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This is the Beijing Hour.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour.
One hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Shane Bigham with you on this Thursday, October 2nd, 2025.
You're listening to a special holiday edition of the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
On today's program.
China's railway network set a new single-day record for passengers to start the National Day holiday, Golden Week.
Organizers of an international aid flotilla for Gaza say Israeli forces have stopped dozens of boats carrying activists in aid.
The White House says mass layoffs of federal workers will begin in two days as the government enters a shutdown.
An informal European Union summit has discussed further high-tech support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
In the second half of the program, we take you to meet two African entrepreneurs in Iwu who've witnessed the city's role in connecting markets and people between China and Africa.
Now, the day's top stories.
China's National Railway recorded over 231 million trips on the first day of the country's eight-day National Day holiday, up nearly 8 from a year earlier and setting a single-day record.
Authorities expect more than 19 million trips on the railway network on Thursday.
The Yangtze River Delta Railway forecasts 4 million passengers, a more than 10 increase from the previous year.
Meantime, cities across China are holding annual celebrations.
Wuhan and Hubei provinces are parading giant cultural floats as part of the festivities.
Suining, and Sichuan is hosting a cultural fair where visitors experience its rich history through folk customs and local delicacies.
A drone display in the city of Luohen, Henan province, lights up the sky with various formations of iconic Chinese symbols, such as Tiananmen and the Great Wall.
The holiday is also when people flock to cinemas for new releases.
Online ticketing platform.
Data shows over 322 million yuan, or US45 million in box office on Wednesday.
Beijing is one of the hottest destinations for Chinese and foreign tourists on this long break.
Yu Li visited one of the capital's famous parks, Beihai, to experience the holiday vibe.
Beautifully preserved ancient garden in the heart of Beijing is one of the city's most iconic landmarks and a favorite spot for families and friends, especially during the holidays.
Even at just 10 o'clock in the morning, the park is already bustling with travelers, sightseeing and boating.
Just a short distance away is one of Beijing's most vibrant cultural and shopping districts.
Within a 20-minute bike ride are the Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square and Wangfu Jing shopping street.
This whole area radiates holiday spirit, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring China's capital.
Besides enjoying the natural scenery in the park, people often visit museums, go shopping, watch movies or take short trips to the suburbs.
This year, National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival are very close, giving people an eight-day holiday as well as more time to enjoy with loved ones and appreciate life.
For international visitors in China during the National Day holiday, Beijing is an admissible stop, an ideal place to experience the true essence of Chinese celebration.
That was Yu Li in Beijing.
Chinese citizens are looking to Russia for overseas trips.
The surge of interest comes after Beijing introduced visa-free entry for Russians on September 2nd, with Moscow set to follow suit for Chinese travelers.
Travel agencies say the new policy is already boosting cross-border tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Dasha Chernyshova spoke to travel agents and residents in Moscow.
Travel agencies in Russia say they are getting more calls from people who are interested in traveling to China.
That comes as Moscow and Beijing facilitate visa regimes to further increase tourism, shopping and people to people contact.
Beijing now allows Russians to travel to China for up to 30 days without needing a visa.
Since the first day of the announcement of the visa regime liberalization, the number of calls has increased.
Tourists are interested in the cost of tours to China, but the number of bookings is yet to increase.
Because in my opinion, the cost of the air transportation is a bit high.
Currently, only Aeroflot flies directly.
If there were more charter flies, for example, then tourists could afford it more often.
The number of Russians traveling to China has already increased by 30 compared to last year, to reach a million trips in the first half of 2025.
And that figure is expected to grow further.
For some, the visa-free regime offers more options while making travel plans.
I'm making a gift for my spouse.
I will buy everything for her birthday and all her dreams will come true on that day.
We will not need to get a visa and that gift will be a great surprise.
For others, it opens up new opportunities.
I think it's a very positive decision.
I personally would like to visit China very much and I think in the future I will use this opportunity.
That's all wonderful.
The more people get acquainted with each other, learn about each other's cultures and so on, the more it contributes to friendship.
Moscow has pledged to introduce a similar regime for Chinese citizens and to open doors wider for international visitors.
Thanks to Putin's announcement that we will open visa-free entry, the interest of many Chinese in trips to Russia is already growing.
And this instrument of soft power is working.
The demand for Russia is growing.
And that will translate into real trips.
Industry insiders say Russian tourism infrastructure will adjust to meet the growing demand.
They know that Chinese tourists often prefer to travel beyond Moscow and St.
Petersburg to places like Murmansk, Lake Baikal and Russia's Far East region.
A visa-free regime always boosts tourism.
Any visa liberalisation has a positive effect on tourism demand.
