Opposition Elements Chasing Shadows over Tinubu’s CSU Certificate, CSO says

A rights group, Save Nigeria Movement has described as shadow chasing, attempts by Atiku Abubakar and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the authenticity of President Bola Ahmed Tinibu’s Chicago State University authentic certificate with claims that it is a forged document even when the University has publicly admitted that Mr. President graduated from the institution with honours and the document is valid.

In a release signed and made available to journalists in Abuja by its Convener, Rev. Solomon Semaka, the group dismissed the rumoured case of forgery as propagated by members of the opposition as well as paid online and cyber bullies like Jackson Ude as failed propaganda that has no place in our national reality considering the fact that CSU has come forward to validate Tinubu’s certificate and attested to the fact that he was their student.

According to the release, “it is surprising that members of the opposition and their paid thugs have continued to distort and twist facts in pursuit of their political desperation. A case of forgery ceased to exist the moment the CSU came out to confirm the president indeed attended and graduated from the school . In the case of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, CSU has not only testified that he was their student, they also said on oath that he graduated . What else is too difficult for political jobbers to understand again?”

The group issued a stern warning to Jackson Ude and his paid masters to desist from meddling with a legitimate government that was massively voted into power by the people using half baked conspiracy theories that lack credibility and substance to blackmail the Nigerian judicial system, adding that, claims of interference with supreme court justices are false, misleading and maliciously calculated to derail Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“The Allegations of forgery and the so called inference with justices of the Supreme Court as being peddled by the notorious Jackson Ude against prominent Nigerians including the Director General (DG), Department of State Security (DSS) Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi is false. Mr. Bichi is a patriot with impeccable character, associating him with empty conspiracies is totally unacceptable. The opposition has taken their desperation too far as Nigerians know the truth and have risen stiffly in support of their leader as facts have overwhelmed the falsehood that enemies of Nigeria hoped to use against President Tinubu. Jackson Ude should resign from his hatchet job and apologize to Nigerians for his barbaric lies”, the statement added.

The group further knocked Alhaji Atiku for taking his desperation too far, urging him to accept defeat in a magnanimous way as Nigerians were clear in expressing their wishes at the polls by choosing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and there’s nothing he can do about it more than withdrawing his case, recalling his attack dogs and submitting to the leadership of Mr. President.

“Atiku Abubakar holds the Guinness world record as someone who has contested and lost most elections in the world. His defeats are a loud rejection from Nigerians and he cannot change the fact. He should accept his defeats as a statesman that he’s supposed to be and stop heating the polity with baseless legal tussles and provocative press releases that lack substance and merit”, the statement added.

Even in trying times marked by the penchant for Nigeria’s enemies especially those in the opposition to truncate our democratic experience, Save Nigeria Movement urges all Nigerians “to disregard the lies circulating mostly on social media and embrace the facts on ground, trusting in the power of the judiciary to once again deliver a landmark judgement based on facts and not emotions”.

The Fall of Atiku Abubakar

By Hamidu Attahiru

Atiku Abubakar has been a constant fixture in Nigeria’s ever-changing political landscape, where careers can rise and fall like the tide. For decades, the once-tagged most powerful Vice President, reigned supreme and yielded such enviable authority with brazen audacity. Atiku whose pedigree is one of rising through the ranks of the Nigerian Customs Service became the Vice President of Nigeria by sheer political fortune. He has since embarked on a fruitless journey to become the President of Nigeria. However, his untamed ambition induced in him, amnesia that he forgot the phrase ‘modesty is key to success’. Illusive figures, like Atiku, who use deception, corruption and ethical grey areas to achieve personal gain fail to adhere to this golden principle, thus their eventual and inevitable downfall. Atiku’s character is unarguably shady, that his former boss, President Obasanjo, dedicated a whole chapter in this book “My Watch” where he described him as a highly corrupt individual, a betrayer and most of all a shameless liar.

