The Sunday Mail
Manyika Kangai
CPC Unveils New Top Leadership
The Communist Party of China (CPC) unveiled its new top leadership, which will lead the world’s most populous nation until the next congress. Xi Jinping was elected General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee for an historic third term. Greeted by rounds of applause, Xi led the newly elected Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee onto a red-carpeted stage at the Great Hall of the People. According to the Party Constitution, the highest leading bodies of the Party are the National Congress and the Central Committee which it elects. Between plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee shall exercise the functions and powers of the Central Committee. The newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, who will effectively run China with Xi Jinping at the helm, are Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi.
China’s GDP expands
China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded 3,9 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2022, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. In the first three quarters, China’s GDP increased 3 percent year-on-year to hit a total of 87 trillion yuan (about US$12,01 trillion), which saw an increase of 0,5 percentage points from the first half of 2022.
China’s Foreign Trade Up
China’s foreign trade of goods jumped 9,9 percent year-on-year to 31,1 trillion yuan (about US$4,8 trillion) during the first nine months of 2022, according to official data from the General Administration of Customs released on Monday. Exports rose 13,8 percent year-on-year to 17,7 trillion yuan (about US$2,7 trillion), while imports increased 5,2 percent from a year ago to 13,4 trillion yuan (about US$2 trillion). From January to September, China’s trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union, and the United States grew 15,2 percent, 9 percent, and 8 percent, respectively. China’s trade with Belt and Road countries soared 20,7 percent year-on-year to 10,04 trillion yuan (about US$1,53 trillion).
China Civil Service to Recruit
China plans to recruit 37 100 civil servants to work for central government agencies and institutions directly under them in the 2023 civil servant intake, according to the National Civil Service Administration. Applications will be accepted online from October 25 to November 3, with positions to be posted on authorised websites. Candidates will need to take a national written exam, which is scheduled to be held on December 4 across the country, while those applying for certain positions will need to take additional professional skills tests. A total of 25 000 positions will be exclusively open for university graduates of 2023 to boost the employment of this key demographic. More than 3 000 vacancies will be open only to those working in select primary-level projects, as well as veterans who have university degrees and served for a minimum of five years.
China to Tax E-Cigarettes
China will levy a consumption tax on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) from November 1, 2022, according to country’s Ministry of Finance. The tax rate for the production and import of e-cigarettes is set at 36 percent, while that for the wholesale business is 11 percent. To strengthen supervision over e-cigarettes, China issued a regulation for the industry earlier this year, which imposed licences for e-cigarette production, wholesale and retail entities, and banned setting up e-cigarette sales outlets near schools.
*Manyika Kangai helps African businesses realise the full potential of the vast opportunities China presents. He has over 15 years of experience facilitating and advising on China-Africa trade and investment deals. Feedback: +27743487997/www.muvambi-sa.co.za
