The Sunday Mail
Manyika Kangai
Mountain collapse in China’s Sichuan Province leaves 19 dead
A total of 19 people were killed, and five others got injured following a mountain collapse on Sunday in Leshan City in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, according to local authorities. The collapse took place in a forest farm in Yongsheng Township in the Jinkouhe District of the city. More than 600 people rushed to the site for rescue and search with the help of professional rescue equipment. An investigation into the cause of the mountain collapse is underway.
China’s college entrance exam registers record numbers
A record number of Chinese students have begun sitting the country’s notoriously difficult college entrance examinations known as “gaokao”. China’s education ministry said a record of nearly 13 million students have registered for the exams, which began on Wednesday. The exact number of applicants for this year is 12,91 million, an increase of 980 000 from last year. Exams will last from two to four days, depending on the choice of subjects. China’s college admission rate increased to 94 percent last year, compared to just 5 percent in 1977, when China resumed the national college entrance exams.
China’s foreign trade up
China’s total imports and exports expanded 4,7 percent year-on-year to 16,77 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2023, according to official data released by the General Administration of Customs on Wednesday. Exports grew 8,1 percent year-on-year, while imports rose 0,5 percent in the first five months. In US dollar terms, total foreign trade came in at US$2,44 trillion in the period, down 2,8 percent year-on-year. In May alone, foreign trade increased 0,5 percent year-on-year. China’s exports contracted in May for the first time in three months. A drop in orders for mobile phones and garments contributed to a 7,5 percent decline in outbound shipments to US$283,5 billion. Imports in May also fell by 4,5 percent to US$217,6 billion.
China’s gold reserves rise
China’s gold reserves rose to 67,27 million ounces at the end of May, rising from 66,76 million ounces at the end of April, according to data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange released on Wednesday. Data released also showed that China’s foreign exchange reserves came in at US$3,1765 trillion at the end of May, down from US$3,2048 trillion a month earlier.
China-Africa Trade Expo set
Representatives from 50 African countries and eight international organisations have registered to attend the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, to be held from June 29 to July 2 in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan Province. Themed “Common Development for a Shared Future,” the event will feature more than 40 activities of various kinds. The guest countries of honour at the expo will be Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia. A China-Africa trade index will be released for the first time during the event, which will serve as a barometer for businesses conducting economic and trade cooperation with their African partners. First launched in 2019, the expo is a major platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure – Confucius
*Manyika Kangai has over 15 years of experience facilitating and advising on China-Africa trade and investment deals. He is dedicated to helping African businesses and governments realise the full potential of the vast opportunities China presents.
