麻豆传媒

World

    • Xi offers African leaders more aid as China challenges U.S.-led global order

    China's President Xi Jinping, center, and leaders from African countries prepare to leave after a group photo session for the opening ceremony of the China Africa Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool) China's President Xi Jinping, center, and leaders from African countries prepare to leave after a group photo session for the opening ceremony of the China Africa Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)
    Share
    BEIJING, China -

    Dozens of African leaders gathered Thursday in Beijing for a summit that signals China's influence in a continent that it hopes will be a key ally in pushing back against a U.S.-led global order.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping promised the leaders billions of dollars in loans and private investment over the next three years, and proposed that relations with all African countries that have diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the 鈥渟trategic鈥 level.

    鈥淲e stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests," he said at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

    China has become a major player in Africa since the forum was founded in 2000. Its companies have invested heavily in mining for the resources Chinese industry needs, and its development banks have made loans to build railways, roads and other infrastructure under Xi's Belt and Road program.

    African leaders have welcomed China's assistance but are pushing for a closer alignment of aid with the continent's development goals. They are seeking to industrialize their economies and expand agricultural exports to reduce a trade deficit with China, which has become sub-Saharan Africa鈥檚 largest bilateral trading partner.

    鈥淚n the context of our industrialization effort, the portfolio of private investments in Africa should be sufficiently diversified to extend beyond the traditional field of mining and energy resources,鈥 Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the African Union Commission, said, addressing the forum in French.

    In a reflection of China's broadening relationship with Africa, Xi outlined 10 鈥減artnership actions鈥 that included training for African politicians and future leaders, further opening of Chinese markets, agriculture demonstration areas, vocational and technical training, green energy projects and 1 billion yuan (US$140 million) in military assistance grants.

    Xi said China would eliminate tariffs on products from most of the world鈥檚 poorest countries, including 33 in Africa, in an expansion of existing exemptions.

    鈥淲hile commending the overall progress so far achieved, we also appreciate the announcement of further areas of partnership actions,鈥 said Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, speaking on behalf of eastern Africa. 鈥淲e salute a new characterization of China-Africa relations.鈥

    China is training more military professionals in Africa than anyone else, and its widespread leadership and governance training gives the country an extra layer of influence by putting it in touch with consecutive generations of politicians, said Paul Nantulya, who specializes in relations with China at the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington.

    The relationship has moved beyond trade and investment to take on political overtones.

    鈥淢odernization is an inalienable right of all countries,鈥 Xi said. 鈥淏ut the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and African countries, have achieved independence 鈥 and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process.鈥

    China has tried to position itself as a leader of the Global South, a catchphrase for the developing world. While others don't necessarily see China as the leader, its message of rewriting the international order resonates with African nations that feel frustrated and abandoned by their traditional Western partners.

    Many African nations have been openly critical of the U.S. role in the war in Ukraine and refused to condemn Russia鈥檚 invasion, taking a non-aligned stance that has led to political frictions with the U.S.

    鈥淎s our history demands, South Africa will continue to pursue progressive internationalism,鈥 South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said during talks with Xi earlier this week. 鈥淏uilding on the firm foundation of solidarity, we continue to provide support in promoting our interests, those of the African continent and the Global South.鈥

    China's development loans to Africa have fallen sharply from a 2016 peak, though they bounced back from COVID-era lows to US$4.6 billion last year, according to the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University.

    The drop-off came partly in response to government budget crises in several recipient countries that are unable to repay their loans from multiple lenders.

    Many heavily indebted African countries cannot meet the basic needs of their populations, UN Secretary General Ant贸nio Guterres told the forum.

    鈥淭his situation is unsustainable and a recipe for social unrest,鈥 he said, highlighting the need for deep reform to what he called an 鈥渙utdated, ineffective and unfair international financial system.鈥

    Kenya is seeking financing to finish a partially built rail project that was meant to connect the port city of Mombasa to neighboring Uganda, but it is unclear whether China would agree.

    Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writers Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg and Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, and video producers Olivia Zhang and Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    For decades, Melven Jones couldn鈥檛 talk about what happened to him as a child. He didn鈥檛 even remember it.

    The CEO of the Ottawa Mission is responding to controversial comments made this week by Premier Doug Ford about those living in homeless encampments that received swift blowback from advocates.

