The tangible results of the Belt and Road Initiative will generate new growth momentum this year, especially in the fields of energy, agriculture and infrastructure, in China and Kazakhstan, according to officials and business leaders. Yu Jianlong, secretary-general of the Beijing-based China Chamber of International Commerce, said China already has linked the Belt and Road Initiative with Kazakhstan's Bright Road new economic policy. "This coincides with Kazakhstan's ongoing infrastructure development and industrialization, which are aimed at boosting production and exports," he said. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative, which embodies infrastructure, service and trade networks, is comprised of a land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and a sea-based 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The initiative has gained support from over 100 economies and international organizations, with more than 50 cooperation agreements signed between governments since 2013. "China has big companies and rich experience to push forward development in energy, roads, water conservation and agriculture in Kazakhstan," said Li Gang, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing. Eager to diversify their business operations in the country, Chinese companies such as China National Machinery Industry Corp, Power Construction Corp of China, China Communications Construction Co and Huawei Technologies Co have all begun to work with local companies to carry out aviation, power, road and telecommunications projects in the country. The volume of trade amounted to $7.88 billion in 2016. China is Kazakhstan's second-largest export market after Russia, according to Kazakhstan's national statistics. Metal, timber, construction materials, agricultural and chemical products are Kazakhstan's main exports to China. China exports mainly construction machinery, manufacturing equipment, steel, electronics, textiles, garments and household appliances to Kazakhstan. Chinese-made passenger vehicles and trucks also have become popular in the country. State-owned China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, the country's biggest food trader, plans to import more Kazakh wheat this year. It already imported 2,200 metric tons in March. "Kazakh wheat has offered a diversified channel for China's wheat import, which can help enhance the product quality and competitiveness of flour processing industry in western China and also enrich the supply of different wheat varieties to the domestic market," said Ma Lijun, general manager of wheat business at COFCO Trading Co, a COFCO subsidiary. [email protected]plastic braceletslogo wristbandscustom wristbands no minimumcustom fidget
A district of Shanghai has introduced a blacklist for nannies and housemaids who breach a new code of conduct or have a criminal record. According to the home service industry association of Changning district, domestic workers will be banned if they provide employers with false information, such as on resumes, health records or a fake ID card. They will also be singled out if they miss three job interviews without a suitable excuse, try to break a contract to secure a pay rise, or ask to borrow money from an employer. Changning's code comes just weeks after a nanny in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, was accused of starting an apartment fire that killed a mother and three children. Mo Huanjing, who was charged with arson and theft, was addicted to online gambling but her motive is unknown, police said. The incident "was pure violence and has hurt the industry badly", said Xia Jun, president of the home service industry association in Changning, which is home to more than 400 housekeeping agencies. "We need to take preventive measures to avoid such incidents, and that's why we have developed the code," he said. Xia said the names of those who break the code will be made available to housekeeping agencies and related associations but not to the public. The blacklist is the first put forward by an industry association in Shanghai. It has already been applied to 50 member agencies in Changning and is to be extended to the rest next month. The association is also looking into the criminal records of every nanny employed in the district. "We haven't found any with a criminal background so far, but if we do, we will dismiss them or transfer them to work in a public place, such as a cleaner at a company instead of a nanny," Xia said. Zhao Qianyun, who works at a foreign-invested company in Shanghai, said she supports the new code. "The nanny's personality and working experience is the most important for my family. The blacklist will help us find a qualified housemaid," she said. Shanghai, home to more than 2,000 housekeeping agencies, has been introducing standards for such services since last month, including requirements for management and workers. The city government also demands that new nannies must now present a "certificate of good conduct" or a "clean criminal record" document issued by the police as well as a recommendation letter to secure a job with a housekeeping agency. Cao Chen contributed to this story.
