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The match started on a tense note, with both teams eager to assert dominance but cautious not to make early mistakes. Fouls punctuated the opening exchanges, with players jostling for control in midfield.

Rwanda’s first corner came in the 18th minute, sparking some hope for an early lead, but the chance was wasted. Moses Simon of Nigeria showcased his skill with a brilliant dribble and pass to Victor Boniface in the 23rd minute, but the forward failed to control the ball inside the box.

Amavubi captain Djihad Bizimana picked up the first yellow card of the match in the 25th minute after a foul on a Nigerian wingback. Just minutes later, Bonheur Mugisha followed suit with a booking for a reckless tackle on Alhassan Yusuf. By halftime, the match was locked at 0-0, with neither side able to find a breakthrough despite a few close calls.

Captain Djihad Bizimana has displayed great performance through out the qualification campaign.

The second half began with renewed energy from both teams. Nigeria made two key substitutions, bringing on Chukwueze Samuel and Frank Onyeka. Chukwueze made an immediate impact, scoring a stunning goal in the 58th minute after dribbling past four Rwandan defenders. His precise left-footed finish left goalkeeper Ntwari Fiacre helpless, putting Nigeria ahead 1-0.

Despite the setback, Amavubi showed resilience and determination. Ange Mutsinzi capitalized on a defensive lapse by the Nigerians in the 72nd minute, heading home a well-delivered cross from Kwizera Jojea to level the score.

The goal reignited hope among Rwandan fans and players alike. Just three minutes later, Innocent Nshuti sent Rwandans into a frenzy with a brilliant finish off Emmanuel Manishimwe’s perfectly timed pass, giving Amavubi a 2-1 lead.

The closing minutes were nerve-wracking. Nigeria, desperate to salvage the game, unleashed waves of attacks led by Victor Osimhen, who came off the bench in the 77th minute.

Innocent Nshuti displayed an outstanding performance.

The Super Eagles came close on several occasions, but Rwanda’s defense held firm. Goalkeeper Clement Twizere, who had replaced the injured Ntwari, made a series of crucial saves to deny the Nigerians.

As the final whistle blew, Amavubi players and fans celebrated an unforgettable victory. It was a rare triumph over Nigeria, a football powerhouse, marking a high point in the qualification campaign.

However, news from Tripoli soon dampened the mood. Libya’s failure to beat Benin meant that both Nigeria and Benin qualified for AFCON 2025, leaving Rwanda out despite their remarkable performance.

This campaign will be remembered as one of Amavubi’s best in recent history. Rwanda secured victories against both Nigeria and Benin, showcasing their growth and potential. However, the team paid the price for inconsistency, particularly in their matches against Libya, where they failed to pick up reasonable points.

Gilbert Mugisha was very instrumental in today’s game against Nigeria

Rwandan football fans were left with mixed emotions. For Hirwa Muzungu, the campaign was a step forward despite the disappointment. 'We showed heart and determination today, and this win against Nigeria is something to be proud of. Yes, we made silly mistakes earlier in the campaign, especially against Libya, but the team has grown. I believe we’ll come back stronger next time,' he said.

Amavubi’s failure to qualify for AFCON 2025 extends a 20-year drought since their last appearance in the tournament in 2004. That year, Rwanda impressed by defeating DR Congo and earning a draw against Guinea, but they narrowly missed out on the quarterfinals.

The heartbreak of that campaign echoes in this one, as the team once again showed promise but fell short of reaching the continent’s grand stage by a whisker.

Despite the disappointment, Rwanda’s performance in the qualifiers offers hope for the future. The team demonstrated its ability to compete against stronger sides, and the win against Nigeria will serve as a source of pride and motivation.

The victory over Nigeria is a reminder of what the team is capable of when they play with determination and unity. With lessons learned and the support of a passionate fan base, Rwandans will look to the future with renewed belief in their potential.

Amavubi fell short of qualification by a whisker.

Despite the loss, the Nigerian Super Eagles will be in Morocco next year for AFCON

Bosco Ruboneka played impressive football today

Sam K Nkurunziza

Xinhua

Thirty years ago, the city was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The Genocide against the Tutsi plunged Rwanda into chaos and left Kigali in ruins. However, over the past three decades, Kigali has become the epicentre of a transformation hailed far and wide.

