Nasarawa @30: NMA Hails Sule’s Healthcare Gains, Seeks More Investment

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nasarawa State Branch, has congratulated the government and people of the state on its 30th anniversary, acknowledging successive administrations’ contributions to healthcare development, particularly the ongoing expansion of specialist services and revitalisation of health facilities under Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The Chairman of the association, Dr Meshi C. Emmanuel, in his Independence Day address on Friday marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary and Nasarawa’s 30 years of creation, said the milestones provided an opportunity to celebrate achievements, reflect on challenges and renew commitment to a healthier and more prosperous society.

On healthcare development in Nasarawa, he acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations, while noting that the administration of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule had continued efforts to upgrade healthcare facilities, strengthen primary healthcare services, recruit health personnel and expand specialist services.

He specifically cited the development of Specialist Hospital, Akwanga, including a trauma centre and modern diagnostic facilities, as well as the transition of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, into the Federal University Teaching Hospital.

According to him, the development of the Federal University Teaching Hospital provides an opportunity to expand tertiary and specialist healthcare services in the state, but he stressed the need for continuity and further investment.

Meshi said the anniversaries provided an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the journey of the country and state, while renewing their commitment to building a healthier, more peaceful and prosperous society.

“Independence is more than a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of our collective responsibility to build a nation where freedom translates into dignity, opportunity, security and a better quality of life for every citizen,” he said.

He stressed that healthcare must remain at the centre of national development, noting that a child with access to quality healthcare has a better opportunity to learn and develop, while a healthy workforce contributes more effectively to the economy.

The NMA chairman commended Nigerian doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, community health workers and other healthcare professionals for their continued service despite difficult working conditions, saying their sacrifices deserved more than recognition.

“Recognition alone is not enough. The healthcare workforce must be supported with the right environment, equipment, remuneration, training and policies necessary to provide safe and effective care,” Dr. Meshi said.

He called for stronger primary healthcare facilities, better referral systems, adequately equipped secondary and tertiary hospitals, improved emergency medical services and greater access to specialist care across the state.

Dr. Meshi also urged greater attention to maternal and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, preventive medicine and health education, stressing that healthcare should not depend on a person’s location or income.

“Healthcare should not be a privilege determined by geography or income. A citizen living in a rural community deserves the same dignity of care as someone living in an urban centre,” he said.

On the movement of health professionals abroad, the NMA chairman said the solution was not to restrict doctors and other health workers from seeking opportunities elsewhere, but to create conditions that would make Nigeria and Nasarawa attractive places to work and build sustainable careers.

“The solution lies not in restricting professionals, but in making Nigeria and Nasarawa a place where talented health workers can thrive,” he said, identifying infrastructure, professional development, research, technology and decent working conditions as key areas requiring attention.

Dr. Meshi urged citizens to take greater responsibility for their health through regular medical checks, immunisation, proper nutrition, physical activity, responsible use of medicines and early presentation at health facilities, while calling on the medical profession to uphold ethics, competence, compassion and accountability.

He said the NMA remained committed to constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders, urging authorities to view healthcare investment as an investment in human capital and the future of Nigeria and Nasarawa State.

“Let this 66th and 30th anniversary of Nigeria and Nasarawa State therefore be more than a celebration of our past. Let it be a renewed commitment to the Nigeria and Nasarawa we want to leave for the next generation,” Dr. Meshi said.

Nasarawa @30: NMA Hails Sule’s Healthcare Gains, Seeks More Investment

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nasarawa State Branch, has congratulated the government and people of the state on its 30th anniversary, acknowledging successive administrations’ contributions to healthcare development, particularly the ongoing expansion of specialist services and revitalisation of health facilities under Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The Chairman of the association, Dr Meshi C. Emmanuel, in his Independence Day address on Friday marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary and Nasarawa’s 30 years of creation, said the milestones provided an opportunity to celebrate achievements, reflect on challenges and renew commitment to a healthier and more prosperous society.

On healthcare development in Nasarawa, he acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations, while noting that the administration of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule had continued efforts to upgrade healthcare facilities, strengthen primary healthcare services, recruit health personnel and expand specialist services.

He specifically cited the development of Specialist Hospital, Akwanga, including a trauma centre and modern diagnostic facilities, as well as the transition of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, into the Federal University Teaching Hospital.

According to him, the development of the Federal University Teaching Hospital provides an opportunity to expand tertiary and specialist healthcare services in the state, but he stressed the need for continuity and further investment.

Meshi said the anniversaries provided an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the journey of the country and state, while renewing their commitment to building a healthier, more peaceful and prosperous society.

“Independence is more than a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of our collective responsibility to build a nation where freedom translates into dignity, opportunity, security and a better quality of life for every citizen,” he said.

He stressed that healthcare must remain at the centre of national development, noting that a child with access to quality healthcare has a better opportunity to learn and develop, while a healthy workforce contributes more effectively to the economy.

The NMA chairman commended Nigerian doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, community health workers and other healthcare professionals for their continued service despite difficult working conditions, saying their sacrifices deserved more than recognition.