Due to his corrupt tendencies, many of his close associates had also at various times referred to him as a corrupt politician whom Nigerians should not dare entrust their country to. For example, in a viral audio shared by his former aide, Michael Achimugu, he narrated how he took charge of Atiku’s onshore shell businesses that served as a conduit for syphoning humongous public contract funds. In addition to this, an investigative report by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) files of the US Department of Treasury reeled out records of Atiku’s involvement in illicit financial flow into the US. So notoriously devoid of character, as former Vice President, he presided over the worst privatisation transaction in human history as chairman of the National Council of Privatisation. Under him, a policy which was to rejig Nigeria’s economic fortunes to the envy of the world became a debacle! Multibillion-dollar public investments were sold at pittance to himself and his associates. The impact of Atiku’s actions were so damaging that his excesses, as head of the NCP, were attested to by many as the beginning of Nigeria’s economic woes. By implication, this contributed immensely to the extreme poverty and unemployment being currently faced in the country. However, it is somewhat soothing to know that these extravagances, combined with Atiku’s insatiable desire for riches, foreshadowed the fall of his political career.

Among the many retributions Atiku suffers today, is the shameless neglect of his indigenous State, Adamawa. To add insult on his already wounded kindred, he runs the most expensive University in the country right under their noses, with exorbitant fees hardly affordable by indigenes of Adamawa State. Despite the ostensible power he wielded in the centre, Atiku did not meaningfully impact the great people of his State, let alone the northern region, all through his tenure as Vice President. He was only deeply obsessed with enriching himself and his immediate family. He so relegated his roots to the extent that his region, north-eastern was one of the poorest and his state, Adamawa, was nearly cut off from the rest of the country due to bad roads. As shocking as this may sound, there had been no motorable road leading to the former Vice President’s hometown until President Buhari intervened in 2022. No wonder, he commands no credible loyalties except from commercialised elements like Dino Melaye. Even for them, it is chop and run! His political indices have diminished greatly that since his fallout with his former boss, Obasanjo, he has continued to jump from one political party to another, all in futile attempts to return to power.

Sadly, due to his wanton pride and piggishness, Atiku has refused to face reality or accept that his political career has ended. He and his cronies have also failed to recognise that Nigeria’s political landscape has changed significantly in recent years and that the electorate has evolved, necessitating adaptability, responsiveness and strategic political manoeuvring. So tied to getting his way, he refuses to see these shifting dynamics and that his tactics and strategies are outdated and disconnected from the needs of the Nigerian electorate. This situation has further marginalised him politically and exposed him to sitting in a crowd yet standing alone, in shame and misery. This lack of sagacity pitched him against Nyesom Wike and the G5 governors before the just concluded 2023 general elections, resulting in the embarrassing failure he is currently being faced with. These among others lead one to conclude that Atiku is not destined to be Nigeria’s president and that his political career, has become a wrecked and sunk ship.

The earlier he realises that his political dynasty has fallen apart and that he has become a political liability, the better. Gone are the days when his name Atiku commanded respect in the Nigerian political arena as well as installed fear in the minds of his political opponents. Nowadays, the name is only associated with serial losers and failures. Oh, how the mighty has fallen! Even political parties do not want to be associated with him, including his own party, the PDP. His recently flopped case in the United States against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is likewise a hoax to gain public and political support for his intentions to run in 2027, but even his ambition is already potentially doomed to fail. Nigerians are not as gullible as Atiku and his cohorts think; they will never again entrust their country to kleptocrats, capitalists and self-serving politicians like him. It is better for him to retire from Nigerian politics for patriots that are ready to lift our beloved nations to greater heights. For those who are wise, a mere word is adequate.

Hamidu Attahiru writes in from Jimeta, Yola North, Adamawa State.

ATIKU’S DESPERATION FOR PRESIDENCY


By
Adamu Mohammed

The Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, reached the zenith of his ambition to secure the highest office in the country when he recently stirred unbridled controversy by alleging irregularities in the certificates of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As a supposed seasoned politician with a long and intriguing history in Nigerian politics, those acquainted with Atiku are well aware of his lifelong aspiration to clinch the presidency. However, his journey to attain the prestigious position has been marked by sheer desperation manifested in the ongoing dramatisation of his fabricated Chicago State University saga. It is also not entirely surprising that Atiku would descend so low to provoke such a widespread public outcry, despite unwavering evidence that contradicts his claims about President Tinubu. Lack of integrity, as it is said, renders a man’s character as hollow as an empty vessel and Atiku’s reputation unmistakably attests to this.