We expected 20% growth in the Chinese tourism flow to Russia against last year.
And the number of Russian tourists going to China may reach pre-pandemic levels, about 2 million people.
Over the past three years, more Russians have been visiting China for business and to deepen ties.
And that was Dasha Chernyshova in Moscow.
Coming up, Israel intercepts a flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip.
To buy or not to buy?
That's the question.
China is easing property restrictions and loosening cross-border financing rules to draw more foreign buyers.
Is this a last resort to boost its housing market?
How much appetite does foreign capital have for Chinese real estate?
Which cities are likely to stand out for overseas investors?
And what further reforms are needed to bring in capital without tipping the balance?
Tune into the chat lounge this week, wherever you get your podcasts and our CGTN radio, as we break down the changes that might reshape China's property market.
All right, eight minutes past the hour.
An international Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla says Israeli forces have intercepted 39 boats carrying aid and foreign activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, to Gaza, leaving only one vessel still sailing towards the Palestinian enclave.
Video footage shows Israeli soldiers sporting helmets and night vision goggles boarding the ships, while passengers huddled together in life vests with their hands up.
Israel's foreign ministry confirmed the interception, adding that members of the flotilla were brought to an Israeli port.
The global Samud flotilla transporting medicine and food to Gaza consists of more than 40 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.
Israel's interception of the flotilla has sparked international criticism.
Colombia has expelled all Israeli diplomats and terminated the bilateral free trade agreement.
Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile condemned the blockade of the vessels as a violation of international law.
Turkey labeled the act terrorism, accusing Israel of endangering innocent lives.
Protests have erupted in Athens, Madrid, and Rome in support of the Gaza-bound flotilla.
Portugal offered consular support for its citizens on board.
France and Spain urged Israel to ensure the safety and prompt return of their nationals.
Reports say Hamas has asked for amendments and clarifications on the Gaza peace plan proposed by US.
President Donald Trump.
Hamas has reportedly demanded details on a complete cessation of hostilities, international guarantees to prevent renewed attacks and a clear timetable for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, adding that the release of hostages was contingent on this.
Hamas was not involved in negotiations.
That led to the proposal, which also calls on the group to disarm.
Israel's permanent representative to the United Nations, Danny Danone, as warn Hamas of consequences if Hamas rejects President Trump's peace proposal.
Many countries have already pledged their support.
Hamas has not yet accepted it.
The decision is theirs.
But they should know this.
It can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way.
But it will be done.
If they reject the plan, Israel will finish the job. and bring every hostage home.
Reports say Hamas has rejected disarming and wants Gaza's reconstruction to be managed by a Palestinian body rather than an international council.
Trump has given Hamas this week to accept the plan or face a very sad end, quote unquote, if they reject it.
Israel's defense minister says the army is tightening its siege on Gaza City as it takes control of the Nazarim corridor, cutting off the north from the rest of the enclave.
Jonathan McGeough reports from Tel Aviv.
The aim is to make sure that no one goes back north from the area of the hanunas the mawasi as it is known back into gaza city.
Israel estimates that some 800 000 people left gaza further south and and the concern is that some may perhaps try to return And Israel wants to make sure that does not happen.
How does it do it?
First and foremost through not allowing any movement north on the road, the main road going from north to south in the Gaza Strip, known as the Al Rashid Road, meaning no more movement from south to north, only from north to south, only from a Gaza further south, and the other way is basically dissecting the Gaza Strip.
The Netzarim corridor is located just south of Gaza City, and that means that no one will be allowed to cross it further north.
Israel wants to make sure that no one comes back. residents, but also militants.
Israel is concerned that militants that were able to leave the city and head south will try to return north to confront the soldiers which are now taking control practically of the entire city.
So Israel has now dissected the Gaza Strip, pretty much in the middle, to north and south, making sure that no one returns from one side to the other.
That was Jonathan Mergev reporting.
The White House says mass layoffs of federal workers will begin in two days as the government enters its shutdown.
A Senate vote to end the shutdown failed just hours after it began on Wednesday.
Neither Republicans nor Democrats are backing down on their positions over the spending bill.
Renewal of subsidies for health care benefits pushed by Democrats remained a key sticking point.
The Trump administration's frozen $26 billion for Democratic-leading states.
Federal agencies and activities deemed essential are still open.
Landmarks including the Washington Monument and the U.S.
Capitol have closed.
Mitch McCann reports from New York.
According to a report from the Congressional Budget Office, 750000 federal employees could be furloughed each day while this continues.
Being furloughed means a mandatory period of unpaid leave.
And this comes also, according to that report, at an estimated cost of around 400 million in lost compensation every single day.
