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On May 24, Chery Automobile Co., LTD and Iflytek Co., LTD. signed a framework agreement in Wuhu to comprehensively deepen strategic cooperation between two sides. This is an important upgrade from “comprehensive” to “comprehensively deepening” cooperation on the basis of the formal establishment of strategic cooperation between the two sides in 2017. The cooperation scope covers multiple fields, including intelligent products and digital transformation.

According to the agreement, based on their superior resources, the two sides will deepen cooperation in 7 fields, including the car cabin, intelligent sound, smart sales and service, international multilingual, intelligent driving, industrial intelligent and digital transformation. They are both deeply involved in the future strategic planning of the other side, becoming the first partner in their two-way priority.

According to reports, Chery and IFlytek firstly cooperated in 2003 and formally established a strategic partnership in 2017. Up to now, the two sides have carried out intelligent cooperation on more than 22 mass production models, with a total of more than 600,000 intelligent car voice vehicles and more than 140,000 installed intelligent vehicle systems.

Translated by Yuan Mengwen from Foreign Affairs Office of Wuhu Municipal People’s Government

On May 24, Chery Automobile Co., LTD and Iflytek Co., LTD. signed a framework agreement in Wuhu to comprehensively deepen strategic cooperation between two sides. This is an important upgrade from “comprehensive” to “comprehensively deepening” cooperation on the basis of the formal establishment of strategic cooperation between the two sides in 2017. The cooperation scope covers multiple fields, including intelligent products and digital transformation.

According to the agreement, based on their superior resources, the two sides will deepen cooperation in 7 fields, including the car cabin, intelligent sound, smart sales and service, international multilingual, intelligent driving, industrial intelligent and digital transformation. They are both deeply involved in the future strategic planning of the other side, becoming the first partner in their two-way priority.

According to reports, Chery and IFlytek firstly cooperated in 2003 and formally established a strategic partnership in 2017. Up to now, the two sides have carried out intelligent cooperation on more than 22 mass production models, with a total of more than 600,000 intelligent car voice vehicles and more than 140,000 installed intelligent vehicle systems.

Translated by Yuan Mengwen from Foreign Affairs Office of Wuhu Municipal People’s Government

Recently, the city issued the Implementation Plan of Wuhu City on Promoting the Development of Online Economy, which clearly stated that the city will seize the national strategic opportunity of integrated development of Yangtze River Delta and accelerate the strategic deployment of “Digital Jianghuai” launched by the CPC Anhui provincial committee and the provincial government, implementing the “5111” work plan to boost online economy. By 2025, we will strive to make more breakthroughs in key technologies, introduce more application scenarios, bring obvious effect of capacity agglomeration, establish sound supporting system, and significantly expand the industrial scale. With rapid improvement of its competitiveness, online economy will become a new driving force for the city’s industrial upgrading and high-quality economic development.

Accelerating the innovative development of a vibrant online economy is conducive to promoting the high-quality economic development and industrial transformation and upgrading in Wuhu. We are expected to achieve 5,000-plus online transactions, introduce and develop more than 1,000 online economic enterprises, create over 100 typical application scenarios, and build 10-odd characteristic demonstration areas by the year 2025. To be more specific, we will accelerate the development of new business forms and models such as “Internet plus New Retail”, “Internet plus Human Capital” and “Internet plus Efficient Logistics”, achieving an annual transaction volume of more than 500 billion yuan. We will introduce and cultivate a number of online new economic market entities to form 1,000-plus innovative enterprises. We will launch over 100 application scenarios with good demonstration effect, strong driving effect and excellent market influence. We will establish more than 10 demonstration zones that are open, collaborative and innovative, each with its own characteristics, so as to fully develop the online economy.

To facilitate the development of online economy, we will continue to make efforts in key areas such as intelligent manufacturing, online retail, online trade, online education, and intelligent medical care. Focusing on these key areas, we will establish a database to cultivate a number of leading enterprises with strong innovation capability, high technical level and great development potential. Meanwhile, we will further innovate the key digital technologies, promote the typical  online application scenarios, and strive to build Wuhu into a leading domestic and world-class online economic and industrial talent highland.