“Recognition alone is not enough. The healthcare workforce must be supported with the right environment, equipment, remuneration, training and policies necessary to provide safe and effective care,” Dr. Meshi said.

He called for stronger primary healthcare facilities, better referral systems, adequately equipped secondary and tertiary hospitals, improved emergency medical services and greater access to specialist care across the state.

Dr. Meshi also urged greater attention to maternal and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, preventive medicine and health education, stressing that healthcare should not depend on a person’s location or income.

“Healthcare should not be a privilege determined by geography or income. A citizen living in a rural community deserves the same dignity of care as someone living in an urban centre,” he said.

On the movement of health professionals abroad, the NMA chairman said the solution was not to restrict doctors and other health workers from seeking opportunities elsewhere, but to create conditions that would make Nigeria and Nasarawa attractive places to work and build sustainable careers.

“The solution lies not in restricting professionals, but in making Nigeria and Nasarawa a place where talented health workers can thrive,” he said, identifying infrastructure, professional development, research, technology and decent working conditions as key areas requiring attention.

Dr. Meshi urged citizens to take greater responsibility for their health through regular medical checks, immunisation, proper nutrition, physical activity, responsible use of medicines and early presentation at health facilities, while calling on the medical profession to uphold ethics, competence, compassion and accountability.

He said the NMA remained committed to constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders, urging authorities to view healthcare investment as an investment in human capital and the future of Nigeria and Nasarawa State.

“Let this 66th and 30th anniversary of Nigeria and Nasarawa State therefore be more than a celebration of our past. Let it be a renewed commitment to the Nigeria and Nasarawa we want to leave for the next generation,” Dr. Meshi said.

Aondoakaa Dismisses Report Suggesting INEC May Drop His Name From 2027 Governorship List As ‘Wishful Thinking’

Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), the Benue State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has flayed reports making the rounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may drop his name from the list of those contesting the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Aondoakaa who was reacting to a report titled: “INEC may drop Aondoakaa from Benue guber race as former AGF begs court for more time to file defence”, described the report as “sensational and deliberately misleading.”

While he noted that the publication “is founded on speculation, falsehood and wishful thinking”, the governorship candidate said it became pertinent to expose “the inaccuracies and mischief contained in the report.”

In a statement by James Ian, Media Assistant to Aondoakaa, and issued to journalists in Makurdi on Saturday, he observed that the claim that he “begged” the court for more time to file a defence was not only “reckless” but also a “distortion of court proceedings.”

He said, “The matter was not ripe for substantive hearing as all parties had not been duly served. Consequently, the suggestion that the PDP candidate sought indulgence because he was unable to defend himself is nothing more than a fabrication designed to create a false impression of panic where none exists.

“Second, the report’s sensational conclusion that INEC may withdraw or drop the candidature of Chief Aondoakaa is entirely speculative and unsupported by any judicial pronouncement. No court has made such an order, and no competent authority has taken any action remotely suggesting such a possibility. The headline was crafted solely to mislead the public and manufacture apprehension”, he said.

The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, argued that “it is equally important to state that the individuals behind the suit are neither members of the PDP, nor governorship candidates in Benue State.

“They lack any legitimate political stake in the nomination process of the PDP and are merely acting as willing tools in a broader political agenda orchestrated by those unsettled by the overwhelming acceptance and growing popularity of Chief Aondoakaa across Benue State”, the governorship candidate alleged.

Describing as “laughable” the attempt to portray the suit as a threat to the PDP candidate, Ian stated that Aondoakaa has never been convicted by any court of law for fraud, dishonesty or any offence that would disqualify him from seeking public office.

According to the statement throughout his career the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, served at the highest levels of government and remains one of Nigeria’s most accomplished legal practitioners and public servants.

“The sponsors of this campaign of falsehood are evidently terrified by the momentum of the Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa ticket and have resorted to manufacturing legal and media distractions in a desperate bid to achieve through propaganda what they know they cannot achieve at the ballot box.

“We advise those behind these sponsored publications to allow the court to perform its constitutional duty without external manipulation, media trial or political blackmail. Courtrooms are governed by law and evidence, not by sensational headlines, sponsored narratives or the fantasies of political jobbers”, he explained.

Furthermore, “It is instructive that the incumbent Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, faced several legal challenges before and after the 2023 elections, including matters relating to his disqualification for nomination as a candidate of APC for 2023 election.

“Those cases proceeded through the judicial process, and the courts delivered their verdicts. It would therefore be both irresponsible and misleading for anyone to suggest that the institution of a suit against Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, translates into a loss of his candidacy or the invalidation of his nomination”, Ian stressed. End

Seyi Tinubu Honoured With Two Prestigious Awards in Abuja

….Named “Most Distinguished and Outstanding Nigerian Political Active Youth since 1999”

……As Loatsad Promomedia bags Best Outdoor Advertising Agency of the Year

ABUJA, Sept. 30, 2026 – Businessman and philanthropist Oluwaseyi “Seyi” Tinubu has received two prestigious and coveted awards at the Good Governance and Humanity Service Awards 2026, held today at the Nigerian National Merit House, Maitama, Abuja.