Even during his civil service days, he displayed disloyal tendencies, such as when he, as the Customs Officer overseeing Murtala Muhammed Airport, defied an official directive. The 53-suitcase scandal, which surfaced in 1984 during the currency exchange operation mandated by then Buhari administration required the inspection of all arriving baggage, irrespective of the traveller’s status. Shockingly, Atiku flouted this regulation thereby causing a major uproar that deeply scandalised the Nigerian government. With a trail of ridiculously shocking questionable wealth, a retinue of wives amidst other needless acquisitions it was unsurprising that Atiku and one of his wives were fingered in a trillion dollar corruption case and placed under close watch by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency of the US Department of Treasury. Parts of the report revealed that between 2000 and 2008, his fourth wife, Jennifer Douglas who is a US citizen, assisted Atiku, a seating Vice President to launder over $40 million into the United States. The case which was widely and globally published, once more, put Nigeria damagingly on international spotlight, causing a barrage of embarrassment to the country. Most recently, his links to a fraudulent Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) scandal represents just a fraction of the countless corruption tags attached to his name.

Therefore, his constant display of questionable attributes should perhaps come as no shock from a man whose history is marked by dubious antecedents. It is little wonder that his political career has been characterised by a series of twists and turns in his insatiable quest to Nigeria’s Presidency which has morphed into bouts of desperation. His frustrations are nevertheless understandable. Records have it that in 1993, when he was 47 years old, he ran for the presidency and failed to clinch the seat. Again in 2007, under the Action Congress party, he contested and lost. Also, in 2011, he once more failed at the presidential polls by a wide margin. In between switching parties, he contested in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and suffered irreparable defeats.

It is evident that Atiku is yet to recover from the irreversible loss of the 2023 election which has plunged him into this frantic state, as evidenced by his recent pitiable action of tarnishing the image of President Tinubu and by implication, Nigeria at large. At the age of 76, time has swiftly passed him by. By 2027, provided we are blessed with continued life, Atiku will be about 80, which is undeniably advanced in age and greatly diminishing his electoral prospects. What eludes Atiku’s awareness is that he is now reaping the consequences of his dubious past. Nigerians are not naive enough to elect a man with such a tarnished reputation. It is high time he woke up and smelt the cookie. He should avoid placing blame on others; his past actions are the sole spectre haunting his political aspirations.

Previously, Atiku held the position of Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007, serving under President Olusegun Obasanjo. However, his relationship with the former president soured, resulting in his departure from the ruling party at that time, the PDP. In Obasanjo’s words in his book “My Watch” Atiku was described as having corruption tendencies, disloyal, frequent dishonesty, poor judgment, reliance on marabouts, lack of transparency and a willingness to sacrifice ethics and national interest for personal gain. Considering his long-term goal of becoming President, one might have expected Obasanjo to support Atiku’s leadership in 2007. However, Atiku’s disloyalty and inability to work as a team player became evident once again before their term ended.

After winning the 2023 Presidential primaries in his party, the PDP, his inability to prove he is an astute leader led to intraparty divisions with his own party members under the leadership of Nyesom Wike, turning against him. This indiscretion contributed to his defeat. Desperately too, Atiku has asked Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, fellow Presidential Candidates to jettison their ambitions and support him. Laughable! Only a desperate man like Atiku will make his type of suggestions. No one else ever matters. It is only about him Selfishness. This is what narcissism is all about.

         All through his history and propelled by desperation, he destroyed his political chances using his own hands. Today he is a drowning man grasping at straws. Trying desperately at every perceived opportunity to grab the presidential seat but so far, his actions have proved futile. It is a pity. Having recently lost at the Presidential Tribunal, he has yet again begun pursuing another illusion, the supposed loopholes in President Tinubu’s certifications. His pain and anger is however understandable; he cannot bear seeing the person who is responsible for his defeat rule peacefully. For the record, despite their brouhaha and intentional propaganda and manipulation of facts, the Chicago State University has claimed President Tinubu as their former student. He not only graduated, but when his letter of admission was issued, it was addressed to a Mr Tinubu. This alone counters the lies around female allegations in his bio and the Chicago State University also confirmed it was a clerical mistake. Despite the noise, the depositions are there on the internet confirming that indeed President Tinubu got a diploma from the institution. It has also clarified that Universities in the US do not prioritise issuance of certificates but only transcripts. In the case of loss of such certificate, as in the President’s case, third parties are allowed to reissue them which is where he obtained his from. For intellectual Nigerians, the cacophony surrounding the matter is baseless; they know the truth. The deposition which is clear and in black and white, serves as a witness of the truth irrespective of activities of mischief makers who are twisting the facts and misleading the public.

