Zhenghe Exhibition visited Nigerian automotive technology and other industry associations to promote cooperation on the 2025 Nigeria (Lagos) China Goods Expo.

From January 3rd to 6th, 2025, representatives from Zhenghe Exhibition's overseas employees visited the secretariat of the Nigerian Automotive Technology Association (NATA), the Auto Mechanics and Technicians Union of Nigeria (AUOMMATON), and the Mechanical and Technical Personnel Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN). The purpose of these visits was to conduct in-depth discussions and coordination regarding cooperation for the 2025 Nigeria (Lagos) China Commodity Expo. During the meetings, Zhenghe Exhibition's overseas representatives introduced the basic situation of the Nigeria (Lagos) China Commodity Expo to the heads of the associations. The heads of the associations acknowledged the significant achievements of the expo in recent years. In the exchange, the three industry association heads detailed their respective situations. As leaders and promoters of automotive industry-related associations in Nigeria, the three associations have a wide influence in Nigeria and even West Africa. Against the backdrop of the continuously deepening and upgrading of China-Africa cooperation, they have high expectations for actively promoting trade cooperation between China and Nigeria in the automotive industry. The heads of the associations also expressed their willingness to work with Zhenghe International Exhibition to jointly promote the sustainable development of the Nigeria (Lagos) China Commodity Expo, to organize member units to participate in the expo, and to conduct one-on-one docking and negotiations with Chinese exhibitors. As Africa's second-largest economy and most populous country, Nigeria has a huge demand for automotive and auto parts products, mainly relying on imports. In Nigeria, over 90% of Nigerians prefer to choose tokunbo (used cars), making the tokunbo distribution business very profitable. With the Nigerian government relaxing the age restrictions on imported used cars, the import volume of used cars will further increase. Therefore, the auto parts market in the upstream and downstream of Nigeria's used car industry will also usher in more opportunities. After years of operation by Chinese automakers, Chinese cars have established considerable prestige in Nigeria. At the same time, the limited number of local auto repair shops and the high cost of parts in Nigeria also make the potential for exporting Chinese auto parts to the Nigerian market huge. 2025 Nigeria (Lagos) Machinery and Equipment Exhibition Exhibition Time: November 5th-7th, 2025 Exhibition Venue: Landmark Exhibition Centre, Lagos, Nigeria Exhibition Introduction: The Nigeria (Lagos) Machinery and Equipment Exhibition is one of the most influential machinery and equipment exhibitions in West Africa. It is the best way for local and surrounding countries to find products and suppliers, and it is also the best place for Chinese companies to showcase their corporate image and explore the West African market. Nigeria's domestic industry is in its infancy, with over 90% of machinery and equipment relying on foreign imports. This presents a rare development opportunity for Chinese machinery companies. Exhibit Range: Agricultural machinery, construction machinery, woodworking machinery, engineering machinery, mining machinery, power equipment, machine tools, vehicles and parts, food packaging machinery, electrical appliances, environmental protection machinery, mechanical components, other civil machinery, etc. 2025 Nigeria (Lagos) China Commodity Expo Exhibition Time: November 5th-7th, 2025 Exhibition Venue: Landmark Exhibition Centre, Lagos, Nigeria Exhibition Introduction: The Nigeria (Lagos) China Commodity Expo has been successfully held for 17 sessions. The exhibition has received the support of the Nigerian Federal Government and the Lagos State Government and is one of the well-known brand exhibitions in Nigeria. After twenty years of cultivation, the exhibition has become the most important platform for economic and trade exchanges and cooperation in Nigeria and even West Africa, helping Chinese companies to explore the African market and grasp new markets, new opportunities, and new tracks of the Belt and Road Initiative. Exhibit Range: Home appliances and household goods, communication and electronic products, food seasonings, solar energy and photovoltaic products, plastics and industrial products, hardware and building materials, daily necessities, cultural and office supplies, personal protective equipment and medical devices, etc.

Strong mechanisms, favorable policies, and diversified business models: Shandong adopts multiple measures to promote steady export growth

China News Service, Jinan, January 8 (Reporter Sha Jianlong) In the first 11 months of 2024, Shandong Province's import and export volume exceeded 3 trillion yuan (RMB, the same below), with exports increasing by 6.9% year-on-year, 0.2 percentage points better than the national average. On the 8th, at a press conference held by the Shandong Provincial People's Government, Cui Hongguang, Deputy Director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, introduced the relevant situation of the province's multi-pronged efforts to promote steady export growth.