In July 2024, the city was ranked third among travellers’ favourite cities in Africa by Travel + Leisure, a New York-based travel magazine. The city was ranked behind Morocco’s Marrakech and South Africa’s Cape Town. The annual awards program evaluates cities globally based on traveller experiences, using criteria such as landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

Kigali has also earned recognition for its cleanliness and innovation. Known as Africa’s cleanest urban hub, the city’s success stems from the Rwandan government’s commitment to environmental management and community involvement.

In 2019, Kigali became the first city globally to win the Wellbeing City Award in the Public Health category, presented by NewCities, a Canadian non-profit coalition. The award honoured initiatives like the car-free day, which promotes public health and wellness.

Launched in 2016, the car-free day takes place on the first and third Sundays of each month, encouraging citizens to forego vehicles and engage in community sports and free medical check-ups.

Kigali’s Car-Free Zone, a street dedicated to pedestrians, offers space for social interactions and events, further enhancing the city’s reputation for innovation.

As a destination, Kigali has emerged as a hotspot for tourists, international conferences, and business meetings. Its ease of doing business attracts foreign investors, as noted by Muhammad Asif, a Pakistani IT expert who moved to Rwanda in 2019.

'Registering a business with the Rwanda Development Board is easy and straightforward, and getting a work permit is also hassle-free,' he remarked during a recent interview.

Motorcycle transport, locally known as Taxi Moto, has become a popular mode of transportation in Kigali, as in many parts of Africa, offering a quick solution for those looking to beat traffic. Electric bikes are gaining traction, with the government planning to phase out the importation of fuel-powered bikes by 2025 to promote sustainability.

Rwanda is among the few countries that have successfully regulated the taxi moto business, earning admiration from neighbouring countries and beyond. The government’s measures, which include mandatory helmet use and the restriction of carrying only one passenger per bike, have promoted discipline and order within the sector.

Motorcycle transport, locally known as Taxi Moto, has become a popular mode of transportation in Kigali, as in many parts of Africa, offering a quick solution for those looking to beat traffic.

To enhance efficiency in Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), the city has adopted a modern transport payment system called Tap & Go. This system offers convenience for both commuters and transport operators, streamlining the payment process and improving overall service delivery.

With Tap&Go card, you don’t need cash to travel around Kigali. All you need is to top up your card using the Tap&Go App or agents.

While street food is rare due to strict public health regulations, Kigali boasts a vibrant culinary scene. Restaurants and eateries offer diverse cuisines, with neighbourhoods like Nyamirambo standing out for their culinary charm. Biriyogo in Nyamirambo is a favourite for sampling local dishes such as pilau, brochettes, and traditional Rwandan staples like sweet potatoes, cassava, and hearty stews.

Brochette is a beloved dish in Kigali, widely enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Parks and gardens scattered across the city provide serene escapes. Whether enjoying a coffee in the Car-Free Zone or strolling through lush green spaces, Kigali’s tranquillity offers a stark contrast to its bustling activity.

As night falls, Kigali transforms into a hub of vibrant entertainment. Nightclubs, bars, and live music venues come alive, offering a variety of experiences. Remera’s Kisimenti area is particularly popular, drawing crowds with its lively bars and restaurants.

Remera’s Kisimenti area is particularly popular, drawing crowds with its lively bars and restaurants.

Despite its vibrant nightlife, Kigali remains one of Africa’s safest cities. Well-lit streets, frequent police patrols, and a strong sense of community ensure residents and visitors feel secure, even late into the night.

Whether enjoying a coffee in the Car-Free Zone or strolling through lush green spaces, Kigali’s tranquillity offers a stark contrast to its bustling activity.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

He made the remarks when addressing the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in the Peruvian capital. Under this year’s theme of Empower, Include, Grow, APEC members agreed to work towards an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community at a time of mounting challenges and uncertainties.

