News Agency of Nigeria
Angola, Nigeria deepen ties for investment, job growth
Foreign

Angola, Nigeria deepen ties for investment, job growth

Cooperation

By Fortune Abang

The governments of Angola and Nigeria are set to deepen bilateral cooperation aimed at generating investments and bolstering job creation through enhanced private sector engagement between both countries.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, José Zau, ahead of the fifth Meeting of the Angola-Nigeria Bilateral Joint Commission.

The meeting is scheduled to hold on Sept. 9, in Luanda, where both nations will review existing Cooperation Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and address major economic challenges affecting bilateral relations.

According to Ambassador Zau, no fewer than 20 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be updated.

“These will serve as legal frameworks guiding political-diplomatic cooperation between Angola and Nigeria.

“Key areas of focus include defense and security, cyber and digital diplomacy, economy and trade, and the judiciary.

“Other sectors to be covered are culture, air and maritime transport, telecommunications and media, tourism, and visa exemption.”

Zau described the upcoming meeting as a significant turning point in fostering cooperation between Angola and Nigeria.

He highlighted key areas of focus, including free trade, visa exemptions, avoidance of double taxation, extradition and transfer of convicted persons, as well as enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

“Since 2001, the work of this commission has been interrupted, and we are very excited to relaunch this cooperation, with a focus on the hydrocarbon and petrochemical industries,” he said.

He added that other key areas of focus included agribusiness, sustainable tourism, information technology, innovation, and the blue economy, all expected to drive youth employment and support private sector growth in both countries.

Delegations led by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation of Angola’s Ministry of External Relations (MIREX), Domingos Lopes, and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, are expected to attend the meeting.

During the event, two twinning agreements will also be formalised between the Angolan provinces of Bengo and Namibe and the Nigerian states of Nasarawa and Bayelsa, respectively.

Zau further announced that the Angola Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) and the Angola-Nigeria Business Council (ANBC), would reinforce collaboration to ensure robust economic partnerships driven by private investments from Nigeria.

He expressed concern over the underperformance of bilateral trade, stating that “trade between Angola and Nigeria remained dull, insignificant, and underexploited, considering the enormous potential of both countries.”

According to him, Angola’s exports to Nigeria between 2020 and 2022 were valued at approximately 5.6 million dollars, while imports from Nigeria stood at 16.8 million dollars, resulting in a negative trade balance of 11.2 million dollars for Angola.

Zau, however, hailed the historic and mutual relationship between the two nations.

He recalled Nigeria’s fervent support for Angola’s political independence and financial contributions toward the functioning of its first post-independence government.

Following independence in November 1975, the countries signed multiple cooperation agreements across defense and security, civil aviation, oil and gas, trade, and agriculture.

“President Bola Tinubu, during my accreditation, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to openness and to strengthening bilateral cooperation by harnessing the full potential of both countries,” Zau added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Abiemwense Moru

ECOWAS Lassa fever conference opens in Abidjan
Foreign

ECOWAS Lassa fever conference opens in Abidjan

By Rachael Abuja/Ismail Abdulaziz

The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) Lassa Fever International Conference began Monday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The four-day conference is organised by the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO).

The theme of the conference is “Beyond borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases”.

Building on the first Lassa International Conference held in Abuja in 2019, this second edition will feature plenary sessions, panels, workshops, and research presentations.

It will also contribute to a regional roadmap focused on improving access to diagnostics, vaccines, and coordinated disease control efforts.

The LIC 2025 seeks to drive multi-sectoral collaboration and promote long-term solutions for Lassa fever and broader health security challenges.

The conference brings together regional and global stakeholders to advance research, enhance preparedness, and strengthen outbreak response across West Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first conference held in Abuja in 2019, marked fifty years since the Lassa fever virus was first isolated, in a town in Nigeria.

The opportunity created by the ‘anniversary’ of the discovery of the virus, is being used to bring researchers and practitioners from across the world together, to share and appraise global efforts towards the control of the Lassa fever virus disease.