Now, this isn't just concentrated into a couple of agencies.
There are some examples I can give you here.
For example, air traffic controllers will continue to work, but without pay, and that could lead to some choosing to stop working, creating long lines and heavy delays at airports.
Aviation groups say that workers who support aviation safety and aircraft certification will be furloughed during the shutdown.
At the Department of Health and Human Services, routine inspections of food and medication facilities will cease And the Department of Labor is likely to delay releasing a critical jobs report this Friday, at a time when economists are closely watching to see if job growth continues to slow in the US.
Now, a law passed in 2019 ensures that staff eventually receive back pay when this is all over.
But with no set date to ending this shutdown, employees are still going to have to find ways to cover everyday bills in the meantime, like gas groceries mortgages, school uniforms everything, just like every other American.
There's also indirect impacts on the broader economy.
The food and restaurant sectors could be hit.
People are less likely to be spending at restaurants and dining out and shopping.
And the travel industry is another area.
Just last week, the US Travel Association sent a letter to congressional leaders warning that a shutdown could cost the country's travel economy 1 billion every week because of expected disruptions and the likelihood that people may choose not to fly.
It should also be reported that the overwhelming majority of federal workers are actually outside of Washington.
So this is going to affect all parts of the country, not just Washington, D.C.
This is certainly an aggressive step from Donald Trump.
And it was reiterated by the vice president, J.D.
Vance, a few hours ago at a press conference in Washington.
Donald Trump has said that they'd consider laying off vast numbers of people and closing vast numbers of programs.
And Donald Trump added that could include programs. favored by Democrats.
Now this has been viewed as a pressure tactic by the president, essentially saying to Democrats come to the table here or we will resume cutting down the size of the federal workforce and it will be your fault.
And the Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, has said that Donald Trump has admitted himself that he is using Americans as political pawns.
And we'll have to wait and see if Mr. Trump does, in fact, plan to make this move.
But the White House says layoffs could start in the next couple of days.
And that was Mitch McCann in New York.
The U.S. government shutdowns raise concerns over disruptions to air travel.
Thousands of Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers are working without pay.
Airlines are warning passengers to prepare for delays.
Anitza Soledad-Perez spoke to air travelers in Miami.
At Miami International Airport, operations appear normal for now.
Commercial flights are operating as scheduled and airline employees are unaffected.
But the concern is what happens if the shutdown drags on.
Nationwide, nearly 60000 TSA officers and over 13000 air traffic controllers are working without pay as of midnight.
These workers are considered essential, meaning they must report for duty despite the shutdown.
But history shows the situation can deteriorate over time.
During the last major shutdown in 2018-2019, which lasted 35 days, TSA officers called out at increased rates as their financial hardships mounted.
Some security checkpoints closed, leading to longer wait times for passengers.
Air traffic controllers also called out sick at facilities in New York, Washington and Jacksonville Florida.
Lack of adequate staffing caused a temporary shutdown of travel at LaGuardia Airport, and flights were delayed across New York and Florida.
Hours later, the shutdown ended.
Well, we're having a trip today and we're really terrified, but from what I understand, the essential services are still going to be working.
Hopefully that's the air traffic controllers.
We also have a strike, I think, in France tomorrow, and we're going to France, so we're worried about that too.
Well, it hasn't impacted me as yet, because it only happened last night, so I'm not sure how that would work out.
I mean so far it looks good, but from what they're saying I'm assuming it's just going to get worse.
It's sad that the shutdown has happened.
You know, big boys playing politics and the poor people suffers.
History is repeating itself.
Well, I'm personally not happy with the government shutdown.
I think the Democrats really need to play by the rules.
And more importantly, it will impact and affect travel, given a lot of people like to travel.
Thank God it's not during the holiday season, but I'm not happy.
The U.S.
Travel Association warns the shutdown could cost the economy $1 billion per week.
With the country already facing a critical shortage of air traffic controllers.
Hiring and training programs will continue using prior year funds.
But the FIA has suspended aviation rulemaking, safety research projects and facility upgrade programs, all critical to long-term aviation safety and efficiency.
Train travel will remain unaffected.
Amtrak says it will continue operations as usual in the northeast quarter and throughout the country.
Passport services will also remain open.
But for the millions who rely on air travel, the message is clear.
Prepare for potential delays, arrive early, and monitor your flight status closely.
Essential workers will receive back pay once Congress passes a funding bill.
But until then the aviation system depends on thousands working without knowing.
How long do I have to wait to get paid?
That was Nitsa Soledad Perez in Miami.
Coming up.
European leaders have discussed further assistance for Ukraine in the fighting against Russia.
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20 minutes past the hour.
European leaders have held an informal summit in Copenhagen.
They discussed issues including the advancement of an EU-wide drone wall and continued support for Ukraine.
The European leaders will stay in Copenhagen for the European Political Community Summit on Thursday.
In the run-up of the summit, suspected drone activity disrupted flights at airports and triggered heightened security measures.
Roscollen reports as EU leaders raised their concerns over the situation.
EU leaders have been alarmed by a rise in the number of incidents involving remote flying objects.
They met on Wednesday to debate Europe's common defense plus ongoing support for Ukraine.
But the recent drone incursions were the main point of discussion.
I hope that everybody recognizes now that there is a hybrid war.
And one day it's Poland, the other day it's Denmark and next week it will probably be somewhere else that we see sabotage or we see drones flying or we see yeah, you can.
There are many different kind of episodes.
So I see this from a European perspective.
There is only one country that are willing to threat us, and it is Russia, and therefore we need a very strong answer back.
These grainy shots show an unidentified flying object over northern Denmark in the lead-up to this week's meeting.
The Danish capital's airport had to close last week due to drone sightings.
Drones have also been recently seen in Poland and Romania.
European leaders suspect Russia is involved.
But Moscow says the accusations are baseless.
A Russian spokesman called the drone wall idea divisive and urged Europe to seek dialogue.
Mikhail Runga-Olesen is a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
He says the recent incursions identified weak points in defence infrastructure.
Denmark, and the Danish government has actually acknowledged that the capacity to fight off drones has not been sufficient at the moment.
And for that reason Denmark is seeking to make quick investments in order to fix that gap in Danish capabilities.
EU leaders also discussed a new package of sanctions to be imposed on Moscow and addressed an idea to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
This informal gathering of EU leaders here in Denmark was the final chance for face-to-face meetings on key issues before a formal EU summit later this month.
Defence and security weren't the only topics on the agenda.
On the sidelines, leaders said they wanted to remove economic barriers.
We want to be more competitive, because this is the only way to have growth, to create jobs, to finance our social model and the future of young people.
But the conflict in Ukraine remained the most pressing issue and Denmark will host more regional leaders for a wider summit Thursday, with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance.
That was Ross Cullen reporting.
Thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Athens as part of a general strike to protest changes to labor laws.
The strike has left ferries tied up in port and disrupted services across the country, including in schools, courts and public hospitals.
Ziakis Konstantinos is the vice president of the Construction Workers Union and he says it's unacceptable that in the new era of technological advancement, workers are working more hours and earning less money.
There's a major nationwide general strike taking place with the aim to force the government to withdraw the monstrous bill concerning the 13 MPs.
Essentially, it seeks to impose working day and night in order to adapt labor relations to the needs of employers, so they can make more profits.
The demand is for the bill to be withdrawn here and now.
We are simultaneously demanding a five-day work week, seven-hour work days and a 35-hour work week.
No taxis or trains in Athens were running for the duration of the 24-hour strike.
Buses and subway, tram and trolley services operated on a reduced schedule.
Under the new regulations, working hours that include overtime would be capped at 48 hours per week, with a maximum of 150 overtime hours allowed per year.
Unions argue the new rules leave workers vulnerable to labor abuses by employers.
The number of deaths from the magnitude 69 earthquake in Cebu, the Philippines, continues to rise as rescue teams recover more bodies from collapsed buildings.
Hospitals are overwhelmed.
Power outages persist in many towns.
And aftershocks are forcing families to sleep outdoors while search operations continue.
Gretchen Malalad spoke to some survivors of the quake.
The quake inflicted widespread destruction across Cebu province.
More than 100 aftershocks followed.
Some breaching magnitude 5.1 at the epicenter in Bogo City.
Entire buildings crumbled, trapping residents under the rubble.
Bodies are now being laid outside the local hospital and municipal hall.
Centuries-old Spanish-era churches were also damaged, with bell towers, collapsing roads packed deeply, power remains out in several towns and communication networks are still unstable.
In Bantayan, Renato Monleon's home was badly damaged.
I woke up around 10 p.m. when the strong earthquake shook the house.
Parts of the ceiling came crashing down and hollow blocks started falling.
My neighbors and I rushed outside.
Monleon has reinforced his house with bamboo and now sleeps outdoors with neighbors fearing more aftershocks.
Across the province, families have set up makeshift tents in open fields.
The government has mobilized multiple agencies for rescue and relief.
The Philippine Air Force and Coast Guard have airlifted aid to hard-hit areas.
We have our first responders, the local government units, and then augmented by our uniformed service from the regions.