China’s hosting of the 2026 APEC summit underscores its advocacy for openness and cooperation, serving as a tangible step toward strengthening Asia-Pacific solidarity and fostering an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

It is expected to play a positive and pivotal role in building broader consensus and deliver more tangible results for regional connectivity and a more balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth of Asia-Pacific and beyond.

CLOSE BOND WITH APEC

It will mark the third time China has hosted APEC. When China first hosted the APEC summit in 2001, it was poised to join the World Trade Organization, signaling its readiness to step fully into the global economic arena.

By the time China hosted APEC again in 2014, the country had become an economic powerhouse, driving global growth through deepened integration into the world economy.

Now, China is set to play host again with a significant mission: to unite Asia-Pacific economies to champion open economic and trade cooperation while rejecting protectionist and confrontational trade tactics.

To advance Asia-Pacific cooperation, China took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility by offering to host APEC in 2026, which is welcomed by APEC members and has received their endorsement at this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Saturday.

“We look forward to working with all parties to deepen Asia-Pacific cooperation to the benefit of the peoples in the region,” Xi said during his speech.

China’s previous experience in hosting APEC demonstrates its ability to build consensus, said Carlos Vasquez, 2024 chair of APEC senior officials ambassador.

“China played a very important role along with some other very important economies … to gain consensus again from the very beginning in the APEC year 2024 here in Peru,” said Vasquez.

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based Centre of South Asia and International Studies, said it is foreseeable that China will further share the achievements of its policies of openness, modernization, digitalization, and qualitative industrial development.

He expressed the hope that Chinese policymakers will share new befitting propositions, plans, and initiatives to enhance regional and global economic integration and foster international cooperation.

CALL FOR BETTER ASIA-PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT

During his speech, Xi urged APEC economies to “act in solidarity and cooperation to meet the challenges, fully deliver on the Putrajaya Vision 2040, build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and start a new era in Asia-Pacific development.”

The Putrajaya Vision 2040, adopted by APEC leaders in 2020, envisions “an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, for the prosperity of all our people and future generations.”

This vision of shared prosperity and enduring stability faces growing challenges. Geopolitical tensions, coupled with economic disruptions fueled by unilateralism, protectionism, and attempts at “decoupling” and “de-risking,” have placed unprecedented strain on the region’s stability and growth.

“We should stay committed to multilateralism and an open economy, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, fully reactivate APEC’s role as an incubator of global economic and trade rules, and advance regional economic integration and connectivity,” said Xi.

He also emphasized the need to make green innovation a catalyst for the Asia-Pacific and called on APEC members to increase support for developing economies and disadvantaged groups and work together to grow the pie and distribute it equitably to allow more economies and people to benefit from development.

Neo Letswalo, a researcher at the Department of Politics and International Relations in South Africa’s University of Johannesburg, said APEC members should foster more regional integration efforts, starting with establishing joint commitments to enhancing free trade, decarbonization and investments, as “strong economic interdependency prevents conflict and tension.”

In the views of Khan, “Xi’s suggestions facilitate a positive, productive, and participatory trading system, producing win-win situations for every country in the Asia-Pacific.”

COMMITMENT TO SHARED FUTURE

For the past three decades, APEC members have joined hands towards closer cooperation and deeper regional integration, making Asia-Pacific the world’s most dynamic and promising economic powerhouse, as well as a key driving force for global growth and poverty reduction.

Today, the world looks different. It is gripped by anemic growth and confronted with challenges such as unilateralism and protectionism. China, which has made great strides in economic growth and social development since its reform and opening up over 40 years ago, has offered and will continue to provide solutions to these problems.

Opening up is a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization, and China has remained committed to opening its door wider to the world.

China continues to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership against high standards, and is also working actively to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, Xi said.

“China welcomes all parties to continue riding the ‘express train’ of its development and grow together with the Chinese economy so that we can all contribute to the modernization of all countries featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity,” he added.

In interviews with Xinhua, Asia-Pacific experts and officials noted that China’s remarkable success through high-quality opening up has given it a deep understanding of the importance of an open global economic system and the critical need to advance multilateral and win-win cooperation.

As a major country in the Asia-Pacific, China “has consistently adhered to a development path that aligns with APEC’s spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit,” said Woo Su-keun, director of the Institute of East Asian Studies of Korea.

