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Manyika Kangai
CPC Party School celebrates 90th anniversary
China’s President Xi Jinping addressed a meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, and the opening ceremony of its 2023 spring semester. He called on party schools at all levels to stay committed to their founding mission and make new contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects, and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Noting that nurturing talent for the CPC is the unique value of party schools, which serve as the main channel for educating and training officials, Xi called on party schools to play an active role in developing key officials for governance who are capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation. The meeting was held via teleconference, with parallel sessions at the executive leadership academies in Pudong, Jinggangshan and Yan’An.
China’s manufacturing activity expands
China’s manufacturing activity has maintained expansion for two straight months, according to official data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for China’s manufacturing sector came in at 52,6 in February, up from 50,1 in January. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction. Breaking down the headline figure, the Production Index gained 6,9 percentage points from a month earlier to 56,7, suggesting expedited production, and market demand also kept rising as the new orders index reached 54,1, up 3,2 percentage points. The PMIs for large, medium-sized, and small enterprises stood at 53,7, 52 and 51,2, respectively, all well above the boom-and-bust line.
China’s Policy Bank issues Green Bonds
China Development Bank, one of the country’s policy banks, issued 15 billion yuan (about US$2,16 billion) worth of green bonds to global investors to support the ecological protection of the Yangtze River. Funds raised by the bond sales will be used to finance green projects such as urban rail transit projects, sewage treatment and pipe network projects, and rural environment improvement projects along the Yangtze River. After the completion of these projects, 25 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be cut every year, and 12 000 tonnes of standard coal will be saved. So far, the bank has issued a total of 171 billion yuan (about US$24,6 billion) of green bonds.
China’s Canton Fair set for April
The time-honoured China Import and Export Fair is scheduled to kick off its 133rd session on April 15 in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong province. The event will take place both offline and online. Also known as the Canton Fair, the event has been held twice a year since 1957. The exhibition area will be expanded to 1,5 million square metres this year from a previous size of 1,18 million square metres. It is estimated that more than 30 000 Chinese and foreign enterprises will take part including more than 5 000 leading manufacturing and high-tech Chinese enterprises.
China to further promote TCM
China has released an implementation plan designed to further support the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The plan, released by the General Office of the State Council, aims to promote the advantages of TCM, enhance the ability of TCM to prevent and cure diseases, and promote its scientific research. Guided by the plan, China will see TCM become a major pillar for building a healthy China by 2025, with improvement in TCM quality, international influence, and scientific and technological innovation capacity.
*Manyika Kangai is an expert on facilitating and advising on China-Africa trade and investment deals. He is dedicated to helping African businesses and governments realise the full potential of the vast opportunities China presents
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter