隨著中國收緊“一帶一路”，非洲國家正在修補和湊合 (1/2)

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

African nations mend and make do as China tightens Belt and Road (1/2)

Sun., November 21, 2021, 10:12 p.m.

By Duncan Miriri

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Deep in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, members of the National Youth Service tirelessly swing machetes to clear dense shrubs obscuring railway tracks more than a century old.

It's a distinctly low-tech phase for China's Belt and Road drive in Africa to create the trade highways of the future.

There's not enough money left to complete the new 1,000-km super-fast rail link from the port of Mombasa to Uganda. It ends abruptly in the countryside, 468 km short of the border, and now Kenya is resorting to finishing the route by revamping the 19th-century colonial British-built tracks that once passed that way.

China has lent African countries hundreds of billions of dollars as part of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which envisaged Chinese institutions financing the bulk of the infrastructure in mainly developing nations. Yet the credit has dried up in recent years.

On top of the damage wrought to both China and its creditors by COVID-19, analysts and academics attribute the slowdown to factors such as a waning appetite in Beijing for large foreign investments, a commodity price crash that has complicated African debt servicing, plus some borrowers' reluctance to enter lending deals backed by their natural resources.

"We are not in the go-go period anymore," Adam Tooze, a Columbia University historian, said about China's overseas investment projects. "There is definitely a rebalancing from the China side," said Tooze, whose new book Shutdown examined how COVID-19 affected the world economy, adding that Beijing's current account surplus was "dwindling somewhat".

Chinese investments in the 138 countries targeted by BRI slid 54% from 2019 to $47 billion last year, the lowest amount since the BRI was unveiled in 2013, according to Green BRI, a China-based think-tank that focuses on analysing the initiative.

In Africa, home to 40 of those BRI nations, Chinese bank financing for infrastructure projects fell from $11 billion in 2017 to $3.3 billion in 2020, according to a report by international law firm Baker McKenzie.

This is a blow for governments who were anticipating securing Chinese loans to build highways and rail lines linking landlocked countries to sea ports and trade routes to Asia and Europe. The continent is facing an estimated annual infrastructure investment deficit of around $100 billion, according to the African Development Bank.

"The pandemic has actually made things worse. Those numbers will go up," said Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the bank, citing the need for additional infrastructure to support health services.

Hold-ups have hit some other BRI projects across the continent, such as a $3 billion Nigerian rail project and a $450 million highway in Cameroon.

China's ministry of foreign affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

Beijing officials have said that the two sides have a mutually beneficial and cooperative relationship and that lending is done openly and transparently.

"When providing interest-free loans and concessional loans, we fully consider the debt situation and repayment capacity of the recipient countries in Africa, and work in accordance with the law," Zhou Liujun, vice chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency told reporters in late October.

Another Chinese official, who declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media, said Beijing always intended to implement BRI gradually to manage debt default risks by countries or projects.

'RAILWAY WILL BE BUILT'

Officials in Kenya said its rail route were long-term projects that would be seen through over time, without giving any specific timeframe. The COVID-19 has presented the world with unforeseen and unprecedented challenges, they added.

"Eventually, this standard gauge railway will still be complete because it is part of what we call the Belt and Road Initiative," said James Macharia, Kenya's transport minister.

The government has already spent about $5 billion on its new rail link, and can't currently afford the additional $3.7 billion needed to finish it. The last station hooked up is only accessible by dirt roads.

Hence engineers in the Rift Valley are no longer building new infrastructure, but rather shoring up colonial-era viaducts and bridges in an operation that the government estimates will cost about 10 billion shillings ($91 million).

There are knock-on effects and, over the border in Uganda, construction on a modern railway line has been delayed because it's supposed to link to the Kenyan one.

That has been one factor in the hold-up in a $2.2 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank), David Mugabe, spokesperson for Uganda's Standard Gauge Railway project, told Reuters.

In Nigeria, the government turned to London-headquartered Standard Chartered Bank this year to finance the $3 billion railway project https://www.reuters.com/article/nigeria-railway-funding-idUKL5N2OE43A initially slated to receive Chinese backing. Standard Chartered declined to comment on the deal, citing confidentiality agreements.

In Cameroon, the $450 million highway linking the capital Yaounde and the economic hub of Douala, whose funding was secured from China's Exim Bank in 2012, stalled in 2019 as the bank stopped disbursing further tranches of the loan.