“It is more important for countries to demonstrate strong leadership through concrete actions rather than words,” Woo said.

For Ong Chong Yi, executive director of the Malaysian think tank Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific, China has opened its market to provide development opportunities for countries in the region, driving inclusive economic growth within the Asia-Pacific.

“At the same time, China actively supports infrastructure development in developing nations, enhancing connectivity and economic and social inclusivity across the region. These efforts create more opportunities for shared progress and prosperity,” he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech under the title “Shouldering Responsibility to Our Times And Jointly Promoting Asia-Pacific Development” at the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Lima Convention Center in Lima, Peru, Nov. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xinhua

In a written statement, Xi hoped for the G20’s greater role as an important platform for international economic cooperation.

This year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for Nov. 18-19, marks the first gathering of the kind since the accession of the African Union (AU) as a full member, a historic milestone that strengthens the voice of the Global South.

Javier Miranda, former president of Uruguay’s Broad Front party, expressed his hope that this summit will mark a significant step toward building a multi-polar world — one that fosters dialogue.

In a world fraught with wars and conflicts, the commitment to dialogue stands as one goal of this G20 meeting, he told Xinhua.

Following its assumption of the presidency, Brazil has established the summit theme as “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.” Key priorities outlined by the Brazilian government include combating hunger, poverty, and inequality, advancing sustainable development, and driving reforms in global governance.

“Building a just world requires the G20 to honor the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed cooperation and mutual benefit, and support Global South countries in achieving greater development,” Xi said in a signed article published in Brazilian media outlet Folha de S. Paulo on Sunday.

“Building a sustainable planet requires the G20 to promote sustainable production and lifestyle as a way to achieve harmony between humanity and nature,” he said.

The Chinese president also pledged China’s active support for the initiative of a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty proposed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“As we gather at the G20 to address critical global issues such as governance, hunger, sustainability, and the environment, we recognize the crucial role of our partnership with China,” said Rodrigo Castro, deputy secretary for Major Events and Promotion Actions of the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Many of the solutions to address challenges faced by developing nations stem from ideas and practices already implemented in China, Castro said.

“For us Brazilians who are hosting the G20 … we are very proud to welcome the president and the entire Chinese delegation,” he told Xinhua.

Apart from the G20 summit, Xi is also to pay a state visit to Brazil, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

During the visit, Xi will hold an in-depth exchange of views with the Brazilian president on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest.

Brazil is the second stop of Xi’s two-nation tour, which has taken him to Peru. In Lima, he kept to a tight schedule, attending the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, paying a state visit to Peru and holding a series of bilateral meetings, including one with his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.

Xinhua

Xi made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Brazil for the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit and a state visit to the country at the invitation of President Lula. Xi also extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the government and people of Brazil.

Noting that he has visited Brazil four times and witnessed the development and changes in the country over the past 30 years, Xi said he feels very close to Brazil as he again stepped onto this passionate land.

China and Brazil are like-minded friends with the same aspirations and good partners forging ahead hand in hand, Xi said. Although separated by oceans, China and Brazil, two major developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres respectively, are attracted to each other and echo each other at a distance, he said.

In recent years, the two countries have continued to deepen political mutual trust, yielded fruitful results in practical cooperation, achieved flourishing people-to-people and cultural cooperation, and showed new vitality of the times in the traditional friendship, Xi said.

China and Brazil have also jointly made the just voice of the Global South in the international arena and made important contributions to promoting world peace and development, Xi added.

As China and Brazil celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year, relations between the two countries stand at an important historical juncture of building on past achievements and forging ahead, he said.

Xi said he believes the visit will further strengthen the two countries’ strategic mutual trust, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and usher in a new “golden 50 years” for China-Brazil relations.

Looking forward to attending the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit, Xi said he is ready to work with all parties to discuss plans and seek development, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the G20 to continue to play a greater role as an important platform for international economic cooperation.

