Foreign news

How CIIE And The Belt And Road Initiative Compliment Each Other

Published

5 years ago

November 9, 2020

Editor’s note: Stephen Ndegwa is a Nairobi-based communication expert, lecturer-scholar at the United States International University-Africa, author, and international affairs columnist. The article reflects the author’s opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The third China International Import Expo (CIIE) and a related forum which started on Wednesday evening are underway in Shanghai. Held amid the raging global coronavirus pandemic, the forum is a strong reminder of the fact that with visionary leadership, selflessness and dedication, no challenge is insurmountable.

In his keynote address delivered virtually, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that hosting the event successfully “demonstrates China’s sincere desire to share its market opportunities with the world and contribute to global economic recovery.” In a speech that carried new measures for expanding all-round opening up, he underscored CIIE’s role as a major platform for international cooperation.

Now, the CIIE forum is evolving to espouse the same ideals pursued under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Unveiled in 2013, BRI has evolved to a fully-fledged global platform whose objective is to construct a unified worldwide market, in addition to nurturing cultural exchange and integration, among other ideals geared to achieving win-win outcomes and mutual benefits for participating entities.

By May this year, China had signed 200 cooperation agreements with 138 countries and regions, and 30 international organizations under the BRI framework. This is a giant leap from the framework’s inception when it started off with 60 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Although the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic in January this year subsequently slowed down the construction pace of the BRI due to movement restrictions and economic challenges, current data shows that the project is on track.

According to China’s General Administration of Customs, almost all BRI indicators show healthy, wholesome growth. The country’s trade with BRI economies from January to September 2020 rose 1.5 percent to 1.01 trillion U.S. dollars. Trade between China and BRI economies went up from $1.04 trillion in 2013 to $1.34 trillion in 2019. China’s outbound direct investment (ODI) in BRI economies reached $117.31 billion during the period under review.

Statistics from China’s Ministry of Commerce show that the growth of BRI-related non-financial ODI in the three quarters in 2020 rose about 30 percent year-on-year to over $13 billion. Economic experts attribute this sustained growth to the fact that the BRI has developed from its initial offering of transport and infrastructure to among others power generation and utilities, oil and gas pipelines, and telecommunications. Further, the BRI is also embracing social infrastructure like software and innovation, a diversity that has helped it absorb emerging shocks.

The BRI has also gone digital if the sixth Maritime Silk Road International Brand Expo held from October 31 to November 1 is a sign of things to come. Over 10,000 types of products from more than 400 enterprises in over 30 countries and regions were exhibited both online and offline.

In order to assist overseas traders willing to participate in the event but were unable to as a result of the pandemic, the expo launched an online-to-offline component that provided opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their products, and communicate on the cloud to boost transaction and cooperation.

A study published in April 2019 titled “Report on Fostering Sustainable Development through Chinese Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones along the Belt and Road” observed that BRI has many potential synergies that can deliver UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

For example, the Chinese Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones that dot the BRI network can help foster inclusive and sustainable industrialization by promoting sustained economic growth, creating decent jobs and income, reducing poverty, hunger and inequalities, and increasing resource- and energy-efficiency.

Just like the CIIE this time added a zone on public health and epidemic prevention, the BRI should include such a consideration on its configuration. Many of the physical limitations posed by the pandemic were generally overcome by virtual participation, which is a concept gradually taking root in the BRI.

For the CIIE and BRI, it is business as usual. The two platforms are integral in growing the world economy through establishment of cross-border e-commerce and adoption of new business forms and models that can now act as new drivers of international trade.

With such a solid background, the BRI is ideally placed to attract more members who can enhance its mandate and play a leading role in global recovery post the coronavirus crisis. Its multilateral outlook makes it a vehicle capable of creating a prosperous and peaceful world for all mankind.

Even before the pandemic, the BRI had come against headwinds from countries that cast aspersions of China’s intentions. But as Xi stated during the CIIE opening ceremony, “looking back at history, humanity has always been able to forge ahead despite risks, disasters and headwinds, and humanity shall and will continue to stride forward.” And so will the BRI.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)

Share on Facebook

Featured

Financing Health Futures: Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda Turn to Tobacco and Telecom Taxes in Big Push Against Malaria

Published

1 month ago

September 28, 2025

The Gleamer

African leaders, parliamentarians, health experts, and development partners have renewed their commitment to ending malaria by 2030, with a bold call for domestic financing through innovative taxation on tobacco, alcohol, and telecom services to close critical funding gaps.

The discussions took center stage at the Big Push Against Malaria: Harnessing Africa’s Role high-level political engagement in Abuja, where Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda showcased new homegrown financing strategies aimed at reducing dependence on dwindling donor support.