Exim Bank did not respond to a request for comment on its loans to Uganda and Cameroon.

(to be continued)

Translation

內羅畢（路透社）- 在肯尼亞東非大裂谷的深處，國家青年服務處的成員不知疲倦地揮舞著大砍刀，清除遮擋了一個多世紀歷史的鐵軌的茂密灌木。

對於中國在非洲建設“一帶一路”建設未來貿易高速公路而言，這是一個明顯低技術的階段。

連接蒙巴薩(Mombasa)港到烏干達的新的 1,000 公里超高速鐵路沒有足夠的資金來完成。它在距離邊境 468 公里的鄉村突然終止，現在肯尼亞正在通過改造曾經通車的 19 世紀英國殖民時期建造的軌道來完成這條路線。

作為習近平主席提出的“一帶一路”倡議（BRI）的一部分，中國向非洲國家提供了數千億美元的貸款，該倡議予計中國機構會為主要是發展中國家的大部分基礎設施提供資金。然而，近年來信貸已經竭盡。

除了 COVID-19 對中國及其債權人造成的損害外，分析師和學者將放緩歸因於一些因素，例如北京對大型外國投資的興趣減弱、大宗商品價格暴跌使非洲償債變得複雜，以及一些借款人不願參與以自然資源為貸款交易担保。

哥倫比亞大學歷史學家Adam Tooze 在談到中國的海外投資項目時說：“我們不再處於繁榮時期”。 Tooze 說: “中國方面肯定會重新平衡”, 他的新書 Shutdown 研究了 COVID-19 如何影響世界經濟，並補充說北京的經常賬戶盈餘 “有所減少” 。

根據專注於分析該倡議的中國智庫綠色一帶一路(Green BRI) 的數據，在中國BRI 目標的 138 個國家的投資, 比較2019 年下降了 54%，跌至去年的 470 億美元，這是自 2013 年推出 BRI 以來的最低金額。

根據國際律師事務所貝克·麥堅時 (Baker McKenzie) 的一份報告，在非洲，一共有 40 個“一帶一路”國家，中國銀行對基礎設施項目的融資從 2017 年的 110 億美元下降到 2020 年的 33 億美元。

這對內陸國家的政府, 希望獲得中國貸款去建設高速公路和鐵路線以連接其國至海港, 及通往亞洲和歐洲的貿易路線來說是一個打擊。據非洲開發銀行稱，非洲大陸每年面臨約 1000 億美元的基礎設施投資赤字。

該銀行行長Akinwumi Adesina 說:“大流行實際上使情況變得更糟。這些數字還會上升”，並指出需要額外的基礎設施來支持衛生服務。

整個非洲大陸的其他一些“一帶一路”項目也遭遇了阻礙，例如價值 30 億美元的尼日利亞鐵路項目和價值 4.5 億美元的喀麥隆高速公路。

中國外交部沒有回應置評請求。

北京官員表示，雙方有著互利合作的關係，貸款是公開透明的。

中國國際開發合作署副主任Zhou Liujun在十月尾對記者說:“在提供無息貸款和優惠貸款時，我們充分考慮了非洲受援國的債務情況和還款能力，並依法辦事”。

另一位因無權對媒體發言而拒絕具名的中國官員表示，北京一直打算慢慢實施“一帶一路”倡議，以管控國家或項目的債務違約風險。

'鐵路將建成'

肯尼亞官員表示，其鐵路線是長期項目，會跟隨時間而堅持下去，但沒有給出任何具體時間表。他們補充說，COVID-19 給世界帶來了無法預料和前所未有的挑戰。

肯尼亞交通部長James Macharia說:“最終，這條標準軌距鐵路仍將會完工，因為它是我們所謂的‘一帶一路’倡議的一部分”。

政府已經在新鐵路上花費了大約 50 億美元，目前無法負擔完成它所需的額外 37 億美元, 只能通過泥路連接到最後一站。

因此，裂谷的工程師不再建造新的基礎設施，只進行工程去保養殖民時代的高架橋和橋樑, 一項政府估計將耗資約 100 億先令（9,100 萬美元）的工程。

這產生連鎖反應。在烏干達邊境，一條現代鐵路線的建設被推遲，因為它應該連接到肯尼亞那邊的鐵路線。

烏干達標準軌距鐵路項目發言人David Mugabe告訴路透社，這是中國進出口銀行（Exim Bank）的22億美元貸款被擱置的一個因素。

在尼日利亞，政府今年求助於總部位於倫敦的渣打銀行為 30 億美元的鐵路項目提供資金, https://www.reuters.com/article/nigeria-railway-funding-idUKL5N2OE43A , 基本上獲得中國的支持。渣打銀行以保密協議為由拒絕對這協議發表評論。

