China – The Commerce Africa https://thecommerceafrica.com African Reneissance Sat, 10 Feb 2024 07:18:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9 Professor fired over academic fraud after student exposé https://thecommerceafrica.com/professor-fired-over-academic-fraud-after-student-expose/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/professor-fired-over-academic-fraud-after-student-expose/#respond Sat, 10 Feb 2024 07:14:19 +0000 https://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=16151 A professor of Huazhong Agricultural University in the central China city of Wuhan has been fired over academic misconduct, with 10 of his published papers found to contain plagiarism and fabricated data, the university announced on Tuesday 6 February, writes Yang Yiting for Shine.

A statement issued by the university revealed that 10 papers published by the professor surnamed Huang as a corresponding author were forged, including experimental data and pictures. Another two papers were improperly credited. He edited and published textbooks using duplicated content from other published textbooks without citing the source.

The investigation also found Huang, a professor at the College of Animal Science and Technology and the School of Animal Medicine, failed in his duty of supervising his graduate students and underpaid research assistant fees to some students. The investigation commenced on 18 January after a scathing 125-page report penned by 11 of Huang’s graduate students was released online, detailing a litany of alleged improprieties.

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China lifts bans on group tours to US, Japan and other key markets https://thecommerceafrica.com/china-lifts-bans-on-group-tours-to-us-japan-and-other-key-markets/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/china-lifts-bans-on-group-tours-to-us-japan-and-other-key-markets/#respond Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:34:52 +0000 https://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=14661 China has lifted pandemic-era restrictions on group tours for more countries, including key markets such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia in a potential boon for their tourism industries.

The decision was announced by China’s culture and tourism ministry on Thursday, effective immediately.

Prior to the pandemic, mainland Chinese tourists spent more than any other country’s tourists when abroad, clocking up a combined $255 billion in 2019 with group tours estimated to account for roughly 60% of that.

Their absence since the pandemic has led to financial troubles for many tourism-dependent businesses around the globe.

Germany and Britain were also among the countries for which restrictions were lifted but Canada, which has had especially politically fraught relations with China of late, was not reinstated.

It was China’s third list of countries to receive approvals. The first batch approved in January included 20 countries such as Thailand, Russia, Cuba and Argentina. The second batch in March included 40 countries, among them Nepal, France, Portugal and Brazil.

China has never explained its staggered approach to approvals but analysts have noted that the countries taking time to gain approval have had more political and/or trade tension with the world’s second-largest economy.

The move was welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as well as tourism ministers in South Korea and Australia, who said it would boost their economies.

“This is another positive step towards the stabilisation of our relationship with China,” said Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell

Just how much outbound Chinese tourism will bounce back for the latest group of countries remains to be seen. Expectations that demand would come roaring back after borders were re-opened have to date been largely unfulfilled.

International flights in and out of China have recovered to only 53% of 2019 levels as of July.

That is in large part due to staffing issues for many global airlines that have limited the flying of more routes, slow visa issuance for Chinese travellers amid backlogs in many Western countries as well as a sputtering domestic economy that is discouraging many holidaying Chinese from spending big.

In response to the news, some Chinese said online that they were less than enthusiastic about international trips.

“I don’t want to go; I feel domestic travel is pretty good, such as the beautiful scenery in Xinjiang and the Northeast and the food is cheap,” said one Weibo user with the handle @Chongshengshilangbushilang.

But others were more upbeat.

“Despite a cooling overall economy, 40% of (Chinese) people say they will spend more on travel,” said Steve Saxon, a partner at McKinsey & Co. “People want to spend the money they’ve saved during COVID on international travel.”

Trip.com, China’s largest travel agency, noted that the news had led to a spike in searches for destinations including Australia and Japan.

Shares in firms in the latest group of countries with large exposure to Chinese travel demand jumped on the news. Gains for South Korean casino operators were particularly striking with Grand Korea Leisure  and Paradise surging 21% and 18% respectively.

Two sources in South Korea’s travel industry told Reuters it was the first time group tours from China would be allowed on a large scale since a 2016 dispute over Seoul’s deployment of a U.S. missile defence system. China has never publicly acknowledged limiting group tours to South Korea.

Reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai, Sophie Yu in Beijing and Joyce Lee in Seoul; Additional reporting by the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Jamie Freed and Edwina Gibbs for Reuters

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China pledges Increased Economic Cooperation with Nigeria https://thecommerceafrica.com/china-pledges-increased-economic-cooperation-with-nigeria/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/china-pledges-increased-economic-cooperation-with-nigeria/#respond Wed, 31 May 2023 19:14:31 +0000 https://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=14011 Chinese President XI Jinping has pledged increased economic cooperation with Nigeria, saying the country is important to Africa and the world.

