Author: staff reporter

Once a poverty-stricken region blighted by adverse geographical factors and poor infrastructure, the city of Ningde has come a long way in the past decade, shaking off poverty while developing an array of leading industries.

* Ningde is ushering in a bright future with the rise of a new industrial town. The city is now home to a number of world-class enterprises including automotive lithium-ion battery maker CATL.

* The city’s four leading industries — lithium-ion batteries, new-energy vehicles, novel stainless steel and copper — are developing into a complementary industrial cluster.   

FUZHOU, July 8 (Xinhua) — Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) has been drawing increasing attention from the global electric vehicle (EV) market over the past few years.

The world’s leading automotive lithium-ion battery maker, with around one-third of the global market share, is headquartered in the city of Ningde, east China’s Fujian Province.

Once a poverty-stricken region blighted by adverse geographical factors and poor infrastructure, the city has come a long way in the past decade, shaking off poverty while developing an array of leading industries. And it is now striving to become a globally influential industrial landmark.

NEW LOOK

Fourteen years ago, when Zhan Shuzhi, along with more than 100 colleagues, was posted to a new manufacturing base in Ningde by his former employer in neighboring Guangdong Province, some colleagues grumbled about the likelihood of success given the muddy roads, inadequate facilities and inconvenient transportation.

“We will make it. I can feel the enterprising spirit of this city,” Zhan, a native of Ningde, recalled his words reassuring his colleagues at that time.

Back then, Ningde was determined and committed, more than ever, to the fight against poverty, with an aim to change its economic backwater image.

“When we first came here, only four factory buildings and two dormitory buildings stood beside mudflat,” recalled Zhan, who is now the chairman of CATL’s labor union.

Along with the rapid rise of CATL, which was founded in 2011 in Ningde, the mudflat areas have given way to rows of manufacturing plants where EV batteries are produced around the clock.

From 2012 to 2021, the city’s gross domestic product has nearly tripled to 315.1 billion yuan (about 47 billion U.S. dollars), with per capita GDP exceeding 100,000 yuan for the first time.

The boomtown has taken on a fresh new look after bidding farewell to extreme poverty. A large transport network has been built. In areas where bug swarms and villagers’ motorbikes were earlier the loudest sounds, factories are now buzzing while ports are busy handling containers.   

NEW INDUSTRIAL TOWN

Ningde is ushering in a bright future with the rise of a new industrial town. The city is now home to a number of world-class enterprises besides CATL.

The world’s largest stainless steel producer Tsingtuo Group has a presence here. China’s leading carmaker SAIC Motor has built a smart factory with the largest car assembly workshop in Asia.

The city’s four leading industries — lithium-ion batteries, new-energy vehicles, novel stainless steel and copper — are developing into a complementary industrial cluster.

“Thanks to a world-class natural deep-water harbor, comprehensive transportation networks and an industrial cluster, Ningde is now full of development possibilities,” said Zhou Xiaoming, chief engineer of the Research Center of Tsingtuo Group.

The city boasts a rather comprehensive industrial chain for the four leading industries. It has more than 80 lithium-ion battery-related projects, 46 suppliers for the SAIC Ningde factory, and more than 70 projects to support Tsingtuo’s stainless steel industry.

This has greatly reduced the costs of procurement and logistics, helping the four leading industries enhance their competitiveness. In 2021, their value-added industrial output increased 59.1 percent over the previous year.

FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY

“As an innovation-driven new-energy enterprise, CATL has transformed itself from an industry follower to an industry leader,” said CATL’s founder Zeng Yuqun, also known as Robin Zeng.

CATL is committed to advancing the high-quality and sustainable growth of the global battery industry.

Likewise, the thriving city is determined to not only provide its people with better lives but make more contributions to global industries.

Over the past decade, nearly 190,000 people in Ningde have been lifted out of poverty, and 140,000 people have been relocated from remote mountainous areas.

“We have achieved leapfrog development in the past decade and become a new growth engine of Fujian Province,” said Liang Weixin, Party chief of Ningde.