He was honoured as the “Most Distinguished and Outstanding Nigerian Political Active Youth since 1999,” while his company, Loatsad Promomedia, was named “The Best Outdoor Advertising Agency of the Year.”

The event was organised by Governance Today Nigeria (GTN) in strategic partnership with the Africa Independent Good Governance Monitoring Network (AIGGMN) as part of the Nigeria @66 Independence Day Eve celebration. It brought together leaders, professionals, public servants, business figures, ‘who is who’ in Abuja and community builders including the creme- de- la creme of the society. The grand red carpet reception opened at 2:00 p.m., with the main event at 3:00 p.m.

A citation and publication material prepared by Good Governance Africa Magazine accompanied the awards. It describes Tinubu, 40, as an evolving example of how youthful ambition can be turned into enterprise, public service and national development. The citation acknowledges that he is the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a fact it says inevitably shapes public perceptions of his access and opportunities. It argues that the more useful question is how he has tried to convert those advantages into institutions and programmes that serve others.

The citation traces his entrepreneurial journey to Loatsad Promomedia, the out-of-home advertising company he helped establish in 2013. The company operates static and digital advertising platforms in strategic locations and has built its identity on innovation and the use of technology in outdoor communication. It pursued digital display systems at a time when much of the Nigerian outdoor advertising industry was still dominated by conventional formats. A profile published by Concordia reports that Tinubu oversaw more than 1,000 advertising transactions during a key period of the company’s growth, said to be worth billions of naira. The citation stresses that these are company-related claims and in reference to publicly audited figures.

A major milestone came in 2019 with Loatsad’s acquisition of E Motion Advertising, which was founded by entrepreneur Sim Shagaya. Contemporary reports confirmed the deal, though its financial terms were not made public. The citation describes it as evidence of a strategy built on consolidation and scale.

Tinubu studied Business Administration at the University of Maryland and later obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Buckingham. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013 and also pursued further study in Corporate and Commercial Law.

Beyond business, the citation highlights the Noella Foundation, which he established in 2018 with his wife, Layal Tinubu. The Foundation focuses on education, employability, healthcare and hunger eradication, particularly among vulnerable women, children, young adults and elderly people. Layal Tinubu is described as a leading figure in the Foundation, whose work the citation says should be understood as a collective effort involving both co-founders, staff, partners and volunteers.

The Foundation’s 2024 impact report records activities in food distribution, education, vocational training, healthcare, maternal support, sickle cell awareness, access to clean water and assistance for small businesses. It states that its food outreach programmes reached more than 10,500 individuals and families across eight communities: Abuja Municipal Area Council, Kosofe, Ajegunle, Bariga, Oworoshoki, Ikorodu, Ijede and Ajeromi Ifelodun. The citation notes that these are Foundation-reported figures that measure reach and evidence of long-term transformation.

One of its notable programmes is the Life After School Summit, created to help final-year students move from education into employment. The first edition, in 2024, brought together more than 500 final-year students from institutions across Lagos State, and 240 of them later took part in a five-week virtual boot camp on recruitment, workplace culture, emotional intelligence and business communication. In 2025, the summit again convened more than 500 students, after which 250 progressed to a four-week employability accelerator and 50 to a creative workshop, with laptops and educational grants distributed to selected students.

On July 17, 2026, the Foundation hosted 500 final-year students from tertiary institutions across Lagos State, alongside business leaders, public officials, industry experts and career professionals. Participants received practical instruction in recruitment, personal branding, interview preparation and the demands of remote and hybrid work. Afterwards, 300 of them progressed to a four-week programme held over four Saturdays in August. The Foundation announced that selected participants would receive educational grants for professional skills, and the programme introduced training connected to artificial intelligence and emerging workplace requirements.

In 2023, the Foundation announced a commitment to support opportunities for 10,000 young Nigerians through skills, resources and partnerships. It and its partners have since supported training in software engineering, data analytics, cloud computing and product design. Initiatives announced to mark Tinubu’s 40th birthday in 2025 included digital training for 40 young Nigerians, 200 laptops for public schools, 40 small business empowerment kiosks, proposed health insurance support for 1,000 beneficiaries and assistance for people living with sickle cell conditions.

The citation does not offer unqualified praise. It says that as the President’s son, Tinubu’s business activities, public appearances and political associations will attract scrutiny, and that such scrutiny is legitimate in a democracy. It adds that business success connected to politically exposed families will naturally raise questions about opportunity, competition and fairness, and that the right response is openness and evidence, not dismissing every question as hostility. It also urges the Foundation to measure outcomes, such as how many participants complete its programmes, secure jobs, start businesses or advance in their careers, saying this would strengthen public confidence.

Tinubu’s earlier honours include Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2017 Leadership Excellence Awards, Business Person of the Year at the 2019 Entrepreneur Africa Awards, and a place on Avance Media’s 2019 list of 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians. The citation describes these as recognition by the conferring bodies, not a substitute for continued measurement of business performance and social impact. In December 2025, the Alaafin of Oyo installed him as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland.

Looking ahead, the citation says the real measure of his growing profile will be whether his access helps widen participation for other young Nigerians. It urges him to promote civic education, peaceful participation and consultation with young people before policies are designed for them, and to support those who lack wealth, family influence or powerful networks. It also notes that young Nigerians are not a single political bloc, and that authentic youth advocacy must respect their differences in belief, region, religion, gender and social class.

