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Smearing Chinese-foreign port cooperation is creating barriers for common development

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By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily
As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) kept growing in both depth and substance over recent years, Chinese enterprises joining the construction and operation of ports in other Belt and Road countries have not only forcefully promoted local employment, infrastructure and economic development, but also benefited these countries with outstanding maritime transport services.
However, such Chinese-foreign port cooperation is viewed in a biased manner by some in the United States, who recklessly fabricated the theory that Chinese investment in global ports poses as a threat and hyped that China-invested ports would offer support for Chinese navy and make geopolitical risks.
Such accusation is groundless. It politicizes normal business cooperation and makes it an issue about ideologies and security. Its aims at smearing and oppressing Chinese enterprises so as to maintain the so-called “competitive edge” of the United States.
Maritime transportation is the most common way of transportation in international trade. It accounts for about 80 percent of the volume of international trade in goods, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Ports are comprehensive transportation hubs. How relevant infrastructure and support facilities are built and how well ports are operated and managed bear important significance in developing national economy, especially maritime economy.
Every maritime country attaches high importance to the construction and development of ports and take them as an important engine that drives trade exchanges and economic development. All maritime countries are prudent when selecting partners for port cooperation and only select those they consider the best.
Merely based on China’s ownership of ports, some people in the United States came to the conclusion that China has an ulterior motive in investing nearly 100 ports around the world, claiming that the overseas ports of China have gained “important military functions.”
They turn a blind eye to the logic of two-way selection and win-win cooperation in business, but are sticking to zero-sum mentality and viciously making groundless speculations. This only reveals their sour grapes attitude.
Chinese-foreign port cooperation brings important opportunities for development to host countries. Over the years, Chinese enterprises have taken an active part in the investment, construction and operation of ports in countries along the Belt and Road, creating remarkable economic and social benefits.
The Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka, a key project of China-Sri Lanka Belt and Road cooperation, is listed by Forbes magazine as one of the “Five New Cities to Shake Up the Future.” Pricewaterhouse Coopers estimated that the project would bring $9.7 billion in foreign direct investment to Sri Lanka and create over 400,000 jobs for local communities.
A container terminal constructed by Chinese enterprises in Phnom Penh, Cambodia has now become a major hub for Cambodia’s foreign trade. It facilitates the exports of Cambodia’s rice and other farm produce, and is creating huge economic benefits.
The China-assisted St. John’s Harbor project in Antigua and Barbuda has significantly improved the country’s transport capacity and efficiency and realized the country’s hope of becoming a regional navigation center and of promoting diversified and sustainable economic development.
Thanks to China’s advanced management technologies and experiences, the throughput of the Piraeus port in Greece exceeded 5.65 million twenty-foot equivalent units, making it the largest port in the Mediterranean.
It is generally believed by relevant countries that China-foreign port cooperation helps enhance host countries’ capabilities in self-reliant sustainable development, and promotes the coordinated regional development centering on ports and the overall development of host countries.
China launches practical cooperation on port and other infrastructure on the basis of respecting the will of relevant countries. It never interferes in other countries’ domestic affairs, targets at any third party or poses security threat to any country.
The final agreement for a Chinese enterprise’s acquisition of part of a Hamburg port-based container terminal was recently penned, becoming an indicator of the deepening China-Germany economic and trade cooperation.
The United States is also a beneficiary of Chinese-foreign port cooperation. By cooperating with its Chinese partner COSCO Shipping, the Port of Boston has not only saved 9,000 jobs in the region’s shipping industry, but also created another 400,000 jobs. It was described as a perfect example of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.
Some people in the United States are pointing fingers at and even standing in the way of the normal port cooperation between China and other Belt and Road countries, which is a typical example of a petty mind making conjectures about an upright man.
They should be reminded that the United States is indeed the country that builds strategic “outpost” around the world. It owns more than 800 overseas military bases, and 313 of them are surrounding China.
China’s port cooperation with relevant countries is totally transparent. China will keep enhancing the connection of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with development strategies of various countries and regional cooperation initiatives, speed up the development of port infrastructure and regional and international logistic corridors, and work together with relevant countries to broaden the Belt and Road as a path benefiting the whole world.
The smears on Chinese-foreign port cooperation by some people in the United States will only shadow and cripple international win-win cooperation and common progress. They had better stop abusing the concept of national security, stop hyping the so-called “threat from Chinese investment in global ports,” and withdraw its overstretching hand that hinders normal international business cooperation.

