NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Sixth CIIE to hold promo events in Africa to assist African countries to export to China

Multinational corporations are eagerly anticipating the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which has been hailed as a signature event that reflects China’s opening-up, an avenue to showcase innovative solutions, and a golden opportunity to tap the potential of the country’s vast market.

The CIIE Bureau will be holding promotional events for the sixth CIIE in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda from May 10 to 19.

The events will highlight the CIIE’s supporting policies for African countries and encourage companies from least developed countries (LDCs) to participate in the annual expo.

As a major platform for international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchanges and open cooperation, the CIIE has been held for five consecutive years and is widely regarded as an international public good and a boon for economic globalization and multilateral trade.

The previous editions of the CIIE were attended by 51 heads of African states and governments, including the presidents of Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Mauritania, and Mozambique, and the prime minister of Egypt.

On average, more than 100 African companies have participated in each edition of the expo.

Statistics show that China has been the largest trade partner of Africa for 13 consecutive years, with the bilateral trade volume worth more than $282 billion in 2022. According to Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic adviser to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the CIIE presents African companies with a rare opportunity to seize market opportunities in China and around the world.

The hosting of the CIIE is also a concrete measure to implement the Istanbul and Doha Programme of Action for LDCs, execute eight major initiatives of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, strengthen South-South cooperation, and promote regional trade integration and trade facilitation.

Over the past five years, the CIIE has consistently invited LDCs and provided them with free booths, construction subsidies and preferential tax policies for the retention and purchase pf exhibits. Goods from LDCs have been constantly introduced to the Chinese market through the expo and widely accepted by Chinese consumers.

The sixth edition of the CIIE will be held offline in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. More than 500 enterprises have already booked over 260,000 square meters of exhibition area. Many CEOs of industry giants have confirmed their attendance of the sixth expo. Notably, the physical country exhibition will also make its return this year.

As a key part of the annual expo, the sixth Hongqiao International Economic Forum will invite more high-profile government officials, Nobel Prize laureates, academicians, and senior executives of industrial pacesetters from home and abroad to discuss global issues, including the opening-up of the service sector, digital infrastructure construction and South-South Cooperation.

There are less than 200 days left until the sixth CIIE. With so many showing interest in attending the expo, exhibition space is quickly running out. Be sure to make the right call and secure your booth at the sixth CIIE before it is too late!

https://www.ciie.org/exhibition/f/book/register?locale=en

Contact:Ms. Cui Yan

Tel.:0086-21-968888

Email:ciie2022@ciie.org

Website:http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitter:https://twitter.com/ciieonline

 

 

Peju Ugboma’s death avoidable – Coroner

 

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

A coroner’s inquest into the death of a Lagos-based chef, Mrs Adepeju Ugboma, has determined that her death was avoidable and resulted from  medical negligence.

The Coroner, Chief Magistrate Mukaila Fadeyi, gave the verdict on Thursday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ugboma  died on April 25, 2021, after undergoing  hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) in a bid to remove fibroids.

The surgery was carried  on April 23, 2021, at the Premier Medical Centre, Lekki, Lagos State.

Late Mrs Peju Ugboma

Ugboma was  transferred to Evercare Hospital  due to complications from the surgery but was pronounced dead shortly after.

The coroner said that the surgery lacked due diligence on the part of the physicians who performed it.

According to him, an autopsy revealed that the deceased died from massive inter-abdominal bleeding, as 500ml of blood and 900ml of clotted blood were found in her abdomen.

Fadeyi said that the deceased’s medical history was poorly documented and that doctors of Premier Medical Centre failed to involve appropriate surgeons.

According to him, absence of vital machines and unwillingness of the doctors to address the issues immediately after surgery, were questionable.

The coroner noted that  the deceased was a wife and a dutiful mother whose dreams of a great future with her family was cut short.

He recommended that the  code of ethics for medical practitioners should be tightly reviewed, adding that relevant  agencies should do more sensitisation for members of the public to know their rights.

“State Governments should not limit funds to  state-owned hospitals but extend funding to private hospitals.