The Chinese president spoke through his Special Envoy, Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairperson, Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, People’s Republic of China who met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday.

Qinghua said the two countries at present had good bilateral relations and economic cooperation, noting that Chinese companies were doing well in Nigeria in railways, roads, hydropower and free trade zones.

While commending President Tinubu’s plan to lead Nigeria to a new era of economic development and prosperity, the Chinese envoy, however, said there were areas where Nigeria could benefit from China.

He called on the two countries to share ideas and align strategies, urging President Tinubu to also create more conducive environment for investment.

Responding, President Tinubu said Nigeria is open for business and constructive partnerships, and would do business with any country ready to do business with the country.

He promised that his administration would work to promote ease of doing business.

He said: “We need accelerated growth and we are ready to do business honestly with those ready to do business with us.

“We will continue to work to promote democracy in the West African sub-region. I’m a product of democracy and shall work day and night to advance democracy.

“We will fight terrorism and all forms of criminality.

“We will continue to work to promote democracy in the West African sub-region. I’m a product of democracy and shall work day and night to advance democracy.

“We will fight terrorism and all forms of criminality.

We can learn from each other, but we will remain non-aligned.”

The Chinese delegation included her Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun and Minister-Counselor Zhang Yi.

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China’s population has peaked and is now falling – opportunities and risks for Africa https://thecommerceafrica.com/chinas-population-has-peaked-and-is-now-falling-opportunities-and-risks-for-africa/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/chinas-population-has-peaked-and-is-now-falling-opportunities-and-risks-for-africa/#respond Thu, 11 May 2023 05:50:56 +0000 https://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=13532 China will no longer be the world’s most populous nation. India’s population will overtake it this year at an estimated population of 1.42 billion. 

It’s an epochal transition which speaks to other underlying demographic changes across the world, including the fact that China’s population has peaked and is now falling. Meanwhile, the region with the fastest-rising population – from a current base of around 1.4 billion – is Africa. 

I have researched the economics of China, and China-Africa relations, for nearly two decades. I’ve also specifically analysed the political economy of demographic change in China. 

On the surface, China losing the “world’s most populous country” crown means nothing for African countries. However, as I outline in my new paper, the transition embodies a number of opportunities and risks for many African countries.

China has been a leading economic partner to the continent for most of this century. Demand for China’s manufactured goods is consistent across the continent. It is an especially important import partner for some of Africa’s resource-rich countries, such as Angola, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. A slow-down in China’s economy – or a shift away from commodity-intensive manufacturing and infrastructure construction – could especially challenge African commodity exporters whose main buyer is China, such as Angola.

So, as China’s population declines and ages, there’ll be direct and indirect repercussions for many African countries. Here are some of the possible implications.

Opportunities

End of labour-richness

African countries with a large working-age population can theoretically benefit from the end of China’s period of labour-abundance. China had a massive number of low-wage workers from the 1980s until the 2000s. The broad passing of this abundance – in terms of both price and quantity – theoretically opens a window for other “younger” and low-wage economies. Labour-rich countries already banging on China’s door include Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

African countries wanting to take advantage of this will need relevant policies. They will need enough qualified workers to take part in manufacturing opportunities; affordable and reliable energy; and competitive labour productivity. Ethiopia, for instance, has been attracting Chinese foreign direct investment in recent decades with more than 70% going into manufacturing.

Increased service demand

For a decade or more, China has also been pushing, if very incrementally, for services– such as financial services, healthcare and tourism – to drive its domestic growth. This presents new opportunities for African goods and services providers too. 

Things are already in the works. The official 2035 China-Africa Vision – which defines the overall framework of China-Africa cooperation – includes finance, tourism, media, and culture and sports. Some of these links, like the media industry, are relatively advanced already. Some countries, for example Mauritius, have already signed trade agreements which include financial services. And, more recently, Kenya Airways and China Southern Airlines signed an agreement to expand Nairobi’s role as a regional aviation hub for Chinese destinations.

China’s pensioner boom

The pensioner population is expected to peak mid-century when China is forecastto be home to some 400 million pensioners – a massive target market. Cambodia, for example, already has an official strategy for attracting elderly tourists. 

African countries could tap into this demographic, for instance to support tourism industries. East African countries are looking for emerging tourist marketsand also looking to expand offerings to include activities such as cruises – these would be ideal for an older demographic.

Risks

Slowdown in China’s economy

A big risk is that as China’s population declines and ages it will cause China’s economic development engine to falter. 

As it’s one of the world’s largest economies, a stagnation would cause ripples across the world. It would slow China’s potential to trade with and invest in Africa. 