And then the national from Manila, two C-130s left this morning.
The Office of Civil Defense has reached out to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia for potential international assistance, though officials note that local responders continue to manage the operations.
That was Gretchen Malalad in Manila.
Rescue workers are still searching for dozens of missing students buried under the rubble of a collapsed school in the province of East Java.
According to the National Search and Rescue Agency, the number of people killed following the incident on Monday has risen to six.
Workers have successfully rescued five survivors with a tunnel dug at the base of the building.
Rescuers are searching for survivors with dozens of students still unaccounted for.
The students are mostly boys in grades 7 to 12 between the ages of 12 and 18.
Female students were praying in another part of the building and they managed to escape.
Radios across Haiti are abuzz with news that the UN Security Council has approved the creation of a so-called gang suppression force to help the troubled Caribbean country.
The force would replace a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police that remains understaffed and underfunded and whose mandate has expired.
But Haitians and experts alike remain wary on whether the suppression force will happen.
Here is resident Rodrigue Pierre.
If they are going to have another mission that will enter the country and the United States is involved in it, nothing serious will happen.
The United States represents a danger to Haiti.
It is the only country that I would not like to come to Haiti.
If they send from El Salvador, Russia, China, I have no problem.
But as soon as the United States is involved in it, For me, it is bargaining and we become puppets.
New Forests will have 5550 personnel, a 12-month mandate and the power to arrest suspected gang members.
The current multi-nation security mission headed by Kenya began more than a year ago, but it still has fewer than 1000 personnel.
That's far below the 2,500 envisioned.
The mission has around US112 million in its trust fund, about 14 of the estimated US800 million it needed for a year.
Gang violence has left more than 13 million people homeless across Haiti in recent years, and hunger and poverty are only deepening.
A world-renowned wildlife advocate, Jane Goodall, has died of natural causes.
She was 91 years old.
Tributes honoring her life and influence have poured in from around the world.
The conservationist rose to fame after living among chimpanzees in Africa.
Goodall documented primates carrying out activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans and noted their distinct personalities.
She was lauded as a pioneer advocate and conservationist.
29 minutes past the hour.
Beijing cloudy overnight, a low of 16 for Thursday.
Fridays cloudy and a high of 25.
Xinyang will be getting heavy rainfall and 17 overnight, then moderate rain and 19 degrees.
Nanchang's down to 27, followed by sunny skies and 35.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad's 21 overnight, then a slight rain and 30 for Friday.
Vientiane's 24 this evening, and then a slight rain and 32 degrees.
Phnom Penh's 24 overnight, then moderate rainfall and 31.
In Africa, Nairobi's getting moderate rain and 28 on Friday.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
In the second half of the program, we take you to meet two African entrepreneurs in Iwu who've witnessed the city's role in connecting markets and people between China and Africa.
Making news today, China's railway network has set a new single-day record for passengers to start the National Day, Golden Week holiday and an informal European Union summit to discuss further high-tech support for Ukraine.
On behalf of the staff, Shane Biggum in the Chinese capital.
I hope you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
Shh, listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees...
To the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains.
To the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
And right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast.
We'll see you there.
You're listening to China Africa Talk.
Everything China, everything Africa.
Hello and welcome to this special series of China Africa Talk where we bring you a six-episode feature together forward to mark the 25th anniversary of FOCAC, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
I'm Bridget Mutambirwa.
In this special feature, we meet the people at the heart of China-Africa ties, showing how FOCAC's vision is shaping lives and futures.
China-Africa trade is thriving, with Yiwu playing a growing role in connecting markets and people.
From warehouses to showrooms, African entrepreneurs are finding new opportunities and building stronger ties between the two regions.
Gao Junya takes us to meet two African entrepreneurs in Yiwu.
It's a hot and humid day in Yiwu, a bustling trade hub in Zhejiang province, long known as the world's supermarket.
Okay, at his new warehouse, afizo muhammad izidin is tracking shipments bound for africa.
Today alone, his team needs to fill and dispatch 10 containers.
Just another ordinary day.
They are all my workers there, you see them.
They are there to make sure that because they go to market with the customer.
So they want to.
I tell them come yeah, to make sure that that order you, you order, they deliver this good, yeah.
Okay, I understand that you're very busy, so if too much, too much take, take up your time.
That means you're losing your money.
It's not about money, it's like about passion.
I like my job, you like your job.
Yeah, not I make it for money, just I like it like that.
Yeah, Because I have a lot of workers, I can send them to come.
I don't need to come, but because I like my job, that's why.
I understand.
I should be everywhere.
Market, warehouse, office, some kind of that.
Conversations with Easy Dean don't last long.