Africa’s Heavy Burden

Malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. In 2023, the world recorded 263 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths, with 94% of cases and 95% of deaths occurring in Africa. Nigeria alone accounted for 26.6% of global cases and 31% of deaths, according to the World Malaria Report 2024. Children under five remain the most vulnerable, making up 76% of deaths.

Despite progress — with Nigeria cutting malaria deaths by more than half since 2000 through insecticide-treated nets, preventive treatments, and the rollout of the new R21 malaria vaccine — leaders warned that global targets are off-track. The World Health Organization’s technical strategy for malaria (2016–2030) has stalled since 2017, with Africa unlikely to meet its 2025 and 2030 milestones without urgent action.

Taxing for Health Futures

The Nigerian Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) announced plans to fund malaria elimination through “sin taxes” and telecom levies.

According to the House Chair on ATM, Hon. Linda Ogar, a bill is underway to restructure the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) into a multi-disease agency that will address HIV, TB, and malaria.

The new financing mechanism proposes:

Taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other luxury items

Dedicated levies on telecom airtime and mobile money transactions

A percentage of the nation’s consolidated revenue

“These resources will provide sustainable funding to strengthen health systems and accelerate malaria elimination,” Ogar said, stressing that Africa must stop relying solely on foreign donors. “We cannot continue to take two steps forward and five steps backward. Africa must begin to show the world that we are ready to solve our problems ourselves.”

Similar models are already being piloted in Ghana and Uganda, where levies on mobile money and telecoms are being redirected to finance health interventions. The Abuja meeting urged other African countries to adopt this approach as part of a continental framework for sustainable financing.

Leaders Call for Urgent Action

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasized that while malaria is preventable and treatable, it still kills hundreds of thousands yearly due to funding shortfalls, climate change, insecticide resistance, and humanitarian crises.

“To truly defeat this disease, we must rethink, join forces, and mount a concerted ‘Big Push’. Funding gaps remain a major obstacle, and innovative domestic financing is the way forward,” Salako declared.

From the civil society front, grassroots representatives pledged to act as “foot soldiers”, demanding that communities have a seat at the decision-making table. The World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and other partners reaffirmed support but stressed the need for stronger political will and local ownership.

Private Sector and Global Support

Representing billionaire philanthropist Aliko Dangote, the Nigeria Malaria Council reiterated that private sector investment must complement government financing. Meanwhile, the Global Fund confirmed it has invested nearly $2 billion in Nigeria’s malaria response and committed an additional $500 million for 2024–2026, including support for local production of malaria drugs.

The Gates Foundation’s Uche Anaowu noted that while progress has slowed, malaria remains beatable:

“Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. The question is — can malaria be next? I believe Africa has both the burden and the opportunity to lead the world in making that happen.”

Financing Health Futures: Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda Turn to Tobacco and Telecom Taxes in Big Push Against Malaria

Abuja, Nigeria – African leaders, parliamentarians, health experts, and development partners have renewed their commitment to ending malaria by 2030, with a bold call for domestic financing through innovative taxation on tobacco, alcohol, and telecom services to close critical funding gaps.

Africa’s Heavy Burden

Taxing for Health Futures

The Nigerian Parliament’s Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) announced plans to fund malaria elimination through “sin taxes” and telecom levies.

The new financing mechanism proposes:

Taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other luxury items

Dedicated levies on telecom airtime and mobile money transactions

A percentage of the nation’s consolidated revenue

Leaders Call for Urgent Action

Private Sector and Global Support

The Gates Foundation’s Uche Anaowu noted that while progress has slowed, malaria remains beatable:

“Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. The question is — can malaria be next? I believe Africa has both the burden and the opportunity to lead the world in making that happen.”

The Big Push: From Talk to Action

Speakers acknowledged that Africa has hosted too many malaria meetings without concrete outcomes. This time, however, leaders insisted the Abuja gathering must mark a turning point — from dependency to self-reliance.

With Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda setting the pace on tax-based health financing, the continent now faces the challenge of replicating and scaling up these models.

“Now that Africa is at a critical point, the need for a Big Push against malaria cannot be overemphasized. If we align political will, innovative financing, and community engagement, we can end malaria within our lifetime.”

Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda are pioneering a shift from donor dependence to domestic revenue mobilization via tobacco, alcohol, and telecom taxes — a model hailed as central to financing Africa’s health futures and ending malaria by 2030
Speakers acknowledged that Africa has hosted too many malaria meetings without concrete outcomes. This time, however, leaders insisted the Abuja gathering must mark a turning point — from dependency to self-reliance.

With Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda setting the pace on tax-based health financing, the continent now faces the challenge of replicating and scaling up these models.

“Now that Africa is at a critical point, the need for a Big Push against malaria cannot be overemphasized. If we align political will, innovative financing, and community engagement, we can end malaria within our lifetime.”

Share on Facebook