Participants at that conference, underscored the importance of integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives for a comprehensive strategy to combat Lassa fever, which stems from the interconnectedness of these factors.
There were strong calls to action for increased research into all aspects of Lassa fever, including new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, with the aim of improving prevention, response, and control activities.
Participants also called on the need for enhances surveillance systems and laboratory capacity for timely and accurate Lassa fever diagnosis., among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
‎Tinubu’s Brazil pact, new flight path, and what lies ahead
Features , Foreign

‎Tinubu’s Brazil pact, new flight path, and what lies ahead

‎By Muhyideen Jimoh, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
‎
‎With aching legs and weary eyes, Ibrahim Abdulwahab stepped off an Ethiopian Airlines flight in São Paulo, Brazil, nearly 48 hours after leaving Abuja.
‎
‎Moreover, long layovers had stretched his journey into an exhausting ordeal.
‎
‎The University of Brasília graduate, now a Portuguese teacher, endures this gruelling routine regularly to visit family and continue his work, an experience familiar to many Nigerians in Brazil.
‎
‎However, this arduous travel may soon be a thing of the past, not only for Abdulwahab but also for the growing number of Nigerians seeking opportunities in Brazil for study, business, tourism, or cultural reconnection.
‎
‎A journey that takes over 48 hours will now be slashed to just seven, thanks to direct flights between the two countries.”
‎
‎Indeed, this prospect became clearer in the early hours of Aug. 25, when Nigeria’s presidential jet, NAF-001, nicknamed ‘Eagle One’, touched down at Brasília International Airport.
‎
‎President Bola Tinubu had arrived for a two-day state visit, his third trip to Brazil this year, underscoring Nigeria’s renewed commitment to strengthening ties with South America’s largest economy.
‎
‎Coming directly from engagements in Japan at TICAD9 and a stopover in Los Angeles, Tinubu wasted no time resuming a hectic diplomatic pace.
‎
‎By morning, the streets of Brasília were alive with colour as he was received with full military honours by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace.

President Bola Tinubu being welcomed with full military honours in Brazil

‎Importantly, the meeting was not merely ceremonial.
‎
‎Both leaders presided over the signing of five critical Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in aviation, trade, energy, agriculture, and science and technology.
‎
‎“Today’s engagement marks the renewal of the historic relationship between Nigeria and Brazil.
‎
‎“I look forward to working with President Lula to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy, trade, and culture, towards building a future of shared prosperity,” Tinubu declared.
‎
‎Notably, the visit saw the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), paving the way for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil for the first time in decades.
The signing of the BASA between Nigeria and Brazilian ministers of Aviation, supervised by President Bola Tinubu and President Lula da Silva.

‎According to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, “This agreement is a game-changer for Nigeria’s aviation industry.
‎
‎“It will open up new opportunities for Nigerian businesses, tourism, and enhance diplomatic ties.
‎
‎“For businesses, the agreement will simplify cargo movement, reduce shipping costs, and bolster trade.
‎
‎“For ordinary Nigerians, particularly the diaspora, it signals easier travel and stronger cultural reconnection,” Keyamo said.
‎
‎Similarly, Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace and Nigeria’s designated air carrier for the Lagos-Sao-Paulo route commended the development.
‎
‎“Well, it is a milestone. President Bola Tinubu’s shuttles abroad have started paying dividends for the good of our nation.
‎
‎“Today, the Bilateral Air Services Agreement has been signed between both countries, Brazil and Nigeria.
‎
‎“And I’m sure you heard when President Lula of Brazil said that Nigeria’s largest carrier, Airbus, has been designated to implement this BASA by running flight operations into and out of Brazil to Nigeria,” he added.
‎
‎Onyema confirmed that Air Peace will begin direct flights by Nov. 2025, thus unlocking an economic boom.
‎
‎Beyond aviation, the agreements extended into trade and agriculture, with a new memorandum expanding bilateral commerce in agriculture, energy, and digital technology.
President Bola Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva.