Xi arrived here from Lima, where he attended the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and paid a state visit to Peru.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov. 17, 2024. Xi arrived here Sunday for the 19th G20 Summit and a state visit to Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Xinhua

Following is the full text of the article:

Staying True to Our Shared Commitment and Opening a New Chapter in China-Kazakhstan Relations – Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China

All beings are flourishing in the height of summer. I will soon pay a state visit to Kazakhstan and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in this vibrant season at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This will be my fifth visit to your country as the President of the People’s Republic of China. Kazakhstan’s enchanting land, its splendid and distinctive culture, its vast and magnificent landscape, and its nice and friendly people have been most impressive. The visit offers me an opportunity to experience first hand the new progress and new changes that have been made in Kazakhstan. I look forward to meeting with President Tokayev to plan the way forward for closer China-Kazakhstan cooperation and draw a new blueprint for further growth of China-Kazakhstan relations and the SCO.

Over 2,000 years ago, Zhang Qian, a royal emissary from China led a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, opening the door to friendship and exchanges between China and Central Asia. The ancient Silk Road, of which Zhang was a pioneer, contributed to the friendly exchanges and mutual learning between our two great nations. Over 80 years ago, Chinese musician Xian Xinghai and Kazakh composer Bakhytzhan Baikadamov met and came to know each other in Almaty. They soon became bosom friends and devoted brothers despite their different nationalities. Thirty-two years ago, China was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence. China-Kazakhstan relations have since embarked on a new journey. The history of China-Kazakhstan friendly exchanges is a strong testament to the fact that the development of our bilateral relationship conforms to the trend of history and that of our times.

It was in Kazakhstan eleven years ago that I first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which was warmly received by people from different sectors in Kazakhstan. This marked a magnificent chapter in Belt and Road cooperation between our two countries. And the development of China-Kazakhstan relations have since entered a new stage.

Our two countries have always supported each other and have always been partners in times of challenge. Our mutual political trust has reached a new level. The China-Kazakhstan relationship has made a leap from a comprehensive strategic partnership to a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries have agreed on to promote the pursuit of a common future in the spirit of eternal friendship, profound mutual trust and solidarity, development and prosperity. We have rendered each other firm support on issues that bear on our respective core interests and are of major concern to us. We respect the development path that each has chosen according to our respective national conditions. We have always been trustworthy and reliable partners and would invariably extend a helping hand and do our utmost to support each other when we were hit by disasters like floods and pandemics. Such unbreakable mutual trust and support are invaluable, forming the strongest political cornerstone that underpins our bilateral cooperation.

Our two countries have always pursued mutual benefit, win-win and coordinated development, achieving new success in results-oriented cooperation. Last year, our two-way trade registered a record high of US$41 billion. China is now Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and its top export destination. Major strategic projects including the Zhanatas wind farm, Turgusun hydropower station, and the modernization of Shymkent Oil Refinery have been completed and commissioned. China-Kazakhstan crude oil and natural gas pipelines are operating in a safe and stable manner. The “green lanes” for fast customs clearance of agricultural products are available at all border ports between the two countries, which makes green agri-products of high quality from Kazakhstan easily accessible for Chinese consumers. The potential for cooperation in new energy and transportation infrastructure has been unleashed. The transport and logistics terminal in Xi’an, the Western Europe-Western China Highway, and the China-Europe Railway Express all operate smoothly, providing a strong boost to the development of both China and Kazakhstan.

Our two countries have always helped and learned from each other and witnessed a new upsurge in people-to-people and cultural exchanges. A China-Kazakhstan agreement on mutual establishment of cultural centers has been signed. Chinese and Kazakh filmmakers have co-produced a film entitled “The Composer,” which is their first co-production. Our bilateral programs for cultural cooperation, including a Chinese university campus in Kazakhstan, a Luban Workshop, and a center of traditional Chinese medicine, have been fully implemented. These institutions are now up and running. Thanks to our mutual visa-exemption arrangements, our people can visit each other as frequently as relatives do. Last year, a total of 600,000 cross-border trips were recorded. In the first quarter of this year, the number of visits in both directions amounted to 200,000 and are expected to reach a new high. Subnational cooperation is also booming, with the number of sister cities increasing to 26 pairs. The much respected and lauded ophthalmologist Dr. Saulebek Kabibekov, the “panda-man” Ruslan Tulenov, who voluntarily donated his rare type of blood in China, and the immensely popular singer Dimash Kudaibergen have become China-Kazakhstan friendship envoys in the new era.

