TURKISH LIRA CRISIS THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE THE INCIDENT OF SAUDI JOURNALIST FRANCE S YELLOW VEST PROTESTS

Transcription

1 The Information Office, International Department of the CPC Central Committee DECEMBER, 2018 Special Iue on a Community With a Shared Future for Humanity KOREAN PENINSULA QUAKES, TSUNAMI SITUATION DEVASTATE INDONESIA THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE XI JINPING THOUGHT ON DIPLOMACY THE COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE FOR HUMANITY THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE MAJOR COUNTRY DIPLOMACY WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS CHINA-U.S. TRADE FRICTION UNILATERAL U.S. PULLOUTS GREECE EXITS BAILOUT RUSSIA-UKRAINE STANDOFF FOCAC SUMMIT IN BEIJING TURKISH LIRA CRISIS THE INCIDENT OF SAUDI JOURNALIST FRANCE S YELLOW VEST PROTESTS

2 11 DECEMBER, Top 10 World New Storie A container hip berth at a port in Tanghan, north China Hebei Province, on November 19 China-U.S. Trade Friction On March 22, U.S. Preident Donald Trump igned a memorandum impoing punitive tariff on Chinee product, with the threat of impoing additional tariff. For it part, China announced countermeaure. Depite everal round of conultation and negotiation, the two ide could not reach conenu. The trade dipute between the world top two economie ha not only hurt their economic development, but ha alo undermined the recovery of the global economy. At the 2018 G20 Bueno Aire Summit, Chinee Preident Xi Jinping and Trump reached an agreement on December 1. The two ide agreed to tep up negotiation to remove all additional tariff and reach a win-win deal. Unilateral U.S. Pullout In May, the Trump adminitration officially announced it would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, preuring Iran to revie the pact and make more conceion. The U.S. move wa denounced by the international community and Iran refued to make further conceion. Five month later, the United State made another unilateral pullout, announcing it wa quitting the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) treaty it had igned with the Soviet Union 30 year ago, alleging Ruia had violated the treaty. The INF i an important bilateral treaty and it abence will have far-reaching effect on U.S.-Ruia relation, regional ecurity and the development of global nuclear power. Without the curb the treaty impoe, the United State may trengthen it military preence in the Middle Eat and the Aia-Pacific region, which would affect the equilibrium in thee area. The unilateral pullout have contributed to detabilizing the global ecurity ituation. Chinee Preident Xi Jinping meet with Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Worker Party of Korea and leader of the Democratic People Republic of Korea, in Beijing on June 20. Xi wife Peng Liyuan and Kim wife Ri Sol Ju alo attended the meeting The Korean Peninula Situation big tep wa taken in improving the ituation on the Korean Peninula. A With effort from the international community, particularly from China, the United State, the Democratic People Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), the ecurity crii on the peninula eaed. Xi had three meeting with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. Kim alo held hitoric meeting with Trump and ROK Preident Moon Jae-in on peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninula in the border village of Panmunjom. A joint Panmunjom Declaration wa iued after the Kim-Moon meeting, confirming their common goal of complete denuclearization of the peninula. U.S. Preident Donald Trump ign a preidential memorandum to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, a landmark agreement igned in 2015, on May 8

3 DECEMBER, Quake, Tunami Devatate Indoneia Powerful earthquake and an enuing tunami truck Indoneia Central Sulawei Province on September 28. The toll wa put at 2,090, while more than 87,000 people were forced to flee their home. The diater detroyed infratructure, including over 68,000 houe, religiou building and bridge. Road were badly damaged in many place. The lo wa etimated to be about $1 billion. The roundtable meeting of the FOCAC Beijing Summit i held in the Great Hall of the People on September 4 FOCAC Summit in Beijing The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) wa held in September. The ummit, attended by Xi and tate leader from 53 African countrie, wa the larget of it kind ince FOCAC wa etablihed in FOCAC ha been an important engine for China-Africa collaboration, promoting cooperation in trade, invetment, project contracting, cultural exchange, finance and ecurity. It ha alo become an important platform for China and Africa to enhance cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in the new era. The ummit adopted the Beijing Action Plan ( ), drawing a roadmap for China-Africa cooperation in the coming year. People windowhop during the ummer ale eaon in Athen, Greece, on Augut 22. The retail ector welcomed Greece exit from international bailout program Greece Exit Bailout On Augut 20, Greece formally exited the international financial recue program introduced by the European Union (EU) after eight year, demontrating that it doe not need to rely on foreign aid to upport it own utainable development. It wa an important ignal that the country, with the heaviet public debt and the firt to be bailed out, wa nearing the end of it debt crii. During the eight year, European fical and financial governance tructure have improved and a rik control network for eurozone countrie ha been et up. However, the concluion of Greece bailout doe not mean the loe and car utained during the European debt crii have been totally wiped out. Survivor look for alvageable item among the debri of a houe in Donggala, Central Sulawei, after multiple earthquake on October 5 France Yellow Vet Protet On November 17, protet erupted in France againt the government plan to increae the fuel tax in 2019 in the name of combating climate change. The protet developed into the Yellow Vet movement, getting it name from the fluorecent roadide ecurity jacket worn by the demontrator. The movement ha ince nowballed, proteting the high living cot blamed on Preident Emmanuel Macron fical and economic reform. Clahe with police in Pari led to a few caualtie. The movement alo pread to neighboring countrie including Belgium and the Netherland. Reponding to the Yellow Vet on December 10, Macron announced an economic and ocial emergency plan to increae minimum monthly wage, crap a tax on overtime hour, cut taxe for penioner and pay end-of-year bonue to worker. Yellow Vet proteter near the Arc de Triomphe in Pari on December 8 VCG

