On Sunday, China and Nepal kicked off an anti-terrorism joint army exercise, with a type of ball-shaped reconnaissance drone making its debut.
An opening ceremony was held for the Sagarmatha Friendship-2024 joint army drill at a training base in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
It is the fourth edition of the Sagarmatha Friendship series of exercises between the Chinese and Nepali militaries, with the previous drill held five years ago in 2019, Xinhua reported.
Under the theme of joint anti-terrorism operations in urban blocks, the joint training will include light arms shooting, anti-terrorism group tactics, drone operations, emergency rescues and a comprehensive anti-terrorism exercise, with the aim of boosting capabilities in fields such as multidimensional search, mobile infiltration and armed rescue in joint operations, according to Xinhua.
The exercise will last until October 1, the report said.
After the opening ceremony, the Chinese side displayed more than 20 pieces of equipment in three categories, namely light arms, reconnaissance gears for anti-terrorism missions and equipment, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Intelligent reconnaissance equipment attracted particular attention, including a type of robot dog, a type of through-wall radar and a type of self-propelled ball-shaped reconnaissance drone, the report said.
The gear will provide extra combat capabilities in the joint exercise, CCTV said.
A CCTV clip showed that the ball-shaped reconnaissance drone, equipped with a camera and sensors, can be held with one hand.
After viewing the clip, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday that the mini ball-shaped drone can move through urban areas by rolling on the ground with little noise and avoid hostile detections.
The small drone is expected to cost little, but can significantly reduce the risk of personnel exposure under dangerous environments, the expert said.
During the exercise, the two sides will also conduct exchanges on disaster relief operations, tackling natural disasters such as earthquakes, snow damages and debris flow, in addition to a series of cultural exchanges to enhance mutual trust and understandings, Xinhua reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday encouraged personnel in China's space industry to continue to work hard and accelerate progress in space endeavors while meeting with the representatives of space scientists and engineers who participated in the research and development in the Chang'e-6 lunar mission at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The Chang'e-6 probe was launched from China on May 3 this year. On June 25, its returner made a landing in north China, bringing back 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon.
Xi noted that Chang'e-6, for the first time in human history, collected samples from the moon's far side, breaking through a number of key technologies, marking another landmark achievement in China's endeavors in space as well as in science and technology. It is an important milestone for China's lunar exploration project.
Over the past 20 years, the lunar exploration project has focused on key core technologies and achieved fruitful results in scientific discovery, technological innovation, engineering practice, achievement application, and international cooperation. It has blazed a path of high-quality and cost-effective lunar exploration, making a major contribution to the development of China's space industry and human space exploration, he said.
Xi stressed that over the past 75 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the space industry has grown from weak to strong, and achieved historic, high-quality and leap-forward development.
Since the 1950s, there have been more than 100 lunar exploration missions worldwide, achieving 10 successful sample return missions from the near side of the moon. However, it has always been a challenge to explore the far side of the moon, Xinhua News Agency reported.
In January 2019, China's Chang'e-4 overcame the world challenge of landing on the far side of the moon. In December 2020, Chang'e-5 mission brought back the country's first samples collected from the moon's near side, which was the world's freshest lunar samples since the 1970s.
And on June 25, 2024, carrying the first batch of lunar samples ever collected from the far side of the moon in human history, Chang'e-6 probe safely touched down in the Siziwang Banner, in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The mission not only set a new record for China's lunar exploration program but it also has a profound impact on the global aerospace field, Kang Guohua, a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times.
Through the Chang'e-6 mission, China has demonstrated its leadership and influence in space exploration, Kang said, noting that samples collected from the far side of the moon hold immense value for scientific research and deep space exploration due to its uniqueness.
Such a large-scale, complex and highly integrated project has successively overcome key technologies such as the design of Earth-moon transfer orbits, soft landing on the lunar surface and high-speed re-entry and return.
It has also driven technological innovations in new devices, materials and energy sources, observers said.
Meanwhile, China's "circle of friends" in lunar exploration is continuously expanding.
Chang'e-6 mission carried four international scientific payloads from the European Space Agency, France, Italy and Pakistan. The Chang'e-7 mission has selected six international payloads, while the Chang'e-8 offers approximately 200 kilograms of payload capacity to the international community and has received over 30 cooperation applications to date, according to media reports.