Regrettably for Atiku, history will likely remember him solely as a serial presidential candidate, a bitter runner-up whose desperate actions are gradually eroding what remains of his reputation. Those close to him may advise him; If he believes in Allah and destiny, it is time to take a bow and rest from his political pursuits. Let him take a back seat and play the role of an elder statesman. An old adage says that if a king does not have good advisers, he will one day come out naked. It may be worthwhile for Atiku to embrace the concept of predestination and put an end to this embarrassing charade.

Adamu Mohammed, a political analyst, writes in from Zamfara

Intelligent technology at Hangzhou Asian Games

By Wang Hailin, People’s Daily

At the track and field events of the Hangzhou Asian Games, people’s attention was drawn to several “robot dogs” handling discus and javelin back and forth. After completing their assigned tasks of transporting equipment, these four-legged machines would wait obediently at the sidelines for their next commands.

These “robot dogs” are also known as quadruped robots. Shen Hongbin, a Chinese technology officer of the competition department of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, said using “robot dogs” to transport sports equipment like discuses and javelins could greatly save manpower and ensure safety.

Intelligence was one of the key concepts of the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the “robot dogs” used in track and field events exactly embodied the vision of a smart Asian Games.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games Village, passengers lined up early at an augmented reality (AR) bus demonstration area. Buses there employed visual perception, laser radar perception, and other technologies to operate, without the intervention of a safety personnel. Those buses could predict pedestrian and vehicle movements, automatically planning and executing avoidance programs.

With the on-board AR function, passengers could not only see real-time scenes outside the bus when observing through the window, but also view virtual scenarios such as the mascots and sports events. This created a magical fusion of virtual reality with real-life scenes.

From debuting a digital torchbearer to introducing electronic ID registration, and to exploring 5.5G technology, the use of digital technologies and technical innovations at the Hangzhou Asian Games has helped break through the limitations of time and space, allowing more people to participate in the sports events virtually and fully enjoy the excitement of sports.

Man in Inner Mongolia leads fellow farmers to prosperity through horse-head fiddle manufacturing

By Wu Yong, People’s Daily

The horse-head fiddle, also known as the morin khuur, is a representative musical instrument of the Mongolian ethnic group. It is named so because of its neck surmounted by a carved horse head. The making of a horse-head fiddle involves dozens of processes, and high craftsmanship is required to manufacture a great one.

In a workshop of a horse-head fiddle factory run by farmer-turned craftsman Ma Wangsheng in a business incubator for university students in the economic and technological development zone of Ulanhot, Hinggan league, north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, more than a dozen craftsmen were busy making horse-head fiddles, while Ma was providing detailed instructions to each of them regarding important aspects to focus on.

“The horse-head fiddle has changed my life. The craftsmen here are also farmers, and I want to make their lives better via the business of horse-head fiddle manufacturing,” Ma said.

Since last year, Hinggan league has been implementing a rural craftsman nurturing program, which, by continuously improving training systems and strengthening evaluation and incentives, aims to tap the leading role of rural craftsmen in driving the development of characteristic industries, with a goal to increase the income of farmers and herdsmen through imparting practical skills.

When Ma was 19 years old, he worked part time as a student and developed a connection with the horse-head fiddle. He told People’s Daily that making a horse-head fiddle involves several major processes, including material selection, cutting, and the manufacturing of the sound box, neck, and horse head. These processes are further broken down into dozens of smaller steps, each of which captivates him, he added.

As a stringed instrument, stringing is one of the key steps for making a horse-head fiddle. Ma explained that the strings of the horse-head fiddle are made of two bundles of nylon threads, with each thread thinner than a hair.

“Only by ensuring each strand maintains its position and order, and the tension across all the strings is even, the tone can be made clear and resonant after stringing. Otherwise, it will sound ‘muted’,” he said.

The People’s Daily reporter took a bundle of strings that Ma had prepared and tried stringing it following Ma’s demonstration. Though it looked simple, the reporter had to use all his strength. His fingers ached but the strings were still unevenly tightened, producing nothing but “muted strings.”

“It takes practice to perfect the technique. It took me about seven or eight years of practice to be able to string the instrument so that the tones produced are consistently clear and resonant,” Ma noted.

In 2022, the man’s exquisite craftsmanship earned him recognition as a representative inheritor for making stringed instrument of the Mongolian ethnic group, an intangible cultural heritage of Hinggan league.