    A strike by grain terminal workers at the Port of Metro Vancouver has ended, their employer announced Friday night.

    Canada

    • A man has died after being stabbed at a residence in north Scarborough on Saturday evening, police say.

    • For decades, Melven Jones couldn鈥檛 talk about what happened to him as a child. He didn鈥檛 even remember it.

    • Members of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) are sounding the alarm on a rising number of online and phone scams targeting residents.

    • On Broughdale Ave, barricades kept students to the sidewalks, and on Huron, officers kept directing the young people away from the middle of the road for emergency vehicles.

    • The Pride crosswalk in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has been hit by vandalism for the second time in less than three months.

    • Vancouver police officers took a goat into custody Friday night.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    • A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    • A U.S. driver somehow squeezed her vehicle through a parkade hallway at a Metro Vancouver casino Thursday, before getting stuck at an elevator bank.

    Local Spotlight

    A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales. What happened next blew their minds.

    A pizza chain in Edmonton claims to have the world's largest deliverable pizza.

    Sarah McLachlan is returning to her hometown of Halifax in November.

    Wayne MacKay is still playing basketball twice at Mount Allison University at 87 years old.

    A man from a small rural Alberta town is making music that makes people laugh.

    An Indigenous artist has a buyer-beware warning ahead of Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

    Police are looking to the public for help after thieves broke into a Lethbridge ice creamery, stealing from the store.

    An ordinary day on the job delivering mail in East Elmwood quickly turned dramatic for Canada Post letter carrier Jared Plourde. A woman on his route was calling out in distress.

    • A man was found dead in a home in the Ditidaht First Nation on Vancouver Island Saturday morning, prompting local council to ask residents to shelter in place.

    • For decades, Melven Jones couldn鈥檛 talk about what happened to him as a child. He didn鈥檛 even remember it.

    • A Vancouver man has paid $337,500 to the B.C. Securities Commission as part of an insider trading settlement, the financial regulator announced Friday.

    • A man has died after being stabbed at a residence in north Scarborough on Saturday evening, police say.

    • Thousands of dead birds, from kingfishers to blue jays, encircle a wild turkey to illustrate in one snapshot a mere fragment of how many die from colliding into glass windows 鈥 a death that can be easily prevented, the Torontonian photographer says.

    • A man has been taken to the hospital after walking into a restaurant in Toronto鈥檚 west end late Saturday afternoon with stab wounds.

    • A child was sent to hospital after being attacked by a coyote in northwest Calgary.

    • Alberta's premier spoke to calls for an outside, independent investigation into the death of Jon Wells during an incident involving Calgary police last week.

    • A Calgary city councillor's plea to have permanent residents be given the right to vote in municipal elections, an idea long dismissed by Premier Danielle Smith as unconstitutional, has been defeated.

    • The victim has been identified as Chanel Charette, 33.

    • The CEO of the Ottawa Mission is responding to controversial comments made this week by Premier Doug Ford about those living in homeless encampments that received swift blowback from advocates.

    • The federal holiday on Sept. 30 will bring some schedule changes in Ottawa as Canada marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

    • World Wrestling Entertainment Hall-of-Famer Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon is the inspiration for a local wrestling production company that will bear his name host events on Montreal's West Island to raise money and create memories for sick children.

    • A commemorative rally marking the fourth anniversary of Joyce Echaquan鈥檚 death will take place in Ville-Marie on Saturday afternoon.

    • Members of Montreal鈥檚 Maghrebi community are gathering in a city park this afternoon to sound the alarm about what they call the 鈥渟courge鈥 of street gangs recruiting youth to carry out criminal acts.

    • A man has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of 25-year-old Wyatt Omeasoo in 2023.

    • A person is in hospital after a hit-and-run crash involving a stolen motorcycle in Grande Prairie early Saturday morning.

    • Alberta鈥檚 government is getting pushback from some municipal leaders and support from others over its plan to build the sheriffs into a second provincial police service.

    • Communities that suffered total losses in Hammonds Plains, N.S., and Upper Tantallon, N.S., in the 2023 wildfire received a donation of trees from Northern Pulp on Saturday.

    • Education and infrastructure were the focus of promises made on the tenth day of New Brunswick鈥檚 provincial election campaign.

    • RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment say they have charged a man with multiple offences, including assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, following a disturbance in Beaver Bank, N.S.

    • As the temperatures begin to drop and the leaves change colour, the time for fall suppers has returned in Manitoba.

    • Hundreds gathered in Winnipeg鈥檚 Memorial Park Saturday afternoon in a solemn ceremony honouring the lives of fallen firefighters.

    • A beloved annual celebration of arts and culture returns to city streets Saturday night.

    • The Town of Lumsden held their ninth annual Scarecrow festival Saturday.

    • The Saskatchewan Roughriders moved into second place in the CFL's West Division with a 29-16 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday.

    • Minister of Health Everett Hindley wrote to healthcare provider unions on Friday inviting them to join a nursing task force, something the government previously said no to.

    • It鈥檚 homecoming weekend for many students and alumni and preparations are underway to ensure it鈥檚 a safe celebratory weekend.

    • People in Guelph may notice a new addition at the entrance to Franchetto Park in Guelph.

    • The Kitchener Rangers returned to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday to the roar of thousands of eager fans.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP says the man who sustained injuries from a serious assault earlier this month has died in hospital.

    • The Saskatchewan Roughriders moved into second place in the CFL's West Division with a 29-16 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday.

    • Minister of Health Everett Hindley wrote to healthcare provider unions on Friday inviting them to join a nursing task force, something the government previously said no to.

    • A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    • The CEO of the Ottawa Mission is responding to controversial comments made this week by Premier Doug Ford about those living in homeless encampments that received swift blowback from advocates.

    • On Broughdale Ave, barricades kept students to the sidewalks, and on Huron, officers kept directing the young people away from the middle of the road for emergency vehicles.

    • VIDEO

      VIDEO

      For 28 years, motorcycle riders have gathered at Hully Gully in London, Ont. to raise money for the Children鈥檚 Health Foundation (CHF) and enjoy a fall ride.

    • The town of Aylmer might be getting a little bit larger - it's considering expanding boundaries to include more land, and they鈥檙e holding a meeting on Thursday

    • Huntsville OPP is investigating a two-vehicle collision Friday afternoon that resulted in the death of a motorcycle driver.

    • Midland Fire Service, Southern Georgian Bay OPP and County of Simcoe paramedics responded to an early Saturday morning fire at a residence in Midland, which sent one person to hospital.

    • Two drivers were charged after a vehicle struck a house in northern Barrie Friday evening.

    • Windsor Fire Service is on the scene of a house fire in South Windsor this morning. A single-family dwelling was reported to have been the location of an early morning fire.

    • A collision on Friday evening has resulted in charges for a 32-year-old Lakeshore Resident.

    • Students looking for work while they study had an opportunity to scope out the local employment scene on Wednesday when St. Clair College held its second annual part time job fair.

    • A man was found dead in a home in the Ditidaht First Nation on Vancouver Island Saturday morning, prompting local council to ask residents to shelter in place.

    • For decades, Melven Jones couldn鈥檛 talk about what happened to him as a child. He didn鈥檛 even remember it.

    • Almost 200 pages of research on the B.C. Conservative Party, which sources within BC United confirm were compiled by their party before it dropped out of the British Columbia election campaign to support its former rival, have come back to haunt the new alliance.

    • Fire crews in Vernon, B.C., responded to a large house fire early Saturday morning.

    • A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.

    • The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

    • The sentencing for three men convicted of helping lead and coordinate the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., in 2022 has been delayed.

    • A 10-year-old boy from Lethbridge is being praised as a hero after a routine summer outing at the pool nearly turned tragic for his friend.

    • A man and woman have been charged after a Lethbridge ice creamery was broken into earlier this week. Staff arrived at Cookie Crimes, in the 300 block of Sixth Street South, just before 5:30 a.m. on Monday to discover the front window broken.

    • Sault residents may notice some commotion on the Algoma University campus over the next two weeks as a team conducts an archaeological search.

    • The Pride crosswalk in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has been hit by vandalism for the second time in less than three months.

    • Despite a lead at mid-game in front of a near-capacity home crowd, the Sudbury Wolves dropped their first game of their OHL regular season to Barrie, 3-1.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆传媒