‎Tinubu emphasised, “Brazil is a natural partner for Nigeria in agriculture, given our complementary resources and expertise.
‎
‎“We are ready to collaborate more closely to enhance food security in both nations”.
‎
‎This reflects Nigeria’s earlier agricultural cooperation with Brazil in the 1970s, when both countries sought to mechanise farming and address food shortages.
‎
‎Today, with over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce in agriculture, such collaboration could modernise farming and boost productivity.
‎
‎Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, added, “We are keen to share our technological advancements in agriculture with Nigeria.
‎
‎“This collaboration will lead to a food revolution in both countries”.
‎
‎In addition, energy featured prominently. Brazil pledged to support Nigeria in scaling up solar, wind, and clean energy projects.
‎
‎Tinubu said, “Energy is a key pillar of our vision for Nigeria’s future.
‎
‎“Brazil’s expertise will help us leapfrog into cleaner, more efficient energy systems”.
‎
‎Furthermore, he invited Petrobras, Brazil’s oil giant, to return to Nigeria after suspending operations in Nigeria, stressing: “We have the largest gas repository.
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‎“So, I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done”.
‎
‎Meanwhile, science and technology cooperation also gained focus.
‎
‎Paulo Alvim, Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, noted, “We have seen the rise of Nigeria’s tech sector, and we are eager to support it with our knowledge and resources.
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‎“Such cooperation is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, fostering innovation and skills transfer in a sector already attracting global attention”.
‎
‎Moreover, Tinubu’s delegation secured investment pledges in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, with potential inflows estimated at over 30 billion dollars.
‎
‎Brazil committed to supporting Nigeria in roads, ports, and bridges, leveraging its engineering expertise.
‎
‎Alongside this, cultural and educational ties were renewed.
‎
‎Both governments agreed on student exchanges, research partnerships, and arts collaborations, reviving Afro-Brazilian links dating back to the 19th century.
‎
‎As Camilo Santana, Brazil’s Minister of Education, put it: “We are looking forward to facilitating exchange programmes between Brazilian and Nigerian universities”.
‎
‎Historically, the ties between Nigeria and Brazil run centuries deep.
‎
‎Freed Afro-Brazilian slaves returned to Lagos, bringing architecture, cuisine, and religious practices that enriched Nigeria’s cultural fabric.
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyiinka and President Lula da Silva of Brazil.

‎Known as the “Aguda” community, their influence remains visible today.
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‎Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1961.
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‎By the 1970s, both nations pursued stronger South–South cooperation, particularly in agriculture and energy.
‎
‎Although relations slowed in the early 2000s, the return of Petrobras to Nigeria in 1998 and cultural exchange programmes helped maintain the partnership.
‎
‎Today, Tinubu’s agreements mark a revival of historic bonds, blending cultural reconnection with modern trade, technology, and strategic cooperation.
‎
‎Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the visit as “more than a state visit.
‎
‎“It’s a symbolic healing of historical wounds. It’s about cultural reconnection, economic collaboration, and redefining our shared future.
‎
‎“And you know when President Tinubu speaks, he speaks for the continent. Nigeria is a continental and global leader”.
‎
‎Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, offered a similar perspective, arguing that the visit reflects Tinubu’s broader effort to diversify Nigeria’s global partnerships.
‎
‎He explained that “Brazil has a cattle herd of 238 million; more than its human population.
‎
‎“This success in agribusiness offers valuable lessons for us as we expand our livestock industry”.
‎
‎Taken together, these engagements mirror Nigeria’s longstanding tradition of South–South cooperation, from its leadership role in the Non-Aligned Movement to active participation in the G77.
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‎Historically, Nigeria has used such partnerships to balance relations with Western powers while strengthening alliances in the Global South.
‎
‎Analysts, however, warn that the success of these agreements will depend on how swiftly Nigeria’s ministries and agencies act to implement them.
‎
‎Yet, if fully implemented, the Brazil engagement could become the launchpad for Nigeria’s long-sought economic transformation.
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‎It holds the potential to unlock jobs, technology, and investment while advancing the country’s aspiration of becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2030.(NANFeatures)
‎
‎***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
‎

Putin rejects Zelensky meeting abroad, insists on Moscow venue
Foreign

Putin rejects Zelensky meeting abroad, insists on Moscow venue

Meeting

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected calls for a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at a negotiating venue abroad.