Looking beyond the moon, China announced earlier this month its ambitious plan to carry out Tianwen-3 mission, eyeing to retrieve samples from Mars and bring them back to Earth by around 2028, chief designer of the mission Liu Jizhong disclosed. The mission is expected to become the world's first such attempt on the Red Planet, and will involve international payload cooperation, as well as global collaboration in sample and data sharing.
Lately, county tourism has become increasingly popular in China, with more young people opting for lesser-known counties as holiday destinations instead of crowded cities with famous attractions. They are eager to escape the hustle and bustle of popular spots and enjoy a quieter, more relaxed experience away from the city.
In the first week of September, luxury hotel bookings surged by 1,400% in Changting county, East China's Fujian Province; by 1,200% in Fengxin county, East China's Jiangxi Province; and by 1,150% in Zhongmu county, Central China's Henan Province. Additionally, hotels in many counties in China were fully booked well in advance, according to a report by the Economic View media outlet.
"Young people's expectations for travel products and services have changed. They no longer follow the crowd but opt for more diverse and varied experiences. For them, a travel to relieve stress is a preferred choice, as it requires minimal preparation," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Positive feedback loop
In the era of mobile internet, the massive influx of information on social media has created opportunities for county tourism. With the click of a button on sharing apps, travelers can access continuously updated posts that fuel curiosity, prompting more users to turn their online interest into real travel plans.
On the Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu, a search for "county tourism" yields over 500,000 related posts. These posts feature recommendations from users about lesser-known counties, including detailed travel routes, expense estimates, and top attractions to visit.
"One of the main reasons I chose a county for my trip was the influence of social media. After watching art films like Kaili Blues, I wanted to visit its filming locations or similar places," said Zhang Wennan, a blogger who shared a well-received travel guide for Congjiang county in Southwest China's Guizhou Province.
After completing her trip, Zhang went back to social media to share their experiences, which naturally amplified the county's tourism profile, which created a feedback loop of planting the seed, visiting, and recommending the destination to others.
Emotional value
The rise of county tourism reflects a shift in people's mindset, characterized by a growing pursuit of quality and diversity, and an increasing focus on personal emotional fulfillment.
"County tourism fits well with the current 'lying flat' mindset of young people. There's no need to wake up early to avoid crowds, and everyone around you is local," Zhang told the Global Times.
Travelers are opting for quieter, less-traveled counties where they can slow down, relax, and rejuvenate.
"The benefit of traveling to small counties is that there are fewer people, prices are reasonable," Zhang noted.
A traveler who comes from Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, visited Qingtian county in the same province in August, told the Global Times that due to limited time, she usually chose to visit nearby counties to relax. In her view, these trips that are easy to arrange and low-cost often meet the curiosity of her. "For someone like me who grew up in the city, returning to a small county for travel is a novel experience," she added.
Sustainable development
As small county-level destinations become increasingly popular, some counties are experiencing unprecedented development opportunities. Driven by the internet, previously unknown small towns are quickly gaining fame due to their unique charm. However, achieving sustainable development remains a challenge for many areas.
During peak time, issues such as inadequate reception capacity in these small counties become apparent. Besides, attractions in these counties are often far from accommodations, making them less convenient.
"For small county-level destinations to sustain development, they must focus on improving tourism service quality. As visitors' expectations for travel experiences increase, high-quality services become a key factor in retaining tourists," noted Sun Jiashan. "This includes offering comfortable and convenient accommodations, delicious and authentic dining, and diverse entertainment options."
"Additionally, enhancing infrastructure is crucial. Convenient transportation, well-developed public service facilities, and a safe travel environment are all important conditions for attracting tourists," Sun Jiashan added.
Sun Hang, a tourist who just returned from Pingshan county, South China's Guangdong Province, told the Global Times that in her view, high-quality hotels are the starting point for promoting county tourism and can bring tourists a better travel experience.
"A safe hotel can ease the concerns of tourists like us about unfamiliar places. In a hotel offering complete facilities and good service in Pingshan, I felt safe and because of that I was more willing to explore the local scenery and culture," she said.