在喀麥隆，連接首都Yaounde和Douala經濟中心的 4.5 億美元高速公路在 2012 年從中國進出口銀行獲得資金，但在 2019 年停頓下來，因為該銀行停止發放更多貸款。

中國進出口銀行沒有回應就其對烏干達和喀麥隆的貸款置評的請求。

(to be continued)

Note: The Export–Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank 中國進出口銀行) is one of three institutional banks in China chartered to implement the state policies in industry, foreign trade, economy, and foreign aid to other developing countries, and provide policy financial support so as to promote the export of Chinese products and services. Established in 1994, the bank is subordinated to the State Council. (Source: Wikipedia)

莫德納表示可能會在 2022 年初之前發布針對 Omicron 變體的改良 COVID-19 疫苗

Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Moderna says it might release a modified COVID-19 vaccine for the Omicron variant by early 2022

Business Insider - Yelena Dzhanova

Sun., November 28, 2021, 6:19 a.m.

Moderna said it might release an updated COVID-19 vaccine to combat the new Omicron variant by early 2022.

"We should know about the ability of the current vaccine to provide protection in the next couple of weeks," Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said Sunday on the BBC's "Andrew Marr Show."

"If we have to make a brand new vaccine, I think that's going to be early 2022 before that's really going to be available in large quantities," Burton continued.

News of an updated vaccine comes as scientists and health officials warn the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa, could spread easily across the world. It has already spread to several other countries, including Israel and Belgium, prompting a spate of travel restrictions across Europe, Asia, and North America, Insider's Aria Bendix reported. A health official said on Saturday that two cases of the variant have been detected in the UK. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the topmost coronavirus virologist in the US, said it's likely to have already touched down here.

The variant itself has multiple mutations that might make it easier for it to evade antibodies that developed in the body after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The mutations might also cause the variant to spread easily — even among vaccinated people.

The World Health Organization has labeled Omicron a "variant of concern," a distinction given to the most threatening coronavirus variants. Delta, the variant that surged all throughout the summer in the US, was the last one to receive the label.

It's not clear yet whether existing COVID-19 vaccines will protect against the variant. But vaccine manufacturers have already begun considering their options.

Moderna said in a Friday news release that the company is testing its current vaccine against the Omicron variant.

"Since early 2021, Moderna has advanced a comprehensive strategy to anticipate new variants of concern," the company said. "The company has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to advance new candidates to clinical testing in 60 to 90 days."

Pfizer said it will be able to manufacture and distribute an updated version of its COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days if Omicron is found to be resistant to its current vaccine. The company said it expects to know within two weeks whether the variant is resistant to its current vaccine, a company spokesperson told Reuters.

"Pfizer and BioNTech have taken actions months ago to be able to adapt the mRNA vaccine within six weeks and ship initial batches within 100 days in the event of an escape variant," the company said in a statement.

Johnson & Johnson has begun testing the effectiveness of its vaccine against the Omicron variant.

Translation

莫德納 (Moderna) 表示，它可能會在 2022 年初發布更新的 COVID-19 疫苗，以對抗新的 Omicron 變體。

首席醫療官Paul Burton週日在 BBC 的“安德魯馬爾秀(Andrew Marr Show)”中說 :“ 在未來幾週內, 我們就能了解當前疫苗可提供的保護能力” 。

Burton繼續說: “如果我們必須製造一種全新的疫苗，我認為要到 2022 年初才能真正大量可用” 。

當科學家和衛生官員警告說，首次在南非發現的 Omicron 變種可能很容易在世界範圍內傳播，有關更新疫苗的消息就傳來。據 Insider 的 Aria Bendix 報導，變種已經蔓延到其他幾個國家，包括以色列和比利時，導致歐洲、亞洲和北美的一連串旅行限制。一名衛生官員周六表示，在英國已發現兩個該變種病例。美國最頂級的冠狀病毒病毒學家Anthony Fauci博士說，它很可能已經在美國落腳。

該變體本身俱有多個突變，可能使其更容易逃避已接受 COVID-19 疫苗後, 在體內產生出的抗體。突變還可能導致該變體更容易傳播 - 即使在接種疫苗的人群中也會如此。