If Zelensky wants to meet with him but at the same time demands that he travel somewhere for the meeting, then that is asking too much, Putin said at the economic forum in Vladivostok.

“The best place for this [for a meeting] is the capital of the Russian Federation, the heroic city of Moscow,” he said.

Zelensky had previously rejected plans for a Moscow meeting.

There are seven countries willing to host a summit, according to Ukrainian sources.

In Vladivostok, Putin insisted on Moscow as the venue for negotiations, as he had proposed during his visit to China earlier this week.

The safety of the guests would be guaranteed to 100 per cent, he said.

Ukraine’s security service (SBU) says it has foiled several assassination plots against the president since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Talks in Moscow would bolster the Kremlin’s negotiating position, which continues to see itself as having an advantage on the front lines.

Putin has argued that talks with Zelensky would be futile, claiming the Ukrainian president no longer has the legal authority to sign agreements.

Zelensky’s term officially expired last year.

But he continues to lead Ukraine via martial law, under which elections are suspended for the duration of the war, and the president’s mandate is automatically extended.

Putin, by contrast, has remained in power since 2012, bolstered by constitutional changes that allowed him to extend his term limits. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannew.ng)

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

Photos: China holds parade for 80th anniversary of WWII victory
Foreign

Photos: China holds parade for 80th anniversary of WWII victory

Chinese celebrated the 80th anniversary of the World War II Victory.

The picturesque event was captured in various locations in Beijing.

 

Parade guards step in place during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

Soldiers fire gun salute during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

Honour guards escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian’anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

 

The refueler and receiver echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

Pigeons are released into the sky over Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

Pigeons and balloons are released into the sky over Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025.  (Xinhua/NAN)

 

The trainer aircraft echelon attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

Guests attend a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing. Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

The early warning and command aircraft echelon flies over Tian’anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025.(Xinhua/NAN)

 

The nuclear missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

Armament formations attend a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025.(Xinhua/NAN)

 

The cruise missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

The anti-ship missile formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

The air defense weaponry formation passes through Tian’anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/NAN)

 

 

The land-based unmanned warfare formation attends a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

UN ends air service in Nigeria over poor funding
Foreign

UN ends air service in Nigeria over poor funding

Funding

By Tiamiyu Prudence Arobani

The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), has endefd its fixed-wing air service in Nigeria due to lack of funding.

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, disclosed this during the noon press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.

UNHAS, which is operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), had to end their fixed-wing air service in Nigeria last week due to a lack of funding.

“For nine years, the service has transported humanitarian staff, medical supplies, and critical cargo to and from the epicentre of the crisis in Borno and Yobe states,” Dujarric said.

“In a country that has experienced unending conflict for the past 16 years of conflict, road transport remains extremely dangerous and air transport is essential.”

WFP had warned that it might be compelled to suspend all emergency food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria at the end of July.

WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Margot van der Velden, while briefing UN Correspondents in New York, painted a dire humanitarian situation in Nigeria.

Velden said WFP urgently needed 130 million dollars to sustain emergency food and nutrition operations in Northeast Nigeria for six months.

She said “due to the severe funding cuts that the World Food Programme is facing, we have exhausted our food and nutrition resources”.

“And at the beginning of August, we will have to face the heartbreaking reality of having to suspend our operations for the populations in northeast Nigeria.

“And so our teams will have to tell the population that they no longer will receive aid, not because there is no need but because there are no resources for that assistance.

She expressed concerns that if life-saving assistance ended, millions of vulnerable people could face impossible choices.

Velden added that the vulnerable would have to endure increasingly severe hunger, migrate or even risk possible exploitation by extremist groups in the region.

Nevertheless, Velden commended the Nigerian government for its support aimed at addressing the humanitarian situation in the northeast.