“As scientists, we firmly believe that the cutting-edge scientific and technological progress in the new energy sector will greatly benefit the entire society,” said Wei Yimin, director of the digital research and development center of CATL’s 21C Lab.

“We are seeking to gain an advantage in the new-energy industry and lithium-ion batteries play a significant role in global energy transition,” Wei added.

“In the future, Ningde will focus on its four pillar industries and act rapidly to attain a trillion yuan in industrial output,” said Zhang Yongning, mayor of Ningde.

(Reporting by Gu Qianjiang, Li Huiying, Ceng Yan, Zhao Xuetong, Li Baojie; Video reporters: Hong Yan, Chen Wang; Video editors: Yang Zhixiang, Mu Xuyao, Yin Le, Cao Ying)  ■

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* With heavy spending on the construction of railway and road facilities, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has seen rapid development and constant improvements to the lives of the locals.

* Since 2012, more than 337 billion yuan (about 50.4 billion U.S. dollars) has been spent as fixed-asset investment in Tibet’s transport sector.

* Over the past decade, three railway lines have formed a “Y” shape on the plateau region, and the total length of roads in Tibet has increased by some 55,000 km to 120,000 km, including more than 90,000 km of rural roads. 

by Xinhua writers Lin Jianyang, Lyu Qiuping, Liu Hongming and Liu Ying

LHASA, July 3 (Xinhua) — Passengers carrying luggage of varying sizes, many in Tibetan costumes, chat with each other or bury themselves in their phones while queuing on the platform for their trains.

Such scenes play out daily at the railway station in Lhasa, capital of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, and stand in stark contrast to what existed 16 years ago.

When the station opened on July 1, 2006, marking the start of the official operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the region’s first railway line, the platform was more like a tourist attraction packed with visitors.

“Curious about trains, many Tibetans just bought a platform ticket and brought snacks for a picnic here,” said Tsogpa, who has been working at the station since its opening and is now office director of the Lhasa railway station.

With heavy spending on the construction of railway and road facilities, Tibet has seen rapid development and constant improvements to the lives of the locals.

Since 2012, more than 337 billion yuan (about 50.4 billion U.S. dollars) has been spent as fixed-asset investment in Tibet’s transport sector, according to the region’s transport department.

DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH

Over the past decade, three railway lines have formed a “Y” shape on the plateau region, with the latest Lhasa-Nyingchi line, the region’s first electrified railway line, kicking off operation on June 25, 2021. The Lhasa railway station, where the three lines meet, has witnessed explosive growth in passenger flow, surging from 2.24 million in 2007 to more than 4 million in 2021.

Bullet trains have brought tourists to the city of Shannan, through which the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway passes.

In Tashi Chodan, a community in Nedong District of Shannan known for its Tibetan opera, some 30 artists perform for tourist groups from across the country.

Dawa Drolma, 52, one of the performers, said they have shows every night during the peak season.

Dawa Drolma and her family have also refurbished their house into a homestay with six beds. “During the busiest time, all rooms are full,” she said, adding that the opera performance and homestay business bring the family an extra income of more than 50,000 yuan every year.

In 2019, the Nedong district government spent some 50 million yuan for improving the living conditions of the community, including upgrading road facilities. The 2.5-meter-wide cement road was replaced by an 8-meter-wide asphalt one, allowing tourist coaches to arrive at the community.

Over the past 10 years, the per capita disposable income of the community more than doubled to 25,000 yuan a year in 2021, which is largely attributable to the burgeoning tourism industry.

“Tourists would not possibly come without convenient transportation,” said Basang Tsering, Party chief of the community.

Furthermore, a handloom fabric cooperative in Nedong District supplies its textile products, such as handmade scarves and purses, via logistic services. The cooperative, which has helped more than 400 farmers sell their fabric products, raked in a sales revenue of 10.5 million yuan last year, a whopping increase of 20 times from 2010.

“With convenient transportation, we can sell our products to big cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen,” said Basang, head of the cooperative.