For instance, China is South Africa’s largest export market. Nigeria, Angola, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also major exporters of goods to China. Nigeria is the leading importer from China, followed by South Africa, Egypt and Ghana.

Some countries are relatively China-dependent for growth and development. These include Zimbabwe and Guinea

China could become more risk-averse in lending to African countries, and conservative in foreign aid allocations. Leading Chinese companies might also have less revenue to re-invest in other markets, and less reason to do so given lower growth. This could challenge African government budgets and leave many in poverty and unable to find formal jobs in their working-age prime.

Keeping production at home

There is also the risk that automation will directly replace labour in China, instead of shifting production to another country with a younger workforce. And foreign investors in China might seek to secure their own supply chains – at home – rather than shift production to a new labour-rich location after China.

Regulatory challenges

Africa could face new regulatory challenges as China’s population ages. Products demanded by an older Chinese population, with inputs sourced in Africa, may elevate existing regulatory challenges.

For instance, a Chinese traditional medicine known as ejiao uses collagen from donkey hides. It is believed to support sleep, blood vitality and those ageing in general. This has led to a trade in African donkeys that has harmed Africa’s own poor

Conclusion

In my opinion a probable scenario is that China’s economy lumbers forward at a slower pace than in the past, but fast enough to stave off a crisis at home. 

On the surface this may reduce the scale of opportunity for Africa. But, since China’s economy is many times larger than any economy in Africa, there’ll still be enough growth volume to tap for trade, investment and specific projects. Slower growth in China may even compel Chinese investors to turn to faster-growing African economies.

Africa is the world’s youngest continent, and fast-ageing population-declining China is the continent’s most important trade partner and economic partner. African governments must keep a close eye on what happens next to tap into all potential opportunities – and mitigate any risks.

Written by Lauren Johnson,University of Sydney and published in The Conversation

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Alibaba founder Jack Ma takes up Tokyo University visiting professorship https://thecommerceafrica.com/alibaba-founder-jack-ma-takes-up-tokyo-university-visiting-professorship/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/alibaba-founder-jack-ma-takes-up-tokyo-university-visiting-professorship/#respond Mon, 01 May 2023 06:03:27 +0000 https://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=13282 Alibaba Group,founder Jack Ma has been invited to be a visiting professor at Tokyo College, a new organization run by the University of Tokyo, the university said on Monday.

The appointment term for China’s best-known entrepreneur finishes at the end of October, but the contract is renewable on an annual basis, the university said.

At the college, Ma will be engaged in areas including advising on important research themes and giving lectures on management and business start-ups.

The announcement came after Ma returned to China in March, ending a stay overseas of more than a year that industry viewed as reflecting the sober mood of the country’s private businesses after a tough two-year regulatory crackdown.

The Tokyo College was founded in 2019 to serve as an interface between the University of Tokyo and overseas researchers and research institutions.

Reuters

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China Launches Mission to Mars Tagged ‘Questions to Heaven’ https://thecommerceafrica.com/china-launches-mission-to-mars-tagged-questions-to-heaven/ https://thecommerceafrica.com/china-launches-mission-to-mars-tagged-questions-to-heaven/#respond Thu, 23 Jul 2020 11:55:10 +0000 http://thecommerceafrica.com/?p=1223 China successfully launched Tianwen-1 — its first independent mission to Mars on Thursday.

According to Xinhua News Agency, a Long March 5 rocket carrying the spacecraft ignited at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China’s tropical Hainan province at 12:41 p.m. (0441 GMT).

A live stream of the launch hosted by Chinese media company douyu.com and shared live on YouTube prompted live comments of encouragement, including many posts of “Beijing!” after the takeoff.

Tianwen-1, whose name means “Questions to Heaven,” is a combined orbiter, lander and rover that aims to explore the Martian environment and search for hints of life.

The spacecraft will travel for about seven months until it reaches Mars.

It will orbit the red planet for two to three months before attempting a landing.

If all goes according to plan, the lender will release a rover in April to roam around the surface of Mars and conduct experiments.

If Tianwen-1 is successful, China will become only the third country to land a spacecraft on Mars, after the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

No other space-faring nation has attempted a landing with a rover on their first Mars mission.

It is a risky endeavour, previous Mars missions by other nations have had a success rate of about 50 per cent.

China will not be the only nation attempting the feat.

The United Arab Emirates launched its own Mars-bound orbiter on Sunday, while NASA is set to blast off its Perseverance rover coming.

China had launched an orbiter destined for Mars on a Russian rocket in 2011, However, the mission failed because the rocket malfunctioned. (dpa/Chinese media company douyu.com)

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