“I also would like to say that the government of Nigeria is the largest financier of this emergency response now in the northeast of Nigeria,” she said.

In 2024, UNHAS fixed-wing flights carried more than 9,000 passengers.

Already this year, 4,500 humanitarian staff have relied on the service to reach affected areas.

According to the UN Spokesperson, UNHAS cannot continue without funding.

Dujarric said 5.4 million dollars is needed for the UN air service to remain operational for the next six months.

“Without this funding, the humanitarian response in northeast Nigeria risks being cut off from the very people it is meant to serve,” he regretted. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

U.S. donates .5m support to WFP for food, nutrition in Nigeria
Foreign

U.S. donates $32.5m support to WFP for food, nutrition in Nigeria

By Mark Longyen

The United States (U.S.) Government says it has provided the World Food Programme (WFP) with the sum of 32.5 million dollars to support its food and nutrition programme in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued by Aishah Gambari of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, on Wednesday.

It explained that the donation was aimed at ensuring the provision of food and nutrition assistance to help save lives in the country.

“The World Food Programme Nigeria, with U.S. Government’s contribution of 32.5 million dollars, will provide food assistance and nutrition support to internally displaced persons across conflict-affected areas.

“With the U.S. Government’s donation, the World Food Programme Nigeria will provide food and nutrition assistance to 764,205 beneficiaries across Northeast and Northwest Nigeria.

“This includes complementary nutrition top-ups for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, and 43,235 children through electronic food vouchers,” the statement said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WFP, which is funded entirely by voluntary donations from governments, corporations, and private individuals, is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

The U.S. is, by far, the largest single donor to the WFP, as it consistently provides a significant portion of its funding each year, contributing more than 2.9 billion dollars in 2023 alone.

As the United Nations’ food-assistance branch, WFP works in more than 120 countries, providing emergency food relief to people in need and building long-term food security and stability to save lives in emergencies.

It also helps communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after a crisis, including nutrition projects, especially for mothers and children, school feeding programmes, and building resilience to climate-related shocks.

In 2020, WFP won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating hunger, contribution to peace, and being a driving force to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Unyielding courage drives China forward
Foreign

Unyielding courage drives China forward

Beijing, Sept. 2, 2025 (Xinhua/NAN) By examining history, one can obtain insight into the future. Commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is a good time to reflect on the past and gain strength to carry forward present endeavours.

In 1936, American journalist Edgar Snow took a picture in northwest China: on the dusty Loess Plateau, a young Red Army soldier stood upright, holding a bugle to his lips.

That image, symbolising a rallying call for the nation to unite and fight Japanese aggressors, conveyed to the world a message of unyielding resistance from the East.

Through the arduous and heroic War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from 1931 to 1945, a great spirit of resistance was formed.

The Chinese people demonstrated to the world the patriotism that every citizen has a responsibility for the nation’s future, the national integrity of being ready to die and never yielding, the heroic spirit of not fearing violence and fighting to the end, and the indomitable and tenacious belief in victory.

When American journalist Agnes Smedley asked General Yang Hucheng in the 1930s if China could truly resist Japan’s tanks and bombers, Yang gave an unwavering answer: “They may have more planes and tanks. But we know we must fight. And when the will is firm, the strength follows.”

Over the 14 grueling years, a nation with limited military and economic resources stood its ground and ultimately prevailed.

Since the Opium War in 1840, China had been the constant target of invasions and bullying from foreign powers.

Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression marks Chinese people’s first complete victory in national liberation and a historic turning point for the Chinese nation — from the depths of crisis in modern times to the path of great rejuvenation.

Its people are no longer a pile of “loose sand,” but a people of national pride and unity.

The spirit behind the victory is an invaluable asset for the Chinese people. It has inspired and will continue to inspire Chinese people to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in their pursuit of modernisation and national rejuvenation.

It is with this spirit that the country established a complete industrial system after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

It is with this spirit that China eliminated absolute poverty and lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty in 40 years since the reform and opening up in the late 1970s.

