Foreign
CMG and University Of Abuja Host Seminar On China-Africa Cooperation

On March 18, the Global Media Dialogue took place in Abuja, Nigeria. Organized by the China Media Group Africa and the University of Abuja, the event focused on “Enhancing China-Africa Cooperation in New Quality Productive Forces to Realize High-Quality Growth.”
Around 50 people attended, including political party representatives, government officials, scholars, media representatives, and students from the University of Abuja. They discussed ways to deepen China-Africa cooperation and capitalize on development opportunities by aligning China’s strategies with African needs.
(ABDUL RASHEED NA’ALLAH,VICE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA)
During the dialogue, Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, expressed hope to benefit from China’s development plans. He emphasized the university’s willingness to deepen cooperation, particularly in aerospace and agricultural science.” The University of Abuja has established an innovation center and hopes to jointly promote the research and development of New Quality Productive Forces with China, thereby leading Nigeria development and progress” Na’Allah said.
(Wang Yingqi, Minister-Counselor (Economic & Commercial) of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria)
On his part Wang Yingqi, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, highlighted China’s shift towards high-quality development and its willingness to work with Nigeria to foster new productive forces. Mr Wang said “In the past ten years, China’s innovation ranking has improved significantly – its new energy, high-end equipment, and biotechnology have improved significantly. The proportion of emerging industries in the economy continues to increase.”
He noted that “The cooperation between Nigeria and China in economy, investment and trade is in a leading position among African countries. China-Nigeria cooperation has made positive contributions to the healthy development of economic globalization. China is willing to work with Nigeria to jointly cultivate new productive forces and create new development pattern.”
(YABAKI.SANI, CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF NIGERIA)
Also in attendance was Yabagi Sani, chairman of the Action Democratic Party of Nigeria. He stressed the complementary nature of China and Africa’s resources and advantages, proposing deeper cooperation to promote high-quality development. According to him – “China has rich experience in the field of digital economy and e-commerce. China can help African countries achieve digital transformation in industries such as finance, medical care and education, and promote Africa to accelerate economic growth and achieve leapfrog development.”
(JIBRIN BABA NDACE, DIRECTOR GENERAL/CEO – VOICE OF NIGERIA)
Jibrin Baba Ndace Director General/CEO of Voice Of Nigeria, commended policies like the Belt and Road Initiative for promoting infrastructure development and economic integration in Africa. “The new productivity and high-quality development strategies proposed by China are of far-reaching significance, which will bring China-Africa cooperation into a new stage, and will further unleash the huge potential of China-Africa cooperation through innovation and capacity building” Ndace noted.
(ALI ADAMU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT OF NIGERIA)
Ali Adamu, Deputy Director of the Industrial Development Department of Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, emphasized the need for Nigeria to improve productivity with China’s assistance, especially in advanced manufacturing.
“Nigeria needs to improve productivity with the help of China. China’s experience in advanced manufacturing can help Nigeria accelerate the pace of industrialization”.
(Guests’ free discussion session)
During the interactive session, participants highlighted the importance of manufacturing and industrialization for Africa’s development, suggesting African countries actively attract investment from Chinese enterprises. Overall, participants appreciated the dialogue as a valuable platform for understanding China’s new trends and enhancing exchanges between Nigeria and China.
Foreign
Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

The Trump administration has initiated sweeping layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, effectively dismantling institutions long seen as critical for American influence abroad.
On Sunday, contractors working for VOA received an email notification that their employment would be terminated by the end of March. “You must cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems,” the email read, according to multiple staff members who confirmed the development.
The move, which comes just a day after all employees were placed on administrative leave, disproportionately affects non-English-language services, where contractors make up a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and may now face visa issues, further complicating their status in the country.
While most full-time staff remain employed for now, they have been told not to work, leaving VOA and its sister organizations in a state of uncertainty. Some services, unable to produce new programming, have resorted to playing music.
VOA, founded during World War II, has been a critical tool for U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting in 49 languages to audiences in countries where press freedom is restricted. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal budget cuts.
The cuts extend beyond VOA, affecting other U.S.-funded media entities such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda (which broadcasts in Persian to Iran), and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the 2003 Iraq invasion. The administration argues that taxpayers should not fund what it calls “radical propaganda,” despite VOA’s longstanding editorial independence.
Liam Scott, a VOA journalist covering press freedom and disinformation, expressed concern over the decision. “I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like what’s happened in the U.S. over the past couple of months,” he wrote on social media.
The move has drawn international attention, particularly from China and Russia, which have been expanding their own state-funded media efforts. The Chinese state-run *Global Times* reacted with an editorial declaring that “the monopoly of information held by traditional Western media is being shattered.”
Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cuts across federal agencies, including eliminating most foreign aid and significantly reducing the Department of Education. With input from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has focused on reducing government size to facilitate tax cuts.
As the global media landscape shifts, the dismantling of U.S.-funded broadcasters leaves a vacuum that could be filled by rival state-controlled networks. Whether Congress or legal challenges will intervene remains to be seen, but for now, the future of America’s international broadcasting efforts hangs in the balance.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
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