4 3 DECEMBER, 2018 Ruia-Ukraine Standoff The tenion between Ukraine and Ruia ecalated after the Ruian Coat Guard eized three Ukrainian veel in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninula on November 25. Ukraine declared martial law for 30 day along the border with Ruia and in Black Sea coatal area on November 28. Ruia accued Ukraine of playing with fire and Ukrainian veel of violating the Ruian border depite warning from Ruian hip. Though the international community urged both ide to retore peace, Ukrainian Preident Petro Porohenko ubmitted a draft law to parliament on December 3, which provide for the termination of the 1997 Treaty on Friendhip, Cooperation and Partnerhip between Ukraine and Ruia that i et to expire in March Three Ukrainian hip are eized by Ruian force near the Black Sea on November 25 The Incident of Saudi Journalit Saudi journalit Jamal Khahoggi, who wa a columnit for The Wahington Pot, went miing on October 2 after he entered the Saudi conulate in Itanbul to obtain document for hi marriage. Day later, new leaked by Turkih authoritie aid that Khahoggi had been killed inide the conulate, hinting that the Saudi royal family wa behind the murder. The new attracted world concern. Saudi authoritie admitted the involvement of official in the killing but denied a connection to the royal family. The Turkih Government hared the o-called evidence audio recording of the killing with Saudi Arabia, the United State, Germany, France and the UK, but the whole truth i till not known. A man check the exchange rate at a money exchange hop in Itanbul on May 24, after the Turkih lira fluctuation Turkih Lira Crii In Augut, the Turkih lira dropped harply by 18 percent, the bigget in a ingle day ince the Turkih financial crii in The fall of the lira came after Trump announcement that the tariff on teel and aluminum import from Turkey would be doubled. Turkey i the eighth larget teel producer in the world and the ixth larget ource of U.S. teel import. In total, the lira lot more than 35 percent of it value againt the U.S. dollar thi year, prompting concern that Turkey economy, which i heavily reliant on foreign currency loan, could affect other emerging market. Journalit gather outide the Saudi conulate in Itanbul, waiting for detail about miing journalit Jamal Khahoggi on October 10

5 DECEMBER, Chinee Preident Xi Jinping and hi wife Peng Liyuan, together with Argentine Preident Mauricio Macri and hi wife Juliana Awada, attend the welcome ceremony in Bueno Aire, Argentina, on December 2, 2018 Challenging Time, Creative Effort The key theme of Chinee diplomacy in 2018 By Wang Huiyao The author i preident of the Center for China and Globalization A the curtain come down on 2018, it i a good moment to look back at the highlight and central theme of China diplomacy during another eventful year. For China, 2018 ha been a year to continue building a new type of international relation baed on three core tenet mutual repect, fairne and jutice, a well a win-win cooperation, with the long-term viion of building a community with a hared future for humanity. Thi 21t-century world i haped by increaing multipolarity and cro-border flow of people, good, capital and information. It i a world of greater openne, where the cat of character i more populou, complex and interconnected than ever before. It i alo a world where technological progre and globalization are blurring boundarie and overturning traditional aumption. The rie of emerging market and developing countrie i reconfiguring balance of power, while the international order of the lat half-century increaingly truggle to accommodate to the new reality. Againt thi evolving backdrop, the ret of the world i learning and adapting to the growing tage preence of China and other emerging power. China i alo defining it role in the world and refining how it interact with fellow nation.

6 5 DECEMBER, 2018 In thi role, China will forge it own approach to international relation. In 2018, China ha continued to expand it diplomatic repertoire, leveraging conventional channel but alo developing new mechanim to build mutual undertanding. Throughout the year, China diplomatic toolkit highlighted ix key theme which tart with the central role of ummit diplomacy and include Sino-U.S. relation, breakthrough with neighboring countrie, cooperation along the Belt and Road, protecting growing overea interet, and finally, effort to reform and innovate the global governance ytem. Summit diplomacy Summit diplomacy ha been the core pillar of China international engagement in recent year. Preident Xi Jinping ha been more active in global affair than any previou Chinee leader and 2018 aw top-level ummitry become more important than ever. The role of ummit diplomacy wa evident at the recent G20 Bueno Aire Summit. A well a exploring joint olution to global challenge, thi gathering became an important chance to prevent the Sino-U.S. trade dipute from piraling out of control. To the world relief, Xi and U.S. Preident Donald Trump were able to reach a preliminary ceaefire agreement to tart working to reolve difference over economic relation. While upporting exiting mechanim uch a the G20, China ha alo led the creation and trengthening of new platform to promote free trade and international cooperation. In 2018, China hoted four uch international event: the Boao Forum for Aia Annual Conference, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and the China International Import Expo (CIIE). At the Boao Forum event in April, Xi ent a clear ignal: China will continue to open up it economy and promote globalization with pledge to expand market acce and improve the buine environment for foreign invetor. He alo pledged to promote import growth. Thi gave firm upport to globalization amid the protectionit wave that ha wept the world. Thi theme wa reinforced at the inaugural CIIE in November. Much more than a trade fair, the CIIE erved a a landmark in the evolution of China development and it economic interaction with the ret of the world. Once renowned a the factory of the world for it role a an export powerhoue, today it i China conumer market and import that erve a an engine for global growth. A Xi aid in hi opening peech, over the next 15 year, China i et to import $30 trillion worth of good and $10 trillion in ervice. In June, the coatal city of Qingdao played hot to the 2018 SCO Summit. Formed 17 year ago with regional ecurity objective in mind, the agenda of the SCO ha broadened to include other area of cooperation uch a the economy and the environment. Thi year ummit wa ignificant a India and Pakitan attended a new full member. The eight-member SCO now account for nearly half of the world population and over a fifth of the global GDP. Thee event reflect China effort to build platform and engage a broad range of partner acro the world. Sino-U.S. relation China and the U.S. are the world mot ignificant economic and political actor. In 2018, the twit and turn in their relation have formed the central toryline, not jut of China external relation, but of global affair at large. A the trade dipute intenified, the goal of tabilizing the relation with the U.S. ha been a key objective for Chinee diplomacy. The meeting between the two preident following the G20 Summit averted further ecalation of tariff and brought both ide back to the negotiating table. But depite thi reprieve, it i clear that a fundamental hift ha occurred in the relationhip. A bipartian view of China a an antagonit and bigget trategic competitor ha coaleced in Wahington. The U.S. approach of engagement in previou year i gradually being replaced by a mindet of containment. In thi regard, it wa encouraging that the econd annual U.S.-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue wa held in Beijing in November. Thi gave top diplomat and military official from both ide a chance to talk and hare perpective of contentiou iue. Depite friction, the two countrie till have enormou potential ynergie to exploit through cloer cooperation, particularly with repect to trannational challenge uch a climate change. China participation in California Global Climate Action Summit in September howed that there are many channel for the two to work together. Deepening cooperation at the local level may offer an effective way to do thi. A Salvadoran exhibitor introduce juice product from hi country to Chinee cutomer at the firt China International Import Expo in Shanghai, on November 7, 2018 The 9999th Boeing aircraft prepare to take off from the company Seattle airfield in the U.S. tate of Wahington on March 24, for delivery to China air carrier Okay Airway