Phone calls constantly cut in.
You're so busy.
While we were talking maybe for five minutes, you have two calls, three calls.
I tell him that every day I get a lot of calls, at least 100 calls.
Every day?
Every day.
Known as the world's capital for small commodities, Yiwu trades with over 230 countries and regions.
On any given day, more than 28000 foreign merchants work in the city, a density unmatched in most of China.
Over 5,000 of those foreign merchants are from Africa.
Izzy Dean first came to Yiwu from Niger in 2011 for an eight-month study program and has since stayed here for 14 years.
At this time, I don't know anything about business.
I started to get calls from my country.
They asked me about goods, if I can help them to buy goods and make shipping for them.
So this time I start.
You know every place.
Everywhere you go, you can get some friends that are still there.
They know, they have some knowledge.
So they start introducing me how to go to market.
And after this, I get one Chinese friend.
When I finish my school I go to My.
Chinese is not good, but I will try my best to discuss with him about how to do business when you buy goods, how to make the shipping, something like that.
Anywhere in the world, Starting up a business is not easy, but starting up a business in Yiwu is different.
Izidin recalls how he made his first step into China-Africa trade.
The first time I came, the Yiwu people.
They accept our foreigners first and they also.
I find some kind of culture in you that is like similar, that my country like, the way every night, the way they are dancing, some kind like that.
I'm feeling in my boat, in my heart, that this is like I find my place.
I think in all the world I never see one country like China, especially like you, because they won't help people who don't know how to do something.
My first business i get a lot of problem, like my first time, to load container.
I load one container.
I load for my customer, but i don't know about how.
When you load container, you should make sure that the payment already done before load the container.
This thing i don't know.
I just load the container after they start asking me about the money.
This container is not for me.
At this time i don't have office, i'm just like that.
So for this time I get help from one of my Chinese friends.
He helped me for this one.
And also the time when I want to make my document for visa, work permit visa, they help me.
This is local government.
They help me too much.
And every problem we get, they are hired to listen.
When we want to talk to them, they are open.
They are hired to listen for us what they can do and what they cannot do.
Every time they get time for me, So I think they helped me too much.
That's why I'm there.
Fourteen years on, business is booming.
He's moved into a new warehouse and new office.
His team has grown.
He now serves as president of the African Business Association in Yiwu, helping newcomers building a foothold in China-Africa trade.
Abdelkarim Denzomiya, from the Central African Republic, has been working with Izidine for four years, coordinating purchases and consolidating shipments for clients back home.
I work with Izzedine.
We've been working together for over four years now.
He's our coordinator here.
So as soon as we arrive in China, everything we need, we go through him because he knows China well.
He knows everything that's going on here in China.
Our job is to go to him to buy goods.
He takes us where we need to go to buy goods.
He really takes his work seriously.
He does what's needed to satisfy us, to make things easier for us.
Yiwu links 2.1 million Chinese enterprises to the world.
Its main market, the Yiwu International Trade Market, draws 220,000 visitors a day.
For Easy Dean.
The city's international DNA keeps attracting talent, and the authorities are making doing business here easier.
Every day they are trying to make all the things easy for not only for me, but for all foreigners people.
Do you understand?
Before make your residence.
Your residence is like your work visa.
You should just check in by agent.
But now you, immigration, they open, yeah, they open one office just for free.
You can go there, they can help you to open your residence.
Before you need to pay a lot of money to get this one.
But you see, every day, every day, every month, they will try also to promote some things.
Who will be benefit?
Foreigners people, not only for me.
So about the market also.
Now they have mediation office.
That one i'm in.
They already sent me an invitation to be in mediation office is like if you get problem with some supplier, you can go to this office.
They can help you to to solve this problem.
I'm part of this mediation.
Sometimes i'm working also there.
So i never see another city who can do this one to open the door for foreigners, to work with them, to show them how to work.
Yiwu has recently piloted a contribution-based evaluation to recognize foreign talent, looking at export volume, local jobs created and sustained contributions.
As of end June, around 4,000 foreign business people have been recognized.
Yixi Ding says foreigners like him are even consulted when rules are drafted.
Yiwu, they have some advertising If they want to make some laws, they'll call us to explain.
They say that maybe for next month, we want to start this thing.
What do you think like businessman?
You think it's better for you or not?
They are listening for us.
We are all giving our suggestion.
So from that, they can get all the final decisions.
When you come your first time, For him, Yiwu isn't just a city of small commodities.
It's a place that takes care of people.
He volunteers with immigration services and the mediation center, helps fellow foreigners and even opened an African restaurant to share culture with Chinese friends.
We have a lot of Chinese people in Africa.
