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Foreign

Chinese authorities further optimise anti-COVID response

Chinese authorities further optimise anti-COVID response

Response

Beijing, Nov. 10, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) To navigate a complex anti-epidemic situation, relevant authorities across China are making concerted efforts to optimise their COVID-19 response to tackle the issue.

Tuo Jia, an official with the national administration of disease prevention and control, said this during a news conference.

According to Tuo, since the outbreak of COVID-19, China, which has put people and their lives above all else, has worked to prevent both imported cases and domestic resurgences, and tenaciously pursued a dynamic zero-COVID policy.

As a result of the country’s anti-epidemic endeavour, people’s health and safety had been protected to the greatest extent possible,” the official said.

“Notable achievements have been made in coordinating the COVID-19 response with economic and social development.

“But COVID-19 control in China still faces a complex situation, with a notable resurgence of regional outbreaks and cluster infections reported in several cities.

“Meanwhile, it has been observed that some regional authorities had adopted simplistic measures to contain the virus, such as implementing undifferentiated quarantine policies and expanding travel restrictions.

“Such behaviour constitutes pointless formalities and bureaucratism, and goes against the requirements of scientific and targeted epidemic control and coordinating the COVID-19 response with economic and social development,” Tuo stated.

The official further said: “To remedy the issue, the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19, has briefed on acts that took an oversimplified, one-size-fits-all approach or excessive measures on prevention and control.”

The government called for efforts to strictly follow the ninth edition of the country’s COVID-19 control protocols, to make the epidemic response more science-based.

It cited the local authority of Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan Province, which ordered a more precise designation of restrictive control areas within residential compounds so as to avert excessive epidemic response.

Municipalities, including Taiyuan in Shanxi Province, Daqing in Heilongjiang Province, Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, and Beijing, also took well-calibrated measures, ranging from the dynamic assessment of epidemic status, it said.

It therefore, said thanks to concerted anti-epidemic endeavours nationwide, the spread of the epidemic was generally under control.

Faced with the current risks posed by the COVID-19 epidemic, Chinese authorities continue to make the epidemic response more science-based and targeted.

It said it striving to achieve the best results in epidemic control with minimum costs, and minimise the epidemic’s impact on economic and social development. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

 

Foreign

World Conference on integrated circuits to open in east China

 

Conference

Hefei, Nov. 10, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) The World Conference on Integrated Circuits 2022 will take place in Hefei, the capital of east China’s Anhui Province, from Nov. 16 to 18, local government had said.

The theme of the conference is:  “Cooperation brings mutual benefits.’’

This was aimed at advancing global cooperation and exchanges in integrated circuits (IC) industrial and supply chains, exhibiting the latest achievements in IC.

It would also promote the development and innovation of China’s IC industry, the Hefei Municipal Government said. 

A wide range of activities would take place during the conference, including an opening ceremony, 14 forums, an IC-themed expo, chip designing and testing contests, and business matchmaking events.

More than 300 companies in IC industrial chains would participate in the IC-themed expo, which covered an area of 23,000 square meters, to display their latest innovative technologies and applications.

Nearly 200 guests from over 20 countries and regions, such as the U.S., Britain, Germany, and Italy, were expected to attend the conference and give a speech either on-site or by video link.

At present, Anhui Province is home to more than 400 IC-related companies covering designing, manufacturing, packaging, and testing.

The province is investing heavily to support the development of the IC industry. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Chioma Ugboma

 

 

Foreign

China’s economic forum to promote int’l trade cooperation says, scholar

 

Forum

Istanbul, Nov. 10, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) China is exploring practical ways to promote trade and investment cooperation with a focus on a higher level of openness through an international economic forum in Shanghai, a Turkish scholar said.

Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Turkish Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

He said the Hongqiao International Economic Forum would help make economic globalisation open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

The Hongqiao Forum was launched in 2018 as a significant part of the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The theme of the 2022 fifth Hongqiao Forum  is “Stimulation of Global Opening-up Impetus and Sharing of Cooperation Opportunities.’’

In Colakoglu’s view, the world had entered a stage of opening up in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era but was facing a series of financial challenges; the forum carries the potential to heal these wounds.

