The tangible results of the Belt and Road Initiative will generate new growth momentum this year, especially in the fields of energy, agriculture and infrastructure, in China and Kazakhstan, according to officials and business leaders. Yu Jianlong, secretary-general of the Beijing-based China Chamber of International Commerce, said China already has linked the Belt and Road Initiative with Kazakhstan's Bright Road new economic policy. "This coincides with Kazakhstan's ongoing infrastructure development and industrialization, which are aimed at boosting production and exports," he said. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative, which embodies infrastructure, service and trade networks, is comprised of a land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and a sea-based 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The initiative has gained support from over 100 economies and international organizations, with more than 50 cooperation agreements signed between governments since 2013. "China has big companies and rich experience to push forward development in energy, roads, water conservation and agriculture in Kazakhstan," said Li Gang, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing. Eager to diversify their business operations in the country, Chinese companies such as China National Machinery Industry Corp, Power Construction Corp of China, China Communications Construction Co and Huawei Technologies Co have all begun to work with local companies to carry out aviation, power, road and telecommunications projects in the country. The volume of trade amounted to $7.88 billion in 2016. China is Kazakhstan's second-largest export market after Russia, according to Kazakhstan's national statistics. Metal, timber, construction materials, agricultural and chemical products are Kazakhstan's main exports to China. China exports mainly construction machinery, manufacturing equipment, steel, electronics, textiles, garments and household appliances to Kazakhstan. Chinese-made passenger vehicles and trucks also have become popular in the country. State-owned China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, the country's biggest food trader, plans to import more Kazakh wheat this year. It already imported 2,200 metric tons in March. "Kazakh wheat has offered a diversified channel for China's wheat import, which can help enhance the product quality and competitiveness of flour processing industry in western China and also enrich the supply of different wheat varieties to the domestic market," said Ma Lijun, general manager of wheat business at COFCO Trading Co, a COFCO subsidiary. [email protected]personalised rubber wristbandscustom rubber band braceletsrubber bracelets cheap
China will finish building the foundation of its national technology transfer system by 2020 and release a complete version by 2025, according to a recently released government paper. The State Council published an outline for the system on Tuesday, saying it aims to facilitate innovation and economic development across regions, help turn scientific research into products and transform China into a science and technology powerhouse. This is the first time technology transfers have been examined thoroughly and systematically at a national level, Xu Jing, director of innovation and development for the Ministry of Science and Technology, said on Wednesday. The outline examines the role of China's main innovators - companies, universities and research institutes - and the climate they face in the policy, legal, institutional and market realms. Xu said the outline will be a blueprint for building a national ecosystem of innovation that can adapt to market changes. It will also provide possible solutions to issues that can limit the efficiency of technology transfers, such as the allocation of research resources. China's trade in technology contracts generated 1.14 trillion yuan ($171 billion) last year, up by nearly 16 percent year-on-year. It is the first time the country has passed the 1 trillion yuan mark, Xu said. In the first eight months of this year, the technology trade was worth about 532 billion yuan, a 14.4 percent increase over the same period last year. As of 2016, the Ministry of Science and Technology had registered more than 4,290 innovation spaces and 3,250 incubators nationwide. Last year, they served more than 400,000 companies, created more than 2 million jobs and attracted 93 billion yuan in investment, Xu said. Yet as trade booms, more institutional and legal issues emerge, he added. For example, companies, universities and research institutes often operate within their own institutional boundaries and have trouble communicating or cooperating with each other. Technology transfer is not a major part of the evaluation process for scientists looking for a promotion; publishing scientific papers gets more emphasis. However, Xu said, the outline encourages universities to focus more on technology transfers, and motivates scientists to think how their research can benefit the public. State-owned companies and research institutes also often have a hard time adapting to provincial policies due to structural limitations, so the outline will launch pilot zones to test the effectiveness of new policies, he said. At the same time, governments should provide stronger support to help innovators navigate market and policy changes, he added. Zhang Zhihong, head of the ministry's Torch High-Tech Industry Development Center, predicted the new system will provide a more unified and open exchange network for technologies. The national technology transfer system will facilitate cooperation and investment across regions, disciplines and markets, he said.