Over the past decade, the total length of roads in Tibet has increased by some 55,000 km to 120,000 km, including more than 90,000 km of rural roads, according to official figures.

PROPELLING PROSPERITY

In Medog, Nyingchi City, daily necessities were earlier brought home on shoulders or horseback. Students had to trek for days to school, and ailing patients had to be carried on shoulders to a hospital in the city proper.

Tenzin Gyatso, a former porter, vividly remembers the challenging past. Once, he and his fellow villagers transported a 19-year-old woman who suffered from a stroke to a hospital in winter, taking turns to carry her on their backs.

“We had to walk at night to avoid an avalanche,” said Tenzin Gyatso, 48, adding that it took four days for them to arrive at the nearest highway from where they could hire a car.

The situation changed following the opening of the Medog Highway in October 2013, with vehicles, machines and a large amount of construction material flowing in.

Residents have moved into brand-new houses and they can drive their children to school, and patients can easily visit a hospital whenever needed.

Tenzin Gyatso now has an excavator which he leases to construction sites. He also runs a homestay and rents out rooms to construction workers. The income from the tea plantation and other sources together brings his family more than 100,000 yuan annually.

Wei Changqi, Party chief of the county, said the Medog Highway has made travel for local people much easier and ensured the supply of daily necessities and construction materials. The quality of healthcare and education has also significantly improved from 10 years ago.

Medog was lifted out of poverty by the end of 2019. The disposable income of rural residents skyrocketed from 4,875 yuan in 2012 to 15,278 yuan in 2021, with major industries including tea plantations and bamboo wickerworks flourishing there.

During the same period, Tibet’s regional GDP ballooned to 208 billion yuan from 71 billion yuan. The region eradicated absolute poverty by the end of 2019, with 628,000 impoverished residents shaking off poverty.

(Video reporters: Tenzing Nima Qadhup, Liu Ying; Video editors: Jia Xiaotong, Zhu Cong, Zhu Jianhui.)  ■

By Ronald Njoroge

Women’s lobby organizationsMaendeleo Ya Wanawake on Thursday hailed Kenyan voters for electing women as leaders in the just concluded August general elections.

Chairperson Mrs Rahab Muiu told journalists in Nairobi that Kenya elected more women leaders in 2022 as compared to the 2017 elections.

“We want to congratulate all women who have been elected as governors, senators, MPS and MPs,” Muiu said.

William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential elections after garnering about 7.17 million or 50.49 percent of votes cast.

Muiu also commended the courage, determination and resilience of all women who stood for elective positions.

“Together we have built stong social and political capital which we will keep on enhancing into the future,” she added.

MYWO also said that it will continue to pray for peace and urged all Kenyans to continue upholding peace until everything is concluded.

Florence Kajuju, Chairperson of the Commission of Administrative Justice (Office of Ombudsman) on Wednesday hailed the IEBC for conducting credible elections.

Kajuju said that IEBC’s level of preparedness and election was largely successful.

“The commission notes with appreciation that, the measures taken by IEBC to address the short-comings that led to the nullification of the 2017 presidential election have greatly improved the 2022 electoral processes.This is evidenced by the few incidents observed in relation to KIEMS kit failure,” Kajuju added.

 The CAJ commissioned 120 election observers to more than 700 polling stations across 33 counties.

African women leaders  on Tuesday called for peace as opposition leader Raila Odinga  rejected the presidential  election results announced by IEBC.

Dr. Jennifer Riria, Co-Chair, African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) told journalists in Nairobi that political  candidates who may be aggrieved by the results  should seek redress through legal means and avoid actions that may escalate violence.

“We appeal to all mothers, Kenyans of goodwill and our faith leaders to earnestly pray for our country so that God will grant continued calm and peace during this period. As the womb bearers and Mothers of the nation we are confident that with God’s help, our country will get over this phase,” Riria said.

Josephine Sinyo Co-Chair, AWLN said that  Kenya has strong institutions with capacity to address disputes of any sort and urged  all parties that took part in the election to revert to these institutions as the rest of the country resumes daily activities.

