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FOCAC Beijing Summit provides opportunities for Africa’s modernization: Kenyan President

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By Huang Weixin, People’s Daily

“We will seize the opportunities brought by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to fully unlock the potential that exists in Kenya and other African countries,” said Kenyan President William Ruto during an interview with People’s Daily.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between Kenya and China continues to develop, and the two sides’ practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, he noted.

He said that the FOCAC Summit this time builds more consensus and further promotes Africa-China cooperation in various fields, injecting strong momentum into the development of African countries including Kenya, and supporting Africa and China on their shared path toward modernization.

Ruto said that since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 75 years ago, the country has made tremendous strides in steady economic growth and human development.

“Today, China is the second largest economy in the world. We’re all aware that China has moved ahead of other countries in many fields,” said Ruto, adding that China managed to pull hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, which is a very commendable feat.

“I see an expanded relationship between Kenya and China and new opportunities between our two countries. More Chinese companies are now investing in Kenya, and I see us exporting more avocados, tea and coffee into China,” said Ruto, highlighting the win-win results of practical cooperation between the two countries.

During the interview, Ruto pointed to the Global Trade Center in Nairobi behind him. He said that the Chinese-invested mighty building complex has become a landmark in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

“We are learning how we can combine our own experiences with Chinese experiences so that we can build a model that works for Kenya,” Ruto said, expressing his anticipation for more Chinese companies to invest in Kenya and help it realize its Vision 2030.

China and Kenya have been at the forefront of jointly advancing Belt and Road cooperation and completed a number of flagship infrastructure projects, significantly contributing to regional economic and social development and benefiting the two peoples.

He cited examples such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which is one of the most modern railways in Africa. “The SGR has made transportation between Nairobi and Mombasa a lot cheaper, a lot easier, and much more efficient,” said Ruto. He also mentioned that the Chinese-built Nairobi Expressway has made travel between the CBD in Nairobi and the main airport a very enjoyable ride. “Different from the two hours that initially you spent between Nairobi CBD and the airport, now it takes less than 20 minutes, which is commendable,” Ruto noted.

Ruto said that Belt and Road cooperation between Kenya and China has significantly improved Kenya’s infrastructure. He looks forward to working more closely with China to expand Kenya’s railway transportation network and further promote connectivity in Africa for the benefit of more African countries.

Ruto noted that the ongoing 2024 FOCAC Summit provides opportunities for Africa’s modernization. The summit fully unlocks the potential of Africa-China cooperation and promotes collaboration in areas such as industrialization, agricultural modernization, talent development, infrastructure, trade and investment, green development, technological innovation, digital economy, and cultural exchanges, so as to create a better future for the people, said Ruto.

He used green development as an example. “China is a leading country in renewable energy technology and our continent possesses 60 percent of renewable energy globally. Combining our renewable energy resources and renewable energy technology that is in China will be a win-win outcome,” said the Kenyan president.

He said Kenya is currently cooperating with many Chinese companies, leveraging Chinese electric vehicle technology to advance its Electric Mobility plan.

In March this year, at the 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum held in Tanzania, scholars from China and 49 African countries reached the Dar es Salaam Consensus. “This is a positive step in the right direction, showing that Global South can also contribute ideas on how to tackle global challenges, enriching the pool of ideas that all of us can tap into,” said Ruto, adding that the consensus showcases the wisdom of the Global South represented by China and African countries, Ruto remarked.

“There can never be development without peace, and there can never be peace without people understanding one another and collaborating,” Ruto said. He believes that the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilizations Initiative are complementary and crucial for the overall development of human society.

African countries, including Kenya, strongly support and actively participate in the implementation of these three initiatives to promote Africa’s peace and development and facilitate cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Africa and China, he noted.

Ruto expressed his hope for Kenya and China to strengthen tourism cooperation, cement the foundation of public support, and promote mutual understanding. He welcomed Chinese tourists to visit the grassland at Maasai Mara National Reserve and Mount Kenya to experience the Kenyan culture and embrace a different civilization.

 

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Foreign

Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

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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.

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Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

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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.

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China’s new chapter in global innovation

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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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