Translated by Wang Mengxiao from Foreign Affairs Office of Wuhu Municipal People’s Government

Recently, the city issued the Implementation Plan of Wuhu City on Promoting the Development of Online Economy, which clearly stated that the city will seize the national strategic opportunity of integrated development of Yangtze River Delta and accelerate the strategic deployment of “Digital Jianghuai” launched by the CPC Anhui provincial committee and the provincial government, implementing the “5111” work plan to boost online economy. By 2025, we will strive to make more breakthroughs in key technologies, introduce more application scenarios, bring obvious effect of capacity agglomeration, establish sound supporting system, and significantly expand the industrial scale. With rapid improvement of its competitiveness, online economy will become a new driving force for the city’s industrial upgrading and high-quality economic development.

Accelerating the innovative development of a vibrant online economy is conducive to promoting the high-quality economic development and industrial transformation and upgrading in Wuhu. We are expected to achieve 5,000-plus online transactions, introduce and develop more than 1,000 online economic enterprises, create over 100 typical application scenarios, and build 10-odd characteristic demonstration areas by the year 2025. To be more specific, we will accelerate the development of new business forms and models such as “Internet plus New Retail”, “Internet plus Human Capital” and “Internet plus Efficient Logistics”, achieving an annual transaction volume of more than 500 billion yuan. We will introduce and cultivate a number of online new economic market entities to form 1,000-plus innovative enterprises. We will launch over 100 application scenarios with good demonstration effect, strong driving effect and excellent market influence. We will establish more than 10 demonstration zones that are open, collaborative and innovative, each with its own characteristics, so as to fully develop the online economy.

To facilitate the development of online economy, we will continue to make efforts in key areas such as intelligent manufacturing, online retail, online trade, online education, and intelligent medical care. Focusing on these key areas, we will establish a database to cultivate a number of leading enterprises with strong innovation capability, high technical level and great development potential. Meanwhile, we will further innovate the key digital technologies, promote the typical  online application scenarios, and strive to build Wuhu into a leading domestic and world-class online economic and industrial talent highland.

Translated by Wang Mengxiao from Foreign Affairs Office of Wuhu Municipal People’s Government

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) — China’s population on the mainland reached 1.41178 billion, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Tuesday, citing data from the seventh national population census.

The figure does not include Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents and foreigners who live in the mainland’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, according to the NBS.

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) — China’s population on the mainland reached 1.41178 billion, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Tuesday, citing data from the seventh national population census.

The figure does not include Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents and foreigners who live in the mainland’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, according to the NBS.

    China’s passenger car sales reached 1.6 million units in April, an increase of 12.4 percent year-on-year and a 6.5 percent growth compared with the same period in 2019, according to the latest data released by the China Passenger Car Association on Tuesday.

    A stable domestic economic recovery and strong exports in the manufacturing industry have contributed to the growth, the association said.

    Luxury car sales jumped 30 percent yearly to 250,000 units during the month, indicating strong demand for consumption upgrading.

    China-made passenger vehicles witnessed retail sales of 590,000 units in April, up 24 percent on a yearly basis, with brands such as Chang’an, Hongqi, Chery and GAC Aion all registering large growth.

    Export of whole vehicles and completely knocked down vehicles saw skyrocketing growth of 146 percent to 107,000 units in this month, with new energy vehicle exports taking up 16 percent of overall export volume. Export of China-made passenger cars reached 80,000 units, up 169 percent, the association said.

    Wholesale sales of new energy cars grew 214.2 percent to 184,000 units in April. SAIC-GM-Wuling, Tesla China, BYD and SAIC Motor sold 30,602; 25,845; 25,450 and 13,004 units, respectively.

    New energy vehicle exports witnessed explosive growth during the month, with Tesla China and SAIC Motor exporting 14,174 and 2,378 units respectively.

    Passenger car sales during the January-April period totaled 6.7 million units, an increase of 50.7 percent, which can be attributed to the low base of the pandemic-stricken 2020, and a larger contribution from new energy vehicles, CPCA said.

    Despite the uncertainty of the overseas pandemic situation, China’s automobile exports increased 83 percent to 585,000 units in the first four months, with export revenues up 105.7 percent to $8.88 billion, customs data showed.

    China’s automobile demand is set to continue its recovery, the CPCA said, adding 8.39 million people in China obtained driver’s licenses in the first quarter. Beijing will issue 60,000 new energy vehicle licenses in May. The policy of NEV going to the countryside will also boost car sales in the coming months of the year, it said.