It is with this spirit that China achieved the feat of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability and became the world’s second-largest economy.

China, a country of 1.4 billion people, has no precedent to follow on its path to modernisation.

When Western observers ask how the Communist Party of China consistently gets things done, the answer is that it is the result of the enduring resolve, unity and perseverance of generations who have embraced self-reliance and sacrifice, and who have had unshakable faith in the power of collective will.

China is in a critical stage of realising its national rejuvenation, during which internal and external difficulties and challenges remain. It has yet to realize complete national reunification.

Externally, the world is undergoing profound changes with tariff and trade wars disrupting global economic order and unilateral bullying challenging multilateral mechanisms. Certain countries are attempting to contain China’s development.

The greater the external pressure, the more important it is to harness spiritual strength.

These challenges and difficulties will inspire the Chinese people to carry forward the unyielding courage, strengthen their conviction and confidence, confront problems head-on and manage their country’s own affairs well.

The victory 80 years ago has since proved a truth time and again: never underestimate China’s potential, resilience and strength.(Xinhua/NAN)

IS

SCO acts to assume greater role in development, governance
Foreign

SCO acts to assume greater role in development, governance

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has drawn a development blueprint at its Tianjin Summit that concluded Monday, which will lead it to play a greater role in maintaining regional peace and stability, and in promoting shared prosperity.

The summit saw the signing and adoption of a number of key documents, including the Tianjin Declaration and a development strategy for the organisation in the 2026-2035 period.

Outcomes of the meeting also include a statement on supporting the multilateral trading system, a statement on the 80th anniversary of WWII victory and of the founding of the United Nations, and 24 outcome documents on strengthening cooperation in sectors such as security, economy and people-to-people ties.

The Tianjin Summit has built consensus, pooled strength, ignited new cooperation momentum in various fields, and contributed wisdom to global governance.

Since it was founded in 2001, the SCO has grown into the world’s largest regional organisation, setting an example for a new type of international relations.

Guided by the Shanghai Spirit, SCO development and cooperation have seen groundbreaking and historic achievements, and significantly promoted peace and development at both regional and global levels.

In line with the evolving international situation, the summit has demonstrated the SCO’s resolve and action to work efficiently to achieve greater development, make the global governance system more just and equitable, and make more contributions to Global South solidarity, cooperation and human development.

In a major highlight of the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” meeting.

The initiative has five principles — adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on real action.

The GGI marks the fourth landmark global initiative proposed by Xi over the past several years, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative.

The GGI will be of great significance to both SCO development and the improvement of the global governance system.

In providing a solution to the global governance deficit, the GGI not only conforms to the common aspirations of people of all countries, but also meets the urgent needs of today’s world.

It was welcomed and supported by the leaders of the countries and international organisations attending the event, and is bound to be widely recognised by the international community.

The Tianjin Summit also witnessed the further expansion of the SCO family, with Laos admitted as a dialogue partner; and more countries are planning to join the organisation, underscoring its dynamism, openness and inclusiveness.

From Tianjin, the SCO has set out on a new voyage with greater responsibility, efficiency and real results, aiming to contribute more to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.(Xinhua/NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

V-Day in China: History speaks to today’s global challenges
Foreign

V-Day in China: History speaks to today’s global challenges

When China marks the 80th anniversary of its victory in WWII on Wednesday, the gathering in Tiananmen Square will not be about swagger, but a moment of reflection on the challenges facing the world today.

The occasion is meant to commemorate the immense human cost of a conflict that left over 100 million dead or wounded worldwide. China, in particular, bore a disproportionately heavy toll: over the 14 years of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, it suffered over 35 million casualties and vast swaths of scorched earth.

The country has every reason to observe this milestone. In a battle between justice and evil, light and darkness, and the progressive and the reactionary, Chinese people fought relentlessly — not only for survival but also for fairness itself.

Their fight — the largest against foreign aggression in modern Chinese history, and one that involved the greatest sacrifice, secured the Chinese people their first complete victory in national liberation and propelled the nation from the depths of crisis onto a path of rejuvenation.