Seyi Tinubu is a driven, focused and very organised personality who has become a household name, role model and mentor of the Nigerian youths including the elderly and has transverse the nooks and crannies of the country touching lives with his foundation and impacting humanity. A very dawn to earth activist who is in the business of assisting the less privileged and the vulnerable including the disabled at anytime he is called upon. A vivacious, workaholic youthful figure who is busy building bridges, networking and reaching out to new found political friends and associates through the City Boy Movement that has become a household name in the country with an overwhelming youth demography and support base from across the country, is indeed a pride worthy of emulation and celebrations. Never before has the country witnessed an inspiring young personality who has sacrificed effortlessly his time, energy and life for a cause so dear to his heart and the entire country. We joined Nigerians to celebrate this young entrepreneur, humanitarian per excellence and political icon in the making since democracy came to be in 1999, we salute his mannerisms, doggedness and forthrightness in selling and marketing the policies, plans and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to not only the youths of Nigeria but beyond the shores of Africa. We are indeed proud to have him as a foremost youth at this time in our national history.

“Nigeria does not need young people to remain permanent beneficiaries,” the citation states. “Nigeria needs them to become builders, employers, innovators, public servants, community leaders and responsible citizens.”

The ceremony, held under the themes “From Service to Legacy, From Leadership to Impact, From Good Governance to Humanity,” honoured individuals recognised for their contributions to national development, good governance, community advancement and service to humanity, as Nigeria approaches its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Federal Govt, World Bank Train 200 Nigerians in Fisheries, Aquaculture

From Leo Zwanke

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education’s IDEAS-TVET Initiative, in collaboration with CleanTop Services Ltd, is set to train 200 Nigerians in fisheries, aquaculture and other related agricultural enterprises.

The training, supported by the World Bank under the IDEAS Project of the Federal Ministry of Education, will take place in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The flag-off ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the CSS Global Integrated Farms Conference Hall, Km 10, Gora Abuja-Keffi Road.

Speaking on the programme, one of the organisers, Mr. Vincent Yoko, said the initiative was designed to move beneficiaries beyond theoretical knowledge by exposing them to practical skills that could enable them to establish and manage businesses in the fisheries and agricultural value chains.

Yoko said the organisers were particularly interested in equipping the participants with skills that could translate into employment, self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods, stressing the importance of practical training in addressing unemployment and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

He explained that the training would not be limited to fish production, but would cover several interconnected areas of the aquaculture and agricultural value chain.

According to him, participants would be trained in aquaculture and fish biology, pond systems and water quality, fish nutrition and feed management, hygiene and biosecurity, farm management and business skills, hatchery and hatching techniques, as well as catfish and tilapia breeding.

He added that the programme would also expose the trainees to feed sizes and formulation, marketing and value addition, floating and sinking feed production, commercial poultry production, broiler and layer management and practical farm operations.

Yoko said the practical component was particularly important because the beneficiaries would have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at CSS Global Integrated Farms, rather than relying solely on classroom instruction.

He said the programme would also enable participants to understand different stages of the agricultural value chain, including production, feed formulation, farm management, marketing and value addition.

The training is being implemented in partnership with CSS Global Integrated Farms Ltd and CleanTop Services Ltd, which are listed as the Training Service Providers.

The organisers said the initiative would provide beneficiaries with practical and business-oriented skills capable of supporting their participation in Nigeria’s fisheries, aquaculture and agricultural sectors.

The Federal Ministry of Education’s IDEAS-TVET Initiative, with support from the World Bank, is being implemented to strengthen technical and vocational skills development and improve access to practical skills for employment and enterprise development.

Hermann Simon: China fuels global growth for “hidden champions” 

By Liu Zhonghua, People’s Daily

German management scholar Hermann Simon coined the term “hidden champions” to describe small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that operate below the public radar yet dominate their niche markets — typically ranking among the top three globally in their sector. These firms are distinguished by deep specialization, relentless innovation, and a fundamentally global mindset.

Having visited China over 70 times and closely tracked its industrial evolution, Simon remains deeply optimistic about the vitality of its SME sector. In an exclusive interview with People’s Daily in Hasborn, Germany, he noted that China has systematically cultivated a new generation of “hidden champions” through a phased support framework tailored to different stages of enterprise development.

He spoke highly of China’s achievements in technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and through a phased support framework tailored to different stages of enterprise development. He emphasized that Chinese companies have already emerged as global innovators across several cutting-edge industries.

“The outdated notion that China merely replicates foreign technology no longer holds,” he said. “Chinese enterprises are now leading the way in innovation within multiple advanced fields.”

According to Simon, China’s approach centers on long-term strategic commitment. “The country guides its specialized firms to focus on foundational technologies and pursue continuous, incremental innovation. This disciplined approach is essential for overcoming core technological bottlenecks and securing dominant positions in global niche markets.”

He highlighted China’s five-year plans as a key driver of industrial clarity and strategic foresight. “Well-calibrated assessments of emerging sectors provide businesses with clear developmental pathways, showcasing strong institutional coordination,” Simon explained. 

