diplomacy&development

Chinese lawmakers voted  on Tuesday 30th June 202,  to adopt the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The law was passed unanimously at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which goes into effect on the date of promulgation. With 66 articles in six chapters, the law clearly defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences -- secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security -- and their corresponding penalties. According to the law, the central government will set up an office in the HKSAR for safeguarding national security. The HKSAR will establish a committee for safeguardi...

On Tuesday 30th June 2020,  Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and a few other Special Procedures "experts" of the UN Human Rights Council, trespassing their mandates, issued an erroneous statement against China, which seriously distorted facts, severely infringed upon China's sovereignty, interfered in its internal affairs and flagrantly violated the Charter of the United Nations. China categorically rejects and strongly condemns the statement. No one has a better say on a country's human rights than the people of that country. Bearing in mind people's pursuit for a better life as the overriding human rights, the Chinese government and people have blazed a path of human rights development with Chinese characteristics and achieved historic progress. Today nearly 1.4 billion people live in prosperity, peace, freedom and happiness in China.  The legitimate rights of people of all ethnic groups, including the e...

Belgian King Phillipe For the first time, a Belgian King expresses "sincere regrets" for colonization in a letter addressed to the Congolese president, Felix Tshisekedi on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of independence.  It is a letter whose content can be described as exceptional. For the first time, a King of Belgium condemns the actions of Belgium in the Congo during colonization. Without however naming the responsibility of King Leopold II in person. It is a first step on the part of the Palace, significant and at a time highly symbolic. It is of real importance and is covered politically by the government. But an even more important step towards forgiveness could occur at the end of the work of the 'truth and reconciliation' commission set up in the House to revisit the events of colonization.  King Philippe's words are strong: "Our history is made of common achievements but has also experienced painful episodes," he wrote to the Co...

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Welmes Mr. Minister-President,  Mr. Mayor of Ixelles, Ladies and Gentlemen in your titles and qualities,  I am pleased to be here with you today to celebrate the 60th anniversary of independence for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Belgium shares a common history with the Congo.  This 60th anniversary of independence is the occasion to evoke it. This shared story had and still has a significant impact, both for Belgians and for Congolese. This is seen through the bonds of friendship that have been forged between the two peoples over the generations. In particular in the Congolese communities of Belgium and Belgian in the Congo.  These communities have each contributed to the richness and diversity of our respective countries for so many years. There is a little of you in us and of us in you. But let us also recognize, with honesty, that if our country has always fought hard against racism and all forms of discriminat...

The Belgian Prime Minister, Sophie Helmes and the Mayor of Ixelles, Christos Dulkeridis. On the occasion of the inauguration of a stele at the town hall of Ixelles, not far from the Matongé district, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès delivered speech this morning in which like the sovereign, calls for a better understanding of the past and this will go through the parliamentary commission "truth and reconciliation".  For Sophie Wilmès, "in 2020, we must be able to look at this shared past with lucidity and discernment. A past also marked by inequality and violence towards the Congolese. As for other European countries, the "The time has come for Belgium to embark on a journey of research, of truth and of memory. All work of truth and of memory requires first of all the recognition of suffering. Recognize the suffering of the other." The Prime Minister calls for a debate "deep and contradictory, involving the various Belgian components and our Congolese ...

DRC President, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo receiving a letter sent to him by the US  President, Donald J. Trump through the US Ambassador to DRC, Mike Hammer On the occasion of the 60 th anniversary of the independence of the DRC, Donald Trump, President of the United States, in a letter addressed this Sunday June 28 to the DRC President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, said he is committed to his side towards the Privileged Partnership for Peace and prosperity.  The US President Donald J. Trump has declared in his letter to his colleague, "I share your deep commitment to the Privileged Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, which affirms that the United States will remain a partner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as it moves towards a better future under your leadership".  For Donald Trump, this is a memorable event to reflect on the strength of their bilateral relationship and congratulates Félix Tshisekedi and the Congolese people on the 60 t...

The star-studded concert included performances from artists Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Quavo, Coldplay, Shakira, Usher, Chloe X Halle, Christine and the Queens, J Balvin, Jennifer Hudson and Yemi Alade. The event also featured appearances from celebrities including Antoni Porowski, Billy Porter, Charlize Theron, Chris Rock, David Beckham, Hugh Jackman, Ken Jeong, Kerry Washington, Olivia Coleman, Opal Tometi and more. The 2020 “Global Goal: Unite for Our Future” aimed to highlight the disproportionate impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on marginalized communities, including people of color, people living in extreme poverty, and others facing discrimination. Nigerian singer-songwriter Yemi Alade brought Saturday night vibes with her performance of "Shekere" for the "Global Goal: Unite for Our Future" concert on June 27. Performing with a full band and dancers, the Afropop star hit every note, all while looking fabulous in a halterne...

The ‘Global Goal: Unite for our Future'pledging summit organised today by the European Commission and Global Citizen mobilised €6.15 billion in additional funding to help develop and ensure equitable access to coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments. The money raised will also support economic recovery in the world's most fragile regions and communities. This amount includes a €4.9 billion pledge by the European Investment Bank, in partnership with the European Commission, and €485 million committed by EU Member States. This brings total pledges under the Coronavirus Global Response pledging marathon, launched by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 4 May, to €15.9 billion. 40 governments took part in the summit and committed to ensuring universal access to coronavirus medicines. They also vowed to help rebuild communities that have been hit hard by the pandemic, in a fair and just way. As a landmark of global solidarity, the summit resulted in...