We have a lot of African people in China.
That proves that this, it's more than more beneficial for those two people African people and the Chinese people.
And also now they are know each other.
Before you don't know Chinese culture, Chinese also they don't know about our culture.
Before in EU we don't have African restaurant.
Now we open African restaurant to show that our Chinese friends, we have our own culture.
So you invite them also to come to taste African food and Africa also culture like that.
A school plan is also on the way to smooth children's transitions between China and Africa.
Because we have a lot of kids there.
So let me explain for you.
Maybe after five years or two years, I want to go back.
My kids, they are already there.
They are already starting to study.
When they go back to my country, they don't know which school they can go.
They don't have.
That's why we want to have our own African school there.
Also, we are looking for Chinese people to open a lot of Chinese schools in Africa.
For example, I have three kids.
They are going to school.
When they want to go back, they go to my country.
They don't have Chinese school.
So how can they do?
And even me, how can I do if I want to go back to make my own company in Africa?
So for this, please, you are looking for partner. who help us to open that school first.
Second one also, we are looking for Chinese people in each country to open at least Chinese school.
Because this is beneficial also for people who want to come.
If they know that they have a school, they start learning Chinese before coming to China.
When they come to China, they can directly start their work.
So if Africa will have a lot of Chinese schools, they are also starting.
For Easy Dean, Yiwu is more than just a place to do business.
It's a community that helped him grow.
Over the past 14 years, he has built a successful company and now serves as president of the African Business Association in Yiwu, helping newcomers navigate the city's opportunities and challenges.
Despite the long hours and endless phone calls, Easy Ding says the effort is worth it, not just for his business, but for the connections he has built between China and Africa.
Beyond traditional trade, a green wave is reshaping China-Africa cooperation.
In 2023, China's exports to Africa of new energy vehicles rose 291, while lithium batteries increased 109 and photovoltaic products 57.
China's so-called new three EVs, solar cells and lithium-ion batteries have overtaken the traditional old three of appliances, furniture and clothing, becoming a new export backbone.
Many of these products are moving to Africa through Yiwu.
Tirara Surakata has been running a trade company in Yiwu since 2003.
The Senegalese businessman recently added China made new energy vehicles to his trade list.
The pivot began after the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic hit, I left China and stayed in Dhaka for three years.
At first, I thought it would end in a month or two months or three months.
I never imagined it would last three years.
When I returned and stepped off the plane in 2023, I noticed the person picking me up was driving an electric car.
When I left Yiwu in 2020, you couldn't say there weren't EVs.
There were, but not many.
By 2023, I found EVs everywhere, along the road, all over the place.
I was curious, how did the switch from fuel cars to electric cars happen so fast?
If it happened that quickly, there must be many reasons.
It's impossible for fuel cars to suddenly be replaced and everyone start using EVs overnight.
After looking into it, I found there are many reasons.
Surakata saw big business opportunities.
He saw a business opening. starting with taxis and ride hailing.
As a businessman, I care most about returns.
I saw that taxis and ride-hailing cars were basically 100% electric.
And I thought that was interesting.
If both taxis and ride-hailing can switch to EVs, it's probably because of the economics.
Later, after looking more closely, I found there was at least about a 40% difference in income.
I think that's very significant.
First, as someone doing business.
If I bring this business model back to my country, I can probably make money.
That's meaningful.
On the other hand, it can also give opportunities to our young people and professionals.
So I didn't overthink it.
I feel sooner or later, we are all going in this direction.
Why not just sell EVs?
He wanted everyone to experience them.
That's different.
If you just sell cars, you have to wait for customers to come to you.
With a taxi company, first you can earn money.
Second, you let everyone get to know this kind of car.
Anyone who has a small amount of money can get in a taxi.
And after a while, basically everyone will know what an EV is.
People get in and say, hey, this car makes no noise.
What's it like?
Some people have never even heard of concept of an EV.
But if they have small money, they can still take a ride.
So the best advertisement is a taxi company which gives both poor and rich people, people of all conditions, a chance to experience the car themselves.
I think this is the best way to promote EVs across the whole country.
We can't do better than this.
If you just sell cars, that's fine too.
But people without money won't think to go look, and won't understand what the car is.
So the rich can buy, but the poor won't get a chance even to try it.
I didn't think that far at the beginning, but after starting the taxi business I found this is the right approach.
I didn't think that far at the beginning, but after starting the taxi business I found this is the right approach.
Surakata's latest move comes as the Senegalese government accelerates its transition towards new energy vehicles.
Under the country's Future Senegal 2035 program.
