Climate loss-&-damage fund clash
A major clash between developing nations and the West evident in lead up to COP28 at end of November. Last year’s UN Climate Change summit (COP27) in Egypt marked a victory for developing nations when they secured agreement to establish a new fund to support the victims of climate disasters – an idea many developing countries had been advancing for decades. A transitional committee (composed of members from developed and developing countries) […]
China renovates Mexico City metro
A key Mexico City subway line has received a modern makeover with the help of China’s experience in providing mass transit solutions. The Metro Line 1 officially restarted operation last week. Refurbishment work has helped modernize the line, which had been in operation for half a century. The Mexico City Metro Line 1, refurbished by a Chinese company, is back in operation, marking a significant milestone in Sino-Mexican relations, as […]
Nature’s soil seedbanks
A research team of Chinese scientists is investigating the potential for natural soil seedbanks to help plant communities to resist the detrimental impact of environmental disturbance, including climate change. Unlike most other biological groups, plant species can possess dormant life-history stages such as the soil seed bank, which may help plants adapt to environmental changes. The scientists, six from Yangtze University, Hubei and one from Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui in China […]
Nigeria’s BRI Mega-Projects
Railways and Mega-Projects: Realizing Nigeria’s Prosperity Dream. In this article commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Belt & Road Initiative, Nigeria’s ambitious mega-infrastructure dreams take center stage. Nigeria’s Rail Renaissance: A Century in the Making Nigeria’s railway heritage stretches back over a century. However, after decades of underinvestment and mismanagement, the once-vibrant system crumbled, making travel arduous, particularly between the northern business hub of Kaduna and the capital, Abuja. Nigeria, with […]
China’s Decarbonisation
Six reasons to stay confident about China’s decarbonisation. Hongqiao Liu looks at the indicators that China remains on course in its decarbonisation endeavours: Three years back, President Xi Jinping of China unveiled its commitment to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and attain carbon neutrality by 2060. This commitment has expedited China’s decarbonisation efforts as part of China’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Long-term Strategy (LST) to the United Nations. […]
BRI boosting world science
China’s BRI is boosting science, says journal Nature. THE WEST MUST ENGAGE, NOT WITHDRAW The following is an excerpt from the editorial on 24 October 2023 in the world’s leading science journal, Nature. In science, the BRI is coming into its own. In 2019, Nature travelled to a large construction site where a new university was being built. The Pak-Austria Fachhochschule, a collaboration between Austria, China and Pakistan, opened in 2020. Its first […]
Spreading science to Global South
Article by Alex Lo, from the South China Morning Post. Belt and Road Initiative is spreading science and technology across Global South. The 10th anniversary of the massive global infrastructure program recalls how it is working closely with developing countries to acquire much-needed technical know-how for growth and development.SCMP According to the standard Western narrative, China’s Belt and Road Initiative is all about laying debt traps and building white elephants […]
BRI Debt Sustainability Framework
China’s Finance Ministry has released an updated Belt and Road Debt Sustainability Analysis Framework. The aim of the Framework is to enhance debt management and sustainable financing for countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative. It is a tool formulated on the basis of good international practices and realities of the countries along the Belt and Road. China and financial institutions in other countries in the Belt and Road […]
No China debt trap in Africa – IMF
BRI & Africa – No China ‘debt trap’ in Africa says the IMF.Video link: vibby.com/v/XJZNWnu_Tye In a recent report the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that while economic ties between sub-Saharan Africa and China have grown significantly in the last two decades, China’s share in the region’s overall sovereign debt remains relatively small at approximately six percent. The IMF said that the sub-Saharan Africa region’s debt distress stems mainly from […]