“Government and medical regulators should ensure that the standards by World Health Organisation for Packed-Cell Volume (PCV) of 38 per cent before any surgical operation should be maintained,” he added.

The coroner said that he could not award damages as requested by counsel to the Ugboma Family, noting that he only carried out an inquest.

Fadeyi commended the widower of the deceased, Mr Ijeoma Ugboma, and his family for seeking the truth.

Reacting  to the verdict, the counsel, Mr Babatunde Ogungbami, said: “The dead is gone and will have to rest in perfect peace but I love the doggedness of the husband to seek the truth, to seek a closure.

“He decided to see through, and today it becomes very clear that we really need to pay particular attention to medical services in Nigeria.

“Clearly, this has been confirmed as medical negligence.

“The woman died leaving her children, and she paid a lot to get the best medical services yet, what happened?

‘Government has to come up and look to see how to rejig the system.”

NAN reports that a pathologist, Dr Olugbenga Oluwole, had in 2021 testified that there was an ‘abnormal’ massive collection of blood in the  deceased’s abdominal cavity.

NAN also reports that sometime in November 2021, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Nigeria indicted three doctors at Premier Specialist Hospital, Lagos, with regard to the death of Ugboma.

The doctors are Akiseku  Kazeem, Kelechi Renner and Motunrayo Amadu.

The indictment followed a petition by Mr Ijeoma Ugboma. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Ijeoma Popoola

FCTA orders enrollment of pensioners in health insurance scheme

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the Director of FCT Health Insurance Scheme to register its pensioners in the scheme.

The Director, FCTA Human Resource Management, Bashir Muhammad, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, disclosed that the Permanent Secretary FCTA, Adesola Olusade, gave the directive during a meeting with the officials of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, FCT chapter.

He said that the permanent secretary’s decision was to give the retired staffers a sense of belonging, as well keep to the promise they had in December 2022, with the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello.

Muhammad said: “We have directed that all FCTA pensioners should be enrolled in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, and the registration is in progress, forms have been issued to the retirees to be filled, so that they will be captured.”

The director also said that the FCT administration was only owing its retired staffers consequential increment which arose from the national minimum wage implementation.

He added: “What the FCTA is owing the pensioners is the consequential increment that arose from the minimum wage implementation, we are on it. The budgetary processes have to be completed.”

On the zero-balance payment, he said that the FCT pension department was also working with the pensioners to ensure that everybody whose monies were deducted should be paid within one week.

“FCT administration has been applauded for not owing its pensioners.The only issue is between the bank and the consequential increment that had accrued as the result of the minimum wage implementation.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

The fifth CIIE to welcome more participants

The China International Import Expo, which has been widely hailed as the premiere platform for foreign businesses to tap into the myriad opportunities in the Chinese market, will be held in Shanghai for the fifth time from Nov 5 to 10.

A total of 145 countries, regions and international organizations have confirmed their participation, according to Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau, who made the remarks at a press conference on Nov 1.

The world’s first national-level import-themed trade fair launched in 2018, the expo will once again comprise a business exhibition, a country exhibition and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

Eight countries – Nicaragua, Djibouti, Mauritania, Comoros, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Iceland – will attend the country exhibition for the first time.

In addition, all member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will have companies taking part in the expo. The number of participating countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has also increased.

A total of 284 of the world’s top 500 enterprises and industry giants will be present at the business exhibition, and hundreds of new products, technologies and services will be exhibited at the six major exhibition areas – Food and Agricultural Products, Intelligent Industry and Information Technology, Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products, Consumer Goods, Trade in Services, and Automobiles, Sun said.

In line with the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and targets through 2035, the event has established special subsections for the crop seed industry and artificial intelligence, optimized the special subsection for low-carbon energy and environmental protection technology, and expanded the innovation and incubation subsection. More than 150 startups specialized in technological equipment, consumer products, and the medical and automotive fields will present their products and services at the innovation and incubation subsection.