世界衛生組織已將 Omicron 標記為“要關注的變種”，這是對最具威脅性的冠狀病毒變種的一種區分。 Delta 是整個夏季在美國飆升的變體，是最新近一個獲得該標籤的變體。

目前尚不清楚現有的 COVID-19 疫苗是否能預防該變種。但疫苗製造商已經開始考慮他們的選擇。

莫德納 在周五的新聞發布會上表示，該公司正在測試其目前的疫苗, 去針對 Omicron 變體。

該公司表示：“自 2021 年初以來, 莫德納提出了一項綜合戰略，以預測新的要關注變體” ; “該公司一再證明有能力在 60 到 90 天內將候選新疫苗推進到臨床測試” 。

輝瑞 (Pfizer)表示，如果發現 Omicron 對當前的疫苗有抗藥性，它將能夠在 100 天內製造和分發其 COVID-19 疫苗的更新版本。該公司發言人告訴路透社，該公司表示預計將在兩週內知道該變種是否對當前的疫苗具有抗藥性。

該公司在一份聲明中表示：“輝瑞和 BioNTech 幾個月前就採取了行動，使能夠在六週內調整 mRNA 疫苗，並在發生逃逸變體的情況下在 100 天內送出首批疫苗。”

強生公司 (Johnson & Johnson) 已就其疫苗針對 Omicron 變體的有效性開始測試。

              So, Moderna may release an updated COVID-19 vaccine to combat the new Omicron variant by early 2022 if needed. Pfizer will be able to manufacture and distribute an updated version of its COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days if Omicron is found to be resistant to its current vaccine. Meanwhile Johnson & Johnson has begun testing the effectiveness of its vaccine against the Omicron variant.

China – Constructing a top-secret facility at UAE port: stopped due to US pressure

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

中国、ＵＡＥの港で極秘の施設建設　米の圧力で工事中止

2021.11.21 Sun posted at 14:35 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 中国がアラブ首長国連邦（ＵＡＥ）の首都アブダビ近くで利用権を得ている港湾内で軍事用ともされる施設の建設を極秘で進め、これを把握した米国がＵＡＥに再三圧力を加え、工事が少なくとも現段階では中止されていることが２１日までにわかった。

この問題に通じる２人の関係筋がＣＮＮに明らかにした。工事はここ数カ月間、米政府高官や米連邦議会の有力議員の外交的な努力の焦点ともなっていた。ＵＡＥに対する米国の最新型戦闘機や他の先端的な軍需品の輸出を頓挫させかねない問題ともなっていた。

工事に関連する情報に詳しい関係筋は「ＵＡＥを説得し、工事をやめさせることに成功した」としながらも、「この問題に決着が付いたわけではない」とも釘を刺した。

米政府当局者は、商業用のハリファ港の内部で進められていた工事は軍事施設と判断して、少なくとも１年間、進捗（しんちょく）状況などを注視してきた。同港はアブダビから約５０マイル（約８０キロ）離れ、中国の複合企業体が運用しているという。

ＵＡＥへの圧力はトランプ前政権時代から始まっていた。米議員らはアブダビ首長国の皇太子に接触し、懸念を伝えるなどしていた。

米国はＵＡＥを中東内における対テロ作戦の重要な協力国と位置づけている。アブダビ郊外にあるＵＡＥの空軍基地には数千人規模の米軍兵士も駐留している。

中国とＵＡＥはハリファ港を純然たる商業用の港と主張しているが、関係筋によると、米情報機関は商船を装っていたものの、中国軍が電波傍受による情報収集に通常使う船舶の入港を確認してもいた。

ＵＡＥ側がこの港に絡む中国側の意図をどの程度察していたのかについて米側の見解は分かれている。ワシントンのＵＡＥ大使館の報道担当者は声明で、中国の軍事基地や何らかの前哨基地を受け入れる合意や計画、話し合いなどをしたことは一度もないと主張した。

中国は世界中で商港開発を模索しているが、米政府当局者は軍事的な利用への足がかりを狙う明白な努力と受け止めている。パキスタンやスリランカでは既に商港を整備し、２０１７年にはアフリカのジブチに海外では初めての軍事基地を築いてもいた。

Translation

(CNN) (CNN) - China was secretly constructing military facilities in ports that China had obtained access to near Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the U.S. put pressure on the UAE repeatedly after it had gotten hold of this. It was understood on 21st that construction had been halted at least at this stage.