7 DECEMBER, Preident Xi Jinping meet with Japanee Prime Miniter Shinzo Abe in Beijing on October 26 Breakthrough with neighbor Effort to trengthen relation in the region to create a benign environment for the growth of economic and cultural link within Aia have contributed to breakthrough with three fellow nation over the year. Firt, 2018 aw a notable warming of tie between China and Japan. The premier of both countrie made reciprocal viit. Premier Li Keqiang viit to Japan in May wa followed by Japanee Prime Miniter Shinzo Abe viit to Beijing in October, the firt tand-alone journey to China by a Japanee leader in nearly even year. During thi viit, the premier of Aia two bigget economie reached a erie of agreement to deepen economic and trade tie. Sino-Indian relation alo experienced a poitive turnaround following a period of heightened tenion caued by their border friction in Indian Prime Miniter Narendra Modi viited China in April, holding talk with Xi to build mutual trut and deepen cooperation. China and India, the world two mot populou nation, hare trong cultural tie and economic complementaritie. It i encouraging to ee that Sino-Indian relation are now on a track to cloer collaboration. Third, with China upport, there ha alo been progre on the Korean Peninula nuclear iue. Thi ha een the Democratic People Republic of Korea hold breakthrough ummit with China, the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. Thee are initial but important tep toward defuing tenion on the peninula and opening a channel for lating peace in the region. Belt and Road cooperation In the five year ince it launch, the Belt and Road Initiative, drawing on China capital reource and infratructure development capabilitie, offer a new model of diplomacy by helping partner countrie to improve connectivity and open new path to growth and properity. The initiative ha been upported by growing number of Chinee enterprie that are going global. According to the Chinee Minitry of Commerce, in the firt half of 2018, invetment in 55 countrie along the Belt and Road wa up 12 percent year on year. Alongide, China ha directed diplomatic effort to promote the initiative. Following the inaugural Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation lat year, a of 2018, more than 100 countrie and region a well a international organization had igned cooperation agreement with China, extending the initiative cope from Euraia to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the South Pacific region. The FOCAC Summit held in Beijing in September brought together leader from China and African countrie to explore new form of collaboration. Xi announced $60 billion of financing for Africa in the form of government aitance a well a from financial intitution and companie. The ummit built on Xi trip to Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa and Mauritiu earlier in the year, the fourth African trip during hi preidency. Countrie that previouly held migiving about the initiative uch a Japan and the U.S. are gradually beginning to warm to it. During Abe viit to Beijing, China and Japan launched a mechanim to dicu economic cooperation project in third countrie related to the initiative. The number of foreign companie and financial intitution taking part in Belt and Road project i increaing, helping to trengthen link between China and it partner around the world by haring experience and mutual benefit. A young viitor take part in the Chinee handicraft of carving and painting on wood at the China Cultural Center in Mocow, Ruia on November 22

8 7 DECEMBER, 2018 Chinee tourit take a group photo before leaving Saipan in the Northern Mariana Iland commonwealth after it wa truck by a typhoon on October 28 in a chartered flight provided by the Chinee Government Protecting overea interet Driven by China opening up and the Belt and Road Initiative, the number of Chinee citizen and companie overea i growing. According to the National Bureau of Statitic, China ha been the country with the mot outbound tourit in annual term ince The number of outbound tourit i expected to grow to 157 million in 2020, compared to 135 million in China accumulated outbound direct invetment (ODI) reached over $1.8 trillion by the end of 2017, moving up to the econd place in the world ranking. Chinee invetment in both Europe and Africa aw an over 70-percent increae, while invetment in countrie along the Belt and Road accounted for over 12 percent of ODI, up 31.5 percent year on year. Thee trend mean protecting the interet of Chinee citizen working, traveling and tudying overea ha become an increaingly important tak for Chinee diplomatic and conular ervice. The evolving rik map include ecurity threat and natural danger. In 2017, the Chinee Foreign Minitry handled over 70,000 cae of conular protection. Thi year, Chinee national have been upported in a range of ituation, from evacuating them from natural diater to protecting them from terrorit threat. To upport thi vital apect of China overea work, in 2018 the Minitry of Foreign Affair releaed draft legilation on conular protection to help afeguard Chinee citizen overea. Global governance reform Recent year have een multilateralim under increaing train. There ha been a rie in anti-globalization entiment around the world, and countrie that helped to build the international order are now undermining the very intitution that upport it. In part, the current global governance deficit i a reult of multilateral intitution failing to reform and adapt to new challenge. Therefore, a well a upporting exiting mechanim, part of China new role i to promote reform of the global governance ytem according to concept of fairne and jutice. It i not only official agencie that are engaged in thi tak. A growing cat of ocial actor i alo contributing idea and impetu to reform global governance. Thi include non-governmental think tank that can help to generate and dieminate idea at home and abroad. Many of the challenge require freh approache and cro-border collaboration between different type of organization. Think tank are well placed to upport China in building a new type of international relation. Through the age, many have een relation between actor on the tage of world hitory a antagonitic, driven by fear and elf-interet. Proponent of thi view often ee modern tate a playing out predetermined role, detined to clah and come into conflict a balance of power hift. To build a new type of international relation, China ha determined to craft it own role a the upporter of a more open, fairer world. It i likely that 2019 will bring more twit and turn in world affair. However, it i hoped that the coming year will alo provide more chance to build relationhip, work together, and cript a hared future for humanity. CI China Poverty Alleviation Achievement from 2013 to 2017 million % % % 4.5% 3.1% The number of people living below the poverty line China poverty rate % 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0 Source: People Daily