Today, Ma’s factory employs over 20 workers, all from nearby villages. Craftsman Bagertule was once a farmer in a neighboring village. When the factory first opened, he worked for the factory in his spare time. Under Ma’s guidance, Bagertule’s fiddle-making skills grew increasingly adept, and he became a full-time carver of the fiddles’ horse heads. Last month, he earned a salary of 13,000 yuan ($1,807).　　

In June this year, Ma was awarded the title of advanced rural craftsman in Hinggan league. This honor was intended to inspire him to remain deeply rooted in his community, using his practical expertise to lead farmers and herdsmen in cultivating distinctive local industries and boosting incomes.

Rural craftsmen are mainly those engaged in traditional crafts and rural handcraft industries. They remain deeply embedded in the countryside, inheriting and advancing traditional skills as well as adapting and applying them. These craftspeople catalyze development of local industries and employment opportunities for farmers.

In November 2022, the National Rural Revitalization Bureau along with seven other departments jointly released a guidance on nurturing rural craftsmen. Based on the document, Hinggan league formulated relevant methods for identifying and nurturing rural craftsmen.

“The evaluation and certification of craftsmen is intended to both inherit fine traditional culture and promote rural cultural revitalization, as well as to boost rural industrial development and invigorate the rural craftsmen group. We hope to build brands of rural craftsmen and drive steady income growth for the people,” said Wang Dayi, an official in Hinggan league.

Since last year, Hinggan league has cultivated and certified over 400 rural craftsmen across various domains including agriculture, construction, home services, rural e-commerce, and traditional crafts. Around 4,000 people have been employed or started their own businesses under the mobilization of these craftsmen. Hinggan league has also accredited 45 vocational skill training institutions to train more rural craftsmen.

“I didn’t expect making horse-head fiddles could earn me the title of rural craftsman. This is tremendously encouraging as I continue my instrument-making endeavor,” Ma said excitedly.

It is learned that to better leverage the leading role of rural craftsmen, Hinggan league provides incentive mechanisms to support them in establishing innovation and entrepreneurship incubation and training bases. Priority services and subsidies are also given to rural craftsmen, including information technology support, financing assistance, and more.

“I owe today’s success to the government’s policy support. From the initial startup period, I have benefitted from interest-free startup loans, free venue usage and other preferential policies,” Ma explained.

“I will do my best to give back to society.” After being named a rural craftsman, Ma felt an even greater sense of responsibility. He said he aims to engage more farmers and herdsmen in horse-head fiddle production, so that they can gain more money and live better lives.

China-Europe freight trains write new chapters of Silk Road cooperation

By Li Xinping, Lu Zehua, People’s Daily

Across the vast Eurasian continent, the tinkling of camel bells once rang along the ancient Silk Road. Today, the rumbling “steel camels” are running along tirelessly.

After 10 years of development, the China-Europe freight train service has accumulated 77,000 trips, transporting 7.31 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods worth over $340 billion. It has become an important bridge for international economic and trade cooperation.

Up to now, the China-Europe freight trains connect 112 cities in China and reach over 200 cities in 25 European countries and regions, as well as over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries and regions along the route. It opens up new channels for land transportation between Asia and Europe.

At the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in east China’s Jiangsu province, cargos are transferred from freight trains to vessels, waiting to be shipped overseas.

At a cargo consolidation hub for the China-Europe freight trains in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning province, cranes are hoisting containers marked “CHINA Railway” onto trains.

At the Erenhot Port in north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, China-Europe freight trains stand ready to depart after inspections and load switching.

According to the data from China Railway, the China-Europe freight train service has three main corridors – western corridor, eastern corridor and middle corridor – through six border crossings. There are now 86 routes operating on a routine basis at 120 km/h, forming the network of international intermodal transport between Asia and Europe.

Ports are important nodes along the China-Europe freight train routes, where trains complete procedures such as load switching, customs declaration, customs clearance, and exit.

Over the past 10 years, countries along the China-Europe freight train routes have strengthened the capacity expansion of existing ports, opened new ports, and continuously improved international intermodal transport capabilities to meet the growing demand.

The Manzhouli railway port in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, after going through multiple upgrades, has doubled its daily loading capacity to 840 TEUs from the number in 2020, making international intermodal transport more efficient and convenient.