The state-of-the-art center in Cambridge (Britain), Huawei Campus, construction of 50,000 square meters of facilities across nine acres of land and will directly create around 400 local jobs Chinese technology firm Huawei announced Thursday that it will build a state-of-the-art center in Cambridge, Britain, which will focus on the research, development, and manufacturing of optical devices and modules. According to the Chinese company, it acquired 500 acres (about 2.02 square km) of land in Cambridge in 2018 and the first phase of the Huawei Campus was approved by the local council on Thursday. Huawei will invest 1 billion pounds (around $1.2 billion) in the first phase of the project, which includes construction of 50,000 square meters of facilities and will directly create around 400 local jobs, the company said. Optoelectronics is a key technology used in fibre optic communication systems and this investment aims to bring the best of such technology to data centers and ...

Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for U.S. airlines, announced yesterday 26 June 2020, that its member carriers will voluntarily pledge to refund tickets for any passenger who is found to have an elevated temperature as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines during a screening process conducted by federal authorities prior to travel. Last month, A4A and its member carriers announced they are supporting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to begin conducting temperature screenings of the traveling public and customer-facing employees as long as necessary during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Temperature checks are one of several public health measures recommended by the CDC amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will add an extra layer of protection for passengers as well as airline and airport employees.  Temperature checks also will provide additional public confidence that is critical to relaunchi...

Chinese and Indian border troops held a second round of talks at the level of corps commanders in the border area on June 22, and both agreed to keep up dialogue and work together for peace and tranquility on the ground along the border, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Tuesday. Media reports quoted Indian army sources as saying that on June 22, an 11-hour long commander-level meeting was held between India and China, and the two sides exchanged views on the current situation in the border area. In response, Zhao told a news briefing that it is also the first such meeting after the Galwan Valley incident on June 15, and the holding of the talks shows that both sides hope to properly handle differences and manage and ease the situation through dialogue and consultation. "During the talks, the two sides, on the basis of the first commander-level talks, had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on outstanding issues in border management and control and...

The economic cooperation between China and Indonesia is entering a "new normal" stage as the two sides are innovating and exploring ways to keep businesses running amid COVID-19, an official at the Chinese Embassy said on Wednesday. At a virtual press conference held by the embassy, Wang Liping, minister counselor for economic & commerce, said governments and businesses of China as well as Indonesia are refraining from pandemic pressures through exploration and innovations to keep their pragmatic bilateral relationship running during the "new normal" era. Chinese companies investing in Indonesia, he said, were actively adjusting to market changes in the "new normal" era by moving their services on the Internet and even at home. "For example, carmaker DFSK Sokonindo provides door-to-door services including pickup and delivery, maintenance and repair," he said, adding that engineering companies also try to overcome difficulties by making...

Some major foreign carriers have announced plans to resume flights to China following the temporary suspension of services in February due to the outbreak of COVID-19, which is expected to provide more options for travelers and help foreign carriers increase revenues. Delta Air Lines, a major Atlanta-based carrier, will become the first carrier from the United States to restart US-China passenger flights. It announced that this week, it will have two flights from Seattle to Shanghai via Seoul－one on Thursday and one on Friday. Return flights will leave from Shanghai on Saturday and Sunday. Starting next week, it will continue operating two flights weekly via Seoul to Shanghai, but one will leave from Seattle and one from Detroit. Plans call for that schedule to continue until Oct 24, Delta said. "We are excited to resume our services between the United States and China as economic and social activities start to recover. We are implementing unprecedented health and ...

Signing ceremony and handing over of sanitary materials between Chinese Ambassador to Congo-Kinshada, Zhu Jing and the DRC Minister of Cooperation, Guillaume Manjolo The People's Republic of China once again has shown a sign of solidarity to the people of Demicratic Republuc of Congo in these time of fight against the silent killer which is the covid-19 pandemic. Within the framework of Sino-Congolese cooperation, the Chinese Ambassador to the DRC, Zhu Jing proceeded to the signature and the delivery of a new batch of sanitary materials to the Congolese Government. It was symbolically received by the Minister of State and Minister for Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guillaume Manjolo. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

African students living in Morocco African students living in Morocco praised the medical aid of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to fifteen countries of the Continent to fight against the health crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. These are disposable masks, visors, gowns and caps, liters of hydroalcoholic gels, boxes of chloroquine and azithromycin. This support proves once again the attachment of the Moroccan Sovereign to his Continent. The Cherifian Kingdom does not derogate from its African vocation. Despite the health crisis linked to Covid-19, which is hitting the entire planet, Morocco has remained faithful to its commitments of solidarity by providing aid to other African countries.  The representatives of African students in Morocco warmly thanked His Majesty King Mohammed VI for this logistical support. "I would like to extend our sincere thanks to His Majesty, May God assist him, for the medical aid support given to our country in the DRC," said Momponga Mi...