9 DECEMBER, Creating New Miracle in Aia By Zan Jifang Ahead of the Boao Forum for Aia (BFA) Annual Conference, held on April 8-11, 2018, Beijing Review interviewed Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary General of the BFA, about hi view on Aian development and the world properity. Founded in 2001, the BFA i a nongovernmental, nonprofit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration. It annual conference take place in the reort town of Boao, in outh China Hainan Province. Beijing Review: The theme of the 2018 BFA Annual Conference i An Open and Innovative Aia for a World of Greater Properity. How wa thi theme formulated? What i the BFA expecting to achieve at thi year conference? Zhou Wenzhong: In May 2017, the BFA tarted to olicit advice from it 29 founding countrie, it board of director, council of advior, member, partner, think tank and media on the theme of the annual conference and topic of dicuion. We alo held three eminar and a pecial meeting of the board of director to dicu the theme. During the proce of conultation, we had a common undertanding that given the fact that anti-globalization entiment and trade and invetment protectionim are on the rie, and that globalization i partially facing etback Aia, a well a the whole world, need to be more open and connected than ever before, rather than being iolated and cloed. The world need to be more incluive and balanced, rather than being divided between the rich and poor. Currently, world economic growth i till fragile; there are many uncertaintie and complicated ituation in the world economy. Aia and the world need to change their idea of development to economic growth driven by innovation intead of imply by factor input. Under the current ituation, peace and development remain the call of our day. It hould be the common miion of Aia and all the countrie of the world to build a community with a hared future for mankind, and to advance the common development and properity of the world. To puh forward Aia adaptation to the new ituation, the BFA invited official, indutry and buine profeional and academic from around the world, epecially from the Aia-Pacific region, to gather at thi year annual conference to review the pat and dicu propect for openne and innovation in Aia. The dicuion at ubforum will focu on a variety of apect, including utainable development, macroeconomic policy, corporate reponibilitie, ocial and cultural advancement, cientific and technological innovation, promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative and the trengthening of regional cooperation. We hope that the 2018 conference will become a multilateral event of exchange that will build greater conenu within Aia, let it voice be better heard and boot internal cooperation in the region and collaboration between Aia and the ret of the world. How would you evaluate the development of Aia? In the pat decade, Aia ha played an increaingly important role in world economic development and ha created Aian miracle one after another. It ha not only tranformed itelf following a long period of poverty and underdevelopment, but ha alo injected energy into the world economy. However, the 2008 global financial crii gave a heavy blow to Aia economy, poing an unprecedented challenge to the economic growth of the continent. On the one hand, the previou development mode could hardly continue, while on the other, a new way of development that fit the new ituation ha not yet been found. At the ame time, a technological revolution led by mobile Internet and artificial intelligence

10 9 DECEMBER, 2018 ha been booming and gaining momentum, changing conventional way of production, living, economic operation and even global governance. Againt uch a backdrop, with o many changing factor overlapping, it i impoible for Aia to continue it ucce in the traditional way. To utain properity in the pot-financial crii period, Aia need a new round of opening up and innovation. Aian economie need to trengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation and promote regional and ub-regional trade and invetment liberalization. Aia need to create an environment with a fully open market that i uitable for utainable economic development. With a new round of technological innovation, Aia need to boot innovation in baic cientific reearch and applied technology. Meanwhile, Aian economie need to adjut development thinking and explore innovative way of implementing intitutional, buine-model and tructural reform. In thi way, they can deepen tructural adjutment while maintaining table growth; reolve the tructural problem that retrict the utainable development of the continent; and ultimately realize innovative, coordinated, green and open development for everyone. How would you rate Aia tatu in global economic development? The growth of Aia ha been higher than the average growth of the world economy in the pat decade. Currently, Aia economic aggregate account for more than 33 percent of the world total, exceeding North America 28 percent and Europe 22 percent. In particular, in the proce of globalization, Aia ha become the larget market of trade in good and ervice and an important ource and detination for foreign direct invetment, thu making it the region with the mot emerging economie ince the tart of the 21t century. The rapid development of Aia economy ha benefited from two element: the openne and innovation of Aia, and the lating wave of globalization. While following the trend of globalization and regional integration, Aian economie have become more and more mutually dependent, with trade volume between them far exceeding the total volume between Aia and external economie. The phenomenon i more prominent in Eat Aia, where before the 1980, the trade volume between Eat Aia and North America wa much higher than that within the region itelf, which i no longer the cae. Now, the trade volume within the region ha exceeded the region trade volume with North America and the euro-zone combined. At the ame time, Aian economie have not confined themelve to the region, but have been active in puruing economic integration with other area of the world. The increaingly cloe interdependence among economie in Aia and the cloer connection between Aia and the ret of the world how that Aia cannot realize properity and development all by itelf. The wider and deeper openne and innovation in Aia are baed on the founda- Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Aia (BFA), peak at a pre briefing on the 2018 BFA Annual Conference in Beijing on January 25, 2018 tion that interdependence within Aia ha been unprecedentedly high, which mean Aian economie mut cooperate in order to realize their common goal. Becaue of the diverity in the hitory, culture, religion, politic and economic development level of Aian economie, Aia doe not have a continent-wide organization, which i different from other continent uch a the America, Africa and Europe. But given the deepening regional economic integration, Aian economie have become cloe partner, creating a good environment for them to further trengthen regional cooperation through policy and mechanim connectivity. Although the anti-globalization trend ha been on the rie in recent year, globalization i irreverible. Aian economie mut further embrace the global tide of opening up and innovation and try to lead the current. Technological advancement, which i the major driving force for the development of productivity, will reult in innovation in a wide range of area including intitution, policie and buine model. Such innovation will go beyond the limit of national boundarie and will need to be carried out through coordination and cooperation among different countrie and region. We have reaon to believe that Aia, led by a new round of opening up and innovation, will become the mot important ource of dynamim for the world economic properity. Thi year i the fifth anniverary of the Belt and Road Initiative. What kind of role will it play in promoting regional cooperation in Aia? The Belt and Road Initiative, propoed by Chinee Preident Xi Jinping, i baed on the principle of achieving hared growth through dicuion and collaboration. It provide a convenient and wide cooperation platform for opening up and innovation in the new era. It include not only contruction of hardware uch a infratructure and indutrial park, but alo development of oftware uch a intitutional arrangement and mechanim. The Belt and Road Initiative i aimed at promoting policy coordination, infratructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and mutual undertanding among people in countrie along and beyond the ancient Silk Road route. It could be a olution to realizing utainable properity for the entire world economy. Thu, theme uch a the Belt and Road Initiative, openne, innovation and cooperation will become the keyword for many of the activitie at the 2018 BFA Annual Conference. CI

11 DECEMBER, The firt Shanghai Cooperation Organization Political Partie Forum i held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on May 26, 2018 Pearl of Widom Political party dialogue facilitate the exchange neceary for a cooperative world By Deng Yaqing With the aim of further promoting regional peace and development, the Firt Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Political Partie Forum wa held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on May 26, 2018, marking the etablihment of a brand new mechanim. Under the theme of Pooling Widom of Political Partie, Promoting the Shanghai Spirit and Building a Global Community with a Shared Future, the forum wa hoted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communit Party of China (CPC) and attended by around 200 repreentative from more than 30 political partie in 18 SCO member tate, oberver and dialogue partner. A the forerunner and guide of na- tional development, political partie play a leading role in building a global community with a hared future and making the world a better place. Promoting exchange between SCO political partie i ure to boot it future development, aid Song Tao, Miniter of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, in a keynote peech at the opening ceremony. According to Song, the CPC i willing to make every effort to advance the contruction of an SCO community with a hared future featuring equality, mutual upport and olidarity together with other SCO member. Learning together A a regional organization whoe member tate account for approximately half of the world population, the SCO ha become a model for peaceful development and cultural exchange, aid Sergey Zheleznyak, Deputy Secretary of the General Council of the United Ruia Party, during the forum. Political partie are the mot active force in political life. When we get together under the framework of the SCO for dialogue, we can exchange our experience of managing partie and nation, which could open a new chapter in SCO cooperation, Zheleznyak aid. The forum i productive and pragmatic, and under the framework of SCO cooperation, it i neceary for all political partie to conduct exchange and promote partnerhip in ecurity, economic and cultural development, education, and tourim,