According to data from China Railway, in 2022, the numbers of China-Europe freight trains passing through Alashankou, Horgos, Manzhouli, Erenhot, and Suifenhe ports reached 5,141, 3,150, 4,838, 2,549 and 884, respectively, up by 3,981, 3,080, 4,527, 2,388, and 884 compared to 2016.

Over the past decade, China-Europe freight trains have built an all-weather, high-capacity, green and low-carbon logistics channel, creating a new landscape for international transportation cooperation.

Statistics show that the China-Europe freight train service offers a cost advantage of approximately 1/5 compared to air transportation for shipping goods from China to Europe. Additionally, the transportation time is approximately 1/4 of that of sea transportation.

The service boasts high stability, and thus remains a reliable choice for meeting specific logistics needs that prioritize factors such as high value-added services and strict adherence to delivery timelines.

“Not only that, the average carbon emission of China-Europe freight trains is 1/15 of air transportation and 1/7 of road transportation. This plays a positive role in responding to global climate change and achieving sustainable transportation development,” said an executive with the freight transportation department of China Railway.

Multimodal transportation of rail-sea, rail-road, and rail-air will better unleash the efficiency of China-Europe freight trains.

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, currently there are 29 routes of China-Europe freight trains starting from coastal ports such as Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, and Lianyungang. Cities like Guangzhou and Chengdu have built new rail-air cross-border e-commerce export models relying on the China-Europe freight train service, promoting integrated logistics development.

The range of goods transported between China and Europe via the China-Europe freight trains continues to expand. Starting from China, the trains now carry 53 major categories of goods, expanding from mobile phones and computers initially to vehicles, mechanical equipment, electronic products, and more. From Europe to China, the categories have grown from timber, automobiles and spare parts to electromechanical products, food, and medical devices.

The China-Europe freight train service is seeing robust growth. In the first eight months of this year, 11,638 trips were made, carrying over 1.26 million TEUs of goods, up 10 percent and 23 percent respectively compared to the same period last year. With this momentum, the “steel camels” will bring even more opportunities for international economic and trade cooperation.

China’s vision of a global community of shared future draws a new blueprint for a better world

He Yin, People’s Daily

“The vision of a global community of shared future stands on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. It introduces a new approach for international relations, provides new ideas for global governance, opens up new prospects for international exchanges, and draws a new blueprint for a better world.”

The white paper titled “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions” recently issued by China’s State Council Information Office provides a profound explanation of the historical background, rich connotations, implementation paths, and vivid practices of building a global community of shared future.

It helps people from all sectors of society and the international community have a more comprehensive understanding of the far-reaching significance of building a global community of shared future. It also provides a clearer understanding of the great goals of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Furthermore, it consolidates the broad consensus and strong momentum for jointly building a global community of shared future.

The world is undergoing changes on a scale unseen in a century. Various problems old and new and complex issues are converging with and compounding each other. The peace deficit is growing, the development deficit ballooning, and the security deficit glaring.

In March 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping propounded the idea of building a global community of shared future, answering a question raised by the world, by history, and by the times: “What is wrong with this world, what we should do about it.” His proposal lights the path forward as the world fumbles for solutions, and represents China’s contribution to global efforts to protect the shared home and create a better future of prosperity for all.

The vision of building a global community of shared future complies with the prevailing trend of interdependence throughout history, responds to the needs of the times to tackle global challenges, and echoes the popular calls for peace, justice and progress.

Under the personal guidance and promotion of Xi, the building of a global community of shared future has evolved from a vision to action, and grown stronger. It has steadfastly adhered to the viable path amidst changing winds and storms, and has made remarkable achievements in the face of crises and challenges, demonstrating its leadership in shaping the era.

Over the past decade, the vision of building a global community of shared future has become increasingly refined. From state visits to multilateral summits, Xi has systematically expounded on this significant concept on various international occasions, continuously deepening the international community’s understanding of it.

Xi proposed to forge partnerships in which countries treat each other as equals, engage in mutual consultation and show mutual understanding, create a security environment featuring fairness, justice, joint efforts, and shared interests, promote open, innovative and inclusive development that benefits all, increase inter-civilization exchanges to promote harmony, inclusiveness, and respect for differences, and build an ecosystem that puts Mother Nature and green development first. He also emphasized the importance to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity.