“ We are aware that all our Four Presidential Candidates had signed a Peace Pledge to maintain peace before, during and after elections. We plead with them to be faithful to this commitment as well as any other decision made by the institutions mandated by our Constitution,” Sinyo said.

 Following field production commencing earlier this year, as well as the announcement of the local hosts, The Walt Disney Company (https://TheWaltDisneyCompany.com) Africa, together with its project partners, National Geographic, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and WildlifeDirect have today revealed both the title and the set of the highly anticipated National Geographic Kids programme.

Inspired by the programme’s aim to motivate lasting, impactful behavioural change in young viewers across the continent and create the next generation of environmental conservation leaders, the programme will be titled Team Sayari. Incorporating the Swahili term for ‘planet’, the title embodies the programme’s goal – to provide viewers with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to conserve and protect the natural world, in a fun way.

In the series, the young presenters will visit the wild to meet African experts in five countries across the continent to explore, discover, learn about our environmental challenges and be inspired to reduce their impact, protect and restore nature.

Filming has also commenced in a custom-built set in Nairobi, the SayariBasecamp. A first-of-its-kind in Kenya, the set embodies childhood imagination and adventure with a tree house-inspired hideout that is locally built and designed, including African-inspired and nature-based motifs, coupled with elements of advanced technology. It comes complete with a mission control wall, a cosy chill area and a lively interview spot. The Sayari basecamp was produced almost entirely from recycled and upcycled materials, true to the ethos of the show.

The central feature is a gigantic tree, with a textured trunk named Funzi (derived from the Swahili word for learning) featuring interactive artificial intelligence technology and a DNA helix, and which imparts knowledge about the environment and challenges our young presenters. To impart a sense of movement, Funzi’s inner section spins slowly during interaction.

Wood panelling, leafy foliage and porthole-style windows complete the ambience of a hideaway nestled in a tree, high in the sky. Upholstery on the furniture, that was made from organic materials, features dual-level African print, which provides layers of texture and pops of colour. The set’s shelving is hand-crafted, adding an element of quirkiness to the design. A live-edge table where the markings of the tree have been  preserved for a raw look, will be dressed uniquely per episode.

At basecamp, Funzigives the studio presenters, Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10) and Adarsh Nagda (12) missions to complete, laying the foundation for the many adventures and fun throughout the episodes. It is also from this intriguing environment that they will link with other presenters from East, West and South Africa.

Team Sayari is the result of a collaborative effort between National Geographic, The Walt Disney Company Africa, USAID, the U.S. State Department and WildlifeDirect. The series, produced by local production company White Rhino Films aims to celebrate the environment and raise awareness of conservation and associated issues in a fun and relatable way, will air later this year on both National Geographic Wild and Disney Channel across Africa. There will also be engaging digital extensions on social media platforms that will allow viewers to further explore topics addressed in the series as well as an outreach programme that will extend the reach of the programme into countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

* As a strategic infrastructure project, the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is aiding the realization of Kenya’s two flagship socio-economic transformation blueprints — the Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda.

* The SGR has enhanced Kenya’s trade with neighboring countries and offered an economic lifeline to member states of the East African Community.

* Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the SGR is among many China-Kenya infrastructure cooperation projects which are leading the Sino-Africa cooperation.

by Xinhua writer Bai Lin

NAIROBI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — As a veteran insurance sales agent, Farahana Mghoi used to spend seven hours on matatus, the public service vehicles in Kenya, from her hometown of Voi in southeastern Kenya to Nairobi to meet a potential client. It was both slow and tiresome.

Since 2018, time spent on the 328-km journey has been reduced to four hours thanks to the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger train service launched in May 2017.

Financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation, the 480-km railway connecting Mombasa, the largest port in East Africa, and Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi is a flagship project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and is Kenya’s largest infrastructure project since its independence in 1963.

Mghoi said the efficient, reliable and affordable mobility, which the SGR has always guaranteed her whenever she travels to meet new clients, has boosted her career.

