News
Xi always faces problems with positive attitude: Senior South African official
By Zou Song, People’s Daily
“I first met President Xi Jinping in 2013. He was then visiting South Africa, one of the destinations of his first overseas trip since assuming the office of president,” said Anil Sooklal, deputy director-general for Asia and Middle East at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa, in a recent interview with People’s Daily.
Sooklal, who is also South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa, often comes into contact with Chinese President Xi Jinping on many occasions, such as mutual visits between Chinese and South African leaders and BRICS meetings.
“We held a grand ceremony to welcome Xi in our administrative capital Pretoria. It was a bright day. The honor guard played the national anthems of South Africa and China, and performed a 21-gun salute to welcome President Xi with the highest courtesy,” Sooklal recalled the first time he met Xi nine years ago.
Sooklal, as an official with the DIRCO, greeted Xi with his colleagues at the square where the ceremony was held.
“With a smile on his face, he walked toward us and shook hands with us one by one. He made us feel that he was both a venerable elder and a long-expected friend. I can actually feel his great personal charisma,” Sooklal said.
As time passes and their association increases, Sooklal has learned more about Xi. “I found that President Xi never evades problems when talking with leaders of other countries. Instead, he always faces them with a positive attitude,” said Sooklal, who believes that this derives from Xi’s deep thinking about the international landscape.
“President Xi has called African countries China’s ‘good brothers’ on many occasions, and believes that countries, no matter big or small, strong or weak, should coexist peacefully and respect each other,” Sooklal said, adding that as the leader of the world’s second largest economy, Xi’s engagement with Africa with such a gesture reflects the global vision of the leader of a major country and his concern for African countries.
“If I had to describe my feelings about Xi with one word, it would be ‘sincerity’,” he continued.
“To understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we definitely need to read ‘Xi Jinping: The Governance China’,” said Sooklal, who has read all three volumes of the book.
Under the leadership of Xi, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have adhered to the people-centered development philosophy over the past decade, Sooklal said.
Through the battle against Covid-19, China has always put the people’s lives and health before everything and united the entire nation in the strongest way, Sooklal pointed out.
This has not only fully guaranteed people’s safety and health, but promoted the resumption of work and production under the normalization of epidemic prevention and control measures, ensuring economic growth and people’s livelihood, he noted.
High-quality development is one of the changes in China over the years that have deeply impressed Sooklal.
China has strived to develop innovation-driven economy, and become a front-runner in Internet economy, high-speed railways, long-distance high-voltage power transmission and transformation technology, and other fields.
“During my visits to China, I noticed that more and more high-tech parks have been built across the country, especially in the eastern coastal areas. Some new business forms have constantly emerged, and traditional labor-intensive industries are undergoing transformation and upgrading in China,” Sooklal said.
China is endeavoring to make manufacturing more intelligent, which will benefit the entire world, he added.
Noting that China’s development is oriented toward the world, Sooklal believes that the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has expanded trade and investment exchanges, promoted infrastructure construction in countries and regions along the routes of the initiative, raised their industrialization level and improved people’s life in these countries and regions.
China’s proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind represents China’s wisdom in solving global issues and realizing peace and development of human society, and has become a distinct banner leading the progress of human civilization, Sooklal pointed out.
“As an African diplomat, I deeply understand that the ever-growing China has always been a defender and promoter of the interests of developing countries. In particular, China has provided a large amount of selfless assistance, including vaccines, for many countries, especially African countries, amid the pandemic. It has sent a clear signal to the world through practical actions: the CPC not only leads the Chinese people to a better life, but also works unremittingly for the building of a world featuring common development,” he said.
Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has defended his decision to hand opportunities to several new players during the Unity Cup and the international friendly against Poland, saying the move is part of efforts to strengthen the national team.
According to DAILY POST, Chelle included eight home-based players in his squad for the Unity Cup invitational tournament as he continues to assess new talents capable of improving the team.
