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

Published

3 years ago

July 16, 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.

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Kwara community under security cordon as Army goes after criminals

Published

3 days ago

August 8, 2025

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Government has established immediate security cordon around Babanla, a community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, following a security breach by some armed criminals.

The criminals on Friday targeted a police station, attempted to loot a few grocery shops, and a hotel in the community before they were repelled by the security forces and bold members of the community.

In a statement on Friday, the government commended the Nigerian army, gallant policemen, and community folks for the swift response to the situation.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has been in constant touch with the security commanders and local vigilante, has directed sustained security lockdown of the axis to neutralise the threat and ensure public safety.

“While further briefings are awaited, the Governor reassures the public that concerted efforts are being made in coordination with the Office of the National Security Adviser, to cleanse the area of the criminals,” according to a statement.

“He also urges maximum support and asks the people not to panic as security forces conduct their operations in the area.”

End

Headlines

NUC Executive Secretary Lauds KU8+ Consortium as 1st of Its Kind in Nigeria

Published

3 days ago

August 8, 2025

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has commended the KU8+ Consortium for pioneering an initiative worthy of emulation by other universities in Nigeria.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 3rd KU8+ Consortium International Conference at Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Ribadu noted that as Nigerian universities are facing growing challenges, such as limited financing and rapid technological changes, institutions need to rethink and expand their core values to meet current realities and societal expectations.

The NUC Executive Secretary, who was represented by former acting Vice-Chancellor of the University to Ibadan, Professor Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, commended the KU8+ for fostering local partnerships through resource pooling and shared expertise, stressing that such collaborations could produce graduates capable of transforming the nation’s economic landscape.

The NUC, he said, looked forward to learning from the outcomes of the consortium’s partnerships.

In her goodwill message, the Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary institutions through strategic investments and policy reform.

“The KU8+ Consortium is proof that collaboration breeds excellence. Kwara State Government, under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, continues to invest in education in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, she said.

The Chairman of the occasion and Pro-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, OON, described the consortium’s emergence as proof of Kwara State’s growing role as a hub for human capital development.

In his opening address, the Chief Host and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, emphasised that no university can thrive in isolation.

He added that national development depends on constructive collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement, which he said is one of the motivating factors for the KU8+ Consortium.

The host of the 3rd KU8+ International Conference and Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, emphasised that innovation and sustainability remain central to the KU8+ Consortium’s mission, stressing that the conference theme aligns with KU8+’s vision to collaborate, innovate, and develop society.

The conference, which had the theme “Innovation and Sustainability of Higher Education in a Changing World,” had lead papers presented by Professor Olutayo C. Adesina, a Professor of History at the University of Ibadan, who is also a British Academy Global Professor of History at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Chrisland University, Abeokuta.

Professor Adesina’s paper titled “Mainstreaming the ‘Think and Do’ Initiative into Nigeria’s Higher Education in the 21st Century: Creating Structural Opportunities and Adding Value” challenged the KU8+ Consortium to focus more on being relevant on the local level before aspiring to regional level.

Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, on her part, emphasised the importance of higher education institutions focusing on producing graduates with the abilities to solve societal challenges.

End

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Gunmen in military uniform abduct passengers in Benue

Published

5 days ago

August 6, 2025

Our Reporter

Suspected armed men dressed in military camouflage have abducted at least four passengers from a commercial bus along the Otukpo axis of Benue State.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Aug. 3 at about 10:00 p.m. near Mechanic Village in Otukpo, when a commercial Hummer bus, en route from Abia State to Otukpo, was attacked by the assailants.

Sources said that the gunmen, believed to be Fulani herdsmen, whisked away between four and five passengers to an unknown destination.

One of the passengers, Sandra Okoh, a resident of Otobi Akpa, managed to escape during the attack and was later found during a joint search and rescue operation by the Nigerian Troops.

She told the security forces that her husband, Okoh Mike, was among those abducted. She also alleged that the bus driver fled the scene with passengers’ luggage and failed to report the incident to any nearby police station.

The security forces have since launched a manhunt for the suspects and intensified efforts to rescue the kidnapped victims.