Our two countries have always worked together in response to various challenges, and our coordination and collaboration at the international level has achieved new and tangible results. China and Kazakhstan hold similar positions on international and regional affairs. Both countries champion the vision of common, comprehensive cooperative and sustainable security. And both are committed to acting as a world peace builder, a global development contributor, and an international order defender. We have jointly created a China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, and maintained close coordination and collaboration in the United Nations, the SCO, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, among other multilateral organizations. We have actively supported each other’s constructive proposals for international cooperation, and taken resolute measures to safeguard our shared strategic, security, and development interests.

China and Kazakhstan can and will accomplish a great deal in bilateral cooperation in the years to come. I hope my visit will help renew our traditional friendship and deepen the all-round cooperation between our countries. During my visit, President Tokayev and I will meet and plan the way forward for further growth of China-Kazakhstan relations and discuss how best to take the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.

First, our two countries need to further consolidate our political tradition of mutual support. As a Chinese saying goes, “We must be people of our word in dealing with friends.” China will continue to treat our Kazakh friends with sincerity and engage them with trust. China will work with Kazakhstan to further consolidate mutual political trust, strengthen strategic communication, and firmly support each other on issues that bear on our respective core interests and are of major concern to us. As always, China will support Kazakhstan in upholding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in continuing on the development path suited to its national conditions, in implementing domestic and foreign policies in the interest of its development and prosperity, and in opposing interference in its internal affairs by any external forces. Our two countries need to always follow the four principles that hold key to the success of our cooperation, namely, mutual respect, good neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times, and mutual benefit, so as to ensure sustained and steady growth of China-Kazakhstan relations.

Second, our two countries need to stay committed to the golden rule of mutual benefit and win-win in our cooperation. China and Kazakhstan have different yet complementary resource endowments and industries. This offers huge potential for cooperation. China stands ready to promote greater synergy between Belt and Road cooperation and the economic policies under a Just Kazakhstan at a faster pace, and further open our super-sized market to Kazakhstan so that our Kazakh friends can share the opportunities of our development. Our two countries need to deepen cooperation in traditional sectors including business, trade, industrial capacity, investment, energy, mining and agriculture, and enhance the efficiency of customs clearance at border ports. We need to ensure the high-quality operation of the China-Europe Railway Express, advance the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and make the network connecting our two countries more multidimensional, diverse and efficient. We need to significantly unleash the potential for cooperation in such high-tech areas as new energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cross-border e-commerce, aviation and aerospace, and build more industrial and supply chains with high added-values, in order to inject new impetus to our cooperation.

Third, our two countries need to strengthen public support for an everlasting China-Kazakhstan friendship. A deeper and stronger China-Kazakhstan friendship is what our two peoples aspire to. It is therefore important that we carry forward such friendship and enhance mutual understanding and affinity between our peoples through a diverse range of cultural and people-to-people exchange programs. Our two countries need to ensure the success of the Luban Workshop, Confucius Institutes, and the Kazakh campus of the Northwestern Polytechnical University to foster future generations who will carry forward the China-Kazakhstan friendship. China welcomes joint education programs and joint research projects between Chinese and Kazakh higher education institutions, think tanks and research institutes. China supports closer interactions between people from all sectors across Chinese and Kazakh societies. Both countries need to encourage more twinning between our provinces and cities and more cooperation on education, tourism, archaeology, arts, and media, so as to expand the depth and scope of China-Kazakhstan cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Fourth, our two countries need to be responsive to the accelerated changes on a scale unseen in a century that are unfolding across the world. Changes and turbulence in the global landscape pose new threats and new challenges, but also bring new opportunities and create new possibilities for all-round cooperation of mutual benefit between China and Kazakhstan. We Chinese believe that in every challenge lies an opportunity, and that challenges and opportunities are interchangeable. China stands ready to join hands with Kazakhstan in response to the changes of historic significance that are taking place in our world and in our times. We need to foster new opportunities amid crises, and open up new horizons on a shifting landscape. China will work with Kazakhstan to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, act on true multilateralism, oppose hegemonism, power politics and bloc confrontation. We will work together to build an equal and orderly multipolar world, promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and bring about more positivity and certainty to world peace and stability.