Two sources familiar with the matter revealed this to CNN. Construction had also been the focus of diplomatic efforts by senior U.S. government officials and leading members of the U.S. Congress for the past few months. It was also a problem that could disrupt the export of the latest US fighters and other cutting-edge munitions to the UAE.

A source familiar with the construction-related information gave a warning that, "we succeeded in persuading the UAE to stop the construction"; but said that "This problem has not been settled."

U.S. government officials had determined that the work underway inside the commercial Hamriya (ハリファ ) port was a military facility and had been watching the progress for at least a year. The port was about 50 miles (80 km) away from Abu Dhabi and which was operated by a Chinese conglomerate.

Pressure on the UAE began during the pre-Trump administration. US lawmakers had contacted the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and raised concerns.

The United States positioned the UAE as an important partner in counter-terrorism operations in the Middle East. Thousands of US soldiers were also stationed at the UAE air force base on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.

China and the UAE claimed that the port of Hamriya was a purely commercial port, but sources said the U.S. intelligence agency confirmed that the Chinese military used normally entering ships to collect information by intercepting radio waves by disguising them as merchant ships.

The US side's views were divided on how much the UAE side was aware of the Chinese side's intentions to develop connection with this port. A spokesman for the UAE embassy in Washington said in a statement claimed that they had never agreed, planned, or discussed to accept a Chinese military base or any outpost.

China was seeking to develop commercial ports around the world, but US government officials saw it as a clear effort to gain a foothold for military use. China had already developed commercial ports in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and in 2017 it also built the first overseas military base in Djibouti in Africa.

              So, U.S. government officials have determined that the work underway inside the commercial Hamriya port is for military purpose and has been watching the progress for at least a year.

British Rolls-Royce - Developed the "world's fastest" all-electric aircraft, with a maximum speed of 623 km / h

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

「世界最速」の全電動航空機を開発、最高時速６２３キロ　英ロールスロイス

2021.11.21 Sun posted at 16:30 JST

  （ＣＮＮ） 航空機エンジン製造の英ロールスロイスは２１日までに、全電動航空機「スピリット・オブ・イノベーション」を開発し、最高時速３８７．４マイル（約６２３キロ）の飛行を記録したとの報道発表文を発表した。

全電動航空機による世界最速記録と主張している。

同社によると、同機はこれまで３つの世界記録を樹立。その一つは、英ウィルトシャーにある英国防省の軍用機試験飛行場で時速３００マイルで９．３２マイル（約１５キロ）の距離を飛んだ記録とし、従来の記録より時速１８２マイル速かったとした。

これらの記録は、承認を求めて国際航空連盟に提出された。

スピリット・オブ・イノベーション機の開発は、飛行の電動化を加速させる事業の一環で、英航空宇宙技術研究所（ＡＴＩ）や英民間企業・エネルギー・産業戦略省などが資金を提供している。

ロールスロイスによると、同機の動力源は出力４００キロワットの電動パワートレインと航空機用としては最も高密度とするバッテリーパックとなっている。

Translation

  (CNN) It was announced on the 21st in a press release that aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce had developed an all-electric aircraft "Spirit of Innovation" which had recorded a maximum flight speed of 387.4 mph (about 623 km).

It claimed to be the fastest all-electric aircraft in the world.

According to the company, the aircraft had set three world records so far. One of them was a record of flying a distance of 9.32 mph (about 15 km) at 300 mph at the military aircraft test airfield of the British Ministry of Defense in Wiltshire in England, faster than the previous record of 182 mph.

These records were submitted to the International Aviation Federation for acknowledgement.

The development of the Spirit of Innovation was part of a project to accelerate the electrification of flight that was funded by the UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the private enterprises, Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and others. 

According to Rolls-Royce, the aircraft's power source was a battery pack with the highest density that had an output of 400 kW for electric power-trains and aircraft.

              So, British Rolls-Royce develops the "world's fastest" all-electric aircraft that has recorded a maximum flight speed of 387.4 mph.

默克爾：德國當初可能對中國太天真

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Exclusive-Germany may have been naive on China at first, Merkel says

Wed., November 17, 2021, 4:33 a.m.

By Andreas Rinke

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany may at first have been naive in some areas of cooperation with China, but should not sever all connections in reaction to growing tensions, Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Reuters.