According to Sun Jiashan, small counties need to deeply explore and utilize their unique resources to offer distinctive travel experiences, focusing on innovation and diversification of tourism products.
Each region has its own unique natural landscapes, historical culture, and folk customs. Through scientific planning, these resources can be transformed into appealing tourism products.
In August, the Daping Moutai Organic Sorghum Base brims with the possibility of a bountiful harvest, as fields of sorghum turn golden. The heavy heads of the sorghum bow down, transforming the landscape into a golden carpet meticulously woven by nature, quietly unfurling while heralding another year of abundant harvest.
On August 16, an event was hosted by the Moutai Group and the Renhuai Municipal Government, and undertaken by the Moutai Liquor Co Ltd, and the Moutai Hongyingzi Company. The event was themed "Honoring the Grain Farmers with a Harvest: Committing to Quality for Generations," and took place at the Daping Organic Sorghum Base in Maopo village, Changgang township, Renhuai.
Over 2,000 participants including grain farmers, inheritors, distributors, and workshop representatives from Moutai were present. The Hongyingzi sorghum symbolizes the harvest of this land and the essence of Moutai's traditional brewing craftsmanship. As a special variety used in the production of Moutai liquor, Hongyingzi sorghum is closely linked to the Chishui River. The soil, water quality, and climatic conditions of the Chishui River basin provide an exceptional cultivation environment for Hongyingzi sorghum, playing a crucial role in shaping the unique flavor of Moutai liquor.
This variety of sorghum, originating from the local traditional Hongyingzi, is small grains, thick skin, and has a firm, plump structure. These characteristics enable it to perform exceptionally well in Moutai's multiple rounds of cooking and fermentation processes.
Agricultural experts participating in the Moutai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season event shared with the Global Times that Hongyingzi sorghum features "eight highs, one low, and one moderate" - high in starch, phenolic compounds, fats, branched-starch ratio, crystallinity, gelatinization temperature, calorific value, long-branch chain ratio, along with a low retrogradation of starch and moderate content of tannins. These unique structural characteristics make it the ideal choice for brewing Moutai liquor, crucial in achieving its signature aroma, full-bodied richness, and lingering finish.
"The harvest of Hongyingzi sorghum marks the hard work of farmers bearing fruitful results, and a solid foundation for Moutai's raw brewing materials," Zhang Deqin, the Party Secretary and Chairman of the Moutai Group, said.
The Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season conveys Moutai's respect for natural and humanistic stories. Moutai liquor closely integrates its production and brewing with agricultural timing and activities, embodying the traditional brewing concept of "following nature and seasonal harmony, and co-brewing with the cosmos."
Crafting legendary quality
The Moutai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest Season both celebrates agricultural bounty and epitomizes Moutai's belief that "quality is the soul of life."
Moutai regards this land as the "primary workshop," enforcing strict quality control throughout the entire process to ensure the high-quality and stable production of brewing materials. In collaboration with the Renhuai People's Government, Moutai has embarked on a five-year project, investing heavily in the establishment of a high-quality sorghum cultivation base to guarantee a long-term and stable supply of raw materials.
The base's construction includes land consolidation, water conservancy projects, electrical infrastructure, and pest control, enhancing the quality of farmland and achieving full mechanization of sorghum production, thus significantly increasing the per-acre yield.
With steadfast dedication to artisanal management, Moutai has made history once again: It became the first Chinese company to receive the highest level of seven diamonds at the EFQM Global Award under the new evaluation standards and is also the first in the liquor industry to achieve this honor.
China's traditional brewing culture
Hongyingzi sorghum serves both as a material basis for the long-term sustainable development of Moutai liquor and as an important vessel for cultural heritage and innovative growth, contributing uniquely and profoundly to Chinese brewing culture.
The brewing of Moutai liquor is an ancient ceremony that breathes and shares its fate with the natural seasons. The cultivation of Hongyingzi sorghum follows the natural rhythm of sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn, closely intertwined with the changing of the seasons. In spring, farmers sow seeds of hope amid gentle rains; in summer, the sorghum robustly grows under the nurturing sun and dew; and by autumn, with the refreshing breeze, the sorghum ripens to a deep red, signaling optimal harvest time.