12 11 DECEMBER, 2018 aid Nariman Umarov, Preident of the Adolat (Jutice) Social Democratic Party of Uzbekitan. Anirban Ganguly, pecial repreentative of the preident of the Bharatiya Janata Party of India, noted that the ucceful concluion of the forum ignifie the efficient partnerhip among member countrie under the SCO framework, and that endeavor hould be made to further exchange experience of governance and promote mutual learning. It i the hared deire of all attendee to learn from each other experience of governance at the party and national level, and bilateral and multilateral relation will inevitably benefit from the haring of idea on development and party contruction and governance, Ganguly aid. Following the dicuion, conenu wa reached on maintaining the Shanghai Spirit, triving to build an SCO community with a hared future, trengthening coordination on action plan and promoting the intitutionalization of the forum, according to Guo Yezhou, Vice Miniter of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a new conference held after the concluion of the forum. A the philoophical underpinning of the SCO, the Shanghai Spirit epoue reciprocal trut, mutual benefit, equality, two-way conultation, repect for cultural diverity and the puruit of common development. Extremit, eparatit and protectionit behavior are in violation of thee principle, and cooperative multilateral initiative uch a the Belt and Road and the Euraian Economic Union hould be further trengthened according to Zheleznyak, who believe the key to puhing forward thee initiative lie in the Shanghai Spirit. Repreentative were in agreement that the Shanghai Spirit i a dynamic et of practical value applicable at any time and in any region, and that it i the ource of trength and the foundation of cooperation within the SCO, fundamental for all political partie to build conenu. A hared future Attendee agreed that exchange between political partie under the framework of the SCO not only facilitate cooperation and communication, but alo contribute widom and effective approache toward the building of a community with a hared future for humanity. The SCO ha developed into a unique regional organization and an important guarantee for ecurity and table development in the Euraian region, aid Muratbek Imanaliev, former Secretary General of the SCO. Under the SCO framework, guided by the Shanghai Spirit, the platform for dialogue and communication between political partie will pre ahead with the etablihment of a new type of international relation and propel the building of a community with a hared future for humanity, Imanaliev aid. Repreentative noted that the Belt and Road Initiative i the mot practical approach to achieving thi goal. The Belt and Road Initiative ha brought about hope and well-being for people in the developing world, and it i the only road which can lead the people of Aia and the world to common properity, Pakitani Senator Muhahid Huein aid. CI An aerial view of the China-Maldive Friendhip Bridge connecting the iland of Malé and Hulhumalé in the Maldive. The 1.39 km-long bridge, opened in Augut, 2018, i an important cooperation project between China and the Maldive under the Belt and Road Initiative

13 DECEMBER, Tie That Bind An excluive interview with Uzbek Ambaador to China Bakhtiyor Saidov on the development of the SCO Ambaador Bakhtiyor Saidov The 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit i et for June 9-10 in Qingdao, eat China Shandong Province. Before the ummit, Beijing Review conducted an excluive interview with Uzbek Ambaador to China Bakhtiyor Saidov, who hared hi view on the development of the SCO and the future propect for the regional cooperation organization. An edited excerpt of the interview follow: Beijing Review: A a founding member of the SCO, how doe Uzbekitan ee the SCO development and contribution to regional peace and properity over the pat 20 year? Bakhtiyor Saidov: Since it founding almot 20 year ago, the SCO ha developed into an authoritative regional organization and an effective and open multilateral cooperation platform. One of the key factor for the ucce of the organization i that it ha adapted to the complicated and continually changing world ituation, and ha killfully integrated the overall interet of member tate in the field of both ecurity and economic development. Since it etablihment, the SCO ha firmly adhered to the Shanghai Spirit, placing great emphai on amity and unity among member tate and effectively coping with challenge that threaten regional ecurity. A a founding member of the SCO, Uzbekitan ha actively participated in all form of the organization activitie and ha made important contribution to it development. Uzbekitan will further expand trade and invetment cooperation with other member tate and make effort to facilitate trade cooperation within the SCO. We firmly upport conducting open, equal and mutually beneficial cooperative dialogue with all our partner. On the principle of common interet, we are willing to how our incerity in reaching effective cooperation by making reaonable conceion. At preent, all partie of the SCO are actively preparing for the Qingdao Summit. The action on preventing youth from being influenced by terrorim and other radical ideologie propoed by Uzbek Preident Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the Atana Summit in 2017 i on the agenda of the upcoming ummit. It i et to be approved by the SCO Head of State Council Meeting thi year. From the perpective of Uzbekitan, what i the SCO greatet achievement to date? What doe Uzbekitan anticipate for the future of the SCO? A I mentioned above, the role and influence of the SCO have been on the rie year after year, both regionally and globally. It ha already become an important force that can exert great influence on international relation. The continually increaing number of SCO member tate, oberver tate and dialogue partner all attet to that fact. Following the exiting tradi- tion, Uzbekitan firmly upport and trictly oberve the cooperation principle that conform to the interet of all member tate, helping to continually raie the SCO profile on the world tage. A everyone know, Uzbekitan ha trictly followed the target, miion and principle tipulated in the SCO Charter which are all aimed at afeguarding regional ecurity and tability. Their purpoe i alo to raie the ocial and economic development level of member tate a well a the international profile of the SCO. What more, my country attache particular importance to the principle of non-confrontation, non-blockade and openne of the SCO. We will continue to trengthen economic and trade cooperation with other member tate and carry out a variety of large-cale project together. Thi i of great ignificance under the cooperation framework of the Belt and Road Initiative propoed by China. Thu, the prime tak for pragmatic cooperation i to further trengthen economic cooperation with more confidence. Firtly, we hould jointly draw up plan and carry out largecale invetment cooperation project in the field of tranportation infratructure, hi-tech manufacturing, the ervice indutry and tourim. What hould be treed i that to afeguard regional development, it i of great importance to etablih a multilateral financial mechanim. Thu, in my opinion, it i the right time to etablih an SCO development bank. In expanding regional cooperation, Uzbekitan believe that