Strategic top-down planning, he added, helps consolidate resources, foster fair competition, and nurture globally competitive leaders. Strategic top-down planning, he added, helps consolidate resources, foster fair competition, and nurture globally competitive leaders. For other developing nations seeking to industrialize, he suggested studying China’s long-term strategy: leveraging domestic strengths to target distinctive niche industries and cultivate high-value-added champion enterprises offers a practical, scalable model.

Beyond macroeconomic growth, Simon underscored the role of these specialized firms in advancing balanced regional development and shared prosperity. 

While large corporations typically concentrate in megacities, many “hidden champions” are rooted in counties, smaller cities, and townships.

He pointed to Shandong Moris Tech, based in Shouguang, east China’s Shandong province, which expanded its specialty chemical operations across regions while remaining rooted locally. “Nurturing these highly specialized enterprises distributes high-skilled jobs and value creation across broader urban and rural areas,” Simon observed. 

“This provides a viable pathway toward more equitable regional development and inclusive prosperity.” Simon also pointed to China’s unparalleled industrial ecosystem as a major competitive advantage. With over 2,000 German firms operating manufacturing facilities in the country, he noted that dense supply chains and clustered industrial parks remain powerful draws. 

“Comprehensive infrastructure, a vast talent pool of engineers, and a massive domestic market make China an ideal testing ground for advanced manufacturing technologies and their large-scale deployment,” he said. “Ignoring the Chinese market would mean forfeiting access to one of the world’s largest industrial hubs, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of global industrial output.”

He added that China’s resilient domestic demand offers multinational companies valuable medium- to long-term certainty.

Consequently, many German “hidden champions” have established R&D centers and integrated value chains in China, leveraging the country’s open, dynamic ecosystem to extend their corporate lifecycles.

China’s well-developed and open market is not only a growth engine for “hidden champions” worldwide, but also an important source of their core competitiveness, Simon said.

As competition intensifies across niche industries worldwide, greater coordination and collaboration among specialized companies in Europe and China could become an important force in reshaping the global industrial landscape, Simon said.

Two-way investment between Europe and China can help improve structural imbalances in trade and economic ties. As Chinese companies accelerate their localization efforts in Europe by establishing R&D and production bases and creating local tax revenue and jobs, economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe can evolve from one-way trade in goods toward joint industrial development, helping mitigate the risks posed by trade barriers.

Regular in-person exchanges can also strengthen business trust, stabilize expectations for industrial investment and help reduce misperceptions arising from geopolitical competition, Simon said.

Reflecting on the past two decades, Simon acknowledged that China’s manufacturing sector has undergone profound transformation. Many specialized enterprises have significantly upgraded their technological capabilities and product quality, successfully surmounting key innovation challenges.

Looking forward, he cautioned that Chinese companies still face hurdles in three areas: deepening their international footprint, building globally recognized brands, and executing localized overseas investments.

“I hope more Chinese manufacturers will expand into European and U.S. markets, achieving tangible progress in brand globalization; promote balanced and mutually beneficial industrial investment between China and Europe; and help preserve a stable, predictable global trade environment while safeguarding supply chain continuity,” Simon said.

“By deepening cooperation between Chinese and foreign real-economy sectors on the basis of openness, connectivity, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, we can help safeguard the long-term stability and development of global industrial and supply chains,” he concluded.

A Decade of Growth: China-Europe Freight Rail Trips Surge 10.8-Fold

By Li Xinping, People’s Daily 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Europe Railway Express operating under a unified brand. Over the past decade, the service has completed more than 130,000 journeys, transporting cargo valued at over $520 billion. What began as a regional freight initiative has evolved into a globally recognized logistics network.

Why has the China-Europe Railway Express developed so rapidly? Its unified brand has been crucial.

When the inaugural China-Europe freight train departed Chongqing in 2011, followed by subsequent services from Wuhan, Hunan, and Zhengzhou, growth was steady but fragmented. Annual departures rose from 80 in 2013 to 815 in 2015. 

However, independently operated local services led to duplicated efforts, elevated costs, inconsistent standards, and weak market recognition — bottlenecks that threatened further scaling.

On June 8, 2016, the China-Europe Railway Express officially launched its unified brand. Featuring a streamlined emblem that combines railway and silk motifs in red and black, the new identity standardized train naming, visual design, and marketing across all participating regions.

By consolidating resources and aligning operational protocols, the network significantly strengthened its overall competitiveness. Annual train journeys jumped from 1,702 in 2016 to 20,022 in 2025 — a 10.8-fold increase, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 31.5 percent. 

Today, the China-Europe Railway Express is increasingly recognized by countries along its routes for its advantages of speed, punctuality, safety, reliability, and environmental sustainability.

Connectivity remains the foundation of modern logistics. With unified branding and planning, service now operates three primary corridors — western, central, and eastern — spanning        96 scheduled routes at an average speed of 120 km/h.

At present, 129 Chinese cities connect to 236 cities in 26 European countries. Compared to 2016, the network has expanded by 113 cities domestically and 216 internationally, effectively covering much of the Eurasian landmass and providing a reliable backbone for cross-border trade.