As Moutai liquor gains global prominence, an increasing number of people are beginning to understand and appreciate China's traditional brewing culture. The ancient brewing techniques of Hongyingzi sorghum and Moutai liquor not only showcase the allure of Chinese brewing to the world but also reveal the depth and breadth of Chinese culture.
The Embassy of Pakistan in China hosted a photo exhibition titled "Pakistan in Frames: A Visual Journey by Chinese Tour Operators" in Beijing on September 3.
The impressive photo exhibition showcased the rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes of Pakistan, captured by a group of Chinese tour operators who visited Islamabad, Taxila, and Gilgit-Baltistan in 2023, the year of China-Pakistan Tourism Exchanges.
The exhibition was centered around various themes, including Pakistan's Northern Splendor, Gandhara, and China-Pakistan friendship.
Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi expressed deep appreciation for the breathtaking photographs taken by the Chinese tour operators.
He noted that the photographs not only displayed Pakistan's striking beauty but also reflected the profound cultural and historical ties that enhance mutual understanding between the two countries. The ambassador emphasized that this exhibition symbolized the shared dreams and aspirations of the two peoples.
Professor Li Xiguang, director of the Pakistan Culture and Communication Center at Tsinghua University shared his experiences from his frequent travels to Pakistan, including Pakistan's role as the seat of ancient civilizations such as Gandhara and the Indus Valley.
The embassy has planned further activities to promote people-to-people exchanges, ties, and contact between the two friendly neighbors.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists to Pakistan had increased beyond 225,000 a year. The year 2023 saw Chinese tourists returning, as the two countries marked the China-Pakistan Year of Tourism Exchanges.
In her remarks on behalf of the group of tour operators, York Feng Yuting from Qyer.com shared her fond memories of Pakistan. She also highlighted Pakistan's tourism potential.
Since 2023, the outbound destination options for Chinese tourists have become more diversified, with Europe, North America, and Africa accounting for an increased proportion, while Asian countries still top the list, according to an industry report by the China Tourism Academy in early February.
Pakistan is one of the oldest ancient civilizations in history, dating back to 7,000 BC. The country is 1.5 times the size of France and is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea.
Planning to send warships to pass through the Taiwan Straits, Germany is abandoning its prudent and rational approach of over 20 years by undertaking a move with nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Two German warships, the frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main, are set to pass through the Taiwan Straits in the middle of this month, becoming the first German naval vessels to do so in 22 years, Spiegel magazine reported on Saturday. The head of the German Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth, posted on X that the move aims to strengthen "freedom of navigation and stability" in the region.
Does "freedom of navigation" really necessitate choosing a route that is highly sensitive and clearly offends China's core interest? Both the German government and military are fully aware of the political implications of crossing the Taiwan Straits. They know that, for China, such a move constitutes a provocation. Respecting each other's core interests and major concerns is essential for a comprehensive strategic partnership. Is today's Germany about to forsake its previous political maturity?
Germany has recently increased its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, it has not only signed a new defense agreement with Japan but also witnessed its defense minister make a historic visit to the Philippines, with plans to sign a defense cooperation agreement with Manila later in 2024.
Behind this series of moves lies the push from the US and NATO. The US has been endeavoring to expand NATO into the Asia-Pacific region. However, this planning is inconsistent with NATO's original mandate. After all, NATO stands for "North Atlantic Treaty Organization," not "North Atlantic-Pacific Treaty Organization." Consequently, a roundabout tactic has emerged - a growing number of individual NATO members are strengthening their military and defense cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region through joint military drills or by deploying aircraft carriers and warships. This trend does not occur under NATO's official banner; yet, in practice, it results in NATO's influence extending into the Asia-Pacific.
NATO countries' relevant strategies often reflect US policy, and it is not sure how much control other members really have, a retired US official told the Global Times recently.
If Germany aims to showcase its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, sending warships through the Taiwan Straits is the most ill-advised approach. This action appears to be primarily a favor for the US, signaling a supportive stance toward the US' tactics regarding the Taiwan question. However, Germany is unlikely to gain any benefits in return. Why is the US urging its allies to invest more efforts in the Asia-Pacific? Because it is bogged down by multiple crises and is struggling to maintain high-intensity military deployments there on its own. Therefore, Washington is utilizing its allies to create disturbances in the region to distract China.