“Now the world is opening up, there is a normalisation for economic ties,’’ he said, noting that difficulties remain for a global economic recovery.

With the forum, “China has drawn some road maps on how to normalise the economies, increase the economic cooperation and eliminate the difficulties and challenges for the world in general,’’ said Colakoglu.

Colakoglu said that China remained  crucial in increasing cooperation between the Global North and the Global South and pushing the latter’s development.

“All these developments show that China has an agenda to reach a fully normalised economic relationship in the world and fully normalised cooperation in the post-pandemic period with these initiatives and international economic forums,’’ he said.

Since its establishment, the Hongqiao Forum had attracted thousands of guests, including representatives from international political, business and academic communities.

The fifth CIIE, a six-day event scheduled to conclude on Thursday in China’s economic hub Shanghai, provided a platform for companies worldwide to display their products.

It promoted its brands and found more business partners in the world’s second-largest economy. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Chioma Ugboma

 

Foreign

Hong Kong holds Asia Summit on Global Health

 

Health

Hong Kong, Nov. 10, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) The second Asia Summit on Global Health, co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), kicked start on Thursday.

The two-day summit had brought together,  experts and industry people from around the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in the healthcare and medical fields in person or online.

The summit had the theme’ “Charting a New Course in Healthcare through Collaboration’’.

John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, said at the opening ceremony that innovation and technology were at the heart of Hong Kong’s policy priorities.

They were also Hong Kong’s drive to build collaborative programmes and initiatives with the country and the larger world in order to tackle healthcare and other challenges.

The InnoHK research clusters at the Hong Kong Science Park bring together more than 30 prominent universities and research institutes from 11 countries and economies.

Lee added that in collaboration with local universities, they had set up 28 research laboratories, 16 of which focused on life and health technology.

Beginning in 2024, the HKSAR government would make use of land in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park to attract notable companies and talent to Hong Kong.

The focus would be on such strategic industries as life and health technology, he said.

Cao Xuetao, deputy head of the National Health Commission, noted in his video speech that Hong Kong enjoyed the unique advantage of being backed by the motherland.

The commission welcomed Hong Kong’s medical and nursing communities and medical colleges to actively exchange views with their counterparts in the mainland.

It strengthened cooperation in medical technology innovation and application, and clinical practice, Cao said.

He added that the commission supported Hong Kong’s integration into the overall health development of the country, and promoted the integrated development of health services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In her video speech, Zsuzsanna Jakab, deputy director-general of the World Health Organisation, said the power of science, research, and innovation was important in addressing global health issues.

She noted that building strong and more resilient health systems, capable of responding to emergencies and other threats, would be central to all countries’ development, prosperity and national security. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Chioma Ugboma

 

Foreign

Trump supporters’ minority within Republican Party, says Biden

Trump supporters’ minority within Republican Party, says Biden

Supporters

Washington, Nov. 10, 2022 (dpa/NAN) Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump, are only a minority of members of opposition Republican Party, according to President Joe Biden.

“Voters had made it clear in the country’s midterm elections that they don’t want every day going forward to be a constant political battle,’’ Biden stated.

The American leader stated this on Thursday, during a post-election news conference at the White House.

“I don’t think we’re going to break the fever for the super mega MAGA Republicans,’’ he said.

The U.S. president was referring to the slogan “Make America Great Again’’, that Trump popularised during his 2016 presidential campaign.

“But I think they’re a minority of the Republican Party,’’ he added.

Biden spoke on the heels of a vote count, in a handful of tight races across the country, that would determine control of the U.S. Congress.

“I think the vast majority of the members of the Republican Party, that we disagree strongly on issues, are decent, honourable people.’’

Biden cited his years of experience in the U.S. Senate and House.

Even after Trump left office in 2021, he and his supporters continued to play a key role in Republican party politics, with Trump endorsing dozens of candidates during the midterm campaign.

The party appears increasingly torn between radical Trump supporters, and those who want to put the unpredictable former reality TV star behind them. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

 

Foreign

Animal diseases on increase in Vietnam

 

Disease

Hanoi, Nov. 10, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) Animal diseases have been on an increase in Vietnam with over 93,000 poultry and 53,000 pigs being culled so far.

The increase this year was due to avian influenza and African swine fever respectively, local media reported on Thursday.