The SGR is “an extremely good experience in the last few years,” James Macharia, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure, housing and urban development, told Xinhua. “We can expect a lot more profitable operations going forward.”

As a strategic infrastructure project, the SGR is aiding the realization of Kenya’s two flagship socio-economic transformation blueprints — the Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda, said Philip Mainga, managing director of Kenya Railways Corporation.

LESS TIME ON ROAD, MORE OPPORTUNITIES

With the SGR, Mghoi is able to reach her destination on time and negotiate for a potential business opportunity with ease. She said the punctuality has helped her cement trust and confidence with her clients.

Mghoi belongs to a growing army of Kenyan skilled labor force, entrepreneurs and tourists who have embraced the SGR service.

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR and the additional 120-km Nairobi-Naivasha SGR have also facilitated the hauling of bulk cargoes to the hinterlands.

With the SGR freight service, it takes eight hours to transport bulk cargoes like raw materials from the Mombasa port to an inland container depot in Nairobi, as opposed to around two days using the century-old Meter Gauge Railway constructed by British colonialists, said Edward Opiyo, terminal manager at Nairobi Freight Terminals Limited, a logistics firm.

As logistics firms are now able to transport bulk cargoes in a speedy, cheaper, efficient and environmentally-friendly manner, they have built a cordial relationship with major clients, Opiyo said.

Transit hours and the cost of hauling bulk cargoes to neighboring landlocked countries have also been reduced, injecting fresh vitality into regional supply chains, he said.

The SGR has enhanced Kenya’s trade with neighboring countries and offered an economic lifeline to member states of the East African Community, said Mainga.

In the last five years, the modern railway has transported 20 million tons of cargoes and about 8 million passengers, elevating Kenya’s status as a regional manufacturing, trade and logistics hub, he noted.

“I must say we are lucky. We are doing more exports and diversification of goods than before. We are seeing a dynamic change due to what the SGR is doing in terms of exports,” he said.

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR is projected to contribute 2-3 percent to Kenya’s GDP, said Mainga, adding that the railway has become a dominant player in Kenya’s pursuit of inclusive growth, as it has revolutionized transportation of passengers and bulk cargoes, stimulated commerce and investments and fostered job creation for local youth.

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, RESPECT, TRUST

Mainga said the SGR is also benefiting local people as skills transfer has reached 80-90 percent.

“Now our people are able to run the operations, to drive their locomotives, to carry on with signal work, to repair and maintain our wagons,” he said.

Recruited in 2017 by the SGR operator Afristar Railway Operation Company, Harrison Kinyanjui, a 26-year-old economics major, has received rigorous training on railway operation and management from Chinese tutors, and progressed quickly to become the first Kenyan to work at the SGR dispatch center in Nairobi.

Currently the assistant superintendent of the center, Kinyanjui said their work is to organize train operations using a centralized traffic control system in the center, which is “the brain and heart for all SGR train operations.”

“The Chinese experts have taught us very well. They now have the confidence to leave us to work independently, and we are very, very proud that we came here not knowing anything about train dispatching, but we are now very competent,” he said.

“You see the Kenyan government and the Chinese government work together. We want to thank both governments for the support they have given us,” said Mainga.

As Afristar has been committed to prioritizing safe operation, boosting movement of passengers and goods and enhancing localization, the SGR’s socio-economic outcomes have gained trust and recognition by the Kenyan government and people, Li Jiuping, general manager of Afristar, told Xinhua.

“To create high-performing Sino-Kenyan teams, Afristar fosters cross-cultural working relationships and promotes mutual understanding, respect and trust,” Li said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is the first visiting head of state to travel by Kenya’s SGR in March 2019. He said the enhanced efficiency in handling cargoes has been beneficial to the economies of both Kenya and Uganda, and to other countries that depend on the Mombasa port for import and export, including Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the SGR is among many China-Kenya infrastructure cooperation projects which are leading the Sino-Africa cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian told Xinhua.

ECO-PROTECTION A PRIORITY

Before the SGR project started, there had been fears that the railway could harm biodiversity, as it would snake through the Tsavo National Park, Kenya’s oldest and largest wildlife sanctuary, home to iconic species such as elephants, giraffes and zebras.