If Germany does not take this step and simply continues its consistent policy of the past 22 years, there will be no significant loss. Its position within NATO and its relationship with the US would remain unchanged. However, if German warships were to sail through the Taiwan Straits, it would damage Germany's ties with China.
From any perspective, sending German warships through the Taiwan Straits is a move that offers all harm and no gain. Provoking China over its core interests does not seem like a decision made by a mature major power. There is no reasonable reason for Germany to do so and it still has time to reconsider.
Spain needs to reconsider its position on EU’s proposed additional tariffs for Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday, amid his visit to China.
“Frankly, I think we need to reconsider - all of us, not only [EU] member states, but also the [European] Commission - our position toward this movement,” Sanchez said at a press conference being held on Wednesday at Kunshan City, East China’s Jiangsu Province, responding to a media question on whether Spain is reconsidering its position on proposed tariff expansion on Chinese electric vehicles.
“As I said before, we don’t need another trade war,” Sanchez said. He noted that the Spanish side wants to play a constructive role in building bridges between the EU and China, and tries to find a solution and compromise between China and the EC.
Sanchez reiterated that trade wars are inappropriate and we must find a negotiation solution to help strengthen the bilateral relationship between China and the EU, which he believes is fundamental for both Chinese and European societies.
“I am grateful for the constructive attitude of the Chinese authorities,” he said.
Sanchez’s four-day visit to China from September 8 to 11, 2024 covered cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Kunshan. The Wednesday press conference was held at Kunshan Mondragon Industrial Park, an industrial and technological cluster where some Spanish companies are located.
Sanchez remarked that he noticed “the enormous growth potential between Spain and China.”
“This spirit of cooperation transcends the bilateral relationship between Spain and China, and reaches the European Union,” he said in Spanish.
International fashion brands in jewelry, handbags, and apparel are now eyeing opportunities in China's booming coffee market, starting to expand their businesses to cross-industry products and services. Chinese experts attribute the new market evolution to China's widening opening-up which has created vast opportunities for global corporations.
ROCK&RIDE, a US-based jewelry brand, told the Global Times on Tuesday that it has expanded its offerings this year by adding coffee services and a dedicated "coffee space," with its first coffee store officially launched in downtown Beijing.
The "coffee space" named ROCK&RIDE TASTE, was launched in August within Beijing's 798 Art District. Currently, ROCK&RIDE TASTE offers a limited menu of four beverages including three coffee options and one caffee-tea beverage, all served cold.
"China's coffee market is widely acknowledged for its vast growth potential. Coffee and tea are popular beverages globally, and the relationship between the two is not a zero-sum game in China." the CEO of ROCK&RIDE told the Global Times on Tuesday.
"We believe that the growing demand for coffee in China doesn't necessitate altering consumers' existing beverage preferences. Instead, it offers an additional choice for consumption and experience," he said.
Recently, several international brands have shown a strong interest in China's coffee market, exploring cross-industry opportunities.
Vivienne Westwood operated its new caféat Beijing's Sanlitun Street on August 8. On July 28, Coach officially launched its first café in China, located in Shanghai's Huangpu district.
In response to market demand, another Vivienne Westwood café in Beijing is expected to open for business at the year-end, a representative from Vivienne Westwood Café told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Many consumers told the Global Times that the coffee products offered by the globally well-known brands are appealing to them. They enjoy the combination of their favourite fashionable brands with coffee, making it a must-have purchase.
"China's market is highly diverse, open, and inclusive. It's not just coffee but also tea beverage that has seen rapid growth in business," Bian Yongzu, executive deputy editor-in-chief of Modernization of Management magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
He noted that this growth underscores the strong adaptability of Chinese consumers, especially the younger generation to the evolving market trends.
Bian said that foreign brands' swift decision-making in China is closely tied to the country's commitment to sticking to high-level opening-up.
A recent report revealed that China's coffee industry reached 265.4 billion yuan ($32.29 billion) in size last year, with market projections estimating it to grow to 313 billion yuan in 2024. The industry's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past three years reached 17.14 percent.
Additionally, the report stated that 930 million cups of coffee were consumed nationwide through delivery platforms. Over the past four years, coffee delivery orders have experienced a compound growth rate of 66 percent.