Merkel's strategy of engagement has seen China become Germany's top trading partner during her 16 years in office, and has shaped Europe's stance on Asia's rising superpower, even amid concerns about unfair competition and industrial espionage.

"Maybe initially we were rather too naïve in our approach to some cooperation partnerships," Merkel said in an interview. "These days we look more closely, and rightly so."

Merkel, who did not stand for re-election last September and will leave office once a new government is agreed, said Germany and more broadly the European Union should nonetheless continue to cooperate with China, and could learn from one another.

"Total decoupling wouldn’t be right in my view, it would be damaging for us," she said.

China became Germany's biggest trade partner in 2016 and its rapid economic expansion has fuelled German growth throughout her tenure. But some critics say Germany is now too reliant on China, and becoming too soft on Beijing on awkward issues such as human rights violations.

Merkel's government has said she always addresses human rights issues on her official visits to Beijing - of which there have been no fewer than 12 - and has sought to diversify trade in Asia.

Merkel said Germany was continuously in discussions with Beijing on intellectual property and patent protection, "both with regard to Chinese students in Germany and German enterprises operating in China".

She also said Western democracies that tried to formulate ethical standards for new technologies had to stay abreast of innovation in order to grasp their impact.

"At the moment, that is not the case in Europe in fields such as quantum computers and artificial intelligence," she said. "China and in many areas the U.S. are better."

But Merkel said the state must still protect its critical infrastructure, pointing to a new German IT security law https://www.reuters.com/article/germany-huawei-tech-idUSKBN28Q1ND that sets high hurdles for makers of equipment for next-generation telecommunications networks, such as China’s Huawei.

"However, I feel it is always important to stress that individual companies should not be excluded from the outset."

Merkel is now acting in a caretaker capacity pending the formation of a new coalition government, some of whose potential members advocate a tougher line on China.

"We need an open system in which everyone is assessed according to the same standards," she said.

(Reporting Andreas Rinke; Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Translation

柏林（路透社）- 德國總理安格拉·默克爾(Angela Merkel)告訴路透社，德國一開始可能在與中國的某些合作領域很天真，但亦不應該為了應對日益緊張的局勢而切斷所有聯繫。

默克爾的對應策略讓中國在她執政 16 年期間成為德國最大的貿易夥伴，並塑造了歐洲對亞洲崛起的超級大國的立場，即使在擔心有會不公平競爭和工業間諜活動的情況。

默克爾在接受採訪時說：“也許最初我們對某些合作夥伴關係的態度太天真了”; “如今我們會更仔細地觀察，這是理所當然的” 。

默克爾在對上 的9 月沒有參加連任選舉，一旦新政府達成一致即將卸任。她表示，德國和更廣泛的歐盟應該繼續與中國合作，並可以相互學習。

她說:“在我看來，完全終止互動是不對的，這對我們來說是有害的”。

中國在 2016 年成為德國最大的貿易夥伴，中國快速的經濟擴張在她的任期內推動了德國的增長。但一些批評人士表示，德國現在過於依賴中國，並且在侵犯人權等尷尬問題上對北京過於軟弱。

默克爾政府曾表示，她在對北京進行官式訪問時總是處理人權問題 - 其中不少於 12 次 - 並尋求在亞洲的貿易實現多元化。 

默克爾表示，德國一直在與北京就知識產權和專利保護進行討論，“無論是關於在德國的中國學, 生還是在中國經營的德國企業”。

她還表示，試圖為新技術制定道德標準的西方民主國家必須與創新保持同步，才能掌握其影響。

她說:“目前，歐洲在量子計算機和人工智能等領域並非如此”; “中國和美國在許多領域都做得更好。”

但默克爾表示，國家仍必須保護其關鍵基礎設施，並指出德國新的 IT 安全法 https://www.reuters.com/article/germany-huawei-t​​ech-idUSKBN28Q1ND 為下一代電信網絡設備製造商設置了一個障礙高欄 ，如中國的華為。

“但是，我覺得要鄭重地強調的是, 個別公司不應該從一開始就被排除在外” 。

默克爾現在以看守身份行事，等待新的聯合政府組建，其中一些潛在成員主張對中國採取更強硬的立場。

她說,:“我們需要一個開放的系統，按照相同的標準對每個人進行評估”。

So, in Germany, Merkel will leave office once a new government is agreed upon. It is interesting to know that in her opinion Germany and more broadly the European Union should continue to cooperate with China, as they could learn from one another. I think to continue to cooperate with China in some areas are important, for example in climate change.