Efficiency drives competitiveness. Transit speeds have been consistently optimized: trains cover approximately 1,600 km daily on Chinese territory and 1,000-1,300 km overseas, making them roughly one-third faster than conventional rail-sea intermodal alternatives. 

Capacity has also scaled up; upgraded rolling stock now supports trains of up to 55 cars and a maximum trailing weight of 3,000 tons, enabling heavier loads without compromising speed. 

Customs clearance has also become more efficient. In recent years, with the adoption of a “railway express” customs clearance model and the development of digital ports, customs clearance at China-Europe freight train ports has been reduced to as little as 30 minutes.

To simplify the supply chains, the service offers a centralized digital portal for end-to-end logistics management. For example, a Hangzhou-based equipment manufacturer executive recently used the platform to coordinate door-to-door transport, customs declaration, and integrated logistics. His shipment, dispatched from Zhengzhou, reached central Europe in just 17 days. Upon arrival, customer service teams remotely guided overseas partners through unloading to ensure a secure and efficient handover.

The model’s flexibility proved critical during a recent urgent shipment handled by a Xi’an-based logistics operator. A European chemical manufacturer needed 310 containers (18,600 tons) of raw materials delivered within 35 days. Ocean freight would take 45 to 60 days, while trucking would require over 600 vehicles and expose costs to volatile fuel prices.

“The China-Europe Railway Express took just 10 to 20 days for the full journey and had a large carrying capacity. It reduced total logistics costs by 29 percent, ensuring that the overseas chemical enterprise could start production on schedule,” said Su Lu, general manager of the Xi’an company.

As operations matured, transportation costs along both domestic and international segments have dropped by more than 40 percent since launch. Cargo diversity has expanded dramatically:  trains now carry goods across 53 categories, covering more than 50,000 types of products. High-value-added goods, including automobiles and auto parts, machinery equipment, and  electronics dominate outbound shipments, while inbound cargo includes timber, pulp, specialty agricultural products, and consumer goods.

Today, the China-Europe Railway Express continues to evolve.

On June 24, the first “zero-carbon” China-Europe freight train from the Yangtze River Delta successfully arrived at Yiwu West Railway Station in Zhejiang province. Operating under the Duisburg-Yiwu full-route timetable, the train used 100 percent green electricity on electrified sections. On non-electrified sections, it offset its remaining emissions through Gold Standard certified carbon offset projects, achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions during train operations.

As electrification upgrades continue along railway routes and clean transport vehicles, including new-energy heavy trucks, are increasingly deployed for cargo collection and distribution, the “steel camel caravan” spanning Eurasia is taking on an increasingly distinct green character.

After a decade of development, the “steel camel caravan” has grown far beyond a single transport route. With reliable capacity, efficient coordination and a commitment to green development, it has become a widely welcomed international public good.

Baton of China-U.S. friendship passed down from one generation to the next

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Veteran participants of China-U.S. “ping-pong diplomacy,” now well over seventy years of age, have returned to China, passing on to a younger generation the torch of friendship lit by the “little ball” that helped set the “big ball” of China-U.S. relations in motion.

Today, that tradition continues on the pickleball courts, where young Chinese and American players are forging new bonds. Embodying the ethos of “sportsmanship before victory,” they are proving that shared passion can transcend borders.

From table tennis, which helped open the door to China-U.S. exchanges 55 years ago, to pickleball, now increasingly popular among young people in both countries, this passing of the “little ball” from one generation to the next over more than half a century vividly demonstrates the enduring vitality of people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States and the deep, lasting friendship between the two peoples.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of China-U.S. “ping-pong diplomacy.” In 1971, a modest table tennis match shattered years of diplomatic isolation, reopening channels of communication and laying the groundwork for normalized relations. The event remains a landmark moment in modern diplomatic history. 

Over the decades, numerous initiatives have deepened mutual understanding. Pioneering cultural missions, including performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, helped lay the foundation for sustained artistic exchange. Meanwhile, the historic Kuliang friendship keeps alive a people-to-people friendship spanning a century. Together, these efforts have woven a rich tapestry of shared experiences.

In the new era, the spirit of engagement embodied in “ping-pong diplomacy,” which brought the Chinese and American peoples closer together, is taking on new forms and gaining new vitality. 

Games like pickleball, known for their accessibility and social nature, effortlessly bridge linguistic, cultural, and geographical divides. For young Chinese and American athletes meeting for the first time, the court becomes a space for mutual learning, teamwork, and genuine connection.

These interactions reaffirm a fundamental truth: sustained people-to-people ties remain the bedrock of resilient China-U.S. relations, providing the trust necessary to navigate challenges and steer bilateral engagement forward.

Strong interpersonal connections are essential to stable diplomatic relations. Looking to the long-term development of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples, in San Francisco in 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed an initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year span. 

In just over two years, the number of young Americans who have visited China for exchanges has surpassed 50,000, achieving the target ahead of schedule. Driven by the initiative, a growing wave of American youth are traveling to China to explore its landscapes, engage with emerging technologies, and experience daily life firsthand. 