Policies are being introduced to promote EV adoption and infrastructure development, including support for locally produced electric vehicles, reduced import duties on EVs and components, and plans to build 500 charging stations nationwide.
Responding to this call.
Surakata is now working to establish a new energy vehicle assembly plant in Senegal.
He explains why local assembly makes both economic and technological sense.
There are many advantages to local assembly.
For example, if you ship complete cars overseas, you can only fit a few in a container.
If you ship them as parts, you can send more, which saves on shipping costs.
That's one aspect.
Another aspect is that customs policies in the destination country may reduce duties, which lowers the total cost of the car by a lot.
And when costs go down, more people may be willing to buy.
So this is the direction we should move towards.
Local assembly also brings in technology.
Over time, our young people will have the chance to learn the basics of assembly.
So we are considering both earning money and bringing parts of technology back to our country, and also creating jobs.
Surakata is thinking bigger.
For him, Senegal is just a starting point.
He envisions supplying EVs across West Africa through regional cooperation.
When we talk about assembly, it's not assembly just to put cars out for taxes.
That won't mean much.
Our idea is to assemble in our own country.
But to talk about assembly, you have to reach a scale for it to make economic sense.
Reaching that scale, selling only in our country may not be enough.
So, with our government's coordination, neighboring countries may also want these cars and can import them from us.
Looking ahead, Surakata believes Chinese new energy vehicles are poised to transform Africa's transport landscape in the coming years.
I think the environment for the development of Chinese new energy vehicles in Africa is very, very promising.
I have no doubt about that.
And I believe that in the next 5 to 10 years the whole of Africa may well be driving Chinese new energy vehicles.
Having been based in Yiwu for 22 years, Surakota is affectionately known as Lao Yiwu or the Yiwu local.
You can hear the Yiwu accent in his Mandarin.
For him, engaging in China-Africa trade in Yiwu has brought new responsibilities, not just building a business, but also promoting exchanges and understanding between China and Africa.
Yiwu has completely changed my life.
Yiwu completely changed me.
The Sula before I came to Yiwu and the Sula 20 years later are two completely different people.
Before I came, my thinking was very simple, make money.
All I wanted was to earn to support my family and give them a good life.
But after all these years in Yiwu, most of the time I've thought about is the image of Africans.
I feel that in this country, at the very least, I should be one of the people who can present a good image of Africans here.
I should do things for people.
If I learn so much in Yiwu but don't share what I've learned with the people in my country, then there's no leadership value in that.
I believe in this.
I was sent here to change me, to let me see the world from another perspective and understand it better.
I'm constantly grateful to Yi Wu, truly grateful, because it gave me the chance to build a different kind of life.
Yi Wu gave me the opportunity to become who I am today.
For my whole life, I feel I owe Yi Wu.
No matter what I do for Yi Wu, I still feel it's not enough.
Whatever I do for Yi Wu, I still feel it's not enough.
No matter what I do for Yi Wu, I still feel it's not enough.
Looking ahead, he remains committed to strengthening China-Africa ties and vows to play a bigger role in fostering people-to-people exchanges.
I think the prospects for China-Africa trade are still promising.
The space for trade between China and Africa is very big.
But my suggestion is that people-to-people exchanges should be done even better.
I've stayed in China for 20 years.
Many of my Africans go to Europe, America to develop or for professional work.
Why did I choose China and stay for 20 years?
My mother often say this.
If you can stay in China for 20 years, there's no need to ask whether China is good or not.
If it weren't good, you would have left long ago.
That's just the fact.
Because here, as someone from outside, you are given a platform.
You keep learning how to live better in this city.
You are given opportunities to develop very well.
You are given a window to face the world.
What more can you say?
What more could you want except to keep working hard and do things well?
That's how I see it.
You should keep working hard.
China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years.
Data shows, total trade between China and African countries grew from less than 100 billion yuan in 2000 to 21 trillion yuan in 2024, an average annual increase of 142.
This rapid growth has been driven by people like Izidin and Surakata, who are on the front lines of China-Africa cooperation.
Their work goes beyond business, fostering mutual understanding and enriching the diverse tapestry of partnership between China and Africa.
On the 25th anniversary of FOCAC, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, CGTN Radio presents a special feature series Together Forward, showcasing the breadth and depth of the China-Africa partnership.
Clean water projects in Zimbabwe.
New classrooms in Botswana.
Grand innovation in Kenya.
Agricultural training in Handan, vibrant trade in Yiwu and the documentary producer's journey in Hangzhou.
These are the stories that bring this partnership to life.
Join us in celebrating 25 years of FOCAC.
Stay tuned with China-Africa Talk and discover the real impact of China-Africa cooperation and how we're moving forward together.
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