"The Chinese government is intensifying efforts to fully implement national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises. Initiatives like reducing the negative list for foreign investment, simplifying the investment process, and facilitating smoother capital flows have boosted the efficiency of foreign investment in China while cutting costs," Bian said.
The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of this year's summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." In light of this, the Global Times launches a series of China-Africa stories, including interviews with political leaders, stories of exchanges between young people from China and African countries, and intensive cooperation in various fields. Through these stories, we will see how China and Africa are deepening their ties and building a brighter future together.
In this instalment, Global Times reporter Zhao Yusha talked with Endalkachew Sime, PhD student at Peking University, ex-state minister of planning and development of Ethiopia and ex-secretary general of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations. Endalkachew Sime, once the state minister of Ethiopia, is now a PhD candidate at Peking University in China.
When discussing China's cooperation with Africa, Sime said it is just like his studies in Beijing.
"My studies here in China are equipping me with the knowledge that I can apply in Africa. This cooperation extends beyond mere financial transactions; it's about long-term development and capacity building," Sime, currently a student from Peking University Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, told the Global Times.
With an approximate population of 126.5 million people (2023), Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria, and one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, according to the World Bank.
Ethiopia stands at the forefront of the China-Africa strategic partnership.
"China has been the largest trading partner to Ethiopia and a top source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country, accounting for nearly 50 percent of all FDI inflow into the country," Gebeyehu Ganga, director general of the Middle East, Asia, and Pacific Affairs at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in June this year, according to the Xinhua News Agency. For Sime, there's still much potential for cooperation between the two countries. "Ethiopia has significant potential for future cooperation with China, particularly in areas like infrastructure, power, and trade. Specifically, there is potential in value-added manufacturing, where Ethiopia can convert its immense agricultural and natural resources into finished goods for export to the world's fastest-growing domestic market," Sime, who formerly served as the state minister of planning and development of Ethiopia and secretary general of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, told the Global Times.
Sime recalled that he first came to China in 2004, and has witnessed the development trajectory that China has undergone in the past decades. Such experience sparked a strong interest in him to study academically and professionally in this country.
"Many people describe China's development as a miracle, but there's no such thing as a miracle. If you explain it well, it's something that can be replicated. If you frame it as a miracle, then it becomes unrepeatable. That's why I came here - to learn and see," he said.
"China has managed to plan and implement its development strategy consistently over a long period. I compared this with my own country, which had a very different economic background three decades ago," said Sime.
He said Ethiopia started to follow a similar model to China, and initially had an encouraging start. However, due to various reasons, the development could not be sustained.
"So having a solid state formation process and strong leadership are, in my view, critical elements that developing nations can learn from China. There might be other aspects to consider, but these are the two that stand out to me," said Sime.
Ethiopia was among the first batch of African countries to sign the "Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Documents" to jointly build the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
"What sets the BRI apart when it comes to Africa's engagement with the rest of the world? Let me provide a specific example." Sime said. "Ethiopia, for instance, was seeking financial access for critical projects, and the most flexible and accessible source of finance turned out to be the BRI."
He praised the BRI's financing as more flexible and it considers the developmental challenges that Africa faces. "However, this does not mean that projects are financed without rigorous screening. There are thorough banking and financial procedures that must be followed. The flexibility is in addressing Africa's needs better than other financing bodies," said Sime.
Over the last decade, many African projects have benefited from the BRI's flexibility. Compared to other engagements, the BRI gives African countries more freedom to choose projects that align with their national interests and development goals compared to other financing options, according to Sime.
In recent years, green-eyed about China's cooperation with African countries, some Western politicians and institutions have hyped that through investment, loans, political influence, and migration, China is utilizing an inventive form of "neocolonialism" on African nations.
In response, Sime said that "no one enters a partnership for a free lunch. Africa, like any other region, has its interests, and so do China and Western countries. The essence of the deal is cooperation based on mutual benefit and nonintervention, which is gaining acceptance among many African nations."
Why do these countries choose such partnerships? It's a decision made through rigorous studies and evidence-based processes. Africa partners with all parts of the world based on its preferences and priorities, Sime noted.
