News

Cambodia-China friendship like flower that never withers: Cambodian politician

Published

3 years ago

July 18, 2022

By Zhao Yipu, People’s Daily

In a compound that carries distinctive local features in downtown Phnom Penh, Cambodia, there is
a two-storey building surrounded by Saraca dives. It is the headquarters of the Cambodia-China
Friendship Association (CCFA).
Ek Sam Ol, member of the standing committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP),
serves as the president of the CCFA.
In a recent interview, Ek Sam Ol told People’s Daily that Cambodia and China are sincere friends,
and their friendship, tested by the times and a changing international landscape, has become even
firmer, like a flower that never withers.
He told People’s Daily that the CCFA headquarters building was once a residence of Cambodian
King Father Norodom Sihanouk, an old friend of the Chinese people, and Cambodian Prime
Minister Hun Sen later decided to transform the palace into an office building of the CCFA.
“We are grateful to the former leaders of the two countries for forging a close friendship between
the two peoples, and hope that the CCFA can become a bridge for the friendly exchanges between
the Chinese and the Cambodians,” Ek Sam Ol said.
On the desk in Ek Sam Ol’s office, there are five volumes of the book “Xi Jinping: The
Governance of China”, including volumes one, two and three in English, and volumes one and
two in Cambodian.
Ek Sam Ol treasures the books very much. The pages of them are covered with a mass of notes.
“I’ve read many articles in the books for times,” he said, adding that he could find in the books
why and how the Communist Party of China (CPC), leading the Chinese people, has made
remarkable achievements in politics, economy, science and livelihood over the past decade.
The Cambodian politician has paid a number of visits to China, where he witnessed the country’s
development in various aspects. He said he was deeply impressed by the vitality and prosperity he
saw in China, especially the wide roads and new houses built in villages that were once stricken
by poverty.
“The CPC has brought a complete change to China, which once was weak and poor, and
significantly improved the living standards of the Chinese people. Since the 18th CPC National
Congress, the country has won the decisive battle against poverty and built a moderately
prosperous society in all respects on schedule,” he said, adding that the people-centered approach
the CPC follows exactly explains why the Chinese political party has made such huge
achievements.
Ek Sam Ol also serves as the head of the central supervisory committee of the CPP. He said the
CPC has led the Chinese people to achieve inspiring progress and set an example for party
construction in developing countries.
“We’ve always been learning the CPC’s experiences in fighting corruption it has gained after the
18th CPC National Congress,” Ek Sam Ol told People’s Daily.
He said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee,
requests CPC members to “watch from the mirror, groom oneself, take a bath and seek remedies,”
and takes it as a general guidance in the CPC’s campaign to educate Party members about the
mass line.

Later, “watch from the mirror, groom oneself, take a bath and seek remedies” was incorporated in
the work report of the CPP. The CPC stresses to crack down on high-ranking “tigers” as well as
lower-level “flies” involved in corruption, and the CPP requires to catch both “big fish” and
“small fish” in its anti-corruption campaign.
In recent years, China and Cambodia have seen positive progress in economic and trade
cooperation. As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) develops, the China-Cambodia community
with a shared future is being constantly solidified.
He said Cambodia is lucky to have “boarded the fast train” of China’s development and learned
from China’s development experiences, adding the BRI has ushered in a “golden era” for his
country.
Thanks to the power plants and power grids China constructed in Cambodia, electricity is now
available in 98 percent of Cambodia’s rural areas. So far, China has built over 3,000 kilometers of
highways and eight friendship bridges in Cambodia.
BRI projects are very welcomed by the Cambodian people, Ek Sam Ol said.
“Over the past six decades since the two countries established diplomatic ties, China has always
offered selfless assistance for the Cambodia government and people, playing an important role in
Cambodia’s economic and social development,” Ek Sam Ol noted.
On the same day of the interview, an anti-pandemic medical team from China arrived in Phnom
Penh. The team not only offers medical services, but also trains Cambodian medical staff.
“The Chinese government has dispatched many medical teams to Cambodia, and they have cured
a large number of patients. The Cambodian people are sincerely grateful to the Chinese medical
teams,” Ek Sam Ol said.
The Cambodian politician said he has been paying close attention to the 20th CPC National
Congress to be held later this year and is expecting to read relevant reports at the earliest time
possible.
“With the successful experience of achieving the first centenary goal, the Chinese people will
definitely reach the goal of fully building a modern socialist country under the strong leadership of
the CPC,” Ek Sam Ol remarked.