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Starship to leave for Mars at end of 2026 – Elon Musk

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Elon Musk has announced an ambitious timeline for SpaceX’s Mars mission, revealing that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to depart for the Red Planet at the end of 2026. The mission will include Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, as part of the spacecraft’s payload.

“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.

The Starship rocket—considered the world’s most powerful—is central to Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars. However, significant technical hurdles remain before this dream becomes reality.

NASA is also counting on a modified version of Starship to serve as the lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. But before SpaceX can proceed with interplanetary travel, it must demonstrate that Starship is safe, reliable, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—an essential requirement for deep space missions.

SpaceX recently encountered a setback when the latest test flight of Starship ended in an explosion. While the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test, the upper stage failed, tumbling out of control before the live feed abruptly cut. The incident mirrored a previous attempt.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an investigation before Starship can fly again, adding another layer of scrutiny to SpaceX’s ambitious timeline.

Despite these challenges, Musk remains optimistic, continuing to push forward toward his goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species.

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Obi donates N20m to Colleges of Nursing in Ahiara and Ihiala

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The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated N20 million to two Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo and Anambra States. The beneficiaries are Holy Rosary College of Nursing, Ogbe, in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, and College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.

Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, presented N10 million cheques to each institution during his visits on Friday. At the Holy Rosary College of Nursing, he handed over the cheque to the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Simeon Nwobi, at the college’s construction site. Similarly, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala, he presented the donation to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Miss Anigbo Chisom Mary, in the presence of excited students.

Highlighting the significance of his donation, Obi stressed that healthcare and education are critical to national development. He commended the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara for investing in nursing education, describing it as a vital step in securing Nigeria’s future.

“My Lords, what you are doing is a great service to our country,” Obi said. “This donation is not a favour but a recognition of your efforts in nation-building. I will always support this project because it is about securing a better future for Nigeria.”

Obi further urged the government to prioritize quality education, including the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries. He emphasized the need for free and accessible education at the primary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools.

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Tinubu’s administration not running govt in secrecy — AGF Fagbemi

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, stating that government affairs will no longer be conducted in secrecy.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on the Application of the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) in Awka, Anambra State, Fagbemi urged Nigerians to use the Act to demand accountability from their elected and appointed officials. The event was organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the ministry’s FoIA department, Fagbemi emphasized that the FoI Act empowers citizens to access government records and information without providing reasons for their request. He encouraged public officeholders to disclose their activities to foster trust and dispel rumors.

“The Act also provides for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to access government records. However, while the law guarantees access to information, there are exemptions and conditions that must be met before certain records can be released,” Fagbemi stated.

He commended the Anambra State government for actively implementing the Act, allowing citizens to stay informed about governance. He further called on Nigerians to exercise their right to information and participate in governance, adding that transparency leads to good governance.

“We appreciate the efforts of organizations like Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and CTA for making this town hall meeting possible. The purpose of the FoI Act is to promote **transparency, accountability, and good governance—**not to be used as a tool for blackmail or political attacks,” he added.

In her remarks, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, lamented that many Nigerians remain unaware of their rights under the FoI Act, despite its enactment over 14 years ago.

“The Act allows citizens, including women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs), to track budgets, monitor government programs, and expose corruption. However, those who passed the law have done little to educate the public about its importance,” she stated.

Nwadishi highlighted that the town hall meeting aimed to empower marginalized groups to use the FoI Act in holding government institutions accountable. She also noted the work of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) in promoting transparency in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State, and Edo State.

As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, stakeholders emphasized the need for public institutions to proactively disclose information and for Nigerians to actively demand their rights, ensuring that governance remains open and inclusive.

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