中國在關鍵文件中譴責“拜金主義”和改革時代的腐敗

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

China condemns 'money worship', corruption of reform era in key document

Tue., November 16, 2021, 4:27 a.m.

By Gabriel Crossley

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's ruling Communist Party slammed the "money worship", "extreme individualism" and corruption that emerged in the four decades since the country opened up, calling for stronger party leadership and moral discipline in a key resolution released on Tuesday.

The document strengthens President Xi Jinping's dominance of the party ahead of what is likely to be a precedent-breaking third term to begin next year, while enshrining his vision of China's historical trajectory.

The resolution on the party's "achievements and historical experiences" since its founding 100 years ago was passed at the end of a four-day, closed-door meeting last week of its Central Committee.

It puts Xi on the same pedestal as predecessors Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, whose pre-eminence was cemented by the only other two such resolutions passed, in 1945 and 1981, respectively.

It sketches out an overview of China's history, from the "humiliations" of the late Qing empire to the present day, and hopes of a future "great rejuvenation", emphasizing repeatedly that the Communist Party is the driver of progress.

Deng launched reforms in 1978 that transformed China from an impoverished backwater into the world's second-largest economy. His own resolution emphasized the importance of "collective leadership" after the Maoist excesses of the Cultural Revolution.

Xi, however, is seen to have amassed more power than any leader since Mao, and the latest resolution did not emphasize collective leadership.

While the new document pledges to continue with "reform and opening" policies, it noted that since their launch, "erroneous trends of thought such as money worship, hedonism and extreme individualism" have emerged.

The Party also saw a weakening of its leadership and corrupt practices in the reform era, it said.

Stricter governance, stronger ideological work and more cultural "self-confidence" can help solve these problems, it said, noting that the Xi era had seen many long-term issues resolved.

Xi has called for achieving "common prosperity", seeking to narrow a yawning wealth gap, and has presided over a vast anti-corruption campaign, punishing more than one million officials, from low-ranking cadres to potential rivals for the top leadership of the party.

(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley and Kevin Yao; Editing by Tony Munroe and Nick Macfie)

Translation

北京（路透社）——中國執政的共產黨在周二發布的一項重要決議中,猛烈抨擊改革開放四十年以來出現的“拜金主義”、“極端個人主義”和腐敗現象，呼籲加強黨的領導和道德紀律。

該文件加強了習近平主席在明年開始的可能打破先例的第三個任期之前在黨內的主導地位，同時祭出了他對中國歷史軌蹟的看法。

上週，中央委員會在為期四天的閉門會議結束時，通過了關於建黨100年來“成就和​​歷史經驗”的決議。

它使習近平與前任的毛澤東和鄧小平站在同一個基座上，1945 年和 1981 年通過的另外兩項此類決議, 鞏固了他們的卓越地位。

它勾勒出中國歷史的概況，從清末帝國的“屈辱”到今天，以及對未來“偉大復興”的希望，一再強調共產黨是進步的推動者。

鄧小平於 1978 年啟動改革，將中國從一潭死水變成了世界第二大經濟體。在文化大革命中毛派暴行之後, 他的決議強調了 “集體領導” 的重要性。

然而，人們認為習近平的權力比毛以來的任何領導人都多，而且最新的決議沒有強調集體領導。

新文件承諾繼續推行“改革開放”政策，但指出自推出它以來，“拜金主義、享樂主義和極端個人主義等錯誤思潮”開始出現。

它說，黨在改革年代也看到了自身領導力的削弱和腐敗行為。

它說，更嚴格的治理、更強的思想工作和更多的文化“自信”可以幫助解決這些問題，並指出習時代已經解決了許多長期問題。

習近平呼籲實現“共同富裕”，尋求縮小日益嚴重的貧富差距，並主持了一場大規模的反腐運動，懲罰了超過 100 萬名官員，從低級幹部到党内最高領導層的潛在競爭對手。

              So, the CCP is calling for stronger party leadership and moral discipline over the party and the people, which is a classic approach in controlling everything, including the private space of the people.