International individuals have spoken positively of China's comprehensive relaxation and optimization of its visa-free transit policy

International individuals offer positive feedback on China's comprehensive relaxation and optimization of its transit visa exemption policy— “Another significant measure in steadily expanding institutional opening-up” Recently, China's National Immigration Administration announced that it will extend the stay time for foreign nationals with transit visa exemptions from the original 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Simultaneously, 21 additional ports have been added as entry and exit ports for transit visa exemption personnel, and the areas for permitted activities have been further expanded. International individuals interviewed by this reporter stated that the continuous optimization of transit visa exemption and port visa policies has allowed them to fully feel China's sincerity in expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world. Antonio Miguel Carmona, president of the Spain-China Friendship Association, stated that the continuous optimization of visa policies is one of the hallmarks of China's proactive expansion of opening-up to the outside world, showcasing China's confident, open, and inclusive national image. “This is another important measure in China's steady expansion of institutional opening-up.” Tang Zhimin, director of the China-ASEAN Research Center at the Charoen Pokphand Management Institute in Thailand, said that after this relaxation and optimization, China's transit visa exemption policy will effectively coordinate and complement regional visa exemptions, unilateral visa exemptions, and mutual visa exemptions, better serving China's high-level opening-up and high-quality development. Springer Nature Group, an internationally renowned academic publishing institution, has maintained close cooperation with China's academic and publishing circles for many years. This year, many of the group's employees visited China for the first time to discuss with Chinese partners the application of artificial intelligence in publishing processes and to participate in sales meetings held in China. “The continuously optimized visa policy has had a positive impact. Now, without prior preparation, we can leave whenever our work requires it,” said Thomas Rauner, Global President of Books at Springer Nature. “China is welcoming everyone with a wider range and broader scope of opening-up.” Christopher Stackberg, chairman of the Geneva Dream Come True Foundation, frequently visits China. He said, “I recently met some Swiss tourists on a flight from Geneva to Beijing who expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude for China's comprehensive relaxation and optimization of the transit visa exemption policy.” The number of ports applicable to the transit visa exemption policy has increased from 39 to 60, a 54% increase; the number of applicable provinces has expanded from 19 to 24, with 9 provinces newly added or having the policy expanded. After the relaxation and optimization, the applicable areas include not only national key development regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region, the Pearl River Delta region, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region, but also areas with rich tourism resources, profound cultural heritage, and unique ethnic customs. At the China Cultural Center in Paris, France, the exhibition “Why is the Yangtze River So Charming—Gao Xiang & Luc Richard Paintings and Diaries Exhibition” is underway. From the summer of 2005 to the spring of 2006, Chinese painter Gao Xiang and French writer Luc Richard jointly traveled upstream along the Yangtze River, recording the natural scenery and humanistic features along the way. At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Jean Peguret, president of the Zafiro Eurasian Cooperation Promotion Association in France, stated that China's newly optimized transit visa exemption policy provides French tourists with more opportunities to explore China's rich natural and cultural resources. He suggested that the audience present travel to China to experience a panoramic journey from bustling cities to beautiful countryside along the Yangtze River, personally experience the profound cultural heritage of China, and stated that “this is an experience not to be missed.” He said that in recent years, China has made tremendous achievements in infrastructure construction, and the development of high-speed rail and air networks, as well as the improvement of tourism facilities, have made travel more efficient and convenient. The German Idass Architecture Forum has been paying close attention to China's architectural practices and cultural development trends for many years. Christine Fehres, the founder of the forum, and Hans-Jürgen Komoriel, the forum director, have visited China many times for inspections. Komoriel said: “China's relaxation and optimization of the transit visa exemption policy is conducive to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and dialogue. In these turbulent times, these dialogues will further deepen mutual trust between the German and Chinese people, promote mutual understanding, and create favorable conditions for closer cooperation in the future.” (This report was filed from Beijing, Madrid, Bangkok, Berlin, and Paris on December 27. Reporters: Yu Yichun, Yan Huan, Zhang Jinruo, Xu Xin, Shang Kaiyuan) People’s Daily (December 28, 2024, Page 03)