With its connotations and paths constantly deepened and expanded, the vision of building a global community of shared future has gradually formulated a science-based theoretical system pursuing the five goals for the world and the common values of humanity, with building a new type of international relations as the fundamental path, the Belt and Road Initiative as an important platform, and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative as a crucial cornerstone.

The vision of building a global community of shared future conforms to the trend of the times and charts the course for improving global governance. It envisions a world characterized by openness and inclusiveness, equity and justice, harmonious coexistence, diversity and mutual learning, and unity and cooperation. It calls for peaceful development rather than conflict and confrontation, common security rather than absolute security, mutual benefit rather than zero-sum games, and exchange and mutual learning rather than a clash of cultures, as well as for green development to protect our planet.

Such a vision rises above the exclusive rules of bloc politics, the notion of might makes right, and the “universal values” defined by a handful of Western countries. It sets a new example for the theory of international relations and serves as a great banner that leads the trend of the times and the direction of human progress.

International dignitaries pointed out that the vision of building a global community of shared future outlines the path to achieve the grand vision of all humanity and charts the course for human development and progress, bringing hope for building a free, just, and beautiful world.

The vision of building a global community of shared future adheres to peace and cooperation, providing an important guideline for achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

It mirrors the common values shared by all humanity, and reflects the broadest common aspiration of the peoples of all countries in pursuit of peace, development, and stability, and the broadest consensus among countries with different cultural backgrounds and at different stages of development. It has won broad understanding and support from the international community.

The vision has been included in United Nations General Assembly resolutions for six consecutive years and has been repeatedly incorporated into resolutions or declarations of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS. From bilateral to multilateral occasions, and from regional to global levels, China has been forging communities with a shared future in different forms with dozens of countries and regions.

In the face of global challenges, all countries in the world are in the same big boat. Whatever they may encounter on their journey ahead, the only right choice is to work together for the benefit of all.

Only when all countries work together, only when they align individual interests with the interests of all, and only when they truly build a global community of shared future, can humanity sail towards a better future.

Hangzhou Asian Games presents openness, inclusiveness to world

By Zheng Yi, People’s Daily

Since the opening of the Hangzhou Asian Games, many touching moments and brilliant stories have unfolded both on and off the fields.

All-out competitions as well as heartwarming behaviors have emerged. These inspiring stories haveshown the splendor of sport and brought people together in friendship.

In the women’s 1500m freestyle final, as all other swimmers reached the finish line, one athlete from Vietnam remained alone in the pool, striving tirelessly to the end. The crowd cheered for her with shouts again and again, paying tribute to her indomitable spirit.

Even finishing last, she forged ahead with all her strength. The competitive arena glorifies not just victory but the sporting ethos of exceeding one’s limits.

In the tennis women’s singles match,Ushna Suhail of Pakistan still wore a radiant smile after her loss. Departing the court, she enthusiastically exchanged badges with Chinese player Zhu Lin.

Though having varied performances, athletes from across Asia united in Hangzhou with a common wish to foster exchange and friendship.

In the men’s 3×3 basketball, players from the Maldives were at a significant height disadvantage compared to their opponents, which made it extremely difficult for them to score inside. Yet the team persevered, tirelessly running outside to seek opportunities to shoot.

One of them said after the game that the opponentswere far more competitive, but he and his team still battled on and made progress. Striving bit by bit, they wrote their own story of perseverance at the Asian Games.

In the men’s volleyball final, against the formidable Iranian team, China’s young squad battled with every ounce of effort. Though the long-sought victory eluded them, earning an Asian Games silver after 17 years marked the team’s growth.

“We will depart tomorrow for the Paris Olympic qualifying tournament,” said head coach Wu Sheng of the Chinese team. Continuously learning from its experiences and charting a path for advancement, this young team is setting out afresh with hope, he added.

The stories of perseverance at the Hangzhou Asian Games inspire people with their transcendent spirit and hopeful visions. The interactions fostering bonds of friendship between athletes, and between athletes and spectators, have sown the seeds of “Heart to Heart, @Future.” The Hangzhou Asian Games has presented the ethos of openness and inclusiveness to the world.

Hangzhou Asian Games opening new, inspiring chapter for China’s sports undertaking

By Ji Fang, People’s Daily

Since the start of the Hangzhou Asian Games, athletes from various countries have been competing fiercely and striving for excellence, showcasing the power of sports and the charm of athletics. Watching the exciting Asian Games has become a new option for the Chinese people to spend their Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday.