Another important item on my agenda in Kazakhstan is to attend the SCO Summit. China highly commends the successful and fruitful work Kazakhstan has done in its capacity as the SCO chair to grow the influence of the organization. I have no doubt that the SCO Astana Summit will be a great success through concerted efforts of all parties and will help rally the SCO family closer and open up new prospects for SCO cooperation.

As a Chinese saying goes, “Success comes to those who share in one purpose. Triumph belongs to those who pull together in times of challenge.” In Kazakhstan, people say that five fingers held together make a powerful fist, and many people working in unity form a mighty force.

China will work shoulder to shoulder with Kazakhstan on the path to national prosperity and rejuvenation. Let us jointly draw up a new blueprint for closer cooperation and open a new chapter in China-Kazakhstan friendly relations.

Xinhua

This three-day meeting, taking place from November 18 to 20, 2024, aims to establish Standard Operating Procedures and protocols for addressing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) threats across EAC member states.

In his opening remarks, Brig Gen Dr. Eugene Ngoga, speaking on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), warmly welcomed the experts and highlighted the meeting’s crucial outcomes.

'Your presence here underscores our shared commitment to strengthening the collective security of our region and protecting our people from the complex and evolving challenges posed by CBRNE threats,' he stated.

He emphasized that the forum would enhance the region’s readiness and interoperability to ensure security.

'Through this forum, we are demonstrating the unity that underpins the EAC. Together, we have the opportunity to forge protocols and procedures that will enhance our readiness, improve our interoperability, and ensure the safety and security of our region,' he added.

Colonel Deng Mayom Manyang Malual, Defence Liaison Officer from South Sudan, and representative of the EAC Secretary General, expressed confidence in the meeting’s success.

He praised the diverse group of experts, including doctors, scientists, chemists, military personnel, police officers, and civilians, who have come together to develop a comprehensive document that will guide the military operations of EAC partner states.

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising eight partner states, dedicated to promoting sustainable development and regional integration across sectors such as trade, infrastructure, and health.

Brig Gen Dr. Eugene Ngoga welcomed experts cnvening in Kigali for the meeting.

This three-day meeting runs from November 18 to 20, 2024.

The meeting brought together the diverse group of experts, including doctors, scientists, chemists, military personnel, police officers and civilians.

Participants of the meeting in a group photo.

IGIHE

The US Military-Industrial Complex (MIC), a term popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961, refers to the relationship between the US government, its military, and the defense industry.

This complex system influences foreign and defense policies, often leading to prolonged or unnecessary military interventions that can be tied to profit motives. One of the major reasons why the MIC continuously fuels conflicts globally, is the economic incentives that come with war.

Firstly, major defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon profit directly from military spending. Wars or conflicts increase demand for weapons, ammunition, and military technology thus boosting their revenues.

This way, defense companies spend millions lobbying lawmakers and funding political campaigns to secure contracts and influence policy, often promoting aggressive military strategies.

In the end, the MIC emphasizes job creation in domestic industries tied to defense spending, making it politically difficult to cut military budgets, even when wars are unnecessary.

Another major profit from global wars is the arms sales to foreign nations where the US is the largest arms exporter globally, supplying weapons to allies and nations involved in regional conflicts. These sales often escalate tensions and fuel ongoing wars.
An example includes arms sold to Saudi Arabia used in the Yemen conflict that contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

There are widespread reports that US President Joe Biden has given the green light to Ukraine’s Zelensky to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia.

Perpetuating global instability seems to benefit the US as it supports groups or governments in conflict zones to counter perceived adversaries (e.g., Russia, China, or Iran). These actions often prolong conflicts, as seen in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.

More so, regime change wars are fueled to overthrow governments under the guise of democracy promotion or counterterrorism often destabilizing regions and creating opportunities for prolonged military engagement.