Defence/Security

Banditry: Rep member condemns attack on Kwara community

Published

7 hours ago

October 8, 2025

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin, has strongly condemned the recent attack in Idofin Odo-Ashe, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, describing it as a cowardly act that seeks to disrupt the peace and stability of the community.

Hon. Ajuloopin, in a statement personally signed by him, expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident and sympathised with the victims, their families, and the entire community affected by the dastardly attack, emphasising that acts of violence have no place in a civilised society, and therefore urged security agencies to intensify efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

While commending the swift response of both the federal and Kwara State governments, as well as the security agencies and local vigilante groups, the lawmaker reiterated that the fight against insecurity requires collective responsibility, calling on traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with security operatives by providing timely and credible information.

“Security is everyone’s business. We cannot afford to leave the safety of our communities solely to government agencies. Every citizen must be actively involved in safeguarding our environment and ensuring that peace prevails,” Hon. Ajuloopin admonished.

He reaffirmed his commitment to continued collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure that lasting peace in all parts of Kwara South and beyond.

Hon. Ajuloopin also appealed for calm, assuring that both the federal and state governments are working tirelessly to address the root causes of insecurity and prevent future occurrences.

End

News

Governor Namadi Attends High profile Ministerial Meeting On Self-Sufficiency In Cairo

Published

7 hours ago

October 8, 2025

Our Reporter

From Hassan Taiye

Governor Umar Namadi is currently in Cairo,Arab Republic of Egypt, attending the Third High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Rice Self-Sufficiency, holding from October 7th to 9th, 2025, in Cairo and Sakha.

The meeting, themed “Towards Rice-Based Agri-Food Systems Transformation and Delivering on Rice Self-Sufficiency through Peer-to-Peer Learning: The Case of the Arab Republic of Egypt,” is jointly organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, AfricaRice, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and other key continental partners.

This high-level gathering brings together African Ministers of Agriculture, State Governors, and agricultural leaders to share practical experiences on achieving rice self-sufficiency and agricultural transformation.

The event will showcase Egypt’s remarkable progress in achieving rice self-sufficiency despite its limited water and land resources, offering valuable lessons adaptable to other African contexts.
Namadi is participating alongside top policymakers, agricultural experts, and private sector players from across Africa to discuss innovations, policy reforms, and strategic investments aimed at strengthening food security and transforming the agricultural sector on the continent.

Over the three-day programme, delegates will engage in high-level ministerial sessions, technical discussions, and a field visit to Egypt’s renowned Rice Research and Training Centre (RRTC) in Sakha.

During the visit, participants will interact directly with Egyptian scientists and farmers to learn about the country’s advancements in high-yield rice varieties, efficient irrigation systems, and modern post-harvest technologies.

Jigawa State’s participation in this important forum underscores the state’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food self-sufficiency, and consolidating Jigawa’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading hubs for rice production and agribusiness development.

The meeting is expected to conclude with a Ministerial Declaration setting a continental roadmap for achieving rice self-sufficiency through collaborative research, policy coordination, and targeted investment across the rice value chain.

Governor Namadi is accompanied by senior officials from the Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture and related agencies.

News

There’s Political Genocide Against Christians in Northern Nigeria – Aisha Yesufu

Published

1 day ago

October 7, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

Sociopolitical activist Aisha Yesufu has accused Nigerian political leaders of perpetuating what she described as a “political genocide” against Christians in Northern Nigeria.

Yesufu made the remark on Tuesday in response to American comedian and TV host Bill Maher, who recently alleged that Nigerian Christians are facing coordinated attacks.

Maher, speaking on his HBO show, said, “I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009 and burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram.”

Reacting via her X handle, Yesufu criticized what she called hypocrisy among Nigerian politicians who express concern over Christian persecution yet supported the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket during the 2023 elections.

“You are shouting that Northern Christians are being persecuted, but you championed a Muslim-Muslim ticket! Their Christianity was not Christian enough for you during the 2023 election,” she wrote.

She concluded by calling for greater attention to what she termed the “political genocide” against Northern Christians, urging consistency in both words and actions when addressing religious and political marginalization in Nigeria.