To ensure their safety, the SGR contractor built electric fences on both sides of the track, and wide underpasses at short intervals to facilitate their movement.

Besides wildlife, mangrove forests are well protected, too. Ali Mohamed, a 44-year-old resident of a serene village overlooking a mangrove swamp on the northwestern edges of Mombasa, said that besides regulating coastal weather, the installation of overpasses and culverts has ensured that there was minimal disturbance to the mangrove forest, which is an important fish breeding site.

“I visited the SGR when its construction started and witnessed restoration of the previously degraded sections of the mangrove forest in our locality,” said Mohamed, also founder of Bidii Creek Conservancy, a Mombasa-based green lobby.

The SGR has provided best practices on blending conservation with infrastructure development, he said.

Five years since its launch, the SGR has earned accolades from local officials and conservationists for prioritizing ecological protection along its corridor.

Nancy Githaiga, country director for Kenya at Nairobi-based African Wildlife Foundation, said wildlife protection measures initiated by the SGR contractor should inform future efforts to develop mega infrastructure projects while safeguarding integrity of biodiversity hotspots in Kenya.

Green ethos has been placed at the center of SGR operations, bringing benefits to local communities in terms of clean air and tranquil landscapes, said Mainga.

The design and execution of the project adhered to local environmental protection laws, ensuring a healthy relationship between the contractor and local communities, said Cosmas Makewa, station master at the Mombasa SGR Terminus.

Unlike trucks, SGR trains plying along the corridor have not been emitting smoke to the atmosphere, boosting Kenya’s quest for improved air quality, said Makewa.

The SGR project highlighted the viability of China’s vision of ecological civilization, according to Leopold Omondi, a campaigner with Nairobi-based green lobby Pan African Climate Justice Alliance. (Video reporters: Liu Chang, Li Cheng, Ruth; video editors: Ma Ruxuan, Zhu Jianhui, Hui Peipei) ■

By Fred Maingi
The National council of persons with disability(NCPWD) received a major boost after partnering with Ushahidi platform.
The partnership is aimed at addressing election monitorig initiative which aims to empower ordinary Kenyans to protect their votes by sharing real time information during the electionering exercise.
NCPWD Executive Director Harun M. Hassan thanked Ushahidi Executive Director Angela Oduor for the partnership and accepting to work togethe to achieve their goals and objectives.
“We welcome this collaboration with the National council for persons with disability (NCPWD) as we continue to mobilize Kenyans irrespective of their gender, ethnic background , religion and those directly involved in protecting their votes in the on-going election exercise. “Observed Angela Oduor.
She urged those with election exercise issues or wishing to share their concerns to communicate through their channels *603# and toll free SMS number 23102
The uchaguzi initiative is implemented through a broad network of civil society around uchaguzi as the national citizen-centric electoral observation platform that responds to citizen observations .
Uchaguzi is an election monitoring initiative partnership between Ushahidi and civil society organizations.

EASF applauds kenya election as most peaceful

Eastern Africa Standby force has said postponed county election wont affect the turnout.

Seychelles Ambassador Claude Movel who is the Deputy chief observation officer said the electoral body have done well ,he said

He urge Kenyans to remain peace until election results are over.

“Election is just a day but whatever we do will haunt a nation forever ‘so let politicians carry themselves with decorum when they loose or win “,said Movel.

EASF is covering covering to 10 countues under its watch including Nairobi and Mombasa.

Eastern Africa Standby force (EASF)observation team has applauded Kenya’s election as is well organized and the turnout was marvelous.

Ambassador Claude Movel the Deputy chief observation team said kenya has conducted a well organised election on the first day of the process and we urge politicak leaders to be patriotic and accept the outcomes after the counting is done”,he said

“Election is just a day but whatever we do will haunt a nation forever ‘so let politicians carry themselves with decorum when they loose or win “,said Movel.

EASF is covering 10 counties under its watch including Nairobi and Mombasa.