July-September GDP announced today - due to declining personal consumption, the private sector forecast a negative

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

7～9月のGDPきょう発表 個人消費落ち込みで民間はマイナス予測

2021年11月15日 0時11分

ことし7月から9月までのGDP＝国内総生産が15日に発表されます。民間の予測の平均は、物価の変動を除いた実質の伸び率が小幅ながらマイナスとなっていて、結果が注目されます。

GDPは15日午前8時50分、内閣府が発表します。

公益社団法人の「日本経済研究センター」が集計した民間のエコノミスト37人の予測の平均は、物価の変動を除いた実質の伸び率が、年率換算でマイナス0.56％となりました。実際にマイナスとなれば2期ぶりです。

これは、当時出されていた緊急事態宣言の影響で、GDPの半分以上を占める「個人消費」が落ち込むとみられることが主な要因です。個人消費の民間予測は、前の3か月と比べて、マイナス0.47％となりました。

今回のGDPがプラスになると見込むエコノミストもいますが、上位8人の予測の平均は年率換算でプラス0.80％にとどまっていて、結果が注目されます。

10月～12月のGDPはプラス予測も

一方、10月から12月にかけてのGDPについては、プラスになると見込む専門家が多くなっています。

公益社団法人の「日本経済研究センター」によりますと、来月までの3か月間のGDPの予測は、民間のエコノミスト37人の現時点での平均で、物価の変動を除いた実質の伸び率が、年率換算でプラス4.93％となっています。緊急事態宣言が9月末までの期限で解除され、このところの感染状況も落ち着いていることで、GDPの半分以上を占める「個人消費」が回復に向かうと見ているためです。

個人がこれまで我慢してきた消費が盛り上がる、いわゆる「リベンジ消費」が期待できるという声もあり、来月までの3か月間の「個人消費」の民間予測は、前の3か月と比べて、プラス1.69％となっています。ただ、この予測は、新型コロナウイルスの第6波など、感染が再び急激に拡大しないことが前提になっているとみられます。

ほかのリスク要因もあります。「原油価格の高騰」と、「悪い円安」です。

原油高は、さまざまな原材料価格の上昇を招きます。企業収益が圧迫され、個人の所得が上がらない中で「悪い円安」が進むと、新型コロナで打撃を受けている企業経営や家計のさらなる負担につながるおそれがあります。

政府は、GDPがコロナ前の水準に戻る時期を「年内」と見込んでいますが、引き続き経済が下押しされるリスクは大きいという指摘も根強いのが現状です。

Translation

GDP = gross domestic product from July to September this year would be announced on the 15th. As for the average of private forecasts, the real growth rate excluding price fluctuations was slightly negative, and the results were noteworthy.

GDP would be announced by the Cabinet Office at 8:50 am on the 15th.

The average forecast of 37 private economists compiled by the Japan Center for Economic Research, a public interest incorporated association, showed that the real growth rate excluding price fluctuations was minus 0.56% on an annualized basis. If it actually became negative, it would be the first time in two terms.

The main reason for this was that "personal consumption," which accounted for more than half of GDP, was expected to decline due to the impact of the state of emergency issued at that time. Private consumption forecasts were minus 0.47% compared to the previous three months.

There were also economists expecting GDP to be positive this time, but the average of the top eight forecasts was only + 0.80% on an annualized basis, and the result was noteworthy.

October-December GDP was also forecast to be positive

On the other hand, many experts expect GDP for October to December to be positive.

According to the Japan Center for Economic Research, a public interest incorporated association, the average GDP forecast for the three months up to next month made by 37 private economists at this point in time, and with the real growth rate excluding price fluctuations, was + 4.93% on an annualized basis. This was because the state of emergency had been lifted by the end of September, and the infection situation had settled down recently, so it was expected that "personal consumption," which accounted for more than half of GDP, could recover.

There was also a voice that the so-called "revenge consumption" could be expected, in which the consumption that individuals had held back so far could rise, and the private forecast of "personal consumption" for the three months up to next month, compared with the previous three months, could a plus 1.69%. However, this prediction seemed to be based on the premise that the infection would not spread rapidly again, such as the sixth wave of the new coronavirus.

There were other risk factors as well. "Rising crude oil prices" and "the undesirable weak yen".

High oil prices led to higher prices for various raw materials. If the “undesirable weak yen” progressed, corporate profits could be squeezed and individual income would not rise, it might lead to further burdens on corporate management and households that had been hit by the new corona.

While the government expected GDP to return to pre-corona levels "within the year", currently it had been strongly pointed out that the risk of continued economic downturn was high.

              So, while the Japanese government expects GDP to return to the pre-corona levels "within the year", there is also a risk of continued economic downturn.