    As the automobile market has entered into the electrification era, vehicle life cycles will be shortened, which will bring in annual sales of over 40 million units in the future, the association said.

    China’s passenger car sales reached 1.6 million units in April, an increase of 12.4 percent year-on-year and a 6.5 percent growth compared with the same period in 2019, according to the latest data released by the China Passenger Car Association on Tuesday.

    A stable domestic economic recovery and strong exports in the manufacturing industry have contributed to the growth, the association said.

    Luxury car sales jumped 30 percent yearly to 250,000 units during the month, indicating strong demand for consumption upgrading.

    China-made passenger vehicles witnessed retail sales of 590,000 units in April, up 24 percent on a yearly basis, with brands such as Chang’an, Hongqi, Chery and GAC Aion all registering large growth.

    Export of whole vehicles and completely knocked down vehicles saw skyrocketing growth of 146 percent to 107,000 units in this month, with new energy vehicle exports taking up 16 percent of overall export volume. Export of China-made passenger cars reached 80,000 units, up 169 percent, the association said.

    Wholesale sales of new energy cars grew 214.2 percent to 184,000 units in April. SAIC-GM-Wuling, Tesla China, BYD and SAIC Motor sold 30,602; 25,845; 25,450 and 13,004 units, respectively.

    New energy vehicle exports witnessed explosive growth during the month, with Tesla China and SAIC Motor exporting 14,174 and 2,378 units respectively.

    Passenger car sales during the January-April period totaled 6.7 million units, an increase of 50.7 percent, which can be attributed to the low base of the pandemic-stricken 2020, and a larger contribution from new energy vehicles, CPCA said.

    Despite the uncertainty of the overseas pandemic situation, China’s automobile exports increased 83 percent to 585,000 units in the first four months, with export revenues up 105.7 percent to $8.88 billion, customs data showed.

    China’s automobile demand is set to continue its recovery, the CPCA said, adding 8.39 million people in China obtained driver’s licenses in the first quarter. Beijing will issue 60,000 new energy vehicle licenses in May. The policy of NEV going to the countryside will also boost car sales in the coming months of the year, it said.

    As the automobile market has entered into the electrification era, vehicle life cycles will be shortened, which will bring in annual sales of over 40 million units in the future, the association said.

    Phillip Ochieng, 49, works for a goods delivery company in Nairobi. He is the head driver and manager of Home Delivery Services based in the Kenyan capital.

The medium-sized company has a total of 47 Chinese-made cars and trucks in its fleet.

    On average, the price of medium-sized Chinese-made trucks in the country is about $34,000, much more affordable than similar trucks of competing brands that retail for about $62,000.

    ”Most delivery companies prefer Chinese-made vehicles, including the one I work for as a driver. We use Beiqi Foton trucks. We deliver anything heavy from furniture, electronics and household goods,” said Ochieng, who has managed the company for 10 years. “In my own opinion, Chinese vehicles are easy to drive and they have great internal comfort. They are also not heavy on fuel.”

    Ochieng said that until eight years ago, no one would have thought that Chinese vehicles would have made such a big impact on the public transport sector. Japanese brands Isuzu and Toyota previously dominated the market, but he said that is changing.

    ”As a company, we get the vehicles locally from their assembly plant and find they are durable. I plan to buy my own two Foton vehicles for a business I’m planning to open once I leave formal employment,” said the aspiring entrepreneur.

Government encouragement 

    According to the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, the vehicle brands such as Beiqi Foton are bought at wholesale prices, which is cheaper than importing vehicles.

    ”This is partly because the vehicles are locally assembled and the government reduced tax on automobile parts. Foton was the first Chinese brand to open a local automobile assembly plant in the country in mid-2014,” said the ministry’s Cabinet Secretary (Minister) Betty Maina.

    She added that this is also meant to encourage mass production to compete with international automobile manufacturing companies.

    According to figures from the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, one in three Kenyan vehicle buyers buys or owns a Chinese-made vehicle. The sales have been on a steady rise since January 2019.

    Figures from 2019 show that 15,444 vehicles were sold and registered that year. Many were for military, police, public transport as well as personal use.