The Chinese delegation debuted on the stage of the Asian Games in Tehran, Iran in 1974. Since then, Chinese athletes have constantly achieved outstanding results and broken records at the event.

From the Beijing Asian Games in 1990 to the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010, and now the Hangzhou Asian Games, the event has partnered with China three times, witnessing the development of China’s economy and society.

Hosting the Asian Games has not only accelerated the growth of China’s sports industry and facilitated urban transformation, but also prompted reflection on the deeper meaning behind organizing major sporting events.

China has continuously shown its competitiveness and strength during major international sporting events such as the Asian Games and the Olympic Games. Over the past half-century, the journey of the Chinese delegation in the Asian Games reflected the country’s relentless efforts in the realm of sports.

In terms of promoting nationwide fitness activities, hosting high-level sporting events has ignited a sports frenzy and further fueled people’s enthusiasm for participating in sports activities. During this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, many people have plans to watch the Asian Games and engage in physical exercise. The enthusiasm generated by the Asian Games has injected new vitality into the development of nationwide fitness and the sports industry.

From the initial preparation stage, the Hangzhou Asian Games has been aiming to benefit the people. Through measures such as opening Asian Games venues to the public, utilizing idle urban spaces, and organizing mass sports events, the public has been better motivated to participate in sports activities.

The sports ecosystem is becoming increasingly robust, allowing more people to transition from being spectators to active participants, thus strengthening the connection between the Asian Games and the general public.

Sports bring vibrancy to people’s lives, and China’s third time hosting the Asian Games is opening a new and inspiring chapter for the country’s sports undertaking.

AFRICMIL, PRIMORG Unveil Partnership To Push For Whistleblower Legislation In Nigeria

To further Nigeria’s fight against corruption, the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG) have announced a new partnership to strengthen whistleblowing in the country.

The two civil society organizations made this known during a round table meeting at PRIMORG’s office complex on Thursday in Abuja

Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Dr. Chido Onumah, noted that whistleblowing remains an indispensable tool needed in the fight against corruption, hence the need to advocate relentlessly for a law protecting whistleblowers and whistleblowing.

Onumah lamented the inability of the 9th National Assembly to strengthen the existing whistleblowing policy and revealed plans for a robust engagement of legislators and the federal government this time.

“The eventual non-passage of the whistleblowing legislation by the last National Assembly was a minus to the fight against corruption. So, there is a need to do a lot of advocacy. Media attention must be on legislation for whistleblowing to bring the issue to the front burner of conversation again.
“There is the need to resurrect the push for whistleblowing law in Nigeria,” Onumah stressed.

He commended PRIMORG for collaborating with AFRICMIL over the years, revealing that “partnership with PRIMORG has been the most effective in the last seven years.”

On his part, the Executive Director of PRIMORG, Augustine Okhiria Agbonsuremi, described the failure of past National Assemblies to get the country a whistleblower law as a disservice and a significant setback to Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight.

Agbonsuremi called for all hands to be on deck in ensuring whistleblowing gets a legal impetus under the current National Assembly led by former Akwa Ibom state governor Godswill Akpabio as Senate President and Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker, House of Representatives.

He also welcomed the idea of vigorously engaging legislators, the federal government, civil society groups and the citizens on the lingering lack of whistleblowing law in Nigeria.
“We have to start early to engage members of the National Assembly. They will see and understand why we need a law to protect whistleblowers and preserve whistleblowing.
“We will also not relent in engaging Federal Ministries of Finance and Justice, as well as the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA). CSOs in Nigeria and beyond will be carried along to drive this reawakening towards legislation for whistleblowing in the country.” Agbonsuremi stated.

He assured AFRICMIL of PRIMORG’s continuous support and dedication towards the success of the whistleblowing project, adding that PRIMORG would use its platforms to popularize the advocacy and push for passage of whistleblowing law.

AFRICMIL and PRIMORG, during the meeting, agreed to embark on joint activities involving stakeholders in the anti-corruption spaces to work towards the realization of a law to strengthen whistleblowing in Nigeria.

The existing whistleblower policy was launched on December 21, 2016, by the Federal Government and facilitated through the Federal Ministry of Finance. Despite calls for the policy to be strengthened with legislation, previous parliaments have been unsuccessful in turning the policy into a law.