By witnessing China’s developments directly, these visitors are moving beyond media narratives and algorithmic echo chambers, replacing stereotypes with nuanced, personal insights about mutual potential as partners and friends.

Many returnees have taken to social media to share their journeys, offering unfiltered perspectives to audiences back home. Their posts highlight how China’s rich heritage coexists with rapid innovation, while emphasizing the warmth, hospitality, and openness of its people.

As young Chinese and American travelers continue to bridging vast distances, they are planting seeds of mutual respect and shared curiosity. With time and cultivation, these connections will take root, fostering a more resilient, pragmatic, and constructive future for China-U.S.relations.

Today, China-U.S. relations once again stand at a critical juncture in history, and the strategic choices made by the two countries will once again shape the course of the world. 

By making friends and competing within the rules on the pickleball court, young people from China and the United States are offering valuable lessons for the two countries on how to interact with each other. 

Just as players on the court must follow the rules, China and the United States must coexist peacefully on this planet and refrain from crossing red lines or overstepping boundaries on issues concerning each other’s core interests. 

And just as athletes improve through learning from and competing with one another, China and the United States should explore ways to expand areas of cooperation and do more things that benefit both countries and the wider world. 

In recent years, young people from China and the United States have worked side by side aboard research vessels to unlock the mysteries of the ocean and joined forces at maker competitions to explore solutions to global challenges, demonstrating through action the enormous potential for cooperation between the two countries. 

Looking ahead, the steady and sustained development of the “big ball” of China-U.S. relations will continue to depend on countless “little balls” of people-to-people friendship. People from all sectors of both countries, especially the younger generation, should draw wisdom and strength from history, get to know and grow closer to each other through exchanges and cooperation, and move forward together by learning from one another. By strengthening the bonds of friendship, they can make new contributions to stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relations.

A small ball can connect people across mountains and seas; a bond of friendship can transcend time and space. 

Just as pickleball draws on the strengths of several sports, the vast planet we share has ample room for China and the United States to pursue their respective development and achieve common prosperity, and for different civilizations to complement and enrich one another. 

China remains committed to expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the United States, writing a new chapter of friendship between the two peoples, and injecting a steady stream of people-to-people strength into building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.

A friendship that blossoms in the Mu Us Desert

By Li Zhiwei, Wang Yuan, Bai Ziwei, People’s Daily

In Pennsylvania, the United States, the Allegheny River winds through Pittsburgh. Just east of the city lies the township of Plum, where Ronald Sakolsky, known to his Chinese friends as “Sai Kaosi,” has called home for many years.

“Part of my heart is still in China.” Upon returning recently from a trip across the Pacific, Sakolsky found it difficult to hide how deeply he missed the country.

His living room is filled with mementos from his travels. The sofa is covered with photos he brought back from his trip. But his most treasured keepsake is a large cross-stitch embroidery presented to him by Yin Yuzhen. Green leaves symbolizing peace surround a globe, with China and the United States stitched in different colors. The Chinese characters meaning “one earth, one dream” capture the deep friendship that has grown between Sakolsky and Yin over more than two decades.

“Yuanfen” — a special bond or sense of destiny — is the word Sakolsky repeatedly uses in Chinese when talking about his story with China. “It’s all yuanfen,” he said.

In 1999, at the age of 40, Sakolsky was a history teacher at a middle school in Pennsylvania. By chance, he came to Luoyang, central China’s Henan province, to teach through a China-U.S. teacher exchange program.

One day in October that year, he turned on the television as usual to watch the news. On the screen was a vast stretch of desert, where a petite Chinese woman from a rural area was carrying a bundle of tree saplings taller than she was. And that woman was Yin Yuzhen.

“I suddenly burst into tears,” he recalled. Deeply moved by what he saw, he thought, “I have to do something.”

For the next two months, Sakolsky searched everywhere for a way to make a donation. Eventually, he found a charitable organization willing to provide $5,000 with no conditions attached. Sakolsky insisted that every cent of the money go toward helping Yin plant trees.

In the spring of 2000, Sakolsky traveled to the Mu Us Desert in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in north China. As he watched Yin plant the frail-looking saplings, he could not help wondering: Could a desert really be turned into a forest? It seemed impossible.

The second day after returning to China in August this year, he stood in the forest that had been planted with the $5,000 donation. Yin had named it “Sai Kaosi Forest.”

The dream he had once thought impossible had become a reality. More than 50,000 trees now grow there, forming a vast forest.

At the airport, he and Yin embraced in tears after 26 years apart. The following day, they planted another evergreen tree together as a symbol of their friendship.

“I have hugged Americans, and I have hugged Chinese. The feeling is the same,” Sakolsky said repeatedly after his latest trip to China.

Since returning home, he has been sharing his experiences online and reconnecting with old friends. Last week, he spoke to about 50 neighbors in his community, and soon he plans to address nearly 1,000 residents in Pittsburgh.

“We’ve sparked a flame of people-to-people exchange. Now, we just need to keep it burning,” he said.

He picked up a photo taken during his trip to China, showing him and Yin leaning against each other’s shoulders and embracing in tears.