    ”In 2020, there was a sharp decline in the total purchase of all vehicles from April. We registered few new vehicles. This is mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, more people had to sell their personal vehicles to meet the economic challenges such as job losses,” said the ministry’s Cabinet Secretary (Minister) James Macharia. “Only 11,224 cars were sold last year. But we expect things to improve this year and the figures to surpass those of 2019 by a large margin.”

    Macharia added that the popularity of Chinese vehicles is seen in the security and public transport sector.

    ”They are used as public service vehicles, but the demand is also growing for personal use, such as in luxury cars,” said Macharia.

    ”We license and register vehicles based on their category. That is how we keep our records as a ministry. If a vehicle is used for public transport, such as ferrying passengers, delivering goods, taxis and personal use, we keep files [on them],” said Macharia.

    He confirmed that his ministry plans to bring more Chinese automakers on board between now and next year.

    ”We are in discussions with other automakers in China to open up offices and automobile assembly plants in the country. Automakers such as FAW Group, SAIC Motor and Dongfeng would most likely have assembly facilities here once talks are finalized,” said Macharia.

Employment provider 

    This means that more direct local jobs will be created in this sector. Currently, the Chinese automobile companies have created more than 40,000 direct jobs in Kenya according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

    Chinese car brand Chery Automobile sold more than 20,000 cars in Africa in 2019, with 3,000 of those in Kenya. It also has an assembly line and a regional office in Nairobi. The company hopes to make bigger inroads in Kenya this year.

    Chery’s assembly plant in the capital is one of its 16 facilities outside China.

    Experts say that with Chinese automakers investing heavily in the Kenyan transport industry, more local jobs will be made available.

    ”Apart from an increase in local jobs, more regional jobs will also be created. The figure of direct and indirect jobs could rise to about 200,000 from Chinese automobile manufacturing companies. This [applies to the whole] East Africa region,” said James Shikwati, a development economist and founder of the Inter-Region Economic Network, a leading independent African think tank.

    Shikwati said that as the economy grows, more jobs will become available. The World Bank recently estimated the economy to grow by 6 percent this year, the best economic performance in more than a decade.

    After opening an assembly plant in 2014, Foton also opened regional offices and appointed four motor dealers to market its brands.

    One of the dealers is Pewin Motors, headed by Director David Kirigua.

    ”In 2019, we had made good sales not [only] in Kenya, where more than 3,000 vehicles were sold, but the entire region. We sold trucks such as anti-riot vehicles to the police. But our biggest sales were to public transport companies. The demand has been growing, but we faced challenges last year associated with COVID-19,” he said.

    He was optimistic about a better sales performance this year and in the first two months of 2021, sales have been encouraging, despite the COVID-19 pandemic still posing an economic threat.

    Kirigua said that there has also been a high demand for high-speed sports cars in the Foton brand range.

    Chinese carmaker Hawtai also plans to open a local assembly plant in Nairobi this year after concluding discussions with the government.

    Most of the vehicle manufacturers operating in Kenya have a partnership with banks on providing financing to potential customers with stable employment and a sound credit history.

    Economists like Shikwati predict that it would not be surprising if one of every two cars sold within the next two to three years in Kenya will be a Chinese brand.

    ”In public transport, most cars are Chinese, the only exception being the taxi business; but it’s just a matter of time before that changes [too],” said Shikwati.

    Phillip Ochieng, 49, works for a goods delivery company in Nairobi. He is the head driver and manager of Home Delivery Services based in the Kenyan capital.

The medium-sized company has a total of 47 Chinese-made cars and trucks in its fleet.

    On average, the price of medium-sized Chinese-made trucks in the country is about $34,000, much more affordable than similar trucks of competing brands that retail for about $62,000.

    ”Most delivery companies prefer Chinese-made vehicles, including the one I work for as a driver. We use Beiqi Foton trucks. We deliver anything heavy from furniture, electronics and household goods,” said Ochieng, who has managed the company for 10 years. “In my own opinion, Chinese vehicles are easy to drive and they have great internal comfort. They are also not heavy on fuel.”

    Ochieng said that until eight years ago, no one would have thought that Chinese vehicles would have made such a big impact on the public transport sector. Japanese brands Isuzu and Toyota previously dominated the market, but he said that is changing.