The US maintains over 750 military bases in more than 80 countries. This global footprint ensures readiness for intervention but also fosters resentment and increases the likelihood of conflict in these regions due to the continuous expansion of military presence.

The presence of these bases also creates demand for ongoing defense contracts for equipment, maintenance, and logistics.

Since September 11, 2001, the US has engaged in a global “War on Terror,” a conflict without a clear endpoint. This framing allows for ongoing military engagements and steady funding for the MIC, defining the War on Terror as a perpetual conflict.

Defense contractors often sponsor think tanks, research, and media outlets that shape public opinion and policy debates. These entities may promote narratives that justify military interventions because of the influence of the media on public opinion.

Taking an example of the Iraq war of 2003, critics argue that the invasion was influenced by economic interests, including oil and defense contracts. Companies like Halliburton and private security firms made billions during the war.

Similarly, in Afghanistan, the two-decade-long war saw trillions in defense spending with lucrative contracts awarded to defense and logistics firms.

While national security concerns drive some military actions, the MIC often blurs the lines between genuine defense needs and profit-driven motives.

This dynamic contributes to a cycle where conflicts are perpetuated, not necessarily for strategic necessity but to sustain the financial and political interests tied to the defense industry.

Meanwhile, the human cost of US conflicts since 1950 is very alarming; The United States has been involved in approximately 90 conflicts across 70 countries.

Available key statistics indicate that the global death toll is estimated to be between 20 and 30 million, including some of the following countries; Korean and Vietnam wars lost 2 to 3 million each.

The Iraq war registered close to a million victims, in Afghanistan, between 176,000 and 240,000 people are expected to have perished while since September 11, global conflicts have resulted into over 900,000 deaths.

American military deaths are approximated to 90,000 combat deaths and 30,000 non-combat deaths in all the above mentioned countries.

Critics argue for greater oversight, transparency, and reforms to decouple military policies from profit motives and all this waits to be seen.

These wars have also caused widespread displacement, economic devastation, and long-term instability in many regions.

One of the major reasons why the MIC continuously fuels conflicts globally, is the economic incentives that come with war.

IGIHE

Reports surfaced on Sunday that Biden had given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the U.S. to strike Russia, drawing concerns about the stakes in a war Trump will inherit once he is inaugurated in January 2025.

Biden’s move, which comes two months before he exits the Oval Office, marks a significant shift in Washington’s stance, as it had previously declined for months to grant Kyiv permission to deploy ATACMS missiles beyond its own borders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently cautioned that strikes on Russia’s internationally recognized territory using U.S.-supplied weapons would be interpreted as direct involvement by NATO in the conflict. He has hinted that such actions could provoke serious consequences, potentially including retaliatory measures against Western interests.

'It is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. It is about deciding whether NATO countries become directly involved in the military conflict or not,' he said.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a close confidant of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has opposed any attempt to escalate the ongoing war.

Musk, who also owns social media giant X, weighed in on the matter while agreeing with a post stating 'libs love war.'

The post was published by Utah Senator Mike Lee, a Republican, who reacted to the news, saying 'Libs [liberals] love war,' adding: 'war facilitates bigger government.'

In response, Musk, designated to lead the Department of Government Efficiency in the next administration, replied with 'True.'

Richard Grenell, a close adviser to the president-elect who served as acting director of national intelligence in 2020, accused Biden of 'escalating the wars before he leaves office.'

Trump’s son, Donald Jr., also weighed in on the sensitive matter, accusing Biden of an attempt to trigger World War III.

'The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives,' Trump’s son wrote on X.

“Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!!! Imbeciles!' he added.

Trump has committed to ending the conflict which began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Prior to the full-scale war, tensions between the two countries had been escalating for years, particularly after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its involvement in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists were fighting Ukrainian forces.

To bring the conflict to a speedy conclusion, Trump is expected to push Moscow and Kyiv to agree to peace talks.

Reports of outgoing United States President Joe Biden allowing Ukraine to launch deep strikes on Russia have received widespread condemnation from key figures close to incoming Head of State Donald Trump.

Wycliffe Nyamasege