An integral part of the CIIE, this year’s Hongqiao International Economic Forum will focus more on topics related to global openness, with the number of sub-forums expanding from 14 to 24.

Some parallel sessions will be co-hosted by ministries and commissions, think tanks and a number of international organizations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Global Compact, etc. Five of these forums will have keynote speeches delivered by Nobel laureates.

Nearly 20 authoritative reports, including the World Openness Report 2022, will be released during the forum.

 

Contact:Ms. Cui Yan

Tel.:0086-21-968888

Email:ciie2022@ciie.org

Website:http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitter:https://twitter.com/ciieonline

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS

Nigerians, elections are here again

Let us shun violence

Let us play the game according to the rules

Do not be a thug

Say no to violence

Let’s rise and defeat violence, crime and sabotage against peace of our nation

Nigeria is the only country we have

We must do everything to keep it united.

We must avoid any act that promotes hate and disintegration.

Say no to separatist movement, terrorism, fake news, hate speech, religious
bigotry and any act that tends to divide us as a nation.

Watch out for strange gatherings and suspicious movements. Restrict access to
sensitive documents and data, the disclosure of which may damage National
Security.

Educate your staff and family particularly on measures to safeguard information
and report security breaches.

Apply relevant legal security guidelines to protect yourselves and your
neighbours.

Due to misinformation and wrong choices,some idle persons resort to vices in their greed to get rich quick.

They resort to kidnapping, killings for rituals and other heinous crimes.

Avoid wrong use of the social media.

Before your broadcast that false message, think twice.

Ask whether it will promote peace or violence.

For safety at home, still be security conscious.

Educate your household on safety tips.

Report all suspicious movements and persons to the security agencies nearest to
you.

Be a Good Citizen! Be patriotic!

To pass security information, call: 08132222105, 09153391309, 09088373514 or send a mail to dsspr@dss.gov.ng

(This message is from the Department of State Services, DSS)

FAAN TAXI APP

THE EXPLAINER

Eight facts about the new FAANTaxi App

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recently inaugurated its TaxiApp for booking trips and the initiative is starting with the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

Here are eight facts that you need to know about the app:

1. The FAAN App can be accessed on Google Play Store

2. The App is only available for trips that have either the pickup or drop off location at the airport.

3. For users who do not wish to have the App on their mobile devices, rides can be booked at the arrival lounge in the domestic arrival terminal while those who wish to schedule rides in advance have the option of doing so on the App.

4. Users are required to provide details in order to secure their account on FAANTaxi. Once an account has been created for the user, access to the features and services provided by FAANTaxi is granted.

5. Users are given options of standard or executive cars while estimated price and details of driver will be provided.

6. Details of driver including name as well as phone numbers, number plates of vehicle model to be provided.

7. FAANTaxi has a tracking system which would be updated in due time to include trip progress and whether completed or not.

8. All taxi operators at the airport are to be registered on FAANTaxi and passengers will call the drivers using the app thus eliminating touting.

China Matters documents the encounter of an American family and the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group in Guizhou

Among dozens of minority groups in southwestern China’s Guizhou province, the Dong ethnic group is widely known for its tradition of passing on culture and knowledge in music, especially in “dage”, or Grand Song in Chinese.

As a group art form, Grand Songs are performed formally in the drum-tower, a landmark venue for rituals, entertainment and meetings in a Dong village. Most of the choir are women aged from teens to elders.

Narrating history, daily life and romance stories of the Dong ethnic group, Grand Song performances have become an attraction for tourists visiting Dong villages. The art form remains a crucial symbol of Dong ethnic identify and cultural heritage.

The Dong ethnic group has around 3 million population in China, most of whom more traditional Dong live in eastern Guizhou. The Dong people attach great importance to preserving their traditions and remembering their origins. Songs are believed by them to be a good way to appreciate their origins.

To observe and experience this tradition in person, American vlogger Brenna and her family visited a Dong village in southeastern Guizhou. The family learned to sing the Grand Song with a local choir and joined their performance. They also experienced other local folk arts such as printing and dyeing.