    ”As a company, we get the vehicles locally from their assembly plant and find they are durable. I plan to buy my own two Foton vehicles for a business I’m planning to open once I leave formal employment,” said the aspiring entrepreneur.

Government encouragement 

    According to the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, the vehicle brands such as Beiqi Foton are bought at wholesale prices, which is cheaper than importing vehicles.

    ”This is partly because the vehicles are locally assembled and the government reduced tax on automobile parts. Foton was the first Chinese brand to open a local automobile assembly plant in the country in mid-2014,” said the ministry’s Cabinet Secretary (Minister) Betty Maina.

    She added that this is also meant to encourage mass production to compete with international automobile manufacturing companies.

    According to figures from the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, one in three Kenyan vehicle buyers buys or owns a Chinese-made vehicle. The sales have been on a steady rise since January 2019.

    Figures from 2019 show that 15,444 vehicles were sold and registered that year. Many were for military, police, public transport as well as personal use.

    ”In 2020, there was a sharp decline in the total purchase of all vehicles from April. We registered few new vehicles. This is mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, more people had to sell their personal vehicles to meet the economic challenges such as job losses,” said the ministry’s Cabinet Secretary (Minister) James Macharia. “Only 11,224 cars were sold last year. But we expect things to improve this year and the figures to surpass those of 2019 by a large margin.”

    Macharia added that the popularity of Chinese vehicles is seen in the security and public transport sector.

    ”They are used as public service vehicles, but the demand is also growing for personal use, such as in luxury cars,” said Macharia.

    ”We license and register vehicles based on their category. That is how we keep our records as a ministry. If a vehicle is used for public transport, such as ferrying passengers, delivering goods, taxis and personal use, we keep files [on them],” said Macharia.

    He confirmed that his ministry plans to bring more Chinese automakers on board between now and next year.

    ”We are in discussions with other automakers in China to open up offices and automobile assembly plants in the country. Automakers such as FAW Group, SAIC Motor and Dongfeng would most likely have assembly facilities here once talks are finalized,” said Macharia.

Employment provider 

    This means that more direct local jobs will be created in this sector. Currently, the Chinese automobile companies have created more than 40,000 direct jobs in Kenya according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

    Chinese car brand Chery Automobile sold more than 20,000 cars in Africa in 2019, with 3,000 of those in Kenya. It also has an assembly line and a regional office in Nairobi. The company hopes to make bigger inroads in Kenya this year.

    Chery’s assembly plant in the capital is one of its 16 facilities outside China.

    Experts say that with Chinese automakers investing heavily in the Kenyan transport industry, more local jobs will be made available.

    ”Apart from an increase in local jobs, more regional jobs will also be created. The figure of direct and indirect jobs could rise to about 200,000 from Chinese automobile manufacturing companies. This [applies to the whole] East Africa region,” said James Shikwati, a development economist and founder of the Inter-Region Economic Network, a leading independent African think tank.

    Shikwati said that as the economy grows, more jobs will become available. The World Bank recently estimated the economy to grow by 6 percent this year, the best economic performance in more than a decade.

    After opening an assembly plant in 2014, Foton also opened regional offices and appointed four motor dealers to market its brands.

    One of the dealers is Pewin Motors, headed by Director David Kirigua.

    ”In 2019, we had made good sales not [only] in Kenya, where more than 3,000 vehicles were sold, but the entire region. We sold trucks such as anti-riot vehicles to the police. But our biggest sales were to public transport companies. The demand has been growing, but we faced challenges last year associated with COVID-19,” he said.

    He was optimistic about a better sales performance this year and in the first two months of 2021, sales have been encouraging, despite the COVID-19 pandemic still posing an economic threat.

    Kirigua said that there has also been a high demand for high-speed sports cars in the Foton brand range.

    Chinese carmaker Hawtai also plans to open a local assembly plant in Nairobi this year after concluding discussions with the government.

    Most of the vehicle manufacturers operating in Kenya have a partnership with banks on providing financing to potential customers with stable employment and a sound credit history.

    Economists like Shikwati predict that it would not be surprising if one of every two cars sold within the next two to three years in Kenya will be a Chinese brand.

    ”In public transport, most cars are Chinese, the only exception being the taxi business; but it’s just a matter of time before that changes [too],” said Shikwati.