Players such as Femi Azeez, Owen Oseni, Arthur Okonkwo, and Rafiu Durosinmi all made their debut appearances during the competition.
Banik Ostrava defender Abdullahi Bewene also earned his first cap for the Super Eagles in the friendly against Poland, while Genk defender Christian Akpan received a late invitation for the upcoming friendly against Portugal.
Speaking to the Super Eagles media team, Chelle said the inclusion of fresh faces is aimed at raising the quality and competitiveness of the squad.
“We have analysed our game over the past year and have tried to bring in players who can help the team grow,” Chelle said.
“We need to improve because, for me and for everyone, it is often the smallest details that make the difference between being the best team and winning a trophy.”
The Malian tactician has continued to experiment with his squad since taking charge, with a focus on building a stronger and more competitive team ahead of future international competitions.
Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, an aspirant for the Edo South Senatorial seat under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed deep frustration over his experience in the party, describing his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC as “moving from the frying pan into hellfire.”
Speaking on Arise News’ News Day programme on Friday, the former member of the House of Representatives alleged that despite winning the party’s senatorial primary election, he is now being prevented from appearing on the ballot.
Agbonayinwa further accused the NDC’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, of reneging on earlier encouragement for him to contest the Senate seat on the party’s platform. According to him, Dickson personally persuaded him to purchase the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms, only to later deny ever doing so.
“I have moved from the frying pan into hellfire,” Agbonayinwa said.
“After efforts to reach a consensus failed, we proceeded to a direct primary election. Party leaders brought all the aspirants together and encouraged us to step down for one another, but no agreement was reached.
“We went through a rigorous process. I understand the party is relatively new, but in all my years in both the APC and PDP, I have never witnessed this kind of situation. The primary election was held on May 29, and as of June 5, the results have still not been officially announced.”
The former lawmaker said he was particularly disappointed by the role allegedly played by Dickson, whom he described as a longtime friend and respected associate.
“Before joining the NDC, I reached out to Senator Seriake Dickson and later visited him at his residence. During our discussion, he asked why I could not pursue a Senate seat under the NDC platform.
“At the time, I was considering contesting for the House of Representatives, but after his suggestion, I told him I would consult with my political leaders. After doing so, I informed him of my decision and thanked him. To my surprise, the same person who encouraged me to obtain the nomination form has now claimed he never made such a recommendation,” he stated.
Agbonayinwa maintained that the handling of the primary election process has left him frustrated and disillusioned, raising concerns about transparency and internal democracy within the NDC.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Ehilebo, has expressed concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, alleging that some individuals now view insecurity as a profitable enterprise.
Speaking on News Central’s Politics HQ on Friday, Ehilebo said the failure of authorities to bring perpetrators of major terrorist attacks and kidnappings to justice has contributed to the continued spread of insecurity across the country.
He cited the abduction of schoolgirls in Borno State and the attack on students in Buni Yadi as examples of incidents in which those responsible have not been adequately held accountable.
“When Boko Haram kidnapped girls in Borno State, till today we have not found those responsible and held them to account. Buni Yadi happened and nobody was held to account, and it spread to other schools,” he said.
Ehilebo noted that insecurity in Nigeria has evolved into different dimensions, including terrorism driven by extremist ideology and criminal activities motivated by financial gain.
“There are multiple facets and there is one that is solely domiciled within terrorism and if you look at the literal translation of Boko Haram, it means western education is haram according to radical Islamic teachings,” he stated.
He also alleged that some people now engage in kidnapping and related crimes for economic reasons, citing a recent case involving a senior special assistant in a state government who was reportedly arrested for allegedly staging her own abduction in an attempt to obtain ransom from the government.
“It has now become an industry and a commercial venture for some and for some it has become literally a religious thinking process,” he said.
The PDP chieftain argued that the lack of consequences for criminal acts has encouraged the persistence of insecurity, stressing that stronger political will is required to address the challenge effectively.
“The bottom line that has kept this is the consequence, which is almost driven by political will,” he added.
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