 

Contact: Zhong Lei

Tel:008610-68996566

E-mail:ervinz@cnmatters.com

 

China Matters explores the promise of smart cities in Guiyang

Why smart cities? From all perspectives, it ticks all the boxes: innovation, technology and new economy. On a day-to-day basis, it makes our urban environments more liveable, it saves energy, keeps traffic flowing and keeps us safe.

 

In 2020, China was estimated to have some 800 smart cities under construction or in planning – that’s about half of the world’s total. And that number is continually rising. And key to powering these smart cities is technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence and big data.

Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou province, has been a hotbed for experimenting with digital transformation in the country’s push towards building smart cities, thus a smart society. Smart cities are an integral part of China’s continued push for urbanization to drive the country’s economic development now and in the years to come. More than 5,000 big data companies take residence in Guiyang including Alibaba, Baidu, Apple and Google, to name a few. That’s because, for years, Guizhou has been home to the country’s first national big data experimental zone. And now it has opened the floodgates for a shift from a smart-city concept to a smart-city reality.

China Matters’ Josh Arslan goes to Guiyang to see what ordinary folks can get out of living in a smart city? What benefits it brings? He also meets up with people behind the innovations that power a smart city from facial recognition to a car parking app vital in congested cities to autonomous vehicles, redefining the way we live, work and play.

Contact: Li Siwei

Tel:008610-68996566

E-mail:lisiwei5125@gmail.com

China Matters features the living heritage of Miao Embroidery in Guizhou

China Matters features the living heritage of Miao Embroidery in Guizhou

Tucked in southwestern China’s complex terrains and one of the China’s four major plateaus, Guizhou province is home to dozens of minority groups. One of the largest is the Miao ethnic group. With a history of over 2,000 years, the Miao ethnic group came into an early form during the Qin and Han dynasties. Today around half of its 11 million population is distributed across Guizhou province.

Mainly inhabiting mainly in mountainous regions, the Miao people live on farming and animal husbandry. The ethnic group is also known for its distinctive and exquisite clothing and embroidery. Miao people are born embroidery talents. Taught by their mothers and sisters, Miao women start to be trained for Miao embroidery around seven years old. As teens, they are already skilled in handicrafts. Huawu village, located in Guizhou province’s Qianxi city, is home to thousands of talented Miao embroidery handicrafts artists. Relocated from the mountain regions to the new residential areas, the Huawu villagers are making a better living out of Miao embroidery. They also made immense efforts in improving the ecological environment alongside the Wujiang River.

To tap into a complete story, the British video journalist Adam travels from Shanghai to Huawu village to find out more. He visited the Miao embroidery workshop in the village and learned how this time-honored art is passed down throughout generations. Adam also witnessed the transformation from the obsolete cottages where villagers lived several years ago to their brand-new, neatly arrayed houses in their resettlement community.

Contact: Zhong Lei

Tel:008610-68996566

E-mail:ervinz@cnmatters.com

China Matters Features the Story of World’s Biggest Guitar-Maker

Zheng’an is a small town located in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. Despite its small size, it has already become the world’s largest guitar-maker, with an industrial park of over 100 guitar-related companies and factories, producing 6 million guitars per year and exporting to over 30 countries and regions.
However, just 10 years ago, Zheng’an was still severely impoverished and its guitar industry was practically non-existent. Its severe lack of jobs left many locals with no choice but to leave home and seek employment elsewhere. But starting in 2013, Zheng’an has taken itself from zero industry to the world’s largest guitar manufacturer in less than a decade. And this incredible transformation has brought massive changes to life here.
Jack from China Matters travels to Zheng’an to get a first-hand look at how this town is attracting so many companies? What new ideas are they seeing in production and what’s so unique about their handcrafted guitars?
And after becoming the world’s largest maker of guitars, how is it changing life in the town to the tune of guitars? Jack looks deeper into what makes the town special.

Contact: Li Siwei
Tel:008610-68996566
E-mail:lisiwei5125@gmail.com

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