14 13 DECEMBER, 2018 A train top at the entrance to the 19.2-km long Qamchiq Tunnel in Uzbekitan, which i completed on February 27, 2016, a part of the China- Kyrgyztan-Uzbekitan Railway it i neceary to jointly develop tranportation corridor, which can help connect Central Aian countrie with international market. In thi repect, it i important for the SCO to etablih an integrated trannational tranportation management ytem among member tate. We need to formulate a legal framework, implify cutom procedure, et a unified onetop tranport expene rate and modernize and tandardize cargo and paenger ecurity check. In addition, SCO member tate hould pay more attention to cooperation in tranportation and communication project. Tapping into the full potential of the exiting tran-border tranportation capacity hould be a top priority. We believe peeding up the contruction of the China-Kyrgyztan-Uzbekitan Railway i a hortcut for connecting Central Aian member tate to international market. In 2017, the SCO welcomed two new member, India and Pakitan. What are your view on the expanion of SCO memberhip and how will thee new member hape the future of the organization? The SCO i rapidly and teadily becoming one of the mot influential organization worldwide. Againt the backdrop of the intenification of regional conflict, the SCO, which repreent the harmoniou and peaceful coexitence of about half of the world population, i of pecial ocial value. The year 2016 wa a miletone for the SCO a head of tate made the hitoric deciion to enlarge the organization at the Tahkent Summit by paing related memoranda. A we all know, after the approval of thee document, India and Pakitan formally joined the group in We believe the addition of India and Pakitan will further promote the development of the organization and garner more attention from the SCO on problem in Central Aia. In your opinion, how can the Belt and Road Initiative and the SCO framework for cooperation complement each other? Since the moment Preident Xi Jinping propoed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, Uzbekitan ha been howing upport for thi initiative which aim to promote common development. The initiative ha both a clear roadmap and concrete development plan. What hould be pointed out i that the friendly relationhip between the Uzbek and Chinee people i cloely connected by the ancient Silk Road. Thi route link China ancient capital of Xi an with the Uzbek city of Samarkand, eventually reaching Damacu and Rome, through which good from different countrie were traded worldwide. We believe the contruction of the Belt and Road together with the Uzbekitan- Turkmenitan-Iran-Oman International Tranport Corridor i conducive to the building of the hortet and afet tranportation route among China, Central Aia and the Middle Eat. Thu, we hope to reolve the related problem over the contruction of the China- Kyrgyztan-Uzbekitan Railway a oon a poible. We alo believe the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative will create opportunitie for the implementation of effective dometic tranportation and cro-border tranportation corridor project to increae freight volume, expand railway and highway network, and upgrade aviation and telecommunication cooperation. Thi will create a good foundation for our region to build a global trannational tranportation and logitic center. During our preident official viit to China in May 2017, the two government igned a motor carrier tranportation agreement. It i not only a concrete tep in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, but alo provide a good opportunity to achieve the hortet highway tranport route between the two countrie. In the meantime, it alo help maximize the tranport and trade potential within the SCO. We firmly believe the outcome of the upcoming SCO Qingdao Summit, the firt ince it expanion, will be of great ignificance for further trengthening mutually beneficial multilateral cooperation. I want to take the opportunity to wih the Qingdao Summit great ucce. CI

15 DECEMBER, PAN SIWEI Kenyan work in a tranformer factory in Nairobi inveted by China. Chinee invetment can help increae employment opportunitie for local youth Moving in the Same Direction By Benard Ayieko The African Union (AU), etablihed in 2001 to replace the defunct Organization of African Unity, which wa founded in 1963, wa formed to haten the regional integration proce in Africa to enable it to play it rightful role in the global economy. The AU ha created an effective forum for it member tate to adopt coordinated poition on matter of common concern to the continent in international fora and defend the interet of Africa effectively. It i thi unity of purpoe that gave birth to the celebrated Agenda 2063 a 50-year continental people-driven plan outlining the Africa We Want. Agenda 2063 i a trategic framework for the ocioeconomic tranformation of Africa. But what doe Agenda 2063 apire to achieve? It main objective i to create a properou Africa baed on incluive growth and utainable people-driven development. It alo aim to create a continent that i trong, united, reilient and influential thi ha opened up Africa to numerou growth opportunitie and challenge. World economic power like China, India, the United State and Japan have upped the ante by hoting African head of tate to variou development ummit. Japan hot the Tokyo International Conference on African Development; the United State hot the U.S.-Africa Buine Summit; India hot the India-Africa Forum; and China hot the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China ucceful cooperation with Africa in economic phere ha brought FOCAC role in puhing China-Africa cooperation into harp focu. Since FOCAC inauguration in 2000, the forum ha focued on trade, invetment and technical cooperation, reulting in multi-ectoral growth of the Sino-African cooperation. Continental development blueprint FOCAC ha emerged a an engagement channel of interet for mot African nation becaue of it favorable agenda that