A total of 40 outbreaks of avian influenza A/H5N1, A/H5N6 and A/H5N8 had been recorded in 21 provinces and cities in the period, local newspaper Vietnam News reported.

More than 1,150 outbreaks of African swine fever were reported across 51 provinces and cities, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

There had also been six outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in seven provinces, with 518 infected cattle and 135 outbreaks of animal rabies, causing 52 human deaths related to rabies.

The risk of animal diseases in the remaining months of 2022 and early 2023 remained very high, said the ministry.

The ministry noted that the weather changes and low vaccination against the diseases were among the factors contributing to the diseases’ spread.

The agriculture ministry had called on provincial and municipal governments to strengthen the prevention of animal diseases in the coming months. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Chioma Ugboma

 

 

 

Foreign

Kremlin confirms Putin not attending G20 summit

Kremlin confirms Putin not attending G20 summit

Summit

Moscow, Nov. 10, 2022 (dpa/NAN) The Kremlin in Moscow, has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin, would not attend next week’s G20 Summit in Bali.

However, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, would travel for the meeting of the 20 major industrialised nations on the Indonesian island.

Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov disclosed this to the Russian state news agency TASS, on Thursday.

Earlier, an Indonesian official had also hinted that the Russian president would not be attending the Bali meeting.

Putin had long left open his participation in the meeting, scheduled to hold between Nov. 15 and Nov. 16. (dpa/NAN)

(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

 

Foreign

Flights cancelled in China as Covid cases continue to surge

Flights cancelled in China as Covid cases continue to surge

Flights

Beijing, Nov. 10, 2022 (dpa/NAN) Many airports across China have cancelled the majority of their flights due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

China’s state newspaper, Global Times, reported on Thursday.

The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, which had a particularly bad outbreak of cases, cancelled over 1,000 flights.

More than 700 flights were also cancelled at two major airports in the capital Beijing.

The government is implementing strict measures to contain the spread of the virus such as flight cancellations, lockdowns, forced quarantines and mass testing.

In spite of the country’s zero-Covid policy, which has put a heavy strain on its economy, the number of infections across China has been on the rise again for weeks.

After reporting 8,176 coronavirus cases the day before, authorities reported around 8,800 more infections nationwide on Thursday.

The number of infections in major cities other than Guangzhou, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing has also been rising again in recent days. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Salif Atojoko

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Foreign

Chinese official calls for collaboration on digital future

Digital

Hangzhou, Nov. 9, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) China has expressed its willingness to work with countries around the world to jointly create a bright digital future.

A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official said this on Wednesday at a global internet event.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in a keynote speech.

The speech he delivered at the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit held in east China’s Zhejiang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the summit, and it was read out by Li on the occasion.

He said Xi’s letter showed China’s sincere desire to work with other countries to blaze a global digital development path with a promising future.

The proposals raised by Xi provide the direction for promoting digital cooperation and building a community with a shared future in cyberspace, Li added.

Li noted China is willing to strengthen exchange and practical cooperation with other countries to build a vigorous digital economy, and cultivate an integrated ecosystem of technology with mutual benefits.

It also enhanced cyberspace security, among others.

Yuan Jiajun, a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, also attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Themed “Towards a Shared Digital Future in a Connected World Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace.’’

This year’s summit was attended by more than 2,100 guests from over 120 countries and regions, both in person and online. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Ekemini Ladejobi

 

Foreign

Earthquake in western Nepal kills 6 people

Earthquake in western Nepal kills 6 people

Earthquake

Kathmandu, Nov. 9, 2022 (dpa/NAN) A powerful earthquake struck Nepal on Wednesday, killing at least six people and destroying several houses, officials said.

At least six others were injured in the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that hit the country’s western region at around 2:12 a.m. (2012 GMT).

According to Kalpana Shrestha, administrator of the affected Doti district.

“Around a dozen homes were destroyed. We have also received reports of damages from other parts of the district,’’ Shrestha said.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba took to Twitter to express his condolences and said authorities had been instructed to carry out search and rescue, and relief works.

In 2015, nearly 9,000 people were killed when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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(Edited by Cecilia Odey/Emmanuel Yashim)