power supply in Nanping.

??Gansu Province in northwest China has achieved a seven-quarters national economic growth rate since 2022, according to local authorities. The province's focus is on strengthening technologies and industries, while advancing the development of the provincial capital and counties. The economic aggregate reached 1.18 trillion yuan in 2012, 2.2 times higher than in 2012. To achieve long-term high-quality development, Gansu plans to revitalize old industrial bases, develop new productive forces, and accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system.

??Science and Technology??

??Chinese experts have trained a farmer in Cape Verde, Africa, on soil management and pest control, resulting in higher crop yields. The training is part of a soil management and pest control program organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the FAO-China South-South Program. The program aims to improve food production and nutritional security in the country by providing agricultural technical assistance through Chinese experts. The training has helped Africa increase food production, with super rice varieties provided by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences reaching 57,000 hectares in Africa, registering an average yield of over 20% higher than local varieties. A cassava variety introduced by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences produces four times more cassava than local varieties. Former president of the African Academy of Sciences, Felix Dapare Dakora, aims to end the hunger problem in Africa and ensure access to nutritious food for all.

??Business China??

??The EU's new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) may backfire as they could destabilize the global supply chain and trigger trade frictions. European consumers may face additional inflation due to the tariffs, as they may influence the development of Chinese companies. The European Commission has announced the level of protectionist provisional duties it would impose on imports of battery EVs from China. Western automakers that have established production hubs in China face risks, as more than half of the Chinese-made all-electric vehicles sold in the EU last year were manufactured by Western car manufacturers. Dissenting voices, such as those in Germany, argue that the tariffs may destroy benign competition, slowing down electrification and digital transformation of the European automobile industry.

Notably, China's auto sales increased by 8.3% YoY to nearly 11.5 million units in the first five months of 2024, with May's sales reaching 2.42 million units, a 1.5% YoY increase.

??Chinese Premier Li Qiang has emphasized the importance of upgrading China's economic structure to create new opportunities for global development. During a visit to New Zealand, he met with representatives from various industrial and commercial circles. He highlighted the accelerated changes in the world today, the lack of momentum in global economic recovery, and increasing instability and uncertainty in international economic and trade cooperation. He urged enterprises to capitalize on unexpected opportunities and capitalize on changing circumstances to excel in market competition. He urged entrepreneurs to continue striving for success, seizing opportunities through openness, driving innovation, and achieving win-win results. China's modernization through high-quality development will lead to new market demands, increased demand for high-quality goods, new areas of cooperation in emerging industries, and faster growth in service trade and cross-border e-commerce.

???China-Foreign Affairs??

????Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited New Zealand on the first leg of his three-nation tour, where he met with New Zealand's Governor-General Cindy Kiro. The visit marked the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country and the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and New Zealand. The relationship has steadily strengthened over the past decade, with New Zealand being among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with China and the first developed nation to sign and implement a bilateral free trade agreement with China. New Zealand also took the lead among Western developed countries in recognizing China's full market economy status. The recognition of China in these 'first ways' is a reflection of New Zealand's culture and political position, reflecting its strong independence without necessarily following strong influence from other countries.

????The Second China-U.S. Track 1.5 Dialogue in Beijing focused on sharing perspectives and finding solutions on key issues. 30 representatives from both countries, including John Thornton, attended the dialogue. Both agreed that stable development of China-U.S. relations aligns with their interests and international community expectations. They agreed to maintain peaceful coexistence, avoid conflicts, and strengthen communication. They agreed to deepen cooperation in areas like economy, trade, climate change, health, and artificial intelligence, and expand people-to-people exchanges, particularly among youth. Both sides agreed to strengthen risk management and handle differences to address global challenges.

????China and Indonesia have agreed to work together to strengthen their bilateral relations, following a meeting of the China-Indonesia High-Level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism. Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, said that next year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. China is ready to use the mechanism to set a fine example for developing relations between major developing countries with high-level strategic mutual trust, complementarity in various fields, and all-round and coordinated development. The two sides should ensure the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway remains a shining example of Belt and Road cooperation, advance the construction of flagship projects, expand cooperation in digital economy, green development, and maritime cooperation.

????Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu met with Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Bater, who emphasized the close relationship between China and the Maldives. Bater emphasized China's importance in developing ties with the Maldives and expressed willingness to work together to implement a strategic cooperative partnership and build a shared future. Muizzu thanked China for its long-term support for Maldives' economic and social development.

???? The collaboration between China and Indonesia, a pioneer of the Maritime Silk Road, has strengthened economic and cultural ties. The West Kalimantan New Industry City, backed by Hangzhou Jinjiang Group, is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. The park will feature a 1-million-tonne alumina manufacturing plant, power facilities, and a port with an annual cargo handling capacity of 10 million tonnes. The 6.8-square-km industrial park is expected to create over 1,000 local jobs and generate an estimated annual tax revenue of 726 billion Indonesian rupiah (about 44.64 million U.S. dollars). Mahnitra joined the Shanxi Pinglu Aluminum Factory last year, where his curriculum includes alumina production operations, equipment maintenance, and the Chinese language.

??China's Ministry of National Defense will host a seminar for senior military officers from China and Arab states from June 18 to July 2, organized by Beijing-based People's Liberation Army National Defense University. The event aims to implement the outcomes of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, deepen defense cooperation, and promote a China-Arab community with a shared future.

??Cultural??Insights ??

???The Overseas Chinese History Museum of China in Beijing has opened an exhibition on Chinese laborers in Europe during WWI. The 110th anniversary of WWI saw around 140,000 Chinese laborers recruited to the western front, working on road repairs, fortifications, and battlefield cleanup. The exhibition features over 500 pictures and over 80 artifacts, aiming to commemorate the glory and sacrifice of Chinese laborers and remind us to cherish today's peace.

???China's tourism industry is reclaiming its top spot as the top international spender in 2023, with Chinese tourists abroad spending 196.5 billion U.S. dollars, surpassing the US and Germany. Inbound tourism is also resurging, with China's central and local governments implementing policy packages to ease foreign tourist barriers. For example, the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum welcomed 122,877 visitors during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, a 150 percent increase from the previous year. The museum introduced a platform allowing tourists from 39 countries and regions to make reservations using 24 languages and 29 currencies, helping more than 5,700 foreign tourists. Similar measures are being adopted in other cities, such as the "Shanghai Pass," a multi-purpose prepaid card for foreign visitors.

??China's railways handled 1.73 billion passenger trips in the first five months of this year, a 20.2% year-on-year growth. On average, 10,463 passenger trains were operated daily, up 12.7% YoY. Railway passenger trips reached a record high of over 20.69 million on the first day of the May Day holiday. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed Railway reported 10.78 million trips, up 79.3% from the previous year. China-Laos railway reported 107,000 cross-border trips.

??The Ministry of Education and the National Cultural Heritage Administration are collaborating to improve the training of skilled professionals in cultural heritage-related majors in vocational schools. The aim is to ensure that the training aligns with the practical needs of the sector. The education ministry will issue guidance to local governments on developing relevant specialties, focusing on areas such as ancient architecture engineering and archaeological skills. The ministry also requires the opening of new courses on heritage-related digital technologies and mural and sculpture protection. The plan also calls for improved teacher quality and the use of experienced field workers as part-time teachers.

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