16 15 DECEMBER, 2018 reonate well with the development need of the continent. With the etablihed diplomatic relation between China and 53 African countrie, cooperation ha been furthered through creation of ub-forum within the framework of FOCAC. Beide miniterial conference, FOCAC alo hold ummit. The Third FOCAC Summit, held in Beijing in September 2018, offered African countrie a great opportunity to trengthen cooperation with China aimed at realizing apiration of the Agenda 2063 in light of the evolving geopolitical dynamic. The implementation of a continental development blueprint wa periodic, with the firt phae taking 10 year and a focu on flaghip project that include an integrated high-peed railway network, an African virtual and e-univerity, African commodity trategy, Continental Free Trade Area, Grand Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continental financial intitution and a ingle air tranport network. Thee were area where the Chinee hared valuable leon and experience with their African counterpart at the FOCAC Beijing Summit. With a combined population of 2.6 billion people and a GDP of $ trillion, China and African countrie have a olid foundation for heightened cooperation. At the FOCAC Beijing Summit, African countrie not only broadened the cope and benefit of Agenda 2063, but alo propoed new meaure to deal with iue of indutrialization, trade imbalance, employment creation for the youth, food ecurity, energy, ecurity, public health and dieae prevention. The benefit of the FOCAC Beijing Summit to Africa cannot be oppoed and it will remain pivotal in catapulting Africa to meaningful partnerhip to grow their export not only to China, but alo to the other part of the world. Thi can be done through tapping the Chinee experience and practice on trade competitivene. African countrie depend heavily on primary product for export and foreign earning which have minimal value addition. It imperative for Africa to learn from the Chinee on the need to proce primary product o that they can gain competitivene in the international market and earn higher margin. Thi will expand international market for African export that will help reduce trade deficit, and increae balance of payment and foreign exchange earning. African countrie participating in the FOCAC Beijing Summit dicued with China on how to adopt appropriate modern and affordable Chinee technology that will promote efficiency in the production of good and ervice for both dometic and international ue. Information and communication technology i an 1.5% The hare of tourit from China to Africa from total outbound tourit 2.6 billion The combined population of China and Africa $16.28 trillion The combined GDP of China and Africa enabler of growth and development and will be intrumental in creating job for the youth. Variety of cooperative project Mot of China infratructure project in Africa are located in urban area and o the FOCAC Beijing Summit wa a good forum to engage China on more infratructure project targeting rural area to reduce ruralurban migration, alleviate poverty and pur rural development. The FOCAC Beijing Summit wa alo ueful in engaging China on the need to have more Chinee viit Africa a tourit. Depite the growing Sino-African relation, there i diquiet on the current number of viitor arrival from China. In fact, the hare of tourit from China to Africa i a paltry 1.5 percent of the total outbound Chinee tourit, with only Kenya, South Africa, Mauritiu, Morocco, Egypt, Namibia, Cape Verde, Botwana, Tuniia and Tanzania emerging a the mot competitive tourit detination for the Chinee. For the continent to be tronger a a trading bloc, it important to adopt competitive global currencie away from the traditional reverence of the U.S. dollar, Britih pound and the euro. The FOCAC Beijing Summit dicued not jut the poibility but alo the pro and con of adopting the renminbi a a reerve currency. Thi will afeguard Africa currencie from unprecedented local currency volatilitie, thu leading to economic tability. Some have termed the increaed Chinee infratructure loan a a new face of neocolonialim, but Profeor Ching Kwan Lee of the Univerity of California argue that China-Africa cooperation ha helped Africa tand on it own, rather than making her dependent on China. Lee add that the more than 10,000 Chinee enterprie operating in Africa have promoted Africa independence and autonomy rather than the uual dependence commonly aociated with colonialim. It a two-way relationhip with mutual benefit. For Africa to move toward a peaceful, properou and integrated continent baed on incluive growth and utainable development, in line with the Agenda 2063 miion tatement, collaboration with China mut be given unconditional room to grow beyond expectation. CI The writer i an economit, conultant and a regional commentator on trade and invetment

17 DECEMBER, An Equal Footing China import promotion effort boot trade cooperation with Europe By Liu Ting A taff member from the Voith Group, a German company in the mechanical engineering field, take a photo with the company product at the firt China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 7, 2018 Stepping into the Mediterranean Village at the firt China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, exhibitor motly from Corica, an iland located outheat of the French mainland exclaimed, Wow, thi place look exactly like a market on Corica! What made them feel at home in the 500-quare-meter area wa not only Mediterranean-tyle interior deign and decor, but a variety of product uch a olive oil, chetnut beer and ham, which are typical to Corica. Sixteen companie from the iland et up exhibition booth, marking their debut in China. The pure natural food from Corica arrived in Shanghai on November 1, Bertrand Mulot, who repreent the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Indutry of Corica, told Beijing Review. At the firt CIIE on November 5-10, 2018, more than 800 exhibitor companie from a total of 15 EU member tate were in attendance. Since China launch of reform and opening up, China-Europe trade in good urged from $3.14 billion in 1978 to $616.9 billion in 2017, up nearly 200 fold. China ha been the econd larget trading partner of the EU for 13 conecutive year. It i alo the econd larget automobile export market for the EU and the world larget Airbu market. It i etimated that in the coming 15 year, China imported good and ervice will exceed $30 trillion and $10 trillion, repectively. Thi will provide a huge opportunity for European companie. A trade opening Located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, Corica, the larget iland in France, enjoy extraordinary natural condition. It latitude, unhine and oil quality endow the iland with a unique variety of product. On their firt viit to China, 16 mall and medium-ized enterprie brought wine, cookie, beer, meat product and mineral water to the firt CIIE. Pietra i one of the mot ditinctive Corican beer brand. Etablihed in 1996, the company i named after a mall village. The water it ue to ditill it beer i from a valley pring, while the ue of ground chetnut in the brewing proce make the beer avory and mellow. I hope we can how and market our traditional brewing technique and convey our paion for the product to Chinee cutomer. The CIIE i the key tep into the dometic market, Dylan Sanchez Santacruz, from the export department of Pietra, told Beijing Review. Alo a brand from Corica, Canitrelli produce traditional cookie with family recipe that have been paed down for generation. Alfred Fenech, the company founder, aid the Chinee market ued to be inacceible to mall and medium-ized enterprie like hi, but the expo erved a a direct, convenient and efficient platform for trade, facilitating face-to-face exchange with Chinee buyer.

18 17 DECEMBER, 2018 For a long time, our product were retricted to France and other European countrie. We now expect new trade partnerhip to develop from the expo, aid Michel Maon, Marketing Director of Orezza, a mineral water brand. Orezza ource of water i near a biophere reerve etablihed by UNESCO, one of the world puret water ource free of pollution and nitrate. Enterprie from Corica came to China a a group, introducing our regional characteritic and product feature together. The expo opened a window for mutual undertanding and cultural exchange between China and the Mediterranean region, Mulot aid. Pure natural product from the French iland attracted a number of purchaer at the expo, and many reached a primary intent of cooperation. Exploring variou field Many well-known European companie participated in the firt CIIE, including Danone, France Power, Lego, L Oréal, Mercede-Benz and Schneider. They took the opportunity to howcae their upgraded product and technologie encompaing civil aviation, pharmaceutical, agricultural product and food, nuclear power, indutrial manufacturing and cometic to Chinee cutomer for further development and potential cooperation in the future. On the econd day of the firt CIIE, a number of European exhibitor igned purchae contract or purchae intention agreement with Chinee trading group and purchaer. On November 6, at the company cooperation forum, the joint venture FAW-Volkwagen and Germany Volkwagen Group igned a memorandum of cooperation. It i expected that in 2019, FAW-Volkwagen will purchae imported CKD auto part and whole Audi vehicle from the Volkwagen Group to meet production demand and the requirement for high-quality car from Chinee conumer. At L Oréal Sharing Beauty With All forum on November 6, 2018, a ceremony wa held to officially launch a long-term project to recycle empty bottle in China between Terracycle, an innovative recycling company, and Kiehl, a ub-brand of L Oréal. During the project, recycling bin will be placed at Kiehl tore to encourage people to join in protecting the environment. Laure Lemarqui, L Oréal China Sutainability Director, poke about the company firt low-carbon factory in the Aia-Pacific region in Yichang, central China Hubei Province, at the forum, and introduced way that L Oréal can realize a green buine with it employee. More eco-friendly material have been applied in the phae of raw material election and product packaging, which will be promoted in retail tore, he aid. Ecological conervation and utainable development are emphaized in China, and an increaing number of conumer are paying attention to the environmental impact impoed by the product and the concept of a brand in addition to the product itelf. Hence, a erie of meaure for utainable development are carried out by L Oréal China. Through thi, we hope to lead a new trend of green living and contribute to building a Beautiful China, Lemarqui told Beijing Review. She aid China e-commerce market i very huge. In June, L Oréal China igned a letter of intent for green retail with China e-commerce giant Alibaba, to reduce the environmental influence caued by the delivery proce and promote degradable material for packaging. Thirty-ix Fortune 500 companie and indutry leading companie have already confirmed their attendance at the next CIIE in An enterprie alliance etablihed on November 6, 2018 will erve a a platform for exchange and cooperation among exhibitor and collect their uggetion for China economic, trade and buine development. CI (Reporting from Shanghai) LIU TING Viitor explore the Mediterranean Village area at the firt China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 6, 2018