“If I had to choose one photo to represent the friendship between the American and Chinese people, it would be this one,” he said. “This photo tells the whole story. It captures everything about this friendship.”

“The American and Chinese people share the same basic human goodness. Both have kindness in their hearts,” Sakolsky said.

In his view, Chinese and Americans both love their families, hope their children can have better lives, cherish peace and want to make the land beneath their feet a better place. These shared values matter far more than the differences brought about by nationality, he said. They form the simplest and most genuine foundation for people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States.

Outside the window, two newly planted green plants stand side by side on the lawn in front of Sakolsky’s, with the national flags of China and the United States fluttering nearby.

He said he had deliberately planted the two flowers in the front yard as a symbol of his hopes for friendship, peace and the protection of the shared planet.

“People-to-people friendship works. Our story will continue, just like the forest in the Mu Us Desert thousands of miles away, growing year after year,” Sakolsky said.

Stories of people coming to know and understand one another will continue to cross the ocean, putting down new rings of growth, one after another.

‘We remain committed to China, continue to invest for the long term’: Amway CEO

By Gong Ming, People’s Daily

“Over the past 30 years in China, one lesson has stood out: lasting success is built on trust, mutual respect, and strong relationships.”

President and CEO of Amway Michael Nelson recently gave an interview to People’s Daily, prior to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States.

Nelson emphasized that when businesses prioritize value creation and meaningful connections, they foster deeper understanding, trust, and shared prosperity. Those are outcomes that benefit not only individual companies but also communities, countries, and the broader global economy as well, he noted.

Since entering China over three decades ago, Amway has witnessed the country’s rapid economic ascent and the profound transformation of its consumer landscape. 

“China has evolved from an important growth market into one of our most strategic markets,” Nelson told People’s Daily. He stressed that Amway’s relationship with China has always been anchored in a long-term perspective, sustained investment, and a shared commitment to creating value.

“What gives me confidence is not just the scale of opportunity, but the foundation we’ve built over thirty years. We remain fully committed to China, and we will continue to invest for the long term,” he said.

Nelson highlighted four guiding principles for Amway’s journey in China: commitment, shared success, local innovation, and sustainable growth. The company first invested in China in 1992, breaking ground on a manufacturing facility in Guangzhou’s development zone. That Guangzhou base has grown into Amway’s largest production hub worldwide and the only facility capable of manufacturing its entire product portfolio. It supplies more than 50 global markets and accounts for 55 percent of Amway’s total global output value.

To date, Amway has completed 10 rounds of capital investment in China, establishing a fully localized value chain that spans research and development, manufacturing, retail, consumer engagement, and after-sales services, laying a solid foundation for local development.

“These investments reflect our confidence in China’s economic resilience and our enduring commitment to supporting the country’s long-term health, growth, and innovation,” Nelson noted.

“China’s dynamic business environment and collaborative spirit have consistently created opportunities for mutual success,” Nelson noted, adding that local innovation is a key reason the company has been able to grow and adapt over time.

“China’s strong technological capabilities, entrepreneurial energy, and rapidly evolving consumer preferences continue to shape how we innovate, serve consumers, and evolve our business model. We view China not only as a major market, but as a vital innovation center that informs our global strategy,” Nelson said.

Many of the ideas, insights, and capabilities developed here are helping shape the company’s future and strengthen its ability to meet the changing needs of consumers, he added.

Earlier this year, Nelson attended the China Development Forum 2026, where he had in-depth communication with business representatives around the world on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, opening-up, as well as global cooperation.

He said one aspect of the 15th Five-Year Plan that is especially relevant to Amway is the continued focus on building a Healthy China. He sees strong alignment among relevant policies, the Chinese government’s emphasis on innovation, the constantly upgrading consumption, and Amway’s mission.

“That alignment gives us confidence to continue investing in China,” Nelson said. According to him, Amway will grow its business by investing in healthcare, innovation, digital infrastructure, and supply chain optimization.

The company is continuing to invest in local talent, partnerships, and capabilities, so as to provide solid support for its development in China and share more opportunities with the country, Nelson said.

As a business leader, he places high value on strategic foresight — a quality he finds reflected in China’s long-term planning. “China’s structured approach to development provides the stability companies need to confidently invest in the capabilities required to serve today’s consumers and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges,” he said.

He said Amway China aims at long-term growth, and follows a clear vision for development and a stable framework that supports investment and innovation.

“We have always believed that meaningful success is built through consistency, patience, and a willingness to continue investing through change,” he told People’s Daily. 

Projects such as the development of an Amway-owned farm in Pengzhou, southwest China’s Sichuan province, represent a deeper commitment to organic farming practices, botanical excellence, and a vertical supply chain. They reflect the company’s determination to continue building a foundation that can support sustainable growth for decades to come.

“Every trip to China reinforces what has impressed me for many years: the energy, optimism, and commitment people bring to building better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities,” he said. These shared spirits of people foster deep connections that transcend national and cultural boundaries.

Nelson is optimistic about the development of China-U.S. relations, believing the two sides can accomplish big things when they work together. 

“Looking ahead, my hope is that there continue to be opportunities for people of the two countries to learn from one another, build relationships, and work together toward common goals,” he said.