This resistance — the earliest to begin and the longest to endure in the global fight against fascism — belies the Western-centric narrative of a passive China. From 1931 to 1945, China tied down the bulk of Japanese forces and eliminated more than 1.5 million enemy troops, making a historic contribution to the Allied victory over fascism.

Yet Western collective memory has long fixated on the battles of Midway and Normandy, the Holocaust and the Nuremberg Trials. China’s grinding campaigns and sacrifices, which underpinned Allied victory in the East, have often faded into obscurity.

The day of commemoration is a timely prompt to set the record straight: some continue to shun their wartime atrocities; others erase decisive actors from the narrative; still others blur the very divides of the conflict, through reckless amnesia or sly wordplay.

To forget is to betray, and to deny is to tempt repetition. Eighty years on, it is imperative to confront the past in its entirety, unclouded by ideological bias or geopolitical calculation. Victory counts more if it prevents the need to fight for another one.

China’s remembrance is more than a look back; it is a reminder of what happens when unilateralism and power politics run amok. The most significant decision made by the world at the end of WWII was the creation of the UN.

Founded on postwar consensus including sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes, the UN remains the most representative and authoritative intergovernmental organisation on the planet.

The UN-centered international system has kept major-power hot wars largely at bay while underwriting decades of global prosperity. Yet, today, the organisation’s role in global peace and security has been challenged.

The world cannot afford a return to the darker days when the powerful were allowed to prey upon the weak. In fact, calls for an equal, orderly, and multipolar world — and for economic globalisation that is inclusive and universally beneficial — are growing louder.

Upholding the postwar framework is not an exercise in nostalgia; it is an investment in multilateralism and predictability, which are essential for global stability, growth and security.

This year’s commemoration also harks back to the solidarity of 80 years ago — when many countries set aside divisions and ideological differences to unite against fascism.

Such an ethos is very much needed today. The world faces a confluence of challenges: regional conflicts that defy easy resolution, a sluggish and uneven global economy, and the relentless march of climate change, to name just a few.

In this interconnected reality, no country can tackle these challenges alone. Nor can anyone expect to thrive by exploiting others’ hardship. Unity and cooperation remain the only viable way forward.

China’s advocacy for a community with a shared future for humanity, along with its global initiatives regarding development, security and civilisation, helps recalibrate global governance along the lines of fairness and justice.

For China, Wednesday’s commemoration carries particular significance. During the crucible of the Japanese invasion, few expected that a poor agrarian country could prevail over a mechanised invader, and fewer still foresaw the rise of the Communist Party of China (CPC) from a state of siege and adversity.

To underestimate China’s resilience today would be equally unwise. The country, under CPC leadership, is well-positioned to overcome challenges on its journey toward rejuvenation, whether they come in the form of trade barriers or technological containment.

Going forward, China will remain strategically steadfast, focus on its core priorities, and advance high-standard opening-up.

Much like its wartime contribution, China’s rise today continues to shape the world for the better.

The world’s second-largest economy has driven over 30 per cent of global growth for years. It has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with over 150 countries and more than 30 international organisations, laying the path toward deeper connectivity and expanded opportunities.

China’s breakthroughs in fields from artificial intelligence and robotics to pharmaceuticals are drawing global attention. What was once the preserve of a few Western powers is shifting toward a more multipolar, shared model of global innovation.

These developments have added certainty to an unsettled world, tightening economic interdependence and nudging nations toward greater openness and friendly cooperation.

China’s millennia-old instinct for harmony, coupled with a long-standing military philosophy that emphasises prudence in the use of force, informs its strategic outlook. Its armed forces, shaped by the CPC’s commitment to the people and tempered by wartime experience, are disciplined, measured and purposeful. They are increasingly a counterweight to adventurism.

A country that rose from the ashes of war has become an anchor in a world of drastic change. Few tributes could better honour the hard-won victory over fascism 80 years ago.(Xinhua/NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

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