19 DECEMBER, From Africa to China African companie howcae their product at import expo for Chinee conumer By Xia Yuanyuan Colorful roe from Kenya, fragrant coffee from Ethiopia and ucculent oyter from Namibia. Thee were jut ome of the eclectic range of product from Africa on diplay at the firt China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai on November 5-10, Among the more than 3,000 companie from over 130 countrie and region howcaing their product and ervice at the expo, 200 were from over 40 African countrie, including South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Egypt. African countrie were given pecial treatment at the CIIE. We upport African countrie in participating in the CIIE, aid Chinee Preident Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, adding that the leat developed African countrie participating in the 2018 expo would be exempted from paying exhibition tand fee. The expo how China i open for buine, and it promote trade partnerhip and help cloe trading gap between China and Africa, aid Kenyan Preident Uhuru Kenyatta who led a delegation of horticultural farmer and trader to China for the event. Cloer to the market Eliabeth E. Pali-Tchalla booth wa one of the buiet at the expo, contantly urrounded by crowd of buyer intereted in her product. A General Manager of the Togolee Shea company STK, he never imagined her hea butter product could be o popular among Chinee cutomer. Few Chinee cutomer know about hea butter. We ve come jut at the right moment. The expo provide u with a platform to let them know what our product are all about, Pali-Tchalla told Skincare product from Ghana are diplayed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 6, 2018

20 19 DECEMBER, 2018 Beijing Review. Extracted from the nut of the karité tree that grow in the Sahel region extending from Wet to Eat Africa, Shea butter product can be ued cometically to block UV radiation, a kin moiturizing cream and to heal minor injurie and car. It i alo traditionally ued in food preparation. Pali-Tchalla aid that with the rie in demand for natural and organic product in China, he expected a ignificant growth of the hea butter market in China. In Ethiopia, enjoying a cup of coffee with friend i a longtanding tradition. Ethiopia i the birthplace of coffee. We have high-quality handmade coffee. The CIIE i the tart of Ethiopia coffee invetigating entry into the Chinee market, Mirafe Gebriel Marco, Senior Director of Agricultural Tranformation Agency of Ethiopia, told Beijing Review. Thank to intenified promotional campaign, more Chinee cutomer will have the chance to tate Ethiopian coffee for themelve. According to Marco, Garden of Coffee, a leading coffee company in Ethiopia, ha announced a major expanion trategy into China, in partnerhip with a Chinee trading company. Chinee coffee lover could expect to ee 100 tore of thi chain oon. A a South African integrated energy and chemical company that ha been in China ince 1992, SASOL i experienced at doing buine with Chinee partner. To open the Chinee market, it i vital to undertand the local market and conumption preference, Fleetwood Grobier, Executive Vice Preident of Chemical Buine at SASOL, told Beijing Review at the CIIE. You need to upply cutomer-focued product deigned to meet the ordinary conumer need in the Chinee market. Bearing thi in mind, SASOL came to the CIIE to ource the latet market information in it field and to undertand the latet ditribution channel to broaden it market. Increae in value Although many African countrie uch a Nigeria, Ethiopia and Rwanda rank among the fatet growing economie in the world, mot African countrie have limited proceing and manufacturing capabilitie, which i exacerbated by a low indutrialization proce. Export are till dominated by raw material and primary agricultural product. To improve the added value of African product, Timothée Bamana Baroma Magolemièna, Secretary General of Minitry of Commerce and Private Promotion Sector of Togo, uggeted it i neceary to further expand China invetment in Africa, epecially in the manufacturing ector, to diverify the continent economic tructure with indutrial capacity cooperation and indutrialization upport program. Ghana i the econd larget cocoa exporter in the world, behind Cote d Ivoire. In the country, there are currently ome 800,000 cocoa farmer. Each year, cocoa export bring about $2 billion in foreign exchange earning, which i an important ource of Ghana fical revenue, according to Edward Boateng, Ambaador of Ghana to China. However, only 20 percent of Ghana cocoa bean are proceed locally. Mot of the cocoa i exported to European and American A taff member prepare coffee for viitor at the Ethiopian Pavilion at the firt China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 6, 2018 market in the form of raw material. The added value and economic benefit of the indutry are low. The CIIE offered a good opportunity for Ghanaian cocoa exporter to improve the value of their product. With the help of the expo, apart from the market, Ghana i alo looking to expand it manufacturing capabilitie. I hope Ghana buinee can learn from China indutrialization and indutrial upgrading proce, and take advantage of new opportunitie for improving indutrial added value, Edward aid. Narrowing trade gap Agak Achuil Lual, Underecretary of Minitry of Trade, Indutry and Eat African Community Affair of South Sudan, wa optimitic that the CIIE would help balance the trade between China and African countrie. African countrie were betting on the CIIE to increae and diverify their export to the lucrative Chinee market, none more o than South Africa. South African Miniter of Trade and Indutry, Rob Davie, aid, We look forward to exporting more product to China, epecially the one with high added value, to narrow the trade imbalance between China and Africa. According to the Chinee Minitry of Commerce, China export to Africa reached $94.7 billion in 2017, up 2.7 percent year on year; it import from Africa hit $75.3 billion, up 32.8 percent. China had a trade urplu of $19.5 billion, down 45.2 percent year on year. The Chinee Government ha made a lot of effort to narrow the bilateral trade gap and began to promote the entry of African product into China by implementing a tariff-free policy in At the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2018, China made the deciion to allow 33 leat developed African countrie to benefit from the zero-tariff policy for 97 percent of their product exported to China. Thi i alo helpful for Chinee enterprie to reduce their own cot and expand option for import. CI